08x13 - The Case of the Blonde Bonanza

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Perry Mason". Aired: September 21, 1957, to May 22, 1966.*
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
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08x13 - The Case of the Blonde Bonanza

Post by bunniefuu »

(theme song playing)

And then operative picked up
subject again at...

Let's see, uh...

I'm not going too fast
for you, am I, Della?

(takes raspy breath)

No, it's just fine, Paul. Go on.

DRAKE: After which,
subject departed from hotel.

Della, are you eating
a candy bar?

(sighs)
I most certainly am not.

Go on, Paul.

Give me the rest of it.

DRAKE: At : , second operative
relieved first operative.

At : ...

Wait a minute.

Why don't you just read
the whole thing back to me?

"...to th Street,

"then west Alvarado,

"uh, south on Alvarado to th.

"Subject was wearing
a brown hat.

(grunting):
"Subject went from gas station

(panting):
at : ..."

(door closes)

Paul Drake!
Someday I'm going to...

(chuckling):
It's all right, Della.

I do yoga myself sometimes.

It's not yoga!

Besides,
don't you worry one bit.

I'll have these notes
ready for Perry

by the time he
gets back from lunch.

You taking up judo, then?

You know,
I know a great exercise

for building up
those back muscles.

Believe me, I'm not trying
to build up anything.

Well, you sure don't have
to take anything off, beautiful.

(laughs)
If you only knew.

Trouble is, I have
a lunch appointment

with a watercress girl
from back home, a Dianne Adler.

- Friend of my Aunt Mae's.
- Watercress girl?

I don't know how she does it.

Skim milk, carrots maybe.

Of course,
she's only years old.

Paul, every time I see her,

I start feeling
self-conscious and envious.

Why? What do you mean?
What's so special about her?

Aside from having a face

that's absolutely beautiful...

she was voted "the female

"with the most
perfectly formed figure

in all of the Smoky Mountains.”

Della, wait a minute.

I, uh, I just
remembered something.

I haven't had lunch myself yet.

There's a...

candy bar in the second drawer.

Bye, Paul.

♪♪

(big sigh)

This is even better
than the cream of chicken soup.

Dianne, ever since
I met you last month,

I've wanted
to ask you something.

Excuse me, would you care for
something to drink now, ladies?

Oh, yes.
I'd like some, uh...

tea.

Just lemon, no milk.

Do you suppose they could
make me a chocolate milk shake?

♪♪

Oh, thank you, Miss Street.

It was so lovely of you
to ask me out.

For heaven's sakes, Dianne,

don't keep
calling me Miss Street--

-my name is Della.
- Oh, I'm sorry.

But you've been so kind to me
since I came to Los Angeles.

Well, you probably know
that my Aunt Mae said

that you might need
a little looking after

in the big city.

But enough of that.

Tell me, Dianne,

-how do you do it?
- Do what?

Eat all that food!

A-And still keep
that lovely figure.

Oh. Oh, well,
I did have a little more

than I usually...

Anyway, as I started to say,

your Aunt Mae was so sweet to me
when my mother d*ed.

I did need help at first,

especially finding a job,

because there
simply weren't any back home.

How is your job?

You know, you haven't
even mentioned it.

(laughs softly):
Oh. Oh, haven't I?

- No.
- Oh, well, it's, uh...

you know, fine.

Just fine.

- But... -Uh, but, uh,
about your Aunt Mae,

Miss Street,
what do you hear from her?

Care for any more, ladies?

Uh, no, thank you.

WAITER:
That one with the caramel layers

is my own favorite, ma'am.

(sighs):
Oh...

Oh, you mean
between the whipped cream

those are actually layers of...

Oh, no, thank you.

I simply couldn't.

Oh, besides, we better be going.

I mean, back to work.

(chuckles):
Oh. My glove.

-I left my glove. Excuse me.
- All right.

Excuse me, uh, your friend's
name is Mary, isn't it?

No, it's...

No, it's not.

Ah, D-Dianne? Deborah?

- Dorothy, maybe?
- Excuse me.

Look, I'm not
trying to be fresh,

it's just that
I'm sure that I know her

from someplace, that's all.

In, uh, fact,

she just arrived from England.

-(snaps fingers)
- That's it. See,

I was just over there
in the army.

At ease, General.

Bye-bye.

No harm in trying.

Wow.

♪♪

Hello. Jones and Jones?

Uh, I'm a friend
of Dianne Adler,

and I just had lunch with her.

When she comes back
to the office,

would you please
have her call...

She what?

Well, when did she quit her job?

Two weeks ago?

Do you know what
she could be doing now?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

MAN:
Uh, sorry, Mac.

- No harm done.
- That's mine, I'm afraid.

b*at it, will you, beach boy?!

Oh, I'm sorry.

You're Mr. Drake, aren't you?

And just who are you,
a collector of fortune cookies?

Dillard, sir,
my name is Dillard.

I tried to get a job
with your agency once.

I guess you don't remember me.

