07x08 - The Case of the Floating Stones

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(ship's whistle blows)

♪♪

Ah, yes, I remember these

from happier days.

But, uh, it is only right
I tell you,

and you tell
your honored father,

these stones are worth
far more than $ , .

That includes
the price of secrecy.

It must never be known
where they came from,

nor that I ever left China
to visit you.

Arrangements have been made

to sell these diamonds
in another country.

They will never be seen
in Hong Kong.

Many prayers accompany
your return to your father.

In China today,

even prayers must be submitted
for approval

in triplicate.

May your years be long, Mr. Eng,

and filled with tranquility.

(gasping)

I say, sir,
whoever your young visitor was,

he certainly took off in a rush.

But now,
about those Mandarin silks,

they're just not...

-(groans)
- Mr. Eng.

Let me help you.

Quong!
Quong!

Call the doctor.
I think it's his heart again.

Mr. Kew.

Mr. Sherwin, very sad occasion.

Depressing.

Of course, he was older
than Confucius.

I say, Louis, uh...

what's this about the relative
from America?

She arrived last night.
His granddaughter.

Marvelous. I didn't know
he had anyone so close.

What's she like?
Emancipated and all that?

Good morning, Mr. Kew.

Miss Eng.

I trust you slept well.

And may I present
your grandfather's assistant

Mr. Tudor Sherwin?

Delightful surprise.

I say, uh,

all this must have been
quite a shocker for you.

Well, it wasn't
completely unexpected.

My grandfather knew he was dying
when he phoned me.

You mean to say
he called you up?

Clear to Chicago?

I live in Los Angeles,
Mr. Sherwin.

Shouldn't we get on
with the reading?

Yes, please.

Look here, old boy, uh,

can't we dispense
with the legal mumbo jumbo?

Uh, just tell us who gets what.

Very well.

Except for a small bequest
to Quong,

the will provides that
Miss Juli Eng shall inherit.

The lot of it?

KEW:
It's not much, I'm afraid.

There's very little money.
Just the house and...

Well, I've drawn up
a complete inventory

of the property.

If there are any questions,
Miss Eng...

Yes.

Well, there's no mention here

of the diamonds.

Diamonds?

Well, there was
a collection of them.

My grandfather told me about it
on the phone the other night.

KEW: Oh, but I couldn't have
overlooked a thing like...

Possibly Mr. Sherwin.

Diamonds? Uh, never heard
of any diamonds, old boy.

Louis, I heard the news just now
when I landed here.

Dreadful, just dreadful.
His heart, I understand.

Meet Mr. Eng's granddaughter
from, uh, San Francisco?

Oh, I'm sorry,
I didn't know.

I'm Ralph Iverson,
Orient Sales.

May I express
my deepest sympathy?

Thank you, Mr. Iverson.

I've done business
with your grandfather off and on

for the past ten years, so
if there is anything I can do...

Not unless you tripped over
a few diamonds on the way in.

Hey, Miss Eng?

- Diamonds?
- KEW: Miss Eng,

If you could possibly remember

exactly what
your grandfather said...

Well, it was all rather garbled.

We had a very bad connection.

He said something
about the diamonds,

then something like,

"You and your mother
will have fewer burdens

because of them."”

Mr. Eng left some notes
in his bedroom.

There might be
some reference there.

Excuse me.

Well, I'm in Hong Kong
for the day, but please

don't hesitate to call upon me--
anything, anytime.

You're very kind, Mr. Iverson.

As a matter of fact,
there is something

-I would like to ask you.
- I'd be delighted.

My grandfather left
this little business to me

and I have no idea
what to do with it.

I think...

Mr. Sherwin expected
something from the estate.

So I was wondering if...

If he might run
the business for you?

Well, something
like that, maybe.

Very generous, Miss Eng.

Very much like your grandfather.

But, frankly,
the last time I was here,

Eng told me he was going
to let Sherwin go.

Why?
- Oh,

the man's always been
a sort of snoop, I believe.

I don't know anything specific.

Your grandfather
was upset, I know.

Something had just been
taken from the house,

and, well...

Excuse me.

H-He's gone.
Disappeared.

Miss Eng, here are the notes.

There's a reference here
to, to that red cabinet.

But I went through it
thoroughly and...

Hey,

I remember Eng showing me
a drawer in that cabinet.

There was a button he pushed.

Somewhere along here.

They're not there.

I'm going to call the police.

Visiting, old boy,
just, uh, visiting.

Hello there.

Excusez-moi, madam.

Oh, you're French.
How odd.

Huh?

