03x16 - The Case of the Wary Wildcatter

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

( car horn honks )

( clicks )

( dramatic theme plays )

( upbeat theme playing )

I've already paid you $,
for these.

( laughing ):
Oh, no, Houston,

you've been paying me
for goodwill.

Now's your chance
to pay me for them.

For keeps.

Twenty thousand dollars.

I haven't got
that kind of money.

Well, I didn't expect you
to have it on hand.

Shall we say, uh,
tomorrow afternoon

when the banks close?

I don't have it.

You've squeezed me dry

these last nine months, Byrd.

There's got to be
an end somewhere.

And this one looks
like a dead end.

What's the district attorney's
old saying?

"Live a long time
and learn a lesson."

You don't think
I'd leave myself so vulnerable,

do you, Houston?

You're a k*ller.

There's a set of duplicates
which will automatically go

to the district attorney's
office if I turn up dead.

So you were going
to double-cross me anyway.

Oh, no,

a successful blackmailer
likes to give his victims hope.

This ,
will be the end of it.

I'm leaving
for South America Friday.

I'll never come back.

Byrd, I'm not lying.

I haven't got the money.

But I'll give you
percent more

in the Fair Chance,
my oil well.

It's due in any day now.

It'll triple,
quadruple in value.

What percentage of that wildcat
has already been promised?

Two hundred, percent?

Houston,
I want $, in cash.

or the district attorney
winds up with action pictures

of a m*rder*r at work.

( dramatic theme playing )

HOUSTON:
Well, frankly, Madelyn,

it hurts to come to you
like this,

but I know we're good friends.

Oh, we're much more than
friends, aren't we, Charles?

Even though you haven't been
around lately.

Of course, darling.

But you haven't been lonely,
I hear.

Mm, what do you hear?

About Lucky Sterling?

Strictly for laughs.

Nobody laughs
at Lucky Sterling.

He's a vicious man,
Madelyn.

Oh, is that what kept you away?

Now how much money do you need?

Twenty thousand dollars.

Oh, Chuck,
you can't mean it.

It's for new equipment
for the drilling operation.

Everything runs high, Madelyn.

I'm sorry, darling,

but I've already bought a piece

of your oil well.

Oh, incidentally, you promised
me the certificates weeks ago.

Where are they?

You know I haven't been able to
form a corporation yet, Madelyn.

As soon as I do
I'll issue the stock.

You already
have percent coming.

This will make it percent.

Well, I'm all tied up
financially, Chuck.

Why don't you ask
Lucky Sterling?

Would he be interested?

He's interested
in all kinds of things--

Even some of the things
you're interested in.

Later, sweetheart.

( dramatic theme plays )

( indistinct chattering )

You got a lot
of nerve, Houston,

barging in here
like this and asking

for a handout of $,.

It's no handout, Lucky.

It's a legitimate business loan.

Legitimate?
Is that supposed to interest me?

You'll get it all back
in days.

Al right. What is it?
A dame?

Business.

For my drilling operation.

Well.

Been a long time sinking
that well, haven't you?

It takes time, Lucky.

Time and patience.

Ask my partner.

Floyd Gordon's
been wildcatting all his life.

Gordon swears we've got

a great big gusher on our hands.

I know.

He wants another $,
in chips.

Thank you.

How do you know?

Last week I took a drive
out to the well.

I had a talk with this Gordon.

What for, Lucky?

A friend of mine's got dough
in that enterprise

and I don't like
to see a friend of mine hung out

on a phony line to dry.

But you did talk to Gordon.

Yes. I talked to him.

That's why I'm willing to take
a flyer with you, Charlie.

Just one thing, though.

What's your connection
with Madelyn?

She's a friend.

An old friend.

That's fine.

Keep it on a friendship basis

and that will be just fine.

You see, I, uh--

I'm interested
in the lady myself,

and I wouldn't want
anybody to feel

that they were crowding anybody.

Do we agree, partner?

Partner?

This is for percent, right?

Fifty percent?
I had in mind percent.

Fifty.

All right.

Then we're partners
in everything.

Everything but Madelyn.

Right?

Right.

Joe.

Well, Charlie,
right on time.

You got it?

For they who await no gifts
from chance

have conquered fate.

What?

An old nursery rhyme
my dear father taught me.

Well, it's all here.

