08x12 - The Case of the Wooden Nickels

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

Not even one
damsel in distress.

No, Perry, not even
a book salesman.

It's been more like
a morgue around here

than a law office all morning.

Paul?

No, he hasn't come in yet.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, I'll tell him.

'Bye.

Tell me what, Della?

I didn't hear you come in, Paul.

Perry wants you to know that
he's running a little late,

but the luncheon's still on,
if you don't mind waiting.

Don't mind at all.

Nothing like a nice, quiet,
comfortable morgue for waiting.

I don't know what
made me say that.

I hope it isn't a premonition
of trouble or something.

It's the holidays, beautiful.

Trouble's on vacation.

(phone buzzes)

Yes, Gertie?

To speak to Paul?
What about?

DELLA:
Send her in.

- Thank you.
- What's up?

Trouble, it sounds like,
back from vacation.

(door opens)

Mr. Drake?

Yes, and this is Miss Street.

How do you do?

I'm Miss Doubleday.

Minerva Doubleday,
and I'd like your help,

because I'm in trouble.

What kind of trouble,
Miss Doubleday?

It says, "The emissary
is to be at

the Southeast corner of Wilshire
and Lebanon at : tonight.”

Emissary?

"He, or she, is to stand under
the corner street sign

"for exactly two minutes,

"and then is to proceed to the
public library, South entrance

at the dead end of Hope Street,
which will be closed.”

The library, of course,
not the street.

Of course.

MINERVA: "At : ,
the public phone on the street

"by the entrance steps
will ring.

"The emissary is to answer,

using the code name
Jefferson Davis."”

Jefferson Davis?

Yes.

"And then further directions
will be supplied.”

Miss Doubleday, by any chance,

is this payment
some sort of ransom?

Oh, no.

Just the opposite.

The emissary
is to receive payment.

Oh.

And just where do I
come into this?

As the emissary, Mr. Drake.

My uncle, Mr. Homer Doubleday,
assigned me,

but a woman alone at night
could be a...

temptation to trickery.

Uh, why doesn't your uncle go?

He is a cr*pple, Miss Street,
confined to a wheelchair.

I'm sorry.

Would $ be sufficient
for your services?

You're offering me $

to start out
at Wilshire and Lebanon,

follow directions until payment
is made to me by someone.

That's right.

Who is this someone?

We don't know.

The letter is unsigned.

Well, what...
what is the payment for?

For this.

DELLA:
What is it, Paul?

It's a -cent piece.

A Confederate -cent piece,
Mr. Drake.

Confederate?

What's a thing like this worth?

$ , .

(bell rings)

Well, Miss Norman,
good afternoon.

Are you representing yourself
or your employer?

My employer, Mr. Doubleday,

with his final offer
for your half dollar.

I suggest you tell Mr. Hopkins

he's wasting his time
and yours and mine.

Now, he says he has plenty
of time and money to waste.

I'm well aware of that.

Then why not sell?

For years, Howard Hopkins
has been trying

to get that coin away from me.

Cajolery, flattery
and excessively high offers,

and then threats.

Threats to blacken my name
as a coin collector,

force me out of business
as a dealer.

Well, I told that pirate
I would never sell him the coin

no matter what he did
or offered.

He's willing to forget
your little differences,

Mr. Doubleday.

But I'm not.

Anyway, you may also tell him

arrangements have already
been completed to sell

the half dollar
to someone else.

You can't mean that.

But I do, Miss Norman.
Now, good-bye.

To whom are you selling it?

I can't say.

And I suppose you can't
or won't say

how much you're getting for it?

Well, whatever you're getting,

Mr. Hopkins will pay you
ten percent more.

% more, and I still
wouldn't sell to him.

Perhaps I should remind you,
Mr. Doubleday,

that along with time and money,

Mr. Hopkins also has power.

Am I to take that as still
another thr*at, Miss Norman?

You take it any way you like,

but I advise you to reconsider

before this little world
of nickels and dimes

comes crashing around your head.

(bell rings)

Homer, I'm really surprised.

Surprised?

Secrets from
your very best friends.

Or was all that out there

about selling
your precious half dollar

to Mr. Howard Hopkins
just a come-on

to whet his appetite?

Well, was it?

No, it was not.

I am selling the half dollar,
and not to Mr. Hopkins.

No matter how many other people
tell me otherwise.

It happens that I
am not other people,

so you better listen carefully.

You are selling it to him.

Never.

Homer.

Tell me...

how many duplicates
of rare coins

have you stamped out for me
in the last, um... year or so?

Five.

Mm-hmm.

