06x03 - The Case of the Playboy Pugilist

[bunniefuu]

Keep your chin down!
Nobody's takin' your picture!

Did you hear what I said?
Chin down!

Don't you know the difference--
up from down?

Oh, I mighta known-- a female.

Who let a female in here?

Come on, get out of there.

So this is the red-hot newcomer
I've heard so much about.

Jimmy, your boy's got a glass jaw.

My boy's nervous.

This is his first workout in L.A.
He had six straight K.O.s in San Diego.

Who did he fight, Cub Scouts?

- Hey.
- Take it easy, kid.

This is George Hale,
The Evening Star.

You read his column every day.

Why sure, yeah. Every day.

I suppose you want a statement
about the Jackson fight.

Kid's first cr*ck at a real pro.

Jackson is a has-been,
and that fight's nothing but a preliminary.

No, Jimmy, I'd rather have
a statement on the Tod Richards.

Richards? Who told you?

Oh, get to the showers, kid.

- I'll be with you in a minute.
- All right, Jimmy.

What did you hear about Richards?

Only that he wants
to buy Davey Carroll.

Why, I don't know, but--

Davey ain't for sale. Davey's my boy.

I'm gonna make him a champion
out of him someday,

you wait and see.

I oughta kick
that bum Richards outta here.

Oh, he's a pretty fast operator, Jimmy.

When Tod Richards
wants to buy something,

he just takes out his checkbook
and writes.

Not my Davey, he don't...

unless it's over my dead body.

Jimmy, let me know
when it's time for the funeral, huh?

I'll send flowers.

No, thanks.

There you are, Mr. Richards-- very dry.

That's fine, Max.

Oh, Max, I'm expecting Mr. Lombard.

The minute you see him come in,
bring over one of his specials, huh?

Yes, sir, Mr. Richards.

Hey, is that Keith Lombard,
the guy who owns this hotel?

And at least a dozen more.

That's the kind of people you're gonna
be meeting from now on, Davey,

if you stick with me.

By the way, I have a tailor that can
ease out these shoulders for you.

Hey, what do you mean?
I paid bucks for this coat.

I'm sure you did,
but why settle for just one coat?

Shall we drink to a whole closetful
of new clothes for Davey?

Um, like I told you, Mr. Richards,

I-- I've got an agreement with Jimmy.

What kind of agreement?

Well, a contract, sort of--
a paper I signed.

Well, my lawyer can take care of that.

Well, it's more than the contract.

It's-- well, it's Jimmy.

You see, he took me out of a garage
in San Diego;

he taught me everything I know.

Why of course, Davey.
His training is important.

So is loyalty.
A wonderful thing, loyalty.

You only live once, Davey.
You have to be loyal to yourself too.

That's right.
How many years does a fighter have?

When your break comes, grab it.

I can build you into a champ, Davey.

Well, Jimmy says he can too.

But Mr. Richards can really do it, Davey.

- Hello there, Richards.
- Lombard.

The doorman said
you wanted to see me.

You have a good flight from New York?

Perfect. I'll have to see you
sometime later.

I haven't had a chance
to stop by the desk yet

and I would like to freshen up.

That's the best time for a drink, isn't it?

Here you are, sir.
The special, Mr. Lombard.

Excuse me, sir, here's your mail.
The manager put your calls on top

and I'll take your hat and coat
upstairs now, sir, if you'd like.

Well, you've thought of everything,
haven't you?

And in my own house too.

I'd like to have you meet
my secretary, Miss Sands,

and a young man you'll
be hearing about, Davey Carroll.

- Pleasure to meet you.
- I didn't expect such a pleasant welcome.

Are you an associate
of Mr. Richards too?

I guess I am. I don't know yet.

You'd better watch out for him, son.

He's a shrewd dealer.

I remember once he bought
a second-rate, broken-down ball club.

Everyone thought he was crazy,

until he fired the entire team

and made a fortune on the real estate.

[Davey]
Is it your birthday, Mr. Lombard?

They sure sell big cards
these days, don't they?

I really don't have time for that drink
just now, Richards. Sorry.

Hey, did I say something?

Look, Mr. Richards,
I'm awful sorry if I said--

Now now, Davey, big men have
big things to think about, that's all.

Now where were we? Oh yes, loyalty.

The loyalty of a would-be fighter...

Davey ain't for sale, I tell you.
I won't let him go.

Won't you sit down, Mr. West?

Sit down?
I don't feel like sittin' down.

Listen, Mr. Mason,
I been in the fight racket years.

And I've known every kind
of a rat there is--

owners who would break a fighter
just to win a bet,

owners who'd have a boy
b*rned up in a cheap flea trap

just to keep him from singin' about a fix.
But this I don't get.

Why does a guy like Richards
even want in this racket?

Tod Richards
has his hands in everything.

