( dramatic theme playing )
( noirish jazz theme playing )
( upbeat theme playing )
( honks horn )
( honking horn )
Take your time now.
Take your time.
Give me ten gallons,
high-test.
Ain't got
no high-test.
Why do I bother
to trade here?
( chuckles )
You try and find
another gas station
within miles.
Hey. Did you hear
about Chuck Clark?
What about
him?
He's back.
Got back about
six weeks ago.
What did
you say?
You heard me.
( chuckles )
( spits )
Harry!
Chuck's back!
Where did
you hear
about Chuck?
Too bad you gotta get
your news secondhand.
And you, his partner.
You ought to see
his new wife.
Young enough
to be his kid.
You're a liar.
( chuckles )
He bought
the Brandywine Estate
over in Palm Valley
for $ , cash.
His new brother-in-law
handled the deal.
Yeah, it's
too bad that--
You know, that
you ain't good enough
to get invited
out there.
Do you wanna
drive?
( upbeat theme playing )
( bangs pump )
Hey.
( tires
screech )
What are you doing
with my diary?
Uh, I'm reading it,
obviously.
You--
Better wait here,
Nell.
Don't do anything
foolish, Harry.
Ooh, give me that.
I will when I finish with it.
Look, honey,
this i--
Where's
Chuck Clark?
Well, he's in
Los Angeles.
His nephew,
Bill Shayne, around?
No, he's
with Chuck.
I'm Harry Bright.
Hooray for you.
Mr. Bright,
I'm Margaret Clark,
Chuck's wife.
This is my brother,
Howard Roper.
How much you figure
you're gonna get out of Chuck...
for selling him
your sister?
( whimpers )
( grunts )
( dramatic theme playing )
MARGARET:
Howard!
Now, you ever lay another
finger on me, mister...
and you won't live
to regret it.
You wouldn't
have
nerve enough
to use that.
( dramatic theme playing )
Now, you just tell
your husband...
Harry Bright dropped around
to pay his respects.
( mysterious theme playing )
( dogs
barking )
( tense theme playing )
( bangs on door )
( door opens )
You calling me
an old fool?
Sure I am.
Chuck Clark. Ha!
In his second
childhood.
Look at them clothes.
You going to a--
A sweet- party?
Your child bride
must be real proud of you.
You better
stop talking
about my wife
like that,
or I'll pull your tongue
right out of your empty head!
Now wait
a minute.
You two ought to
be ashamed of yourselves.
Ashamed?
You're his nephew.
Did he ever
write you?
Six months
he's been gone.
And six months,
not even a postcard.
This high-class wife
of yours must be too--
I'm warning you,
Harry!
Uh, if you wanna get
milked dry with them crooks,
I can't
stop you.
But they ain't
stealing
my share of
the money too.
Where's
a pen?
( pen clicks )
There.
Why, it's only made out
for $ , .
Every cent
you're gonna get
till you learn to treat
my wife like a lady.
Did she teach you to
cheat your partner too?
I told you,
you keep her out of this!
You'd better run
along, sonny boy,
before she finds out
you got loose
from your playpen.
And take this
with you!
( tense theme playing )
( door closes )
BRIGHT:
Didn't need no writing
to share hard times,
and hunger
and thirst.
We had years
of it
before we
struck it rich.
And that's a lot
more binding
than
any writing.
Nevertheless,
you do have
a written agreement
between you.
And according to the terms
of this agreement...
Mr. Clark controls
the finances.
Always has.
Even when we only had
two bits between us.
( chuckles )
I was the musclehead.
Chuck, he was
the brains.
Does he have
power of attorney?
Well, he-- He signs
the checks,
if that's
what you mean.
Mr. Mason. You got to
understand this.
Chuck and me have always
been like...
( sighs )
...well, sort of--
Well...
like that.
Chuck can have
every cent
as far as
I'm concerned.
But that woman
ain't gonna cheat me.
Well, can you prove
she has, Mr. Bright?
Don't need
no better proof
than Chuck offering me
$ , for my share.
It's her doing.
Perhaps that's all
your share is worth.
Well, we got $ million
in properties working for us.
Uh, suppose we file an action
for dissolution
of the partnership,
and ask for
an immediate accounting
of all the joint properties.
If things don't add up right...
can you send that woman
and her brother to jail?
If...you have been swindled,
it was by Mr. Clark.
Now, wait a second.
