04x03 - The Case of the Ill-Fated Faker

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

Since we are
currently planning

investment in
the new field,

you may anticipate hearing
from my partner

or myself at the earliest
possible date.

I can finish the rest
of this myself, Mr. Gorman.

No, no, we've got
all the way to the airport.

Just take me a minute
to pick up my suitcase.

Oh, but I know
your wife's home.

And I could take a taxi
back to the office.

Wouldn't she like
to drive you

to the airport herself?

If she's going to be gone
by the time you get back.

Don't try
to interfere, Betty.

You wait here.
I know best.

( suspenseful theme playing )

When will I
see you again?

Next weekend?

The next?

You'll at least bring
Harold Ames up to the cabin

to talk about business,
won't you?

Alice,
you know very well

how important
this summer period is.

The liquidation,
our whole reinvestment.

Our company 'tis of thee,
sweet corporate entity.

Honey, I'm sorry
I have to run off like this,

our last night together,

but you'll be happier
up in the mountains

for a while,
you know that.

Okay?

What about Jim?
Who?

You weren't even
listening, were you?

Your nephew Jim
is in town.

Didn't your secretary
tell you?

No.

You mean he phoned here,
at the house?

What kind of trouble
is he in this time?

Oh, never mind,
don't tell me.

And don't tell me how much
money he needs either.

You mean
there's no time

for any member
of your family?

Alice, I don't
want to see him.

No, and I don't want you
talking to him, either.

We've no time for
irresponsible, useless...

You believe me, dear,
I know best.

Carl, what do we
have time for?

When this
summer period is over,

what's going to happen then?
Alice, for heavens' sake.

Don't ask me to explain
my plans for a new factory

in a time like this.

New factory.
( door closes )

( scoffs )
( vehicle departs )

( chuckles )

For a guy who knows
best about everything,

wow.

Yes. Wow.

Sorry, Jim.
Why?

I've come to Carl
for the last time.

Alice, we're going
to teach him

a lesson
he'll never forget.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well? Aren't we?

( suspenseful theme playing )

( jazz music playing)

Jim.

Now, you'd better
get used to that.

Oh, a dozen
martinis, please.

I'll just feel easier

when we're away from
Los Angeles, that's all.

Away from California,
you mean.

Away from
the United States.

Did you get to the bank
before it closed?

There, that's
the savings account.

It's joint, so I could
make a full withdrawal.

That's all my tycoon
uncle keeps around?

A measly , ?

Most of Carl's money is
tied up in the company,

you know that.

Yes.
Yes, of course.

I still own one-millionth
of it myself, remember?

Ten cents worth.

Darling, this is all
the money we really need.

We can travel for months,
if we like.

That's not the point.
I have obligations right now.

What sort of obligations?

Jim, you haven't been
gambling again, have you?

Now, now, the important thing

is that you deserve
more than this.

If you sued Carl for divorce
you'd get five times as much.

Oh, no, I couldn't.

He'd fight me,
I couldn't stand that.

All right.

Did you look in
the safe deposit box?

He has the audit

of his father's
paper company.

I copied the only
figures there were.

They're debts
of his father's

he hoped he could
repay sometime.

But now he's going
into a business

his father was dishonest in.

He could be ruined
and he knows it.

Disgraced.

But I don't want him
to be disgraced.

I want a fair share
of the money

Carl and I struggled
so hard to get, but...

Don't worry, nobody's
really going to be hurt.

I promise.

Look, do you have a key
to Carl's office?

Jim, there's nothing
in Carl's office

worth our taking.

Now, let me decide these things.

There's a guy I know

who used to work
for the company.

He can look around,

tell me what's available.

But, darling...

What's the matter,
don't you trust me?

Are you getting cold feet?

Jim.

What's the matter,
wrong flavor?

I've been thinking.

They've been selling
their assets left and right.

That means they're converting
to cash, doesn't it, Stan?

What I wanna know is
how much and where it is.

Say, I know a guy
that handles expl*sives.

Are you crazy?
It wouldn't be in there.

Now,
just wait a minute.

Here's some
correspondence.

Well?

Well, there's
at least $ ,

they've just deposited
from one big sale.

Let me take a look at that.
( vehicle approaching )

Wait, there's
somebody outside.

It's Mr. Ames.

Listen, Jim, I just got
fired from this outfit.

He can't find me here.

Wait a minute, you want
a thousand dollars

for helping me
or not?

All right,
you stay here.

Don't make
any noise.

In the name of...
Hey, wake up.

Oh, it's you.
What are you doing here?

Oh, the janitor
let me in.

I thought it might be
all right

if I slept here
to wait for Carl.

He's out of town
till tomorrow noon.

Didn't you talk
to Alice?

