09x21 - The Case of the Twice-Told Twist

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Perry Mason". Aired: September 21, 1957, to May 22, 1966.*
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
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09x21 - The Case of the Twice-Told Twist

Post by bunniefuu »

At least Mr. Dandrige is getting
a fair price for his place.

At his age, it must be hard to lose
at home by condemnation.

- It isn't easy at any age.
- Will we still be on time for the curtain?

- I hate to go in a theater late.
- No problem.

We'll get the papers signed
and be back here in ten minutes.

[RATTLING]

[CHUCKLES]

See, there's plenty of time
to reach the theater.

When you said we'd only be gone...

Ten minutes.

Why, just ten minutes.

"Five tires, wheels and hubcaps,
generator, sun visors,

cigarette lighter, radio, rear speaker,
twin horns, battery,

front and rear floor mats,
convertible top,

clock, steering wheel,
side-view mirror."

That's it, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason, since it's your property
that's been stolen,

I assume you're pressing charges.

Your Honor,
in talking with Sergeant Roddin,

I told him I would do just that.

But I wasn't aware at the time
that a juvenile was involved.

What's that got to do with it,
counselor?

Your Honor, there's more at stake here
than one boy and one offense.

There were , car clouts,
strippings, in Los Angeles last year.

We haven't been able to cr*ck the
problem. This gives us our first chance.

But the only charge you're making
against this young man

is that he pawned a stolen article,
a camera belonging to Mr. Mason.

I'm aware of that, Your Honor,
but the camera was in the car.

Mr. Mason can testify to it.

And that's our break.

It's impossible to identify stolen
auto parts most of the time,

there are no serial numbers.

But Mr. Mason had the lens
serial number of the camera.

This boy attempted to pawn it.

What does the District Attorney's office
have to say.

Well, obviously, Your Honor,
we want Mr. Mason's co-operation,

and we were led to believe
we'd get it.

I'm afraid I have to pause

before I assist in stamping a felony
conviction on an -year-old boy,

simply because he tried to pawn
a stolen camera.

- Welfare, do you have anything?
- Yes, Your Honor.

It's right here in my report.

Well, let's see.

Classified as incorrigible
at the orphanage.

Placed in four foster homes,
one right after the other.

Finished high school last June
with honors.

Picked up twice
for violation of curfew. No record.

RODDIN:
Your Honor, I agree.

You don't treat a kid
like an adult with a record

but they've got to learn
you pay for what you do.

MASON:
Of course they do.

I think every man and every offense
has to be judged individually,

on its own merit.

Yes, I have a personal loss at stake
and the police have a case at stake,

but this young man
also has his whole future at stake.

Lennie, where did you
get that camera?

Sir, I was gambling, craps.

And this kid, he lost.

Well, he paid off with the camera.

Your Honor, I'm sorry.

Sorry that you were gambling,

sorry that you tried
to pawn stolen goods,

or that you got caught?

All three I suppose, sir.

I have here a statement
from a Mr. William Sikes,

offering you employment

and I have the welfare department's
investigation and endorsement.

- Do you know Mr. Sikes?
LENNIE: Yes, sir.

I'm William Sikes, Your Honor.

And if you'll let Lennie go,
and if he's willing to work hard,

I'll guarantee you that he'll be too busy
to get into any more trouble.

Let him go?

In a sense, that's up to you,
Mr. Mason.

I'm not going to press charges,
Your Honor.

JUDGE: Lennie, I'm going
to release you from custody.

But don't mistake
Mr. Mason's gesture

or my judgment
as license to tempt fate again.

Continue hanging out
with the kind of friends

who sh**t craps and steal cameras
and you're going to be back again.

- There better not be a next time.
- I promise you, sir. There won't be.

My commendations to team one.

Remarkable performance,
well within our allotted time.

However I need not
admonish team two.

You yourselves know what would be
occurring at this very moment

if the men in blue,
rather than your friend and mentor,

had caught you in the act,
as they say.

And so I would suggest
to both teams

that considerable additional
time drill would not be amiss.

Right?

Now, I believe our refreshments
are served.

These are your compañeros?

But they are so young,
they're boys only.

Senor Huggins, why?

