05x18 - The Case of the Tarnished Trademark

[bunniefuu]

## [theme]

[Man]
And so that is just like I told you.

[laughter]

All right, all right!
Now listen some more!

Already it is years since I came here
from Copenhagen to start my shop.

I do not marry.

I put my heart in my hands
and shape the wood.

People like, and I make the shop
bigger and bigger,

and I put
more and more men to work.

Good men, all of you. The best.

Old friends, I know
what is in your heads.

You want to know why I stop you
from work to talk to you like this.

I think everybody that knows Axel Norstaad
knows my dream

that someday, here in our
little Danish part of the Valley,

we have our own Children's Hospital.

And now, at last,

I find a way to make this dream
to be fulfilled.

Edie, you will help me?
You will tell them for me, yes?

Of course, Axel.

This is my new and good friend
Miss Morrow, from Beverly Hills.

When I tell Edie what I want to do,
she helps me.

What's happened is this:

Axel is selling his shop here

and with it
his highly honored trademark.

The proceeds will go
into a Hospital Fund,

and I'm happy to tell you

that the local church committee
and others have pledged

that they will match that amount
dollar for dollar.

[Men grumbling]

Boys, boys, what does this mean?

You are afraid you lose your jobs?

You think Axel Norstaad
would let this happen? Of course not.

Now I will show you your new employer.

Mr. Martin Somers of Long Beach,

where he has big, big furniture factory.

Mr. Somers, I introduce you around.

Tell your boss I just dropped in to--

Mr. Hadley.

We didn't expect to see you here.

I'm sure you didn't.

Losing bidders are supposed
to go home and shut up.

Hello, Hadley.

Hello, Norstaad.

I gather it's all signed and delivered.

Sorry I gave you such a legitimate offer.

I don't know what you mean.

It's nothing, Axel.

Everybody wanted your trademark.

Mr. Hadley just needs
a consolation drink, that's all.

It isn't me that needs the drink.

Miss Morrow, you may be
a very fine little promoter,

but your knowledge
of the furniture business--

You just say those things to me, Hadley.

And maybe you better
say them outside.

Take it easy, Axel.

I'm the one he's throwing
the sour grapes at.

You bet your life I am.

The slide trombone
of the furniture business.

Well, Norstaad,
according to your bidding rules,

the highest bidder
is supposed to put down $ ,

before the contract is signed.

Have you seen one penny
of Somers' money yet?

I've got the check right here.

- That satisfy you?
- No.

I think Mr. Hadley
is being quite hysterical.

Axel, a deal is a deal,

and I see no justification for the slightest
delay in signing the contract.

Good. Let's do it right now.

Lisa, give to me the contracts.

There's no fool like an old fool.

When first I see sketch like this
one month ago,

I say yes. This is what Children's
Hospital should look like.

And then I say, "Mr. Reed, it is like you
look into my mind and into my heart

and put on paper what you see there."

Now it is all done with blue paper
and arithmetic.

Edie, you like it?

Yes, I like it very much indeed.

You don't know how happy I am
to hear that, Miss Morrow.

Why shouldn't you hear it?

Isn't Edie friend of yours?

I tell you a secret, Latham.

When you bring me sketch and idea,
this is very good.

But next thing you do for me is even better.

When I say
"Where we will get the money?"

you say "I know beautiful lady
who knows all about how to raise money."

Axel, please, you're getting carried away

Well, what I meant was,

well, you know
how important this is to me.

I think I told you, Mr. Norstaad,

that I've been in South America
for a good many years,

and I've been out of the construction game.

This is my chance to get going again.

And if you both like the plan,

then maybe the Hospital Committee
and the others--

Of course they like it.
Of course you get job.

Just you watch how Edie
pushes this through.

Nowhere in the world
is another woman like--

Please, Axel.

Oh. Of course.

It gets late, and we should
take ourselves home.

Oh, Miss Morrow, you might like
to point out to the Committee

that the design for the hospital
conforms perfectly

to the topography of the land.

Oh, land.

Yeah, Edie, you pay over
deposit money already?

No, not yet.

But Maigret, he says--

Don't worry. I just thought it was better

if Mr. Somers replaced
his $ , personal check

with a certified one, that's all.

He said he'd have it for me tomorrow,

and I'll see it goes directly into escrow.

Good. Fine, fine.

Good night, Edie.

Good night, Axel.

Good night, Miss Morrow.
Much obliged for everything.

I mean it, darling.
You've handled everything just perfectly.

