08x17 - The Case of the Golden Venom

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(railroad crossing bell rings)

Mrs. Forrest, is that you?

Hello, Joe. Did Tony Claus...

Yeah, Tony just called me.

I guess he's out getting
your house opened up.

And your car's
still in storage, too.

Say, we've sure been having

some weather around here.

I'll meet you over
at the garage, then.

Sure thing. Say,
it sure is nice to see you back.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Lucille.

Good evening, Kevin.

How was Europe?

I mean, I didn't know you...

(laughs)
Welcome home

is what I'm trying to say.

You sound like you never
expected to see me again.

Well, I certainly hoped I would,
but after a whole year away...

Look, how long
are you going to stay?

I'm going to Los Angeles
just for the night, but...

Oh, I'll be in town for quite
a while, I imagine.

Wonderful.
That's just wonderful.

You know, a whole lot of
your friends are going to be

awfully glad
that you're back again.

Why don't we have dinner
some night, or...

Don't miss the train, Kevin.
Goodnight.

I guess you own this garage now,
don't you, Mrs. Forrest?

Really, I haven't
the slightest idea.

Is there gas?

Now wait a minute, now.
I got your battery hooked up,

but haven't had a chance
to check the tires yet.

It's all right, Joe.
Just open the doors, please.

You know, they've been working
on your road out there.

Washed out from the storm
I started to tell you about.

You can get through
all right.

Say, did you hear about Myrna
Dekker being married now?

And Mr. Lawrence,
he's gonna run for mayor.

Say, he was a friend
of d*ck's too, wasn't he?

Oh, there's sorts of things
been happening.

I'm not interested
in the local gossip, Joe.

I didn't come back here to...

Sure, but why did you come back,
Mrs. Forrest?

I mean, so unexpected?

Gosh, anybody who can afford
to live in Europe...

Who told you to ask me that?

Nobody.

I'm just glad to see you back,
that's all.

I mean, everybody is gonna be.
It's just like Tony says,

he wished he had time to get
ready with a proper welcome.

(car starts)

♪♪

(muffled banging)

♪♪

(loud bang)

(tires screech)

(crickets chirping)

(approaching footsteps)

Who is it?

Lucille.

Walter.

Why didn't you bark or rattle
your pills or something?

Well, for gosh sake, I'm sorry,

but I couldn't believe
it was you.

I just making a delivery
at the Dover ranch.

Got in the car,
I heard a blowout down here.

Stop making excuses
and roll up your sleeves.

Oh, boy. Same old Lucille.

Same old diplomat.

You're looking great.
Just great, believe me.

The lug wrench is under
the chains, there.

(laughing):
All right.

All right, I'll save you.

I'll bet you've been having fun,
haven't you, Lucille?

If anybody deserves to have fun
in life, it's you.

Night clubs...

I have sciatica,
got a new bridge,

and my hair has to be dyed
every two weeks now.

Well...

then what am I
being a Boy Scout for?

I'm sorry, Walter, but...

I know how I look.

And I haven't really...

Oh, I just lost my head
there for a minute.

Anyway, what's the richest widow
in town doing

waiting on a spare tire?

As executor

of your husband's estate,

I say let the hired hands
do the labor.

Tony Claus can pick up your heap
in the morning.

Come along, old woman.

I'm taking you home in style.

Thank you, Walter.

I'm glad you came by.

I wish I'd tried harder to see
you after the funeral,

but I knew how you felt.

Couldn't blame you for wanting
to slip away

as soon as possible.

I don't think I felt very much,
Walter.

Jed was years old.

His death was a blessing
to him, really.

Yes, I know,

but coming so soon after d*ck...

You know what I mean.

I know how long it took me
to get over it after Mary...

Anyway, nice to see you again,

and to know
that you're all right.

As soon as word gets around
that you're here,

there'll be one party
after another.

I was always
all right, Walter.

Hmm?

I said,

I was always all right.

Oh, I didn't mean anything more

than just when a person
gets upset.

That's what I finally realized.

It wasn't me,

it was this town.

It was even you.

Now, Lucy...

Do you know why I've come back?

I'm going to do what the law

wouldn't never do for me.

I don't I quite understand,
Mrs. Forrest.

On the phone you said you wanted
to talk to me about a will,

but from the date of this copy,

I would assume the will's
already gone through probate.

Yes, it has.
They appointed...

a friend of my husband's
to be executor and trustee,

if that's necessary,
but he says that

everything is in my control,
now.

The bulk
of your husband's property

went into a life estate for you?

Except for some charity,
and Tony Claus, the handyman,

was taken care of, naturally.

Then what sort of advice
do you want of me?

Mr. Mason...

I married Jed Forrest
only ten years ago.

It was a marriage
of convenience,

friendship for both of us,

I guess.

You see, I was his housekeeper.

I had two children to support.

My daughter, who's married now,
in Chicago,

and Richard.

Your son is the younger?

No.

What I wanted
to make clear to you...

I'm not greedy about money.

I've had to work hard
all my life

and I can do it again.