I-I don't want Chuck
going to jail.
It ain't none of his fault.
He just lost his brains.
I tell you, this woman
has got him hypnotized.
Her and that
no-good brother.
Why don't I have a talk
with Mr. Clark?
It would be a shame to...
end a -year friendship
with a subpoena.
Yeah, but if
you could have
heard the way
he spoke to me.
If there is any possible way
to patch this up,
don't you think
it's worth a try?
( sighs )
Della, can we juggle
my schedule around
so we can get to
the desert for a few days?
We certainly can.
And would you please
make an appointment
for me to see Mr. Clark?
( mysterious theme playing )
( doorbell rings )
( sighs )
( sighs )
I'll get it.
Won't you come in,
Mr. Mason?
I'm Bill Shayne.
Mr. Shayne.
Uh, this is my uncle,
Charles Clark.
Hello,
Mr. Clark.
Howdy.
Sit down,
Mason.
I, uh...
suppose you're
here about Harry.
I understand
you and Harry Bright
have worked together
for a good many years.
Not long enough
to be called an old fool.
Tsk.
Nobody forced me
into marrying Margaret.
I seen her,
and I said to myself,
"There's a woman
I'd like for a wife."
Wait a minute.
Uh, would you come
into the living room,
uh, please, honey?
Yeah.
You know, Mason...
Harry Bright's been
in the sun too long.
It's, uh-- It's
baked out his brain.
Why, I remember one time
about years ago, when--
( door opens )
( door closes )
Come in.
Come in, honey.
Margaret, this is
Mr. Mason.
He's a lawyer.
How do you do,
Mrs. Clark?
This is a great
pleasure, Mr. Mason.
I've heard so much
about you.
Oh, yeah. He's heard
a lot about you too.
Only it ain't true.
He's got a kind of
an idea
that you're some sort of
vampire or something.
I, uh, figured it best
we all talk together.
Now, uh...
suppose you tell
Mr. Mason
why you married me.
For your money.
( laughs )
There you are.
Cards right on
the table,
just like that.
Um...
what kind of deal
did we make?
That you would
give me a home.
Yeah.
Money.
Yep.
Everything I needed.
In exchange...
I would try to
take care of you,
give you companionship.
Yeah. And teach me
how to enjoy myself.
Man's entitled to play
when he's grubbed and
hard panned all his life.
I don't want to break up
an old friendship.
I know Chuck
is unhappy...
and I'm sure
Mr. Bright is.
Isn't there something
you can do
to bring them back
together again?
Hmm. I'm very glad
to hear you say that,
Mrs. Clark.
Now, if you'll
excuse me,
I do have to leave.
Why?
It's Wednesday, dear.
My day with
Aunt Jane.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I forgot.
Well, I'll see you
tonight.
Right.
Nice meeting you,
Mr. Mason.
Mrs. Clark.
I hope you can
work out something
for my husband
and Mr. Bright.
Well, uh, first
he's got to
learn to act
like a gent.
( chuckles )
Well...
Bye, dear.
Goodbye.
Bye, Bill.
Well, I guess
I should take
my cue from
Mrs. Clark.
Now, look here, Mason.
You tell Harry Bright
that I don't want one cent
that's rightfully his.
But I don't
want him to have
too much money
at once.
Harry Bright don't have
the brains of a gnat,
where money's
concerned.
Now, if you
can fix up
some kind of a trust
arrangement,
I'll go along
with it.
If you can get Harry
to go along.
May I see
your books?
Any time.
You driving right back
to Los Angeles?
No. I thought
I'd try my hand
at some golf
this weekend.
Oh, where you staying?
Uh, White Sun
Guest Ranch.
Oh, that's
a nice place.
Look, uh, I'd
like to have you
for supper,
if you have time.
Thank you.
Bill, show, uh,
Mr. Mason to his car.
Mr. Clark.
See you later.
( sighs )
When you see Harry,
tell him
he's got the wrong idea
about Margaret.
In all fairness
to her,
she's done Chuck
a world of good.
That's very tolerant
of you, Mr. Shayne.
Most people
in your position
would consider Mrs. Clark
an interloper.
Why?
Well doesn't your uncle's
marriage affect your prospects?
( scoffs )
Not a bit.
I don't share in his estate.
Chuck took care of me
five years ago in a trust fund.
Maybe that's why I can
afford to be charitable.
It's been nice talking to you.
Thank you.
