My dear, Mrs. Fargo, what a delightful surprise.
What are you doing here, Carlin?
I could say that I came to see some friends off,
but that wouldn't be telling the truth.
Actually, I came expressly to see you.
How did you know?
That you were going to Harristown?
My dear, Mrs. Fargo, I know every move that you make.
Had you by any chance forgotten that tomorrow
is the th of the month?
How could I ever forget.
And yet, you were going to leave town.
Haven't you been blackmailing me long enough?
Mrs. Fargo, please.
$, every month for the past year.
Actually, it's only been months.
Believe me Mrs. Fargo I can sympathize with you completely.
Tell me how would you like it if you were never to see me again?
Well, I see the prospect is attractive.
For a lump sum payment, I could oblige you.
How much?
Shall we say $,.
You wonder what assurance you would have that I
would never bother you again.
You will have my word of honor.
Well, I see you would consider that insufficient.
Suppose that I were to turn over the complete Charles
Gallagher file to you.
When?
Simultaneously with your attorney and the $,
over to me.
All right.
I shall be having dinner tomorrow
evening at a little French restaurant called Ferrall's.
Are you familiar with it?
Yes.
Excellent.
I shall be delighted to have you join
me anytime between : and : with the money, Mrs. Fargo--
with the $,.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Marian, what happened?
Did you miss your bus?
Honey, what is it?
What's wrong?
You're shaking.
Here sit down.
I'll get you a drink.
No--no, I'm all right, Arthur.
Well, what happened?
I'm not going to Harristown.
Why?
I'm just not going.
That's all.
Marian, look at me.
You've got to tell me what's going on.
It's nothing, Arthur, honest.
Look, honey, I haven't pressed you about this thing.
I figured you'd tell me at the right time.
I don't want to be a problem, Arthur.
But you're my wife.
I'm being blackmailed.
I thought it was something like that.
Is it because of Charles?
I've been paying $, a month for the past months.
Marian?
What else could I do?
But $, a month.
Who is this man?
How long do you think you can go on paying him at this rate?
This is the end.
I saw him tonight.
For another $,, he said he never bother me again.
And you're depending on the word of a blackmailer.
He has a complete file on Charles.
He said he'd turn it over to me.
How will you know this file is authentic?
I'll know.
Marian, it's your money, but I tell
you you're making a mistake.
There's only one way to handle a blackmailer.
Go to the police.
You know I can't do it.
When are you meeting him?
Tomorrow night.
Where?
Tell me.
Oh, Arthur.
So I tail this character home after he met Mrs. Fargo.
His name is Samuel D. Carlin.
How do you spell that?
C-A-R-L-I-N.
Where does he live?
West Lorendo.
Did you happen to hear what he had to say to Mrs. Fargo?
No, I never got close enough.
But she was very upset.
That's for sure.
And she didn't take the bus for Harristown, huh?
No.
Thank you, Daniels.
How much do I owe you?
Oh, I can send you a bill, Mr. Gallagher.
Well, I'm leaving Los Angeles in the morning.
Well in that case it'll be $ even.
Are you sure there's nothing else I
can do for you, Mr. Gallagher.
No, not a thing.
I can take it from here.
Thanks.
Good hunting.
Good evening.
Ferrall's Cafe.
Pierre Reynolds speaking.
Pierre, this is Mr. Carlin.
I won't be able to keep that reservation
I made for this evening with Mrs. Fargo.
Oh, I am so sorry.
What would you like for me to tell the lady?
You can trust me, sir.
Thank you, Pierre.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
You are most kind.
I hope I will have the pleasure of serving you soon.
Good evening, madame.
Is Mr. Carlin here?
You are Mrs. Margo?
I just this moment spoke with him.
He asked me to make his apologies.
He wondered if you could drop by his home this evening.
His home?
One moment please.
Good evening, do you have a reservation?
Yes, it's under the name Perry Mason.
Ah, Mr. Mason.
One moment please.
This way please.
You know this restaurant's going to need
a lawyer one of these days.
Grand larceny.
Look at these prices.
