06x09 - The Case of the Weary Watchdog

[bunniefuu]

[Man] Of course, I realize your familiarity
with Oriental burial,

or grave figures.

The small sculptures, mostly of animals,

entombed with dead Oriental nobility

as symbolic representations
of the dead men's needs

for enjoyable lives in the next world.

But this one is-- is rather unusual.

Phil Rubin, in his book on Oriental art,

comments on the more than five centuries

that guarded the crypt of its dead master.

I like to think of it as not only faithful

but weary.

Yes, definitely.

A most Weary Watchdog.

[Woman]
It looks evil to me.

Perhaps I-- I can show you
something else, Mrs. Holmes?

No. I'll take it.

Fine. Fine.

If you'll just sign here.

- Trixie, I--
- [quietly] I told you not to come here.

- But I thought that--
- Busy, Miss Tong?

Oh, we, uh-- we haven't got
what this customer wants.

Would you see that the Kamakura Watchdog

is wrapped and properly crated
for Mrs. Holmes?

Right, away, Mr. Franklin.

Della, please.

The drive-in on Vista Haven Road
in ten minutes.

All right.

Mrs. Brent.

[bells jingling]

$ , ?

You must be joking.

Where would I get $ , to lend you?

There's almost that much
in my mother's estate,

but I can't touch it for at least a year.

- But, Janet, that--
- Della, you're my only hope.

You're my only friend.

I must have the money.

I must have it now. I must.

No why's, no wherefores,

just $ , , like that.

Please?

You'll get every penny of it back.

Look, why don't you come back to the office?

Talk to Perry.
I know he can help you.

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

What is it, Janet? What's wrong?

Della, you will never know
how desperate I am at this moment.

There's only one of two things
that I can use--

that $ , or a g*n.

Please, Della.

Janet...

Janet!

A g*n.

Something special tonight, Della.

- Two, uh, Hong Kong dinners, please.
- Two specials.

No, no. Two Hong Kong dinners.

But I heard you say, "Two specials."

[speaking Chinese]

Mr. Mason, Miss Street,

uh, your distinguished presence
fills my establishment with honor.

High flattery and delicious food,

and from the Honorable Cee Cee himself.

Merely an apology for my awkward son,

uh, not so successfully learning
his father's business.

Uh, may I present my son, Dean Chang.

When the head is filled
with thoughts of love,

uh, the ears are sometimes closed.

I'll put in the order.
Two Hong Kong dinners.

I wouldn't worry, Cee Cee.

He's young enough
that he can afford a few mistakes.

There is hope then, Mr. Mason.

Uh, for if a fool persists in his folly,
he may become wise.

Enjoy your dinner.

Well, can I help?

How far would you go for a friend?

How long is forever?

I need $ , .

Need what?

No questions asked.

Twenty-five thousand dollars,
like that.

Without questions and without facts.

Mr. Franklin asked, would you please
also initial these vouchers, Mr. Brent?

Oh, yes, yes.
Fabulous man-- Ed Franklin.

Simply fabulous.

Couldn't begin to run the business
without him.

Not at all.
[chuckles]

Yeah. There you are.

Signed, sealed, and ready for you
to deliver, Miss Tong.

- Run along now.
- Thank you, Mr. Brent.

Well, now,

most enjoyable lunch

with two charming and most enjoyable ladies.

And now you're anxious to get back
to your stamp collection.

Oh, a fabulous set of first-aid covers.

Simply fabulous.

- You care to see them, Della?
- Oh...

Uh, Alton, I think Della would prefer
to see the new dresses that I ordered.

Well, yes, that's a very good idea, Janet.

Maybe a little later.

Of course, of course.

Did you get it?

Oh, Della, thank you.

And please trust me.
You'll get every penny of it back.

- I swear it.
- I hope so.

The money isn't mine.

Just as the car you got into at the drive-in
yesterday wasn't yours.

Della, I wish that I could explain.

Look, Janet, I didn't mean to pry,
and it won't go any further. I promise you.

But when you left me sitting in your car
and took off in somebody else's, I...

Well, working for lawyers and detectives,

I guess you just naturally get curious.

Della, as soon as I can,
I'll explain everything to you.

To me...

or to your husband?

[sighs]

Are you going to ask Alton
not to question you

about how fabulous his store manager,
Ed Franklin, really is?

$ , exactly.

Uh, this money's yours to give, I assume,

or have you added larceny to indiscretion?

