08x16 - The Case of the Thermal Thief

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

Go ahead, girl, blow them out.

Make a wish first.

Okay.

My wish is that I never see
your faces again

as long as I live.

(chuckles)
Never fails.

Come on, you're going to need
all the luck you can get.

Come on, if they all go out,
you'll have good luck.

Don't worry, I won't be back.

Four years is plenty.

I promised myself
once I get out...

That's what we all say,
every time.

Inside of two months you'll roll
a drunk or clout a purse.

You see, maybe you think
it's superstition but...

Not me, honey.

I believe it.

Now she'll be lucky enough
not to get caught.

That's right.

Because I'm never going
to do anything wrong again.

(lounge music playing)

WOMAN: It's ghastly morbid,
that's all.

I mean, mourning is one thing,
but this.

She ought never to wear black
with her coloring,

I mean, you can't make
a career of widowhood.

And even if Dion
was an absolute original,

she's got
to write period sometime.

And pouring all this money
into a fund for seasick sailors

or whatever it is,
I mean, isn't that a bit much?

By some $ , dollars?

It's unhealthy and unnatural,

and you've got
to snap her out of it.

Me?

Darling, I'm her lawyer,
not her spiritual adviser.

If she wants to keep
his memory...

Amy isn't remembering Dion.

She's canonizing him.

Oh, I'll admit it was a nice
touch of drama for him to drown,

but personally
if I have a choice,

I'll go in a four poster.

Holy smoke,
look what time it is.

Listen, I've got an appointment
at the office tonight.

You've got your own car here
so I'll just...

Now, Jeffrey, wait.

Jeffrey, please talk to Amy.

She has great respect for you.

I'm afraid Amy only respects
the people who agree with her.

Now, Jeffrey, you wait.

Jeffery, just a minute.

Let's talk about it.

(car approaches)

(tires squeal)

Ouch!

(mutters)

I see you've managed
to shake them off.

Whoever was pursuing you.

The police, I should imagine.

Very funny.

I just wish
I had met a policeman.

Mr. Canfield, do you know
what happened in the club bar?

My bag was stolen.

In the yacht club?

Oh, now, Lona, really.

Well, I didn't just forget it.

I mean, even if I had,

I went back to the booth
for my cigarettes.

If it had still been there,
I would have noticed it.

My driver's license.

Now, now, take it easy.

I'll telephone them,
and as one of the directors,

if anyone down there
did take your bag, I promise...

The yacht club
isn't the only thing

you're a director of, is it?

No, I'm on several boards,
but...

Including the Dion Reid
Memorial Foundation.

Which is just a fancy name
for a wake.

It's lasted five years already.

Why don't you stop her?

Here, let me see that hand.

Oh, you have
a nasty scratch there.

Mr. Canfield, don't you know
what this is doing to Amy?

She is absolutely chained
to Dion's headstone.

Lona dear, could you manage

to be a trifle
less earsplitting?

Good evening, Roland.

You're just in time
to see some home movies.

Some what?

Of Dion. Come along.

Well, wouldn't you know it,

another séance!

(projector humming)

MAN:
This was sh*t at the club.

The skipper was getting
the Dirigo ready

for the Santa Barbara races.

That's Catalina, of course.

There you are, Mr. Canfield.

Remember that?

ROLAND: Look at him bring her
around into the wind.

I often told Dion
he was half Viking.

MAN:
And there we are.

You know, the skipper put me
down as often as I b*at him?

That's the last sh*t ever taken.

He was heading for Catalina.

Where did you get it all, Pete?

Oh, from club members, mostly.

Just about everybody
with a camera

had a few feet of film.

It must've taken months
to collect it all.

It was grand, wasn't it, Lona?

Next best thing to a wax museum.

I'd really love
to have the film, Pete.

Would you sell it to me?

Well, of course he will.

For the right price, of course.

That's uncalled for, Lona.

Amy, you're the easiest mark
in town,

and everybody's
after a share of it.

Is it so wrong
to want a film of Dion?

Oh, Amy, it's not just the film.

It's all the useless junk
you've been collecting.

Where does it end?

I'll leave the film with you,
Mrs. Reid.

We can talk about it Saturday

when I come back
to fix those shelves.

-(door closes)
- Roland,

will you write out
a check to Pete

for $ ?

It's your money, Amy.

Yes.

But that seem to be a point
that's escaped Lona.

And I intend to spend it
any way I choose.

Have you thought
of buying the Catalina Channel?

Oh, Amy, I'm sorry.

I know that sounds horrible,
but...

Ma'am?

Yes, Stella?

There's a woman
at the door, ma'am.

I've never seen her before.

Well, who is it?
What does she want?

I don't know, miss,
but she seems very nice.

Oh, for heaven’s sake,
show her in, Stella.

At least you can be gracious
to a stranger, can't you?

Perhaps what we all need
is a drink.

Yes, hemlock on the rocks
for me.

Miss Maxine Nichols.

How do you do?

Is one of you Lona Upton?

Yes.

I think you lost a purse.

Oh, where...

Yes.

Yes, my purse was stolen
this evening.

Stolen?

Well, I wondered why it didn't
have any money in it.

It's such a lovely bag.

And anyway, since I was taking
a taxi back this way,

I thought I'd stop in
and bring it to you.

Well, thank you.

Thank you for bringing it to me.