A gold Fugio cent,

an undated ♪. Conway
five-dollar gold piece,

a Baldwin & Company
ten-dollar Gold Horseman,

an Trade dollar
with chop marks,

and, um... what was the other?

A Continental
silver dollar.

All so perfect

that only an expert
with access to a laboratory

could tell them
from the originals, huh?

(chuckles)

It's a federal offense, Homer,
counterfeiting money.

How many years do you think
you'd spend in prison

if I were to tell the buyers
of the coins they were fakes?

But you... you never told me

you were selling them
as originals.

Now, who would believe that?

No, Homer.

I'm afraid you're caught
squarely between

the devil and the deep blue sea.

Two options:

play ball with me
and sell the coin to Hopkins

-or jail.
-(entrance bell ringing)

Now, get in touch with Howard

and tell him
you've changed your mind.

And do it today!

MINERVA:
Uncle Homer?

It's George, Minerva.

George Parsons.

Funny you'd forget after all
we've been through together.

I told you to stay away from me.

But you didn't say anything
about Uncle Homer.

Yes, I did, and you know it.

(laughing):
All right.

I'll leave quietly.

Bye, Homer.

And don't forget.

Don't forget what?

Nothing concerning you, Minerva.

(bell ringing)

HOMER:
You gave the letter

and the half dollar
to a private detective?

Yes, a man named Paul Drake.

I checked on him,
and he's experienced

and completely trustworthy.

HOMER: Uh, and he's agreed to
handle the entire transaction?

Yes. Tonight, he'll start

at the corner of Wilshire
and Lebanon at : ,

just as the letter said,

and follow through
until the money's paid.

He'll bring it to us tomorrow.

It's far safer this way,
Uncle Homer.

But if you want, I can go back

and tell him I've decided
to do it myself.

HOMER: Was there someone
out there when you came in?

I'll go see.

Somebody wanted
some cigarettes here?

Oh, yes, please--
a package of those king-size...

Oh.

Oh, looks like I've run out.

- I'll be back in a minute.
- Thanks.

Well, what do you think, Perry?

An unsigned letter,

an odd coin neither of us
ever knew existed,

two-minute wait
under a street sign,

phone ringing in a certain
downtown phone booth.

Sounds like a spy melodrama.

I suggest you spend
the afternoon

shopping for a trench coat.

Think I'm sticking my neck out?

I honestly don't know.

It's just bizarre enough
to be legitimate.

And after all,
sticking your neck out

is your business,
isn't it, Paul?

Hi.

Ah, I'm glad you didn't wait.

And I'm also glad
you left something for me.

I'm starving.

Perhaps Operative
Naught-Naught-Seven

can report
as she eats her lunch.

Only she seems to have
forgotten her trench coat.

Trench coat and operative, hmm?

You mean the detective work
I've been doing?

You went to the coin shop?

Mm-hmm, and Mr. Doubleday
is on the up-and-up.

According to the man next door,
he's been in

that place of business
for over years.

I, uh... I didn't go in

because I was afraid
Minerva might be there, but...

Oh, I did buy something
at another coin store.

Uh, what is it?

MASON:
The American Numismatic guide.

Look on page --
I have it marked.

Well, what do you know?

Confederate half dollar.

"Due to a shortage
of silver bullion,

"only four originals
were struck in

"at the New Orleans mint,

"making it one of the rarest
of American coins.

"Coins were made on a hand press

using United States silver
half dollar planchets.”

- Your cigarettes, sir.
- Thanks.

"One was presented
to Jefferson Davis,

"another to Professor Biddle
of the University of Louisiana.

"A third was kept
by Chief Coiner B.F. Taylor,

"and the fourth
was eventually acquired

by a Dr. H. Doubleday
of New Orleans."”

Homer Doubleday's grandfather?

Could very well be, Della.

So, this cloak-and-dagger stuff
could be on the level.

Does it say how much
the coins are worth?

No, it merely says
"extremely rare.”

But if it's one
of the original four,

I'd say it also means
"extremely valuable.”

How can I find out
if it is or not?

I believe I know someone
who can tell you.

I sure would like to know.

Uh, after Della finishes,

could we take the coin
around to...

What's wrong?

- It's gone.
- Well, it couldn't be.

It was just there a minute ago.

It sure isn't now.

Oh, boy, am I in the soup.

$ , worth.

What kind of a gag are you
trying to pull, mister?

Huh? Gag?

Palming off a phony
Confederate coin on me.

Your idea of a joke
or something?

(sighs)

MAN: What luck did Miss Norman
have today, Mr. Hopkins?

None.

Doubleday persists
in his refusal to deal with me,

which is all to the good for us.

