08x01 - The Case of the Missing Button

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

How was that?

That was very good, Button.

Now it's time for your milk.

Oh, Mrs. Smithers, please,
can't I do it again?

Oh, I suppose so, but just
up and down the driveway,

not beyond the walk, remember.

I won't. I promise.

I'll bring your milk out here.

WOMAN:
Button?

Look who's come
to see you, honey.

- See me?
Mm-hmm.

Isn't she beautiful?

Yes, she is.

The beautifullest doll
I ever seen.

What's her name?

Amanda McGillicuddy.

Amanda McGillicuddy?

Uh-huh, and she would like
to know if you would like

-to come riding with her?
- She would?

Mm-hmm. She wants to know
if you're the kind

of little girl that she'd like

-to belong to.
- Oh, I am.

I know I am.

Then let's go.

Hadn't I better tell Mommy?

Oh, we'll tell her that later,
darling.

Well, okay.

-(engine starts)
- Button?

Button, where are you?

Button!

Oh, Mrs. Blake!

Mrs. Blake?

Mrs. Blake!

The people in that car,

they've taken Button!

Operator, I want the police.

Quickly.

♪♪

There she is,
that sloop moored out there

in the harbor;
Blue Nymph by name.

You can bet your bottom dollar

I wouldn't be standing here
if she were mine.

Where would you be?

Tahiti.

Paul, are you a good oarsman?

We're going out there?

Why not?

In that?

MASON: Of course.

Oh, no.

Oh, yes.

Any luck?

Mr. Mason!

Are you all right, Button?

Of course,
but how'd you find me?

Mr. Drake found you.

He's an expert
at finding people.

Especially little girls
and dolls.

You mean like d*ck Tracy?

Sort of.

Golly, but how'd you find me
if you've never seen me?

Your picture was
in the morning paper, Button.

BUTTON:
I saw it.

MASON: Your mother's
very worried about you.

But I told her I was fine.

You talked to her?

Twice. There's telephones
in these boats.

Mind if I ask you fellas
a question?

You got permission to talk
to Miss Blake?

I didn't know permission
was heeded.

My boss don't like for
strange people to talk with her.

So, I got to ask you
to come below.

Sorry, but we're kind of partial
to fresh air.

Maybe you don't understand.

Real polite,
I ask you to come below.

Real polite, no thanks.

Somehow, I'm beginning not
to like you.

Too bad.

MAN:
Cully, what's going on up there?

You better come, Mr. Rome.

To what do I owe this honor,
gentlemen?

We've come to take Button home.

Oh, really?

May I ask who "we" are?

My name is Mason,

co-trustee and attorney
for Button's estate.

And this stalwart fellow?

Paul Drake, private detective
associated with Mr. Mason.

Do you want to go with them,
Button?

Oh, Mr. Rome, must I?

I'd say that was up to you,
Button.

Oh, Mr. Mason, please,
can't I stay longer?

I'm having so much fun.

You see, the young lady
likes it here.

So what now?

A real live policeman?

We'll see, Mr. Rome.

We'll see.

Good-bye, Button.

Bye, Mr. Mason.

Perry, we're not leaving her.

Yes, Paul, we are.

You sure that ain't
a little pack of dynamite

you're fooling around with,
Mr. Rome?

I don't quite see why it makes
any difference to you.

Big difference on account,
if it blows,

I don't ever get my back wages.

$ , , Mr. Rome.

Real polite
I've been asking for it.

But I begin not to feel
so polite.

Your eyesight's bad, Cully.

That isn't dynamite.

That's a little package
of $ , bills.

Hold on to that phone.

Keep your eyes open.

Al right.

Yes?

I have an appointment
with Mr. Blake.

My name is Mason.

Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Gray
are in there with them,

and he'd like you to join them.

Thank you.

Mason, you're just in time.

Dirk was about to throw us
out of his office,

so you take over.

Take over what, Mr. Gray?

The delightful little game
we've been playing

with Dirk, Mr. Mason.

It's called Button, Button,
who's got Button?

Well, that's very funny.

Lois, Mr. Mason,
has a great sense of humor

especially when it comes
to something

that's none of her business.

I happen to be Button's cousin,
darling.

Well, I happen to be her father,
darling.

I gathered over the phone,
Mr. Mason, that you,

like they do, believe I have her
hidden away somewhere.

Hidden isn't the word
for it now, Mr. Blake.

I just spoke to her.

Where?

Aboard the Blue Nymph.

DIRK:
Have the police found her?

No, a private detective.

The police have been called off.

And that detective's fee,
of course,

was footed by Janice, huh?

