09x06 - The Case of the Carefree Coronary

[bunniefuu]

[AUDIENCE CHATTERING
AND SHOUTING]

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

Get up, you bum.

You can sleep later.

He's faking it. It's a fix!

He's going in the water.

Get up, you--

[GAGGING]

Jack! Jack!

What's wrong?

My chest.

I can hardly... Aah!

MARILYN: Jack! Oh, Jack!
Somebody, please, get a doctor!

[MURMURING]

- I'm Dr. Caudere.
- Oh, doctor, what's wrong with him?

Stand back, everyone.
Give this man some room.

Please doctor, what is it?

I think he's having a coronary.

Oh, no.

Look out, look out.

Please, hurry. Hurry!

Gentlemen, help him
on the stretcher with his feet.

[SIREN WAILING NEARBY]

Coronary disability.

Over percent increase
in the last three years.

It doesn't make any sense.

Our corporate attorney,
Mr. Lanphier, he can't understand it.

We have one of the finest actuarial
departments in the country.

Mr. Groody has had years of
experience, and he can't explain it.

What we need from you, Mr. Mason, is
a fresh, impartial study of our problem.

Surely, Los Angeles isn't undergoing
a sudden epidemic of coronaries.

After all, you don't write
your policies by mail order.

All these people were examined

then screened
before you wrote their policies.

Ours is a small company,
Mr. Mason.

Personally, I'd hate to give up
writing this type of protection.

Not only has it been
very profitable in the past

but many people need
and depend upon it.

But a bankrupt company,
big or small, is no protection

and won't make anybody happy.

All right.

Perhaps I might confer
with Mr. Groody.

Anything.

As your attorney,
I want to go on record here and now

against bringing Mason into this.

Why? His reputation--

He has no experience
in our business.

He could involve us
in legal situations we'll all regret.

Have you thought of that?

- Oh, Doreen.
- Yes, sir.

This is Mr. Perry Mason.

He's just undertaken a...

Well, uh, a special legal study
for the company.

- It's a pleasure.
- My pleasure.

GROODY:
Ms. Wilde is my assistant.

Doreen, could you run copies
of all our disability composites,

computer cross-analysis,

and lists of all of our disability
policyholders now being compensated?

Yes, sir. Anything else?

What else is there?

- Making any progress?
GROODY: Heh.

Well, we've been at it long enough

to have taken the square root of minus
one and made mathematical history.

That's only the difficult.

The impossible might take us
a little longer.

Impossible?

Like what?

Such as determining why a high
percentage of disability policyholders

are suffering
and dying of heart att*cks.

I seem to be wrong, Mr. Groody.

Wrong about what?

They're having the heart att*cks,
yes, but they aren't dying.

Oh, it's true. They're incapacitated.
That's our problem, you see.

We have to continue
paying disability benefits as long--

Why aren't they dying, Mr. Groody?

Serious coronaries?

Isn't the mortality rate
normally high?

Oh, yes. About percent.

Well, what is it
among your policyholders?

It's less than . percent.

Company's been
so close to the problem

they've apparently
overlooked this disparity.

Aren't these
disability cases examined

and certified by your
own company physician?

Oh, yes, and reexamined
and re-certified at regular intervals

with new electrocardiograms.

Mr. Groody, could you arrange for me
to obtain these electrocardiograms

and have them examined
by an independent cardiologist?

I suppose I could.

They're in
Dr. Chauncy Hartlund's office.

You don't think that he might...

I don't think anything as yet.

But there has to be
an explanation somewhere

for all those lively disabilities.

It might be in his files, huh?

Well, I'll get at it
first thing in the morning.

- Good night, Mr. Mason.
- Good night.

Good night.

DELLA:
Good night.

Well, who did what to whom?

And I hope it's good
because you've just torn me away

from a very delectable divorcee.

How's your bedside manner, Paul?

PAUL:
My what?

Feel like cheering up
a few convalescent coronaries?

- He's putting me on.
- He means it.

MASON: You know, these poor
gentlemen really have it made.

They're too weak to work.

None of them recover,
but none of them die either.

Oh.

Every month
they collect a nice fat check.