ROLAND:
Tell me, young lady,

exactly where did
you find the purse?

In the parking lot
of the yacht club,

lying between two cars.

You've gone to a lot of trouble,
Miss Nichols.

Lona, I think perhaps
some small reward might...

Oh, no, please.

Really, I'm not in the habit
of taking money.

It's just that
I know how I'd hate

to lose all of my credit cards,
let alone such a pretty thing.

You understand.

So now I'll
be running along and...

Oh.

Isn't that Dion Reid?

My husband.

- Did you know him?
- Yes.

Oh, well no, not really.

In a short, desperate period
of my youth,

I tried working
as a cocktail waitress.

On Catalina.

I thought I'd seen you before.

Strange you'd remember Dion
after all these years.

Not really.

A nice person
creates his own memory,

and you meet very few of them
in a cocktail bar, I'm afraid.

Come on, Maxine.

It is Maxine, isn't it?

I'm going to make you
take that reward.

Oh, but really...

A nice happy thing
with ice in it,

and maybe a little soda.

Really, Miss Upton,

anyone would've returned
your bag.

Call me Lona,
and it's not for the bag.

It's for gaffing
those spouting whales in there.

I always get mad
and just sputter.

Sit down.

Sit down!

Well, I don't want
to be a nuisance,

but perhaps I could use
just one little drink.

No, Amy's my sister.

My half sister actually.

Her mother left Dad before
I was born,

married a very wealthy man.

Oh, here, you need more ice.

Wasn't I was going
to call another taxi?

No, you were going to tell me
more about Dion,

your impressions.

But I don't remember any more.

Anyhow, it's your turn.

- Oh?
Mm-hmm.

Yes, where was I?

Oh, well,

years later, Dad remarried,

but instead of a dowry,
he had to settle for me.

They're all dead now,

both sets of parents,

but Amy's rich,

and everyone thinks
she must be my aunt.

She keeps me here,

working sometimes
for my bed and board.

She's kind of a dingbat,
you know?

Hey, you know I don't even know

where I'm going
to sleep tonight?

-I was on the way to look
for a hotel when... -Oh, here.

You only got half.

Besides, don't interrupt
with problems

that are so easy to solve.

Why?

Oh, dear, because I need someone
to talk to,

don't you understand?

I love Amy,
and I want to help her,

but she won't even listen and...

No, no, no, why's she a dingbat?

Because of Dion.

Oh, I know he was wonderful
and all...

Well, you know.

You met him.

But hallelujah,

he's been dead for five years.

To everyone but Amy,
is that what you mean?

Exactly.

And you haven't heard
anything yet.

She's endowing a home

for derelict dolphins
or something,

and it's costing $ , .

Imagine.

$ , .

♪♪

♪♪

OFFICER:
Can we help you, lady?

Certainly not.
Why should I need help?

Well, it's a little late
to be out walking alone.

Thought maybe there was
something wrong, that's all.

Oh, no,
it's perfectly all right.

I was just visiting friends,
and my car broke down.

Thank you anyway, officer.

Good night.

OFFICER:
Hey...

Why don't you just hop in,

and we'll drop you
anywhere you like.

Oh, no, really,
that won't be necessary.

I'd much rather take the cab.

Oh, you won't find one
at this hour.

Come on, we'll take you
right to your door.

- What's the address?
- W-Well, I...

You do live somewhere
around here, don't you?

(laughs):
Well, of course.

It's... uh, Granable Place.

But, really, there's no need...

That's all right,
we don't mind. Come on.

I, um, don't suppose I'd be
the first to say it, Miss Upton,

but, uh, you are
an expl*sive talker.

LONA:
Compulsive.

Uh, this young lady,

she made off with a valuable
necklace and a bracelet?

I know it was appraised
at $ , once.

And she was picked up
by the police?

LONA: You can't walk around
our neighborhood at night

unless you're a resident.

I think she almost fooled them

by giving an address.

But they found out
she didn't live there?

Nobody does.

Turned out to be a vacant lot.

Well, we'll, uh, let the law
take care of her, Miss Upton.

Now, then, what is it, uh,
what is it you want me to do?

Get her out of jail.

Get her out?

After she stole from you?

Not from me--
from my sister, Amy.

Oh, but the point is,
the police department

says Maxine has a prison record,

so if the poor girl
is convicted again...

Oh, this Maxine,
she's a friend of yours?

No. I told you.

I met her yesterday
for the first time.

Yesterday.

Yesterday when, uh,
she returned your lost bag.

Miss Upton,

doesn't it seem likely
that Maxine

was the one who stole that bag?

I don't know, I just want you
to get her out of jail.

Oh, see here, if it's the money,

I have $ , of my own
in the bank, so...

Pardon me if I'm wrong,

but did I detect
a certain note of warmth

when you spoke
about your sister's lawyer?

Jeffrey's madly in love with me.

(chuckles):
Yes, I see.

So you come walking in
to the first door

marked "Attorney-at-Law"
and start waving your money.

Miss Upton, I just got back
from a government job--

I'm not even in the phone book!

Oh. Oh, you mean
why didn't I go to Jeffrey

instead of you?

It does seem rather
an obvious question.

Oh. But I couldn't go to him,
don't you understand?

He simply wouldn't understand.

(low chuckle)
He does take

quite a bit of understanding.

Miss Upton,

-what I would suggest you do...
- Why?

Why can't you
simply do as I ask?

