03x22 - The Case of the Madcap Modiste

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

It was Emerson who said,

"If a man can write
a better book,

"preach a better sermon

"or make a better mousetrap
than his neighbor,

"though he build his house
in the woods,

the world will make
a beaten path to his door."

You are looking at a kind
of better mousetrap right now

and the world
of dress design

is beating a path to this salon
in Southern California.

These are the work of one
of the really fresh new talents

in the field
of feminine fashion.

Hello, Flavia.

Oh, hello.

Uh, we don't mean to snoop.

Not at all.
Come in and sit down.

Thanks.

What are you working on?

Cocktail dress.

Like it?

MAN:
Well, first, how much?

You men are all alike.

Why don't you come
to our preview Friday

and we'll model it for you?

Formal wear, dinner dresses,
suits, spectator sports.

We're celebrating
our th birthday, you know.

Congratulations, Flavia.

You've come a long way
in five years.

Thanks to the other half
of our firm.

Come on, I want you to meet him.

Darling?

This is Charles, without whose
help...et cetera, et cetera.

MAN:
How are you, Charles?

Oh, I'm a little nervous.

It's not only
our birthday tomorrow,

it's our wedding anniversary.

MAN:
Well, congratulations again.

Thank you.

Charles is
the administrative half

of Flavia of California.

When it comes to business
I haven't a brain in my head,

have I, dear?

What's this I hear about
expansion plans, Flavia?

Expansion?

Oh, he means our deal
with Ariel Fashions, dear.

Yes, uh, as a matter of fact,
we are expanding

and, well, we're both
very excited about it.

You see, we've-- We've worked
out an agreement

with Henry De Garmo
of Ariel Fashions of New York.

Uh, it's a plan to license
Flavia designs

under our strict supervision.
Charles--

As you know, Ariel is one
of the finest houses

in woman's wear and, well...
Excuse me.

...we just felt
that a-- A-- A combination

of our two organizations

would be of mutual benefit.
Charles, please.

She's always interrupting.

What now?

I just don't want to give
him the wrong impression.

Wrong impression?

Well, about Ariel.
I thought I told you.

Told me what?

I've decided against it.

Uh, she's a great
little ad-libber.

The contracts
were signed last week.

But I didn't sign it, dear.

Of course you didn't sign it.

I handle all the contracts.

Isn't this a mad place
for a business discussion?

I'm sorry, Charles, dear, but
I don't want million people

to get the wrong impression.

I have no intention
of selling my name

to Ariel or anyone else.

Now, why don't you find
a nice place to relax

while I show our friend
our awards?

Over on this wall, please.

You know, when I think
of what we've accomplished

in the last five years,

I just can't bring myself
to turn the name

of Flavia of California
over to someone else.

( dramatic theme playing )

FLAVIA ( on TV ):
Here is the certificate

we won last spring:

American Conclave
of Fashion Designers.

And here's the gold medal
we got last year in Paris.

( TV clicks off )

I don't care if the lines
to Los Angeles are busy,

try wireless or something.

I've got to--

Oh, all right,
put me through.

Get me George Halliday
at the Beverly Regent.

FLAVIA ( on TV ):
And this one was our first
international award...

( phone rings )

...three years ago.

( TV clicks off )

Henry you're a minute
and seconds late.

Are you watching the show?

What's with your sister?

Of course I'm watching it.

And how do I know
what got into Flavia?

I tried to call the salon,

they wouldn't take any calls.

It's your responsibility.

You get to her. Talk to her.

Tell your flibbertigibbet sister
the name Flavia of California

is on a contract which says
my outfit, Ariel Fashions,

is licensed to use
it for five years

with an option for five more.

Her husband and I set the deal
over a week ago.

Henry, all I can promise
is I'll do what I can.

And it better be enough, George.

I'm catching a Los Angeles plane
in an hour

and when I get there
I want good news.

Is that clear?

Right, Henry.

I'll do what I can.

( line clicks )

( dials )

Operator.

FLAVIA ( on TV ):
This is the award

from the American Fashion
Designers,

our last spring preview.

( phone rings )
We all feel that Friday's show

is going to be even better.

Hello?

Oh, hello, George.

Yes, I'm watching it right now.

I've gotta talk to you.

No, I can't tell you
on the phone.

I haven't seen you
for six months.

How about staring at each other
across the lunch table?

Huh?

I said I'm not interested.

What do you mean?

Yes. Yes, I know.

All right.

I'll-- I'll see you
at Alfredo's at .

