01x34 - The Case of the Gilded Lily

[bunniefuu]

[EXHALES]

Well!

[WHISPERING]
Hey, Enid, are you awake?

Enid?

[GASPS]
Enid!

Enid!

Operator... Operator,
this is an emergency!

How is she, Doctor?

Your roommate is a very
lucky girl, Miss Bowers.
Oh.

Who's the man?
Man?

Isn't that why Miss Griffin
tried to commit su1c1de?

Oh, no,
it was an accident.

No, honest, Doctor.
Enid's been...

Well, she's been having
trouble sleeping lately,

and I guess maybe
she got desperate

and took
too many pills.

Oh, they won't have to
put this in the papers,
will they?

I'll have to
file a report,

but I don't think
the papers will pick it up.

Oh, thanks, Doctor.
Can she go
to work tomorrow?

I don't see why not.

If you run into
any difficulty,
give me a ring.

Thanks, Doctor.

Good night.
Good night.

How could he do it,
Sheila?

Just because our boss
got married,

that doesn't mean
it's the end of the world.

It is for me.

Enid,
Mr. Charles Stewart Brent
is your employer,

not your boyfriend.

You work for the man.
You don't own him.

He was so kind
and so considerate,

and after
his first wife d*ed,

we got

to be so close.

You saw that yourself.

Oh, Enid, get down from
the clouds and face facts.

Kindness and consideration

aren't exactly symptoms
of passion, you know,

and you better remember that

before he gets back
to the office next week.

He was trapped, I know it,

and I'm n-not
going to give up.

I'm--I'm going to go on
fighting.

Enid, honey,
will you listen to me?

I must have been crazy
to try what I did.

It would just make things
easier for her.

I-I won't do that again.

It's going to be
a long day, darling.

Good morning, Mr. Brent.

Congratulations.
She sure is pretty.

Thanks, George.

Perry!

Good to see you, Brent,
and congratulations.

Thanks. I'm anxious
to have you meet Anne.

As a matter of fact,
we're having a small party
Tuesday night.

We'd love to have you
and Miss Street.
You can count on us.

I won't hold you up.
I know you're busy.
I'll see you.

Good morning, Sheila.
Good morning, Mr. Brent,
and congratulations.

Thank you.
Will you tell Enid I'm in?

Yes, sir.

Oh, may I help you?

I'd like to see Mr. Brent.

May I have your name,
please?

Arthur Binney.

Would you please
have a seat, Mr. Binney?

Mr. Brent's secretary is out
at the moment but she'll
be back in a minute.

Morning, Enid.

Good morning.

Meet my new boss.

Beautiful, isn't she?

By the way,
did you get my wire

about making arrangements
for the reception?

Yes. It's all taken care of.

Oh, and...
There's a Mr. Arthur Binney

waiting to see you.

Binney? Can't you handle him?

He said it was
a personal matter, something
to do with Mrs. Brent.

All right, send him in.

Mr. Brent?

That's right.

I can't tell you how happy
this makes me. I've heard
a lot about you.

I don't want to be rude,
Mr. Binney,

but I am a busy man.

Sure you are.

I'll come right to the point.

My partner and I
are planning a little
business venture,

and we thought you might
like to buy some space.

Just how does this
concern my wife?

My partner and I were planning
a series of articles

on the wives
of prominent people.

We thought that
Mrs. Brent would make
an interesting story,

particularly with mug sh*ts
and fingerprints.

What do you mean?

We thought it would make
a nice 3-page spread.

Blackmail.

Oh, I wish you wouldn't talk
that way, Mr. Brent.

I'm just trying to sell
a little advertising space.

BRENT: A 3-page spread?
BINNEY: Mmm-hmm.

How much?

BINNEY: $10,000 a page.

That's not expensive,
considering our circulation.

Just what is my wife
supposed to have done?

Well, she had this jewelry
that was insured.

She made the mistake
of pawning it

and then reporting it stolen.

Police take a very dim view
of those kind of tactics.

I'm going to want some time
to look into this.

Sure. Take all the time
you want.

I don't want you to think
we're rushing you.

You can, uh, keep
those mug sh*ts
if you like.

We have others.

Just a minute.

How do I get
in touch with you?

You don't.

I'll get in touch
with you

in exactly a week.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Yes, Mr. Brent?