My dear, Miss Street, you know enough not
to read in the right hand side of the menu.
Coffee $.
Coffee $ Coffee $.
Phone call for you, Mr. Mason.
Did anyone know we were here?
I didn't even know myself until I
called with the reservations.
If you would rather not be annoyed?
No, no, I'll talk to him.
It is not a him.
It is a her.
Hm?
Then by all means put her on.
Hello?
Yes.
Who is this?
That's not important at the moment.
I want to retain your services.
Do you have a pencil?
Just a moment.
Yes.
Please take down this name, Samuel D. Carlin.
The address is West Lorendo.
Have you got that?
Now that I've got it.
What am I supposed to do with it?
In a few minutes, you'll receive
an envelope and a retainer.
Please deliver this envelope to Mr. Carlin, but only after he
gives you a file.
What kind of file?
It concerns a man named Charles Gallagher.
Charles Gallagher.
Yes, please examine it closely.
Unless it's complete and authentic,
you're not to pay for it.
Hello?
That's funny.
Funny's hardly the word for it.
That woman sounded frightened to death.
Did she give you her name?
No.
Well, it looks like we'll have to settle
for a quick cup of $ coffee.
Mr. Mason, lady asked me to give you this.
This one has your name on it.
Do you know who this lady?
No masseur.
She was very pretty, a brunette I think.
She was wearing a raincoat-- the kind you could see through.
Thank you.
$ retainer.
Well, I guess we won't even have
time for that cup of coffee.
You're right.
I've got a feeling we're going to earn those $ bills.
Good evening.
Samuel D. Carlin?
Yes, I'm Mr. Carlin, but I don't seem to recall--
My name is Perry Mason.
This is my secretary Miss Street.
I'm sorry to bother you at this hour,
but my client insisted it had to be done tonight.
Client?
I don't quite understand.
Please, please, won't you come in?
Could I offer you a glass of sherry, a cup of hot tea,
perhaps?
It's such a damp night I got thoroughly soaked myself.
Nothing, thank you.
Well, if you should change your mind.
You-- you said something about your client.
I have an envelope, Mr. Carlin, containing a sum of money which
I've been instructed to hand you upon receipt
of the Charles Gallagher file.
Naturally, I shall have to see the file first.
This is most extraordinary-- a famous attorney comes
to my house in what is certainly the middle of my night offering
me money in return for a mysterious
file on behalf of a client he doesn't identify.
You mean, you don't know what I'm talking about?
No, I don't.
Then this whole thing is rather pointless, isn't it?
Yes, I suppose it is.
I wish I could have been of more assistance.
I fear your client simply gave you the wrong address.
I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you.
Not at all, Mr. Mason.
You've more than redeemed yourself
by bringing Miss Street to these rather drab bachelor quarters.
Thank you.
Good night.
Good night.
Mr. Mason.
Night.
Well, I suppose you overheard everything.
I heard.
Of course, I haven't the vaguest notion
what Mason was talking about.
You're a liar, Carlin.
Arthur, I resent that.
You plan to make my wife for another $,
and then skip out.
Would I do a thing like that?
You would and you have.
Marian told me that she's been paying you $, a month.
That's not true.
I only asked for $ as you and I agreed on my word of mouth.
Oh, shut up.
The way I figure it you double crossed me out of five grand
already.
I don't see how you arrive at that figure.
$ a month for months.
And I want it, Carlin--
No, Arthur, please.
And you're going to dig it up for me,
and then you're going to phone Marian and tell her to get
that envelope back from Mason.
Now dear man, you're in no position to make any threats.
Supposing that I tell your wife that you are
behind this extortion plot and when you have relieved her
of all of her funds you plan to take off with a little lady
from San Francisco.
What do you think would happen then?
Oh, you're forgetting something, Carlin.
You're a blackmailer.
If I k*lled you for what you did you think any jury
would convict me?
I'll be back in a couple of hours for the money.
[RINGING]
Miss Street.
That's right.
This is Paul Drake's exchange.
We still haven't been able to locate him.
Have you tried his Wednesday night poker club?
