07x26 - The Case of the Antic Angel

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

♪♪

Excuse me, mister,
but could you lend a hand

to a guy who's down on his luck?

Just the price
of a sandwich, sir.

I haven't eaten since yesterday.

All right, come on.
I'll buy you a meal.

I sure appreciate
your offer, mister,

but I can't
go in a restaurant with you.

- Why not?
-I ain't wearing a tie.

Now if you'll just give me
a half a buck...

You'll head
for the nearest saloon, right?

Nothing doing. If you'd
like me to buy you a meal...

Not if I'm gonna get
a sermon with it.

Ruth.

Ruth!

- I'll call you later.
- All right.

Wait, wait, hold that cab.
Hold it!

I'm afraid you're too late,
he's already got a fare.

Who was that woman? You were
with her, weren't you?

“Who is she?
- Friend of mine.

Where's she going?

I'm afraid that's none
of your business.

Look, you don't understand.
She used to be my...

-I mean, I think I used to...
- Well, what's her name?

What?

What do you think her name is?

Ruth, Ruth Sherwood.

Sorry, wrong party.

No, no, wait.
Maybe I am mistaken,

but I'd like to make sure.
Look, here.

Here, take my card.

And would you give her this,
this woman,

this friend of yours,
and whatever her name is,

and have her call me.

I guess I could
pass it on to her.

William Sherwood, huh?

Yeah, yeah, I live in Whittier.

Fine, fine.
A swell town.

Nice talking to you.

- Allow me.
Mm-hmm.

Oh, good evening, sir.

Double Scotch,

and a telephone.

Hello, Harry?

Are you awake?

It's Bill Sherwood.

I'm sitting
at the Hotel Benson bar

with a double Scotch
in front of me.

You're where?
With what?

You heard me.

What'll you have, sir?

Nothing. I'm looking
for a friend of mine.

He called from here
about an hour ago.

Oh, yes, I know who you mean.
He left about ten minutes ago.

You wouldn't happen to know
where he went?

Probably to his room.
He signed for his drinks.

Thanks.

(knocking)

Bill?

Bill.

Why? Six months
of your life shot to...

Okay, what happened?

- Saw Ruth.
Hmm?

I saw Ruth.

Oh, fine. Great.

That explains everything.

Six months you're on
the wagon and then pfft...

you're back on the sauce again
because you saw Ruth.

Okay, who's Ruth?

He wouldn't tell me her name.

He was lying to me,
I know he was.

I don't know why,
but he was lying to me, Harry.

It was her.

I'd recognize her anywhere!

We were married for five years.

Your wife?

But you said she was dead.

You said she was k*lled
in a plane crash.

Nearly a year ago.

miles southwest of Chicago.

All aboard were k*lled.

It was in all the papers, Harry.

All the papers.

There was even
a photograph of Ruth.

She wasn't a blonde then.

Man, you really are snaky.

I wasn't drinking, Harry!

I didn't have a drink
until after I saw her!

Wouldn't you do
the same thing, Harry,

if you saw somebody that'd
been dead for nearly a year?

Yeah, I'd be bugged, but you
said it was impossible.

You know she's dead!

It was Ruth!

Did you talk to her?

No.

No...

I gave the man
she was with my card.

I wonder if she'll call?

Hmm. Look, buddy,
I'm calling you.

You gotta go home.
Come on, back to Whittier.

- You can't take the big city.
- No, no, Harry.

I can't do that.
I've got a...

I've got a meeting
here tomorrow.

You'd never make it anyway.

I got a meeting here
tomorrow morning!

Come on,
up and into the bathroom.

- Harry...
- Wash your face. Come on.

- No.
- Wash your face.

I'll take you home.

Operator?

Whittier, - .

All right, now what's she doing
in my apartment?

Look, I had to borrow
her car to come get you.

He's all right, Miss Kent.

I was more worried about
my car than you, anyway.

I suppose Harry called you
from the hotel, too?

Mm-hmm.

Well, it was only
after midnight,

and since I had
nothing better to do,

I decided to walk over.

I told her that
you were lonesome for her

and so you had a couple
of belts, that's all.

What Harry means is he didn't
tell me why you backslid.

I plead lack of character,
that's all.

Well, a lukewarm bath will help.

SHERWOOD:
Dana...

Thanks a little, huh?

I'd do the same
for any dumb, hopeless slob

that I happened to be
in love with.

Well, I can tell you

somebody who isn't gonna love me
in the morning.

Yeah. You.

My ex-boss.

My new partner.

Ooh, Dana, what's he gonna say?

You know,
the way Mr. Falconer worries,

I think it would be very unkind

for anyone to say
anything about this.

Trouble is,
Sidney's gonna explode

if I don't show up for that
sales meeting tomorrow morning.

Why can't I?

Sure I can, I'll be all right.