Enid, get me the Paul Drake
detective agency.

If he's not in, his
telephone answering service
can locate him.

Yes, Mr. Brent.

Could that be a forgery?

It could be.

There's an easy way
to find out,
ask Mrs. Brent.

Look, Mr. Drake, I'm in love
with my wife. I'm not looking
for a divorce.

How much do you know of
your wife's background?

Well, actually, not much.

We only met two weeks ago
in Las Vegas.

It was like
getting caught up
in a cyclone.

I'll check it out.

It would help if
I had samples
of her fingerprints

to compare
with this police file.

I'm having a wedding
reception at my penthouse
tomorrow night.

Maybe you could
arrange to be there.
I'll be there.

I know I don't
have to remind you
to keep this thing quiet.

Don't worry. Mr. Brent,
may I give you some advice?

Like what?

Blackmail, like cancer,
needs radical treatment.

If I were you,
I'd see a lawyer.

I'll keep it in mind.

Goodbye.
Thank you.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[LIGHT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]

Darling, I'd like
to have you meet
Perry Mason.

How do you do?

How do you do,
Mr. Mason?

I've always wanted to
meet my husband's
most famous tenant.

"Infamous" might be
a better word.
Have you met my secretary?

Yes. I envy you,
Miss Street.

You must have
a most fascinating job.

Oh, it is.
Just don't ask me
about the hours.

Mmm. Will you
excuse me a moment?
Certainly.

Donald, I think you're
putting too much vermouth
in these martinis.

The other Mrs. Brent always
preferred serving her martinis
a little on the sweet side.

How delightfully
old-fashioned. Will you
please make up a fresh batch?

I do hope you're not
annoyed with me.

No, I'm not annoyed,
Mrs. Brent.

Besides, what difference
does it make?

I'm just your husband's
secretary.

That's no way to talk, Enid.

Why, Stewart does nothing
but rave about you.

You won't blame me
if I'm a little bit jealous.

Why don't we sit down
and have a little chat?

What about
your other guests?

Oh, pooh on
my other guests.

I'd much sooner
get to know you.

Bored?

No, I'm just hungry.

What do you think
of our hostess?

Attractive.
She has a mind of her own.

Instinct?

Observation.

She just had
a mild skirmish with
Brent's girl Friday.

I didn't know Paul
was a social butterfly.

Thank you.

Mrs. Brent,
you're missing
an earring.

I know. I left it
in the music room.

How very observant of you.

Mr. Brent says
that I never miss a thing.

Maybe he's minding
the silver.

[CHUCKLES]

Do I need glasses?

Maybe we both do.

By the way, Perry,
are you interested
in music?

Why?

I'd like to show you
the wedding present
I gave my wife.

Sounds interesting,
mind if Della joins us?

This way.

Nice?

Beautiful.

[ORGAN PLAYING]

Like the tone?

Very nice. But you
didn't bring me in here
just so you could play.

That's right.

Look, Perry,
a very close friend
of mine

is having trouble
with one of those
scandal magazines.

Apparently, they've
uncovered some dirt,
probably false,

but they thr*aten
to publish it.

They promise to hold the
press and sell him the story,
if he buys space.

My friend asked me
for advice. I promised
I'd mention it to you.

I advise your friend
to go to the police.

What about the scandal?

Unfortunately, your friend
should realize that scandal,
like m*rder, will out.

I can see that, but...

I'm terribly sorry,
am I intruding?
Not at all, darling.

I think I left
one of my earrings
in here.

Was that it?

Thank you.

Stewart, you should be ashamed
of yourself, monopolizing
Mr. Mason and Miss Street.

I do want you
to meet all our
other guests.

I'd be delighted.

STEWART: Is that you, Drake?
Yeah.

I'm in here.

Well?
I'm afraid it's
no good, Mr. Brent.

Mrs. Brent's fingerprints
on that matchbox check out
with the police bulletin.

As you can see by these
photos, I've listed


In court,
you only need 12.

Anything further
on her record?

It came in
this morning.

She was convicted
in Tacoma six years ago,
under the name of Anne King.

She served a year in prison.

Thanks, Mr. Drake.
Just send me a bill.

Sorry, Mr. Brent.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Brent speaking.

At least you'll admit
I'm a man of my word.

I promised to give you a week.