Goodbye, George.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, at first I thought
Flavia was kidding.

She does have a kind of a madcap
sense of humor, you know.

Then she repeated it and I--
I looked at her

and I realized
that she was serious.

Well, it was like a nightmare.

I-- I couldn't believe
it was happening.

You had no warning?

Certainly not.

I had suggested the television
emcee ask the question.

I thought it would give me
a chance

to make an important
announcement on the show

and give the program a scoop

and the television audience
a thrill.

Then she did it deliberately.

Why?

No idea.

Not only did she
do it deliberately,

but she picked the worst
possible moment,

almost as if she were trying
to make a fool out of you

in front of million people.

Now, there had to be some kind
of buildup for an act like that.

If there was, I missed it.

Tell me, Mr. Pierce,

how much was riding on that deal
with Ariel Fashions?

Well, on the credit side
of the ledger,

a flat payment of ,

plus percent of Ariel's gross
on the Flavia line.

And on the debit side, well,
if the contract isn't honored,

there'll be a lawsuit
for damages on a broken contract

that'll be a dilly.

Hm.

Now, you said that Flavia just
walked into your office one day

about five years ago
with a bundle of dress designs.

Was it that simple?

Well, almost.

She and Leona made me
a proposition and I took it.

Leona?

Leona Durant. She heads up
our design department.

She and Flavia had a little
business in West Los Angeles

before they came to me.

I was doing pretty well.

I was in sportswear,
bathing suits, and so on,

just starting
to distribute nationally.

What happened
after Flavia moved in?

Well, we--
We took off like a rocket.

You saw the show.
It's all true.

Oh, except for one thing.

She said she was a very poor
businesswoman.

Actually,
she was a very good one.

Oh?

She had you sign
an antenuptial agreement.

What's wrong with that?

Right now, everything.

All it does is reserve her own
property prior to marriage

for herself alone.

But she had nothing.

Except her name.

What?

This reserves right and title

to the name
Flavia of California.

Here, read it yourself.

Paragraph ,
the last sentence.

But what about
the partnership papers?

Same clause.

She owns Flavia of California.

But my blood's
in that company.

Her name was nothing
until I built it.

Unfortunately, that has nothing
to do with the point.

Look, I-- I took $,
in option money from De Garmo.

Don't spend it.

You mean there's
nothing I can do?

Well, you can try to get her
to change her mind.

Well, it-- It isn't fair.

I own the controlling interest
in that business.

De Garmo isn't buying
the business.

He's buying her name.

Uh, let me look this over
further.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Thanks.

Della...

Mm-hm?

...Della,
think like a woman, will you?

I'll try.

Now, what would make a scheming,
successful businesswoman

suddenly throw $,
out of the window?

Take guesses?

I'll accept a guess.

Another woman.

( soft piano music playing )

Cheers.

Oh, what's this?

I've been shopping.

Champagne?

It's a special occasion.

I think I'd better
run along, George.

No, we haven't decided anything.

What's there to decide?

You're in one of your
difficult moods, Angel.

Don't call me "Angel."

I'm running out of patience.

I ought to take you
over my knee.

You know why she pulled
that rabbit out of the hat.

I haven't the faintest idea.

Don't lie to me.

I know you too well.

And I know my sister
even better.

I grew up with her.

She's got an unholy love
for a buck.

She wouldn't throw ,
of them overboard

unless she figured collecting
would cost her even more.

George, what does all this
have to do with me?

A great deal.

Charles is in love with you.

She's afraid if the deal
goes through,

he'll pick up his marbles
and walk out.

That's not true.

I said don't lie to me.

So you better give him up.

( door opens )

( door closes )

Hi.

What are you doing here?

Fittings.

Leona?

Gotta get out there and win
some more award certificates

tomorrow night.

From me to you.

It's a going-away present.

After tomorrow night,
I'm pushing off.

Now, don't be silly.

This time I mean it.

Come on, let's talk.

Talk gets us nowhere.
You know that.

It's one of those things you
just don't talk your way out of.

Let's just face up to it and do
the sensible thing, shall we?

( door opens, closes )

Evening, Leona.

Mr. Pierce.
Where's Flavia?

At the hotel
with the decorators.

We got six dresses
to fit by :.

Goodbye, Charles.

( dramatic theme playing )

Hook it at the neck.

Where does this go?

There.

Charles says I have
to talk to you.

I can't discuss it now,
Mr. De Garmo.

Go on back to New York.
I'll write you a letter.

Oh, where did she--?

You can't just toss it into
the wastebasket, you know.