Yes, but, uh, don't they
have to be examined?

Regularly.

Yet they rarely die, Paul.

That's all we have to go on.

They rarely die.

Time for your medicine, honey.

Let's take it with your iced tea, huh?

MRS. SMITH:
No, let me do that.

You don't wanna exert yourself.

You know what the doctor said.

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

PAUL:
Pretty good form, huh?

Especially for a coronary.

Of all the cases we've checked,

and I mean
we've covered a lot of them,

this is the only one
that's worth following up.

- Who is he, Paul?
PAUL: Jackie David.

Years ago he was
a club fighter in town.

Less than a month ago
he had a massive heart att*ck.

He certainly made
an amazing recovery.

Miraculous.

Well, that's it.

Show's over.

I don't know
when I've enjoyed one more.

Della, call that heart specialist
for the company.

Dr. Chauncey Hartlund?

Yes, ask him
to order the great fighter

to come to his office
for a reexamination.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, Clay, what was that all about?

Just had my annual checkup.

You know
what my sawbones told me?

He told me that I've got
the veins of a man half my age.

To what do you attribute
your good fortune?

Clean living.

Proper breathing, and the fact
that I come from magnificent stock.

Is that so?

Oh, we County Cork Clays
are corkers.

Do you know that my
favorite Uncle Finian was

when he took his fifth bride.

And that's what k*lled him.

Don't you believe it.

He d*ed years later
lifting his horse out of a peat bog.

By himself.

By himself.

Mr. Mason.

Well, Mr. Lanphier. Sit down.

- Have some coffee?
- No, thank you.

You know,
I've been meaning to talk with you.

When we tried to get the
electrocardiograms from Dr. Hartlund

he referred us to you.

That's right.

I advised him he was
perfectly within his rights in refusing.

In my opinion, it would be a violation

of the confidential
doctor-patient relationship,

but that's not why I'm here.

Mr. Watson told me

that you're planning to call in
Jack David for re-examination.

Why, yes.

As legal counsel for the company

I wanted to talk to you
before you went ahead.

It's less than a month since
Mr. David suffered a serious coronary.

I'm aware of that.

Well, according to Dr. Hartlund

the man's electrocardiogram
is one of the worst he's ever read.

I've familiarized myself
with the David case, Mr. Lanphier.

And I hope you've also familiarized
yourself with the legal aspects.

When I heard
from Mr. David's attorney--

- He's retained--
- Mr. Arthur Wendell.

He wanted me to be aware
of the full consequences

if anything should happen
to his client.

I've had dealings
with Mr. Wendell before.

He, uh, specializes in personal injury
cases, and he is very able.

You might say formidable.

Shall I report
that you've reconsidered?

No, tell Mr. Watson,
that as president of the company,

if he wants to call off
our arrangement that's fine.

But if I'm to continue,
I don't want my hands tied.

Now if you'll excuse me.

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

Emergency? Who's calling?

Yes, it's all right, put him through.

My name is Jack David, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry to get you up so late

but there's something
I've got to tell you, I'm scared.

Scared of what?

I can't talk now. I've gotta hang up.

Tomorrow we can talk
in the doctor's office, Mr. Mason,

but we've gotta be alone, see?

Mr.--

HARTLUND:
Do you think he'll show?

He has to, Dr. Hartlund, or be
disqualified for disability payments.

I don't mind admitting, Mr. Mason,

I have serious misgivings
concerning this procedure.

After talking to Mr. Lanphier--

What did he tell you?

That an insurance company doctor's
in a very vulnerable position?

Some consider us fair game
for malpractice suits or...

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[MARILYN GRUNTS]

[DAVID PANTING]

Mr. Mason, I came.

I tried to get here on time.

[GROANS]

- Nurse, oxygen.
- Oh, doctor, help him, please.

Quick, adrenalin.

I'll do everything I can,
but I'm afraid we're too late.

Oh, no.

You k*lled my husband.

You and that insurance company
making him come here

when you knew how he was.

You m*rder*d him.

[SOBBING]

I presume you're aware that we can
sue you for everything you have,

and don't be surprised, Dr. Hartlund,

if the medical board
picks up your license.

