07x10 - The Case of the Devious Delinquent

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

The money, the loot, the cool
green, Timmy, my rich friend.

The loot, Timmy, my rich friend.

Will you guys lay off?
I told you I couldn't get any.

From a grandfather who owns
half of California,

you couldn't get enough loot
for a couple of beers?

Now what is this, huh?

He's sick. I can't go
to him all the time.

So he's dying already.
We must have beer, my friend.

Yeah, we need a couple beers,
my friend.

Look, Chick, what did you guys
do with the bucks

I gave you the other day?

Oh, yeah, yeah, the other day.
You're living in the past.

Pull over.

Come on, Greasy.

Hey, where you going?

Just relax, Timmy, just relax.

Wait'll that guy comes out

from the liquor store
over there, huh?

But keep it smooth,
nothing rough, Greasy.

- Look, you guys...
- We're only going in

the man's store for a minute.
Relax. You wait here.

Sure, you want a beer, don't ya?

Chick, wait.
Let's go, and I'll see

if I can get some dough
from the housekeeper.

What do you think we are,
a real ape or something?

Come on, Greasy.

Okay, shut up
and get in the back.

Okay, you walk.

Where's he going?

Never mind. Take off.

Make the first right turn.

What happened?

Eh, the clod,
I told him nothing rough.

Stop the car.

You tell that housekeeper,
or whatever she is,

that you been home
all evening, huh?

Did Greasy hurt that guy?

How should I know?
I'll see ya.

Chick, what if he did?

Then you're in trouble,
Timmy, my rich friend.

I heard you drive up.

Have you had anything to eat?
You didn't come home for supper.

I ate. Thanks, Edith.

Here, here.

Someone phoned
just a moment ago.

Someone named Chick.
He wants you to call back.

Chick?

I've got news for you, Timmy.

The injured party made loud
noises to the police.

He saw Greasy--
gave 'em a description.

Oh, no.

Yeah, so Greasy's got to get
out of town real fast.

But, you know, he's broke,
he needs some dough,

like, uh,
like two bills maybe, huh?

Now look here, Chick, I didn't
have anything to do with it.

Without loot, friend,
Greasy's not nice.

Now, you want him to get caught

and tell the cops
you put him up to it?

Well, I'll tell the police
the truth.

Tim, Tim, listen to me, huh?

Now Greasy's got the kind
of friends that'll swear

it was me and you they saw
running out of that place.

I mean it.

Me and you will wind up
with blood all over.

So, uh, be nice, okay, friend,

and you get me the dough
for that jerk.

And call me back fast,
like, in one hour.

I tell you, Father,
Tim's a delinquent,

and not so juvenile at that.

Are you competent
to judge that, Luke?

You don't have to take
my position, you never do.

So judge by Tim's record.

How many traffic citations?
How many for reckless driving?

Tim's done all his driving
in Italy

where the Los Angeles police
don't function... yet.

It's time for your pill,
Mr. Balfour.

All right, take Tim's record
at the plant.

It's a big day when he shows up
for work.

The day hasn't arrived yet
when he does any.

You don't have to believe me,
Father.

Hal Minter will tell you
the same thing.

Hal would have fired that punk
long ago

if his name wasn't
Timothy Balfour lll.

You know that that boy was only
orphaned three months ago.

He's in a new country,
a new family.

Then why does he have to find
the worst part of this country

and run with the hoodlums
and bums who live in it?!

Now you listen to me!

That boy is all that is left
of my dead son,

your dead brother.

That boy is my conscience, Luke,
and he should be yours.

He is our guilt.

We can't give him what we took
from his father.

But we, you and I,

are going to give that boy
something.

Give, give, give!

Why can't he work and earn
like the rest of us?!

It's time
for Mr. Balfour's rest.

I warn you, Father,

if that kid isn't brought up
short right now, he's going...

Later, please.

What are you trying to do, Luke,
k*ll him?

Please, please don't make
a scene like that again.

- Now, look here, Edith.
- Shh.

The doctor said
I could see Father,

and he knows how loud I talk!

Anyway, the old man better live
through a little scene or two

with me before that kids makes
one that will k*ll him.

All right, all right.

Uncle Luke.

What?

Could I talk to you
for a minute?

I need some money.

Could you loan it to me,
Uncle Luke,

for a little while?

Only a little while?

Maybe a couple of hundred?

I never lend people money.

If they have to beg for it,
I give it to them.