He's owned horses, racing cars.
Why shouldn't he own a fighter?

Does it have to be my fighter?

I been a hard-luck guy all my life
and I ain't gettin' any younger.

I gotta have one champ before I cash in.

Now how about that contract?
Will it hold up?

Who wrote this?

I did.

Well, don't worry, Mr. West.

I believe we can draw up
a contract that nobody can break.

All you'll need to do is persuade
Davey Carroll to sign it.

Come on. Come on. Get the gloves off.

How are you gonna sign
with the gloves on?

Jimmy, I just thought that--

Jimmy thought that you
needed protection

now that you're coming up
in the world as a fighter, Davey.

But I want to explain this contract
before you sign it.

Well, anything that's okay with Jimmy
is okay with me. Only--

Well, it won't make
Mr. Richards sore, will it?

Richards?
What's he got to do with it?

I already signed
a contract with Richards.

- You what?
- Well, he said--

He said! What did you say?

No. That's the word, Davey.

No-- that's what you say when somebody's
trying to Kn*fe your best friend.

But not you.
I oughta knock your dumb block--

Here, here,
take it easy on our property.

There he is. There's the crook!
Sue him, Mr. Mason.

Now, Jimmy, I've got something here
that'll make you feel better.

What's that?

It's easy. I signed the fighter;
now I need to sign the trainer.

Do what?

I've got a place out in the country--
ideal for a fighter--

fresh air, sunshine-- everything
you'll need to get him in condition.

Why, you cheap--

You think I'd be a hired stooge
for some crook

that tried to steal my only boy?

Hold it, Jimmy, hold it.
He's giving you % ...

and all expenses.

Apparently,
Mr. Richards wants you as a partner.

Huh?

I don't believe it. I'm gettin' lucky.

Jimmy West is gettin' lucky.

Why didn't you tell me
we was partners?

Well, gimme a pen.
Gimme a pen, somebody.

I'll do the signing around here.

Go on, you big--

- Davey?
- How's he doing, partner?

Oh, great, Mr. Richards. Great.

Of course his head's
up in the air right now,

but you've got nothing to worry about.

By the time the Jackson fight
comes along, he'll be great.

With you on the job, I'm not worried
about anything, Jimmy.

Here, I bought the rest
of that equipment you wanted.

It's in your name, so you'd better
sign the shipping receipts.

Sure. Step inside.

You know, this whole layout
is a little too fancy.

I mean, to train a kid
that's practically getting started...

What's that for?

I used to keep rough company,
but not anymore.

You got no idea what a relief it is.

You sure you didn't bring it up here
to keep your partner honest?

Oh, Mr. Richards,
how can you say a thing like that?

Even Mr. Mason says
he never heard of a deal--

Jimmy, I'm just kidding you. Here.

I know how good a deal this is...

for both of us, Jimmy.

Okay, Joe, that's enough.

The kid's gotta hit the road again.

Hey, you wanna wreck everything?
You know who that chick is?

Well, somebody new come up,
I guess, huh?

That's Mr. Richards' wife.
You lay off, you understand?

Yeah yeah, sure. I understand.

Hi. Do I know you?

- Not yet.
- Oh, that's too bad.

I was going to ask you
to do my back,

but it wouldn't be proper
without an introduction.

I'm Davey Carroll.

Oh yes, Tod's new toy.

- Toy?
- Mm-hmm.

My husband collects toys--
fighters, baby dolls--

baby dolls who walk and talk...

and take the bottle.

I see there's a little island
out in the lake.

Nice place to have a picnic.

Picnic?

Yes, it might be at that.

Jo?

Tod, it's you.

I know you've been too busy
to come to the office,

but it's been a whole week now,
and last week only one day.

Don't you think I know that, Jo?

No, I can't see you tonight.

I have to run down to San Diego today
then see Lombard again in the morning.

He doesn't know it yet, but he's going
to spend the weekend here.

I'm giving a press party
for Davey in the afternoon,

so I want you to phone invitations.

That's right-- Saturday.

And don't expect me
back in town until--

Now... now that's not so long, is it?

Tod, at least you can
phone more often.

I miss you.

- [clicking]
- Tod?

Well, the well-dressed corpse.

What?

Wasn't Richards going
to get Davey's contract

only over your dead body?

- Aw!
- [laughing]

Oh, Jimmy, there you are.

We're all ready over at ringside,
Mr. Richards. Davey's all set.

Good.
Okay, everybody-- ringside.

Grab your cameras.
And don't forget your drinks.

Me too, impresario?

Why not? You like to have
your picture taken, don't you?

Oh, Keith.

I'm glad you could get here early.
I want you to meet my wife.

Lori, this is
the fabulous Keith Lombard.

Hi.

Your wife?

I know what you're going to say--
she's much too pretty for me.

