08x20 - The Case of the Lover's Gamble

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

You going west?
You're crazy!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You wanna bet you hit snow?
Wanna bet you hit wind?

You wanna bet I hit a cow?

Buffalo, man. Buffalo.

Then gangway, Injuns,
we're coming through the pass.

Icicles is what you'll get.

Injuns with icicles
running off their nose.

Icicles running off
your windshield.

Buddy, all there is to hit
on a night like this

is a darn fool holiday tourist.

I will not shut up.

If you ever, ever, put on
another scene

like that one
in the motel dining room...

I only said grandmother's dying,

that's all.

And did I do anything but point
out how many times she's d*ed,

these past five years?

I merely remarked
what a lovely place Denver is

when the streets are below zero.

And I only pointed out
how important my lecture

in Albuquerque was to have been

and how much I enjoyed
cancelling it.

Yes, I heard you cancel.

(music starts playing)

You what?

I heard you in that phone booth,

cancelling your engagement
in Albuquerque.

Oh, well, Frances,

I don't know what little tricks

your imagination is playing
on you how, but...

Well, let's see...

the Albuquerque
Women's Art League

is headed by some dreadful
creature named...

"Jill, darling."

"Jill, darling, I'm so sorry
I can't come.”

Jill, darling.

Jill, darling. Jill, darling.
Jill, darling.

(music starts playing)

(hums along)

Now it's out in the open.

You think I was talking
with someone named Jill, eh?

Well, let's see...

Jill Fenwick, I suppose?

(chuckles)
You think I was planning

some frightfully illicit
little rendezvous with her

in Albuquerque, is that it?

Frances, I said, is that it?

Frances, how many times

do I have to tell you
that Jill Fenwick

is simply a sculptress
I happen to know?

And in La Jolla,
not in Albuquerque.

Answer me, Frances.
What did you hear

that started you
imagining things again?

Frances, will you please...

I won't answer you.

I won't even talk.
I won't even listen.

Stop that. Do you want to go
entirely out of your mind?

Now Frances, do you know
what I wish you'd...

(sobs): Yes, yes, yes,
I know what you wish.

You wish I were dead.

Frances!

-(screams)
-(tires screech)

Frances...

Honey?
Frances!

ought to be right
about there.

Thank you.

And thanks for coming down
this street instead of...

Oh, that's okay, sweetheart.

Just come back and paint
my picture sometime, huh?

I will.
Well, bye-bye.

Hello, Dr. Stark.

Betty Kaster,
you little darling.

Come in, come in.

What a sight for tired eyes.

And prettier than ever.
Look out you don't trip.

I got your message.

I mean, I came
as quickly as I could.

We had our last class
this morning,

and I don't have to be at work
until : , so...

Of course, of course, I knew
I could count on you.

Here, this little chamber isn't
quite so tomblike.

Oh, but if you knew
the trouble in locating

a house in Los Angeles
with space enough

for my books and paintings.

I, uh, brought some
of my sketches.

Maybe I shouldn't have but...

Oh, Dr. Stark, you were so right
in telling me to come up here.

You know, they tell me
at art school

that it may be only
just another year or two

before I'm actually able
to support myself by...

Of course, of course, and I'm
anxious to see your work.

But how are you
supporting yourself?

Well, just slinging hash again,
I'm afraid.

And what about friends?

Surely you have an endless
string of doting young men...

No, no, no, no, of course not.

I really want to be an artist,

but well, I'm still
all alone in the world,

if that's what you mean.
But I don't care.

These last few months have been
so marvelous,

and so wonderful...

And you've been pretty marvelous
and wonderful yourself, Betty.

And still quite the best
girl Friday I've ever had.

Dr. Stark, how can you say that?

All I did was run errands
and type up

all your lecture notes wrong.

Say, I'll bet the room
right above this one

has good light in it.
Of course it has.

And plenty of space for you
to spread your things out in.

Because you'll have time
to study, lots of time,

-and I can help you.
- What?

Look, you've...
what is it?

A couple of weeks before
the next semester

at art school begins? So...

Dr. Stark,
what are you talking about?

Look, Betty,
I need you. I need help.

I've never lived
in Los Angeles before.

The housekeepers
they've tried to send me

have all been hopelessly--
Oh, not that you'd

have to keep house, mind you.

We'll hire all the help
you want.

And I've already engaged
a cook named Martha.

But need someone I can trust.

Someone who'll be here
all the time,

who'll take orders
when I give them, who'll...

You, you want me to live
in your house?

To help me take care of my wife.

- To take care of Frances.
- Oh...

Well, did I say something wrong?

- Betty, if there's any reason
you...-No, it's just that...

Well, I didn't realize
you were married, that's all.

Oh, good heavens,
didn't I ever mention...