Señorita Reales, obviously you do
not understand our form of justice.

You see, if an adult commits
even the smallest infraction,

he is likely to go to prison.

But a boy, a juvenile, especially
if he is clean-cut, well-mannered

and underprivileged,

well, that's an entirely different story.

And now, senorita,
can we get down to our business?

How many pair of bucket seats
can you use?

How many can you deliver?

Almost any reasonable amount.

Delivery is no problem and Bill Sikes
is most efficient, as you well know.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]

The price locally is $ a pair.

I cannot pay you more
for delivery in Mexico.

Have you been asked to?

As you know,
I am a collector of Tehuantepec art.

The Mayan and the Aztec
are rather crude, common.

But your Tehuantepec pieces,

- marvelous.
- And rare.

But obtainable.

As were all the other pieces
you sent me from Bill Sikes.

I'm thinking of a figurine I admired
at an exhibition in Mexico City.

You cannot mean a catalagado,
a museum piece.

If I were to send
such a thing out of Mexico

and be detected by the authorities,
I would be put in prison.

If you were detected,

but there's no reason for you to be.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]

Ah. A little stray lamb,

one who was lost is returned to us.

Thanks to that lawyer we hit,
Perry Mason.

- He believes in rehabilitation.
- Isn't that nice?

But, laddybuck,
when Billy and I return

from our business consultation
with Senorita Reales,

you and I must have
a little man-to-man talk about

this penchant of yours for taking
and holding out serial-number items.

- But, sir, it wasn't my fault, I--
- Later.

Senorita?

Uh, Jody, you and I have to have
a little talk too, later.

- You dirty fink.
- I didn't fink.

I didn't tell the cops anything.

Oh, no, but you told Bill
how you won that camera from me.

- Maybe I should have, but I didn't.
- You're a liar.

- Get him, Jody. Get the fink.
- No, not now.

But some day, fink,
I'm gonna take care of you.

After years on the force
you'd think I'd learn,

when the do-gooders
of the world b*at you

you've gotta forget it.

- But it eats on me, Clay.
- So tomorrow's another day.

You know, I forget who said it,
probably a wise Irishman,

but it was good advice.

He said, "It is defeat that turns
bone to flint and gristle to muscle,

and makes men invincible.

You are never so near to victory
as when defeated in a good cause.”

I'm gonna have that framed
and put over every detective's desk.

[CHUCKLES]

But first I think I'll have you repeat
it to Perry Mason.

Sorry.

I smell something burning
in the kitchen.

Hello, Sergeant Roddin.

- This is Miss Street.
- Miss Street.

- How do you do?
- Won't you join us?

Thank you.

You bugged out on me
this morning, counselor,

after you promised me
I could count on you.

Sergeant, Lennie Beale told you

nothing to link him
to a car-stripping ring.

You had no other evidence.

Seems to me that you'd learn more
by keeping an eye on him

if he is involved,

than by settling for a possible
conviction on pawning a stolen article.

I see.

Your interest was in doing what
was best for the police department.

MASON: You know what a felony
conviction would do to that boy?

For the rest of his life,
he wouldn't be able to vote,

to hold a civil-service job,
to live outside the country.

Nothing but a pardon
could erase that record.

Now, isn't it worthwhile
to try to save him from that?

Hi, Della, Perry.

- Hello, sergeant.
- Hi.

If you'll excuse us,
I have to speak to Perry a minute.

Pardon me.

Everything's set in Atlanta,
you're gonna have to find out a way...

I don't know how well you know
my boss,

but take my word for it, what he did
this morning wasn't easy for him.

Miss Street,
you're smart and you're pretty,

and you're loyal to defend your boss.

He doesn't need me to defend him,
he can speak for himself.

I know. I heard him this morning.

But talk is cheap.

Well, fixing his car isn't cheap.

It'll cost $ , , money he won't get
back from the insurance company

because they don't pay off
if he refuses to press charges.

- He didn't mention that.
- He wouldn't.

He doesn't put a price tag
on his conscience.

[BAND PLAYING
UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]

[CROWD CHEERING]

LOMAN:
Robin.

Man, you look delectable.