Your wife knows nothing
about this.

Well, then why are you
butting in?

I'm "butting in,”
as you term it,

for your daughter's sake.

In one way or another,
I'm calling a rapid halt

to the way she's been
dragged back and forth

between you and her mother
as if she were a doll

instead of a flesh-and-blood
little girl.

Bravo, Mr. Mason.

Bravo nothing.
Look, I'm flesh and blood, too.

That's why Judge Norris said

I could have Button
two days a week

until the final divorce hearing.

But two days weren't enough
for you, is that it?

Well, no, look,
Janice brought all this on.

I mean, for the last
three weeks in a row,

she refused to let Button
come to me.

So, this week,
with Miss Sutherland's help,

I-I took her, that's all.

Did you consult
your lawyer first?

Yeah, what do I need
a lawyer for?

I know my rights.

Your rights, Mr. Blake,
don't include

taking the law
into your own hands.

Are you trying to scare me?

I don't care
whether you're scared or not

as long as Button is returned
to her mother

this afternoon.

All right, what if she isn't?

I'll be forced
to call Judge Norris,

tell what I've found,

and suggest that a bench warrant
be issued for your arrest.

Mrs. Gray, Mr. Gray.

We'll run Button back home
to Janice if you want, Dirk.

Well, I haven't decided
what I want.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Mason, is Dirk...

I mean, is Mr. Blake in trouble?

Well, he could be.

I know we shouldn't have
taken Button,

but her mother's not fit
to have her.

She's not fit at all.

She drinks,
she goes out with men and...

-(door opens)
- LOIS: Oh, Mr. Mason?

Something I just thought of.

Roger's yacht brokerage business
is flourishing,

and we just bought a big house
in Rolling Hills.

Well, that's splendid.

No, what I'm getting at
is that, well,

we'd be more than happy
to take care of Button

until, well, until the smoke
of battle clears.

That would be
Judge Norris' decision.

Oh, I see.

Are you sure it's Button

you would be so happy
to take care of, Mrs. Gray?

Or is the four million dollars

she inherited
from her grandfather?

I'd forgotten what a witch
you are, Naomi.

Remind me,

and next Christmas I'll send you
a brand-new broom.

Stop it, Vince.

Stop it or I'm gonna call
Miss Smithers.

Save your breath, darling.

I give up.

What was the idea of that?

Just testing.

Weren't you listening last week?

Yes, I heard you
when you said no more dates,

but I couldn't believe you,

remembering all
our good times together.

Starlit nights
on the Blue Nymph.

Candlelit suppers ashore.

Dancing till dawn.

The mountain cabin in the pines.

The wharf front bungalow
at La Playa.

Don't tell me you've forgotten,
Janice?

- What are you up to?
-(door opens)

Up to, darling?

Mrs. Blake,

Mrs. Blake,
I'm sorry to interrupt,

but they just pulled
into the driveway.

Oh, thank you, Miss Smithers.

I was never in any mountain
cabin or waterfront bungalow

with you and you know it.

What if I could prove you were?

So that's it.

A touch of blackmail.

For how much, Vince?

I was thinking more
in terms of matrimony.

Matrimony?

I'm not much of a catch,
I realize.

A mortgaged yacht,
a few tattered odds and ends

of a dissipated inheritance,
but we could

make a go of it,
you and I and Button,

whom you'd have custody of.

Provided nothing
were said in court

about cabins and bungalows.

But you can't be serious?

Oh, I am.

And to prove I have
your interests at heart,

I'll take you to Button
if you like.

I'm in here, darling.

-(door closes)
Mommy.

Oh, hello, sweetheart.

Are you all right, sweetheart?

Of course.

Mr. Rome?

Hello, Button.

I wanted to wait
and say good-bye,

but Daddy said we had to hurry.

Is Daddy still out there?

He's already left, Mrs. Blake.

And I suggest you do the same,
Vince.

Right now.

Even money you don't
clear the board, Pancho.

You got a bet, chiquita.

All right, everybody,
stand aside.

This is a big money deal.

Ready, aim... fire!

(objects clattering)

- He got 'em! Got 'em all!
- No, he didn't.

- Oh, no.
- There's still one, Shorty.

- Oh, come on, Pancho.
- Come on, pay up, Pancho.

Give me the money.
That's my money there.

- Come on.

She's lucky.
Lucky eight ball.

Give me a beer.

(phone ringing)

Hello.
La Playa Motel and Bar.

Just a minute.

Hey, boss-- Vince Rome.

Ah, Rome, Rome.

Yeah, what can I do for you?