You remind me of someone I met
on a Mediterranean cruise.

He used the name of Chilton,
I believe.

Colonel Chilton?

Oh, of the militaire, of course.

Uh, but, uh,
since my name is not Chilton...

No, no, no,
he wasn't a real colonel.

The police took him
off the boat at Athens, I think.

Oh, dear, so that couldn't
possibly be you, then.

Scarcely, madam.

Uh, you must excuse me.
I have, uh,

official business, you know.

Official?

Sécurité nationale.

Lovely little knickknacks,
aren't they?

Considering they're
just pieces of pure carbon.

Second cousin
to a piece of coal, really.

I gather you called me
down here to ask my advice

on how to, um...

import them, shall we say,
into the United States.

I've, I've never considered
anything like this before...

Oh, come off it, old chap,
every voyage you carry

some interesting
little Oriental knickknack.

You peddle them
for that Chinese chap.

Eng, isn't it?

Well, that was different.
I always declare everything.

Well, just small items, anyway.

He was always helping
some family or other

behind the curtain.

Of course, of course, and, uh,

and you, too,
are a philanthropist.

Well, a salesman's got
to pad things out someway.

Tyrell, if you had the problems
that I have...

(laughs)

If I had the diamonds
you have, you mean.

Well, all right.

Sure.

I need the advice
of someone who,

well, in the past, was
some sort of an expert.

My dear fellow, you demean me.

There isn't
a customs officer in the world

that wouldn't concede, in a
moment of confidence, of course,

that I am the, uh, nom parilé
of the smuggling profession.

If you would just tell me
what to do, that's all.

Well...

let's start off
with a series of don'ts.

Don't, uh,
conceal them on your person.

Oh, I'm not referring
to your clothes.

Fluoroscope, you know?

And, uh,

don't submerge them in a jar
of cold cream

or toothpaste tubes;
it's very old hat.

Well,

just what would you recommend?

Pay the duty, old man.

No, no, that's
out of the question.

(laughs)

The ice is hot.

Well, forget it, old chap.

This is a job for only
a professional.

(knocking)

Ralph, the door is locked,
for heaven's sake.

Just a moment.

(knocking continues)

What are you doing in there,
Ralph?

Open this door.

(knocking continues)

Why don't you break the door in?

What's the big idea?

- You got somebody in here?
- You see anyone?

What do you want? I'm trying
to get some work done.

I forgot something.

- It's not in there.
- Of course it is.

You don't even know
what I'm after.

What's wrong with you, Ralph?

I got to get out
of these high heels.

What's this, Ralph?

- Don't remember this.
It's a gift.

Nothing, a cigarette box
for the boss.

Lorraine, look, why don't you
go play shuffleboard

or something?

I just may go and get drunk.

Iverson, my dear fellow,

I leave you to your,
your problems.

I say, what a good thing

she wasn't
one of those customs laddies.

You really would have been
for it then,

wouldn't you?

I'll think of something,
somehow to do this.

Tyrell, what would it take
for you to...

well, take over?

To come out of retirement?

Well, let me see now, um...

A free ticket,
uh, bar credit,

and a small commission.

Are you sure
you can get those stones

past the San Francisco customs?

(laughs)

Nothing could be simpler.

But you don't even have
any clothes on board.

My dear fellow, a true
professional is always packed.

There's still time to make a, a
phone call or two from the pier.

My number one boy could have
a bag here within ten minutes.

Al right.

It's a deal.

I'll get the diamonds to you
as soon as we set sail.

And thanks, Tyrell.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Yes, I see.

Good work, Sergeant.

No, that seems
to settle the question.

Now, as I was saying,
there's really no trace

of diamonds of any sort.

They've never been seen
or heard of

by the people
closest to your grandfather--

Mr. Kew here, the servants,
or Mr. Sherwin.

On balance, there's reasonable
doubt the stones ever existed.

Inspector, hasn't the
possibility ever occurred to you

that someone is lying?

Oh, no, not you, Mr. Kew.

INSPECTOR:
Mr. Sherwin, you mean?

You mean you found him?

INSPECTOR:
Yes, we have, Mr. Kew.

He even submitted to a search.

Well, he certainly wouldn't be
carrying the diamonds around

-with him.
-I think the diamonds

would be in his possession,
if he had them at all.

Especially in view of the fact
he's sailing for America.

He's sailing?

- When?
- Right now.

Then I'm going after him.

INSPECTOR:
I'm afraid that's rather

out of the question, Miss Eng.

My sergeant just called
from the docks.

The S. . lone
was just casting off.

(whistle blowing)

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Hello there.