But if your husband
had no other family,

if no one contested this will,
I don't understand.

I haven't been in Europe

like I've told most people.

I've been in Chicago, working,

trying to save enough money

so that I wouldn't even have to
touch one penny of the estate.

My daughter hasn't been well
either,

and there have been
so many bills.

Tell me more about your son,
Mrs. Forrest.

d*ck...

d*ed two years ago...

when he was .

What I want to know from you
is on page three.

Can they take Jed's estate

away from me

if I do something that the will
says I'm not supposed to?

You mean there are...

"conditions subsequent” in here?

Yes, yes, that's the phrase
that the lawyers used.

There's one in there.

Jed didn't want to hurt me,
he...

wanted to help me forget.

He didn't understand.

He couldn't believe
that anybody in Forrest Junction

would be a m*rder*r.

A what?

The trustee has the power
to terminate your estate

if you should initiate
further investigation

into your son's death?

I don't care.

I don't care what they do to me.

Mrs. Forrest, I strongly doubt

that a clause so contrary
to public policy

would hold up in court.

But why do you think
that someone...

I don't think, Mr. Mason,
I know.

d*ck went out on a hunting trip

with some of his local friends.

They found him that evening,
dead.

They called it an accident,

but I know that one of those men

k*lled him with d*ck's own g*n.

I know that's true,

and now you're going
to prove it for me!

Well?

Am I gonna win
the Guggenheim award?

Well, you print
some pretty good recipes.

Good story on the county fair.
Nice weather report.

I told you there was
nothing in there, didn't I?

I told you I was just looking.

d*ck Forrest was a nice kid.

He couldn't have k*lled himself,

and there's no one around here

who would want to k*ll him.

What gave you that idea?

I didn't say anything
about k*lling.

Well... my secretary thinks

you're with some
insurance company,

looking for an escape clause.

Something about some policy
they forgot.

Just a routine check,
that's all.

Took his stepfather's name,
didn't he?

"d*ck Forrest.”

Yup, and they liked
each other, too.

No trouble anywhere.

And Kevin Lawrence was
an old buddy from way back.

Mr. Lawrence was out there with
a g*n, too, that day, wasn't he?

And this Tony Claus...

No, uh, no, he wasn't there.

He just drove d*ck out
to our camp that morning.

That's all.

Our camp?

That's right, you were there,
too, weren't you?

(laughs)

No, Mr. Drake, I was not.

I was on my way in town,
looking for a doctor.

Kevin's cooking, I guess.

When the boys had left
to go hunting that morning,

the old ulcers were acting up,

and they scare me
when they bleed.

Oh.

RALPH:
So that's it.

That evening,
when d*ck didn't return,

Kevin phoned for help, and
the whole town went looking.

They found him where he'd been
crawling through a fence

with the safety off, I guess.

I see.

But you already know that,
don't you?

Huh?

Mr. Drake, yesterday,
someone made an inquiry

at the coroner's office,
and they found

that the county
sheriff's records

had been thoroughly checked.

Now, I don't know
what your company thinks

it's trying to find...

Don't ask me!

I just work for a living,
and do what I'm told.

By whom? Lucille Forrest?

It was she who put you up
to this, wasn't it?

- It was she who told you
to start... -Mr. Day.

I'm sorry to disappoint you,

but I've never even met
Mrs. Forrest.

But if it bothers you,
my hanging around

and padding
the expense account...

No. Sit there and read
all the recipes you want.

I don't care.

I just thought there might be
a story in what you are doing,

and I'd like to write something
besides the weather.

DRAKE: There was a girl there,
too, wasn't there?

What?

She was waiting in camp
for the boys to get back.

Girl named Mirna Dekker.

Yes.

Yes... Mirna was there.

Tony?

Hi, Mirna.

Well, hi, stranger darling.

You looking for Mrs. Forrest?

Well, I thought I better
come calling some time.

She's been home a week, I guess,
and Kevin says

it's just awful
I haven't come over, only...

Tony, how is she?

She's all right, I guess. Why?

Well, you know what I mean.

Not very often.

Look, why don't you just
go ring the bell?

She won't bite you.

Tony, why are you mad at me?

Now, who says I'm mad?

Look, I got a sick heifer
and three horses that ...

Even Kevin says it's just awful
we never see you anymore.

I thought newlyweds were
supposed to be left alone.

Well, not forever.

Besides, Kevin doesn't like
to dance very much,

and I've just never known
an older man

who can dance like you can.

-(Tony chuckles) -Oh, you know
what I learned the other day?

You know, in the regular Watusi,

when you twist to move
your hips, you also...

Mirna, when are you gonna
grow up?

Oh, you are mad.

I knew it.

Just like she's going to be,
because she always thought

I was going
to marry poor d*ck.

When anybody
in town could have told her

it was really Ralph Day
you were in love with.

(laughing):
Oh, him.

That was just poetry.

Well, you know
what Ralph was like.

He could never stop
reading it to me. (laughs)

Besides, a nightclub
and a restaurant

make a lot more money than
a broken-down country newspaper.