The forged hotel registration
and the photographs you staged, please.

Make quite a story in some peephole,
exposé rag.

"Wife of Pillar of L.A. Society
in Drunken Spree."

What an easy mark.

A bartender with a loaded drink,
a friend with a loaded camera.

I think you're actually proud
of what you've done.

You poor, lonely, neglected wife.

Tell me, Janet,

aside from his stamps,

is blue-bood Alton really interested

in anything?

They're not in there.

The photo negatives and the original
registration are not in there.

[mutters]

You made a bargain.
You promised!

I promised to cooperate
for certain considerations.

, of them.

You have the money!

I know I can't bleed any more
money out of you,

but there are other considerations.

Your husband's company, for instance.

What?

I want part of it.

Just percent ownership
of Brent's Oriental Imports.

A silent, half interest in a business
that I already wholly

and openly operate.

- How do you expect me--
- Oh, no false modesty.

I'm sure you can be persuasive.
If not,

well, just, uh, describe to Alton

what his social register friends will see

if those pictures are published.

"Fabulous, Janet.

Simply fabulous."

[door opens, closes]

Hello? Hello.

This is Ed.

I'm sorry, but I have some
unpleasant news for you--

a slight increase in your overhead.

The price of my services has gone up.

From , to , a month.

And, finally, an antique Chinese headdress

worn by a Manchu lady of high rank
during the Chung Lung period,

approximately .

The jewels are pearls,
symbols of purity.

And on each side there is a butterfly,
symbolic of long life.

As with the rest of the jewelry,

there is a delicacy
and manipulative elaboration

singularly characteristic of the Chinese.

And that, I think, Mr. Brent,

ends the invitational preview
of your new showing.

Thank you, Mrs. Holmes.

And, of course, our thanks
to her husband, Commodore Holmes,

president of Pan World Airfreight,

for making possible the delivery
of these simply fabulous pieces

in time for tonight's preview.

And now, eat and drink.

The prices are simply outrageous,

and the proceeds go to charity.

[guests chuckling, chattering]

You ought to wear clothes like that
more often.

Look good on you.

So does the yoke on an ox.

I never complimented a lady ox before.

Nor kissed one, either.

Go wash your mouth out!

How many times has he kissed you,

put his filthy hands on you?

Y-You don't know what you're saying.

I was so smart, sneaking in here,
wearing a busboy outfit.

- It's real smart, wasn't it?
- Please.

I saw you kiss him!

You don't understand.

Dirty. You make yourself dirty.

You make this dirty.

I was worried about having new things
here for the showing,

but Galen--

uh, Commodore Holmes--

managed to deliver them with time to spare.

You really must look at them closely,
Della, when you can.

- They're priceless.
- I know. I've looked.

I wish calories were as expensive.

Do you hear that? Calories.
[laughing]

Oh, that's fabulous, Janet,
don't you think? Fabulous.

Alton, would you please stop
using that expression?

- [Franklin] Excuse me.
- [Alton] Oh, Franklin.

Has Mrs. Brent spoken to you yet,
sir, about me?

[Alton]
Why, no. I don't believe she has.

[Franklin] If it's all right, Mr. Brent,
a little later tonight, perhaps,

the three of us can talk for a few minutes?

That's strange.
[chuckles]

You ask to talk to us,
and she simply disappears.

[chuckles]

Well, I'm sure it'll be all right.
A little later, Edward?

Fine. Thanks.

- If you'll excuse me.
- Mmm.

Oh, Franklin, one moment.

Commodore?

I meant to ask you this earlier.

My insurance man
was at my house this morning.

Some question about liability coverage.

He noticed the piece that Zaneta bought
at your place yesterday.

I showed it to him.
Lucky thing I did.

It seems he's also a qualified art appraiser.

Oh, come now, Galen.

Don't tell me Edward overcharged
your charming wife?

She was charged $ ,

for something the appraiser said
wasn't worth .

Just an error on the appraiser's part,
Commodore.

Do you mind if I ask? This, uh--

This $ , piece worth only $ --
what in the world could it be?

A Watchdog, Miss Street.

A Weary Watchdog.

Well.

k*lling yourself won't solve anything.

Just make the scandal that much juicier.

I didn't buy the g*n for me.

k*ll me, then run?

Still haven't solved anything.

I don't intend to k*ll,

only to force you to give me the registration
and the pictures and the money.