Well, I try to hire men
who aren't so clumsy.

Whose case you on now?

Well, uh, you wouldn't think
very much of my ethics, sir,

-if I come right out and...
- Then what are you doing here?

Sir, I-I'm never gonna get a job
with a big outfit like yours

if I betray my client's
nom de plume.

- You see, ...
- DIANNE: Oh, excuse me.

I think I dropped something.

Uh, did you happen to see...

Oh. Oh, there it is.
Thank you.

- Thank you very much.
-(horn honking)

(continues honking)

Here I am!

(car door closes)

Oh, but it's perfectly
all right, I tell you.

You see, Harrison Boring--

uh, that's the man who
picked me up this afternoon--

well, he spoke to me
at the beach one day

a couple of weeks ago.

He noticed my figure.

Oh, but not the way you think.

I mean, he's always been
a perfect gentleman.

And a couple of days later,
we signed this contract.

- Contract?
Mm-hmm.

It's a fashion idea.

Oh, but you
mustn't breathe a word.

Mr. Boring says there are spies
everywhere in fashion.

And that's why I couldn't tell
you I quit my job, Miss Street.

Well, anyway, Mr. Boring
has this big manufacturer,

and he's coming out
with a whole new line of clothes

designed especially for the girl
who's a teeny bit plumpish,

and I'm going to be the model!

They're going to build
their whole campaign around me!

So that's the mystery.

You know,
I didn't mean to meddle.

- It's just that...
-(laughs) Oh, Della, yes!

That's why I've
been eating so much.

I have to gain pounds.

Oh, but still keep the same
measurements here and here.

Oh, you know what I mean.

But if you don't think
it hasn't been wonderful...

I mean, all my life
I've had to diet and diet...

This man is paying you
$ a week?

Uh-huh. Even
before we get started.

Just to eat!
Isn't it fabulous?

Oh, Della, these past two weeks

have been the first
real vacation in my life.

You see, Mr. Mason,

my father drowned
when I was ten years old.

And then I had to leave high
school when my mother got sick.

The money's to be paid to you

for the duration of this
contract for two years?

Yes, yes!
How can I lose?

And maybe there'll be TV
and-and magazine pictures.

-(doorbell buzzes)
- Uh, yes?

MAN:
Special delivery.

There. Every week.

Every week right on time,

my pretty little dollars.

Perry, of all the crazy things
I've ever heard.

It's a rather
stringent contract,

but it seems proper.

No, I mean, maybe
it is a good idea for once

not to have a model
as skinny as a rail.

All income above $
for magazine, photography

or any source whatsoever,
she's to divide /

with Mr. Boring.

You mean she's to pay him %
of everything that she...

He's also gambling, Della.

Paying her out of his own pocket
for two years.

(crickets chirping)

That's what it is!

And you know what
I'm gonna buy with it?

Big steaks, French fries...

shortcake.

Maybe I am just meddling.

DIANNE:
Oh, no!

No, no.

The manufacturer changed
his mind.

No money?

Well, why didn't Harrison tell
me about this this afternoon?

It's, it's all over.

Oh, Della.

I've already gained ten pounds!

Here he is.

Mr. Harrison Boring.

- Mr. Mason.
- Thank you.

Well, how do you do?

Mr. Mason, it's a pleasure,
a pleasure indeed.

Please sit down.

Oh, thank you.

I was almost certain you'd be in
to see me, Mr. Boring.

Well, of course... since this
letter you sent me yesterday.

I'm a little afraid
of letters from lawyers.

I mean, who isn't?

Since you failed to make payment
this week to Miss Adler,

under the terms of her contract,

I felt she ought
to clarify her position.

Oh, I'm blasted sorry
about that thing.

You know, this time I thought
I really had one going.

The deal was
practically ready to sign

when this stupid manufacturer...

Furthermore, you should
understand that Dianne intends

to sue for recovery
of any additional checks

you may fail to send her
for the next two years.

I should also mention
the inconvenience

caused by your inducing her
to become overweight.

Well, uh, just a moment,
Mr. Mason.

I mean, uh... you can't get
blood out of a turnip.

I-I'd pay if I could.

Until a few weeks ago, you were
employed by a man named Foster,

who has some vague sort
of insurance office.

And you don't see the connection
between that and high fashion?

(laughing):
Well, you're right,

there isn't any.

Uh, you see, I am basically
a promoter, an idea man.

Uh, look here, now, if you don't
see the sound validity

in these designs
for the pleasingly plump...

In fact, I'm on my way
to a meeting right now.

It may still work out.

I'd rather look at this,
Mr. Boring,

and the % clause.

Was it your idea?

If Dianne acquires
a large sum of money

during the next two years--

if she should marry a rich man,
for example--

then % of that money
would be yours.

If what?

Um, uh, Mr. Mason,
y-you don't think

that I'm the kind
of a man that would...

(laughing):
I mean...

I-If you think that I was trying
to take advantage of Dianne...