Do you want me to slap you?

Maybe I would,

if it weren't quite
so flattering

to think that...

You can just get
that happy little memory

right out of your mind.

Now quit pestering me, will you?

Tony Claus, if I didn't know you
better, I'd...

LUCILLE:
Mirna!

I'm so glad to see you.

Don't you look lovely!

Hello, Lucille.

Ah, marriage agrees with you.

You are happy,
aren't you, darling?

MIRNA:
I wanted to come sooner, but...

well, I just didn't know
how to...

Now, now, I understand.

Every time
I get near this place,

I remember how I used
to call you mother, and...

- The past is the past, Mirna.
- Is it?

Of course. The only way
that we forget unpleasant things

is by doing something
about them.

Kevin said he saw you
the other night

at the railroad station.

No. I must have been a fright,
but I'm much better now.

It was so sweet of you
to come, dear,

but could you wait
until early this evening?

Oh, I should have telephoned.

No. No, it's just I'm expecting
a visitor any minute. A...

very important visitor,

so if you and Kevin would be
free later for cocktails?

Oh, yes, we'd love it.

I'm having a few other
old friends in.

Nothing fancy.

And if this man doesn't
take too long,

I just might get around
to a birthday cake.

A what?

Yes, it's Richard's birthday,
you know.

Oh, my.

What a pretty little car.

MIRNA:
Oh, yes. Yes, I just love it.

Mm.

I need something like that
to have some fun in.

I just may buy one. Who knows.

Oh, Lucille, you are happy
again, aren't you?

Well, of course, darling.

About : then.

Okay. Make way
for the gentleman caller.

(laughs)
It's nothing like that.

Now, don't try to fool me,
Mother.

What?

Well, I know what makes a woman
pick roses.

(laughs)

Bye-bye.

(car engine starting,
Lucille laughs)

(engine revving)

Nothing, Mrs. Forrest.

Absolutely nothing.

But-but I don't understand.

Mr. Mason said that you wouldn't
even get in touch with me

until there was something
to report.

It's been four days.

Well, just let me explain.

Perry himself will be up
later this evening

to explain the legal aspects,
but...

Explain?
What is there to explain?

That you haven't found out
one single new thing

about my son's death?

That you've just been
reading lies?

Listening to lies?

Mrs. Forrest,
this is too small a town

for an investigation like ours
to remain secret.

Already, there's been talk,

and some of the people involved
don't appreciate the talk.

Well, isn't that just too bad.

Kevin Lawrence, for instance,
is running for mayor.

And if this old gossip starts
up again...

So that's it.

You're afraid of slander.

Well, you just tell Mr. Mason

that I'll pay for lawsuits
if necessary.

You just bring me proof
of m*rder, Mr. Drake,

and I'll take care
of Forrest Junction.

I'm afraid it's not that simple.

I found that the police

and the coroner's investigations
was very thorough.

It may take a week to turn up
even a shred of an error.

Well...

I'll give you a lead, then.

Ralph Day was the m*rder*r.

DRAKE:
What?!

He owns the newspaper.
You've met him.

Wait a minute.

Mr. Day wasn't even there.

Don't argue with me, please!

Now, I know
how you must feel.

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

DRAKE:
Of course not.

You've discovered
that no one ever thought

that Richard was k*lled
except me.

And you've known mothers
before, perhaps,

who just couldn't face...

Now, try to be patient.

Get out of here, Mr. Drake!

DRAKE: All I want you to do
is understand.

To think,
I've wasted four days.

How I could have thought
anybody would have ever

helped me do
what I have to do...

Mrs. Forrest...

Get out! Get out! Get out!

And happy birthday.

(sobbing)

(clank)

(gasps)
Oh! You scared me.

I'm sorry. I was looking
for Mr. Day...

or actually someone I thought
might be with him.

Not here. But you can help me
look for a bottle, if you like.

Bottle?

About so big... for medicine.

Do you know Ralph used to take
it out on dates with me?

Ugh.

You're Mrs. Day?

No. No, I'm Mirna Lawrence.

- Perry Mason.
- Hi.

Oh, Ralph's over with Kevin now
at our nightclub.

Well, it's really like
a roadhouse, but, uh...

Say, do you smell smoke?

Yes, I do.

I noticed it
when I opened the door.

You'd think I was a teenage
lackey or something.

Can you imagine a man who would
send his wife just to...?

Stale smoke, that's all.

Somebody's been burning
newspapers

in that sink over there.

Eureka. We are saved!

Sweet little ulcer juice.
Ralph just forgot it.

He's always pooping
somebody's party.

Though, actually, I think
he just came out tonight

to borrow money from Kevin.

Well, I better close up now.

Certainly.

If you'd like
to see our place, Mr. Mason,

you can follow me.

Ralph's just got a little
tummy-ache,

so I'm sure
he'd like to see you.

Well, no, thanks,
it was really a man named Drake

I thought might be...

(phone rings)

Forrest Junction Journal.