Good night, Mr. Reed.

[pounding on door]

All right, all right.

Coming! Coming, coming!

For first time in years,
I let myself sleep as much as I want--

- I know--
- ...and you have to come wake me up.

I know, Axel, but something is wrong.

Lisa, you forget Mr. Somers is boss now.

Call him in Long Beach--

No, no. No, Axel.
He's the one who's making it wrong.

This morning I got a notice
from him at the lumber yard.

He's canceling the regular
monthly order for the shop.

Oh.

Oh, that's too bad.

Axel, you didn't buy all these years
from Carl just because he's my brother.

You bought because he handles
the highest grade of S and F hardwood.

Sure, sure, but if Mr. Somers wants to buy
somewhere else, can I stop him?

You want me to tell you
why he cancelled out?

I'll tell you why. Because he wants to buy
cheap commercial grades of lumber.

Nothing but spruce and hemlock.

Carl, if Somers did like you say,

he will cheapen trademark.
He would make it nothing.

Why would he want to k*ll goose
that lays the golden eggs?

That's crazy.

But Carl loses his biggest account.

What can we do?

[phone rings]

I will talk to you later.

And do not worry so much.

- There will be bigger things for all of us.
- [ring]

[ring]

Hello.

Long distance? Chicago?

See here, Mr. Norstaad.

I've been your leading representative
in the Midwest for the past ten years now.

You can't do this to me.

Do? I do something?

You, Somers,
who's ever running things--

He's got a salesman in Chicago
trying to saturate the market.

Why, he's taking orders at prices so low

the furniture bearing your trademark
could be sold retail

for less than I paid you.

Oh, no.

No, that's impossible.

Is it?

Well, I've seen signed duplicates
of the orders with my own eyes.

I call you back.

Parker.

I told you I wanted you to bring me
some pieces to show to salesmen.

These pieces ready to show to anybody.

- I've told you I want production--
- But he's not in today.

If you'll call for an appointment--

So now I need an appointment, huh?

What's the matter?
You are hiding from somebody?

No, no, of course not.

Come on into my office
where we can talk, Norstaad.

Aha.

Ramsey from Chicago, he calls me.

He tells me that you sell furniture
under my trademark

cheaper than I can make it.

I want to know how can you do that?

That's my business, I'm afraid.

No, mine.

For years I work to build up trademark.

Just because we sign contract

does not mean
that I do not care what goes on.

The only thing that concerns you,
Norstaad,

is that I have a further payment
of $ ,

to meet in four months,

and after that a continuing royalty

of % on any furniture
I sell under your trademark.

I will not let you cheat people
under my name.

That is my design on top,
but not underneath.

This is not my chair.

This is not a piece of furniture.

This is toothpicks.

This is trash.

Parker! Parker!

All right.

If you want to play rough,
I'll show you I can play a lot rougher.

Now go on.

Get out of here.

Get out of here before I bash in
your thick skull!

All right. I go.

But don't think that you bluff me
for one minute.

Miss Morrow called
about the certified check.

Never mind that.
Get me Reed on the phone right away.

- Who?
- Latham Reed! And hurry it up.

Would you please tell Miss Morrow
that Axel Norstaad is here?

Sorry, but she isn't in.

Would you care to leave a message?

No, I've got to talk to her.
I've got to see her right away.

Well, she just this moment left.

When she will be back?

Soon, I imagine.

Good. I will wait.

So I wait and wait and wait and wait,

and still she doesn't come
or call or anything.

What makes you so sure she didn't know
you were there and why?

What kind of talk is that?

- Please, Carl.
- Please what?

Why do you need a woman
to do things for you?

To ask about things?

This is none of your business.

Well, you sure don't need help

from the lady who fixed up your contract
with Somers in the first place.

You be quiet!

Oh, stop it, Axel.

Both of you. Stop it.

So, what about you, Lisa?

You think I'm becoming a mouse, too?

Huh?

All right! I show you!

I show everybody!

[ring]

I'll get it, Della.

Mason speaking.

No, no, you just caught me.
We've been working late.

Mr. Mason, you'll be in your office
first thing in morning, yes?

Well, I'll be here, but I have a calendar
full of appointments.

Cancel them. I be there at sharp.

And then you fix Somers for me.

Do what?

Somers. Martin Somers.

I tell you all about it tomorrow,
but now I got many people to call.

You be there. Goodbye.

Hello, Axel.

Shall I call him back?

No. I guess not.

He'll be here first thing in the morning.