I was all set to bawl you
out for being late

and I took one look at you and,
well, what's a guy gonna do?

Did you take care of
that, uh, favor for me, Tom?

Did you ever ask me
for anything you didn't get? Ha, ha.

- It's all set, starting tomorrow.
- Aw, thanks, Tom.

- You're sweet.
- Oh, Robin,

there's a kid waiting for you
in your dressing room.

Oh, if it's that Jody,
you're gonna have to throw him out--

No, no. It's the other one.

- The quiet kid.
- Oh, okay.

- Hi, Susie.

Susie, baby, I got an idea you're not
gonna be around here much longer.

Why, what did I do wrong,
Mr. Loman?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
You did everything just right.

You looked right, you smiled right,
you moved right.

So that's why I say you're gonna
be leaving for Broadway or pictures.

[CHUCKLES]

I've been thinking about it
all day, Robin.

Why did this Mason do it?

What was there in it for him?
What was his angle?

Lennie, everybody doesn't have
to have an angle.

Just figure he was trying to give you
a break.

Light me a cigarette, will you?

I think maybe
they're in my pocketbook.

The thing is, Robin...

The thing is, Robin,

he acted as if he wasn't worried
about what the cops thought,

or the judge.

But he was...

He was worried about me.

Lennie, what we say,
it doesn't go any further, right?

Because, well, Bill's a funny guy.

You don't have to worry about Bill.
If he touches you...

This guy, Lennie,
he gave you a chance today.

And if you have any sense,

you'd take it and break
with Bill and Ben Huggins, now.

And go where? Do what?

Well, you could...

Hey, start with this Mr. Mason.

He's smart, a lawyer and all,
he could give you some advice,

maybe help you find a job.

It's too late.

No, for me, it's too late.

But not for you.

You're not much older than I am,
you know.

It's not like I was a kid or something.

"Not much older,"
but I love you for saying so.

Lennie, you know the club manager,
Tom Loman?

He's an awful nice guy,
a gentleman.

He'd do anything for me.

Well, three years ago,
he asked me if I'd marry him.

I should have done it.

But now I can't.

I couldn't let Tom in for the trouble
he'd get from Bill.

Hold on there.

- I don't like to be manhandled, Loman.
- Then stay out of here.

I've told you I don't want you
hanging around my place.

What's your problem?

You still making calf eyes at my girl?

Why don't you act your age?

Robin, if I did,

you know, get clean,
maybe go to this lawyer,

I'm gonna be pretty soon and...

What's a few years difference
when two people are--

Oh, Lennie, you do like I told you.

You get out of this mess
and make a life for yourself?

You're beautiful.

Now, promise me.

You're gonna do what I told you,
don't wait.

There'll never be a better time
than now.

Bill, I tried to reach you this afternoon
but you were gone.

It's all fixed.

Tom said the job's open
in the parking lot.

- I told him it was for my cousin.
- Good.


That's good, baby.

Hold it, Lennie.

From now on,
I'm not gonna let you out of my sight.

We're gonna stick together,
close together.

I was under the impression I had made
it clear that I don't want company here.

- Not you, not them.
- All right. All right.

We were in the neighborhood
and I had an idea for you, a good idea.

You're thinking too much, Billy.

Lately you've had too many ideas
and that's my department.

- All you have to do is what you're told.
SIKES: Okay, Ben. I'm sorry.

And believe me,
from now on you can be a hermit.

But just try to listen to
what I've got to say.

I've listened, Billy,
and it makes me uneasy.

A shoemaker should stick to his last.

Cars are simple and safe.

We have a system.

I don't like taking chances
and houses are dangerous.

But this can't miss.

The boy at the parking lot picks
out the car.

He makes a duplicate
of the house key.

He gets the address
from the registration,

we go there and clean the place.

And what if the mark
should return home unexpectedly?

SIKES:
Well, he can't.

Our boy at the parking lot
has to bring him the car.

If he does,
he calls us at the location.

Plenty of time to get clear.

It's a piece of cake, Ben.

You say Robin arranged the job
as parking attendant for Tick.

- You told her why?
- Well, I had to.

Look, you can trust Robin.

- She's all right.
- But she's a woman, Billy.