Uncle Luke!

My father and my mother
were cold,

they were hungry.

They had no place to sleep

because of you and him.

Now you wait a minute.

Your father walked out
of this house

because he didn't want
to work for a living.

He was an artist,
an intellectual.

My father and my mother would
be alive today

if it weren't for you

and him.

I'm responsible
for a car wreck in Italy?

(chuckles)
You're out of your mind.

(door closes)

They'd be alive!

Timmy, they-they didn't drive
your father out.

This just wasn't the place
for him, that's all.

I wish I had the courage
he had.

I'd walk out, too.

Don't feel that way.

Let us help you.

Don't-don't fight us
all the time.

Okay, you tell Grandpappy
I've got to have some money.

BALFOUR SR.:
Edith? Edith!

It's your new car, isn't it?

Timmy, you didn't have
an accident?

Edith!

Don't say anything to him.

Please don't upset him.
Not now.

I'll help you.

Chick, it's me, Tim.

I think I can get it
from the housekeeper,

but I've got have an excuse.

Yeah, she said the same thing--
thought it was my car.

Yeah, sure. I guess we can
fake some sort of accident.

She'd go along with it maybe,

just to keep my grandfather
out of a panic.

That road up in the orchard?

Well, sure, where it meets
Skyline Drive.

That same cabin where we had
the party.

Okay, I'll meet you there,
then we'll figure it out.

Chick, where are you?

Chick!

(glass breaks)

(tires squeal)

(tires squeal)

(clattering)

(tires spin)

Edith.

Timmy, where were you?

I've been so worried.

I wanted to help you,
but you didn't wait for me.

I had to run down to the
drugstore for your grandfather.

Edith, I've got myself
into a lot of trouble.

Timmy, what happened?
Where's your car?

I'm afraid I...

I hit some guy's fancy gatepost.

You what?

Timmy, you're not hurt.

Of course not, but I guess
I panicked a little

because instead of stopping,
I drove away.

Only the guy spotted my license,
I guess.

'Cause now he says
if I don't pay him

for a whole lot of damages,

he's going to report me
to the police.

Well, who is it?

We have insurance
for such things.

Edith, I'm not supposed
to be driving.

Don't you understand?

With a suspended license,

if the police or the insurance
company ever found out...

Timmy, why didn't you
tell me this?

Your grandfather will be
absolutely furious!

Now wait. I drove the car back
up and parked it on the road.

I mean, suppose I say

that someone else took it
and smacked it up?

And then if we paid this guy,
just expenses

so he wouldn't make
any more trouble...

How much does he want?

Good evening.

Does someone by the name
of Tim Balfour live here?

Yes, sir.

Temporary license...

Officer, we were just going
to call you.

Someone has stolen Timmy's car.

Temporary license

That's right, sir.

Have you found it already?

Just a few minutes ago.

How long has it been missing?

Well, we just got back
from the Hollywood Bowl,

didn't we, Timmy?

So, we really don't know,

but, well, I suppose
for several hours, anyway.

I made you a sandwich.

No, thanks.

Please, Timmy, eat something.

You think I've done something
terribly wrong, don't you?

I don't know, I just said that
to the police.

It was the only thing
I could think of.

Maybe I ought to call them
and tell them I made a mistake,

but that would only make
things worse, wouldn't it?

If your grandfather ever hears
what I've done...

You didn't do anything wrong;
I did.

It-It's not your fault if I got
things so mixed up that...

All right, Timmy, all right.

At-at least now it's over.

At least now we have time.

We can calm down
and plan what you should do.

(phone ringing)

Mr. Balfour's residence.

Yeah, I want to speak to Timmy.

Tim isn't here.

He's in Palm Springs,

but I'm sure if you tell me what
it is, I can take care of it.

(chuckling)
Well, uh, you just tell Tim

when he gets back
from Palm Springs

that the little damages
that we spoke about

have gone up to $ , .

$ , ?

For a gatepost?

Chick?

Look here, what are you doing?

This is a shakedown
and you know it.

Take it easy, take it easy.

Hey, don't you remember seeing

an old man in the road tonight,
buddy boy?

Well, uh,

somebody hit that old man with
an automobile and then ran away.

Yeah, somebody who knocked
the guy clear into the ditch.

$ , says it wasn't you,
buddy boy.

$ , by tomorrow night, huh?

