04x22 - The Case of the Cowardly Lion

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

Hello, Frank.

Hi.

Funny time to be
coming to work, Mr. Osgood.

Nearly : .

Well, I'm not
going to work, Frank.

I'm gonna pick up Miss Fursten
in the hospital.

I should have guessed.

( chuckles )

See you.

( grunting )

( growling )

( elephant trumpeting )

( growling )

( vehicle approaching )

Mr. Osgood.

What's the matter, Boris?

I'm troubled
about the male lion.

His tooth is hurting again.
Maybe it should be taken out.

Well, you better tell
Dr. Braun.

Oh, would you do that
for me?

Dr. Braun and I
are, well,

not exactly friends.

Well, you don't have to be
friends to get a dentist, Boris.

All right, I'll speak to him
the first thing in the morning.

Thank you.

( mellow theme playing )

Hello, Mr. Beacom.

Hello, Professor.

Well, I'm not quite
a professor yet, Mr. Beacom.

Miss Fursten in?

Yes, sir,
she's in the nursery.

Thank you.

Don't work
too hard.

No, sir.

You don't have to be
frightened.

You've had a long trip
and you are here now.

And nobody
is going to hurt you,

including that man
who just walked in.

Well, look who's here.

When did he arrive?

By jet this morning
from Europe.

( laughs )

Isn't he handsome?

Well, say hello
to Mr. Osgood, Toto.

( with German accent ):
Hello, Toto.

Good to meet you.

( laughs )

( in normal voice ):
If I remember
my Swahili right,

that means "little one,"
doesn't it?

Yeah. Toto is just
months old.

Hm.

It's hard to believe
that someday he'll grow up

to be a -pound
gorilla.

He's going to make a good
linebacker for a football team.

Yeah, yeah.

How long do you
have to stay here with him?

Oh, just until
Dr. Braun arrives.

He should be here
any minute.

Well, everybody
needs a dentist.

What's up?

Oh--

Oh, a sore gum the director
thought should be looked at.

They had a cable about it
from its keeper in Europe

but, uh, I think Toto's
simply teething.

Well, I have a few things
to do at the office.

Why don't I pick you up later?
Okay?

That's okay, Tony.
That's okay?

Okay.
Okay.

( laughs )

Time for little gorillas
to go to bed.

Tomorrow, if you are good,

I'll take you
on a tour of the zoo

and introduce you
to your relatives.

Ja, Miss Chimpanzee,
Mr. Orangutan

and the other
grown-up gorillas.

But I'm sure
they'll like you.

Come here.

( ringing )

( grunting )

Hospital nursery.
Miss Fursten speaking.

( quiet banging in background )

Hello. Hello?

Is anybody there?

( woman speaks indistinctly
over phone )

Operator,
this is Miss Fursten.

Were you trying
to reach me?

No? Well, it must have been
somebody on the grounds.

No, no, no,
don't bother.

They probably
got the wrong extension.

Yeah.

Mr. Beacom?

( bird chirping )

Mr. Beacom.

I'm coming,
I'm coming.

Uh, Mr. Beacom,
did you move Toto?

T--?

No. You-- You mean
the little gorilla?

Never mind. Just call
the security, please.

Go on, quickly.
Quick.

( tense theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

( elephant trumpeting )

What's going on here,
Crawford?

Looks like someone walked off
with the baby gorilla, doctor.

Cage and all.
Walked off?

You mean, stolen?

That's right stolen,
kidnapped,

gosh knows what.

That baby's about
the most valuable animal

in the whole zoo,
isn't it, doctor?

Where's Miss Fursten?

Uh, she's inside there.

What I hope is that
whoever took it

didn't get outside
the gates.

They're closed now, but,
what with night coming on,

and over acres--

( growling )

( snapping )

Hilde?

Oh, Walther, I'm so glad
you are here, finally.

How could you
let this happen?

You were told
to stay here with the gorilla

until I arrived.

He had a swollen gum.

Ja, Walther, you are right,
but it was so strange.

The phone rang
in the other room,

I left to answer it
but nobody was there.

When I came back
the window was open,

Toto was gone.

And where was Mr. Beacom?

What kind of an attendant is he?

But he was in his office,
Walther.

I called
and he came running.

And that was
all there was?

That was every bit?

Ja.

I think you are lying, Hilde.

Now, what really happened?

Get your hands off me--

I want the truth.
Tell me the truth.

What's the matter
with you?

I told you the truth,
I swear.

Let her go.
Leave me al--

What the devil
do you think you're doing?

You keep out of this.

No. Not until
you cool off.

Now,
what's going on?

Dr. Braun thinks
I am responsible for Toto.

But I know how valuable
he is, of course,

but, doctor, you do not
work for the zoo--

All right,
all right, come on.

