08x06 - The Case of the Nautical Knot

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

♪♪

Senorita Joanna.

Yes, Rosa?

Senor Rick is nice.

Mm-hmm.

Very nice.

Yes, Rosa, he's very nice.

And you hate him very much, ¿si?

I what?

(chuckling)

Rosa, how many times
do I have to tell you?

Mr. Scott is my patient.

(laughing)

Oh, si, si, but now,
without so much bandages

and without so much bed
and sleep all the time...

Rosa, stop it.

Forgive me, senorita.

I cannot help if my eyes
were not injured.

Maybe now you try
a new medicine, ¿si?

(Rosa laughing)

Guess who turned out the lights.

I'm sorry.

- Joanna, I wasn't...
- This Mexican sunlight

is much too bright
for you to be reading yet.

Yes, keeper. No, keeper.

You heard the instructions
yourself.

In another month, perhaps.

But I wasn't.

Here, swallow this.

(phone ringing)

You know, I'm sick of pills.

And I'm sick of Acapulco,
and most of all...

I know-- and you're sick
of keepers, too.

Joanna, I was not reading.

And you, Mrs. Martinez,
go away, go away.

Excuse me.
It is the telephone, senor.

No. Whichever doctor it is,

you tell him that I got
into another accident.

No, tell him I got pneumonia
and d*ed last week.

But it is long distance--
Los Angeles.

And Mr. Scott, he says...

My brother again?

Look, you tell Nervous Nellie

that as long as I've got
to stay away from business

and remain in exile
from society

-to stop pestering me.
- But, senor...

The point is,
I am on my way to Yucatan.

What?

That's right.

I told you I wasn't reading.

I was just looking
at the maps you gave me.

Do you really think
Yucatan's a good idea?

Driving around
in the tropic winter?

Month of moonlight?
Palm trees?

No, no, of course not.

But, of course, until, uh,
my eye healed,

you'd have to do
all the driving, right?

Then I could just lean back
and nag you and nag you.

(laughing):
Oh, Rick.

It's exactly
what the doctor felt

would be the best thing for you.

Sure, sure.
Now, look at this.

Uh, if we take this road down...

I am sorry to interrupt
so much, senorita,

but it is not his brother.

His old uncle.

And his uncle wish
to speak to you.

Hello, operator.

Yes, I'm Jo...

Mr. Scott.

How nice to hear from you again.

How are you today?

Oh, fine, fine, honey.

Working hard and feeling frisky.

But what I want to hear is,
how is Rick doing?

Oh, well, he's getting
a little hard to handle.

He's feeling so much better.

Well, now, look here.

You tell that boy
not to get restless.

I want him to stay down there

until he... till he's
clear in shape, you hear me?

And, Joanna, it's your job
to keep him there.

Oh, I understand.

You just tell him
that Barlow and me

got everything going fine.

The company don't need him.

I'm taking care of everything.

Oh, I know, I know.

Mr. Scott, wait a minute.

You remember that idea
I wrote you about?

To take an easy trip south
by car?

Well, we're going to Yucatan.

(chuckling): Well, well,
why didn't you say so?

Oh, sure, sure, honey.

I knew I could depend on you.

Thank you, Mr. Scott.

Okay, good-bye.

Oh, Joanna, come here.

Uh, you've met my brother
and his wife, Ben and Elayna.

- Yes, of course.
- Hi.

Uh, Pamela, this is Joanna.

She's the one who helped
pull Uncle Harve

through pneumonia last year,
and, well,

-how she's done it for me.
- Of course.

If I ever get pneumonia,
I won't hire anyone else.

I'm Pamela Blair.

Rick and I
have been friends for years.

More than merely friends,
darling.

Be honest with the girl.

Rick, please,
will you read those notes?

They, uh, just dropped in
out of the blue.

I won't answer his phone calls,

so the idiot flew down here.

Read them, I said.

We're going back by ship.

It sails in just a few hours.

I persuaded them
the ship would be

so much more restful for Rick.

Just think of it--

five whole days and nights
for fun and games.

For Rick?

But Rick can't...

I mean, we were going to...

I'm sorry, Joanna.

I'm going back to Los Angeles.

We literally forced Pamela

to make this trip with us--
for your sake.

The least you could do
is dance with her.

Right now,
I'd rather dance with you.

I know I'm irresistible.

Oh, and intelligent.

Darling, you've been out
in the Mexican sun too long.

Elayna, I told Ben
I'd come back to Los Angeles

to make sure the company
was all right,

but Ben is an alarmist.

Ben's much smarter
than you think he is.

- Sometimes...
- What do you mean?

When I had the accident
and Uncle Harvey

came out of retirement
to run the business...