Oh, I'm sorry. There's no one
here but the sports editor,

if you'd like to speak to him.

Kevin!

What are you doing
checking up on me again?

Look, I know why you sent me on
this silly little errand.

And I was not dancing too close
with the salesman.

He was only showing me...!

Bully!

Hey, you know what?

They just took Ralph Day
to the hospital.

If you're looking for the nurse,
she should be back in a minute.

- Your name's Drake, isn't it?
- Yeah.

- I'm Tony Claus.
- Oh, sure.

Mr. Forrest heard
about Ralph Day being sick.

She asked me to check on him.

Doctor?

I'm Paul Drake.

I have an appointment with Mr.
Day later on this evening.

- Oh, yes. Hello, Tony.
- Hi.

I'm sorry to say Ralph is dead.

Holy mother...

We just couldn't stop
the bleeding.

His ulcers again?

Three of us worked for an hour,

but none of the coagulants...
I don't know.

MASON:
Autopsy?

Yes, I did ask for an autopsy,
Mr. Mason.

I asked for it first thing
this morning.

I didn't realize you were
related to Mr. Day.

No, I'm not.

I mean, I couldn't ask
for one officially.

But I checked up.
They're doing it, all right.

The doctors are curious, too.

So I gather.

But Mr. Lawrence,
why are you concerned?

Ralph Day had dinner here in
my restaurant last night.

Do you think I want people going
around saying

I feed my customers ground glass
or something?

No, obviously not.

But why did you ask to see me
this morning?

Well, thanks for coming by,
by the way.

It's, uh...

it's about Lucille Forrest.

I heard you were in town.
I know you're her lawyer.

What about Mrs. Forrest?

Look, tell her to keep quiet.

You mean, keep quiet about
the death of her son?

Look, Mr. Mason, I like Lucille,
no matter how she acts.

I feel sorry for her.

May I ask why?

Not just because of her
tragedies, everybody has them,

but she's a little bit off on
this one subject, you know?

You don't believe
her son was m*rder*d?

No, of course not.
Nobody does.

But that wouldn't make any
difference if she goes around

telling anybody else what she
told me yesterday afternoon.

What did she say?

Well, it was questions
more than telling,

but I got the idea right away.

She thinks that
Ralph Day m*rder*d d*ck.

And now if there is something
funny about Ralph Day's death?

You see what I mean?

Just tell her
to keep her mouth shut...

for her own sake.

Yes, I think
I understand you, Mr. Lawrence.

Though, of course, as you say,

Ralph Day did eat his dinner
here last night.

That's right.

And you know what he had
for dinner mostly?

Mushrooms,
nice, mild mushrooms.

And do you know
where they came from?

Tony Claus.

Look, Mr. Drake,

I been growing these things
for years.

I know my business.

And you picked some of these
last night

to give to Kevin Lawrence?

That's right.
I picked 'em right out of...

- What's the matter?
- Well, nothing. I just...

I didn't realize I'd picked
so many, is all.

Yeah, you see, Kevin came down,
found me at the barn,

said that he and his wife and
some others were up at the house

having a hello drink
with Mrs. Forrest.

He said that Ralph Day was
coming over

to his place for dinner,

and they'd been talking over
a new recipe for mush...

You don't mind
if I take a couple?

Well, you go ahead,
but all you got to do is

ask Kevin's cook if they're
toadstools or something.

I guess that's what
you're thinking.

Take it easy.

All we're trying to do is stop
a rumor before it starts.

Lucille made a few cracks
at me, too, I'm afraid.

I tried to get her off that kick
of hers,

about her son, I mean.

I don't know.
Maybe she does know something.

Mr. Claus, do you ever hear of
the Fresno Livestock Auction?

Oh, yeah. I buy a lot of stuff
for the ranch up there,

machinery and all. Why?

Well, Perry noticed
a piece of newspaper,

an item in it about the auction
caught his eye,

but the date was partly b*rned,
and I thought maybe you'd know

what time of year
it takes place.

Well, it's in the fall.

About four weeks ago.

The year wasn't b*rned.

The paper was two years old.

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

But I can help you, though.
All you got to do is...

Mean something to you?

I was just thinking.

If it's the local paper you're
talking about,

that's a weekly.
You could check.

As I remember, the auction two
years ago ended

the day before d*ck d*ed.

I don't know, Mr. Mason.

I... I can't remember.

You told Paul Drake,
Mrs. Forrest.

You also said something to Kevin
Lawrence and Tony Claus.

Maybe I've said all sorts of
things I shouldn't say...

to all sorts of people.

And now men tramping
all around the house.

Mrs. Forrest,
the autopsy on Ralph Day

has undoubtedly been
finished for hours.

But the coroner's office will
not issue a statement.

And I know they've been rushing
all sorts of samples

to laboratories in Los Angeles.

They left here
to go to dinner together.

You know that, don't you?

Ralph and Kevin and his wife,
little Mirna.

Who else was here, Mrs. Forrest?

What?

Oh, yes. The ones I said
and Walter Coffee, of course.

He's an old, old friend.