Bill...

I'm all right now, Harry.

(groans)

I'm sure that's just
a temporary condition.

Yeah, you look lousy.

(ringing)

Hello?

Ruth?

It is you, isn't it, Ruth?

I'm afraid you have
the wrong name, Mr. Sherwood.

I'm Lynne Bowman.

Where is it you think we met?

San Francisco? Seattle?

St. Louis, .

Don't you remember, Ruth?

Well, I'm afraid I've never been
to St. Louis, Mr. Sherwood.

I'm strictly a West Coaster.

They say everybody has
a double somewhere...

don't you think that
probably explains it?

Oh, I really don't think
that would prove anything.

But it's been
an interesting experience.

Wait...

Ruth, wait.
Wait just a minute...

Happens all the time.

You see a person
that reminds you of someone.

It was her voice.

I was married to her
for five years,

don't you think
I know her voice?

Bill, get ahold of yourself.
Don't crack up.

How could it possibly
be your wife?

I don't know...

I don't know!

SIDNEY:
Why, Mr. Mason?

Answer me that,
if you don't mind.

Why am I persecuted?
What have I done?

Am I a sinner?

All right, I'm a sinner.

But who isn't?

I think you're a very nice man,
Mr. Falconer.

Then why should I be tormented?

Why do I take a lush
into the company?

You took Bill Sherwood
in with you

because he's a good salesman.

And perhaps you also needed
his $ , investment.

Oh, don't remind me!

Mr. Sherwood hasn't started
drinking again, has he?

He must have!

Stone-cold sober,
would he see dead women walking?

Is this what you were looking
at, this picture of his wife?

All right,
so it don't make sense.

But he's your client,
Mr. Mason...

I represented Bill Sherwood

in setting up your partnership.

But now, it seems to me,
you should be seeing a doctor

instead of a lawyer.

Well, my wife's brother
is a head-shrinker.

And him, I don't mind
losing as a friend.

But, Mason, what's the result

if Sherwood is as sane as me...
which ain't no recommendation?

You mean, if Bill's wife
really is alive?

I'll say it without jokes.

That $ , Bill invested
in my business

was insurance money
from her death.

Now, you see why I'm upset?

What is this partner
of mine you represent?

Just a kook?

Just a lush who's seeing
blonde elephants?

Or maybe a guy
who's trying to tell me...

he committed insurance fraud?

All right, Mr. Falconer.

I'll look into it.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

(door closes)

Perry, what on earth...?

The newspaper says that
Ruth Sherwood was survived by

her husband and a sister,
doesn't it?

Yes, here it is.

Maggie Malecki.

St. Louis address.

Get ahold of Paul.

Maybe he can track her down.

Well, I hope I didn't
keep you waiting.

No, just in a state of suspense.

I couldn't help
wondering as to why

we chose this place
for a meeting,

like a couple of b*mb-throwers.

I'll explain in a minute.

Step up to the bar,
I'll buy you a drink.

Orange juice?

A screwdriver...
without the vodka.

Sober fella, me, you know.

One orange juice, please.

I'm afraid I can't give the same
assurance for my sanity.

Sidney seems to feel
I should see

his brother-in-law, the doctor.

Bill...

do you have any doubt
that it was your wife

who was k*lled in that crash?

None at all.

Then the woman you saw...

I have no doubt
about that, either.

It was Ruth.

Any psychics in your family?

Well, I had an aunt who was
a whiz with a Ouija board,

-but I never inherited
any of it. -All right.

Tell me about
your wife's sister.

Who?

Oh, Maggie.

A girl of drab plumage,

operated a dress shop
in St. Louis.

She moved to Los Angeles
a year and a half ago.

Yes, I guess I did hear
something about that.

Oh, now, wait a minute,
you're not suggesting

that the woman I saw was Maggie?

(chuckles): Well, there was
a general family resemblance,

but nobody would
ever mistake those two.

Well, the woman
you saw was blond.

I know, and my wife Ruth
used to have dark hair,

as did Maggie, but you still
can't make a bird of paradise

out of a crow.

Bill, there's a dress shop
across the street.

Madam Lili's.

Maggie?!

I made an appointment
to see her.

(sighs):
Oh.

Well, I wish I had the other
half of this screwdriver.

Maggie was never one
of my greatest admirers.

Oh, not without cause,
you understand.

Well, now, let's see
what time has done to her.

Mr. Mason, there was nothing
in what you told me on the phone

to indicate you were
bringing someone with you.

You have no objections to seeing
your brother-in-law, do you?

It's hardly a secret that I've
always had objections to him.

Nothing has changed.

Now, that's not
entirely true, Maggie.

Miss Malecki,
will you tell me something

about your sister, please?

Yes, I should
be glad to give you

the other side of the picture.

Ruth was a very
beautiful girl, Mr. Mason.