Yes ma'am, he isn't there.
That's just dandy.
But I'm sure he'll be checking in within the hour.
I'll have him call you the minute I hear from him.
Thank you.
MARIAN FARGO: What are we stopping here for, Paul?
Honey, I just forgot something.
I've got to call my exchange.
At : at night?
We never sleep.
Doctors and detectives, huh.
And some lawyers.
It won't take a minute.
[PHONE BOOTH]
Paul Drake, any action?
OK, put me through.
I'll hang on.
Hello?
Well, it's nice to hear from you Mr. Drake.
Listen, Perry's been waiting for you for over an hour.
OK, put him on.
That's just it, Paul.
He isn't here.
He's at West Lorendo.
What's he doing in that territory?
Yeah, I know, but why'd he go back there?
He'll tell you when you get there.
Now, wait a minute.
Have a heart, will you?
I got a date.
She expects to go to a few nightclubs.
And Perry expects you to be at West Lorendo.
Now just who's going to be stood up?
OK, I'll be there.
Paul.
Yeah?
Get around the back door.
Perry, what do you got going here?
Didn't Della tell you?
No, she just said it was a big rush.
[expl*si*n]
Better call the fire department.
Yeah.
[SIRENS]
I just talked with the assistant fire chief.
They're bringing a body out.
Man or woman?
Man.
No, you can't tell anything about him from the condition
he's in.
They told me he was middle-aged, short, and stocky.
That's Carlin all right.
Any sign of the woman?
Depends on what you mean by sign.
Somebody left a b*llet in Carlin's head.
Morning.
Bonjour, Monsieur.
I shall regret we don't open until noon.
That's all right.
I'm not hungry.
Is the the head waiter around?
Pierre, oh no.
What time is he due in?
Who are you?
Well, I don't think my name would mean much to you,
but here's one of my cards.
Oh, now where can I find Pierre?
You can't.
He quit.
And when was this?
Oh, last night.
He walked away and told the boss he was through.
What's the chances of seeing your reservation list?
Offhand I would say pretty good.
[INAUDIBLE], Monsieur.
Now I checked at this Pierre Renault's boarding house,
and they couldn't tell me a thing.
PERRY MASON: Couldn't or wouldn't?
I don't know.
What luck did you have at the cafe?
Samuel Carlin made a reservation for two for
o'clock, but he didn't show up.
Under Carlin's name, Pierre had
written in parentheses Fargo.
The reservation was for two, so I worked under the assumption
that Fargo was probably the name of a woman.
Was it?
Yes, the parking lot attendant said
she was driving a two-toned convertible, beige and black.
We got the canceled parking ticket,
and the license number was on it.
It's registered to a Mrs. Arthur D.
Fargo, Livingston Drive.
Did you talk with her?
No.
Well, let's go.
It's time I met this evasive client
It was raining up until about an hour ago.
The car must have been parked there all night.
It's been gone less than an hour.
Well, I guess nobody's home.
Perry, take a look.
What have you got?
Dear Arthur, I'm catching the : bus to Harristown.
I'll try to phone you tonight, love Marian.
You think your client wrote that?
It could be.
Well, this must be her husband.
And that could be her alibi.
Paul, I want to know if she's on that bus.
Charter a plane.
Catch the bus at Harristown.
I want the names of any witnesses who
saw her get on in Los Angeles.
What difference will that make?
Well, judging from the signs he must have d*ed say around :.
If Mrs. Fargo got on the bus at :, then she's in the clear.
Now get going.
Use my car.
OK.
Homicide, please.
Lieutenant Tragg.
Is the bus from LA in yet.
It's just coming in now.
Would you page Mrs. Arthur Fargo, please?
Mrs. Arthur Fargo, please step to the ticket counter.
Mrs. Arthur Fargo, please step to the ticket counter.
Mrs. Arthur Fargo, please.
Well, goodbye, Mrs. Maynard.
Goodbye.
Mrs. Arthur Fargo, please step to the ticket counter.
Were you paging Mrs. Fargo?
[INAUDIBLE]
Mrs. Fargo?