( sedate theme playing )
( door opens )
Don't you believe
in knocking?
Don't mind me.
I, um--
I'm your brother,
remember?
That was a very interesting act
you put on for Mason.
I heard it.
Wasn't an act.
I'd like nothing better
than to see Chuck
and Harry friends again.
( scoffs )
Well, now, that could
cost you almost $ million.
It's worth it.
You out of your head?
Howard, let's
get out of here.
We don't need
the money that badly.
What's come
over you, Mag?
Can't I do something decent
for the first time in my life?
Now, you listen to me.
I put too much time
and effort into this
to have you blow it.
( grunting )
( sighs )
Oh, honey, I'm sorry.
I-- I don't wanna hurt you.
But when you talk like that,
it upsets me.
Now, what do you
say we, uh--?
We don't wanna
miss seeing--
Seeing Aunt Jane, do we?
Let's go.
( ominous theme playing )
NELL:
It just ain't
right, Harry.
When two men
have been partners
as long as
you and Chuck have,
no woman ought to be
allowed to--
( knock on door )
Well, ain't you gonna
invite me in?
I just had
the place fumigated.
Heh-ha.
Very funny.
Course, it ain't
near as funny as this.
Hi, Nellie.
What's
the matter?
I told you
she was no good.
( sighs )
( mysterious theme playing )
Have a good game?
Mr. Mason's game
was good.
Mine was
interesting.
( chuckles )
Thank you.
( rings )
You order.
Hello?
Just
a minute.
It's a call for you,
Mr. Mason.
After breakfast,
Carlos.
Can you
call back
a little later,
please?
Oh.
He said it's
very important.
A Mr. Charles
Clark.
Sure thing.
Hello, Mr. Clark.
( inaudible dialogue )
I'll be right over.
No breakfast?
No time. Della,
get Paul up here
right away.
Margaret Clark's
been m*rder*d.
( dramatic theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
Say, sergeant...
where's this brother
of hers...
Howard Roper?
Waiting in the hall.
Better have him in.
Mr. Roper.
Anyway...
that's why
I called you.
I want you
to defend Harry.
Why does he need
defending?
They're gonna
arrest him
for my wife's
m*rder.
He was here
last night.
So I assume,
were you, Mr. Shayne,
and any number
of people.
You don't
understand.
Let me
tell him, Chuck.
Howard Roper
and Margaret
weren't brother
and sister.
How do you know?
It's all in
a detective's report.
A man named Philip Morgan
from Sierra City
did the investigating.
Show him
the letter.
This is addressed to
Mr. Walter Sims.
Who's he?
Oh, they call him
Salty Sims.
He runs a gas station
in Bardo.
Salty gave
Harry this.
May I keep it?
Sure.
Now...
exactly what happened
here last night?
Well...
Harry came over.
Didn't say,
"I told you so."
Didn't do any gloating.
I was gonna k*ll
both of 'em.
Harry stopped me.
And it's like
old times again--
Harry and me together...
depending on
each other.
Go on.
Well, uh...that's
all there was.
Uh, Harry left
about minutes later.
All right. Now,
let's have the truth.
That is the truth.
How did Mrs. Clark die?
She was shot.
Well, what makes
you think that--
It was right
around here,
Mr. Topham.
Gardener must have
covered it up.
All right, sergeant,
start digging.
Who's the gentleman
in command?
Mel Topham...
district attorney
for Sierra County.
Would the other one be
Howard Roper?
TOPHAM:
That's it, son.
ROPER:
Just like I said.
Harry took
a shot at
Roper
the other day.
Uh, he didn't mean
anything by it.
He was just
defending himself.
Where you
going?
Think it's about time
I saw my client.
( dramatic theme playing )
( hammer
pounding metal )
( dogs barking )
Yes, sir?
Can you tell me
where Harry Bright lives?
Yes, sir.
Right over there.
Thank you. Fill it up
for me, will you?
Uh, sure. Sure.
( barking
continues )
I left about
minutes
after I showed him
that letter.
It's like Chuck
told you.
How do you know
what Chuck told me?
Where's your g*n?
I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?
Well, I generally
carry it
in the glove compartment
of my car.
It wasn't there
this morning.
When did you
last see it?
I don't rightly
remember.
You trying to protect
Chuck Clark?
Chuck don't need
protecting.
He must, if you can't
tell me the truth.
When I showed Chuck
that detective's report,
he almost went
out of his mind.