My partner wants to know
if you've decided to
buy that space.

I have the money in cash.

Good.

Now, why don't you just
drive out Ventura Boulevard
to Angeles?

There's a motel on the corner
called the Valley Motel.

You go in and register,
and I'll see you around 9:00.

How will you know
which unit I'm in?

That's simple.

You register under the name
of Thomas Walsh.

Better get a move on, sweetie.
He'll be here in half an hour.

Why can't I
stay in here?

I told you a dozen times,
sweetie. We can't take
the chance.

Now, be a good girl
and get a move on.

I'll call you
as soon as I get the cash.

Night.

Night, baby.

[MURMURING]

Last Time Out came in eighth,


[TELEPHONE BUZZING]

Valley Motel.

Who? Mr. Reed? Yeah, he's in
unit four, wait a minute,
I'll connect you.

Oh, good evening.
I'd like a room.

Well, I think we can fix
you up all right, if you don't
mind sharing a bathroom.

Not if it's necessary.
Yeah.

Mr. Walsh, well, we got
your reservation, yeah.
Good.

How long it take you to drive
down from San Francisco?

About eight hours.
Eight hours?

That's quite a trip.
Now here's a nice one
here, unit eight.

This is a room
that's spotless.

I just finished painting it
myself this afternoon.

And you wanna know something?
There's no smell
from this paint.

The new paint
they're turning out now
is marvelous.

And I always say,
give your customer a good,
clean place to live in,

they'll come back
again and again.

That's very interesting.
Could I have the key?

Oh yes, we gotta
show you over.

Never mind, that
won't be necessary.
How much is it?

$5, check out time
is 11:00 a.m.

Say, Mr. Walsh,
do you believe in
hunches?

There's a hunch running here
at Santa Anita called
Walsh's Pride.

I'm gonna put $2
on his nose.

No sense of humor.

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

MITCHELL: Mr. Binney!

Mr. Binney!

Mr. Binney!

This yours?

What about
the briefcase?
That's mine, too.

How do you explain
the initials "C.S.B."?

My name is
Charles Stewart Brent.

And yet you registered
under the name of
Thomas Walsh.

How well did you
know Arthur Binney?
Well enough
to k*ll him.

Do you realize
what you're saying,
Mr. Brent?

Exactly. If you care to,
I'll dictate a statement.

Well, I...
I'd like that very much.

Suppose you'll make it
at headquarters.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Lieutenant Tragg, there's
a phone call for you,
a Mr. Hamilton Burger.

I'll be right back.

Will you let me have
a cigarette?

[MAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

Thanks.

[POLICE RADIO CHATTERING]

All right, let's go.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe
one word.

All I can tell you,
Mrs. Brent, is that I spoke
with your husband myself

not more
than an hour ago.

And he says
he k*lled this man?

No. What possible motive
could Stewart have?

Your husband claims
Binney had proof

he was involved in a
hit-and-run accident
eight months ago.

Binney was
blackmailing him?
That's right.

No. No,
it's not true.

Why, even if it were,
why should Stewart k*ll him?
He could have bought him off.

That was
Binney's idea.

But Stewart says
he wouldn't stand for it,

and the police didn't find
a penny in that motel room.

No. You can never get
me to believe that.

Whatever possessed Stewart
to make up such a story?

Isn't that obvious?
He must be shielding
someone.

Have you any idea
who this someone could be?
No.

Did you know
Arthur Binney?

Of course not.
Are you sure?

I resent that.

Your husband's
in serious trouble,
Mrs. Brent.

He could very easily
wind up in the gas chamber.

He admits Binney
was blackmailing him.

But I'm sure Stewart's
never done anything
wrong in his life.

Can you say as much
for yourself?

You know, I've got a feeling
that Binney was playing
both sides of the street.

Just what does
that mean?

I think he was blackmailing
both you and your husband.

Well, I can't speak
for my husband...

But he was
blackmailing you?

Yes.

He knew I served
a year for defrauding
an insurance company.

Were you guilty?

I could say no,
but it wouldn't be true.

I needed money
desperately at the time.

Oh, I know
that's no excuse.

But I'd like to think
I paid for what I did.

How did Binney
find out about you?

I have no idea.
He threatened
to go to Stewart.

I couldn't afford it,
so I paid him.