Then run.

They're in my desk, at the store.

We'll drive there.

Pick up the bags.
We'll go out the back way.

Look, Janet...

baby!

[siren wailing]

There's been an all-points bulletin
on this car for the past hour.

Sorry, Mrs. Brent.
You're wanted on a charge of m*rder.

May I have your driver's license?

Better get out.

I'm afraid you've made a mistake.

My name isn't Mrs. Brent.
It's Street.

Della Street.

Well, here she is, Perry.
And you can have her.

Hmph!

After involuntarily spending several hours

in these, uh, inelegant surroundings,

I expected you to be gracious,
if not apologetic.

Della, would you like it better
if I booked you and kept you here

for aiding a fugitive to escape?

You'd first have to prove that Della knew
that a felony had been committed,

that she was aware that Mrs. Brent
had committed said felony,

and that she aided her with the intent

that Mrs. Brent avoid arrest,
trial and conviction

for the commission of said felony.

And how could we possibly prove that?

After all, Miss Street got into the car
by mistake, thinking it was her own.

Mrs. Brent's luggage just happened to be
in the back of the car

and her key in the ignition.

Sounds reasonable to me.

Especially since your own car's
at the garage for repairs,

and you took a cab to the Brent house.

Mmm. Oh, I have a message for you--

for both of you--
from the district attorney.

He says if and when Janet Brent
is caught and convicted,

you, Miss Street, will be tried

as an accessory to m*rder.

Well, what have you to say to that?

I'm hungry.

That's feminine logic.
Cafeteria upstairs?

It's just a little after midnight.

Couldn't we go to
the Honorable Cee Cee's Mandarin House?

Thank you.

And we'll just have some tea, please.
We'll order later.

You don't really think I'm hungry, do you?

No, Della.

I assume that you've made a date
to meet Janet Brent someplace,

and I assume that that someplace is here.

- Perry, this girl is really in trouble--
- I know that, Della.

Just let me say this:

If I see her,
if you introduce me to her...

All right. I'll talk with her,

but then I have to
turn her over to the police.

I'm an officer of the court,
and she's a fugitive.

I just have no choice.

So think it over carefully.

- Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason.
- What is it, Dean?

My father. He's been arrested.
He's in jail.

Cee Cee's in jail?

I've been looking for you all over.

He asked me to come and get you
and take you to the jail right away.

Please, Mr. Mason, now.

All right, Dean.
I'll be right with you.

Perry, what...

I'll meet you back at the office

after you've decided about Mrs. Brent.

You know, Perry, maybe we should
set up an office for you down here.

- You all right?
- Only a weed blooms well in prison air.

This so-contrite sunflower greets you
with infinite relief, Mr. Mason.

Andy, I understood the charge
against Mr. Chang

had to do with grand theft.

Why is he mixed up
with the homicide department?

Fair question, Counselor.

He isn't involved
in the Franklin m*rder, is he?

Oh, no, no.

The most Honorable Cee Cee wasn't even near
the Brent house at the time of the m*rder.

He was busy running through two red lights,

speeding, and driving recklessly--

all to avoid pursuit by a traffic officer.

After Traffic picked him up driving around
about a half an hour later,

they made a routine check of his car.

And found?

Something reported earlier this evening
as having been stolen

from the home
of a Commodore Galen Holmes.

Of course, Mr. Chang denied any knowledge
of the stolen item?

On the contrary, Counselor.
He freely admitted stealing it.

Don't ask me why he sent for you.

It'll take miracle, not a lawyer,
to get him out of this.

Cee Cee?

Legend say when Moses throw wand
into Red Sea-- no miracle.

Waters not divide to leave dry ground.

But when first man believe in miracle
and jump into Red Sea,

then miracle happens.

Waters open to make dry passage.

You talking about this writ
releasing you from custody?

- Is that your miracle?
- See? Miracle.

That writ is returnable, and so are you.

If you stay free, it'll only be on bail
pending trial for grand theft.

Andy, just what is he specifically
charged with stealing?

Well, the answer to that is also
the answer to my interest in him.

That, Mr. Mason, is an exact mate
to the so-called Weary Watchdog

Janet Brent used to k*ll Edward Franklin.

[footsteps approaching]

Listen.

Della, get hold of Paul, tell him we're back.

Sit down, Mr. Chang, Dean.

Hello, Paul? Yes, we're back.

Right. He's waiting for one more call.
He should be down in about five minutes.