High-spirited, friendly,
and very popular.

Oh, I won't say she
wasn't a little spoiled,

but, then,
that was only natural.

Yes, it often happens.

I was always the plain one,

but I don't ever remember
being envious of her.

I had a flair for designing
and dressmaking and...

Well, one fairy princess
is enough for any family.

And then she changed.

She married me.

You were never
a good provider, Bill.

That may sound unkind,
but it's nonetheless true.

In all fairness, Mr. Mason,

Ruth should have married
a rich man.

She wasn't used to living
a... a budgeted life.

She lost that wonderful sparkle.

On top of that,
Bill started to drink.

There may have been
a connection, Maggie.

We, all of us,
have our shortcomings,

but only a weakling
crawls into a hole!

- Or a bottle.
- If you wish.

About the plane crash...

Well, what about it?

Ruth had spent
several days in Chicago,

after another quarrel with Bill,

and she got on the plane
to come back, and...

the plane never reached
St. Louis.

Well, really, Mr. Mason,
it was in all the papers.

There's no question that
Ruth was on that plane?

I don't understand.

Bill thinks he saw her
last night. Downtown.

MAGGIE:
You saw her?!

Well, I suppose
if you're an alcoholic,

anything is possible!

Maggie, I hadn't had a drink
in six months!

Well, then you have
no excuse at all, do you?!

Really, Mr. Mason,
how can a man of your reputation

lend yourself to such a...
a gruesome business!

Mistakes have been made before,
Miss Malecki.

Mistakes?!

But he identified Ruth's body!

I don't have a very clear memory
about those days.

...I did whatever
was necessary.

A plane crashes and it burns...

If it'll help
refresh your memory any,

the airline finally sent me
what was left of her luggage.

Would you like to have it?

No, thanks.

Excuse me.

Miss Malecki?

Leave me alone.

Please just leave me alone!

- Dana, ll...
- Here are your messages, Bill.

(sighs)
Boss in his office?

Yes, with a customer.

Would you tell him when he's
not busy I'd like to see him?

Mm-hmm.

Dana...

it's all here.

No more phantoms,
no more ghosts,

no more angels.

It took a little bit
of a shock treatment, but...

it worked.

Oh, there was one more message.

A woman called.
She didn't leave her name.

- She called while I was
out to lunch. -A woman?

You can ask Mr. Falconer, but...

well, he said the woman
was a little hysterical,

but that you would know
who she was,

and that it was very urgent that
you meet her tonight at : .

Where? Did she say where?

Red's Reef.

The bar and grill.

Oh, Bill, please don't be upset.

- It's probably just another...
- Leave me alone!

(phone rings)

Yeah?

Oh, hi, Miss Kent.

What?

You think it's the same woman?

But hold on, I thought
that was all in his head.

(quietly): It could be
any woman-- I don't know.

But if he sits waiting
in a bar someplace, Harry...

Yeah, yeah.
Give me the name of the place.

Red's Reef.

(mellow Hawaiian-style
music playing)

(Hawaiian-style music continues)

Anything wrong with that drink?

- Huh? -Would you like me
to bring you something else?

No, no, this is fine
right here, thank you.

How would you know?
You haven't even tasted it.

- I'll get to it!
- (softly): Okay!

You know you're
gonna get marked absent

at the AA meeting tonight.

They'll manage without us.

Yeah, but did it ever occur
to you

I might not be able to manage
without them?

I'm sorry, Harry.

Look, all this chasing
in and around after you,

it does nothing good for me.

Look, I'm sorry, Harry.

Now, who told you I was here?

What difference does it make?
Look, let's cut out of here.

Nobody's gonna show up here,
least of all a dead wife.

Well, what about a live one,
Harry? Now, she called me.

Don't you try to tell me
it wasn't her.

Dana thought so,
and I know so!

Okay, okay, okay,

maybe it's the same girl you saw
outside the Benson Hotel.

But what difference
does it make?

Your wife is dead! Can't you get
that through your head?

Maybe somebody's trying
to play tricks on me.

The only person playing tricks
on you

is you yourself!
You're a psycho!

Maybe I'm just a dumb gas jockey
but...

Here, take this and leave me
alone, will you?

Go on, take it!
You're entitled.

Take it and get out of here!

You need anything?

Yeah... bring me another.

Make it a double.

♪♪

Ruth?

Ruth!

Where were you?

Why didn't you meet me?!

Well, what is it you want?

Well, don't just sit there!

Why are you doing this?!
Ruth!

(phone rings)

Hello.

Oh. Oh, yes, Bill.

What?

Parking lot?

Yes, yes, I have it.
Where are you now?

Yes, I know the corner.

Yes, right away.

Look, we close in ten minutes.

Why don't you take him home?

Bill, have you been drinking?