In cash?

No, I gave him a pair
of diamond earrings.

They were
worth $2,500.

And you didn't go out
to the Valley Motel
last night?

You have my word,
Mr. Mason,
for what it's worth.

Mrs. Brent,
I just got the news.

I went down to
police headquarters, and
they wouldn't let me see him.

Mr. Mason, you've just
got to do something.

Mr. Mason will do
everything he can.

That's a promise,
Mrs. Brent.

I'll see there's no
trouble the next time
you want to see Mr. Brent.

That dirty swine!
He deserved k*lling!

No one deserves k*lling,
Brent. Let's stop that
right now.

But he was blackmailing
my wife, too!

That shouldn't be
a complete shock
to you.

You must have thought
she k*lled him.
No!

Then what else could
have made you confess?

What did you find in
Binney's room that seemed
to indict your wife?

That night I went to
the motel room, Binney
hit me from behind.

Then how did you
know it was Binney?

I just assumed
it was, that's all.

Anyway, when I regained
consciousness, I went into
the bathroom to wash up,

and that's when I saw my g*n.

It was wrapped in
a little hand towel.

Go on.

Then I walked into
the adjoining room
and saw Binney, dead.

Near the body was one of
my wife's diamond earrings.

You remember, the kind
she misplaced at the party.

What did you do
with the earring?

I wrapped it in the
towel and hid it in
Lieutenant Tragg's police car

when they were taking me
to headquarters.

Where did you hide it?

In the back
of the rear seat.

Can you prove you
drew the payoff money
out of the bank?

Well, Enid Griffin,
my secretary, can.

She made
the withdrawal for me.

I just hope you've
been telling me
the truth, Mr. Brent.

We've got an
awfully tough
row to hoe.

It's the darnedest thing,
Perry,

but all I can find
out about this guy Binney

is that he came down here
from Tacoma about
three weeks ago.

What about
his background?

He seems to have made
a career out of these
scandal magazines,

but he's never published
a single copy.

Obviously,
he was always
bought off.

What about partners?
According to my information,
he always worked solo.

Yet he definitely told Brent
he had a partner.

I know,
but I can't help it.

Sorry to bother you, Perry,
but Enid Griffin's here.

Well, I'll be
moving along.

Keep digging,
Paul.

All right, Della.
Better have her come in.

Right. Will you come in,
Miss Griffin?

Thank you.

Won't you sit down?

It doesn't look
good, does it?

Well, it doesn't look
that bad.

You're just trying
to make me feel better.

Mr. Brent
did not k*ll Binney.

I don't think he did,
either.

You've got a 50% chance
at being right.

Did you withdraw $30,000
from Mr. Brent's personal
account on May 17th?

Yes, I did, and I brought
the bankbook to prove it.

Now, what are you going
to do about the towel?

What towel?

The one Mr. Brent hid
in the police car.

Who told you
about that?

He did. I went back to
the jail after I saw you,
and they let me in.

You've got to get it
before the police do.

That's impossible,
Miss Griffin.

First of all,
if such a towel exists,
it must be evidence

and consequently
should be turned over to
the authorities. Secondly...

I don't want to hear
any of your
legal mumbo jumbo.

All I know is Mr. Brent
can go to the gas chamber.

Don't give me your
legal technicalities.

Those technicalities
are designed for the
protection of us all.

Are you going to get that
stuff out of Lieutenant
Tragg's car or not?

[DOOR SLAMS]

[POLICE RADIO CHATTERING]

Happy birthday,
Lieutenant.

What did you say?
Happy birthday.

Well, ain't it?
Where'd you get
that idea?

That girl.
What girl?

The blonde. She was here
about an hour ago, and she
said she was your niece.

Go on.
It'll kind of spoil
the surprise.

I'll take my chances.
What did she want?

She had a birthday gift
for you, and she wanted
to put it in your car.

Did you let her?
No, sir. I told her
it was against regulations.

She seemed
a little upset.

Well,
I shouldn't wonder.

Let's see if my
hunch is right.

[POLICE RADIO CHATTERING]

Let's try the back.

Here. Give me a hand.

And that's the spot where
the cops found the body.

Oh, the police took
a b*llet out over there.

How long had
Mr. Binney lived here?

Well, let's see.
He checked in,
I think it was the 8th.