Well, I hope you don't think
I'm the sort of a man

who'd hide his marriage, Betty.

It's simply that, well,

for many years now Frances
hasn't been too well,

hasn't been able
to travel with me.

Now, well,

since the accident, poor thing,

the doctors won't even
let her out of her room.

She had an accident?

Six weeks ago.

I almost lost her.

I almost lost
the whole meaning of my life.

(chuckles)

Oh, but you're not afraid
of a mouse, are you, darling?

Mouse? Shiner?
Isn't that what you call it?

The doctor says
that that's because

this bone here is still bruised,

that's what makes my beauty
so absolutely haunting.

But I don't feel anything.
Just the tape around my ribs,

and that's because Philip says
I have weak lungs.

Can you imagine?
Just a couple of little cracks

and now they tell me

I've always been Camille,
and I didn't even know it.

And now Philip tells me...

I have to be treated
like some poor, little,

withering, wispy flower.

I thought you might like to ask
her some questions, Frances.

BETTY: Please, wait a minute,
Mrs. Stark.

I really don't know anything
about nursing, so maybe...

Oh, but I simply loathe nurses.
Don't you?

They always smell
so dreadfully clean.

No, no, I'm perfectly all right.

I don't even see
why I can't get up,

and run around,
and manage things myself.

Well, now, let's see...

You say your name is Betty?

Yes. I'm .

I mean, um, I can type,

and I take a little shorthand.

Oh, I did work as a maid once.

I guess I've done about
everything

since my parents d*ed.

-(horn honks)-PHILIP: You there,
look out!

- Look out!
-(horn honks)

-(tires screech)

(screams)

The truck driver! He's on fire!

- He's burning up!-it's all
right. No one was hurt.

Now stop it, Frances.

- Stop it, Frances.
- Help me!

- Help me.
- Betty...

- Look out. -It's all right, Mrs.
Stark, it's all right now.

- I'm here now...
-(sobs)

Wait here, huh?

Ah, Miss Nightingale.

And how's our
little patient today?

Hello, Mr. Fell.
Those are lovely flowers.

"Freddy," please. No one ever
calls me anything but Freddy,

with or without adjectives.

Well, I'm afraid Mrs. Stark
is asleep right now.

Nonsense. She was asleep
yesterday.

Besides, these are for you,
not Frances.

Well, thank you very much.

Why don't you go in and find
yourself a vase now.

I'm only gonna stay a moment.

No, please.
I'm sorry.

A guardian of the gate, eh?

Well, I suppose poor,
dear cousin Frances

was upset
over those naughty stories

I told her the other day,
and now she's told you to...

No, please.

It's just that Dr. Stark feels
that she tires so easily.

You must understand...

I understand quite well,
my dear child.

You've been hired by that
insane, vicious husband of hers

to keep Frances from the people
who really love her.

Mr. Fell, Dr. Stark happens
to be about the finest man

I have ever known.

And I'm quite sure that both his
and the doctor's judgment...

And for heaven's sake
don't talk drivel

like every other stupid female
he's taken advantage of.

Now the point is, I'm here from
the East on a business trip.

Now I can't prolong it too long.

And surely
someone from back home

must see
that poor cousin Frances

is taken care of before...

Mr. Fell, I happen to know
that until day before yesterday,

you hadn't even
telephoned Frances,

not even to borrow money,
since before they were married.

And that was over years ago.

Now I'm sorry to have to say
things like this,

but I'm just doing
what I've been told.

All right, all right, you win.

I'll go quietly.

And you can keep the flowers,
my dear.

You deserve them.

Well, I'm awfully sorry,
Mr. Fell...

Nonsense. I'll be back.

And just pray that he doesn't
make you really sorry someday.

(phone rings)

All right, all right.

Hello?

Oh, Jill, darling.

How did you get this number?

All right, but I told you
never to...

Well, you'll just have to wait,
like I said.

Jill, you'll
simply have to wait...

But I, I can't give another
lecture in the East

until my wife is better.

Well, of course I won't leave
her alone,

not at a time like...

Oh, what's the matter
with you boys?

Can't any of you act like
lecture tour management,

instead of a bunch
of common agents?

Now get this through your head,

money is not that important.

That's right, Jillison, baby,
the answer is no.

Betty.

I thought you went out
with Martha

to help with the shopping.

Well, yes, but we had to come
back because I forgot this.

I noticed last night that one
of Mrs. Stark's prescriptions

was almost empty, so I thought
maybe I could save you a trip.

Oh, Betty, you're too good
to be true.

But I'll handle
the nasty jobs...

the long errands,
the waiting for prescriptions.

- Well, I'm sorry if I...-Now
don't be sorry about anything.

I'm the one who ought
to be sorry around here.