I must say it's
the most profitable game hunting

I ever did.

And now it's finished.

Sure. You carried out
your part of the bargain,

Twenty thousand dollars.

I'm thinking
of your part of the bargain.

That I'm seeing the last of you.

You are.

And that this is all
of the photos and negatives.

That's right. It is.

And when I burn them,
nothing is left.

Nothing.

BYRD:
You've got it all now, Charlie.

That's all there is.

There isn't any more.

( dramatic theme playing )

BYRD:
And I managed to save a copy

just for you, Miss Wallace.

When did you get into town?

This morning.

I got a room at a hotel
and came right here.

May I have the ,, please?

I haven't got it.

I don't understand.

When I phoned you in Santa Rosa,

I told you that I wouldn't
give up the pictures

unless you gave me the money.

But I'm going
to try to get it.

Here in L.A.?

Well, it may take me
a little time.

Can you give me until--?

Until Friday,
the day after tomorrow.

But I can't get it by then.

Oh, Mr. Byrd, can't I appeal
to you

to turn these pictures
over to the police?

It's bad enough
doing some of the things

I have to do for money.

Now, how do you expect me
to do it for nothing?

Please understand
that if you mention to anyone

that I can prove your sister
was k*lled by Charles Houston,

I'll destroy the evidence

then deny it
and you'll never get any proof.

I understand.

You're a stranger. You have
no friends, no relatives here.

Where are you planning
to get the ,?

From Charles Houston.

( dramatic theme playing )

That photo was taken a year ago
in Santa Rosa,

just after Charles Houston
married my sister, Evelyn.

Are you sure your, uh,
brother-in-law came

to Los Angeles, Miss Wallace?

Oh, yes, we corresponded after
he left Santa Rosa, after--

After my sister died.

Charles has an office here.

She was k*lled just three months
after they were married.

Evelyn was out driving
by herself

when her car plunged off
a curve just outside of town.

How soon after the accident
did your brother-in-law

leave Santa Rosa?

Almost immediately.

He said that he felt like
a stranger there without Evelyn.

Then he was a newcomer
to the community?

Yes, Evelyn married him just
a month after he came there.

Oh, he's quite charming,
very persuasive.

What's his line of work?

Charles is a promoter.

Oil, mostly.

Evelyn and I invested $,
in an oil well

he was going to drill
somewhere near Los Angeles.

Go on, Miss Wallace.

Well, we bought percent
of Charles' interest.

When the corporation was formed,

we were supposed
to get stock certificates.

And no corporation
was formed?

No.

He-- He said something
about incorporating himself.

He insisted it had
to be that way

because of legal red tape--

Something to do with, uh,
Corporate Securities Act.

He said he didn't want
his hand forced on incorporating

before the well came in.

Do you have a contract?
A letter of intent?

No.

Charles was one of the family,
so we trusted him.

I think a visit to
the district attorney's office

would do you some good,
Miss Wallace.

No. Uh...

Mr. Mason, I--
I have trouble at home.

I need money desperately.

I know that the right thing
is to--

To bring Charles
to some sort of accounting.

But I want to get my money.

As much of it as I can get.

I take it you haven't spoken
to him?

No, I haven't been able
to reach him at his office.

I even wrote to Mr. Gordon,

his-- His field manager
and got no answer.

Then I phoned Mr. Gordon
at the field

and he said he didn't know
where Charles was.

All right, Miss Wallace.

We'll look into it for you.

We have your address.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Miss Street.

( door closes )

Fifty thousand dollars,
one of the family.

Well, most people think the
stories they read in newspapers

can never happen to them.

Della, see if Paul can step in.

Mm-hm.

( suspense theme playing )

So, at , we hit
a layer of gumbo,

then five feet of sand
and water below that,

then more gumbo

and then a layer
of Miocene sand.

The richest core of oil sand
I ever dredged up.

I've been in oil all my life.

Brought in a few wells too.

Oh, nothing that would ever
put me on easy street.

But the Fair Chance,

I've been waiting for it,

dreamed about it, eating it,
sleeping it.

It's my big one.

I can feel it in here.

You talk my language, Gordon.

We're both hunch players.

Right, partner?

Partner?

Then he gave you
the , we need

for the rigging and equipment?

No. That was something else.

Yeah, but
what did he mean, "partner"?

