09x14 - The Case of the Golden Girls

[bunniefuu]

[SURF-ROCK MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO]

Hi. You, uh, looking for me,
the Good Samaritan?

- I'm looking for a ride back to town.
- You got it.

What's the matter?
Somebody give you a bad time?

- Don't ever date a surfer.
- Ha, ha. Don't worry, I won't.

- He stood you up, huh?
- Worse.

I hang around the beach all day

while those long-haired kooks
are out chasing waves.

Then the creep comes ashore
and starts making passes.

Oh, I see.
Well, come on, honey, get in.

Oh, I, uh, promise
I won't make any waves.

Come on, come on.

[GARNETT CHUCKLES]

Honey, if you knew how many
pretty girls I see every day in my work,

dressed in much less
than you have on...

Oh?

I'm, uh... I'm Stacey Garnett.

I'm Debbie Conrad.

The Stacey Garnett?
Golden Bear Club?

- Golden Bear magazine?
- Yeah. Among other things.

You know, I, uh, might be able
to do something for you.

Like what?

Well, in my business,

we can always use
anew fresh pretty face.

Wait.

Why are we turning?

Oh, I have an appointment
to meet somebody.

Now, our business will only take
about ten minutes.

Then you and I will have a talk
about your modeling for the magazine

or maybe even becoming
a Teddy Bear at the club.

How does that sound to you?

Listen, Mr. Garnett,
I'm young but, uh, you leveling?

[CHUCKLES]

Here, my personal card
with a note to my office

telling them definitely to hire you.

- Satisfied?
- Well...

[GARNETT CHUCKLES]

Relax, honey, you're among friends.

Something's not right.

- Mr. Garnett, I think I'd better--
- No, no, you wait right here.

[g*nshots]

WOMAN [OVER PHONE]:
I'm sorry. Nobody here by that name.

Please, ask around again.
He's supposed to be there.

Mister, I need a ride to town bad.

Please?
I left my boyfriend on the beach.

I'm scared.

You can't leave me out here
all alone.

All right. I'll take you as far as I can.

[TIRES SCREECH]

Look, nobody touches
the merchandise.

You can cool off one of these
penny-ante Casanovas

with a smile, not a slap.

[BEVERLY CHUCKLES]

See what I mean?

Now, our customers come here,

they live in some sort
of a fantasy world.

They don't really
wanna take you out.

They just like to speculate
on what it would be like.

- Mr. Florian.
FLORIAN: Yes, Mrs. Garnett?

Excuse me, please.

You knew I had a whole new class
of Teddy Bears

to be photographed
this morning.

Couldn't you be on time just once?

Well, I was on my way up
when Corinne called.

She wanted these props.

Whatever for?

Oh, I'm glad I caught you
before you left.

Left? For where?

Before your husband went
to Santa Barbara yesterday,

he fired Florian.

Do you have everything in here?

- So Stacey fired you again?
- Twice a week, regular as clockwork.

Mr. Montalvo's p*stol isn't in here.

I remember him giving it
to you to use.

Well, ask Mr. Garnett
when he comes in.

He said he'd return it.

Oh, let's see,
which girl do we want first?

Uh, you, honey. Then you, doll.

Just think, the world waits anxiously
to find out which one of you

will be the Golden Bear
of the month.

Well, good morning.

Oh, good morning.

It doesn't hide much, does it?

Maybe sometime, though,
you can see me in a dress, huh?

Well, I shall certainly
be looking forward to--

Oh, Miss Richland. Uh, excuse me.

Corinne, what's that girl doing here,
that girl who just spoke to me?

She brought in a card
of introduction from Mr. Garnett,

and Mrs. Garnett said
she could use her as a Teddy Bear.

What?

- Oh.
MONTALVO: Hmm?

There's a man in your office
says he's a reporter.

Oh, another one?

He says it's very important
to both of you that he see you.

MONTALVO:
Thanks.

If you're expecting an interview
from me

- on the new Golden Bear Club, Mr...?
- Durbin. Rick Durbin.