At the time of Mr. Balfour's
heart attack,

he was negotiating some
rather complex foreign matters,

these being incomplete,
it makes it

rather difficult for me to, uh,

prepare a financial statement
of assets and liabilities

satisfactory to both you
and to me, Mr. Mason.

But I have to have
such a statement, Miss Adler,

in order to properly complete
Mr. Balfour's will.

I've told you before
I will expedite this matter

for you as rapidly as possible.

Please do, Miss Adler.

Three weeks of waiting is...

I'm doing the best I can.

That's all I can do, Mr. Mason.

Good day.

Good day, Mr. Balfour.

I just heard about this, Mason.

Isn't there something in the law

about an old man
being incompetent?

Your father is far from that.

He's out of his mind,

giving that juvenile delinquent
a share of his estate.

Do you realize
what the effect will be?

On you, Mr. Balfour?

On Balfour Enterprises.

That-that kid, that punk,
he'll have a vote.

The old fool may give him
enough shares

to put him in control.

Instead of you.

I don't run the company.

Hal Minter does.

But of course,
if you had more shares...

Mason, the important thing is
are you going to stop this?

No.

Then I will.

$ , ?

Well, really.

Well, I know one thing
you'll find out

in going through
Mr. Balfour's affairs

is that I have never,

in the years
I've worked for him,

I have never asked for a loan

or a bonus or-or even a raise.

And you will also find out

that Mr. Balfour's leaving me
a $ , trust fund.

So, I feel I am entitled
to an advance of $ , .

I was not hired by Mr. Balfour

to judge the ethics
of his employees,

but solely to determine,
if I can,

the assets and liabilities

of his enterprises.

But he gave you authority
to pay out money.

Couldn't you, please?

And he also gave me
the authority

to use my own judgment;
good day, Miss Summers.

$ , ? Now, Edith,

maybe I run the Balfour company,
but you know very well

how far I stay away
from the family.

Of course, on the other hand,
if this is something private...

Now, Hal, it... it isn't polite

to ask a sweet, old, maiden lady

what she wants with $ , .

Of course I'll loan it
to you, Edith.

Oh, Hal.

Thank you.

$ , even?

You think that's enough?

Yes, yes.

Hal, you don't know
what it means for me

to have someone like you
appreciate...

(phone rings)

Oh, excuse me a minute.

Hal Minter.

Oh?

Yeah.

Well, as a matter of fact...

Al right.

That was my bank.

Th-There's something wrong
with my account.

That was Luke.

You better talk to him, Edith.

I mean, uh,
I'd be glad to help you,

but...

Thank you very much, Hal.

What do you mean,

interfering
in my personal affairs?

Edith, this is one time
you're not going to run things.

In the old man's house, okay.

But you just want that money
to cover up some crime of Tim's.

Well, the only way
you're going to get it

is over my dead body.

Haven't you any regard
for your father's life?

It's him I'm thinking of,
not the boy.

Ah, don't get righteous on me.

The sooner Father finds out
the mistake he's making,

the better it will be for him.

Shirley, call Perry Mason.

Tell him to hire
a private detective.

I want someone
to watch Tim Balfour.

Watch that boy hours a day.

(clock chiming)

♪♪

(door closes)

Did you have any luck
at your sister's?

No, too many bills,
I guess, lately.

Oh, Edith,
what are we going to do?

You just never mind.

I know what has to be done.

You wait for me in the den.

(door opens)

♪♪

Here it is, Timmy.

You took that
out of Grandfather's room?

I won't let you do this, Edith.

I mean, I should go up there.

I mean, I should explain
it all to him.

You will do no such thing,
young man.

I know what's best.

If your grandfather is upset
by one more family problem...

Here, take it. Take the money.

Edith, how can I ever thank you
for all...

Nonsense. I-I'll figure out
some explanation.

Now, the important thing is
for us to see

that man who telephoned you.

I'm going to go see him
by myself.

Chick said I had to.

He's going to be hiding,

and if anyone comes with me
or follows me,

he won't go through with the
deal to keep that old man quiet.

Y-Y-You can't go alone.

He's dangerous.

- He might...
-I have to, Edith.

But he might hurt you.

Timmy.

- Timmy, no, please.
- No, no, Edith,

-it's loaded.
-It's all right.

- Please. Please, Timmy.
-I won't have to use it, Edith.

All I want is for Chick
to know I've got it.

Please, no.

Okay, Edith.

Look, you go check to see
if the cook has gone home.