Forget it, Floyd.
That's just his way of talking.

Charlie.

What's up?

What do you mean?

You been getting
a lot of calls lately,

like you can't be reached
in L.A.

From whom?

Well, there was
a Miss Madelyn Terry,

a Miss Wallace.

Paula Wallace?
Yeah.

Isn't she your sister-in-law?

Didn't she give you the money
that started us in business?

Yeah.

Who else called?

Well, there was
a private detective

by the name of Paul Drake

and a lawyer named Mason.

I gotta get back to town.

So, what do they all want,
Charlie?

You in financial trouble?

Don't worry about me.

Yeah, but I do worry about you.

We're partners in this oil well.

I wouldn't like to think that
you were doing anything wrong.

Wrong? Like what?

Well, getting yourself
into a mess and--

( rumbling )

She's blowing, Charlie.

She's blowing.

It's a blowout.

The shutoff valve is gone.

It's the valves!

You got the new valves!

MAN:
It's the valve. Get a new valve.

Hurry up with that new valve!

Get those block
and tackles clear!

MAN:
See that those block
and tackles are--

Soon as that valve's in place,

shut her off!

MAN:
As soon as that valve's
in place, shut her off.

FLOYD:
Look at her blow.

Look at her blow.

Look at that
big beautiful sweetheart.

We're rich, Charlie.

We're dirty, filthy,
oily rich.

Miss Wallace,
if you own a piece of that,

I'd hold onto it.
I sure wouldn't sell it out.

They don't call me lucky
for nothing, partner.

We've got to talk to Charles.

Charles.
Mr. Houston.

( car engine starts )

( dramatic theme playing )

Funny.

Almost seems as if the last
thing on earth he wanted

was for that gusher to come in.

( suspenseful theme playing )

For a man whose rainbow
had just touched a pot of gold,

he was the sickest-looking guy
I have ever seen.

He drove right off?

Like a man with a mission.

He didn't even recognize
Miss Wallace

when she called to him.

Yeah-- Oh, well,
will you please have her call

Mr. Perry Mason
when she comes in?

Thank you.

Didn't you leave Miss Wallace
at the hotel, Paul?

Sure I did.

I'll need her signature.

Mm-hm.

If that well
is as rich as Paul thinks,

she can be
a very wealthy young woman.

All things being equal.

Della, I'd--
I'd like her here early.

I left a message
at her hotel, but...

I'll call again in the morning
before I come to work.

I can't imagine
where she could have gone.

She said she was gonna stay
in her room.

( buzzes )

Mr. Byrd?

Charles, are you here?

( door slams shut )

( dials )

Hello? Oh--

( dramatic theme playing )

Charles.

( gasps )

Let me out of here!

Why did you lock me in?

(sirens blaring distantly )

Oh, it's horrible.
It's horrible.

He's dead up there.
Dead?

There's a man,
he's dead up there.

Okay, lady, let's go and see
who's dead up there.

Come on.

And the-- And the door
was slammed shut and locked,

and the-- The lights went out--

They just went out
and I was-- I was left alone

in the room with the dead man.

Locked, lady?

Lights out, miss?

But they were out.

Well, part
of your story's right, anyway.

There's a dead body here.

You better call Homicide.

Why did you k*ll him, miss?

( dramatic theme plays )

After Mr. Drake
dropped me at my hotel,

I had dinner
and then I went to my room.

Then I received the phone call

and I went to the Monterey Arms,
Room .

What time
was that phone call?

It was ten minutes to .

What time did you reach
Roger Byrd's room?

A little after .

All right, tell me
about the call.

Well, the man on the phone said
his name was Roger Byrd.

Now, that's what
I don't understand.

Lieutenant Tragg said that
Roger Byrd denied calling me.

Do you know this Roger Byrd?

No.

Then why would he call you?

Well, he said he was calling
for Charles Houston,

that Charles wanted
to see me

in Mr. Byrd's hotel room.

Would you recognize this voice
if you heard it again?

I don't know.

While you were
in Roger Byrd's room,

did you touch anything?

Well, the phone and...

And the briefcase.

What briefcase?

It was Charles'.
It was on the desk.

What about the g*n?

I-- I-- I don't know.

I didn't really look.

Why did you want
to k*ll him, Miss Wallace?

I didn't k*ll him.

The police have a pretty good
case against you.