Well, if you're just
starting in business,

don't you want business?

Well, it's just something
that has to be done, that's all.

(typewriter clacking)

Maxine Nichols.

Yeah. Patrol car
picked her up last night.

Gave a phony address.

Seems she'd burgled a safe.

An antique emerald necklace
and bracelet, wasn't it?

That's right.
But the jewelry's been returned.

Mrs. Reid's lawyer
picked it up this morning.

Mrs. Re...

You mean you aren't holding
the jewelry for evidence?

Of what?
Seems the whole thing

was just a great big mistake,
Counselor.

The Nichols woman
didn't steal the jewelry,

it was loaned to her.

- By whom?
- Mrs. Amy Reid.

The owner?

You figure it out.

Uh, Sergeant, do you mind
if I borrow your telephone?

- Not at all.
- Thank you.

Yes, Gertie?

Who?

Mr. Kramer?

Yes, put him on, please.

Hello.

Della, I've just
run into something

that's a Perry Mason case
if ever I saw one.

And since I'm a little rusty,

I thought I might
buy Perry a lunch or...

Oh, but Perry has a case that
just took him over to Europe.

No, he'll be back in a few days,
but if there's anything

that I can do,
or Paul Drake, or...

No, thank you, Della, but it's
not all that complicated yet.

Yes, I'll see you soon.

Well, I guess I'll have
to figure it out myself.

If you agree, Jeff,
that my safe wasn't forced,

how did this Maxine creature
get into it?

Well, they say any lock
a man can invent,

another man can unlock.

Isn't that a specialized skill
requiring years of experience?

Yes, certainly.

Well, of course, I grant you,
that woman served time.

Well, it wasn't
safecracking, no.

Then how did she open the safe?

Well, she must have had
the combination.

I-I-I don't see
how that's possible.

I'm certain you
didn't leave it lying around.

She'd never been
in the house before,

and she had no contact with
anyone here prior to yesterday.

You still haven't said
for what crime

she was serving time in prison.

Well, you seem to have
found that out for yourself.

It was, uh,

-purse-snatching.
- Exactly.

Well, now, just a minute.

Even if Maxine did steal
my purse last night...

I think we can
assume that, Lona.

Well, you can just stop
assuming that that's where

she got the combination
to your safe, from my purse!

I'm only facing facts, Lona.

But why on earth
would I be carrying around

the combination
to your safe for?

JEFF:
Uh, ladies, how Maxine Nichols

obtained the combination is
entirely a matter of conjecture

-at this point, so...
- And the reason

I didn't press charges
against her

was in the hope
that she'd reciprocate

by telling you where she got it.

Well, I'm afraid I haven't had
much success there so far.

Now, it's possible Maxine
would talk for a price, but...

Excuse me, ma'am,

Mr. Castelni is here.

So soon?

Well... show him in.
Show him in.

- Who's Castelni?
- The jeweler.

I dropped those things off
by his store this morning.

I noticed one of the stones
in the necklace was loose.

Mrs. Reid, when did this happen?

The stone?
Well, I just noticed it...

All the stones.

All the emeralds
have been removed

and replaced with nothing
but cheap imitations.

(quietly):
Oh, no!

Jeffrey,

-phone the police.
- No, wait a minute, Mrs. Reid.

When could Maxine
have done that?

She was picked up just
after she left here last night.

This switching
would have taken time.

So Maxine couldn't
have done it, could she?

She was in prison.

I... don't remember when I
last looked at this jewelry.

I never wear it, you know.

It's grandmother's.
I... never really liked it.

That's why I never
even had it insured.

Not insured?!

But I've always
kept it locked up.

Right here in this safe.

Right here in my own hou...

house.

Mr. Castelni, I think
you'd better leave us now.

Surely. Good day, Mrs. Reid.

It must have been done
by someone...

over a period of time.

Someone right here
in my own house.

JEFF: Well, there's
only Stella living here,

but she's been with you for
SO many years, I can't imagine.

Stella isn't the only one
who could have done it, Jeffrey.

Amy, don't you
look at me like that.

I know what you're thinking,

but don't you dare say one word,

because I've got a lawyer,
and he'll sue you!

He'll sue you
for a million dollars!

(door closes)

Darling, is that you again?

Well, it's about time.

Why don't you tell
that boss of yours

to go chin himself
on a bramble bush?

Well, anyway, what
I started to say was

the top is draped black jersey,

and it has this darling
beige linen walking coat

over it that...

At Boutaric, I told you-- that's
where I bought everything.

Of course I can afford it.

Hey, listen,
that's why I phoned.

If anyone tried to get ahold
of me or anything,

be nice to them.

Well, I don't know who.
Just anyone.

Only don't ever commit me
or say where I am, or...

(laughs)
Of course I'm sober.

And I'm gonna stay sober.

Don't you understand?

This unlucky little chick has
finally stumbled into something.

Something green and jingly
and growing every minute.

WOMAN (calls):
Yes? Who is it?

Oh, my name is Kenneth Kramer.

I'm looking for
a Miss Maxine Nichols.

Oh. Oh, yes.

Uh, she's staying with me.

You better come on up.

(door buzzes)

- Mr. Kramer?
- Uh-huh.

- Hi. I-I'm Fay Gilmore.
- Miss Gilmore.

I don't know where Maxine is.

I-I just got in myself.

But if you'd like to wait.