Maybe because I'm not younger.

Now run along, hmm?

Or you won't be back in time
for me to help you

with that beautiful pastel
I noticed upstairs.

Oh, I don't know
what to tell her.

Tell her "thank you
for the get well card,

kiss your poodles for me?" -

Anything.
Ask Philip, he'll know.

You must have a lot of nice
friends in Philadelphia.

I suppose so.

Once upon a time.

Well, it must be awfully
lonesome for you

being stuck out here
with just Martha and me.

I mean, on the days Dr. Stark
does have to go away.

Would you prop
my foot up for me, dear?

Yes.

- Couldn't we finish these later?
Mm-hmm.

And Mrs. Stark, I just couldn't
help noticing

in some of those letters,
that, well...

Some of your old friends

don't exactly appreciate
Dr. Stark

as much as...

Of course not.

And do you know why?

Because I've been so horrible.

Oh, yes, I used to make
dreadful scenes.

I used to be suspicious
all the time.

I..

Betty...

don't ever doubt
the man you love.

When I think of the awful things

I've said about Philip
that weren't true.

And now I,

I realize that all the time
it was...

really me, not him.

I've always been sick,

and poor, patient Philip...

But he wouldn't do
anything to hurt me.

He does love me,
doesn't he, Betty?

And he does know what's best
for me, don't you think?

Yes, of course.

It's time for your pill now,
Mrs. Stark.

FREDDY:
Frightful, just frightful.

Don't you think she looks
frightful, Henry?

HENRY: Well, search me.
I've barely met Frances.

And Sarah only remembers her
as being sick as a child.

I just don't mean
in the accident.

She seems to get worse
and worse every year.

She's like a trapped bird.

HENRY:
What's the matter, Freddy?

Are you still sore 'cause
she wouldn't loan you money

-last spring?
- What? I'll have you know

that I haven't even talked
to Frances...

HENRY: Don't worry,
I won't tell her husband.

She wrote Sarah
a very funny letter

about how you sneaked
into the house last year.

How about a whiskey, dear?

You think you could find us
something to drink?

Yes, sir. Of course.

Henry, my only concern is with
the future, not the past.

I want to know how you and Sarah
intend to help

poor cousin Frances.

Freddy, You are a heel.

Now why don't you admit it?

Your only concern is Grandmother
Milburn's money, right?

Now, see here, Henry...

And you've always hated
this guy Philip

because he stole your only
relative with dough.

And now that Frances
is really loaded,

and grandmother's finally dead,

oh boy, how you come running.

- Of all the...
- Two million dollars.

For that kind of money, Freddy,

you'd strangle your own mother.

FREDDY:
I don't understand you, Henry.

Why, your wife is a Milburn.

Do you enjoy seeing the Milburn
fortune in the hands...

Oh, come off it, Freddy.

Who cares? I'll make my own
living, thank you.

SARAH:
Cuernavaca.

Oh, I think that's a perfectly

marvelous idea for her.

Yes, and it has the same
beautiful high air

as Mexico City, you know?

Yes, yes, of course,
but you still

will be able to get away
every now and then,

won't you? At least for one
teeny weenie lecture?

Don't you worry,
I'll be there next month.

Oh, good.
I've simply promised the girls.

Well, this is quite a reunion.

We were about to sit down
to have a drink, Sarah,

if you'd like to join us.

Oh, no we don't.

The last thing in the world
poor Frances needs

is a lot of noisy relatives
around.

Come on, out we go. All of us.

Yes, sir.

Oh, she's so lucky to have you,
Philip.

PHILIP:
Thank you.

In-laws are such dreadful
creatures, don't you think?

I don't know.
I guess so.

Dr. Stark, that woman
said something

about, uh, Mexico City?

Oh, yes, I've found the nicest,
quietest place down there.

And I think Frances will be a
lot happier out in the country,

amongst all the flowers.

Oh, you can stay here in the
house as long as you like,

and I plan on coming up
quite often. So...

No. It's just,
I was thinking that...

well, won't she be
more alone down there?

I mean, it seems to me with all
the good doctors

we have right here
in Los Angeles...

But it was the doctor's idea,
Betty.

You look tired, my dear.

What you need
is a night off, hmm?

Reciprocal wills?

Yes, I know all about them.
They're quite common.

Well, I found this note

in this man's desk, you see?

It was from a lawyer or
something, dated years ago...

Oh, Miss Street, I know
it isn't very nice to pry

into other people's affairs,
but,

well, you did say in that talk
that you gave at school

that a legal secretary
is supposed to be

-very confidential and...
- Of, course, Betty.

And I can certainly find out
all you want to know

about the other names.
The doctors...

I just didn't know anyone
else to ask, that's all.

