09x04 - The Case of the Cheating Chancellor

[bunniefuu]

GUARD:
Get your hands up. Oh, Dr. Logan.

Put your g*n away.

GUARD: Someone--
I thought someone was prowling, sir.

For what?

Nothing in my office
anyone would want.

- There's somebody out there.
- I told you to put that g*n away.

- But, Dr. Logan, didn't you hear?
- I'll take care of him. My way.

Next Monday
he'll leave his calling card.

HYATT: I appreciate your coming
up here to help, Perry.

You know, the fund-raising
is gonna be an awful lot easier

with our most famous alumnus
putting the bite on the prospects.

I'm glad to be able to help.

And it gives me a few days away
from Los Angeles.

Not that I recognize the campus,
with all the new buildings.

- Here's the file of all the alumni.
HYATT: Oh, good, Bob.

Now we'll pick out the guys
with the money.

Just notice the little red check mark
in the upper corner of their card.

HYATT: This boy's got the instinct
of a tax collector.

Instinct isn't much help
for an engineering major.

So if you'll both excuse me, I've gotta
get ready for a tutoring session tonight.

I've got finals next week,
and you know how it is with finals.

I remember sitting in this fraternity
house not so many years ago,

trying to outguess a law professor
on the content of a final exam.

I learned one thing.

Attempting to outguess any lawyer
is dangerous.

Well, I don't worry about Bob.
He always does me proud.

Of course, Jim.

But the need today for a young man
to excel is tremendous.

And in engineering,
there's no bluffing.

Well, I've tried to tell Dad that,
but, uh, I'm still trying.

So long, Mr. Mason.

So long, Bob, and good luck.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Well, Jim, you've done a fine job.

Well, what can you do, Perry?

You try to give a boy
a set of standards.

You try to make him know right
from wrong.

And sooner or later,
you have to let him go

and he's on his own.

Okay, now.
Let's start with pure-torsion problems.

You're weak there.
It's gonna take some work.

That's the trouble.
They all need work.

Strength of materials, computer tech,
circuits, thermostatics.

The crying towel's in the other room.

The final's coming up Monday.
You wanna get ready or don't you?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Excuse me.

- Myra.
- Did you see this?

"Fluid Mechanics: A Fresh Approach
by Dr. B. Stuart Logan

is high on the Hyatt Press list
and promises to be..."

Logan. Where's Fowler?

Bob, let's, um, pick up the session
tomorrow night, shall we?

Oh, sure, Mr. Fowler.

Same time, hmm?

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Look, Myra, babe--
- It was your thesis.

He promised you joint authorship.
He promised.

- I know, honey.
- Well, if you don't do something, I will.

I'll talk to Mr. Hyatt.

I'll tell him that if he publishes it,
you'll sue.

Logan's acting chancellor
and chairman of my PhD committee.

A word from him
could make or break me.

Myra, please.
It's just a matter of time.

Once I have my doctorate,
I won't have to crawl.

I've been listening to that
for three years.

Chancellor Liebman
is bound to retire soon.

Logan is gonna step right
into his shoes. Then we all move up.

But when?

When?

Maybe this year.

Oh, and maybe the next year
or the next,

after Logan's squeezed you dry?

Van, you've got to go to him.

If you wait, the book will come out
and it'll be too late.

Honey, I'm with you
whatever happens.

I'd rather see you a ditchdigger,

but a ditchdigger who stands up
for his rights.

All right, I'll talk to him.

He's always out of town
on weekends,

but the minute he gets back,
Monday.

Hey, Joe. Wake up.
Bogeyman Logan rises on Monday.

- We only have two days before finals.
- Okay, okay.

I was up at this morning,

loading trucks for your old man,
you know.

You're not gonna get sympathy
from me.

I just spent two hours with Fowler,

and I am prepared to share
my newfound brains with you.

- So cr*ck a book.
- Check the paper.

Last year's answers
are not gonna help you Monday, pal.

Who said anything about last year?
Look at that date.

Hey, this is Logan's exam,
Monday's answers.

- Where'd you get these?
- What's the difference?

I give it to you freely.

You can memorize ten
phone numbers, you got it made.

Of course, some lazy guy
might crib notes on his fingernails.

Me, I use this.

Wanna hear?

Five, , --

I'm not interested, Joe.

If you wanna take a shortcut,
that's up to you,

but leave me out of it, please.

