09x24 - The Case of the Fanciful Frail

[bunniefuu]

[WAGNER'S "BRIDAL CHORUS"
PLAYS ON ORGAN]

Oh, it'll be just perfect, Mrs. Alford.

And thank you, Reverend Alford,

for letting us use the chapel
when there won't be any people here.

Every girl wants music
and flowers, Ethel.

MRS. ALFORD:
The truth of the matter is,

when you marry a couple
in your office,

you miss the music and flowers.

I wanted a big wedding.
Well, not really that,

but where I'd wear a gown
and maybe have one attendant.

But Bruce wanted to keep it secret.

You know we haven't told a soul.

We're just gonna show up at work
after the honeymoon.

You can imagine how surprised
everybody's gonna be.

While we wait for the groom,
suppose we have a cup of coffee?

Well, I wonder where Bruce is.
He said , and it's--

What time is it?

Well, it's close to .

Uh, do you think I could use
the telephone to call the office?

Bruce isn't there?

Has he been there, Mr. Carruthers?

No, he hasn't,
but the police have been.

Ethel, we're missing $ ,
in securities.

And we found out this morning
they'd been sold,

and that your signature
is on the transfer authorization.

[GASPS]

We have--
Have to find Bruce.

Ethel, I tried to reach Bruce, thinking
he might help us check the books.

But his vacation started today
and he's gone.

- Gone?
- Look, Ethel...

Ethel, I promise I'll stand by you,
but you've got to come in

and explain why you signed
that transfer authorization.

Ethel? Ethel?

[SOBBING]

Ethel, where are you?
How soon can you get here?

[DOOR CLOSES]

[JAZZ MUSIC
PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Yes, this is Peggy Sutton, operator.

MAN [OVER PHONE]:
I'm doing you a good turn, baby.

{ could have my neck wrung
if the word gets out I warned you.

Warned me? But--

There's a contractor out of Chicago,
I think, who's looking for you.

Contractor?

A hired g*n, Peg, a torpedo, a k*ller.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Well, thanks, I-
I owe you a favor.

Then do me one.
Forget who called you.

[PHONE CLICKS]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Yes?

Who is it?

WOMAN:
Chambermaid, miss. Can I clean up?

Won't take me long, miss.

You checking out?

I'll get you a boy.

[JAZZ MUSIC
PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]

It's okay.
It'll take maybe minutes to fix.

Something to do with
what's underneath the car.

Thank goodness you weren't hurt.
I just wasn't watching the road.

I've had a bit of a shock and...

Well, frankly, I've been crying
my eyes out for an hour.

PEGGY:
Man trouble?

Uh, let's try the coffee shop
while we're waiting.

- What'd you say your name is?
- Ethel.

Well, take it from me,

there's not a man in the world
that's worth shedding a tear over.

Nine-tenths baloney
and one-tenth ego,

that's what little boys are made of.

Wanna check the brakes on this one?
I'll start to work on the other job.

I think the fuel line was torn out.

And then I found out that Bruce
had used me and left me behind

to face the boss
and my friends and trouble.

[JAZZ MUSIC
PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]

Maybe even jail.

I need time to find him,
to prove that I didn't steal--

They're looking for me in Oceanview,

and they're gonna find me
before I've had a chance to find him.

Listen, honey, you're not the only girl
in the world with a problem.

Take me, for instance,
this guy who's been hounding me...

We had some fun,
he gave me some presents

and now he thinks he owns me.

In a way,
I'm in the same boat you are,

only he's looking for me,
and I'm trying to shake him.

Oh, and now I've delayed you.
I'm sorry.

Don't worry about Peggy.

I can take care of myself,
but just suppose now,

suppose that I could give you
the time you need

to find that guy
you were going to marry.

- How?
- By swapping places.

You'll be Peggy Sutton,
and I'll be Ethel Andrews.

Oh, I couldn't.

You can do a lot of things
if you have to.

