08x30 - The Case of the Mischievous Doll

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(horn toots)

No, I can't see anyone
just now, Della.

She says it would only
take a minute, Perry.

Her name is, uh,
Dorrie Ambler, and...

Well, find out what she wants,
make an appointment for...

DELLA:
Miss Ambler, wait! I told...

But you don't understand!

What I want is that he...

that you, Mr. Mason,
that you see me!

Miss Ambler, I'm afraid...

I mean, just see me!

Uh, see who I am and-and what
I look like and identify me!

You don't know who you are?

Of course I do!
I'm Dorrie Ambler!

But there's something crazy
going on, and I'm scared,

and, well, I'm trying
to stop it, and...

Well, I guess
I must look pretty crazy myself

in this kooky outfit, but they
gave it to me to wear, and...

They gave it to you?

Mr. Mason, look,
there isn't time

to explain the mess
I've gotten myself into,

but, well, I think I was hired

just to walk around the streets
sometimes.

Dressed even more
like a creep sometimes.

Because... well, because I guess
maybe I look like somebody else.

Who?

Please,
can't I explain it later?

Miss Ambler, who hired you?

A man named Billings.

See, there was an ad
in the newspaper,

and, well, he interviewed
hundreds of girls, I guess,

up in this hotel suite.

Which hotel?

Mr. Mason, it doesn't matter.

The point is, I've figured out a
way to stop them from using me.

I can get myself out of trouble.

But I- need the protection
of somebody--

you-- being able to say
that I'm me.

The usual means of establishing
one's identity...

I-I know. Now, I-I told her
my address, and-and I'm ,

I'm five foot four, I'm
pounds, and, uh, let's see.

Oh, uh, distinguishing marks.

Um, I had a... an operation
about six months ago

for appendicitis, and...

(Della clears her throat)

- Yes, uh, so, I see.
-(Dorrie laughs)

I was thinking possibly

you might have some, uh,
further identification,

uh, such as a driver's license.

Oh, well,
it's-it's in my purse, but...

(Dorrie laughs)

Uh, I'll get my notebook.

Does it have
your fingerprints on it?

Uh, let's see... Here.

Oh, good. Well, I'm no expert.

Well, if it won't
take too long...

Just give me your right thumb.

- Okay.
-(buzzer sounds)

Excuse me.

Yes?

Perry, I know
the young lady is very pretty,

and she may have a pretty scar
and pretty fingers, too,

but she also has a g*n
in her purse.

Can't you hurry it up
just a little?

- Now, let's see.
- Please, Mr. Mason.

Identical.

You are Dorrie Ambler,
all right.

Of course, you've lost one pound
in the past few months, but...

(laughs) Yes. Well, listen,
I really must be going.

Why? You know, if you'd explain
a little more to me...

Here, let me help you
with your coat.

Oh, no, that's okay.
I can carry it.

Uh, sometimes it's better

to turn your problems over
to someone else...

No, no. It's much worse
being ashamed of yourself

for being so young
and stupid without...

Look, over my shoulders
is just fine.

- Here we are.
- Yeah.

- Here's your purse.
- Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mason.

At least, now I know
I can call on you

if-if I do ever need your help.

MASON:
Of course.

Bye.

- Perry...
- Della, I want Paul to...

It's all right, I understood
your signals on the phone,

and Paul isn't there, but his
office will have somebody

tailing the girl by the time
she leaves the building.

- Perfect secretary.
- Well, baffling boss,

will you explain to me
why you have to accept a client

who carries a g*n
around in her purse?

It's all right, Della.
I got a good look at it.

- Well?
-It's loaded.

-(gasps) Oh.
- With blanks.

(g*nshots)

(woman screams)

MAN:
There she goes!

- WOMAN: What happened?
- MAN : Hey, stop her!

MAN :
Get out of my way! Look out!

Wait a minute.
Where was it?

Never mind where it was.
Let's get out of here.

You don't want to get sh*t.

I'm okay. Take it easy.

Where'd she go?

I saw it.
I saw her hold him up.

She aimed right at me.

All right. All right, now,
what's-what's going on here?

Well, she said,
"This isn't a stickup,” and...

Oh, now, wait a minute.
She said what?

Officer, she ran down that way.

She went into the restroom.
The one down the hall.

All right, will you people
stand back here, please?

Just keep back.

All right, now, get back,
will you? Move on, please.

It's all right.
Just stand back, please.

WOMAN: That's her. That's...
There she is!

It's her, all right.

Now, just a moment, miss.

Just stand right here, please.
Just stand still.

- What?
- Why did you do it?

Holy smoke, a mink coat,
and there you go...

All right, all right,
I'll handle it.

Give me this. What is...?
Who are you?

No use making up a story, lady.

You were seen with a g*n
in your hand.

I was what?
What are you talking about?

All right, will you step
right over here, please?

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

- What's wrong?
- Come along.

What does he say I did?
Who is he?

I didn't do anything!

MASON: So you think
she looked honestly surprised?

At first, I mean?

I think she's nuts.

Of course, I didn't see
the holdup, or whatever it was.

My boy who tailed her

from the building got stuck
in a freeway jam,

but her taxi had just taken
the airport off-ramp,

and since I was already there
on another case,

he just radioed her description.

- Yes, I understand all that.
- Perry,

they found her g*n
in the washroom,

plus a dozen witnesses
who identified her,

and she just stood there,

cool as a cucumber
and innocent as a lamb.