Look, buddy, you're not going square
on me, are you?

You think I like doing this?
I'm doing it for survival.

I know all the arguments, Joe.
It's all a bunch of theoretical garbage.

We'll forget it in a week, or we can
look it up whenever we need it.

You've got a crib.

With all the pressure
they pour on us,

I'm not the first guy to do it
or the last.

Bob, you know me.

I'm up against the wall.
Logan flunks me, I don't graduate.

My old man doesn't own the world.

My old man hasn't got a business
waiting for me if I get bounced out.

You're a smug,
self-righteous holier-than-thou.

You know what? You stink!

Hello, Shirl.

Well, things must have been hectic
for you at Cal State

to keep you away from home
until : on Sunday night.

Mm, exhausting as usual.
Anything new around here?

You didn't get my message.

- Message?
- I called you at Cal State.

I told you not to bother me
when I'm on consultation.

Well, I thought you'd be glad
to make an exception in this case.

Liebman's retiring.

I thought the old buzzard
would hang on for another year.

Well, now,
you don't have his position yet.

No.

- But I will.
- Here.

Now...

Now to cut the ground out
from under Patterson and Grange.

We'll throw a farewell party for
Liebman before the others think of it.

A party here?

- Why not here?
- Look around you. Look at that sofa.

How many times do I have to tell you?
The whole house needs repainting.

Men don't bother
about things like that.

Well, their wives do.

You don't even notice
what I have to wear.

All right, Shirley.

Dry up.
Go get yourself a new dress.

Well, other men's wives
have decent clothes

and decent furniture
and a nice car.

Their husbands are head over heels
in debt too.

Stuart, look at me.

How long has it been since you
really looked at me or talked to me

or bought me flowers
or took me out to dinner?

What's wrong with you?

I'll tell you one thing
that's wrong with you.

You nag, nag, nag.

Look, about this party,

I want you to invite
that English girl, uh...

The one old Baker's
been giving the eye.

Jim Hyatt is publishing my book,

and he has a lot of drag
with the administration.

How soon can you get
this thing going?

I don't know. Uh...

Next Sunday, a week from today.

You know I go out of town
weekends.

Maybe when you get to be chancellor,
you'll be able to give up this extra work.

It's work that got me where I am,
and it's work that'll get me ahead.

I can't stop now.

FOWLER:
Time, fellas. Pass up your papers.

Mr. Fowler, what is the formula
for share-force vector?

P-subscript-A sine theta.
You knew that, Bob.

I did until I saw the question.
Then my mind went blank.

- One moment, gentlemen.
FOWLER: Dr. Logan.

Later.

I have something to say to this class
about those exams.

The answer code to these questions
was stolen from my office

a few nights ago,

stolen by a clumsy thief
without enough wits

to turn off my copying machine.

Oh, don't look so shocked,
gentlemen.

I've found that cheating is way of life
for some students.

Well, you may get away with it
elsewhere, but not in my courses.

As far as I'm concerned,
you're all suspects.

Last night, gentlemen,
I altered the order of these questions.

Those of you whose papers indicate
you followed the stolen code

have written the end to your career
in this college.

You may expect your expulsion notices
in the morning.

Dr. Logan.

- Did you see their faces?
- Well, they're shocked.

For a professor
to accuse a whole class--

- You condone cheating?
- Of course not.

I don't like declaring everyone guilty
until proven innocent.

- Oh.
- Besides,

there's more than one way to cheat.

- Just what do you mean by that?
- This book notice, Dr. Logan.

I'm late for a faculty meeting.
I can't talk to you now.

I wanna know why you took my name
off the title page.

You violated our agreement.

I wanna get my credit
on that book or--

Or what, Mr. Fowler?

You merely did the mechanical work
of putting data together.

It's my name that's getting Hyatt
to publish this book,

and it's my name that'll sell it.

I gave you the opportunity
to get some experience,

and now you have the unmitigated gall
to want credit for it.

Oh, I've gotten plenty of experience
from you, Dr. Logan.

For two years I've done your research,
and you've collected consultant fees.

I did the book, Dr. Logan, not you.
If I'm gonna get anywhere,

I've got to publish. You know that.
It's publish or perish.

That graduate student threatened
to k*ll you for a stunt like this.

Now, let's see.

Your doctor's oral comes up
in a few weeks, doesn't it?

