06x10 - The Case of the Lurid Letter

[bunniefuu]

I told him I already had a date
with Bobby Slater.

What are you going to do
if he finds out you really haven't?

I'll just have to leave the country,
that's all.

All right, girls, back to the salt mines.

- Oh, Mrs. Wardman.
- We thought you were still inside.

Well, that's where I should be,
and so should you.

The bell's due to ring in seconds.

[chattering]

[bell ringing]

Whoo. Now, that's what
I call a photo finish.

Mr. Mangan, won't you join us?

Why, sure, Janie.

[chuckling]
I-I mean, Mrs. Wardman.

I'd be glad to.

[students snickering]

All right now. How many of you
have finished David Copperfield?

None of you?

Well, why not?

Agnes?

Bobby?

Well, uh, don't you know the answer,

uh, Mrs., uh-- Mrs. Wardman?

No, I don't, but I'd like to.

Maybe you'd like to tell me after class.

Oh, well, uh,
[clears throat]

wouldn't you much rather have someone,
uh-- someone older stay?

Uh, say, uh, Pat Mangan maybe?

[laughter]

[laughter continues]

Mrs. Wardman, the principal's office.

You're wanted right away.

Thank you, Elsie.

We'll continue this when I get back.

[chuckling, chattering]

Oh, what a time to be called away.

Just when some of my most lovable students
were trying to light firecrackers under me--

Mr. Rixby wants you to go right in.

All right.
What's he want, Doris?

I really wouldn't know,
Mrs. Wardman.

Mrs. Slater.

Mrs. Wardman.

Would you prefer
that I handle this, Mr. Rixby?

Frankly, I'd prefer nobody handled it,

but as acting principal here, Jane,

I've been ordered
by the Board of Education to, uh,

well, to ask for your resignation.

My resignation?

You didn't know that the board and I,

as representative
of the high school Parents' League,

discussed your case last night?

You mean that note I sent in
about Pat Mangan?

No, no note was mentioned, Mrs. Wardman,
but a letter was.

Show her your copy, Mr. Rixby.

"Judge Edward Daily, President,
Placer Hill Board of Education.

"Isn't it about time you caught on
to what a certain young widow

"had been doing nights with the boys
in her senior English class?

"Making passes and more,

"not only with Kenneth Sterling
before he d*ed,

but now with"...

This is horrible.

You don't believe this, do you, Everett?

It apparently doesn't much matter
what I believe, Jane.

An anonymous letter
not even mentioning my name?

Oh, we investigated, Mrs. Wardman.

There's no doubt that the young widow is you.

After Kenneth Sterling's accident,
we were prepared to shrug off any gossip.

We thought we understood
your relationship with him.

But this we can't shrug off.

Of course, there's nothing to be gained
by the public washing of dirty linens,

so to speak, so we're giving you
this chance to resign quietly,

thus closing the matter.

Well, what do you say, Mrs. Wardman?

Well, what can I say?

Hi. I'm sorry I didn't get back to English...

I sure appreciate this, Mr. Mason.

Isn't very often a big-city lawyer
pays a courtesy call on a rustic confrere.

[chuckles]

Oh, hello, Jane.
This is Mr. Mason.

He's taking the Beecham cottage
for a couple weeks of trout fishing.

- This is Mrs. Wardman.
- How do you do, Mrs. Wardman?

Mr. Mason.

Just go on in, Jane.

Be with you in the shake of a lamb's tail.

Now, Judge Daily,
about those secret trout pools--

Hold on.
That "judge" is strictly a hangover

from a short term
as justice of the peace years ago.

But judge or not,
I'm a first-class fishing guide,

and I'm coming out to show you.

- All right?
- All right.

[chuckles]

Well, I guess you know why I'm here.

Yeah. Mrs. Slater called,
though why, I don't know.

As president of the Board of Education,
I've been delegated to handle this.

Judge Daily, you were Bill's friend,

executor of his estate, my lawyer,

and you'd allow me
to be convicted on the basis

of some disgusting charges
in an anonymous letter?

Jane, you remember what I said
right after Bill d*ed,

and you were debating whether
to stay here and teach or to go on?

You said as a stranger, people would be
suspicious of everything I did,

but that was over two years ago.

Doesn't matter.

This is an old-fashioned town, Jane--

ingrown, living in its mining past.