He wanted to k*ll his wife
and that phony brother
right then and there.
Well, Bill Shayne and me
had all we could do
to talk him
out of it.
How'd you manage it?
Well, I said I'd go and
tell her to clear out.
Why didn't
Bill Shayne do that?
He took Chuck for a drive
to cool him off.
( sips )
Then you were left alone
in the house?
Ah.
I went to her
bedroom
and knocked on
the door.
There was
no answer.
I looked in,
and...
well, she was
dead.
( vehicle
approaching )
( sighs )
Police?
( sighs )
Did you touch anything
in Mrs. Clark's room?
Just the bed
when I leaned over.
( knock on door )
They must have found
your fingerprints there.
Go on.
Well, I went back
to the living room
and waited for...
Chuck and Bill
to come back.
That's the truth,
Mr. Mason.
Now, all you have to do
is tell that story in court.
No.
I told you
the true story,
but I ain't gonna
tell anybody else.
I won't hurt Chuck.
I mean that, Mr. Mason.
( knocking continues )
If you're not gonna tell
the truth, don't talk at all.
Come in, sergeant.
( dramatic theme playing )
Another drink,
Miss Gridley?
No, uh--
No, thank you.
I'm terribly
sorry, Della.
That's
all right, Perry.
This lady's been waiting
almost an hour.
Miss Nell Gridley,
this is Mr. Mason.
How do you do, Mr. Mason?
Miss Gridley.
Can we talk?
Well, of course.
Uh, phone call for you,
Mr. Mason.
Oh, thank you.
Hello?
Oh, yes, Paul.
Perry...
this Aunt Jane
is certainly no myth.
Her name is
Jane Caldwell,
and she's at
the Hillsdale Sanitarium
in Mineral Springs.
And Mrs. Clark went to
visit her regularly
every Wednesday.
Anyone go with her
on those visits?
Howard Roper
was always with her.
Wait a minute.
That might be
the answer.
They'd only spend about
half an hour at the sanitarium.
Then they'd register
at the Desert View at Mesa,
adjoining bungalows.
All right. What else?
I'm gonna talk to
that private investigator
who dug up that report
for Salty Sims.
He's up in Sierra City,
so I probably won't be able to
contact him till morning.
I'll see you then.
Uh-- Thanks, Paul.
Well...
now we can talk.
Harry Bright didn't
k*ll that woman.
He was nowhere near
Chuck's ranch
when she was m*rder*d.
Oh. Where was he?
Sitting with me,
right in my diner.
All night?
I'll swear to it.
Wouldn't be the truth.
I said I'd
swear to it.
Why?
NELL:
Well...uh,
there are
two kind of
desert people,
Mr. Mason.
The--
The lovers
and the haters.
The haters sit in the shade
all hunched up...
building up poison
inside themselves
till...
they gotta use it
or bust apart.
Talking about
Salty Sims?
Salty waited
a long time
to get even with
Chuck and Harry.
He sure got even
with Harry,
when he
showed him that
private detective's
report.
What happened?
Nothing compared to
what must have happened
when Harry showed it
to Chuck.
Chuck's always had
a terrible temper.
Are you trying
to tell us
that Chuck Clark
k*lled his wife?
I'm not accusing
anybody.
I-- I just don't
wanna see Harry
pay for somebody else's
murdering.
That's all.
Mm.
May I ask you
a personal question,
Miss Gridley?
Fire away.
Why haven't you
ever married?
Right man never
asked me, I guess.
Chuck Clark
the right man?
( scoffs )
Now there's
some gossip for you.
Fact is, I could have
married him
any time
I wanted to.
Well, why didn't you?
Didn't want to.
That's why.
Oh, uh, I was tempted,
but, uh...
some women are
just not cut out
for double harness,
Mr. Mason.
They're...
too used to
having things run
to suit themselves,
you know?
If you want me
for anything,
there's my business
address.
I--
I typed my home phone
number on the back.
Thank you.
Thanks for the drink,
Miss Street.
( dramatic theme playing )
( mysterious theme playing )
( exhales )
( exhales )
Oh.
I didn't hear you
come in.
It's all right.
You Philip Morgan?
Yeah.
My name's Paul Drake.
Oh. I've heard
a lot about you.
Works both ways. I've
heard a lot about you.
What's on
your mind?
You had a client
named Walter Sims.
He asked you to investigate
a couple of people?