You must have been plucked
from the sea.

- No, I...
- Yes, I know, my dear,

you came out on the pilot boat.

Sounds very adventuresome.

Uh, not really.
I, uh... l overslept.

Oh, how awful.
I've done that myself.

I recall one time
in the Indian Ocean, I...

Please, please excuse me.

I have to send a wireless
right away, please.

Perry, you remember that
little Chinese-American girl

about six months ago,
her name was Juli Eng?

Oh, yes. The young girl
that Paul Drake located

-for a relative in Hong Kong.
- Mm-hmm, grandfather.

He passed away last week,
and, uh...

someone has stolen
her inheritance.

"And now a man
named Tudor Sherwin

has stolen the diamonds."”

Diamonds?

Well, we'd better prepare
a welcome for this Mr. Sherwin.

Shall I let Paul know?

Yes, and the customs service.

Look at him.

Lounging like a millionaire.

The Hong Kong police
searched him.

They said he didn't have them,
but I know he does.

(chuckling): Oh... well, see
here, now, he's pretty clever.

Took your grandfather years
to catch on to that boy.

Anyhow, I doubt very much

if he'd bring the diamonds
aboard ship.

Oh, Mr. Iverson,
I just know he did.

So... if they're
in a stateroom now,

do you think I should
report it to the captain?

No, no, don't.

Don't put him on his guard.

I think you should let
the customs people handle this.

Later on...

You have informed them,
I suppose?

Oh, yes. That's all
been taken care of.

Good morning, all!

Beautiful day for a promenade.

- Won't you join me, my dear?
- Oh, thank you, I, uh,

don't think I will.

I'm enjoying the view.

Oh, yes.
I see what you mean.

The dashing young Englishman.

You've been watching him
ever since we left Hong Kong.

Oh, now, don't blush, my dear.

I notice everything.
(laughs)

Uh, lovely day, isn't it?

It sure is, partner.

- You're an American?
- Nope. Texan.

Do you know that man
he's talking to?

Oh.

Oh, no, my dear.
Not him,

of all people.

I'll admit he has a sort
of moldy charm, but he's...

Tell me about him,
the moldy one.

Well, I don't know
his name yet--

or rather, the one
he's using this trip--

but unless I am mistaken,

he's a very,
very dangerous type of man.

Wouldn't you say so,
Mr. Iverson?

My wife is signaling.

Excuse me, ladies.

Well, never mind.

Time for the constitutional.

Will you come along, my dear?

I think I better send
a wireless. Excuse me.

♪♪

Some big shot.

Why weren't we
at the captain's table?

They gave us dinner
out in the boondocks,

and all you did was sit there.

What do you expect me
to do about it?

Complain.

Don't you do enough of that?

♪♪

Excuse me.

Where is she?

Who, the Chinese girl?

Pretty little thing, isn't she?

Keep away from her, you idiot.

She's after the diamonds.

No.

(laughing):
What a shower.

Is she the one
you pinched the marbles from?

Never mind. It was bad enough,
you gabbing with that guy,

that Tudor Sherwin.

Say, you don't think
she suspects

I have the rocks, do you?

You won't find this
so blasted amusing

if we both wind up
with a federal rap.

Now, relax, matey. I'm not gonna
get done in by a bit of fluff.

I promised you
I'd get the swag through,

- SO...
- All right.

But in the meantime,
you keep away from that girl.

Keep away from all of 'em.

If you have to play around
with someone, do it with...

with someone who's safe.

Ah, wow.
You're a Latin, all right.

Ciertamente.

Sherwin, what the devil
are you doing here?

I might ask the same question,
don't you think?

Cabin belongs
to a Mr. Tyrell, I believe.

I...I saw you coming in here,
and I followed you.

I've seen you
sneaking around before.

Well, of course you have.
I've been

searching for the diamonds,
old boy, what else?

Oh, for the love...
There aren't any diamonds!

- Don't you know that?
- Well, they're not here,

and they're not
in your stateroom.

But that, uh, really
doesn't prove an awful lot.

It proves you're a sneak thief.

I'm going to report you
to the captain.

Now, just a moment, Mr. Iverson.

Remember those other little
deals you helped Mr. Eng on?

Selling things abroad and so on?

What of them?
They were perfectly legitimate.

But speaking
of reporting to people,

there's a private inquiry agent
in San Francisco

with a full grip on you,
Iverson.

They say you cheated Eng
for close to $ ,

on those sales
over the past five years.

The girl will be interested
in that, I expect.

Sherwin...

you're the kind of man
I could cheerfully strangle.

