08x03 - The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

♪♪

Thank you.

Here you are, son.
Keep the change.

You know, maybe we should have
telephoned from Kansas City.

Nonsense.

It wouldn't be a surprise
if I told Everett

I decided to fly out with you.

Oh, come on, now, Ivy.

Fess up.

You can't tell me
that you came all this long way

just to surprise your husband.

Well, with Everett staying here

every time he comes
west on business,

the least I can do
is say thank you to Mona.

(chuckles):
Yes.

And perhaps get a glimpse
of that man she married, huh?

(chuckles):
Oh.

Lottie, wouldn't you be curious.

To have a sculptor
in the family.

And such a famous one.

Well, all I can say is
it's a blessing

that that poor little niece of
yours finally caught somebody.

Oh, now, it was never
Mona's fault.

She's just born innocent,
that's all.

-(knocking)
- And after getting b*rned

by that awful
continental person.

But Hannibal is so different,
she says,

and so nice to her.

And I also hear he's steadfast.

MAN: ;' Who put the overalls
in Mrs. Murphy's chowder? ♪

♪ Nobody answered,
so he shouted all the louder -

Well, my goodness.

(man continues singing
in distance)

Dickens! Answer the door!

Ainsley, I can't stop you
from opposing me

at the meeting today,
but let me remind you

that I have guided Stanton Press
for over years and...

(man continues singing
in distance)

Oh, Hannibal,
for heaven's sakes!

"Misguided?"

I fail to be amused.

As long as
the faithful stockholders,

good sound women like
Lottie Porter and--

Oh, all right, all right.

Old biddies, if you like.

But, Ainsley, as long as
they support my policies...

Everett.

As long as they...

Lottie.

Ivy!

Well, I'll have to
call you back, old chap.

Yes, yes, I mean, I'll see you
at the meeting, old boy.

Bye.

Hello, Everett, dear.

Ivy, what on earth? Yes.

I decided not to stay home
this time, Everett.

Lottie said that she'd like
some company on the trip, so...

Oh, but you know how busy I am.

And Lottie will have to be
at the stockholders meeting.

Well, you just
go about your work.

I'll stay at Lottie's hotel
and just keep out of the way.

Maybe gossip a little with Mona.

Oh, but Mona's not here.

She's, uh, she's gone
out of town.

Old friend very ill in Seattle.

Oh, dear.

But-but, Everett, the meeting.

If Mona's not going to be here,
what about your election?

Oh, I have Mona's proxies,
don't you worry about that.

We'll keep those rascals out of
Stanton Press, never fear.

Well, while you two tycoons are
tycooning, perhaps I could just

gossip a little
with Mona's husband, then.

- Oh, Hannibal's not here,
either. -(knocking)

I mean, uh, no.

You see, when he's busy,
he just won't be disturbed.

And Hannibal's
very busy just now.

He's so busy, you know, works
so hard, so conscientious...

Mr. Hannibal Harvey live here?

Who's calling, please?

Just tell him Mr. Whitey.

Would you come in.

-I-I mean, uh...
-(phone ringing)

Oh, blast it.

Telephone. Excuse me.

Ivy, you know what your husband
is sometimes?

He's an old biddy.

Come on.

- Let's go up anyway.
- All right.

Let's do it.

The singing was up here,
wasn't it?

Yes, yes, it was.

Mona must have fixed up
the old library for Hannibal.

Oh, really? Oh.

She has lovely taste, you know.

Yes, well.

- Shh.
- Now, this way?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

WOMAN (giggling):
Oh, Hannibal!

(laughing)

(quiet tapping)

(laughing, tapping continues)

Sit still, you ticklish cow!

Hannibal, be sweet.

If you don't sit still,

I promise you I'll cut you
out of my will!

Oh.

(women gasp)

Madame, would you please
close the door?

There's a draft!

Oh, that's all right, sweet.

- Don't mind.
-'Sweet"?

Out, out, out!

This is no place to collect
for the Temperance League. Out!

Excuse me, sir.

Well, what is it?!

There's a Mr. Whitey
to see you, sir.

Whitey? Why didn't you
say so before.

Excuse me, girls.

Oh, thank you.

That's-that's Mona's husband?

That's right, dearie.

That's Hannibal.

Isn't he sweet?

Setting gold,
of course, not platinum.

Hurry up, old boy.

Will you hurry up?

- This all there is?
- Uh, no, no.

There's, uh, there's something
over here.

Yes, how about
this diamond thing, hmm?

Ah, yes.

This, too, is your own wife's,
I take it?

Yes, yes.

Perhaps if she could
locate some other items.

She's out of town, I told you.

And keep your voice down.

EVERETT:
Come along.

IVY:
Don't be so nervous, Everett.

After all, it's only
a stockholders meeting.

Now, on our yearly report,
Lottie, you'll notice that

textbook sales are up slightly,

but the publication of hymnals
has dropped.

Of course, I'm sure
it's nothing to worry about.

It's like a cattle drive
through Grand Central Station.

Now, how much?

You only want to borrow
on your wife's jewelry?

Certainly.
I don't want to upset her.

All I want is a loan
for a couple of days,

and I'll find some way
of bailing them out.

Now, how much?

Well, Mr. Harvey, I'd say four,

maybe five
with the necklace thrown in.

Splendid! You're a prince
and a scholar, sir.

Now, could I, could I possibly
have it right now?

$ ? Yes, I can.

$ ?
Why, you sneaky little thief.

But, Mr. Harvey, some of this
is only costume jewelry.

And a liar to boot!