Will you please--?
No, I won't please.

I have $,
invested in this deal.

I don't just pick up my hat
and walk out.

Then go someplace and brood
about it until Saturday.

I can't talk to you now.

I've been looking
all over for that pin.

Oh, now, wait a minute.
Not that one. Number .

Go on, take it back.

Harriet, change the color
of that lipstick.

All right.

Go on home now
and get an hour's rest.

The show's at sharp.
Remember? You too, Ruth.

Leona.
LEONA: What?

Make those changes
I told you about

and hurry, please.
What about ?

I'll decide on that now.

That's the wrong brooch. Here,
use this one.

Flavia, this is ridicu--

I told you I can't
discuss it now.

( both sigh )

Like it?
No.

The neckline doesn't seem to--

Don't comment on it, dear,
just wear it.

See you Saturday.

( sighs )

My head is in such a spin
I can't even think.

Take it off.

It's the last one in the show.
I may leave it out.

The show is at sharp.
Understand?

Yes.

Leona, you can send everybody
out to dinner now.

( inaudible )

All right.
All right, Mr. Mason.

We'll-- We'll have a three-way
conference with De Garmo

just as soon
as I can arrange it. Right.

Right, goodbye.

Celebrating?

Yeah. Yeah.

Happy show. Happy anniversary.
Happy everybody.

You never bought
champagne before.

Well, I never had an occasion
like this.

You're not brooding about
that silly deal with Ariel,

now, are you, Charles?

I haven't given it
a second thought.

You're a sweet, likable boy
and I love you for it.

Yeah, I don't know.

It looks better in this sketch
than it does on your friend.

Shall we leave her
out of this just once?

( chuckling ):
Happy to.

You know, it's something
wrong with the neck.

It's too busy
or something.

Here, Charles, look at it.

Now, what do you think?

I don't know.

I don't know
what got into Leona.

It isn't like her at all.

Leona?

Leona.

CHARLES:
De Garmo is threatening to sue.

He's bluffing.

CHARLES:
He's mighty good at it then.

I told him you'd probably

be more rational
after the preview.

You know me better
than that.

I have no intention of--

( gags )

Of what?

( body thuds )

Flavia?

( ominous theme playing )

Flavia?

Poison.

It's poison.

I switched Carla
with the Gilbert girl.

We need a brunette
with a frosty green--

Flavia!

Flavia, what happened?
W-w-what did you--?

Charles gave me poison.

( Flavia croaks )

She's dead.

Flavia? Flavia!

( Leona sobbing )

( ominous theme playing )

No rigor as yet.

No postmortem lividity.

Temperature change
insignificant.

And she just came in
to pass the time of day?

She was my wife.

We talked once in a while.

What were you talking
about this time?

The preview. What else?

Hope Sutherland?

Leona, will you please--?

TRAGG:
Who's Hope Sutherland?

One of our models.

Why would he be talking
about her?

Because he's in love with her.

And that's why his wife's
out there dead. Isn't it?

Isn't that why you k*lled her?

I didn't k*ll her.

( door opens )

TRAGG:
What did you find?

Have to wait for the postmortem
examination to be sure.

All we can say is some
fast-acting poison.

( Leona gasps )

You and your wife
have a drink together?

No.

It was about :.
Cocktail hour.

I didn't give her anything.

( door opens )

( mysterious theme playing )

TRAGG:
Where were they?

Wastebasket in the washroom.

Fingerprints
all over the bottle.

How do I know
where I bought it?

I-- I've had it around
for six or eight months.

Then you don't drink champagne
very often?

Well, New Year's, birthdays--

Anniversaries?
Not this one.

You so seldom buy it, you ought
to know where you got it.

I wish I could help you.

You can.

Just remember: The first thing
a good attorney gives his client

is faith, in return for that
he expects the truth.

If that seems
an unfair exchange,

I'll be happy
to recommend someone else.

I didn't k*ll her.

I've assumed that
from the first.

What I'm asking is where you
got that bottle of champagne.

Hope gave it to me.

For what reason?

Anniversary present.

But she didn't put poison
in the bottle.

How do you know?

Well, she wouldn't
do a thing like that.

You mean to, uh, you.

You realize the person who did
put the poison in that bottle

stood a pretty good chance
of k*lling both of you.

I know.

What was your relationship
with this girl?

Well, it's pretty hard
to explain.

It isn't the obvious one,
if that's what you're thinking.

Is she in love with you?

I don't want to talk about it.

Sooner or later you're going
to have to talk about it.