Axel, you think I don't know
how it is with you?

Lisa, please. No more talk.

But all day long,
you haven't eaten enough for a sparrow.

And now it's late.

Oh.

[laughing] Oh, that.

We'll go to your place.
I'll make you some supper.

Then you have a good night's sleep.

Look.

What is it?

I don't understand.

What does that mean?

I'm going to find out.

Maigret!

Maigret!

Maigret! Maigret!

What's going on out here?

Why you knock my sign down?

Why you put up "Sold"?

Because it is sold to another party.

A shoe company, Axel.

They wanted a bigger area, but--

No. You cannot.

Now you listen to me.

I warned you I couldn't wait.

I'd be a fool to,
particularly after that check bounced.

Like I told the church committee--

Wait, wait. Bounced?

What check bounced?

That personal check
for , from Somers.

I wanted to tell you about it
the day I talked to you,

but she didn't want me to.

She?

Your friend from Beverly Hills.

Axel, I know Miss Morrow's
done quite a good promotion job.

At least she sure did sweep everybody
around here off their feet.

If you got something inside, say it.

Don't make up the words.

I tried to get hold of her all day.

Best I could do was a lot of messages
she was tied up someplace.

Tied up, my foot.

My wife saw her car parked
at a bar down the highway

not more than two hours ago.

- Where?
- Outside a motel.

The Windmill Inn.

## [loud jazz]

Lars!

Lars! Come here quick!

Hurry, Lars!

What is it, Mr. Svenson?

Somebody complained
the radio in Number

had been on loud all night.

I went in to check, and-- Hurry, Lars!

## [continues]

There.

[music stops]

Who is it?

Name is Somers.

Well, go on, call an ambulance.
I already phoned the doctor.

What for?

If your head was bashed in like that,
you'd be dead, too.

[Man on radio]
Mr. Somers had driven up from Long Beach

and registered at the Windmill Motel

in the Danish section of the Valley
around : last evening.

Police are believed
to be following several leads

in the peaceful,
placid little suburb of Los Angeles

[radio shuts off]

Just a rehash of that a.m.
broadcast you heard.

Looks like Axel is one of the leads
the police are following.

That's why I thought
we'd better get out here, Della.

Why don't you go over
and order us some aebliskive?

Beg pardon?

Danish pastry.

I shouldn't be upstairs too long,

then we may have a better idea of just
how much time we'll be spending here.

[knocking]

Hello. I'm Perry Mason.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

It's so good you're here.

Come in, come in.

[Axel]
Lisa, who comes?

Hello, Axel.

Oh, hello, Mr. Mason.

When I call you last night--

uh, meet Lieutenant Anderson.

We've met.

You Mr. Norstaad's lawyer, Perry?

No, no, not for this. For something else.

This morning I forget to call you

and tell you
I do not need appointment anymore.

But it is all right.
You send me bill anyway.

And now you turn around and go back.

Goodbye.

Well, Axel,
as long as I'm already here--

No, no, no, you're such a busy man.

We don't want to keep you. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Perry.

All right, Axel.

Good luck, Andy.

What's the matter?
They stop serving?

Mm-mm. Floyd Chapman's over there.

All right, let's have a meeting
of the Bar Association.

Perry. What on earth?
Hello, Miss Street.

- Hello.
- Well, Counselor.

[both]
What are you doing here?

I'm afraid I can't answer that
satisfactorily. Can you?

Don't see why not. Coffee?

Thank you, yes.

Right now I'm waiting for Lt. Anderson.

I thought he ought to know about a call
I got yesterday afternoon

from this man Somers who was m*rder*d.

Mind letting me know about that call?

I represent Axel Norstaad.

Norstaad?

Small world.

Somers wanted me to be ready
to file an injunction this morning

restraining a man named Norstaad

from any future acts of v*olence
and/or interference.

And also to put a private detective
on the trail of one Latham Reed.

I didn't take the case, though.
Too busy.

Who's Reed?

Some building contractor that Somers said

may have made off
with a certified check for $ , .

When, do you know?

Yesterday afternoon.

Oh, there's Anderson now.

If you'll excuse me.

Certainly nice to have seen you both.

- Goodbye.
- Bye-bye.

[door closes]

[Axel]
No.

It cannot be that you have not heard
from her in all this time.

You must tell me where--

Have I interrupted you?

Please, Mr. Mason.
Why do you not leave like I tell you?

Well, it seemed obvious you didn't
want to talk in front of Lt. Anderson.