There's Pamela.

Elayna, don't you think

Uncle Harvey's
been doing a good job?

He's apparently gotten
that merger set up,

and just as well as I could.

That merger is something
we've always wanted.

I never did understand
what a merger was.

Then, do you agree with Ben?

Do you think Uncle Harvey
has been acting odd?

Nervous? Secretive?

But, darling,
you should ask Pamela.

She was Uncle Harve's
right hand before he retired.

She still sees him
now and again.

- She's the one...
- Never mind.

I just thought you might
have noticed something.

That's all.

Rick, don't you like
to dance with Pamela?

I'll make you a bet, Pam.

Three seconds,
and you'll have a new partner.

Rick?

My wife is such a sweet
little matchmaker.

(Pamela chuckles)

Darling.

Please rescue me
from this brother of yours.

I can't cope any longer.

Cope?

With a wobbling invalid?

They make such a lovely couple.

You can just tell
they were meant for each other.

Well, if they weren't,
you'd see to it.

Your Uncle Harvey
acting strangely?

I haven't seen too much of him

since I stopped working
at the office.

Why not?

Well, there's not much chance.

He's away so much
on those prospecting trips.

Looking for uranium again.

Or gold or oil
or just sagebrush.

You know your Uncle Harvey.

Yeah, but that's nothing
to worry about.

I left him a real small budget
for land exploration.

Is Ben worried
about your uncle's hobbies?

Is that it?

I don't know.

That's why I'm asking you.

Rick, Harvey
is a sweet, dear old man,

as far as I know.

Or maybe I should ask you
about Ben.

What?

Well, how did you happen
to come along on this trip?

Well, hope springs eternal,
you know.

Please, Pamela, tell me.

I was lured by words
like "urgent,”

"terrible emergency.”

It wasn't until I got down here

I realized they just
wanted me for bait--

to help haul you home.

Darling, don't be mad at me.

The least you could do now
is nibble a little.

What's that, a highball?

Oh, no, I just gave Rick
his medication.

Well, if you're still on duty,

why don't you bring
something for us?

Just the two of us.

Nice, cool fizz, maybe?

Thanks, but we're going to play
shuffleboard.

In that Florence Nightingale
costume?

Well, I know I don't really
have to wear it,

but to tell you the truth,

I don't have many clothes
with me.

But I should think Uncle Harvey

would have supplied you
with a whole wardrobe.

How else could you
do your real job?

I don't understand.

Oh, come on, now, honey,
tell the truth.

Didn't that dear old reprobate
really hire you

to keep Rick away
from Los Angeles?

No.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Well, that's what Ben says.

I bet you've really been
enjoying your work, haven't you?

Oh, you've got the...

Mrs. Scott,
your brother-in-law

is nothing
but a patient to me.

One I'll be very glad
to get rid of.

Rick.

There you are.

Now, look, I want
a chance to go over

the whole picture with you
before we dock tomorrow...

Ben, there's no picture
to go over, and you know it.

This whole trip
has been a waste.

That's exactly what
I told Uncle Harvey, too.

What? When?

Look, how you could possibly
think he'd mess up the company

or the merger, either,
is beyond me.

When did you tell
Uncle Harvey...?

I sent him a radiogram
yesterday.

-(Ben groans)
- Oh, don't worry.

I made a big joke out of your
Nervous Nellie suspicions.

Oh, no, Rick!

Look, you may know more
about the business than I do,

but when it comes to people...

Excuse me, sir-- Mr. Rick Scott?

- Right here.
- Radiogram.

Thank you.

Uncle Harvey?

Yes.

I'm sure he thinks
it's all a big joke, too.

"There's no point
in you coming back anyway,

"because everything about
the merger will be finalized...

tomorrow morning."”

He's called a meeting
of the other shareholders

before we land.

Without me there, without you.

That seems a little strange.

Yeah, I told you so.

Now, whatever it is he's up to,

there's nothing
we can do about it.

There's nothing we...

Yes, yes, there is.

I'll stop him.

Joanna?

Joanna.

RICK:
Joanna?

I have been looking
all over for you.

It isn't time for your pill yet.

Look, little keeper, I know
you must be pretty confused,

and maybe you think I am, too.

Well, it really isn't any
of my concern.

And I know this is going
to sound pretty sudden.

I... ] mean, I'd, uh,

planned on working
my way up to it.

Uh... well, I... I'd counted
on Yucatan and palm trees and...

Rick, will you please
take your hands off me?

Joanna,
will you please marry me?

What?

I love you.

I-I want you to be my wife now.

Rick, what's the matter
with you?

Hold still, darn it.
I'm proposing.

Now, I know there's a lot
to explain.