Uh-uh.

No, I didn't want to get
anybody else involved.

Oh, I could have
gone to a hotel,

I guess, but, uh--

Well, I was afraid
I might be followed.

Followed?

Yeah, some guys are
tailing me, gamblers.

Claim we owe them
some money.

Harold, you don't
suppose you--

If you're in some kind
of trouble, Jim,

you better wait
and talk to Carl about it.

Oh, yeah?

You remember
some snapshots

I took at that
certain office party?

There's nothing
I can do about it, Jim.

Now, please,
wait for Carl.

Oh, I'm sorry,
I-I'm just upset.

How much money
do you need?

Oh, $ , .

Eighty what?

( indistinct speech )

Well-- Well, it's not
that I really think

they'd k*ll me
if I didn't pay.

Well, at least I can
get you a room at my club.

They won't
bother you there.

Come on.
Thanks.

Oh, wait.

I'll get the lights,
my coat's in there.

The janitor.

I wanted to leave him
bucks.

I haven't any change.

I'll be back
in a second.

Just find out how they
got that dough deposited.

See if it's where
old Carl can dig it out

for us in a hurry.

Jim, I don't want
no part of this.

If you've got
gamblers chasing you.

Oh, will you relax?
There are no gamblers.

Nobody's gonna cut in
on this deal but you, buddy,

sure for , .

Just you.

( dramatic theme playing )

( door closes )

( dramatic theme swells )

Jim took that $ ,
sir.

And then down
at the club,

he conned my gullible partner
out of a cool hundred

for tips and drinks,
he said.

Plus another hundred

for breakfast
and emergencies.

It's typical, he's
done it a million times.

This noon he upset
my secretary

with the same
wild story.

What about your wife?

Did he talk to her?

No, no. She'd have
nothing to do with him.

Anyway, Alice is
up in the mountains.

Left first thing
this morning.

This business of Jim's being
in danger from gamblers

would be fairly easy to verify.

I have an investigator who...

Mr. Mason,
my nephew has been

a liar and a troublemaker
since he was years old.

Nothing he says
is true.

I only want you
to understand

I'm doing
the right thing

in calling a halt to Jim,
that's all.

You want me to arrange
the dummy purchase

of a small piece
of your company

which he still seems to own.

I don't care if you pay
him a thousand dollars,

just him out of here.

I want his name
taken out of my will too.

I want my nephew
crossed out of my life.

If it were possible,
I'd have him

restrained and enjoined
from coming into my house.

Hold on a minute, Mr. Gorman.

Della, read back
those figures, will you, please?

The money Jim
received from Mr. Ames.

"Jim took that $ ,

"then down at the club
a cool hundred.

Plus another hundred for
breakfast and emergencies."

Two hundred and ten dollars.

More than petty larceny.

What are you
talking about?

In California law,

getting money
under false pretenses

comes under
the definition of theft.

Theft?

You mean we might bring

criminal charges
against him?

Mr. Gorman,

I wasn't seriously
suggesting such action.

Why are you so anxious

to get something
on your nephew?

Well,
I don't understand you.

I was just wondering
why you waited so long

to rid yourself of such
a person, that's all.

Mr. Mason,
he is my nephew,

but everything has to come
to an end sometime.

I'm fed up.

Has he ever
blackmailed you, Mr. Gorman?

Blackmail?
Over what?

Mason, I'd k*ll anyone
who ever tried such a thing.

Just that I'm going
into new ventures now.

It's true I thought
that what you suggested

could somehow be used
to get him out of my hair.

But see here,
if you're not interested...

No, no.
I'll look into it.

Thank you,
Mr. Mason.

Thank you.
Good day, Miss Street.

Good day.

( door closes )

I wonder what hold

his nephew has
over Mr. Gorman.

( dramatic theme playing )

Thank you.

Ah,
Mr. Gorman.

What is it, Betty?

In here, please.

Mr. Gorman,

those men your nephew
told you about before,

those gamblers
or whatever they are.

Jim?
What phone is he on?

I'll fix that useless--
No, no. It's long-distance,

it's your wife.

Those men were at the cabin
waiting for her.

Alice?

Hello, Alice?
Are you all right?

Do you want me
to call the police?

They want to make
a business deal, Carl.

To sell you
these things.

Oh, I'm perfectly
all right.

So far. What?

Well, there's all this
material on your background,

about your father's
company.

( indistinct speech )

Well, yes, I-- I suppose
they did get it from Jim.

I don't know how,
but they did.

I told him, I wouldn't
pay him one red penny.

Carl, listen to me.

These men work for gamblers,
they're criminals.

They-- They won't stop
at anything.

Oh, no, uh, they say
don't you come.

