04x24 - The Case of the Violent Vest

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( upbeat themeplaying )

( door shuts )

Mr. Albright?

Yes. Where's my wife?

She's in the office here
waiting for you.

How much did you lose
this time?

Five thousand.

Five.

Oh, Ida, for heaven's sake,

you know I couldn't possibly
raise that much.

Well, I'm afraid you'll
have to, darling.

I've been writing checks
to cover my losses.

As you can imagine,
they've, uh...

all bounced rather briskly.

I'm sorry,
there's no money left.

You'll have to get out
of this by yourself.

You can't be serious.

Why, you'd lose your precious
little office boy's job

if they sent me to prison.

And of course,
I'd have to divorce you.

You know,
I think I'd appreciate that.

I suppose she would too.

Miss, uh-- Miss Purity.

Oh, excuse me, "Miss Debutante."

Pride of the Caffrey-Enix
Advertising Agency.

I suppose we all have
our compulsions,

don't we, Herman?

What are you talking about?

I'm in charge of certain
elements of the Miss Debutante

advertising campaign,
so naturally

I've worked with Grace Halley.

Oh, is that what you were doing
on all those trips together?

"Work?"
Oh, Ida, you know very well

that promotional advertising--

"My dearest Grace,

"how can I tell you
my true feelings?

"The true meaning
of these past days,

past weeks,
past months together?"

What are you saying?
( giggles )

You really ought
to be more careful

of what you leave
in your pockets, darling.

What sort of an answer
did she send?

Or didn't you ever get up
the courage to mail that letter?

Well, never mind.

I'm sure when Mr. Caffrey hears
how you've been behaving that--

Well, sir?

We'd appreciate having
that in cash,

if you don't mind.

I-I don't have that
much right now,

but if you'll wait
a day or two...

Yes, yes, I'll make good
my wife's loss.

Then we'd appreciate your
signing an I.O.U., Mr. Albright.

Payable, oh, by Friday,
shall we say?

No.

No, I believe you have
some of my wife's checks.

When you give me those checks

and when she agrees
to a quiet, decent divorce,

then I'll give you your $ .

Now, look here,
friend--

There.

Didn't I tell you
what a dear he'd be?

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Take five, honey.
Something's not right.

Look, I'm in too close to get
the effect of a ski slope.

Give me about two
more feet of snow

and we'll sh**t it lower
and from back here.

Oh, Grace.

Mr. Albright.

What are you doing here?

Grace, I've got
to talk to you...

about, uh, well, this evening.

Oh, no,
not more work tonight.

I'd made plans.

No, no, no, it has nothing
to do with work.

It's just that I thought,
well, perhaps--

Well, maybe you and I could
go out somewhere this evening,

just the two of us?

Mr. Albright,
is something wrong?

It's my wife.
I told you about her.

She's in debt again.

Grace,
I'm going to leave Ida.

Oh, I'm awfully sorry.

No, no, no,
don't say that.

It's what I was going
to talk to you about tonight.

Grace, I've wanted to say
this a thousand times.

I even started to write
it in a letter to you.

What?

I just haven't had the right
to say it before,

but now that I'm free,
well, almost--

Well, you must know
how I feel about you.

Now, just a minute.

No, no,
don't say anything.

Darling, we can talk tonight.

But I never realized--

DIRECTOR:
Okay, let's try it again.

No, Mr. Albright, please.

You've got to understand.

Grace, Grace,
I love you.

I can say it now.
We can face it now.

That's all I want
you to understand.

Until tonight, darling,

I'll phone you before
I pick you up.

Mr. Albright.

( door opens )

( door closes )

I've agreed to talk it over.

Let's just leave it at that
until we meet.

Besides, this is a very
bad connection.

( knocking )

Just a moment, please.
Look-- Yes.

I've agreed to all that.

I just can't talk now.
Goodbye.

Excuse me, sir?

Yes, Albright, what is it?

I wanted to speak to you about
a personal matter, Mr. Caffrey.

It's a little difficult,
but, you see, Ida has--

Now, if it's about
your wife's gambling,

I told you before, Albright,

I think the woman's sick
and needs a psychiatrist.

It's gone beyond that.

She's got herself
deeply in debt and I--

I've got to raise
$ immediately.

That's a lot of money.

I-I know it's not a very pretty
situation, Mr. Caffrey.

And I know it's a terrible time
to approach you

with Mr. Enix in trouble
up in San Francisco.

He's not in trouble,
he's in jail.

If he'd been a little more
careful with his finances

he wouldn't be in this mess
with the Tax Bureau.

But that's beside the point.

Just how serious
is your situation?

Well, I'm afraid
the gambling people

could cause a good deal
of trouble.

I'm sorry, of course, Albright,

but you must realize that there
are times when the wind blows

the flag in the wrong direction.

Then again, I'm-- I'm not
certain that this agency could

afford to have anybody else
connected with it in prison.

Five thousand, eh?

Albright,
you're a very important

member of our team here,

but no one is irreplaceable,
you realize that, of course.

Yes, sir.

Even with Larry Enix
on the sidelines

nobody has scored on us.