That's the druggist?

But he was once a deputy,
wasn't he?

In charge of the local sheriff's
office?

Yes, that's right.

And he was the person in charge

of investigating
your son's death?

Yes. He wouldn't believe me
either

Did you serve refreshments
last night?

Just cocktails and...

Ralph had a little sherry,
I believe.

And what did you talk about?

Mr. Mason,
I didn't go around accusing,

if that's what you mean.

To Kevin, yes, I said something
to Kevin privately, but...

Then why did you have those
particular people together?

Don't you understand?

Nothing is straight anymore.

Ralph is dead now.

Ralph k*lled my son,

and Ralph is dead now,
and I cried all night long.

Did I do it?

I didn't mean for Ralph
to be dead like this.

Maybe I didn't really want
anyone else to die.

Mrs. Forrest, uh, excuse me.

It's all right, Ben.
Mr. Mason, this is...

We've already met.
Is there word yet, Sergeant?

Well, no go on the mushrooms we
stole from Tony's cellar,

if that's what you mean,

but would you tell me about
this, Mrs. Forrest?

Now you'll all really say
I'm crazy, won't you?

It's a country sort of remedy.

It does help sometime.

You see, Mr. Mason,
I have sciatica.

I made Walter get that for me.
I'd read about it in a magazine.

What is it?

Sounds silly even to say it.

It's rattlesnake venom.

What?!

Yeah, I was kind of surprised,
too,

when I found it in the icebox,
but not anymore.

You see, the laboratories say
this is the stuff

that k*lled Ralph Day;

made him bleed to death.

Oh, no...

No...

No...

No, no.

SERGEANT:
I'm sorry, Mrs. Forrest,

but the same man who brought
the coroner's report

also brought a warrant
for your arrest.

Mr. Drake, I told
the sheriff's office

-we'd only be here
about an hour. - know.

I appreciate your using your
influence to get me in.

No, no, anything to help
Lucille,

but you don't sound like you
found very much.

If you're going to telephone Mr.
Mason before they go into court.

That's the trouble.
I found too much.

For instance,
that b*rned piece of newspaper

that Perry noticed there.

I figured it was an issue that
might have been torn out

of the files and destroyed
so I wouldn't see something.

But the issue's in the files
where it belongs,

and there isn't one single item
in it that even relates

to d*ck Forrest or anything
we're looking for.

Well, I guess
Ralph could have printed

a special paper easy enough.

Maybe the one in
the files there.

No, I thought of that.

The library loaned me
their copy, same date.

It's the real issue, all right,
word for word.

So what was the b*rned one?
Just a spare?

Listen, Drake,
there's a whole stack

of old newspapers out there.

Maybe he used it
to wrap something in

or to burn something in.

Yes, but the coincidence!

A paper from the day before
d*ck's death.

I'll tell you a worse
coincidence.

They've got Lucille in
Los Angeles by now.

In about an hour, some
prosecutor's going to be saying

that she m*rder*d Ralph Day.

All right, I'll go.

What are you so itchy about,
Mr. Coffee?

I just want to be sure you get
your report

to Mason before, that's all.

Because I've got a message
for him, too.

Like what? If you haven't got
any more answers than I have.

Tell him to lay off all this
ancient history about Richard.

Forget about what happened
two years ago.

If he brings it up in court,
he'll be sorry.

The venom of the snake is
a hemolytic poison

which destroys
the red blood cells.

It also contains
an antifibrin component

which prevents the blood
from clotting,

thus the hemorrhaging
couldn't be stopped.

And how did you say this venom
entered the bloodstream, Doctor?

Through breaks,
lesions in the digestive tract.

In this particular case,
duodenal ulcers;

a bleeding stomach.

Now, most people, of course,

could swallow the stuff
without any ill effect.

But in Ralph Day's case,
after drinking that sherry...

Doctor, would you tell me
one other thing?

Would you, as a physician, ever
prescribe rattlesnake venom

to alleviate the pain
of sciatica?

No, I really don't think so.

But it is true that nonspecific
proteins will give some relief

from that sort of pain.

And rattlesnake venom does
contain nonspecific proteins,

so it's understandable how

that sort of folk remedy could
originate.

Doctor, could you tell us,
by any chance,

what rattlesnake venom
tastes like?

It has no taste.

It's both tasteless
and odorless.

And what does it look like?

It's a clear,
golden sort of color.

Could you give us an example,
Doctor?

I'd say about the same color
as dry sherry wine.

My question, Doctor, was simply
if rattlesnake venom is

the only poisonous substance
that causes

the fatal results you've
described if ingested.

There might be others.

Isn't phallin also
a hemolytic poison

which att*cks
the red blood cells,

destroys them and causes
extensive internal hemorrhaging?

Yes.

And isn't phallin a substance

present in certain poisonous
mushrooms?

- Yes, it is.
- Thank you, Doctor.

Just one more question,
Doctor, or possibly two.

Would you mind telling us
what you did yesterday?

I spent the day with two
biologists from UCLA,

also a police toxicologist.