Ah, you know
I can't discuss that.
I wouldn't want you
to divulge a confidence.
I'm just double-checking.
Is, uh...
this the report
you sent Sims
on Howard Roper
and Margaret Clark?
Where'd you get this?
You don't have to worry.
I came by it honestly.
Take a look at
this carbon copy of the letter
I sent Sims.
Somebody's been
playing games.
PAUL:
Hm. According to this,
Howard Roper
and Margaret Clark
are definitely
brother and sister.
MORGAN:
Yeah. Now compare it
to the original letter
you've got there.
PAUL:
"Dear Mr. Sims,
my preliminary investigation
"reveals that Howard Roper
and Margaret Clark
"are definitely not
brother and sister.
"I expect additional
information on this point,
"which I will forward you.
Sincerely yours,
Philip Morgan."
It was a cinch to
type in the word "not."
Comes right there
at the end of the line.
Are you sure Howard Roper
and Margaret Clark
are brother
and sister?
I'm positive.
If you like,
I can get you copies
of their birth
certificates.
I'd like nothing better.
What I want to
know is...
who changed
my report?
Offhand, I'd say your client.
Sims?
Mm-hm.
But why?
Unless he wanted to
make trouble for someone.
That's just
what he wanted.
Can I keep this?
Yeah.
Thanks, Morgan.
See you.
( door opens )
( door closes )
Does Sims own
a typewriter?
No, but he could have
borrowed one.
( acoustic guitar playing )
This is addressed
to him at a box number.
Who runs
the post office?
Nell Gridley.
I think she has
a typewriter.
You still have
her business card?
( bell dings )
I think so.
Let's see...
Here.
Yeah,
that's it.
Look at
those N's.
Now look at the...
N in
this report
in the word "not."
They were both typed
on the same machine.
Interesting
pictures.
Happier days.
Who's this one?
CHUCK:
Salty Sims.
MASON:
That your car?
CHUCK:
No, it belonged to Salty.
Took great pride
in it...
polishing and washing it
all the time.
MASON:
Mr. Sims apparently
has run out of pride.
CHUCK:
A man lives with hate
in his heart
all his days is
bound to turn up crazy.
Who does he hate?
Harry and me,
I guess.
Why?
Oh...
You know where Salty's
service station is?
MASON:
Yes.
That property once belonged
to Harry and Uncle Chuck.
When the gypsum company came in,
there was a land boom.
People had dreams of a big city
growing up out of the desert.
Salty had a worthless mine
up in the hills.
He salted it to
make it look rich,
then offered to trade it
to Uncle Chuck
for that roadside property.
I can see what happened
to the roadside property.
What happened
to the mine?
They named it
"Salty's Folly."
Chuck and Harry
took out close to
half a million dollars' worth
of ore the first year.
Excuse me.
I've been waiting
all day for him.
You.
Pack your things
and get out!
Well, now, I might have
expected that from you.
I ought to--
Nah.
Makes me sick
to touch you.
BILL:
Look out, Chuck!
( glass breaks )
Come on!
Try your judo
tricks on me.
I wanna see
what you use for guts.
( tense theme playing )
You don't have to go
this far.
You'll still go to
the gas chamber, Clark.
You and Harry Bright
both!
( glass shatters )
Out! In an hour.
( dramatic theme playing )
Now, tell me, sergeant,
what did you discover
when you entered
the deceased's bedroom?
Mrs. Clark was
lying on the bed.
She had been shot
through the heart.
There were feathers
all over the place.
Well, can you tell us where
those feathers came from?
SERGEANT:
Yes, sir. A pillow.
It had been used
to muffle the shot.
Sergeant...
do you recognize
this b*llet?
It was turned over
to me by Dr. Fenton,
who did the autopsy.
It has my mark on it.
Thank you, sergeant.
Now...
I show you
another b*llet.
What about
this one?
I dug this one up
in the garden
of the Clark estate.
If your honor
please...
I'd like this marked
for identification.
Now, sergeant...
tell us about
this second b*llet.
Well, I checked it...
under our new comparison
microscope.
It was fired from the same g*n
that k*lled Mrs. Clark.
TOPHAM:
Were you able to, uh,
locate the g*n?
SERGEANT:
No, sir.
You may
cross-examine.
May I?
Thank you.
Mr. Topham.
Now, sergeant,
you seem very proud
of your...
new comparison
microscope.
It's the best
money can buy.