You were a woman who somehow got hold
of Bill Wardman

while he was a geologist out in the Far East,

brought him home to die,

then tried to take his place.

In the eyes of some people,
you're still a stranger, I guess.

Well, stranger or not,

did it ever occur to anybody,
even for a second, I might be innocent?

Yes, for a good deal more than a second.

But let me explain something, Jane.

The school board isn't saying you're guilty.

No one's referring any legal charges
against you,

so there's no question of dismissal.

But here is some,

well, awkward evidence.

Enough evidence to justify a board hearing.

Now, a hearing is going to mean publicity,

mudslinging, name-smearing.

The board's willing to let it rest,
provided you resign.

And if I resign, how will I ever
prove my innocence?

- You are innocent, Jane?
- Of course I am.

Well, there was some talk about you
and this boy Kenneth Sterling before he d*ed.

Judge Daily, you knew Kenneth Sterling--

a sensitive,
mixed-up rebel with no family to turn to.

I-I was merely trying to help him.

And you didn't make any, uh--
any passes at him, as the letter says?

No, I did not.

Or to Pat Mangan,
whom the letter also names?

That monster?

Now, he says you did, Jane,

and so do some of the other boys.

Who are they?

Well, the board thinks it's best
for their families,

and for the community, too,
if their names are not brought into this.

In fact, I'm the only one
that's talked to them.

And they told you that I--

Yes, Jane, they did.

[motorcycle motors revving]

Oh, Mrs. Wardman.

I was told the town taxi parked here.

It's minutes now and still no sign of it.

Sometimes it disappears for hours.

- I'm afraid I can't wait that long.
- [revving continues]

Is there anyplace I can rent a car?
Mine's laid up until morning.

Well, I'd be happy to give you a lift.

I couldn't put you to all that trouble.

The Beecham cottage is more
than halfway to the summit.

Well, it just so happens I have to go out
that way and pick up my son Terry.

Come on. Hop in.

How are you, Janie?

That's a pretty dress you're wearing, Janie.

[wolf whistle]

[Bobby laughs]

[motorcycle motors revving]

How about taking us, huh?

[laughter]

Thanks very much.

That's quite all right.

Maybe I can repay the favor
next time we meet.

I don't imagine we will, Mr. Mason.

Not in Placer Hill anyway.

Bye.

[motorcycles approaching]

You're late, Mom.
All the other guys have gone home.

I'm sorry, Terry.

I'll tell you what.
Why don't we stay here and have dinner?

I don't feel much like cooking anyway.

Hey, can I have a steak?

Well, you sure can.

The sky's the limit.

## [jazz]

How come you're not eating?
Is something wrong?

What makes you think that?

Well, you look sort of pale,
like when you had the flu.

Well, I've got just the thing
for pale, young widows.

It's a double old-fashioned,
compliments of the management.

That's very nice of you, Gus,
but no, thanks.

I don't drink.

Well, that's not exactly
what they're saying around town.

Terry, you remember Mr. Wiler,
don't you?

Sure. He was assistant football coach
at your school last year.

Your mom's school?
That's funny.

- I heard she wasn't there anymore.
- I think you'd better leave, Gus.

Just kidding, Everett.

Thanks.

Well, the dashing US Marines to the rescue.

Only, I didn't quite cut
such a dashing figure in my office today.

That's why I came in when I saw
your car outside-- to try and explain.

There's nothing to explain.
I understood.

Yeah.

Understood that the she-dragon
of the Parents' League

had me completely buffaloed.

What did you decide?

Nothing yet.

Well, when you do,
let me know first, hmm?

So I can take first s*ab at the dragon.

[sighs]
Oh, look, this is stupid.

You can't get mixed up in this thing.

The board could fire you,
ruin your whole career.

There's not much point in being a principal
without principles.

I don't want to cause any more trouble.
I've--

Everett, could we talk about this tomorrow?

Sure. So long, Terry.

Bye, Mr. Rixby.

What's this all about, Mom?

Well, Terry, it's about a letter.

An unsigned letter

received by the Board of Education
a day or so ago

accusing me of making...

what's called...

improper advances

towards some of the boys
in my senior English class.

How silly can anybody get?

Trouble is, according to Judge Daily,

some of the boys say it's true.

Mom, how could they?