Mr. Durbin, I've already said
all I intend to on that subject.

You talk to my partner.

It's entirely his idea
to convert the Rancho Montalvo

into a den where tired businessmen
can ogle half-dressed females.

I know.

I'm not a club member,

but I was a faithful reader
of the Golden Bear

until Stacey Garnett changed it

from a literary magazine
to a girly book.

And that's why you're here,
to tell me that?

Well, not exactly, but it does fit in,

knowing how you cherish
the old California family name,

Montalvo.

- Please, Mr. Durbin, what's the point?
- I'm coming to it.

You see,
I make my living as a legman,

digging up items
for gossip columnists.

Late last night I was checking a story
at the Miraflores Hotel.

The Miraflores?

When I saw this
distinguished gentleman come in

and pay for a room for a young girl
not much more than

wearing a swimsuit.

I thought I recognized him.

When I checked with the clerk,
he assured me I was right.

- The name was Montalvo.
- Ridiculous. The girl was in trouble.

-I helped her. There's no more to it.
- Of course there isn't.

The fact that I just saw her out there
playing Teddy Bear

doesn't mean a thing.

You're just helping her.

That's why I came to you first,
because I know how my clients

can take a perfectly innocent set
of circumstances

and make them sound just terrible.

I presume you came to me first
for a reason.

The one that comes immediately
to mind is blackmail.

Please, Mr. Montalvo,
you're making it sound just...

Well, I don't like to impose on you,

but I'm up against it right now.

How much?

FLORIAN: I think that does it.
You wanna take a look?

Hold it just like that.

All right, that's enough.
Where were you last night?

Waiting for you. Where were you?

They delivered my car here.
I was home.

I tried to call,
but your phone rang and rang.

You did?

You met this girl,
she said she was frightened,

so you gave her a lift,
found her a room in a hotel,

and now you're being blackmailed.

That's all there was to it.

Doesn't sound too compromising,
unless there's more.

Something you're not telling me.

I swear to you,
as soon as I saw she had a room,

I got in my car and I drove away.

- You didn't touch her?
- Of course not. She's a child.

Then let's tell the blackmailer--

Mr. Mason,
with my attempting to regain control

of the Golden Bear Enterprises,

the slightest breath
of something like this--

Mr. Montalvo, I'm afraid your chances
of winning a proxy fight are minimal.

Garnett can assume control

if he gains support
of one more stockholder.

But you don't understand,
Mr. Mason.

I've seen this girl again,
this morning at the club.

She's been hired as a Teddy Bear.

After what happened,
you gave her a job?

I didn't. My partner did.

Garnett knows her too?
The same girl?

Apparently.

Now that you mention it,
it does seem very strange.

Well, that young woman
moves around.

- Whom are you gonna call?
- Well, the police.

- They're the ones to handle this.
- No, please.

I won't have the police brought in,
not now.

Very well.

When is this man Durbin
supposed to call you?

He said no later than noon.

- He wanted how much?
- Twenty-five hundred dollars.

That's only the beginning.

When he calls,
have your secretary refer him to me.

Meantime, I want you
to put your signature on this.

All right, now let me have
one of your blank checks.

For what purpose?

Well, there's only one way
to pay a blackmailer:

with the right kind of check.

You've apparently been making
quite a study of Mr. Montalvo.

Counselor, you wanted to find out
how much I know.

Well, frankly,
I know even more than you think I do.

But I'm a man of my word.

Just deliver the money,
and you've heard the last of me.

I don't like checks, Mr. Mason.

And I don't like blackmailers.

But an endorsement on a check
gives my client a slight protection

in case you come back for more.

I might say also that I advised
my client not to deal with you at all.

He insisted.
But if you refuse the check, why...

I'm not a blackmailer, Mr. Mason.

Even the word is offensive to me.

It's just that I'm forced
by circumstances

to sell some information.

- But if this check doesn't clear...
- I know.

You'll smear my client
in every tabloid from coast to coast.

Nothing, thank you.

For my client's sake,
I must deliver that check,

but I choose the people I drink with,
even coffee.