But maybe if you told me
a little more

of what it is you're really
concerned about...

Miss Street, please.

I just wanted to know...

All right, Betty, never mind.

Now "reciprocal wills"
means when either party dies,

the other party inherits.

It's as simple as that.

So if a man and his wife
both had them then...

Well, let's say, um,

if you were writing a story
about a woman

who inherited
some more money of her own,

well, if anything
happened to her...

then would her husband
get all that money, too?

Of course.

He gets everything she owns
at the time of her death.

Hey, what is this?

You two plotting a m*rder
or something?

Perry, this is
Miss Betty Kaster.

I'm sorry. I thought you were
a friend of Della's

who just dropped by to chat.

Yes, yes, that's all it is.

I'm very pleased to meet you,
Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry if I took up
too much of Miss Street's time.

Betty, why don't you
just sit right down

and tell your troubles
to Mr. Mason?

He's really quite good.

No, no, no, it's all a mistake.

I mean, you just made me realize

what awful things I've been
thinking about...

about someone who's really
the most wonderful person

in the world. He is.

I know he is.
He just has to be.

(taps on glass)

WOMAN:
Philip?

Jill, darling.

Oh, you beautiful,
wonderful...

Now look, I told you to stay
in the hotel room.

I couldn't wait. Not one more
tiny, little second.

Oh, Philip, if you only knew

what these last
two months have been.

Now, now, now, not in public.

I will, too.
Did you buy the tickets?

PHILIP: I'm sending her down
in a private plane.

I'll go later, of course.

JILL:
That's perfect.

And then how long?

Jill, stop that.
Come on, how, come on.

How long before I can ask you
to marry me?

Come on.

♪♪

Martha, did you remember...

Martha, where are you?

Martha?

(phone rings)

Hello?

Yes,
this is the Stark residence.

Who?

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Miss Kaster, are you alone?

Well, yes, I guess the cook's
already gone home.

I know you'll think
we're prying,

but I've done some fast checking
on the few things

you told my secretary,

and I think we should
get together right away.

This Philip Stark for whom
you work is the art critic

-and lecturer, right?
- Yes, but...

His wife then
is the Frances Stark

who recently inherited
some two million dollars?

Mr. Mason, I really don't think
that I should...

You also mentioned the names
of some medical doctors.

One was Dr. Robertson,
a young g.p. in your area.

Yes, he but was only here
to re-bandage

Mrs. Stark's ankle.

And also a
Dr. Meurice Frederickhas?

Well, I think that was his name.

Yes, yes, it was...

But there doesn't seem to be
a doctor by that name

in the Los Angeles area.

Oh, but there must be.

I mean,
he was only here once,

but he was the one
that talked about her lungs.

I'm sure he's the man
that suggested Mrs. Stark

go to Mexico.

Betty, the registry checked
every possible spelling,

and there's
simply no licensed physician,

let alone a specialist, in the
whole state of California

by that name.

Now, maybe this is all
a mistake.

Maybe you're alarmed
about nothing.

(creaking)

Shh. Wait.

Betty, I think you should
meet me right away at...

No, wait.
I have to go now.

Mrs. Stark? Is that you?

Mrs. Stark, are you awake?

Are you all right?

(metallic rattling)

Dr. Stark, are you in there?

Dr. Stark!

(departing footsteps)

Frances.

Frances, please wake up.

(screams)

An hour? It was over an hour

between the time
you saw him downtown

and the time
you reached the house?

Maybe even more, I don't know.

I had to wait for the bus,
and I didn't have enough money

-to take a taxi...
- Here, dear.

- Thank you.
- All right.

But after you saw his body,

you ran straight out
of the house?

All I could think of
waiting for that bus

was what a little pinhead.

- What a blind little
pinhead I'd been.-(phone rings)

Yes?
He's right here.

Paul? What did you find out?

They've already got it.
Somebody's already

reported the m*rder.

Well, without revealing
anything,

can you manage to find out...

All the desk report shows is
that he was hit over the head

with a blunt instrument, but...

Hold it.

(door closes)

Does the name Martha Glenhorn

mean anything to your girl?

Martha? Of course.
Martha's the cook.

But I told you, she'd already
gone home before I got there.

What about her, Paul?

All right. Thanks.

Betty, I want you out of here.

Della will take you home
with her. Try to get some rest.

- What?
- What did he say?

The cook saw a young woman
running out of the house.

Hysterical, blood on her dress,
on her hands.

Well, yes, I washed it off
at the service station,

but where on earth was Martha,
to have seen all that?

I don't know, but put it
out of your mind for now.

I don't want you to say one word
to the police until later.

Just do what Della tells you.

No, I won't run away.
I won't hide anyplace.

Don't you understand? It's poor
Mrs. Stark that's important.