I'll bet it's that dirty Pat Mangan.

- Yes, he's one of them.
- What's Judge Daily say?

That I could resign without any fuss

or insist upon a hearing.

But he feels that if I--

well, if we win,

that people will still say
that there's some truth in the charges.

Well, his advice is to...

stop thinking about fighting
and just move out of here.

Run away?

Well, after all, Terry, it's partly my fault.

I was stupid enough to think
I could help Kenneth Sterling.

You know what happened to him.

But that was an accident.
He skidded his motorcycle off a cliff.

What would Dad do if he were here?

He'd stay and fight.

Then let's stay and fight.

[engine starts]

Terry?

Yes, Mom?

Is that a motorcycle behind us?

Yeah. It looks sort of like Pat Mangan's.

Hi there, Janie baby.
[laughs]

I think I'll slow down and let him pass us.

Mom, there's some other
motorcycles behind him.

There are four, I think.

- See them?
- Yes, I see them.

They're coming closer.

Mom, look out!

[tires screeching]

Hello, little baby!

[tires screeching]

Aw, come on!

[tires screeching]

[motorcycles departing]

That's the last one, Mom.
They're gone.

Mom, look!

[tires screeching]

Come on, honey!

[tires screeching]

[tires screeching]

Look out! Look out!

[moans]

Well, Doctor?

Mild abrasions,

one or two small bruises,
and a pretty fair bump on the head.

You should be stiff and sore in the morning,
Jane, but that should be about all.

Did you see the accident, Mr. Mason?

No, but I heard the crash.

By the time I got outside,
the motorcycles were gone.

However, we've a pretty good idea
as to who they were.

Dr. Grant, you're a member
of the Board of Education, aren't you?

- [Dr. Grant] You told him, Jane?
- Yes, she told me.

And I must say, it's hard to find the words
to express my indignation

and amazement
at what's been done to Mrs. Wardman,

and that her attorney and her family doctor
could be so involved.

Mr. Mason, the board didn't just act
on the basis of an anonymous letter.

A witness was heard-- the Mangan boy.

Don't call him a boy.

He's old enough to be in the army.

The town bully and a notorious liar.

Now, now, Jane, I admit his reputation
is not too good, but there were others, too.

Who else testified?

They told their story to Judge Daily,
who quite properly withheld their names.

Why do you say "quite properly"?

There's no point of shaming the families
if we can possibly dispose of this quietly,

as the board hopes to do.

But it's all right to go on shaming
Mrs. Wardman and her son.

Is that the board's idea of justice?

Mr. Mason, we're not a court of law.

We're responsible for our young people.

If we feel they're in jeopardy,
right or wrong, we must do as we think best.

As Mrs. Wardman's family doctor,

do you honestly believe that
your young people could be in jeopardy?

Mr. Mason, the board asked me
that same question.

As a doctor, I was forced to tell them
that persons who were suddenly cut off

from the love and emotional outlets
they were accustomed to

sometimes do lose their judgment
and self-control.

- Did you tell them I'd lost control?
- Of course not, Jane.

Did you tell them
that she hadn't lost control?

I ventured no opinion.

That was very courageous of you, Doctor.

Do you suppose she's still in town?

Maybe she ran off with Pat Mangan
and Bobby Slater somewhere.

That's not nice.
I don't care what you think.

- I like Mrs. Wardman.
- So do the boys.

[chuckles]

[knock on door]

- Good morning.
- Good morning. How are you feeling?

Oh, a few minor aches and pains.
Nothing too serious.

I thought it best if I kept Terry home
from school today.

Mrs. Wardman, this is Paul Drake,

the private detective
I told you about last night.

- Mrs. Wardman.
- Mr. Drake.

He's here to help you.
That is, if you want help.

I honestly don't know what I want,
Mr. Mason.

I'm sure it's a hard decision.

Almost no one on your side except
a vacationing lawyer

whom you barely know.

But there's something odd here.

The whole town's stirred up,
and so rapidly.

Mrs. Wardman, the boy who d*ed--

- Kenneth Sterling?
- Mmm.

I guess it's standard procedure for me
to wonder about violent fatalities,

but I understand that you were
the closest thing to a family the boy had.

Could his death possibly have
anything to do with this?

No, I don't think so.