Please, stop it.

It-it's the wrong time
of day for this.

Marry me, Joanna.

Besides, I promised
the ship's doctor

I'd help with
an operation tonight.

Let me go.

I love you.

No, you don't.

Your sister-in-law says...

You pay no attention
to what she says.

Now, I love you.

I would have told you sooner,
but you were always

coming at me with dark glasses.

Rick.

Hey.

Now, come on.

Make up your mind, young lady.

The captain's waiting.

Joanna,
don't you love me at all?

MAN:
You, Joanna...

Monford.

Do you, Joanna Monford,
take this man

to be your lawful
wedded husband?

I now pronounce you
man and wife.

Two hours?

I shouldn't be at the office
any longer than that.

Now, you hurry up
with that shopping

and finish up
as fast as you can.

Oh, don't worry.

Rick, I never did say good-bye
to your sister-in-law.

Well, I haven't seen any of them
since we've been married.

Honey, the farther
I keep you away

from those wolves and vultures,
the better I like it.

Now, there's a lot
you don't understand yet.

I understand your Uncle Harvey's
going to be pretty upset.

I mean, about our even
coming back here.

Do you know how many times
he called me,

making me promise
I'd keep you down in Mexico?

Skip it.

I'll take care of him.

And I'll explain
everything later.

I don't want explanations.

I just want...

I've got to go now, honey.

Hurry, darling.

- Bye.
- Bye.

WOMAN:
Scott Agriculture and Mining.

Mr. Harvey Scott?

No, he's gone to the desert
for a few days.

Any message?

Yes. Yes.

What was that last?
I'm sorry.

Oh, yes.

Thank you.

Uh, Miss Larson,
would you mind...

Mr. Barlow, would you tell Rick
I'm here, please?

I beg your pardon.

Well, my shopping didn't take
any time at all, so...

well, just tell him
I'll wait here.

I don't want to interrupt.

Rick? You mean Rick Scott?

Oh, no, Mr. Scott's down
in Acapulco. I don't think...

Oh, no, he isn't.

We just landed here
a little while ago.

Rick's here someplace
talking to his Uncle Harvey.

Mr. Harvey Scott
hasn't been in today, either.

I don't really know
where he is, but...

Mr. Barlow,
don't you recognize me?

I'm Joanna.

Joanna Monford.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Only now it's Scott, too,
of course.

Rick and I were just married.

You were what?

So that's what's going on.

Oh, you poor little fool.

Oh, is he back already?

There wasn't anybody
down at the desk.

Mrs. Scott?

Rick?

Have you lost him already,
darling?

What a pity-- a honeymoon
without a bridegroom.

Well, it's us,
and we've bribed our way in

to help you celebrate
the happy event.

Hi. Congratulations.

Oh, then you've heard
what we did.

Ben finally got around
to telling Elayna.

He's really a frightful coward,

you know, that...
that husband of mine.

In the glass, darling,
not on me.

She said she was
a relative of yours.

Oh, go away. Shoo.

Scat.

Uh, Rick went to see
his Uncle Harvey-- someplace.

Oh, of course--
to collect his dowry.

How stupid of me.

Now, knock it off, Laynie.

ELAYNA: I don't know
what you mean. All I meant

-about the dowry was...
- PAMELA: Here.

Well, to the bride.

And the extra stock
she brought to the groom.

Elayna.

Uncle Harvey got more than he
bargained for hiring you.

PAMELA:
Please, Elayna.

No, wait.

What did you mean about stock?

A dowry, I think you called it.

Let it go, Joanna.
Skip it.

ELAYNA:
But, surely, you must know.

I'm really very grateful.

It's amazing how quickly
you pulled the rug

out from under Uncle Harvey.

I what?

Laynie, if you say it,
I swear I'll...

Didn't Rick tell you
why he married you?

Because he loves you, of course.

ELAYNA:
And loves the extra votes

that he gets with the
extra stock that Uncle Harvey

had to give up
the minute Rick was married.

Well, it's really quite simple.

When Rick's father d*ed,
stock was left in trust

for the boys
with Uncle Harvey Scott

until they came of age.

At that time, they received
part of the stock,

then more automatically
at the time of marriage.

So, now Rick has control
of the company?

No, but all
of the other shareholders

know about the arrangement.

Today, for example,

an important meeting
was called off.

Everyone knows
that Harvey's power

is, uh, now a little less.

They want to wait
for Rick's return.

Oh, I see.

I mean, I guess I see.

I don't blame Rick
for not wanting

to bore you
with dull business details.

Oh, I know, I know.

It's just that...

those two women upset me, and...