That's what you are.
Now, listen here...

But that's all that anyone
would loan you...

Out, you two-toed little pygmy!

Mr. Harvey! Mr. Harvey!

Get out of my wife's house now!

All right, ladies,
we can go now.

Out! Out, you! Out!

Everett, don't you dare go.

-I want to talk to you.
- But, Mr. Harvey...

Out, you spammy little toad!

- Out, out, out, out.
- Yes.

- Everett.
- Uh, Hannibal,

the meeting starts
in less than an hour.

Splendid, splendid.
Now, I need some money.

Oh, oh, of course, of course.

Yes, I can let you have or...

$ , .

Huh?

Oh, uh, go on, Ivy dear, go on.

- I'll meet you in the car.
- Look, be a good man

and just write out
a check to me.

And don't ask
any questions, huh?

I don't have $ , .

That, uh, fussy little dodo over
there is your wife, isn't she?

- Maybe she could...
- Oh, Hannibal.

Of all the times for you to...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

I've spent my allowance.

Now, look,
you run Mona's affairs.

All you've got to do is...

No! No.

I can't take $ , for--

What sort of trouble
are you in, anyway?

I thought I'd get me
a glass of milk.

Okay, Hannibal?

Her.

But you gave her $ ,
the other day, didn't you?

Bonnie's grandmother
needed some teeth, that's all.

Now, look, this is urgent.

I need that money,
but I cannot write to Mona...

Well, it's about time
you understood

that our business
is urgent, too.

Stanton Press.

I'll get you an apple,
okay, sweet?

And for heaven's sakes,

get some clothes
on that creature.

Oh, are you leaving
already, ladies?

(sighs)

This is the kind of a day
that makes you

just want to stay at home
in the garden and dig.

You know what I mean?

-"In the garden and dig."”
- Everett...

No, Hannibal, I can't help you!

Good-bye!

Now, Everett, watch your temper.

Pipsqueak!

Gee, did I say something?

The whole world
is full of pipsqueaks!

And you know why? Money.

People were people
until some idiot decided

to paint chicken feed green.

Isn't that funny?

Green never bothered me.

And now the whole world is
full of pipping and squeaking.

- Excuse me, sir.
- What is it?

While you were upstairs, there
was a telephone call for you.

Who was it?

He wouldn't give his name.

Had a rather odd accent,
I thought.

Said he would call back.

Oh.

All right, Dickens.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Uh, a glass of milk
for you, too, maybe?

Bonnie, dear Bonnie.

No, it would stick in my craw.

$ , ?

Why, yes, Mona,
that does seem excessive.

For a piece of marble, you say?

Carrara marble.

The maid here took the message
just a few minutes ago.

And why the office
should call me here

all the way in Seattle,
I-I don't know.

But it was Rex Ainsley's
secretary, I guess.

And for some reason, she thought
I should know that Hannibal

has asked for $ ,
from my drawing account.

In order to buy marble;
yes, I understand that.

But what do you want me to do?

Well, you know,
Hannibal's such a baby.

About money matters, I mean.

Well, I just am afraid
he's being stung again, Perry.

You should see the way
he'll empty his pockets

for anyone who asks.

It's one of the things
I love so much about him.

And one of the reasons
his allowance is overdrawn.

Oh, that ridiculous allowance.

That was his idea, you know.

He was so worried about
marrying a wealthy woman.

Well, anyway,
I tried to reach him,

but he's apparently
already left the house.

And you want me to keep him
from being swindled.

All right, Mona, don't worry.

Oh, no, I'm not worried.

It's just, well, I'll be up here
for several more days.

And, well, my friend
isn't really that sick,

but Hannibal said there's
no reason for me to come home

as long as
he's so busy working.

So... well, I...

That's all, I guess.

There's nothing more
I can do for you?

No, I... well,
I just didn't want my baby

to be cheated at marbles,
that's all.

Bye-bye, Perry.

Yeah, sure, sure.

I-I sell to Hannibal Harvey.

Some Carrara marble,
I believe it is.

Yeah, that's right.

I got the finest stone
here in the west, you know.

All the sculptors,
they only buy from me.

And that Hannibal...
(chuckles)

he's got the finest taste
of them all.

The finest.

Only, right now, he's a bum.

What do you mean he's a bum?

What do I mean?
He's carving in wood.

Wood!

Making statues for termites.

Oh, he's a great little joker,
that guy.

- Don't you think so?
- Joker?

Look, mister, he hasn't bought

any stone from me
in over six, seven months.

No $ , order for...?

(laughs)

I got all excited
about that, too.

No. And he's not
going to order any, either.

I checked with his model the
minute that dame telephoned me.

Some dame telephoned you
about this?

Yeah.

Looks like today we're all
getting our legs pulled.

I don't know who that dame was.

Someone's secretary
or something.

That's-that's all I know.

Wait, wait, Mr. Harvey,
you can't go in there.

There's a stockholders meeting
that just...

All right, then,
give me the check.

You were supposed
to have it ready.

I phoned you, didn't I?

But Mr. Ainsley said...

What difference does that make?

Look here,
this is Mona's company,

that's an emergency
checking account,

and I am Mona's husband.

Now, where is the check?!

Mr. Harvey, please.

I know we could usually
accommodate...

MAN: Hear, hear,
what's going on out here?

Hannibal, it's good to see you.

Hello, Rex, look,
I-I'm, I'm sorry

for barging in
on your secretary like this.

It's the check for his marble.

Oh, yes, of course, well,
I am sorry about that.

She acts as if there's something
wrong with me using marble.