I don't know if I should
let myself into this, frankly,

but in a way,
it would be helping me too.

How much time do you need?

A week? A week.

I know his folks live in Los Angeles,
where he might go, but...

It would never work.
No one would take me for you.

You're so... You're so pretty.

You could take my car,
my identification, everything.

You'd be in the clear
to do whatever you have to.

Then in a week,
we could meet in, say, Tijuana,

swap cars and get our things back.

Suppose they stop you
at the border?

Then they've got the wrong girl.
They can't do anything to me.

Thanks for lending me the $ , Ethel.
I hadn't counted on a repair bill.

That's all right.
It was my fault anyway.

Well, are we going to swap off?

I don't know, I--

Here. My identification is inside.

For the next week,
you're Peggy Sutton.

But I could get you
into terrible trouble.

What the heck.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Look, Peggy,

I can spare you an extra $ .
You might need it.

And, well, you can pay me back
next week.

At the place I told you in Tijuana
next Wednesday morning.

[ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC
PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]

[LOUD BANG]

[CLATTERING]

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

I guess I'd better give you a hand,
young lady.

Oh, thank you.

[ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC
PLAYS OVER SPEAKERS]

Here you are, miss. Looks like your
package slipped back in the tire well.

Oh, thank you.

I'd like to pay you for this
if you don't mind.

I wouldn't hear of it. Glad to do it.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES
THEN ENGINE STARTS]

[SIREN WAILING]

ETHEL: So if I come forward,
admit that I'm alive,

they'll say that I violated a trust,
stole $ , ,

and in trying to get away,
k*lled Peggy to cover up my tracks.

If you continue this disguise
as Peggy Sutton,

they'll continue to search for you

as the possible m*rder*r
of Ethel Andrews.

Now, on top of that,

you know nothing whatsoever
of Peggy Sutton,

who she was, what she did,
what problems she may have had.

Well, she said
there was a man following her,

that she was trying to get away.

After knowing her for half an hour, you
agreed to change identities with her?

You gave her your car,
your luggage, your identification.

Well, I did change my mind.

I turned around
and went back after her.

I was gonna call the whole thing off.

Now, about the money,

didn't you say that
your prospective bridegroom, uh...?

Bruce Strickland.

Uh, that Bruce Strickland,
a customer's man in your office,

took $ , with your unwitting help,
then disappeared with it?

Yes, I was crazy to believe him.

You don't have the $ , ?

Well, I--
I do have $ , .

Not that $ , ,

but Peggy's $ , .

Peggy's ,

Actually, it's , . I counted it.

- Where did you get it?
- I found it in the trunk of her car.

You're telling us that she had
this money in the trunk of her car,

but that she had to borrow
$ from you?

Now, how do you explain that?

I can't.

Oh, what am I gonna do,
Mr. Mason?

At the moment, being Ethel Andrews
or Peggy Sutton has its problems,

but at least Peggy
is supposed to be alive.

We'll need a little time.

We don't know the identity
of the man

who was looking over Peggy's car
this morning.

But you surely can't afford
to have him knock

on what he may think is Peggy's door
and find you there.

But that's probably her boyfriend
who was chasing her.

She told me about him.

I wouldn't count on anything
she may have told you.

We'd better put this money
in a safe place.

Della, let's step into your office
for a minute, then I'll explain

- how I want you to handle it.
DELLA: Mm-hm.

ETHEL:
Yeah, but what do you want me to do?

As soon as Della
types up her notes,

I want you to sign them
as your statement,

and then I want you
to follow instructions.

Don't I handle this
like our other trust accounts?

Of course.

I simply wanted to know
what you think of her story.

I think it's fantastic. Unbelievable.

You don't think
it could possibly be true?

I ask you,
would you meet a total stranger

and over a cup of coffee,
switch identities with him?

I didn't ask if it sounded logical
or sensible,

only if it could possibly be true.

Do you think it could?

MASON: I don't know,
but I might be able to find out.

