09x01 - The Case of the Laughing Lady

[bunniefuu]

The cream of society is here
en masse tonight.

The gowns, the jewels,

and the beautiful women
wearing them.

Truly magnificent.
The height of elegance.

A wonderful, wonderful occasion.

Without doubt, this is the supreme
highlight of our new social season.

Our artists, our designer
and decorators

have outdone themselves tonight.

Fine arts, native arts,
the art of haute couture,

vying good-naturedly
with each other

for the attention
of the warm-hearted throng.

There is only one way to describe
such a superb occasion.

A triumph.

A triumph for the talented people
who planned and presented it,

and a triumph for those fortunate
enough to be able to attend.

Truly, this is a memorable event.

One dazzling display after another.

And proceeds from the event

have been donated
to Sweet Charity,

proving that high society too
has a heart.

A great, big, generous heart.

[WOMAN LAUGHING ON TV]

[LAUGHING AND CHATTERING]

It's her. It is.

I can't believe it.

Knock it off, Carla.

I tried to tell them
but they wouldn't believe me.

They thought I was lying.

And there she is. There she is.

Carla, that's all the TV for tonight.

No, you can't turn it off.
I have to know who she is.

She k*lled him and I'm paying for it.

Any more disturbances
and there'll be no TV for a week.

You get out of the way. Please
give me a chance to save my life.

MATRON: Carla.
- Please. Oh, please.

Somebody help me.
She k*lled him, I swear. It's not me.

Please! Oh, please!

WOMAN: Are you
gonna take Carla's case, Mr. Mason?

As yet, I don't know.

The judge has informed me about
the disturbance she started last night

and some of the background
on the case.

I have agreed to talk with her,
that's all.

Why is it taking so long
to bring her case to trial?

Well, as the judge explained,
the court-appointed attorney

was bawled out by Carla
when she was bound over.

A second attorney asked the judge
to release him.

So it's been one continuance
after another.

Poor Carla.

It just seems as if some people
were just born into trouble.

- Is she difficult to handle?
- All her life.

From foster homes
to juvenile hall to here.

But she never gave us any real trouble,
of course, until last night.

What about this morning?

She's under restraint.

Well, here we are.

Carla? Carla Chaney?

- Who are you?
- This is Mr. Mason, Carla.

The judge asked him to see you.

Oh, another lawyer?

Well, I thought they'd given up
on me.

- Why?
- Because the good lawyers

work for the rich ones,

for the ones who can pay.

That's why they get off
and people like me get the short end.

- Justice.
- Don't be fresh, Carla. Mr. Mason--

You, uh, don't believe
you'll have a fair trial?

Why should it be any different
from the preliminary hearing?

Oh, that was a mess.

A real mess.

The court gave me a lawyer,
a real winner.

And he really loused me up
but good.

And I hear you've been doing
a pretty good job of that for yourself.

CARLA:
Why shouldn't I?

I've been seeing her in my dreams
every night for the last four months.

Ever since she k*lled Gerry.

And then last night,
I heard that laugh again,

just like the first time,
the night that Gerry was k*lled.

And when I looked,
there she was on TV

just as big as life.

There was the woman
who really k*lled Gerald Havens.

Your missing witness,
the one who was never found.

Who looked? My crummy lawyer?

He was so sure that I was lying,

and that I'd made her up,

therefore I was guilty.

Let's get back to this woman.

What's it to you?

Carla, I'm gonna give you
just five more minutes of my time.

- Your real valuable time, huh?
- Exactly.

So you can either waste it
or tell me your story.

It's entirely up to you.

Help me, Mr. Mason.

Give me a break.

Nobody else has ever in my life
before.

She k*lled Gerry, not me.

Please find her.

All right, Carla.

As long as there are no more outbursts
like the one in the lounge last night.

Okay, I won't.

But I'm telling you the truth,
Mr. Mason.

Well, I'd say we might remove
that restraint now.

Yes. And thank you, Mr. Mason.

Don't ever change the menu, Clay.

You couldn't afford to defend
all the cardiac cases.

[DELLA CHUCKLES]

Old customers who'd drop dead
from the shock.

Hmm. Quite a comedian, your boss,
isn't he?

If the law business ever slows down,

he could start a whole new career,
getting laughs.

[PERRY & DELLA LAUGH]

Della,
what do you know about laughs?

They're better than crying.

[DELLA CHUCKLES]

I'm sorry.

You were thinking
about the Carla Chaney case, hmm?