I think the committee would be
interested in the character and stability

of a candidate
that supports student cheating,

questions the actions
of the acting chancellor in public

and then threatens him
with v*olence.

I'll be here tonight
to go over these examinations.

We'll discuss this further then.

Around : , Mr. Fowler?

And I'll expect an apology in writing.

FOWLER:
I'll be here. But there'll be no apology.

How long have you
been standing here?

JOE: Dr. Logan--
- have no time for you now. Please.

- But, Dr. Logan, I--
- You know my office hours.

What a louse.

Joe, if there's something on your mind,
we could talk.

There's nothing to talk about.

- Hey, Joe, you see Logan?
- Do me a favor, will you?

Get off my back.

Please, Joe,
you have to see him right away.

Yeah. By tonight
he'll have those papers checked.

b*at it, will you?
I gotta do some things.

I'm gonna hang around a while.

, please.

CROWD [IN UNISON]:
We want Logan! We want Logan!

We want Logan!

We want Logan! We want Logan!

Idiots.

No, no message.
I'll, um-- I'll call back.

Who's there?

If you don't get out of here
in five minutes, I'm getting the police.

[CROWD BOOING]

[WHISPERING]
Joe.

What are you doing here?

[WHISPERING]
Looking for those in Logan's office.

I figured you'd fink on me.
You were taking them back.

You're off your rocker, Joe.

I told you in the first place
you should have never taken them.

If Logan checks these test, I've had it.
If I get rid of them, he'll never know.

I'm not gonna let him throw
four years of my life down the drain.

You're gonna make it look
like the whole class cheated.

He'll never be able to prove it.

Who's there?

Myra?

Myra? Is that you?

Okay, boys, time's up.

[CROWD JEERING]

FOWLER:
Dr. Logan?

GUARD: I'm warning you,
this is your last chance.

[CROWD BOOING]

SHIRLEY:
Quiet, all of you!

You're not fit
to speak my husband's name.

What are you complaining about?

That you cheated
and he caught you?

You came to college
to drive your convertibles

and learn to dance the swim,
and he made you study.

CROWD [IN UNISON]:
We want Logan! We want Logan!

We want Logan!

Let's hang Logan! Let's hang Logan!
Let's hang Logan!

Let's hang Logan!
Let's hang Logan!

Dr. Logan is dead.

SHIRLEY:
Let me through.

Please, let me through.

m*rder*r.

m*rder*r! m*rder*r!

One candle. Someone around here
is certainly a diplomat.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

And the sweater's beautiful, Perry.
Your taste is exquisite.

I'll accept that compliment,
but I don't deserve it.

Mrs. Hyatt maneuvered me
into Myra's dress shop this afternoon,

and my choice was dictated
by two very insistent women.

PAUL:
Come on, blow out the candle.

I'm gonna abandon all caution
and have some,

whipped cream and all.

You certainly deserve it, Paul.

It's small enough payment
for a round-trip ride from Los Angeles.

- Oh, make a wish first.
DELLA: A wish? Um, a wish.

I wish that, uh, a messenger would
arrive with a telegram

saying that I, um,
had just inherited a million dollars.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Well, no sooner said than done.
Here's your telegram.

Uh, did you say a million dollars?

MYRA:
I'm sorry, Mrs. Hyatt. Mr. Hyatt.

I apologize for breaking in
on your party.

- Oh, Myra, that--
MYRA: Dr. Logan's dead.

- Oh.
- They've arrested Van.

Mr. Mason, I didn't know what to do,

and then I remembered meeting you
in the store today with Mrs. Hyatt

and that you'd be here tonight.

- May we use your library, Jim?
- Of course.

I didn't know what to do.

This will be terrible for the college
and terrible for the town.

Bob.

Oh, I think it was rude of you
to skip Miss Street's birthday party,

especially when your father
only made it in time for dessert.

How can you talk about a party?
Mr. Logan's been k*lled. Mr. Fowler's--

Miss Street, Mr. Drake,
this is our son, Bob.

- Hi, Bob.
- Hello.

You're right, Bob. The party's over.

I've been riding around
trying to decide what to do.

I've gotta talk to Mr. Mason.

Bob, you're not...

What do you wanna talk
to Mr. Mason about?

About where I've been.
About what I've done.

[MRS. HYATT GASPS]

Bob, you're upset.
We'll go to the den. We'll talk.