Let's get out of here.

Yes, by all means go.

Go along
with your young man.

Go on.

Uh, I'm sorry, Tony,

but I think I should
stay here for a while.

What?

Why? I don't understand.

Well, don't try
to understand. Just go.

Please.

All right.

( mysterious theme playing )

TONY:
Hilde.

What's the matter?

Nothing is the matter.

I'm all right.

Where's Braun?

Please, Tony, he's busy
helping search for Toto.

Now, nothing's
the matter.

I must go home now.

I'll take you home.
I'd rather go alone.

Hilde, will you please tell me
what's the matter?

I want to marry you.
Don't you understand?

Stop, Tony, please.
Now, listen to me.

I must go back
to Germany.

What?
As soon as they can find someone

to replace me in my job.

Don't say any more.
Wait a minute,

because of Braun?
No. It's not your affair.

Please.

( tense theme playing )

I realize this
is inconvenient, Mr. Mason,

since you have made a special
trip down from Los Angeles,

but our overcrowded calendar
leaves me no alternative

but to postpone this hearing.

Now, the State
has already indicated

that a date
two weeks from today

would be acceptable.

How do you feel
about that?

My client will remain
out on bail?

Yes, of course.

Then I have no objection at all
to the postponement, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Very well.

Schedule the matter for :
two weeks from today.

Perry.

I'll be with you
in a moment.

Paul back at the hotel yet?

No, but there was a message
from a young man

here in San Diego
that heard you were here

and he seems very anxious
to see you.

Well, if we're going back
to Los Angeles...

Of course, I don't know
any of the details,

but this apparently
has something to do with it.

"Zoo Baby Kidnapped?"
Mm-hm.

Interested?

( grunting )

MASON:
These are the same species
as Toto?

Lowland gorillas
from the Congo.

We're the only zoo in the world

that has an adult family
living together.

You mean that poor little thing
in the paper

will grow that large?

Well, provided he survives
whatever's happened to him.

They still don't have
any leads on him.

But, uh,

you're not absolutely certain
the missing gorilla

has anything to do
with what's, uh,

upsetting
your Hilde Fursten.

Well, it sure seemed
to trigger Dr. Braun.

Mr. Mason,

I need advice on this.

Supposing he's holding
something over Hilde's head,

could he force her
to leave the country?

She's still
a German citizen.

Is Dr. Braun
her employer?

No, she works
for the zoo.

But he is on the staff here,
isn't he?

No, we don't have any regular
dentist here.

The work's done
by doctors like him.

Braun just donates
his time and services.

Well, if that's his only
connection with the zoo, I--

Well, never mind.

Della, you wait
here at the zoo for Paul.

Ask him
to talk to Hilde.

I'm gonna see if I can make
a dental appointment.

You're going straight
to Dr. Braun?

Well, we might as well find out
as quickly as we can

why he's so upset.

Let's go.

( tense theme playing )

( grunting )

Don't I have trouble enough,
without your barging in here?

Of all the days
to come yapping.

I only agreed
to stay in Seattle

if you kept up your end
of the bargain, Walther.

But you haven't.
Not for nearly two months.

I wrote you,
explaining.

Explanations
don't buy groceries.

Groceries?

I've given you enough
in the last eight years

to buy a supermarket.

It's just that
I'm temporarily out of money,

that's all, Trudie.

You've been spending it

on that nurse
of yours, perhaps?

Or on that girl
you brought from Germany?

Don't bother
to lie.

I've been checking.

Still up to your old tricks,
aren't you?

Well, suppose
I tell certain people

about some of your
old habits, Walther?

Certain federal people.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Two thousand dollars
for two months,

and a thousand
for next month.

Today, please.

I'll have to borrow
the money, Trudie.

Something went wrong
with the--

( knock on door )

What is it, Frieda?

Mr. Mason's here.

That lawyer
who telephoned.

Oh. Oh, yes.
Uh, have him come in.

Call me tonight,
Trudie.

Now, goodbye.

Walther,

don't forget
the money.

You may go in,
Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Dr. Braun?

May I ask you something,
Mr. Mason?

Why is a prominent lawyer
meddling in my personal affairs?

I'm "meddling," doctor,

only so far as Miss Fursten
is concerned.

All right, all right,
of course.

But it's just as I told you
over the phone.

I secured Miss Fursten
her job at the zoo hospital,

personally vouched
for her competence there.

So when she allowed a creature

valued between and $ ,

to-- To be stolen
from right under her nose,

I lost my temper.

That's all
there was to it.

But you apparently threatened
to send her back to Europe.

That was temper speaking,
Mr. Mason.

I am a very busy man.

I have a great many problems.