Tell me something, Perry,
who's paying Paul?

The Drake Detective Agency
isn't a philanthropic institution.

Yes, I know.

And for that matter,
who's paying you?

You mean why did I decide
to take the case?

Oh, perhaps because of the way
the judge talked to me.

Perhaps because of the way
she looked under the restraining sheet.

Helpless, alone.

If ever a case were open and shut...

Why do you wanna get involved?

Because among other things,
I believe that truth and justice

should not be influenced
by monetary gain.

I've always thought that everyone
was equal before the law.

For someone in Carla's position,
that might not be precisely true.

[MEN CHATTERING]

- Hi, beautiful.
- Hi, Paul.

Sorry, I'm late, Perry,

but it took a little time
to get the TV tape

of that program Carla was watching
transferred.

And then I was buttonholed
by our friends outside.

Burger tried to pump me dry.

When may we see the tape?

Just as soon
as I have something to eat.

Uh, would you like a quick rundown
on the deceased, Gerald Havens?

Well, he was a cut-rate journalist,
an art critic for a throwaway weekly,

and he did some catalog copywriting
on the side.

Then all of a sudden,
he quits his job,

moves into a brand-new bachelor
hideaway and starts living it up.

All play, no work.

And I suppose unavailable
to his old friends,

especially his old girlfriends.

Exactly.

So he ends up on the bedroom floor
with a Kn*fe in his chest.

Forget it, fellas.

Well, Hamilton. Hello, Steve.

- Hello, Perry.
- Take my advice, Perry.

Miss Street. You won't be able
to accomplish anything.

I gather you're referring
to the Carla Chaney case?

Convicting Carla Chaney

is gonna be like sh**ting fish
in a barrel.

As a matter of fact, by comparison,
the fish has a sporting chance.

And Carla Chaney hasn't?

According to the evidence, Perry,
she's right where she belongs.

Excuse me, Mr. Burger.

Judge Penner's waiting for you
at the bar.

Take my advice, Perry, forget it.

Thank you, Clay.

As a matter of fact,
why don't you take the case, Perry?

I'd enjoy b*ating your brains out.

The DA's right, Perry.

PAUL: Sit down, Steve.
- Thank you, Paul.

How come you and Burger
are so bugged

about Perry entering the case?

You have the girl convicted
before she stands trial.

Item one:

Carla Chaney has a juvenile record
as long as your arm.

Item two: she was Gerald Haven's
girlfriend until he threw her over,

and, uh, went on to better things.

Item three:

her fingerprints were found
on the death w*apon,

an antique Malay kris,
belonging to the victim.

And item four:

our radio car picked her up running

less than a block away
from the scene,

with blood on her clothing.

Picked up because
of an anonymous telephone tip.

Well, our good citizens don't seem
to wanna get involved these days.

It must be a trend.

What about the missing witness?

DRUMM:
The mysterious woman?

Oh, come on now, Perry,
you don't really believe that, do you?

Fine arts, native arts,
the art of haute couture,

vying good-naturedly
with each other

for the attention
of the warm-hearted throng.

There is only one way to describe
such a superb occasion, a triumph.

A triumph for the talented people
who planned and presented it,

and a triumph for those fortunate
enough to be able to attend.

Truly, this is a memorable event.

One dazzling display after another.

And proceeds from the event
have been donated to Sweet Charity,

proving that high society too
has a heart.

[WOMAN LAUGHING ON TV]

That must be the laugh
Carla mentioned.

Who's that?

Leona Devore.

She's beautiful.

What did you find out
about Leona Devore?

She runs the Devore Galleries.

Not only here, but in San Francisco,
Honolulu and Hong Kong.

She's got it made.
Looks, money, clothes.

And except for me,
there isn't a female alive

that wouldn't trade places
with Queen Leona.

That's what they call her, the queen.

[CHUCKLES]

This case is shaping up.

May I help you?

I was just admiring
this Chinese grouping.

Oh, these pieces are not for sale.

They were only borrowed
from a private collection.

They're antique and very rare.

You can see the dynasty mark.

PERRY: How much will it bring
if it were to be sold?

CHO SIN:
Oh, perhaps $ , .

PERRY: And the cage?
CHO SIN: Five thousand.

May I show you something else?

Oh, actually I came by
to see Miss Devore.

My name is Perry Mason.

I'm sure madame will be pleased
to meet you.

Will you come with me, please?

Please wait here just a moment.

I am Leona Devore, Mr. Mason.