Well, let's make it later.

You picked up that bottle
of champagne,

went shopping all afternoon,

then brought it around
to the salon

when you had to report
for fittings that night.

Is that right?
Yes.

It wasn't out of your possession
at any time?

Not that I can remember.

Was this the usual thing
with you and Pierce?

To congratulate him
on his anniversaries?

Mr. Mason...

I know you don't
want to talk about it,

but you're going to have to do
a lot of talking about it

before it's settled.

You probably won't
understand this,

but I'll say it once anyway:

I love him, I respect him

and I respected his marriage.

Period.

It seems a little hopeless.

We talked a lot about that.

Get anywhere?

No.

But we understand each other.

And there's another thing
I'll say just once:

We haven't done anything
that either of us

would be ashamed
to testify to in court.

How did you expect
to wind it up?

I was winding it up the night
I brought him the champagne.

I told him so.

Had nothing to do with Flavia's
performance on television?

It has nothing to do
with Ariel Fashions or money

or anything else except Charles.

Is that so hard to understand?

Then why were you giving up?

It was hopeless, that's all.

( phone rings )

Hello?

Yes, he's here.
Just a minute.

Thank you.

Hello?

Oh, yes, Della.

They just got the results
back from Autopsy.

Prussic acid.

If it was the champagne,
they'll find traces of it

in the bottle and the cups,

even if there was an attempt
to wash them out.

If it was prussic acid,

they won't find anything
in the champagne bottle.

You can pick up that bitter
almond smell too easily.

Nobody could palm it off
in a glass of champagne.

Sounds like su1c1de.

( dramatic theme playing )

The district attorney
quashed the complaint?

What are you talking about,
Mason?

Well, in view of the postmortem
report, Mr. Linn,

I thought your office
might reconsider.

It doesn't change a thing.

How can you say that?
It's easy. I'll say it again.

The postmortem report
doesn't change a thing.

Your client is in jail
and he'll stay there.

You know as well as I do
that prussic acid

cannot be concealed
in a glass of champagne.

So what?
So it had to be in a capsule.

And he couldn't have
given her a capsule

without her knowledge.

Oh, well, then it wasn't m*rder.
It was su1c1de. I see.

I can understand
what the counselor

is getting at, Mr. Linn.

Flavia Pierce,
distraught over the loss

of her husband's affection,

something she'd been aware
of for months,

picked the eve
of her big spring preview

to k*ll herself
in her husband's presence.

That was well-stated,
lieutenant.

She's the kind of woman
who would do exactly that.

Irrational, temperamental...
Oh?

Are those the symptoms
of unbalance?

She pulled the rug out
from under her husband

in front of million people
for revenge, kicks or whatever.

That's one symptom
and it's all I need.

You see that's how we differ,
Mr. Mason.

You can look at a thing like
that as evidence of instability

and possible su1c1de.

All I can see

is a maddening dame
who practically goaded

her husband into k*lling her.

You'd say that in court?

Oh, no.

But that's what I think.

I can't talk you into
quashing the complaint.

Not a chance.
I filed it two hours ago.

Suspicion of first-degree
m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing )

Of course it was m*rder.

What else?

There are several alternatives.

su1c1de is one.

It wasn't su1c1de.
How do you know?

Flavia wasn't a coward.
She was tough.

She not only had talent,
she had courage.

She'd go down fighting,
but she'd never k*ll herself.

Was she fighting?

She sure was.

In what way?
Every way.

Every way she knew.
She was trying to hold onto him.

It's pretty hard to explain
to a man how a woman feels

when the guy she loves
starts toward the door.

You have to be a woman
to understand that, I guess.

She talk to you about it?

LEONA:
Sure.

We talked about
almost everything.

She was the only friend I had.

Picked me out of a shirt factory
in East Los Angeles

ten years ago.

The two of us built all this.

His nibs had nothing
to do with it.

He was just a name on the door,
that's all.

A name on the door.

Who hired Miss Sutherland?

Flavia.

Her brother George
talked her into it.

That would be George Halliday.
Mm-hm.

He was going with Hope
at the time.

Met her up in the Valley.

What valley?

He's got a gold mine
east of Fresno.

Hope was a hostess
in a swank restaurant up there.

Ha! He gave her
a song and dance, I guess.

Told her he'd get her
a job with Flavia.

Figured Charles Pierce
was out of circulation.

That's where he made
his mistake.

She plucked Pierce
like an overripe apple.

Oh, but that isn't
what you asked me.