I don't want anyone
to see me leave the house.

Al right.

He doesn't look so hurt to me.

Besides, I don't think
I even hit him.

That's not ketchup on his head,
my friend.

Well then,
where did he disappear to

when I ran back up the road?

So, you knocked him
into a ditch, maybe.

Who knows?

Anyway, I found him
wandering around.

- Chick, this whole thing...
- Now, you hit that guy, Timmy,

unless you got two grand
that says you didn't.

Al right.

But I've also written something
that you're going to sign

that says you're not going
to blackmail me anymore.

It says what?

(chuckles)

You must think I'm crazy;
now, why would I ever sign...

You'll do what I tell you,
don't worry.

Only what really happened
out there, Chick?

Did you throw this guy's coat
out into the road?

Threw out a dummy, maybe?

Anything to make me think
that I'd hit him?

Now, now, listen, Timmy.

You know what I think?

He's just a plain drunk
that you dug up some place.

Well, anyway,
he's going with me.

I'm gonna take him
to be checked.

No, no, you don't,
my stupid friend.

Oh, no, you don't, Tim.

(g*nsh*t)

(engine starting)

The driver is -year-old
Timothy Balfour lll.

The car is
a late model convertible.

Temporary license .

Let me know
if you spot him, Pete.

The job is just to watch him.

(vehicle approaching)

(indistinct radio transmission)

All right, Paul,
let's have that funny remark

about you just happened
to be driving up

from that private road.

I just happened, Andy.

- What's up?
- Come on.

A young punk
named Charles "Chick" Montana.

Do you know him?

Never heard of him.
What happened?

Somebody shot him.

Perhaps with, uh, with this.

Well, for once in my life,
Lieutenant,

we've got latent fingerprints
on a g*n.

All right, Paul, how does it
happen that you turn up

in this lonely place
only a little while

after somebody gets m*rder*d?

Just happened, Andy.

MINTER:
Excuse me.

Don't you work for that lawyer,
Perry Mason?

Yeah, sometimes.

Yeah, I've seen you
over at the Balfour house.

I'm Harold Minter.

Sure, I'm Paul Drake.

Uh, friend of yours?

I never saw him before tonight.

I was just driving up
from Balfour's.

I live on down the road
a couple of miles.

Only this kid was just lying
here in the road, m*rder*d.

(steam hissing)

Now, don't worry, kid.

I can sober him up
if you can pay for it.

You don't think he's really
been hurt or anything?

- There wasn't even a scratch
under this. -This old man hurt?

There's nothing wrong with him
that AA couldn't cure.

No broken bones or anything?

He hasn't got any bones.

When a man is recovering
from a coronary,

anyone who deliberately creates
for that man

grave emotional crisis
must be suspect.

Suspect of what?

If your father should die

before he divides his estate
with young Tim,

you would inherit it all,
wouldn't you?

Mason, you're about as subtle
as a poke in the eye.

But you would, wouldn't you?

That's not the point, Mason.

I'm not trying to k*ll
my father.

I'm trying to stop him
from making a mistake

which could k*ll him,

or at least ruin the rest
of his life.

Since his heart attack,

Father's turned
into a sentimental old fool

who thinks he can bring back
my dead brother

by giving a fortune
to a hoodlum grandson.

If you're so sure Tim
is a hoodlum,

why did you ask me to retain
a detective to watch him?

Mason, if I ask you
to hire a detective,

that is my business, not yours.

Has he made any report yet?

No, not yet.

But what do you think
you're gonna prove?

Since Tim came to the States,

the sum total
of his police record

is two speeding tickets and
one charge of reckless driving.

Are you a hoodlum, Mr. Balfour?

One more drunk driving
conviction for you,

and you'll lose your license
for all time.

I'll tell you one thing, Mason,

when I get to be president
of Balfour Enterprises,

you aren't going to be
the company's attorney.

Be that as it may,
at the moment,

I'm interested in why
you're so intent on...

(phone rings)

Hello?

I'd appreciate it
if you didn't use my phone

for your personal calls.

Yes?

Perry, I've been trying
to reach you for an hour.

One of young Tim's friends
got shot

near a cabin
on the Balfour estate.

There was a g*n at the scene,

which I'm sure belongs
to old man Balfour,

and there are prints on it.

There's also $ , in cash
on the body.

That's rather interesting,
Mr. Jones.

Oh, you can't talk.