Oh, no, no,
that's none of our business.

It's just that Everett's given
instructions, that's all.

Instructions about what?

Stockholders meeting, you know,
books open for inspection.

I've frozen all the accounts
for a few days.

Well, I don't know anything
about business,

-but it seems to me...
- Now, look here, Hannibal,

if you need a little money
on the Q.T.,

perhaps I could cosign
a loan or something.

What's wrong, is that cute
little model of yours

kicking up her heels?

- Oh, for crying out loud.
-(laughing)

Hannibal, I was only kidding.

You and me--
we understand each other.

Don't mess
with the old fuddy-duddies.

Ainsley, Rex.

They're waiting in there
for the rest of your report.

Call on me, kid, anytime.

I thought I asked you
not to make any trouble.

I didn't make any trouble.

Don't you know
what that bird's up to?

He's trying to get control
of the company.

He'll use any trick
he can think of.

Now, listen here, I didn't do
anything wrong in there.

That's why I've stopped
everything.

No one can even pay a bill
right now but me.

Good, good for you.

And if you give Ainsley
one piece of amm*nit*on,

one whiff of scandal
about the Stanton family...

Why do you think I was so upset
about Lottie Porter seeing

that Bonnie person of yours
traipsing around the house?

Don't you understand?

Mona only owns
% of Stanton Press,

and unless I keep
the rest of it in line...

Now, listen, sonny boy,

don't you imagine
I'm thinking of Mona, too?

This is a straitlaced
old Bible-publishing firm.

It's going to stay
that way, understand?

No matter how many crazy
sculptors get married to the...

Mr. Stanton, please,
they're calling you.

Yes, yes, uh...

(growls)

Straitjacket, prison.

That's what it is--
paupers' prison.

Live in a castle
and you can't raise a dime,

not even... five cents.

Oh, you know,
I-I should have hauled Mona out

of this benighted place
long ago.

But, Hannibal, a woman likes
security, y-y-you know,

a home and things like that.

Take me, for instance.

I'm not going to model
for the rest of my life.

I mean, a career in the arts
is one thing, but...

Bonnie, Bonnie, eat your apple,
there's a good girl.

- Will you?
- Sure.

You see, the whole trouble is,
they're afraid of me.

They're afraid
that I'd give 'em a fat eye.

Nobody trusts me,
not one single, solitary person

in this entire family of dodos.

Mona does.

And remember, don't spit your
seeds on the floor, will you?

- But, but I was just saying
that... -(phone rings)

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, Dickens, I'm on.

You can get off now.

Hello.

Well, I'm sorry, but he's
in conference right now.

If I may know whom is calling,
I can take...

Mr. No-- No what?

(Hannibal stammering)

(sighs)

Hello, hello.

Nonno Volente at your service
again, Mr. Harvey.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I know.

Look, I-I'm terribly sorry

I didn't get
to call you back sooner.

Uh, there's been a, um,
slight delay about the money.

You mean-- no offense intended--

as the husband of Mona Stanton,
$ , creates such a problem?

Oh, really.

(chuckles)

Problem?
(laughs)

No, of course not, no, no.

Uh, no, look, if you, uh,

if you could give me a day
or two, I'm sure that I can...

And I am sure
that in a day or two,

you will be regretting
this delay.

Now, as a gentleman
I have done my duty.

It would pain me
to take the money

from the other party
I mentioned,

but you see, I have
these nagging gambling debts

and I myself have only
until this evening.

Now, just, just a minute, now,
look, I'm sure that I can...

By this evening--
did you hear me?

And I'm sure
we shall all feel better

if your charming wife is spared
the ugly alternative, huh?

If you'll only give me...

Tonight, I said.

Bloodsucker.

(slams phone down)

Uh, well, anyway,
as I started to say,

Mona sure does trust you,
so you don't have...

Dear heart, will you take
your apple and...?

Well, I, I already done
everything with it.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no,
wait, wait, wait a minute,

wait a minute,
that's it, of course.

Ha-ha, yes, Mona trusts me,

but Everett doesn't
and he's the lad with the money.

- Oh, I tell you.
- Huh?

(laughs)

This is going to be delicious.

(Hannibal laughing,
Bonnie screaming)

Hannibal, Hannibal.

(Hannibal laughing,
Bonnie screaming)

Really, Hannibal.

Oh, I tell you, Mona would enjoy
this as much as I have, I think.

Oh, those old biddies.

(laughing)

Did I say something?

Did you say some...?

Bonnie, you're a genius,
you're a marvel,

you're an intellect, you...

You can write, can't you?

What?

Why, Hannibal, I don't think
that's very nice.

Lovely, lovely.

Now, then, let me see.

Everett wanted
a black sheep, did he?

Well, he's going to get one.

Here, take this, take this.

You want me to write something?

Yes, yes, something short,
sweet, and to the point.

Let me see.

"Dear Hannibal.”

Uh, well, I usually call you
"Hannibal sweet.”

Do you?

All right, then, very well,
put that down.

Uh, "Hannibal sweet..."

Oh, uh, um, you know,
this is a favor

I'll, I'll never forget,
you know.

(chuckles)

I mean, this is a favor
we'll both forget afterwards,

won't we, huh?

Oh, I-I'd do anything you say,
I guess.

All right, then do your worst.

Now, let me see.

"Hannibal sweet.”

Well, write it, write it,

-put it down, put it down.
- Yeah, uh-huh, write it.

"Hannibal sweet,

unless you give me $ ,
by tonight..."

Uh... n-not so fast, ll...

-"Unless you give me $ , ..."
-"Han... ni... bal..."”

-"...by tonight in cash...”
-...sweet..."

"...the whole world will come
to a shattering end."”

"The world will know
of our relationship

and how you made me
a sl*ve to your charms..."

What, what does she think
she's doing?

Your relationship?

Hannibal, why didn't
you show me this sooner?

Well, I-I don't know,
I had hoped to have...

Never mind, I understand,

and I'm sorry for the nasty
things I've said about you.

Oh, no, no, that's all right.

If they were true,
I-I deserved them.

I never dreamed it had gone
as far as blackmail.

Why, the cheap, little...

No, no, no, Everett,
you must understand

that artists are no good,
none of us are.

Yes, yes, but...

But I-l promise you this--
I won't hurt Mona.

And I guess I, I was thinking
of the company,

Lottie Porter, Rex Ainsley,
and the stock,

but, good heavens,
if anyone gets wind of this...

Hannibal, I'll get that money
for you if I have to steal it.

Yes.

HANNIBAL:
I Who threw the overalls

♪ In Mrs. Murphy's chowder? ♪

♪ Nobody answered ♪

♪ So he hollered
all the louder ♪

♪ It's an Irish trick
that's true ♪

♪ I can lick the Mick
that threw ♪

♪ The overalls
in Mrs. Murphy's chowder. ♪.

What are you doing,
creeping around here?

I came in the back way.

I didn't want Dickens
to know we're up to anything.

Oh, Hannibal, this is the last
time I pull you out of a hole.

Spare me the lecture, please.

Did you get the money and did
you bring it over to Bonnie's?

I sent it over to her apartment
by insured messenger.

- Good.
-I instructed the messenger

to get a signed receipt.

I told you, one must be
businesslike about these things.

That's the trouble with you,
Hannibal, you don't...

No, no, how you've saved
the family name again, Everett.

You're a prince among men.

Here, let me shake
your hand, old boy.

Yes, well, I think
I'll go out and get a beer

on the strength of that.

Beer?

Oh, Hannibal, how can you be
so immorally callous?

I'm warning you,
the next time you get mixed up

-in anything, the next... -Oh,
relax, relax, it's all over.

Now, all's well that ends well.

Oh, yes, yes, you can say that.

I'm the one who will have
to face the stockholders.

You're the one
that's going to get to Heaven.

Wouldn't be a bit surprised

if you got elected
to the board, too.

- The board?
- Don't forget that, huh?

Uh, huh?

♪ Nobody answered ♪

♪ So he hollered
all the louder ♪

♪ It's an Irish trick
that's true.

(whistling)

- Ah, good evening, Dickens.
- Good evening, sir.

Oh, incidentally,
you needn't wait up for me, hmm?

Thank you, sir.

- Oh, sir.
- What?

Shouldn't I take Mrs. Harvey's
luggage up to her room?

What are you talking about?

She's in Se...

DICKENS: Sorry you didn't
tell me, sir, that

Mrs. Harvey was returning
this evening.

I wouldn't have gone out
on my errands.

If the maid across the street
hadn't mentioned the taxi...

What taxi?

The taxi Mrs. Harvey arrived in.

She arrived in a taxi?

But she went out again.

That was some time ago.

I thought perhaps you'd seen
the bags and that you knew.

No, I-l didn't know, ...

Uh... go on to bed,
Dickens, huh?

Thank you, sir.

Everett!

Everett, come on down here!

(Everett speaks indistinctly)

What on earth are you up to now?

What did you do with that note?

- The note?
- Yes, the note.

Oh, oh, yes, the note--
I left it in here.

You see, I was still
a little suspicious of you--

the, the writing--

until I found something else
that Bonnie had written.

I crumpled it up
and I left it right on the...

All right, all right,
where is it?

Well, I, I thought
I left it on the desk here.

It's not here.

Yeah, you...

-(knocking)
- Bonnie.

Bonnie, Hannibal.

Bonnie, my wife just got...

Everyone's got suitcase...

What's this?

Oh, no, you're not.

You're not going anyplace,
Bonnie, not with all that money.

Bonnie.

Bonnie, where are you?

Bonnie.

No.

B-But Bonnie...

No, it, it was a-a joke.

All it was was a joke.

The young woman makes
her demands rather clear,

doesn't she?

"$ , in cash by tonight.”

It was crumpled.

I, I-I wouldn't even
have seen it

except that I always look at
my mail when I first get home.

Your husband wasn't at home?

I don't know where he is.

I, uh...

Well, this note from Bonnie
caught my eye, and...

she has such unusual
handwriting, so I read it,

and my taxi was still outside,

and, well,
the first thing I thought of

was to come to you for help.

I just can't understand it--
that sweet little girl.

Paul Drake can handle Bonnie.

I'm worried about you
and Hannibal.

Oh, Perry,
I've always trusted him so--

well, not about money matters,
of course,

but money's not important.

As Hannibal says, money is just
stupid chicken feed

that stupid people...

Mona, I wouldn't jump
to conclusions

on the sole basis of this note.

Oh, I'm not.

No, I-I'd just like to find him,
that's all, and...

I know, you were upset
this morning

when we talked on the phone.

No, no, I wasn't.
Really, really I wasn't.

The only reason I came back
from Seattle is...

is that my friend
was so much better.

And you wanted
to save your marriage.

Oh, Perry...
please find him quickly.

(phone ringing)

That could be Paul.

Hello?

Yes, she is.

I'll take the message.

Uh, just a moment.

It's a man named Ainsley.

He wants to know if you ever
gave Hannibal the combination

to the office safe.

(gasps)

$ , taken right out
of this little box.

You can check the balance slip
for yourself.

How did you discover the loss,
Mr. Ainsley?

I dropped by a short while ago

to do some night work
on the stockholders business.

Miles behind.

Was a janitor
working down the hall.

He said he thought
I was already here.

He'd heard someone come in
earlier,

using a door key and all that,

and, uh,
he didn't pay any attention.

- Would you care for a drink?
- No, thank you.

Then when I opened the safe
to get one of my ledgers...

I understand.

The money was gone,
and you immediately concluded

that it could only have been
taken by Hannibal Harvey.

That's obvious.

A man who doesn't even work
for Stanton Press.

Well, I was certainly aware
Hannibal was looking for money.

Hannibal couldn't hope
to make proper notations

in the books tomorrow morning,

since I assume the cash belonged
to a different fund--

your printing company's payroll,
or something like that.

Mr. Mason,
I only asked the question.

You say Mona didn't give
Hannibal the combination

to the safe, so that's that.

MASON: 'Cause there are no more
than two or three people

who have that combination.

You didn't bother
to check the obvious.

Your employer, for example,

who has a perfect right
to come in here.

Everett?

Well, I didn't want
to bother him.

His wife's in town.
He's probably busy.

Very thoughtful of you,
Mr. Ainsley.

All right,
I'll call him right away.

If this isn't robbery,

I don't see any reason
to make a thing out of it.

I agree.

I merely wondered
why you were.

You seem quite eager
to incriminate Hannibal.

You had your secretary check on
that marble order, for instance.

Now, see here.

You think I'm just trying
to make trouble, don't you?

Yes, I keep my eye on things.

Lots of things.

This company is stuck
in the mud!

The Stantons won't even publish
paperbacks!

They won't even go in
for reprints!

Yes, yes, of course, I'd like

to blow things wide open,
and if it weren't for...

(phone ringing)

Yes?

It's for you.

Thank you.

Hello?

Perry, I'm at Bonnie Dunbar's
apartment.

And Andy's sort of leaning over
my shoulder.

Andy?

Paul, what's...?

Oh, I see.

All right, Paul. Thanks.

It would seem that you now have
what you wanted, Mr. Ainsley.

The money was delivered,
all right, but it was gone.

Just the empty envelope
in another room.

Not with her body.

Has Andy ruled out
simple robbery?

$ , is enough temptation
to make someone a thief.

It's always a possibility.

Of course, a lot depends on
who knew Bonnie had the money.

But look, Perry...

I know, Paul.

Only glad your boys had
at least a head start

in looking for Hannibal.

Police doctor says
death was caused

by a blunt instrument, maybe
half an hour before I got there.

What was that business
about the telephone receiver?

DRAKE: Well, the cord was
wrapped around her arm,

but the main struggle was
in the living room.

Looks as if she broke loose,
ran in there to grab the phone,

then got hit from behind
before she had a chance

-to call for help.
-(car phone buzzes)

Yeah?

Oh, fine, Tompkins. Thanks.

Just spotted Hannibal at a bar
called the Potted Penguin.

(crowd chatter,
piano music playing)

I was just going to call you.

The money-- you've got it?

Well, you were just going
to call me, were you?

I'm only a couple of hours late,

but you were just going
to call me, eh?

Well, I knew
I could depend on you.

What do you mean, you knew
you could depend on me?

You've got the money already,
haven't you?

You've been up there.

You've been in Bonnie's
apartment, haven't you?

- Well, haven't you?!
- Stop that! Stop it!

Mr. Harvey, there's something
you should know.

Now, please,
you must listen to me!

Oh, you bet your life
I'll listen to you.

Now talk, come on!

Please! Not here! Please!

(cash register dings)

Fellow with a beard who came in
a few minutes ago.

Where is he?

Right out there.

Hi.

I think it's about time

I had a little talk with you,
Mr. Harvey.

I think so, too, Mr. Mason.

There's something
that you should know...

Can we go to your office?

Okay, call me
if you get anything else.

Well, make yourself at home,
Lieutenant.

Sorry, Perry, but, uh,
this is Mr. Harvey, isn't it?

I'm Lieutenant Anderson,
Homicide.

Yes, I'm afraid it is.

Well, it's a long story,
Lieutenant.

See, I had this plan
for raising $ ,

by having my model blackmail me.

I went to her apartment
a little while ago

to pick up the money...

Hannibal, you should tell this
to me first.

What difference does it make?
It's me they want.

They're going
to arrest me anyway.

ANDERSON: Maybe you ought
to know we've already arrested

the prime suspect in the m*rder
case of Bonnie Dunbar.

Who is it, Andy?

This gentleman's wife--
Mona Stanton Harvey.

Hannibal.

Oh, darling.

(Mona cries)

Take it easy, darling.
Take it easy.

-(Mona sniffles)
- Take it easy.

Everything is going
to be all right.

-I didn't...
- It is, I promise you.

I didn't k*ll her. I didn't!

Of course you didn't.
Now why would you?

She was a friend of yours.

You certainly never could have
believed that crazy note.

No. No, no, no, I didn't.

I don't even know how I could
have been curious, or... or even

wanted to go see her.

Hannibal, I failed you.

You failed me?

- Oh, darling, no, no, no, no.
-(Mona sobs)

Mona, Hannibal says

the man for whom
he was obtaining the money,

- Nonno Volente...
- Hmm?

...was romantically involved
with you at one time.

Oh, Volente?

Oh, yes.

The continental charmer.

Oh, did he take me in!

He had these letters
of yours, darling.

Letters? My letters?

He told your husband he would
sell them to a scandal magazine

unless he was paid $ , .

- Oh. - should have strangled
him right then and there.

But I- didn't want you
to know, darling.

I didn't want you
to be upset again.

You know what kind
of a story it would make.

"Owner of the Stanton Press,

"dignified ladies' editor
involved

in a blackmail scandal.”

Oh, darling,
there wasn't anything

that bad in those letters.

I know, I know.

And anyway, what do I care
about the old fuddy-duddies?

As long as you love me.

I do.

How could you ever believe a...?

Oh, Hannibal, listen to us.

Shh.

(Mona cries)

I think you'd better listen
to me, Mona.

(Mona cries)

Oh, Perry.

(sniffles)

You're angry with me,
aren't you,

for letting you think
that I went straight

to your office
after I found the note?

It would have helped slightly

if you'd told me you'd been
to Bonnie's apartment,

and that you knew she was dead.

(sniffles)

Well, I...
I had to be absolutely sure

that Hannibal was
in the clear first.

You see...

Go on.

MONA: Well, when I got there,
I-l knocked,

and nobody answered the door,

but the door was open,

so, I-I just walked in.

There was money
all over the floor,

and then I saw
into the bedroom.

Shh, darling.

When-when I got there a little
later, all the money was gone.

There was just
an empty envelope.

Sorry, Mr. Harvey.

Sorry.

- Oh.
- Oh, darling.

(Mona sniffles)

I'll be back in a minute.

Does that help?

Oh, a little, maybe.

First it was Bonnie--

that-that nice, harmless,
brainless little child.

It was my fault.

I got her into that mess,
you know, Perry.

And now...

Now it's my wife
that's blamed for it.

And I couldn't even make
a good job of confessing it!

Hannibal, think for a moment.

In the first place,

perhaps Bonnie wasn't as nice
and as harmless as she seemed.

What?

Well, unless it was
simple robbery.

Someone had to have a reason
to k*ll her.

But why would anyone want
to k*ll her?

We'll get to the why later.

The question now is, who?

Mr. Stanton,
you heard the testimony

of the handwriting expert

that the decedent wrote
this blackmail note.

Yes. Yes, I compared it myself
that night.

There was an IOU to the cook

that Bonnie had written
for some apples.

It was lying there
on the desk, too.

I see.

But after seeing
the blackmail note,

you apparently went down
and broke into the company safe

to raise the money
for Mr. Harvey.

EVERETT:
I didn't break into the safe.

As the executive publisher
of Stanton Press,

I set aside the $ , ,

intending to replace it

from my personal fund
the next morning.

I see. And why didn't you
report it to Mrs. Harvey?

Well, I thought
she was still in Seattle.

Anyway, good heavens,
I wouldn't have wanted, uh,

Mona to know about Hannibal
and that creature.

Really? Didn't she know
about her already?

I... don't understand.

Mr. Stanton, you just referred

to the decedent, Bonnie Dunbar,

as "that creature.”

Now, did you ever make
similar remarks

in front of your niece,
the defendant?

EVERETT: Well, I may have
commented on certain indecorum

that existed in front
of the servants, that's all.

BURGER: Oh, come, come,
Mr. Stanton. Isn't it true

that that remark of yours

and certain similar remarks
by other people

caused Mona Stanton Harvey

to hire a private detective
to check up on her husband?

EVERETT:
You're twisting that!

I'm sure
it was to satisfy herself

by disproving the gossip
that she hired him.

Only as a precaution.

BURGER: Just tell us what
you know, please, Mr. Stanton.

I do not know anything
about any detective.

You don't know that three nights
before the m*rder,

there was a rendezvous at the
Stanton beach house in Trancas?

You don't know that the private
detective reported on this fact

to the defendant
by telephone in Seattle?

Objection, Your Honor.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Burger, you are not here
to give testimony.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

The detective's testimony
will be introduced later.

I-I simply said
that Mona had received a...

a long-distance telephone call,

and seemed upset by it,
that's all.

Afterwards, she told me it was
from a-a private detective.

My goodness, there's nothing
the matter with that.

It was upsetting enough
for poor Mona

to have to come all the way
to Seattle

for my sake at a time like that.

At a time like what, Mrs. Banks?

In your direct testimony,

-you implied that...
- No!

No, I-I didn't mean
to imply anything.

It was just
that when Mr. Burger asked

if Mona trusted her husband...

You stated that you'd seen
Mona crying several times

in your home in Seattle.

Well, yes, but...

she could've been crying
for any number of reasons.

MASON:
Exactly.

You'd been quite ill,
hadn't you, Mrs. Banks?

Mona was exhausted
from caring for you, wasn't she?

You never actually heard her
say one word suggesting anything

but affection for both
her husband and his model?

Of course not!

Of course I didn't!

Or that she was suspicious
of their relationship.

No. Never.

Thank you, Mrs. Banks.

It was just that I'd
never seen Mona cry before.

I mean, she always
holds everything in so.

Just because I'm so terribly
suspicious of my own husband,

I didn't mean to imply
that she was of hers.

I mean,
I didn't mean to imply...

Of course, Mrs. Banks.

And the truth is,
Mona merely left your house

and returned to Los Angeles
without explanation.

Yes.

Well, y-yes!

Isn't that what I said?

But I don't know when
Mrs. Harvey returned home.

You see, I was busy
that evening,

and when I returned
I discovered her luggage,

and I realized that she'd
come home and gone out again

during my absence.

Did you ever see this before?

I'm not in the habit
of reading other people's mail.

Mail, Mr. Dickens?

I asked you if you ever saw this
crumpled piece of paper before.

I... did notice a crumpled piece
of paper somewhat like that

on the desk in the study.

Caught my eye, you know?

One little thing out of place.

Ours is a very tidy house.

But you didn't pick up
this crumpled piece of paper?

I had to go out, I tell you,
for several hours.

The maid across the street
can corroborate.

- And you never saw
the paper again? -No.

Obviously, Mrs. Harvey saw it
when she came home,

and took it with her
when she left.

You are the messenger
who picked up $ ,

in front of
the Stanton Press offices?

I picked up a package
from that man there.

And what did you do
with the package?

Well, I had a few
other stops to make,

but then I delivered
to the address he'd given me.

And you delivered it
to Miss Bonnie Dunbar personally

and had her sign for it?

- Yes, sir.
- Very well, then.

Since you may have been the
last person to see her alive,

would you recall for us, please,

any details that you remember?

Well...

she spoke fast.

Seemed real jumpy.

She asked me if I was
heading back downtown,

asked if I could
maybe give her a ride.

- And what did you answer?
-I said, "Lady, I got nothing

but a motorcycle--
why don't you call a cab?"

She shut the door,
and I left.

And that was
all there was to it,

you just got on your motorcycle
and rode away?

MESSENGER:
Oh, no. As I was coming out,

I seen this cab make a drop.
I went out

to try to flag it down for her,
but I was too late.

By "making a drop,” you mean
letting out a passenger.

Now, did you see
the passenger who got out there?

- Uh-huh. -And is that person
in this courtroom today?

Yes, she is.

It was that lady, right there.

The position of the telephone?

Well, the telephone cord

was wrapped around
the decedent's arm.

It looked as if she
was trying to call for help

when the k*ller
came up from behind her...

Objection, Your Honor.
It's pure supposition

that the decedent was in
the process of calling for help.

Surely, Your Honor, in light
of the previous testimony,

the decedent was agitated, she
needed immediate transportation.

Now, uh... objection sustained.

- It's still supposition.
- Very well, Your Honor.

No further questions.
Counselor?

No questions.

I call Mr. Nonno Volente
to the stand, please.

JUDGE: All right, Lieutenant,
you can step down.

BAILIFF:
Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear
to tell the truth,

the whole truth
and nothing but the truth?

Yes. You see, I was to meet
Mr. Harvey that evening

in the Potted Penguin.

But I was nervous, and when
he didn't come right away,

I went to this
Miss Dunbar's apartment.

Why there?

I mean, as opposed to his place.

Well, I had done enough checking
to know that there was this, uh,

arrangement between
Mr. Harvey and the girl,

-know where she lived...
- MASON: Objection.

Objection sustained.

Well, I only meant, Your Honor,

that between
an artist and his model

there is always an arrangement.

JUDGE:
All right, never mind.

Just answer the question.

Mr. Volente...

what did you see when you went
into that girl's apartment?

I saw money.

Money everywhere!

Now, by nature,
I'm a neat person,

so seeing the mess
I started to pick it up.

But that's all, you understand--
merely to take it off the floor,

not to take it for myself.

But then I saw the girl, dead,
and I was frightened.

BURGER: I see.
You took the money with you

because you were frightened.

Well, I had no wish
to become involved in a m*rder.

Taking the money
was an oversight.

BURGER: I see.
Why didn't you report it

to the police, Mr. Volente?

Well, as I said, I had no wish
to become involved in a m*rder.

BURGER: Now, you say that you
went back to the Potted Penguin

and waited there for some time.

Why, since you
already had the money,

did you find it necessary
to wait for some time?

(sighs)

I was also waiting
for some gamblers I know

-to give the money to them.
- That's better.

But then Hannibal Harvey
arrived, and you left. Why?

Mr. Harvey. He said he would
take care of the gamblers

if only I would go away.

And when I told him
what I'd seen,

he said I should
go far away and fast.

Then he would pay me more money.

BURGER: He said that when
you told him what you saw?

- Yes! -Would you tell
this court, please,

what you told him you saw?

And I remind you, sir,
that you're under oath.

I told him who I saw leaving
Miss Bonnie Dunbar's place

when I got there.

He offered me money
to keep quiet and go away.

BURGER:
Mr. Volente...

who was the person you saw

leaving Bonnie Dunbar's
apartment

just before you
found her dead body?

I saw the woman there,
Mrs. Harvey.

♪♪

♪♪

See what Burger's doing?

He's painting Mona
as the only possible m*rder*r.

Well, she didn't do it,
I tell you, she didn't do it.

Well, the messenger
saw Bonnie alive

when Mona was arriving,

and then Nonno found Bonnie dead
after Mona left.

Perry, I don't see
how you can get out of...

HANNIBAL:
Well, I'll tell you how.

You've got to put me
on the stand, Perry.

I'll tell them
exactly what happened.

How I personally dictated
that blackmail note.

And what do you think
that would prove?

Well, this is a happy group.

- What have you found, Paul?
- Well, it didn't take long

to check out
that private eye's report.

That rendezvous at
the beach house, for example.

There isn't a clue
as to who might have been there

with Bonnie-- just that some man
drove there in Hannibal's car.

Who else drives it?

Oh, anybody.
I always leave the keys in it.

- Is there more, Paul?
- Enough to believe

that Bonnie was secretly
mixed up with somebody.

- But who?
- DRAKE: That's the point.

There's only one man that report
can absolutely identify.

He's the guy that sneaked into
Bonnie's house with a package

a couple of days
before the m*rder.

What guy?
Uh, who was it?

Rex Ainsley.

Yes, I visited Miss Dunbar
several times.

And I only stayed
for a few moments.

What was in the package
you brought to her, Mr. Ainsley?

It was a, uh, little gift.

What sort of gift?

A, uh, pressure cooker.

(people laughing)

(laughter stops)

Pressure cooker?

Yes, her taste in gifts
is rather domestic.

Then there were other gifts?

AINSLEY: No, that's
not what that implies.

I've already explained
to the district attorney.

Our relationship,
Bonnie's and mine,

was strictly
along business lines.

Would you explain it
to the court?

AINSLEY:
Well, I, uh...

not to go into boring detail,

felt it an obligation
to Stanton Press

to know what
the Stanton family was up to.

MASON:
The gifts, in other words,

were payment to Bonnie
for spying at the Stanton house.

It was not really spying.

And you always gave her
domestic gifts?

Yes. She hoped
to be married soon.

MASON:
Married? To whom?

She never told me.

But I, like everyone else
around the Stanton home,

uh, thought
it was pretty obvious.

- She and Hannibal.
- Why, that no-good, lying...

JUDGE: Order.
Order in the court, please!

(whispers): If that hussy
was planning to get married,

she certainly
wasn't acting like it.

Why? What happened?

Well, late that afternoon,
I was out at the house

for a few minutes, and what
I saw when I went in the door...

-(whispering inaudibly) -MASON:
I have no further questions

of this witness, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
You may step down.

No, it's not me.

I've never considered
marriage in any form!

Mr. Dickens,
is it necessary for me

to put a woman on the stand who
saw you kissing Bonnie Dunbar,

saw you kissing her
the very day she was m*rder*d?

Wait. Please.

I-I was only attempting
to kiss Bonnie.

She resisted me
quite successfully, I'm afraid.

Do you expect this court
to believe that?

But it's true.

Miss Dunbar made it quite plain

that my attentions were useless,

because she was planning
to marry someone else.

Someone who was about
to divorce his wife...

- Mr. Hannibal Harvey.
- That's a dirty lie!

I love my wife,
and I always have!

Order, order, please!

Now, listen,
I'm not gonna stand here

and listen to that rubbish!

You're fired, Dickens!

Leave me alone, will you?

(gavel banging)

MASON:
Mr. Dickens,

did Bonnie say it was Hannibal?

Well, she... said
there would be a divorce,

even if she had
to ask for it herself.

A divorce that would light
a powder keg under that...

tidy, distinguished old house.

(people murmuring)

EVERETT: A divorce like that,
on those grounds,

would do irreparable damage

to the reputation
of the family name,

to say nothing
of the publishing firm itself.

And divorce, therefore,
must be avoided at all costs.

Oh, yes, at all costs.

Mr. Stanton...

Mr. Stanton,
you testified earlier

that you compared
Bonnie's handwriting

in the blackmail note
with her writing in another note

-lying on the desk.
- Yeah, about the apples.

Yet Dickens later denied
seeing loose pieces of paper

in his tidy, well-kept house.

Did that, uh, second note,

the one to the cook,
really exist?

I, uh, beg your pardon?

Or were you trying
to persuade the court

that you didn't
know Bonnie very well?

Not even well enough
to recognize

her rather unusual handwriting
despite the fact

you frequently
lived in that house,

made your headquarters there

-every time you've come
to Los Angeles. -Now, see here!

Mr. Stanton...

you were the secret man
in Bonnie's life, weren't you?

That, uh, that messenger boy,
he saw M-Mona

going into Bonnie's apartment.

MASON:
Mr. Stanton, I asked you...

That-that other man,
that Volente man,

he found Bonnie dead
after Mona left.

Yes, the evidence is rather
damaging against Mona, isn't it?

But suppose another person had
been inside Bonnie's apartment

-all that time.
- What?

Someone who
remained out of sight

when Bonnie spoke
to the messenger boy.

Oh, yes, it could've been--
a-a robber, maybe.

She tried to reach
the phone, you know.

She-she tried to call for help.

But suppose she hadn't
been calling for help.

Suppose she'd been calling
a taxi or a hotel downtown.

Your wife was staying
at a hotel that night,

wasn't she, Mr. Stanton?

Was Bonnie trying
to call your wife,

trying to reveal
everything to her?

Is that why you k*lled Bonnie?

I didn't mean to.

(sobbing):
Oh, Bonnie, I didn't mean to.

Perry, what I still
don't understand is

how Uncle Everett could be
in two places at once.

The messenger said
he got the money from him.

The messenger also said
he made a couple of stops

before he reached
Bonnie's apartment.

During which time
he got wind of the fact

that Bonnie was trying to get
hold of his wife

to have a showdown with her.

So he tore over to stop Bonnie,
and that was it.

Come to think of it,
he did everything, didn't he?

Clucking over me to hide
what he was really doing,

and then getting Mona all upset.

Well, I should have
had enough trust

not to hire a private detective.

Shouldn't I have trusted you
about those letters, too?

- Of all the silly, stupid...
-(laughs)

- Forgive me, darling? Ah.
- Yes.

Well, Paul,
this is where we came in.

-(laughter)
- HANNIBAL: I'm sorry. Bye. Bye.

MONA:
Bye-bye.

♪♪

Well, it just goes to prove

that a little trust
is a good thing.

-I agree with you completely.
- Fine.

Then maybe you'll trust me
with some money for lunch.

(theme song playing)