You asked me
if Flavia k*lled herself

and I said she didn't.

She couldn't, she wouldn't

and she didn't.

Excuse me.

I have work to do.

( mysterious theme playing )

Paul Drake, please.

That's right.

Paul, I've got a rush job
for you to do.

Pretty promising mine
from what I can find out.

However, if brother George hits,
it'll be the first time.

He's been in real estate,
oil stock,

chinchilla farming, the works.

Are you sure he has
that, um, ore-reduction mill?

Yeah, a small one.
Is it important?

Could be.
The mill operating?

When he has the money.

He comes to town
every couple of weeks,

puts up at a hotel,
and hits Flavia for a loan.

From what I can tell,

this last time
she turned him down cold.

Any reason?
Hard to say.

She doesn't need a reason.

She's the most inconsistent
woman in the world.

Where'd you pick that up, radar?

No. Right in here.

There are designs
in this collection,

all part of a plan.

Number --
Here. Take a look.

MASON:
Number . I saw that today.

What's wrong with it?

Well, it doesn't belong.

Forty-one of them do,
but this one doesn't.

Reason: her deep-seated
inconsistency.

You mean she was a normal woman.

I'll try to overlook that.
( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Well, when did--?

No, I'll be right out.

So, Flavia turned brother George
down on a loan. What then?

( door opens )
Well,

then he applied for credit
from a couple

of mine supply outfits.

Uh, one application listed
an interesting name

as reference: Henry De Garmo.

Ariel Fashions.
Mm-hm.

He and George stayed at
the same hotel three weeks ago

when De Garmo flew in to close
the deal with Flavia.

George involved in that?

I don't know.

He might have sold De Garmo
a bill of goods.

Some kind of guarantee that he
could talk Flavia into the deal.

For a fee.
From what I can pick up,

brother George
would promise anything

if there was money in it.

Maybe the district attorney's
office will change its mind

about that complaint.

( dramatic theme playing )

I don't know.
I don't know how they got there.

I never saw them before.

Yes, but, uh, they were there,
weren't they? Four of them.

One, two, three, four.

Somebody put them
in my purse.

Why?
You tell me why.

I don't know why.
I never saw them before.

Look, I was her friend.

For ten years
I was her friend.

I owed her everything I've got.

How can you accuse me
of k*lling her?

When was the last time
you saw that purse?

Last night.

I left it in the cloakroom
at the salon overnight.

Did you usually do that?
I forgot it.

Well, isn't it pretty hard
for a woman to do?

Her purse is her right hand.

Well, I was upset about
the preview and all.

And the purse
stayed in the cloakroom

until, uh, a couple of hours ago

when one of the men
picked it up and found

four capsules
of prussic acid in it.

You want to defend her too?

No, one's enough.

What about that complaint?

You gonna quash it?

I hate to give in to you.

You certainly can't arraign him
with what you've got.

Not now, anyway.

I'm afraid you're right.

I'll call the district attorney
in the morning.

We'll release Pierce
pending further investigation.

That is, unless something new
develops during the night.

I'll call you.

Thank you, Mr. Linn.

Mr. Linn.

Yes?

What can I do for you?

HOPE:
You can let her go.

Why?

She had nothing to do with it.

I-- I thought
it was Flavia's purse.

You mean,
you planted those capsules?

I thought it was Flavia's. I--

I-- I thought if you
found them you'd--

Well, you said
she k*lled herself.

Why did you do that?

To get Pierce off the hook?

Because you've got a pretty good
hunch he's guilty?

Is that why you did it?

Let her go.

I don't want her
to suffer for it.

Please, let her go.

( dramatic theme playing )

( sobbing )

Well, I guess it's back to you.

McBRIDE:
I'd say the woman died

less than two hours
prior to our arrival.

I could be wrong
by a half-hour either way.

And the postmortem
showed what cause of death?

McBRIDE:
Poison. Prussic acid.

Now, would you explain
to the court

what kind of a poison this is?

Very violent.

With the possible
exception of aconite,

the most violent
of all poisons.

What's a lethal dose, doctor?

About one tenth of a gram.

And how soon would death
ordinarily ensue?

Depends on the individual.

From two to five minutes.

Cross-examine.

Uh, doctor, you've been a city
medical examiner for some time?

Twelve years.

And you've had experience
with many deaths by poisoning.

Hundreds, I'd say.

Many by prussic acid?

Mm, a dozen or more.

How many were found
to be by m*rder?

None.
Every one was a su1c1de.

Thank you, doctor,
that will be all.