No, I'm not drunk
and I'm not insane, Mr. Mason.

I-I...

Is that a normal reaction?

To what?

To find out
your wife isn't dead?

Only that she is now?

That she hasn't been
for all this time?

I know I don't sound
too coherent.

Mr. Mason, that is Ruth
out in that parking lot.

Had you arranged
to meet her tonight?

She called my office.

And I waited for her
at Red's Reef Bar,

and waited and waited
and waited.

And she never showed up?

No.

So I decided to go home.

And that's when I found her.

And her head...

Her...

Mr. Mason,
what about the police?

Paul Drake's taking care
of that.

All right, Bill,
tell me what happened then.

Every move you made.

Well, I ran out
to look for a street phone.

I tried to look up
a doctor in the book,

but I couldn't.

So then I tore out to find help
someplace else.

Then I stopped and saw her.

She was already dead.

I thought I better call you.

CLERK:
No more service, Mac!

Well, Paul?

His wife isn't there.

In fact, there's no one in that
parking lot, dead or alive.

There isn't even a car there,
except yours, Mr. Sherwood.

What is this, a gag? What are
you trying to do to me?!

Look, I told you, I'm not drunk
and I'm not insane!

She was in that parking lot!
It was Ruth!

What kind of car was it?

I don't know!

A sedan, I think.

A rust-colored sedan.

A rental car.

I looked on the registration to
see if Ruth's name was on it.

Acme Rent-A-Car.

They stay open all night.
Maybe I can run it down.

Sure, I got a rented car,

but I haven't used it
since : .

I mean, if it's been in
some kind of an accident,

I don't know anything about it,
so if you don't mind...

Somebody else was driving it
tonight?

That's possible.

I loaned it to a friend of mine
earlier.

I've been playing poker here
at the hotel all evening.

What's her name?

Did I say it was a woman?

I know it was, Mr. Kabat.

I'd just like to know
who she is.

Why?

I mean, you got to admit
this is a bit strange,

you come busting in here
at : a.m.

with a lot of questions, but
you don't give out a whole lot.

Now just because you have
an I.D. that says you're...

Suppose she was in an accident.

Hit-and-run?

DRAKE: Could be.

Nah. That still
doesn't do it.

If somebody had been hurt,
the police would have been here.

Now, somebody's car smashed up,
property damaged,

they quick hire a private eye?

Ah, you gotta do
better than that, Mr. Drake.

Is her name Ruth Sherwood?

No.

Now, where have I heard
that name before?

Oh, yeah. Some character
outside the Benson Hotel.

I've got his card
here somewhere.

Lynne swore she didn't
know him, though.

Whoever Lynne is,
I'll bet she lied to you.

And maybe she did me a favor.

Tell me one thing:
is this big trouble?

It might be as big as m*rder.

All right, that does it.

-A Kissena Road.

Her name is Lynne Bowman.

And tell her lots of luck.

(knocking)

If this case is
as wacky as you say it is,

it needs one final touch.

What does that mean?

To have Lynne Bowman
open this door.

If she does, Paul,
you do the talking.

I'm not prepared.

(knocking)

Well?

(glass tinkling)

Well, I guess
no one's home, anyway.

Better not touch
the lights, Paul.

Too many neighbors.

Well, it's the right place.
It's addressed to Lynne Bowman.

Bring the matches
over here, Paul.

Hey, the gal does
all right for herself.

What are you looking for?

I want to see where
she buys her clothes.

"Madam Lili."

Same thing.

Paul, as fast as you can,

start checking that
St. Louis airplane crash.

What's your idea?

Well, the number
of casualties matched

the plane's passenger list.

Let's see who might have died
in Ruth Sherwood's place,

and why.

(glass tinkles)

All right, don't move.

Don't worry, Sergeant,
we won't.

Uh, may I reach
for my wallet?

It says "private investigator.”

Yeah.

Looks more like burglary to me.

My name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.

We found the door open.

You know a woman
named Lynne Bowman?

Nope. Do you?

All right,
never mind the cracks.

You looking
for Miss Bowman, Sergeant?

Traffic detail just found
a rental car in a ravine.

She was in it.

What happened?

Apparently,
drove through a guardrail

in the Hollywood Hills.

foot drop.

- You mean she's dead.
- SERGEANT: Yeah.

Checking the address
in her wallet,

thought there might be
some relatives.

Yes, there is one, Sergeant.

A sister.

Maggie Malecki.

(gasps)

Oh, it's her. It's her!

It's who, Maggie?

Ruth. Oh, poor Ruth!

Why had she assumed the name
of Lynne Bowman?

She... no.

No, I can't, I can't.

Then tell me why
you pretended she was dead.

Somebody else better ask
those questions.

Perry, the next time
you ask me a question,

just bear in mind
you're asking the wrong guy.

What's the matter, Paul?