I haven't even heard
from Rick today,

and, of course,
I knew you were the lawyer,

and I thought
he might have come here.

Rick has disappeared, Perry.

He was supposed to be back
three hours ago to meet her.

We'll help find him, Joanna,
but be patient.

I'm sure there's nothing
to be alarmed about.

Oh, no, no, of course not.

Perry, "be patient”
is not good advice

to give to a bride
of only one week.

One week?

Oh, it's barely one day.

We were just married

last night on the ship
by the captain.

I mean, if you're sure

you're not really afraid
Rick's in trouble of some kind.

I'm sure he isn't.

I was only reacting to the fact

that you were married
aboard ship.

I'm sure Rick explained

about the old
ship's marriage myth.

Myth?

Well, it's a common belief

that every ship's captain
can marry people.

The truth is, very few of them
are legally empowered to do so.

Uh, yours, obviously,
had the legal power.

Oh, yes,
Rick told me about that.

So did the captain
of the Point Loma.

Well, now, Joanna.

You go to your hotel and relax.

Don't worry.

I'll be in touch.

Everything will be all right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Della, get a hold of Paul,
would you, please?

What's the matter, Perry?

Well, I know who owns
the Point Loma.

The captain of a ship
owned by a California resident

is not empowered
to marry people, Della.

I don't know what
Rick Scott is up to...

...but that girl
is not legally his wife.

Sorry, friend.

Private property.

No trespassing.

Oh?

I didn't notice it was posted.

Well, takes a little time
to get everything done, friend.

For now, you'll just
have to take my word for it.

Sure.

They told me in town
this was the only road

to the old Scott ranch house.

It used to be.

We just closed it off.

Tearing down the house

soon as the rest
of the papers are signed.

None of this is Scott property
anymore, friend.

It's leased
to the Union Farm and Tool.

Union Farm and Tool.

That's a pretty big outfit.

Real big.

Trouble is, when we go
to a new location,

the locals resent us.

Sometimes they show
their feelings

with sand in the tractor oil

and potshots at the hired hands.

That's why we got this rule--
no trespassers.

I'm sure you understand, friend.

Ah, absolutely, friend.

I was just leaving.

Oh, uh, one question.

I came up here looking
for Harvey or Rick Scott.

Would you happen to know
if they've been around?

Not to my knowledge.

Nice talking to you, friend.

Yeah, real nice, friend.

Thank you, Gertie.

It's Paul calling
from Lancaster.

Hello, Paul.

Did you locate Rick Scott?

No, not a trace of him
in Dos Banos,

and I sure missed him here.

Any idea of what's going on
with the company?

No, nothing except Scott
Agriculture and Mining Company

is leasing
their principal property

to Union Farm and Tool for, uh,
mechanized agriculture,

which is the first step
in what appears to be

a merger of the two companies.

As far as I can gather,
it's strictly on the level.

What about Uncle Harvey?

You mean the desert rat's
version of Santa Claus?

I don't know where he is,

but a Cub Scout
can follow his trail.

That old buzzard and companion
have been in, out,

up, down and around this desert,
prospecting and buying up

mining claims
you couldn't even give away.

Companion?

Female type.

Neighbor from Los Angeles.

Name's Emmalou Schneider.

HARVEY: All right, Barlow,
got no more to say.

- You can go now.
- I'm sorry, Mr. Scott, but I...

Confound it, no.
You understand English, Barlow?

No, no, no.

Please, Mr. Scott.

I don't know
why you're so upset.

And believe me,
I'm not trying to pry,

but I don't think it's asking
too much to inquire

why you saw fit to smuggle
some of our records

out of the office
and here to your house.

That's... that's an accusing
word, Barlow-- "smuggle.”

I went in, and I took what
I have every right to take,

and I told..

You told whom?

You don't remember, do you?

Mr. Scott,
you didn't tell anybody.

It's just like that check.

Sometimes you're not quite...

I'm running this company,
you hear?

And I can do anything I want
with the books.

And I know what I'm doing--
I know.

Nobody questions that
for a moment, sir.

It's just that I-I
thought, uh...

You thought? Thought what?

Well, we've worked together
for years.

I thought maybe
you'd want me to help you.

No, no, I'll do it myself.

It's my own problem,
Barlow, not yours.

BARLOW: Well, uh,
if there is anything,

-anything at all, sir...
- Well, thanks, Barlow.

I'll go over the books myself.

...I'm...

well, I'm not
quite sure what ...

But thanks anyway.

, , , ...

(doorbell rings)

, ...

(doorbell rings)

Go away!

(doorbell rings)

I thought I told...

I want to talk to you.

Well, there's nothing
to say, Emmalou.

Harvey Scott, I hate you so much

I ought to cave in your skull
with a flower pot!