Good night, Mr. Durbin.

Good night, Mr. Durbin.

- Rick Durbin?
- Yeah.

Paul, I want a study in depth
on that gentleman.

Durbin claims
to be a scandal-sheet reporter,

but he shapes up
as an old-fashioned--

Shakedown artist?

For lack of a better expression.

Paul, I'd like you to inform every bank
in the city that there's a forger in town

tracing important men's signatures
on large checks.

You've never complained
about my coffee before.

The coffee was fine.

I was brewing up something
slightly more bitter for our friend.

Mm.

We picked him up at a valley bank.

He was trying to pass
a $ , check

with Victor Montalvo's
forged signature on it.

He knows. He gave it to me.

Did you say why I gave you that check,
Mr. Durbin?

Keep pushing me, counselor,
I'll give you an answer.

Consider that you've been pushed.

All right. If that's the way you want it.

I knew plenty about Montalvo.

MASON: And he had me pay you
to keep you quiet.

What are you trying to pull?

You conned me once.
You're not getting away with it again.

MASON: I don't intend to see anyone
get away with anything, Mr. Durbin.

Now, if you establish your innocence
on the forgery charge,

you lay yourself open
to a charge of extortion.

That's not a very happy alternative.

Well, maybe we all made
some mistakes.

If there's no blackmail,
then there's no forgery either?

It's amazing
how fast you're catching on.

Now, hold it.

Nobody can convince me the signature
on this check

wasn't traced by someone.

I can assure you, sergeant,
Mr. Montalvo will not proffer charges.

And Mr. Durbin has no further use
for that check.

- Why not keep it on file?
- I'll just do that.

[PHONE RINGS]

Sergeant Eggers here.

Steve Drumm.
He'll talk to either one of you.

Hi, Steve.

You're where?

Sure, Steve, right away.

Thanks, sergeant.

Mr. Montalvo wants you to meet him
at the Rancho de Oro.

The police have just found
Stacey Garnett dead.

There are two b*ll*ts in him.

Poor Stacey.
He was rough and ruthless,

did things his own way,
but I'll say this.

Anyone he was associated with,
he made money for.

Well, some of us feel
there are other considerations.

I won't pretend we were close,
because we weren't.

But this is terrible.

Hello, Perry, Paul.

I wanted to ask your client
a few questions,

but he insisted that you be here.

- That is his legal right.
- Of course.

Now that you're here,

Mr. Montalvo, when did you see
your partner last, alive?

MONTALVO:
Two days ago.

He left at noon to drive
to Santa Barbara on business.

DRUMM:
Can you account for your activities

over the past two days?

Steve, I'll now have to advise my client
not to answer any further questions

until we've had an opportunity to talk.

If you think it's necessary,
it's perfectly all right with me, Perry.

I can get a formal statement later.

I'll drive you home, Beverly.

We could all use a little time
to recover.

A straight sh*t is what I could use.

Here it is, everything he had on him.

Well, as Montalvo's attorney,
how about this, Perry?

A voting proxy granted
by a Santa Barbara stockholder

to Mr. Garnett.

Which puts him in the driver's seat
at Golden Bear Enterprises.

Does anyone else have to see
this proxy letter for the present?

It could be embarrassing to my client,
in a business sense.

Mm-hm. It'll be sealed
with his other effects, Perry.

Thanks, Steve.

What about the death w*apon?

We haven't found it yet.

Rosalie, you got a tranquilizer?

There's a bear hunter out there
that's driving me nuts.

Look in my case.

DEBBIE:
That's mine.

ROSALIE:
The one at the other end, honey.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

Just a moment.
Mr. Montalvo's not seeing anyone.

Oh, he'll see me, I'm sure.

- I tried to stop her. She insisted.
- I told her you'd see me.

You will, won't you?

All right, just for a moment.

Thank you, Corinne.
Will you wait outside, please?

- Now, then, young lady.
DEBBIE: My name is Debbie.

You remember, Victor.

- What do you want?
- I want to do you a favor.