Yes.
Mrs. Fargo, police.
We're going to have to detain you.
But why?
What happened?
Your husband has been m*rder*d.
You might have broken it a little easier.
Who are you?
The name's Drake.
Oh, a private detective.
Just imagine that.
Who sat next to you on the bus?
What?
What are you a wise guy?
Quick, Mrs. Fargo, who sat next to you?
Come on.
You're looking for trouble?
Not me officer.
Excuse me.
Is that young lady in trouble?
Yes.
Well, I rode us from Los Angeles with her.
And she seemed like such a nice person,
I'd like to help her if I could.
Well, you can help her.
What's your name, please?
Diana Maynard.
You live here in Harristown?
No, in Los Angeles at the Hayward Arms.
How long are you going to stay here Miss Maynard.
Oh, just for the day.
I came up to visit my sister.
Would you mind?
Sure.
I have a slight infection.
Miss Maynard, would you be willing to dictate a statement
to the effect that Mrs. Fargo was on that bus
ever since it left Los Angeles.
Of course, but I'm afraid I don't understand.
Ever heard of a lawyer named Perry Mason?
Well, isn't he the one who's always mixed up with some kind
of a m*rder case.
That's exactly what this is.
Come on.
Let's go find us a public stenographer.
According to her statement, this Diana Maynard seems
to be in our corner all right.
PAUL DRAKE: %.
There's only one big trouble.
The cops have found a couple of witnesses
who swear that Mrs. Fargo got on the bus in Wayne city at :.
How could she do that?
By chartering a plane from LA to Wayne city,
she could make the play in minutes.
But the Maynard woman maintains Mrs. Fargo
got on the bus in Los Angeles.
I'd hate to have a confused on that point.
Well, I've got a good operative,
Norah Kelly, who could maybe stick with her for a few days.
Good.
Suppose you have Norah invite Mrs. Maynard down
to Palm Springs as our guest and tell
that we need her for the trial.
I think that could be arranged.
Can you also arrange to have Mrs.
Maynard not see any of the news stories in this case
while she's away?
I wouldn't want her upset by conflicting evidence.
Nora has a very sharp pair of scissors.
I'll take care of that, Miss Maynard.
Oh, wait a minute.
I knew I forgot something.
I'm supposed to go shopping with my cousin tomorrow.
I'll call her for you from Palm Springs.
Now, why didn't I think of that?
I can talk to it from there.
You're not even going to life a phone while I'm on the job.
Mr. Mason wants you to have a real vacation.
He's the most thoughtful man I've ever met.
Yes, he thinks of everything.
You sent this to me last Monday
night along with a $ retainer.
Did you anticipate your husband being m*rder*d?
Of course not.
Who's Charles Gallagher?
I can't tell you.
Look, Mrs. Fargo, you're going to be on trial for your life.
I still can't tell you.
Why was Carlin blackmailing you?
He wasn't.
Then how do you account for that money?
Arthur, my husband wanted me to give it to him.
Why?
I have no idea.
I'm trying to help you, but if you're
going to continue to lie to me.
I'm not lying.
I was in love with my husband.
Can't you understand that?
What possible motive could I have to k*ll him?
What possible motive could you have had for k*lling Carlin?
What?
The police think the murders are connected.
Both Carlin and your husband were k*lled by the same g*n.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I told you I had nothing to do with it.
Yes.
That's what you told me.
Very well.
I'll look in on you tomorrow.
Yes, Gertie?
Who?
Send him right in.
Mr. Gallagher, I'm sorry Mr. Mason isn't in right now,
but I expect him any time.
Well, I can't wait too long.
I just wanted to see Mason before I
went to the district attorney.
I'm Della Street, his secretary.
Maybe I could help you.
I'm the reason Marian Fargo is lying.
I'm her brother.
I don't understand.
She's trying to protect me.
You see, Miss Street, I'm what they
call a fugitive from justice.
Do sit down.
You were saying you're a fugitive, huh?
Oh, yeah, I'm a very dangerous criminal.
When I was I broke into a grocery store.
