03x25 - The Case of the Irate Inventor

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( peaceful theme playing )

You're home early.

Where are you going?

Where have you been
all afternoon, Thelma?

I had lunch with Lois.

I told you.

You didn't have lunch with her.

All right, I didn't.

I was taking care
of something.

Not something.

You've been seeing someone
for a long time now.

That's not true.

So now you're gonna
pack your little bag

and take a little trip?

You're gonna sulk?

This is a little more
than just a sulk, Thelma.

I've had enough
of this kind of life with you.

You're leaving me?

At least a separation.

A divorce can be worked out
later in a civilized way.

I'm going to take this
opportunity to do some work

on my anti-collision device.

In privacy.

And what does that mean?

Who's been going
through my papers?

You know no one
can get in here

when you lock the door.

Somebody did.

( mysterious theme playing )

Your car is blocking
the driveway.

James, I don't
want a divorce.

It's not your choice, Thelma.

Now, your car.

You won't get rid of me
so easily.

I hadn't anticipated
that it would be easy.

Please get your car
out of the way.

It's been three months now,
sergeant,

and all you can tell me
here at Missing Persons

is no report
and no trace yet.

You haven't heard anything,
have you, lady?

No.

No arguments? No warnings?

He just disappeared?

Look here, sergeant,

if you're presuming
this is simply a case

of abandonment...

Our experience is,
when they leave this way, ma'am,

that's what it is.

That's rather
unlikely, sergeant.

James Frazer
is in love with his wife.

Besides, he has a great many
responsibilities

he wouldn't neglect
under any circumstances.

Are you a relative, ma'am?

No, I'm just a friend
and neighbor.

Then what do you think happened
to your husband, Mrs. Frazer?

Maybe he was in an accident

and had a loss of memory.

Maybe he's in a hospital
somewhere.

That's routine check, ma'am.

We'd know by now
if any of that was the case.

Well, I want to find out
what's happened to him.

A man doesn't just disappear

off the face
of the earth, does he?

Sometimes, ma'am.

And sometimes under it.

We aren't giving up
looking for him.

( mysterious theme playing )

I'll only be a few minutes,
Lois.

You're an angel
for coming along.

Oh, don't be silly.

I told you
I'd spend the day with you.

Go ahead.

Thelma?

What did you come here for?

Well, not just
to see you, Calvin.

I also have to speak
to the Haydens.

You mustn't be seen
in my office.

If they even suspected about us
it would mean real trouble.

Okay, darling.

All right.

See you tonight.

( phone rings )

Yes?

Who?

Oh, yes, send her in.

And tell my brother
to come in.

( humming )

( stops )

( humming )

( stops )

Not quite
perfected yet.

Thelma, you look exquisite.

If I didn't know better,

I'd say Jim's absence
is agreeing with you.

Your registered letter
came this morning.

What does it mean, Robert?

Just a formality
about the contract

between Jim and us.

Sit down, Thelma.

It sounds ominous.

Not at all.

Simply request Jim
to show up here.

See, we've been developing
this anti-collision device.

Might need his expert touch.

What about the contract?

You've been married to Jim

for almost
three years, Thelma,

hasn't he told you
the details of our partnership?

I know he owns percent
of the company

and you two own percent.

That's right.

What's the penalty
if Jim doesn't show up?

Well, there is no
penalty as such,

but you must realize that Jim
is the engineering genius.

The inventor in our company.

We need him to handle
his end of the firm,

just as Arthur
handles production.

I handle sales.

And what happens if he doesn't?

Something bad?

"If within the three month
period you, James Frazer,

"have not assumed
your partnership duties

"at the company's
place of business,

"this is to notify you
that said three month period

"is concluded at : p.m.

Tuesday, February nd."

That's tomorrow.

That's right.

Is everything all right
with you, Thelma?

Is there anything we can do?

Yes, you can tell me
what Jim forfeits

if he doesn't show up
at the plant by tomorrow.

He doesn't forfeit
anything, Thelma.

What if he's ill
or sick somewhere?

Then why hasn't
he let us know?

What if he's dead?

What makes you say
a thing like that, Thelma?

( door shuts )

The invading object
has to get too close

before it triggers
the alarm.

It's still a tremendous piece
of work by Calvin Boone.

Done by himself without
benefit of Jim Frazer.

It's still
a calculated risk

if we're thinking of him
to replace Frazer.

Calculated risk?

Frazer gets
percent of millions.

All we have to give Boone
is , a month.