I just thought it was sort of a
stock contract arrangement form.

(laughs)

(clears throat, tears paper)

There, how's that?

Isn't that good faith?

Doesn't that make you
feel better?

Not when you still have
your copy of the contract

with Dianne's signature on it.

It'll be here in the morning,

uh, but right now I, I do have
to get to that meeting.

Naturally I have
photostatic copies

of that contract
with which to sue you.

It'll be here, it'll be here,
I tell you,

a-and, Mr. Mason, the very
second that I have some money,

I'll make a settlement
with that poor girl.

Don't you understand?

I'm sorry.

I-I mean, I really want
to do what's right,

a-and if you'll just give me
a little more time...

A-And thank you for your time,
Mr. Mason,

and... don't worry,
I'll keep in touch.

Don't worry, ...

Portrait of a promoter
in panic, hmm?

Perry, you're beautiful.

Dianne may have trouble
losing those pounds,

but she'll certainly never
have trouble

with that stupid man.

Della, that contract had nothing

to do with fashions,
and it never did.

I should have spotted it
the other night.

Every single word
about Dianne losing weight

or being used as a model
is just red herring.

- Just camouflage.
- Well, what do you intend...

Find Paul.

Tell him to meet me
at the office

of this man, Foster--
uh, Montrose Foster.

And tell him to make it fast.

Uh, yes, but...

Harrison Boring, yes.

Yes, he used to work for me.

He was here for a couple years,
as a matter of fact.

What was his job, Mr. Foster?

Oh, we're engaged
in a number of activities.

- Some insurance...
- Yes, I understand.

But I want to know exactly

what Boring was doing
before he quit.

Mr. Mason, you're an attorney.

Perhaps, if you told me
who your client is,

I'd be better able to...

Did he handle
what you'd call cases?

Investigative work?

Well, yes, I suppose you
might say that running down

some of these old
insurance things might...

You mean running down
missing heirs, don't you?

I beg your pardon?

Isn't that your real business?

The missing heir racket?

I don't like your choice
of words, Mr. Mason.

What has Harrison Boring
done to you?

By the way, where is he now?

You mean you don't know?

If I did,
I'd break his stupid neck.

What do you mean walking in here
and suggesting that I...

It's one of the oldest stunts
there is, I guess.

A wealthy person dies,
leaving no close relatives.

But a kind investigator
finds distant relatives

who don't know of the death
or the deceased.

But for a certain percentage--
say, uh, %--

the kind investigator

will tirelessly help
prove a relationship.

Well, so you read one
of our standard form contracts.

But, uh... well, the...
the locating of missing heirs

is a very worthwhile service.

Unfortunately, there were
some deceptive decorations

on the contract I saw.

Mr. Mason, uh,
why don't we make a deal?

Sort of, uh, swap what we know.

Oh, here, have a drink.

Now, this...
this client of yours,

who very well may be
an heir to a fortune...

Uh, no, thanks, Mr. Foster.

You've already told me
all you know.

Oh, but, Mason...

Boring double-crossed you,
didn't he?

He ran into an inheritance
so large

that he quit his job
to take over on his own.

Maybe so, but...

And you don't even know
whose inheritance it is, do you?

Do you, Mr. Foster?

W-Wait. Wait, Mason.

Look, I'll help you
if you'll just tell me...

I'm sorry I'm late, Perry,
but I had another report

on Harrison Boring--
the jackpot.

(door closes)

Be right back.

He's been spending
his time where, Fair Oaks?

That's right.

Boring even keeps
a motel room out there

so he can be close
to the guy's house

he's been visiting on the q.t.

George C. Winlock.
Now, who's he?

He's the guy with the house--
the richest man in town.

MASON:
How long has this Winlock

-had his money, Paul?
- Not too long.

He only came to Fair Oaks
about years ago,

and he's made it all
since then in real estate.

Nothing on him before that?
No record at all?

Not that I can find.

He's married
to some society dame now,

but that's all
in the last years, too.

He's our man, Paul.

- Let's go.
- Sure.

(car doors close)

(engine starts)

Perry, I don't get this.

If Boring's real interest
in Dianne was to sign her up

as a missing heiress
to somebody's fortune,

it sure can't be Winlock's
because Winlock isn't dead.

Step on it, Paul.

At least not yet.

-(loud music playing)
- Yeah?

- I'd like to see...
-I can't hear you.

- What do you want?
- Is Mr. Winlock in, please?

Oh, he's playing golf.

Look, mister,
he never comes here.

Call the office or something.

His office is closed
for the day.

I'd like to wait,
if you don't mind.

My name is Mason.

It's quite important.

Whatever you like.

WOMAN:
Who is it, darling?

Nothing, Mother.
I'll take care of it.

Mason, huh?

I've heard that someplace.

Come on in here.

I just cracked some
of the old boy's -year-old...

Marvin, will you please
turn that thing down?

Why? If you don't like it,
shut your door.

(laughing):
Oh, really, darling?