Ah, but that should wait until
after we land, don't you think?

And the diamonds, too, maybe.

Since I can't find them, you've
obviously made arrangements

to smuggle them in.

Yes, of course.

We can just wait about
everything until we land...

including the size of my share
of the loot for keeping quiet.

And here's what
the police gave me:

Gilbert Tyrell, alias Chilton,

sometimes called
Colonel Chilton,

alias the Marquis
de Frontenac...

What's his racket, Paul?

Smuggling. He used to be
one of the best.

All right, I'm gonna meet Juli
when she lands.

You'd better be at the pier
ahead of time,

check with Customs.

I have the tickets, Perry.

Tickets? I was gonna drive
to Long Beach anyway.

I've got a date there
tomorrow night.

The lone docks in
San Francisco, Paul.

Thank you, Della Street.

The diamonds are part
of an estate, the biggest part.

They disappeared in Hong Kong.

Miss Eng thinks a man
named Tudor Sherwin took 'em.

Yeah, yeah, we've got
all that before.

This Tyrell, she thinks,

might be trying
to smuggle them in, right?

That name Tyrell strikes
a nerve with you fellows.

Oh, yes, we know about
Mr. Tyrell, all right.

Matter of fact, Drake,

we've already had a tip on him,
too, this trip.

Our informant just doesn't know
what he might be carrying,

that's all.

Informant aboard ship?

(chuckles) Yeah.
Rather interesting character.

She does nothing but travel
and pick up information for us.

No connection to the service

except for the reward
she collects.

I'm afraid, Drake,

Miss Culpepper has first
priority on this one.

♪♪

What's he gonna do,
crack a safe?

Lots of hiding places
on a ship.

If Tyrell leaves the stones
on board, we'll find them.

Hurry it up, men.

What if he tries
to slip them past?

All due respect
for the man's reputation,

I don't think he's got a prayer.

How good is he, really?

I understand
he was actually stuck

with a sentence once
in Southampton years ago.

Now, look, old man,

doesn't diplomatic immunity
mean anything in this country?

I happen to be the chargé
d'affaires for Hunza, you know.

Now, Juli,
there's really no proof

that Tyrell is carrying
any diamonds, so...

Oh, but I saw Sherwin talking
to him all the time.

And he is a smuggler.

Al right.

Now, they're going to search
everyone this time,

so you'd better try and relax
for a while.

Mr. Wendel, how nice.

I was hoping
you would be on the job.

How are you, Agatha?

Splendid, dear.

What is Tyrell carrying?
Any idea?

- Supposed to be diamonds.
- It is diamonds.

Diamonds. I love diamonds.

They're always so expensive.

What do you think my moiety
will be this time?

We'll talk about the reward
when we find the goods.

Of all the nerve.

That man even squeezed
my toothpaste.

Just get in the cab,
will you, Lorraine?

There's a couple of guys
over here I have to see.

Hi, Mr. Iverson,
we got your message all right.

He'll be out soon
if he gets out at all.

We'll cover him, don't worry.

Don't let him out of your sight,
not for one second.

Three hours, old man,
three hours.

You've demolished my luggage,

x-rayed me till I don't have
a secret to my name.

I couldn't get a gallstone
past you.

For the last time, Tyrell, where
did you plant those diamonds?

Well, we'll just have to wait
till they sprout and see,

won't we, Inspector?

Now, surely by now your men
have torn the ship apart.

You've let everybody else go.

All right, all right.

Well, there's nothing more
I can hold him on, Drake.

Go on, Tyrell, get out of here.

That's more like it, Inspector.

All the best to you.

Oh, and the same
to your sphinx-like friend here.

Mr. Mason, look,
they're now letting him go.

Oh, stop him.

Didn't Mr. Drake tell you?

Uh, no luck, Inspector?

Mason, I'm sorry to say,
we found no diamonds.

All right, Paul.

In fact, the Hong Kong police
doubt very much

whether anybody will ever find
these diamonds.

And you know why?

Because they feel exactly
the same way I do right now.

They're just are
no such diamonds.

Juli, is it possible that
you might have misunderstood

something your grandfather said?

Oh, now you don't believe me
either.

Now nobody believes me.

(buzzing)

Oh, hello.

I'm sorry to bother you,
Mrs. Iverson.

Is your husband in?

Like always.

IVERSON:
Miss Eng.

I had to talk to somebody.

They didn't find the diamonds.

They don't even believe
there are any.

- Well, you know...
- Even Mr. Mason said

I should lie down and rest, but
I thought, if you talk to him...

Well, of course, but after all,
what could I really say to him?