Well, yes, thank you, I would.

I phoned several times
this afternoon, but...

but there wasn't any answer.

(laughs):
Well, I, uh... I work.

Oh. And, uh, Maxine doesn't?

Well, uh, she's looking
for a job, I-I think.

I mean, uh...

w-well, she's just staying
with me until she gets settled.

Yes, I knew she'd
just gotten into town.

You're old friends?

Well, i-in a way, yes.

Uh, we knew each other about
five years ago in Catalina.

But we, uh, sort of lost touch
after she got sick.

After she got sick?

- Yes. Lung trouble.
- Oh.

She's been living
on the desert in Arizona

for the past four years.

Oh, so that's where she's been
for the past four years.

Yeah. That's what she told me.

Say...

I thought you
said you knew Maxine.

Oh, no, no, no, no.
We just have a mutual friend.

Perhaps you've met her--
Lona Upton?

That's, uh...
Amy Reid's sister, isn't it?

Uh-huh.

No, no, we... we never have met.

W-W-Would you like
to have a-a drink?

No, thank you, not right now.

- Do you mind if I have one?
- Not at all.

Gee, I-l don't know what
could be keeping Maxine.

(siren wailing in distance)

(siren approaching)

(tires screech)

What is that across the street?

It's a children's playground.

- Lieutenant.
- Thank you.

We found this about feet
from the body.

Looks like it was used
for a compress,

but we'll know better after
we get it back from the lab.

- That's a man's handkerchief,
isn't it, Lieutenant? -Mm-hmm.

It could mean that some guy sh*t
her and then later had regrets,

or maybe she just snatched it
out of his pocket.

On the other hand, it might
belong to some passing Samaritan

who took off when he saw
he couldn't help her.

Me, I'll wait
for the lab report.

Now, Miss Gilmore,

what can you tell us
about the men in her life?

I-I don't think
that there were any.

She'd only been in town
a few days.

That's long enough
to make an enemy.

MAN: Lieutenant, I think
we've found the m*rder w*apon.

Excuse me.

(crickets chirping)

Miss Gilmore...

was Maxine contributing
anything to her board?

No. She told me that
she didn't have a dime.

I-I even had to lend her
some of my clothes

so she could go
job-hunting yesterday.

That suit she was wearing,
was that one of yours?

It had a Boutaric label
in the jacket.

Boutaric?

Oh, no. Boutaric has been out of
my reach for several years now.

That's what she
was talking to me about

on the telephone,
I guess, but...

Oh, Mr. Kramer, honestly,
she didn't make any sense.

- Don't know how
she suddenly got money.

It's not a question of how...

but where.

Didn't Lona tell you that
I practically accused her

of stealing my emeralds?

I thought Maxine Nichols
was the thief.

Oh, that was just the way
it was supposed to seem.

- Seem?
- Well, my idea is

that Maxine
stealing the jewelry

was intended to cover
the real crime.

And of course,
if she hadn't been caught,

it would have worked.

Mrs. Reid, perhaps
you'd better explain

what you mean by "real crime."”

Mr. Kramer,
those emeralds of mine

had been replaced
by bad imitations

sometime before the jewelry
was stolen last night.

And you never noticed it?

Only because that jewelry
hadn't been out of the safe

for at least five years.

But then, Mrs. Reid, why should
there be any urgent need now

to conceal the original theft?

It might be another five years

before you ever noticed
the substitution.

Yes, I rather thought
you'd seize on that point.

Perhaps I've taken
an unfair advantage,

but you see, Mr. Kramer,
several days ago

I decided to sell that jewelry.

I see. Did, uh, Lona know
about your decision?

- Yes, she did.
- Anyone else?

I..

Your lawyer? Close friends?
In other words, Mrs. Reid,

any number of people might have
known about your intention.

Any number of people
might have given

the combination
of that safe to Maxine.

- No. -And that's why you wanted
Maxine out of jail, wasn't it?

So she might tell you
who gave her the combination.

- Well, yes...
- But now, of course,

Maxine can't tell anyone,
because...

Maxine has been m*rder*d.

(gasps)

- Excuse me.
- Mr. Kramer, what did you...

Well, is it true?

She's m*rder*d?

Why?!

I suppose your
loving stepsister in there

would say it was to stop Maxine
from naming the person

who gave her the combination
to the safe.

And you think that was me?

Lona, let me ask you something.

Why did you want me to get
Maxine out of jail?

I..

Well, when Jeffrey went to
the police station this morning

to-to reclaim the necklace,

he took me along to identify it.

- Uh-huh.
- As soon as I saw those stones,

I knew they were fakes.

Well, whoever switched them
had to be someone in this house.

And there's only
Amy and Stella, isn't there?

Well, I was thinking of other
people who come here often.

Like, uh... like Mr. Canfield
and, um, Pete Kamboly.

He does odd jobs for Amy
all the time.

And Jeffrey, of course.

Which one did you suspect?

Suspicions don't count.

Maxine knew.

Did you pay her
for the information?

No, she wanted $ , .

All I had was
about half that much.

When did you talk to her?

Right after lunch.

Where have you been all evening?

Well, n-no place
in particular. I...

Just driving around.

Why? Do you... do you think
I need an alibi?

Well, I haven't got one,
but I...

I have got the next best thing.

Yes? What's that?

You.

Here is $ , .

Please help me.