Uh, Mrs. Winlock,
my name is Perry Mason.

Oh. Well, for goodness' sake.

Oh, surely,
not the famous attorney.

How do you do?

Mother, I told him George
was out playing golf.

Oh?

(chuckling):
Oh, of course.

Oh, of course.
Isn't that too bad?

Perhaps I could help you,
Mr. Mason.

It's a personal matter
I have to discuss

with your husband, Mrs. Winlock.

Personal?

Oh, for goodness' sakes, what...
what has Georgie been up to?

Oh, no, no, I'm only teasing.

I do manage a great many
details around here,

Mr. Mason,
so if you'll just come...

You looking for me?

MRS. WINLOCK:
Oh, George...

Darling, we thought
you were still at the club.

I've been home for the past hour
trying to hear myself

on the telephone
over that crazy...

Oh, never mind.

Dear, this is Perry Mason
to see you-- the lawyer.

Really, if I had
any idea you...

All right, all right.
Thank you, dear.

What's on your mind,
Mr. Mason?

I'm rather busy today.

Yes, I can imagine.

I only hope I'm here in time.

What's that supposed to mean?

Mr. Winlock, I represent
a young girl named Dianne Adler.

Adler? Adler.

The name means nothing to you?

I meet a great many people,
Mr. Mason.

Not to mention the stream
of functionaries

my wife has running in and out.

And how about the name
Harrison Boring?

Boring?

That's an odd one.

No, I can't say
that I've ever...

All right.

Thought I was playing
a long sh*t.

Now I know it's a sure thing.

What is?
For heaven's sake...

Let me tell you
about Dianne Adler.

She's an innocent young girl.

Gullible, mixed-up.

She had no advantages
or family environment.

You see, she lost her father
about years ago.

Now her mother is dead.

Well, what's that
got to do with me?

Her father was drowned

in a fishing accident--
Lake Superior.

Some of the bodies
were recovered, but not his.

Too bad, Mason,
but I really don't see...

Where were you
years ago, Mr. Winlock?

To be explicit, who were you?

What on earth
are you driving at?

Of course, I only have

enough information
to formulate a guess--

a guess that you might have
lived through that accident,

changed your name, all the rest.

But I suppose Harrison Boring

has proof
that you're Dianne's father.

- Isn't that right?
- Look, I just told you,

I never even heard
of anyone by the name of...

I have evidence
that you've been meeting

with Boring secretly
at the Shady Glen Motel.

Mason, even if this girl--
this... this client of yours--

did have a missing father
somewhere,

I'm not sure I understand
what sort of claim

you think she'd have on him.

Well, putting aside

the moral obligation
between human beings--

Dianne is the sole heir
of her dead mother's estate.

It was a four-room house

with taxes and mortgage overdue,
incidentally,

but it does mean Dianne
has the legal ability

to disassociate her father
from her mother's share

of his earnings
since his disappearance.

Answer your question?

Legally, I mean.

Mason, I told you
I'm a very busy man.

One more thing.

Boring cheated Dianne
into signing a contract

entitling him
to part of her money.

But then he tore up
the contract.

Only one explanation
seems logical.

Boring realized he could
receive more money from you

directly by blackmail.

How much is he asking
to keep your secret?

How much money
does Boring want?

Mason, please.

I need a little time.

Please leave me alone now.

I have an investigator
who'll keep an eye on Boring.

I'll also reserve a suite

for this evening
at the Fair Oaks Inn.

It's close.
We can talk there privately.

I want to do the right thing.

But I've got to have time--
that's all.

Time to think.

DRAKE:
Perry.

Back too soon, aren't you?

I wanted Boring's motel kept
under surveillance until...

I know, but he's pretty cagey,
I'm afraid.

While I was registering
for a room,

I spotted him outside sneaking
a look at my car registration.

So you left all together?

But don't worry.
We're covered.

There's an investigator
already there

who's only too glad
to have the job.

Dillard. The clumsy guy
I met at the beach, remember?

You said you thought Dillard

was working for the stepson,
Marvin Palmer.

He was, but Palmer fired
him an hour ago.

Fired him?

-(rings buzzer)
- Della?

Fired him without pay.
Dillard's madder than a wet hen,

but at least he'll
keep in touch with me

until one of my own boys
takes over.

MASON: Dianne.
What are you doing here?

DIANNE: Oh, well, I was out
by the bus stop, you see.

And, uh, I mean, I couldn't find
the place was I was looking for,

so I had to find
somebody to help me.

Uh, but then Miss Street...

I found her, Perry.

She was on her way to see
Harrison Boring.

Why? And how did you know
he was in Fair Oaks?

Oh, oh, well,

I found these matches
he'd loaned me...

But what did you
want to see him about?

Oh, Mr. Mason,
you understand, don't you?

To stop all this trouble
I've been causing.

I mean, if all we want
is to get that other copy

of my contract back...

Oh, just because I've been
a stupid little idiot,

gaining all that weight.