Send somebody else.

( mouthed speech )

Yes, send Betty, alone.

She'd be all right.

With $ , .

That's blackmail and extortion.

And how do you know
they'll give you anything?

Carl, they say
they're only doing this

to collect the money
Jim owes them.

Please, they haven't
done anything to me yet,

but I'm afraid of these men.

All right. Tell them all right.

I'll send it.

And, Alice, be brave. I know--

Yes, of course.

( click )

( phone clicks )

I was about to say,
"I know best."

Great performance.

Here.

( ominous theme playing )

Honey, he's selfish,
stubborn and egotistical.

He nearly
wrecked your life,

he never did.

I was just wondering,
what you are, that's all.

What you'll do
to my life.

Honey, we've got at least
four hours to wait.

Why don't I walk
down the road

and see if I can get
the electricity turned on?

No. We can use the lanterns.

Jim, please
don't le

( vehicle approaching )
Shh.

A car.

( horn honks )

Mrs. Gorman?

Alice?
Can you hear me?

Alice,
are you in there?

Honey,
get hold of yourself.

Go on.

BETTY:
Alice? It's Betty.

I'm all right.

Just do
as you were told.

Just throw out the money.
Just leave it.

But--? But what about you?
Shouldn't I wait?

( deep voice ):
Do what she says, lady.
Make it fast.

( vehicle departing )

Honey, look.

Just look at this.

Tomorrow we'll be
in Cuernavaca,

laughing through
our martinis.

Eighty thousand dollars.

( muffled ):
I'll do the counting.

Ah.
Hey.

Wait a minute, who are you?
Never mind, buddy.

You're Jim Ferris, you got some
dough, you're coming with me.

What do you mean I'm--?
Now, hurry it up!

Get the money! Get the money!

Stand still.

Jim, grab him.

Where'd you get that thing?

Alice.
Get away from me!

( dramatic theme playing )

Jim.

Lady, you k*lled him.

( engine starts )

Hey, Jim. Jim. Jim.

( ominous theme playing )

( ominous theme swells )

Alice!

Alice, where are you?

( siren wailing )

CARL:
Betty's been my secretary
for nearly six years.

She could no more think
of hurting anyone

than telling a lie
about anything.

It only says she was
questioned, Mr. Gorman.

She hasn't been charged
with anything yet.

I should hope not.

She was only up there
to deliver the money.

I had to explain that
to the police, of course.

Your nephew Jim
was m*rder*d, however.

"Discovery that Mr. Ferris'
death was not caused

"by the fire came
when doctors reported

finding a b*llet
lodged in his spine."

All right,
but Betty didn't do it.

Who do you think
did k*ll him, Mr. Gorman?

Mason, all I know
is I need your help.

Go see why
they've kept Betty downtown.

If she isn't charged
with anything,

why she can't leave?

Oh, I'm sure she can.

But what about your wife?

After she got home last night,

couldn't she remember
what had happened?

Alice still isn't
very coherent, I'm afraid.

She's under sedation,
in fact.

She's told the police
all she could.

The doctor doesn't
want her disturbed.

Did she mention seeing
your nephew

up there at the cabin?

Oh, no, she had no idea

that Jim was within
miles of the place.

You see, a masked man
was waiting for her,

when she drove up
that afternoon.

He and another masked man
were all that she saw.

If they were holding
Jim prisoner there,

she'd no inkling of it.

And after
the money was delivered,

the men gave your wife
some personal papers

and released her?

Alice said she drove away
as fast as she could.

What was so important about
those papers, Mr. Gorman?

My father was once
unfortunately prominent

in this business that
I'm expanding into,

paper packaging.

He, uh-- Well, he went to prison
for certain things he did.

I changed my name.

But see here,
I'd never have paid $ ,

just to hide Jim's little
collection of facts about it,

if they hadn't
been holding Alice.

If those men hadn't been
professional criminals,

gamblers' men--
Excuse me, just a moment.

Paul, tell Mr. Gorman
what you found out

from Tahoe
and Las Vegas.

Well,
your nephew's name

is well-known to gamblers,
all right.

Both his own
and an alias he uses.

Gossip travels pretty fast
in those circles.

I shouldn't wonder.

Any man who's in debt
for $ , ...
Go on.

Jim Ferris was known
to be on a blacklist.

No credit.

Everyplace we checked,
they'd laugh at the idea

of anybody rolling dice
with him,

let alone ever
expecting to collect

more than bucks.

In other words,
Mr. Gorman,

the police investigation
will probably prove

that gamblers
had nothing to do

with either shaking you down
or murdering your nephew.

Of course, we know
that the blackmail facts

had to come
from Jim himself.

But who else
was involved?