We checked on types of mushrooms
in the area.

And what were the results,
briefly, of your day's work?

Well, none of us believe
that the particular

poisonous mushroom, the one
containing phallin, that is,

can be found anywhere in the
area of Forrest Junction.

Really? That'll be all,
Doctor.

That's right. I stopped off to
the grocery store that morning

and pick up an order
for Mrs. Forrest.

Thank you, Mr. Claus.

And now would you tell us,
please,

what was in that box
of groceries?

Well, I don't know.
I just picked up the box

and took it on home and dumped
it in the kitchen for her.

I didn't pay any attention.

Why don't you stop evading me,
Mr. Claus,

at least until you find out what
questions I'm gonna ask you?

In that box of groceries,
were there any bottles?

Yes. There was one bottle of
scotch, one bottle of bourbon,

another of dry sherry.

Thank you, Mr. Claus.

Well, we arrived about : ,
I guess.

Mirna and I, that is.

Walter was there. He was already
there talking to Lucille.

And Ralph came in about
minutes later, I guess.

Now, did anyone else come in
while you were there?

No, that's all there was.
Just the five of us.

Now, you said that you were
drinking cocktails.

Do you remember exactly
what each of you had to drink?

I had a couple of bourbon
highballs,

Walter the same, I guess,

and Lucille was sipping some
scotch , I believe.

And what about your wife?

Um, she asked
for a Sloe Gin Fizz.

(Burger chuckles)
Really?

All right, that brings us
to the deceased, Ralph Day.

Now, what did he drink?

Ralph always kidded himself

that a little sherry wouldn't
hurt him,

so he had, mm, two small wine
glasses of it, I guess.

Very well. Now, Mr. Lawrence,
will you tell us this?

Who mixed and served
all of those drinks?

Lucille Forrest.

She made all the drinks
and served all of them.

That'll be all, sir, thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Lawrence, you state

that no one was in the house
except the five of you.

That's right.

Could you possibly be sure?

Didn't you go out to the barn
to see Tony Claus

to get some mushrooms?

Now wait a second, Mr. Mason,

I didn't go out
to get those mushrooms

until we'd all said
our good-byes to Lucille.

Mirna drove Ralph back
to our place,

and that's when I went out to
get the mushrooms,

after the party was all over.

And why did Ralph Day want to
have dinner

at your place that night?

Oh, yes, yes. He, uh, he asked
to borrow some money, $ .

There were some bills on
the newspaper...

Did you lend it to him?

No. Ralph was always worried.

He was always asking to borrow,
sweating his taxes.

Mr. Lawrence, my investigators
tell me that Mr. Day

somehow managed to pay is bills,
keep his head just above water.

In spite of the fact
that a small-town newspaper is

notoriously risky business,

and that he had almost no money
in the bank.

Well, that's true, but Ralph was
worried all the time.

He had ulcers.

Perhaps someone helped
him pay his bills?

What?

Is it possible my investigators

might find that you really have
loaned money to Ralph Day?

Perhaps given it to him

-or paid it for...
- Now, wait a second, Mr. Mason.

That's not true.

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

Neither do I know what
you're talking about, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor,
this is the most improper,

-irrelevant... -Strike that
last question and answer.

Mr. Mason,

unless you rephrase
what it is you're driving at...

I'll go on to something else,
Your Honor.

Mr. Lawrence, you made
a casual reference earlier,

to having briefly met
the defendant

in a railroad station
more than a week ago.

Right after she got back
to town.

Yes, that's right.
I was on my way to Los Angeles.

I had a business meeting there
early the next morning.

But after your return
the next day,

we find that you turned
in a stolen car report

to the sheriff's office.
Now, will you explain that?

Well, when I drive
to the station,

I always just leave my car
in the street behind the garage,

uh, with the keys in it.

Then the garage man, Joe--

that's Joe sitting over there--

always parks it inside
when there's a space for it.

Before closing time.

That night, he found
the car two blocks away.

Then the car
was returned to you?

There was no damage,
nothing wrong?

No, but, uh...

Then why did you report it
as a stolen car?

I don't quite understand.

That has nothing
to do with this, Mr. Mason.

Recently there's been
a lot of vandalism

by the youngsters in our town.

Joyriding
in other people's cars.

Well, I just hoped I'd be able

to scare some of the kids,
that's all.

I'm running for office
in this town on the platform...

Why on earth create
an issue out of it?

I'm trying to understand you,
Mr. Lawrence.

And why on earth ask

all these ridiculous questions,
Mr. Mason?

I'm trying to understand you.

JUDGE: You could object
in a better manner, Mr. Burger,

but I'll sustain you,
regardless.

Mr. Mason.

I'll withdraw the question,
Your Honor.

That's all.

I have one more question,
Your Honor,

under redirect, if I may.

Mr. Lawrence, returning
for a moment to the subject

of those drinks you had
that night at the defendant's.

Was there any incident,
an accident, perhaps,

that happened during that part
of the evening

which you have not
told us about?

Uh, yes, there was.