Well, uh, sure, I know
about the bungalow on the wharf.

I ought to. I own it.

What are you,
out of your mind? What?

Of course, you and Mrs. Blake
have been here

three or four times,
but never in any bungalow.

I'm afraid you're
not listening, Pancho.

She and I rented your bungalow

on the th and the rd
of last month,

and I want you to arrange
for suitable witnesses,

and also to make sure
that the entries

already in your guest register
for those nights

are kept available.

Now I know you are loco.

Why do I got to do
a thing like that

to a nice lady like Mrs. Blake?

Watches.

Watches?

Yes, Pancho-- Swiss watches.

And German cameras
and gold coins from Chile.

Or, uh, was it Peru?

Peru.

Cully says it was Peru.

Yes, he's here.

I thought you'd see the light.

Uh, suppose we get
together tomorrow

and talk over the details, hmm?

Good.

Tomorrow, Cully,
I want you to drive up

to my mountain cabin
and leave some things there.

You sure you want me
to do this, Mr. Rome?

Yes, I'm sure I want you
to do this.

Now, clear out.

Soda or over the rocks?

Over the rocks.

Hmm.

I should have remembered.

How much did you hear
out there, Lois?

Enough,
with what Janice told me,

to get a pretty good idea
of what you're doing.

And what am I doing?

Trying to fix it so that Janice
either has to marry you

or lose Button.

Partly right.

No marriage, though.

That angle is out,
unfortunately.

Well, then, why the rest?

What good will it do you, Vince,
to blacken Janice's reputation

so that she loses
the custody fight?

Money is good, isn't it?

Money from Janice?

From whoever makes
the best offer.

And it should be a good one
with $ million involved.

Nothing's involved
as far as you're concerned.

Why not?

Because I'm not going to
let you go through with it.

For Button's sake,
if for no other reason.

How do you plan to stop me?

If I have to,
I'm going to go to the police.

And tell them what, Lois?

That you were the woman
who spent the th

and the rd with me
at the La Playa?

And the th
in my mountain cabin?

I wonder how Roger
would like that.

DIRK:
I realize now, Your Honor,

I was wrong taking Button
the way I did.

"Taking."
The word is "kidnapping.”

Well, you did what you could
to make it kidnapping.

-I did?
- Well, why didn't you

notify the police
that I let Button call you

to show you she was all right?

Why should I do you any favors?

Mrs. Blake--
and Mr. Blake, too--

I must caution you

to confine yourselves
to addressing this court.

Mr. Blake, exactly why
did you take your daughter?

Why?

Because you told me I could
have her two days a week

and she wouldn't let her go.

Why wouldn't you let her go,
Mrs. Blake?

To save her life-- that's why.

To save her life?

Now, that-that's not
quite exactly

what, uh, Mrs. Blake means,
Your Honor.

- She...
-I prefer to hear what she means

from her, if you don't mind.

All right, go ahead, Mrs. Blake.

Well, maybe not literally

save her life, but...
but close enough.

Every time he took her,
she came back sick.

She had bruises and scabs
on her knees

and elbows,
and itches and rashes

and colds from being allowed

to run wild
around that awful bay.

I simply had to put
a stop to it.

Mr. Blake?

Well, Your Honor,
if my wife means by "run wild"

that I allowed her
to play with other children

wading through the salt water

and building sand castles
and swimming

and fishing and playing
with the other children

out in the open air, sir,
then I plead guilty.

There's open air around
my house, too, Your Honor.

But it's on the inside
that's what's wrong, Your Honor.

I mean, uh, ballet lessons
and dancing lessons,

ballroom dancing,
etiquette lessons,

language lessons,
yogi lessons, for all I know.

But no playing, no.

Just regimentation--
that's all--

by some remote-control mother
that likes to spend

all her time
living it up at night,

too busy to realize that if
anyone's k*lling her daughter,

it's she herself.

I had those same lessons
when I was a child.

And you revolted by marrying me.

Oh, a mistake you can be sure
I won't make again.

That will do.

Now, it is apparent
that you both have ideas

about raising children
that are not easily reconciled.

The point is, Your Honor,

that Button is not
an ordinary little girl.

Someday,
she will have $ million.

DIRK:
And I say hang the $ million.

What I want
is an ordinary little girl.

JUDGE:
Uh, just a moment.

Uh, Mr. Mason?

Are you appearing, uh,
representing Mr. Blake?

Oh, no, Your Honor.

I'm here on behalf
of Miss Button Blake.

Well, it's about time,
in my opinion,

that somebody appeared
on her behalf.

Uh, Mr. Mason, would you mind

going into my chambers
for a minute?