How long did that last, Paul?

Until she finally heard
everything

they were accusing her of.

Then, boom.
She starts laughing.

And confessed?

Confessed?
She thought it was a big joke.

She says, "Okay,
I was having a little fun,

so lock me up, Sergeant,”
and away they go.

The police haven't called,
she hasn't called.

Well, don't let it
break your heart.

The police know that a girl

like your Dorrie Ambler
doesn't need any lawyer.

Right now, they've probably got

one psychiatrist
tapping her knee,

another one scratching his head,
and another one...

Perry, the newspaper boy
was just here.

Look. Wait just a second here.

There she is.
Isn't it?

DRAKE: "Heiress again
tangles with law."”

MASON:
Minerva Minden.

DRAKE:
Who?

"Mischievous Minerva
sh**t blanks at airport.”

Oh, wait a minute.
That's Dorrie Ambler.

At least it's the same girl

I saw being picked up
at the airport.

And that's the same cop.

Did you see him check
her identification?

Sure, they grabbed her purse
and her credit cards.

Of course, I, uh, didn't
hear them say her name.

I didn't want to get so close
they'd think I was a witness.

"...just wanted to see what
it felt like,” said Minerva.

"Can't you understand a joke?

"But at police headquarters,
there was little laughter

as Miss Minden
was booked for..."

Perry, that girl's worth
$ million.

Remember the girl
from back East

who collected half of the
inheritance on the Minden Oil?

Sure, and has been
in trouble ever since.

Speeding, reckless driving...

Come on, Paul.

Let's see if Dorrie Ambler
is laughing.

Let's go.

It's .
I guess she's not here.

RITA:
Look out.

You trying to k*ll me?

JASPER: Well, move your foot
once in a while.

RITA:
I'll move it on you, you big...

JASPER:
Oh, I'm sorry.

So carry your own groceries
once in a while.

RITA: Besides, I told you
the box of pans, not the...

JASPER: Yah, yah, yah,
I'm going as fast as I can.

RITA: You broke my arch.
You broke it.

That's just great.

MASON:
Excuse me.

Do you know Miss Ambler?
Lives in ?

No, no, I'm just moved in
myself.

Ah, she's a blonde, young,
about so tall.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.
What'd you say her name was?

- Dorrie Ambler.
- Dorrie, yeah, yeah.

Well, as a matter of fact,

we had a few nice words
together this morning.

The wife's been here
about a week,

but me, I travel, so I just...

Who are you?

DRAKE:
Acme Collection Service.

No trouble.

Yeah, well,
as I was telling you boys,

I never met the girl.
I'm sorry.

What's Dorrie done?

Oh, nothing.
just a routine check.

Well, I'll tell her
you were here.

She'll get in touch, okay?

You're a friend of
Miss Ambler's, I take it?

With a husband like mine,

it's only fair to warn the young
ones, don't you think?

Uh, you know, uh,

Dorrie's a nice, sweet girl.

If you gave me the whole
message, maybe I could...

No, thank you.
Just tell her to phone.

(gasps)
Oh. Oh, Mr. Mason.

Let's go.

Well, it must have been
nearly two hours

I hid in that ladies' room,
but nobody came in,

oh, except just for a minute
when they found the g*n,

where I'd skidded it
across the floor.

So finally I sneaked out,

but nobody paid any attention.

Of course I fixed my hair and I
carried the coat inside out,

and then quickly as I could
I bought this,

and, oh,
had the coat wrapped up.

Oh, but I must have taken
nearly...

ten taxis trying to get home.

I was so afraid somebody
might be following me.

You did all this
to stay out of trouble?

Don't you understand?

When I found out it was that
Minden girl I looked like,

I just knew that I was being
used and way over my head, too.

So I thought if I did something
to show her I knew,

to put her on a spot, well,

they'd just have to
leave me alone.

They'd have to just
drop the whole thing.

Instead of which, she went along
with the whole gag,

and trumped your ace.

Probably saving you as fall girl
for something bigger.

Just a minute, Paul.

Dorrie, how did you discover

that Minerva Minden is the girl
you resembled?

I didn't.

It was this woman
in a beauty shop

and, well, she showed me
this picture in a magazine

she'd been reading.

Well, when I saw it...

So nutty me, I look up
Miss Minden's address

and go driving straight
out to her house.

She lives in something like
Buckingham Palace, you know.

Then I saw her coming out
of the house...

and Mr. Mason, she had on

exactly the same clothes I did.

- Did you speak to Miss Minden?
- Oh, no, but

I wasn't too scared
to telephone,

and this woman said,

"So sorry, but Miss Minden's
taking the plane

to New York this noon."”

And that's when I started
getting my crazy ideas.

I came to you first and then
when I went to the airport,

and when I spotted Miss Minden,
she went into the ladies' room,

and, well, here I am.

Dorrie...
- know, I know,

you said I should've turned
the problem

over to somebody else.

Dorrie...

tell me about this man Billings.

The man that hired you.

I only saw him that once.

All my clothes come by
messenger,

and I'm supposed to phone him
every day for instructions.

His telephone number's over
on the pad, but...

I think it's unlisted.

MASON: You said that
for a couple of days

he told you to just walk around
the street in certain clothes.

Right, and certain streets, too.

That whole area around
Sunset and La Brea.