- I've got to see Mr. Mason.
- Would you excuse us, please?

In here, son.

Bob, I don't know what you've done,

but you're gonna tell me
before you talk to any lawyer.

Want a short one?

All right, now tell me what happened.

Della, Myra's waiting.
Would you take her back to the hotel?

- Paul?
- Of course.

Oh, don't tell me what you'll do
and what you won't do.

- You'll do as I say.
- Dad, I've gotta do what's right.

Why didn't you think of that

when you were sneaking
around his building like a thief?

Why didn't you do right
when this examination was stolen

by this mysterious friend of yours?

I passed by those kids
and their demonstration.

You were there?

Yes, I was supposed to see Logan
about his book.

When I saw
that infantile demonstration,

I decided to let it wait.

Dad, Logan was standing
in the doorway.

He said, "Who's there?"
I was scared stiff.

Bob, to cheat,
to take the easy way out.

But I didn't cheat.

You say nothing about this,

nothing to Perry Mason
or anybody else.

You stay out of it.

Bob, Bob.
Decent people don't get involved.

But I am involved.

Bob, you didn't...?

- You didn't go into that office?
- Please, leave me alone, will you?

FOWLER: I went over it with you
last night and with the district attorney

and with you again this morning.

How many times are you gonna
ask the same questions?

- Until your answers make sense.
- I'm not holding anything back.

All right, then.

Once more.

You entered the building.

Did I tell you about the clicking sound
in the hall?

- Like women's heels?
MASON: No.

What did you do
when you heard that sound?

Well, I...

I thought-- I don't know.

I was all steamed up
about seeing Logan.

The sound just didn't register,
I guess.

And then since Logan wasn't in,
I went into my office.

How did you know Logan wasn't in?

I told you last night and this morning,
I called his name. He didn't answer.

He may have been dead
when I called.

So you entered your office.

Then you could have gone through
the connecting door to Logan's office.

I did, but not until later,

when the students
started up the steps.

That's when I found him dead,
the paper spike through his...

- Did you touch the paper spike?
- No.

- Your prints were on it.
- They couldn't be.

The district attorney
can build a case on that alone.

That and the way you fought
with Logan earlier in the day.

Not fought, argued.
Been festering for months.

Myra pushed me to do something.

And then when he indicted
the whole class

and he was so holy
about somebody else cheating...

How did your fingerprints
get on that paper spike?

I don't know.

Wait.

I handled it earlier
when we talked that afternoon.

Did you thr*aten him with it?

You trying to make a liar out of me?
You on my side or not?

All right, Van, that's enough.

Now, start from where you heard
the heel clicks.

Every one of those students will
provide the DA with more amm*nit*on.

They all saw Fowler
bending over the body,

and more than one
overheard the argument.

And the information on the professor's
income didn't make sense.

That's another thing
I don't understand.

MYRA:
He must have been making plenty.

I have to admit,
he didn't mind spending it.

What do you mean?

Well, just a few days ago
he came into the store,

bought a $ negligee.

In fact, it's still hanging there.

He said it was a surprise for his wife

and he was gonna pick it up
next weekend.

On the other hand,
he lived in a pretty run-down house

and drove a -year-old car.

What about the weekend
consulting fees?

I've had two men checking today.

Two colleges,
three aerospace companies

and a laboratory.

The professor hasn't been to any
of them during the past three months.

DELLA: Well, then where did he go
on the weekends?

Myra, that negligee
the professor bought,

could you gift wrap it
and bring it back here?

Well, sure, I'll get it right away.

I should have gone over sooner.

I blame myself.

When I heard that disturbance
and looked out the window

and saw that lynch mob...

Did you at that time have any idea
what they were doing?

Stuart told me that he was going
to catch whoever was cheating.

They actually hanged him in effigy,
did you know that?

Yes, I heard.

I was frightened by all the noise
and the torches.

I telephoned him and I begged him
to come home, and he laughed.

And he said not to worry,
he'd handle them.

And that was the last time
you spoke to him?

Uh, no, the last time
that I heard his voice was later,

when the disturbance got louder.

I telephoned him again.

It was, oh, about : ,
and he promised to come home.

He said, "All right, Shirl,
give me ten more minutes.

Jim Hyatt hasn't come by yet,

and I've got to take care
of Van Fowler."

And, um, then when he didn't come,
I went over there.