Do you have any idea what
they'll figure was your motive?

No.

Something in the past? Something
while your sister was married?

No.

All right, Miss Wallace.

As far as the police,

the district attorney's office

and the reporters are concerned

just tell them
the story as you know it.

You have nothing to hide.

Right, Miss Wallace?

Right, Mr. Mason.

Perry.

What's up, Paul?

Well, mostly bits and pieces.

One thing:
The police got the call

to go to the Monterey Arms
apartment at : last night.

Call from whom?

Somebody by the name
of Anonymous.

What else?

Well, apparently the room
had been thoroughly searched.

What about the m*rder w*apon?

Revolver, . caliber.

One shot fired.

Registered?
Uh-huh.

Registered to Evelyn Wallace
Houston, Santa Rosa, California,

just one year ago.

That's Paula Wallace's sister.

You better check
into it, Paul.

The relationship,
the courtship,

accident.

Everything that happened
in Santa Rosa.

And, uh, check on this fellow
Gordon out at the oil well.

Oh, I've already phoned him.

Better make it a visit.

Did you find out how Houston
got into Byrd's room?

Well, Homicide thinks
that the door was unlocked,

just the way it was found.

No, I think there
must be a connection

between Byrd and Houston.

Well, hello, lieutenant.

Paul.
Lieutenant.

Perry.

Anything I can do to help?

Why, yes, thank you,
lieutenant.

You can help.

( dramatic theme plays )

See, you can turn it

and it'll stay turned halfway.

Then you can't open it
from the other side.

Thank you, sergeant.

Tragg.

Not at all.

Go ahead, sergeant.

Uh, Mr. Byrd--

Uh, how well did you
know Charles Houston?

Oh, fairly well.

Did you know him
in Santa Rosa?

Where?
Santa Rosa.

Oh, no, sir. I knew Charles
right here in L.A.

Do you know Paula Wallace?

No.

And I didn't telephone
her either.

Well, why would someone
use your name?

I don't know.

Truthfully, Mr. Mason,

I don't think she ever received
a telephone call.

I think she simply
followed Charles right here

to the hotel room.

He must have had an appointment
with you then.

No. No, not last night.

What was your relationship
with, uh, Houston?

Well, I'm a stockholder
in the Fair Chance.

Or I will be when
the corporation is formed.

I had a personal contract
with Houston.

How much of Charles Houston
did you own?

Ten percent.

Ha! Only yesterday he asked me
if I wanted to buy some more

and I refused.

I even tried
to sell what I had.

Was there anything stolen,
Mr. Byrd?

No.

Was there anything
in your possession

a thief might have been after?

I can't think of anything,
Mr. Mason.

Thank you, Mr. Byrd.

There was an original investment
of $,

which was eaten up
pretty fast.

Land leases, equipment,
three cash withdrawals.

Cash withdrawals?

Yeah. One about
eight months ago.

Uh...

January the th, $,,

anotherMarch th, ,.

another April the th, ,.

Drawn to whose order?
Cash.

Charlie Houston must have used
the money for something.

For what?
I don't know.

It had nothing to do with me.

My deal with Houston was
a - split down the middle.

His job was
to get up the financing,

mine to produce the well.

Now, what he gave away on his
end really doesn't affect me.

It would if he gave away more
than he owned.

How?

By selling more than percent

of the oil well.
Oh.

That would leave you
on the outside along with him.

What was Lucky Sterling
doing up here yesterday

when the well blew in?

Yeah.

Maybe that's what Sterling meant

when he called Charlie
"partner."

Did he say
how much of a partner?

No.

Well, Paula Wallace
owns percent.

Now, don't tell me you haven't
thought of this before, Gordon.

I got my work to think about.

And don't tell me you haven't
been to an attorney

to find out where you stand?

You're not that naive.

Now, you mentioned a phone call

from a man named Byrd
and a Miss Terry.

Madelyn Terry.

It was pretty close to :,
after the gusher, when Charles--

Mr. Houston came in.

I'd never seen a man
with the spirit gone out

of him like that.

He seemed empty--

Just drained out.

As though he'd lost
his last friend on earth.

What did he want
from you, Miss Terry?

Money.

Why would he have needed money?

Yesterday afternoon he watched
that gusher come in.

Yeah. So he did.

So did you, Mr. Sterling.