I'm sure.
Did it tell you
which of these b*ll*ts
was fired first?
Well, I know the b*llet
I dug up in the garden
was fired first.
You know that from
your comparison test?
No.
But Howard Roper
told me that--
MASON:
Isn't it true...
that there is no
scientific way to prove
which of these b*ll*ts
was fired first?
That's right.
Then it's entirely possible
that the k*ller
first shot Mrs. Clark
and then fired a shot
into the ground?
SERGEANT:
Uh, yeah.
But that makes
no sense.
Doesn't it,
sergeant?
Let's take
a hypothetical case.
Now, if a k*ller knew
that a b*llet from g*n A
had been fired
into the ground,
and he'd removed that b*llet
and put in its place
a b*llet from g*n B,
the m*rder w*apon,
what would be
your deduction?
Well...
if I didn't know
about the substitution,
I would think that--
Whoever fired the b*llet
I...found in the ground...
was the k*ller.
Then the order in which
the b*ll*ts were fired
is important.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sergeant.
That'll be all.
Now, can you
describe to us
the events
on the afternoon
of June th?
My sister and I
returned home,
um, about :
in the evening.
We'd been visiting
with a sick aunt
at the Hillside Sanitarium
in Mineral Springs.
My sister went right to bed.
She wasn't feeling very well.
She-- She had
a bad headache.
TOPHAM:
And what happened
later
in the evening?
About : , I saw
the defendant drive up.
I didn't want any more
trouble with him,
so I jumped in my car
and went for a ride.
TOPHAM:
What time did you arrive
back at
the Clark place?
Mm, approximately
: in the morning.
Was the defendant's car
still in the driveway?
No, sir,
it was not.
And all the lights
in the house
had been turned out.
Thank you.
( sighs )
Your witness.
Now, um,
Mr. Roper...
you testified that
you and your sister
arrived home
at : p.m.
on the night
of her m*rder.
That's right.
MASON:
What time did you
leave the sanitarium?
About :
in the afternoon.
It took five hours to drive
approximately miles?
( chuckles )
My sister liked to have
her hair done each week
by a certain
hairstylist in Mesa.
A fellow named Alberto.
Uh, she'd stop in
at his beauty salon,
then she'd rest
for a couple of hours
at the Desert View Inn
before starting back.
Alberto's is adjacent
to the inn.
Mm-hm. A visit to
Alberto's seems to
have been
quite an ordeal.
It doesn't make much sense
driving around the desert
with a temperature
of degrees.
The inn was air-conditioned.
Now, you also
testified
that the defendant
tried to k*ll you.
He most certainly did.
But the b*llet missed
and went into a path
made of decomposed granite.
That's right.
And the hole
caused by the b*llet
was subsequently covered up.
Is that correct?
Yes.
Yet, you had no difficulty
leading the district
attorney
and the police
directly to it.
You can always tell where
a b*llet enters the ground.
With the court's
permission,
I should like to conduct
a little experiment.
What kind of experiment?
That box,
Your Honor,
contains
decomposed granite.
I should like to fire
a shot into it
to see if the witness
can...determine
where the b*llet
enters the ground.
Your Honor.
I object.
Counsel's turning this
into a sideshow.
Oh, now, let's don't
get excited, Mr. Topham.
Your witness made
a dogmatic statement
that you could
always tell
where a b*llet
entered the ground.
Now, I'm going to allow
Mr. Mason his opportunity
of testing him.
Go ahead,
counselor.
You want him
blindfolded?
No. It will be
satisfactory
if he just turns
and faces the wall.
( men clear throats )
You may turn around,
Mr. Roper.
You can't
fool me this way.
You fired
a blank.
( sifting sand )
( digs )
( sifts )
I still say
it was a blank.
You planted
the b*llet in the box
before you
brought it to court.
Thank you, Mr. Roper.
You've proved my point.
Just because a b*llet is found
in some decomposed granite,
doesn't mean you can tell
when the b*llet was fired...
or who fired it.
I'm through with
the witness.
JUDGE:
Any further questions
on redirect?
No, Your Honor.
You may step down.
Call your next witness.
I call Walter Sims.
And I saw Chuck
and his nephew, Bill Shayne,
pull up in front of
Harry's house.
Did you overhear
their conversation
with the, uh,
defendant?
Well, I-I-- I wouldn't
want anyone to think
that I was
eavesdropping.