They caught me with $ worth of canned goods.
That must have been during the depression.
Yeah, they were afraid I might give other hungry kids ideas
so I drew from : to : in the state prison farm.
It was a wonderful place for a growing boy.
There was a guard there I'll always remember,
a fella called Jonesy.
He had a cute trick of bringing a shotgun down on your toes
to get your attention.
I took it for two years, and then one day
I took the g*n away from him.
I let him have it right across the head.
I understand he was in the hospital for five months.
I didn't wait around to find out.
If I had they probably would have given me another years
or k*ll me.
You escaped?
Yes, and I bummed my way to California.
Three months later, I got a job here at Mayfair Aviation.
When things look good, I sent for my sister.
She was the only one left of my entire family.
I hope I'm not boring you, Miss Street.
Oh, no, please go on.
Well, that's about all there is except while I was
at Mayfair I invented a refinement for a carburetor,
made some money.
Came just in time for me to retire.
Retire?
I had to.
You see while I was in prison I picked up TB.
It flared up again.
That's why I moved to Harristown.
And there you have the story of my life,
except of course for the final chapter.
About a year ago, a fellow named Carlin showed up.
He told my sister he was an investigator from the state
prison farm back home.
That's when your sister became involved.
Yes, she was quite worried, but he told her
she didn't have a thing to worry about because he had a pal who
was a big shock in the prison setup, and for a few bucks,
they could arrange to pull my file.
Then that was the file that we were supposed to pick up
that night at Carlin's house.
I just want to tell Mason the whole story
before I turn myself in.
That should make his job a lot easier.
No, you're wrong.
This will give the district attorney the very motive
he's looking for.
They'll believe your sister k*lled her husband
and Carlin just to protect you.
Well, then what can I do?
I don't know.
Suppose I kick it around with Mason.
You can't.
He's an officer of the court.
He'd have to turn you in.
Well, then the best thing for me to do for the time being is
get lost don't you think.
I'm not permitted to advise you, Mr. Gallagher.
Can I get out that way?
Thank you.
I know you'd be aiding and abetting
a fugitive if you delivered a message for me,
but tell your boss if he needs me for anything I'll be around.
Hello, Mr. Gallagher, surprised to see me?
Mind if I come in?
You're leaving town, huh?
Any objections, Daniels.
Who?
As a matter of fact, I thought you'd be a long time gone.
When I did that job for a couple of weeks ago
you said you were leaving the next day.
Say why I don't I sit down, huh?
Do you mind?
No, no, go ahead.
Make yourself at home.
Thanks.
You know, it's a funny thing about that guy Carlin.
What was so funny?
hours after I give you the guy's name he's dead.
You know I thought a lot about that.
Couldn't get it out of the old bean.
You know what I mean?
Especially when your brother-in-law got it to.
My brother-in-law?
Arthur Fargo.
So you found out about that, huh?
I'm a private detective, remember?
I got the trench coat to prove it.
Now you listen to me.
You listen to me, Daniels.
Take it easy.
Now look this set me back bucks.
Now look, Mr. Gallagher.
I'm a very reasonable man.
I did a lot of research on this the last couple of days.
Now what would it be worth to you
if I kept my mouth shut and didn't go to the DA?
What would it be worth?
You know-- you know Dan that's the funniest joke
I've heard in years.
Joke?
Why don't you let me in on it, then we can both laugh.
Look you idiot.
You can't shake me down.
How do you think we got into this mess in the first place,
huh?
Because my sister didn't know that
you can't do business with blackmailers.
Every penny I ever gave to what she turned over to Carlin.
Now you go on.
Run to the DA.
You don't worry me a bit, Daniels.
What are you waiting for?
Go on.
Run.
Raise your right hand.
Do you solemnly swear the evidence you're about to give
is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I do.
Be seated.
What is your occupation, Mr. Danvers?
I'm a parking lot supervisor at the International Airport.
On the day following the m*rder of Arthur Fargo,
November , the police removed the car
that had been parked there for something over hours.
Are you familiar with that car?
Yes, sir.