He said he was from Tacoma.
He was supposed to be
a lingerie salesman.

Did he ever have
any visitors?
Only that blonde.

Hmm?

What blonde
was that?

Well, the same one
I saw him drive in with
a couple of times.

Would you recognize her
if you saw her again?

I might, but to tell you
the truth, I didn't pay
too much attention to her.

Was she here on the
night of the m*rder?

Well, I honestly
couldn't say.

You were the one who
discovered my client
near the body?

That's right.
What brought you down here?
Did you hear the sh*t?

No. I tell ya, I wondered
why Mr. Binney hadn't
answered the phone.

I hadn't seen him go out.

Do you know
who called him?

Some dame, uh,
pardon me.

It was the same one who calls
him practically every day.

But she never left
a name?
No, sir.

Well, thank you, uh,
very much, Mr. Mitchell.

Well, thank you.
Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Where you going?

Over to see Mrs. Brent.
I'm worried about her.

What's so funny?

Oh, nothing, nothing.
Oh, now look, Sheila.

[DOOR BELL BUZZES]

Oh, Mr. Mason.
Good evening, Enid.
May I come in?

Of course.
Come on in.

I don't know if you know
my roommate, Sheila Bowers.

I believe we met once
in Mr. Brent's office.
How are you, Sheila?

Oh, fine, thank you.
You'll have to pardon
my appearance.

I should apologize
for disturbing you.

Oh, that's
perfectly all right.
Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Ahem, well if you will
excuse me, I'll change
my clothes. Excuse me.

I know I should apologize
for the way I behaved
in the office the other day.

It was perfectly
understandable. You
were under a strain.

How's Mr. Brent?

All right.

You don't think anything
really will happen to him,
do you?

Well, it will

unless we can find
someone who had a better
motive to k*ll Binney.

What do you think of
Mrs. Brent?

What do I
think of her?
As a person, I mean.

Well, I think Mr. Brent
was very lucky to have
found someone like her.

I think she's a wonderful,
charming woman.

Do you think
she might have k*lled Binney?

Absolutely not.

And you don't feel she married
Mr. Brent for his money?

No.

But you do know
her past is a trifle shady.

No.

Didn't you overhear Binney
and Mr. Brent talking
on the intercom?

That's what Mr. Brent told me.

Well, I figured there
was nothing to it.

All you have to do is
look at Mrs. Brent to see
what a nice person she is.

Thank you very much, Enid.

You've been
very helpful.

I don't see how.

Say goodbye to Sheila
for me.

There's a phone call for you.
Who?

She wouldn't say, but she
claims she has information
on the Brent case.

Line 2.

Hello?
WOMAN: Mr. Mason?

Yes. Who is this?

I don't think names
really matter, do they?

What can I do for you?

Nothing. I just thought maybe
I could do something for you.

You go to trial tomorrow,
don't you?

Yes.

Well, before you do,

you ought to check the
police files on Mr. Brent's
private secretary.

Did you know that she tried to
commit su1c1de because of him?

No, I didn't.
When was this?

The day after he got married.

You, uh, might find
there's a connection.

We will show you,
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury, a statement,

which the defendant
voluntarily made and signed

in which he confesses
to the m*rder
of Arthur Binney.

And we will prove to you
that the defendant,
Charles Stewart Brent,

is indeed guilty
of this crime of m*rder
and in the first degree.

Mr. Mason?

The defense reserves its
opening statement until the
prosecution rests, your honor.

Very well, gentlemen.
You may proceed,
Mr. Burger.

I call Miss Enid Griffin
to the stand, please.

BAILIFF: Miss Enid Griffin,
please.

Yes, this is
Mr. Brent's
briefcase.

If it please the court,
I should like this
marked for exhibit.

Miss Griffin,

were you in your office on
May 15th when Arthur Binney
first visited Mr. Brent?

Yes.
Would you describe
their discussion, please?

I object,
your honor.

This is calling for
the rankest form of hearsay.

If it please the court,
this is not hearsay at all.

Miss Griffin knows about
that conversation from her
personal knowledge,

as I shall surely prove.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Miss Griffin,

do you have an interoffice
communication system

between your office and
that of your employer,
Mr. Brent?

Yes.

And on the occasion
of Arthur Binney's
first visit to Mr. Brent,

was the key to the intercom
turned up so that you could
overhear the conversation?