I was supposed to just wander
around, stop for a soda,

talk to the newsboys, you know.

Did anything unusual happen
during that time?

Yes. Just yesterday afternoon
I noticed two people

pointing at me in a shop, and,

and then there was this boy
in a service station.

I think I've got it, Paul.

Dorrie, did Billings
ever ask you about...

certain days, certain dates?

- Huh?
- What you'd been doing,

where you were on those dates?

Oh. Oh, w-well, yes,

he-he did give me
sort of a memory test

to see if I could remember
instructions, he said.

What dates?

Well, let's see.

Oh, I remember he asked me all
about March , for instance.

That's easy, because I remember

I was home here alone
with the flu.

Hey, hit-and-run, maybe.

- Exactly.
- What?

Dorrie, I'll bet
that Minden girl

was involved
in a hit-run accident

or some kind of a crime

near the intersection of Sunset
and La Brea on March .

Uh, Paul, Della can check
the police department

-for unsolved...
- I'm checking something else.

But that's Mr. Billings' number.
If he knows I...

Shh.

(dialing)

Hi. Is Sam there?

Yeah, Sam Billings.

Look, sister, this is
the number he give me.

He said if I ever want
my fender fixed

be sure to call
Billings Body and...

Wrong number.

"This is Compton and Billings,”
she says.

Compton and Billings?

One of the crookedest
private eye outfits in town.

Well, that's very flattering,
Mr. Drake,

you coming to us
for information.

Well, I thought possibly
you could save my outfit

a little time, Mr. Billings.

You see,
we've been investigating

some of these phony
movie job offers.

For the Actors Guild?
Yeah, I've heard about that.

Phony casting bureaus,
stuff like that.

Casting--
that's nice work, isn't it?

Yeah. I understand you did
some interviewing the other day

-at the Palace Hotel.
- That so?

Took a suite and talked
to several hundred girls.

At least that's what
one of my boys picked up.

Casting?

Well, whatever it was,

I'm sure your operation
was perfectly legitimate.

All I care about is this--

we've got a list of guys
who hang around

the big interviews
where the girls are.

I'm sorry, Mr. Drake,

but I'm not going to be able
to help you on this.

Unfortunately...

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

- I'm Del Compton, Mr. Drake.
- How do you do, Mr. Compton?

What sort of help is it
you're talking about?

He's got me mixed up
with somebody else, Del.

I was just about
to tell you, Drake,

I haven't been inside the
Palace Hotel in... two years.

Well, I guess it
was just a bum steer.

Thanks anyway.
See you around, gentlemen.

Too bad to miss a chance to do a
favor for a big agency like his.

Palace Hotel.

Joe...

where were you
Tuesday and Wednesday, anyway?

Las Vegas.

You know that.

(dialing)

Hello, baby.

It's me.

Yeah, me.

What's the matter,
is my competition there?

Now, look, if you won't
get rid of him, I will.

Yeah, that's better.

Now, look, baby,
time is running out.

Well, sure, Mr. Billings.

All right, Joe.

Whatever you say, sweetie.

You understand, Miss Minden,
that the fine I've imposed

is the maximum that's possible
under the circumstances.

If you hadn't pleaded guilty,

if there hadn't been blanks
in that g*n,

if the witnesses at the airport
hadn't remembered that you said,

"This isn't a stickup,”

then it would have given me
great pleasure

to send you to jail for a while,

to learn a little something
about social responsibility.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I really am sorry.

Look at that.

years old

and your driver's license
has been suspended twice.

Three arrests for speeding,
one for reckless...

I'm sure Minerva

has learned her lesson
this time, Your Honor.

Minerva, you have advantages,
opportunities,

which other children don't have.

I remember once reading
in the newspapers

where you inherited $ million.

Well, if the law
permitted spanking

as a punishment for...

This child has also
had tragedies, Your Honor.

A broken home,

no real parents of her own.

Aunt Hetty, please.

She didn't have to plead guilty,
Your Honor.

She didn't have to...

And you, woman.

If you open your mouth once more
in this courtroom,

you're going to be fined, too.

Just don't let me see you
in here again, young lady.

Understand?

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Next case.

I'll see she stays
out of trouble.

Don't you worry about that.

Well, that's it.

Night of March ,
approximately : ,

La Brea just south
of Sunset Boulevard.

The man who was hit was getting
into his car, Paul.

Girl in a big convertible
sideswiped him.

How come the police got
such a good description of her?

Apparently the girl stopped
and got out to help,

but when other people
came running,

she changed her mind
and drove away.

The man wasn't
badly injured but...

(door opens)

DRAKE:
Hi, beautiful.

Hi.

Perry, what did you tell
Dorrie Ambler to do now?

Told her to stay quiet.

But the second anyone
singles her out

for this hit-run accident,

we'll jump
on Miss Minerva Minden

with both feet.

Well, I may have slowed down

her hired hand, Billings,
a little.

But of all
the conniving frame-ups...

-I wonder.
- MASON: Wonder what?

I've spotted several differences
between them,

but these girls
are so much alike.

You don't suppose
they could be related, do you?

Well, it would be
quite a coincidence.

On the other hand,
Dorrie says she doesn't know

a thing about her own family.

Well, I stopped by
probate court,

and the clerk remembers
that Minerva Minden's father

left her mother
with her mother's sister.

Well,

maybe our Dorrie
should be collecting some

of the Minden millions?