All right.
Stick around, Della, take notes.

Now, Mr. Chang, you admitted to the police
to being a burglar.

Would you mind telling me why
you broke into the Holmes' residence

to steal the statuette of the Watchdog?

Like the Watchdog,
separated from its rightful home,

I am in all things Chinese.

But if I am unworthy expatriate,
not so the Watchdog.

Statue belongs to China--
to people of China, to history of China.

What were you going to do
with the Weary Watchdog?

Return it to Taiwan.

I suspect they'd have more need
of financial aid then historic artifacts.

Well, he who give penny to poor man
receive one blessing.

He who give heart to poor man
receive five blessings.

All you're likely to receive is five years
in the state penitentiary.

- No. Mr. Mason--
- No.

[knock on door]

Mr. Paul Drake,
Mr. Chang and his son Dean.

Hi.

I asked Mr. Drake to do
a little investigating for me.

All right, Paul.

Uh, Cee Cee Chang.

"Two traffic citations in years--
both for driving too slowly."

Dean Chang.

"License revoked for multiple citations.

"Now on court probation for speeding
and reckless driving.

If caught operating a vehicle,
would undoubtedly go to jail."

Admit it, Mr. Chang.

It was your son who ran those red lights,
not you.

I have already admitted to police
I am guilty.

It is my wish to plead guilty at trial.

There's more than
a traffic citation involved.

There's a charge of grand theft.

Even a guilty man needs good counsel.

Not so, Mr. Mason?

If that's your decision, that's how
your attorney will have to represent you.

My attorney? Not you, Mr. Mason?

- Not me, Mr. Chang.
- But why?

- Just because he confessed?
- No.

My secretary, Miss Street,
is in serious trouble.

That statuette in your car
is tied in with a m*rder case,

and with someone
I may be forced to represent.

A charge of conflict of interest
might jeopardize that potential client,

and through her, my secretary.

Oh, I'm sure you'll have no trouble
in retaining good counsel.

Come.

Thank you.

Two coffee cups, Della?
Where is she?

The law library.

Page of the penal code,
section --

m*rder of the first to second degree.

- Mr. Mason.
- Yes, Mrs. Brent.

There's also Section -- accessories,

which covers, legally,
the position into which you put Della Street.

- But, Perry--
- And Section --

punishment of accessories.

Would you care to refresh your memory?

Now, if there's something
you'd like to say to me, Mrs. Brent,

I suggest you do it
before we call the police.

I think this belongs to you, Mr. Mason.

$ , .

I thought you gave the money to--

[Paul] Did Edward Franklin have
the money on him, Mrs. Brent?

No. I stole it from his desk at the store,

along with the blackmail evidence,
which I b*rned.

Mrs. Brent,

it seems that there are two figures
of the Weary Watchdog.

Now, the one in your room--
from where did it come?

Well, I liked the original
when it came into the store,

and Alton had a copy made for me.

When you asked Della to help you,

did you tell her that you'd used that figure
to strike Edward Franklin?

I-- I simply asked her to drive me
to the store and drop me off.

Oh, she knew that I'd been
in some kind of trouble.

I told her that I needed time,

and she agreed to drive around for
a few hours and meet me at the restaurant.

Knowing that you'd k*lled a man,
you deliberately involved your best friend.

That isn't so.

I didn't know that he was dead until I
heard it on the radio in the restaurant.

What did you expect?

You clouted him three times on the head
with that tired little mutt.

- Did you say, "Three times"?
- Yeah.

It was three times, wasn't it?

Why, no.

No. It was once.

Just once.

Mr. Mason,
do you think that it's possible that I--

Possible? Yes.

Likely? I'm afraid not.

Mrs. Brent, you're under arrest for m*rder.

Della, we thought she'd come looking for you.

Mr. Burger sent another message along.

This is official.

Don't leave town, Miss Street.

[Commodore] As my wife and I approached,
I clearly overheard Mr. Franklin say,

"Later tonight, perhaps
the three of us can talk for a few minutes."

Then Mr. Franklin turned to Mrs. Brent
and asked her,

"You don't mind, Mrs. Brent?"

And what happened then, Commodore?

Well, there was a moment
of, uh, rather tense silence.

And then Mrs. Brent turned
and walked away without a word.

I think that'll be all, sir.
Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

Commodore Holmes, after Mrs. Brent left,
did you speak to the decedent?