You could... well...

(phone rings)

Hello.

I say, old man, sitting
right on top of the telephone?

Just a minute, I'll take this
on another phone.

Excuse me.

LORRAINE:
I'll make some coffee.

Business--
it will just take a moment.

Yes, I'm still here.

Search?

They all but dissected me.

Oh, nonsense,
of course I got them through.

You weren't really worried
about that, were you?

No, no, I knew all the time...

Do you really have them?

Well, I don't have them
in my pocket.

I can pick them up
within five minutes.

Shall I deliver them tonight?

Yes, as soon as possible.

No, no, not here.

Meet me at my office.

I'll be there within one hour.

Tallyho.

Hurry up, matey!

It's a bit damp out here!

This guy is supposed
to be a genius?

So how does he do it?

He drops the stuff overboard
with a marker like any amateur.

Here it is, catch.

Thank you very much.

Hey, mate!

MAN:
Dive in quick, Ari.

That tide.

You bungling idiots.

Mr. Iverson will k*ll you
for this.

Iverson?

I thought you were the customs.

Oh, boys, boys,
I don't know how you're going

to explain this to Iverson.

Look, buddy,
you're not hanging blame on us.

Me hang it on you?

You hung yourself.

What do you think, Ari?

Maybe it's better he goes out
with tide, too, huh?

Now, just a minute, chaps,
let's, let's talk about this.

Uh, excuse me, gentlemen,
I seem to be lost.

I wonder if one of you could
direct me to Market Street.

Right back where you came.

Well, if it isn't the sphinx
from the customs service.

Say, you are out of your way.

I'll show you.

Good-bye, chaps,
and, uh, good fishing.

Who were your friends?

Oh, I haven't the foggiest idea.

I've never seen them before.

Forget it, Tyrell,

I saw you fighting with them
over a package.

A package.

A package he says.

A king's ransom
in feet of water,

headed for the Golden Gate.

Those diamonds might as well be
in King Solomon's Mines.

It's a black night, my friend,
and that's the watery truth.

(phone rings)

Hello.

Yes, Paul.

What happened?

You heard me.

I called Customs,
and they're getting divers,

but the tide is going out.

You see, Tyrell was jumped
by a couple of g*ons

just when he went
to pick up the diamonds.

You saw all that?

Sure, I did,
and here's another one for you.

It wasn't Sherwin he was going
to deliver the diamonds to.

It was Iverson.

Tyrell was going
to deliver them tonight?

Yep, to Iverson at his office.

Of course,
now Tyrell has taken off--

to the South Seas probably.

This he'll never be able
to explain.

(over phone):
Hello, Perry?

- (Juli crying)
- Juli, Juli.

He came at me like a maniac.

(crying):
I ran.

He's the one
who stole my diamonds.

I guess the score
is even now, Juli.

Mr. Iverson is dead.

The blade was driven
into the victim's body

between the vertebrae
in the left scapula

and between the fifth
and sixth ribs.

It penetrated the left lung,
causing massive hemorrhaging.

Very concisely stated,
Doctor, thank you.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

Doctor,
if the aorta had been cut,

death would have been
instantaneous, would it not?

Yes, sir,
but it was not the case.

Otherwise
I would have stated so.

Of course.

As it was, the decedent could
have lived after being stabbed

for what, five minutes?

Yes.

Or even longer, perhaps
as much as or minutes?

Well, hypothetically it's
possible, but in this instance

I really couldn't say.

Well, let's leave it
at minutes then.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Objection.

Counsel is attempting
to legitimize his own inference.

Sustained.

Mr. Mason's last remark

will be struck from the record.

I have no more questions,
Your Honor.

Well, I first met
Juli Eng in Hong Kong

for the reading
of her grandfather's will.

And what was your relationship
to the grandfather?

His assistant.

We were partners actually,
after a fashion,

but, uh, there was
nothing in writing,

so, uh, everything went
to the defendant.

And what was the extent
of the estate?

Mostly the reputation
of the firm

and some clients.

No personal property?

Oh, yes, Eng's solicitor
had it all cataloged,

but, uh, no one paid
much attention to her.

Why was that, Mr. Sherwin?

Well, there was a bit of a flap
when no diamonds turned up.

Now, the diamonds you mentioned
in direct examination--

had you ever seen any
of these alleged diamonds?

Well, uh, no.

Who was present during
the discussion about them?

The solicitor Louis Kew
and Miss Eng.

Iverson arrived
in the middle of it.

Did any of these people admit
to having seen the diamonds?

No, but Iverson must have,

assuming he stole them.