Now, after she signs the statement,
take her to a movie, a double feature.

I want her out of circulation
as long as possible.

And where are you going while I take
Peggy--? Ethel Andrews to the movie?

Ethel Andrews' funeral.

ALFORD: It's hard to believe
that only a brief moment ago,

this young girl, vibrant with life
and energy and enthusiasm,

stood before this very altar
on the threshold of married life,

waiting to be a bride.

Now instead, Ethel Andrews
lies in eternal sleep.

And we hope she finds the peace
and happiness in the life hereafter

which were denied her
in this earthly one.

You can imagine the shock,
Mr. Mason,

when I found out
what Ethel had done.

Why, I trusted Ethel
as I trust myself.

You're absolutely certain
that she and no one else

disposed of those securities?

No one else could have.

Except for myself, only Ethel
was authorized to sign a transfer.

You're bonded, of course,

so your client and your company
won't suffer.

No, they won't. But I suffer.

I thought the world of Ethel.

The minister said
she was expecting to be married.

Married? Ethel?

Oh, uh, Martha is my secretary,
worked very closely with Ethel.

If Ethel were planning
to be married to anyone,

I most certainly
would have known about it.

By the way, have you heard anything
from Bruce Strickland?

I understand he's disappeared.

Disappeared?

Bruce is right over there.
He's one of the pallbearers.

[ENGINE STARTS]

MASON:
Uh, Mr. Strickland.

Mr. Strickland, my name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.

I've been engaged to, uh,
straighten out Ethel Andrews' affairs.

How do you do?

I was under the impression
that you had left town.

I was on vacation,

but as soon as I read about Ethel,
I decided to come back to work.

Thought I might help
straighten out the books.

It must have been
a trying experience,

since you and Ethel
planned to be married.

Who told you that?

MASON:
It isn't true?

Mr. Mason, I don't know how much
you know about women.

As much as any man, nothing.

Especially repressed women.

Well, I make it a point
to be nice to women, all women.

You take a girl like Ethel,
introvert, repressed, living alone.

What other outlet did she have
except, well, romanticizing?

You mean the notion of a wedding,

of getting married to you,
was all in her mind?

It certainly wasn't in mine.

Now, as I understand it,

Perry's problem is a dead girl
who claims to be alive.

That's right.

Posing as the girl who's really dead.

Couldn't she just come back to life
as herself, clear the whole thing up?

MASON:
Not without going to jail.

DELLA:
Did you learn anything?

Well, I met Ethel's fiancé,
Bruce Strickland.

He's never heard
of any wedding plans.

Well, by the time I dropped Ethel
at her motel,

she had told me every detail
of her wedding plans.

Until I know whether to believe
or disbelieve what Ethel has told us,

I'm not sure how to proceed.

I can't believe a girl would buy
a trousseau, hire a chapel, unless--

It doesn't make sense.

Neither did switching identities
with Peggy Sutton.

That's where you come in, Paul.

I received these names
and addresses from Ethel.

They were in Peggy's effects,
evidently people in her life.

Ethel has no idea
who they could be.

And you want me
to get in touch with them?

Discreetly.

And discreetly find out what?

Whether or not anyone
happens to be missing $ , .

Over the rocks
or on the stem, Mr. Drake?

- On the stem, please.
- Aha.

I can see you make
an excellent martini, Mr. Milgrave.

I'd hate to have it ruined
with melted ice.

My sentiments exactly.

It's too bad more people
don't think that way.

Here we are.

PAUL:
Thank you.

To your good health, sir.

Ah. Perfect.

Mr. Milgrave, if you ever decide
to go into another line of work,

you could patent this
and make a fortune.

The Park Milgrave Martini.

[CHUCKLES]

Sorry, I've made my fortune
and I'm happily retired.

And my wife has dedicated her life
to keeping me that way.

Don't disturb yourselves, gentlemen.

I'm a big girl now.
I can pour my own.

Althea, this is Mr. Drake.
Mr. Drake, my wife.