Ralph was very nervous
that night.

He dropped his glass,
his empty glass.

Lucille thought nothing of it.

She tidied up quickly,

but the glass broke
on the floor.

BURGER: Now referring to
these bits of glass, Sergeant,

which we've introduced
in evidence

as people's exhibit three,

what sort of testing
did you have them subject it to?

Oh, chemical analysis,
fingerprint.

And with what results?

We found the fingerprints
of the decedent, Ralph Day,

and those of the defendant,
Mrs. Forrest.

Sergeant, did your analysis

of the sherry wine
reveal anything else?

Yes, it contained definite
traces of rattlesnake venom.

Don't give up hope, everybody.

I think I've got something.

Hold it, Paul, he's adding.

And it makes no sense.

Nobody in that town
in the past two years

has become suddenly richer
or suddenly poorer.

Well, then I've got to
complicate it even more for you.

I just got a report
from San Francisco,

and Ralph Day,
the man who was always trying

to borrow money from people,

had $ , in a savings
and loan company up there.

Why, the miser.

Here's some more
of that real estate dope.

But, Perry, this stuff
doesn't change the fact

that nobody had a reason

for k*lling Ralph Day
except Lucille.

And even if her motive
was imaginary,

Burger seems
to be making it stick.

So what good you do think you...

All right, Paul,
what we need now is a plow.

Plow? Good idea.
What are we digging for?

Nothing. I just want you
to buy one for me.

But I've already admitted
to the prosecutor

that I was the one
that supplied Lucille

with the rattlesnake venom.

I put her in touch
with a herpetologist,

a fellow who has a snake farm,
that's all.

Then I picked it up for her.

That's the day after she came
back to town here.

Was that the first time

she'd used this unusual remedy
for sciatic pain?

No, the first time was
about a year and a half ago.

She thought that it helped her.

So I got her to check
with a doctor.

MASON: So other people knew
about it, then?

Mr. Mason, I'm sure
that Lucille's friends

knew all
about that rattlesnake venom.

Now, two years ago,

you were connected
with the sheriff's office,

is that right?

Yeah, a man in a small town,

he's got to wear several hats.

And two years ago you were
personally in charge

of the investigation into
the death of Richard Forrest?

Yes.

But since we're not here
to look into ancient...

The prosecutor has already
opened the door

to this "ancient history”,
Mr. Coffee,

by suggesting that the defendant
might have looked upon Ralph Day

as the m*rder*r of her son.

Well, maybe so,

but I'll be blamed
if I can see...

Why are you so afraid
of going through that door?

Is it because you don't believe
Richard was m*rder*d?

No, I don't. I never did.

There wasn't one piece
of evidence,

not a single person
with a motive.

Motive?

Of course,
no one hated Richard Forrest.

And from your
personal knowledge,

do you know of one person
in Forrest Junction

with a motive
for murdering Ralph Day?

No, I don't.

That's what makes it
so blame disgusting for...

But suppose I showed you
a motive?

- Suppose ...
- Your Honor, this really...

May it please the court,

defense is prepared to introduce
evidence that Ralph Day,

who tried to borrow money
on the night of his death,

has at least $ ,
in one out-of-town bank account.

I think I'd like
to hear what else

you have to ask this witness,
Mr. Mason.

Go on please.

Perhaps he has more money
that we don't know of yet.

Would that surprise you,
Mr. Coffee?

Well, just the $ ,
surprises me.

I know the newspaper
didn't make much,

and I'm sure that Ralph
didn't inherit or anything.

And then, he's tried to borrow
from me several times.

As a matter of fact...

Why?

Can you think why a man

would insistently want
his friends

to think he didn't have money?

You bet I can.
To keep it secret.

To keep something secret.

Something wrong, obviously.

Like the fact that he was
a blackmailer, Mr. Coffee?

Your Honor,
I really must insist...

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,
you'll simply have

to confine yourself
to proper questioning.

Very well, Your Honor.

From your official investigation
of the death of Richard Forrest,

Mr. Coffee, can you swear
that Richard was not m*rder*d?

No.

No, I can't.

Now you said Ralph Day tried
to borrow money from you.

When was that?

Well, the last time was right
at Lucille's party.

That's what I started to say.

I asked Ralph what for,

and he said he might have
to sell the newspaper.

MASON: Can you remember
his exact words?

I'd just stood up,

because Mirna'd come
with a refill,

and then I went
to the couch by Ralph.

Now, wait a minute.

Who brought you a refill?

Who brought you a drink?

Mirna, Mirna Lawrence.

Yes, I fixed him a drink,
but just Walter.

Really, I don't know
why Kevin didn't remember

when he was up here.

So Lucille Forrest wasn't

the only person
who mixed drinks,

who went to the kitchen?

Well, I only went out that once.

Furthermore,
I would like to point out

there's nothing so unusual
about a Sloe Gin Fizz.

It's what I always used
to drink there,

and Lucille still had
all the stuff you put in it,

only she left out a little gin.

Well, I didn't want
to say anything.