I saw your picture
in this morning's paper.

You're defending the woman
who k*lled Gerald Havens.

MASON: The woman accused
of k*lling him, Miss Devore.

You knew Havens?

Slightly.

Roan Daniel, the interior designer,
brought him in.

Havens wrote some catalog copy
for me.

I see you're intrigued
by the Malay kris?

I'm intrigued
by everything I see here.

I wish I could have attended
your opening last night.

Well, I almost didn't make it myself.

I've been in the Far East
for the past six months.

I was fortunate in catching
a last-minute connection

out of Honolulu.

Oh.

Then you wouldn't be able
to tell me--

Tell you what?

Tell me much about Gerald Havens.

The transcript
of the preliminary hearing showed

that he was here
the day of his m*rder.

I didn't know that.

Come, let me show you my place.

Hey, hey, watch it.
That's a museum piece.

You know what it's worth?
I turned down , for it.

Since I've been good enough
to do this place

for next to nothing
as a favor to Leona

and then lend and borrow
priceless objects for the opening,

the least you could do would be to
have somebody responsible supervise.

- Your ears must be burning, Roan.
- Hmm? Why?

The way Mr. Mason has been praising
your work.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Daniel.

- How do you do?
- Hello.

Roan designed my place.
Beautifully, I think.

Yes, it's extremely well done.

- Don't tell me, tell your friends.
- I will.

Leona. How nice to see you.

- Peter Stange, Perry Mason.
- How do you do?

LEONA: I suppose you're here
about the tickets, Peter.

- The tickets?
LEONA: They're not going too well.

After all, $ apiece for charity
don't expect standing room only.

What sort of event is it?

It's a benefit affair tomorrow night
at my estate, Vista del Pajaro.

Everything will be of the very best,
of course.

Everyone who was here
at opening last night

promised to attend, did they not?

Perhaps I might help.

I missed the Devore Galleries opening,
a very worthy charity.

Why, dear fellow,
you are not obligated to.

My pleasure.

And since Miss Devore
will be present,

the company
will certainly be charming.

STANGE: Well, it's very generous
of you, Mr. Mason.

You understand, of course,
it's the charity that's important.

You are not obligated to attend.

Oh, I'm looking forward to it.

Looking forward to it, Mr. Stange.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Yes, Della?

Paul just sent these photos over.
He said you'll know what they are.

Fine.

Good.
These are what I've been waiting for.

Della,
would you pick these up for me?

You may have to go
to the university library.

Mm-hm.

"The Empress' Navy
by D.P. Larchmont.”

Oh, that could be D.D.
You'll have to check.

And "The Boxer Era by Cheng Wu."

That's the Fitzpatrick translation.

- Where are you off to?
- Jail.

Oh, and be a good girl and I'll take you
to a party tomorrow night. Black tie.

I'll get one.

Uh, make another note.

Reminiscences of a Horse Marine

by, uh, uh, Mordecai Rapahannock
Terwilliger.

Which Mordecai Rapahannock
Terwilliger?

Why, senior.

These are blowups
of individual frames

of the television show you watched
the other night.

Your mysterious woman
she should be in one of them.

There she is.

- That's the one. Right there.
- You're sure?

You only saw her once, you know,
by moonlight.

That was enough.

[CARLA GASPS]

No. Wait a minute.

Oh, wait.

That's the one, right there.

There she is.

A moment ago you were just as sure
it was this one.

Look how much they look alike.

No, it's this one.

It can't be.

Why not?

She wasn't here
when Gerald Havens was k*lled.

Now if it had been this woman...

But it wasn't. It's this one.
I'm sure it was. I'm positive.

I couldn't possibly be wrong.

MASON:
All right.

All right, let's go over it once more.

Now, you testified that you went to
Gerald Havens' bungalow in the hills.

Now, why?

My landlady left me
a phone message.

I was supposed to be there at :
that night.

You hadn't been in touch with him
for months.

Yet the minute you were called,
you rushed to see him.

Again, why?

I never did have much sense
when it came to men.

Besides, Gerry was kind of special.

So you went there and found him
in the bedroom.

With that terrible-looking Kn*fe
in his chest.

Oh, I was terrified.

I guess I grabbed the Kn*fe
and I pulled it out.

Then I heard something.

I looked up
and there she was outside.

She turned away
and I ran to the window.

Then I heard a car start,

and then the headlights,
they flashed on the house.

And then I heard that laugh,
that terrible laugh.