And as for this high-powered
lawyer here,

he's flirting
with a felony manslaughter charge.

Well?

Well, what?

Well, men in that condition

don't usually drop dead
two days later of a coronary.

Sometimes they do.

You read the obituary columns,
don't you?

It just doesn't make sense.

The day we took those pictures

the man apparently was
as healthy as you or I.

So I ordered him in
for reexamination.

But, Hamilton,
he called me in the middle of the night.

He was afraid of something
or somebody.

Didn't you say
he'd had a previous coronary?

- A month earlier.
MASON: But it was part of a pattern.

Insured people
who apparently have heart att*cks,

draw disability, and stay alive.

Oh, Perry, I know you're bucking
Artie Wendell and a liability action,

and I know these things
can be expensive.

Wendell is even pushing me to press
manslaughter charges against you.

Naturally I'm not gonna do that,
or anything,

until I get the coroner's report.

What about the pictures?

I can't get Perry off the hook
by creating an imaginary crime.

There's not a shred of evidence
that a crime has been committed.

Hamilton,

Jack David was m*rder*d,
and I'll prove it.

Perry, if you do that, I'll follow
through with everything I've got.

Until then,

or unless the coroner's office turns up
something irregular at the inquest,

I'm afraid it's your problem,
not mine.

I must tell you, Mr. Mason,

the company attorney, Mr. Lanphier,
called me this morning.

He explained my legal position

and told me
they don't want a court fight.

That's tantamount to admission
of liability, civil and criminal.

Well, Lanphier says a court trial,

the notoriety might be enough
to push the company into bankruptcy.

He wants to negotiate a settlement.

Look, doctor,

I believe we have a m*rder here,
not a heart att*ck.

You can't go along with Lanphier.

I am a doctor, Mr. Mason.

Now, I won't let Lanphier
dictate to me in medical matters

any more than I'd allow you
to tell me what to do.

SHELBY: You understand the purpose
of a pre-inquest conference?

We're here to determine

whether this death is or is not a case
for the coroner's office.

We have no prescribed procedure.
It's all informal.

However, at Mr. Mason's request,
we are having a transcript made.

Now, then.

"Circumstances surrounding
the sudden death of Mr. Jack David

in the outer office
of Dr. Chauncey Hartlund

at approximately
: a.m. yesterday."

I see here that Mr. David was, uh,
under the care of Raul Caudere.

You're a cardiologist?

I'm a cardiopathist.

My methods for treating
the heart muscle are unique.

I combine modern medical knowledge
with amazing new physical techniques.

SHELBY:
New techniques?

CAUDERE:
Yes.

Unusual methods
and esoteric dr*gs

which I discovered while
in the Mato Grosso of South America.

SHELBY:
I see.

Well, then, what can you tell us
about Mr. David's condition?

His life was hanging
from a slender thread, so thick.

The slightest exertion...

Only complete rest
could have saved his life.

Unfortunately,
when he was compelled

to visit my learned
colleague's office...poof.

SHELBY:
The routine postmortem discovered

a massive myocardial infarction

sufficient to cause death.

Now, in these circumstances

since there was a qualified physician,
Dr. Hartlund, present,

I see no reason
for this to become a coroner's case.

If Dr. Hartlund certifies
the apparent cause of death.

SHELBY:
Is he ready to so testify?

Oh, I don't know.

That would be
Dr. Hartlund's decision.

SHELBY:
Well, doctor?

I, uh, have no knowledge as to
the cause of death of the deceased.

SHELBY:
I see.

Well, that throws this case
in the jurisdiction of this office

with a*t*matic autopsy
and subsequently a formal inquest.

Thank you all for attending.

What does that mean?

It means that this smart lawyer
isn't satisfied with k*lling your husband.

He's using a legal trick
to delay a just settlement.

But he won't get away with it.

He's going to end up
either disbarred or behind bars.

Well?

Well, so many things
go through your mind.

Could you be wrong?

Could you be responsible
for someone's death?

Could you have pushed
your clients toward bankruptcy?

Perry, I don't believe that

and anyone who knows you
wouldn't believe it.