What do you imagine he'll do

when he finds
you've out-thought him?

Wyler, this coin collection,

second to none in the world,

is the direct result
of my out-thinking people,

-(doorbell rings)
-and what have they done?

I hope you are not entertaining

any devious ideas.

No, Mr. Hopkins,

you know me better than that.

Mr. Mason is here.

HOPKINS:
Have him come in.

I hope you're not developing
a case of cold feet?

Oh, no, Mr. Hopkins.

I can handle it.

I hope so.

The half dollar is
the last major American coin

outside my collection.

I must have it, Wyler.

If necessary,
I would k*ll to get it.

Yes, sir.

Well, it's been
a long time, Perry.

I hope you're not representing
someone with a lawsuit?

No, this is a social call,
Mr. Hopkins,

if coin collecting
is a social activity.

Well, sit down, sit down.

So, you've taken up the hobby.

Well, in a way.

I'd like some information
about rare coins.

You've come to the proper place.

Here.

One of the very rarest.

A liberty nickel?

A liberty Nickel.

One of the original five owned
by Colonel Green,

son of the famous Hetty Green.

I paid $ , for that in .

That's a little rich
for my blood.

Yeah?

Well, perhaps these
are more in your line.

What are those?

Wooden nickels.

Tokens, advertising pieces.

They're worth
a dime a dozen most of them,

but some of them are worth more
to a collector.

This one, for instance,

used by the miners
in Sutter's Mill in .

And this one,

issued in Vicksburg
during Grant's siege.

They would, perhaps,
bring $ , apiece now.

What would an
Confederate half dollar bring?

Why do you ask that?

Where did you get this?

From a client who'd like
to know if it's genuine.

And the client's name?

I'm not free to say.

$ , and no questions asked.

Then it is genuine?

$ , .

And another ten to you.

I'm sorry,
but it's not mine to sell.

Mason, do you realize
with a flick of my finger,

I could ruin
both you and your client?

For your sake, I hope you don't
flick that finger, Mr. Hopkins.

You'll find neither my client

nor I ruin easily.

Thanks for the information.

Miss Norman? Miss Norman!

Yes, Mr. Hopkins?

Have Clarence drive you,

and find out
who Mason's meeting.

He has
my Confederate half dollar.

DRAKE: Perry, Della.

I was afraid I'd have to leave
before you two got back.

It's only : .

You've over an hour to get
to Wilshire and Lebanon.

What did Mr. Doubleday say

when you told him
about Howard Hopkins' offer?

He refused to discuss it;
in fact, he seemed quite put out

that Hopkins had even
been shown the half dollar.

I don't understand.

Neither do I, Della,

but possibly after Paul
delivers the half dollar

and receives the money...

Oh, no.

Perry.

Why in the world?

Got a spare match, fella?

A match?

Sure.

Keep them.

I've got more.

Thanks.

That, uh...

half-buck
that you were flipping,

you wouldn't want to donate it

towards a cup of coffee
and a sandwich, would you?

Here's a buck.

Get two sandwiches.

Thanks, fella.

Thanks.

(car door shuts,
engine starting)

(phone ringing)

(ringing continues)

Yes?

This is Jefferson Davis.

Now drive
to the Wilshire-Palace Hotel.

Make sure you're not followed.

Then go inside,

ask the desk clerk
for an envelope

addressed to ♪. Davis.

Inside there'll
be further directions.

All clear?

Now, get going,

fast.

So far,

so good.

He looked like
an awfully big man

under that street light.

Are you sure
you can handle him, George?

This can, baby.

This can.

(phone ringing)

(ringing continues)

Wilshire-Palace, desk?

Yes, madam.

Oh, yes, madam,
it'll be ready for you.

Thank you.

You have an envelope for me,
♪. Davis.

♪. Davis, just a moment.

Yes, here, Mr. Davis.

- Thank you.
- Right.

It's getting more curious,
Della.

Stay where you are,

or I'll sh**t.

You don't want to sh**t me,
Minerva.

I'm working for you, remember?

Wouldn't it be better

if you pointed
that thing somewhere else?

Please, no closer.

I meant what I said.

All right, Minerva, no closer,

but first let's get rid
of the a*tillery.

(exhales)

Now, who is he?

George Parsons.

I loved him, Mr. Drake.

I loved him.

(sobbing)
Loved him.

Easy, Minerva, easy.

Whatever happened,
I'm here to help.

Strange,

but there doesn't seem to be
anything missing, Lieutenant.

Hmm.

Well then, maybe all Parsons,
or whoever sh*t him,

wanted was this half dollar
Drake has been telling us about.

Yes, that could be.