Yes.

I mentioned to Mr. Franklin
that my insurance man had,

quite by happenstance,

examined the art object which Franklin
had sold to my wife for $ , ,

and he appraised its value
at no more than $ .

Mr. Franklin assured me
that the appraiser was in error,

and that he would properly authenticate
the true value of the art object.

And what was this art object?

The original, Mr. Mason.

The Kamakura burial statuette,

which I believe is called
the Weary Watchdog.

Mrs. Brent came down out of her bedroom
on the second floor.

She seemed agitated.

Well, the fact that she was
still wearing an evening gown

and carrying two suitcases puzzled me.

It made me curious.
Her bedroom door was open.

I looked in, saw Mr. Franklin on the floor,
and ran to help him.

- He was dead.
- [Alvin] Mrs. Holmes, you testified

that the defendant seemed agitated.

Did you reach that conclusion alone?

No.

Another guest and I were leaving
the upstairs powder room at the time.

This other guest ran to Mrs. Brent,

all but supported her when Mrs. Brent
appeared ready to collapse.

They went down the back stairs together.

- [Alvin] And who was this other guest?
- [Zaneta] Miss Della Street.

When Janet Brent returned the $ ,

that she had previously borrowed from you,
Miss Street,

did she say where she got the money?

Your Honor,
I object to the question on the ground

that it calls for disclosure
of a privileged communication.

Privilege?
What privilege, Mr. Mason?

The relationship
between attorney and client.

Mr. Mason,
the evidence clearly proves

that at the time
of this particular communication,

Janet Brent was not your client.

Furthermore, the privilege you refer to

does not extend to a third party

if that third party is acting
not as an attorney's secretary

but as a friend to a fugitive from justice.

Objection overruled.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

Miss Street, did Janet Brent tell you
where she got that money?

Yes.

She said she repossessed it
from Ed Franklin's desk at the store.

She also repossessed
some incriminating photos

and a hotel register which she b*rned.

- Is that correct?
- Yes.

Miss Street, did Janet Brent admit to you
that she struck Edward Franklin?

Well, not right first,
but later on, yes.

[Alvin]
Now, the defendant left her home

and was arrested at Perry Mason's office
later that night.

- Is that correct?
- Yes.

Meanwhile,
you were apprehended by the police

driving Janet Brent's car

and with Janet Brent's bags in that car.

Yes.

Were you driving the defendant's car
at the request of the defendant?

- Your Honor, I object.
- Well, it's obvious, Your Honor,

that Della Street's drive that night

was simply a ruse to help Janet Brent escape.

Conduct itself
is an implied admission of guilt

when a person not only flees
from the scene of the crime,

but then attempts to avoid arrest
and custody.

And that conduct
was precisely the conduct

of the defendant, Janet Brent.

Ed Franklin deliberately drugged me,

and then forged the hotel registration

and staged those compromising pictures

so that he could blackmail me
and my husband.

But you had gone out with him alone?

Yes, Mr. Mason, I had.

Now, on the night of the charity party,
Mrs. Brent,

the night Edward Franklin was k*lled,

would you please tell this jury
what really happened that night?

[Janet] When Ed Franklin asked to speak
to my husband and me,

well, it was the end of the road.

It was the end of everything
that mattered to me.

I ran upstairs.

I took the g*n out of the drawer--

the g*n that I had bought.

When he came in,

I-- I pointed the g*n at him,

and he picked up the bags.

And then, suddenly, he turned and hit me
with one of the bags.

I turned and-- and grabbed
the Watchdog statuette,

and then I-- I turned...

Edward Franklin was struck three times--

one blow on the forehead
and two on the back of the skull.

The first blow stunned him.
The last two k*lled him.

How many times
did you strike Edward Franklin?

Once, Mr. Mason.

I Swear it. Just once.

I hit Ed Franklin only once.

Brought us some sandwiches and coffee.

Well, if this is a private wake,
I'm sorry I interrupted.

You know, we haven't lost the case yet.
The jury's still out.

You sound like you expect a guilty verdict.

I'm afraid it's very possible.

Janet didn't k*ll that man.
She didn't.

Of course she didn't.

She, uh, wasn't there,
she had no motive, and she didn't hit him.

All right. So she hit him.

Any decent girl would have reacted
exactly the same way she did.

Trixie Tong didn't.

[Della]
Trixie? The girl who works at the store?

[Paul]
Yep.