It happened in the next county,
near Cactus City, about a month ago.

Kenneth was in one of his states
of revolt against life in general

and the high school in particular that night.

- How do you know that?
- Well, I received

one of my midnight phone calls from him,

and I talked to him for awhile, and,

well, I thought I calmed him down,

but later that night,

apparently he was going so fast

that his motorcycle

skidded off the road and into a ravine.

Paul, there are two avenues of approach here.

One is to force an open hearing
before the Board of Education.

The other is to unmask the writer
of that letter.

- How can you do that?
- Well, possibly through the letter itself.

We have the photostat
Mr. Rixby showed you yesterday.

It looks as if it were written
on an Imperial super-quiet.

The stationery store will give me a list
of all the people in town who bought one.

And there's a certain amount of pressure
that can be put on Pat Mangan

because of last night's episode
and the note you sent to the board about him.

Her note to the board?
I hadn't heard about that.

I was just reporting on something
that happened at a school dance.

I had a little trouble with Pat Mangan,
so I-- I reported it to Mr. Rixby, of course.

There were some things that Pat said

that made me wonder

if someone wasn't selling liquor
to those boys.

Someone like Gus Wiler, maybe,
at the Summit Inn.

That in itself could be useful.

But before we can do a thing, Jane,

I must be empowered to represent you.

I think it might be easier
if I just packed up and left.

- Mom?
- Yes?

You said Dad would have fought,
didn't you?

Yes, Terry.

Well, aren't we Wardmans, too?

All right, Mr. Mason.

You're empowered to represent me.

This is from a standard
motorcycle-tire tread, Perry.

You think you can identify
which of the boys' bikes was here?

Well, maybe.
Couple of breaks in this one.

[Gus]
What's going on?

Who are you guys?

Mr. Wiler?

I could be. Why?

You know Pat Mangan
and his group pretty well, don't you?

They ride their motorcycles
out here sometimes, but I hardly know them.

Funny.

I just heard a rumor that you've been selling
them a bottle of liquor every now and then.

[motorcycle approaching]

[knocks]

Yeah?

- Are you Pat Mangan?
- What do you want?

We're running a check on super-quiet
typewriters. I understand you own one.

- So?
- Well, I wondered if I could see it, please.

- My company's interested--
- Get out of here, buddy! We don't want any

- Look, you don't understand.
- I saw you out there!

Whatever you're nosing around for,
do it someplace else, huh?

- Wait a minute!
- This is my porch! Get off!

[grunts]

Pat, what's going on out here?

Oh, you're asking questions
about Pat's typewriter.

- Is that it, mister?
- That's right.

Well, he traded it in about two months ago
as part payment on a new motorcycle.

You stay out of my way, buddy.

Next time I catch you,
you ain't gonna be so lucky.

In the house, Pat!

- Nice kid.
- "Kid"?

You ought to feel the arms on that moose.

You can take it.

- Paul?
- Yeah?

I think there's a way
we might force a few hands around here.

It's up to the board,
not me, Mrs. Slater.

If Mrs. Wardman is choosing
to fight this thing--

All right, all right.

Apparently we're just going to have to
take matters into our own hands.

- Good day.
- Good-bye.

- Oh, Mr. Rixby.
- Mr. Mason.

What may I do for you?

By any chance, do you have
a transcript of the notes

taken at the board meeting
night before last?

Doris Wilson has.

She acts as secretary for the board.
Doris.

Yes, I have the notes, Mr. Mason,

but, uh, well, I really don't think
I should let you see them

without authorization
from Judge Daily.

Oh, I've tried him but with no success.

And I haven't been able to persuade him

to hold an open hearing

on the charges against Jane.

Well, I can't help you there.

Possibly you can.

Come over here to the window.

That Pat Mangan out there?

[Rixby]
Yes, that's Pat.

What would you do
if he suddenly att*cked a stranger

walking across the school grounds?

Well, he's a bully and a sadist,
but I don't know about attacking a stranger.

I'm willing to gamble that he's going to.

I'm also willing to gamble
that you're going to call the police.

Well, in matters like that,
I'm really supposed to report first--

To the board?

You'd call Judge Daily?

I, uh, guess that would put him
on the spot, wouldn't it?

I guess he'd have to call in the police.

Exactly.

Well, look who's here.

This is the wise guy I was telling you about.