It was a beige and brown convertible, two-toned job.
The parking ticket was stamped : AM.
Do you remember the license number?
Let's see-- KC.
And do you remember who parked the car?
Yes, sir.
It was Mrs. Fargo, that defendant over there.
Thank you.
Cross-examine.
That's not true.
I didn't park my car there.
Then who did?
Mr. Danvers.
How many cars would you say were parked in the lot in any
hour period, , , ,?
I don't think there'd be that many, not to my lot anyway.
I'd say closer to or maybe.
or cars, and you can point out a woman who
parked there last November .
How do you explain that?
Well, she stuck in my mind, because she
was wearing dark glasses.
You see it had been raining all morning,
and it was a real dark overcast day.
I figured that there'd be only one reason for a woman
to be wearing dark glasses and a hat
with a floppy brim when there's no sun out.
What was the reason?
So nobody could get a good look at her face.
Was she's successful?
Yes, sir.
You mean she successfully concealed her face,
and yet you were still able to identify her.
That's remarkable.
Would you tell us about the phone
call you received on the morning of the m*rder, Mr. James?
Well, like I said, I run a charter plane service.
And around o'clock I got this call asking me
if I could fly a passenger to Wayne City in time
to be at the bus stop at o'clock.
I said there was nothing to it.
Would you describe the passenger?
She was a young woman.
As much as I could see of her face, she was good looking.
Why couldn't you see all of her face?
Because she was wearing dark glasses
and a hat with the brim.
I see.
Is there anyone in this courtroom
whose age and general appearance are the same as that woman
that you flew to Wayne city?
Yes, sir, the defendant.
Mr. James, I show you this scarf.
It has been previously identified as having
been purchased by Mrs. Fargo.
Have you ever seen it before?
Yes, sir.
I found it in the airplane when I got to Wayne city,
and I turned it over to the police.
Thank you.
Your witness, Mr. Mason.
Mr. James, you said that the arrangements
for this flight to Wayne City were made by telephone.
That's right, but he didn't give any name.
Oh, you mean it was a man who phoned.
Yes, sir.
Did your passenger talked with you during the flight?
No, she-- she never said a word from the time she got
in the plane till she left it.
And yet you're willing to swear
that the defendant Mrs. Marian Fargo was that passenger?
It sure looked like her.
But was it Mrs. Fargo?
Now Mr. James, your answer may be a matter of life or death.
Yes, I am positive it was Mrs. Fargo.
Thank you.
That's all.
Doesn't look so good, does it?
The weather or your case?
Both.
Matter of fact, both of them look very bad.
You've only one chance to tell the truth.
What do you mean?
I don't think you m*rder*d your husband.
I do think you k*lled him.
You what?
I think you acted in self-defense.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard--
Why did you set up that phony alibi?
It wasn't a phony alibi?
Who was a man who chartered the plane
for you, your brother?
Then you know about Charles.
Yes, he came to my office.
Well then you can understand why don't want to involve him.
If he ever goes back to that prison farm, they'll k*ll him.
You don't have anything else to tell me?
No.
Well, at least we have one Tr*mp card left, Diana Maynard.
She'll testify you got on the bus at Los Angeles.
Yeah, but what about all witnesses that said I
got on at Wayne city.
It won't be the first time the majority was wrong.
[PHONE RINGING]
Yes?
Well, won't he give his name?
Just a second.
An anonymous tipster.
See if you can trace the call.
All right, put him on.
TIPSTER (ON PHONE): Mr. Burger?
That's right.
Who is this?
TIPSTER (ON PHONE): Names are unimportant, sir.
I have a little information for you.
Why not ask Mrs. Fargo why she was being blackmailed?
What was that again?
TIPSTER (ON PHONE): I'm sure you understand me.
You might also talk to Diana Maynard
at the [INAUDIBLE] Palms.
I believe Mr. Mason plans to use her as a witness.
Would you repeat the address please?
TIPSTER (ON PHONE): I think you're trying to delay
me so you can trace the call.
Bonjour.
Any luck?
Nah, not enough time.