Perry, I think we're upsetting
Mrs. Logan.

SHIRLEY: Oh, no, you're not.
Not really. I'm talking too much.

You know, Stuart used to fuss at me
for rambling on the way that I do,

and I'm punished myself now,
I have to admit it.

I was an awful nag.

He was away so much.
But if I hadn't been such...

He'd have been chancellor.

Good night, and thank you,
Mrs. Logan.

DELLA:
Good night.

- Drive to the corner and wait for us.
- Mm-hm.

[ENGINE STARTS]

- Find something?
- Just this crumpled note.

"Call Jim Hyatt about book."

Sixty-two thousand
nine hundred and forty-two miles.

That's was the mileage
on the lube sticker,

and the sticker
had been put on Friday.

The speedometer mileage
was , .

DELLA: That's miles
the car went over the weekend.

Logan always walked to the campus.
Mrs. Logan doesn't drive.

That would indicate a round trip
of approximately miles,

allowing for a little driving
at his destination.

That would have taken him
to Los Angeles.

If that's where he went,
we're in trouble.

Dillon, Fairview, Bluefield,

Shell Beach.

I'll get right on it.

By tonight I can have a man
from my San Diego office in here

and another from Sacramento.

BOB:
Joe.

I've got nothing to say to you.

Look, we had an argument
the other night, okay.

You moved out of the room, okay.
But we're both in trouble.

Just sit tight and shut up.
That's what I'm doing.

I don't think I've slept all night,

been able to think straight
since it happened.

Yeah, well, we've gotta think straight.
We were both there.

One of us could have done it.
At least, somebody might think that.

Nobody has to know we were there.

If they find that out,
they'll wanna know why.

What am I supposed to say?

I swiped the exam papers
so Logan couldn't check them?

Well, this started with you
taking the code.

Before it's over, we're both involved
in the middle of a m*rder.

Well, we've gotta stop now.
We've gotta tell the truth now.

Sure, you'll make a great sacrifice.
You'll fink on me.

- What have you got to lose?
- Joe, I wanna be sure of one thing.

Did you k*ll Logan?

JOE:
No. You know I didn't.

But I saw you coming
from Logan's office.

How do I know
you hadn't already been there?

How do I know you didn't?

I got this subpoena tonight.

The district attorney has called us
and some other students to testify.

No, Mr. Mason,
I'm not moving out and running away.

I just can't afford this place.

Too much money
and too many memories.

You knew Dr. Logan well,
Miss Wilcox?

Well?

All right, I knew him well.

Thank you.

I illustrated Dr. Logan's book,
and that was finished two months ago.

Have you seen him since?

No.

Miss Wilcox,
there are ten people in this town

who'll that you have seen him.

Your neighbors, a lifeguard,
a waitress and a bartender.

Well, well, well.

So Van Fowler has himself
a good lawyer, huh?

How do you know Van?

I worked with him on Stuart's--
Dr. Logan's book.

Hyatt publishing arranged it.

I don't know much about him,
Mr. Mason, just that he k*lled Stuart.

The state has to prove that,
Miss Wilcox.

And I'm gonna do my best to help.

I've already told the district attorney
that I'll testify.

About what?

Will you testify
that Stuart Logan was in this house

every weekend for months?

Are you going to tell the court
that he paid the rent,

that he bought the car
you're driving?

You make it sound dirty.

Like a kept woman.

- Miss Wilcox, I--
- It wasn't sordid. And it wasn't ugly.

MASON:
Wasn't it?

Sneaking up here, lying,
pinching pennies all week

and playing the great lover
on weekends,

cheating on his responsibilities
to his school,

his colleagues, his wife.

- He didn't love her.
MASON: But he did love you?

I suppose that's why he kept his wife
in his home and you in a dark closet.

He promised that when his promotion
came through,

he'd leave that wife of his.

Then we could be together.

No more furtive hiding,
no more lying.

MASON: And you believed that?
- Yes.

You have a trusting soul,
Miss Wilcox.

And you have no soul at all.

You've taken something beautiful
and made it appear filthy.

- Now get the blazes out of here!
- I'm sorry, Miss Wilcox.

I'm sorry for you.

Oh. Don't be sorry for me,
Mr. Mason.

Save your pity for Van Fowler.

I'm gonna tell everything
I know about him.

Everything.

[DOOR CLOSES]

MAN: And the wound made
by this instrument

was sufficient to cause death?