Every man thinks that about Lori.

Aw, stop it, will you, Tod?

All right, everybody,
over at ringside for your pictures.

Who is that man?

- In the sport shirt?
- Yeah.

That's Davey's trainer.
Actually he and I are partners.

What's his name?

West. He's a real old-timer, Jimmy is.

Jimmy West.

Now let's get you a drink, shall we?

They don't really need us around here.
Come on.

I've got some good stuff in the study.

Davey?

Good Night, boss. Hee hee!

What's the matter, Jimmy?

You lose something?
Your dog, maybe?

Your false teeth?
No? Your pipe dreams?

- Smart guy.
- [laughing]

[laughing]
Jimmy, where you been?

You big ape, you're going to bed.

Hey, listen listen, Lori thinks
I'm gonna be champ someday.

You think I'm gonna be champ?

What if Mr. Richards saw you like this?
Don't you understand?

- If he had any idea--
- But he give it to me!

It's all right, Jimmy.
He give me out of his own private stock.

Did I waken you?

I had to call. It's all over, darling.

Went just the way I figured.

And I'll be with you in a few hours.

I know it's wonderful.
From now on, you and I--

[Jimmy]
Mr. Richards?

Oh, Jimmy, I'm busy.

Is this your idea of a training quarters
for a raw kid?

Parties, drinkin', reporters who
don't give a darn about Davey yet?

Darling, I'll have to call you back.

What's goin' on here
has got to stop, Mr. Richards.

I won't have a fighter. I'll have a gigolo,

with a head ten sizes too big.

Jimmy, this is no time or place
to talk about it.

Listen, if you don't care
about our fighter,

maybe you care about your own wife.

If she'd just leave Davey alone--

Lori's had hobbies before.
Now cool off and--

Hobbies? You mean you know
what's going on and you don't care?

No, Jimmy, I don't.

And from now on you can do
anything you wish with Davey.

I don't want to hear
any more about him.

You can't do this.
You can't do this to me.

You're promotin' Davey.
What about the Jackson fight?

What about the fights after that?

You were gonna
make a champion out of him.

Mr. Richards, you can't do this to me.

To the someday champion of the world.

Hey, Jimmy!

Hey, Jimmy, wake up.

Wanna go on a picnic, huh?

Oh, you sure do sleep messy, don't you?

Hey, somethin' hit you?

How could anybody
be such a big dumb sucker?

- Get outta my way.
- Now now, Jimmy, don't be sore.

Just a little picnic, huh?

Go drown yourself as far
as I'm concerned, you big ape.

I'm leaving you, do ya hear?
I never wanna see you again.

Now Jimmy, listen to me. Hey.

Hey, Jimmy?

Hey, Jimmy?

Hey?

Hey, Jimmy?

Mr. Richards?

I hitched a ride down the mountain.

I didn't know Richards was dead
till this morning, Mr. Mason.

I swear I didn't.

Apparently no one else did, either.

"The body of Tod Richards
was not discovered until : a.m.

It was found near a guest cottage
occupied by the missing trainer,

Jimmy West."

All right, Jimmy,
tell me again about you and Richards.

Well, he knocked me out, like I said.

I may have landed one or two,
but then the roof fell in.

I don't know how long
I must've laid there.

- And then Davey--
- What about Davey?

Nothin'.

I got sore thinkin' about him.

Richards ruined the kid.

A bum-- that's all Davey is now.

Like givin' him all that big publicity
before he's had even one big fight.

That certainly isn't logical.

Yeah, but all the real promoting,
like lining up fights ahead,

Richards hadn't done any of that.

He admitted it
when we got down to the cottage.

Then when I started yelling again,
he tells me to get out.

"The contract's all through," he says.

"Davey's all through. The whole thing's
just a great big joke," he says.

Peculiar sense of humor.

Della, I'm going out to the lake house
to see what's happening.

Get hold of Paul.

He'll find a place to keep Jimmy
out of sight for a while.

- What are you doing here?
- I read the newspapers.

Was Richards one of your clients,
Mr. Mason?

No he wasn't.
Who sh*t him, Sergeant?

Do you know?

Well, the man who lived in
the cottage there ran off last night

and hasn't come back.

His name's Jimmy West.
You know him?

We've met.

I thought so.

Where's Richards' fighter, Davey Carroll?
I'd like to talk to him.

Then you'll have to go down
to the village jail.

That's where he spent the night,
along with Mrs. Richards.

Go away.

We're both going away.
Come on, I just paid your bail.

What happened last night?

Aw, the party got dull, so we all
went down to that joint to dance.

I must've got in a fight. Look at this.

Richards paid almost bucks
for this suit.

Davey, what do you know
about Richards' death?

Nothing. Nothing at all.
How many times I gotta say it to people?

Paul, where's Jimmy West?