The laugh you heard on television?

And there she is, right there.

You don't believe me.

Carla, the way things are,
I just can't.

Then get out.

Why bother? What's the point?

I was beginning to think
you were a little different from the rest.

But I can see you think I'm lying,
just like everybody else does.

DELLA:
"Reminiscences of a Horse Marine.”

Is it really that good?

Oh, Mordecai Rapahannock Terwilliger
Senior is fascinating.

I can't put it down.

Here he is, Mr. Mason.

America's next,
great new comedy discovery.

My nephew, Lenny Linden.

This is Miss Street
and Mr. Perry Mason.

- He'll get you a million laughs.
DELLA: Laughs?

A bit of your material, nephew,
just a tiny sample.

Sure. Sure.

You know, I got another uncle too.

- He's a geneticist.
- A what?

He crossed a bumble bee
with a doorbell.

You know what he got?

A humdinger.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Such a funny thing. Such a...

He has a veritable storehouse like that,
all solid yocks.

Clay, may I have a martini glass,
please?

- Sure.
- Uh, an empty one.

Mm.

Thank you.

Well, we're all set.

I'll be out in the panel truck,
with the recorder,

and you are gonna have to stick
to martinis.

Nothing but martinis.

Well, if I must, I must.

This olive is actually
a sub-micro transmitter.

And the toothpick should be pointed
toward the one speaking.

Or laughing.

All solid yocks.

Ho, ho, ho.

[GUESTS LAUGHING
AND CHATTERING]

[EASY-LISTENING MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKER]

MAN: I really hope to.
WOMAN: Oh.

Charmed to have met you,
Miss Street.

- Hope you have a lovely time.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

To health.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Excuse me.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
OVER SPEAKERS]

LENNY: --and any of you ever hear
the definition of a pedestrian?

That's a husband who decided
the family only needed one car.

[LAUGHING]

- This boy's m*rder.
- Mm.

Wait till I get ahold of Clay.

Nothing but yocks.

Mr. Mason,
so nice to see you again.

Well, thank you, Miss Cho Sin.

This is, uh, Miss Della Street.

- How do you do?
- Hello.

Professor Tobey,
Miss Street and Mr. Perry Mason.

Oh, I have heard of you, Mr. Mason.

Interesting, the power of speech
to move juries, is it not?

Heh. I'd rather depend on evidence.

It's safer and much more surer.

Uh, you're interested in speech,
professor?

Oh, more than that.
I've dedicated my whole life to it.

DELLA:
Sounds fascinating.

Yes, very.

- Shall we find you a drink, professor?
- Oh, yeah.

Where's Miss Devore?

You can be very sure she'll be here.

As I say, Miss Street, few realize

that the characteristic modulations
of the human voice,

no matter what sound it's making,

are as distinctive and individual
as fingerprints.

Acoustics too are important
in shaping the tone.

Although today,
so few designers of homes

or architects worry about them.

[CHATTERING]

However, when Roan Daniel
built his dream house,

I prepared a complete
acoustical analysis.

Is, uh, that the house
where Gerald Havens was m*rder*d?

Yes, it is.

It's always puzzled me
why Mr. Daniel

after designing and building
the perfect dwelling

should allow somebody else
to live in it.

[LEONA LAUGHS]

Oh, Roan.

Even for a designer,
you are something else.

Maybe you'd better take me
seriously.

[LEONA LAUGHING]

Is something wrong?

Why, no. No, it's just--

You, uh, enjoying yourself,
Mr. Mason?

That young guest of yours, uh, Linden,
he's a riot.

I haven't laughed so much in years.
Humdinger what? Ha-ha-ha.

[WOMAN LAUGHING]

[WOMAN LAUGHING
OVER SPEAKERS]

That's it.

You've got it, Perry.
That's got to be it.

[WOMAN LAUGHING
OVER SPEAKERS]

When I heard it on my headset
in the truck, I thought we had it made.

So we know whoever laughed
was a guest at Stange's party

and that's about all we know.

If only I hadn't lost that transmitter.

By the time I found it again,
it was too late.

Perry, remember that funny man
at the party?

- Lenny Linden? Funny?
- No. No.

The speech expert.

- Uh, Professor, uh, Tobey.
- Tobey?

He says he can tell
all about a person

just by hearing and analyzing
the sounds that they made.

- Recorded sounds too?
- Mm-hm.

- What do you think, Paul?
- What can we lose?

All right, then.