The responsibility
for all this, Mr. Gorman,

may lie a good deal
closer to home than you think.

No matter how it happened,

I'll need your help.

( dramatic theme playing )

Of course.

Thanks for bringing
me home, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry I can't
tell you more,

but I just
didn't see anymore.

Did you recognize
the man's voice

from the cabin?

The one who told you
to throw the money out?

No. Of course not.

That's the same sort
of ridiculous question

the police kept
asking me all night.

You remember how things
were arranged in here?

Or, um, is there a maid
that tidies up?

No,
I'm the maid.

That's why everything
is such a mess...

Mmm. Things look
pretty neat now.

( drawer closes )

I'd guess that's
why the police kept you

downtown for a while.

But they have no right
to just break in

and search
a person's room.

This is your
landlady's building.

They probably looked
through your car also.

But why, Mr. Mason?

What could anybody possibly
think I might have?

Eighty thousand dollars.

Mr. Mason, I don't have
anything to do with this.

I was just
doing an errand.

Betty.

Did you know
Jim Ferris?

Yes. Well, I mean, that is,

not very well.

He-- He was once rather
a pest around the office.

Eh, it was last year,
that one little time

when he worked there.

And then he went off
to Mexico, I think.

Where in Mexico?

Some place in Cuernavaca.

He was always talking about it.

To the girls, I mean.

Oh, Mr. Gorman
must have told you

what Jim was like.

When was the next time
you saw him?

Uh, didn't he called the office
early yesterday,

trying to reach Mr. Gorman?
Yes,

and he phoned here
the night before.
Here?

Yes, he wanted to know
how to reach someone.

A man who used to work as
an accountant in the office.

What was the man's name?

Piper. Stanley Piper.

Stanley J. Piper.

Age , single, been fired
from any number of jobs.

Well, I find he checked out
of his rooming house

early yesterday morning.

Several hours before
any of this happened.

Checked out for good?

Yep. Packed a bag

and kissed
the cleaning woman goodbye.

Real happy for some reason.

Maybe , reasons.

Better get somebody on his trail
as quickly as possible.

Well, he shouldn't be
too hard to trace.

He's got a small scar
on his forehead

and walks with
kind of a slouch.

Hold on a second, Paul.

Seven minutes.
There are so many curves.

It took me almost eight
minutes going the other way

from here to the cabin.

Police still up there?
Mm-hm. They were just leaving.

Driving out
the other road.

And, Paul,
when you get out here,

check that description
of Piper

with the people
in the cabin area.

Oh, and bring some
wire screening with you.

I want you to sift
through anything

that might be left
from the fire.

Yes, I can reach you there.

Thanks.

You know, the cabin's
just right up there,

but the road winds
all along the ridge and back.

So if Betty left the money,

took seven minutes
to drive down here,

started to phone
Gorman in town,

then saw the fire,
took eight minutes

to drive up there
again--

That's minutes
at least, Perry.

There could have been
a fight over the money,

the m*rder,
the fire starting.

All sorts of things could have
happened during that time.

Exactly.

With all sorts of people.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I'm afraid
I was quite unaware

of what was going on.

My husband was
right here in the house,

all last evening,
Mr. Mason.

Never mind, Dora.

Mr. Mason isn't here

to check into
my activities.

No, of course not.

Can you tell me
anything about a man

named Stanley Piper, Mr. Ames?

I believe you once fired him.

I discharged him, yes.

There was nothing violent
about his leaving.

He's the one
who stole things,

isn't he?
Last year?

AMES:
You can see my wife

is a stickler
for the truth, Mr. Mason.

Well, I'm glad she is.

An accountant
who would steal

might also be capable
of masterminding

some plan for extortion,
don't you think?

Masterminding?
Hardly, Mr. Mason.

Piper stole stamps.

Took a few dollars out
of petty cash every week.

If he's involved
in something criminal,

I'm sure it's in
quite a minor capacity.

Perhaps as a hired hand.

Mr. Ames,

didn't Mr. Gorman
consult with you

before taking that $ ,

out of the company accounts?

He certainly
did not.

Well, how could he?

I was out of the office
when it happened.

In his position I would have
done exactly the same thing.

Why, good heavens,

Alice Gorman's life might
have been in danger

as I understand it.

Alice?
In danger from two men?

Oh.
Please, Dora.

MASON:
Eh, tell me,

if that $ ,
should never be recovered,

how would it
affect you, Mr. Ames?

How would it affect
your company?

We'd both be rather
shattered, I presume.

( dramatic theme playing )

Alice.

Is he here?

I could ask him to wait
a little longer.

No, of course not.
Why should you?

I'm perfectly willing
to see anyone--

Hello, Mrs. Gorman.