- I owe you one.
- Not at all.

You were kind to me and all
the other night

when I needed a lift,

and I've been reading all about
poor Mr. Garnett in the paper.

- And, well, like, it's tragic, you know?
- Yes, I know. Now, about the favor?

Well, it's this way.
I found something you lost.

- And I'm here to return it.
- What?

Something like
an old family keepsake.

I figured it probably has lots and lots
of sentimental value.

You know, all silver and ivory
with the Golden Bear on the handle

and the initials V.M.

I considered someone
might have taken it from my car.

So it was you?

- How much?
- Uh-uh, no checks.

What?

Some people are crazy enough
to fall for that check jazz, but not me.

I want $ , cash right now.

Or, uh, maybe I'll do the police
a favor instead.

If I give you the money,
how soon can I have my souvenir?

As you can see,
I don't have it on me.

But it won't take me more
than ten minutes to go and get it

and bring it back to you.

I feel sorry for you, young lady.

So young, so pretty,

already making such mistakes.

Don't feel sorry for me, Victor.
I'll make out.

MAN:
Here comes my Teddy Bear.

You're neglecting me, honey.

DEBBIE:
When I need a hand from you, I'll ask.

Aw, don't be like-- Aw.

- Why aren't you on the floor?
- I broke a strap.

I was just looking for a safety pin.

In the newspaper?

- Now, get back to work.
- Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Montalvo,

I would like a direct answer.

We know that you own
a . -caliber antique p*stol.

Yes, that's true. I, uh...

It's a family keepsake.

May I examine it, please?

I'm afraid that won't be possible
just now.

You see, lieutenant,
I don't have the g*n.

Mr. Montalvo, will you or will you not
produce the g*n voluntarily?

The g*n has...

It's been misplaced.

DRUMM:
Well, let's hope that it turns up.

Mr. Montalvo,
I'm placing you under arrest

on the suspicion
of murdering Stacey Garnett.

No, you can't.

And I must warn you
that anything you say now

may subsequently be used
against you.

Corinne, notify Mr. Mason.

Oh, and, Corinne, when that girl--
If that girl comes back...

Never mind.

[GASPS]

No, Rick. No, don't.

You double-crosser.
I ought to slap you silly.

Maybe I will.

You put the bite on Montalvo yourself
without cutting me in.

No, Rick, I wouldn't do that to you.

No? Then where did you get this,
little Teddy Bear?

- Tips?
- I was gonna split it with you, Rick.

- Honest, I was.
- Sure you were.

- Hey, how much did you hit him for?
- Five thousand.

Not bad.

I'll make an operator out of you yet.

Just to prove there are
no hard feelings, here, for you.

Two thousand? That isn't fair.
I put the score on him. I deserve more.

You're right, baby.

You do deserve more,

and you're gonna get it,
a whole lot more.

No, Rick, no. No, Rick.

No wonder you were so willing
to pay blackmail,

since that girl
can place you in the area

at almost the precise moment
of the crime.

But I just didn't know.

She looked so young and innocent,
helpless.

It didn't occur to me
that my giving her a ride

could possibly ever have
any connection--

That's the way
the badger game works.

The come-on is almost always young
and innocent and helpless.

I presume you had the good sense
not to pay her off.

If you had, the district attorney
would claim you bribed a witness.

[SIGHS]

But I did.

Five thousand dollars cash.

Well,

it could be worse,
but I don't know how.

If you'd only called the police
in the first place

when you found the body.

But I was just going to.
I was already at a roadside phone.

I was dialing the number
when I saw that girl,

and, well, one thing leads to another.

They frequently do.

But, Mr. Mason,

I swear by the honor of my family,

I've told you the complete truth.

I did not k*ll Stacey Garnett.

All right, Victor.

But our immediate problem
is that girl.

It's over here.

- Della.
- Come in.

Debbie called the office
scared to death.

She wanted to get in touch
with Mr. Montalvo,

but I couldn't find either you or Paul,
so I came over myself.

Found her packing, at least trying to.
Perry, she's been beaten up.