Assumptions are not evidence,
Mr. Sherwin,

and neither is hearsay.

So far there is no evidence

that the diamonds ever existed,
is there?

From the testimony given so far,
it seems apparent

that the seeds of m*rder
were planted in Hong Kong.

Now, since you were there,
Mrs. Iverson,

you may be in a unique position

to shed some light
on the matter.

I'll try, but we were only there
for one day,

and since Mr. Eng was dead,

I guess there wasn't much
business in Hong Kong for Ralph.

Well, isn't it possible that
your husband may have transacted

some business
that you were unaware of?

LORRAINE:
He could have, sure.

I remember seeing
a package in his suitcase

the day we sailed for home.

It was about, uh, oh, so big.

When I asked him about it,
he got, well, sort of excited

and hustled me
out of the stateroom.

Did you ever see
that package again?

No, it was gone the next morning

and he didn't have it
when we went through Customs.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Very well.

Now, if you will, I'd like you
to give me a complete account

of your husband's movements
on the day of the m*rder.

LORRAINE: Well, we didn't
get home from the boat

till nearly : .

We had dinner about : ,
and after that Miss Eng arrived.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Oh, just a social visit?

LORRAINE:
Not with me.

She said nobody believed her
about the diamonds,

and she wanted Ralph's advice,
but he had to go to the office.

At that hour?

He got a phone call and left.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
What did the defendant do?

Oh, she, uh, made up some excuse

about having to see a cousin
in Chinatown and went after him.

Objection, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Sustained.

The witness will refrain
from speculating.

Well, they were mighty friendly
on the boat,

-and she did go to his office.
- (tapping)

I met Miss Eng when she came
aboard in Hong Kong.

Well, it was
after we sailed actually.

She came out on the pilot boat.

The ship was ready to sail

before I learned
that Sherwin was on it.

Well, that was in the beginning.

After that something happened.

Would you tell the court,
please, exactly what happened?

Oh, dear.

Well, I suppose, if I must.

I took it upon myself to warn
her about a certain individual

on board ship.

I had her best interests
at heart.

Really, I did, my dear.

But I think she resented it.

And the name of
that certain individual, please.

On the passenger list
it was Gilbert Tyrell.

Are you implying
that's not his real name?

CULPEPPER: When he was working
the Mediterranean,

he used the name
Colonel Chilton.

I suppose, in his profession,

he needs a new name
in every port of call.

He's a notorious smuggler.

I'm a globe-trotter, sir.

I envy you, but I'm concerned
with how you make your living.

As a consultant.

And exactly what
are you consulted on?

Oh, my experiences
as a globe-trotter.

Your Honor, it's obvious that
Mr. Tyrell is a hostile witness.

Now, I request the right
to ask him leading questions.

Mr. Mason.

The defense has no objection
to that, Your Honor.

JUDGE: Very well.
You may proceed.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Tyrell, or whatever
your name happens to be,

do you deny the testimony
of the last witness?

I'm afraid I do.

You've never been known
as Colonel Chilton?

Oh, yes, that's quite correct.

I used many names
in my previous profession.

Well, would you explain
to the court, please,

the exact nature
of your previous profession?

I was a spy.

(whispers, murmurs)

You mean you engaged
in espionage?

- Precisely.
- For whom?

I'm afraid I can't reveal that.
Security, you know.

In my profession...

Mr. Tyrell, were you
acquainted with the decedent?

TYRELL: Oh, yes, I met him
on several occasions,

-on his trips to the Orient.
- Oh.

Well, reminding you
that you're under oath,

did you engage in an act
of smuggling

on your latest trip
to this country?

No, sir, I did not.

And the, um, customs authorities
will verify that.

They may verify that they found
nothing in your possession,

but that's not the question
I asked you.

One moment, please.

Since the witness is not
represented by counsel,

it is the duty of the court
to remind him

that he can refuse to answer,

if by so doing he will tend
to incriminate himself.

That's very kind of you,
Your Honor, but, uh,

I have no hesitation in
answering the previous question.

I brought nothing
that was contraband

into the United States.

Well, I hope
I never have to reveal

how I got this information,

but a local private detective
has proof

that Iverson has been swindling
Eng for the last five years.

- Who hired the detective?
- Our old friend Tudor Sherwin.

And I'll bet money
he was gonna use it

to squeeze some of the diamonds
out of Iverson.

- No calls?
- Not yet.

Any luck on the diamonds, Paul?

Not in that tide.
They're gone for good.

(phone rings)

Hello.

Yes.

Yes, put them on, please.

It's your call from Hong Kong.