Paul, was there something between
Franklin and Miss Tong?

Well, I'm not sure.

But I heard Trixie and young Chang arguing
on the way out of court earlier.

She said something about Chang's
having no business getting angry

when he saw Franklin make a pass at her
that night at the Brent house.

The Brent house?
You sure that's what she said?

Sure I'm sure.
I was right behind them.

- What is it, Perry?
- Mr. James Wong.

I asked you to find out if he still kept
his apartment here in Chinatown.

Do you think maybe that...

Jury coming in, Andy?

No, not yet.

Maybe I'm talking out of school.

Uh, I don't imagine it makes much difference.

I'm sorry. Mr. Burger's pretty sure
about that verdict.

He's asked to have a warrant issued
for the arrest of Della Street

as an accessory to m*rder.

Thank you.

I'm deeply upset about Mr. Chang's trial
in the morning, Mr. Mason,

particularly so
since you're not representing him.

He's a wonderful man.

Generous, good to a fault.

You've know the Changs for a long time,
haven't you, Mr. Wong?

Yes.

Since the older Chang married his late wife.

Dean is his stepson, you know.

Her boy by an earlier marriage.

Dean and his father--
somehow never gotten along.

Dean's been interested in a girl--
a Miss Tong. Do you know her?

Not directly. I never met her.

Young Dean spoke to me about her,

oh, uh, two years ago, I think,

just before I left town on an extended trip.

Seems the girl and her mother were turning
heaven and earth

to bring her father to this country
from China.

Dean knew
I was stopping off in Washington,

asked me to see what I could find out,
do for the girl.

It turned out, from my inquiries,

that the father
had been dead for some time.

I remember wondering how to break
the unfortunate news to Dean,

when I ran into Cee Cee himself
in Washington.

The older Chang promised he would tell
his son when he returned to Los Angeles.

I don't think I've seen either of them since.

Mr. Wong, you said that Mr. Chang

and his stepson have never gotten along.

A particular problem?

Basically, I'd say
the chief trouble is the fact

that the two of them
are about a century apart.

The boy has been badly confused.

As for Mr. Chang,

well, I think there's nothing
he wouldn't do for that boy.

- Including going to jail, Mr. Wong?
- Will he?

In a few hours now, in Superior Court,

Cee Cee Chang will stand with his attorney,
face the judge,

and plead guilty to a charge of grand theft.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

A good many years ago,
Trixie and I came to this country,

and my husband was unable to join us then
but hoped to shortly.

He-- He never has. Not yet.

Let me understand this, Mrs. Tong.

Your husband hasn't come
to this country because--

because he doesn't now want to?

No, Mr. Mason.

Because he's--
he's behind the Bamboo Curtain.

"Behind"!
A human ox yoked to a plow.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Tong.

I know. You didn't know.

Nobody does.

Except the people like us

with fathers, husbands, mothers,
brothers, and sisters--

all of them like human cattle.

All of them tortured,

barely kept alive
as long as they can bleed us.

Bleed you?

Extortion, Mr. Mason.

A private extortion racket
carried on in this country

by someone in league with an official
from one of the provinces of China.

Blood money.

Yes, every week.

Every week, we pay to keep them alive.

Oh, they make sure we pay.
They show us pictures.

Would you like to see a picture of my husband
with his yoke?

With his bleeding back, pulling a plow?

No, Mother, no.

This extortion-- are you paying it now?

No. Not for weeks now.

Not since the collector d*ed.

But there'll be somebody new to collect.

To whom were you paying the money?

We were paying it to Edward Franklin.

Perry, I don't understand it.

Amicus curiae.
How can you possibly be a friend of the court

at the same time
you're representing a client?

Can't. You've got
the wrong courtroom, Paul.

Well, then,
what's this amicus curiae brief for?

Cee Cee Chang's case.

Perry, the Brent jury could be
coming in at any minute.

How can you possibly be
in two places at once?

We can try anything, Paul, once.

Mr. Chang, you have received a true copy
of the information filed against you.

- How do you plead to the charge?
- Excuse this interruption, Your Honor,

but it's vitally important that I be heard.

I request permission of the court to appear
as amicus curiae in the matter now pending,

limiting my appearance strictly
to the present proceeding before the court.

Please come forward, Mr. Mason.

You are, of course, familiar to the court.

Now, uh, may I ask what purpose
you hope to serve

by participating in this case
as amicus curiae?