He had kind of a French accent.
Yeah.
I wonder-- the head waiter at Ferrall's Cafe.
His name is Pierre Renault.
He's the character who made the reservation for Carlin
and Mrs. Fargo that night.
Why don't you pick him up?
Well, he skipped.
We've been trying to trail him down.
Maybe you'd better pick up Ms. Maynard.
That ought to be easy enough.
Oh, thanks, Ms. Kelly.
I had a marvelous time.
And would you thank Mr. Mason for me.
You can do it yourself first thing in the morning.
Oh, I'll take that.
I hope I didn't startle you.
I'm Lieutenant Tragg.
I wonder if you'd be good enough to come alone with me.
And give my regards to Mr. Mason.
But Mrs. Fargo didn't k*ll her husband.
She couldn't.
She got on the bus in Los Angeles at o'clock.
I've got half a dozen witnesses that say she
got on at Wayne city at :.
They're wrong.
Everybody's wrong but you.
Is that it?
Was the bus crowded when you got on?
Very.
And how soon did you notice Mrs. Fargo.
Right after the bus started.
I mean, I read for a little while,
and then when I finished my magazine I saw her.
That might have been a half hour after the bus started.
Well, yes, or even an hour.
I don't think so.
When you noticed Mrs. Fargo where was she sitting?
In the middle of the bus.
On which side?
The right as you face the driver.
Suppose we told you that Mrs. Fargo claim she was sitting
right behind the driver.
I would have sworn that she--
And you would have been guilty of perjury.
That concludes the case for the people, your honor.
The state rests.
Mr. Mason.
I call as my first witness Diana Maynard.
Diana Maynard?
Raise your right hand.
You solemnly swear the evidence you're
about to give us the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
I do.
Be seated.
Mrs. Maynard, where were you on the afternoon of November
at approximately
I was at the bus depot in Harristown
where I met a Mr. Paul Drake, a private detective.
And did you go with Mr. Drake to a public stenographer
where you dictated a statement.
Yes, but I realize now I was wrong.
I was under the mistaken impression that--
Just a moment, Mr. Maynard.
We're not interested in mistaken impressions.
Now when you arrived on the bus in Harristown,
where were you sitting?
On the right hand side near the center.
Where was Mrs. Fargo sitting?
She was sitting next to me.
Thank you.
You may cross-examine.
Mrs. Maynard, you got on the bus in Los Angeles.
Is that correct?
Objection.
The question is improper.
Really, your honor?
The district attorney is well aware that a witness cannot be
cross-examined except on testimony
elicited on direct examination.
If you will consult the record your honor,
you will find I ask no questions about the bus
leaving Los Angeles, only about its arrival in Harristown.
Would you like the court stenographer
to read back that part of the testimony.
No, thank you, your honor.
That won't be necessary.
Of course, if Mr. Burger cares to,
he you can make Mrs. Maynard a witness for the prosecution.
Thank you, Mr. Mason.
With the court's permission, that's
just what I intend to do.
Proceed.
Mrs. Maynard, where were you on the day of November ?
I was in Los Angeles and in Harristown,
both places on the same day.
And how did you get from Los Angeles to Harristown?
By bus.
When did you first see the defendant, Mrs. Fargo?
When she got on at Wayne City.
Was she on the bus prior to that?
No, sir.
You're sure of it?
Yes, sir.
I am now.
Thank you, Mrs. Maynard.
That's all.
Just a moment.
Your honor, please.
Since Mrs. Maynard has testified as a witness
for the prosecution, I desire to cross-examine her.
Very well.
Mrs. Maynard, I'm curious about the patch over your eye.
Would you tell the court why you wear it?
Objection.
Your honor, Mr. Mason just made a specific objection
to my cross examining this witness on material not
covered in direct examination.
I asked the witness nothing about her eye.
But the prosecutor did ask the witness
when she saw the defendant.
Since that involved the use of her eyes,
I'm entitled to question the condition of her her.
Objection overruled.
You will explain the reason for the patch.
I have an infection.
Chronic infection?
Certainly not.