A lovely thing to just happen
to have in your purse,

on a night like this.

I understand she was
in here the other evening,

and then again the next day.

Well, I'm not always
in the bar, sir,

and besides, the club
is restricted to members only.

I'm not a member.

No, I didn't think
I'd seen you before.

But I could be a friend
of a member.

That'd make it all right.

Can you drink on duty?

Well, if a member buys me
a drink it's permissible,

so I imagine a guest
is all right.

Would you care to have one
with a gate-crasher?

Oh, you couldn't crash
in here, Mr. Kramer.

Somebody had to vouch for you

or you'd have never gotten
by that door.

How did Maxine Nichols
get through that door?

I don't know.

But maybe Pete Kamboly
can help you.

He bought her a drink
the first night, I think.

- Hi, Mr. Kramer.
- Oh, hi.

'Course you realize
that this stuff

-is sort of off the top so far.
- Oh, yes, Della Street told me

your agency was the one to go
for strictly slow digging.

(chuckles)
Okay.

Jeffrey Mills: passed
his bar exam three years ago

but had difficulty
meeting his office rent

till Mrs. Amy Reid
took a liking to him.

And now he can
meet his rent, eh?

Yeah, but not much more.

Next, Roland Canfield:
society type, stocks and bonds,

and an old family friend
of the Reids.

He's a director
of the Dion Reid Foundation,

which seems to be spending
a lot of money.

What about Pete Kamboly?
Anything on him?

Kamboly's an ex-seaman,
who worked for Canfield,

among others, till Canfield
sold his boat a few years ago.

Since then, Kamboly's been
maintenance manager

at the yacht club.
And that's about it.

Well, that's very good,
thank you.

Now, I want all the information
you can dig out

on this Dion Reid Foundation.

Find out if Canfield
is disbursing the money,

how much, and if it's going
where it's supposed to.

Well, if any of it's going
into Canfield's pocket,

he must've suffered
financial reverses.

He's supposed to be a rich man.

- You might look into that, too.
- Okay.

- Oh. Is Mr. Kramer here?
- Right in there.

- Oh, Mr. Kramer, I think I'm in
trouble. -Oh, come on, sit down.

Now, has something happened
since last night?

Well, the police came
to the house again.

I-I think they want
to question me.

I told Stella to say I was out,
and then I went out.

That wasn't very smart
of you, Lona.

Well, there-there's something
I want to tell you first.

I did pay Maxine.

Oh, not in money. In clothes.

I took her down to Boutaric's,

and-and I told them she could
use my charge accounts.

And what did you receive
in return?

Nothing. Yet.

She wanted $ , .

But I thought if she-she bought
some pretty things...

Then I took her my $ , ...

Well, that's why I had the money
in my purse last night.

But you didn't give it to her?

No.

Why?

- She wasn't home.
-(door opens)

I didn't mean to be
back quite this fast,

but I guess you know
Lieutenant Anderson.

Oh, yes, of course.

Hello, Miss Upton.

I missed you at home
this morning.

It doesn't matter, though.

We traced that handkerchief,
Mr. Kramer.

That was certainly quick work,
Lieutenant.

The lab deserves all the credit.

While they were verifying that
the blood was the victim's,

they came up with a lead
on a men's store who...

-carry that particular
make of handkerchief. -And?

One of their customers
is a man named Roland Canfield.

You'd better go on, Lieutenant.

Well, uh, one thing puzzled us.

There were two types of blood
on the handkerchief.

The first stain was type A.

Mr. Canfield's type AB.

What type are you, Miss Upton?

I don't know.

Your doctor says you're type A.

You mind if I take a look
at your hand?

Now, just a minute, Lieutenant.

Mr. Canfield admits
the handkerchief is his.

He's also willing
to testify that

he loaned the handkerchief
to Miss Upton,

the night she scratched
her hand.

T-Testify?

I have a warrant here
for your arrest, Miss Upton.

First-degree m*rder.

Good morning, Counselor.

Mr. Burger.

(quietly):
Lona, are you sure that's all?

- That's all I can remember.
- Mm.

There was no answer
when I rang...

when I rang Maxine's doorbell.

And then... then I heard
what sounded like a sh*t

Mm-hmm.
-off in the playground.

Then a car drove away
very fast.

I went over and I found
Maxine lying there.

I put the handkerchief
on the wound.

Then I went to get help.

And ... just hoped
you'd remember something more.

But I just told you!

I went looking for a telephone.

Lona, I drove over
there last night.

There's a telephone booth
right there in the park.

I know, but I didn't
have any change.

Only a -cent piece,

so I went looking
for a drugstore or anything.

But they were all closed.

Then I heard a siren
and I got scared.

Here I am-- plenty of notepaper.

All right, Della. Thanks
for coming down to hold my hand.

To hold your hand?

Miss Street, I don't think
he believes me!

I don't think he believes
a thing I've told him!

(gavel banging)

BURGER:
Mrs. Reid,

we've heard the defendant here
described as being your sister.

Is that description
completely accurate?

No, she's my half-sister.

We had the same father
but different mothers.

I see. And all
the parents involved

are now deceased,
is that correct?

That is correct.
Only Lona and I are left.

Are you the sole support
of your half-sister, Mrs. Reid?

Well, the estate I inherited
from my stepfather

was far more than my needs,

so I invited Lona
to come live with me.

And is she a paid companion?
I mean, does she get...

a cash allowance?
Something like that?