With Your Honor's permission,
it is my intent to present a motion

to dismiss proceedings
against the defendant.

- Now, wait a minute! Wait a minute!
- Just a second, Mr. Alvin.

Dismissed on what grounds, Counselor?

Corpus Juris Secundum.

"A motion to dismiss may be made by
an amicus curiae for want of jurisdiction."

Flinn vs. Krotz, Texas Civil Appeals, ;
South Western Reporter, .

Your Honor,
Mr. Mason, prior to this matter,

acted as attorney
for the accused in civil matters.

He refused to represent the defendant
in this action,

but now he appears as amicus curiae.

I appear as a friend of the court

in the interest of justice
and not as an attorney

for either the People on the one hand
or the defendant on the other.

The defendant is charged with grand theft

in that he stole an art object
allegedly valued at $ , .

As this brief in support of my motion
indicates, Your Honor,

the owner of the art object in question,
at a trial in another court,

testified under oath that the object
had been appraised

the day of its theft
for no more than $ .

Now, that's ridiculous.

We recovered the Weary Watchdog
from his car. We know what it's worth.

He's charged with grand theft, Mr. Alvin,

under Title , Chapter , Section
of the Penal Code.

The property stolen must have
a value exceeding $ .

Your Honor, the same appraiser
that valued that Watchdog at $

subsequently admitted
that it was most likely in error.

And his appraisal of the Watchdog
recovered from defendant's car,

which defendant, in pre-trial deposition,
admitted he stole--

that appraisal places the value at $ , .

Mr. Mason?

With the court's permission,
Your Honor,

I think we can prove
the value of the Watchdog

and the validity of the information
against the defendant

without the testimony of the appraiser.

This would require the calling of witnesses
before the court rules on my motion.

Your Honor, I object.
I strenuously object to--

One moment, Mr. Alvin.

Now, what objection
or complaint can there be

if the court grants a hearing
to an amicus curiae

when no action on the part
of the amicus curiae

can possibly affect the legal rights
of either party to the action?

[sighs]
Well, none, of course.

Your Honor, the prosecution in no way
questions the judgment of the court,

nor are we anything but confident

that the utter irrelevancy
of the evidence to be adduced

will render completely absurd
Mr. Mason's motion for dismissal.

We withdraw the objection, Your Honor.

Very well.

Oh, you may call your first witness,
Mr. Mason.

May I request that Alton Brent
be summoned here to testify?

He who does not bellow the truth
when he knows the truth

makes himself the accomplice
of liars and forgers.

Yes, uh, there were two Weary Watchdogs:

the Kamakura, of course--
a most fabulous work of art--

and an inexpensive copy that I had made.

- My wife kept the copy in her room.
- You're sure, Mr. Brent,

that the copy wasn't somehow
inadvertently, of course,

sold and delivered to Mrs. Holmes?

[Alton]
Positive. It's child's play for an expert

to tell the difference between
the real and the copy.

I personally put the real Weary Watchdog
in the store vault,

and it was from the vault that Mr. Franklin
took it to show to Mrs. Holmes.

I consider myself an expert on Oriental art,
yes, Mr. Mason.

I am presently serving
as consultant in that capacity

to the Greater Metropolitan Museum.

And despite the appraiser's
claim to your husband

at your house,

you testify that the authentic Watchdog

was purchased by you
and then delivered to you?

[Zaneta] Beyond the faintest shadow
of a doubt, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Holmes, who is Madame Tzu Sen?

Who is Madame Tzu Sen?

I-I don' don't know.

I don't know!

Mrs. Holmes,

you've always been proud
of your Chinese ancestry.

I, too, would be proud if it were mine.

Even if the dignity and the wisdom
that is the real China were only partly mine,

I would deem it a distinction.

Madame Tzu Sen, your mother--

she's still alive in China?

- Yes.
- Alive but a prisoner.

Isn't that why you were afraid
to acknowledge her?

Yes.

And to keep her alive,

for years,
you allowed the late Edward Franklin

to extort money from you
as he had from so many others?

Yes. Yes!

How, Mrs. Holmes?

By selling your relatively worthless
art objects for large sums of money

such as the Watchdog?

Was that part of the continuing extortion?

Or was the Watchdog that was stolen
from your house the authentic one?

No.

No, it was the copy.

Thank you, Mrs. Holmes.

With the court's permission, I would like
to recall Alton Brent to the stand.