My name is Mason.
Yes, of course.

I thought if
our own lawyer heard

everything you can
remember, Alice...

( doorbell rings )

Oh, there's more
of those reporters.

I swear every
newspaper in town--

It's all right,
we'll get along all right

for a minute or two.
Go ahead.

( door closes )

I'm not going
to pester you

with any of the details,
Mrs. Gorman.

They gave me
all those pills.

I know.

I'm only going
to ask you

about the two men
at the cabin.

Were you able
to see either

one of them clearly?
No.

No, they wore masks.

Perhaps one of them had
a receding hairline?

Shaped something like
a widow's peak?

Widow's peak?

Oh, yes, I did see
the one man.

He had a-- A little scar
up there on his forehead.

Does the name Stanley Piper
mean anything to you?

No.

What about the second man?

I-I didn't see him very well.

Could he'd kept out
of your sight intentionally?

Could the second man
have been your husband's nephew?

Could have been
Jim Ferris?

I'd like to hear the answer
to that too, Mrs. Gorman.

Alice, dear, Lieutenant Tragg
has come back to--

Please, please.

Don't let me
interrupt you, Mr. Mason.

Go right ahead.

Well, uh, Mrs. Gorman,

did the second man
speak to you at all?

So that you might have been able
to recognize his voice?

That's right,
he didn't speak to me.

No, I never once
heard his voice.

He never even came close,

I-I didn't even get
a good look at him.

Is that what you mean?

Good enough for me.

What do you mean
by that?

Well, it was Jim Ferris,
all right.

That's why
he was so bashful.

We, uh, located
a forest ranger,

and he got a good look
at a man who stepped briefly

out of the cabin
yesterday afternoon.

The, uh, description
fits perfectly.

Yes, I-I guess
it could have been Jim.

You mean
Jim did everything?

Is that what
you're trying to say?

Well, perhaps he
and a hired accomplice

named Stanley Piper.

There's a woman mixed up
in it too, I'm afraid.

Perhaps more importantly.

CARL:
A woman?

Yes, a woman was seen
with Ferris the night before.

Your secretary,
Mr. Gorman.

I think you should know

that we're now prepared
to charge

Betty Wilkins with m*rder
in the first degree.

CARL:
But she doesn't--

She once applied for a marriage
license with your nephew.

Perhaps you didn't
know about that.

She also
wrote him letters,

keeping him privately posted
on your financial situation.

Not to mention that Ferris
and a woman bought

airplane tickets to Mexico,

and it was her g*n
which k*lled Ferris.

Oh, there's plenty
of evidence

against Betty Wilkins,
all right.

Well, now if your wife
feels up to helping me

with a few
little details?

Goodbye,
Mr. Mason.

Mason,
I had no idea.

I didn't think Betty
even knew Jim.

To think
that all this time...

Well, I'm sorry,
that's all I can say.

Sorry?

For asking you to help.

Why, if I'd
once thought

that Betty had actually
committed m*rder...

Mason, where are
you going?

I'd say she needed a lawyer
now more than ever,

wouldn't you?

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

This is everything I got
from sifting the ashes.

Here, that's what
you were asking about.

It might be a lead.

What about Mr. Piper?

The police have an
all-points out for him.

Did you follow up on
the plane ticket

Jim Ferris bought?

Two,
from Tijuana south.

It could be that, uh,
Piper grabbed them

for a fast getaway.

Cuernavaca's not far
these days.

You better do
some traveling.

All right, see,

why is Burger's
office moving

into this hearing
in such a hurry?

And he put one
of his best boys,

Jack Alvin,
on the case.

Think maybe that he's got
a direct line to Piper?

O possibly some
of the money?

With the purpose
of this hearing,

they don't need
either one.

It's our side
that needs a witness.

Any witness.

The three lowest
cervical vertebrae

were completely shattered.

After passing
through the lung,

the b*llet, in effect,

simply ricocheted
along the spine.

And he definitely died
of that g*nsh*t,

not from any effects
of the fire.

Mm-hm.
Thank you, doctor.

Mr. Mason?

Now, doctor,

you cannot state exactly
when Mr. Ferris died?

Well, shortly
before the fire,

as I've explained.

There was no breathing

after the flames
reached him.

Can you be
more accurate

concerning the number of times
Mr. Ferris was shot?

There was only
the one b*llet.

Yet I am told
the police recovered

quite a number
of empty shell casings

from the ashes
of the fire.

Doctor, you described

considerable tissue
damage to the body.

Is it possible
that such damage

could have kept you
from detecting

another b*llet wound?

Well, if any other b*llet
passed through his body

in a place
we couldn't detect,

it could only have been

in one or two
superficial locations.