But I do not need you.

Axel, what happened
between you and Somers yesterday

that caused him instruct his attorney
to file an injunction against you?

Oh, that. That is nothing.

I broke a chair, and I had a few words
with him, that is all.

Don't you feel that you could be
in trouble over Somers?

The way you talked about him
over the phone to me--

Of course not.

That is not the trouble that worries me.

But you admit you are worried.

Don't make your lawyer's talk with me!

Axel, have you been able
to locate Edie Morrow?

Who told you about her?

Lisa Pedersen.

Lisa is a snoop!

Listen to me.

This is not how Axel talks about people.

And yelling at his friends.

That's all right, Axel.

If you'll just explain
the background of all this,

perhaps we could help you
find Miss Morrow.

If that's the thing that concerns you.

Ja.

Ja, it is.

And just one thing you must promise me,
Mr. Mason.

If you do find where Edie is,

first tell me, not them.

Mr. Mason?

Perry, this is Mr. Hadley.

Sam Hadley, the furniture man.

Oh, yes. You were one of the bidders
on the Norstaad Shop and trademark.

- What can I do for you, Mr. Hadley?
- Plenty.

I was just talking to Axel on the phone,

and he tells me that you're going
to resolve this mess that he's got into.

Are you assuming
that now Mr. Somers is dead,

Axel will sell his trademark to you?

Why not? I would have had it--

I should have had it in the beginning
if it hadn't been for a lot of skullduggery.

In my hands, Mr. Mason,

there is no limit to what can be done
with the Norstaad line.

I'd expand his old shop,
use the real estate that it's on.

I've waited and worked all my life
for an opportunity like this.

All right, Mr. Hadley.

You can keep in touch, if you like.

That's all I wanted to say.

I intend to keep in touch.

Well, it boils down to this, Perry.

Somers was such a slick manipulator

that few in the trade knew
that he was close to being bankrupt.

Apparently, he grabbed
at the Norstaad trademark

as a last, best hope of survival.

If he was so hard-pressed,

what about the $ , down payment?

Well, on the strength
of getting the Norstaad line,

Somers signed some long-term contracts
with various supply houses,

in return for which they loaned him
sizeable sums of money.

Still this wasn't enough
to boost the total up to grand in time,

but this didn't faze Martin Somers at all.

He simply stalled by writing
a personal check for grand

which he knew would bounce,

until, of course, yesterday
when he apparently had the balance.

What about the rest of the cash--

the $ , he was supposed
to pay in four months?

By then, he would have had time
to hit the national market

with cheap imitations of the Norstaad line.

And, by factoring his invoices

and using the valuable trademark
as bank collateral,

chances are he could have
swung that, too.

And then would have gone on
exploiting the trademark

for another six months or so, after which
it would have been quite worthless.

Right. But what a k*lling he would have
made in the meantime.

What did you find out about Latham Reed?

That, I'm afraid, is going to lift
your client right off his launching pad.

Reed is Edie Morrow's ex-husband.

[phone rings]

Yes, Gertie?

Put her on.

Hello, Lisa.

Axel what?

Where did he go?

I don't know.

I said to Axel,
"Go back into the apartment."

I said, "Eat something."

But then the phone rang,
and he answered,

and then he asked me to go back
into the shop and not to listen.

But he only spoke for a very short time,
and then he went out.

Who was it on the phone, Lisa?

He didn't want to tell me, but I know.

I know it was her.

Miss Morrow? How do you know?

Because she called early this morning.

Carl told me.

I made him tell.

Did your brother tell you
what she said on the earlier call?

Yes.

For Axel to call her at a number.

At, uh, at Mountain .

Sorry, but the lodge is full up.

No checkouts today.

We're looking for a woman.

She was driving an expensive convertible
with a man asleep in the back.

They told us at Conley Corners

she stopped there about a.m.
asking for a room.

We do mostly vacation business.

The woman was around --

very striking, silver haired.

Now, did she, uh, stop here?

I sent her down to Joe's Cabins,
a few hundred yards down the road.

I guess she found a vacancy there,
all right.

What makes you think so?

I've seen her car shuttling back and forth
to the junction once or twice.

Matter of fact, she went in that direction
not ten minutes ago.

Toward the stores.

Thank you.

I'll drive up to Joe's Cabins.

I'll take a look at the junction.

Yeah, I-I'm Reed.

Latham Reed.

But you might as well know now,
Mr. Mason, I-- I just can't remember.