Mr. Brent, I believe you said

it would be child's play to tell
the authentic Watchdog from a copy.

Now, as proprietor of a highly successful
Oriental import business,

which should make you an expert,

the answer to what I'm about to ask you

should be the same child's play.

Look at these two carvings, Mr. Brent.

Fabulous. Most fabulous.

Both are Chinese.

One is from the Chou Dynasty.

The other, from the Han Dynasty,

was carved , hundred years
after the Chou figure.

Both beautiful, both distinctive,

both easily identified
by a Chinese art expert.

Now, Mr. Brent, which is which?

Well, I th--

I don't know.

As a matter of fact, you know next to nothing
about your own business, isn't that so?

Franklin ran it for me.

Were you associated
with Franklin in his extortion?

No, no. I swear it.

But you did know your business was a front
for other activities?

[Alton]
Yes, I knew.

[Mason] It wasn't Franklin,
but you did have an accomplice--

an accomplice who took care
of those other activities?

That's right.

Even before it was mentioned
the night of the charity party at your home,

you knew of the appraisal
on the copy of the Watchdog.

Now, how did you know?

My accomplice called me earlier.

He told me not to worry.

He said that, uh,
Zaneta had called Franklin,

and Franklin told him.

But he wasn't upset.

He said he'd take care of it.

Your accomplice did take care of it,
didn't he?

He stole the copy of the Watchdog,
brought it to your house,

and exchanged it for the authentic one
in your wife's bedroom.

- Isn't that what happened?
- Yes, yes, yes.

Now, who did the actual exchanging?

Was it you?
Were you almost caught in the act?

Was it you who heard the fight
between your wife and Franklin?

You who then picked up the Watchdog
she had dropped,

and used it to m*rder Franklin,
who was unconscious on the floor?

No, no! Not me!

No, Mr. Brent, it wasn't you.

It was your accomplice,

Cee Cee Chang.

But how could that have been?

At the very moment of the m*rder,
the Honorable Chang

was running through two red lights,
pursued by the police.

At least so he has confessed.

If Mr. Chang is your accomplice,

then he is also the extortionist,

the man in league
with a crooked Chinese official.

Dean, is it possible

that the man who knew
Trixie Tong's father was dead

knew two years ago that he was dead?

Is it possible that he could be the same man
who broke her heart

and bled her of every cent she earned?

No! No!

He wasn't driving the car.

I was.

- I ran those red lights.
- [door opens]

Will you excuse this intrusion,
Your Honor?

This is a matter of some urgency.

Mr. Mason, if you don't mind,
the jury has returned,

and the court is waiting for you, sir.

And this court is waiting for you,
Mr. Chang.

What superior man seeks is in himself.

What the small man seeks-- in others.

Yes, Franklin work for me.

Become greedy, too ambitious.

Try to take my place, my money.

I k*ll him gladly.

Yes, you're right, Mr. Mason.

Weary Watchdog I take
from Commodore's house only copy.

The amicus curiae motion is granted.

Case dismissed.

Bailiff, arrest Mr. Chang
on a charge of m*rder.

You said they were waiting?
Let's go, Hamilton.

Well, Della, young Dean was afraid
he'd go to jail

if he admitted he'd driven
his father's car that night.

And when Chang came home from Brent's
with the real Weary Watchdog

after he k*lled Franklin,

he used his own car
for the first time that night

to take the statue back
to the Commodore's place,

then was arrested by a traffic officer
for what Dean had done.

And I always thought he was such a nice man,
protecting his son.

His stepson.
There was never any feeling between them.

Chang wasn't concerned in protecting Dean,
only in giving himself an alibi.

Perry, they told me I'd find you here.

- Thanks for rushing that dismissal through.
- It's perfectly all right.

Della, the court has released Mrs. Grant.
You can pick her up on the way out.

Thanks again, Hamilton.
We appreciate it.

- I thought you might appreciate this.
- What is it?

After the jury had been dismissed,
the foreman gave me that.

It's the verdict
they never had a chance to deliver.

There are some things
I'd just as soon not know.

[chuckles]

Perry, one thing I want to know:

what in the world
made you suspect Chang to begin with?

The Weary Watchdog.

He told me he took it to protect
China's historical art resources.

Well, what's wrong with that?

Well, the Kamakura Weary Watchdog
grave figure isn't Chinese, Andy.

It comes from Japan.

[chuckling]