And, uh, you, too, Miss Blake.

Thank you.

A ten-minute recess.

MASON: And as cotrustee,
with the Pacific National Bank,

of Button's estate, I feel
a definite responsibility.

Mm-hmm.

Have you a solution, Perry,
for her present problem?

Well, it's a mistake
to allow Button

to be shuttled back and forth

while her parents are presently

in their somewhat heated
frame of mind.

Yes, suppose I could douse them

with a couple of days in jail
for contempt of court.

After all, that's what
this hearing is about.

Yes, I know.

Still, I don't think
that would cool them off.

Button, how would you
like to live

with Mr. Mason for a while, hmm?

Your Honor, I plead
no experience with children.

I'm a bachelor.

Oh, gosh, I'd forgotten.

Hmm.

Well, who would you like
to live with?

Well, I'd like Mommy and Daddy
to live together again

so I can live with them.

I'm afraid that's
a little beyond

the power of this court
to arrange.

Button, which one
would you rather live with?

You mean Mommy or Daddy?

Well, I have more fun
with Daddy, but...

I love Mommy very much.

Do I have to choose?

No.

I have an alternative.

Not a foster home.

Yes.

Uh, one of which
I think you'd approve.

Well, Button,
should we go back into court?

Al right.

BAILIFF:
All rise.

Be seated, please.

JUDGE:
Will, uh, Mr. and Mrs. Blake

please approach the bench?

Now, you realize, of course,

that you could be fined
or even jailed

for violating the court's order

regarding your daughter's
custody.

However, what I have
decided to do...

I hope will have
a more salutary effect.

It is ordered that,

pending the final disposition
of the divorce proceedings,

the custody of the child,
Button Blake,

will be given
to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Gray.

All that's required, Mr. Gray,

is to mail a copy
of your expenditures

to the bank each week
and you will be promptly paid.

We're not worried
about the money, Mr. Mason.

Mommy.

Darling, you've already
said good-bye.

Do I have to go?

JANICE:
I'm afraid so, darling.

Dirk, I thought you were
supposed to speak to Mr. Mason.

Oh, that's right.

Mr. Mason.

I, uh... I told you yesterday
I wouldn't need a lawyer.

Looks now like I was wrong.

You're not asking me
to represent you.

Well, I thought possibly
you could recommend someone.

Yes, of course I can.

Distressing, wasn't it,
the turn events took?

But, gentlemen,
there's a silver lining

in every cloud,
no matter how dark.

What do you mean, Mr. Rome?

Uh, Dirk is getting
a bigger dividend

from that check he gave me
than he expected.

The goods, I believe
the word is, on Janice--

dates, names, places
and witnesses.

You'll win in a breeze,
counselor.

I'm not Mr. Blake's attorney.

Oh, too bad.

I'll meet you this evening
on the Blue Nymph.

Couple things
we'd better discuss.

Good-bye, Mr. Mason.

You gave Rome money to get
the goods on Janice, Mr. Blake?

In regard to lawyers,

I can't think of one
I'd recommend to you.

And certainly not one
to whom I'd recommend you.

If you really must know
who the person

involved with Janice is,
allow me to present him.

Yours truly.

You?

Yes.

Equipped with witnesses,

entries in the
La Playa Motel register.

All sorts of proof.

You must be kidding.

Don't tell me you're still

carrying the torch
for her, old boy.

No, I'm not.

But I know Janice would never

involve herself
in anything like this

with you or with anybody
for that matter.

Is it that you're afraid
I won't be believed in court?

You're not going to court.

Well, then why did you
give me that check?

You know why, Vince.

I wanted a list of the
nightclubs and the parties

that Janice had been to
in the last couple of months.

I gave you something
better than that.

Something that assures

your custody of Button
and her estate.

Isn't that what you want?

What I want is you out of this.

You can keep the money
if you want to,

but you stay away from me,

and you stay away from Janice,
you understand?

Old chap, you don't quite
seem to grasp...

the various implications
of this check of yours,

which I have had the foresight
not to cash.

What if I appeared
in court with it,

testified it was part
payment from you

for framing Janice?

What would your chances
of getting Button be then?

So it'll either be Janice
being framed or me-- is that it?

How much did she
offer you for that?

Oh, I'm giving you first sh*t.

Oh, thanks.

Well, you have
some figure in mind?

Well, I think $ , a year
out of Button's

more than ample living expenses
would be sufficient.

You can put me down as a tutor.

Or a... a companion.

Maybe $ , could be managed.

Uh, there is one question
I'd like to ask you, though.