And in an enterprise such as ours,
I dislike having to trust a female.

Well, trust me, Ben.
It's all set and it'll be okay.

Very well, Billy.

On your responsibility,
we shall proceed.

Good.

Lester,

will you remain for a moment,
please?

- Pardon me, uh, are you Mr. Mason?
- Miss Spring?

I believe you said
you're a friend of Lennie Beale.

I shouldn't even be here,
if anybody found out--

MASON: But you did call me
and you are here.

Now, why?

Because Lennie said
you gave him a break.

Only if he takes advantage of it.

He's a good kid, Mr. Mason
and he'd like to do what you want,

but he's afraid.

MASON: I want you to be honest
with me, Miss Spring.

The police believe Lennie's involved
with a car-stripping ring.

The police are right, aren't they?

Aren't they?

Knowing that
you still wanted him let go?

Well, I thought
I saw something worth saving.

I was willing to take a chance
on reaching him.

You did reach him, Mr. Mason.

Then there's only one way for him
to help himself,

that's to tell the police
everything he knows.

And go to jail for ,
maybe years?

Well, I've stuck my neck out this far.

I'm willing to go a little further
if you'll go along with me.

- How?
MASON: I'll ask the District Attorney

to give Lennie immunity
if he testifies.

If the District Attorney agrees,
I'll get back to you.

- It's the only way?
- That's the only way.

Yes, I heard how well
you co-operated, counselor,

with the police when they wanted you
to bring charges against that boy

that apparently helped strip your car.

Now, you want me
to co-operate with you?

Didn't anyone ever tell you, Perry,

about co-operation
being a two-way street?

And why should I believe this girl,
why do you believe her,

if you really do?

Do you really think that Lennie Beale
is gonna walk in voluntarily

and give evidence
against his friends?

I'm hopeful Robin will persuade him
to do just that, if you'll go along.

You know,
present enforcement isn't working.

Maybe this way, you can at least
make a dent in the statistics.

Well, you've got a point there.

All right.

If Lennie Beale turns himself
in voluntarily

and gives evidence against this ring,

you can tell him he's got his deal,
full immunity.

- Hey, cut the light.
- Relax.

We work in comfort.

Now, Tick's in the parking lot
and if the people leave, he'll ring us.

One ring, then he'll hang up
and he'll ring again.

Well, let's go to it, all of you.
Come on.

- Hey, Bill.
SIKES: Hmm?

You want this?

Yeah, yeah, it's the kind of thing
Huggins gets a bang out of.

We'll make him a present.

Lennie!

Where do you think you're going?

- To bring the van up.
- Well, you just stick with me.

Cut the pictures out of the frames.

Well, come on, you guys, move.
Move.

[PHONE RINGS]

[PHONE RINGING]

- Yeah.
- Clear out.

You gotta clear out of there.

- The marks leaving the place?
- No, no.

Huggins sent word.

Robin finked to the cops.

Well, she wouldn't.
She knows I'd k*ll her.

No, no, no, not Robin.

Cut out.

[POLICE SIRENS WAILING
NEARBY]

Take off, Lennie.

We gotta make it to the van.

MAN:
Over there. Cut them off!

Halt!

Stop or I'll sh**t!

Halt! Halt!

[SHOUTS]

MAN: Try to cut them off.
They're heading for the van.

Look, you're on your own now,
so you just lay low until they clear out.

- Bill, I can make it, give me a hand.
- Look, you'll slow me down.

I've gotta settle with Robin.

Bill.

Bill!

Think the girl will be able to talk
Lennie into it?

Let's hope so.

You know, it's a funny thing, Paul,

since that night at Angels Flight,
when my car was stripped,

I've had the feeling...

Do you remember
the story of Oliver Twist?

You see Lennie as Oliver?

If you stretched a point or two,
there are some parallels.

Well, if Robin comes through, there
will be a new ending for the old story.

Oliver Twist was written
more than a hundred years ago.

Let's hope human nature has changed
for the better.

Sir?

Perry.

- Lennie, what's happened?
- Let me go.

Mr. Mason, I can't talk to you now.
I gotta get to him.

I gotta get to Bill.

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

PAUL:
She's dead.