Oh, stop carrying on that way.

Now stop it, do you hear me?
Stop it!

All right, shout at me.

Big man.

All right, now listen.

You want to know
why I didn't take you with me

on that last trip to the desert,
I'll tell you why.

Because I was out there trying
to make those old desert rats

you got such
a kick out of buy back

their mining claims, that's why.

Harvey, you didn't.

I couldn't!

Desert rats run fast.

Some of them
I couldn't even catch.

But why, Harvey?

Why do you want to sell back?

Because I was scared,
that's why.

Because I'm an irresponsible
old man who...

An old man who what, Harvey?

Who's afraid
to face himself, maybe.

Harvey, this trouble you're in--
has it anything to do

with your business and the
sick nephew who's coming home?

Well, is there anything
I can do to help?

Emmalou, two weeks ago
when we saw Peg-Leg,

after we left his place
and drove west toward the coast,

did we pick up another piece
of property on the way?

We didn't go west,
we went east to the town,

to that square dance.

Surely you remember.

Too much mountain dew, you said.

Al right.

You better run along now.

There's no use in both of us
getting involved.

There's nothing they can
put you in jail for.

Jail?

Harvey, what's going on?

It'll be all right.
I'll make it all right.

You... you better
run along now, Emmalou,

and leave me alone, please.

I... I just got to
work this out alone.

All right, Harvey.

Picture.

Everything in place.

Bang, just like that, it's...

Oh, no, no.

(muttering quietly)

(sighs)

It don't fit.

Numbers don't fit.

(footsteps outside)

Emmalou, I asked you
please to...

Joanna.

Mr. Scott, I was just
about to ring the doorbell.

-I was hoping maybe you could tell...
-Rick.

Is Rick with you?

No. I thought maybe he was here.

Oh, wait a minute,
wait a minute.

What is it?

It's : . There's still time.

Come in, come in.

Mr. Scott...

Joanna, you've got to help me.

You've got to.

Yes, Della?

Oh, put him on.

Rick, where are you?

I'm on my way
back to town, Perry.

Now, listen.
I stopped to call my wife,

but she wasn't in, so I called
my brother Ben's place.

Joanna's probably
looking for you--

the man she thinks
is her husband.

The what?

What are you talking about?

You have quite a bit of
explaining to do, Rick.

Okay, Perry, but later.

Look, Ben wasn't home, either.

And Elayna said she got a phone
call from my uncle, from Harvey,

setting up an important
emergency meeting.

In less than a half hour.

Now, you know where he lives.

Meet me there.
Stall, do anything,

but don't let him make a move
until I arrive.

Please, Perry, do this for me.

It's important.

♪♪

Oh, Mr. Mason.

It is Mr. Mason, isn't it?

I'm Laurence Barlow.

I don't suppose
you'd remember me, but...

Of course I do.

You're comptroller of the Scott
Agriculture and Mining Company.

This is Mr. Paul Drake,
my associate.

Mr. Drake.

Did you get a call
from Harvey, too?

Seems everybody else did.

Who is it?

(panting)

Joanna, what's that?

Blood.

Uncle Harvey.

I tried to help,
but there's nothing I could do.

Nothing anybody could do.

(sobbing)

Harvey Scott is dead.

- He's been m*rder*d.
- No!

She did it.

She k*lled him.

The district attorney will claim
that Harvey Scott paid you

to keep Rick away while Harvey
was stealing from the company.

He will claim you double-crossed
Harvey when you realized

you could have more money
by marrying Rick.

The state will try to prove that

you and Harvey were accomplices
who had a fight

that ended in Harvey's death.

A death for which
you will be charged, Joanna,

with criminal homicide.

But you haven't explained
about Rick--

where he was,
why I didn't hear from him.

He phoned you at the hotel.

You were out shopping, so he
left a message with the desk.

But I never got that message.

Never.

I know. We're looking into that.

But right now,
I want you to explain to me

where that money
in your purse came from.

Well, I told you,
it was Harvey Scott's money.

I picked it up for him
at the bank.

Mr. Mason, did Rick
really say he loved me?

Yes, Joanna.

Yes, he planned to marry you,

even before
this business started.

The shipboard ceremony
was an emergency act

to stop further maneuvering
in the company.

But his plan was to take you to
Las Vegas for a legal ceremony,

as soon as you were together
ashore and he could explain.

If only he hadn't
gone looking for everyone--

for his uncle,
and then the other shareholders.

Joanna, why did you go
to the bank for that money?

Because Uncle Harvey sent me.

It wasn't the first time.

I'd run errands for him
like that last year

when I was nursing him.

Did Harvey say
why he wanted the money?