Is something wrong?

Della,

how long has it been
since you had a medical checkup?

A medical checkup?

[CHUCKLES]

I feel fine, just fine.

There's a specialist in town.

He works
all kinds of medical wonders.

Why don't you make an appointment,
see him tomorrow?

Dr. Raul Caudere.

Cardiopathist?

Cardiopathist.

What is a cardiopathist?

I wish I knew.

WATSON: Naturally, we all regret
this terrible, tragic business.

Mr. Watson's office called.

He wanted me here
for an emergency meeting.

I wanted you here.

They called this meeting
because I asked them to.

Mr. Wendell.

Doctor.

What's the purpose
of these meeting, Mr. Watson?

Mr. Lanphier thought it best
to arrange a conference

with Mrs. David's representative.

We're seeking to avoid
the notoriety of

an open inquest
and a newspaper circus.

So far, Mr. Wendell's attitude has
been completely fair and reasonable.

We're hopeful
that we can negotiate--

You mean you're offering to settle?

LANPHIER: Please, Mason,
you're here to listen. I'm handling this.

Not until I've been removed
from the case.

Mr. Watson,
if you yield to this pressure,

it's the same
as paying off a blackmailer.

- All right. I have heard enough.
LANPHIER: Please, Mr. Wendell.

You said that you wanted to negotiate
a fair and honest settlement.

You said that you wanted
to avoid an inquest.

I came here
prepared to be reasonable.

I made a mistake.

But I will not make
the same mistake again.

From now on
we are going to play rough.

We are going to collect, gentlemen,
every cent that the law allows.

It may be just a formality,

but you still have to prove
your case in court.

Don't worry. We will.

See what you've done?

It's all your fault,
everything that's happened.

I warned you from the beginning,
Mr. Watson. I told you.

MASON:
Just one moment.

I'm aware of the position
in which I've apparently placed you,

your company, and myself.

But there are times
when you have to fight

as a matter of moral
and ethical principle,

even though it might seem easier
or less painful or cheaper to give in.

LANPHIER:
Cheaper?

It's solvency or bankruptcy,
life or death for this company.

I haven't finished.

Wendell is making excessive,
immoderate statements,

but he's fighting tooth and nail
on behalf of his client

as any conscientious
attorney would.

Now, I'm advising you most urgently
as lawyer to client,

this is one of those times
where you don't yield.

However, whatever you
or Mr. Lanphier

or Dr. Hartlund among you
may decide to do,

I am still going to fight.

Good day, gentlemen.

If only one-half of my patients
were in such bloom as you,

I would have to close my doors.

Heh. Well, then what's the matter
with me, doctor?

Nothing that a few pleasant drops
of my cardsyn tonic--

- Uh, cardsyn?
- Yes, --will not correct.

Well, I don't understand
about these things.

It's very simple.

You see, we human beings
are ray creatures.

Now, my cardsyn tonic

is a blend of various
radiation-absorbent substances, eh?

I see.

Now, my thermoticular machine
provides just the proper rays

in just the proper amplitudes

to make the cardsyn molecules mildly,
pleasantly, healthfully radioactive.

- Drink up.
- Uh, but, uh...

I have other patients waiting.

Yes, sir.

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

- Yes? Oh, it's you.
- Mrs. David, please.

If the jury at the inquest decides
your husband d*ed of natural causes

as a result of my
ordering his reexamination,

I'll do everything I can to see
that you get a just settlement.

But I don't believe
he did die of natural causes.

What are you saying?

I think someone deliberately
caused your husband's death.

I think he was m*rder*d.

Oh, uh, excuse the room.

I'm getting the place ready to rent.

Mr. Mason, you said
you think Jackie was m*rder*d?

Mrs. David,
did you ever have a suspicion

that your husband might have been
faking a heart condition?

We have motion picture films of him
jumping rope, punching a bag

and sparring with a little boy

two days before he came
to Dr. Hartlund's office.

Your husband had been having
problems for a long time, hadn't he?

Ever since he threw that fight and was
barred from ever boxing again.

A natural born loser, that was Jack.

Whatever the deal,
job, family, friends, heh,

no matter how good it looked,

he'd find a way to louse it up
and lose them all.