Boone developed the invention
up to this point,

why can't he
finish it himself?

Imagine eliminating
aircraft collisions.

That's only the beginning

of the unlimited possibilities

of the anti-collision
principle.

( humming )

( mysterious theme playing )

Do you mind driving
downtown with me, Lois?

Of course not. Where to?

First I have to pick up
something at the house

and then to a lawyer.

( engine starts )

It's quite clear what
the involuntary sales clause

means, Mrs. Frazer.

Well, from what little I know
of business practices,

it seemed to me that some
kind of forfeit is involved.

No, not really a forfeit.

Gives the other members
of the partnership

the right to buy out
James Frazer's interest.

And the registered letter?

Puts Frazer on notice

and the Hayden brothers
on record.

At : tomorrow afternoon,

if your husband hasn't appeared
at the factory offices,

they can buy him out.

For how much?

Well, there is a formula
in the agreement,

arrived at five years ago.

Evaluation of the company

is put at $,.

And they can buy out
all percent

for $,?

That's right.

But the company's
worth millions,

and they're developing
an anti-collision device

that will be worth
many more millions.

Isn't there any way
to stop them, Mr. Mason?

Well, I don't know.

I've only given this document
a cursory reading.

Well, perhaps
you can find something

or think of something.

They're trying
to take advantage of me.

This, uh, disappearance
of your husband, Mrs. Frazer,

has he ever done
anything like that before?

Well, no.

That's what frightens me so.

We've always been so close

and had such a wonderful
relationship.

Was he working on
anything in particular

when he disappeared?

You mean,
like the anti-collision device?

Not that I know of.

And you do have Missing Persons
working on it?

I went to them this morning
for a report.

They've accomplished
exactly nothing.

All right, Mrs. Frazer,

I'll, uh, go over
these papers this evening.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Goodbye.
Goodbye.

Goodbye, Miss Street.

Mrs. Frazer.

( door shuts )

Let's put Paul Drake
to work, Della.

Sometimes the mills
of the police department

grind exceedingly slow.

( mysterious theme playing )

Come on in for
some coffee, Lois.

Oh, thanks dear, but I think
I'll paddle off home

and get outside
a cold martini.

Lois?

Yes?

Where is he?

What's that?

I said, where's Jim?

Where's Jim?

Well, how should I know?

There are millions of dollars
involved, Lois.

This is no time
for stupid pretenses.

I don't understand, Thelma.

Why do you think that
I know where Jim is?

Because you've been seeing him
behind my back for months.

Did you think I didn't know?

Thelma, you're out
of your mind.

I want him home.

So you tell him he'd better
show up before--

Make it tonight.

( tense theme playing )

Thelma! Thelma!

( door buzzes )

Thelma.

Thelma!

Thelma!

Jim?

What is it, Jim,
is anybody in there?

Thelma.
Oh, no!

No, you can't do anything!

Go on, get out!
You'll only k*ll yourself!

( ominous theme playing )

( ominous theme swells )

( dramatic theme playing )

She left this partnership
agreement and letter with me.

I advised her on the basis
of a quick reading

that your position
was vulnerable, but then,

you know the provisions
under involuntary sales.

Yes, I-I think so,

but then I've never been too
bright about legal matters.

I promised to check
the contract thoroughly

to see if there
was some loophole.

That's why I'm here.

Well, it's-- It's academic
now anyway, Mason.

I-I've returned.

It's just that since I'm in jail
I can't get to the office.

Well, that's no excuse.
The terms are explicit.

If you don't show up
by : today,

you could be bought out
by your partners,

jail or no jail.

But I-I can't get there.

I'm charged with m*rder.

Well, let me suggest
that you get in touch

with your attorney.

Uh, have him call me.

I'll be very glad
to pass on to him,

uh, any observations
I might have on the contract.

Mason?

I don't have an attorney.

Who's representing you
on this m*rder charge?

No one.

I guess I, uh, will need
an attorney, won't I?

Would you represent me?

Did you k*ll your wife?

No.

No.

You disappeared
for three months.

The evening you returned
she was m*rder*d.

Why did you come back?

I, uh--

I-I suddenly remembered
that clause

in the agreement and--

And then there were
some notes I needed

to finish my latest
invention.

What notes?
Where were they?

Relating to radar sensitivity
in my workshop.

Did you get them?
No.

Then you were not in your
workshop at all yesterday.

No, I-I haven't been there

since I left
three months ago.

Why did you
disappear then?