Call Lieutenant Tragg.

It's a prescription
made out to Flavia Pierce.

What kind of medicine was it?

Tranquilizer capsules.

Not pills. Capsules.

Right.

Do you recognize that box,
lieutenant?

I do.

I found it in a drawer
of the defendant's desk

on the day of the m*rder.

Object.

We have yet to establish
a m*rder was committed,

Your Honor.

Objection sustained.

Strike the word "m*rder"

and substitute
"Mrs. Pierce's death."

You may proceed, Mr. Linn.

Lieutenant, I assume you had
the material in the capsules

analyzed
in the police laboratory?

There were none left.

The box was empty?

Right.

So assuming that Mrs. Pierce
took the capsules regularly,

the last time
she opened this box,

she found one capsule only.

Just one choice.

Right.

That's all.

Cross-examine.

Just one question, lieutenant.

Were there any traces of cyanide
or prussic acid

found in the box?

No. Uh, none whatever.

Thank you, lieutenant,
that'll be all.

LINN:
Call Leona Durant.

So up to, say, six months ago,
as far as you knew,

the deceased was not given
to dosing herself with medicines

or vitamins,
that sort of thing?

No, sir.

What about the tranquilizers?

She started taking them
last fall

around the time
she found out about--

We object, Your Honor,
to the witness volunteering

any information, particularly
in the nature of conclusions.

Let the witness simply
answer the questions.

Sustained.

You will confine yourself
to answering the question,

Miss Durant. Proceed, Mr. Linn.

So she started taking
tranquilizers last fall.

Yes, sir.

Did you approve of this?
No, I didn't.

And I told her so.

Go on.

She stopped,
as far as I knew.

I didn't find the box in her
desk in the design room, anyway.

You didn't know that
she was keeping them

in her husband's desk drawer?

LEONA:
No, I didn't,

until this all happened.

LINN:
Hm. Now,

while she was taking them,

what was her usual procedure?

LEONA:
She'd take one every afternoon

around :.

That's all.

Your witness.

Uh, Miss Durant,
you've given us your account

of Mrs. Pierce's death
as you saw it.

You explained about the tense
and frenzied atmosphere

in the salon two hours
before the preview.

That's right.

Now, did Mrs. Pierce
seem unusually excited?

She was a little wrought up.

She always was before
a big show.

But not unusually so?
No.

Now, you've testified
that she was worried sick

over the threat
to her marriage,

haunted by the fear

she might have closed the door
on a golden opportunity

in turning down De Garmo.

Under pressure from the biggest
show of her career

and sneaking tranquilizer pills
out of their hiding place

in her husband's desk drawer.

This, you say,
is par for the course?

She was an excitable woman.

But not prone to su1c1de.

Never.

Oh, um, one other thing.

She had still another worry:

Getting out the brochure
for the preview,

"Blueprint for Spring,"

running down
to the blueprint company.

That isn't true.

I handled the whole thing
myself.

She didn't even see the brochure
until it was finished.

Thank you, Mrs. Durant.
That will be all.

Call Henry De Garmo.

Mr. De Garmo,

raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly swear

the testimony
you're about to give

will be the truth,
the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?
I do.

State your name.
Henry De Garmo.

Be seated, please.

Of course I threatened him.

With what, specifically?

I said I'd sue him
for recovery of moneys

I'd invested in promotion work,

plus damages
of a million dollars or more,

unless he could get his wife
to change her mind.

And what effect
did this have on him?

I'd say Charles Pierce
was a desperate man.

For the third time,
I tell you we were not.

We were not
having an affair.

But you did love him.
Yes, I did.

To the point where you
committed criminal conspiracy

to protect him.
Is that true?

Yes.

Where did you buy
the cyanide you planted

in Leona Durant's purse?

At a mining supply house
in South Los Angeles.

How did you know where to go?

I knew cyanide
was used in gold mining.

Through your association
with, uh, George Halliday?

Yes.

Now, did George Halliday
have anything to do

with your decision
to break off your, uh,

friendship with Charles Pierce?

HOPE:
Yes.

Did Halliday thr*aten to--?

He didn't thr*aten.

LINN:
He persuaded you

to break up with Mr. Pierce.

HOPE:
Yes.

So you bought Pierce a bottle
of champagne and said goodbye.

Yes.
That's all?

Just goodbye?
Yes.

You didn't discuss
assorted methods

of extracting gold from raw ore?

Or the availability of one
of the most violent

of known poisons on the shelves
of mining supply companies?