You actually think
you could have her sent back?

Oh, yes, since I am
her sponsor, so to speak.

But, really,
whether she goes back or not

is quite up to her.

Do you mean by that, doctor,
she wouldn't have to go back

if she fulfilled certain
requirements laid down by you?

And suppose I have laid down
certain requirements.

Is that illegal?

I can't say without knowing
what those requirements are.

But I can say this, doctor:

Miss Fursten
can be deported

only if there
is something illegal

about her status
in this country.

If you point this, uh,

illegality out
to the authorities,

Miss Fursten will undoubtedly
have to go back to Europe,

but you, as an accessory,

will just as undoubtedly
have to go to jail.

Good day, doctor.

( laughing )

Oh, this is really
your day.

Having trouble with
your little Brunhilde, dear?

All right then,

tell me about
your lady wrestler friend.

Who is she? An old flame,
darling?

Just a woman I used to be
in business with, that's all.

Must have been
a pretty shady business,

for her to still
be blackmailing you over it.

Frieda,

I've put up with
a great deal from you.

Your insolence,
your slovenly ways,

even your affair
with that lion tamer at the zoo.

Boris is the head keeper.

And there's been no affair.

I happen to know better.

And I must warn you,

if you don't keep out
of my private business,

even Boris isn't going to care
for what's left of your looks.

Do you understand,
my dear?

( angrily ):
Do you?

I'm sorry, Walther.

( phone ringing )

Zelbowski speaking.

Oh, Frieda.

Yes, I'm alone.

He what?

He said what to you?

I just told you,
he threatened me.

No, don't come here.

I'm all right.

But he'll be at the zoo
this evening.

He has to examine
one of your lions, doesn't he?

And you'll
have him alone then.

Frieda, I am worried
about this.

Boris, this is our chance.

You've got to do it tonight.

But I am not sure
it is right for us.

If you want me, Boris,

you'll do
just as we planned.

All right, Frieda.

Yes.

Yes, I will do as you say.

But I will need your help.

( footsteps approaching )

Boris,

what's wrong
with the lion?

I just moved him
into an empty compound

so we could work
on his tooth tonight.

Well, something
seems to be wrong.

Let's take a look.

( growling )

( grunting )

Shh.

It's okay. I've got you.

Easy. Take it easy.

Beacom.

Oh, no, no,
please let me go.

I-- I didn't hurt him.

You stole the gorilla,
Beacom?

I couldn't get him
off the ground.

It was my first chance.

Why would you steal
such a poor little creature?

Money. F-- For money.

I didn't wanna
make so much trouble and upset

but there was a man
across the border.

He offered me
$ , .

Exactly seven.

Mr. Osgood,

now maybe everything
will be all right.

Yeah, maybe.

( upbeat theme playing )

( tense theme playing )

( animal growling )

( growling )

( grunting )

Hello, Toto.

His feeding instructions
are on the clipboard.

Dr. Braun left
the medication for his gums

and the directions
are on the bottle.

We'll get along fine, Hilde.

You run along.

Good. See you
tomorrow morning.

Bye-bye, Toto.

Hello, Miss Fursten.
Well, hello.

Would you like me
to drive you to the gate?

Oh, thank you, but I'm
only going to the lion compound.

Where?

Well, actually,
the building next door.

I'm meeting
Mr. Osgood there.

Oh, oh.

It seems to me you look
a little happier tonight,

Miss Fursten.
Heh-heh. Well, I am.

I certainly am.

Good night,
Mr. Crawford.

Good night.

( growling )

Miss Fursten.

Mr. Beacom.

Oh, what are you
doing here?

Oh, just picking up
some clothes, Miss Fursten.

They didn't
arrest you?

Well, the director
thought that f*ring me

was punishment enough,
I guess.

Oh.
He was very kind.

Good.

But I-- I heard
you're leaving too.

It's not because
of what I did, is it?

Oh-- Oh, no, Mr. Beacom,
as a matter of--

Oh, I'm awfully glad,

because we always
got along fine.

Ja, but--

Well, good luck back
in your lovely Germany.

Well, thank you, Mr. Beacom,
but I don't have to go now.

I may not have to
leave at all.

( lion growling )

( growls )

What's the matter
with that lion?

Surely his tooth
can't still be aching.

( growling )

Dr. Braun?

( lion roars )

HILDE:
Dr. Braun!

I was working late
in my office over there

when Hilde came in
and told me what had happened.

I found Boris and he helped me
haul Dr. Braun out.

When we discovered
he was dead,

I called our security police
and they called you.

You're the head keeper,
is that right?

Yes, sir.
Boris Zelbowski.

You're also helping Dr. Braun
treat the lion, I understand.

Yes. I fired the anesthetic
and helped with the tooth.