Then, on the other hand,

the quarterback can only
throw the passes.

He's gotta have somebody else
to catch the ball.

Now, wait a minute.

There just might be something
you could do for me, Albright.

You know,
I might be able

to let you have the money
at that.

If so, I'll give you a call
at : this evening.

How's that?

Oh, thank you, Mr. Caffrey.

Sally, this appears to be
a fairly good contract.

"Our commission
is Miss Debutante

"for one year, you receive
a very healthy salary,

plus all the clothes you model."
Next to a movie contract,

I should think
something like this

would be every girl's dream.

But, uh, can the contract
be broken, Mr. Mason?

On what grounds, Miss Halley?

I don't know, any grounds.

I mean, if anybody wanted to.

Well, as an advertizing symbol

of a cosmetics line
for young ladies,

the only breach contractually
would be something that would

damage or destroy
that symbol.

I don't understand.

In other words, if you were,
or if you became something

other than the beautiful,
unmarried,

and uninvolved image they hire.

Mr. Mason, the man in charge
of the campaign...

well, he's interested in me.

Much too interested.

I see.

I feel simply terrible about it,

being so stupid,
not realizing,

but I just can't let him
get the wrong idea.

Go on, Miss Halley.

Well, there might be all sorts
of trouble.

In that case, I might want
to break the contract myself

so people wouldn't be hurt.

Could I break it?

No,

but if you became involved,
they could break it.

They could break it if they
could prove you were charged

with, uh, moral turpitude,

you've been married, if you
joined a subversive group,

or committed a criminal act,

but, of course, none of these
things apply to you.

No, no, of course not.

Well, I guess that's
all I wanted to know.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Goodbye, Miss Street.
Goodbye

( phone ringing )

Hello? Hello?

Oh, thank heaven it's you.

Yes, I'm listening, sir.

All right, sir.
I'll be there.

Right away, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Caffrey.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you for what?

Five thousand dollars.

I'm getting the money
for you, Ida.

Every bit of it.

Well, that's wonderful.

You know, Herman,
you're really quite a clever man

when you put your mind to it.

I'll have a check tonight.

That's my part of the bargain,

so you'd better be thinking
about yours, Ida.

You mean you still think
you want a divorce?

Mm-hm.

A quiet one.
No unpleasantness, no scandal.

When you agree
to that in writing

then the money is yours.

Goodnight, Ida.

All right, darling,
all right.

But since you're being
so firm about everything,

I think you'd better
bring me .

I'd what?

Oh, Herman,
don't look so surprised.

You know I have other
debts to settle.

You never said one word.

Didn't I tell you
about Las Vegas?

No.

They wrote me a rather nasty
letter this morning, I'm afraid.

Yes, I'll--
I'll need more.

( drawer opens )

And while we're on the subject,

there are several bills here
you may not know about.

What are you trying
to do to me?

Ida, I can't possibly raise
one penny more than --

Then I can't possibly
divorce you, Herman.

( ominous theme playing )

ALBRIGHT ( on phone ):
Hello, Grace?

This is Herman Albright.

I'm sorry, it's so noisy,
I can't hear what you're saying.

Where are you?

I'm at the Trinidad Bar.

I just wanted you to know that
I won't be around this evening

to take you out
the way we planned.

Well, I wasn't expecting--

Grace, listen to me.

I will be
at your apartment though,

the first thing
in the morning.

The very first thing.

You see, I've been able
to raise the money,

but it wasn't enough,

so I'm just not going
to give my wife any of it.

Do you understand?

No. I mean, why not?

If your wife owes the money.

Grace, I'm not even going
to wait for a divorce.

In Mexico, it's easy for a man

to get rid of his wife,

even if I've changed
my name by then.

Mexico?

Oh, I know I shouldn't be

talking like this
on the telephone,

but I just wanted you
to know that, well,

maybe by this time
tomorrow night

we can be out of town.

Mr. Albright, I can't go
to Mexico or anywhere,

will you please listen to me?

Don't say anything yet, darling.

Until you hear me out.

Oh, we'll be happy together.

You know we will.

I promise.

And remember:
the first thing in the morning.

Mr. Albright. Wait--
( hangs up )

Well, that does it.

Buddy, every time I try to tell
him, he won't listen to me.

He just won't believe I don't
care for him that way.

Grace, I've had just about
as much as I can take.

Sneaking in back doors,
looking the other way

every time a roving Romeo

starts reading you
with his X-ray eyes.

Well, you knew this
sort of thing might happen

when you submitted
my picture to the agency.

All right.
I made a mistake.

They didn't know about you
and I took a chance,

but I'll tell you something now.

Now I'm sorry I ever heard

of Miss Debutante
and Mr. Albright.

Don't worry about Mr. Albright.

I'll make him understand.

Oh, no, you won't.

I will. You're my wife
and we're married.

And I'm sick and tired of being
a backstairs husband.

Call me
an old-fashioned guy,

but I'm going to set
that guy straight

once and for all right now.

Buddy.

Bartender, freshen that, please.

Right.

Do you mind?

What?

Anybody have a lien
on this stool?

No, no,
go ahead and lean on it.