At least it would help
to explain the resemblance.

(phone rings)

Perry Mason's office.

Yeah, speaking.

Dorrie, what's the matter?

Followed?

Well, it's probably the police,

waiting to pick you up
for that hit-and-run.

Now, don't get scared.

They won't hurt you, and we'll
be over as fast as we can.

No, no, I'm going away.

Look, just tell Mr. Mason

I'm sorry I've been
such a crazy nuisance to him,

but I don't want
to be mixed up anymore in this.

Dorrie, wait a minute.

Don't try to run.

There may be more
to this than...

I just can't stand it
any longer.

Tell Mr. Mason I'm sorry.

Dorrie, you do as we tell you.

Stay there.

We're coming right over.

Did you see anyone
who looked like the police?

No, not a soul.

Dorrie?

Dorrie.

(woman screaming)

Locked.

Over here, Perry.

DRAKE:
All right, hold it.

It's Joe Billings.

He's been sh*t.

(banging)

(tires squealing)

(indistinct radio transmission)

Hello, Perry.

Thanks for coming
out here again.

That's all right, Andy.
Any news yet?

No word on Dorrie Ambler,
if that's what you mean.

Yes, that's what I mean.

We've got a full alarm out,
don't worry.

Andy, how many times
do I have to tell you:

someone dragged her
out of that apartment.

We heard a cry,

and it certainly wasn't
any woman

who tipped that stove over.

Sure, sure, we're going
on the assumption

that your client was kidnapped,

but I want
to show you something.

You find the m*rder w*apon yet?

Yeah, it's in the bushes
by the path over there.

Well, is that all you can say?

What was it?

. revolver, no fingerprints.

Registration?

Andy, what's the matter
with you?

I've told you all I can,
perhaps more than I should.

That's because my client
is in danger.

It was obviously
Billings' m*rder*r

who took Dorrie out of there.

Perry, look at this car.

Well?

The hit-and-run on March ?

Well, this is it.

Description of the witnesses,
last two numbers of the license,

everything checks.

There's even a dent
in the right place.

And the garage is rented
to Dorrie Ambler, Perry.

Well, of course,

and the car belongs
to Minerva Minden.

It's just planted here,
probably by Billings himself.

It was part of the frame-up.

No, no.

Look at that. Cobwebs.

The battery's dead,
tires are flat.

The car's been in this garage
for months, Perry.

Ever since the accident,
I'd guess.

Well, Andy, I'm sure
there's some explanation for...

And it doesn't belong
to Miss Minden.

It's a stolen car.

Taken from a parking lot
in San Francisco

about six months ago.

Quite some girl,
your Dorrie Ambler.

But I guess now you'll believe

we're just as anxious
to find her as you are.

Look, I can't help you, buddy.

Now, how many times
do I have to say it

and to how many people, huh?

You weren't here last night?

No, I was picking up draperies.

At : ?

Well now, if your wife sent you
clear down to Long Beach

to get in
on a Friday night bargain sale,

wouldn't you stop for a belt?

I don't know,
maybe you're a mouse.

Okay, so you had a few.

I understand
your wife wasn't here either.

Oh, can you say that again.

Draperies, huh?

Boy, won't they just look great
in Salt Lake City.

- Where?
- Well, here.

Look for yourself.

Least, that's the dateline
on there.

Look at the time, huh? : a.m.

She must have took
the : plane,

I guess.

"Changed my mind.

"Mother needs me more.

"Go reconcile
with that redheaded waitress

"you slipped
the note to at dinner.

P.S. Don't hang yourself
on the draperies."”

Yeah, well, um,

we kind of had
our ups and downs.

Yeah, well, what I want to find
out is how they got away.

"They"?

Well, it must've been at least
one man with the girl in tow,

and she must have put
up a struggle.

Well, like I was, uh,

like I was telling the cops,
you know,

there's a service court
out there

that attaches to the next one,
which is out by the street.

Now, if you didn't know that,

and you was chasing
somebody through,

you wouldn't even see it.

Did you ever see Joe Billings
around here?

The man that was m*rder*d?

No, I only been here
one day, so, uh...

I'll tell you one thing though,

I seen this guy, uh, Compton,

the cops had out here
this morning.

I seen him
around here yesterday.

He was hanging around the, uh...

Mr. Jasper?

Mind talking
with the lieutenant again?

Oh, look, just find
that Dorrie girl, huh?

She's the one probably
that did it.

Now you just find her.

I told you no, Mr. Mason.

Minerva will not
speak to anyone just now.

I'd rather hear that from
Minerva Minden, Miss Hull.

Well, you're not going to.

After all that's been
in the newspapers,

our lawyers have given
specific instructions:

no visitors, no interviews,

and in particular,
no contact with you, Mr. Mason.

Is that so?

Who are these
protective lawyers?

Now don't be angry.

We have a great many
lawyers, naturally,

to handle different sorts of--

To handle Minerva's
many escapades, you mean.

That's not true.

She's only rebelled in
a childish way once or twice--

and I've put a stop to that
sort of thing, don't you worry.

Naturally, if Minerva ever
got into serious trouble,

you'd be the first one
we'd come to.

No, thank you.

Don't you understand, Miss Hull,

your niece has committed
a hit-and-run?

She hired a detective
to frame another girl for it.

The detective has been m*rder*d
and the girl kidnapped.

Now, if that isn't
serious trouble...