Check on the plane crash,
he says.

Find out who died in your
wife's place on that plane.

With his wife's luggage,
remember.

Are you saying that Ruth
switched places

with another woman?

But why?

She was flying
from Chicago to St. Louis!

- She was going to...
- DRAKE: Sure.

Why's she been using the name
Lynne Bowman ever since?

Why'd she dye her hair?
Why a million things!

Do you have some of the answers?

Perry, by the time I got
a Chicago agency on the job,

they found cops
already on it!

The police and Federal Aviation
are the guys

that'll have to solve
your riddle.

While I just sit here

wishing I could remember things
straight when I drink.

Such as finding dead women
in parking lots.

But she was there, Mr. Mason!

I got blood on my hands!
I got...

All right, all right,
take it easy.

I didn't strike out entirely.

At least I got the rundown
on this guy Kabat.

He was her boyfriend, wasn't he?

Well, he tried to be, I guess.
Dated her a few times.

Anyway, he came
from Chicago, too.

When?

A week or so
after the plane crash.

His job is investigator
for a bonding company.

Kabat's a detective?

His last assignment
was a $ , bank robbery,

which took place the same day
that plane took off.

You... You mean, Ruth might be
mixed up in something like that?

Oh, no, I can't believe...

At least it might
take you off the hook.

Della, find out if Mr. Kabat
is available to...

(door opens)

- Perry...
- It's all right, Della.

Sorry to interrupt, Perry,

but I've just come from
the coroner's office.

Your wife, Mr. Sherwood,
alias Lynne Bowman,

seems to have not only
fatal skull injuries,

but the marks of strangulation
on her throat, as well.

She... she was m*rder*d, then?

I guess you're not surprised.

Andy, I've just learned
something from Paul

about this man named Kabat...

I know, Perry. I know,

but unfortunately,
it's your name

on this warrant, Mr. Sherwood.

MEDICAL EXAMINER:
Uh, no, Mr. Burger,

her death was not caused
by strangulation.

She died, unquestionably,
as a result

of the blows
on the back of her head.

But, Doctor, she was gripped

strongly enough about the neck
to keep her quiet?

To keep her from crying out,
for example?

Oh, yes. Absolutely.

The other bruise marks
I mentioned

would confirm
that sort of struggle.

BURGER: And in such a struggle,
could someone so gripping her

have cracked her head back
against some solid object

with sufficient force to cause
the fatal skull fracture?

A strong man could
certainly do that, yes.

A man in a drunken rage.

The outside top of the car door
had actually been dented

at the same points
where we removed

the, uh, blood and hair samples
I spoke about,

both of which matched
the blood and hair

of the deceased, of course.

Now, Doctor, perhaps you heard

the fingerprint technician
testify regarding

the bloody fingerprints found
on that car door

and on the dashboard

and steering wheel column
inside the car.

He identified these prints

as those of the defendant,
William Sherwood.

Doctor, tell us,
did you also examine

the bloody fingerprints?

I did, and was present
during laboratory tests.

It was all the same blood,
same type-- the decedent's.

And the stains found on
the jacket and the handkerchief

taken from the defendant
next day?

MEDICAL EXAMINER: They were
also the same blood type.

Same as his wife's blood.

BURGER:
Thank you, Doctor.

Mr. Mason?

Doctor, can you positively state
that death was caused

by her head striking the car?

Well, there was certainly
every evidence that...

Or could she have also been
struck by some other object?

I'm not questioning
the struggle, mind you.

Just asking if a person--

perhaps not "strong”
or "in a rage"--

could have added
the one fatal blow?

MEDICAL EXAMINER:
Yes...

yes, that could have
happened, I suppose.

I testified, Mr. Mason, that
when the woman called the office

I asked her name
but she wouldn't give it to me.

She was upset.

She sounded, uh... frightened.

MASON: But you knew
what had been happening

to your junior partner.

Couldn't you have
guessed, or asked

if she was really his wife,
Ruth Sherwood?

No!

On me, she hung up.

At : , she said, he should
meet her urgent in that bar.

That's all I know,
Mr. Mason, nothing else.

MASON:
Mr. Falconer...

when you accepted
the defendant as your partner,

in what condition
was your company?

I needed business.

I needed money to go ahead.

And how is business now?

Oh, that boy William,
he's a shot in the arm.

Don't misunderstand, him I like.

We're full of new contracts,
new deals,

new plans for production...

But what's the condition
of the company?

Extended. In the middle.

Out on a limb.

That's why the drinking again
so upset me!

Trouble at a time like this
and a hundred deals can fall!

And you still need money?

It's a sickness.

Who doesn't?

Gosh, I didn't mean to get sore

and leave Bill alone like that,

but when you're an alcoholic,
it's not easy,

bouncing in and out
of bars for a buddy.