And then Walter,
he waved his glass at me

as I was easing
into the kitchen, sort of...

All right,
Mrs. Lawrence, all right.

But now let me
go back two years.

The day of the death
of Richard Forrest,

you waited for the men to return
to their hunting camp,

-isn't that right?
- Yes.

I drove up in the morning,

but Kevin said
he had to get a deer.

So I waited, that's all.

Did you see or talk
to d*ck Forrest

before he went hunting?

Well, not much.

What do you mean?

d*ck wouldn't talk to me,

that's all.

He was sort of pale
and grim looking.

There was no personal trouble
between you? No lovers' quarrel?

What?

Of course not.

As a matter of fact,
the reason I drove up there

was to explain to Kevin

why I'd been out with someone
else the night before.

Who?

Him.

His name is Joseph Sullivan,

-and he's a wonderful dancer.
-(laughter)

(tapping)

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor.

I'll return to the present case,

to the m*rder of Ralph Day.

Oh, I think that's
a very good idea, too,

because I want to state
very clearly that I did not

pour any rattlesnake poison
into anybody's drink.

But hasn't it occurred to you,
Mrs. Lawrence,

that whoever was responsible
for Ralph's death

didn't even need to be

within a quarter mile
of that kitchen or that party?

What?

It's occurred to you,
hasn't it, Mr. Claus?

The police testified
there wasn't any venom

in the sherry bottle.

Won't we find
that you bought another bottle?

Wouldn't it have been quite easy

to put venom
in one sherry bottle,

put it in the icebox,
then later that evening,

replace it with the first
uncontaminated bottle?

No, I didn't do that. I...

Mr. Claus,
you've been on that ranch

for nearly years now,
haven't you?

Yes, old Jed Forrest
was almost like a father to me.

He let you run things.

When he became older,

even do his buying
and selling for him,

even after a housekeeper

-and her children moved...
- I've done a good job.

And he rewarded you generously
by remembering you in his will.

How much did he leave you?

- Wasn't it $ , dollars?
- That's right.

Where's the $ , now,
Mr. Claus?

I bought some real estate
up north.

I'm in quite a lot
of real estate.

Yes, I find that's quite true.

It puzzled me for a while

until we checked
on dates of purchase.

So far, we can't find
one piece of land

which you've bought
after you inherited that money.

Now, where did you get
the money before that?

I'm not going to answer
any more questions. I'm not...

Was it at places
like the Fresno auction?

What?

We have only telephoned answers

from farm equipment salesmen,

but I warn you, Mr. Claus,
some of these men

are quite willing to admit
they used to give you kickbacks.

Full price to Mr. Forrest
on the record,

cash into your pocket.

That's got nothing to do
with Ralph Day.

It had a great deal to do
with Richard Forrest, didn't it?

What happened,
did he find you out?

Accuse you of cheating
his father?

I won't answer.

You dropped him off at
the hunting camp that morning.

He was upset.

A short time later, Ralph Day
left the camp to drive home.

Did Ralph see you
along the road, see your car,

-see what you were doing?
- All right!

All right, I k*lled d*ck!

He was trying to get his father
to run me off the place.

I a lot more right there

than him or his mother.

I asked you about Ralph Day,
Mr. Claus.

Oh, yeah, good old Ralph.

He saw me.

For two years,
I've been paying him off,

one way or another.

My inheritance,

every penny of it.

And then when Lucille got back
to the ranch,

he said to me, "You're still
running things.

You could start stealing
from the ranch again."”

He wanted another $ , .

Do you know he even printed up
a phony edition

of that paper of his
with a phony story in it?

He said he was gonna let
you guys find it

if I didn't come through.

That's why I had to k*ll him.

Like I had to k*ll d*ck.

Like I had to k*ll
the both of them!

How on earth did you guess,
Mr. Mason?

Ms. Forrest,
if you didn't k*ll Ralph,

and no one else had had
recent difficulty with him,

then his death
must have been triggered

by your return
to Forrest Junction.

I still don't understand.

Well, what else happened
at the same time?

The estate went back
to Mrs. Forrest.

And you've admitted
you didn't even

pay attention
to how much you own.

So, you triggered Ralph's greed,

he triggered Tony's anger.

QED.

You know, Tony's now admitted

that he even tried to k*ll you.

Tried to smash you up
in your car

before you even got home
from the railroad station.

Poor Tony.

We were the interlopers.

He thought the ranch really
belonged to him,

-didn't he?
- Now, don't get

to feeling sorry for the k*ller.

Feel sorry for me,

who's been so stupid
all this time.

Not to realize that
a woman's intuition

-is worth...
- Walter,

stop it.

I almost wish
that I hadn't been so right

about what happened to Richard.

It scares me when think...

Now, don't think
you're right all the time.

Come along, old woman,
we got to go.

Now, wait a minute, both of you.

We thought you might enjoy

having dinner
with us before you...

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,

we have a date
with a specialist.

You don't think I'm going
to enjoy a girl

until she's nicer
to her sciatica?

(theme song playing)