That's right.

What were you doing out there?

I've got a stake going.

And why have you come to me?

LUCKY:
I want to hire you.

What for?

I want my share
of that oil well.

I bought into that proposition
fair and square.

And that's the way
I want to be treated.

I'm afraid
I can't help you, Mr. Sterling.

Why not?

Conflict of interests.

I see.

Well, then, Mr. Mason, I'll just
have to protect myself.

The bank told me that yesterday
my check was cashed

by a Mr. Houston.

You've got a claim
on this well.

Well, so have I.

Twenty thousand dollars' worth.

Come on.

Good day, counselor.

Twenty thousand dollars.

And Charles Houston went
to Roger Byrd's room.

And that's the room
where a search was made.

( dramatic theme playing )

This was, uh, checked out by
Ballistics as the m*rder w*apon.

It was purchased
in Santa Rosa, California

and is registered to, uh,
Evelyn Wallace Houston.

Lieutenant, would you now tell
this court please

who Evelyn Wallace Houston was?

She was the sister
of the defendant.

Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, isn't it also true

that Evelyn Wallace Houston
was decedent's wife?

Yes, sir.

And that it is possible

that he brought the g*n
to Los Angeles?

Possible, yes.

How long
had the Houstons been married?

A few months, I believe.

And then Mrs. Houston met with
a fatal accident in Santa Rosa.

I see.

Did the m*rder room
bear evidence of a search?

Yes, sir.

Was anything found
to be missing?

No.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That will be all.

I call Mr. Floyd Gordon, please.

Now, Mr. Gordon, would you
please tell us what you know

about the defendant,
Paula Wallace?

Well, nothing outside
of a phone call she made

asking for Houston
and that letter.

And to what letter
are you referring, sir?

One that was found
among Houston's papers

when they were brought out
from his office in town.

I see. I show you now
this letter

and ask if you
can identify it for us.

Yes, sir.

It's addressed to me
but it was sent

to Houston's office in town.

Thank you.
If it will please the court,

I should
like this letter entered

as an exhibit for the people.

And I should like one paragraph

from the letter read
into the record.

Your Honor, I object to any part
of this letter

being introduced in evidence.

On what basis, Mr. Mason?

On the basis that no proper
foundation has been laid.

Your Honor,
for purposes of expediting

this preliminary hearing,

the prosecution felt
that a slightly more informal--

Not this informal.

The defense is not gonna
relinquish any of its rights.

This is a typewritten letter.

Typed on any given typewriter

is as distinctive
and identifiable as handwriting.

I'd like both the type and the
signature attested by experts.

Your Honor--

Defense is within
its rights, Mr. Burger.

Very well, Mr. Mason.
No further questions.

Your witness.

Now, Mr. Gordon,

have you recently engaged
an attorney?

Uh, yes.

Now, didn't he tell you
to count on nothing

but a fraction
of what you expected

to get out of the oil well?

Well, he said I was in
a better position

than some of the others.

And anyway, he said Houston
really held the title

in trust for all
the people he had defrauded.

That we'd all get something,

no matter how little.

Thank you, Mr. Gordon.
That will be all.

I got out of the elevator

and went down
the hall to my room.

Just as I reached the door,

I realized there was somebody
inside the room.

And what did you do then,
Mr. Byrd?

I put my key in the lock
and turned it

so that it couldn't be opened
from inside the room.

Then I went to the payphone
and called the police.

And while you were phoning,
what did you do?

I kept my eye on my door.

What did you see?

Nothing. Nobody went in,
nobody came out.

Is there any other way out
of your room, Mr. Byrd?

Well, the window
and the fire escape.

And where does
the fire escape lead?

To the street.

And we've previously heard
testimony that,

in response to a phone call

to police headquarters at :,
prowl car officers

were able to intercept
the defendant in her flight

from that fire escape

and that they subsequently
returned her to the third floor.

Is that correct?
Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Byrd,

what time was it when you locked

this someone in your room?

A little before :.

And how you could you be certain
that the someone was there?

Well, I heard a shot.

You heard shot?

BYRD:
Yes, sir. A revolver shot

right inside the door.

Thank you, Mr. Byrd.

Your witness.

What about that shot,
Miss Wallace?

No, Mr. Mason it isn't true.
He's lying.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason?

Do you wish
to cross-examine this witness?