Well, if Tim Balfour
is connected with this,

it won't take
the police long to...

You're right, Mr. Jones.

I think I should have
a little talk with the parents.

Then I'll meet you at
old man Balfour's.

I'd say as quickly as possible.

Did you come home by the freeway
or through the estate

when you left
your father's house tonight?

By the freeway...

I haven't been near
my father's house tonight.

Nowhere near it.

Timmy, is anything wrong?

Did anything go wrong?

Edith, you're the only person
that's been good to me.

Timmy, listen to me,
Perry Mason is in the house,

talking to your grandfather,
and I'm worried that...

All the rest of them treated me

as though I were going
to steal something.

You don't suppose
Perry Mason knows anything

about your little accident,
do you?

The old man?

Is the old man hurt?

The old man...

hit, run.

None of it's important anymore.

Timmy.

Edith, I don't even know
what's happened,

but just stay out of it, please.

Timmy, will you please
listen to me?

No, just leave me alone.

Timmy, please, listen to me.

Edith, I've been waiting
for you.

I understand that
after you came to me yesterday,

you asked Mr. Balfour
and Mr. Minter

and various other people
for $ , .

I'll explain all that to you
later, Miss what's-your-name.

Nothing has to be explained
to me, young man.

This woman, this so-called
trusted employee

has just stolen $ ,
out of your grandfather's room,

and I'm going
to call the police.

MASON: That won't be necessary,
Miss Adler.

Tim, I'd like to talk
with you a moment.

And with me, too, Mr. Mason.

Miss Adler's right.

Furthermore, I advised Timmy...

She did it for me, Mr. Mason,

and I'd like to tell you why.

Alone, if you don't mind.

I think maybe I'm in a mess,
Mr. Mason,

and I wonder if there's any way
that I can keep my grandfather

from hearing about it.

Do you think if he finds out,
he will like you less?

Likes me?

Who cares?

Tell me about it.

There's a cabin
about a mile from here.

Will you go up there with me?

I think maybe I shot a man.

With one of those?

We got into a fight,
and then I shot him.

And then I-l guess
I dropped the g*n.

I was kind of panicky.

Will you go with me?

It isn't necessary, Tim.

But it is.

He might be hurt.

He's dead.

It might look like m*rder
to you, Mr. Mason,

but I didn't mean to k*ll him.

I didn't even mean to hurt him.

You didn't mean to?

You took a loaded g*n
to a deserted cabin

where a man you hated
was going to be,

yet you didn't mean to hurt him?

I didn't hate him.

I thought he was my friend.

A man is dead.

You're in jail
under a m*rder charge,

all because you were afraid
you were going to be accused

of hitting a man
in a liquor store.

But you seemingly made no effort

to find out if anyone
had been hit in the first place.

Now, did you ask anyone
for help?

For advice?

Who was there to ask?

(knocks "Shave and a Haircut")

Sorry, Perry, but last night,
Tim brought an old wino

to a place called
Rancho de Health.

It's out beyond nowhere.

The wino's still there,
and he's still drunk.

Wait for me, Paul.

I might as well tell you.

The liquor store thing
was just the start.

I faked an accident so Edith
would give me the money,

and while I was doing it,
Chick claimed

that I'd hit an old man
with the car, a hit-and-run.

I didn't think I'd hit him,
but I wasn't sure.

So after I paid Chick the money,

I tried to take
the old man along.

That's what we got
into the fight about.

Then after you shot Chick,

you took the old man
to this Rancho de Health?

How did you happen
to take him there?

Edith told me about it.

So, Edith knew
all about your troubles?

I just told her that I had
a friend who was drunk,

and I asked her
where to take him, that's all.

How much more are you going
to conceal from me, Tim?

I told you all there is.

I got into a fight with a guy,

and the g*n went off
and k*lled him.

You were at least
ten feet away from Chick

when you shot him in the back.

In the back?

What kind of person
do you think I am?

Perry, are you committed
to defending this kid?

Al right.

Well, the boy
Tim supposedly k*lled,

Chick Montana,

was a fast talker
but a slow thinker.

He wasn't smart.

And all of a sudden,
just after he meets Tim,

he's loaded with money.

You sure?

Sure.

Bought some new clothes,
even paid off a few debts.

Maybe there was someone
behind Chick

paying him for what he did.

All right, Paul,

that's your job.

Find out who was
really running the store.

Uh, Paul?