I'll bet you've got
a million of those.

No, no.

I'm afraid that one
came out of a bottle.

Point your finger
at that bottle.

Oh, it's rude to point.

Why don't you let me
buy you a drink?

Well, that-- That is,
if your escort doesn't mind.

Oh, he's the strong,
silent, absent type.

Why are you staring at me?

Well, I'm trying
to decide whether

you're a man of distinction.

That's the only kind
I let buy me drinks.

( chuckles )

Is that a tattersall vest?

Hm?

Why, yes.
Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.

The young lady
will have the same.

You heard the man, Joe.

My name isn't Joe.

Don't be a nonconformist.

All bartenders
are named Joe.

You'll have to prove
you're old enough to be served.

Let me see your
driver's license.

You know, there's a very nice
bar just down the street.

Well, they might ask you
the same question there.

WOMAN:
I'd like a Gibson, please.

Joy Lebaron,
Oakland, California.

Age: .

One Gibson coming up.

( chuckles )

Thanks a lot, Joe.

Oh, I'm doing great tonight.

Where'd everybody go?

Which everybody?

Well, the character with
the jazzy vest, for one.

Look, you take pictures
without orders,

what do you expect?

People should wait
all night?

I only asked you a question.

So who knows?

Maybe the little brunette
got too expensive.

Anyway, that guy isn't going
to buy any pictures from you,

he pulled out five minutes ago.

( ominous theme playing )

( door shuts, locks )

( vehicle departs )

Look, I told you, you can't
park here all night.

Will you move it?

( dramatic theme swells )

( dramatic them playing )

Sorry, Mrs. Albright.

We had to get
an identification.

If you're all right,
you can go now.

Lieutenant,
my I have another look?

Aren't you positive?

Oh, yes, yes,
it's Herman all right.

Where did he get that coat?
And that vest. What on earth?

That's just the way
he was found.

Don't be ridiculous.

Herman never wore clothes
like that in his life.

You sure about those clothes,
Mrs. Albright?

Lieutenant, we were
married for years,

Herman never wore anything

but Oxford gray suits
and black ties.

And as for that ghastly vest,
he wouldn't be caught dead in--

When was the last
time you saw him?

About : last night.

Then he changed some time
between : , maybe, : .

And since he owned a wardrobe
which you'd never seen before,

he must have had
a place to keep it.

Yes, I'm--
I'm sure he must have.

Perry, could you step out
just a moment?

Lieutenant Tragg is here.

No, no, he didn't say.

Right, I'll tell him.

He's with a client,
but he said he'd be right out.

Oh,
that's very nice of him.

Well, I wish you'd let me know
you were coming, lieutenant.

I have rather a full day.

Maybe I can lighten
your load, Perry.

You have a client named,
uh, Grace Halley?

Now, lieutenant,
this is a law office,

not an information center.

If you have business with
someone named Grace Halley,

I suggest you have your own
facilities for finding her.

You're quite right, Perry.

In fact, I have already found
where the young lady lives,

where she works, and now
I've tracked her over here.

Well, that's a remarkable
piece of tracking.

Oh, I had something
going for me.

There's not too many
beautiful girls on the street

in the middle of an August
heat wave wearing a ski suit.

That, uh,
would be rather conspicuous.

Now, what's that client
of yours in there wearing?

I'll have to take a look.

Oh, and, um, in case
she is wearing a ski suit,

why would you want her?

For questioning.

In connection with the m*rder
of Herman Albright.

Hm.

Excuse me, lieutenant.

I'm afraid we
haven't much time.

The police?
They want to question you.

Now, what time was that call
from Albright last night?

About : . That's when
he said all those things

about running off to Mexico.

Where did he call from?

The Trinidad Bar, he said.

Now, did you leave your
apartment after the phone call?

No, I didn't.

All right, Grace.

Mr. Mason,

if they just want
to question me,

that doesn't mean
I'll be arrested, does it?

Certainly not on the basis
of what you just told me.

But all the same, you'd better
take your cues from me

on what to say.

Would you, uh, care to join us,
lieutenant?

Oh, thanks, Perry.

Oh, and why don't I just
introduce myself?

Go right ahead.

You're not going to leave
him in there alone with her.

Get a hold of Paul.

Tell him I have to know exactly
what evidence the police

have against Grace Halley.

Then he's to go
to the Trinidad Bar

and try to find someone
who saw Albright last night.

If he has anything
important in, oh,

say, an hour or so,
he can reach me

at the Caffrey-Enix
advertising agency.

I suppose Grace is worried
that we might invoke

the morals clause
to cancel her contract?

Is there any danger of that,
Mr. Caffrey?

It's hard to tell yet.

We can absorb a certain amount
of unfavorable publicity,

but the agency does have
a responsibility to the client.

It was a member of the agency

who wanted to get Grace
into trouble.

Well, now,
I wouldn't be too sure

which shoe was
on which foot there.

I've known Herman Albright
a great many years.

Any girl who could inspire
a mash note like he wrote her,

must have used a few sparks
on the old punk.

I take it you've been
talking to Mrs. Albright.