A pleasure, Mrs. Milgrave.

You remember Peggy Sutton, dear?

Mr. Drake is a private investigator.

And from what he's free to tell me,
he's trying to find her.

Don't tell me
Peggy's in trouble again.

Has she, uh, been in trouble before?

Well, not really.

You see, Peggy's the daughter
of an old friend.

And since he d*ed, why,
we've tried to keep an eye on her.

Which is difficult at times.

The girl is a little wild.

Uh, what kind of trouble was she in?

Mm, gambling, mainly.

She couldn't stay away
from the tables.

Whenever she'd run up a tab,
she'd give us as a reference.

And you paid the tab?

What else could I do?

Peggy is, well, like a foster daughter.

I see.

Mr. Milgrave, would it be likely

that Peggy Sutton would be carrying
a large sum of money?

[LAUGHING]

Peggy?

A large tab, maybe, but money?

No, it's very unlikely.

Well, as I was telling your husband,
Mrs. Milgrave,

he makes an excellent martini.

Here's to Peggy.

Let's hope finding her
will be easy for you

and inexpensive for us.

Ah.

Don't make one sound, Miss Sutton,
if you want to live.

You got the message?

ETHEL:

You must be very good
at treasure hunts.

I turned this place inside out
and I couldn't find a thing, Peggy.

Oh-- Oh, but--
But I'm not Peggy.

No, no, no, of course not.

Now, don't tell me any stories.

Just show me where it is.

Heh. Sorry to have kept you
waiting so long.

- That's all right, Frank.
- Is Bruce in?

- He's in his office.
- Ah...

I've just been to police headquarters.

Mm, they've searched Ethel's car,
every inch.

There isn't a sign of any money,
b*rned or otherwise.

MARTHA: Then maybe
she wasn't carrying it with her.

Well, it's still around somewhere.

Well, I've been thinking about that too,
but where?

If I only could have persuaded Ethel
to come in

and return that money after you
discovered the shortage, she--

Well, she'd still be alive.

I've been thinking, Frank.

That lawyer that turned up

- at Ethel's funeral.
- Perry Mason?

Could he know something
about the money?

I understand he's representing a girl
named Peggy Sutton.

Did Ethel ever mention
that name to you?

Peggy Sutton.

No, no, I don't think so.

You didn't accomplish anything
with the police?

No.

I wonder, do you need me
anymore tonight?

There's something
I have to check on.

Well, go ahead, Bruce.

BRUCE: If I can do any good,
I'd be glad to stay.

No, there's no point in it.

Well, then, uh, see you later.

Good night, Bruce.

I didn't wanna mention this
with Bruce being here,

but, uh, there may be something
in what that lawyer said

about Ethel being married,
or expecting to be.

[DOOR OPENS]

MAN:
No, please!

All right, thank you, that will be all.
We'll call you when we're through.

Let's see who it is.

He's been sh*t.

Dresser drawers and closet
cleaned out.

Girl must have taken a powder
after she sh*t him.

Get the girl's name from the manager,
detailed description and so forth.

Put through an APB,
airlines, buses, trains.

Maybe she took a car.

No, according to the manager,
the car's outside.

Put her on through an APB.

Right. Who was he?

DRUMM:
Bruce Strickland.

Money's all here,
it couldn't be robbery.

Employed by Frank Carruthers,

Oceanview Security
Investment Company.

[CHATTERING]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Miss Peggy Sutton?

Uh, no-- Uh, yes. I'm so glad
you're here. That man behind--

You're under arrest.

Arre--? Arrest?
No. No, no, I was kidnapped.

I was forced to get on that plane
by a man.

COP:
What man?

I don't know. He was here,
but I don't know where he's gone.

Before you say anything more,

I'm required to advise you
of your rights.

You don't have to make a statement.

Anything you say may be used
against you as evidence.

You have a right to be represented.
Let's go.

- Aren't you gonna look for him?
- I know.