I'd found out that my wife

was seeing at least
one other man,

and I wanted to get away

to finish this project
I was working on.

It was a most important
piece of work.

Your wife said
that you and she

had never had any trouble.

That you had
had a wonderful marriage.

Oh, we did...

for at least the first day
or so of the honeymoon.

That was three years ago.

What man was she seeing?

I don't know.

How can you be sure
there was anyone?

There were so many lies,

and evasions,
and evidences of guilt.

I didn't care
who it was, Mason,

it was the fact that--
That there was somebody, that--

That was the terrible thing.

I know how busy you are,

but if you could find the time
to defend me, I'd--

I'd be very grateful.

Here, Mr. Frazer.

Sign this.

Sure, but, uh, what--?

What is it?

Power of attorney.

What's it for?

( chuckles )

To clip a few wings.

Before I forget,

do you think you could
get to the filing cabinet

in my workshop at home?

I, uh, gave
Lieutenant Tragg my key.

I guess he didn't
run across the one

I suspect Thelma had made.

I'll see what I can do.

Now, I think we'd better
go through your whole story.

Where you've been,
when you came back,

and so on.

Oh, all right.

Well, when I left town
three months ago

I, uh-- I drove north
up Sepulveda...

Most of the three months
he stayed at the Wayfair,

a little motel
north of the valley.

Working on his invention.

It's about an hour's drive
up Sepulveda, Paul.

Registered under
his own name?

No, under the name
of James Freeman.

All right, what do you
want me to do there?

Pack his belongings.

Clothes, papers, everything.

Bring them here?
Mm-hm.

Then start a check on that
woman neighbor Lois Langley.

Also do some digging
into the Hayden brothers.

They're Frazer's partners.

I, uh, hope the police
don't get to the Wayfair motel

ahead of me.

They won't.

They don't know about it.

Which means they,
uh, might resent

our getting there
ahead of them?

If there's one thing
the police want

that our client
has in his effects,

we'll give it to them,
of course.

Uh, Paul,

I'm particularly interested

in this invention
Frazer's working on.

All right, Perry,
I'll get right on it.

Goodbye, beautiful.

Here it is.

Of course, I don't understand
what it's all about,

but it's just the way
you wanted it.

Oh, this is fine.

And, um, now about the check.

Mm-hm.

In the amount of one dollar.

Will you please tell me
what I'm buying?

Della, I can only tell you

that you're a very rich woman.

At least for the afternoon.

Now, don't spend your money
too recklessly.

( ominous theme playing )

Well, good morning,
lieutenant.

Oh, uh, Mr. Mason,
Miss Langley.

How do you do?

Neighbor?

Yes, I was home last night
at the time of the fire.

Please, excuse me.

Oh, lieutenant,
if there's anything I can do.

You finished
with your experiment?

Yes, almost.

We, uh, have
an arson man coming.

You working on the, uh...?

Oh, just running
an errand.

What kind of an errand?

I'm gonna get some notes
out of the file cabinet.

Well, I'm sorry, Perry,
we entered the file cabinet

and we're holding
the contents.

Experimenting,
lieutenant?

Yes, you might say that.

Uh-huh, ah, you know
how to open that door, Perry?

MASON:
Oh, it looks like something
an inventor might contrive.

No doorknob, no lock.

Just that slot.

But it does have a key.

Uh-huh.

You know how it works?

No, but I know
how to work it.

May I?
Go ahead.

( door buzzing )

Pretty clever, isn't it?

It's better than a key
or a combination lock.

Actually, that's fool proof.

It would seem so.

I got it from Frazer

and there
are no duplicates.

His, uh, wife was found
in here, you know.

What makes you think
in terms of arson, lieutenant?

Thelma Frazer was dead
before the fire started.

Somebody k*lled her,

brought her in here,

and set the fire
to cover up the m*rder,

and only Frazer
had the key.

I'm sorry my brother
isn't here, Mr. Mason.

He would have enjoyed
meeting you too.

Thank you.

Watch the cigarette
lighter.

( humming )

( stops )

That's our
latest invention.

Not quite perfected.

Of course, it has
other applications.

Anti-collision.

Yes, very perceptive.

Sit down, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Is it, uh,
Mr. Frazer's invention?

No, as a matter of fact
it's a development

of one of our
bright young engineers.

Mind telling me who he is?

His name is Calvin Boone.

He's under long term
exclusive contract.

Signed a new deal
with him today.

I'd like to meet
this bright young man.

Ask Mr. Boone to step
into my office, please.