That's not
how it happened at all.

This Dorrie Ambler,
whoever she is,

has simply been
telling you stories.

She's simply
trying to capitalize

on a fancied
resemblance with...

Just a moment, Miss Hull.

It's not your version
I want to hear.

Perhaps I will
talk to those lawyers.

Good-bye.

Mr. Mason?

You are Mr. Perry Mason.

Well, I'll be.

Della was right.

Your eyes
are a little lighter.

What are you talking about?

I don't suppose you, too,
have had an appendectomy.

Well, no, I...

That's all right, never mind.

I really do look like
this Dorrie Ambler person,

like the paper said--
is that what you mean?

Don't pretend you don't know
about her, Minerva.

But what do they think
has happened to her?

You started all this,
didn't you?

Had an accident
and hired Joe Billings

to help cover it up?

Well, what else happened?

Did Billings try
to blackmail you?

No!

No, please, Mr. Mason...

I'm warning you, Miss Minden,

no matter what your lawyers say,

no matter your aunt says,

if you know one single thing

that can help us locate
Dorrie Ambler, then--

ANDERSON:
We've already done it.

She's dead.

(gasps)

Andy, where did...?

They just found her body
up one of the canyon roads.

Been there
for a couple of days.

Driving Joe Billings' car,

apparently took a corner
too fast,

rolled feet and b*rned up.

MINERVA (sobs):
Oh, no!

No... no...!

(Minerva sobs)

But it wasn't an accident.

If Dorrie's kidnapper
became frightened...

But it probably
was an accident, Perry.

At least we know
there wasn't any kidnapper.

What?!

Besides, it's much easier
taking things one at a time.

The k*ller of Joe Billings,
we know we can nail.

Why? Who is it?

Her.

(door unlocking)

I, uh, I-l didn't know whether
you'd come or not, Mr. Mason.

Your aunt seemed convinced

that the offer of a $ ,
retainer would buy anyone.

Well, uh, she-she's not
really my aunt, you see.

She's been taking care
of me ever since--

Miss Hull reminds me
of a stage mother

who's over-groomed
the prize child,

just to win the role of heiress.

But that's beside the point.

- Minerva--
- Please, Mr. Mason,

I'm the one who wants you,
I'm the one who needs your help.

Now, look, your-your client,
Dorrie Ambler, is dead,

so if you--

Dorrie was a very confused girl,
but I liked her.

And... and you don't like me.

I would like to find out
everything she did.

I would like to find out
what happened to her.

Those are the only reasons
I'd take your case, Minerva.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, please!

Look, if you do,
I'll... I'll tell you the truth!

I'll tell you every
awful thing I've done--

I don't want to hear about it.

What?!

I want you to answer
just one question:

Did you k*ll Joe Billings?

No!

No, I didn't!

Look, Mr. Mason,
when you do one awful thing

and then another thing
to cover it up

and another and another,
you just--

I told you,
I don't want to hear...

A lawyer is also an officer
of the court, Minerva.

I couldn't remain silent
about any crimes

which you may have committed

unrelated to the m*rder
of Joe Billings.

But I've got to tell somebody!
I just have to!

I'm afraid silence is the
medicine you'll have to take.

Now...

Try to smile a little, Minerva.

I'll see you in court.

Lieutenant Anderson,
I understand that,

in this particular case,

you yourself personally assisted

both in fingerprint
identification

and in the ballistics tests,
is that correct?

Yes, sir, I did.

Then you yourself
saw that the b*llet

taken from Joe Billings' body
matched in every particular

the test b*ll*ts
fired by this g*n.

I did. That's the m*rder g*n,
all right.

And would you tell us
where and when

you found this g*n, Lieutenant.

It was next morning.

We found it in the bushes

beside the Beverly entrance
to the apartment court

where Miss Dorrie Ambler lived.

There's a path there,
with bushes alongside.

The Beverly entrance.
Thank you, Lieutenant.

One further thing: did you check
the registration of the g*n?

We did and we can introduce
the proper evidence of sale.

It was purchased a year ago,
from the Southland g*n Shop,

by Miss Henrietta Hull.

Because I'm afraid
of prowlers, that's why.

Some of the trash there is,

wandering about at night
these days.

Miss Hull, please.

Now you've been designated
an unfriendly witness,

and that means you must give me
direct answers to my questions.

Why did you buy that g*n?

I just told you.

Let me put it this way:

What did you do with the g*n
after you bought it?

Well, I...

I gave it to Minerva.

I thought she should
keep it in her car.

Not to use, of course.

Uh, did she keep it in her car?

HENRIETTA: Well, of course,
she-she had to stop driving

after her license was suspended.

All right,
but what happened to the g*n?

I don't know.

- Never saw it
after I gave it to her.

It was just about : ,
that's right.

I saw this gal
running along the street

and she waves at my taxi cab.

Just a moment now--
running along what street, sir?

Well, Beverly.

You see, when I first seen her,
she was just running out of

the apartment court entrance,
right there on Beverly.

BURGER:
Al right.

And what did you do then?

Well, I stopped my cab.

She hopped in.

Her-- the defendant,
right there.

BURGER: And what can you tell us
about her manner at that moment?

TAXI DRIVER: Oh, sure--
she was all out of breath.

Upset, I guess; I don't know.

Anyhow, she didn't want
to talk too much,

so I just drove her over
to the address she gave me

on Fairhaven Drive.