[SOBBING]
I found her.

You were the one that screamed?

Has the manager called the police?

Tom Loman's not here. He's gone.

You stay put
and don't let anybody touch anything.

MASON:
And you call the police.

Get Della on the phone, Paul.
She can find Sikes' address.

- We may have to stop Lennie in time.
- In time for what?

In time to prevent another m*rder.

Sikes' apartment is on the fifth floor.

Sikes.

PAUL:
He's alive.

We'll need an ambulance.

So you say that Benjamin Huggins
was the mastermind of this ring

and that he's the one that taught
you how to steal from cars, huh?

And that he disposed
of the parts in Mexico

through a senorita, what's her name,
Donna Reales?

That's right?

Why is it, Lennie, that all the other
boys told Sgt. Roddin

in auto theft that they worked
for Bill Sikes?

- And he's dead.
DRUMM: That's right.

And we're charging this boy
with his m*rder.

But I didn't k*ll him.

I'll admit I meant to.

When I saw Robin dead,
I took her g*n,

the one Bill gave her,
it was in her hand.

I meant to use it.

When I got to Bill's place,
I was too late.

Somebody had already stabbed him.

That's when I passed out.

Oh, come on, now, Lennie,
that's not what happened.

What happened is
you pulled a g*n on him,

he took it away from you,

and then you stabbed him
with his own Kn*fe

because you thought he k*lled Robin.
Now, isn't that what really happened?

No, no. Honest, I didn't k*ll him.
Please, I didn't k*ll him.

No, I didn't, Mr. Mason.
I didn't know Bill Sikes,

and I don't know this boy,
Lennie Beale.

And that's
why I've asked you to come.

My name and reputation
are in jeopardy.

Your client has forced me
to defend myself

against absurd
and scurrilous charges.

For the first time in my life,

I have seen the inside
of a police station.

Now, why has he done this,
Mr. Mason?

Obviously, he didn't pick your
name at random, Mr. Huggins.

He does know you.

Heh. Every waiter I've tipped
and every down-and-outer

I've given money to,

and every tradesman I've honored
with my business know me,

doesn't necessarily mean
I know them.

Do you have any idea
why Lennie should wanna harm you?

No.

And the police asked me that.

Enjoy your wine, Mr. Mason.

You'll find it has what Hemingway
called "great authority."

I have it imported from Spain.

Very good.

But most Spanish wine
has great authority.

Now you were telling me--

You're a man of rare judgment,
cultured tastes, Mr. Mason.

What do you think of this?

Why it's Tehuantepec, isn't it?

It appears to be a man,
no eyes, no ears, no mouth,

a man without three senses.

Now, since obviously I can't help you
and you can't help me,

I'll he on my way, Mr. Huggins.

Wait a minute, Mr. Mason, I have it.

This figurine gave me the clue.

I remember this man, Sikes.

He delivered some packages to me
from Mexico,

this figurine was among them.

As I remember, he was a bold,

insensitive, brash young man,
and there was a boy with him.

- Lennie Beale?
- I don't know.

I've never seen your client,
Mr. Mason.

If it was Lennie,

I can only assume
that you failed to tip him

and in a fit of revenge
he made all those accusations.

What are men like you and me to do,
Mr. Mason?

Just what?

How can society protect itself
against the criminal element,

the purse-snatchers, and muggers,
and petty thieves?

I can think of only one way,
Mr. Huggins.

Men like you and me

can learn to recognize them
when we see them.

Good night.

I've had practically the whole office
looking for a lead on Ben Huggins

and so far we haven't been able to
turn up anything that might help us.

- What about the other boys?
- With Lennie's help,

Sgt. Roddin picked up
all of them except one.

- The one in the parking lot?
- Tick Gleason.

And each of the innocent darlings

claim they never heard of anyone
named Ben Huggins.

And apparently they've convinced
the police that Lennie did k*ll Bill Sikes.

And Sikes k*lled Robin?

I don't buy it.

Lennie claims Huggins
was dealing with a Mexican woman.

Senorita Donna Reales.

Paul, could you leave
for Mexico tonight?

Find Senorita Reales?

She's the only hope we have of proving
that Lennie told the truth,

that Huggins is indeed
our th century Fagin.