Why should all of you
be involved?

Did you tell her
we were coming here?

No, Gertie did.

After a man named Foster
visited Dianne.

Foster?

Yes, this Mr. Foster came to see
me, late this afternoon,

and he started asking questions
that I couldn't understand.

So after he left,
I called your office and...

And I thought
I was bluffing Foster.

You're not angry with me,
are you, Mr. Mason?

(phone rings)

Answer that, will you
please, Paul?

It's probably Mr. Winlock.

Of course I'm not angry, Dianne,

but you really
shouldn't be here.

And there's something
you should be told.

And I think Della should be
the one to tell you.

About Mr. Winlock, you mean?

Who's Mr. Winlock?

MASON: Please remember
we're your friends, Dianne.

Why don't you slip out
the back way, Della.

What?

I can't hear you.

It's Dillard, Perry, but I can't
hear what he's saying.

Dillard? Say it again, will ya?
I still can't hear you.

But I can't talk
any louder, Mr. Drake.

(indistinct radio transmission)

There's cops
all over this place.

I said, cops.

I tell you, it's been
a regular parade around here.

No, no, look,

I gotta get out of here fast.

There's no point in watching
Boring any more.

Didn't you hear me?

From all I can see,
Boring's dead.

I guess I don't write so good
in the dark,

but I got it all down
right here.

Who was in this parade
you mentioned?

A whole string of people

come to see Harrison Boring
this evening.

Then no sooner
the last one's gone,

than the manager
comes running over.

Then four minutes later,
a squad car.

That's when I started trying
to get hold of you, Mr. Drake.

I mean, I figured maybe, uh,

you guys might be more
interested in seeing this

than the police.

Yeah, I'd say we might.

I don't know what your interest
is in this, Mr. Mason.

I don't know who you're trying
to nab or anything, but...

Please, the notebook.
Who was there?

Well, um,

first this young creep
Marvin Palmer.

I don't know what he's up to.

First he has me tailing a dame,

then switches me over to
watching this Harrison Boring.

Go on. Who's next?

Well, a few minutes later

a woman comes, big car,
dressed nice,

kinda middle-aged lady.

I never saw her before.
Stayed seven minutes.

But no sooner she's gone,

a guy slips in. He must've been
watching, I guess.

On foot, hat pulled down.

I'd have trouble spotting him.

Was he the last visitor?

No, sirree.

And, Mr. Drake, I guess now
you'll hire me, all right.

Get this.

"Entered : ,
left : , running."”

Just two and a half minutes

before the cops
and the manager and everybody.

And guess who it was, Mr. Drake.

That same broad you were tailing
down at the beach.

That Dianne Adler.

Pretty good work, huh?

All right, yes, yes!

I was there!

Why did you lie to us?

Because I didn't k*ll him.

Honest, I didn't.

Oh, please, please believe me.

He was dead when you walked into
the room, I suppose.

And you stayed there minutes
with his dead body?

What?

Oh, no.

No, I was only there for a few
minutes-- four or five maybe.

Dianne, there's evidence
to the contrary.

I don't care, it's a lie.

Look, he wasn't dead.

He was perfectly alive.

And you naturally talked to him
about the contract.

Yes. Yes, that's what happened.

And he gave it to me.

Oh, I thought he'd argue
or thr*aten me even,

but when I told him
what I thought about him,

why, he laughed and he threw it
in my face and...

Dianne, stop it.
Stop making up this story.

But it's true, Mr. Mason.

And then I walked here
to the center to catch a bus.

Oh, I was really
going to leave Fair Oaks,

and then Della saw me.

And I did lie then,
of course, but...

And you're still lying,
every word.

-(door opens)
- Perry.

Oh, it's you.

I know I'm a little late,
Mr. Mason.

It's a difficult decision
to reach.

Decision?

Oh, yes, I know
what you must think of me.

I know what I've thought
of myself sometimes.

But my first marriage, well,
it just wasn't very successful.

You've got to understand.

When I realized
people thought I was dead

and I had a chance
to change my name...

Mr. Winlock, I know of
only one marriage.

Your present situation
certainly isn't legal.

My present wife
doesn't know the full truth.

That's one of the difficulties.

But she took me on faith.

She was willing
just to tell all our friends

that we'd eloped to Las Vegas
one weekend.

But there wasn't really
any ceremony.

It was a great sacrifice
for her.

Position is very important to
her, what people would think.

Well, that eliminates bigamy.

Don't be so impatient.

I'm trying to explain,
that's all.

I must be impatient.

There's very little time.

Mr. Mason,
I know that I can never

make up to Dianne
for what I did.

But I'm quite willing to discuss
a financial settlement,

willing to give her a quarter,
a third of my money perhaps--

whatever you think proper.

But I must insist
that this be kept

absolutely secret between us.

Dianne.

So you're my...

(sobbing)

(laughing)

Look at him, Mr. Mason.

He's my father.

No wonder I'm a liar.