What can't you remember?
Here, sit up.

Nothing.

From that moment yesterday afternoon
when Somers offered me a highball

and I said no, make mine lemonade.

Thought it tasted funny - for lemonade.

Used to be an alcoholic.

For three years I didn't touch a drop.

Didn't even smell a cork.

I'll k*ll that Somers.

Someone already has k*lled him.

Yeah.

Edie told me.

First good news I've had
since she brought me to.

Where did she find you?

Mmm.

You'll have to ask her that
when she comes back with more coffee.

You took a certified check yesterday,
isn't that right?

A check for $ , ?

A check that Somers asked you to deliver

and endorse over to a hospital fund?

How should I know?

When she found me,
she said that I had $ ,

in $ bills.

- Now--
- [door opens]

Now what?

I couldn't spot her, Perry.
No sign of Axel, either.

Think maybe she arranged to duck out
and meet him somewhere else?

She just went down
to get me some more coffee.

Millie's Barbecue.

Maybe that's around on the other road.

I was beginning to think you wouldn't come.

Edie, always I come when you need me.

Axel, I've so much to explain to you.

No, no. Not now.

I-- I only wanted to help you,
but I did everything wrong.

I should have told you in the beginning.

I don't want to hear.
Come, get into the car.

I have money. Come.

- What?
- And no one will catch us.

And whatever has happened,
I don't want to know.

Come.

[Mason]
Axel.

So.

Who tells you where to find us?

Never mind that.
Axel, as your attorney--

You stay out of this.

Well, they can't have her.

Somers he was no good.

Take it easy, Mr. Norstaad.

It's not the lady I'm arresting for m*rder.

It's you.

Now, Mr. Pedersen,
we've heard testimony

that on the afternoon
of Somers' m*rder,

Axel Norstaad got so angry

that he smashed a chair
and threatened Martin Somers.

Did the defendant say anything
to you about this occurrence?

No, but I could tell
he was awfully upset.

Would you tell us what he said or did?

Yes.

I was sure that Axel had seen
Mr. Somers in Long Beach,

so I wanted to hear how he'd made out.

And how were you able to tell
that he was awfully upset?

Axel loves animals. He's always feeding
stray cats and dogs at the shop.

Well, this favorite cat
was meowing to come in.

Axel picked up a coffee cup
from the desk and threw it.

Mr. Pedersen, why were you so anxious

to learn the results
of Axel's meeting with Mr. Somers?

Well, like I said,

the Cabinet Shop
had been my best account,

and now Somers was cutting me off from it.

Did this come at a particularly
inopportune time for you?

Yes, I'd fixed up my lumberyard.

Fixed it up? In what way?

New sheds, boosted my inventory
of hardwoods, and...things like that.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Now, when Mr. Somers
called you the afternoon of the m*rder

and you went to see him, Mr. Reed,
was anything said about the defendant?

S-Somers called him a wild man.

He-- He said he'd going to tame him
if it was the last thing he did.

What explanation, if any, did he give
for calling you in and telling you this?

Said he wanted my help.

What kind of help?

Through my former wife Edie--

Edith Morrow.

He had an idea that...

she could wrap him around her--
the old guy around her little finger.

- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.

Your witness.

Mr. Reed,

was Axel Norstaad aware of the fact

that you and Miss Morrow
were previously man and wife?

No.

Was it your idea or hers
to keep this from him?

Mine.

I'd been an alcoholic.

I was afraid if he found out too much
about my past, it would ruin my chances.

What chances?

Of getting the full contract on the hospital.

Would you tell us
the background of that contract?

Well, there wasn't a contract yet.

You see, I--

I met Mr. Norstaad
and drew some preliminary sketches.

Then you referred him to Miss Morrow?

I said that I knew a woman
that was talented in business, that's all.

He went to her himself.

Talented in business.

Did you tell him
that she was successful, wealthy?

Not exactly, but--

Not exactly?

Then did you tell him that her car
had only been one quarter paid for?

That the extravagant apartment
in which she entertained his committees

had only been rented
the day after they met?

That her fur coat was borrowed?

Stop that!

I object. I object.

Mr. Reed,

you've admitted that you tried
to conceal the facts of your past life.

Did Mr. Somers know those facts?

Yes, he did.

I won't ask you to incriminate yourself,
Mr. Reed,

but when you were first interviewed

by me and then by the police,

you had several thousand dollars
in your pocket.

I just can't explain that.

Do you recall cashing
a certified check the previous day?

No, I can't recall anything.