He's in my apartment.
Is this the much-touted future champ?

- Who, me?
- Champ or chump--

I'm not quite sure at this point.

Look here, Davey--

when was the last time
you saw Jimmy last night?

Jimmy?
Oh, I never saw him any place.

He must've been asleep or somethin'.

I never saw Jim--

Hey, Lori?

Who's that?

The bereaved widow.

She and Davey spend the night in jail
after a brawl at a nearby roadhouse.

That's cozy.

But, Perry, I have something
I think is more interesting.

I have a contact on The Evening Star

and he tells me George Hale
has a story about Richards--

some big business deal he pulled
just before was k*lled.

- It'll be in the afternoon edition.
- George Hale the sports writer?

Uh-huh.

"While his pugilist protégé, Davey Carroll,

was posing for bored cameramen,

Richards pulled what may be
the financial coup of the year:

purchase of the fabulous
Wilshire Lombard Hotel.

And in this writer's opinion, at least,

brother Richards
swung the deal for pennies--

just pennies."

Who told you this?

I'm a newspaperman, Mr. Mason,
not just a sports bum.

And when I saw Lombard up there
looking kind of grim, I got curious.

And when he went into the house
with Richards,

well, it looked like a better story
than the show outside.

You see, there'd been rumors
in financial circles

about those two, so I watched.

And just by watching
you got the story of the hotel sale?

Mr. Mason,
I'm not going to quote anybody.

A little while after Lombard
left the house last night, I followed.

Richards was still alive then.

And that's all I know.

If it isn't enough,
you'll have to ask Lombard.

Oh, one more question, Mr. Hale.

What is your professional opinion
of Davey Carroll?

Well, let's put it this way--

If Davey Carroll,
at his present stage of development,

was fighting my grandmother,

I'd have to put
my bankroll on the old lady.

And she's been dead for ten years.

I'm sorry, Mr. Lombard
isn't taking any more calls today.

I'm sorry. I can't connect you
to Mr. Lombard.

No no no, Mr. Lombard
isn't taking any more calls.

No. I told you, Mr. Drake--

I know what you told me,
but I talked to your garage attendant

and he remembers handling
George Hale's car last night.

Well, perhaps he was here.
I don't remember.

Can't you see I'm busy?

Mr. Lombard is seeing
no one but his lawyers.

Now excuse me, please.

[Operator]
Hello? Hello. No, I'm sorry,

I can't connect you with Mr. Lombard.

I'm sorry, I can't
connect you with Mr. Lombard.

Well, Paul says George Hale did go
to the Lombard Hotel late last night.

But now Lombard's
barricaded behind a wall of lawyers,

so Paul is trying an easier angle,
whatever that means.

What about
the background on Richards?

He was only with his wife
a couple of nights the past week,

according to Paul's office.

Oh, and Perry, there's something
you might like to know:

Richards' personal secretary
is a blonde named Jo Sands.

Unattached, lives in a plush apartment
on the Strip

and draws $ a week salary.

More?

And drives a very expensive car

and recently spent $ ,
to redecorate her apartment.

Della, you have a dark
and suspicious mind.

Where is her apartment?

It's running all right now, miss.
We put in a new fuel-pump connection.

Just so it doesn't stall again.

Oh, it won't.

[Mason]
Miss Sands?

I'm Perry Mason. I tried to telephone you,
but I couldn't get through.

I've had the phone off the hook all day.
You're the attorney, aren't you?

Yes. As Tod Richards' secretary,

you must know something
about his deal for the Lombard Hotel.

I placed a few telephone calls

from Mr. Richards to Mr. Lombard.
That's all I know.

Now if you'll please excuse me?

Why weren't you at Richards' party?

I had some work
to get out at the office.

When I tried to go home,
my car wouldn't start.

The garage man picked it up
this morning.

You know, I've told all this to the police.

Did you tell them
how you met Davey Carroll?

Look, Davey Carroll's woman crazy.

Mr. Richards thought
perhaps I could help him--

influence him
to sign the contract, that's all.

Why would Richards want a fighter?

Mr. Mason,
I was Mr. Richards' secretary, period.

He didn't tell me why he did anything.
Ask his wife.

If anybody knows
who k*lled him, she does.

I don't know why you're asking me
about Tod's affairs.

He never confided in me.

Didn't you know he was going
to buy Lombard's hotel?

Not until today, Mr. Mason--
well after Tod's death.

Who told you about it today?

Well, my lawyers
were going through his things.

They seem very happy
about that hotel.

Apparently he got it
at a ridiculously low price--

almost $ million less
than what they think it's worth.

I suppose you now inherit that bargain,

along with the rest
of your husband's estate?

Yes. Isn't that nice?

Mr. Mason, you don't think I k*lled
my husband for it, do you?