Well, he said he was in trouble
and that he needed

a few thousand dollars
he thought he still had

in one of his accounts,
that's all.

"A few thousand dollars
he thought he still had

in one of his accounts.”

Those were his exact words?

I think so.

Mr. Mason, what was so wrong

with my going to the bank
for him?

Nothing.

(sighs)

Nothing, except the money
was still in your purse

while he was dying on the floor.

And while he was dying, I should
have handed him the money

and insisted on a receipt?

I'm a registered nurse.

I came into the house,

found an old man
who'd been brutally beaten

and tried to help.

What crime did I commit?

According to the police,
you argued over

your payoff
for services rendered.

He tried to take the money back,
and you k*lled him.

But I'm telling the truth.

All of it?

Including Harvey's
asking you to pick up

a few thousand dollars for him?

That's exactly what he said.

Joanna, the police
found in your purse

not a few thousand dollars,
but $ , .

Mr. Scott was very explicit
when he called the bank.

He wanted whatever cash
there was in his account

turned over to the young lady
there, the defendant.

She'd done banking
with us before.

I knew her by sight,
knew her well.

With his call and
the balance-of-account check

which she brought,
there wasn't any problem.

Harvey Scott banked with you

for a considerable number
of years, didn't he?

Yes, sir.

Until the last few months,
what was the largest balance

Mr. Scott ever carried
at your bank?

Can you tell us that?

I checked our records.

A little less than $ , .

$ , .

And what was the amount
that he accumulated

by regular mail deposits
in the few months during which

his nephew was away,

the sum you turned over to
the defendant, Joanna Monford?

$ , .

Lieutenant Anderson, you heard
the autopsy surgeon testify

that Harvey Scott was k*lled by
repeated blows on the head

with a blunt instrument.

I show you now
this fireplace poker.

I ask if you've ever
seen it before.

Yes, sir, it has one of my tags
for identification.

The poker was found lying
beside the body of the decedent.

Now, did you have
the poker analyzed

by the police laboratories?

And, if so, with what result?

Yes, sir.

The bloodstains were made from

blood of the same type
as that of the decedent.

And the human hair
matched exactly

the hair of the decedent.

I see.

Now, this dress, marked for
the people Exhibit Three,

has been identified as the one
worn by the defendant

at the time she was apprehended.

I ask you to examine it, please.

It also bears one of my
identifying tags, Mr. Burger.

Did you, then, have this dress--
worn by the defendant

when she emerged from
the decedent's house--

also analyzed
by the police laboratory?

Yes, sir.

Like the bloodstains
on the poker,

the bloodstains on this dress
are from the same type blood

as that of the m*rder*d man.

She said, very clearly,
that she had tried to help him.

With the poker, Mr. Drake?

Your Honor...

I withdraw the question,
Your Honor.

With apologies
to defense counsel.

This girl, Mr. Drake,
the defendant,

came stumbling out of the house
and mumbled something which

you are pleased to interpret as

a statement
that she tried to help.

But, Mr. Drake,
at that moment, what happened?

Mr. Mason went into the house.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

MASON:
I have no questions.

The witness is excused.

Call your next witness,
Mr. Burger.

It's Mr. Mason, Your Honor.

I call Perry Mason to the stand.

Objection, Your Honor.

This is mere harassment.

An attorney cannot, without
consent of his client,

be examined on communication
made by the client to him,

or his advice
given to the client

in the course of
professional employment.

Your Honor,
we're not interested

in what Mr. Mason said to his
client or heard from his client,

we're interested in
what Mr. Mason saw,

as an individual witness,

which I believe
will help convict his client.

I move that remark be stricken
from the record

and the prosecutor
be warned to refrain

from further prejudicial
statements

assuming facts not in evidence.

So ordered.

Very well; then I insist
that the court now rule

on the competency
of Mr. Perry Mason

to appear as witness
for the prosecution.

Mr. Mason... take the stand.

Yes, Harvey Scott was still
alive-- barely alive--

when I felt his pulse.

And while you were
feeling his pulse, Mr. Mason?

It stopped.

Then you know,
of your own knowledge,

that Harvey Scott's heart
stopped b*ating

less than one minute

after Joanna Monford
ran out of that house,

with her dress
covered with blood

from the battered head
of Harvey Scott.

Yes.

Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

"No use of both of us
getting involved.

Nothing they can send you
to jail for.”

That's what...
those were his exact words.

After which, the decedent asked
you to leave him alone,

and you went back to your
own house, is that right?

Yes.

I went upstairs
to change my clothes.

It was just by accident
that I looked out the window

over to Harvey's place.

And then when I saw what I saw,

I put my clothes back on and...

and rushed back over there!