- What's that?
- Well, uh...

what are you going to do
without this?

My guess is you
should have cashed it.

Wait.

The check, if you don't mind.

Not a chance.

I'll sh**t!

You're not that stupid.

(g*nsh*t)

DELLA: There's a longer article
in this edition,

but nothing new.

Oh, uh, yes, one thing.

He was sh*t
with a . caliber p*stol,

according to the police.

Any suspects named?

No. Paul do you suppose
this has anything to do

with Button Blake
and her parents' divorce?

Perry must suppose so
or he wouldn't have asked

for a continuance
of the Edwards case,

and Button's father must suppose
so or he wouldn't be parked

out there in the outer office.

Good morning.

- Hi, Perry.
- Morning.

Della, would you have Mr. Blake
come in, please?

Lieutenant Anderson's
handling this, Paul.

He said he'd brief you
on the Blue Nymph

if you could be there in
a half hour or so.

I'm practically there now.

Gertie, will you send
Mr. Blake in, please?

Thank you.

I'm a little surprised

you'd see me, Mr. Mason,
after yesterday.

On the phone, Mr. Blake,
you said that you had

an altercation with Vince Rome
last night.

An altercation on the Blue Nymph

in which a . caliber p*stol
was fired.

That's right.

But you neglected to say
whether or not you k*lled him.

I didn't.

- Do you know who did?
- No.

What was the altercation
about?

Well, it was just, uh...

mostly over this.

An uncashed check for $
made out to Vince Rome

and signed by Dirk Blake.

The check you thought I'd given
Vince to smear Janice.

It wasn't for that purpose?

Well, no, not to smear her.

You see, she's been going out
a lot,

living it up
since we were separated.

She, she's been going to a lot
of parties and the nightclubs

and everything with Vince Rome

and a crowd that he runs
around with,

so I thought if he could just
check up on her for me,

get a list of the places
and the dates.

Then I could prove in court

that she wasn't doing a good job
raising Button.

And by doing so gain custody
of your daughter.

Well, no, no,
I-I didn't want custody.

I think that the little girl
belongs with her mother.

But I wanted to see to it

that Janice was made
to be a proper mother.

It appears I misjudged you,
Mr. Blake.

Now tell me... exactly
what happened last night.

Lieutenant Anderson
will be with you in a minute.

Thanks, Sarge.

You were thinking of buying,
Drake?

Who'd want a yacht
with a scratched deck?

Care to join me in
the master's cabin?

The body was lying right here,

and by his right hand
a . caliber p*stol.

Any possibility of su1c1de?

Not unless he was
a contortionist.

The slug caught him squarely
in the back of the head.

What time, Andy?

Tentative estimate is somewhere
between : and : ,

but we'll know better after
the autopsy.

Nobody heard anything?

As far as we know, he was alone
on the boat,

except for the guy who sh*t him.

There's a deckhand,
Cully Barstow,

but he says he was on shore
till around : .

This Barstow,
did he find the body?

No. Claims he went into his sack
and slept until the person

who did find the body woke him.

Who was that?

A yacht broker by the name
of Roger Gray.

It seems a simple enough
question:

were you or were you not
on the Blue Nymph last night?

Oh, darling, you sound like
a prosecuting attorney.

What would I be doing on
Vince Rome's yacht?

It isn't just the yacht.

In the past six months,
there's also been the La Playa

also the mountain cabin.

Are you accusing me...?!

Save the dramatics, Lois.

I've known about you two
for a long time now.

What I haven't known is...
what to do.

I see.

What makes you suspect that
I was with Vince last night?

When I found his body
this morning, I found this, too.

One of your new pearl earrings.

So it is.

Did you k*ll him, Lois?

No.

But what about you, Roger?

Did you finally decide
what to do?

Did you k*ll him?

Gosh!

And-And Button told you this
on the telephone?

Yes, less than minutes ago!

Well, she doesn't exactly
understand what she heard,

but Dirk,
she's badly frightened.

It's incredible.

Lois is obviously unfit
to have her.

And what is one of them actually
k*lled Vince?!

Oh, we've got to get her
out of there.

All right,
but how come the "we"?

Since when have you been
counting me in on anything?

Well, you're,
you're Button's father.

So you finally remembered that,
huh?

Finally. I fought with my father
and lost an inheritance.

I fought with you,
I lost a husband.

And then yesterday in court
when they took Button away,

I realized I was losing
her her father.

I surrendered.

No more fighting, Dirk.

No more fighting ever.

You, you really mean that?

With all my heart.

All right, let's go get Button.

- Dirk Blake?
- Yes.

Lieutenant Anderson, Homicide.