Didn't he also claim
that he paid you

to leave him alone there,
waiting for the woman?

Yeah, I took something.

But I don't earn it
like I used to,

and the past couple of days,
chasing him has cost me.

You and the defendant
have been buddies in the AA

for quite some time,
haven't you, Mr. Niles?

Well, it wasn't until after I
got fired out of a trucking job

in San Francisco that
I finally got ahold of myself,

and when Bill showed up in
Whittier, too, new to meetings,

he said, let's hold hands.

So I guess a couple of nights
a week after that...

Then you have spent
a great deal of time with him,

as a matter of fact.

Tell us, Mr. Niles, what did
he say to you about his wife

during those long nights when...

- Your Honor...
- HARRY: Nothing!

Nothing bad about her.

Bill never said anything bad
about anybody.

Bill is not the kind of guy
who could k*ll.

All right, all right,
that's all.

I'll withdraw the question.

Now, think hard.

At what time did you leave the
defendant alone at Red's Reef?

HARRY:
Search me.

But I got home about : .
Figure it out for yourself!

He had one shot,
and then he had five doubles.

You can't drink them fast,
not even a guy like him.

Then he waited there alone for
quite some time, in other words?

Until : , I'd say.

Yeah, that's right.

It was : .

Cross-examine, Mr. Mason.

I have no questions
for this witness, Your Honor.

But I would like to ask
for a ten minute recess.

I don't know, ...
couldn't remember everything.

I didn't want to lie
to you, but...

When you telephoned me,
the clock beside my bed

said exactly : .

All right, yes,
there is kind of a gap there.

There's a hole you could
drive a truck through!

From : until :
is time enough to k*ll someone,

wreck a car, get back
to yell for help and an alibi.

Just wait until you hear
Hamilton Burger saying that.

Mr. Mason, will you
please listen to me?

Will you please listen?

I told you I tried to call
a doctor, remember?

Well, the reason I couldn't

was my hand was fumbling
on the dial.

I couldn't even read
the print of your number.

So I went across the street,
some other place for a drink.

But honest, Mr. Mason, honest,
you've got to believe me,

I didn't take it!

For the first time in my life,

I stopped right in the middle,

and I made myself
walk, walk, walk...

Oh, Lord, how did I ever
tell you all that?

Quite a price, isn't it?

To stop drinking, and send
yourself to the gas chamber?

Mr. Mason, I didn't k*ll her!

I didn't!

What about all that other stuff?

That new stuff of Mr. Drake's?

The way Ruth acted,
the other people she knew...

aren't you going to
bring any of that up?

I'm afraid they'll
beat me to it, Bill.

I knew Ruth was
in Los Angeles, of course.

I knew she was using
the name Lynne Bowman.

I helped her make it up,
as a matter of fact.

Why did you do that,
Miss Malecki?

Well, isn't it obvious?

She didn't want
her husband to find her.

It was her business,
I wasn't going to interfere.

And that's why you lied to
her husband and to Mr. Mason,

when they came to your shop
asking about Ruth?

MAGGIE:
I'm sorry about that, but...

I hadn't anticipated such a...

such a thing happening.

I didn't know
what else to say.

But how did you feel
about people thinking

your sister had died
in that plane crash?

Well, not very good, obviously.

But there was no other family
to hurt by lying.

I'm sorry, Bill,
but Ruth simply hated you!

She told me if I didn't do
exactly what she said,

she'd never speak to me again,
she'd never see me again.

Now, Miss Malecki, to clarify
this whole situation,

would you please explain
to the court

how your sister happened
to avoid that plane crash?

Well, she'd meant
to fly to St. Louis.

She had her ticket
and everything.

And then just before
she boarded the plane,

she went into the washroom.

There was a young woman there,
having hysterics,

sobbing her heart out.

So Ruth told me
they got into conversation.

This other girl was coming
to the Coast.

Oh, she got mixed up
in some love affair,

and realized at the last moment
that it was all a mistake.

Well, Ruth had plenty
to cry about, too.

Coming home to an alcoholic
she-she couldn't get rid of.

To a man she should never
have married in the first place.

So when this girl suddenly said,

why not trade,
why not switch tickets...

Well, that's how it happened.

That's exactly what they did.

They didn't have time
to change the luggage, I guess,

and that was
the only real identification

that wasn't burned.

Miss Malecki,
did your sister ever mention

the name of that woman?

The woman
with whom she changed places?

MAGGIE:
Edie.

She just spoke of her as Edie.

Yes, Edie. Edith Ross.

She'd been employed
for two years

as assistant teller
at the Chicago-Great Lakes Bank.

And how did you
become interested

in this Edith Ross woman,
Mr. Kabat?

Well, when I was assigned
to the case,

the bonding company wanted me

to check into the employees,
naturally.

I discovered
that this Edith Ross

had quit her job a couple
of weeks before the robbery.