I most certainly do,
Your Honor.

Now, you say you, uh,
locked your door

after you heard a shot inside.

That's right.

Isn't it true
that you pulled a fuse

turning out all the lights?

Yes.

Where is the fuse box located?

In the janitor's closet
at the end of the hall.

And you, uh, kept your eye

on your door all the while?

Yes.

Then you, uh, made
that anonymous telephone call

to the police?
Yes.

And you told them a m*rder
had been committed?

No.

I told them just
what I told you here,

that I had heard the shot.

But you didn't tell them
about locking the door.

No.
Or about turning off the lights.

No.
Or who you were.

No.
Why not?

Why the secrecy?

I wanted to keep out of it.

Keep out of what?

Whatever happened in there.

Yet, when the police
came up there with Miss Wallace,

the, uh, door was unlocked,
the lights were turned on.

Now, how do you explain that?
I did it.

After I locked
the door I listened

and heard the person inside
open the window

and go down the fire escape.

Naturally, I was curious
to see what had happened inside.

But you already knew
what had happened.

When did you call Miss Wallace

and tell her
to come to the room?

I didn't.
Mr. Houston wanted to see her?

I didn't call her.
When could I have done that?

Earlier.

Fifteen minutes earlier,
when you either k*lled Houston

or found him dead
in your room.

No. It's not true. I didn't.

Mr. Byrd,

what is your occupation?

I'm a freelance photographer.

Is it
a lucrative occupation?

I'm a man of very simple tastes.

I have no one
to support but myself.

I have here a record
of your monetary transactions

at a bank one block away
from where you live.

What about it?

You made a deposit in the amount

of $, on January st

of this year.

That's quite a deposit
for a freelance photographer

of simple tastes.

I think that's
my personal business.

Then on March th
you deposited $,.

And on April th
$, more.

Are my figures
and dates correct, Mr. Byrd?

I guess so. I don't know.

And all from photography,
Mr. Byrd?

By a strange coincidence,
the deceased,

Charles Houston,
withdrew three identical amounts

from a Fair Chance account

the day before each
of your deposits.

Now, perhaps you were selling
your pictures to Mr. Houston.

What do you want with me?

On August th,

the day Charles Houston
was m*rder*d,

he cashed a check
for $,.

All right. On that same day
I deposited $,.

Blackmail, Mr. Byrd?

As you say, I was selling
something to Houston.

MASON:
The next morning,

the morning after the m*rder,

you withdrew $, in cash
from you account, did you not?

I withdrew my money, yes.

The someone who searched
your apartment,

was he looking
for that $,?

No.
No?

What was he looking for?

It wasn't a he. It was a she.

It was Miss Wallace.

MASON:
How would Miss Wallace
have known about the money?

She wasn't looking
for the money.

She was looking
for my prints, my films--

The ones
I blackmailed Houston with.

Of Charles Houston murdering
her sister.

That's what she wanted.
I told her about them.

I called her in Santa Rosa.

Told her to get up $,
if she wanted the evidence

to send her sister's m*rder*r
to the gas chamber.

That's why she came here
in the first place.

That's why she
wanted her money back.

That's why she went to you,
Mr. Mason, in the first place.

But she couldn't get
her money back.

And she couldn't get
the prints without it.

So she k*lled him.

Because it was the only thing
left she could do.

( dramatic theme plays )

( cries )

Yes, I lied.

I--

I didn't tell you the truth
in your office

because Roger Byrd threatened

to destroy the film

and deny what he told me.

That was after the m*rder?

Yes. But then, you see,

it would really seem as if
I had a reason to k*ll him.

I didn't want you to think that.

Then Byrd was lying
about the shot?

Yes.

Why?

I don't know.

( crying ):
I don't know. I don't know.

All right.

Mm--

I have one small errand to do
before court reconvenes.

I'll see you then.

( mysterious theme playing )

Good afternoon, Miss Terry.

Why, hello, Mr. Mason.

May I join you?

Of course.

I really dropped by
to see Mr. Sterling.

Oh, he's in his office
on the phone.

I noticed you in court
this morning.

Yes.

I take it your interest
in the case

would be in connection
with Charles Houston.

Well, yes,
I did know him.

How well did you know him,
Miss Terry?

Mr. Mason,
that's a personal matter.

Were you in love with him?