'Cause if you do, you're wrong.

I'd never have k*lled Tod
for a little thing like money.

Excuse me.

This is Mr. Drake, Mrs. Richards.
I asked him to meet me here.

He looks friendly enough.
Can I get you a drink?

Some other time, Mrs. Richards.

Of course he'll have a drink.
He's just bashful.

I'll bet.

- Well?
- Oh.

"Keith Lombard, Lombard Hotel."

What's this?

Lombard has been
receiving these regularly

ever since he checked in from New York.

The girl who works the mail desk said
each one made him madder and madder

until finally he just tossed this one
into a waste basket.

- Did she see what was inside?
- Yep-- five playing cards:

the king of diamonds, king of spades,
four, trey and deuce of clubs.

Poker hand?

I'm a Parcheesi girl, myself.

Thanks.

I was just going to ask Mr. Drake

what he knew of
Keith Lombard's background.

Well, I know the legend--
rags to riches, seven-year wonder.

- I mean before the legend.
- Well, how much before?

Far enough to find
a motive for blackmail.

Lombard started in New York,
didn't he, Mrs. Richards?

How on earth would I know?

Well, hi there.
Come on and join the party.

I noticed your car out there.

What are you still doing around here,
Sergeant?

A little matter
of the m*rder w*apon--

a small boy fishing in the lake
finally spotted it.

You have the g*n?

Yes, and it puts the clincher
on our case--

a . revolver belonging
to Jimmy West.

So if you'll oblige me
by showing me where he is

so I can serve the warrant?

I'll show him, Paul.
You're going to New York.

"A . caliber revolver, one sh*t fired.

Powder marks indicate
range under inches.

No identifiable fingerprints."

Now, Sergeant Landro,
you state that the m*rder g*n

was usually kept in a desk drawer
of a cottage occupied by Jimmy West.

But that's just
your own conclusion, isn't it?

Based on observations of both
the first and second maids.

Well, if a g*n inside a desk drawer
was so easily seen

by the first and second maids,
then anyone might have seen it.

And of course
anyone might have fired it.

I think that's all, Sergeant.

[Judge]
You may step down, Sergeant Landro.

Well, I couldn't hear
much of their row,

but I did hear Jimmy yell,
"You can't do this.

You can't do this to me."

Do you know what he meant?

Jimmy had a fixation about building
Davey Carroll into a champion.

And I think Richards had
finally seen through him, that's all.

What do you mean,
seen through him?

It's easy to set up a few phony knockouts
to make a new fighter look good--

That's a lie.
Davey never had a fixed fight in his life.

It was Richards
made a bum out of the kid.

Jimmy, sit down.

Your Honor, I apologize
for the defendant's outburst.

However, I was about
to make an objection.

The witness was
expressing an opinion.

Sustained.

Confine your questioning
to direct evidence, Mr. Burger.

I have no further questions
of this witness, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Hale, on the day
after Richards' death,

your newspaper column
had the first printed the story

of his purchase
of a hotel from Mr. Lombard.

Now you stated to me
that you had observed the two men

in the process of making this deal?

That's right. They were in the study
most of the evening

going over papers together.

I saw securities changing hands
and I heard them talking about escrows.

And if you did not then get confirmation
of the deal from Mr. Richards,

did you get one from Mr. Lombard?

No, not there at the house.

But later, on the way back to town,
I did nail him at his hotel.

Lombard admitted making the sale.

Now he didn't actually tell me
he was unhappy with the deal,

but when I kept asking him the price,

he did do a little swearing
before he threw me out.

It was a perfectly legitimate sale.

I accepted Richards' terms, that's all--

both cash
and some real-estate trading--

for private financial
reasons of my own.

Then there was no bitterness
between you?

Certainly not.

What time did you
leave the party, Mr. Lombard?

About : .

Our deal was over. I don't like big affairs.
And I don't like heavy drinking.

And did you say good night
to your host before you left?

I wanted to.

I'd seen Richards go off toward
the training area with the defendant.

They seemed to be quarrelling.

I waited a little while and after
about minutes, I walked down

and heard their voices in the cottage.

It wasn't my fight, so I left.

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

Counselor?

You heard the defendant
talking with Richards in the cottage?

It was Richards' voice I heard.

He was speaking rather quietly.

But what about the defendant?

You've just heard a demonstration
of how unquiet his voice is.

I don't remember having actually heard
the other party speak.

Thank you for correcting
your testimony.

Now, Mr. Lombard,
you're a highly successful hotel man.

Do you recall the first hotel
you operated?

The Union-- New York City.

What happened to that hotel?

It b*rned down.

Your Honor, this is an old story
and I see no reason to exhume it here.

Your Honor, neither do I.

Mr. Mason, what is your objective
in this line of questioning?