I have a warrant here
charging you

with the first-degree m*rder
of Vince Rome.

As to motive, Your Honor,

the State will show that the
deceased had in his possession

documentary evidence
of a plot conceived

by the defendant to discredit
his own wife

and thus to obtain custody
of their daughter...

and her $ million estate.

And it was to prevent
this documentary proof

from ever reaching the light
of day that m*rder was done.

You say you found this scrap
of paper in the main cabin

of the Blue Nymph?

Yes, sir, on the deck

about eight feet
from the deceased's body.

Would you describe it
to the court, please?

It's a piece torn
from the end of a check

with a portion
of the account number on it.

What did you do with this
fragment of a check, Lieutenant?

Well, I went to the Federal
Reserve and found that four

of the numbers show the bank

to be Pacific National.
So I went there.

And what did you find
at the Pacific National Bank?

Well, that the remaining numbers
proved the account

to be that of the defendant
Dirk Blake.

Now do you recognize this,
Lieutenant?

Yes, it's a bank check with
the end torn from it

which I took from the
defendant when I searched him.

A check made out to Vince
Rome in the amount of $

and signed by Dirk Blake?

Yes, sir.

Did you attempt to match
that torn check

and the fragment?

Yes, sir. They fit exactly.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Now I show you this document.
I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. I found this in a drawer

in the main cabin
of the Blue Nymph;

a carbon copy of an agreement
it appears to be,

although it's unsigned.

Would you read it to the court,
please?

"In addition to $ already
paid, I agree at a later date

"to pay the further sum
of $ , to Vince Rome

"for acting as my agent
and arranging for Janice Blake

to permanently lose custody
of her daughter Button Blake."

And now in your capacity
as typewriter expert

for the police
crime laboratory,

did you examine
this carbon copy?

Yes, and determined it had
been made by model

electric Cummins typewriter.

Did you then examine
a typewriter

of that make and model?

Yes, I accompanied Lieutenant
Anderson to an office

where there was such a machine

and compared samples
of its typing with the carbon.

And what did you find?

I found from a microscopic
comparison of the spacing slant

and alignment of the letters
on the carbon and the samples

that the carbon had been
typed on that machine.

And where was this machine
located?

In the office of the defendant.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Morado, you testified,
I believe, that the night before

Vince Rome d*ed, he asked
you on the telephone

to arrange it so witnesses
and your motel register

would prove that on the th
and on the rd

of the previous month
he was with Janice Blake in your

-wharf-front bungalow.
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Why the wharf-front bungalow
on those particular dates?

Only he knew that.

Was it because he was

actually there on those dates
with someone else?

Is that correct, Mr. Morado?

He wasn't there with nobody.

Speak up, please.

He wasn't there with nobody!

How is it then that you were
willing to say that he was?

Look, he's a friend of mine.

Speak up, Mr. Morado.

He was a friend of mine!
I was doing him a favor!

That's all.

I went out to the Blue Nymph
about : that morning.

I had a Mexican charter
for Vince.

He often took fishing parties

into lower California,
and I wanted

to be sure to catch him.

And what did you find
on board the Blue Nymph?

Vince-- Mr. Rome-- lying dead
on the cabin deck.

I went forward,
woke up the deckhand,

Cully Barstow,
and we called the police.

Now you say you talked

to the deceased that night
at : .

Yeah, : on account
that was when I told Mr. Rome

that I was going ashore.

I called in the cabin
and said, "Mr. Rome,

I'm going ashore."”

And Mr. Rome said,
"Okay, Cully." I went ashore.

Was there anyone with him
in the cabin at that time?

I could hardly say.

He just stuck his head out--
Mr. Rome did--

when he said, "Okay, Cully."
I went ashore.

And now from your years
of experience

as a coroner's physician,
Dr. Wyler,

would you please estimate
for us the time of death?

Yes. Almost certainly between
: and :

the previous evening.

And Doctor, in view
of the testimony

of the previous witness
Cully Barstow,

the deckhand of the Blue Nymph,

would you be willing to amend
that "almost certainly”

to between " : and : "?

Mr. Burger, I've given
my medical opinion,

and on that I stand.

BURGER:
The Blue Nymph was anchored

at approximately this point in
the harbor?

SOMMERS:
Yes, sir.

Opposite and approximately
feet

from the revolving light
on the jetty?

Yes, sir.

Very well, Mr. Sommers, would
you resume the stand, please?

And will you please tell
the court

what you saw on the night
of the m*rder?

Well, like always,
around low tide,

I went out
to check my lobster traps.

And you went out by way
of the jetty?