Let me know everything

Anderson finds out
about that g*n.

Al right.

In what position was the body

when you first found it,
Mr. Minter?

Lying facedown.

You didn't disturb it
in any way?

I was pretty sure he was dead,

but I felt for his pulse.

Then I went in the cabin
and called the police.

I think that'll be all,
Mr. Minter; thank you, sir.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Minter, how did you know

there was a phone
in that deserted cabin?

I'd been in the cabin before.

I see.

Now, since the cabin is near
the Balfour estate, may I assume

that you were on your way home
from a visit with Mr. Balfour?

You may not.

I don't visit with Mr. Balfour.

But you were driving
through his estate at night,

and you did happen to find a
dead man lying beside the road.

All right, yes.

I drove past Balfour's house,

thinking I might stop,
but I didn't.

I was on my way home late,
that's all.

When Mr. Balfour
had his heart attack,

did you, as a neighbor
and friend, go to see him?

I turned Mr. Balfour's ideas
into real things--

bridges, dams, freeways--

but I don't hold his hand
when he's sick.

MASON:
I take it, then, that you

and Mr. Balfour
are not very close?

He needs a man to run
his business; I'm that man.

Whether we like
each other personally

has nothing to do with it.

Oh, by the way,

had you ever seen Chick Montana

prior to the night
you found him dead?

No.

Death was caused
by a b*llet from this g*n

entering the deceased
from the back

and penetrating the heart.

Then whoever shot him
stood behind him

and cold-bloodedly shot him
in the back.

I'm not aware
of the k*ller's emotions,

but that is mechanically
how death occurred.

Thank you, Doctor,

for your usual
excellent testimony.

Your witness.

Doctor, were there traces
of gunpowder

on the front
of the decedent's coat?

I have testified there were

and explained these traces
of powder

could have been acquired
at some other time.

After all, the deceased
was a known criminal

of unsavory repute.

MASON: Granted.

And could you also explain

why there was no b*llet hole
in the coat

where the gunpowder was?

At least, not with facts,

but if you're interested
in a private theory,

I think the coat
could have been unbuttoned,

twisted around during the fight

so that the front of it
received powder, too.

With this type of g*n,
I understand the powder tattoo

spreads over a wide area.

Now, this is the $ ,
which was found on the body,

along with a note suggesting
that Chick Montana

had somehow or other been
blackmailing the defendant.

Miss Adler,
can you identify this

as the same $ ,
that was stolen

from Mr. Balfour's bedroom
the night of the crime?

No, of course not.

All I can say is
that Edith Summers

took $ ,
without asking permission,

gave it to Timmy Balfour,
so that he...

Thank you, Miss Adler,
that'll be all. Your witness.

Miss Adler,
did you see Chick Montana

in the offices
of Balfour Enterprises

on the afternoon
before he was k*lled?

No, of course not.

You did not see him?

You didn't talk to him
about getting a job

with Balfour Enterprises?

Perhaps this photograph
of the deceased

will refresh your memory.

Well, yes, I may have seen him.

There was a young man
in the office that day.

That young man, Miss Adler?

He was a very polite young man.

He-he even knew my name.

Yes, he was in the office
that day looking for someone.

For whom was he looking?

Mr. Luke Balfour.

BURGER: Now, Mr. Balfour,
you heard testimony

that this g*n, with the
defendant's fingerprints on it,

was found at the scene
of the crime.

You also heard that the b*llet
that k*lled Chick Montana

was fired from this g*n.

Would it have been readily
possible for the defendant

to get this g*n out
of your father's house?

All Tim had to do was go
to the g*n case and take it out.

He even had a choice,
because there are two of them,

exactly alike.

Well, did your father
usually keep these g*ns loaded?

Always.

He says a p*stol is nothing
but a useless piece of pipe

without a cartridge in it.

Thank you, that will be all.

Mr. Mason.

In your testimony, Mr. Balfour,

you said that the $ ,
taken from your father's bedroom

belonged to you,
that it was part of $ ,

you were keeping there.

, in cash
which you'd asked Miss Adler

to get for you that morning.

The morning, in fact, of the day
Mr. Montana was k*lled.

Now isn't $ , a rather
large amount of cash?

Not to me it isn't.

What would you need
that much cash for?

Wouldn't a check or a charge
account ordinarily be used

in transactions requiring
that much money?

Do you know what a nuisance
it is to rely on checks

at the tables
in Las Vegas, Mr. Mason?