Only it was in Drake's pocket,
instead of in the safe.

Mr. Doubleday,

are you positive
you went home at : ?

I told you I did.

And never left until Sergeant
Brice came to pick you up

-a few minutes ago?
- No.

What time did your niece
leave the apartment?

I don't know.

I went to bed
after she served dinner.

I didn't hear her go out.

And you still maintain

you've never seen this before?

Never.

All right, Mr. Doubleday.

Would you ,um,
wait in the other room, please?

What makes you so sure
the girl didn't k*ll Parsons?

If she had, I would have heard
the sh*t in the alley.

Not if your engine was running,

not if she'd spent some time

searching the body
after she'd fired the sh*t.

(phone rings)

Lieutenant Anderson.

Oh?

That was a very bright idea
of yours.

(hangs up)

Who said she was searching
the body?

She did.

Said she was checking to see

if Parsons had gotten hold
of the Confederate half dollar.

- But she knew I had it.
- So, she was lying,

just as I think she was lying
about passing the shop,

seeing a light in the back,

investigating and finding
Parsons dead.

Now, uh, what was
she really doing here?

I don't know.

Well, what did she tell you,
say to you when you found her?

Now look, Drake, this is m*rder.

And your story's already
wild enough as it is

without complicating it
by trying to cover for the girl

and just possibly getting
yourself thrown into jail.

All right, maybe this'll
help you make up your mind.

The phone call I just got,
it was about the p*stol.

No current permit,

but according to the firearms
registry records,

that g*n was originally sold
in

to a Mr. Homer Doubleday
of this address.

They seem like
such babes-in-the-woods,

Minerva and her uncle.

I suppose one of them
must have done it, though,

being the p*stol was theirs.

Pistols have been
borrowed before, Della.

You think
they're innocent, then?

I'd like to think so,

though I must admit
Minerva's story

of investigating a light
in the shop

-is a bit hard to swallow.
- As is Mr. Doubleday's

claiming he's never seen
the p*stol before.

Has Paul found out anything more
about George Parsons?

Only that he seems to have been
a rare-coin dealer

with his office in his hat.

What about him and Minerva?

One of Paul's men
is working on that.

You know, perhaps I shouldn't
have let Paul

tell Lieutenant Anderson what
she said,

standing over the body,

but you have to protect his
private investigator's license.

If she did have a relationship
with Parsons,

it's bound
to come out eventually.

(phone buzzes)

Yes, Gertie?

Just a minute.

A Vivian Norman,

who says Howard Hopkins
sent her here.

Have her come in.

Have her come in, Gertie.

Come in, please.

Thank you.

Miss Norman.
My secretary, Miss Street.

- Won't you sit down?
- Thank you.

Um... Mr. Hopkins has been told

that you are representing
the Doubleday family.

Yes, I am.

He would like you
to convey his sympathy

over last night's...

unfortunate events.

And he would also like you to...

pound the nonsense,
as he put it,

out of Mr. Doubleday's head.

Nonsense?

Letting a conflict
of personalities

stand in the way
of accepting $ ,

for his half dollar.

I'd hardly call threats

to blacken
Mr. Doubleday's reputation

and put him out of business

a "conflict of personalities,”
Miss Norman.

And the offer yesterday
was $ , .

(laughs softly)
Well, I was told

-to offer $ , first.
-(knocking)

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean

to interrupt--
I'll come back later.

No, no, you may stay, Paul.

Miss Norman is
just making an offer

on behalf of Howard Hopkins
for the half dollar.

$ , , then, Mr. Mason.

A sum Mr. Hopkins feels
will more than cover

your fee for defending
Minerva Doubleday.

There have been
no charges against her.

I'm afraid that's merely
a matter of time.

You see, the man
who was... m*rder*d,

uh, George Parsons...

telephoned Mr. Hopkins
late yesterday afternoon

and offered to sell him
the half dollar.

How does that concern
Minerva Doubleday?

Mr. Parsons told Mr. Hopkins

that he was getting
the half dollar from her...

later that evening
in her uncle's shop.

Now, Mr. Hopkins feels that
he must inform the police...

but he also feels
a resulting obligation

to make sure that money is
available for Minerva's defense.

As well as to make sure
he acquires the half dollar.

That could be.

Well, I'll, uh, relay
the offer, Miss Norman.

Thank you.

Well, that sure puts a hole
in Minerva's story

about just happening
to pass the shop.

It would seem so, Paul.
What about the Wilshire Palace?

Well, I talked to the desk
clerk-- his name's Erik Sommers.

He remembers me, ♪. Davis,
and he also remembers

the person who
gave him the envelope.