And did you, by any chance,
recognize the house

when you arrived
at the address she gave you?

Oh, sure-- everybody knows
that old castle.

The Minden place.

$So, Miss Minden,
she pays me off,

hops out, that's it.

Thank you.
No more questions.

Counselor?

That was only a guess

when you called the girl
you drove "Miss Minden.”

Huh?

Well, didn't you hear
the testimony

indicating that Minerva Minden
and Dorrie Ambler

looked so much alike they might
have been mistaken for twins?

TAXI DRIVER:
Oh, yeah, yeah, sure.

But I'm not guessing, friend.

When I seen her at the door,
fumbling with those keys,

and then some butler guy
open up that door and say,

"I heard you coming,
Miss Minerva.”

(chuckling):
Well, that's her, ain't it?

No, I didn't know
the exact nature of the case

Joe-- Mr. Billings--
was working on.

Then why did you say you were
suspicious of him?

Well, I was always
suspicious of him

when he started
laughing to himself.

You see, I needed Joe--

he met people
a lot better than I did--

but I... as a partner,
I never really trusted him.

I knew as soon as he got
something big enough,

he'd, uh...
well, double-cross me, too.

Can you tell us anything
about the nature of the job

your partner was working on
at the time of his death?

It all started with a phone call
from some gal.

That's the way he got all of
his instructions on the case--

by telephone.

Do you know that for a fact,

or is that just another
of your suspicions?

No, no, Joe told me.

See, the evening
before his death,

I was getting a little sore,
so I pinned him down.

He said just sit tight.

He said he'd never met
his client in person.

He didn't want to meet her

till he was ready
to strike her for dough.

A lot of dough, he said.

Well, I was beginning
to get a little worried

because it sounded like
a shakedown and blackmail but--

Mr. Compton, did he tell you
the name of this client?

Or anything about
the nature of the work

he was hired to do for her?

He said it was
Miss, uh, Minerva Minden

who hired him to protect her.

And did he tell you any details

about how he intended
to protect Miss Minden?

One moment.

Mr. Mason, I'm bearing in mind
this is hearsay evidence.

But you may have
further objections.

I have no objections
whatsoever, Your Honor.

Very well.

Proceed.

Did your partner tell you

how he intended
to protect Miss Minden?

No, I've told you
about all I know.

Except Joe did have someone else
working with him on this.

Some girl.

Do you know the name
of that girl?

Well, I tailed him
to the apartment court.

I saw him talking to her.

The girl, I now realize,
of course, was Dorrie Ambler.

She was the one, all right.

Well, there's no question
about it, Mr. Burger.

That car had been
parked in the garage

rented by Miss Ambler
for several months.

Could it have been parked there

since as long ago
as last March th, Sergeant?

Well, that's several months.

The laboratory tests can't show
an exact date, naturally.

Naturally, Sergeant.

Now, what else can you tell us
about that automobile?

Well, it was originally stolen
from San Francisco,

as I've already testified.

On further examination,
downtown,

we found that the rear
seat cushion had seen split

and then re-sewn.

And do you recognize
this package of money?

I do.

It's a bundle
of hundred-dollar bills

that I found hidden
inside the rear cushion.

That's my mark there.

What amount of money
is here, in all?

There's $ , , in all.

And can you tell us
anything else

about these hundred-dollar
bills, Sergeant?

Yes, sir; the serial numbers
had been recorded

by a San Francisco bank.

Those bills are part of
a $ , robbery of that bank,

committed on March th.

BURGER: Has the San Francisco
bank robbery

been solved, Sergeant?

Well, the San Francisco police
had a pretty good lead, yes.

A man and a woman--

Now just a moment.

Seems to me you're getting

rather far afield here,
Mr. Burger.

It's my intention, Your Honor,

to tie up
the San Francisco bank robbery

with the present m*rder case
through my next witness,

if I may.

I call Clyde Jasper
to the stand.

All right, so I did!

But, uh, nobody got hurt,
Your Honor.

We used water pistols.

BURGER:
But it was you, Mr. Jasper.

You were the one
who robbed that bank.

Nice and clean.
Yes, sir; I did it.

BURGER: And who was the woman
who helped you?

Well, now, there you get into
the legal aspects, Mr. Burger.

Mr. Jasper, if I tell this court
that the description

of the woman
who helped you rob that bank

matches the description
of your wife, Rita Jasper,

can you deny it?

Now, look, I told you
I'd help you all I could,

didn't I? But--

I'll draw
my own conclusions, Mr. Burger.

This man's obviously
thrown himself on your mercy,

but he need not
incriminate his wife.

Of course, Your Honor.

All right, Mr. Jasper,

keeping in mind
what His Honor just told us,

what did you do after
you robbed the bank?

Well, we, uh, we borrow
this car, the convertible,

from a parking lot,
and we drive to Los Angeles.

Only, uh...

Well, the-the wife,

she-she likes
to go to parties, you know.

So, the-the-the next night,

we seen one at this hotel,
so we crash it, that's all.

There's no harm
in a little dancing, is there?

Only... when we come out,
the car's been stolen.

Now, can you imagine that?

Amazing. Go ahead.

Well, what's a guy to do,
you know?

I couldn't report it.

And I got $ ,
stashed in the backseat.

Well, the parking boy give us
a lead on this blonde,

and, uh, the wife, she, uh...
she stays around LA,

and she finally spots
the blonde in a bar.