Fired the anesthetic?

Yes, lieutenant.

With the more
dangerous animals

we use a low-powered r*fle
to plant the anesthetic.

It doesn't hurt them and it's
a good deal safer for us.

I see.

Why didn't you stay with
the doctor until he'd finished?

But I did.

The tooth had been pulled,

the doctor was outside
the compound when I left.

Why'd he go
back inside?

That I do not know.

Well, maybe he left a piece
of his dental equipment inside

and figured the lion
was still out cold.

DETECTIVE:
Well, if he figured that,
he figured wrong,

from the claw marks
on his body.

Well, you're all free
to go now.

But I'll expect a full report
from each of you tomorrow.

Mr. Osgood, what will
they do with my lion?

I'm afraid they are gonna
have to put him to sleep, Boris.

But that's not right.

He did not k*ll Dr. Braun.

How do you know that?

Remember, I kept
the animal away

while you were dragging
the body out?

Yes, I remember.

Well, I held onto his mane
and he licked my hand.

Now, is that an action of a lion
who has just k*lled a man,

Mr. Osgood?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Do you think
he could be right, Tony?

I'll get my coat
and take you home.

All right.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, I'm not an authority
on lion psychology,

as your friend Zelbowski
apparently is,

but, according to the morning
newspaper,

that lion certainly
k*lled Dr. Braun.

But, Mr. Mason, what about
Tony's sport coat?

Why would anyone
want to steal it?

Well, maybe we're worrying

a little bit too much
about that, Hilde.

You haven't been able to find
that coat any place?

No, I looked in the building
next to the lion compound.

That's where
I left it earlier.

But it was gone.

Hi.

Well, what'd
you find out, Paul?

Enough. The police just received
a preliminary autopsy report

which confirms
the fact that Braun's body

was badly clawed.

Well, then the lion
really did k*ll him.

Well, he'd be an odds-on
favorite for the job,

except for one thing.
What's that?

About ten minutes after the head
keeper, uh, Zel something?

TONY:
Zelbowski.

That's right, Zelbowski. About
ten minutes after Zelbowski

claims he left Braun alive
outside the lion compound,

a man was seen
inside the compound.

A man wearing
a dark blue sport coat.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Frieda, you must believe me.

I did not k*ll Dr. Braun.

Oh, I believe you,
Boris.

At least
for the record.

And off the record,
well, frankly,

I'm glad
you got rid of him.

It makes our lives
much less complicated.

Now we can just take over
his little racket.

But I did not get rid of him.
I didn't even speak with him.

You expect me
to believe that?

But it's the truth.

I lost my courage to even
talk with him last night.

Boris.

Boris, this is Mr. Mason,
an attorney.

Mr. Zelbowski.
Miss Frieda Crawson.

How do you do?
How do you do?

I'm making some inquiries
into Dr. Braun's death.

I understand, Mr. Zelbowski,

that, uh, you maintain
the lion did not k*ll him.

That is correct.

Don't be foolish,
Boris.

Of course
the lion k*lled him.

How do you know that,
Miss Crawson?

Are you an expert
on lions?

No, but I'm an expert on Boris.

You see, we're engaged.

And I know how he feels about
lions. They can do no wrong.

Now, if you'll excuse us,
Mr. Mason.

Mr. Zelbowski,

did you see anyone
besides Mr. Osgood

wearing a dark blue sports coat
on the zoo grounds last night?

Don't answer him,
Boris.

I don't know
what you're up to, Mr. Mason,

but I suggest you ask
your questions someplace else.

How do you feel
about that, Mr. Zelbowski?

Answering the right questions

could mean saving
your lion's life, you know.

I will do as Frieda says.

Very well.

You know, it's quite possible
the next time we meet,

you and Miss Crawson will be
on the witness stand in court,

where failure to answer
could result in a jail term.

( tense theme playing )

I must sacrifice the lion?

Well, who would you
rather have put to sleep,

a lion or you?

Tony.

Whatever happens, I meant
what I said the other night.

Every word.

What do you mean,
"whatever happens?"

You must stop talking
like the voice of doom.

Now, we haven't done
anything wrong.

Come on,
give me another kiss.

No. Please.

Tony, I must
tell you something.

Something that may--
May change how you feel.

Maybe I already know
what it is.

Walther and me?

Yes.

We were not lovers.

If that's what
you're thinking,

it was something
quite different.

How different?
He never touched me.

( footsteps approaching )

Not once,
even though we were--

Tony?

Any luck?

Not with the coat.

I told your
security people about it,

they're looking
for it.

Uh, Della ran across a couple
of interesting items, though.

Some woman was on the grounds
last night, after hours,

looking for you,
Hilde.