Now, Mr. Maigret, what time was it
when you told Axel Norstaad

that you had just seen Miss Edie Morrow
outside a motel called the Windmill Inn?

Axel stormed up to my house
about : , I'd say.

Maybe a few minutes later.

And when he left your house,
did he go in the direction of the motel?

Yes, sir.
He-- well, he left my place running.

Running?

Tell me this, how far is your place
from the Windmill Inn?

It's about three blocks, that's all.

Well, Axel came roaring
into my barroom at the motel.

When he got his breath back, he says
he's looking for this Edie Morrow.

Says he's going to find her
if he has to tear the place apart.

Well, I finally got it across to him

that she'd walked out some time before
with a man named Somers.

What did the defendant say then?

He demanded to know where they'd gone.

All I could tell him was
that Somers was staying at the motel.

So Axel rushed off again.

Now, we've heard the testimony
of the autopsy surgeon

to the effect that Martin Somers met
his death sometime between and : .

What time was it that the defendant
rushed out of your barroom?

Mm, : , : maybe.

Thank you. Cross-examine.

No questions.

Miss Pedersen,
you were employed by the defendant

as his confidential secretary?

No, sir. I was the entire office force--

stenographer, bookkeeper, everything.

From the time when I
was still a young woman.

Now, referring you to the morning
after the homicidal death of Mr. Somers.

On that morning, when you arrived
at the Norstaad office,

the defendant already there,

and you saw him lighting
something in the stove, is that correct?

The stove?

The old-fashioned pot-bellied stove

in which wood scraps were b*rned
to keep the office warm in the winter.

Only it wasn't winter, and it wasn't cold.

And nevertheless, you saw
Mr. Norstaad that morning

lighting a match to something
in that stove, didn't you?

Yes.

They made me tell it, Axel.

No further questions.

Now, Miss Pedersen,

since you've described yourself
as the whole office force,

perhaps you can tell us
about the bids.

Bids?

Oh, you mean for Axel's real estate?

His shop and trademark.

Yes. How many bidders were there?

I think there were about bids.

They were all in writing,
by-- by registered mail.

Now, who looked at those bids?

Prior to the granting
of the contract, that is.

Mostly just Axel.

Mostly?

Did anyone else see them?

They were always locked in my desk.

Did Axel tell you
to show them to anyone else?

Yes.

To Miss Morrow.

When my men went
to look at Norstaad's shop,

there was still smoke
coming out of the chimney.

Naturally, they checked further.

I see.

I show you now this police exhibit

and ask you if you can identify it
for us, Lieutenant.

It's a scorched bit of material
we found in the stove.

Was this material
subjected to laboratory analysis,

and if so, what were the results?

We found a bloodstain on it--
blood of the same type as that of the victim.

Were you able to discover

where this material with the victim's
bloodstain on it came from, Lieutenant?

Uh, Norstaad, the defendant,

had two pair of pants to the suit he was
wearing the night Somers was k*lled.

One pair is now missing.

And this material is identical
to that of the suit.

It's been established that Mr. Somers
was located in bungalow number .

Where were you, sir?

Here, two doors down.

What time did you check out?

I'm a salesman, see?
And I like to travel at night.

So it was about past
when I put the bags in the car.

That's when I saw him.

Saw whom?

Him.

Let the record show that the witness pointed
to the defendant, Axel Norstaad.

What was he doing when you saw him?

He was running like a scared rabbit
out of the cabin.

How can you be so sure
of your identification

of a figure you saw
running away into the night?

Well, I ought to be able
to identify Axel Norstaad.

I've been selling him a line
of paint specialties for years.

This is how it was, Mr. Mason.

First I went to see the bartender.

Then I went into the office of the motel,
and I saw the register.

And Somers is room .

I knock on the door.
There is no answer.

But the door is open,
and the radio is playing, so I go in.

"Somers", I say,

"if you try to make trouble for Edie
like you do for me--"

And then I see him on the floor.

I bend down to look.

And it was while you were
bending over him

that you got the blood on your trouser leg.

Yes.

And when I saw that...

also how it would look
if someone come in and find me there,

then I-- How do you say it?--
I lose my head and run away.

Do you believe me, Mr. Mason?

No.

But you're getting closer to the truth.

Since I am grown man,
I do not lie, big or little lie.

That was before you met Edie Morrow.

- How many times--
- Axel!

You heard everything in court.

Now, do you still think
you should hide the truth

just because it might implicate that woman?