It's this Dorrie Ambler girl.

She, uh... she seen her I.D.

the same as
the parking lot boy did.

Well, we're finally
getting close.

So, the wife rents a place
at the same apartment...

Are you telling me
that you actually hid

$ , in cash
in the backseat of this car

which you claim
was later stolen from you?

Yeah.

Only we didn't find the car
until that same night.

But that night
was the night of the m*rder.

Yeah.

Now, what time that night?

I don't know.
It was around : , : .

So, we start pulling
the money out right away,

but then I spot there's about
two thirds of it missing.

So, me, I put it right back in.

Somebody's onto this,
I say, you know?

Watch and wait.
You know, be careful.

Well, there's a guy

been hanging around
Dorrie Ambler's apartment,

and right around this time,
I seen his car drive off.

That was maybe : .

BURGER: All right,
you saw the car drive off.

Now, could you see
who was driving the car?

No, I couldn't actually see
who was driving.

But it was the same car

that belonged to this, uh,
Joe Billings.

Uh, the cops showed me
the license and identification

down at police headquarters.

Then you're talking
about the car

in which Dorrie Ambler
later met her death.

Yeah, it was an awful mess.

BURGER: Would you please
tell us what you did

the night of the m*rder
after : ?

The wife and me,
we go back to the apartment,

and we're b*ating our brains
trying to figure out

what we're going to do next
when-- bam!-- we hear a sh*t.

Well, that no-good Rita--
"Let's go see,” she says.

You know, of all the nosy...

Well, anyway,
right at this time,

we hear footsteps,
like a... like a woman,

running out the Beverly way.

So we, uh,
just go around and, uh,

take a peek in the back way.
That's all.

You didn't, by any chance, go
into Dorrie Ambler's apartment?

Well, now, if the coast is clear

and maybe there's some
of my money in there, yeah.

All right, Mr. Jasper.

What did you find
when you entered

Dorrie Ambler's apartment?

A man dying,
right there on the rug.

But I no sooner touch him

when-- boom, boom--
there's guys at the door.

Well, Rita, she, uh...
she panics a little,

you know, so I drag her out
of there and I, uh...

I slam a stove over
to stop them,

and we, uh, jump
into a rental car and off we go.

BURGER:
That's enough, Mr. Jasper.

Thank you very much.

You've been a most
cooperative witness.

JUDGE:
Now... now, wait here.

Did this man
just volunteer this story?

Yes, he did, Your Honor.

After we had checked
on his record.

He's got two prior convictions.

Well, it...
it's the wife, Your Honor.

Don't you see?
I mean, I tear out

to the airport,
and I dump her on a plane.

I tried to, uh, phony up
the telegram she sends me

from Salt Lake City, but...

Has his wife been
apprehended yet, Mr. Burger?

No, Your Honor, she hasn't,
and I doubt very much...

It's the least I could do,
now don't you think?

You know me, I been in trouble
before, but, Rita,

she's got to get clear.

I mean, Rita's
a three-time loser.

Well, I'm certain
defense counsel

will wish to cross-examine.

I've just got to tell you
what I did, Mr. Mason.

just can't let this go on...
- Shh, shh.

May it please the court,

I would like to have Lieutenant
Anderson returned to the stand.

No, I did not say
that Dorrie Ambler's death

was also being listed
as a m*rder.

Why not?
If the police had concluded

that Dorrie had been working
with Joe Billings,

if they believed
that she had left the scene

driving his car at : ,
just a few minutes

-before Billings was m*rder*d?
- Well, in the first place

there wasn't any real evidence
to go on.

The car was spread
over feet,

totally destroyed,
and her body b*rned

almost beyond recognition.

How did you know
it was Dorrie, then?

ANDERSON: The laboratory
was able to reconstruct

fingerprints, and determine
the color of hair.

Also, of course, her purse
had been thrown clear,

and its contents scattered
all over the sagebrush.

Yes.

And with the court's permission

I'd like you to further explain

that means of identification.

BURGER: Your Honor,
Just a moment here.

The purpose of this hearing

is to determine that
Joe Billings was m*rder*d

and, if possible, to prove
the probable identity

of his m*rder*r.

MASON: And defense contends,
Your Honor,

that only by understanding
what happened to Dorrie

can we find the truth
about Billings' m*rder.

It seems to me I've allowed
the prosecution

a good bit of leeway.

You have the same privilege,
Mr. Mason.

Proceed.

Now as I understand it,
Lieutenant,

this plate shows
a reconstruction

of Miss Ambler's thumbprint?

ANDERSON:
That's correct.

It's not perfect,

but it's as good as the
laboratory could manage

-with b*rned tissue.
-I see.

Now you compared this,
I suppose,

with the thumbprint shown on
Miss Ambler's driver's license?

ANDERSON: Yes, it's on
the other card there.

I think we can project them
side by side.

Yes, there we are.

Quite a bit of difference.

MASON: To an expert I'm sure
there are similarities.

Perhaps Lieutenant Anderson
could point them out.

Now what we look for,
Your Honor,

are points of exact similarity

rather than just
any overall pattern.

Now here you see

that point is the same.

And down here at the curve,

that's similar.

And to the right,
there's another.

Then up here...

How many points of similarity
did you find, Lieutenant?

Well, uh...

at least six, as I remember.

Let's see, there's one, two...

Six?