No, Mr. Mason,
but apparently Mrs. Albright

has been talking
to the newspapers.

Did anybody else know
about the $

that Albright
borrowed from you?

I'd prefer not to discuss
any further details, Mr. Mason.

I understand your San Francisco
partner, Larry Enix,

is in prison now
for evading income taxes?

Well, that's hardly a secret,
but what does that have to do

with my loaning money
to Albright?

I wouldn't know,

unless you could point out
some connection, Mr. Caffrey?

( phone ringing )
Oh, excuse me.

Yes?

Phone call for you.

You can take it out there,
if you don't mind.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello?
This is Mason speaking.

Perry, I'm at the Trinidad Bar

and I think I've got
something for you.

Also, the police dope.
That is, all they'd give me.

Well, here's the rundown,
Perry,

and I'm afraid
it doesn't look too good.

All the evidence in the car

points to the fact that Albright
was k*lled by a woman.

Also, when Mrs. Albright
identified his body,

Albright was wearing some jazzy
clothes she'd never seen before.

And they weren't
new clothes.

Apparently, he'd been wearing
them for some time.

I suppose Tragg
would like to prove

he kept them
in Grace's apartment.

You ready for a shock?

One of her neighbors saw her
rush out of her apartment

around midnight carrying
an armload of men's clothing.

She just tossed 'em
in to her car and drove off.

Someday I'm going to get a
client who'll tell me the truth.

I have got one more
goody for you.

A bartender who remembers
seeing Albright

in here last night with a girl.

Grace Halley?

I didn't ask him that.

I thought you'd better
talk to him.

Uh, Walter?
Walter Clemens, Perry Mason.

Uh, please, sit down,
Mr. Clemens.

I'd appreciate
it if you'd tell me

about the girl who was
with Mr. Albright last night.

Oh, yeah.

I been fishing around,
trying to remember.

I think it was, um, "Lebaron."

Joy Lebaron.

How did you get her name?

Off her driver's license.

I thought she was hustling
this guy Albright for drinks,

so I was looking for an excuse
to toss her out.

She was old enough.

They didn't come in together?

I just told you,
she picked him up.

He bought her a drink,
then he left.

Could she have
followed him out?

Could be.

Maybe they had a date.

Maybe he ditched her. Heh.
You figure it.

Me, I don't know anything
but what happened in here.

That's all
I can tell you.

All right, Walter.
Thanks a lot.

Look, Mr. Mason,
I'm not running to the cops,

but if they come around...
You tell them what you told us.

That's fair enough.
All right.

Well, I sure hope your client
isn't using a phony name.

No. I'm sure
it's a different girl.

Even so.
I've never heard of a B-girl

sh**ting a sucker
for buying her a drink.

Maybe Albright
had money on him.

At least it was supposedly
given to him

earlier in the evening.

How much?

Five thousand dollars.

That's enough,
I'll find her.

Perry.

There's a young lady
waiting to see you.

Her name is Vicky Dolan.

What does she want?

She said to tell you that
she works at the Trinidad Bar.

Oh. That's recommendation
enough, Della, show her in.

Miss Dolan, come in, won't you?

Thank you.

Mr. Mason?

Yes? Won't you sit down?
( door shuts )

I understand that you're looking

for the girl who
was with the guy

who got knocked off
last night.

Do you know where she is?

No.

But I got something that will
make her a lot easier to find.

What would that be?

A picture.

See, I take lots
of extra pictures,

both in the bar
and in the lounge.

I show them to people,

maybe they buy,
maybe they don't.

But with this one, both the guy
and the girl were gone.

So now it's on sale
to the highest bidder.

What are you asking?

Two hundred dollars.

That's quite a mark-up,
isn't it?

Supply and demand,
Mr. Mason.

Walter said you were plenty
eager to find the girl.

You realize, of course,

the police will pay
you nothing for it?

That's why I'm giving you
first cr*ck at it.

( phone ringing )

Excuse me.

Yes?

Yes, put him on, Della.

Hello?

Yes?

Good work, Paul.

Right, I'll see you there.

I'm afraid you're out of luck,
Miss Dolan.

You mean you don't
want the picture?

If your price had been
a little more reasonable,

you might have sold it to me,
but now I don't need it.

You see, the young woman
has just been found.

( dramatic theme playing )

Oh, this is the wildest.

I heard L.A. was a wacky town,

but I never thought
it could be this crazy.

I just read about this
in the newspaper.

This your first trip
to Los Angeles, Miss Lebaron?

And the last.

Do you mind telling me just
what happened last night?

Well, he bought me a drink.

Is that a crime?

Not at all,

but shortly afterwards
he was m*rder*d.

Look, it was the first time
I was ever in the Trinidad.

I never laid eyes
on the guy before.

I've got some bad habits,

but sh**ting strangers
isn't one of them.

Suppose the, uh,
stranger had some money on him.

Say, uh, $ .

( door opens )
What?

Perry.

Hello, lieutenant.

Well, well, you trying to make
my job easier for me, Perry?

I was afraid you were going
in the wrong direction.

Did you know that Albright
was in the Trinidad Bar

just before he was m*rder*d?