But... it was too late then.

Now, upstairs,
in your own house,

while you were
changing your clothes,

and when you accidentally
looked out your window

and across to
the Harvey Scott house,

exactly what did you see?

(sniffles)

I saw Harvey's shadow up against
the side window shade,

and a woman's shadow,

and she was b*ating him
over the head with a poker!

It was her shadow!
The defendant's!

I know it was her!

(crickets chirping)

DRAKE:
Mr. Jasper!

Hey, Mr. Jasper!

Hey! Peg-Leg Jasper!

Where are you?

(g*n cocks)

Right behind you, son.

Oh-oh! Don't move!

'Cause I got this r*fle
zeroed right in

to the small of
your back, buster.

You just breathe too hard,

and I'll put a hole through you,
so you can breathe easier.

Now raise your hands...
and turn around.

I been dodgin' you crazy
deputies for two days now.

But you ain't gonna get me
in no courtroom-- no, sir!

Not as long as I got these two
legs and this r*fle to sh**t!

Thought I had me
hid out here pretty good.

How come you found me?

Mrs. Schneider thought I might
locate you here.

Emmy Lou?

She knew you were an old friend
of Harvey Scott's,

and thought you might like
to do him one last favor.

Harvey's dead; dead and buried.

Yeah, but they've dug up
his reputation

and they're
dirtying it up pretty bad.

They say he was two-faced
and a thief;

that he was stealing
from his own family.

That, mister, is a lie!

You hear me?

Harvey Scott was no thief!

That's a matter of opinion,
Mr. Jasper.

Now, you sold him a mining claim
for $ , , is that right?

Oh, I already told you that.

Yes, you also told us
that you deposited the check

he mailed to you
from his office--

but that the next time
you came to town,

you were called into the bank

and told there'd been a mistake

and that payment had been
stopped on that first check,

and that a second check was
issued to you

in the correct amount.

Now, after you received
that second check,

did the decedent, Harvey Scott,

come and see you in the desert?

Yes, I guess he did.

And what did he say to you
at that time?

Well, he-he called me a thief.

He accused me of fooling
with that first check.

Fooling with it?

Now, Mr. Jasper,
he showed you a check,

on which payment
had been stopped.

Exactly what did he say
had happened to that check?

Well, he showed me now where
that check was changed

to read from $ , to $ , .

And were you the one fooling

with that
company check, Mr. Jasper?

Here, mister,
don't go callin' me no names!

I'll tell you the same thing
I told ol' Harve--

he's clean, plumb loco!

I couldn't fool with that
check-- or any other check.

You know why?

I can't neither
read nor write!

When this bank
called the office,

I asked them
not to put the check through.

And after
I'd spoken to Mr. Scott--

that's Mr. Harvey Scott--

we sent them a substitute check
in the proper amount.

But you did speak
to the decedent about it.

Now what did he say?

Well, he found it
hard to believe

that first check was...
was his own mistake.

Was it a mistake?

That time, yes, I think it was.

Oh, there were other times?

BARLOW:
Oh, I'm not... really sure.

But I am afraid there
probably were other times.

BURGER:
Don't you know, Mr. Barlow?

Well, with this merger,

part of our records are here
in town, part are back East,

some in the hands
of our attorneys.

The merger required
a good deal of shifting around

of assets and accounts.

I'm afraid it may be some time
before we really know for sure.

Well, does anybody
know for sure?

Mr. Rick Scott's been going over
the books-- maybe he knows.

And what about the $ ,
in his private account--

I mean his
private personal account,

not the company account.

Don't you don't know the source
of that money either?

Well, no, not for sure.

I'll admit there appear to be
possible shortages

in certain accounts and that
some of our assets would...

well, would appear to be
unaccounted for,

but nothing I could specifically
attribute to my uncle.

Really.

All right, Mr. Scott,
now tell us this:

Did the defendant
ever exert any effort

to keep you away
from Los Angeles?

If she did, my wife's only
concern was with my health.

(wry chuckle)
Your wife.

You're referring, of course,
to the defendant,

Miss Joanna Monford,

whom you conveniently put
through a mock marriage ceremony

in order to stop your uncle
from destroying your company.

I'm referring to
the woman I love...

...the woman
I planned to marry,

the woman I will formally marry

when this ridiculous hearing's
at an end.

In spite of the fact that prior
to your proposal,

her only interest in you

was to obey the instructions
of her accomplice

and to keep you
away from Los Angeles;

away from the company
that he was stealing from?

That's a lie!

No further questions.

BURGER:
Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Scott, after you left
your wife at the dock,

did you send her a message
telling her where you were,

and when you expected
to return to her?