Your Honor,
the defendant Lennie Beale,

is in this court today on trial
for his life by his own choice.

It was a simple choice.

It was offered to him not once,
but several times.

A simple choice
between right and wrong.

When he was released from custody

on a charge of pawning
a stolen article,

he was first offered
that simple choice.

He chose instead to return to
the criminal ring that spawned him.

He was given a second chance
by my office,

when I offered him immunity to testify,
he rejected that chance.

Again he made another choice.

This time to engage
in a felony burglary,

and he carried a policeman's
b*llet away from that encounter.

Then came his third chance,

faced with the m*rder
of a girl he loved,

he had to make that simple choice
again and he chose,

not due process of law,

but the remorseless,
inexorable code of the underworld.

And that's why he's here today,
Your Honor,

quite properly being tried as an adult,
not as a juvenile.

He has demonstrated
that he is not a delinquent child

but a hardened criminal.

A hardened criminal,
who was seeking revenge

for the m*rder of that girl,

deliberately and with premeditation

went to the apartment of William Sikes
and k*lled him with his own Kn*fe.

Like I was telling you when
you took me to lunch, Mr. Burger--

Let's get right to the point,
Miss Sawyer.

Just tell the court, please,
what the defendant said to you

when you saw him
the night of the m*rder.

Well, uh, he was like,
running out of the place.

He nearly knocked me down.

And I said, uh, "What's your hurry,
Lennie boy?"

And he said, "Bill did it.

He k*lled Robin and I'll k*ll him."

Yes, Mr. Burger, this was the Kn*fe

we found in the body of the decedent,
William Sikes.

Were there fingerprints on it,
lieutenant?

DRUMM: There were several,
most belonged to him.

You see,
we found this was his Kn*fe.

BURGER:
But there were other prints.

There were at least
three identifiable ones,

his right thumb, right index finger
and the third finger.

Who made those prints, lieutenant?

The defendant, Mr. Burger.

Leonard Beale.

LOMAN:
The kid didn't mean any harm.

He just had a big crush on her
and Robin went along with it.

Of course, Bill Sikes
didn't see anything funny in it.

The night before,

before he was k*lled, I saw him
drag Lennie out of her dressing room.

Was there ever in your presence

any v*olence connected with Lennie
Beale's attachment for Miss Spring?

Well, one night this Jody character
was hanging around,

he had a thing for Robin too.

And, well, she bawled him out
and Jody cussed at her,

and Lennie went for him
with a stage brace.

- Really?
- I had to hold him till

Jody could b*at it.

Take the witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Loman,
you've told the District Attorney

that the defendant was in love
with Miss Spring.

LOMAN: That's right.
- And Bill Sikes was in love with her.

LOMAN:
Yes, sir.

And that Jody Laird
was in love with her.

LOMAN:
Well, in a way.

MASON:
How about you, Mr. Loman?

- Were you in love with her also?
- Yes.

Yes, I was,
and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

And if she had been insulted
in your presence,

- would you have, uh, defended her?
- Why, sure.

MASON: Mr. Loman,
previous testimony established

that you weren't present
at the Femmes-a-Go-Go

at the time the body
was discovered.

Now, can you tell us exactly
where you were?

Well, no, I'm sorry.

I travel around a lot at night
catching acts.

You weren't by any chance
on your way to Bill Sikes' apartment?

No. And I'll tell you something,
Mr. Mason,

if I'd found Robin,
I'd have known it was Sikes,

and I would've done the same thing
that youngster did.

That Sikes was a germ.

But you're not gonna
get me all riled up

and make me say something
I'll regret.

MASON:
Of course not, Mr. Loman.

Who was the man you worked for,
son, the leader of this ring?

- Bill Sikes.
- I see.

Now, Jody, I think you told us

that the boy who was planted in
the parking lot at Femmes-a-Go-Go

had instructions to warn you
by telephone, if necessary.

Yes, sir.
And like I said, he did call.

But it wasn't what we expected.

The people weren't leaving the club,
going home.

What was the occasion
for the call then?

Well, Mr...

That is Tick said that
Robin had tipped off the police.

BURGER: Did Mr. Sikes
take this warning seriously?