Of course I do. She is good woman.

I do not k*ll,
so how you think I can possibly--

No, no, I--

I do not know so much.

Got it, Perry.

You find that man at the bank?

Yep. The certified check
was issued, all right,

but so far it hasn't been cashed.

Now that the weekend's over,
other checks are starting to come in.

With that , earmarked by the bank,

there's just not enough money
in Somers' accounts to cover them.

But I don't understand.

Somers never intended
that the certified check be cashed, Della.

He had it drawn up in case
anyone made inquiries at the bank.

But he intended to return it after
the weekend to cover his other checks.

He was just stalling for time.

How do you explain the $ ,
found in Latham Reed's pockets?

Planted on him by Somers, of course.

Somers just wanted the poor guy
to think he'd cashed the check,

just as he wanted everyone to think it.

Why, that stinker.

Item : The State's dug up an airlines clerk

who says that the day before the m*rder,

two tickets to Copenhagen
were reserved by the Somers office

in the name of Edie Morrow.

Burger may be holding that back,
though, at least until the jury trial.

In other words, they don't know that I know.

Paul...

you finally deserve some supper.

Good. But wait a minute.

I haven't served up
the piece-de-resistance yet,

as we hungry men say.

Well?

About those bids.

On the day the bidding officially closed,

Somers had already turned out the first pilot
models of the Norstaad line at his factory.

Now, Miss Morrow,

Why did you find it necessary

to talk to Mr. Somers at the motel
in the evening?

Well, I'd been looking
in every bar I could find,

and I was still unable
to locate Latham-- Mr. Reed.

And inasmuch
as Mr. Somers had threatened

to put a private detective on his trail,
I just had to beg for time.

Well, did you discuss Axel Norstaad
with Somers?

Yes, briefly.

You were well aware, were you not,

that Martin Somers
had instructed his attorney

to file an injunction
against the defendant the next morning?

Yes.

And you were afraid of what Mr. Norstaad
would do when he found out about this?

I wanted Mr. Somers to wait
at least until I could find Latham

until I found out
what had happened to the $ ,

so I could go to Axel
and explain everything

- and tell him how much at fault I was and--
- All right.

And what did Mr. Somers say?

Did he agree to give you more time?

He said it all depended.

Depended on what?

On whether or not the defendant
stayed away from him, let him alone?

I suppose so.

Please, don't make any suppositions.
Answer me yes or no.

- Yes!
- Thank you.

Your witness.

Miss Morrow,

did it ever occur to you
that Somers might have lied

about giving Reed
that certified check for delivery?

Yes.

But he was very positive.

So positive that he flew into a rage
and threatened you with his cane?

No, no. It was nothing like that.

He seemed to be very sure
of getting me to do what he wanted.

Does that explain the tickets to Copenhagen

reserved in your name
at a Los Angeles airlines office?

Or did you reserve those tickets yourself--

How did he find out about that?

...intending to leave town as soon as you
or Latham Reed had $ , in hand?

No, no, the tickets were Mr. Somers' idea,

and it was just an idea, that's all.

It was...a gift he planned.

What sort of gift?
What were the tickets for?

He said he wanted to get Axel
out of his hair.

He suggested I persuade him
to go away on a long trip with me.

A honeymoon.

What was your answer?

Well, how on earth
could I promise to marry a man

who's never said one word
but "furniture" to me?

Who never in any way has told me that--

that he feels as I do?

Is this court to understand, Mr. Hadley,

that you had a meeting with Mr. Somers
the day of his death?

Yes. It was at his factory,

that same evening, about : ,
before he left Long Beach.

How did this meeting come about?

Well, I had heard a rumor that he was
going to close down the cabinet shop,

so I went right over to see him.

I figured that the least he owed me
was a chance at Axel's real estate.

I also wanted to know if he was going
to fire all those fine craftsmen.

- I wanted to hire some of them.
- What did Mr. Somers say to that?

Told me to help myself, that they'd all
be looking for a job next morning.

I told him that Axel would blow his top.

I think that'll be all, sir. Thank you.

Cross-examine.

Just where at the Somers factory
did this conversation take place?

Well, it was in the parking lot
that I ran into him, actually.

You share a common parking lot
with Somers' factory?

No, no, of course not.

Then how did you know
you'd be able to reach him there?

I called him at his office.
They said he'd be leaving.

- You called from where?
- From my home.

- Really, I don't see--
- You went home and then you decided?

No, no, I'd gone home for an early bite

because I knew I had to come back
to the office that evening.