This time, good buddy,
you're going to get the full treatment.

From you alone,
or with the help of your friends?

I don't need no help.

[laughing]

Look out!

Aahhh!

No, Mr. Mason, there's been no call
from Judge Daily yet,

and it doesn't seem like
there's gonna be one.

Now, as far as that accident business
last night is concerned,

I'm afraid I haven't gotten much further with
those motorcycle tracks than Mr. Drake here.

Sheriff, what about the possibility
that Gus Wiler or someone else

has been selling the boys liquor?

That's pretty hard to believe about old Gus,

although the boys do kick up
their heels now and again.

But this county's always been pretty clean.

It's not like Cactus County, where young
Sterling got liquored up the night he d*ed.

Sterling was drunk that night?

Well, the autopsy report did show
some alcohol in the bloodstream.

But I'm afraid there's more than a dozen
places in Cactus City that sell to minors.

Paul, you'd better do a little checking
in Cactus City.

Hello, Judge.

Business?

Heard Mr. Mason was here.

Thought I'd have a little talk with him--
alone, maybe.

Well, I do have an errand to run.
You're welcome to use the office.

However, I would like a word with you
sometime, Judge,

if you can find the time.

Cute idea of yours, starting that little
ruckus on the school grounds,

if I figured it right.

You'd like to get this Jane Wardman
business out in the open, wouldn't you?

In court, maybe?

Yes, in lieu of a formal hearing
before the Board of Education.

I've already vetoed that.
It's too inflammatory.

As for complaining to the authorities
about the ruckus on the school grounds,

I vetoed that, too.

In my opinion,
Mr. Drake's a public benefactor.

I'm only a small-puddle lawyer.

You're gonna find it hard
to force my hand, Mr. Mason.

I've done, and I'll do, what I think is best
for both Jane and the town.

[phone ringing]

Sheriff just stepped out.

Oh, hello, Sergeant.

For me?

Who?

Going over to Jane Wardman's house?

Wait a minute.
What are you doing here?

Mrs. Wardman, we've come here
to give you an ultimatum.

If the board won't act, we will.

All of us here have children
in the high school,

and for their protection, we're giving you
this one last chance to resign.

And if I don't resign?

We have voted and decided.

We'll take our children out of school
and keep them out--

the mothers here
and every other mother in town.

And don't think we won't.

You'd do that just to get rid of me?

[Woman]
Well, we're hoping we won't have to.

Don't be a fool, Jane.

Resign and get out
before something worse happens to you.

By worse, do you mean
riding her out of town on a rail?

Or perhaps you were thinking
of tar and feathers?

I beg your pardon.

Well, aren't you taking the law
into your own hands?

Condemning her without a trial?

Judge Daily, are these the people
you've been trying so hard to protect?

You've just been a witness
to their behavior--

breaking and entering,
attempted intimidation, slander.

I warn you,

Mrs. Wardman is going to have a field day
in court with you people.

- Unless--
- All right, Mr. Mason.

You've forced my hand.

[chattering]

All right, folks.

If you'll just take your seats,
the meeting's about to begin.

I just heard from
our Cactus City correspondent.

He's had no luck at all on where
young Sterling got his liquor that night.

- Too many places there sell it.
- And the accident?

Well, if you thought it was anything more,
I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.

How?

The reason the boy spun off the road
wasn't liquor.

He had a heart failure.

This board is now in session

on business we'd hoped
would never have to be discussed.

Uh, I'm sure all of you, and Mr. Mason, too,
will see why in a moment.

We're dealing with something...

Well, something that people
mostly discuss behind closed doors.

[Man]
The doors are closed, Judge. Get on with it.

Who was that?

Ed Temple?

Now, one more interruption, Ed,
and I'm going to have to ask you to leave.

And that goes for everyone here.

All right.

Now, first, the letter that started all this.

But it couldn't be ignored,
and I think you'll all see.

May I see that letter?

Well, I suppose.

This is a photostat.

Yes, I know.

It seems the original disappeared
from Doris' files.

[Mason]
When, Miss Wilson? When did it disappear?

I don't know.

It was just gone
when I looked for it tonight.

[Mason]
Unless a photostat is properly introduced,

it isn't admissible as evidence,
so I must object.

Mr. Mason, we'd better
get something straight right off.