- I know.
- I was kidnapped.

I have heard some strange stories
from clients, Miss Andrews,

and eventually many proved
to be true,

but this story of yours
beats them all.

But it's true all the same,
every word of it.

Even as to how you got the money?

Yes.

You didn't get it
from the Oceanview office,

even though securities worth
$ , are missing

and only you
could have disposed of them?

- I'd better tell you about that.
- Yes, you'd better.

Bruce said that all we needed
to get married,

to be happy, was a stake.

- The securities?
- Yes.

Bruce had to pledge them
as a security on a fabulous deal.

Overnight, he'd make enough money
for us to be married on.

Then he'd replace them and...

Well, it wasn't like stealing.

But it didn't work out that way.

Bruce did steal the securities,

sold them,
and left you standing at the altar.

- Is that what you're saying?
- Yes.

That's also what the police are saying,
with one significant variation.

They say you took the money,
that Bruce discovered this,

- and that's why you k*lled him.
- Oh, but you can't believe that.

Then why were you running away?

- Why were you on that plane?
- I was kidnapped.

I told you about that man who--

Well, who came to the apartment
and threatened to k*ll me

and forced me to get on that plane.

And then vanished into thin air.

Didn't you spend hours
looking at mug sh*ts with the police

and come up with nothing?

Oh, there was a man. It's true.

And you did not k*ll
Bruce Strickland?

I didn't even know he was dead
until after I was arrested.

MASON:
Ethel, I hope you realize your position.

If you admit the $ , you turned
over to me came from your office,

then that's your motive
for k*lling Bruce.

But it didn't.

But if they believe you took the money
from the dead girl,

then that could be a motive
for k*lling her.

And they might charge you
with her m*rder.

Mr. Mason, what can I do?

I wish I knew.

In all the time I've been in
the Los Angeles Police Department,

I thought I'd seen everything, fellas,
but I was wrong.

Today, for the first time,

I saw the remains of a bowl this big,
full of money.

- Remains?
- Somebody b*rned it.

Brand-new bills.
Large denominations.

Fifty,
maybe a hundred thousand bucks.

Who would have done that?

Apparently, the man your client
is charged with murdering.

- Bruce Strickland?
DRUMM: It was found in his apartment.

Why would Strickland or anyone else
burn money un--?

I thought of that.

But I had the lab check it,
ink, paper, engraving,

and the Treasury Department
just confirmed it.

It's real money, all right,
and brand-new bills.

Doesn't make any sense.

What angle of this case does?

Perry, that statement
your client gave us.

[CHUCKLES]

Now, that was something else.

- You're certain Strickland b*rned it?
- It was found in his apartment.

We're working on that angle.
I'll see you later.

So long, Steve.

- Hello, Steve.
- Hello, Della.

- You'll never guess.
PAUL: Heh.

- Now we're playing games.
- Oh.

Remember what I said?

That no girl would buy a trousseau,
a wedding bouquet and so forth--

That's right. You said that.

I was right.

I found the jeweler
who sold Ethel's ring.

And guess who bought it for her.

- Who?
- Bruce Strickland.

The jeweler identified him
from his picture.

Doesn't that help?

Help who?

The prosecution will say

it gives Ethel an even stronger motive
for murdering Strickland.

Well, it does prove one thing.

At least about that,
she was telling the truth.

She lied, Your Honor.

As a matter of fact, she left a trail
of lies and deception

halfway across the state
of California.

She lied when she contrived
to defraud her employer

of $ , in securities.

She lied when she ran away.

She lied to Peggy Sutton

when she convinced her
they should switch identities.

And then she continued to lie

as she lived out the part
of a dead woman.

Now, the decedent, Bruce Strickland,
apparently sensed the fraud...

Mr. Mason, I talked
with my bonding company,

and if you'll arrange to return
that $ , that Ethel took,

they'll drop the grand theft charges
against her.