Hello, this is Perry Mason.

Yes, Mr. Kew.

I'm calling from Eng's study,
Mr. Mason.

I think I have the information
you asked for.

Yes, a servant remembers
a caller delivering a package

to Mr. Eng's house
the night before his death.

Have you been able
to identify the caller?

No, no, but Quong
is almost certain

that he came from Red China
and then returned there.

Well, that eliminates him.

Now the last point.

Oh, you did?

That's what I suspected.

Yes, I think we have
a very good chance now.

Well, I'll certainly
pass it on to her.

Thank you, Mr. Kew.

Sounds like you got
what you wanted.

Yes, I did.

All right, who k*lled Iverson?

Oh, I haven't
the faintest idea, Paul,

but I do have
a little job for you.

Now, Juli said there was
a cab parked

at the building that night.

So?

I have a photograph
I want you to show

to every taxi driver
in San Francisco.

BAILIFF:
Be seated, please.

I have a message for you
from Louis Kew.

I'm not sure I can
pass it on properly.

Don't be inscrutable, Mr. Mason.

It's more in the tone
than in the words,

but I rather think
he fell in love with you.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason.

You wish to examine
Mr. Gilbert Tyrell?

If it please the court,

the defense would like to waive
cross-examination at this point,

with the right to recall
a little later.

I can assure the court
there are reasons

which will make it in
the interest of justice

to grant this request.

I have no objection to that,
Your Honor.

All right, Mr. Mason.

Prosecution may proceed
with its case.

I call Frank Chowen
to the stand.

Then, after dinner last night,
we follow him-- Tyrell--

right back to waterfront again,
where he meet that fishing boat,

and like I told you,
he got package, all right,

but he drop it right into bay.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Just a moment.

Did Mr. Tyrell stop anywhere

just before meeting
the fishing boat?

CHOWEN: Well, he stopped
to make phone call.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Do you have
any idea whom he called?

CHOWEN:
Sure.

I sneak up behind
telephone booth.

I listen to conversation.

He tell Mr. Iverson he have
diamonds with him, five minutes.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Mason.

I have no questions
of this witness, Your Honor,

but at this time I would like
to recall a witness.

JUDGE:
Very well.

Mr. Tyrell...

MASON:
Begging the court's indulgence,

the witness we'd like to recall
is Miss Agatha Culpepper.

JUDGE:
Mr. Chowen, you may step down.

Miss Culpepper...

No, I am not an informer.

I just... well, I notify Customs

whenever I spot
someone on shipboard

I know they'll be interested in.

It's a perfectly legitimate...

But you are compensated for
your little acts of informing.

A percentage of the recovered...

The law provides
a perfectly legitimate reward

for what I do.

And you were deprived
of that reward,

weren't you, Miss Culpepper--

conceivably a very
substantial reward--

when Customs was unable
to locate any diamonds?

Well, how was I to know
he'd do an amateurish thing

like dropping them overboard
before we ever landed?

Yes, I certainly was deprived
of my reward.

By Tyrell himself not being
caught with the diamonds.

Now, Miss Culpepper,

I want you to think
very carefully

before answering
this next question.

In your earlier testimony
you stated

that the defendant Miss Eng

missed the sailing of the lone

and boarded it only
by coming out on the pilot boat.

Yes.

I was on the deck when
she came up the ladder.

Very well.

Was anyone else
on the deck at the time?

Oh, yes, lots of people.

But if you were
to ask me just who,

I'm afraid I couldn't say.

I see.

That's all, Miss Culpepper.

Your Honor, I would now
like to recall Gilbert Tyrell.

Mr. Tyrell, you were asked
by the district attorney

if you had smuggled something
into the United States

on this, uh, latest trip.

Now, would you like the clerk
to read back your answer?

No, no, I remember
exactly what I said.

I neither smuggled
nor attempted to smuggle,

and that's that.

MASON:
All right, then.

Did you ever actually see
the diamonds in question?

Oh, of course.

Iverson showed them
to me aboard ship.

A very valuable collection.

MASON:
Please continue.

Well, he asked me how to get
them into the country and so on,

evade Customs...

Did he ask you to do
the job for him?

Did Iverson give you
the diamonds to smuggle in?

Well, I... held them
at one time.

I-I suppose...

MASON: And as the ship
approached San Francisco,

did you drop them over the side
with a float attached--

outside the jurisdictional
custom limits perhaps--

with plans for a fisherman
to pick them up?

I say, Your Honor,
isn't this creeping back

into the incrimination
bit again?

I mean, really,
without counsel here, it's...