But she'd been in and out of
the bank visiting after that.

I also found out

she'd made plans
to visit California.

She had plane
and hotel reservations.

Do you think this Edith Ross
woman was actually involved

in a love affair?

Well, if she was a part
of the robbery,

she must have had
a professional accomplice,

but, uh, no, she wasn't exactly
the romantic type.

I'd say anything she told
Ruth Sherwood in the washroom

was just plain acting,
or maybe panic.

There were policeman all over
that Chicago airport.

Now, would you clarify
for us, please,

your own subsequent actions?

Well, I figured Edith Ross
was at least worth a trip

to L.A. for questioning.

When I got here, I discovered

somebody had used
her plane ticket

and hotel reservation
for one night.

The only trouble was,

the hotel people
gave me a description

that didn't fit Edie.

So, from there on in,
it was nothing but, uh, legwork.

I finally tracked down
this Lynne Bowman,

and found out she was a friend
of the Malecki woman.

I also tripped onto the fact
that Miss Malecki had a sister

who supposedly died
in a plane crash,

but her face sort of resembled
this Lynne Bowman.

So, I, uh,
put two and two together,

and I figured
I was on the right track.

And then you struck up an
acquaintance with the deceased?

Yes, I dated her several times.

Uh, she'd meet me downtown.

She was a girl
who liked a good time,

but, uh, I didn't tip my hand.

If she was a part
of the robbery,

well, that's when
I dreamed up the idea

of having her bump
into her husband.

BURGER: Wait a minute.
You arranged this?

KABAT:
Yes, I did.

When I discovered
Sherwood lived in the area,

I figured this was a way
to confirm her identity,

and also throw a little scare
into the lady, too.

BURGER: And what did you do,
Mr. Kabat?

I took her to the Benson Hotel,

where I learned Sherwood was
attending a sales meeting.

Well, he saw a similarity,
I guess,

but the girl... (laughs)

She didn't even bat an eyelash.

She even laughed about it later,
and said,

"Who was that creep?”

Then I guess she felt sorry,
because she called him

and told him she never even
heard of any Ruth Sherwood.

Mr. Kabat, don't tell me,

after all your painstaking
investigation...

That's right, Mr. Burger.

After all my hard work,
I goofed.

She had me fooled completely.

I thought I got the wrong dame.

- And did you ever see her again?
- KABAT: No.

But you loaned her your car?

Sure. Why not? I had no need
for the car or the girl anymore.

As a matter of fact,
I was packing to leave

for Chicago the next day
when I learned the real truth.

The real truth, Mr. Kabat?

That I'm a lousy detective.

I'm not doing so well myself,
Perry.

Nothing more from Chicago,

nothing more on Ruth Sherwood's
source of income.

What about safe-deposit boxes
and savings accounts?

Nothing.

And Maggie Malecki?

Just the credit record
I gave you.

We should leave, Paul.

I want to stop at a couple
of bars this evening.

Well, now
we're getting someplace.

While you visit
the real estate board.

- Huh?
- And the Teamsters Union.

Perry, what in the name of...?

Wait a minute. Perry.

I got it.

Mr. Kabat... do you smoke?

Huh?

This is a cross-examination,
Mr. Kabat.

I'm allowed
to ask you a question.

Oh. Sorry, sir.

No, as a matter of fact,
I don't smoke.

Why do you need matches, then?

To light your way
in the dark, perhaps?

Your Honor!

MASON:
If it please the court,

I'll show the relevancy
of this in a moment.

Well, you better do it quickly,
Mr. Mason. Go on.

I show you this match cover,
Mr. Kabat.

Do you recall giving it
to my investigator, Mr. Drake?

Drake?

Oh, sure, in my hotel room.

Well, I'd, uh,
been playing poker that evening,

and you know
how you pick those things up

to light somebody's cigarette.

I show you another match cover,

also rather distinctive
in design.

In fact, an exact duplicate,
wouldn't you say?

Yeah, I guess so.

Then both match covers probably
came from the same place.

Wouldn't you agree?

They could have,
I guess, but I-I...

My point is this.

I saw Mr. Drake pick this one up
in Ruth Sherwood's apartment.

Your Honor, I've only permitted

this line of questioning
so far...

I am the one who permits
the questioning, Mr. Burger.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

When did you pick up
your matches

from the apartment, Mr. Kabat?

If it will help you to recall,

we were there a couple of hours
after the m*rder.

The apartment had been ransacked
by someone.

Well, look, uh, I dated
Lynne or Ruth, whoever she was.

Maybe I did pick up matches
there sometimes,

but that doesn't mean...

But didn't you testify

that you always met downtown
for your dates?

Well, those matches could be
sold in , different places.

MASON:
Maybe, but now,

can you tell us what happened
to the $ ,

taken from that Chicago bank
last year?