Have you discussed
Mr. Boone's new contract

with Mr. Frazer?

No.

Should I have?

Well, isn't he a partner
in the company?

Five o'clock today,

that's less than a half hour,

he'll no longer
be a partner.

You're deliberately
taking advantage

of a technicality
in your agreement.

Mr. Frazer cannot assume
his duties here today

because he's under arrest.

Fortunes of w*r,
Mr. Mason.

( phone rings )

Yes?

Oh, thanks, never mind.

Calvin Boone's out
of the office just now.

I'd like you to meet him

next time you're out this way.

Oh, Arthur, meet Mr. Mason.

He's representing
Jim Frazer.

My brother Arthur,
Mr. Mason.

How do you do?

I take it then
your intention

is to buy
Mr. Frazer's interest

for $,?

That's right.

The papers
are already prepared.

A more equitable
amount would be,

say, $,, wouldn't it?

What if it is?

What if it's worth
double ,?

Can you give us one good reason

why we should pay him
more than we have to?

The contract is tight,
legal, and definitive.

You can't break it,
Mr. Mason.

Oh, I don't wanna break it.

Now, as James Frazer's
attorney,

I'm asking you for $,

for his partnership interests.

( scoffs )

I've heard of some of your
courtroom maneuvers, Mason.

We're dealing now
with contracts,

words on paper.

You can't twist them around.

Then you refuse to buy
at the $, figure?

That's right.

And you, sir?

I refuse also, Mason.

Thank you, gentlemen.

ROBERT:
Mason, uh,
what's this all about?

Read your partnership agreement
very carefully.

I'll be at my office
in the morning.

( door shuts )

Well, it was no great problem.

The manager,
a Mrs. Nicholas, let me in,

and that package
was wrapped

just as you see it.

I don't know what's in it.

What progress
downtown, Paul?

Not very good.

There's a quiet
air of confidence

emanating from
the D.A.'s office

and Homicide's lip
is buttoned.

How was she k*lled?
sh*t.

Who's g*n?

Frazer's.
Motive?

I can't find out.

What about other men
in her life?

I've got operatives
on it, Perry,

but I have nothing
to report yet.

All right, Paul, I want you
to check on the whereabouts

of the brothers Hayden
at the time of the m*rder and--

( rings )

Good evening, Perry Mason.

Also a bright young engineer
by the name of Calvin Boone.

Okay.
One moment please.

Uh, anything
on Lois Langley?

No, nothing I've been
able to dig up yet.

Paul, Mr. Stewart Connor.

Oh, that's the, uh,

that's the operative
assigned to Lois Langley.

Yeah?

Well, is he there now?

Good, thanks for calling,

and stay right
with Lois Langley.

There's a bright young engineer
named Calvin Boone

in Lois Langley's house
right now.

Well, frankly, Miss Langley,

I was a little
surprised at your call.

And you were wondering.

Well, I was wondering
if you had

perfected the invention
you were working on.

Miss Langley, what do you
know about the invention?

Quite a bit.

I'm kind of a silent partner

in Hayden research.

You see, I advanced Robert
quite a bit of money

when they started out.

I see.

So it's understandable
I should be interested

in your invention,
isn't it?

Well, I've just one
little final problem to solve

and then it's done.

That last problem
seems to have been

escaping you for weeks.

I've been working on it.

Oh, really, Mr. Boone,
don't you mean

you've been
working on Thelma?

I drove out to the plant
with her yesterday afternoon.

I don't understand.

Well, I waited
in the car for her

while she went upstairs.

I saw her in your office.

It was rather romantic.

Miss Langley,
it's not what you think.

Oh, heavens, I hope that it is.

Mr. Boone,
let's be honest, shall we?

That isn't your
invention at all.

It's Jimmy Frazer's,

and you've been using Thelma

to get at his notes
and sketches

on that anti-collision device.

Did you, uh,

succeed in getting
the last part from him?

Well, how could I?

He just came
home last night.

I mean last night.

At the Frazer's house.

About, uh, minutes
before the fire.

Didn't Jimmy bring
the final notes home with him,

and didn't Thelma let you
into the workshop to get them?

Of course not,
how could she?

Nobody could get in.

Oh, come, Mr. Boone.

Thelma must have had
a duplicate key all along.

How else could she leak bits
and pieces of the invention

to you from time to time?

What do you want with me?

The company has a chance...

to get rid of Frazer.

The company doesn't need him

if you get the last part
of that invention.

And you want me
to get it from Frazer.