[DEBBIE CRYING]

- Who did this to you, Debbie?
- Rick.

Rick Durbin?

Look, can you please
get me out of here

before he comes back?

Now, we're here to help you, Debbie,
and to make sure you help us.

So forget the naive teenage act.
Try being honest for a change.

Then will you help me
to get out of here?

We'll help you,
but I expect you to testify.

- To what?
- To the truth,

after you've given us back
the $ , .

But I can't give it back.
Rick took most of it.

And he can tell the police
where you obtained it?

PAUL:
Perry.

Look.

All right, now, listen, Debbie,
this is what we're gonna do.

We'll take those things to my office.

Whatever you do,
don't volunteer any information.

Answer their questions, no more.
Remember, extortion is a felony.

And for that people go to jail.

Perry, hurry up.
This is a fast elevator.

And as soon as the police leave,
call my office.

We'll come for you.

DEBBIE: Yes?
- Police, Miss Conrad.

We picked up your friend Rick Durbin.
We'd like to talk to you about him.

May we come in, please?

[SIGHS]

- Well?
- Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.
Not a trace of her.

Our little Debbie
really pulled a fast one on us.

Why would she just run out like that,
disappear?

Well, she's a sharp little cookie,
but with luck she won't get very far.

I've got men staked out at the bus,
train and air terminals,

an operator watching her room,

and the office is calling the hotels
and motels.

Did they know anything
at the Golden Bear Club?

No, nothing. I went there myself.
Oh, I did get this from Garnett's wife,

the card Debbie used
to get a job there.

What about that fellow
that b*at her up, Rick Durbin?

Never got near him.
I hear Steve Drumm's got him on ice.

He'll be Burger's key witness, Della.

Florian dropped an interesting bit
at the club,

something about Durbin having worked
for Garnett a while back.

I've got a man checking it out.

Well, true or not,
he's still the key to Burger's case.

And if we can find her, Debbie Conrad
might be the key to ours.

Case of the people v. Montalvo.

This is the time fixed
for the preliminary hearing.

Are you ready, gentlemen?

Ready for the prosecution,
Your Honor.

Your Honor, we've issued a subpoena
for Miss Debbie Conrad.

However,
we've been unable to find her,

and we request
that a continuance be granted

until such time as she is located.

Your Honor, if Miss Conrad's
testimony is necessary,

she will testify for the state.

Then the police have been holding
this witness incommunicado?

Will you promise this court that
you are going to put her on the stand?

I don't have to promise any such thing,
Mr. Mason.

If Miss Conrad's testimony
is not necessary at this time

and if I wish to wait until this case
comes to trial in superior court...

Your Honor, the defense asks
that the court require the prosecution

to present the witness at this time

or make the witness available
to the defense.

The order of proof is in the hands
of the district attorney.

If Mr. Burger chooses
to put the witness on the stand later

during the course of this hearing,
he has the right to do so.

If he does not put her on the stand,
Mr. Mason,

I will hear argument at that time.

All right, Mr. Burger,
proceed with your case.

I notice that this tire track, which you
say was lifted from the parking area

at the m*rder scene,
has a distinctive imprint.

Let me ask you this, lieutenant.

Did you have occasion to examine
the defendant's automobile?

- Yes, sir, I did.
- What did you find?

If the district attorney's purpose is
to show that the tire tracks were made

by the defendant's car,
defense will stipulate.

BURGER:
Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Lieutenant, let me ask you
about the fingerprints

which under your direction
were taken at the m*rder scene.

If you propose to show
that the fingerprints of the defendant

were found in the m*rder room,
defense will stipulate.

Thank you again, Mr. Mason.

Lieutenant Drumm, you heard
the medical examiner's testimony

that death was caused
by two g*nsh*t wounds

in the chest and abdomen.

You heard Ballistics' testimony

that the two b*ll*ts
removed from the dead body

were fired
from a . -caliber w*apon.

Now, have you made an attempt
to locate such a w*apon

and to trace its ownership?

Yes, sir.

The b*ll*ts were
of a somewhat unusual caliber.