No, no, I didn't.

That is, uh, not until
about minutes ago.

I was just on my way
out of the office.

I gather a certain photographer

by the name of Miss Dolan
came to see you.

Yes, as a matter of fact,

she gave me a picture
of Albright.

Like, uh, any good
citizen would do.

Naturally.
And since I was on my way

to find out what
you were up to, I--

And we've been watching
your activity, I'm afraid.

Well, this is the young
lady Albright was with.

Miss Joy Lebaron.

I located her through a cab she
took later on in the evening.

We, uh, just started to ask her
about Albright's money.

What is all this?

That guy bought me a drink,
that's all. Just one drink.

And he sure never flashed any
roll at me the size of $ .

Why, of course not, young lady.
We know that.

The $ was still in the form
of a cashier's check, Perry,

Mr. Caffrey hadn't given
it to Albright yet.

There. You see?

Of all the nerve.

Just a moment, young lady.

I still should thank you,

having you practically solve
my case for me this way.

Is it solved, lieutenant?

Well, at least I'm going
to ask the D.A.

to make a formal charge
of m*rder in the first degree

against, uh, Grace Halley.
What?

All we needed was proof
that your client

was near the scene
of the m*rder last night.

( dramatic theme playing )

TRAGG:
That's the picture the girl
tried to sell you, Perry.

Maybe I should've bought it.

Well, as a good citizen,

you'd have turned
it over to me anyway,

wouldn't you, Perry?

( dramatic theme playing )

Well,
that'll be the procedure.

Remember, now, this is only
a preliminary hearing.

Is there anything
you want to ask me

or tell me before I leave?

You mentioned a g*n.

Have they found it yet?

No.

No, it was a, uh...

small caliber g*n,
. a*t*matic, probably,

held quite close to the body.

Among other things, the w*apon
and the way it was used

would indicate that Albright
was sh*t by a woman.

Mr. Mason--

And then there's
the matter of two witnesses.

One, a photographer who took
a picture of Albright

and a woman inside
the Trinidad Bar.

Two, a night watchman
who saw a woman

in Albright's car
at about : ,

then found Albright dead
in that same car at midnight.

Mr. Mason.

Now, you told me you never
left your apartment, so,

of course, that woman couldn't
be you, could it, Miss Halley?

I lied to you.
I know.

I did go to the Trinidad Bar
to see Mr. Albright.

I went to explain to him that
I didn't feel anything for him.

That I wouldn't, that I couldn't
go away with him.

You met Albright
inside the bar?

Yes,
but he wouldn't talk to me.

He just--
He acted nervous and excited.

He rushed me out,
said he'd talk to me later.

But before
he rushed you out,

your picture must
have been taken.

There was a photographer
in the lounge.

What about the night watchman
who saw you in Albright's car?

I saw his car out in the back,
near the alley.

I still wanted
to explain to him,

to talk to him,
to get it over with.

I thought I'd wait in the car
until he came out of the bar.

How long were you there?

About half an hour.

Then I left.

I never saw him again,
but I didn't k*ll him.

Please, believe me, Mr. Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

I believe you, Grace.

Now,
let's have the whole story.

Now, we heard the bartender
testify that it was you who,

shall we say,
"approached" Mr. Albright,

rather than vice versa.

Well, really, if anybody
cares who speaks first.

I mean, some men can waste such
an awful lot of time

getting around to saying
anything, that's all.

And me, I was thirsty.

Yes, of course,

but you testified that he only
bought you one drink?

Oh, I never accept more
from a stranger.

Anyway, when I came out
of the ladies' lounge,

just a little while later,
Mr. Albright was gone.

Just disappeared.

BURGER:
Uh-huh?
And what did you do then?

Well, since the bartender
seemed to have

some sort of attitude about me,

I got a taxi and took my
business elsewhere, naturally.

Honestly, the way some
people act in L.A.

Yes, naturally, Miss Lebaron,

now I want you to think hard
for just a moment:

during the or minutes

that you sat with Mr. Albright
at the bar,

did he mention anything
about his personal life?

Well, he did say that he had
an unhappy home life and that--

I am sorry, dear.

He said that he had
a wonderful outside interest

and that she was about my age,

but I can't remember
anything more specific

and he certainly
didn't mention any names.

BURGER:
Mm-hm? Thank you, Miss Lebaron.
That'll be all.

From the increasing number
of late business meetings

and the phone calls
at all hours,

it was quite apparent
my husband had developed

an outside interest.

BURGER:
And from his statements
and actions

did you have any doubt
as to who this interest was?

Well, he admitted
he loved Grace Halley.

I mean, if that letter
wasn't admitting enough:

"My dearest Grace, how can I
tell you my true feelings--"

Mr. Burger.

Uh, please, Mrs. Albright,
not that letter.

That has just been
ruled inadmissible.

Would you tell us now,
please,

what happened the night
of the m*rder?

Yes. About : that night a
Mr. Buddy Frye came to the house

looking for my husband.

BURGER:
And what reason did he give
for wanting to see your husband?

He claimed my husband
was trying to talk Miss Halley

into leaving
for Mexico with him.