But you married him.

MRS. SMITH:
Why not?

Anything was better
than the life I was leading.

A practical nurse.

You know what that means? Heh.

I thought I was getting a husband

and I end up
with another invalid patient.

Tell me, Mrs. David,
the morning of the examination,

was there anything unusual?

Did your husband
seem nervous or worried?

He was all shook up.

Said he wasn't gonna go.

Started to phone somebody
and then changed his mind.

That's why I called Jerry.

- Who?
- Jerry.

He's the timekeeper on the job

where Jack worked
before he had the att*ck.

They were old friends so I thought
maybe Jerry could talk to him,

settle him down
before Wendell came.

And did he calm him down?

Well, he tried to,
but it didn't do any good.

Then Mr. Wendell came
and picked us up.

MASON: And took you directly
to Dr. Hartlund's office?

No, we stopped by that Dr. Caudere's
office on our way,

but Jack wouldn't go in,
said he was feeling too bad.

May I see your insurance policy?

Sure. Why not.

I just wanted to check
the death benefits.

Well, at least your husband
left you in good financial position.

Heh. The only good thing
Jack ever did in his life.

And, boy, you should have
heard him scream

every time he had to pay a premium.

He had the whole wall papered
with medical degrees.

MASON:
From where?

I don't know. They were in French.

Anyway, then he gave me
this cardsyn tonic.

My heart started racing
and skipping beats.

Well, the question is,
was it beneficial?

Now, let's see.

You look flushed but beautiful.
How are you feeling?

Heh. Since you put it that way,
I feel great.

But, uh, I don't know
if it's from your compliments

or Dr. Caudere's treatment.

May I have the appointment card?

Right here.

Paul, get this card to the lab.

See if they can lift some prints

that will help us get a rundown
on the great cardiopathist.

All right.

Oh, uh, did my insurance
come through?

You're fully covered.

The policy's backdated three years.

Good. Well, I gotta run.

Just got time
to punch in for the second shift.

Be careful, Paul.

It's been a long time since
you put in any hard physical labor.

Della, my love, I'm an ox.

Besides which, I've got the timekeeper
in the palm of my hand.

I expect to spend
most of the day taking breaks.

One week on this job,
and you know what I'd like, Jerry?

What's that, Steele?

To maybe have that crane
drop a tiny load on my toe, just once.

Yeah.

I was figuring the other night,

all the money I spent to Safeline
for disability insurance, and for what?

Nothing.
Nothing ever happens to me.

- Safeline, huh?
- Uh-huh.

I, uh...

You like tacos, Steele?

I can take them
or leave them alone, why?

Ought to try Nappy's.

- Whose?
- Nappy Tyler.

Has a little taco stand
around the corner.

Might be worth your while.

PAUL:
Mm-mm.

Delicious, Nappy.

Jerry mentioned
you might be interested in a little layoff.

You've been talking to Jerry?

Oh, we cut up a few touches
from time to time.

Now, maybe I know
a guy can help you work it out.

How? By maybe breaking
one of my legs for me?

Nothing that drastic.

Interested? Wanna talk about it?

What can I lose talking?

It's Nappy.

Is he in?

[RINGING]

Perry Mason's office.

Well, the working man.
Where are you, Paul?

I'm in a booth at the corner
of Sunset and Sycamore.

I'm to meet my next contact here.
Is Perry in?

No, he's out preparing
for the inquest.

It's in two hours. Can you be there?

Well, I'll try.

Tell Perry I think I've found out
how they operate.

There's a guy named Nappy who has
a stand near the construction site.

I think he's their steerer and--

[CAR HORN HONKING]

Hold it, Della, I gotta run.
Here's my contact.

I'll check in later.

Paul?

There was something funny
about it the minute I saw it.

GROODY:
Oh, Doreen.

I wonder if you--

What's this?

You told me to report
anything I found irregular.

Yes, but to me.
I'm head of this department.

Not to anyone else.

I'm sorry.

What's irregular about this?

There was no Rod Steele file
in that drawer yesterday, I'm positive.

You might be mistaken.
I'll check it out myself.