I'm trying to set a background
for what I believe happened

on the Richards estate
the night of the m*rder, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

Now Mr. Lombard,

you sold a valuable property,
apparently at a fantastic loss.

On the advice of counsel,
Your Honor,

I refuse to answer any question
concerning my personal financial affairs.

But in the past you did own
the Union Hotel,

and the Union Hotel did burn down.

Now was the hotel insured?

It's a matter of record

I was paid $ ,
by the Eastboard Insurance Company.

Thank you again, Mr. Lombard.

I knew that Mr. Richards was going
to have trouble with the defendant

because he said
that Jimmy-- Mr. West--

was getting on his nerves.

Did he say anything to you about
canceling the defendant's contract?

No, not in so many words.

Mr. Richards had a way of
getting bored with his little hobbies.

- I guess he got bored with everything.
- Thank you, Miss Sands.

Thank you very much.
Cross-examine.

Miss Sands,
as Mr. Richards' secretary,

do you recognize this envelope;
the stationary;

the style of type?

"Mr. Keith Lombard, Lombard Hotel,

Personal."

No. No, I've never seen it before.

Did you know that Keith Lombard
was invited

to the press party for Davey Carroll?

No. I mean yes.

Mr. Richards did mention it,
but I didn't know why he was invited

or anything about buying hotels,
for that matter.

I was his secretary-- just his secretary.

Well, I hadn't seen my husband
at the party for some time,

so I went looking for him.

The door to the cottage was open.

He-- the defendant--

was yelling at Tod.
"I'll k*ll you," he said.

"I'll k*ll you for this."

And then he started
hitting my husband.

Well, Tod just grabbed his arm
and kicked the door shut.

I was afraid that some
of the other guests might notice,

so I went back to the party to--
well, to sort of keep everyone busy.

You mean you ran off
and left your husband?

You didn't even try to help him
when he was being att*cked?

Well, it never occurred to me

that Tod couldn't quite easily
have k*lled him, if he'd wanted to.

After all, I had no idea then

that Mr. West had a g*n.

So later on you again looked for
your husband and couldn't find him.

And yet you were willing
to leave your home

and go to a nearby roadhouse
for an all-night party?

Not until after Davey Carroll had told me
he'd seen my husband drive away,

alone and-- and healthy.

Mrs. Richards, how long
were you married to the deceased?

Six years.

Six happy years?

Not particularly.

As a matter of fact,

just lately we'd been
considering a divorce.

What did you do before
you were married, Mrs. Richards?

Do?

Yes, around the time the Union Hotel
was destroyed by fire.

"Lori Wilson,
switchboard operator,

reported the blaze
shortly after midnight."

Your Honor, would it be asking too much

to inquire what counsel is doing?

What is that you're reading,
Mr. Mason?

A portion of the police report on the fire

that destroyed the Union Hotel
in New York City seven years ago.

I was about to ask Mrs. Richards
what her maiden name was.

Well, of course I'm Lori Wilson.
But what about it?

I only worked
for Mr. Lombard once, that's all.

And I did not know that he
was coming to the party that night.

I hadn't even seen him since
I left New York six years ago.

And I certainly don't know anything
about any business dealings

that he might have had
with my husband.

Then you admit, Mr. Carroll,
that it's quite possible

that Mr. Richards and Jimmy West
had quarreled before;

that Jimmy West was already afraid

that Richards was losing interest
in promoting you?

Well, I sort of kept my eyes
on other things.

I mean, I know Jimmy
had a temper but--

Mr. Carroll,
I show you this slip of paper.

This was found by the police
in Mr. Richards' wallet

when they examined his body
the morning after his death.

Now this is a typewritten note.
Do you think you could read it for us?

Yeah, yeah.

"I'm not going to warn you again.

You know what will happen
if you back down."

Did you ever see this note before?

No, I never.

Examine it closely.
Maybe you'll recognize the signature.

Yeah, it's Jimmy's handwriting.
It's signed "Jimmy West."

Yes it is, isn't it?

Of course we'll wait
for a handwriting expert

to prove that Mr. West
actually signed this, won't we?

I didn't write that note. I never touched
a typewriter in my life.

Now, Mr. Carroll,

we heard Mrs. Richards testify here

that you clearly told her
that you saw her husband

drive away from the house after the time
of his quarrel with the defendant.

Well, like I told you before,
Mr. Burger--

Davey, I know that you were just
trying to help your friend Jimmy West.

But you have to tell this court

whether or not what you told
Mr. Richards was true.

Well, it wasn't exactly true, but--

Now Davey, do you remember what
I told you in my office about perjury?

Do you remember what I told you
about how it would be for you

if you were an unfriendly witness
here today?

Jimmy, I didn't want
to tell them anything.

But we're in a court
of law now, aren't we?

And you did lie
to Mrs. Richards, didn't you, Davey?