But I thought to establish
an absolute identification,

you needed at least
points of similarity.

Oh, no, no, there have been
many cases

that have been established
with several less than .

How many less?

Well, nine or ten

similarities has often...

Nine or ten?

But there you have only six?

But here there were only
a few bits of skin,

just a few areas to work with.

I feel that when this is added
to the other evidence

of the girl's identity...

Lieutenant,

how many people in the world

have six points of similarity

between their fingerprints?

Mr. Mason, I really wouldn't
care to guess.

Aren't there possibly
hundreds of thousands?

Possibly even millions?

Your Honor...

Be quiet, Mr. Burger.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

For instance, couldn't I use...

anyone's fingerprints?

The defendant's, for example.

Your Honor, I have here a copy

of the defendant's thumbprint.

Lieutenant, mightn't we find

some points of similarity with

those prints on the screen?

Well, that's possibly true,
but...

Maybe even as many as six?

No, no, no.
I seriously doubt that.

Here...

show us, won't you?

Point out whatever similarities

you can find.

Well...

between this one
and this one...

But that's the same
as the third, of course.

Well, let's see,
that's two, three...

Would this make it easier?

Well, between these two
fingerprints, of course.

MASON:
Go on, keep counting. Three...

ANDERSON:
Four, five,

six, seven,

eight, nine,

ten, eleven...

MASON:
, ,

, a hundred.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

You've just proven
that the defendant

b*rned to death in that
automobile four days ago.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel bangs)

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.
I tried to tell you.

- I'm sorry.
- Order!

Order in the court.

We can take a few moments'
recess if you like, Mr. Mason.

No, I think, just the court's
indulgence for a few moments.

(whispers):
I did it, I did everything.

What did you do?

Don't you understand?
That's my license up there.

I couldn't drive so...

I took out another license
under the name of Dorrie Ambler.

And then I went to a party and
I had a fight with my boyfriend,

so, so I ran out
and I took his car.

I mean, I mean, I thought
it was his car.

And then I hit someone
at La Brea.

I wanted to stop, Mr. Mason,

but when you do one thing,
and then another,

and another...

And then I hired
Mr. Billings to help me.

Instead he tried
to blackmail me.

All right, that's enough.

Any reason the bailiff
can't remove

the screen there, Mr. Mason?

Oh, Your Honor,
I'd like to go on now,

if you don't mind.

I'd like to ask
that Mr. Del Compton

be returned to the stand.

But I didn't know
they were both the same girl.

I didn't know anything about it,
I tell you.

Joe Billings, I assume,
had already guessed the truth.

Well, sure, that must have been

what he was always
laughing about.

He would've really had that girl
on a hook.

He talked to the woman who
was working with him, you said,

and you assumed
it was Dorrie Ambler?

Well, sure, but now
it doesn't make any sense.

I mean he called her "baby"
and "sweetie,”

and stuff like that
on the phone.

Well, isn't it possible

that was another woman
he was using?

Someone else whom Billings
was working with,

in order to build up his
blackmail of Minerva Minden?

COMPTON:
Well, sure. Obviously.

But before we consider
who she was, Mr. Compton,

can you tell us who
in this courtroom

not only assumed that Dorrie
and Minerva were separate girls,

as you did, but also

acted upon that assumption
by building lies on it?

Well, sure.

It was the same person
who said that somebody drove off

in Billings' car, implying
that it was Dorrie Ambler,

and then said
that minutes later

another girl
ran out towards Beverly.

It was him.

How about it, Mr. Jasper?

Will you admit
you committed perjury?

Or do we have to wait until
the fingerprints

of your wife Rita can be brought
over here to be shown

on that screen?

Rita was the woman who d*ed,
wasn't she?

Rita was the woman whom
you k*lled and b*rned.

I caught 'em.
Him and her.

That Billings...

Sure, he was onto us,
he got our $ , .

But she didn't have to
kiss him, did she?

She didn't have to
double-cross me.

She didn't have to throw me out
to team up with some...

So I sh*t him.

And she begged all the way
out to those hills.

I loved that lousy, no-good...

So I k*lled her, too.

You dropped your purse when you
ran out of the apartment,

and Jasper picked it up.

The next day, when he thought
he knew the whole story,

he spread the contents of
that purse all over the canyon.

I was so scared that night.

I really did want
to run away forever.

And then after I hung up,
that,

that Mr. Billings
started coming,

and, well, I just got out
before he saw me.

Oh, Mr. Mason...

if I could be spanked for all
the crazy things I've done...

Why I ever thought that

I could blame Dorrie Ambler

for all my awful crimes,

and then just have her
disappear...

It's like I could escape.

Minerva...

you're going to get a good deal
more than a spanking

for that hit-run accident,

and for falsifying
a driver's license.

I know.
I'm responsible.

And I want to be.

I'm not better
than other people,

like Aunt Hetty keeps saying.

But what an imagination.

DELLA:
Yes, and you even had me

believing that your eyes
were lighter than Dorrie's.

Oh, they are lighter.

See, sometimes
I wear contact lenses,

and I had this extra pair
tinted darker so...

I guess I do need a doctor.

That's right.
To remove your appendix.

(laughs):
Oh.

You do have a scar, don't you?

Oh, no, see,
what you do is

you take a little collodion
and then you put it...

I guess, maybe I won't show you.

Got to learn
how to be a lady sometime.

(theme song playing)