Now, I don't know how much
that'll help,

but it'll be one less thing
for her to worry about.

Mr. Carruthers,
it hasn't been established

that Ethel took the money
from your firm.

The money you're referring to
could have come from Peggy Sutton.

Besides, I couldn't make
any disposition of the funds.

At this moment,
I have an investigator

trying to determine
ownership of the money.

Well, I just thought it might help,
and from the look of things,

that poor girl's gonna need
all the help she can get.

So then, Miss Erskine,

when you found that these securities
had been sold, you traced--

MARTHA: I got the information
from the clearinghouse.

That's when I found out that Ethel,

the defendant,
had signed the transfer authorization.

And what action did you take then?

I reported it to Mr. Carruthers.

He just couldn't believe it.

He brought in the police
and then Ethel called in.

Were you present when
Mr. Carruthers took that phone call?

Oh, yes, sir.

He begged her to come back
and explain herself,

but, of course,
she never showed up.

And that apparently started
the whole chain of events

that led to the m*rder of--

Objection. The district attorney
is leading the witness.

Withdraw the question, Mr. Mason.
Cross-examine.

Now, Miss Erskine,
was it your normal practice

to make a search of the records

for all securities
held by the, uh, company?

Well, no.

MASON: But on that particular
morning, without any direction,

working in an area foreign
to your normal assignment

as secretary to Mr. Carruthers,

you just happened to find
those particular securities missing,

just happened to check further
with the clearinghouse?

That's right.

I'm not one of those people
who just does enough to get by.

I knew we were shorthanded.

With Ethel out
and Bruce on vacation, why--

No offense, Miss Erskine.

You're conscientious.
Let's leave it at that.

Now, about Bruce Strickland,
the decedent.

- How long had you known him?
MARTHA: About two years.

Then you knew him before he came
to work for Mr. Carruthers?

- Yes.
MASON: Was that a coincidence,

or did you assist him
in getting the position?

We needed a salesman.

I introduced him to Mr. Carruthers,
and they hit it off right away.

And apparently,
you and the decedent were--

Well, tell me how you would describe
your relationship.

We were...close.

MASON:
Did you ever visit his apartment?

What's wrong with that?

MASON: Nothing. Would you
answer the question, please?

When he first came to work,
I helped him furnish it.

When was the last time you went
to that apartment, Miss Erskine?

We... We had dinner there together

on... On the th.

MASON: That was the night before
you discovered the securities missing,

the night before the defendant
waited for Bruce Strickland

in the wedding chapel?

The night before he started
on his vacation?

I guess so.

MASON:
Thank you, Miss Erskine.

MAN : Coming out, coming out.
- Roll them.

MAN :
And another.

MAN : Number eight.
Number eight's a point.

Here we go, number eight.

Okay, here we go.

[ALL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Number six.

Doing any good?

Ah, so-so.

I'm afraid you'll never get rich on me
unless you can reach into my pocket,

- because I won't.
- Ah, you've learned the big secret.

The house percentages
have to b*at you over the long haul.

- The way they b*at Peggy Sutton?
- Yeah.

Poor Peggy,
she was a natural-born loser.

But she just couldn't stay away
from the tables.

How was her credit?

Eighty-six and out here
whenever I was on duty.

She was the type,
the deeper she plunged,

the more desperate she got.

Bad business.

Then you don't think
she could possibly have had a big run,

picked up a bundle
and just taken off?

You seem pretty sure. Why?

A professional hood, a torpedo,
showed up here with a contract on her.

That means she must have dropped
a big bundle somewhere.

Poor kid.
Somebody should have warned her.

Somebody did. Me.

That's all I can tell you, Drake.
Maybe I've said too much already.

Excuse me.

- Well, the handsome detective.
- Heh.

Hello, Mrs. Milgrave.

- Come on, I'll buy you a drink.
- Fine.

Just can't stay away
from where the action is, huh?

Well, actually I'm working.

- Same deal. Peggy Sutton.
- Oh.