Right. Otherwise I would have
had to cross private property.

Now, what time was it when
you reached the jetty?

Well, let's see, low tide's
around... : .

It was flooding and pretty
strong when I got there

to the traps, so it must
have been :

or quarter to : .

BURGER: And what did you see
from that jetty?

When I got to the light,

I thought I heard this noise
on the Blue Nymph--

a firecracker, like--

and I looked out there,

and saw these two guys
in the cabin, wrestling.

BURGER: Now, how could you see
inside the cabin?

Well, the jetty light lit it up
every time it came around,

and the next time
it came around,

there was just
one guy standing there,

holding a p*stol
and looking down.

About the fifth time around,

he came out, he got into a boat
and he rowed away.

And of course you reported this
to the police?

Well... not until I heard about
Mr. Rome the next day.

See, uh... I wasn't really sure
what had happened,

then or later on...

and I knew it meant trouble
for me because...

Well, it's out of season
for trapping lobsters.

(wry chuckle)

All right, Mr. Sommers,
I understand.

Now, sir, I want you to look
around this courtroom

and identify for us,
if you can,

the man armed with a p*stol

you saw rowing away
from the Blue Nymph.

Oh, yeah, that's easy,

'cause I know him
from around the bay.

It's Mr. Blake there.

BURGER:
Thank you, sir.

That'll be all.

Mr. Sommers...

you said that you didn't make an
immediate report to the police

because you weren't sure what
happened then or later on.

Well, what did happen later on?

Well... uh, when I came back,
in about an hour,

I guess it was
about an hour and...

I-I thought I heard this sound
on the, uh,

on the Blue Nymph-- a splash.

Could you see
what caused this splash?

Well, fish, I guess,

but I looked out there
and I saw these two guys

standing on the,
on the deck and...

neither one of 'em looked like
they heard anything,

so I just went on home.

(mellow, bluesy
piano music playing)

Sorry I'm late, Perry,
but I've got a few things

that might be useful
in court tomorrow.

One is a photostat of a kind of
interesting check.

That is very interesting.

And the rumors about Mrs. Gray
and Vince Rome?

Well, I haven't been able
to nail them down yet.

But I did get
the registration slips

from the wharf-front bungalow.

th and rd of last month.

"Mr. and Mrs. John Smith."”

It's Rome's handwriting,

but you'll need
an expert to prove it.

NAOMI:
Mr. Mason...

I heard you were here.

Mr. Mason,
you've got to get him off!

He didn't k*ll Vince Rome.

I know that.

I know it!

How do you know,
Miss Sutherland?

I just do.

Dirk-- Mr. Blake--
is a fine, decent man.

Please, please
do everything you can.

Of course.

Do you know something
that might help us?

I? Why, what could I know?

I just want him cleared!

That's all! Cleared!

What brought that on?

I have no idea.

Well, back to business.

Do you want me to get ahold of
a handwriting expert?

I'd rather have
a tide table, Paul.

Tide table?

Yes. And a scuba diver.

Have them both on the Blue Nymph
at sunrise tomorrow.

(gulls calling)

ANDERSON:
Great.

MASON: Paul told me
about the scratches on deck,

but it didn't suggest anything
until Sommers mentioned

the splash
he thought he'd heard.

And if it wasn't a fish,

you think whatever it was,
was shoved off here?

Yes.

And since low water
was at : that night,

and our lobster poacher heard
whatever it was he heard

at least an hour later,
the tide was coming in.

So?

That would float the Blue Nymph
to almost its present position,

bow forward, and as far back
from the harbor entrance

as its anchor chain will reach.

MASON:
Here's our diver.

Packing case just about where
you told me to look, Mr. Mason.

Too big to bring up,

so I pried off the lid,
brought these up instead.

Swiss watches.

Then, Mr. Sommers, the
Blue Nymph was in this position

when you came back along the
jetty and heard the splash.

It had to be, 'cause the water
was flooding in strong

for about an hour.

That is, if, uh, low tide's
at : , like the book says.

What was its position
when you heard the men

struggling inside the cabin?

Well, uh, it was kind of like,
like this.

Otherwise, the jetty light
wouldn't have shown

through the hatch,
into the cabin.

Mr. Barstow, what would've been
the Blue Nymph's position

when the tide ceased ebbing
at : that night?

Uh...

Like so.

MASON: Show the court what
obviously happened

when the tide reversed.

BARSTOW:
Well, uh...

slack water lasts
about ten minutes.

MASON:
Making it : .

Yeah.

Then the tide
would start to come in,

swinging the boat around...

here, like so.