What's happened
to her, Mr. Mason?

He was gonna k*ll her
You know he was gonna k*ll her.

Don't worry, we'll be looking
for Frances Stark, all right.

But it's my fault
if she's dead right now.

It's my fault for being
such a blind, stupid...

Betty, hasn't it occurred to you
why she may be missing?

Hasn't it occurred to you

how much reason
she had to k*ll her husband?

Frances commit m*rder?

No, no, no, Mr. Mason.

Why not, Mr. Thomas?

There was a struggle.

I understand the blow could have
been struck by a woman.

Her clothes, her suitcases
were all gone from the house.

Well, yes,
that's what people say, but...

Well, maybe the worm

finally turned, I don't know.

But the point is, Mason,
I barely had met Frances.

I don't really know anything
about her or Philip.

And yet you came all the way
down from Seattle

just to visit them.

Well, of course,
that was my wife's idea.

You see, Sarah is the executor
for her great aunt's will,

and she felt she
at least ought to pay a call.

That's the will
which gave Frances Stark

two million dollars?

I suppose it might have gone
to your wife instead.

No, no, you see,
Sarah is much farther out

on the family tree.

Besides, Mr. Mason,

we don't need any more money.

What about this Mr. Fell?

He's the closest relative
to Frances Stark, isn't he?

First cousin?

Sure, but on the other side
entirely.

Yeah, Freddy's related to
Frances but not to the Milburns.

And he didn't
have anything to do

with any grandmother's
inheritance.

I don't blame you for being
frustrated, Mr. Mason.

The police won't tell us
anything, either.

However when it comes to

helping you find poor little
Frances, well, I just...

All right, Mr. Thomas,
all right.

Thank you.

Only why do you refer to her

as "poor” Frances,
and "worm turning?"

Oh, family gossip, I guess.

People were saying that he was a
smooth talker,

that he walked all over her,

that he spent all of her money,

and cheated her silly.

Well, you know what Philip Stark
must have been like.

Weren't you telling me
that you represented

that little cutie he was keeping

right in Frances's house?

One more thing.

Betty did mention that when you
left that house yesterday,

it was to catch a plane
for Seattle.

Now, uh, what happened?

My wife remembered some
shopping

she wanted to do in Los Angeles.

That's where she is now.

(chuckles)
Sorry, Mr. Mason,

but it's just like I told you,

we don't know one single thing
about that m*rder.

♪♪

What are you doing here?
Who are you?

Take it easy.
You're Jill Fenwick, aren't you?

I asked you a question.
How did you get in here?

Wait a minute.

Estelle said you were
kind of fiery, but...

Estelle?

Sure, we've got a date tonight.
She gave me her key,

said walk right in,
and help yourself to the liquor.

So where's the old hospitality?

Look, my name's Paul Drake
and...

What's the matter?

Don't I measure up
for your roommate?

You might. Except for the fact
that my roommate

took an acting job several weeks
ago in New York.

Okay, that'll teach me to grab
names off mailboxes.

But you've got an apartment
house manager

that'll open doors
for ten bucks.

So you're an investigator?
What do you want?

Well, you've been
kind of hard to find.

hotel rooms in Los Angeles

were rented to various "Jills"
yesterday afternoon...

I said, what do you want?

To know who k*lled Philip Stark.

(laughs)

I wouldn't laugh too hard.

There's a bellboy who remembers
seeing him with you.

Is that so?

You've also had quite a few
dates with Dr. Stark

during the past year.

He's introduced you
as a sculptress from La Jolla,

but I find
you're actually a model.

Aren't you clever.

I'd also like to know the last
time you saw Mrs. Stark.

She's still missing, in case you
don't read the newspapers.

I've never seen her.
I've never even met her.

And Philip only walked me
back to my hotel.

I only saw him
for five minutes yesterday,

and that was the first time
in two months.

- Now get out of here...
- Wait a minute.

Not so fast.

When I walk out of here, you may
have to walk out with me.

Straight to the police.

And where do you
think I've just been?

The police already know

everything they need to know,
Mr. Drake.

And without any help
from the likes of you.

Yes, even without the help
of Frances Stark.

Maybe they don't even need
to find her anymore.

Maybe you're the one who ought
to read the newspapers.

NEWSBOY:
Paper.

May I see that, please?

Sure.

I'm sure this has been on
long enough.

- Getting tired, honey?
-(groans)

Oh, I'm sorry.

Say have you got a bad shoulder?

No, it's all right.
I'm all right.

Well, let's take a look
anyway, huh?

Now lets' see.
Now hold still, hold still.

Just a minute.

Hey, I think we got it
just perfect.

I think that's just right,
don't you?