You were also wearing an eye patch on the th of November
were you not.
Part of the time.
I put it on when I left the bus so the wind
wouldn't irritate my eye.
Then you have had considerable eye trouble?
It's a temporary infection.
I have / vision.
You mean when you have the use of both eye?
I can see all I need two with one.
Mrs. Fargo got on the bus at Wayne City.
You recall how she was dressed?
Yes.
She was wearing a gray check skirt, a light gray cardigan
sweater, black blouse and shoes, and a wool top coat
with a fancy design on the front.
You have an excellent memory.
I sat with her all the way from Wayne city to Harristown.
Who else did you sit with?
I don't know what you mean?
Who did you sit with before you sat with Mrs. Fargo?
Some woman who got off in Knoxville.
Would you describe this woman for us?
I don't see what that has to do with it.
She was just some woman.
I didn't pay much attention.
In other words, you can't remember anything
about the other woman at all.
No.
Are you sure there was another woman?
Isn't it possible your eye trouble caused you to see
something that wasn't there?
Your honor, Mrs. Maynard was not wearing the eye
patch while she was on the bus.
That's exactly my point, your honor.
I'm trying to prove that some people can see with one eye
but not with two.
I'd like a technical explanation
of that point, Mr. Mason.
It's a lack of coordination, your honor.
I think you'll find that this witness
can see adequately with one eye, whereas with two eyes--
That's not se.
I can see perfectly.
I challenge the witness on that point, your honor.
I submit that with both eyes she cannot make
an identification of an individual
known to her in this courtroom.
It's an interesting point.
Remove the eye patch, please.
This is absolutely absurd.
You ready, Mrs. Maynard.
Yes.
You know that gentleman there?
He's Lieutenant Tragg.
And the lady?
That's Ms. Kelly.
You're using both eyes?
Yes.
Then who is that man?
I don't know his name, but he's the parking
attendant at the airport?
You're sure about that?
Positive.
You recognize him as the man you
saw at the airport parking lot?
No, I--
I recognize him as a witness.
How could you do that?
This is the first session of court you've attended.
Well, I saw his picture in the papers.
You couldn't have.
Ms. Kelly made sure you saw nothing
that concerned this trial.
Well, I talked to Mr. Burger after I got back--
How did you know he was the parking lot
attendant unless you parked Mrs. Fargo's car at the airport
yourself?
You're wrong.
Where would I get the key?
From her husband's body after you k*lled him.
You've got it all mixed up.
No, you've got it all mixed up.
You mean, you did not drive Mrs.
Fargo's car to the airport?
Yes, I drove her car to the airport,
but I did not k*ll her husband.
Then who did?
The mastermind, him.
It was all his bright idea.
What's going on here?
Who is that man?
The genius who dreamed up this stunt, Mr. Samuel D. Carlin.
Look at him.
[INAUDIBLE] was going to get away with m*rder.
And his excellency, the governor,
wishes me to inform you that our estate has no desire
to extradite Charles Gallagher.
We feel that Mr. Gallagher has proved he can
be a good and useful citizen.
Find as personal regards, George Mabrey
Chairman State Penal System.
That's wonderful.
I thought so.
Well, something else you want cleared up.
Yes?
Who was the man they identified as Carlin that night
of the fire?
It was our old friend, Pierre, head
waiter from Farrell's cafe.
He was Carlin's messenger boy.
But Berger said that he found him just last night.
That was Carlin with a phony French accent.
That phone call accomplish two things.
It convinced the police the Pierre was still alive,
even though they couldn't find him,
and it set it up so the Berger could locate Diana Maynard.
And the whole thing was a trap.
Sure it was a trap.
Both Carlin and Diana wanted us to base our entire defense
on her testimony.
It was Diana who got on the bus at Wayne City.
There.
How's that?
Very nice.
Am I presentable enough to take you to dinner.
Definitely.
Where do you want to go?
Farrell's Cafe.
Why there?
Well, there's something that still puzzles me in this case.
What could they possibly put in a cup of coffee
to make it worth $?
No more questions please.
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