Answer yes or no.

Yeah. But I didn't want anybody
going down there, that's all.

I seen what a mess the cottage was in.

The cottage was a mess, Davey?

Why, the police report
indicated it was quite tidy.

Well, I only picked things up a little.

It wasn't much of a fight they had.
And Jimmy wouldn't k*ll anybody.

Look, Mr. Burger, like I told you,

I didn't want anybody to think
Jimmy had anything to do

- with that body on the path.
- Big dumb ape.

Oh, you saw Richards' body too?

That's why I got everybody
to go down to that roadhouse.

That's why I got them out of there.

Why, Davey? Why was that?

Well, look, some people
add two and two and they get four.

And just because there's a g*n
lying around

and I happen to know it's Jimmy's...

Oh, you saw the g*n?

Now look, I didn't touch it.
There's no fingerprints.

And there were none
because I used a handkerchief.

You hear me?
I used a handkerchief.

- A handkerchief, Davey?
- When I threw it in the lake.

Ho ho, of course.

That's how it got in the lake, isn't it?

And why did you do all this, Davey?

Come on now, tell the court.
Why did you do it?

To help him.

Now listen, Judge, honest,
I wasn't trying to hurt the evidence--

To help your friend Jimmy West
to escape-- isn't that what you mean?

You wanted to give your friend
time to get away

because you knew
he'd just committed a m*rder.

No! I just thought he had.
I mean, I just thought he had.

Now Davey, why don't you tell us
your story right from the beginning?

Just start at the beginning
and tell us your whole story.

That's my signature, all right,
but I didn't sign that note.

I didn't write Richards any notes.

You must have
signed something, Jimmy.

- No, nothing except those receipts.
- Receipts?

Richards bought gym equipment
in my name.

I kept signing for all kinds
of stuff like that.

The pressure had to be put
on Lombard in some way,

but why from you, Jimmy?

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

But I know that guy Lombard.

Why didn't you tell me that before?

Because I didn't remember him
till he got talking

about that old Union Hotel.

That's where I stayed
and that Buddy Chance stayed--

you know,
the fighter I told you got bumped.

Buddy d*ed in that fire.

What? Is that important?

How can anything I say
be important after that big--

Della, get hold of Paul in New York.

I believe I know how this worked,

but I can't rely
on Jimmy's memory to prove it.

Before I start my defense,

you'll have to check again
with the telephone company.

I'll also want a book on g*ns

and a pair of gloves.

In the course of your investigation,
Sergeant Landro,

did you find that the defendant
had a police record?

No, not exactly.

I did find he'd been subpoenaed
once as a witness

in a New York boxing scandal.

He was training for Doc Morgan,

a hoodlum who owned a string of fighters.

Was the defendant personally
involved in the scandal, Sergeant?

Apparently not.

Anyway, the investigation was dropped
when the chief witness,

a fighter named Buddy Chance, d*ed.

You might have added
that he d*ed in the Union Hotel fire.

Oh, one more question--

Did you check as to whether
this Doc Morgan had a police record?

Morgan had been brought to trial
three times in years past--

no convictions.

He left the country for good
six years ago to dodge a tax rap.

What other crimes had Morgan
been accused of, Sergeant?

Armed robbery,

as*ault with a deadly w*apon,

arson...

I didn't know anything about that fire.

Mrs. Richards, I remind you
that you're under oath.

Now you were on duty
the night of the fire, were you not?

Yes, I was in the office

going over some unpaid bills.

I was helping the bookkeeper.

But I didn't see anything
that had to do with anything.

Were there many unpaid bills?

Yes, I guess so.

Isn't it true that Mr. Lombard
was very near bankruptcy at that time?

Well, I'd heard stories,

but I didn't know anything
about his affairs.

Your Honor,

this hearing
concerns the present-day m*rder

of Tod Richards, not--

I can relate this evidence
to the present crime, Your Honor,

with just one more question.

Since defense hopes to prove
that Jimmy West

has been an innocent pawn in a blackmail
scheme that succeeded--

Never mind the argument, Mr. Mason.

Ask your one question.

Mrs. Richards,

did you tell your husband
all these things you knew

about Keith Lombard?

Well, I-- I guess so...

a long time ago.

But if Tod used anything I told him
to put pressure on Mr. Lombard,

well, I don't know anything about it!

All right, all right, yes.

There were playing cards
in those envelopes I received.

It was a poker hand.

And what did the cards signify to you?

More of the old hotel slander.

Then I started getting notes
from Jimmy West--

or at least I thought
they were from him.

I knew he was there
in New York at the time,

but I didn't think he knew that--

They were threatening notes.

With what, Mr. Lombard?

Did the notes thr*aten to link you
with both arson and m*rder

which followed a poker game
one night?

There was no claim of arson
and you can't implicate me

in Chance's death.