Get Dr. Hartlund,

Medical Arts Building.

Poison.

REPORTER:
Mr. Burger, you're on camera.

May we have a comment?

Have you decided whether
or not to prosecute Perry Mason?

Now, gentlemen, let me
make my position perfectly clear.

It's true, I'm here on petition
of the attorney for the deceased,

but merely as a spectator.

But certainly
under the circumstances you--

Officially, I don't know anything
about the circumstances.

Now, if the inquest proceedings

establish possible criminal liability
on the part of anyone concerned,

then and only then,

I might consider
taking criminal action.

And then and only then
will I make a statement.

Hey, there's Mason.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Wendell tells us
that this David case could be

the end of your legal career.

What do you say?

Heh. I think his statement
may be slightly premature.

You've found evidence
to refute their charges?

I didn't say that.

You haven't found evidence?

I didn't say that either.

Gentlemen, why don't we wait
and see what develops at the inquest?

Well, what about L.A. Safeline,
Mr. Mason?

Rumor is that they wanna settle
and you won't let them,

and now they're going to go broke.

Any statements
regarding L.A. Safeline

will have to come from
Mr. Reve Watson, not from me.

What about today, now? Is Safeline
in this with you or against you?

WATSON:
Ready, Mr. Mason?

Excuse us, please.

NAPPY:
Pardon me, fellows.

Say, uh, do you mind
opening the door for me?

No.

Thanks.

You have been summoned
and sworn as coroner's jurors

to inquire into the cause of
death of Jack B. David.

The primary purpose of an inquest
is to secure information

for the possible use
of the District Attorney

and others charged with
the prosecution of criminal acts.

You are not concerned
with any civil liability

that may exist
or be involved in this case.

Your verdict should reflect
only the results of this inquiry.

We will call as our first witness
the medical examiner, Dr. Shelby.

Coronary thrombosis, resulting
in massive myocardial infarction

sufficient to cause death.

And you found no evidence
of dr*gs or stimulants?

SHELBY: All standard
test procedures were carried out.

Results were negative.

Mr. Coroner--

Uh, Mr. Coroner, I suggest you remind
Mr. Mason this is not a court of law.

This is an inquest proceeding,
and no cross-examination is allowed.

I know my job, Mr. Wendell,

and I feel perfectly confident
I can do it without your help.

Mr. Coroner, I have one or two
clarifying questions for the witness.

Very well.

Dr. Shelby, there are such dr*gs

which can induce a heart reaction
similar to a coronary?

SHELBY:
Yes.

But as I testified,

our autopsy procedure
includes tests for all such dr*gs.

All such known dr*gs.

Now, assuming the presence of an
unknown drug with similar properties,

would your standard autopsy
procedures have discovered it?

It's very doubtful.

MASON:
Thank you, Doctor.

That's all I have.

DEPUTY:
Witness excused.

Perry.

[SOBBING]

Uh, excuse us, Mr. Coroner.

- What's wrong?
- Dr. Hartlund just called.

Paul's had a heart att*ck.

He's dying.

This doesn't seem possible.

Rugged as Paul was,
the way he kept himself in condition.

It's probably the only reason
he's lasted at all.

All these years,

the things he's done for us,
the risks he's taken.

And to have this happen.

A heart att*ck.

It wasn't a heart att*ck.

I saw the emergency report.

- It said--
- I know.

But when I got here they told me
that before Paul passed out at the Y,

he called my name
and said one word:

- "Poison.”
- Poison.

If I'd treated Paul for a coronary,
like Jack David, he'd be dead now.

But we didn't.
We pumped his stomach,

administered
an emergency medication.

And he is holding his own?

For now.

I'm going to ask for
a postponement of that inquest.

There's nothing you can do here.

I don't anticipate
a crisis for several hours.

I'll notify you immediately
of the slightest change.

All right, thank you, doctor.

I know you'll do your best for him.

He's still weak, still unconscious.
But he's holding on.

I don't care, I'd like to wait here.

Until we're sure Paul's all right.

Of course.

You wait here.

[SOBBING]

Where's Mr. Lanphier?

I don't know. He should be here.