Well, she has charge accounts
for her needs.

And from time to time
I gave her some cash.

Blasted little, I can tell you.

I think he got
that point across.

Now, Mrs. Reid, I want
to ask you some questions

about a recent theft
of jewelry from your home.

Which theft?

The dead girl had stolen
an emerald necklace,

but someone had previously
replaced all the stones

with worthless imitations.

BURGER: I would like you
to tell us the value,

the original value
of the genuine emeralds.

AMY:
Well, when Grandmother d*ed--

when they were given to me
about nine years ago--

that jewelry was appraised
at $ , .

Now, of course,
it's worth much more.

And how many people
beside yourself

know the combination of the safe

in which the jewelry
was habitually kept?

The dead girl, for one.

But where she got it,
I have no idea.

Well, that's my point exactly.

Couldn't someone else
at your house have known it

-and given it to her?
-I suppose so.

And could you explain for us,
by the way,

how the decedent happened to be
in your house that night at all?

She returned a purse
belonging to my sister.

Later on, Lona invited her
to spend the night.

Really?

Well, did the defendant give
any explanation for that?

After all, it's...
a little peculiar

inviting a complete stranger
into the house for the night,

someone you hardly know.

A woman who turned out,
in fact, to be a thief.

AMY: Well, none of us knew
any of that at the time.

The two girls spent
several hours together

and apparently
became very friendly.

And Maxine Nichols
returned that friendship

by stealing
your emerald necklace?

Never mind, Mrs. Reid,

I'll withdraw
that last question.

Your witness, Mr. Kramer.

Your point, Mr. Burger.

Mrs. Reid...

did you keep the combination
to that safe in your head

or was it written down
somewhere?

It was in a private notebook
that I kept locked

-in a desk drawer.
- And even to an amateur,

the lock on that desk drawer

wouldn't pose too much
of a problem, would it?

AMY:
No, I suppose not.

Now, aside from the people
living in the house,

how many other people
in your immediate circle

might have had the opportunity
to get into that desk drawer?

- Oh, perhaps four or... five,
maybe. -No further questions.

Because of my past association
with Dion Reid--

he was, uh...
he was my closest friend--

I was honored
to accept the position

of Director
of the Dion Reid Foundation.

This was an endowment fund
of some sort?

Exactly that.

Mrs. Reid supports several
charities in Dion's name.

To date, Mr. Canfield,

how much money
has Mrs. Reid contributed

to these various memorials
to her late husband?

Well, Mr. Burger, I, uh...

I think that's
privileged information.

I would need Mrs. Reid's
consent to divulge it.

Well, since Mrs. Reid
doesn't seem to object,

$ , , which does not include
the-the current project,

the Dion Reid
Memorial Seaman's Home.

That's an additional,
uh, $ , .

That's over $ , in all,
a substantial sum.

Now, suppose Mrs. Reid
had added to that the value

-of her jewelry. -Well, then,
uh, hypothetically, at least,

we would have had, uh,
perhaps $ , in our fund.

BURGER:
I see.

What was the...
defendant's expressed attitude

toward this project,
Mr. Canfield?

How did Lona Upton
feel about it?

It was Mrs. Reid's money.

If she wanted to devote it
to her husband's memory...

That's not an answer
to my question.

Well, uh, I'll admit Lona Upton
was not particularly

-in-in favor of this program,
but... -I just want to know

the actual words
of the defendant, Lona Upton.

Lona hated the program.

On the day of the robbery
she begged me

and begged me
to use my influence

with her sister to...
to discontinue it.

BURGER:
Your witness, Mr. Kramer.

Mr. Canfield...

you had known the decedent,

Maxine Nichols, before,
hadn't you?

Now, if you expect a yes or no
answer to that, Mr. Kramer,

-I refuse to. -Well,
in as many words as you like.

Very well, then.

Several years ago,
many yacht club members

frequently sailed
to Catalina on weekends.

We would usually go
to a certain bar there.

When I met Maxine Nichols at
the Reid home the other night,

I recognized her as
a former waitress in that bar.

To that extent,
I used to know her.

Then you were surprised
to see her the other night?

Naturally. Although at the time
it seemed merely coincidence.

In retrospect, however,
I realize that in the past,

she had known Dion Reid
as a wealthy man.

Well, now, having found
or stolen Lona's purse,

Maxine saw her opportunity,
and, uh...

I'm afraid, Mr. Canfield,

the court is not interested
in your opinions.

Can you actually explain

how Maxine Nichols obtained
the combination to the safe?

No.

No, I can't.

Mr. Burger, I believe

a wrong impression
has been created here.

Miss Upton was concerned for her
sister's health, not her money.

Oh, Mrs. Reid has been in
ill health?

Not physically.

You mean mentally?

No, sir. I mean emotionally.

Ever since the boating accident,

Mrs. Reid has been dedicated
to her husband's memory.

It think most people would
consider that quite normal.

So my question to you, sir...

Oh, Miss Upton thought it was
getting out of proportion.

Now, uh, I never had
the privilege

of knowing the late Mr. Reid,

but it's, uh, clear that he was
a most unusual person.

Just the same,

five years of mourning
could have injurious effects.

Isn't he wonderful?

Injurious effects
on Mrs. Reid's health,

or on Mrs. Reid's
financial reserve?

Or both, perhaps, but...