A check of manufacturers
and the state historical association

showed us that a unique p*stol
of this caliber was presented--

If the purpose of this examination
is to establish

that the defendant's grandfather
received a . -caliber p*stol as a gift

from the first American governor
of California

and that that w*apon is the property
of the defendant, defense will stipulate.

Very well, then.
You may inquire, Mr. Mason.

Lieutenant,

can you tell us when the fingerprints
were left in the m*rder room?

- No, sir.
- That disposes of the fingerprints.

Now, what about the tire tracks?

How did it happen
that you were able

to find those particular tracks
and no others?

There were other tracks, Mr. Mason,
but they were partially obscured.

Did any of those
partially obscured tracks

have a definite characteristic?

Yes, sir.
One set was apparently quite worn.

Another looked like snow tires.

MASON: Now, lieutenant,
in the course of your investigation,

did you learn anything
that made you believe

that the defendant had in his
possession at the time of the m*rder

a g*n capable
of f*ring . -caliber b*ll*ts?

Well, it was his g*n, Mr. Mason.
You admitted that.

No, I didn't ask you that.

I asked you if he had possession
of that g*n at the time of the m*rder.

Well, since it was his g*n,

it's a pretty good assumption.

Well, at least you're willing to grant
that it is an assumption.

No further questions.

Stacey Garnett was a man
without culture,

without taste, without manners.

Brash, loud, vulgar.

BURGER: Well, now, if I understand it,
Miss Richland,

and please don't hesitate
to correct me if I'm mistaken,

Mr. Garnett actually saved
the Golden Bear Enterprises,

both the magazine and the club,
from almost certain bankruptcy.

- Isn't that true?
- It is not.

He took a fine traditional publication
on California life

and turned it into a purveyor of filth.

And he took the oldest men's club
in this state

and made a den for lechers
out of it.

Mr. Montalvo was ashamed to have
the family name attached to them,

and he fought every way possible

to keep Garnett
from doing what he did.

Let me caution you, Miss Richland,

I'm not interested in conjecture
on your part.

I'm only interested in facts.

Well, Mr. Montalvo
tried to buy Garnett out,

and Garnett talked the stockholder
in Santa Barbara into backing him

so he could gain complete control.

And Mr. Montalvo did
in your presence

thr*aten the decedent with a p*stol,
isn't that true?

- With a . -caliber antique p*stol?
- He didn't thr*aten him.

Mr. Montalvo just made some remark
about it.

- What remark?
- Well, I don't recall exactly.

Well, just give us the substance
of the remark.

Well, he said that his grandfather
had used the g*n

to k*ll bandits and that it was a shame
Garnett wasn't around then.

Mrs. Garnett, would you please explain
to the court how you happened

to be present during the argument

in which the defendant threatened
the decedent with a p*stol?

Stacey agreed to meet Victor
at the Rancho that evening,

and Victor asked me
to come along too.

What did the defendant
want you to do?

Help him convince Stacey
to let him buy back control.

So after a bitter argument
with the decedent,

the defendant did indeed go to the
Rancho on the night of the m*rder.

I didn't say it was a bitter argument.
I said it was a discussion.

And I didn't say he went there,
I said he had an appointment to go.

Yes, of course. Cross-examine.

Mrs. Garnett,
did you keep your appointment

to meet the defendant
and your husband at the Rancho?

Well, I intended to.

I was leaving on a ski vacation,

and they were putting new tires
on my car.

I didn't think
it would be ready on time.

According to the garage,

your car was delivered
to the Golden Bear Club at : .

Well, I wasn't there at the time.

I didn't even know
the car had been delivered.

Do you know
what type of tires they used?

Why, snow tires.

Thank you, Mrs. Garnett.
Oh, one more thing.

With your husband's death,
who inherits his interests?

Why, I do, of course.

You say the defendant
objected to this change

in the format
of the Golden Bear magazine.

FLORIAN: I used to hear
that argument at least once a month,

when the proofs
for the centerfold came out.

You know, a double-page spread
with a doll coyly relaxing?