Uh, may it please the court.

We're here to consider a m*rder.

Why Mr. Mason should waste time
eliciting further evasions

and perjury and suppositions
from Mr. Tyrell...

On behalf of the witness,
Your Honor, I protest.

Mr. Tyrell is far
too experienced to risk perjury.

I also believe he's
the last man in the world

who'd be amateurish
about an act of smuggling.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

I think I'm interested
in this line.

And it would be amateurish,

wouldn't it, Mr. Tyrell,

to, um, throw a small
package overboard

in water so rough a whale
would be hard to locate?

Well, that would depend
upon the degree of panic

on the part of the thrower,
I would say.

Panic, Mr. Tyrell, you?

Now, tell us when

you really hired that fisherman.

The one who handed you
the package so conveniently

in front of witnesses,

the package
you so conveniently dropped

into the bay when
those witnesses att*cked you.

Well, I...

I don't remember exactly when...

Wasn't it after
the ship had docked?

After you were ashore?

Wasn't the whole thing
just a stunt you arranged

for Mr. Iverson’s benefit?

(laughs)

Really, old chap.

Like the rest
of your performance aboard ship.

Wasn't it all done
so Iverson would never guess

that his diamonds hadn't crossed
the ocean at all?

Well, I...
l had them aboard ship.

We, we didn't stop anywhere.

There was no way I could have...

MASON: What about the pilot boat
in Hong Kong, Mr. Tyrell?

Miss Eng came out
to the ship on it.

Couldn't you have sent
the diamonds ashore

by the same pilot boat?

I'm told the Hong Kong police
are at present interviewing

a sailor from that pilot boat

who admits he took
a package ashore for someone.

- I'm not going to answer you.
- All right.

Let's get back
to the m*rder, then.

After your little charade
of losing a package

in San Francisco Bay,
where did you go?

Well, I-I ducked out
from Mr. Drake.

I, I needed a spot to drink.

Be careful of perjury,
Mr. Tyrell.

Didn't you go
straight to Iverson?

Wasn't that the final
necessary part of your act,

to tell him the sad story
of how his thugs

had caused you
to lose his diamonds?

Only then what happened?

Wouldn't Iverson believe you?

Didn't he, too, guess the truth,

and didn't you then pick up

-that knife and...?
- No!

No, that's, that's not
the way it happened.

Mr. Tyrell, I can put
on the stand a cab driver

who will testify that he
picked you up at the waterfront

and drove you
to Iverson’s office building.

But I never went inside!

Look, look here,
I'll-I'll admit the rest,

about taking his diamonds
and so on.

But I didn't see Iverson.

I didn't get out of the cab.

I didn't k*ll him!

MASON: Why didn't you
go inside, Mr. Tyrell?

There was someone there
ahead of me, I...

I saw go in,

so I waited outside.

Then another woman came along.

MASON:
Who, Mr. Tyrell?

Who was the first woman
you saw go into that building?

I'm sorry, love, but it's...

every man for himself now.

It was...

Mrs. Iverson.

I think this would be
a good opportunity

for Mrs. Iverson
to take the stand again.

He was going to leave me
with nothing

the one time he had a chance
to make some real money.

After all the penny-ante stuff
he used to swindle Mr. Eng on,

he finally got a big one, and...
and he didn't tell me.

All those diamonds!

I saw them on the ship!

A gift, he said.

Something for the boss.

But-but I went back
and I opened the package,

and they were diamonds,
all right,

and he was gonna take 'em
and use them to run out on me!

Well, I just told him
I'd inform on him if he did.

Then he started hitting me,

and he hit me and he hit me,
and I...

I don't know what happened.

Then I, I-l grabbed the knife,
and, and then,

and then he just
staggered away from me,

and I, ran, I ran!

(sobbing)

But, Mr. Mason...

the way it sounded...

my grandfather
was smuggling, too.

Oh, not exactly.

Whenever someone
in China managed

to slip some
of their property out,

Mr. Eng would buy it.

I suppose he made a profit.

But I think his real intention
was to simply help those people.

The stuff couldn't be sold
in Hong Kong

for fear of Communist spotters.

Iverson was supposed
to take it to some other port

or bring it to the United States
to sell it,

usually for a lot more
than he admitted to Eng.

I suppose that means

I'll have to go back to
Hong Kong to get the diamonds.

Oh, I imagine Louis could handle
everything for you.

Oh.

DELLA:
He's just teasing, Juli.

You go if you want to.

You know something, Miss Street?

What's that?

I'm just crazy about lawyers.

Hmm.

(theme song playing)