Yes.
I phoned her at the hotel,

but she wasn't there,
so I left a message.

Have you discovered what
happened to that message?

Yes, it was picked up
at the hotel desk

by my sister-in-law Elayna.

I didn't like the girl.

I didn't trust her.

So I tore up the message.

Pamela was with me when I did.

She not only knows I tore it up,
she knows why-- I told her.

Elayna was frightened.

She thought Harvey Scott
was doing something

that would injure the company

and affect the income
she depended on.

That was the reason
Rick was convinced

to come back to Los Angeles.

Elayna thought if Joanna
got Rick's message,

she might interfere
with what he was doing.

I told Elayna
I thought she was wrong,

but she wouldn't listen.

Ben had convinced her this
whole mixed-up thing was true.

And you believed,
really believed,

that your uncle was capable of
robbing the company

he and your father
had established?

I... I never-never said
he was actually robbing it.

Oh?

What did you say?

That he was... old and confused

and acting strange
with Mrs. Schneider.

MASON: But he and Mrs. Schneider
were old friends.

After so long an association,

why, suddenly,
did you see it as dangerous?

That isn't so.

They weren't old friends.

Harvey Scott never saw
that woman in his life--

not till after Rick
had his accident--

not until after Rick
went down to Mexico.

How unusual.

And how convenient.

A kindred spirit--
exactly the sort of person

who would awaken in Harvey Scott

the always-hard-to-resist
urge to prospect,

buy up mining claims.

Convenient.

Convenient that
she should cross his path

when Rick wasn't around,

when Harvey
was running the company,

when a merger was taking place,

when it would be so easy,
SO very easy

to make mistakes
under cover of that merger.

Now how did Harvey Scott
meet this woman?

Did you introduce them?

Me?

No, no, no, not me.

It was Barlow.

Proof, Mr. Barlow,
proof that you arranged

Emmalou Schneider's
meeting with Harvey Scott;

proof that you arranged for her
to rent the house next door.

I... I-I wasn't...

You weren't what?

You weren't expecting Ben
to become suspicious?

Weren't expecting
that he would have his brother

come back home to
force a stock distribution

that would take control away
from the confused old man

you were using as front
for your embezzlement?

No! No!

But the old man wasn't quite so
confused, was he?

He realized
something was wrong--

thought he had inadvertently
been wasting company money.

True, he made
a harmless mistake or two--

but the big mistakes were really
arranged by you, weren't they?

Please, please,
I didn't mean to--

Then he took the books home,
and the fat was in the fire.

He was on the verge of
discovering the truth--

not merely the $ , ,
but the whole truth.

I-I'd already deposited
the money in his account.

Th-There were other accounts.

He'd signed certain assignments,
and other papers,

not knowing what they were.

How much
were you planning to steal?

A quarter of
a million dollars.

And that's what Harvey Scott
suddenly stumbled onto?

Yes, he... he told me
on the phone.

MASON: He called everyone,
everyone concerned,

to come to the house-- Ben,
Ben's wife-- he called you--

Well, you were there.
You-you saw me arrive.

Did I, Mr. Barlow?

The k*ller arrived
before Joanna Monford.

The k*ller struck and fatally
injured Harvey Scott,

ran out the back,
then drove around the block

and arrived in time
with everyone else.

But I didn't k*ll him!

No, that was your accomplice,

the former bookkeeper
who devised the scheme,

who refused
to let you give up the chance

for a quarter of
a million dollars.

Miss Blair!

Why did Harvey Scott call you
to come to the house?

You hadn't worked for the
company for over a year;

you weren't a stockholder;

you had never been more
than a casual friend.

Or was it Barlow who called you;

Barlow who told you
that Harvey Scott

knew your scheme and was ready
to call the authorities?

You couldn't permit that,
could you, Pamela?

Even if you had to m*rder
Harvey Scott to prevent it.

Then it was Pamela's silhouette

that Emmalou saw
on the window shade

hitting Harvey with the poker.

Pamela went in the back,
m*rder*d him,

came out,
drove her car around front

just as we were all arriving.

What I don't understand--
what made Perry know

that Harvey was about to
discover an embezzlement?

Crumpled paper.

What?!

When Joanna first saw Harvey,

the floor was littered
with crumpled pieces of paper--

paper he'd been figuring on.

Mm-hmm.

When we found Joanna,

and the dead body,
there was no paper.

Now, Pamela knew
that the old man

had been checking the books--

she was afraid that his notes
and figures might tip the truth.

She sure must have
gathered that paper up

and carted it out
in one big hurry.

Shh! Not so loud.

By virtue of the authority
vested in me,

I now pronounce you
man and wife.

(theme song playing)