Della, first thing in the morning,
call the professor,

- and find out when can I see him.
- Right.

You know the victim Gerald Havens
still bothers me.

He came up in the world too fast.

Driving a , -dollar car
and moving into a fancy new home?

Here. Take a look at this.

You have any idea what it took me

to get my hands
on that financial statement?

Oh, this is something.

Fine job, Paul.

A break?

According to this report, the Devore
Galleries, a couple of years ago

were anything
but a sensational success.

Since then, the queen,
the lady tycoon,

has been only a figurehead, a front.

Can we prove that?

Well, here's a photocopy of Leona's
bank statements for the past year.

Regular deposits, twice a month.

See if you can find out
if she deposited checks or cash.

And if checks, who signed them.

- Paul, what's this?
- Where?

Ten thousand dollars, withdrawn
one day and deposited the next.

And notice those dates.

So you were in the house
with Gerald Havens at :

shortly before he was k*lled,
when the phone rang.

Yes, sir.

Now, do you know
who is making that call?

Objection.

The district attorney
is asking for a conclusion

- on the part of the witness.
- Sustained.

I'll rephrase the question,
Your Honor.

Mr. Daniel,
did the decedent mention

the name of the defendant
Carla Chaney

in connection
with that particular phone call?

- Objection.
- I'm going to allow that,

solely for the limited purpose of
showing the decedent's state of mind.

Answer the question.

Well, I heard him
say something like,

"I'm not afraid of you,"
and, "Baby, I don't like threats.”

He seemed very upset.

Since he had told me
Carla was bothering him,

I figured it was her.

- I object, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Sustained.

BURGER: All right, Mr. Daniel,
what happened after that phone call?

Well, then he made out a check
for the rent, and I left.

So you left the house about : ,

knowing that the decedent,
Gerry Havens,

was expecting trouble
from an unknown source,

and an hour later, he was dead.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Daniel,

would you tell the court

what it cost to build your house?

BURGER:
Your Honor,

I'm sure that learned counsel's
proposed expedition

into real estate prices
and construction cost

would prove illuminating,

but I'm wondering if it would be
relevant to the present case.

I've been wondering about that myself,
Mr. Mason.

- Can you connect it up?
- Yes, Your Honor.

Very well.

Mr. Daniel, answer the question.

Well, the house cost ,
more or less.

And after all your care
in designing and building,

you let Gerald Havens have the house
instead of taking it yourself?

Why, Mr. Daniel?

DANIEL: It was my house.
I could do what I liked.

Besides, Gerald was a friend.
I, uh, did him a favor.

What favor did he do you in return?

Your Honor, I object
to this whole line of questioning.

I withdraw the question.

I'm through with the witness,
for now.

Allow me to sum up your testimony
so far, Miss Cho Sin.

You stated, I believe, that the decedent
Gerald Havens told you

on a number of occasions
that he had not seen the defendant

for four months, is that correct?

That is correct, sir.

BURGER: And that he was,
I believe you used the phrase:

- "through with her"?
CHO SIN: Yes, sir.

And that knowing
her violent temper,

he was actually physically afraid
of her?

- Yes, sir.
- Did he ever say anything to you

to indicate that attitude?

He said,
"Carla's a tough little cookie.

She'll cut your throat
if you cross her."

BURGER:
Thank you, Miss Cho Sin.

Yours, Mr. Mason.

Since he apparently confided in you,
Miss Cho Sin,

I assume you and the decedent
were, uh, close?

CHO SIN:
Well, we were acquaintances.

But you did say you saw him
on more than one occasion.

More than one occasion.

May I refresh your memory?

Wouldn't it be more accurate

- to make that several occasions?
- Perhaps.

- Or even frequent occasions?
- Yes.

PERRY: And in various places?
CHO SIN: Yes.

At your apartment even?

At the house
in which he was m*rder*d?

- Yes, sir.
- Objection, Your Honor.

I object
to this whole line of questioning

on the grounds that the prosecution
as not yet had an opportunity

to examine this exhibit

that counsel apparently intends
to introduce.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor,

I have no intention of introducing
any exhibit at this time.

Now, then, Miss Cho Sin,

you've testified
that you and the defendant

were, I believe you said, uh,
acquaintances.

But wouldn't it be more accurate
to describe you

as the defendant's successor
in the affections of the deceased?

I suppose.

Now, you testified that you last saw
Gerald Havens alive

the afternoon
of the day he was m*rder*d.

Where was that?

He came to the gallery.