Well, what if he
hasn't got it himself?

Well, let's hope he does.

What if he hasn't
solved the last problem?

Or what if he didn't
bring it home last night?

And what if he did?

And what if you're trying
to keep it for yourself?

No, Mr. Boone,

if you haven't
got it already, get it.

You know, I really would
hate to tell the police

about seeing you
at the house last night

just before the fire.

( humming )

Where did you get it?

James Frazer's effects.

It's the invention
he's been working on

for the last three months.

Ours works at four inches.

This works at six feet.

Frazer says if that works
on an augmented scale,

the problem
of air collisions is solved.

But how did you get it?

We've been working
on that same principle.

Calvin Boone.

Coincidence, isn't it?

Can't be a coincidence.

Then either Mr. Frazer
stole from Mr. Boone,

or Mr. Boone stole
from Mr. Frazer.

Must have been Boone
who did the stealing.

What difference
does it make anyway?

It belongs to the company.
Does it?

Mason, we took
your advice

and studied
the partnership agreement.

According to the involuntary
sale provision

we were absolutely
within our legal rights.

At : we bought
Frazer out.

Here's our check
for $,.

Sorry, I can't accept it.

Why not?
It's certified.

At : yesterday afternoon

James Frazer no longer owned

any interest in the company.

He'd already sold it.

Sold it?
How could he?

Oh, he could, all right.

You were so preoccupied with
the involuntary sale provision

you overlooked
the voluntary sales provision.

I remember
now there is one.

That's why you asked us
for $, for his interest,

wasn't it?

According to the voluntary
sale provision,

he must offer us
the chance to buy

before he can sell
it to someone else.

To whom did Frazer
sell his interest?

Miss Street.

Well, that doesn't
change the fact

that Frazer developed
this invention

while he was still
a partner on salary

with the company,

so it belongs
to the partnership.

Oh, the, uh, last part

of the voluntary sale
provision says, uh,

"In the event
of the disollution

"of the partnership,

"all inventions on which any
of the partners are working,

"but, uh, those which have not
been reduced to patent,

"shall be the property
of the person

working on such invention."

Mason, we want that
anti-collision device.

We'll make trouble.

Not by talking about it.

Pardon me, Mr. Mason,
did, uh, Frazer say

he's got that
distance problem solved?

You've seen as much
of it as I have, Mr. Hayden.

Where were you last night

at the time
of the m*rder, Mr. Hayden?

You, Mr. Hayden?

Well, Mason, we're stuck
with a messy situation

involving patents
and law suits.

You're stuck
with a m*rder.

( door shuts )

( dramatic theme playing )

TRAGG:
Yes, sir,
this is the m*rder w*apon,

it has my mark on it.

It's registered in the name
of the defendant,

James Frazer.

I see. I show you now

this flat rectangular
piece of metal

and ask if you can identify it.

Yes, that has
my mark on it too.

Yes, but would you tell
the court, please, what it is?

It's an electronic key.

You can't duplicate
it without having

this precise key as a model.

And what door does this
electronic key open?

The only door
to the workshop

behind the defendant's house.

BURGER:
And where did you find the key?

TRAGG:
In the possession
of the defendant

at the time of the arrest.

I see.

I call your attention
now to these shoes

and ask you to examine them.

TRAGG:
Yes, sir.

The defendant was wearing them

at the time of the arrest,
approximately :

on the night
of the m*rder and the fire.

All right, but what else
is special about these shoes?

Well,
spectroscopic analysis

show that parts
of the leather

had been soaked
with gasoline.

A particular brand of,

uh, green dye gasoline,

called, uh, Emerald.

BURGER:
Is this Emerald gasoline
sold locally?

No, it's a new brand.

It's being, uh, tested
in the outlying districts.

BURGER:
Your witness.

Lieutenant, you indicated

that a locksmith
could not open the door

of that workshop
without a key.

Unless he broke
down the door.

MASON:
Oh, isn't it true
that there is a way

to duplicate the key
by way of making

an electronic
analysis of it?

Yes, it could
be done that way.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That will be all.

JUDGE:
Step down, lieutenant.

In my opinion,
this fire was deliberately set.

Traces of gasoline

in the floor
and baseboard, matches.

Spontaneous combustion

was impossible where
this fire originated.

I see. I show you now

this b*rned match
and this matchbook

and ask if you recognize it?

Yes, sir,
found in the workshop.

Yes, sir, that, uh,
partially b*rned one,

my identifying mark
is on it.