Yes, sir.
The spike pierced the left ventricle

rear to front with the point
actually embedded in the fifth rib.

DA: You've heard testimony that the
fingerprints of the defendant's thumb

and first three fingers
were found on this w*apon.

Now, how would it
have to be wielded

in order to inflict the wound
that you described?

Well, the k*ller would have to swing it
in this direction.

DA:
Hold it a moment.

Now, which of your fingers
are touching the base of the spike?

Why, my thumb
and first three fingers.

Thank you, doctor.

Cross-examine.

No questions.

After an argument with Dr. Logan
about one of my technical illustrations,

Mr. Fowler said to me,

"Logan will get himself k*lled
one of these days."

DA: Did you observe
any other instances of animosity

between the defendant
and the decedent

during work on the book?

Yes, I recall the day we finished work,
Dr. Logan had left.

Mr. Fowler read the preface
that Dr. Logan had prepared.

And then he drew a circle
around the pronoun "I"

every time it appeared.

DA: Now, why would he do that?
- He was furious.

Finally he got up,
and he yelled, "I, I, I'"

And then he tore it up

and threw the pieces
on Dr. Logan's desk.

DA: Would you say
from your experience with him

that it was normal behavior for
the defendant to do a thing like that?

Mr. Fowler had a violent temper.

[WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY]

DA:
Mr. Mason?

No questions at this time.

When you arrived at the door
of Dr. Logan's office

with the other students,
what did you see?

Well, Dr. Logan was lying facedown.
He wasn't moving.

And where was the defendant?

He was there too.

DA: As a matter of fact, he was
leaning over the body, wasn't he?

Yes.

Now, Bob, you know the defendant
quite well, don't you?

Oh, yes. He's one of my instructors.
He's been a big help to a lot of us.

DA:
All right, son, you've convinced me.

He's been a good teacher.

But tell me,
wasn't he also your tutor?

Well, yes,
he helped me prep for finals.

DA: The finals were on Monday,
the day Dr. Logan was m*rder*d.

Now, during the previous week,
were you tutored by the defendant?

Yes, sir,
but I've already told you that.

Bob, now I want you to tell the court

what happened the night
the tutoring session was cut short.

BOB:
Miss Finlay came in.

DA: That's Myra Finlay,
Mr. Fowler's fiancée, right?

- Yes, sir.
DA: Well, go on, what happened?

Well, she was upset, I guess.

It was something
about Mr. Fowler's book.

I just remember
her saying something

about Mr. Fowler doing all the work
and Dr. Logan taking all the credit.

Then Mr. Fowler asked me
if I could come back the next night.

What else did you hear?

Well, sir, outside the door
as I was leaving, I overheard--

- You could hear her through the door?
- I didn't mean to. Miss Finlay said--

DA: If you could hear her,
she must have been shouting.

Well, I guess she was upset.
She said that Mr. Fowler...

That if he didn't do something
about Dr. Logan,

that she would.

DA: Your witness, Mr. Mason.
- No questions.

DA:
Now, let's get this straight, Miss Finlay.

Miss Wilcox has told us
about Dr. Logan's book.

Now you're telling us
about Mr. Fowler's book.

- How many books were involved?
- It's just one, Van's, Mr. Fowler's.

DA: Do you mean that Dr. Logan
was assisting Mr. Fowler?

MYRA:

They were supposed to share credit.

DA: Miss Finlay, I don't wanna suggest
you're not telling the truth--

Objection, Your Honor.

DA: Your Honor, I'm simply trying
to clear up a very perplexing problem.

Learned counsel for the defense
has already opened up

this line of questioning
in earlier cross-examination.

Objection overruled.

Now, state's Exhibit Number
is publication notice for a book

giving sole credit to Dr. Logan.

So I'm sure, Miss Finlay,
you must be mistaken.

- I'm not mistaken. It's Van's book.
- Objection, Your Honor.

The witness cannot testify
from her own knowledge

on authorship of the book.

She's not an expert.

She was not party
to any legal arrangements

in regard to any book.

I'll withdraw the question.
Let me put it this way.

When you talk
about the defendant's book,

are you referring
to state's Exhibit Number ?

Yes.

DA: Now, Miss Finlay,
you seem so insistent about the book.

Did the defendant tell you
that he had written Dr. Logan's book?