I didn't even know he was still
in the hotel when it b*rned.

Didn't you know
that you'd hired an arsonist,

that he in turn had used the fire
for his own purpose--

to cover the m*rder
of a troublesome witness?

Is that what Richards bluffed you into
believing that Jimmy West could prove?

On advice of counsel, I refuse to answer
on the grounds it may incriminate me.

But you will admit that Richards
did force you

to sell your hotel at his price;

and after saying goodbye
to everyone else that night,

you followed him down to his cottage?

Yes yes yes!
But I didn't talk to him again.

I swear I didn't.

He was still alive
when I left the premises.

Yes, you heard him, you said,
speaking to someone else.

But you didn't hear
the other person's voice.

So isn't it possible
that what you really heard

was Tod Richards
speaking on the telephone?

Your Honor,

Mr. Mason is asking the witness
to guess what happened.

Your Honor,
we are prepared to prove

that a phone call was made
from the cottage that night.

Mr. Mason,
that's completely irrelevant.

Your Honor, the prosecution
is perfectly well aware

that several phone calls
may have been made

from that cottage that night,

and that's equally irrelevant.

Prosecution may not be aware
that the last number called--

a San Diego number--

had also been called times

during the past two months
from the Richards' house.

The number called was the residence
of a Miss Kay McKenzie.

I should have come forward,

but Tod was dead.
I couldn't bring him back.

How long had you known
the decedent, Miss McKenzie?

Three months.

We wanted to marry,

but Tod kept saying "Let's wait."

He didn't want to leave his wife
until he'd completed a business thing--

buying that hotel.

And when he completed the hotel deal,
he called you?

Yes.

He was very happy.

He said he'd see me
within just a few hours.

And then something interrupted

and he had to call me back
from the cottage, about : .

When Richards talked to you
that second time,

did you hear anything unusual?

Any sound, any other voice?

No.

We talked for some time.
Tod sounded rather breathless.

He-- he said he'd just
had a fight with somebody,

but that I shouldn't worry

and that he loved me.

And, well,
there was one strange thing--

he hung up suddenly.

He didn't even say good night.

As if someone had entered the room?

Your Honor, I object to that.

That's a leading question.

Yes it is.

Your Honor, I early read part
of the police laboratory report

on the m*rder w*apon.

"A . caliber revolver, one sh*t fired.

Powder marks indicate
range under inches."

Now as the court may be aware,

no g*n of this type
has a slight tendency to leak

around the breach-- to backfire.

Therefore anyone f*ring it

would probably receive a scattering
of minute powder particles on the hand.

These would soon disappear,
of course, or be washed off.

But if the m*rder*r happened
to be wearing a glove...

Now see here, Mr.--

One moment, Mr. Mason.
Is it your intention

to link that particular glove
with the witness on the stand?

Since the glove is monogrammed
with initials not those of the witness--

no, Your Honor.

But I will ask that the glove
be tested by the police laboratory

for traces of gunpowder.

But whose glove is that, Mr. Mason?

It belongs to the woman
who helped Tod Richards

execute every step
of his blackmail purchase

of the Lombard Hotel,

hopeful that he would divorce his wife
and marry her--

that is until she walked
into the cottage that night

and caught him at the telephone

- telling still another woman--
- Where did you get that glove?

Tod lied to me.

He said that if I helped him,

he'd marry me.

And...

then I caught him

talking to that woman...

telling her that he loved her;

telling her that he--

[crowd cheering]

Davey, keep your chin down.

Hit him, Davey-- hit him again.

When George Hale gave me his opinion
of Davey as a fighter,

I was pretty sure he had
to have ulterior reasons

for wanting Davey's contract
in such a hurry.

It was a good idea. It worked.

Correction-- it would have worked

if Jo Sands hadn't gotten a strong case
of feminine suspicion

and gone to the party
without an invitation.

Yep, Richards wasn't paying
enough attention to her.

Yet Paul said he wasn't spending
his time at home, either.

Since the motive
for Richards' m*rder

was obviously something that happened
after his deal with Lombard,

somebody either had to have been
cut out or hurt.

That's right.

The lady walked in on Richards,
made a big scene;

Richards told her to go jump
in the lake and walked out.

Unfortunately for him, she spotted
the g*n in the open drawer

and went after him.

That glove of hers-- they found
them powder burns, did they?

Search me.
We had to buy it in a store.

I figured if Richards could run a bluff,
why couldn't I?

[groaning]

[laughs]
You know something, Jimmy?

I-- I didn't keep my chin down.

He learned it! Come on, kid.

Come on, kid, get to the showers.

You know, Mr. Mason, you were wrong
about only one thing-- Davey.

You wait and see.

Now that he's tasted canvas,
I'll make a real fighter out of him.

I'm sure you will.