You know, I've always wanted
to go blonde myself

for a little while,
but with my personality...

But this is my natural color.
You saw it yourself.

I just, I just put a dark rinse
on it for a few days,

just to see how it would look.

Now, please,
I'm sure it's dry enough.

Okay, okay.
Hurry, hurry, hurry...

Oh, just the same, it makes you
feel good, doesn't it?

You know, to lift up the lid

and look so pretty, I mean?

Yes, it does make me
feel better.

So much better.

MASON: Mr. Fell, you testified
under direct examination

that you left the Stark house
at : in the afternoon.

Yes, sir, that is correct.

I left in the company
of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thomas.

And that was the last time
you saw Dr. Philip Stark?

- It was.
- Or his wife Frances Stark?

Of course.

I just stated I then went
downtown to a business meeting,

then to my hotel for dinner,
then to a movie, and then...

Yes, but didn't you also say
that you were then surprised

to hear
on a midnight news broadcast,

that Philip Stark
had been m*rder*d?

FREDDY:
Oh, yes, I guess I did.

It wouldn't have surprised you
to have heard

that his wife had been k*lled?

Objection, Your Honor.
Of all the improper,

irrelevant questions.

I'll sustain you, Mr. Burger.

But I'll have to admit to some
irrelevant curiosity

here myself, as to why I find
this case is in my court

before you've even located
the widow, Frances Stark.

Because, Your Honor, she's not
even a material witness,

as we shall shortly demonstrate.

For the past several days,
the police have been bending

every possible effort
to find her,

but only to help her, perhaps.

Because certainly
at a hearing like this,

our purpose is only to introduce

a few necessary facts,
and I assure you

that's all we intend to do.

And I see no reason why the due
process of the law...

All right, then, we can even
skip your speech, can't we?

Let's get on with it.

Well, then, after you
left the house

and went down to your hotel,

what happened, Mrs. Thomas?

Well, Henry, my husband
over there,

decided that he wanted to go out
on the town

for himself for a bit.

He was angry because
I was going shopping.

And just before I left the hotel
room, about : , I think,

the telephone rang,
and it was Dr. Stark.

And what was the subject

of your phone conversation
with Dr. Stark?

Well, he simply wanted
me to know that he had

a chance to send Frances
down to Mexico right away.

That very night, in fact.
He wasn't any more specific.

He just wanted me
to hear the news.

And I thanked him, and...

that's about all, I guess.

Thank you, Mrs. Thomas.
No more questions.

You say that's "about" all,
Mrs. Thomas?

Well, he may be mentioned
one or two other things.

Such as?

SARAH:
Well, he said how much

he'd enjoyed meeting me,

and how much he looked forward

to a visit in Seattle someday.

Dr. Stark was attracted to you,
I take it?

SARAH:
No, no, I wouldn't say that...

Would you say he was a man
who was attentive to women

other than his wife?

Since she's not here
to testify herself,

did Frances Stark, for instance,

ever mention any particular
woman her husband had...

- Your Honor, I object to that.
- Sustained.

Mrs. Thomas...

That's all, thank you.

I saw Dr. Stark for exactly
five minutes.

I ran into him on the street,

and then he walked me back
to my hotel.

He said he had to get home
right away because,

well, his wife was being taken
to Mexico that night.

And that he would follow later,
perhaps,

but we weren't
good enough friends

for him to confide
anything specific.

BURGER: Well, then just stick
to what you know, Miss Fenwick.

What time did Philip Stark
leave you?

JILL: It was five minutes before
: , exactly.

Thank you, Miss Fenwick.
That'll be all.

Miss Fenwick, how many times
have you dated Dr. Stark?

Four or five times.

I really don't remember.

And how many times have you
arranged rendezvous with him

in cities across the country
where he was giving lectures?

Never.

Oh, we might have bumped
into each other somewhere.

We were both very much
interested in art,

but, well, that was our
only common interest.

So I've gathered.

And perhaps you knew him
well enough to tell us

of your own knowledge:

In the event that he inherited
a great deal of money

from his wife,

who would've shared
that money with him?

- Your Honor...
- JILL: Never mind, Mr. Burger.

I can't answer
the question anyway.

I really haven't
the slightest idea

what Mr. Mason is talking about.

Well, suppose I produced
a witness to your meeting

with Dr. Stark on the street
that evening.

A witness who saw you
kissing him.

Not once, but several times.

How would you answer that?

Well, I kiss a lot of people,
Mr. Mason.

I'm built that way.

-(scattered laughs)
-(gavel banging)

Well, I guess I arrived
at the house about : .

Dr. Stark said he had
just got back himself,

but he'd already packed
his wife's things earlier.

So together, we helped
the Mrs. out to my limousine,

loaded her in real cozy.