I read about it in the papers.

Poor, hard-luck Peggy.

Yes, sir?

- Oh, my usual, Clarice.
- Scotch and water, please.

- Well, no hard feelings?
- What do you mean?

That story your husband told me,
old family friend, fatherly interest,

somehow I just didn't buy it.

ALTHEA:
But it was the truth.

Oh, not that my husband's
any saint.

And from time to time,
I've had to protect my position.

Some of them
I've had to b*at off with clubs.

But not Peggy Sutton.

Not Peggy.

When Peggy first showed up,

I hired one of your fellow specialists
to look into it.

But where Peggy and my husband
were concerned,

there was absolutely
no hanky-panky.

Would you be willing to testify
to that in Los Angeles?

In case the prosecution brings it up
in the Ethel Andrews' trial?

Well, apparently,
they're going to bring it up.

I have a subpoena
to testify for the state.

The truth is, Mr. Burger,
Peggy Sutton was not only broke,

but had run out on a gambling debt
when she left Tahoe.

Yet you heard
the defense contention

that the defendant got $ ,
from Peggy Sutton.

I can't understand that.

I can't understand it either,
Mr. Milgrave.

Cross-examine.

In the statement
the defendant gave the police

which was read into the record,

you'll recall she claimed that she made
a loan of $ to Peggy Sutton?

Yes, I remember that.

Then your testimony, it seems,

would corroborate that part
of the defendant's statement.

MILGRAVE:
I suppose so. All I know is...

What do you suppose
Mason is up to?

He's arguing against his own case.

If Peggy Sutton had $ , ,
she certainly didn't have to borrow .

Now let's examine--

No further questions at this time.

Witness may stand down.

The state calls Mrs. Althea Milgrave.

I don't know yet if I'm gonna have
to call you to testify, Mr. Thomas,

but I had to be certain
you'd be here to back me up.

You can count on that.

Let's just hope
somebody gives you an opening.

No, I wasn't surprised
when she turned up missing.

She was in hock
to one of the casinos.

She knew my husband and I
wouldn't bail her out again.

Park had put his foot down
on that score.

So I guessed that she'd done
the only thing she could do,

run and drop out of sight.

And you can say that she had
no considerable amount of money

when she left Tahoe?

Certainly not $ , ,
if that's what you're getting at.

BURGER: That's exactly what I'm
getting at, Mrs. Milgrave. Thank you.

Take the witness, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Milgrave,
you testified that your husband,

I believe you said, "put his foot down"

and refused
to pay Peggy Sutton's debts.

Am I to understand that until then,
he had paid her debts?

- Uh, that's true, yes.
MASON: Why?

I don't understand what you mean.

I mean, what was the relationship
between them

that would make him feel
obligated to do so?

Well, it wasn't romantic,
if that's what you're implying.

You're quite sure of that?

I made quite sure of that.

Well, let's see now.

It wasn't romantic, but it seems
to have gone beyond friendship.

I wonder--

Thank you very much,
Mrs. Milgrave.

That's all?

That's quite enough.

Lieutenant Drumm,

after you completed
your preliminary investigation

at the scene of the m*rder,

and issued the APB
for Peggy Sutton,

what did you do?

DRUMM: We went to the decedent's
apartment, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
Was there evidence of forcible entry?

- No.
- Then apparently,

whoever entered that apartment
gained access with a key.

That's possible, yes.

Now, did you find anything
unusual there?

Yes, we found that a desk drawer
had been forced open,

and that a considerable amount
of currency,

an undetermined amount,
had been b*rned.

Now, about that money,
Lieutenant Drumm--

Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason is beginning
a line of questioning

which the prosecution believes

to be completely immaterial
and irrelevant.

Since defense counsel
is holding in trust a sum of money

equivalent to that stolen
from the defendant's employer,

and since Mr. and Mrs. Milgrave's
testimony leaves no doubt

that the deceased, Peggy Sutton,
had no substantial funds at all,

I fail to see how counsel
can possibly connect

Lieutenant Drumm's testimony
about b*rned currency

with the m*rder of Bruce Strickland.