LANPHIER:
Ms. Street.

What's Mason
trying to pull now?

What do you mean?

A disability claim on Rod Steele.

The timekeeper on
the construction job sent the papers in.

I got them a little while ago.

Isn't Rod Steele covered?

Oh, yes. Mason and Mr. Watson
set that up against my advice.

Does Mason expect us
actually to pay this claim?

It's impossible.

Why?

Well, it says right here, uh,
"Rod Steele, Hospital Room ."

There's no Rod Steele
in this or any other room here.

There's a Paul Drake in Room .

- How's Paul?
- Slightly stronger.

He's holding his own.

What are these?

Paul, that is, Rod Steele's,
disability claim.

Mr. Lanphier brought them
to the hospital.

He wants you to handle it.

- Lanphier himself?
DELLA: Mm-hm.

DEPUTY:
We call Raul Caudere.

Contrary to my warning,
Mr. David insisted on going.

There's not a slightest doubt
in my mind

that the unnecessary exertion,

the nervous strain
of the examination,

caused his
already damaged heart to fail.

Mr. Coroner, again for clarification,
may I question the doctor?

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

DEPUTY: Mr. Mason, are you
trying to confuse the doctor?

On the contrary, Mr. Coroner.

I'm attempting
to remove the language barrier

by addressing him
in his native tongue.

Is it possible
that I have confused him?

Or is it possible
that he isn't French at all?

And that he isn't a doctor?

I trust the record of
the proceedings will show

that I have objected
to the line of questioning.

It's all right, Mr. Wendell.

I'm used to being called a quack

because I haven't
the establishment M.D. after my name.

But, Mr. Mason, neither did
the man who discovered curare,

the arrow poison,
now used in delicate surgery.

Nor the man who found
the coca leaves chewed by the Incas

the source for painkilling cocaine.

Nor Rauwolfia serpentina,
from which came tranquillizers.

That's all very fine, doctor.

But they didn't have
police records such as,

"Conley Dunaway,
convicted in Washington

for practicing medicine
without a license.”

Isn't Conley Dunaway
your legal name, doctor?

His fingerprints match yours.

All right, Mr. Mason, that's true.

But afterwards I did
go down to South America

to study with the native doctors
where I learned the art of cardiopathy.

- From their secrets.
MASON: Secrets?

Such as how to administer
an unknown native remedy

and make a perfectly healthy man
appear a coronary case?

CAUDERE: It also made him feel
refreshed, rejuvenated, full of pep.

What amazes me, Mr. Caudere,
is that you admit to this fraud

as if you feel no guilt,
as if you'd done no harm.

Whom did I harm?
My patients? Heh.

To the contrary, Mr. Mason,
I made them feel very happy.

Happy as permanent invalids

collecting every month
from L.A. Safeline?

How did you collect
your kickback, Caudere?

In cash, or did you simply
add it to your bills?

Those few dollars my patients drew?

Heh. Now, how could
that hurt an insurance company?

MASON:
The thousands who may no longer

be able to buy disability insurance
because of your fraudulent activity.

Haven't you harmed them?

And what about the deceased,
Jack David?

Didn't your secret cardsyn tonic
do more than stimulate a coronary?

Didn't it cause his death?

CAUDERE:
It did not. It couldn't.

A normal dosage
of cardsyn is harmless.

That lovely young lady
you sent to spy on me?

She received the same dosage
with no ill effects, Mr. Mason.

MASON: And a proper dosage
was administered

- to a Mr. Rod Steele?
- Yes.

Then why is Rod Steele, in actuality
Private Investigator Paul Drake,

lying in the hospital unconscious,
at the point of death

after drinking
your harmless cardsyn?

CAUDERE: Mr. Mason, I swear
I didn't know about Steele,

uh, Mr. Drake.

MASON:
That may be.

Mr. Coroner,
there is another person present

who can further clarify this matter
for you and the District Attorney.

DEPUTY: At this point I have
to agree with Mr. Wendell.

Uh, we're getting a little bit
too far out into the left field

from normal inquest
proceedings, Mr. Mason,

but very well, witness excused.

Call your witness, Mr. Mason.