Thank you, doctor,
that'll be all.

A comparison test was made with
this w*apon in laboratory.

It definitely checks out
as the m*rder g*n.

Now, lieutenant,
you testified

that an a*t*matic of this
make and serial number

was purchased
three months ago

at the Colfax
Hardware Company

by a Miss Betty Wilkins.
Yes.

And a permit was
issued to Miss Wilkins

the preceding day.
Mm-hm.

Your Honor...

I bought it
for the office.

Mr. Gorman
asked me to,

'cause there'd been
several robberies.

BURGER:
I ask that these be marked
as People's Exhibit G.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason.

The defense has no objection,
Your Honor.

Now, lieutenant, would you
tell us a little more

about the search that
you made of the cabin area

the day
after the crime?

What were the results
of that search?

Well, my men sifted
through the ashes,

the debris.

They recovered
a belt buckle, key chain,

the glasses prescription
from Ferris' charred wallet.

But what about
the empty shell casings?

The brass casings
that are left

after b*ll*ts
have been fired?

Yes, we found
quite a few of them too.

We found
. caliber shells,

half a dozen - ...

I don't think
it's necessary

to read the entire list,
lieutenant.

How do you account
for there being so many?

Surely all that amm*nit*on
wasn't used on Mr. Ferris.

Well, it was
a hunting cabin.

That's all.

Lieutenant Tragg,
you neglected to read

one item on that list.

How many . caliber
shell casings were found,

of the type used
in the m*rder w*apon?

Two.

An a*t*matic ejects
the shell casing

the moment it fires,
is that correct?

It is.

How do you explain
the second shell casing?

Well, the same way I'd
explain all those shells.

Through the years, a great
many people were up there

with a great
many weapons.

Were there any tests
made to determine

whether those shells had been
fired from the same g*n?

Yes, on an a*t*matic

there are firing pin
and pressure pin marks,

known as bridge block signature.

Now, what did these tests
show, lieutenant?

Well, as it happens,
the fire destroyed

the bridge block signature.

But, lieutenant, as firing pin
marks are not absolute proofs,

such as the Ballistic check
run on the slug itself,

what were your conclusions?

Well, the best we can say
is there was no difference.

The two casings could have been
ejected from the m*rder w*apon

or half a million
other g*ns of the same type.

Now, lieutenant, is that, uh,
little . caliber purse-w*apon

the sort of g*n
commonly used for hunting?

No.

Thank you. That'll be all.

( sighs )

Lieutenant,
how many slugs

did you find
on those ashes?

That is, b*ll*ts that
could have been fired

through the m*rder w*apon.

Why, none.

There was only the one
in the body, that's all.

BURGER:
Yes, but couldn't
additional sh*ts

been embedded
in the woodwork?

Or in the walls
of the cabin?

No, no,
we searched every inch.

There was just plain
one shot that was fired,

and that's all there
is to it, sir.

And do you have
reason to believe

those findings were
confirmed in any way?

Yes, after my men
finished their work,

a private investigator,
Mr. Paul Drake,

had permission to move in
with his own men.

And they sifted the ashes
for some time.

With what results,
do you know?

Oh, if they'd found anything,

I'm sure they would
have reported it

to the authorities.

Even if they didn't report it
to anyone else.

BURGER:
That's all.
No more questions.

Anything on recross,
Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Tragg,
did your men find

any traces of money
at the scene of the crime?

Money, sir?

Traces of burned
silk thread,

perhaps of bills
of large denomination.

Such as $ bills?

No, we found no indication
of any burned money.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be

Your honor, it's quite
apparent that the defense

is either fishing
or stalling.

However, since he has
touched upon a point

which I intended
to hold until later,

I'll like to ask one more
question for this witness.

All right. Proceed.

Lieutenant,
did you find, uh...

traces of such money
anywhere else?

Yes, sir.
On the night of the m*rder,

we found a bundle
of $ bills.

Five thousand dollars.

And were did you
find this money?

We found it
in the automobile

belonging to the defendant,
Miss Betty Wilkins.

Now, Mrs. Gorman.

Think very carefully.

Did you actually
see the money

thrown from
the defendant's automobile?

Or see the man
go pick it up?

Did you ever, in fact,
see any money at all?

No. No, I didn't.

You only heard it spoken of,
perhaps for your benefit.

Now, once more:
What exact words were spoken?

Betty honked the horn

and called my name,
and I called her:

"I'm all right,
just do as you were told.

Just throw out the money."

And then I heard
the car drive away.

That's all I know.

That's all there is.

After Alice's phone call,

I went to the bank
to get the cash

for the transaction
I described.

I understand.

Then what you got
was $ , ,

all in $ bills,
is that correct?

Yes.