- Look what I come from.
- Dianne.

Oh, why don't you ask him
if he k*lled Mr. Boring?

Because he was already dead
when I got there.

And he didn't give me
the contract, I found it.

I looked all over
till I found it.

I thought he was just
lying there drunk.

You could smell whiskey
a half a mile away.

Only...

Only when I touched him...

...I felt the blood.

So I ran.

And I ran and I ran.

And I ran down the road,
and I telephoned the motel,

and I said that they should go
and look in cabin ten.

And then I hung up.

But you don't believe
any of this, do you?

(sniffles)

Nobody would.

Oh, it's all crazy.

My whole life is crazy.

Isn't it, Daddy?!

Just like you!

Run and lie
and lie and run and run!

No!

Oh, my Lord.

MAN:
Excuse me, ladies.

Which one of you
is Miss Dianne Adler?

What do you want?

Never mind.

You're her, all right.

Just a minute.

I'm Miss Adler's attorney.

Oh, is that so?

Well, you might like to know

we just caught
one of your investigators

and found a notebook
he threw away.

MASON:
Well, there's more to this case

than the times
people went into motel rooms.

Would you ask the gentleman
in the other room

to step in here, please?

He's pulling your leg;
there's nobody in here.

Well, read this
if you like, lawyer.

Come on, honey,
we're going downtown.

Let's go. Come on.

That's right.

Right ahead.

Says first-degree m*rder.

(door closes)

You heard the doctor testify
that the deceased,

Harrison Boring, was k*lled with
a blow from a blunt instrument.

You also heard him say that
there were scratches and bruises

on the face, indicating
that there might have been

a struggle prior to
that fatal blow.

Yes, sir, I heard all that.

But did you hear anything

on the night of the m*rder
to substantiate this?

From your vantage point
in the cabin across the way,

did you hear any struggling?

Any fighting?

No, I told you.

I didn't hear anything, except
people's radios all the time.

Besides, it's a couple of
hundred feet across there,

like your diagram shows.

You think I got radar?

Just because
you've been declared

an unfriendly witness,
Mr. Dillard,

there's no necessity for you
continuing to prove it.

Now, you heard the police
testify that someone had

hurriedly searched Mr. Boring's
cabin and his luggage,

and that they had found liquor
spilled all over it.

You heard an expert identify
fingerprints of the defendant

taken from the desk
and from the bureau drawer,

and one bloody fingerprint
of hers was found

on the wallet
in Boring's coat pocket.

That's the pocket
where I found the contract.

...moved around in that cabin
quite a good deal,

wouldn't you say so?

Sure.

And still, you couldn't see

any of that movement
through the window?

No, the curtains were too thick.

You couldn't see anything
or anybody in there.

Fine.

That's all I wanted to find out.

Then everything that you saw
or heard that night

is recorded in this notebook--
Exhibit A-- is that correct?

DILLARD:
Yes, sir, that's correct.

But the police
found this notebook

in a highway trash can,
Mr. Dillard.

Did you put it there?

Yes, sir.

Why?

Well, to get rid of it.

I saw a patrol car
making a U-turn.

I was afraid maybe they spotted
my license number.

You're sure that Mr. Mason
or possibly Mr. Paul Drake

didn't suggest that?

No, no!

That's not true at all.

Mr. Mason told me
he couldn't order me

to destroy evidence like that.

I was going to burn it!

BURGER:
Well, they certainly suggested

that you get out of town
in a hurry.

I remind you, Mr. Dillard,
you were clocked

going out the highway
miles an hour.

But that was my idea,
don't you understand?

I figured maybe if I
disappeared for a while...

You mean, you were willing to
take all this risk on yourself?

The risk of removing evidence
and removing yourself,

a material witness,
in a m*rder case?


Well... yes.

I didn't want to get
their client in the soup.

After all, I was still
trying to earn myself

maybe a good job, that's all.

Well, I certainly think
that Mr. Mason should thank you

for keeping
his reputation clear.

And I'm sure that your fine work
will get you

a top job in the Paul Drake
Detective Agency.

Now, if you'll read
for me please

this last entry
in your notebook.

"Miss Dianne Adler.

"Entered Cabin ten at : ,
left at : .

" : -and-a-half,
the manager arrived.

: -and-a-half,
the police arrived.”

Your witness.

Mr. Dillard,
concerning the first entries

in your notebook, the earlier
visitors to Boring's cabin

the prosecution has been rather
vague about identifying...

Your Honor,
we've already explained

to counsel and to the court,

we're not presenting
our full case at this time.

Just those few facts necessary
to have Miss Adler bound over.

I'm inclined to go along with
that approach, Mr. Mason.

This is only a hearing.

Of course. I understand.

I'm quite willing to postpone--
for the moment, at least--

my interrogation of the visitors
who have been identified.

But I have a question
about the person

who immediately preceded
Miss Adler in Boring's cabin.

JUDGE:
Quite pertinent. Proceed.