[CHUCKLES]

He, an instructor
without college tenure,

never published before,
had written a book

that the decedent,
a recognized authority--?

Sure, Dr. Logan was an authority.
Van did his research for two years.

Van did the work,

and Logan pocketed
the consultant fees.

That's a little hard to believe,
Miss Finlay.

No man would suffer such inequities
without complaining about it.

Van did complain. He told Logan.

He let him know
in no uncertain terms

that if he didn't share credit
on the book, he'd...

DA:
He would do what?

I don't want Mr. Mason's answer.
I want your answer.

- He would do what?
- I don't know.

I don't know.

Mr. Fowler was angry.
It was right after the examination.

In the hall
and then in Dr. Logan's office.

- And he-- Mr. Fowler said...
- Goon.

JOE:
He said something

about somebody had threatened
to k*ll Dr. Logan once

and that he didn't think
Dr. Logan would tempt fate again.

DA: And what was Dr. Logan's
reaction to that?

He was mad. Awful mad.
Didn't lose his temper.

I never saw him do that.

But he could cut you in half
with a look.

That's how it was when Mr. Fowler
was arguing with him.

Dr. Logan glared at him,

and he as much as said he'd
see Mr. Fowler didn't get his PhD.

DA: You may cross-examine.
MASON: No questions.

I saw the students with their torches
and their banners from my window,

so I called Stuart the second time.

- Was he frightened or upset?
- Oh, no, not of the students.

He said, "I can handle them.

It's Fowler
that I expect trouble from."

DA: Your witness, Mr. Mason.
- No questions.

JUDGE:
In view of the lateness of the hour,

court is adjourned till :
tomorrow morning.

No questions again.
Why didn't you cross-examine them?

The hearing isn't over yet, Van.

I hope I didn't hurt Mr. Fowler.
I mean, I was in a bind.

I'm no fink, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
You told the truth, didn't you?

Why, Bob always tells the truth,
heh, except maybe to his girlfriends.

Listen, my girlfriend and your mother
is waiting for us. Come on.

Perry, I'll be calling you.
That fund-raising is moving right along.

Come on, son.

Della,
how's your teenage vocabulary?

Better than average.

Like, uh, I'm tough,
I'm cool, I'm too much.

Well, what's your definition of a fink?

- Ir. Mason.
- was told it would be all right to wait.

Oh, sure.
Uh, can I get you something?

- Some coffee or something?
- No, thank you.

Mr. Mason, after the way
I fouled up on the stand today,

I guess you don't think much of me.

You told the truth.
That's all you could do.

I know my father
doesn't think much of me lately.

My buddy doesn't think much of me.

- What do you think of yourself?
- I don't think much of me either.

I wish I was your age.

My whole darned generation
got a lousy deal.

Pressure to get into school,

pressure to stay in,
pressure to make good.

And no other generation
has had to face problems?

The Four Horsemen
have been riding for a long time.

Yeah, but we've got the b*mb
to worry about.

You have to do better than that, Bob.

Somewhere man has always lived
in terror of something.

If not the b*mb, then the plague,
aggression or the elements.

Oh, now, go ahead.
Tell me about truth, beauty and honor.

Oh, I've heard that song before.

I can tell you from my generation
that you're wrong.

You can't tell me one thing
for your generation.

It deserves a better spokesman,
one who's strong,

not weak, not spineless.

Now, wait a minute.

Your generation, like mine,
will endure

because the old verities you sneer at
will prevail:

beauty and truth and honor.

You're not capable
of recognizing beauty

or speaking truth
or preserving honor.

Mr. Mason,

these past few days I've...

Oh, I don't know
what I've been doing.

I don't know what to believe.

I don't know what to do.

I don't wanna fight with my father,
and I don't wanna fink on my friend.

Then don't.

No one's forcing you.

Don't blame your father
and don't blame your friend.

Blame yourself.

It's your standards, your principles,

your sense of right and wrong
that are to blame, not theirs.

This is your world, Bob. Live in it.

Dr. Logan was phoning.
I could hear the click of the dial.

It seemed to go on,
like long distance.

Dr. Logan said, " , please,"

and then he said, "No message,”
and just hung up.

MASON: What was the time, Bob?
- It was : , no later.

I heard the clock chime.

- What happened next?
BOB: Then I dropped the test papers.

Dr. Logan came out, so I hid.
Then he went back into his office.