A comparison analysis
of the torn end

proves it to be from
this book of matches.

Paper was ignited,
which lead to the gasoline

and, uh, this particular match

failed to ignite the paper,

so it was tossed aside.

Well, the Emerald gas station
is down the hill.

I watched him
coming from the station

with a gasoline can.

BURGER:
And was this man a regular
guest at your motel?

Oh, yes, sir.

Uh, he had been
for almost three months.

And what was his name?

Well, he called
himself James Freeman,

but that's him over there,
the one you call James Frazer.

Let the record show
that the witness is pointing

to the defendant James Frazer.

Now, Mrs. Nicholas,
I show you this matchbook

and ask if you recognize it?

Sure, that's one of mine.

I had to pay to get that
Wayfair Motel printed on there.

You can't get them
anywhere else but my motel.

I see.

Would Miss Lois Langley
please stand up?

Mrs. Nicholas, would you look
at Miss Langley standing there?

Yes, sir.

Have you ever
seen her before?

Oh, yes, sir,
twice or three times.

Where?
At the Wayfair.

My motel.

Would you explain
to this court, please,

how you happened
to recognize this woman?

Well, she came to visit
Mr. James Freeman.

Uh, that is James Frazer,

that one over there.

BURGER:
You may sit down, Miss Langley.

Thank you, Mrs. Nicholas.

Your witness, counselor.

Now, you said the defendant

brought the Emerald gasoline

back to the motel in a can.

That's correct.

Were you aware, Mrs. Nicholas,

that Mr. Frazer was engaged

in building a model
of some sort?

Yes, sir.

Now, was it possible that
he bought the gasoline

in a can to use
for cleaning tools and parts?

Well, it's possible,
but I can't prove it

one way or the other.

Thank you, Mrs. Nicholas,
that will be all.

JUDGE:
The witness may step down.

I call Miss Lois Langley
to the stand, please.

The defendant spoke to you
on what day?

November nd,
two days after Halloween.

Go on, Miss Langley.
What did he say to you?

Well, he asked me
to keep an eye on Thelma

and said he'd
get in touch with me.

Did he say
why he wanted you

to keep an eye
on his wife?

LOIS:
Yes, he wanted to know
if she was seeing other men.

And if so, who.

I never stopped hoping
I was wrong about her.

BURGER:
Well, you saw
the defendant yourself

at the Wayfair Motel,
didn't you?

Yes.

What for?

Well, he didn't wanna
come back to town,

so he asked me
to do certain things for him.

I understand.
Now, Miss Langley,

did you have a conversation
with the deceased on the--

The day of her death?

Yes.

Would you tell this court,
please,

the gist of that conversation?

Well, she accused me
of having had an affair

with her husband,

and she made it clear

that she wanted him
back in town by that night.

So, what did you do?

Well, I telephoned him
and relayed the message.

I told him he'd better get home

if he wanted to safeguard
his holdings

in the Hayden Research Company.

BURGER:
And did you see
the defendant that evening?

Yes.

BURGER:
Where and when?

He was coming out
of his workshop...

while it was burning.

And his wife Thelma Frazer,
the deceased, was inside?

Yes.

So he said.

I see.

Thank you, Miss Langley.

To you, counselor.

JUDGE:
Just a moment if you will,
please, counselor.

I see it's getting close
to :.

If you intend anything more

than a very brief
cross-examination,

I'd like to adjourn
until morning.

Defense has no objection
to the adjournment, Your Honor.

Very well, then,

court will recess
until : tomorrow morning.

How does it look?

Burger's building
a nice case.

He making it seem
you and Miss Langley

were having an affair.

Anything to it?

No, she told the truth.

I, uh-- I asked her
to keep an eye on Thelma.

Was it possible for anybody
to get hold of your workshop key

long enough to make
an electronic analysis of it?

No, not unless
it was Thelma

at night after retiring.

Did you ever give
the workshop key to her?

No.

All right.

We'll get a resolution
on it tomorrow,

one way or the other.

Perry, I finally
got hold of Calvin Boone,

and I told him about
Frazer's electronic device.

I gather the Haydens
had already told him

about Frazer's latest
addition to it,

but Boone denied
any kind of stealing.

We have time
for a bite to eat

before it gets dark.

Fine.

( dramatic theme playing )

( beeps and hums )

Calvin Boone?

I wanted to see
how it worked.

I couldn't believe it.

All right, Della.

You wanted to steal it.

No, it's too late
for that now.