Garnett called it money in the bank.
Mr. Montalvo just cringed.

- And then the yelling started.
BURGER: Your witness.

Was your reaction to the girly pictures
the same as the defendant's?

I've worked for Victor Montalvo
for the last ten years,

sh**ting pictures
of California wildlife.

As far as I'm concerned,
indoors or outdoors, wildlife is wildlife.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

I don't want to hear laughter
in this court again.

Why did the decedent fire you
the afternoon before his m*rder?

I walked in on him
when he slapped Bev, that is, his wife.

And one thing led to another,
and he fired me.

Then why did you show up
for work the next morning?

Well, he'd fired me before
and he'd always gotten over it.

In previous testimony
it's been established

that you took some pictures in which
an antique p*stol was used as a prop.

Is that correct?

FLORIAN:
That's the picture.

What did you do with that g*n
after you finished?

Stacey Garnett took it,
said he'd return it to Mr. Montalvo.

Was anyone else present
when he took it?

No.

Well, since the decedent can't testify,
we'll have to take your word, won't we?

That's all.

Do you want this court to understand
that Mr. Mason gave you a check

for $ , to keep you
from disclosing

that the defendant was with some girl
in the area of the beach that night?

- Yes, sir.
- Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Were you in the vicinity of the beach
the night of the m*rder?

No.

Then how did you know
the defendant was there?

He came into the hotel with the girl.
She was wearing a swimsuit.

And from that you deduced
that he'd been to the beach?

DURBIN:
Yes.

MASON: What did you think
when you saw Mr. Montalvo

get into that elevator with the girl?

Oh, I was certain I had him,
that's all.

Mr. Durbin,
you were never in the hotel lobby.

You never saw Mr. Montalvo there,
isn't that true?

What are you talking about?
I've told you.

MASON: I know what you've told me,
one lie after another.

Mr. Montalvo
did not enter the elevator.

Would you like me to bring in
the desk clerk to prove that?

I, uh... I thought he did.

Where did you obtain
your information?

Well, Mr. Burger
isn't gonna help you now.

- His deal surely doesn't cover perjury.
- Objection, Your Honor.

Your Honor, it's obvious
that the district attorney

has granted this man immunity
on an extortion charge.

Very well, I'll stipulate to that,
but certainly extortion is a mild crime

compared to m*rder, Your Honor.

I won't question the arrangements
made in the past, Mr. Burger,

but I'm considering asking you
to prepare formal charges

- against this witness for perjury.
- Very well, Your Honor.

With that in mind, Mr. Durbin,
let me ask you this.

Look, all I know is this guy paid me off
because he m*rder*d Stacey Garnett.

Is that the same Stacey Garnett
for whom you previously worked?

The same Stacey Garnett who added
your name to an unofficial blacklist

so you couldn't get a decent job?

The same Stacey Garnett who threw
you out of his office two weeks ago?

BURGER: Objection.
- I'll withdraw the question.

Your Honor,
I'm through with this witness.

And since his testimony was vital
to any case against my client,

and his testimony has been

by his own words
thoroughly impeached,

would this not be
an appropriate time

for the court to entertain a motion
for dismissal?

I'm inclined to agree with you
at the moment, Mr. Mason, unless--

Uh, Your Honor, the prosecution's
case is still incomplete.

At this time I should like to ask
for a -minute recess.

For what purpose, Mr. Burger?

For the purpose of putting on
one last prosecution witness,

a Miss Debbie Conrad.

And the man who picked you up
in the vicinity of Rancho de Oro

at approximately the time
of the m*rder

is in the courtroom at this moment?

Yes, sir.

He's sitting right over there,
Mr. Montalvo.

BURGER:
Your witness.

Very well. Miss Conrad,

isn't it true that the morning
after the defendant picked you up,

you went to the Golden Bear Club

and obtained employment
as a Teddy Bear?

Yes, sir.
Mr. Montalvo seemed kind and--

Using this note from the decedent?

- Yes, sir.
- When did he give you this card?