Where were you?

I was flattened up against the wall
by the staircase.

I wasn't even breathing.
Then I heard the crowd.

They came over
to Dr. Logan's window.

They were yelling for him
to come out.

- What time was that?
BOB: It was about ten minutes later.

The guard or somebody
was trying to get them to break it up.

I see. Now, what then?

Then I got outside about : .
I heard the clock chime.

You were inside
within hearing distance until : ?

Yes, sir.

MASON:
Are you telling me everything, Bob?

Everything you heard and saw?

No, sir.

I heard Mr. Fowler too.

MASON:
Tell me about Mr. Fowler.

He was coming down
the side corridor.

I heard footsteps,
high heels drumming.

In fact, Mr. Fowler called out.

MASON:
Called out what?

He called out, "Myra, is that you?"

Now, Bob,
what became of the test papers?

The test papers?

MASON:
Yes, where are the test papers?

And who did take them
from Dr. Logan's office?

I took them.

Now, Bob, I want you to indicate
on the board with this chalk your path.

Well, I came up the stairs here.

Then at the door of Dr. Logan's office,
I heard he was on the telephone,

and I realized that I couldn't go in.

Then I dropped the test papers
and I picked them back up

and hid back over here
while Dr. Logan came out.

Then Joe came from here.

MASON: And went out which way?
BOB: Down the stairs.

Now, how about Mr. Fowler?

BOB:
Uh, he came down the side corridor.

Only he went into his office,
and he didn't come out.

Now, Bob, what about the sound
of clicking heels?

Over here, going away.

Then down the stairs at the far end.

Wait a minute.
I remember something else.

The heels ran out
before Mr. Fowler entered his office.

So those heels, as you call them,

could have entered Logan's office
from the right,

k*lled him, run away,
all before Mr. Fowler even entered.

[DOOR OPENS]

I should like to recall Evelyn Wilcox
to the stand.

I had just seen Stuart--
Dr. Logan the day before, Sunday.

There was no point
to my coming here Monday.

MASON:
Not even for this, defense exhibit A?

"Meet me in my office tonight, vital.
Signed, Stu."

Where did you get that?

MASON: It's a matter of record
with the telegraph company.

You did come, didn't you?

Yes, I had planned
to work late in my office,

but I came, not to k*ll, to celebrate.

Stu expected the chancellor to retire.

All our plans were going to work out.

Then we could be together openly,
no more hiding.

After his divorce
we were going to be married.

It's a lie! It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie!

Do you think you can go on now,
Mrs. Logan?

I was going to say that I'd known
about that woman for a long time,

but now that Stuart
was going to be chancellor,

he knew that he couldn't keep up
that kind of nonsense any longer.

So he sent her that telegram
to break it off once and for all.

- If Your Honor please, I'd like--
JUDGE: I haven't finished, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Logan, when you called
your husband either time, at : ,

I think it was, and then later,
did he give you any indication

that the woman, Miss Wilcox,
was present?

Well, sometimes men need
a little stiffening of the backbone,

but I needn't have worried.

Stuart assured me that it was final.

And then when he told her

that he was through with her,
she k*lled him.

JUDGE:
All right, Mr. Mason.

I appreciate what you're going through,
Mrs. Logan.

I'll be as brief as possible.

Those were two rather long phone
calls you've been telling us about,

considering they never took place.

That's not true.

Bob Hyatt and Joe Price
were just outside that office,

and they didn't hear the telephone ring,
not once.

Yet Bob Hyatt did hear your husband
call out an area code number.

Long distance, he asked for ,

the number at Evelyn Wilcox's
office extension in Shell Beach.

Now, does that sound
as if he expected her in his office?

This telegram was sent by you,
Mrs. Logan.

Your husband was leaving you
for another woman,

so you decided to punish them both.

He would die,

and she would pay the penalty
for m*rder.

[SOBBING]

[BAND PLAYING STATELY MUSIC]

- Do you see him, Jim?
- No, I don't.

- There he is.
- Where? Oh, yes. Hi.

I won't soon forget this case.
A woman scorned.

I'll never trust one again.

Paul, you always manage
to equate trouble with a woman.

Not me. I'm too young to be bitter.

[DELLA LAUGHS]

Della.

Must be pretty tough on Joe.

I'm betting he'll make it next time,
the hard way.

I'd say the hard way
is the way he tried last time.