Now, who would have
the best possible reason

to be concerned
about the depletion

of those financial reserves?

Who is Amy Reid's sole heir,
for instance?

I'm sorry, Mr. Burger,
but as you well know,

the contents of a will
are privileged information.

Isn't it the defendant,
Lona Upton?

I really can't say.

Well, who is the one person

Mrs. Reid has constantly
told you

she intends to take care of

as long as her money holds out?

Do you want me to put
Mrs. Reid back on the stand

and ask her
who that one person is?

It's the defendant, of course.

Lona Upton.

I met Maxine in Catalina, too.

In those days, I-l belonged
to the yacht club set.

In other words, you barely
knew the woman, either.

And yet, you took her into your
apartment as a hon-paying guest?

I didn't know that she'd just
been released from prison.

She-she told me that she'd been
sick for the past four years.

Isn't it true, Miss Gilmer,

that it was something
other than sympathy

that led you to take her in?

Wasn't it something that
she knew about your past life?

There's absolutely nothing
in my past life,

Mr. Burger, that I am
in the least bit ashamed of.

BURGER: All right,
but wasn't there something

that you and Maxine Nichols
had in common?

Some memory, perhaps,
some person

that you two knew together?

- You mean Dion Reid?
- BURGER: Exactly.

FAY: Well, I never felt
there was any real relationship

between Dion and Maxine.

And can you say the same thing
about yourself, Miss Gilmer?

I-I-I was...

in love with him once.

I did everything possible
to attract his attention.

So, you see, Mr. Burger,

if you're looking for a reason

for my hospitality...

Maybe I-l took Maxine in

so she could...

leaf through my memory book
with me.

BURGER: But I want you
to recall the one night recently

when Maxine Nichols
did not stay at your apartment.

You-you mean the night
that she stayed at the Reids.

Yes. Now, did she tell you
she wouldn't be home that night?

FAY:
Yes.

Yes, she... she phoned me
from there.

Would you tell us, please,
exactly what she said?

Uh, she said that she had, uh,

stumbled
onto something exciting,

and-and that she thought
it could mean

money to her maybe.

But she-she really wasn't
any more specific

that night than she was
the next day when she called me.

Just a minute, please.

Now, Mr. Kramer, certainly
you must have some objection

to this of questioning.

BURGER:
I have no further questions

of the witness, Your Honor.

And I have no real objection,
Your Honor,

since it does give me
the opportunity

to ask about telephone calls.

Where did the decedent

next call you from, Miss Gilmer?

Uh, she said
that she was at the yacht club.

That-that was
the next afternoon.

KRAMER: And did she say any more
to you then about making money?

No. Only that she thought

several people might be
in touch with her.

KRAMER:
Did she say what people,

or why they might
be calling her?

FAY:
No.

Only that whatever it was
that people thought she knew

might be worth a fortune to her.

Hello, Paul.

Hi. I finally got some more dope
on Roland Canfield.

- Is it good, Paul?
- Perfect.

Arnheim, Haven and Clough
just completed

the quarterly audit
of their books.

Every nickel's accounted for,

and Canfield put some of his own
money into the Reid Foundation.

Well, he must be solvent.

He may have had his ups
and downs in the past,

but for now,
he's a rich wrong alley.

So, I've been thinking.

Suppose Amy stole
her own emeralds,

then hired Maxine to cover up.

I don't believe it, Paul.

If Amy were short of money,
she wouldn't pour it

into all of these memorials
for her husband.

Not unless she was some kind
of a nut, which she is.

(sighs)

Well, what do you think?

Well, I think
Amy's a tragic person.

I think she believes
the greatest thing

that ever happened to her
was her marriage to Dion Reid.

It gave her status.

She was rich, yes, but so were
all of her friends.

When Dion Reid drowned,

she kept his legend alive
to keep her ego alive.

Okay. So who did hire Maxine
to open that safe?

Maybe nobody.

Paul, that film on Dion that
Burger introduced earlier...

You mean the one
Pete Kamboly put together?

Yeah. I'll arrange
with the judge

to have a print made up for us.

I want you to get hold
of a film technician.

No problem.
What's the point?

Remember there was a girl
in the background

in about half of the sh*ts?

I think
it was the same girl every time.

Mr. Kamboly,
according to your testimony

under direct examination,
you admitted knowing

of Fay Gilmer's
unrequited affection

for the late Dion Reid?

PETE: That's right,
but it never got her anyplace.

KRAMER:
How can you be so sure?

Dion brushed her off.

Anybody at the club
can tell you that.

She even admits it herself.

Well, in this circumstance,
would any girl want to admit

being involved
with a married man?

Oh, bilge water!

The skipper wouldn't give
that kid the time of day.

If the court please,
I would like to rerun

certain portions of the film
previously introduced by

the prosecution.

Your Honor,
may I remind Counsel,

this film was introduced merely
as background material?

It was used to establish
who was at the Reid house

that day, and the purpose
for the gathering.

KRAMER: Nevertheless, Mr.
Burger, that film was introduced

as a state's exhibit.

I wish to examine it now.

You're within your rights,
Mr. Kramer.

Matron,
would you shut the blinds

as soon as this film is ready?

- It's all set up, Your Honor.
- Right.

(clicking, throat clearing)

(rapid, rhythmic clicking
of projector)

Now, Mr. Kamboly,
in just a moment,

we come to a scene of you
and Dion Reid aboard his boat.