Mr. Dillard...
this "man wearing dark hat,

walked to cabin, entered
at : ...left at : ."

You say you didn't
recognize him then?

No, sir.

It was too dark over there.

Now, since that night:
have you seen someone

who perhaps reminded
you of that person?

No, sir.

I'm sorry, sir.

Well, I told Miss Adler
that Harrison Boring

was trying to cut her
out of something big.

What did you mean by that, sir?

Well, I told her she'd
better get after him

because he was cheating her.

And if I knew Harrison,
she'd better catch him quick.

Yes, but cheating her of what?

I don't know.

I was just guessing.

But those were
the exact words I used,

and she can't
tell you any different.

BURGER:
All right, then.

What was the effect of
your words on Miss Adler?

FOSTER: Well, she seemed
to already know

he was cheating her.

But it sure made her mad,
all right,

because the minute I left,
she took off for Fair Oaks,

just like that!

BURGER: Thank you,
Mr. Foster, that'll be all.

Mr. Foster, you say you

deliberately upset
and angered the defendant

so that she might lead you
to Harrison Boring?

That's right.

Why were you
so eager to find him?

Like I told you,
he owed me money.

MASON: Not because he was
cutting you out of something?

Absolutely not.

MASON: Is it possible
that you won't admit it

because you hope to take over
where Boring left off?

No, sir!

When Boring left my employ,
he owed me $ .

If I could've caught him,
I would have broken his neck!

But I didn't.

Like I testified: I tailed
the girl and I lost her.

Dianne Adler went by bus
to Fair Oaks.

You mean you couldn't
follow a bus?

But I lost her in Fair Oaks.

She went into a drugstore and
I didn't see her come out.

But I wasn't anywhere near
that motel that night.

Are you willing to
furnish proof of that?

FOSTER: Of course I am!
I wasn't anywhere near it.

Good!

Now, would you mind, uh,
putting on this hat?

Your Honor!

Just a moment, Mr. Burger.

I don't think
this would do any harm.

Of course I don't mind.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

I just can't tell.

Well, what time will Mr. Mason
be back from the courtroom?

But I must speak to him,
the minute he gets back.

Yes, ...

Oh, yes, I can wait.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Mrs. Winlock.
What is it?

Mr. Mason, I want to know if
you're going to

put on a defense
for that girl this afternoon.

Well, that's not a matter
I can discuss.

Oh, Mr. Mason...

The district attorney's office
has been asking questions,

privately, of course.

I think they may realize that...

I'm the other woman

who was at Boring's cabin
earlier that night,

just after my son...

after Marvin was there.

Yes, I've, uh... thought of
that possibility, Mrs. Winlock.

But perhaps if you'd tell me
why you visited Boring...

Oh, I'd be quite willing to give

a perfectly logical explanation
for that, Mr. Mason.

From the witness stand.

If I testified for the defense?

If you what?

Oh, listen to me, please.

The girl, Dianne...

her story's going to be
that she thought

Boring was drunk,
isn't that right?

That when she came
into the cabin

he was already lying
there in the dark,

and she didn't realize that
he wasn't just drunk, but dying?

Once again, I can't discuss it.

Mr. Mason, if I testified

that I thought exactly
the same thing...

that I saw him lying there
and smelled all that liquor...

and if my son, if Marvin should
say exactly the same thing

about his visit there,
on the witness stand...

wouldn't that save Dianne
from further prosecution?

In return for what,
Mrs. Winlock?

Oh, Mr. Mason,

she can have all of George's
money that you want,

but the truth...
the truth about Dianne,

about... about our marriage
and all...

it just mustn't come out!

Not ever, don't you understand?

Of course, Mrs. Winlock.

I will definitely
be in touch with you.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

(crying):
Goodbye.

Della, find Paul.

He has a job to do
before we finish lunch.

This way, Perry,
I'm parked in the alley.

Paul, what about the times
Dillard testified to?

My boys are double-checking
every one that's possible.

"Two-and-a-half minutes”
from the time Dianne left

-until the motel manager...
- Sorry, Perry, it's right.

The Motel clock is right. Every
one of these times is right.

Let me do this alone.

Thanks for getting here
so quickly, Mr. Winlock.

Mr. Drake didn't
give me much choice.

I'll come directly to the point.

You were the man in
the dark hat, weren't you?

The man who was in
the cabin after the woman

and just a few minutes
before Dianne's visit.

What gives you
a crazy idea like that?

MASON: Mrs. Winlock has
offered to commit perjury.

She wouldn't do that
unless she were positive

you were that man.

She offered to...?

Now, could we have the truth?

All of it?

Yes, I was there.

But Boring had already
blackmailed me, Mason.

I'd already given him
$ , in advance, in cash.

But after talking with you,

I realized there was
only one thing to do.

I went to see Boring and I
scared the daylights out of him.

I told him I was perfectly
willing to expose myself

to the whole world--
and expose him as a blackmailer.

And put him in prison
for what he'd done.