I just wanted
to see how Frazer

solved the problem.

Well, he didn't.

But it's working now.

It's stationary.
Radio waves.

At least, that's how Frazer
explained it to me.

Do you know what that means?

BOONE:
Yes, it will work like this,

but not traveling
at high speeds.

In a way, it's the model
Frazer was working on.

We had it especially fixed
to make it operate.

Apparently it was successful
enough to get you here.

Haven't you, uh,

been pretty foolish
in doing all these things?

How much do you know?

I'm talking about
using someone as a crutch

when you can stand by yourself.

Weren't you second
in your class at Cal Tech?

Yes.

With an excellent
scientific potential?

Why did you steal
from James Frazer?

I don't know.

I guess I was afraid.

I guess I had no
security in my ability.

I don't know.

How did you get access

to Frazer's notes
and papers?

Through Thelma.

Do you want me to tell you
about the whole mess?

The whole sordid mess?

Is that what you want?

( dramatic theme swells )

MASON:
Miss Langley, the prosecution
has sought by innuendo

to establish an illicit
relationship between you

and the defendant.

Is there any truth
to such an insinuation?

No.

Now, these, uh,
errands Mr. Frazer

asked you to do for him,

why did you do them?

LOIS:
Well, why shouldn't I have?

You profess to be a friend
of Thelma Frazer.

I was.

Yet you spied on her,
reported her activities

to her husband,
and dissembled to her.

With a friend like you

a woman wouldn't need
many enemies, would she?

Now, exactly
what did you report

to the defendant,
Miss Langley?

There were two men
Thelma was seeing.

Who?

LOIS:
Calvin Boone.

MASON:
Who else?

LOIS:
Robert Hayden.

How often was she
seeing Robert Hayden?

Quite often.

At home?

Yes, and at several
of the large and popular

restaurants and nightclubs.

Had she been seeing him

before her husband
left town?

Yes.

Now, how did you come by this
information, Miss Langley?

She told me.

She had no hesitation
in telling me.

Or her husband.

She liked men.

That's what drove Jimmy away,

he couldn't stand knowing
she was seeing other men.

Your Honor,
the prosecution objects.

This is not proper
cross-examination.

Counselor is on
a fishing expedition.

I move that that answer
be stricken from the record

on the grounds
that it's hearsay

and deals with matters
not covered

on direct examination.

On the contrary, Your Honor.

It goes to show
the bias of this witness

and the state of mind
of the defendant.

Well, it may or may not
be proper cross-examination,

but it is pertinent evidence

and, uh,
I'm going to allow it.

At least to the extent
of showing

the defendant's
state of mind.

Miss Langley,
did you ever see exhibit A,

this key which opens
the workshop door?

No.

You mentioned an

in connection
with Thelma Frazer.

Calvin Boone.

Did he ever show you this key,
or its duplicate?

No.

Now, isn't it true
that shortly before the fire

you saw Calvin Boone
at the Frazer residence?

LOIS:
Yes.

And didn't you
thr*aten Mr. Boone

the day after the m*rder
with exposure

if he didn't procure
the last part

of the anti-collision invention
from Mr. Frazer's workshop?

Certainly not.
Why should I?

What concern
was that of mine?

Didn't you tell him
that you were a silent partner?

And that it would inure
to the company's benefit

if Mr. Frazer
were bought out?

Well, I am not a partner.

Silent or in any
other way.

This whole story
is ridiculous.

MASON:
Then what was your motive?

LOIS:
I had none. I told you.

Why did you telephone
the defendant

and urge him
to come back to town?

I've already
told the court.

Thelma asked me to.

Now, what happened on the night
of the m*rder, Miss Langley?

How did you discover
that Calvin Boone

was stealing
the anti-collision invention

from Mr. Frazer?

Did Boone tell you?
No.

Did Thelma Frazer tell you?
No.

Was, uh, Robert Hayden
at the Frazer residence

that night, Miss Langley?

Yes, I saw him.

He didn't know that I saw him.

He probably was keeping
a date with Thelma.

MASON:
What time?

LOIS:
Oh, uh, right after Boone,

about minutes
before the fire.

Miss Langley,
do you know Arthur Hayden?

No.

Not even by sight?

Can't you recognize him
now in this courtroom?

LOIS:
No.

Would Mr. Arthur Hayden
please stand?

Recognize him, Miss Langley?

No.

The m*rder*r
had to have access

to the workshop.

Now, the prosecution
has made quite a point

of the unique electronic
lock on the door.