MASON:
Why?

CHO SIN:
To pick up the Kwa-Tin cage.

By pick up,
you mean to purchase it?

Well, not exactly.

- To borrow it?
- No.

MASON:
Then what sort of transaction was it?

I don't presume you're in the habit
of allowing people

- even intimate friends to--
- Objection.

JUDGE: Sustained.
- Even good friends to wander in

and just pick up , -dollar
Oriental relics?

He signed a receipt.

What did your employer say
to such a transaction?

Miss Devore was in the Orient.
She didn't know.

I'm not referring to Miss Devore.
I said your employer.

CHO SIN: Well, she was--
- Not she, Ms. Cho Sin. He.

The actual power,
the owner of Devore Galleries.

What did Peter Stange say about it?

BURGER: Your Honor,
may we approach the bench?

JUDGE:
All right, gentlemen.

Your Honor, the prosecution has been
more than patient with Mr. Mason

in his various excursions
into rent collecting,

business and finance,
and now, corporate ownership.

But I thought we were trying
a m*rder case.

Your Honor, I believe my reasons
will become clear

during the presentation
of our defense.

There are complexities to this case.

Well, I'm not going to allow any more
of this far-ranging cross-examination.

So if that's your intent
with this witness--

I'll excuse the witness, Your Honor,
subject to recall.

In that case, Your Honor,

the testimony of this witness

concludes the case
for the prosecution.

Very well.

I see we have about minutes
before recess.

Would you like to call
your first witness, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defense will call
Miss Leona Devore.

Yes, Mr. Mason.
I understand why you've had me

designated as a hostile witness.

So you'll be free to ask
leading questions.

Now, then, Miss Devore,

you testified
that at the time of the m*rder,

you were thousands of miles away
in--

Where was it, you said?

Honolulu.

Oh, yes.

Yes. Honolulu.

Miss Devore,
perjury is an ugly word.

I'm offering you a chance,

a last opportunity
to correct anything you've said.

As I told you before, I was doing
a great deal of buying in Honolulu.

Is that why you withdrew $ ,
from your Honolulu bank

on the day Havens was k*lled?

I guess so.

Then why did you redeposit
the same amount the next day?

I don't remember.

Your Honor, there certainly
has been no proper foundation

for this line of questioning.

PERRY:
Mr. Burger,

I can have this photocopy
of Miss, uh, Devore's bank statement

attested to and bring in the bank teller
who witnessed her signature,

and the bank officer who verified it,

identified the customer

and authorized
the countercheck withdrawal.

That won't be necessary, Mr. Mason.
We'll stipulate.

Miss Devore.

Miss Devore, I'm a patient man.

If you want me to present in evidence
a record of your airline reservations

from Hawaii to Los Angeles that day,
I'll do so.

If you want me to call
the stewardess

who talked to you on the flight back
to the islands, I'll accommodate you.

If you want to see the record showing
your three-hour car rental

- in Los Angeles, I'll--
- It's true.

I did fly back from Honolulu that day.

MASON: Why did you came back,
Miss Devore?

All the way from the islands
without telling anyone.

Not to m*rder Gerald Havens.

But you did go to his home that night,
to see him.

Now, why?

Havens called me that morning,
gave me no choice.

He said he had proof, evidence.

He said he was going to go
to the police.

Well, I begged him to wait to give me
a chance to fly back and talk to him.

He agreed to wait until that night.

Well, I had to fly back
to plead with him to--

Well, to try to pay him to keep him
quiet so I wouldn't lose everything.

I drew $ , out of my account.

I flew back here.

I rented a car
and drove straight to his home.

And arrived unannounced
when, so far as anyone knew,

you were thousands of miles away.

Now, you stood there with motive,
opportunity and an excellent alibi to--

Your Honor, at this time,
I have no further questions.

Well, she is your witness,
Mr. Mason.

Let's see, it's almost time for recess.

If it please the court,

I should like to start
this cross-examination at once.

JUDGE:
Very well, Mr. Burger.

All right, Miss Devore,
you now say that you drove

to Gerald Haven's house
on the night of the m*rder.

- Did you go in?
- No.

BURGER: Why not?
- Well, I looked in the window.

I wanted to see if he was alone.

And what did you see
through that window?

I saw her.

No, you k*lled him!

[GAVEL BANGING]

Go on, Miss Devore,
what did you do then?

LEONA:
I ran back to the car and started off.

And then as the lights swept
across the house

I heard her laugh.