If the court please, I object

on the ground that the question
is leading and suggestive.

Rephrase the question, Mr. Linn.

Did you at any time discuss
with the defendant

the subject of cyanide
as a poison?

I did not.

I see.

Now, let's examine further your
relationship with the brother

of the deceased,
George Halliday.

So when she decided
she loved Mr. Pierce,

I did the obvious thing.

You, uh, retired from the field.

Exactly.

Heartbroken, but still proud.

Never mind the levity,
Mr. Halliday.

This is a serious business
we're engaged in.

Continue, Mr. Linn.

When did you last
see Miss Sutherland

prior to Mrs. Pierce's death?

The day before it happened.

I had lunch with her.

For what purpose?

To try to dissuade her
from continuing the...

relationship
with Flavia's husband.

LINN:
Why?

GEORGE:
I was worried about Flavia.

LINN:
What were you worried about?

I knew she was
brooding about it,

devoted as she was
to her husband.

I loved my sister very deeply.

Anything else?

Yes. I was a little
uneasy about Charles.

Why?

About three weeks
before the m*rder--

Sorry, Your Honor.

Before my sister's death,

we had dinner together.

He was in a strange
frame of mind.

What?

GEORGE:
He told me everything
was hanging on the deal

with De Garmo and he couldn't
count on Flavia.

LINN:
Go on.

Well, there was a lot
of chitchat about it

and then he got onto
another subject.

He asked me how my ore-reduction
mill was getting along.

And from there we got into
the process I was using.

He's lying.

LINN:
And what process was that?

GEORGE:
The cyanide process.

That's not true.

He told me he thought
it must be very dangerous.

I said, "Well, no,
not necessarily,

as long as you were careful."

I told him I had a full month's
supply of sodium cyanide

in my car.
Had no qualms about it.

Then what?

Well, I-- I don't like to swear
to something I'm not sure of,

but when I got back to the mine
a couple of days later,

I seemed to be short
a full pound can.

He's lying!
That's not true!

I didn't know anything
about any cyanide.

You k*lled her!

You know you k*lled her!

( gavel tapping )

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

Mr. Pierce, the law guarantees
you an opportunity

to testify on your own behalf.

That opportunity
will come in due course.

In the meantime,
you will respect

the dignity of this court.

Apologize, Your Honor.

You may continue, Mr. Linn.

That's all.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Uh, Mr. Mason, if you don't
object to postponing your

cross-examination, the court
would like to call a recess.

No objection, Your Honor.

Very well.

The court is adjourned
till :.

( dramatic theme playing )

He is lying.
I never said any such thing.

( ominous theme playing )

You sure you don't want me to
have sandwiches sent up, Perry?

Hm?

Perry.

Hm?

How about the sandwiches?

No, I just can't get my mind
off Mr. Linn.

He's so positive
about this case.

But he's all wrong.

That's reassuring.

He started with the motive

that Charles had a couple
of very sound reasons

for k*lling his wife,

therefore he must
have k*lled her.

He's got everything
falling right into place

in one neat little package.

Linn knows perfectly well

that I'm sticking
with the su1c1de idea

because it's the only defense
I've got.

I tried to bluff him,
but it won't work.

Oh, it's m*rder all right,

only the motive
keeps getting in the way.

Ready for coffee?

You see, it isn't motive
in this case.

It's method.

Now, if I could just...

Wait a minute.

Know where Paul's having lunch?

He left a number.

Call him.

He's got a job
to do before :.

( dramatic theme playing )

Everyone rise, please.

You may be seated.

Will George Halliday
take the stand, please?

Mason will level off
on this one.

Uh, a moment,
Your Honor.

I have no questions
for Mr. Halliday.

JUDGE:
I need not point out to you,

Mr. Mason, that the testimony
of this witness

has been very damaging.

That depends upon
the point of view, Your Honor.

If it please the court,

there are one or two questions

I neglected to ask
the medical examiner.

With Mr. Linn's permission,

I would like to recall
Dr. McBride.

Mr. Linn?

I-- I have no objections,
Your Honor.

Will Dr. McBride
take the stand, please?

Now, Dr. McBride,
in this case we have used

prussic acid and cyanide
interchangeably.

Would you please explain
the difference between the two?

Well, cyanide is transformed
into prussic acid

when it's acted upon
by any mild sort of acid.

For instance?

The acid of the stomach.

What are the properties
of cyanide?

Well, cyanide is a white,
crystalline substance.

Uh, looks somewhat
like crystallized sugar.