Wasn't it possible
that Thelma Frazer herself

had a duplicate key?

Well, I wouldn't
know about that.

Well, I think
we can be pretty certain

that Mrs. Frazer
did have a duplicate key.

Wasn't she, uh, maintaining
Calvin Boone's interest in her

by feeding him
the invention bit by bit?

LOIS:
That has nothing to do with me.

When did you find out

Calvin Boone was stealing
the invention?

You're repeating yourself,
Mr. Mason,

I told you I didn't.

Now, Miss Langley,

we can call
Calvin Boone to the stand

to testify to your
conversation with him.

Wasn't it a conversation

that put the lie
to your seeming disinterest

in consolidated industries?

Tell us actually
what happened that night

in the Frazer home,
Miss Langley.

Not in the workshop.
In the house.

Did you face Mrs. Frazer

with your knowledge of her
affair with Calvin Boone?

No, no, I didn't.

Did she persist in trying
to link you with her husband?

No.

Now, you stated
that the deceased

told you that
she and Robert Hayden

saw each other frequently.

Visited certain popular
clubs and restaurants together.

Which ones, Miss Langley?

Oh, uh, Briggos,

and, um,
La Legra Supper Club.

Now, you must know
that all this

can be verified
by an investigation.

I think you've lied,
haven't you, Miss Langley?

I think you've lied
about Robert Hayden

being with Thelma Frazer
at these places.

I think Robert Hayden
was at the Supper Club

and Briggos, but with you.

Or were you with Arthur Hayden?

All right.

All right, I do know Arthur.

MASON:
How well?

Very well. What of it?

What does that mean?

It means we now
understand your interest

in having Frazer
ousted as a partner.

You wanted a larger
share of the profits

for Arthur Hayden.

All right, suppose I did?

Suppose I did want him out?

Then that brings us to, uh,

why you called James Frazer

and told him
to get back to town

on the pain
of losing his partnership.

The very thing
you didn't want.

Unless, of course,
something had happened

that made it the lesser
of two evils.

Something like m*rder,
Miss Langley.

Even if it was because
Thelma was dead,

and I'm not saying it was,

but even if it was,

why would I want him
to come back?

To involve him in it.

To throw the onus
of m*rder on him.

It all fell into place very
neatly didn't it, Miss Langley?

You had access to those
Wayfair Motel matchbooks,

and the Emerald gasoline
sold only out of town.

Did you run out of gas
on one of your trips there?

You're making up a whole plot.

You made up the plot,
Miss Langley.

After you k*lled Thelma Frazer.

No, there wasn't any m*rder.

A person has the right
to protect themself. There--

What person?

What person?

What person
called the defendant

and told him to come home?

What person needed help

in setting the frame up
against the defendant?

And carrying the body
to the workshop?

What person called
Arthur Hayden for that help?

I refuse to answer...

on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.

( dramatic theme playing )

MASON:
Then we're agreed in principle.

Mr. Frazer doesn't want
to hold any rancor.

And we revert to the status
of six months ago.

I think that's very
generous of you, Jim.

I think so too.

Mason, why did Miss Langley
lie about me?

She was trying
to implicate

everybody connected
with the m*rder

to protect herself
and Arthur.

What did happen
between Thelma and Lois?

Miss Langley told
her story at headquarters

just an hour ago.

It seems that Mrs. Frazer
really believed

that you and Miss Langley
had been seeing each other.

Oh, there was never
anything between us.

Oh, incidentally,
Mr. Mason,

the reason
I never told you

that I'd asked Lois
to keep an eye on Thelma

was because, well,
I was ashamed of myself.

In any event, Mr. Frazer,

your wife believed
that you and Miss Langley

had been seeing each other

and that she knew
where you were.

Miss Langley denied this.

Your wife was so desperate
to get you back in town,

that she took your g*n
out of the library desk

and threatened her with it.

Then it was accidental
homicide?

That's what
Miss Langley says.

The g*n went off
in the struggle.

Well, anyway,
I'm glad it's all over.

Well, it may be all over
for all of you,

but it's certainly
not over for me.

Oh, what's unfinished

as far as you're
concerned, Della?

A little matter of my
percent in the company.

That's right,
you own it.

Of course,
I don't mean to be mercenary.

I'll gladly give up my interest
for the purchase price.

Well, how much?

One dollar.

Just exactly
what I paid for it.

That's the least
I can expect

if I'm going to give up
the idea of being rich.

( all chuckling )

( noirish jazz theme playing )