I don't remember.

Well, let me refresh your
memory. Did you visit
my office on Tuesday?

Yes.

And did I show you
at that time a statement

dictated by your employer,
Mr. Brent, in which he said
the key was turned up?

Yes.

And did you admit to me that
it was true and that you did
overhear that conversation?

Yes.

Well, all right, then.
I ask you again,
what did Mr. Binney say?

He said that he wanted
$30,000 from Mr. Brent.

He said if he didn't get it,
he would expose Mrs. Brent.

Expose Mrs. Brent how?

In a magazine.

He knew she had served
a prison sentence.

Thank you.
Your witness.

Miss Griffin,

on May 17th,
did you make
a withdrawal

of $30,000 from Mr. Brent's
personal account at the State
National savings and loan?

I did.

At the time Mr. Brent
got this money,

was it your understanding
he intended to pay the
blackmailer or k*ll him?

I object. It calls
for a conclusion
not based on facts.

Objection sustained.

You'll refrain from this type
of questioning, counselor.

I'm sorry, your honor.
I have no further questions.

The witness may...

If it please the court,
I have one question
for this witness on redirect.

Miss Griffin,

we've heard you testify
that you withdrew $30,000

for Mr. Brent
from his bank account

on the day of the m*rder.

But to your own
personal knowledge,

do you know whether he
took that money with him
to the Valley Motel?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, as far as you know,
he may have hidden it
someplace.

Well, then, why would he
take it out of the bank?

In order to give
himself an alibi.

I have no further question
for this witness, your honor.

You may step down,
Miss Griffin.

I call
Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.

Lieutenant,

does this appear to you to be
an accurate diagram of the two
motel units in question?

Yes, sir.

This is unit 8, and
this is unit 9, where
the dead body was found?

That's right.

Now, Lieutenant, did you
conduct any investigation

with regard to the course
taken by the fatal b*llet?

Yes, I did, with the
help of Dr. Cortley
of the crime lab.

What was the nature
of the investigation?

Well, first we determined,
by various tests,

that the k*ller was
approximately 10 feet
away from the victim.

Then we determined the
direction by a sh*t track.

I see. Would you
step over to the chart,
please, Lieutenant?

And would you explain to
the court what you mean
when you say "a sh*t track"?

You stretch a string
along the calculated
path of the b*llet.

We knew the angle at which
the b*llet entered the wall

after passing through
the victim's body.

And would you point out
for the jury, please,
on this diagram,

where you believe the
k*ller stood when
the fatal sh*t was fired?

Right there.

You think he sh*t
through the connecting door
from unit 8?

Yes, sir.

And unit 8 is the one that
was rented by the defendant

under the fictitious name
of Thomas Walsh.

That's right.

Would you resume the stand,
please, Lieutenant?

Now I ask if you
recognize this towel.

Yes, I do.

And this earring?

Yes, that was wrapped
in the towel.

Easy does it.

I see. I would like these
marked for exhibit.

Please hand these
to the clerk.

How'd they find it?

Now, Lieutenant,

would you describe
for us how you discovered
this property?

Yes. It was hidden
under the back seat
of my car.

Did you try to trace
its ownership?

Normally I use
my notebook.
Please do.

The, uh...

It was purchased by
the defendant, Stewart Brent,
from Dorf and Cole.

And did Stewart Brent,
the defendant,

ever ride in the back seat
of your car?

Yes, sir. We drove him
to headquarters on the
night of the m*rder.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Your witness.

Uh, may I?
Thank you.

And now, Lieutenant,

I believe earrings
customarily come in pairs.
Is that correct?

Yes, sir.
Did you find the mate
to this one?

No. No, sir.
I assume you searched
the motel room thoroughly?

We certainly did.
Did you thoroughly search
the defendant, too?

Well, a preliminary search.

And you didn't find
the towel or the earring?

Well, I found them in my car.

How long after the crime?
Oh, about 48 hours.

And during those
intervening 48 hours,

isn't it possible
that someone else

might have planted
that evidence in your car?

Yes, sir. It's possible,
not probable.

Now, Lieutenant,

let's turn our
attention to the g*n.

Isn't this rather
a noisy w*apon?

It does
make a noise.

Yet strangely enough,

no one in the motel
heard the report.