Were these bills
marked in any way,

the serial numbers recorded?

No, I didn't want
to attract any attention.

Then what happened?

I put the money
into Betty Wilkins' car

and she drove off.

That's the last I knew,

until my wife
came home that evening.

Now, tell me, Mrs. Ames,
did you ever--

Last year, that is.

--see Mr. Ferris and
Miss Wilkins together?

Yes. Yes, it was after
a company party, one night.

I went out
to get my car,

and there was Betty
and this, um, Jim Ferris

standing in
the parking lot.

Oh, and what were
they doing?

Kissing each other.

BURGER:
Mm, now, on the night
before the m*rder,

did you again see
Mr. Ferris and Miss Wilkins?

Yes, I-- I happened to drive
by the company office,

and, uh, I was on my way
to see a friend who was ill,

and Betty's car
was parked out in front.

Mr. Ferris was sitting inside.

Mm-hm. And that's
all he was doing?

Just sitting there?
Well, I drove around the block.

By then he was getting out of
the car and going to meet her,

and Betty was coming out
of the building.

I suppose that he'd been
waiting for her.

BURGER:
And that's all you saw?

MRS. AMES:
I couldn't very well drive
around again.

The next night I came by,
just out of curiosity,

and they were gone by then.

BURGER:
Thank you, Mrs. Ames.

Counselor?

Uh, Mr. Mason,
perhaps you'll agree

to postponing your
cross-examination.

It's nearly : .
I have no objection, Your Honor.

Court is adjourned until :
tomorrow morning.

( dramatic theme playing )

I guess I was in love
with him, Mr. Mason.

But I really
didn't want to be.

That was last year.
What about his meeting

you outside the office,
the other night?

We only talked
for a few minutes.

He wanted to ask me some
questions about the company.

He was always asking questions
like that in his letters.

But, well, I just didn't think
I should answer anymore.

And I didn't want
to see him again.

So you told him goodbye?

Yes, and-- And then I drove him
over to the Pink Lady.

That's a cocktail bar.

He said he was
meeting someone.

A woman, I assumed.

Betty, why haven't you
tell me all this before?

How can I pry the whole truth
out of other people,

when my own client--?

I know, Mr. Mason.
I'm terribly sorry.

But-- But when you're
really just a bystander,

isn't it natural
to try t-to avoid

telling things?

Isn't it?

I just hope
another bystander

doesn't manage
to avoid it for too long.

( easy listening theme playing )

( indistinct chattering )

I'm sorry, Perry,

but I'm afraid
we're out of luck.

Stan Piper just
is not in Cuernavaca.

I've another idea,
Paul.

You'll receive
some notes from me.

I want you to you
to put them

in the mailbox
at the hotel there.

We'll use them as bait.

Perry, two police detectives

from Los Angeles beat me
down here by a full day.

They've combed the place
with Piper's picture.

They're just as anxious
as we are

to find out how much
of that $ , he's got.

But the guy just plain
went someplace else.

I'll stick around down here
if you want me to,

but you're just going
to have to ride out

that hearing
without any witness.

We were, uh,
in other words,

converting certain company
assets into cash.

Mm-hm.

Would Betty Wilkins
have known that?

Would she have known
the exact dates

when there would be
large amounts of money

in the company's
bank accounts?

Yes, she had access
to that information.

Thank you, Mr. Ames.
Cross-examine?

Mr. Ames,
your wife testified

about visiting a friend
evenings.

You heard that testimony,
did you not?

Yes, sir.

I didn't cross-examine her
on that subject

as I knew you would be
called to the stand.

Mr. Ames, do you remember
a certain conversation

in which your wife
clearly stated

that on the night
of the m*rder,

you were at home all evening?
I do.

I object, Your Honor,

on the grounds that
no proper foundation

has been established
for an impeaching question.

That Counsel must show the time,

the place
and the persons present.

The object of specifying
the time,

place and persons present

is to give the witness
an opportunity

to recall
the specific conversation.

Now, the witness has stated

that he does recall
the conversation.

Therefore, I'll allow
Counsel to proceed.

Continue, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Ames, if your wife
went out visiting,

drove past your office,

not only the night
before the m*rder

but in her own words,
"the next night too."

How could she be certain
of your exact whereabouts

on either evening?
She couldn't, of course.

Harold.
( laughter )

Never mind, Dora.

She was trying to protect me,
I presume.

Oh, to give you
an alibi, you mean?

But what about her?

Hasn't it ever occurred
to you, Mr. Ames,

that some woman other
than Betty Wilkins

could have been involved
with Jim Ferris?

Objection.

This line of questioning
is entirely irrelevant

and immaterial.

I'll agree you're getting

pretty far afield,
Mr. Counselor.