A mad, hysterical laugh.

I can still hear it.

I can still see her on her knees,
beside the body,

holding the bloody kris in her hand
like this.

No! No! No.

It's no use.

It's all gone.

Everything I'd worked for,
everything I thought I was,

Queen Leona.

You did that to me in court today.

No. No, you did it to yourself.

By running away after the m*rder
instead of reporting it to the police.

All I could think of was to run back
to Honolulu before anyone saw me.

Or knew I'd been back at all.

I'm not proud of what I did.

If they'd arrested anyone else,
the wrong person,

I would have come forward,
believe me, but they didn't.

They arrested that girl.

So you found her guilty without trial

before the judge or jury
had even heard her case?

You became her judge and jury.

Now, what do you call that,
Miss Devore,

the divine right of royalty?

I deserved that.

But, Mr. Mason, I was caught.

Caught in a dirty mess
I couldn't control or fight.

I thought it might be my chance
to get out once and for all.

And then when I found
that he'd been m*rder*d,

when I realized that I had stumbled
on something far worse

than blackmail, I panicked.

Miss Devore,

I think you're basically
a decent woman,

a woman admired and respected,

and faced with the prospect
of losing that respect and admiration.

But that doesn't excuse
your withholding evidence.

It doesn't excuse your not giving
that girl the opportunity of a fair trial.

What do you want me to do?

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING
ON RECORDING]

[WOMAN LAUGHING
ON RECORDING]

Now, that was the laugh
which Miss Devore and the defendant

both claimed to have heard
at the m*rder scene.

Now, Professor Tobey,

would you tell the jury to which
of the women that laugh belongs?

Neither one of them.

That's based on my calculations

and spectrometric analysis
of the secondary frequencies.

Then there was a third party
at the scene of the m*rder?

TOBEY:
It seems so, Mr. Mason.

There's the question, of course, of why
at such a time at a m*rder scene.

The pitch of the sound
suggests hysteria.

Thank you, professor.

No further questions at the moment.

It was a simple
business transaction.

My, uh, accountants told me
a loss carry forward might be useful.

And that was your only reason

for investing in the near-bankrupt
Devore Galleries?

Well, no, sir.

You see, um, I have been a collector
of art objects for many years.

And, uh, well, I felt
that with careful management,

the business might be saved.

And that was why you employed
Roan Daniel as an art expert

and Cho Sin as the manager
of the gallery, sir?

STANGE:
Yes, sir.

Your Honor, I beg the indulgence
of the court at this time.

The exhibits which you agreed
could be brought in have arrived.

This is a Malay kris.

Deadly. Very precious.

It was made for the fifth sultan
of Sulu.

- You're sure it's authentic?
- Oh, absolutely. Beyond a doubt.

And that screen?

Oh, that's a rare Oriental masterpiece
from the Shalimar region.

Almost priceless.

You are generally considered
an authority

on Oriental art and design,
Mr. Daniel?

And Mr. Stange, uh, depended
on your knowledge?

Mm, that's true. Uh, yes.

Do you, uh, recognize this?

Uh, yes, uh, that's the Kwa-Tin cage.

Avery rare piece.

According to, uh, my authority,
Dr. Larchmont,

in his book, The Empress' Navy,

there were three of those cages.

Oh, that's true.

Uh, one is in the, uh, Summer Palace
in Peking,

and the other is in the Royal Museum,
in London.

And the third?

Well, that's the third.

MASON:
Are you sure, Mr. Daniel?

As a recognized authority,

you must have examined
the dynasty marks.

The marks on that cage
are completely at variance

with those described
by Dr. Larchmont.

That doesn't prove anything.

Oh, I think it does, Mr. Daniel.

I think it does.

"I ran out of the empress' palace,

carrying this fancy cage,
one of three, it was.

I saw the Boxer throw the grenade.

So I held up the cage to deflect it
and I dived for cover.

The grenade blew the cage
all to pieces,

but I came out of it
without a scratch.”

Mordecai R. Terwilliger,

a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion
in his book:

Reminiscences of a Horse Marine.

You know what that means,
Mr. Daniel?

That cage is not one
of the Kwa-Tin Trio.

It's a counterfeit. A fake.

Your Honor,
we have already been subjected

to the spectacle
of the defense attorney

badgering and discrediting
his own witness.

But this is no longer
a simple m*rder case.

This is turning into a comic opera.

You're perfectly right, Mr. Burger.
This is not a simple m*rder case.