And what were your driving
instructions, Mr. Link?

Well, he arranged to hire me
through the airlines.

I was to drive Mrs. Stark
to Tijuana

to meet a private plane,
Mexican plane.

But instead what happened?

She was kind of a funny lady.

Very nervous, not too healthy,
maybe.

Didn't want to talk much, so I
just shut the glass and drove.

She was listening to the radio
there in back.

Then going through San Diego,

all of a sudden she raps
on the glass all excited,

says stop the car,
let me out.

Wouldn't explain, just goes
hobbling off down the street.

I wait and wait,

figuring maybe
she has an errand or something.

Looking back,

she must have been kind of out
of her mind, I suppose.

Well, what I mean is,

it wasn't till I heard later
on the radio myself

about her husband being m*rder*d
up here in Los Angeles,

then I couldn't find her
anyplace, not anyplace.

I think you've explained
the tragic disappearance

of Mrs. Stark sufficiently
for the time being, Mr. Link.

Thank you very much.

At the moment,
I'm only concerned

about one further matter.

Was Philip Stark alive

when you left him?

Well, of course.
Well, she didn't k*ll him,

if that's what you mean.

I saw Dr. Stark waving good-bye
with my own eyes.

Now Martha,
you heard the neighbor

who was walking his dog

say that he saw the hired
limousine pull away,

he saw Dr. Stark go back
inside his house.

You heard this same witness
testify

that he saw no one else
at all in that area

for perhaps minutes,

until just before he himself
was going into his own home.

At which point he saw a girl,
the defendant,

run across the street and go
inside Dr. Stark's house.

Now during all this time,
Martha,

where were you?

Down the avenue, I told you,
waiting for my husband,

and getting madder and madder.

Dr. Stark told me I could go
home the minute he got home.

Only there I stood,
and stood, and stood.

Oh, so you were going back
to Dr. Stark's house

-to phone your husband again?
- Exactly.

And that's where I saw her.

Betty Kaster, running away.

Maybe perhaps, I couldn't
see the blood on her hands, but

her dress had spots on it.
I was that close.

And I went inside and...

found poor Dr. Stark
lying there.

Thank you, Martha.

I think that'll be all.

Oh, just one more thing.

Your Honor...

of course, any suggestion
of proving motive

at this hearing
is patently unnecessary.

However, out of deference
to defense counsel's

earlier remarks,

I have one more question.

Martha, on the basis of your
service with Dr. Stark,

can you tell us,
of your own knowledge,

if Dr. Stark and the defendant

were ever alone together?

Certainly. They were alone
together all the time.

That afternoon, in fact,
I saw him kissing her.

Not kissing her...

...or her...

...but her,

Betty Kaster.

(phone rings)

Yes?

Perry, good work.
You really did it.

Rather an odd time to say
a thing like that, Paul.

I'm afraid right after lunch
the judge is going to...

No, no, no, I don't mean in
court. I mean here, right now.

I got two of my boys
watching and...

Hold it, here they come.

What? Yeah.

It was as easy as rolling off
a log. Just like you figured.

I want to speak to her
right away, Paul.

Excuse me, but there's someone
on the phone there

who wishes to speak
to a Mrs. Frances Stark.

He's an officer of the court,
so I think you'd better.

Perry, what is all this?

That office of mine out there
is loaded with people

that were due in court.
You bring this lady in here...

Hold it, Hamilton.

I've been trying
to explain to her

that if she told you
the whole truth,

you might give her
some consideration

-as a State's witness.
- Oh, have you really?

Well, now, listen, Mrs. Stark...

Excuse me, Mr. Burger, but can I
see you a minute, please?

What's that?

Wait a minute, will ya, Andy?

Mrs. Stark, the important thing
for you to consider

is that we've proven definitely

that you couldn't possibly
have k*lled your husband. So...

No, no I won't say anything.

Please leave me alone.

I won't say a word
until I have my own lawyer.

- Well, I do think, Mrs. Stark...
- And I don't think

you should say any more,
Hamilton. Come in, Paul.

Hello, Jill.

Estelle.

Oh, Jill...

- Are you all right?
-"Estelle?"

I, um, I was
just about to say, sir...

Would you wait a minute, please?

- Now, listen, Miss...
- Estelle Maybury.

She's an actress, Hamilton,

-when she works, that is.
- Not this week.

We first spotted her
at the unemployment office,

-picking up her check.
- Naturally.

Doing everything she could

to reestablish her own identity,
I suppose.

Best place to hide.

Now listen, you two.
What in the name of...

MASON: Oh, she's also
Frances Stark.

Or she's been calling herself
that for a couple of months.

Mr. Burger, I've been
trying to tell you.

We just had a call
from the New Mexico police,

because they just had a call
from Drake here.