A sil*ncer of some kind
might have been used on it.

Did you find any such sil*ncer
in either motel room?

No. No, sir.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
That's all.

You may step down, Lieutenant.

I call Dr. Otto Cortley.

BAILIFF: Dr. Otto Cortley.

Dr. Cortley,
would you please
tell the jury

what textbooks you've been
responsible for editing?

Burke's Criminal
Investigation,


Spiro's Forensic Medicine,

Damby's Detection of m*rder.

I'm also a consultant
of the police crime lab.

If the court please,
we are all aware of
Dr. Cortley's reputation

and stipulate his admission
as expert witness, subject to
cross-examination.

Dr. Cortley, I show
you now this towel and
ask if you recognize it.

I do. It was brought to me
May 20th by Lieutenant Tragg,
for a detailed analysis.

Would you tell the jury,
please, the result of
that detailed analysis?

The laundry mark in the
upper right-hand corner

will indicate that the towel
is the property of
the Valley Motel.

The towel's been used
for normal cleansing purposes,

as you can tell
from the traces of lipstick.

If the court please,
this is wholly irrelevant
and immaterial.

Mr. Burger?

My next question will
establish the relevancy,
your honor.

Proceed.

What else did
you find, Doctor?

There is a b*llet hole
in the towel,

which along with the
presence of nitrite and
smokeless powder,

indicates that the towel has
also been used as a sil*ncer.

Thank you, Doctor.
Cross-examine.

Dr. Cortley,

you said you found traces
of nitrite and smokeless
powder on this towel?

I did.
And you also found
traces of lipstick?

Yes, sir.
Can you tell us
what kind of lipstick?

I can. It's a shade
called "Hibiscus Red."

It's made by Duval Freres.

Did you find anything else
on this towel?

Well, there were some
minute hair particles that
adhered to the surface.

Did you make a
classification to determine
whether they were human hairs?

Yes, sir,
they were human hairs.

Did you subject these hairs
to a microscopic analysis?
I did.

What did they tell you about
the person who used this?

Well, from the structure
and size of the hair,

I should say that the
woman that used this towel
was in her early 30s.

She's a habitual user
of peroxide ammonia,

and the hair endings
indicate that she was
originally a light brunette.

Let me ask you this, Doctor.

Did you personally view
the scene of the crime?

I did.

And you watched as
Lieutenant Tragg

made a sh*t track to determine
from where the sh*t came?

Yes, sir.
It was remarkably well done.

I'm sure it was,

but in all these things,
isn't there a chance of error?
Yes.

Could it be off, say,
four or five feet?

It could.

May I have that diagram
of the motel, please?

Thank you, Doctor.

Thank you.

Now, Doctor, let us take
a hypothetical case.

Suppose there was
a blonde hiding in a
bathroom of a motel room

very much like this one

and that a body were found
right over here.

Is it possible that
this hypothetical blonde

could have fired the sh*t
from the bathroom like so,

so that the b*llet would
still wind up in here,

as revealed by a sh*t track?

It is possible, Mr. Mason.

That's all I ask.
Thank you, Dr. Cortley.

Mr. Burger?

Oh, I'm sorry, your honor.
No redirect.

You may step down, Doctor.

Since it is almost 5:00,
if counsel has no objection,

I would like to suggest
that we adjourn.

I have no objection,
your honor.

Nor have I,
your honor.

Very well. This court
stands adjourned till


What the devil
is keeping Paul?

He should have been
here an hour ago.
PAUL: Speak of the devil.

Well, what did
you find out?

Your informant was right.

Enid Griffin did try to
commit su1c1de the day
after Brent was married.

There was nothing about
it in the papers.

Did you get
the pictures?
Mmm-hmm.

Very blonde
and very pretty.

That is Mrs. Brent.

Enid Griffin.

Sheila Bowers.

Have copies made of
these and send them
to your man in Seattle.

See if any of these women
served time eight years ago.

Well, we know
that Anne Brent did.

I know, but don't tell
your man that. Let him
find out for himself.

Take this set over
to Mitchell at
the Valley Motel.

He'll probably testify
tomorrow. I'd like him to look
these girls over carefully.

He's already seen them
in court.

Yes, but he wasn't
concentrating on them.