What about its smell?

Well, when it's perfectly dry
it has no odor.

In moist air or in solution,

it has the strong, bitter
almond smell of prussic acid.

And--?
( door opens )

How much cyanide
would be the lethal dose?

McBRIDE:
About hundredths of a gram,

about the size
of a large pinhead.

Um, suppose this amount were
suddenly thrust into the mouth.

Be highly dangerous.

There would be an immediate
burning of the tongue

and the mouth lining,

violent salivary action
which would tend

to ingest the drug,
in which case, of course,

death would ensue in minutes.

Thank you, doctor.
That will be all.

Your Honor, again with
Mr. Linn's permission,

uh, I would like the privaledge

of recalling
two other witnesses.

Mr. Linn?

Do, um, you have new
information, Mr. Mason?

I believe so, Mr. Linn.

I have no objection.

Uh, Your Honor,
I would like a moment

to confer with Mr. Drake.

Why, certainly, Mr. Mason.

It was right in place
on the rack, Perry.

However, I don't know
about the pin.

Good work.

It's the right one.

Uh, Your Honor, I would like
to recall Miss Hope Sutherland.

JUDGE:
Miss Sutherland, will you
take the stand, please?

You are still under oath,
Miss Sutherland.

Do you, uh, recognize this,
Miss Sutherland?

Yes, I was supposed
to wear it at the preview.

Didn't you like it?

Not very much.

It-- It wasn't like
the other models.

I mentioned that
to Mrs. Pierce.

It was about the only thing
we agreed on.

What was wrong with it?

Well, something about the neck--

It-- It was so difficult
to hook.

Thank you.

Will you step down, please?

Uh, would you stand
right there, please?

May I, Mr. Linn?

Well, is--? Is this part
of your new information?

Yes, it is.

Yes, go ahead.

Your Honor, I would like
to recall Mrs. Leona Durant.

JUDGE:
Mrs. Leona Durant

to the stand, please.

Miss Durant, what do you
think about that cloak?

I think it's different.

Because you designed
it that way.

Yes.

Now, you testified previously

that you also designed
and ex*cuted this.

Yes.

"Blueprint for Spring."

And it's a real blueprint cover,
isn't it?

Mr. Mason, I don't know
what you're getting at.

A blueprint, Miss Durant,

is produced by one other process
which uses cyanide.

Now, you became aware of this
during the time you worked

with the blueprinting company,

did you not?
And working there

you had access to an unlimited
supply of cyanide.

I told you once,
Flavia Pierce was my friend.

My best friend.

I wouldn't in the world
have harmed her.

You were devoted to her.

So devoted it galled you
to see her marriage

falling to pieces
because of that girl there.

You didn't think much
of her husband,

but she did,
and that was enough.

It was that kind of devotion,
wasn't it, Miss Durant?

The kind of blind devotion

that can sometimes
move a person to m*rder?

Now, why is it this cloak
was designed in such a manner?

Why the difficult
fastening at the neck? Why?

Because you designed
it with one purpose in mind:

You designed
it as a w*apon for m*rder.

What?

Would you put this on, please.

MASON:
Don't do that!

Now, you carefully designed
that cloak with no pockets,

and in such a manner
that it required two hands

to fasten it properly.

And then the pin.

Where else to put the pin
while two hands

were busy fastening the cloak?

Where else but in the mouth?

May I have the pin, please?

I call the court's attention
to this pin.

One of the stones
has been removed

and the gold plating
in the socket

discolored by some chemical.

I fully believe an analysis

will prove that chemical
to be cyanide.

( dramatic theme playing )

( whimpers )

( cries )

Probably the most terrible
moment in Leona's life

hen she walked out
of the design room

and found Flavia
on the floor.

Yes, I suppose she really
did blame me for it.

I think she did.

And even Flavia
thought you poisoned her.

She couldn't
believed it of Leona.

Neither could I.

Flavia's death meant
the end of the line for Leona.

With you in charge, she knew
she'd probably lose her job

and everything she'd worked for.

I tossed her out
as a possible suspect,

concentrated
on the su1c1de angle.

But the dress haunted you.

It haunted me first.

Right.

When I found out that Hope

was the model scheduled
to wear that dress,

it really haunted me.

Then I got the idea that maybe
Flavia's death might have come

from a m*rder plan
aimed at Hope.

About that time, Della walked up
with the coffee.

Just like that.

But Della learns
from experience.

Ha!

Hm?

I'll explain it to you later.

( chuckles )

Coffee?

( upbeat theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )