08x07 - The Case of the Bullied Bowler

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(laughter)

I got a pair of shoes
for you, Marla.

How about it?

Please, I told you no.

What's the matter?

Afraid the Duchess will find out
and can your mother?

You know it isn't that.

I just don't want to bowl,
that's all.

Don't be a wet blanket.

Come on, just one line, huh?

No.

For Pete's sakes, why?

Oh, I don't feel well,
that's why.

Another full house, huh?

Couple of more months like this,
we'll be off the hook, Alan.

Bill, she's here again.

She?

The girl Marla Carol.

This is the second time.

She was in last week, remember?

So what?

So her mother works
for the Duchess.

Bill, maybe she's only
her companion, but...

Look, we're open for business,
Alan, everybody's business.

You know how the Duchess feels
about us, about this place.

Why get her any madder?

Sure, sure, the old lady's
not as important

as she thinks she is,
but why ask for trouble?

Why not just ask
the kid to leave?

Why not ask everybody to leave?

That ought to take care
of the Jaris brothers

-and make the Duchess
real happy. -Bill, look...

Our door is wide open.

It'll stay open.

A strike.

-(clapping)
- Hey, I got a strike.

Did you see that?

Hey, Marla, did you see that?

- A strike.
-(screams)

Marla, what is it?

Oh!

WOMAN:
A public nuisance, Orson.

You hear me?

A public nuisance.

Oh, now, Bonnie Mae,

that place is practically
out in the country.

They're not harming anybody.

Country or no country,

they're technically
inside the city limits.

Oh, isn't there a-a curfew law
or something

that says young people must be
home at a certain hour?

There must be
something you can do.

But you can't stop a legitimate
business from operating

just because you don't like
the owners.

(chuckles)

It's like I told you last week
and the week before.

You're still not getting
the message, Orson.

I simply won't stand for this.

I refuse to permit
a bowling alley in my city.

Bonnie Mae,
once, a long time ago

this was your father's city,
but times have changed,

and you can't prevent
the Jaris brothers

from running a business
and earning a living.

And what about your business,
Mr. Mayor?

Unless I'm mistaken,
the refinery I own and operate

is the principal customer

for that little industry you run

in addition to your duties
in office.

Oh, now, now, now don't talk
like that, Bonnie Mae.

You know very well
that without your plant

- wouldn't have a business.

That would give you
plenty of time,

wouldn't it, to go bowling?

Rose.

Bonnie Mae, for the love
of Pete, will you listen to me?

(phone rings)

Hello.

Mrs. Carol?

Is that telephone call for me,
Mr. Stillman?

It's about your daughter,
Mrs. Carol.

Marla?

Is something wrong, Orson?

What about my daughter?

She's in the hospital.

Well, Linda,
what did you find out?

The hospital
definitely confirmed

the diagnosis on Marla Carol.

It's definitely
an amoebic infection.

Oh, dear.

That's just what
I was afraid of.

But she's perfectly all right,
there's no danger.

They're letting
her mother take her home today.

That's the third case
the hospital has reported

in two days, Linda.

Scarcely an epidemic.

You want some more coffee?

Linda, I've always said,

only one-third of an iceberg
is visible above water.

Yes, I've heard
you always say it.

I'll get you a doughnut, too.

Uh, Linda,
maybe you'd better start calling

the doctors in town.

Make me a list
of every related case

they've handled this last week--

you know,
stomachache, gastritis,

suspected appendicitis,
and so on.

Joe.

Joe, maybe you
and the other health inspectors

had better go to work
on this amoebic dysentery thing.

Start talking to the cases.

See if they can remember

everyplace they've been
this past week,

everything they've eaten,
and everyplace they've eaten it.

We'd been at the ballpark
the day before.

We had, uh, hot dogs and popcorn

and, uh, some soda pop.

And a, a couple of beers
at the bowling alley.

More.

♪♪

♪♪

I brought the doctor
like you asked.

Rose, hadn't you better look in
on your daughter upstairs,

make sure
she's feeling all right?

Oh, yes.

Jack, you can wait outside.

Oh, oh, sure, sure.

Jack Baker--
Tesoro's middle-aged Lothario.

I thought he was just the
maintenance man at the refinery.

I find him useful for odd jobs.

Is that what hauling me
over here is-- an odd job?

Well, it's nice to know
where a man stands.

Oh, stop it, Max, sit down.

I had some sandwiches and coffee
made up for you.

I'm not really hungry
and I have a lot of work to do.

All right, what do you want?

You should be hungry.

You haven't eaten
since breakfast.

You know a good deal,
don't you, Duchess?

Of course.

I am an eccentric old biddy

who's always sticking her nose
where it's not wanted.

Oh, now, now,
don't you say a thing like that.

Bonnie Mae, you've done
too much for this town--

you and your father.

Wouldn't have been a town
to begin with without him

and the refinery he built--

or anything left of the town
without you.

You don't think
I'm an interfering old battle-a*

who deludes herself,
playing lady of the manor?

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

To concern yourself
about other people's welfare

certainly can't be called...

Yes, other people.

Like Marla Carol--
Rose's daughter.

I don't understand.

Max, I know why you're working
so hard right now.

And I know you've found

the source of the infection,
too, haven't you?

I really don't know
where you get your information.

- No. -Because you've found that
several people who became ill

have eaten in one place,

just one common place--

the bowling alley.

No, Bonnie Mae.

Uh, I-l mean, yes...

I grant you,
certain cases have eaten there,

but the bowling alley is clean,
quite clean.

I have inspection reports.

One of the best kitchens
in town.

But the people
did get sick there.

I tell you, I don't know yet

what the source
of the infection is.

What are you going
to do about it?

What do you think I should do?

Close that place down.

I'm a health officer.

I can't go jumping
to conclusions,

putting men out of business
because...

Residents of my town
have been poisoned, Max,

at the bowling alley.

Bonnie Mae, I know how you feel
about the Jaris brothers,

-but I... -If you don't go down
and close that place tonight,

my attorney will be in court
in the morning

to demand that it be closed
as a public nuisance.

I'm sorry, I have to go.

There are reports
I still haven't checked.

When I do have enough data,

I'll certainly take
whatever steps necessary.

Yes, and you'll take them
quickly

so that people won't have
to suggest to the city council

that what Tesoro really needs

is a better director
of city health,

one with a bit more courage.

Hey, Doc.

I know she gets
a little wild sometimes,

but she is on the right track,
isn't she?

- Mr. Baker, if you'll excuse
me... -And it'd be a shame

if the Duchess had something
to really get mad about,

wouldn't it?

What are you talking about?

Peace, that's all,

and what happens when people
don't just ride along.

Ah, let her have her way,
Doc, you'll see.

Jaris, wait a minute.

Look, Baker, your lady boss
doesn't pay me anything

to take any gaff from you,
and I don't intend to.

Well, sorry,
but that's not the way I see it.

Well, now,
what's that supposed to mean?

Well, if you and your brother
would just close up shop,

get out of town...

Don't you understand?

Oh, for the love...

You should have called
the police.

Why bother?

Maybe I should have called
the Duchess direct.

Well, who did it?

Jack Baker
and a couple of his stooges.

You know,
she's really got an army.

Yeah.

Well, there you are--
it's not pretty but sterile.

Thanks.

Is this the ladies'
shoe department?

Paul, Paul Drake.

- How are you, Bill?
- Fine, fine.

You got a girl with you tonight?

No, but I got gobs of neophytes
down here on vacation.

Paul, you know my brother Alan,
don't you?

ALAN:
Hi, Paul.

Hi, uh, what hit you?

Oh, uh, I just fell.

Into a set of brass knuckles,
I'll bet.

I've seen the results before.

Oh, uh, excuse me.

See you a minute, Mr. Jaris?

Of course.

Kind of a busy night in Tesoro.

Well, look, Paul,
I'll see you down there

in a little while, all right?

Which side of the ball is up?

Ask him how he gets
his thumb out.

No cracks.

This is a game of skill.

I've learned a lot
since I last saw you, Joe.

Well, don't just talk about it.

Prove it.

Now, it's a matter
of form and concentration.

There's a mirror over there
you can watch yourself in.

I was watching my swing
the other night, and you know

-what I found out?
- Sure. That to love oneself

is the beginning
of a lifelong romance.

Very funny.

All right, wiseguy,
let's see you top this.

BILL:
Paul?

(others laughing)

Thanks a lot, pal.

Paul, can I see you a minute?

Sure. This is Bill Jaris.

He and his brother,
Alan, own the place.

- Miss Street, Mrs. Kelly,
and Mr. Kelly. -How do you do?

Hey, this is a nice place
you have here, Mr. Jaris.

Now, all you need is someone
to give lessons to guys like...

Kelly?

I mean, how do you do?

Uh, I thought maybe your friend
Mason was with you tonight.

Perry? No, we just put him
on a plane for Paris.

Oh. I see.

Uh... well,
make yourselves at home,

and, uh... I'll
see you later, maybe, Paul.

Is something wrong, Mr. Jaris?

Joe.

Well, I just got this thing,
and I wanted a lawyer to take

-a look at it, that's all.
- What is it?

We just got here
from San Francisco, you know.

Yes, the Kellys are
on their vacation.

Later on we're
going to take them

to see the Sunset Strip.

- Aren't we, Paul?
- I'm sorry, Joe.

Would you mind?

I'm a lawyer.

Let's see it.

What would you like
to know about this?

Well, the sergeant
says it's official, but...

Well, it looks
perfectly legal to me.

Oh, I bet it's legal.

What this paper orders you
to do, Mr. Jaris,

I'm afraid you'll have to do.

- BILL: I can't stop it?
- You mean, stop it now?

- Yeah, now. Tonight.
- No.

Well, why not?

Well, this document has
the weight of a judicial order,

and, uh, only a competent court
can act on it.

You mean dismiss it.

Or affirm it; either way.

And in the meantime?

In the meantime, Mr. Jaris,
it's just like I told you--

your bowling alley
is officially closed.

You can see where it's signed
there: Dr. Max Taylor.

He's Director of City Health.

I'm afraid you have
no alternative, gentlemen.

Better start getting
your customers out right now.

Good morning, Mrs. Wilmet.

I'm Joe Kelly.

This is an old friend
of mine, Paul Drake.

You asked to see me?

Yes. For the moment,
I seem to be representing

William and Alan Jaris.

You mean you represent the
Country Corners Bowling Alley.

Well, is your difficulty
with the bowling alley

rather than its owners?

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

Mrs. Wilmet...

the Jaris brothers have
a considerable investment

in their business.

A prolonged delay
keeping their place closed

could put them in a very
difficult financial situation.

Delighted to hear it.

You're very frank, aren't you?

Their place is
a source of corruption.

Corruption?

Well, if you mean
this so-called epidemic

of amoebic infection,
I feel I'd better tell you

that we had a couple of experts
come in from Los Angeles

last night and go over
the bowling alley kitchens.

So far, they haven't even
found a... dirty plate.

Of course, I haven't talked
to Dr. Max Taylor yet.

He seems a difficult
person to find.

However, from what I've heard,

I thought perhaps
if I came to you,

-you might...
- Mr. Kelly,

a bowling alley is
a focusing point for...

gambling, drinking...

an immoral gathering place
for disreputable people.

Martin Luther
didn't seem to think so

when he built the bowling alley
for his young people to use

in his own home,
and bowled with them.

I don't care.

I will not permit
any festering evil

to infect my city.

Mrs. Wilmet, I simply hoped
that we wouldn't have

to go to court to have
the bowling alley reopened.

Well, I didn't issue
the order to close it.

Now, Mr. Kelly, if you'll
excuse me, I'm very busy.

Looking for another place
to close down

as a menace to the sovereignty
of the Duchess of Tesoro?

- Paul.
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilmet,

but after spending a whole night
crawling under sinks

and sorting through garbage

for bugs that
just aren't there...

Hold it. You heard
Mrs. Wilmet-- she's busy.

Now, do you walk out of here,

or, uh, do I
have you thrown out?

It's all right, Jack.

I'm sure the gentlemen
are leaving.

Rose will show you out.

Good day, Mrs. Wilmet.

Okay, so I shouldn't
have blown my top in there.

Well, it didn't make
any difference--

it was my mistake
suggesting we go in there.

- Uh, how do you use this thing?
- You want to reach your wife

at the hotel?
I'll do it, Joe.

You know, accusing
that bowling alley

of serving poisoned food
is a cheap, two-bit frame.

The number's, uh, - .

'Course, what really
makes me mad is the fact

that you gave up the first
night of your vacation.

Operator?
Let me have - ...

That's Perry's number.

Right.

Hello. I'd like to speak
to Miss Stree... Della?

Joe Kelly.

Yeah, fine, fine.

Uh, look, which judge
does Perry go to

when he wants
a petition in a hurry?

Yeah, a temporary
restraining order, ex parte.

Oh, fine.
Fine, then I'll meet you

over at the courthouse
right away.

Good.

You don't mind driving
around that way,

-do you? -Joe,
you can have the whole car.

Now, wait a minute, Paul.

I like trouble
as much as you do,

but if you stick around here
in Tesoro...

Don't worry, Joe, I'm not gonna
tangle with the Duchess again.

I just want to find out
if two and two add up

to four, that's all.

Which two and two?

Marks on a face
and a set of brass knuckles.

(doorbell buzzes)

(doorbell buzzes)

(squeaking in distance)

(squeaking)

(squeaking in distance)

(squeaking)

Alan! What's
the matter with you!

- Paul!
-(baby crying in distance)

There we go.

(toy squeaking)

(toy squeaking)

So that's it.

And who is that?

It's Bill's kid.

Kind of a nervous babysitter,
aren't you?

Or were you expecting somebody
with brass knuckles?

(Alan chuckles)

I'm sorry, Paul.

Well, why didn't
you answer the bell?

Well, I was putting
the kid to sleep.

I figured it was the nursemaid.

She's got a key,
but she always rings anyway.

And then you thought
it was Jack Baker.

Why him?

I saw the brass knuckles.

Okay.

Yeah. Baker and his boys.

Another message
from the Duchess, maybe?

"Get out of town."”

Alan, exactly what is this stuff
between you two and the Duchess?

Paul, I've tried
to keep things peaceful.

And Bill, well, I guess
he hasn't wanted to drag out

-all his troubles, but...
- Apparently not.

Of course, I haven't seen much
of Bill till recently.

He only saved my life once,
but that was a long time ago.

I didn't know he had a child.

Didn't even know
he had a wife, in fact.

He doesn't... anymore.

(baby cries briefly)

How does the baby tie in
with the Duchess?

She's his grandmother.

Bill married
the Duchess' only child.

Oh. Now I begin to see
what we stepped into.

Bill wasn't exactly
the old gal's choice.

He, uh, refused to work
in a refinery.

Now, that made her mad.

They refused
to live in her home,

Leaving her alone there

with just her companion
and her companion's kid.

That made her even madder.

So she got even with Bill.

She disinherited her daughter.

Where is her daughter--
uh, Bill's wife?

She's dead.

(baby crying)

Oh, she was a little doll.

A frail little doll.

She and Bill
were on their way

back into town
from out of state.

They only got
as far as my place,

and the baby decided to come,
a month early.

It was raining
and phones were out,

the, um, streets flooded.

I had to grab
the closest doctor I could find.

I-I guess he did
the best he could, but...

the little doll d*ed.

Alan...

who was this doctor?

Dr. Taylor.

Dr. Max Taylor!

Temporary restraining order?!

But this commands
the city of Tesoro

to allow the Country Corners
Bowling Alley to remain open.

Pending a hearing

on the granting
of a permanent injunction!

Now, good Heavens, Mr. Kelly,
how long is that going to take?

Five days.

And at the end
of those five days,

the burden of proof
is on the city of Tesoro

to establish, to the
satisfaction of the court,

that the bowling alley
does in fact

constitute a public nuisance.

Now, see here, Mr. Kelly,
Tesoro is in the county

of Los Angeles,
it's not the city,

and whatever high-handed tactics

you can get away with
in San Francisco

will not work here!

Seems to me, Mayor,
the only high-handed tactics

have been those used
by your City Health Office.

Now, is this
Dr. Taylor prepared,

as an individual as well
as a city official,

to defend himself
in a lawsuit?

What for?

False statements
concerning the quality

of the services
or product of a business

which are intended to cause
that business financial harm

-and which... in fact do so.
- No, no,

they're not
false statements, sir.

Wait a minute.
It's not false to say

my bowling alley is a source
of pollution and infection?

Come off it--
you've got sanitation reports.

Why, this whole business
is no more than a frame-up

to close me down,
and you know it, both of you.

I resent your implication,
young man.

I bet you do, Mayor--
but not as much

as you'd resent losing
the duchess' business.

Please, please.
The bowling alley

simply must be the source
of pollution and infection.

You can prove that?

Well... well, perhaps not like
proving it in a court of law.

And prove there is absolutely
no other source of infection...

Oh, no, no, I didn't say that...

Oh, so you could be wrong, Max?

Well, i-it's possible.

- Well, this is my opinion.
- Oh...

Supposing we continue
this conversation

in the City Attorney's Office,
Mr. Kelly.

Perhaps we can have a hearing
in two or three days

-instead of the usual five.
- After who knows how many more

people get sick, perhaps die!

No! Gentlemen...

we just had two more new cases--
that makes a total of --

and all of those cases have
just one eating place in common:

the Country Corners
Bowling Alley.

Now, I'll admit we don't know
the exact source

of the pollution there yet.

I-I'll even admit
the place seems clean.

I couldn't believe this
at first myself.

But give us a chance,
give us time,

because if you force us
to let that place open again,

I warn you, this town
may face a major epidemic.

Don't listen to him, Mr. Kelly.

He and the mayor
are in the Duchess' pocket.

- It isn't true what he says.
- Bill...

They couldn't close us down
any other way,

so they're pulling this stunt.

I tell you, it isn't true,
it's a frame-up.

Bill, an entire community
could be affected.

I signed a petition
for that restraining order-- me.

It's been served;
I refuse to withdraw it.

If you withdraw it, Bill,
and these fellas are wrong,

the law protects you,
with damages.

The only law here
is what the duchess wants.

She wants my son,
and she has to break me

through the bowling alley
to get him.

But she won't get away with it.

I'll do anything to keep my son.

You look like
you've been digging.

I have-- for the truth.

Did you find it?

I think so.

I think for once
I'm doing the right thing.

Your phone
hasn't stopped ringing--

the mayor,
the City Attorney's Office,

and, of course, the Duchess.

Which one would you like me
to call back first?

None of them.
Get me the chief engineer

of the City Water Department.

What's that?

That's Tesoro's main waterline.

This smaller one where the
county line jogs back and forth

is a spur.

Now, that refinery
the Duchess owns

is in the same general area,

but it uses bottled water
and water from its own wells

for its commercial needs.

In other words, the refinery
is outside the county line,

so it isn't connected
to the Tesoro system.

I wish I knew
what you were talking about.

Della, I thought you said
you spoke to Perry today.

(laughs):
Wha...? Well, I did.

He's leaving Rome
and on his way to Lisbon.

Well, what did you talk about?

Well, he said that he's glad
that you're using the office,

and that we should be
as much help to you as we can,

-and...
- What did you say to him?

Della...

this, uh, spur line,
it only supplies one place:

the bowling alley.

Oh.

Oh!

And I said, "Perry, be careful

what kind of water you drink."

Exactly. Now, we know
the bowling alley itself

is as clean as a whistle,
so unless Bill is right,

unless this whole thing
is a big frame-up,

what other possible source
of infection could there be

-but the water?
-(knocking)

DRAKE:
Joe.

I thought you persuaded Bill

to keep that
bowling alley closed.

Persuaded?
I practically broke his arm.

But he finally agreed
to give 'em a little more time

-for investigation. Why?
- Well, he changed his mind.

He tried to open
the place himself.

Oh, of all
the stupid things to do!

Don't worry, he didn't do it;
they wouldn't let him.

What happened, Paul?

Doc Taylor had
their water supply shut off.

So he's on the same track, huh?

Della, call me if you hear
from either Bill or Alan, hm?

- Where can I reach you?
- Dr. Taylor's office.

DRAKE:
Bye, beautiful.

I found him like that,
just before you got here.

Mr. Kelly, my brother Alan,
where is he?

We don't know. Paul Drake
is out looking for him now.

- That means Sadie's alone
with the baby. -Sadie?

Sadie Noymann, the nursemaid.
She has her own family;

she should have been
relieved hours ago.

Well, if we
don't find Alan soon,

I'll send a nurse out there

until we can make
other arrangements.

Now, let's get to your problem.

That baby is my problem--

- The only one that counts.
- Yeah, I'm sure of that, Bill.

And I'm equally sure that
problem will be compounded

if we don't get you out of here.

Now that the Duchess
has me in, I wish us both luck.

Relax, you're in the hands
of the county,

not the city of Tesoro.

Now, tell me,
what happened tonight?

Nothing happened.
That's just it.

I stopped by at the house.

Sadie told me
that Dr. Taylor had called,

wanted me to come by the office,
said it was important.

I went. Found him dead.

The mayor,
then you walked in

before I could do
anything about it.

- And that's all?
- So help me, that's all.

Now, look, Bill,
if I'm gonna help...

Paul, my brother Alan,
did you find him?

Yep. He's right here, in jail.

Oh, for Pete's sake!
What for?

Well, he chased down
the city's water engineer

and fought with him
about turning the water back on.

Then when the boys in blue
arrived, he fought with them.

The complaint reads like
a one-man insurrection.

Mr. Kelly...
- Yeah, I know: get him out.

All right, Paul, let's go.

Absolutely no consideration
for other people.

You and your brother ought
to be ashamed of yourself,

leaving this
adorable child with me,

knowing, knowing full well,
I had to get home to my family.

Well, it's the last time!

I tell you that,
it's the last time!

What time tomorrow?

- I'll call you.
- Good night.

Oh, Mrs. Noymann.

You're forgetting your gloves.

I didn't bring gl...

Thank you.

She's so mad, I'll bet
when she gets home

she jumps down the throat of
the first person who says hello.

Uh, say, Alan, do you have
a shovel and some sort

of a crowbar around the house?

Yeah, in the garage. Why?

And a long tape measure?

I guess so.
What do you want them for?

I'll tell you later--
would you get them

for Paul, please?
Oh, Della,

Joe Kelly.

Listen, you know those maps
I was going over.

Would you take them
and grab a cab

and meet me over here
at the Jaris house

just as quick as you can.

Mm-hmm.

Fine.

Well, now, right here from
this point where I am standing

to that property line over there
is your direction, Paul.

Direction for what?

Well, look for soft earth,

someplace where somebody
might have been digging recently

and then... you dig.

- You're not looking for a body?
- No, no, Della,

just the truth.
Paul, do you remember

- Dr. Taylor's muddy shoes?
- Yeah.

Well...

get going.

And, now, you heard
the decedent, Dr. Max Taylor,

phone the city water engineer
and instruct him

that the spur line feeding
the Tesoro bowling alley

-was to be turned off,
is that right? -That's right.

Dr. Taylor explained
that the bowling alley

was the only place taking water
from that spur line,

and would be
the only place affected.

He didn't say why
he wanted it turned off.

He just said that he was
ordering it turned off.

I see. Now, after this
phone call from the decedent,

what did Dr. Taylor do?

Well, he turned to me
and said, "Linda,

call Bill Jaris
and get him for me."”

I called his house;
he wasn't in.

I called the bowling alley,
and he wasn't there, either.

So Doc... well, Dr. Taylor
told me to call his house back

and have Mr. Jaris call
just as soon as he got in.

Did Dr. Taylor tell you
anything else?

Well, he told me to leave.

It was late,
after working hours.

And did you notice
as you were leaving

what Dr. Taylor was doing?

Just as I left,
I heard him on the telephone.

He was talking to the mayor.

Yes, Doc Taylor did call me
to tell me that he'd ordered

the water supply
to the bowling alley turned off.

I must say, it seemed like
a pretty drastic step to me.

But... (chuckles)

Doc just wouldn't elaborate on
his reasons

even though I warned him, it
could lead to serious trouble.

Now, after this phone call

from the decedent,
Mayor Stillman, what did you do?

Well, I decided
to discuss the matter

with Mrs. Wilmet.

She's rather concerned about
civic matters of this nature.

I see. Did you call her?

No, I drove out to her place.

And the girl, Marla Carol--

that's Mrs. Wilmet's
companion's daughter--

Marla answered the door.

And he told me
that Mrs. Wilmet had gone

to bed for the night.

She wasn't feeling too well,

and that her mother,
Mrs. Carol,

had gone to the movies
with Jack Baker.

Oh, you didn't speak
to Mrs. Wilmet then?

No, I wasn't going to trouble
her in bed, asleep, no.

I drove back to town
to City Hall.

And I walked in on Bill Jaris

standing over the dead body
of Dr. Taylor.

There were signs of a struggle
in the decedent's office;

a few things overturned,
some of them on the floor.

And as to the defendant, William
Jaris, were there any signs

either as to is person
or to his clothing

to indicate that he had been
involved in any such struggle?

He had blood on his clothing

and some blood on
his right hand.

Was it his blood, Sergeant?

No, sir, it not his own blood.

It was blood that matched the
type of the decedent's blood.

And as to the m*rder w*apon used
to k*ll Dr. Taylor,

was that examined in
your police laboratories,

and if so, with what results?

Yes, sir, it was examined,

and there were clearly defined
fingerprints on the handle.

The fingerprints of the
defendant, William Jaris.

Mr. Baker's bringing
my daughter down.

She's been very ill, Mr. Kelly.

I hope you won't upset her.

I'll try not to, Mrs. Carol,

but there are a few questions
I must ask her.

After that police officer
testified,

I didn't think there were any
questions left to be asked.

Bill Jaris didn't know Doctor
Taylor was already dead.

He knelt down to see

if there was anything
he could do for him.

And that, of course, explains
the blood and the fingerprints?

In a m*rder trial,
Mrs. Wilmet,

the so-called facts are examined
in the context

of "beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Very often, the truth is no more
than a matter

of relative believability.

As far as I'm concerned,

that does explain the blood
and the fingerprints.

You're Marla Carol?

Yes.

You mind if I ask you
a few questions?

No, why should I?

Fine. Please, sit down.

Now, the night
Doctor Taylor was k*lled,

Mayor Stillman did come out
to the house here?

Yes. He was here,
and then he left right away.

Did he see Mrs...
or speak to Mrs. Wilmet?

No.

Of course. Mrs. Wilmet was in
her room?

I suppose so.

Asleep?

I guess so.

You know that, for sure?
Because you went in to look?

I, uh...

That's enough, Mr. Kelly.

The child isn't on
the witness stand.

No, not yet..

I'm sorry, Marla,
but I have a subpoena here

ordering you
to appear in court tomorrow

Why, of all the dirty...

DUCHESS:
Jack!

As a matter of fact, I have
subpoenas for all of you.

Miss Carol, Miss Wilmet.

And tomorrow, Mr. Baker, we'll
see if you're as quick

with your brains
as you are with your fists.

Court reconvenes at :
in the morning.

Good day.

So there can't be any question
of it, let me ask you again:

Miss Bonnie Mae Wilmet, the
night of Dr. Taylor's k*lling,

was at home in her room?

- Yes.
- Asleep?

Yes.

And she did not leave the house
that evening?

No.

Miss Carol, at the bowling
alley, the night you became ill,

you were with a young man,
were you not?

Yes.

Suppose I were to tell you

that the young man has been
subpoenaed,

that he is prepared,
reluctantly,

to testify that he visited
you at Mrs. Wilmet's house

the night of the m*rder.

But he promised!

That he visited
you at your suggestion

because you said you were alone
in the house!

Now, Miss Carol, what actually
happened that night?

Well, she... Mrs. Wilmet,

uh, told mother and
Mr. Baker to go to the movies.

And then she said she was going
up to her room.

Well, I saw her go out
the side door,

get in the car and drive away.

All right,
so they weren't my gloves

you found at the Jaris house.

Whose were they?

Mrs. Wilmet's.

Well, she was the boy's
grandmother, wasn't she?

There wasn't any harm in letting
her see the boy, was there?

Your Honor,
on the basis of the memorandum

submitted to the court--

a copy of which has been
furnished the district attorney,

who stipulates thereto--

I repeat, for the record, the
witness called by the defense

has been judged hostile
for purposes of examination.

So noted, Mr. Kelly.

You may proceed.

Mrs. Wilmet,
you had a daughter, I believe,

who d*ed about a year ago.

She was, in turn, survived
after death by an infant son--

your grandson.

Yes.

Who, I gather, stands to inherit
the oil refinery.

No.

My will specifically disinherits

my late daughter
and her descendants.

May I ask the name or names

of those who are designated
as your beneficiaries?

Your Honor, I object
to this line of questioning

in that
it's completely immaterial

to the crimes charged
in the information.

I submit, Your Honor,
the evidence is admissible

to establish the witness' bias.

Bias?

Counselor, that would be
for purposes

of impeaching the witness,

and hostile or not,
she's your witness.

So far
you haven't let her produce

any testimony
about the defendant at all,

let alone any testimony
damaging to the defendant.

Bias, Mr. Burger, not
necessarily toward the defendant

but toward the m*rder*d man
Dr. Max Taylor, who attended

the witness' daughter
when she d*ed in childbirth.

The witness' daughter,
Mr. Kelly,

happened to be
the defendant's wife!

Exactly, Mr. Burger,
in which case

the evidence is neither
collateral nor immaterial

but goes to the heart
of the question

of motivation.

BURGER: Your Honor, I'll stand
on my original objection.

I shall permit you to proceed,
Mr. Kelly,

subject to a later decision
by the court to strike

if the evidence
is not connected up.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, then, Mrs. Wilmet, the name
or names of those designated

testamentarily
as your beneficiaries.

A trusted employee
and a devoted friend,

my sole heir is Rose Carol.

KELLY: Why did you disinherit
your daughter?

She'd made a wrong marriage.

I was only trying to bring her
to her senses, that's all.

And you disapproved of
Bill Jaris as your son-in-law?

I certainly did.

And then, after her death
you approved of him even less?

Well, do you blame me?

It was his fault that she d*ed.

He kept her gallivanting
around the country.

I wasn't even there,
I wasn't even called.

Mrs. Wilmet,
I can certainly understand

the bitterness of your sorrow,

even your momentary hatred
of Bill,

but I gather from Mrs. Carol,
Mrs. Noymann, and others

that your hatred has steadily
increased since that time.

Why?

Bill Jaris is a m*rder*r.

He k*lled my daughter just as
surely as he k*lled Dr. Taylor.

- No, no.
-(judge tapping gavel)

Order, order in the court.

I didn't know it at first.

He kept her traveling
around the country

when she was already sick,
undernourished,

burning up with pneumonia.

That's a lie.

Bill, stop it.

But she mustn't say that.

I said stop it!

Mrs. Wilmet, is that what
your daughter's regular doctor

told you
about her physical condition?

Doctor.

The way they were living?

Parties, travel.

No time to get a decent night's
sleep, let alone...

Mrs. Wilmet, would you be
interested in a statement

given by a doctor in Arizona

who examined your daughter
not two days before her death,

whose records show
that she was in perfect health,

she didn't even have a cold,
was in good condition to make

that trip back to Los Angeles?

No, no,
that couldn't be possible.

Who used the word
"undernourished,” "pneumonia"?

Dr. Max Taylor.

He delivered the baby.

He...

He...

Mrs. Wilmet, whatever stories
Dr. Taylor told you in private--

it didn't occur to you that
they might not have been true?

They might have only been
desperate fiction

to hide his own feeling
of guilt?

I... I don't know.

KELLY: But, of course, whatever
happened that tragic night,

whatever bungling accident took
the life of your daughter

lies buried with her,
doesn't it,

and Dr. Max Taylor.

So now tell us,

why did you go
recently, secretly

to visit your baby grandson?

I-I, I just had to look at him,
that's all.

Was that your first visit--
that night?

No, I'd been there once before.

I couldn't help it.

Now, then, Mrs. Wilmet,
will you tell us this:

did you order Jack Baker
and two of his men

to b*at up
the defendant's brother?

DUCHESS:
What?

What are you talking about?

KELLY:
I see.

And one final thing,
Mrs. Wilmet.

Obviously you have sources
within the city hall

that keep you well informed.

- DUCHESS: Yes. -So, did you know
of Max Taylor's decision

to shut off the water,
for instance?

Did you know what prompted
that decision?

DUCHESS:
No.

These sources that failed
to tell you, Mrs. Wilmet-- who?

Who were they?

A friend of Jack's.

She, she worked in Max's office.

And then there was Orson,
of course, Orson Stillman.

I-It... the pollution wasn't
in the bowling alley at all.

No, apparently
the pollution occurred

where the city's
spur water line passes

close to the oil refinery's
sewage facilities.

Is that right?

Well, uh, that doesn't
necessarily mean

that there's anything wrong
with the city's water lines.

Uh, as I understand it,
it's possible

for seepage to occur
into perfectly sound pipe,

but, uh, the refinery
is about, uh,

years old,
and, uh, underground

there's a crazy quilt

of gas lines and feeder lines
and runoffs,

so that finding out
exactly where the trouble is

and fixing it could mean

that the plant would have
to be closed down

for weeks
or even for months, uh,

depending on the extent
of the repairs.

That plant, I understand,
barely operates in the black.

I suppose an alarmist
might think that any shutdown

could lead to the plant
being closed permanently,

in which case, of course,
you'd lose your best customer.

Now, is that why you went
running straight to Mrs. Wilmet?

I am not an alarmist, Mr. Kelly,
but Doc Taylor did say

that the plant would have
to be closed down.

Yes, closed.

Oh, surely, as mayor, there's
something you could have done--

somehow covered up
the whole matter?

Oh, no, not even if I wanted to.

The refinery is outside the
city, it's outside the county,

Mr. Kelly, and that report
was for the state.

They had to be informed,
and Doc Taylor told me that,

even as he was talking to me,

Miss Terry was typing
the report.

I could hear her.

"It was late,
after working hours.

"Just as I was going
out the door,

I heard him talking
to the mayor."”

Now, you weren't actually going
out the door, were you?

You were actually still in
the office, typing that report.

Yes, I did type the report.

I finished it, he signed it,
and I left.

But I checked.

The state never received
such a report,

the police didn't find it,
and it's not in your office.

I had nothing to do
with Dr. Taylor's death.

Please believe me.

He was alive and well
when I left him,

alive and well
with that report on his desk.

You can ask...

Yes, Miss Terry, yes,

I can ask the person you always
contacted with news like that,

the same person
you must have called that night

right after you left
the office-- Mr. Jack Baker.

Sure, she called me.
So what?

She was a friend
of mine and Mrs. Wilmet's.

Linda was always calling
with information.

Such things, for instance,

as the truth about the death
of Miss Wilmet's daughter?

No.

Shall we recall Linda Terry
to the stand and ask her

whether or not Dr. Taylor
ever let the truth slip out

and whether she ever told you
about the tragic happenings

-of that night? -Well, she
might have mentioned it to me.

But so what?

There was nothing
anybody could do about it.

Oh, but there was.

Didn't you use the information
to force Dr. Taylor

to close the bowling alley
before he actually was ready to?

Well, he didn't need
to be blackmailed, did he?

There was a reason
for closing the place.

And for closing the refinery?

Oh, look, I-l don't know
what you're getting at.

The night the doc was k*lled,
I was in a movie,

sitting next to Rose Carol.

Yes, in a movie theater

just around the corner
from the city hall.

Oh, what are you trying to say?

That you could have slipped
out of the theater,

around the corner to the city
hall, up to Max Taylor's office,

and destroyed the report
which condemned to total closure

the refinery after you fought
with and k*lled Dr. Taylor.

That's a dirty lie.

I was with Rose; I couldn't.

Well... ask her.

Yes, yes, he was
in the theater with me.

Mrs. Carol,
is there a Mr. Carol?

No, I'm a widow
like Mrs. Wilmet.

You were aware, were you not,
that you were

the sole beneficiary of the oil
refinery in Mrs. Wilmet's will?

Yes, she made no secret of that.

This date with Jack Baker--

was it the first time
you went out with him?

No, Jack and I--
we've been seeing

quite a good deal
of one another.

Then, I assume you were aware,

about two weeks ago
he bought a ring--

what the jeweler refers to
as an engagement ring.

Of course I was aware of it.

It was for me.

We're engaged.

No!

- No, it's a lie!
-(judge tapping gavel)

Linda, no, please.

LINDA:
He can't be engaged to you.

It's impossible.

Not two weeks
but over three months ago

he gave me a ring.

I know I promised
to keep it a secret,

but you've got to tell,

you've got to.

(sighs)

This first date with Jack
Baker-- was it before or after

he found out you were going
to inherit the refinery?

(quavering sigh)

It was after.

Through you, he hoped
to end up owning that refinery,

but a panicky, greedy man might
think there'd be nothing to own

if Dr. Taylor's report
were sent out

and the state closed
that refinery.

Isn't that right?

...

Mrs. Carol, Jack Baker--

was he with you in the next seat
all through that movie?

He said to say,
if I were asked, that...

No, no.

He said he wasn't feeling well.

He went out to the lobby
for some fresh air.

Oh, you m*rder*r!

You didn't come back,
not for over half an hour!

(sobbing)

Well, with the place
all locked up,

at least we have it all
to ourselves.

Come on, Marge, you'll never
have another chance like it.

Why, we could just stay here in
our own private bowling alley.

You'd better pack in
plenty of supplies.

How long will it take to run in
that new water line, Bill?

Well, Della, we figure
about two months longer

than our second mortgage
will hold out.

KELLY:
Well, stop figuring so much.

The Duchess and I
have just been down to the bank,

and she seems to think
that you and the refinery

might as well sink
or swim together.

I'd like to help

if you don't mind, Bill.

Oh, Duchess, if you don't mind

a whole lot of things.

I know a baby who could sure use
a grandmother.

(sobbing)

I think this is about where
we came in, darling,

with a bowling lesson.

Hey, I know you.

You're my wife.

Well, I certainly don't see
what's so hard about that.

(theme song playing)