The -degree swing
takes how long?

minutes at the most.

: .

Which means the Blue Nymph
could've been in position

for the jetty light to shine
into the cabin,

allowing Mr. Sommers
to see the defendant

struggle with Vince Rome
and then leave

only between : and : .

Yet you testified, Mr. Barstow,

that you spoke to Vince Rome,

saw him alive
at : that night,

approximately minutes later.

Yeah.

That's right, Mr. Mason.

That's the truth.

Therefore, Dirk Blake could not
have k*lled Vince Rome.

Your Honor,
before asking dismissal

of the charge
against the defendant,

I would like Mr. Barstow
to return to the stand.

JUDGE:
Granted.

Will you take the stand again,
Mr. Barstow?

Thank you, Mr. Sommers.

Now, Mr. Barstow, you told
the police, I believe,

that Pancho Morado rode you back
to the Blue Nymph that night,

and you talked together on deck
for a time,

but heard no splash.

Yeah, that's the truth.

Is it?
Or is this nearer the truth?

Instead of rowing back with
Morado and going to bed,

as you said...

you both looked
in the main cabin

and saw Vince Rome's body.

Yeah, we looked in.

And fearing the police would
come and search the boat,

the two of you then shoved

a large packing case
over the side.

Now what was in this case?

Yeah, that's right--

Swiss watches,
smuggled in from Mexico.

MASON:
You, Morado, and Vince Rome

were in this smuggling together?

No.

Just Pancho and me.

But Mr. Rome found out
about it.

And that's how he was able to
force Morado's help

in involving
Mrs. Blake with him.

Yeah, that's how.

Your Honor, I would now like to
call Pancho Morado to the stand.

"Mr. and Mrs. John Smith--"

so read your motel
registration cards

for the night of the th
and the rd, Mr. Morado.

They were actually signed by
Vince Rome, were they not?

Yeah-yeah, yeah.

Who was the woman with him
on those nights?

Who was she, Mr. Morado?

Mrs. Gray.

Your Honor, this is a photostat
of a $ check

cashed by Vince Rome,

the $ paid him, as stated in
the carbon agreement.

The check is signed
by the person who instigated

the plot
to discredit Janice Blake.

And who k*lled to recover the
incriminating original agreement

for $ , more.

Therefore...

with your permission, I call...

Well, Mr. Mason?

I was going to call the person
who also had access

to the typewriter which
typed that agreement--

Miss Naomi Sutherland.

She left, Mr. Mason--
three or four minutes ago.

DIRK:
Miss Smithers.

Where's Button, Mrs. Blake?

Isn't she here?

No, Miss Sutherland called
for her about half an hour ago.

- Miss Sutherland?
- Miss Sutherland? -Yes, she said

you were meeting for lunch
at the Westland Park.

Oh, no.

In the car-- hurry.

(engine starts)

Come on, Mr. Duck, come on,
I got popcorn for you.

All right, Button,
that's enough.

Let's, let's go look at the cars
like I promised you.

Here in the park?

No, not in the park.

The place where I've told you,
across from the park.

It's a lovely place, darling,
it's, it's high, high up.

Al right.

Let's go.

DELLA:
Stop!

Perry, look!

(Janice gasps)

♪♪

I'm scared, Miss Sutherland.

Please, can't we go now?

Not yet.

Oh, darling, not yet.

BUTTON:
No, don't!

Don't!

(screams)

Take her, Miss Street,
before I do something terrible!

(gasps with relief)

NAOMI:
Terrible, terrible!

(Naomi sobbing)

(mellow jazz playing)

Good evening, folks, welcome
to the La Playa Motel and Bar.

Hi, Perry, how come
you had us meet you here?

Oh, somebody's treating us
to dinner.

Well, good.

Did you see Naomi Sutherland?

No, I talked
to the psychiatrist,

and her problem
is as we thought,

an obsession that she should be

Blake's wife
and Button's mother.

Which she did her level best
to make come true.

Including the m*rder
of Vince Rome

when he threatened to expose her

unless she paid him
the money she promised.

The psychiatrist said

she completely lost control
after that.

Poor thing.

Why didn't Anderson arrest her
in court?

My fault.

He was out taking a phone call
and I should have noticed.

Well, all's well that ends well.

Say, how do you suppose
the Blakes will end up?

If you turn around,
Paul, you'll see.

HOST:
Good evening, folks.

Welcome to the La Playa
Motel and Bar.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Mason.

Hi, Button.

Oh, thank--
thank you for everything.

Hello, Miss Street.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Hey, our Button's
taking us to dinner.

(laughter)

(theme song playing)