You stayed there for only
a few minutes, Mr. Winlock.

The g*n in my hand
helped to convince him.

And I might have used it,
Mason, if he hadn't given in.

Given in?

WINLOCK:
He handed me back the $ , ,

and promised to get
out of town for good.

And then you left?

MASON:
Had Boring been drinking?

In his cabin there
was the smell of whiskey.

MASON:
He was alive when you left?

I asked you a question.

When you left that cabin,
was Harrison Boring alive?

Good Heavens, Mason!

Haven't I done enough to Dianne?

What do you want me to do?
Send her to the gas chamber?

So it's possible,
from this diagram,

that someone could have visited

Cabin Number Ten
without your seeing them?

No, sir, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry,
but they just couldn't.

What about other means
of access to the cabin?

There's a side window here,
for instance.

If it please the court.

We've already proved that
that window can't be opened.

That there is no back door
to Cabin Ten.

That on that night,
it was impossible even to

approach Cabin Ten without being
observed by Mr. Dillard here,

from across the way!

Yes, I think we've
been over that ground

satisfactorily, Mr. Mason.

Very well, Your Honor.

But one or two more questions

to clarify the notes
in your notebook.

"Miss Dianne Adler at : .
Left cabin at : ."

Well, that's written
clearly enough.

But what's this number here?

DILLARD:
Uh... "Entered : ."

That the one you mean?

Oh, it's a seven.

I was writing in
the dark, Mr. Mason.

But my watch does have
a luminous dial, so...

Yes, of course.

And that's, uh...
"left at” what time?

: ... you mean
the man wearing the dark hat.

Oh, yes.

The man in the dark hat.

And you're quite sure
there's no mistake

about these times?

DILLARD: Well, like I said,
I may be a little clumsy,

but at least I can read a watch.

Your Honor, it's obvious that
Mr. Mason can't read a watch.

Certainly he's wasting
the court's time.

May it please the court,
we are trying to confirm

certain new evidence
that we've uncovered.

JUDGE:
Go on, Mr. Mason.

MASON: You'll be glad
to know, Mr. Dillard,

that the man in the hat
also looked at his watch,

and your figures agree.

DILLARD:
You mean, you found him?

We are further prepared
to introduce testimony

showing that when
this man left the cabin,

Harrison Boring was still alive.

He will also state there was
no smell of liquor in the room,

and that the only whiskey bottle
visible was sealed.

DILLARD:
Who is it, Mr. Mason? Who?

But why put him on the stand...

when it's you who
committed m*rder?

What?

Mr. Dillard, Paul Drake
is a very good detective,

but Boring still
managed to spot him.

Is that what happened?
Did Boring see you watching him?

That's not true!

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

minutes you said
Dianne was in there.

In very clear writing. Why?

Because you wrote those times
after the fact?

That's not true! Stop it!

Wrote them to cover up
what you'd done?

Wrote them in a notebook which
you could have destroyed,

if you'd really wanted to?

I won't answer that.
I won't tell you.

Would a frightened girl think of
pouring whiskey on a man

she'd just fought with?

That's not true!
He was drinking it!

MASON:
Oh, he was?

What else was he doing?

Your-Your Honor...
see, I didn't mean to do it.

It's just... his head, it struck
this thing when I hit him, see?

All right, all right
he spotted me.

But-but by that time,
I had enough on him...

See, he had this money, see?

Well, when that guy left, Boring
comes right over to my cabin.

He says, "What gives?"

Well, naturally,
I says what gives right back!

Let's have some of that money!

Well, he-he laughed at me.

He said he didn't
have it any more.

But... I didn't want to
rough him up, but...

well, you see, then I, um...

I, uh, I carried him
back to his place

and-and, uh, I poured
that whiskey on him, see?

I'm sorry, kid.

(sobbing)

I'm sorry.

So the one thing wrong in
Dillard's notebook

was the time he showed Dianne
as arriving at the cabin?

Exactly.

With nerves of steel a person
couldn't spend minutes

searching a dark room with even
a drunken occupant present.

But of course when...
your wife decided to protect

the family name and reputation
by committing perjury,

-why, I fully understood...
- No, wait a minute.

It was that useless son of hers
she was trying to protect.

Oh, Mason, we all make
so many mistakes.

WINLOCK (over intercom):
Marvin had been snooping around

for some time, I guess.

He was getting as close to
nailing me as Boring himself.

And what's a mother to do?

The wrong thing, maybe.
I don't know.

I'm sure no judge!

The way I...
I ruined poor Dianne's life.

Well, we're not hiding
the truth any more, now.

My wife is kicking
Marvin out on his own.

So you see,
mistakes can be changed.

Just like people.

Wait a minute.

How long has that thing been on?

Dianne.

MASON: Your father is taking us
out for a steak dinner, Dianne.

Would... you come along?

Please?

Dianne?

How about it? Hmm?

Well...

well, I might be willing to
try a little cottage cheese.

(theme song playing)
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