Yes, but she disappeared just
before the body was discovered.

A Mrs. Appleman from Seattle?

But I don't know
any Mrs. Appleman.

You any idea who
she might be, Tony?

Not the slightest.

I'll have Paul Drake
check it out, then.

Now, about Dr. Braun's nurse,
Frieda Crawson.

As I understand it,

at one time she might
have been his mistress,

but now she says she's going
to marry this fellow Zelbowski.

( car door slams )

Excuse me, folks.

I guess you're Mr. Mason.

I'm Lieutenant White, sir.

You wanted me,
lieutenant?

No, it's Mrs. Braun
we're looking for.

Mrs. Walther Braun.
That is you, isn't it?

DELLA:
Mrs. Braun?

Tony, I must
tell you how--

Now, never mind.
We'd just like you

to come down to headquarters
with us, Mrs. Braun.

Headquarters?

Why does she have to
go down there, lieutenant?

WHITE:
We'd like a statement from her

regarding
her husband's homicide.

You've proven
it was homicide, lieutenant?

Yes, sir.
And we've gone even further.

Mr. Osgood, I have here
a warrant for your arrest,

charging you
with first-degree m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing )

Dr. Prince,
as Senior Pathologist

for the coroner's office,

you have quite properly
described the cause of death

in medical language.

Could you now put it
so we laymen can understand?

Yes.

Dr. Braun
d*ed of a broken neck

caused by a blow
delivered here.

In your opinion, could a lion
have delivered such a blow?

No, not unless the lion was
capable of wielding a crowbar

or some similar instrument.

PROSECUTOR:
What makes you say that?

The, uh,
shattered fragments

of, uh, vertebrae
at the point of impact.

Only a rod-like bar of metal
or hard wood could cause this.

Perhaps a metal bar
such as this,

already entered
in evidence

as having been found
near the lion compound?

PRINCE:
Yes, a metal bar such as this.

But, doctor,

if the deceased
had been k*lled

by a human wielding
such a w*apon,

how do you account for the
claw marks found on the body?

Well, judging by
the light amount of bleeding

along these marks,

I'm quite certain
that Dr. Braun was clawed

after he was dead.

In other words,
the already dead body

could have been placed
in the compound,

perhaps so the lion
could claw it

and be blamed
for the death?

Yes, I have no doubt
that's exactly what happened.

Your witness.

I'd like your opinion about
something else, doctor.

Could the marks on the body
have been caused by a nail

or a small garden cultivator
or some similar agency?

No, absolutely not.

Why absolutely not?

The marks run
in series' of four,

just as a claw would leave.

Now, the separations between
the marks in each series

correspond exactly
with the normal separations

found between the claws
of a full-grown lion.

Where did you learn so much
about the claw separations

of a full-grown lion,
Dr. Prince?

From Mr. Osgood's
former employer,

the San Diego Zoo.

( mysterious theme playing )

PROSECUTOR:
And when you processed this bar
in the crime laboratory,

you say you found blood on it.
Did you type the blood?

Yes, sir. It was type AB,

the same as
that of the deceased.

And now I show you
this sport coat,

already identified
as belonging to the defendant.

Do you recognize it?

WITNESS:
Yes, sir. We processed that
in the lab too,

and found bloodstains.
It was the same grouping,

type AB.

I see.

Any questions,
Mr. Mason?

May I have a look
at that coat, Mr. Talford?

Of course.

Now, uh,
concerning this coat,

am I right in identifying
these stains on the sleeve,

on the front of the coat
and here on the inside lining,

as bloodstains?

Yes, sir. They're the ones
I've been talking about.

How do you account
for their presence?

Well, if the defendant
carried Dr. Braun's body

into the lion's compound,

the coat would
naturally get stained.

Well, aren't you forgetting
the, uh, body was not clawed

until after it was placed
in the compound?

Oh, well, I suppose there's
several ways the blood--

Thank you.

That's all.

TALFORD:
You were in the zoo at the time
of the m*rder, Miss Crawson?

I think so.

Tell the court
about it, please.

Yes, sir.

Well, I had this dinner date
with Boris Zelbowski

and I drove out
to pick him up.

TALFORD:
And what time was this?

A little after : .

It was already
pretty dark.

Boris wasn't waiting.

But I knew he and Dr. Braun
were working on the lion,

so I went in
to see what gave.

Did you see what gave?

Well, I didn't see Boris
or Dr. Braun.

But I did see a man coming out
of the lion's compound.

A man wearing
a dark blue sport jacket.

And this man,

is he anywhere
in this courtroom, Miss Crawson?

Why, yes, sir.

He's at that table
right over there.

Mr. Osgood.

( lounge music playing )

Hi, Perry.

Hello, Paul.

Well, we got the rundown
on Dr. Walther Braun.

He came here eight years ago
from Trenton, New Jersey,

after he had
some trouble there.

A charge of, uh,

"Selling and diverting
dental gold."

The charge
was somehow dropped.

And, somewhere
between Trenton and here,

he also managed
to somehow drop a wife.

Where before Trenton?

Hannover, Germany, where
he worked for a big drug firm,

which ties in
with what I found here.

What's that?

In addition to becoming
a consultant at the zoo

and doing fine at dentistry,
on both humans and animals,

Braun started
a small drug company

specializing
in antibiotics.

It's called the, uh,
"Apex Pharmaceutical Company."

You been there, Paul?

No, but I got the address.

It's, uh, Seventh and Ash.

Anything else?

Yes, but not about Braun.

I spoke to the
curator of mammals at the zoo

and he agrees with Tony.

Unless a lion was starving,

he would never claw anything
already dead.

You'd better
check on that, Paul.

While I run over to the
Apex Pharmaceutical Company,

you and Della go to the zoo.
Could be important.

What do we do
at the zoo?

I want you to give
a lion a manicure.

( comical theme playing )

( growls )

He does not like this.

Must this
really be done?

You said
it didn't hurt.

No more than a needle does when
the doctor gives you a sh*t.

But this lion
is such a baby.

And besides,
I can go in there

and do whatever you want
without this.

Not a chance.

The director said
he had to be anesthetized.

Boris, do you want me
to sh**t?

No, no.

I will do it.

Then we will go in
and scrape his claws.

( lion roars )

You a policeman? Some of your
people already been here.

No, I'm an attorney. My name is
Mason.

And, uh, you?

Keller. Abner Keller.

Bookkeeper.

Or was, up until
the time he d*ed.

Dr. Braun
was the sole owner?

Well, could be his partner
in Germany had an interest.

I was never told.

Who is this partner?

A Dr. Elick Plum.

Oh, I had his address
somewhere.

Or you can reach him
at the Hannover Zoo.

Hannover Zoo.

Yeah, veterinarian,
Plum is.

For the zoo.

I see.

Uh, Dr. Braun's
business here,

was it lucrative?

( scoffs ):
Boom or bust.

Shipment comes in,
we boom.

Ten, girls
filing orders.

Then nothing, sometimes for
months.

Oh, look,
here's last year's ledger.

See?

Boom starting Jan. ,
ending Feb. .

Another, June .

Another, Sept. .

Feast or famine.

( pounding on door )

Now, now, maybe
you wouldn't mind

going out
the back way, Mr. Mason?

( pounding continues )

What's the matter?

Answering questions
all day for policemen

and people like you,
that's one thing.

But out there's
a dame from Seattle

who's times
as nosy.

And there's sure no law
says I gotta be polite.

Did you say that woman's
from Seattle?

Yeah.

( pounding continues )

Come in, won't you?

You know,
I think the police

will be very interested
in talking to you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Mrs. Braun, you must answer

the District Attorney's
question.

Unless, of course,
you feel your answer

may incriminate you
in some way.

No, it is not that.

Yes, Tony?

Mr. Osgood, and Dr. Braun
did have a quarrel,

just as Mr. Beacom said.

And this quarrel
was over you, Mrs. Braun,

because Dr. Braun
was threatening

to send you
back to Germany?

Yes.

Will you tell us how Dr. Braun
could thr*aten such a thing?

It was because
of the way we were married.

TALFORD:
Explain that, please.

Well, I wanted to come
to the United States.

My parents were dead
and I had only a part-time job

in the hospital
at the Hannover Zoo.

And I met Dr. Braun
through a friend of mine,

a Dr. Elick Plum.

Well, when Dr. Braun heard
of my desire to come here,

he said he would be glad to fix
it so I could get on the quota.

That it was my only way
to marry him for a while.

It seemed all right to do.

And after
you were married?

A year later,
my name appeared on the quota

as Mrs. Walther Braun and--

And I came here.

To live with Dr. Braun
as man and wife?

HILDE:
No, no, it was only to help me.

We had agreed that
the marriage would be secret

and in name only.

In name only,
Mrs. Braun?

Are you sure
that's how it was?

HILDE:
Yes, I am sure
that's how it was.

And we were
to be quietly divorced

as soon as I became
an American citizen.

So, with things
worked out so neatly,

how could Dr. Braun
have had you deported?

Well, he threatened to tell
the authorities that--

That I had tricked him
into the marriage

to get into the country.

Then why should he
thr*aten this

when you had an agreement?

He wanted to break
the agreement,

to assert his rights
as a husband.

And you told this to the man
you admitted in court you love,

you told this to the defendant,
Anthony Osgood?

HILDE:
No, I didn't tell him anything.

Osgood didn't k*ll
to save you

from having to submit
to Dr. Braun's embraces

or be sent back
to Germany?

No, of course not.

Tony didn't even know
that I was married to Dr. Braun.

As clerk in
the immigration office,

you were asked
by the defendant

to look up the records
on Hilde Fursten?

Yes, sir. I found her name
in our cross files,

under the name
Hilde Fursten Braun,

wife of Dr. Walther Braun.

And did Mr. Osgood
express surprise

on finding her
so registered?

Not in words.

He just walked away.

Any questions,
Mr. Mason?

No questions.

I'm sure you'll have
some questions

to ask our next witness.

I now call...

Mrs. Walther Braun.

Please state your name,
place of residence,

and occupation.

Mrs. Walther Braun,
Front Street,

Seattle, Washington.

I guess my occupation
would be housewife,

even though I haven't lived
with Walther

for over eight years.

But you are, or rather were,

his wife at the time
of his death?

Oh, my, yes.

We were married in
in Trenton, New Jersey.

You can look up
the record.

You were never
divorced?

No. After we left Trenton,
we agreed to live separately,

but there was never a divorce.

Then this woman
who just left the stand,

this so-called
Hilde Fursten Braun,

was never Dr. Braun's wife?

No.

Either she's lying,
or Walther tricked her.

Uh, Your Honor,

I must object to the State's
line of questioning.

Miss Fursten is not
the defendant here

and whether or not
she was Dr. Braun's wife

is completely irrelevant.

I move both question
and answer be stricken.

Mr. Talford?

I could argue the matter,
but since the time is late,

I'll simply
withdraw the question

and go on to something
undeniably relevant.

Mrs. Braun,

where were you
between and

on the night
of your husband's death?

I was at the zoo.

What were you
doing there?

I'd been following
Dr. Braun.

I knew he went out there.

You see, I'd come down
from Seattle

to collect rather
a considerable sum of money

that he owed me and I wanted
to make sure that he paid it.

Besides, I wanted to get a look
at that German girl of his.

She's the one I told the guards
I'd been to see.

And did you follow Dr. Braun
to the lion compound?

Oh, no.
I couldn't find where he went.

The place is so big

and anyone I asked a question of
simply said I should go.

It was after closing,
so finally I had to leave.

What did you do when
you heard about the m*rder?

I stayed in my hotel room
in Coronado

to wait and see
what would happen.

And it was your sense
of public duty

that made you come to us?

No, sir.

Mr. Mason
made me come to you.

Mr. Mason sent you?

I, too, have a sense
of public duty, Mr. Talford.

Why didn't you tell me
you'd seen Mr. Mason?

You didn't ask me.

No, I didn't.

But I'm asking you now
what you saw

when you passed
the lion compound

while wandering around the zoo
on the night of the m*rder.

I saw someone
in back of the compound.

Somebody wearing
a dark sport coat.

Thus confirming
other testimony.

Now, tell us, Mrs. Braun,
do you see that somebody,

who wore the sport coat,
here in this courtroom?

Well, after getting
a good look at Mr. Osgood,

I can tell you this:

It wasn't him.

It was somebody smaller.

Much smaller.

It was somebody about...

About exactly her size.

Whose size, Mrs. Braun?

Hers.

Frieda Crawson.

My dear husband's mistress.

And what about
the lab report

on the manicure
you gave the lion, Paul?

I picked it up
on the way here.

"None of the tests run
on the nail scrapings

show the slightest trace
of human blood or flesh."

Well, this gets
odder and odder,

if that means
what I think it does.

It almost certainly means
the lion never touched the body.

Which in turn means--

Here are last year's
records, Mr. Mason.

Each card shows when
a new shipment of animals

came into the hospital.

January rd, June th,
September th.

Exactly what I wanted,
Hilde.

Now, what about the cage?

The director of the zoo

said you could have
anything here to help Tony,

but how can
Toto's cage help?

PAUL:
That's what I'd like to know.

Have you ever heard the story
about the customs inspector

and the Mexican boy
on a bicycle, Paul?

No.

Well, the boy kept cycling
across the border

carrying a sack
over his shoulder.

Convinced that
he was smuggling something,

the inspector examined
the sack each time,

and each time
all he found was sand.

He finally met the boy
in Tijuana

and pleaded
with the boy

to tell him just what
he had been smuggling.

The boy finally broke down
and told him.

Told him what?

The same thing
that Toto's cage

should tell us
in court tomorrow.

But in the meantime, Paul,

I have a chore
for you to do.

Not to give another lion
a manicure, I hope.

Oh, no.

This time I, uh, want you to
kidnap a lion.

( dramatic theme playing )

MASON:
Then Mrs. Braun
was telling the truth.

She did see you
wearing Tony Osgood's coat

in the lion compound.
Well, what of it?

Why are you going after me?
She gets his estate.

She must have been the one
who k*lled him.

Why don't you
go after her?

Perhaps I will,
after you explain

why you attempted
to incriminate Mr. Osgood.

Well--
When you went
to the lion compound

to search for Boris,

you found the body of Dr. Braun
outside the compound,

did you not?

Miss Crawson,
you've already admitted--

All right, yes.
That's what happened.

I went to the keeper's office.

Boris wasn't there,
but I saw Mr. Osgood's coat

and the lion pelt,

and that gave me an idea.

And wearing the coat,

you then dragged the body
into the compound.

Is that not correct?

It was only a few feet
and the lion was still out cold.

And then, with this,

you clawed the body
to make it look as though

it had been clawed
by the lion.

And then later you lied
to the police by telling them

you'd seen Mr. Osgood
inside the lion compound.

Is that not correct,
Miss Crawson?

Yes.

Apparently you were trying
to protect someone

by doing all this.

Who was that person?

Boris.

Boris Zelbowski.

Very well, then,

let us say you did not
k*ll Dr. Braun.

What made Miss Crawson
think you'd k*lled him?

That's because of what
she had wanted me to say to him

while we were
treating the lion.

And what was that?

We were going to make ourselves
partners in his--

His racket.

Did she explain to you
what that meant?

BORIS:
She said Dr. Braun would know.

But I didn't even
talk to him about it.

About anything.
I lost my courage.

But even if I had
k*lled him, Mr. Mason,

I would never be so stupid

as to try to put the blame
on the lion.

Why, all the keepers know
what a big coward he is.

Why, he is afraid
of his own shadow.

Well, he would never dare
to att*ck anyone.

Mr. Zelbowski,

do you recognize
that cage?

Uh--

That is the cage in which
the baby gorilla came.

And what happens to these cages
after the animals are delivered?

They take all the new animals
up to the hospital first,

I don't know.

Harry Beacom, he--
He was a cleanup man.

Maybe he could tell you.

With the court's permission,

I would like to recall
Mr. Beacom.

Recall Mr. Harry Beacom.

You may step down.

I must remind you, you're
still under oath, Mr. Beacom.

Uh, yes, sir.

Mr. Beacom,

would you please
examine this cage.

Why, uh,
it's Toto's cage.

Isn't it true that, uh,
when you took Toto,

what you really wanted
was the cage?

Cage?

Well, what would I want
with a cage?

Because of what was
concealed in it.

Beneath
this false bottom.

Packages
of pharmaceuticals.

Purchased wholesale
in Europe

to be sold three
to five times their cost

through Dr. Braun's
drug firm.

Isn't this what
you really wanted, Mr. Beacom?

No, I didn't want that stuff.

I was trying
to force Braun

to cut me in
on his smuggling racket.

Just like Frieda Crawson
wanted him to.

And then when you found
Dr. Braun alone,

after he had treated
the lion,

he refused to cut you in,

you used this on him.

No.

I-- I didn't mean
to k*ll him, Mr. Mason.

I-- I swear
I didn't.

He got angry and--

And he swung at me
with that iron bar.

I took it away from him
and-- And hit him.

I wouldn't k*ll.

I just meant to stun him.

Just to stun him.

( upbeat theme playing )

( trumpeting )

You know, I suppose
Braun figured

he'd eventually
let Hilde take over

as receiver
of the shipments.

That's why he got her
the job here.

Well, you sure scored
a bull's-eye on the tie-in

between the new supplies
for Braun

and the new animals
for us.

You know,
the records show

that Braun and his friend
from the Hannover Zoo

have been averaging
three shipments a year

for the past five years.

And at $ , profit
per shipment, tax-free,

that's a pretty fair
business.

And a pretty safe one.

A wild animal cage would
be the last place in the world

you'd expect
a customs inspector

to check for
smuggled antibiotics.

Speaking
of customs inspectors,

you never did
finish the story

about the Mexican boy
on the bicycle.

No, I didn't.

DELLA:
Perry.

Look.
Look over there.

Look how happy Toto is,
Mr. Mason,

with his new relatives,

Mr. Orangutan
and Miss Chimpanzee.

Uh, speaking of
customs inspectors...

Oh, yes, for heaven's sakes,
tell him the rest of the story.

Well, as I told you,

the inspector got mighty tired
of examining the sacks

the boy kept carrying
over the border,

week after week.

And then the boy
finally promised

to tell him
what he was smuggling.

And what had he
been smuggling?

Bicycles.

( all laughing )

( grunting )

( noirish jazz theme playing )