Well, what else?
Right away we heard the sirens.

And Bill said he'd k*ll her.

Who besides yourself heard that?

We all did.

Does "all" include the defendant
Lennie Beale?

Yes, sir.

He was right there when Bill said it.

Well, you're a bonus, friend.
I didn't count on finding you here.

- I haven't done anything!
- Fine.

You come back
and tell that to the police.

I'm not leaving here. I don't have to.
You can't touch me in Mexico.

You are gonna have
accommodations in the local brig

till I get you extradited.

It's not as plush as you've
been enjoying with Senorita Reales.

She's been good to me.
She's not gonna let you.

REALES:
Let him go, senor.

And you will put both hands
on the wall.

Well, you saved me the trouble
of finding you, Senorita Reales.

- You know me?
PAUL: You're the reason I'm here,

to bring you back with me,
both of you, to testify in court.

You are in my country
and you have no right.

Tick's a native American.
I can have him extradited.

And you?

- Well, I have a bargain for you.
- What bargain?

You come back, and testify that
you did business with Ben Huggins,

- and that Huggins ran the operation.
- I am guilty of nothing, senor.

I bought and paid in good faith.

That's where we come
to my bargain.

Those little doodads,
the Mexican national cultural treasure,

that you used to pay in good faith,

suppose the Patrimonio Nacional
were told about them?

But if you were to come back
and testify,

who would there be to tell them?

MASON: I have here a series of recent
photographs, Senorita Reales.

I wonder if you can
identify this one?

It was taken inside, where we display
and store our automobile parts.

MASON: And you obtain these parts
where, how?

From...

Excuse me.

MASON:
Will you go on please, senorita?

You were about to tell us
where you obtained the auto parts.

From Benjamin Huggins.

MASON: Could you describe
your business arrangement

with Mr. Huggins?

Well, I would order the parts I needed
from Senor Huggins.

He would send Bill Sikes
to deliver them in Mexico,

and then I would pay him
the money.

Then I suppose you were,
well, closer to Mr. Sikes

- than you were to Mr. Huggins.
- Sf, senor.

MASON: But you always understood
that you were doing business

not with Mr. Sikes
but with Mr. Huggins.

That he was the real boss,
as we say.

REALES:
Si, that is true.

So the facade is torn away at last.

Mr. Benjamin Huggins,
civic leader, connoisseur of art.

And now we see you
for what you really are,

a corrupter of youth, inducting
young boys into a life of crime,

destroying their lives
while you in safety and with impunity,

enjoy the profits.

Your Honor, reluctantly,
I must object.

And I sustain the objection.

Didn't you indoctrinate
your trained young thieves

to believe that anyone,
anyone who betrayed them to the law,

must be punished by death?

I abhor v*olence, Mr. Mason.

- Just give me an answer.
- I did not.

I have sworn to tell the truth
and I have.

You also gave the police
a sworn statement

that Lennie Beale
had lied about you.

The court has made note of that.
Get on with it, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Huggins,

you were convinced,
were you not that the girl, Robin,

with my help,
had betrayed you to the law?

- Objection.
- Withdraw the question.

Mr. Huggins, according to
Jody Laird's testimony,

Bill Sikes received a telephone call
at the burglary site,

warning him
that Robin had tipped off the law,

when actually a neighbor

who knew the family was away
for the evening

phoned his suspicions
to the police.

Now is it not a fact
that you were the one

who told Tick Gleason
to make that telephone call?

Before you answer, I warn you
that we have Tick Gleason here,

waiting to testify.

On the night of the m*rder,

I neither saw
nor spoke to Tick Gleason.

Yes, Mr. Huggins
told you the truth, sir.

I didn't see or talk to him.

Then who told you to call Bill Sikes?

Senorita Reales.

She came to the Femmes-a-Go-Go
and told you to make that call?

TICK:
Yes, sir.

After you spoke to Bill Sikes,
what did you do?

TICK: Well, there were about
four cars lined up.

- I had to park them.
- What happened then?

Well, I went over to
Senorita Reales' car.

I asked her to take me with her
back to Mexico.

I knew the whole thing had blown up.
I was scared.