KABAT: Mr. Mason, the police
know more about that than I do.

The money could be scattered
anywhere.

The bills weren't marked.

Besides, I work for the bonding
company, remember?

MASON:
Yes, I remember.

So your only interest
is in protecting possible loss

of any employee bond
on Edie Ross, is that correct?

Yes, that's all.

Then why haven't you submitted
an accurate expense account

for your investigation?

What?

Your Chicago office informs me

that your expenses here
have been quite moderate

in proportion to a job
of such size.

But my own investigator suggests

that you've really spent a great
deal more than you've reported.

Well, I don't like to pad an
account with my personal things.

You mean you've been spending
your own money on this job?

Why? Because you hoped to grab
hold of much bigger money?

No! I mean...

Look, any detective hopes
to collect a bonus

in case he does find
missing money...

MASON: Collect a bonus, or keep
the missing money himself?

What's your theory, Mr. Kabat?

That the $ , came
to Los Angeles

in Edie Ross's luggage?

Luggage which must have been
claimed by the deceased?

KABAT: All right, maybe
I did think that once, but...

There was no other reason
for your seeing so much

of the deceased, was there?

I don't see how that has...

No other reason for ransacking
her apartment that night?

Do I have to ask for a recess,
Mr. Kabat,

so the police may go over
the apartment again

for your fingerprints?

So they can check
your poker game alibi?

All right. Yes.

Yes, I did go out there,
but I didn't find anything.

Why did you go?

Why did you take such a chance?

It wasn't because I knew she was
dead, if that's what you mean.

I..

I discovered that she made
a date to meet her husband.

She... I hadn't been fooled
by her yet.

I was worried that maybe
I'd pushed her too far

because she was getting panicky.

So when I was sure who she was,
the night before,

I just came out and asked her
about the money.

So I went out to that bar,
too, Red's Reef.

When she didn't show up,
I suddenly realized

she could be halfway
out of town.

You see,
I didn't know she was dead.

I didn't k*ll her!

MASON:
Why didn't you tell the police

the entire story, Mr. Kabat?

Do you still think you know
where the money is?

She had no big bank accounts,

no safe-deposit boxes...

Where do you think
it is, Mr. Kabat?

After all, don't you
consider yourself the only one

who figured this
whole thing out?

Yeah...

Yeah, I was the only one,
till now.

Where, Mr. Kabat?

KABAT:
Well...

Her sister has a dress shop.

She's been expanding.

Well, that takes money, see,
so I figure maybe her sister...

That's a lie.

I never even
heard of that money.

I never got one penny from Ruth.
It's my dress shop.

- You're lying, you're lying,
- Bailiff!

You're lying!

How dare you say that about me!

She was my sister!

It's all right, Miss Malecki.

As Mr. Kabat himself stated,
he's not a very good detective.

Because whoever k*lled
Ruth Sherwood

could have choked
the information out of her,

and known exactly
where to look.

So who other than you
could have determined

where to find Ruth
in the first place?

Well, how about
a supposed alcoholic

who I discover often takes
just a single drink

when he's in bars alone?

Or a supposed
former truck driver

who has apparently
never joined any union?

Who are you really, Harry?

Aren't you the one person who
could have tracked this case

even better than Kabat?

No, you got it all wrong.

Aren't you Edie's
professional accomplice?

Aren't you
the bank robber himself?

Let me go!
Let me go!

Let me...

Then Ruth actually had
all that money.

She found it in Edie's suitcase

but was still afraid
to spend it, I guess.

They found a Santa Barbara
locker key in Harry's room.

He admitted that he took it
from your wife's keys.

After he left you in the bar,

he ran smack into her outside.

The woman he'd been looking for
all these months.

She really was panicky-- maybe
even coming to you for help,

after the pushing around
Kabat had been giving her.

DELLA:
That's when Harry k*lled her?

I don't believe that
was his intention,

but he was desperate.

He told her he knew
she had the money

and forced her
to tell him where it was.

But he choked too hard,
hit too hard...

Must have happened just before
you came staggering out.

Well, at least he didn't
blame it on you, Bill.

DRAKE: No, he then dumped
the car in a ravine,

figuring that you
were too loaded

to remember what you'd seen.

And all that time he spent
hoisting me onto the wagon,

it was just in hopes that
I would lead him to her, huh?

Kabat followed her,
Harry followed you.

Finally, the circle
was complete.

Just because he's a bank robber
and a m*rder*r

doesn't mean there's anything
wrong with that wagon, you know.

Well, the whole thing's
left me just a little bit shaky.

Well, come on, everybody.

It's on me.

Bill!

Well, just a little screwdriver,
we'll split it.

William...

You have the vodka,
I'll have the orange juice.

Ladies...

(laughs)

After you.

(theme song playing)