Ms. Doreen Wilde.

Did you know about Caudere?

No, Mr. Wendell. Honest.
I swear I didn't.

Miss Wilde, Mr. Goody tells me

that yesterday you were suspicious
of the policy in your files,

the policy issued to Rod Steele
and dated back three years.

Well, I...

You brought it
to Mr. Groody's attention.

But you also made a phone call
to someone about it.

Now, to whom
did you place that call?

Miss Wilde, we can prove
that you are the one who selected

the heart att*ck prospects
in the disability files

and passed them along to contact men
like Nappy Tyler and Jerry Ormond.

But you are implicated in a great deal
more than insurance fraud now.

You're implicated in m*rder
and attempted m*rder.

Mr. Coroner, it is no longer a matter
of proper inquest procedure.

This young lady is without counsel.

Mr. Mason is deliberately violating
her constitutional rights.

How, Mr. Wendell?

Mr. Mason's own words, involving her
in m*rder and attempted m*rder.

Anything she says
may be self-incriminating.

My advice to this young lady
is to answer no more questions

until she's obtained
her own legal counsel.

MASON:
Mr. Wendell is right.

I have overstepped.

Uh, my apologies, Ms. Wilde.

DEPUTY:
You may leave the stand.

Mr. Coroner, I have instructed
the police to seal off this inquest room.

No one will be allowed
to enter or leave here

until these proceedings
have been concluded.

Well, Mr. Ormond, I'm afraid
we're forced to start at the very bottom

to trace
how this fraud group worked.

I guess the very bottom is you.

You are the low man
on the roster.

Uh, is that why you subpoenaed me?

MASON:
That's right.

Well, I guess there's no use
trying to bug out.

The fact is, uh, I picked up
a few bucks steering guys along.

I made the phone calls, set them up.

That was the end of my part of it.

What about the disability claims?

Was it your responsibility
to file them on your project?

ORMOND:
Oh, strict orders.

Same with most construction outfits.

Is, uh, this one
in your handwriting?

Yeah, sure, that's for
my good buddy, Rod Steele.

Good buddy.
Like you and Jack David?

Uh...

Yeah,

kind of like that.

Actually, uh, Jackie and I,
we knew each other much longer.

Look, uh, that's about it, isn't it?

I told you all I know.

Not all, Mr. Ormond.

I think you know quite a bit more,

such as why Jack David was afraid,
why he was ready to talk.

And how the poison
got into his system

the morning of the examination.

ORMOND:
Eh, you're off your rocker.

David never went near Caudere,

but you were with him, alone,

while Mrs. David
and Mr. Wendell waited outside.

And what about
your good buddy Rod Steele

when you found out he was a plant?

ORMOND:
How could I know he was a plant?

MASON:
Because you were the ringleader.

It was you Doreen Wilde called

when she found
the fake policy planted in the files.

You had plenty of time
to get to the YMCA gym

and arrange the overdose of harmless
cardsyn for your good buddy.

You're making that all up.

You can't prove it, none of it.

Can't I?

Do you know when you
signed your confession?

When you filled out
this disability form.

It was Rod Steele who had
the heart att*ck in the gymnasium.

It was Rod Steele who was loaded
into the emergency ambulance.

But Rod Steele
was never admitted to the hospital.

It was Paul Drake who was identified
and checked in by Dr. Hartlund.

You see, Mr. Ormond, right here
on this line, in your handwriting.

"Rod Steele, Room ."

Now, you couldn't have gotten
that information from the hospital.

To write that, you had
to know that Rod Steele

and Paul Drake
were the same man.

I don't know what else to do.
I've tried everything.

But you said Paul was better.

That's what I said.

Now I don't know what else to do.
I give up.

I thought he was out of danger.

Not unless we get him out of here.

See why I've given up?

Well, look who's come
to visit my bed of pain.

DELLA:
Bed of pain, my foot.

You've never had it so good.

No Oriental potentate
ever had it so good.

Boy, here we go again.

First the doctor, now you two.

Jumping to conclusions,
making accusations.

Just look at me.

I'm a very sick man.

[MASON AND DELLA CHUCKLE]