No!

Didn't you, uh, lend him money

at various times?

No.

Didn't you put up $,
for his oil well,

figuring that money would
be thrown away?

Mr. Mason,
I don't have to submit

to this kind of inquisition.

You're prying
into my private affairs--

What have you got to hide, baby?

The counselor's only trying
to get information.

Why not give him the answers?

That's right, Miss Terry.

If you have nothing
to hide your answers might

be very helpful to my client.

TERRY:
Why should I help her?

If she k*lled Charles,
let her pay for it!

Were you in love
with Houston, baby?

After telling me
that he was just an old chum

you felt sorry for.

What happened after he came
to see you that night?

Did you give him
the money he wanted?

You mean before
you got there? No.

I mean after he left
and I left.

Did you meet him somewhere?

TERRY:
I wish I had.

LUCKY:
Where were you?
I couldn't reach you.

I came right here,
Mr. Lucky Sterling,

But you weren't around.

You didn't come around
till quite late.

Where were you?

Well...

put on quite a show for you,
counselor.

Where were you, Mr. Sterling?

( sighs )

Did you, uh, make a telephone
call to Miss Wallace?

No, counselor.
I did not.

Where were you, Miss Terry?

When?

At about :
or a quarter of .

That was just before I left
my apartment, Mr. Mason.

I was taking a bath.

No, no one can corroborate it.

( chuckles )

I will see you later
this afternoon.

Fine.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

You may be seated.

Mr. Mason,

recess was called
while you were cross-examining

Mr. Roger Byrd.

You may continue.

BAILIFF:
Mr. Roger Byrd,

please take the stand.

Mr. Byrd,
on the evening of the m*rder,

what time did you leave
your room for dinner?

About :.

MASON:
And what time did you return?

I told you that already.

About :.

Now, isn't it true
that after you had dined,

you stopped at
the National Travel Service?

Well, yes. I-- I did. I--

I was changing a reservation.

A flight reservation
to Rio de Janeiro?

Changed from
the day following the m*rder

to the th of September.

Is that correct?

Yes, I, uh--
I thought of taking a vacation.

Just a simple vacation?

And you bought $, worth
of travel checks,

did you not?

Yes.

You withdrew $,

from your bank account

and you added $,
to it.

Where did you get
that extra $,, Mr. Byrd?

Blackmail again?
No.

Did you get it
from Charles Houston?

No. No. He was--

He was already dead,
Mr. Byrd?

No.

I don't know.

Now, isn't it true that
when you called Miss Wallace

and told her that Houston
had her shares of stock,

that she could pick them up
in your room,

Houston was already dead?

No.

No, he wasn't dead?

No, I didn't call her.

Then isn't it true
that when you called the police

you knew that Houston
was lying dead in your room?

No.

Your Honor, Mr. Mason

is needlessly browbeating
this witness.

The district attorney's office

is already preparing
to indict Mr. Byrd,

for his
self-confessed blackmail,

and to consider possible charges
of perjury against him.

But Roger Byrd
is not here on trial

for the m*rder
of Charles Houston

and I object
to Mr. Mason's attempts

to prove him guilty of it.

Your point is well taken,
Mr. Burger,

but I believe Mr. Mason's
questions are entirely pertinent

to the matter at hand.

I am therefore going
to allow him to continue.

Objection overruled.

I'll repeat the question,
Mr. Byrd.

Didn't you know that Houston

was dead
before you called the police?

No.

Now, isn't it true
that Charles Houston,

facing ruin after
the well came in,

went to your room
to get back $,

he had given you earlier?

No.
No, he didn't?

No, I don't know.

No more questions.

If it please the court,

the prosecution
is now prepared to lay

a proper foundation
for the reading of the letter

from the defendant
to Mr. Floyd Gordon.

I call Professor Ralph Scobie.

Your Honor,

in the interest of expediting
this examination,

the defense
withdraws its objection

to the reading of the letter.

Very well, Your Honor.

I call Mr. Floyd Gordon.

"...And I must have either
the shares or the money back.

"Charles Houston has ignored
my calls and letters

"and now I turn to you
in desperation.

"I will stop at nothing

"to get at least some part

"of what rightfully belongs
to me.

Yours hopefully,
Paula Wallace"

Thank you very much,
Mr. Gordon.

If it please the court,
I should like this letter marked

in evidence.