You were going to Las Vegas?

And you didn't draw this money
from your personal account,

but arranged
for Miss Adler to draw it

from your account at the firm.

And you kept the cash
in your father's house

instead of your own house.

So my wife
wouldn't find out about it.

Okay?

And this was not the first
$ , in cash

you'd left
at your father's house.

Nor the first time
I'd been to Vegas.

All right, Mr. Balfour.

Now let's go back
to Miss Adler's testimony.

Just how well did you know
Chick Montana?

I didn't know him at all.
Why should I?

Before I refresh your memory
with that photograph...

All right, all right.

I saw the kid, yes,

but only once in my life.

He came to my office
that afternoon

saying he was a friend
of Tim's and wanting a job.

So I threw him out.

You're sure he didn't
come to your office

to demand more money in cash?

Do what?

Why should I give him any money?

I wouldn't even
give a creature like that

a job rawhiding lumber.

I only talked to him
because Hal asked me to.

MASON:
Hal?

Hal Minter.

It was his office
Chick went to first.

Even before Miss Adler.

Now, Mr. Balfour,

I would...

May I have a moment, Your Honor?

You may.

I'm through with this witness
for the time being, Your Honor.

May I recall
Lieutenant Anderson?

JUDGE: It's about time to
adjourn for the day, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
I have only one or two

-short questions, Your Honor.
- JUDGE: Mr. Burger?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Very well, but make it short.

May I remind you you're
still under oath, Lieutenant.

Yes, Your Honor.

This g*n is one
of a matching set, Lieutenant.

Did your department,
by any chance,

run a fingerprint test
on the other g*n?

The one left in the house?

Why, no, no, we didn't.

Since the defendant will testify
that he handled both g*ns

just prior
to Mr. Montana's death,

would your department dust
the other g*n for fingerprints

if I brought it in tomorrow?

BURGER:
Mr. Mason, what's the sense?

The State has established
that that g*n in your hand

is the one that k*lled Montana,

and that it had clear prints
of the defendant on it.

Now what would it prove
if his fingerprints

were on every other g*n
in Los Angeles County?

But wouldn't it be interesting,
Mr. Burger,

if no prints at all were found
on the other g*n?

My argument is that anyone
who's ever read the funny papers

knows that fingerprints on a g*n
are easy to smudge

and hard to identify.

It's a good argument, but I
hope, in this case, academic.

It may be that
what doesn't happen

will be more condemning
than what does.

How's our
non-anonymous alcoholic?

Well, I may have to prop
the old goat up,

but at least he's breathing.

Identification positive?

Maybe not good enough
for Burger, but pretty good.

Care to take a look, Mr. Mason?

This what you wanted?

Now this might be
a very fast movement.

Don't worry, Mr. Mason,

anything moves towards that g*n
gets its picture taken.

Thank you, Edith.

How's the boy, Perry?

Too overwhelmed to relate
to the situation.

The point is,
how much more can you take?

I've talked with your doctor...

I don't care about the doctors.

I hate it 'cause
I can't do anything for Tim

lying here flat on my back.

Perhaps that's a very good place
for you to be at the moment.

But if you could spare Edith
for an hour or so...

Well, of course, of course.

You go on now. You let me know
what happens, all right?

This is a photoelectric cell,

sh**ting an invisible beam
across the room.

Once it's turned on,
anyone moving through that beam

starts a movie camera
out in the yard.

That's very clever.
How long has it been in here?

Just long enough
to get the trap set up.

And now to make it work,
everything must be casual,

ordinary.

No matter who comes
to the house, let him in.

Accept whatever excuse
he has for coming,

and then say that you
must hurry up to Mr. Balfour.

That will give the visitor
an opportunity to get in here

to the g*n.

Well, forgive me, but I don't
think anyone will come.

I mean, it's so obvious,
isn't it,

whether there are prints
on the g*n or not?

I don't think Luke,
for instance,

would fall into such
an obvious trap.

Why did you pick Luke as your,
uh, "for instance"?

I don't know.
He stands to gain the most,

I suppose.

You know, Timmy suddenly
becoming an heir

had spoiled every plan
Luke ever had.

The whole thing is a tragedy.

Tim's parents dying,
and then this involvement.

You knew his parents,
didn't you?

Only his father.

He's so like Tim only...

really he was a bad boy.

He drank too much, played
too much, and the girls...