When dealing with
someone impressionable,

it's surprising how
much more they remember
by looking at a photograph.

Such as?

Just ask him if any
of these three blondes
visited Binney at the motel.

As a matter of fact,
don't let him commit
himself right off.

Let him sleep on it.

I'll be perfectly satisfied
if he's made up his mind by
the time he takes the stand.

Right.

Mr. Mitchell, you're
the night manager of the
Valley Motel on Ventura?

That's right.

Would you tell us,
please, what happened on
the evening of May 17th?

Around 9:30...

Is that the part you want, or
do you want me to tell you
about what happened all day?

No, no. That's right.
Just start at 9:30.

Like I was saying,
at about 9:30, some
lady called Mr. Binney.

I rang his room,
but there was no answer.

I thought it seemed
kind of funny, because
I didn't see him go out.

So I went around
to his room to check.

And when you looked in
unit 9, what did you see?

I saw him standing
over near the body.

By him, you mean
Stewart Brent,
the defendant?

Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Mitchell,

the defense has made much
of a hypothetical blonde.

Did you see any
such woman in unit 9?

No, sir.
Was she in unit 8?

Well, if she was,
I certainly didn't see her.

And would you have seen
her if she had been in
the adjoining bathroom?

I sure would.

That's all, Mr. Mitchell.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Mitchell,

when you first saw
the defendant in unit 9,
was he holding the g*n?

Yes, sir.
And what did you do?

I ran to call the cops.
Uh, excuse me, I mean,
the police.

But you said the defendant
had a g*n in his hand.
Did he try to stop you?

No, sir.

Now, getting back
to the deceased, Mr. Binney,

how long had he been a guest
at the Valley Motel?

Close now to three weeks.

Did Mr. Binney
have any visitors?

Only one.

You mean this person
only appeared once?

It was just that
same dame, uh...

[CLEARS THROAT]
Same blonde.

She was the only one
that used to come to see him.

MASON: How often did she visit
the deceased?

Two or three times a week.

I could see her from my office
when she drove up in her car.

Mr. Mitchell, does the
name Shirley Carroll
mean anything to you?

Shirley Carroll... No.

Then let me ask you this,

is Mr. Binney's blonde visitor
present in this court?

She sure is. She's sitting
right over there.

That's a lie!
I didn't k*ll Binney!

Why should I?
We were partners.

He was alive when I left
the motel that night!

I didn't do it!
I swear it!

I swear I didn't do it!

I swear!

MITCHELL:
...I want to look up here.

Good evening.
I'd like a room, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, you're, uh...
You're Mrs. Brent.

I'd still like a room,
preferably unit 9.

Look, lady, I don't know
what your game is.

It's button, button,
who's got the button,

and I don't need
any partners to play.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Arthur Binney was my partner.

Are you crazy?
That blonde was his
partner, Sheila Bowers.

She was just my
contact with Binney.

Who do you think
planned this whole thing?

I served time with her.

You mean you were going to
clip your own husband?

Well, I figured $30,000
wasn't bad for a marriage
that couldn't last very long.

Incidentally,
what happened
to that money?

How should I know?

Who should know better?

How come you missed
that diamond earring?

I gave Binney the pair of them
to make the plot look good.

You tell me.
You seem to know it all.

Well, I imagine you were so
nervous when you took them
out of Binney's pocket,

you dropped one of them
and were afraid to take
the time to look for it?

You're a liar.

Don't misunderstand me.

I feel that you are entitled
to some part of that money.

Binney told me what
a great help you were.

Shall we say $1,000?
Shall we say nuts?

I wouldn't do that.

You don't want any more
trouble, do you, Mitchell?

I think we've had enough
excitement for one night.
Excuse me.

All right, Mason,
so you were right.

But, uh,
what was the tip-off?

Well, if my client
was telling the truth,

it meant that someone
else entered unit 8 while
Brent was unconscious.

Now, who was in the best
position to manage that?

Mitchell, he had a passkey.

Mmm-hmm.

While Binney was putting
the money in his grip,
Mitchell entered,

took the g*n off Brent's bed,
sh*t Binney from the bathroom,
using the towel as a sil*ncer.

Darling,
you were wonderful.

Tell me again.

All right, Mr., uh...
Come on, Tragg.

I think Mr. Brent's got
the situation well in hand.

Let's wait in the car.