No objection.

BURGER:
Your witness.

Mr. Gordon, it must have been
a shock for you

to discover your that partner

had sold your participation
in the Fair Chance

along with his own.

Yes.

Well, what did he say
when you confronted him with it?

When did I confront him,
Mr. Mason?

On the night of the m*rder.
When?

On the night of the m*rder
at about :

in Mr. Byrd's room.

Oh, no, I didn't.

If I wanted
to see Charlie Houston,

why would I go
to Mr. Byrd's room?

Let me put it this way,
Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Byrd mentioned trying
at one time

to sell his interest
in the oil well.

It was refused.

Weren't you the one he
was trying to sell it to?

Oh.

And didn't you go
to Mr. Byrd's room

and try and buy that share

before he found out
the gusher had come in?

Uh, yes.

At about : on the night
of the m*rder?

Yes.

MASON:
And didn't you see
Charles Houston

in Mr. Byrd's room at that time?

What?

No, I didn't see
Charlie Houston.

But you did buy the ten shares
from Roger Byrd?

No. I didn't see him either.

Didn't you give him $,
in cash?

No.

That's all, Mr. Gordon.

Your Honor, since the evidence
now hinges on that $,,

I would like to recall
Mr. Roger Byrd.

Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, the prosecution
would also like to know

where Mr. Byrd got
the extra $,.

No objection.

You may step down,
Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Byrd,
will you take the stand?

You are still under oath,
Mr. Byrd.

Now, Mr. Byrd,

you withdrew $,
from your bank account

the morning after the m*rder

and you bought $, worth

of travel checks, did you not?

All right, yes.

Where did you get
that extra $,?

From Mr. Gordon?

BYRD:
No.

Are you trying
to shield someone, Mr. Byrd?

Is that the reason you lied

about hearing that shot

when Miss Wallace
was in the room?

No, I--

All right, I--
I did lie about that.

And it was you called her
on the telephone

and induced her
to come to your room?

Yes.

And that was after
Charles Houston was m*rder*d?

Yes.

Then you waited
for Miss Wallace to arrive.

Then you locked the door

and then you called the police.

And if the police hadn't arrived

while Miss Wallace
was on the fire escape,

you would have testified
that you saw her enter the room,

would you not?

Yes.

Who were you trying to protect

by incriminating Miss Wallace?

No one.

There must have been someone.

And it must have been for good
and substantial reasons.

The $,, Mr. Byrd?

Now, there's only one person
in this case

or connected with it

who would have ready access

to that kind of cash

at that time of night.

Now, who was it
you saw coming out

of your room
right after you heard that shot?

Sterling.
Lucky Sterling.

( dramatic theme playing )

Yeah, me,

Lucky Sterling.

I k*lled him.

Well, not because he made
a chump out of me

with that oil share deal.

This you've got
to expect if you mix

into the other fellow's racket.

No. This was crazy.

You spotted it, counselor.

I was jealous.

Me.

Jealous over that kind of woman.

Well, Byrd went to the trouble
of implicating Paula

because he thought he saw
in Sterling,

another source of blackmail.

And the business
with the lights?

That was to confuse
and frighten Paula.

By the way, what's gonna
happen with the oil well?

Well, a receiver
has been appointed

to clear up the whole situation.

And so far,
they've found Houston sold

over percent of the well.

Which means that somebody's
gonna have to take a beating.

Everybody will to some extent.

But an equitable arrangement
will be made.

It will, huh?

Uh, forgive my asking,

but what happened
with Charles Houston

after the gusher came in?

Well, the way I see it,

he realized disaster had come in
with the well.

All he wanted to do
was to gather as much money

as he could together
and disappear.

DELLA:
So he went to Madelyn first.

And then to Byrd. And that's
what he was searching for.

He hoped that Byrd
had the $,

in cash hidden in the room.

Right.

Something else, Paul?

Um, what do you think
of this Gordon, Perry?

A good man?

Oh, I think so.

Say, what's behind all this?

Oh, I was just being careful.

I had a talk
with Gordon after court.

I was, uh, thinking of doing
a little investing.

Well, well.

Mr. Paul Drake, oil baron.

You know, I'm thinking of
a large investment, too, Della.

How about a big steak dinner?

( upbeat jazzy theme plays )

( noirish jazz theme playing )