- George Parsons?
- No.

A mousy young lady
with horn-rimmed glasses

-and no makeup.
- Minerva Doubleday?

As Perry says, Della,
it would seem so.

WOMAN:
This is the apartment.

(door unlocking)

(door opening)

WOMAN:
Signed the lease

Gerald Parker,
but from your description,

I'm sure it was the George
Parsons that you... (gasps)

Heavens to Betsy,
look at this!

Somebody got here first.

I didn't give a key to nobody,
and that's the gospel truth.

Must have come and gone
by that service door.

It's unlocked.

Well, whoever it was,
Lieutenant,

he left something
kind of interesting.

Handful of pretty hot
love letters

addressed to George
and signed Minerva.

Yes, your conclusion
about the item

in the coin manual was correct.

Mr. Mason... the fourth
Confederate half dollar

was acquired by my grandfather,
in New Orleans.

It has been
with the family ever since.

- Do you have it here now?
- No, no,

the police still have it.

Well, it should
be safe with them.

Mr. Doubleday...

tell me, what made you decide

to sell to the anonymous
writer of the letter

rather than on the open market?

Ownership of such
a celebrated coin

gives me a certain cachet
as a dealer.

The letter being anonymous

suggested that the sale
might not be publicized.

But what convinced you
it wasn't a plot

to steal the half dollar?

These convinced me, Mr. Mason.

They came with the letter.

And I knew at once

a real collector was involved,
even though I had no idea

who it was.

MASON:
These are just wooden nickels.

DOUBLEDAY:
Not quite.

Three extremely rare nickels,

each worth in the neighborhood
of a thousand dollars.

That's very interesting.

Of course, what also helped
to convince me was that...

I needed the money...

desperately, and at once.

Do you mind telling me why?

George Parsons.

Blackmail?

Yes. As a direct result
of my own cupidity.

You see, for many years
I've been making replicas

of rare coins to sell
to colleges, museums,

and... other dealers

for display purposes.

Could these pass as originals?

Oh, yes.

Even with experts...

if it weren't for a...
private way I identify them.

What is that?

Oh, I alter
their center of gravity

by weighting them a bit more
on one side than the other

so they won't stand
on their edges...

as will mint coins.

And then, enter the devil.

Parsons persuaded you not
to alter the center of gravity?

No, no. Not that.

He began by winning
our confidence.

Or more especially, Minerva's.

So... when he told me he knew
of a wealthy Eastern collector

willing to pay far more than
I had been getting for replicas

of certain extremely rare coins
he possessed...

I allowed myself to believe him.

What was this Eastern collector

supposed to be doing
with the replicas?

Displaying them as originals,

while the genuine originals
were safe in a vault.

How many coins did you copy?

Five... over a period
of a little more than a year.

Among them a
Continental silver dollar...

and a gold Fugio cent.

Why did you single out
those particular coins?

Because when I read the
South Salem Historical Society

had purchased
a gold Fugio cent for $ , .

And the Sibley Museum
in Boston, a...

a Continental silver dollar
for $ , ,

I realized what Parsons
was doing.

Selling your replicas
as originals.

When I accused him...

he admitted it.

And then he told me
I was in it as deep as he was.

That's when I realized

I had to sell
the Confederate half dollar.

I don't quite understand.

Approximately $ ,

was paid for the five coins.

With my savings...

and the money from the sale
of the half dollar,

I thought I could go
to the purchasers,

refund them their money.

Seems a high price to pay
for an honest mistake.

Oh, but it wasn't
an honest mistake, Mr. Mason.

-(door opens, bell tinkles)
- In my heart, I...

knew something was wrong.

Excuse me, Perry, but, uh,
one of Paul's men called

just as I was leaving
the office to come here.

Minerva's been arrested,
taken to headquarters,

and charged with
first-degree m*rder.

Would you drive me to
police headquarters, Mr. Mason?

You're going there won't help
Minerva, Mr. Doubleday.

I think it will.

You see...

I k*lled George Parsons.

But I didn't leave the envelope
at the hotel for Mr. Drake,

no matter what
that desk clerk says!

And I didn't have an appointment
with George Parsons

at the shop that night,
no matter what Mr. Hopkins says.

And you didn't k*ll Parsons?

I did have
a violent quarrel with him,

when I found out what
he was doing to Uncle Homer.

I told him I never wanted
to see him again.

But I didn't k*ll him.

You have to believe that.

I do, Minerva.

But you must explain something.

Why were you searching the body?

I was looking
for the half dollar.

Paul Drake had the coin;
you knew that.

No, Mr. Mason,
it was a replica

of the half dollar
I gave him in your office.