- Mr. Mason?
- Your Honor, not only do I believe

that the b*rned currency and
the m*rder are inextricably intertwined,

but by a brief questioning
of one witness,

I believe we can bring this case
to a conclusion.

Well, I'll, uh,
not rule out the subject,

but the district attorney may object
to specific questions.

The clerk will enter this package
and mark it defense exhibit number .

You will recall
Lieutenant Drumm's testimony

concerning the b*rned currency.

BURGER:
Objection, Your Honor.

JUDGE: Mr. Burger, will you
approach the bench, please?

Now, let's dispose of the question
of admissibility.

Your Honor,
the prosecution has characterized

these defense contentions as lies:

One, that a girl with $ , in cash

was compelled to borrow $
from a stranger.

Two, that a man the defendant had
never seen before searched her room

and, unable to find
what he was looking for, abducted her.

Three, that Peggy Sutton
suggested on first meeting,

that she and the defendant
exchange identities.

That's right, Your Honor.

The prosecution also maintains
that the b*rned currency

found in the dead man's apartment
has no bearing on this case.

But, Your Honor,

there is one key that can explain these
apparently unrelated circumstances,

prove that Ethel Andrews
has told the truth

and point to Bruce Strickland's k*ller.

Now, I believe we have here
such a key.

I'm going to allow you to continue,
Mr. Mason. Objection is overruled.

Would you agree, Mr. Milgrave?

Agree to what?

That the money in this package
is in fact the key?

What--? This, uh...

I can understand your surprise,
Mr. Milgrave,

because this is the money
you thought you b*rned

in Bruce Strickland's apartment.

And, Your Honor,
it also explains why,

after taking it from Mr. Milgrave,
Peggy Sutton was fleeing for her life,

why she was forced to borrow money
from the defendant,

why she was so eager to switch
identities, and why the defendant,

still being mistaken for Peggy Sutton,
was abducted.

How, Your Honor?
Mr. Mason, how?

Because, Mr. Burger,

the money in this package
is counterfeit.

And if you have any doubts,

Mr. Thomas
of the U.S. Treasury Department

has already examined it
and is in court.

Mr. Milgrave,

you didn't even know Bruce Strickland,
but you k*lled him.

Why?

I... I honestly didn't intend to.

But he was in there
searching the room.

I was afraid he was there
for the same reason I was.

And afterwards,
when I took the keys

and found the money in his apartment
and b*rned it, I thought I was safe.

A m*rder*r is never safe,
Mr. Milgrave.

That idea is as false
as this money you printed.

This is just the evidence we needed
to break up

the biggest counterfeiting operation
we've bumped into in a long time.

And the engraving's almost perfect.

For a woman who's just been freed
on a m*rder charge,

you don't seem very happy.

I'm also a woman
who's been naive and gullible.

I must be making some progress.
At least I recognize it.

There ought to be some consolation
in knowing

you were up against a professional
passer of counterfeit money.

Peggy saw a chance
to make a private deal,

stole the package from her boss--

Switched identities with me
so they'd chase me instead of her.

There must be a moral in that
somewhere.

Yes. I'm sure it'll come to you.

[ETHEL CHUCKLES]

Della and I will meet you downstairs.
We'll celebrate.

I'm taking everybody
to the best restaurant on La Cienega.

Sparkling Burgundy, crepe Suzette,
the works.

Paul, I don't mean to look a gift horse
in the mouth,

but, uh, did you happen to pick up
some of that phony money?

PAUL:
Heh. Forget money.

When Paul Drake entertains,
the sky is the limit.

Oh, uh, speaking of money,
uh, could you let me have $ ?

This, um...

- This is a loan.
- Uh-huh.

- And the celebration is on you.
- Certainly.

Just, uh,
put it on my expense account.

Uh, Della?