I intend to connect it up,
Your Honor.

I would like to continue

my cross-examination
of this witness.

But, Your Honor...

Uh, there's no jury to be
influenced here, Mr. Prosecutor.

I'll listen for a while.

Mr. Ames, were you
ever blackmailed

by the decedent?

Of course not.

Was your wife ever
blackmailed by Jim Ferris?

Now, look here, sir,

I don't know what you're
trying to prove--

MASON:
Found in Jim Ferris' effects
were certain--

AMES:
Jim Ferris took a few pictures
at an office party one time.

They don't mean a thing
and never have.

I was foolish once
or twice, that's all.

My wife knows
all about it.

And for you to try--

Were you being
foolish, Mr. Ames,

because your wife
was foolish?

Because your wife was
secretly meeting Jim Ferris?

I-I-I'm not the one.
She is.

There she sits now,
ask her.

Judge,
Your Honor.

No. Ask her.
Sit down.

Sit down, sit down.

Your Honor,
if I could be recalled,

maybe I could explain...

( gavel slamming )

JUDGE:
Order. Order, please.

Your Honor,
the state is interested

in finding the truth,
not in gaining convictions.

I have no objection
to recalling a witness.

However, it seems to me
that Mrs. Gorman

is perhaps the witness
to recall at this moment.

Eh, yes, Your Honor,

I believe it was
Mrs. Gorman who was seen

at the Pink Lady
with Jim Ferris

on the night
before the m*rder.

Eh, perhaps if a certain
cocktail waitress

from the Pink Lady
is asked to stand.

Her name
is Frances Banks.

Your Honor,
I'm often out of town.

And I don't think there's--
Stop it!

Stop it, stop it!
( crowd murmuring )

I did it. I did everything!

( sobs )

Jim and I planned
the whole thing.

The phone call, having
the money sent out, all of it.

And then a man came.

And he tried to take the money,
and a-- A fire started...

But don't you understand?
I shot Jim.

The g*n just went off.
I k*lled Jim.

( sobbing ):
I did it. I did it.

Well, Mr. Mason,

I'll rule favorably
on a motion to dismiss

the charges
against your client.

MASON:
Very well, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Any objection
from the prosecution?

The State has no objection,
Your Honor.

Bailiff, you'll take that lady
into custody.

You may step down,
sir.

This case is dismissed.

Court's adjourned.

( indistinct speech )

Mr. Mason,
I told you,

no matter how it happened,
I'd need your help.

I still do.
I haven't forgotten.

As soon as we find
that missing eyewitness.

What, the man
with the money?

He'll never be found.

Don't be too sure.

Paul Drake is still down
in Cuernavaca.

( mellow theme playing )

( sighs )

So Perry was right.

You did turn up.

Sure never would
have figured it this way.

But you were the witness,
all right.

Where'd she get you,
in the arm?

Shoulder?

You know, was almost
a perfect crime.

She ran away.

There was the money.

All you had to do
was leave a body behind,

Stan Piper's body, right?

I said, is that right,
Mr. Ferris?

( suspense theme playing )

Well,
you told me

your nephew was
full of tricks,

right at the beginning.

Yeah,
but for him

to cold-bloodedly sh**t
Piper, his friend.

Ah, Piper
was just about

to grab the money
and leave him there.

Anyway, after
Ferris shot him,

it was a pretty easy
identification switch.

But why didn't you find
another b*llet, Mr

If there were two sh*ts
fired from that g*n?

The, uh, fact that the second
b*llet wasn't found

started me thinking.

There was one way for a b*llet
to have left that cabin.

And that was
in somebody.

It was in
his shoulder.

But what I can't understand
is how you trapped him.

Those letters you said
you put in the hotel boxes.

That was
his bright idea.

I just planted 'em.

They were all addressed
to your nephew

or that, uh, little private
alias he liked to use.

It was one of those
that trapped him.

Hm. Let's see, in one note,
we wrote:

"Don't worry,
I'll join you soon."

In another,
"Flying down

as soon as the trial
is over, much love."

All done in a good imitation
of your wife's handwriting

and signed "Alice."

It really
got him worried.

He was sure she'd
figure the whole thing out.

I think Alice
had Jim figured.

Well,
at least enough

to put a g*n
in her handbag.

Well, like so many of
the things that happened,

That g*n
was my fault.

I told her about
the one in the office,

that's how she knew
where to get it.

But I don't think
she intended to fire.

I really don't.

We don't either,
Mr. Gorman.

But poor Betty, here,

having to bear
all the burden.

Nonsense,
Mr. Gorman.

That's what secretaries
are for, isn't it?

( clears throat )

Excuse me.

( noirish jazz theme playing )