A replica?

Uncle Homer and I thought,

in view of the strangeness
of the letter...

not to risk the original.

Why didn't you tell Mr. Drake?

We planned to tell him when he

-brought us the money.
- After the sale?

Well, of course,
we also planned

to give him the real half dollar

so he could take it
back to the buyer

and exchange it for the replica.

And we thought you two
were babes in the woods.

The original
was left in the safe?

So when I found George dead
and the safe open

and the original gone...

I had to make sure
he didn't have it.

Why didn't you report
the loss to the police?

Uncle Homer thought
if he kept quiet

the thief might contact him,

arrange it so the coin
could be sold legitimately.

That way he
could salvage something.

What...

will they do to him
for saying he k*lled George?

Nothing.

The police are accustomed
to false confessions.

-(door opens)
- If it were false.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,
it's time now.

And the state will show
through letters

written by the defendant,
Minerva Doubleday,

to the deceased,
George Parsons,

and through testimony
concerning a statement

that she made while she was
standing over his dead body,

that she was totally,
blindly infatuated with him.

We will show that Minerva
Doubleday helped George Parsons

plan a midnight rendezvous

for the clandestine delivery
of a rare coin

worth in excess of $ , .

And we will show
that when she discovered

that her messenger
was not to be recompensed

for this coin--
her own uncle's coin--

but was instead
to be knocked on the head

and robbed of that coin,
she realized

that she had been used
as a dupe by George Parsons.

And in her humiliation and fury,

she sh*t and k*lled
her erstwhile lover.

Now, Lieutenant, let me
show you this expended b*llet,

which the coroner's
physician testified

he took from
the deceased's body.

Were you able to determine
what w*apon fired that b*llet?

Yes, sir, I determined
through ballistics tests

that it had been fired
from the p*stol

I've already identified
as having been

given to me that night
by Paul Drake.

The one he told you he took
from the defendant,

- Minerva Doubleday?
- Yes, sir.

The one that was purchased
in by Homer Doubleday?

- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.

- BURGER: Mr. Mason?
- No questions.

And did you then
follow the directions

in the envelope
you picked up at that hotel?

Yes. I drove into the alley
behind the coin shop

and went in the back door.

And what or whom did you find?

The deceased and Miss Doubleday.

To whom you should be
very grateful,

incidentally, Mr. Drake--
because from the blackjack

found on the body
of the deceased,

apparently he had
unpleasant plans for you.

Your Honor, the prosecutor
is making gratuitous asides.

You're quite right, Mr. Mason.

Strike that last
from the record.

Hereafter, Mr. Burger,
confine yourself

to a proper type of examination.

Mr. Drake, when you
went into that shop,

exactly what was
the defendant doing?

Bending over the body.

Was she by any chance
holding something?

A p*stol.

And would you tell us, please,
what you did at that point?

I took the p*stol from her,

then I asked her
who the deceased was.

She said George Parsons.

Did she say anything else
at that moment?

Oh, come on, Mr. Drake, you
know you have to answer that.

She said...
"I loved him, loved him,

loved him."

BURGER:
Mr. Mason?

To retrace your movements

before you arrived
at the coin shop--

what time was it when
you reached the phone booth

-near the public library?
- Eight minutes past : .

I checked my watch
as I drove up.

Now, what were
your exact instructions

as outlined in the letter
sent to Homer Doubleday

and later given to you
by Miss Doubleday?

"Proceed to the public library,
south entrance,

"at the dead end of Hope Street,
which will be closed.

"At : , the public phone
on the street

"by the entrance steps
will ring.

"Answer using the name
Jefferson Davis,

and further instructions
will be supplied.”

: .

You testified, I believe,
that the phone

was already ringing
when you arrived there

-at : .
- That's right.

And it could have been ringing,
as far as you know,

for a considerable period
of time before that?

Yes, it could.

She's a mousy type, I'd say.

Plain dress,
practically no makeup,

horn-rimmed glasses.

Nothing anybody would
whistle at, but I remember her.

And why do you suppose
you remember her?

Well, along with that envelope
marked "♪. Davis,"

she gave me a ten-dollar bill

to make sure
it didn't get mislaid.

I see.

Would you look around
this courtroom, Mr. Sommers,

and tell us if you
can identify the woman

who gave you the envelope
and the ten-dollar bill?

That's her over there.

Miss Doubleday, the defendant.

And, Mr. Hopkins, are you sure
there's no possibility

of your being mistaken
that George Parsons

told you over the telephone
that night

that he was meeting
Minerva Doubleday

later that night
in her uncle's shop?