Mr. Sims,
the question I asked was,
"Did you overhear
their conversation?"
Yes, sir.
What did Mr. Clark say
to the defendant?
He said he better
act decent to Mrs. Clark,
or he'd knock
his head off.
TOPHAM:
And what was
the defendant's reply?
Uh, he told Chuck that
Mrs. Clark was no good,
and that she was
responsible
for Chuck trying
to cheat him.
Then the argument
got so hot and heavy
that Bill Shayne--
That--
uh, that's
Chuck's nephew
--he had to step in between
to keep 'em apart.
Thank you,
Mr. Sims.
Cross-examine.
Now, Mr. Sims...
how do you feel about
the defendant, Harry Bright?
What do you mean,
"How do I feel?"
Well, do you like him?
Well, I don't
hate him.
MASON:
Despite the fact that
you told many people
that he and Mr. Clark
had swindled you
out of a valuable piece
of property?
Oh. I just told
that story
because it was
a joke on me.
Pretty expensive
joke, wasn't it?
Well, it'd been
my own fault.
And you held
no grievance?
No.
Now, Mr. Sims, are you familiar
with a private investigator
named Philip Morgan?
Um...yes.
As a matter of fact,
didn't you hire Mr. Morgan
to investigate
Howard Roper
and his sister,
Margaret Clark?
Yes.
Is this the report that
Mr. Morgan furnished you?
( exhales )
Well, I ain't sure.
It's addressed
to you, Mr. Sims.
It's the same one
you gave the defendant.
Yes.
Yes.
Your Honor, I should
like this
marked for
identification.
Thank you.
Now, Mr. Sims,
according to this report--
Now, look.
I can explain that.
You can explain why you
doctored the report?
SIMS:
I didn't do that!
You didn't insert the word
"not" in this report
so that the line
would read,
"Howard Roper
and Margaret Clark
are definitely not
brother and sister"?
SIMS:
I don't even own
a typewriter!
That doesn't
answer my question.
Why don't you ask
Nell Gridley?
Why, you dirty
skunk!
( crowd murmuring )
He's a filthy liar.
He's borrowed
my typewriter
lots of times.
( gavel bangs )
I'm telling the truth, judge.
I'm under oath!
I'm glad
you remembered.
Go on,
counselor.
Your Honor.
Now, do you deny ever using
Miss Gridley's typewriter?
Absolutely.
How did you get
in touch with Mr. Morgan
in the first place?
How did I get in touch?
That's what
I asked you.
Well, I, uh...
I don't remember.
Then perhaps, uh...
this will refresh
your memory.
It's a typewritten
letter
inquiring as to
Mr. Morgan's rates.
That your signature?
Yes.
Let me see that.
Your Honor,
I would also like
to, uh...
have this marked
for identification.
( man clears
throat )
I-- I forgot about that,
Your Honor.
Seems to me you forget
very easily, Mr. Sims.
Mr. Topham, you know
what to do.
Yes, Your Honor.
( sighs )
You finished with
the witness?
Quite finished,
Your Honor.
Well, in that case,
we might as well wind up
for the day.
Court stands adjourned until
: tomorrow morning.
( crowd murmuring )
TOPHAM:
Bailiff.
( dramatic theme playing )
( acoustic guitar playing )
Hi.
Hi, Paul.
Hi, Paul.
Thanks.
How did things go
in court today,
or shouldn't I ask?
Don't ask.
Well, I wish I had
some cheery news for you.
I just came back
from Mesa.
Howard Roper was
a pretty busy boy up there.
He and his sister
didn't stop
at Mesa because
of the heat.
Roper had a girlfriend
in town:
a cocktail waitress
named Louise Dayton.
Louise Dayton.
Mm-hm.
Registration cards.
Desert View Inn.
How long does it take
to drive to Mesa?
Hm. About two hours.
Well, I'm on
my way.
Did a great job,
Paul.
Buy him a drink,
Della.
( pats back )
Just one.
( chuckles )
( blows forcefully )
What's it to you
if I know Howard Roper?
I understand he spent a lot
of time with you, Miss Dayton.
Anything wrong
with that?
Hardly. I'd say he showed
excellent taste.
You can't soft-soap
me, mister.
It can't be
done.
Mr. Roper claims he saw you
every Wednesday afternoon.
That's
right.
Where'd you go?
No place.
We stayed right here.
All the time
he was in town?
Every minute.