It won't do you any good to object here.

The board is conducting this hearing
the way it thinks best.

- That's right, Judge.
- [spectators murmuring]

[clears throat]

"Judge Edward Daily, President
of the Placer Hill Board of Education.

"Isn't it about time you caught on
to what a certain young widow

"has been doing nights

"with the boys
in her senior English class?

"Making passes and more,

"not only with Kenneth Sterling
before he d*ed,

"but now with Pat Mangan
and some of the others.

"Ask them, Judge.

Just ask them, and they'll tell you."

Would you rather it be you testifying,
Cornelia, or our young people?

I know my duty, Judge Daily.

Then repeat what you told
the board in private.

This is most distasteful.

At the senior dance,
held here in this gymnasium,

at which both Mrs. Wardman and I
were among the chaperons,

I saw her slip out quietly with Pat Mangan,

and, um...

uh...

[Daily]
Just go on, Cornelia.

She came back
about minutes later, alone,

with her lipstick smeared,

her dress disarranged,

and smelling of liquor.

[murmuring]

Yes, it was at the same dance
that I saw them--

Pat Mangan and Mrs. Wardman--

on a bench back of the science hall.

What were they doing, Doris?

They were...

Well, I guess you could call it necking.

[murmuring]

You told this to the board, Miss Wilson?

Yes, I did.

Very shocking thing.

So shocking,
I'm surprised you didn't mention it

to someone before the meeting of the board.

But I did. I told Everett-- Mr. Rixby,
the acting principal, about it.

Yes, Doris did tell me
the day after the dance.

Why didn't you inform the board?

Oh, I'm sure Doris must have mistaken
one of the girls for Mrs. Wardman.

And, I might add, I still believe that.

Well, maybe you'll change
your mind, Mr. Rixby,

when you hear the next witness.

Pat Mangan!

Now, Pat, we want you to tell us exactly
what you told the board and no more.

- Do you understand, Pat?
- Yeah, I understand.

The incident at the last senior dance.

Well, about halfway through,
Janie gave me the eye.

- [Daily] By Janie, you mean Mrs. Wardman?
- Yeah.

So we went outside and had
a couple drinks from a bottle I had,

and then we necked a little,

and then-- then she went back.

Me-- I cut out.

[Daily] Had you ever done a similar thing
with her before?

Sure. Lots of times, like I told you.

That simply is not true!

He was drinking, so I told him to go home!
It's just not true!

[Daily]
That'll be enough, Jane.

Mr. Mason, I hope you've heard enough.

I know the good people out there have.

That'll be all, Pat.

[Mason]
Judge Daily, I'd like to question Pat Mangan.

[Daily] Well, if you find that necessary,
we'll resume this hearing tomorrow.

[motor starts]

- Look out!
- [tires screeching]

Pat said that Gus Wiler was behind
this whole thing?

- Anonymous letter and all?
- That's right, Mrs. Wardman.

Pat had it in for you, too,
so he was only too happy to go along.

Did he say anything about young Sterling?

I don't know how you figured it, but yep.

Pat said Sterling might have gotten
a jug from Wiler the night he d*ed.

- [Mason] At what time?
- Fairly late.

Pat, Sterling, and some of the others
had been drinking earlier.

Sterling said he was gonna
go out and get some more.

Pat figures he went on from there
toward Cactus City.

Jane, when can we find Wiler
alone at the inn?

Well, he usually clears everybody out
around midnight on weekdays.

It's almost : , Paul.

Suppose we stop by there at about : ?

Okay.

Mr. Wiler?

Maybe he's in one of the back rooms.

No, Paul. I think not.

[Paul]
Wiler.

That's right, gentlemen.

Gus Wiler, and quite dead.

I was about to call the sheriff
when I heard your car outside.

Hadn't you better call him now?

Slant, angle, and alignment--

they're all different.

You're right, Mr. Drake.

The anonymous letter wasn't written
on Gus Wiler's typewriter.

Nor on any of the other typewriters
we took samples from--

Pat Mangan's ex-machine,
Doris Wilson's, Mrs. Slater's, Judge Daily's.

In fact, all the typewriters
on the stationery store list.

Well, isn't it possible,
since Gus obviously didn't write that letter,

that his death has nothing to do with me?

- [Sheriff] No, I'm afraid not, Mrs. Wardman.
- Why do you say that?

Folded in his wallet
was the original of the letter.

We thought his typewriter would
surely prove him to be Mr. Anonymous,

like Pat Mangan said.

Of course, Gus could have typed it
on someone else's machine.

But if he didn't, if he wasn't the one,

that still leaves you
with a dangerous enemy, Jane.

Now, I know we've been over this before,

but are you sure
that Ken Sterling gave you no clue

as to where he might have been
calling from that night?

Yes, I'm quite sure.

Outside of us,
who else have you told about the call?

Well, Doris Wilson.

We talked about the accident the next day.

- Anyone else?
- No, no one else.

I didn't feel it was anyone else's business.

I don't get the connection, Mr. Mason.

Maybe I can show you tomorrow, Sheriff,

in fact, with your cooperation.

This meeting will come to order.

I imagine you've heard about Gus Wiler,

but maybe you haven't heard
that the original of the anonymous letter

was found on his person.

Well, this being the case,
if there's a possibility

that the board has been making mistakes
and hurting people wrongly,

then, frankly, we'd like to let
the proper authorities take over from here.

But Mr. Mason insists that Mrs. Wardman's
hearing be resumed and resumed now.

Well, the way I feel--

Like I told you, Judge,
I have no objections to going on with this.

All right, Sheriff.

All right, Mr. Mason. It's your move.

Well, uh, first,
I'd like to question Pat Mangan.

I'm sorry, Judge.

His mother and I decided it'd be better
if he got out of town for a while.

If the sheriff wants him, we'll have him
brought back, but not otherwise.

All right.

Then let's call Bobby Slater.

[Daily]
Oh, Bobby!

You were one of the boys Judge Daily
talked with privately, weren't you, Bobby?

Did you tell him the truth about Pat Mangan
and Mrs. Wardman at the senior dance?

The, uh-- The truth?

Yes. The things Pat told you
and the other boys after the dance.

What did he tell you?

That...

That, uh, Mrs. Wardman hauled him outside
'cause he was making trouble,

and, uh...

then she splattered his bottle.

Well, he got scared
she'd start investigating, you know.

By the next day, he was bragging, though,

laughing 'cause he spilled liquor on her

and roughed her up a bit, you know.

Claimed that she'd made a pass at him.

[Mason]
Did you mention all this to Judge Daily?

No.

But you did tell him that Mrs. Wardman
had made passes at you, too,

isn't that right?

Yes.

Now, that was a lie, wasn't it?

- Yes, it was a lie.
- Bobby!

I'm sorry, Mom, but Pat said
he'd b*at me up if I didn't lie.

That'll be all, Bobby.

Now, Dr. Grant, in a conversation you had
with your fellow members on the board,

I believe you said that people
cut off from love

sometimes lose their judgment.

Now, could that possibly apply to you?

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

Didn't you once tell Mrs. Wardman
that you loved her?

Ask her to marry you?
And weren't you then refused?

- Yes.
- Didn't you get so angry at that refusal

that you conspired with Gus Wiler
to humiliate her, to drive her out of town?

How could I have conspired with Gus Wiler?

Weren't you, uh, his business partner

in the Summit Inn?

Mr. Mason, if you're so interested
in Gus Wiler's business affairs,

I suggest you ask Judge Daily that.

He was Wiler's landlord.

There's no secret about me
owning property out there.

No, I had nothing to do with Wiler, either.
I just rented him a building, that was all.

As for him selling liquor to minors,

that's why I went out to see Gus last night

and to find out if the rumors you've been
telling the sheriff about that were true.

[Mason]
However, had you been his partner,

and supposing that those rumors were true,
you certainly would have quarreled with him.

You might even have struck
the fatal blow that k*lled him.

You might even have planted

the anonymous letter
about Mrs. Wardman on him.

Take that letter.

Why would I write anything like that
about Jane Wardman?

To get her out of town, perhaps,
for fear that her investigation

into the liquor situation
might have led her into realizing

that the phone call she received
from Ken Sterling the night he d*ed

did not come from Cactus City
but from the Summit Inn.

I never heard of such a call.

Now, I have here the phone company record
of that call to her number.

Now, you knew that she was
going to investigate, all right.

She wrote a note to this board

about the boys probably
getting liquor from Gus Wiler.