And she agreed?

Yes, she told me to get my things
and meet her at the hotel.

Si, I did deliver
such a message, senor,

only because Ben Huggins
told me to.

MASON:
One thing bothers me, senorita.

Why were you so easily persuaded

when Tick Gleason asked you
to take him to Mexico with you?

Could it have been because
he was the one person

who could testify that you'd been
at the Femmes-a-Go-Go that evening?

But I've already told you, senor.

I was only there because Ben Huggins
sent me to deliver the message.

I did so and I left.

What were you doing during the time
Tick Gleason went to a phone booth,

called Bill Sikes,
parked the four cars,

- and then returned to you.
- I waited.

Senor Mason,
I have not told you the whole truth.

No, you haven't, senorita. Now, why?

- Are you afraid to tell the truth?
- Si.

MASON:
Of whom are you afraid?

No matter.
I cannot keep this inside any longer.

I went to the club
and I saw this Robin.

MASON:
Why?

Ben Huggins.

He told me I must.

And for the same reason that
I was forced to return to testify,

I was forced to do as he asked.

MASON:
What did he force you to do?

We were out for the afternoon,

when we returned to his place,
this boy Lester is there.

He tells Senor Huggins about the girl
and Huggins is like a madman.

He says, first, I must tell Tick to call,

and then, I must tell lies to this Robin
so that she would come outside.

So he could talk to her.

I assume then, that you knew
Robin Spring quite well.

No, I did not know her.

Then why, senorita,
did you give her this g*n?

- I swear, I did not.
- No?

Then why does it bear
your family crest,

the same crest visible in
this photograph which was taken

of the sign in front of your shop?

What happened
in that dressing room, senorita?

Nothing, senor. She did not know me
and did not want to come outside.

She didn't know you,
but you knew her.

No, senor,
I have already told you, I did not.

Senorita, you're straying again.

I think we'd better get
back to the truth.

Now, when Robin Spring's body
was found by the defendant,

before anyone else discovered it,
this p*stol was in her hand.

The telephone was off the hook.

Now, can you explain
how those things happened?

REALES:
No, senor.

She seemed to have known that
I had come from Senor Huggins.

She did not know me,
and did not want to leave with me.

Sol left.

I'm sure you did, senorita,
but that was later.

First you saw Bill Sikes' picture
on her makeup table.

You realized Robin was not just
an informer, she was a rival.

And when she threatened you
with this p*stol,

there was no longer
any room for doubt.

I would not have hurt her.

I did not intend.

I turned my back to run out,

and she picked up the telephone
to warn Bill.

Then I saw the long scissors,
and I...

And then you went to
Bill Sikes' apartment.

He didn't know you'd seen the g*n.

He didn't know that Robin was dead.
He had no suspicion.

He had put his Kn*fe on the table.

He turned his back

and I picked it up.

I was so good to him, señor,
I did everything for him,

but she destroyed it.

What could I do?

[SOBBING]

All right, Perry, what's the secret?

And why this celebration,

and why have you been
walking around with that

"I know something you don't know"
expression?

Well, it's been three months
since Lennie left here on his trip.

Yeah, that's another
secret operation.

Perry, I don't think
a vacation is what Lennie needed.

I think he needed to go to work.

Now, Paul, what Lennie needs
is more education.

I think the boy needed
to get away from it all,

to relax out in the fresh air.

That's the very reason that Lennie's
trip has been his secret and mine.

All of you were so intent
on telling him exactly what to do.

- Well, we were only trying to help.
MASON: Of course.

And realizing that,
Lennie took Della's advice,

and yours, Paul, and yours, Clay.

- Well, where is he? Tell us, already.
- Now, just a moment.

I have a feeling Perry has reached
the dramatic moment.

We're going to find out
what this is all about.

PAUL: Well, boot camp. That's where
you've been for three months.

And those chevrons
mean you're an honor man.

- Lennie, you're an admiral already.
LENNIE: Ha, ha.

Well, practically.

Between a Navy Admiral
and a Marine PFC,

there's a little difference in pay.

As I told you,
Lennie made his own decision

and received job training
and hard work,

and plenty of outdoor life.

- Right?
- Heh, right.
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