I used to drive out
with him
when he went to
pick up his sister.
You don't frighten me,
Mr. Mason.
I'll swear to it
if I have to.
You may have to
do that, Miss Dayton.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
( door closes )
Now, Mr. Shayne...
( sighs )
To your knowledge,
had the defendant ever been
in this house before?
Not that I know of.
He-- He was on the grounds
the day he had the run-in
with Howard Roper.
Then if the defendant's
fingerprints were found
in Mrs. Clark's
bedroom,
they must have been
left there
the night of
the m*rder.
Your Honor,
I object.
Not only does the question
call for a conclusion,
it's leading
and suggestive.
Objection
sustained.
You may cross-examine.
Now, Mr. Shayne...
I've only a few
questions.
Now, on the afternoon
of June th...
you were alone
at the Clark ranch.
Is that correct?
Yes, sir.
And where was
your uncle?
He drove to La Costa
on business.
He didn't
get back till .
During that
afternoon,
did Howard Roper
come back to the house?
Not that I know of.
He drove Margaret
up to visit her aunt.
If he had come back,
you would have seen him?
Oh. Not necessarily.
It's a pretty big place,
you know.
Isn't there
another reason
you might not
have seen him?
Didn't you spend
that afternoon
at the Desert View Inn
at Mesa?
SHAYNE:
Me?
Didn't you register there
under the name of
"Howard Roper..."
as you had
on many other occasions?
I don't have to
take this, do I?
JUDGE:
Just answer
Mr. Mason's questions.
He doesn't know what
he's talking about.
JUDGE:
Then he'll
answer to me.
Proceed,
Mr. Mason.
Your Honor.
You had a romance
with Margaret Clark.
That's not true.
She threatened to
go to your uncle
and tell him
the whole story.
She did not.
I maintain she did.
I maintain that's why
you k*lled her.
SHAYNE:
I tell you, you're wrong!
Then you deny registering
at the Desert View
under the name of
"Howard Roper"
on certain Wednesdays
during May and June?
I certainly do.
Mr. Kellogg,
will you please stand?
Mr. Shayne...
do you recognize
that man?
No.
With the court's
permission,
I would like Mr. Kellogg
to identify himself.
I'm the manager of
the Desert View Inn.
Thank you, Mr. Kellogg.
Now, suppose Mr. Kellogg
testifies that you were there
every Wednesday afternoon,
and that you had registered
under the name of
"Howard Roper"?
He'd be wrong!
All right.
Mr. Kellogg,
may I see
those registration
cards, please?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Your Honor, I would like to
have a handwriting expert
look at these cards.
Sergeant Givens?
Can you do what
Mr. Mason says?
Just give me
an hour, sir,
and a sample of
his handwriting.
You'll have them
both.
The witness
is instructed
to give
Sergeant Givens
a sample of
his handwriting.
You may step
down now.
Temporarily.
The court is
adjourned for--
I said, you may
step down.
( dramatic theme playing )
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
So money was the main motive?
Right.
Oh, would you please put
those bags in my car?
You bet, Mr. Mason.
Thank you.
You're
welcome.
But a motive
with a twist.
Bill Shayne couldn't
gain financially
by Margaret Clark's
death.
But he stood to lose
by her being alive.
His uncle could have
revoked the trust fund.
Mm-hm.
So...
So...
Bill got the g*n
out of Harry Bright's car
and shot her when she
returned home that evening.
He felt certain
there was nothing
that could link him
with Margaret.
What did?
Lies.
And registration
cards.
What lies?
Everybody's.
Bill Shayne was lying.
Salty Sims was lying.
And most important,
Howard Roper was lying.
Roper knew that his sister
was involved with Shayne,
and he knew that Shayne
had k*lled her.
To all intents, he'd been
blackmailing his sister,
so he planned on
keeping a meal ticket
by blackmailing Shayne.
And the registration cards?
From the Desert View Inn.
There were of them.
Should only
have been six.
Every time that Howard Roper
stopped at Mesa,
he'd spend the afternoon
with Louise Dayton, remember?
Not at
the Desert View.
Well. Obviously, someone else
was using his name.
But it didn't necessarily
have to be Bill Shayne.
That's right.
But I just couldn't believe
it was Salty Sims.
Bring her
with you.
Oh!
( laughs )
( dramatic theme playing)
( noirish jazz theme playing )
02x25 - The Case of the Petulant Partner
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.