It seems the Stark's accident
down there was never questioned.

The truck driver was incinerated
in his burning truck,

but it so far out in the
boondocks,

there didn't seem much sense
in hunting through

every inch of mud and snow.

- But now they'll be able...
- Well, nice work.

Andy, I'll talk to you later.

So Frances Stark is really dead,
is that it?

And you know it and you've been
impersonating her?

MASON: Oh, she's really
a very good actress.

And she had help.

Frances's room
was always kept dark,

and Philip Stark hired
a gullible young girl

to keep people away.

MASON: An injured right arm kept
the phony Frances from writing,

and there were plenty
of sugar pills,

so she could always pretend
she was under heavy sedation.

But at least one of those
doctors was real.

Those bruises were real.

Fifty thousand dollars.

He paid me $ , cash,

and there was to be twice as
much after it was all over.

His wife d*ed in that accident.

He threw her body into the fire.

I even agreed to let him...

b*at me up.
Bruise me all over.

Estelle, stop.
You don't have to say anymore.

No, I don't think she does,
Hamilton.

Because as fantastic and daring
as this all sounds,

Philip Stark knew the stakes
were worth it.

And his scheme really worked.

Come on, I'll show you.

Perry, even if
these two were...

Wait a minute,
wait a minute, Hamilton.

Frances.

Frances, what have you done
to your hair?

This was a plot to inherit
two million dollars, you mean?

Two million dollars
from a dying grandmother.

But if Frances d*ed first,

then obviously she'd never
inherit that money.

So her husband could never
inherit from her.

So Philip kept Frances alive
waiting for grandmother to die.

Now hold on, here.

What the devil. This is Frances!

I went to her engagement party.

Of course, I realize that was
over years ago.

Well, you couldn't prove it by
me. I only met her recently.

That's right, and your wife,
if I recall correctly,

hasn't seen her since childhood.

So the scheme did work.

And Philip would have eventually
inherited that money.

No, no, Perry, it won't work.

Nope. It's still
got to be your client.

This girl may have
done the acting,

but she didn't do the k*lling.
She may have been

in on the plot, but she wasn't
in the m*rder house.

Every shred of evidence
points to Betty Kaster

as the only one
who could've been

in the m*rder house that night.

MASON: Oh, and I'm sure it's
occurred to you, Hamilton,

that when Philip Stark came back
to the house that evening,

he could have
brought someone with him.

Someone who was there all along,
fighting with him.

Your memory is a little bad,

isn't it Mr. Thomas?

HENRY:
What?

When you reported what went on
at the house that day

you left something out.

No.

No, this creature's
some sort of impersonator.

I wouldn't know the difference.
None of us would.

And yet Betty remembers

your talking
about someone else...

someone else visiting Frances
surreptitiously a year ago.

Oh, Henry, that's right.

Remember the funny letter
that Frances wrote about...

Holy smoke. Sure.

You met Frances to borrow money.

Well, if this lady
isn't Frances,

why didn't you say something?
Why didn't you tell us?

Because he's the only close
relative Frances had,

that's why.

If he let her stay alive
and m*rder*d her husband,

then who'd get the money?

Well, obviously an imposter
couldn't claim that inheritance.

Estelle would have had to just
disappear somehow.

And so, eventually,

Freddy would have claimed

the estate of Frances Stark.

No, no, please...

I didn't mean to k*ll him.

I only wanted a fair share.

But he wouldn't give it to me.

And then I, I hit him.

I saw the girl coming
toward the house.

Money, money, money.

If only I'd been
born with money.

But what's gonna happen to Jill,
Mr. Mason?

Her and that Estelle girl.

Betty, that's for Hamilton
Burger to figure out.

We'll leave it to him.

And it's a beaut.
Both of them

were part of a fraud,
and nobody's been defrauded.

And with the Thomases getting
all of grandma's money...

DELLA:
Well, wait a minute, Paul.

When you found Estelle,
how were you so sure

she was playing the part
of Frances?

You'd never seen Frances.

Easy, beautiful.

Aside from making
such obvious sense,

Betty drew me pictures.
Good ones, too.

Oh, dear, that reminds me.

Mr. Mason, I know a person is
supposed to pay a lawyer a fee

for all you've done, but...

You work as a waitress, don't
you? You get tips, don't you?

Pay him ten percent,
and not a penny more.

Betty, all I care about is...

(Della clears throat)

BETTY: Well, I know it isn't
much, but

of course it's not finished yet.

And next year,
I'll do one in oil.

Every year of my life I'll do
a better and better picture

of the most beautiful, wonderful
man in the whole world.

(chuckles)

I'll bet even Hamilton Burger
would like one of those.

Perry Mason, hanging in oil.

(theme song playing)