I never saw such a note, Mr. Mason.

Never.

Who did Jane give the note to?

Doris Wilson.

I destroyed it.

Why, Doris? Why did you do it?

I cared a great deal for Gus.

I didn't want him to get into
any-- any trouble.

Well, Miss Wilson,
after destroying the note,

did you help Gus Wiler
with the anonymous letter,

and persuade Pat and the others
to accuse Mrs. Wardman?

No, no! I don't know
anything about that part.

I-I thought the boys were telling the truth.

Then why did you change typewriters
the day before yesterday?

Change typewriters?

This was written by me
on your typewriter yesterday.

This was written by you three days ago,
according to the date.

Two different typewriters, Miss Wilson--
a fact I can prove,

just as I can prove that it was
this earlier typewriter of yours

that was used to type the anonymous letter
accusing Mrs. Wardman.

I thought there was
something funny yesterday.

A looser action, and--
and the space bar jumped.

I asked Mr. Rixby
if he'd been using my typewriter again.

- He said no.
- Now, just a minute, Doris.

It's no good trying to implicate me.

[Mason]
Is she trying to implicate you, Mr. Rixby?

- Well, who else could she mean?
- Of course.

Who else knew of Jane Wardman's trouble
with Pat Mangan?

Who else knew that she was going to write
a note to the school board?

Who else would have gone to Gus Wiler

and gotten him to join in a plot

to discredit Mrs. Wardman?

- You're inventing all this.
- Am I inventing this--

a record of the withdrawal of $ ,
from your bank account?

The exact sum, incidentally, that Gus Wiler

paid to the people
who put in his bar and café fixtures.

How did Ken Sterling really die, Mr. Rixby?

What?

Didn't it happen here instead of Cactus City?

In fact, right at the Summit Inn?

And weren't you there at the time?

Knowing that the discovery of the boy's body

would result in investigations
that would ruin your reputation,

cost you your job,
lose you your life savings,

didn't you then get Wiler to help arrange

the so-called road accident
outside Cactus City?

No. No!

I warn you, Mr. Rixby,

the midnight call the boy made
from the inn to Jane Wardman

proves that he couldn't have done
his drinking at Cactus City.

It's too far away.

Well, you knew about that call.

And ever since, you've been afraid

that Jane might discover where it came from,
might discover its meaning.

And then last night,
you heard that Pat Mangan

had confessed all he knew to Mr. Drake.

Pat Mangan? No.

How could I have known
about any confession of Pat's last night?

From Jane Wardman.

You didn't tell me about that,

did you, Jane?

I'm sorry, Everett, but I did tell you...

when you called last night after
Mr. Mason and Mr. Drake left the house.

[Mason] We didn't go out to the inn
until an hour or so later.

There was plenty of time
for you to get there before us.

Plenty of time to k*ll Gus Wiler.

Kenneth...

Kenneth Sterling
was a troublemaker at school.

He always was.

One night about a month ago,
I went out there to talk to Gus.

Just about business, that's all.

The boy was there, and he was drunk.

When he saw me, the principal,
it was like a red flag to a bull.

He att*cked me. I didn't hit him hard.

I only tried to defend myself.

Struggled a little
till I could throw him out the door.

But then later,

Gus and I found him out there,

lying by his motorcycle...

dead.

But last night, Mr. Rixby--

last night,

why did you k*ll Gus Wiler?

It-- It was my reputation,

my whole life I could have lost.

Don't you see? Don't you understand?

I had to do something.

Then last night,

Gus Wiler said
he wouldn't stand by me anymore.

He said he didn't strike the boy.

He didn't move the body and the motorcycle
from one county to another.

He didn't start something that got bigger

and bigger until it wouldn't be stopped,

until it couldn't be stopped!

- Mrs. Wardman?
- Yes, Mrs. Slater?

I've been selected to speak
for the mothers and fathers here--

And the Board of Education, Cornelia.

And the Board of Education, too,

to, um,

well, to tell you how s-sorry and ashamed
we are for the way we've acted,

and to ask you to stay on here--

if not for your sake, for ours.

Oh, brother. After all this,
would I know how to answer these people.

Mrs. Slater, why do you think
I've been fighting this thing?

Placer Hill is Terry's and my home.

and we hope it always will be our home.