I'm afraid not,
because he went on to say

she was going to give him
the Confederate half dollar then

so he could sell it to me.

Did you accept this arrangement?

With reservations, yes.

Oh, I thought it odd,

this method of selling
the half dollar,

but I knew,
if he arrived with it,

I could telephone
Homer Doubleday

and find out if he had
authorized Parsons to sell it.

And what if he hadn't?

Naturally, I'd call the police.

Naturally.

Mr. Hopkins, is this

the valuable half dollar
in question?

Yes, it is.

Your Honor,
this is the half dollar

identified by Paul Drake

as the one given him
by the defendant.

At this point, I should like it
entered in evidence.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

Mark it people's exhibit five.

Mr. Hopkins,
how much would you

be willing to pay
for that half dollar?

I'd already offered $ , .

That's well worth committing
m*rder for, isn't it, Mr. Mason?

Oh, excuse me.

I withdraw the gratuitous aside.

Mr. Hopkins, I'd like
to show you something.

Do you recognize them?

HOPKINS:
Wooden nickels.

MASON:
Your wooden nickels,

Mr. Hopkins,
because it was you who wrote

the anonymous letter
to Homer Doubleday, wasn't it?

You who devised a scheme
to acquire the half dollar

without letting him know
you were the buyer.

But something went wrong,
didn't it?

George Parsons moved in
on your plan.

h*jacked it, so to speak,

by placing his call first
at the library.

So then you had to k*ll him.

No, I didn't k*ll him.

I never left the house
that night.

I didn't even know the scheme
hadn't worked until...

Until...

Tell him, Wyler.

Go on, tell him.

Oh, Mr. Hopkins wrote the letter
to Mr. Doubleday,

and then, afterwards, got you
to pose as the anonymous buyer?

Yes, uh, because he knew

that Doubleday
wouldn't sell to him.

I see.

All right, would you tell us

what you did that night,
Mr. Wyler?

Well, I-I watched
from across the street

until Mr. Drake left

Wilshire and Lebanon
for the public library.

And then I went
to a nearby telephone booth.

And what were you
supposed to tell Mr. Drake?

I was supposed to tell him
to come to my apartment,

because that's where
the money was.

I began dialing
a little before : .

Twice, I got a busy signal.

The third time, the phone rang,
but no one answered.

So I went to the library myself.

I waited around there for about,
oh, half an hour,

then I went to my apartment
and got the money

and took it back to Mr. Hopkins.

It appears there was
a hijacking,

as you put it, Mr. Mason.

Would you care
to ask any questions?

Oh, one or two.

Mr. Wyler,
what time did you reach

Mr. Hopkins' house that night?

Around : .

Did you, by chance, stop

at Homer Doubleday's coin shop
on the way?

No.

Though I can't prove it.

With the court's permission,
I'd like you

to step over here
to the exhibit table.

Very well.

Now, you've testified

that you're an expert
on rare coins.

Would you have been able
to distinguish this coin

from a carefully made replica
had Mr. Drake delivered it?

Well, if you're thinking

of a Homer Doubleday replica,
quite easily.

See, he always
makes his coins off balance

so they won't stand on edge.

And this coin will?

Oh, of course.

You see?

But that's impossible.

(gavel tapping)

That's the replica
given Mr. Drake.

And it can't stand on edge--
it can't!

Hi, Perry.

You'll be happy to know

that your rogues' gallery
long sh*t paid off.

You identified the panhandler
you saw at Wilshire and Lebanon?

His name's Gerald Kelso,

and he's served
several stretches in prison.

For safecracking?

How'd you know that?

That's part of the long sh*t.

You assigned a man to Kelso?

Mm-hmm.
- Good.

MAN: The Baldwin & Company
ten-dollar Gold Horseman.

And we purchased that
for $ , last April.

MASON: From a man
named George Parsons, I believe.

Yes, after he'd furnished us
with an affidavit

from an apparently
reputable widow in Sacramento

stating it had been in her
family for three generations.

You have some doubts
as to its authenticity?

I'm sorry to say so, yes.

I have reason to believe
it's a replica

of the original
made by Homer Doubleday.

We've had numerous dealings
with Mr. Doubleday.

Perhaps you don't know it,
but his replicas are always made

with the center of gravity
off just enough

to prevent their standing
on edge.

MASON: And this coin
will stand on edge?

But Doubleday said...

I know, Paul.

But he was wrong,
which is going to surprise

a number of people,
including the m*rder*r.

I don't know
what all this is about,

but here are the five coins
you listed.

So, what about them?

Mr. Wyler?

Well, let's try
the Continental silver dollar.

It won't stand on edge?

I think you'll find that none
of the five will stand on edge.