Objection.

This testimony is hearsay.

The witness had no
first hand knowledge

of any such proposed trip.

Sustained.

Very well.

Let's return to Mr. Frye.
Did you know who he was?

I believe
he's the photographer

for the Miss Debutante
advertising layouts.

I think that will be all,
Mrs. Albright. Thank you.

Your witness.

Mrs. Albright,
did you, uh,

believe this trip to Mexico
story?

( chuckles )

Your Honor, Defense Counsel
is cross-examining

on a subject which he has
already objected to

and which has been withdrawn.

He can't have it both ways.

The District Attorney
is quite right, Mr. Mason.

I'll re-phrase my question.

Now, Mrs. Albright, you've
indicated by your testimony

that your marriage
was in some trouble.

Is that correct?

It could hardly be anything else
with Miss Halley in the picture.

MASON:
Did you ever discuss divorce
with your husband?

I may have considered it, yes.

Naming Miss Halley
as correspondent?

That would have been
justifiable grounds.

Was your husband's life insured?

He had a very small policy,
it was all he could afford.

Yet you imply
he was able to afford

a relationship with Miss Halley?

A lack of money never stops
a man from that.

MASON:
Mrs. Albright, isn't it true
that your husband was

in financial trouble
to the extent

that he was forced
to borrow money

to pay your gambling debts?

And that failure to pay
those debts might have resulted

in your being charged
with issuing bad checks?

Yes.

Now, Mrs. Albright,
when that young man,

Mr. Frye, discovered
your husband was not at home,

did he leave immediately?

He left the house right away,

but he waited out in his car
in front of the house until,

oh, about midnight,
I guess, maybe later.

MASON:
Do I understand from
what you've just said

that you were at home
all evening?

IDA:
Yes.

And you saw Mr. Frye's car

parked in front of your house
from about : until midnight,

the approximate time
of your husband's death.

That's right.

Can you swear
that he was in the car

during that entire period?

No, I-- I merely
assumed he was there.

Does your house
have a back door?

( exhales heavily )

Why, yes.

So Mr. Frye, allegedly
watching your house

from the front
and not the back,

could also only assume
that you were at home

from : until midnight.

Your Honor, I'll object to that.

I'll withdraw the question.

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

You reside at the
Tahitian Gardens Apartments,

Mrs. Diamond, the same address
as that of the defendant?

Of course it's the same address.

I've lived at the Tahitian for,

oh, gee, I don't know,
let me see, now.

Mrs. Diamond, please,
just answer the question.

Well, what question?

Oh, you mean the defendant.

Yeah, she lives in the apartment
above me. Is that what you mean?

Yes, that's what I mean.
Thank you.

I call your attention now
to August th,

that's the morning
after the m*rder,

and I ask if you saw Miss Halley
at any time during that day?

Well, I'm sure I wouldn't call
the middle of the night day.

Well, that was my fault,

I mean, the early hours
of August th,

did you see Miss Halley

then, shortly after midnight
the night of the m*rder?

Yes, she was coming out
of her apartment

with an armload
of men's clothing.

I couldn't imagine what she
was doing with men's clothing.

After all,
she is Miss Debutante.

Mrs. Diamond, I show you now
a picture of the deceased,

Herman Albright. I ask if you
ever saw him in person.

Sure, lots of times.

Would you be more specific
for the court, please?

When and where did
you see Mr. Albright?

Well, he was always either
coming in or leaving

Miss Halley's apartment.

BURGER:
Really? Thank you, Mrs. Diamond.
That will be all.

Albright was in charge
of the Miss Debutante campaign

for the agency.

He used his position
to pester Grace.

She didn't want to have
anything to do with him.

You observed the two
of them together then?

Yes, lots of times.

And I was there
when he'd phone her.

She did everything she could
to discourage him.

Tell me this, Mr. Frye,

did you consider yourself
a rival of Mr. Albright's

for Miss Halley's affections?

I'm in love with her.

Really.

I call your attention now
to the testimony

of Mrs. Albright
concerning your visit

to the Albright home
on the night of the m*rder.

I went out there to have
a showdown with him,

but he never came home.

I have no further questions
of this witness.

Mr. Frye, what is your
relationship to Miss Halley?

Grace Halley is my wife.

We-- We kept it a secret.
( crowd murmuring )

MASON:
Your marriage would
have been grounds

for cancellation
of her contract?

Yes. We were both young,
unknown,

trying to get ahead
in a tough business.

Maybe lying about being
married was wrong,

but that contract
was important to us.

Kind of opened
a door to success.

So to protect it, you maintained
a separate residence?

I had a little apartment
a few blocks away.

Did you keep any of your clothes
in your wife's apartment?

Yes.

Like I said, nobody knew
about us being married

and she didn't want
to implicate me in anything,

so she got rid of my clothes.

And that's what her
nosey neighbor

saw her carrying away.

Very well.

Now, Mr. Frye, would you
please tell the court

how the decedent was bringing
pressure to bare on your wife

and trying to, uh, get her
to go to Mexico with him?

Specifically the telephone
call he made to her.

Objection, Your Honor.