You've already told the district attorney
you never met Mr. Garnett

before the night of the m*rder.

Well, Rick was out to get him,
and he set it up.

And then Mr. Garnett drove by
like Rick said he would.

And picked you up
and gave you his card with the note.

Then he drove you
to the Rancho de Oro

and the two of you
went into the house.

No. That is, he drove there,
but he took the g*n and went in alone.

I heard two sh*ts inside,
and then I got scared.

I ran to the highway
where Mr. Montalvo picked me up.

- And then I was really scared.
- Why?

Because there was the same g*n
on the floor of Mr. Montalvo's car.

Then you must have taken the g*n
with you,

and that's why Mr. Montalvo
paid you the $ , .

For the g*n, isn't that right?

- Well, yes. But I didn't give it back.
- Why not?

Well, the cops came to the club
before I had a chance,

and I didn't wanna get caught
with it there,

so I stuck the g*n
in my Teddy bear case and ran.

- Where is the g*n now, Debbie?
- Why, you have it, Mr. Mason.

It's in the Teddy Bear case
you took from my room.

There's no g*n in here.

Mr. Mason, did you remove a w*apon
from this case?

I swear I put it in there.

Mr. Mason, I'd like to see you
and the district attorney

in my chambers immediately.

This court is recessed
until : this afternoon.

I'm sorry, I should have--
I paid her to return the g*n.

- I didn't think--
- Let's leave it at that. You didn't think.

You just let me walk right into it.
Della.

- Yes, Perry?
- Della, I'll need some keys.

See if you can catch
Montalvo's secretary,

Corinne what's-her-name.

Have her meet me in
the Golden Bear office in minutes.

- Right.
- Oh, Steve?

Yes, Perry?

The key to the dressing room
is in this drawer.

Here it is.

This is the most difficult thing I've ever
had to do, but I have no choice.

I'm an officer of the court.

I must find that g*n
and turn it over to the police.

How could they ever prove
he fired the g*n?

He left the scene of the m*rder with it,
he paid blackmail to hide the fact,

and that's more than enough.

Not if the girl lied,

and she's the type that would.

Even if it were true
and he was there,

couldn't he have just
recognized the g*n, taken it?

The jury won't believe that.

- Why? Why do you say that?
- Because I don't, and I'm his lawyer.

I'll take that, Perry.

- I happen to own this place.
- I'm sorry.

Now, hold it. Let's wait right here.

You realize this is your client's
one-way fare to the gas chamber?

No, you are wrong.
Mr. Mason, he's not to blame. I am.

Miss Richland, if you're trying
to make me believe that you...

Loyalty to an employer
goes only so far.

You're not going to m*rder that man.

Steve, we thought that only you and I
knew Garnett

had brought back that vital proxy
from Santa Barbara.

But, Corinne, you also knew.
You testified to it.

And you could have only learned that
from Garnett himself

just before you k*lled him.

I went out there that night
in Beverly's car to plead.

Garnett bragged he had the final proxy
and was going to use it.

He had laid the g*n on the table,
and I picked it up.

He didn't live to destroy Victor,
because I destroyed him!

[SOBBING]

- Did you want this, Paul?
- Yes, Clay. Thank you, I did.

DELLA: Oh, Clay,
I somehow didn't think of you

as being a Golden Bear fan.

Somehow, uh, you don't seem
emotionally adolescent.

Now, now, no sour grapes,
Miss Street.

Actually, Della,
this is the first issue under the new--

Or should I say old?
--Montalvo policy,

a magazine for California gentlemen.

DRUMM:
Perry, what beats me is,

how you ever caught onto
Corinne Richland.

Of all the people involved,
she was the only one without a motive.

I'd say she had a very strong motive,
that of loyalty.

Well, at least Montalvo
had sense enough not to change that.

- Hmm?
- "The Golden Bear of the Month

on the gatefold.”

[WHISTLES]

- Look at that.
- Hmm.

- May I see?
PAUL: Sure, doll.

Feast your eyes
on a real Golden Bear.

[DRUMM LAUGHS]