Seems to run in the family.

Isn't Luke's wife divorcing him
for the same reasons?

How did you find that out?

We've done everything we could
to keep that a secret

from Mr. Balfour.

In a m*rder case,
we go as far as we can

into the background
of everyone connected with it.

I know, for instance,
that you're going to be

corroborating witness

for Luke's wife
about his infidelity

with a girl named Rosalie.

Well, I've always admired you,
Mr. Mason,

but now even more so.

Well, thank you, Edith.

I know, too, that there was
no infidelity with this Rosalie,

nor anyone else.

(doorbell rings)

Be perfectly casual,

but act as though
you've, uh, been interrupted

and must hurry back
to Mr. Balfour.

(doorbell rings)

(gasps)

MASON: Why didn't you let
the stranger in, Edith?

Or...

wasn't he a stranger?

(doorbell rings)

The old man
wants to come in, Edith.

Good evening, Miss Summers.

Perry, can I speak to you
a moment?

Sure.

Bad news, I'm afraid.

The camera won't work?

No, it just worked too soon.

While we were upstairs?

While you were.

The picture will be just her.

But she didn't touch the g*n.

She just walked to the case
a couple of times

and looked at it.

Come in here, Edith,

there's something
I have to show you.

Sit down.

These are blanks.

Of course, you don't think
for a moment

I'd let a man as depressed
as Mr. Balfour was

after his heart attack have
loaded pistols in the house?

Very considerate of you.

Any accident to Mr. Balfour

would've upset
your timing I suppose.

If you don't mind,
I have other things to do.

Edith.

I already knew this g*n doesn't
have any fingerprints on it.

But why were you worried?

Are you the one who wiped it?

Are you the one who knows

it should still carry
fingerprints?

Are you afraid the laboratory
can somehow prove

this is the g*n
he actually fired,

the g*n he took and dropped?

A g*n only loaded with blanks?

Shall I tell you the rest

or will you tell me?

Can that old man out there
identify you

or will you identify him?

Edith, you're the one who got
Chick to hire that old man,

who put Chick up to everything,
aren't you?

You were at the cabin that night
just after Tim,

because you wanted
to be sure

Chick had done
what you told him.

And when you learned Tim
had shot the blank

and dropped the g*n,
you saw your opportunity.

A perfect opportunity
to get rid of Chick,

and Tim along with him.

Because you'd brought
the other g*n along, hadn't you?

He doesn't know
what he's saying.

He's crazy. Help me.

Yes, with live shells.

With that other g*n bearing
Tim's fingerprints,

you shot Chick Montana
in the back.

You shot him as cold-bloodedly

as you ruined the life
of Tim's father.

As cold-bloodedly

as you wrecked
Luke's marriage with lies.

As cold-bloodedly as you
alienated Hal Minter from the

whole family he works for.

Y-You're lying.
Look-look what I did for Timmy.

Oh, yes, and the poor kid
thought he'd used you.

When all the time
you were using him.

Using him?
I-I gave him everything.

I lied to the police for him,
I-I stole money for him.

I was the only one who loved him
and helped him.

You did it with love all right.

You used love like a w*apon,
like a mask.

You told a young boy
the worst thing possible,

to keep quiet,
to not tell the truth,

to trust only you.

Why with nothing
but loving sympathy

you were gonna make that boy
into a delinquent faster than...

All right, so what?

He is a delinquent.
He doesn't belong here.

In time his grandfather
would've seen it.

He would've thrown him out
soon enough.

And left only you.

You and the mansion,

and the dying old man.

(chuckles)

You think you know everything.

Well, you don't.

The hardest part,

the hardest part was turning
Mr. Balfour

against Tim's father.

Because he adored his son.

He adored him,

and I ruined it.

I ruined it.

I ruined them all.

All of them.

(sobs)

And then Edith shot him,
Mr. Balfour.

She would've sacrificed him just
as she sacrificed his father,

and Luke, and Hal Minter.

All right, Perry, so I'm not
as surprised as you think.

In the years after my wife's
death, Edith, well,

she always managed to make
getting rid of her

harder than keeping her.

So bit by bit I suppose
she possessed me.

I was so blind I...

And now look at the wreckage.

Luke, Tim, even Hal,

and poor little Miss Adler.

How can I make them
understand, Perry?

How can I make them
understand each other?

(knocking)

Well...

here's a pretty good place
to start.

Grandfather.

(theme song playing)