It was on my way.
Really, Your Honor, I don't see--

May it please the court,
I ask permission at this time

to recall a witness.

Yes, Axel told me to put in calls
long distance--

one for you and one for Mr. Hadley.

The call to Mr. Hadley,
what time was that?

Right after you hung up.

About ? : ?

Was the call completed?

No.

The phone rang and rang, but no answer.

All right.

So I drove up to the Valley.

It was there at the motel
that I spoke to Somers.

I lied to the police, Your Honor,

and then I didn't know how to stop the lie.

But I did not k*ll Somers. I swear it.

Mr. Burger,
in view of Mr. Hadley's admission,

I'll leave the matter of perjury
charges against him up to your office.

Is it your desire to recall Mr. Hadley
at this time, Counselor?

There is one point I believe this witness
might be able to clarify, Your Honor.

All right, proceed.

Now, Miss Pedersen,
let's explore Mr. Hadley's suggestion

that there was collusion
in the handling of the bids.

Now, you testified, did you not,

that the bids were kept locked in your desk,

that only Axel and Edith Morrow
knew what the figures were?

Yes. Yes, I think so.

Then let me ask you this.

Why had your brother Carl
expanded his lumberyard,

building new sheds and so on,

when his principal client was about to sell
out to a purchaser yet unknown?

Well, uh, Carl is sometimes a fool.

Miss Pedersen, isn't it possible

that your brother Carl knew who
the highest bidder was going to be?

Knew and expected
Mr. Somers to reward him

with lumber contracts far exceeding
anything he'd ever dreamed of?

I don't understand.

We all know what kind of a man
Somers was.

Isn't it possible that he promised
those lumber contracts

in return for private information
about the other bidders?

No. No, no, no. Carl, he would never
get mixed up in anything like that.

Isn't it even possible that your brother
Carl advanced money to Somers?

He didn't pay him one penny.

Then did you? To help your brother?

You were the person in whose desk
the bids were kept.

You, the person who knew
everything that was going on.

All right.

I told Carl that I would fix it
with Mr. Somers about the bids, yes.

Because Axel was so stupid to sell our shop
was no reason for everyone to suffer.

That big, stupid--

It was my shop!

My office!

Who do you think everyone
was looking to for running things?

Me.

Lisa Pedersen.

But I paid Mr.-- Mr. Somers nothing.

Who else did you tell about those bids?

Who else could have had
private dealings with Somers?

I don't understand. I don't remember.

Lisa, do you recall correspondence
with a certain shoe company in Chicago?

A company interested in obtaining
a large building site?

A company who had written

concerning the property
occupied by Axel's cabinet shop?

Oh, that.

I-- I threw that in the wastebasket.

Yet that company still expected
to obtain the property,

just as they'd already obtained
the land next to it,

the land once slated for Axel's Hospital?

Now think hard, Lisa.

Who else did you tell about the bids?

It must have been a man
who dealt with Somers,

since he obviously knew
what Somers had planned.

It must have been a man

who, on the night of the m*rder,
told Axel where to find Somers.

Now, it must have been--

[Lisa]
Yes.

Yes, I told him.

Somers was a crook.

And out-and-out crook.

Oh, yes, I knew it.
And what he was up to-- everything.

I paid him to tell me.

In return I was to have an option on the
property he never intended to use anyway.

Yes, I could make a k*lling on my own land,

but they had to have
the other property, too.

I'd promised I could deliver.

Oh, I made a k*lling, all right.

When I tried to get
Somers' option in writing,

he wanted more money to cover
all those checks that he was kiting,

or else he'd block my sale,
block it so I couldn't deliver.

He wanted more money, then more.

We got into a fight, and--

that's-- that's how I made my k*lling.

Axel, for heaven's sake hurry up!

The plane won't wait, Axel.

I forgot I need another shirt.

Here, I'll do that.

It's so nice of both of you
to come and see us off.

Ja, we send you a postcard
from Copenhagen.

And, Mr. Mason, you won't forget--

The hospital. Don't worry.
We'll get that land back.

And raise the money.
Mr. Hadley's already helping.

Ja. I forget my neckties.

Here. Edie, you just get him outside.
We'll bring the suitcases.

Ja, we go.

There is no fool like an old fool.

Ah. Such a pity.

Hm?

That a man like that should have to wait
all those years to get married.

Don't you agree?

You've been my legal secretary
long enough

to know that that's a leading question.

Here. You take that one.

Uh--