What is this?

What happened to my originals?

MASON:
One by one, Mr. Hopkins,

they have been replaced
by replicas

and sold to various collectors
and museums.

You.

You're the only one
who had access to my collection.

You'll go to prison for this.

She's the one
that k*lled Parsons?

Did you, Miss Norman?

Perhaps for the money you
were keeping in your apartment?

The -odd thousand dollars

you and he received
for the five coins?

Al right.

I did exchange the coins

after George had Mr. Doubleday
make copies of them,

but I didn't k*ll him.

We... were to be married.

And as a dutiful wife-to-be,
you told Parsons

about Mr. Hopkins'
anonymous letter?

Yes.

MASON: And wearing horn-rimmed
glasses and no makeup

to resemble Minerva Doubleday,

you left the envelope
at the Wilshire-Palace

as, uh, your contribution
to the hijacking scheme.

Then you must have been
the other person

at the coin shop, Miss Norman,

because you were the only one

who knew in advance
Parsons would be there.

But... why doesn't somebody
ask him where he was?

He lied in court,
saying that he was at home.

I saw him come in
a little bit after midnight,

-and then the lights went on...
- She's lying.

Is she, Mr. Hopkins?

Or did George Parsons
surprise you

in the act of robbing
Homer Doubleday's safe?

How could I possibly open a safe

the combination of which
I had no way of knowing?

Paul.

Yeah, that's him.

The guy I told you about.
He hired me.

But I ain't taking
no m*rder rap for you, pal,

especially for no crummy
bucks.

WYLER:
Who is this man?

I believe you know
only too well, Mr. Wyler.

Why did he pay you $ , Kelso?

Well, mainly, it was for

a little finger job
at the coin shop.

He wanted me to find out for him

the, uh, combination
of the safe.

And one other thing
was to search my office?

(clears throat)

And another was to go
to Wilshire and Lebanon.

Oh, I had nothing
to do with that, no.

I saw him there, yes.

Kelso?

Mr. Hopkins asked me
to go there to see

if the half-dollar scheme
was starting out okay.

MASON:
And when you saw that it was?

KELSO: I phoned him,
like he told me to.

And it was that call

which started you on your way
to the coin shop

armed with the combination
Wyler had given to you.

They're lying, both of them,
to save their skins.

Besides, why would I go
to the coin shop

when I knew that the emissary,
whoever it was,

had the original half dollar?

But you didn't.

You knew the original
was in the safe,

and you knew that
Homer Doubleday would never risk

his most prized possession
on the anonymous

cloak-and-dagger proposal
you sent him.

But Drake had
the original half dollar.

That was proven in court.

Yes, after you'd substituted it
for the replica

which you were presumably
examining on the stand.

Daring bit of sleight of hand,
Mr. Hopkins,

but that's what gave you away.

I would have paid him
the $ ,

in return for letting me
keep the half dollar.

But when I found out
what he and Vivian

had done with these coins,
when...

when he laughed and said
there was no way

I could get them back
without going to jail

for robbing
Homer Doubleday, ...

I took the p*stol
that was in the safe...

and I sh*t him.

Apparently,
whenever Hopkins left town,

Miss Norman would take one

of his rare coins
and give it to Parsons,

who would then have your uncle
make a replica.

And then they'd put
the replica back

and sell the original?

That's what they hoped to do

with the Confederate half dollar
after they had somehow

forced your uncle
to sell it to Mr. Hopkins.

Pretty ingenious setup.

But what about this, uh,

sleight of hand business
in court?

Hopkins knew he would be safer

if he destroyed
the evidence of his theft,

but he couldn't bear to part
with the Confederate half dollar

he had been after
for so many years.

So he substituted it
for the replica,

which he later destroyed.

It's a good thing you saw him

switching the coins
on the witness stand.

MASON:
Oh, but I didn't, Della.

You see, aside from Paul,
the police and Hamilton Burger,

Hopkins was the only person
who touched that coin

before Wyler proved it
to be genuine.

So the guilty man either
had to be Hopkins or Burger.

I don't know how
to express my gratitude

for all you've done,
so I'll just say...

thank you.

You're welcome, Minerva.

Perry, did Kelso ever explain

why he searched
George Parsons' apartment?

Well, yes.

When he read of Parsons' death,

he knew Hopkins
was involved in some way,

which meant the possibility
of big money.

Well, only the apartment

he should have searched
was Vivian Norman's.

But he had no way
of knowing that.

Paul, what in the world
are you doing?

Conducting my daily search.

Daily search?

To make sure that nobody's
given me any, uh...

wooden nickels.

(theme song playing)