It's a case of elaborate deception
and fraud,

dealing in counterfeit art objects,

leading to blackmail
and only then to m*rder.

JUDGE:
I hope you can clarify, Mr. Mason.

You've completely lost me,

and I'm sure the jury
is probably even more confused.

I assure you, Your Honor,
that I'll connect it all up.

Then you admit the Kwa-Tin cage
was a fake?

Not a fake, Mr. Mason,
a reproduction,

intended to be sold
as a reproduction.

When I heard it had been taken
from the galleries by Mr. Havens,

I was, uh, determined to get it back.

- And you did get it back?
- Yes.

When, Mr. Stange?

Oh, in the late afternoon.
I'm not quite sure of the time.

But, uh, it was still light.
Of that, I am sure.

Now, what did you do
with this spurious masterpiece

after taking it from his house?

I took it to my home.

You see, I could never return it
to the galleries.

It might have been sold again
by mistake.

That may have been the way
it happened, Mr. Stange,

but suppose it wasn't.

Suppose a shrewd businessman
foresaw a huge profit

by manufacturing in the Orient
quantities of counterfeit art objects.

[CHUCKLES]

Ridiculous.

MASON:
Perhaps, Mr. Stange.

But suppose he obscured
his, uh, operation

by mixing such reproductions
with a legitimate inventory.

Suppose he enlisted the services
of a famous designer and decorator

to authenticate these fakes.

Suppose on the strength
of a respected gallery's name,

he distributed the phony curios

to dozens of outlets
throughout the country.

Your Honor, I'll have to object.

Mr. Mason is now engaging
in the sheerest speculation

by presenting this series of rhetorical
and purely hypothetical questions.

I have assured the court that I would
be able to connect up the testimony.

I intend to do that now.

Objection overruled.

MASON:
Mr. Stange,

did you take over the Devore Galleries
as a front?

I resent your insinuations.

And then did Gerald Havens
discover the forgeries,

take the counterfeit cage
and attempt to blackmail you?

And did you then call him on the phone
and thr*aten him?

-I did not thr*aten. No.
MASON: But you did call him?

STANGE: Simply to explain--
- Mr. Stange,

the jury has already heard
the testimony about the phone call.

Now, isn't it true that Gerald Havens
was ready to go to the police

and that you went to his home

after setting up a jealous ex-girlfriend
as the patsy?

So that's how I got the message.

Well, Mr. Stange,
it was an almost foolproof plan,

except that Leona Devore returned
to attempt to pay off Havens

before you could get away
with the evidence.

As I told you, I went to Mr. Havens'
house that afternoon,

hours before the m*rder,
to recover the Kwa-Tin cage.

Mr. Mason, I know it would make it
very simple for you

if I admitted this fabrication of yours

but what you suggest is ridiculous.

And without a witness,
difficult to prove.

But it so happens
there was a witness,

a witness who's presence
has been established

by both Carla Chaney
and Leona Devore

and indicated
by Professor Tobey's testimony.

A witness who can prove you are lying,
Mr. Stange.

Now, there's our third witness.

[BIRD LAUGHING]

MASON: He laughed just now
because light reached him.

Just as he laughed that night
when the headlights struck his cage.

He was outside
where you'd left him,

when you heard Leona Devore's car
coming.

That was after you m*rder*d
Gerald Havens.

Della, would you bring in
the Carla Chaney account please?

Like I said, I don't want no charity.

I wanna pay my way
like everybody else does.

Now, the way I worked it out
is you probably had some expenses,

like for phone calls
and, uh, gasoline.

[DOOR OPENS]

And Mr. Drake's probably expensive
and then there's odds and ends and...

So for expenses, I put down $ .

Now, I know you don't come cheap
so I figured for four days in court,

that's $ a day and altogether comes
to a hundred and seventy-five dollars.

[DELLA CLEARS THROAT]

Expenses $ , four days in court
at $ a day, that's $ .

- Then that'll square us?
- That'll square us.

Well, here's $ to start.

And as soon as I start working,
Mr. Mason,

I'll send you $ every week.
You can count on it.

You're the first one ever
to help me in my life.

Ever, Mr. Mason. I...

You're okay.

I don't believe it.

But I could swear
that was Carla Chaney

and there's a possibility
there were tears in her eyes.

- I'll deposit this.
- No, Della.

Just send the money each week
to the police juvenile fund,

but not in my name.

Whose name?

How about Mordecai Rapahannock
Terwilliger?

Senior.