The court has specifically
ruled out all testimony

baring on that trip to Mexico.

As a matter of fact,
it was ruled out

at the specific request
of Mr. Mason himself.

On the surface,
that may be right, Mr. Burger.

Why are you introducing
this subject now, Mr. Mason?

May it please the court,

we're now concerned with a very
different piece of evidence.

The ruling on hearsay
was quite properly applied

to Mrs. Albright's
attempt to testify

as to what she'd been told
by a third party,

this party having
heard the statement

from the defendant.

But we are now concerned

with the defendant's
direct statements

to the witness
on the stand.

Wait just a minute.

Your Honor, the witness
on the stand has just testified

that he's married
to the defendant.

Precisely.
And so, of course,

he can't be forced
to testify against his wife.

However, Your Honor,
I am prepared to waive

any objection on her behalf,
therefore I can--

Now, just another minute,
Your Honor.

It seems to me quite obvious
that there's more behind

Mr. Mason's maneuver
than meets the eye.

Counsel has presented the court
with an interesting situation.

What would have been
hearsay evidence

under other circumstances

is now pertinent evidence,
as declarations by defendant

showing her state of mind.

Under the authorities,
such testimony is admissible.

Yes, Your Honor.

If it please the court,
I should like to request

a recess until tomorrow so that
I can study this whole matter.

Perhaps that's not a bad idea.

Court is adjourned
and will reconvene

tomorrow morning at .

Perry,
do you or don't you

want testimony
on the proposed Mexican trip?

I certainly do.

Then why object to Hamilton
introducing it?

Burger would have used it only
as further evidence

that there had been
an affair.

And there he would have
left it.

And that's all I could
have cross-examined on.

There would have been no mention
of the telephone call

that Albright
made to Grace.

But you got it admitted anyway?
Mm-hm.

By that time I had
established that Albright

couldn't afford such a trip.

So Burger has to put
Caffrey on the stand

to testify that Albright
borrowed that $ .

And Caffrey on the stand
is what I'm really after.

But, uh,
how is Caffrey involved?

PAUL:
Well, for what it's worth,

Enix was Caffrey's
junior partner,

he ran
the San Francisco office,

and he was young enough
and green enough

to be the patsy when the
Internal Revenue Department

spotted some, uh, discrepancies
in the company books.

Was Enix the only one involved
in the tax trouble?

No, that's the funny
part of it.

The government charged
both Caffrey and Enix

with falsifying
the tax returns.

Enix went to prison
for two years,

and the charges against
Caffrey were dropped.

The rumor is he probably
made a deal to give his partner

a larger share
of the agency.

If that's the deal, by the time
Enix gets out of prison,

his half of the agency
may be withered away.

Caffrey may be dissolving
their partnership right now.

You know, Albright could
have known about the deal

and blackmailed Caffrey
for that .

I wonder if Caffrey and Enix
have partnership insurance.

Mm-hm.

If either one dies,
it gives the other the option

and money to buy out
the dead partner's share.

Paul, I have a very
delicate job for you to do.

Okay.

I would like you to repair
a television set.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Emergencies, emergencies.
Always a crisis.

Yeah, pop,
ain't it the truth,

but then you know how folks
are about their TV sets.

Look, why don't you go down
and watch your own,

I'll lock the apartment
when I finish,

that is, if the tenant
isn't home by then.

Tenant might not be home.

Hasn't been, you know,
for several days back.

Oh.

But I showed you
the repair order.

Maybe that guy comes in and out
to get things now and then.

Maybe he called
for repairs.

What guy is that?

Search me.

Bald-headed man.

Oh, but he's got his own key,
so I guess it's all right.

Anyway, you'll find the light
switch on the wall there.

Thanks a lot.

Tailored by S. Magaloff.

So far as the Mexican trip
is concerned, then,

the only real pressure
you are aware of

was your wife's
possible fear

that her contract
as Miss Debutante

would be cancelled?

That's right.

No further questions.

The prosecution
has some questions

on redirect,
Your Honor.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

Mr. Frye, you stated yesterday
that the men's clothing

the defendant was seen
taking out of her apartment

on the night of the m*rder

belonged to you,
is that correct?

They weren't Albright's,
I can tell you that.

BURGER:
How can you be so positive,
Mr. Frye?

Because he was never
in her apartment.

Never?

We have Mrs. Diamond's
testimony to the contrary.

Well, maybe she made a mistake.

I was there every night.

Every night, Mr. Frye?
From the th to the th

of the month preceding
the m*rder, every night then?

Well-- Well, I don't
remember every date.

According to these records,

you were sh**ting a photographic
layout in Palm Springs

during that period.

So you can't be sure,
can you,

if the decedent
was seeing your wife,

or when he was visiting her,

or how often
he visited her.

I thought not.

The witness is all yours,
Mr. Mason.

I have no questions.

JUDGE:
You may step down.

Call your next witness,
Mr. Burger.

BURGER:
I call Walter Caffrey
to the stand, please.

Mr. Caffrey, the deceased,
Herman Albright,

had been employed for a number
of years by your agency,

is that right?
Yes.