I want you
to pay close attention.

PETE:
I remember it.

KRAMER:
And perhaps you can tell me

if that young lady
in the background is Fay Gilmer.

I guess so. Sure.

She was always around.

Well, just so there won't be
any doubt in your mind,

I've had the frame stopped
and blown up.

Who is it, Mr. Kamboly?

Maxine Nichols.

That's right.

And Maxine is in every scene
taken on Catalina.

Now, I ask you, Mr. Kamboly,

wasn't she more than just
a cocktail waitress,

more than just
a casual acquaintance?

Mr. Kamboly,
who besides yourself knew

about his friendship
with Maxine Nichols?

I don't know.

The night Dion Reid drowned,

the two of you were together
in Catalina,

but he stranded you there
and started back alone. Why?

Because he wasn't coming back.

He what?

PETE: I just told you.
He was cutting out.

And it wasn't because
of that Maxine, either.

She was no good, and he knew it.

Did he tell you that?

No. She did.

His wife. When he didn't
show up the next morning,

she said, "Petey's gone.

I knew he would leave me
some day, and now he's done it."

I'm sorry, Amy.

I just got
to tell the truth here.

Pete...

why haven't you told anyone
this before?

Why should I?

Then there was this phone call.

It was the Coast Guard.

The only place Dion ever
ran away to was the...

the bottom
of the Catalina Channel.

Are you happy with what
you've done, Mr. Kramer?

Exposing my secret?

Destroying the image of a man
who can't defend himself?

Mrs. Reid, I may have destroyed
a legend, but that's all.

The destruction of the man
himself happened

on the night he was m*rder*d.

AMY:
Nonsense!

Dion's boat capsized
in the channel.

It was an accident.

Then let me ask you this.

When were your emeralds stolen?

You told me you hadn't
taken them out of the safe

for five years, so couldn't Dion
have been the thief?

And couldn't Maxine have gotten
the combination from him,

probably by stealing it?

And wouldn't that put a whole
new light on Dion's death?

He was leaving you.

He had your emeralds, or more
likely the proceeds from them.

Now, if he simply vanished,

you might discover that
the emeralds had been switched.

That's why I'm suggesting
that he planned the accident

to give himself plenty of time
to disappear.

But his body was recovered.

So was the boat, Mrs. Reid,
but not one cent of the money.

So I suggest
that Dion Reid's death

was m*rder... for profit.

By me, Mr. Kramer?

In the middle
of the Catalina Channel?

I'm afraid you need a m*rder*r
who swims much better than I.

Or someone with a boat.

After he'd scuttled
the Dirigo, Mrs. Reid,

he had to get back to shore.

Who helped him?

(gasps)

Did you do that to him, Pete?

That's a stinking lie.
The skipper was my friend.

If he'd have asked me
to help him

get away,
I would have done so.

Objection, Your Honor!
I object!

In case Mr. Kramer
has forgotten,

the question of Dion Reid's
death is not the issue at hand.

This is a hearing into
the m*rder of Maxine Nichols.

But Mr. Burger,

if Maxine Nichols had obtained
the combination

of the safe from Dion Reid,
she would realized,

when it was discovered
that the emeralds were phony,

that he was the one
who had switched them.

And can you doubt
that she might also have guessed

the identity of his m*rder*r and
tried to blackmail him?

Well, it wasn't me.

I was on Catalina all that
night, and I can prove it.

Mr. Kamboly,
I'm not accusing you!

If you had acquired a large sum
of money five years ago,

you wouldn't still be working
for a living today.

And as you say,
you had an alibi.

Mr. Canfield, where were you on
the night of Dion Reid's death?

Or the night that
Maxine Nichols was m*rder*d?

I am not going to answer that.

You have no proof,
not one shred of evidence.

All you're doing
is-is swinging blindly!

Five years ago, Mr. Canfield,

you were in serious financial
trouble requiring restitution.

There's ample evidence of that.

And yet, you were able
to make restitution.

I sold my boat.

KRAMER: Which barely
covered your shortages.

That also is a matter of record.

And yet, a short time later,
Mr. Canfield,

you acquired
a huge sum of money.

Where did it come from?

I refuse to answer!

I am not on trial here!

Bide your time, Mr. Canfield.

Bide your time.

- Hello. -Hello, Mr. Kramer.
- Jeff.

I thought you'd want to hear
the most recent developments.

- Yes, yes.
- Please.

Uh, where's your sister?

Uh, she's upstairs, but I don't
think we should bother her.

All right.
Canfield has confessed.

JEFF:
What did he say?

Well, he finally admitted trying
to borrow money from Dion,

who agreed,
if Canfield would help him

to disappear
after his fake accident.

But when Canfield found out that
Dion had over $ , on him,

it appears he switched more than
just the emeralds.

Canfield decided
to make the accident real.

Does he admit k*lling Maxine,
too?

Oh, yes, but he insists
it wasn't premeditated.

She demanded too much money
and pulled a g*n

when Canfield tried
to scare her.

The g*n went off in the scuffle.

He must have nearly fainted

when the police traced
that bloody handkerchief to him.

Quite possibly.

If you and Maxine had both had
the same type blood,

they might very well
have gotten him right then.

- Jeffrey?

- What type are you?
-I don't know.

Oh, well, you have a blood test
when you get married... I think.

(theme song playing)