Was his position
a responsible one?

He was a key man.

And his salary was commensurate
with his services?

It was
a very good salary.

The defense has gone
to considerable lengths

to suggest that the deceased
could not have financed

this flight to Mexico we've
been hearing so much about.

Knowing his income,
do you believe that?

Objection,
Your Honor.

I'll rephrase the question,
Your Honor.

Mr. Caffrey, of your own
personal knowledge,

did the deceased have
any money in his possession

with which he could have
financed such a trip?

Well, it was available,
yes, sir.

I had already drawn up
a cashier's check for him

in the amount of $ ,
a personal loan.

He was to pick it up
in the morning at the office.

Thank you, Mr. Caffrey.
No more questions. Your witness.

Uh, Mr. Caffrey, do you
have any valid reason

to believe that Herman Albright
planned to use that money

to leave the country?

Certainly not,
or I wouldn't have agreed

to lend him the money.

Then he gave you
a different reason

as to why he needed the money?

He said it was to pay off some
debts incurred by his wife.

MASON:
Gambling debts?

CAFFREY:
Yes.

And he was to give you
nothing in return,

such as a note or collateral
to secure the loan?

His word was the only
security I needed.

You weren't influenced
by pressure of any kind?

If you mean blackmail,
Mr. Mason, absolutely not.

Then could the money
you promised him have been

in return for a service
rendered by Mr. Albright?

CAFFREY:
I don't know what you mean.

Don't you, Mr. Caffrey?

Isn't it true that Albright
was performing a service for you

at the time he was m*rder*d?

No.

Remember, Mr. Caffrey,
you're still under oath.

No, he was not performing
a service for me.

Mr. Caffrey,
earlier this coat and vest

were identified as having
been worn by the decedent

at the time of his death.
Do you remember that?

Yes, I think so.

Now, Mr. Caffrey, does this
coat and vest belong to you?

No. No, of course not.

I ask you to read to the court

the name of the tailor
on the label.

"S. Magaloff."

Now the coat, please.

"S. Magaloff."

Thank you, Mr. Caffrey.

Now I must first warn you
that there are stringent laws

on the subject of perjury.

I'll ask you once more:

Is this coat and vest yours?

No.

( speaks inaudibly )

( crowd murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

Order, please. Order.

MASON:
That gentleman, Mr. Caffrey,
is Sascha Magaloff,

S. Magaloff.

Now, before I put
him on the stand,

I'll ask you once more:

Is this your coat and vest?

Yes.

MASON:
Would you please explain

why the decedent
was wearing your clothes

at the time of his m*rder?

He was going to meet somebody
who had never seen me

and didn't know what
I looked like.

And how was this person
who had never seen you

to actually know it was you?

The tattersall vest.

MASON:
And with the vest as a means
of identification,

this person met not you
but Herman Albright?

CAFFREY:
Yes.

And in this meeting,
was there some element of risk?

Of danger?
No, no, I wouldn't say that.

Mr. Caffrey, isn't it true
that what happened that night

to Herman Albright was actually
intended to happen to you?

I don't have to answer these--

Mr. Caffrey, I call your
attention to another person

in this courtroom.
His name is Fenton,

he was formerly employed
by a private detective agency,

but since the day of the m*rder,

Mr. Fenton has been sticking
quite close to you.

What is he,
your private bodyguard?

Mr. Caffrey, isn't it true
that since Albright's death,

you have been quite terrified

because the wrong man
was m*rder*d?

Yes. Yes. It's true.

And if you were the intended
victim, Mr. Caffrey,

then who could
have k*lled Albright?

Who but the person
who picked him up in the bar

because of the way he acted
and the things he said

while he was pretending
to be you?

No!

( sobbing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Enix knew he was being
double-crossed

by his partner Caffrey,

but there was nothing he could
do about it in prison.

So he told all his troubles
to Joy Lebaron.

Then the two of them
planned the m*rder

when she visited
Enix in prison.

No, I don't think so.

Enix's idea was to try
and scare Caffrey

so he wouldn't pull anything.

He told his girlfriend
just enough

so she could come down here

and thr*aten Caffrey
to the eyebrows.

I guess little Joy had some
ideas of her own, though.

With Caffrey dead, Enix would
have ended up with everything.

PAUL:
She claims that
the actual m*rder

was Albright's fault.

The funny answers he gave her,

the strange way he acted when
he was pretending to be Caffrey.

Anyway, she threatened
him with a g*n,

and when he tried to grab
it away from her,

she panicked
and that was it.

The strangest thing of all
is that since Joy and Caffrey

were complete strangers,
the police might never

have connected
the two of them if--

If she hadn't k*lled
the wrong man.

Now, that raises an interesting
question, Mr. Mason.

How did you uncover that?

By working backwards.

Albright had been
m*rder*d by a woman.

The police took certain evidence
and found a suspect.

I had a suspect and dug up

certain missing evidence
against Joy.

But suppose Ida Albright
had done it?

No.

Albright may have seen himself

in all sorts
of romantic situations,

but to Ida he was just a poor
goose about to lay a golden egg.

A $ golden egg.

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )