09x25 - The Case of the Unwelcome Well

[bunniefuu]

Well, we're all set all along
that far slope on that ridge.

Get Chuck on the radio
and tell him to fire.

d*ck:
Right.

Do you read me, Chuck?

CHUCK [OVER RADIO]:
Loud and clear.

Okay, you can start the countdown.

CHUCK:
Ten, nine,

eight, seven, six,

five, four, three, two, one.

[EXPLOSIONS]

[g*nsh*t]

Hey, what was that?

Hey, look, what's going on here?

I don't know, but whoever it is,
is up there somewhere.

Now, you've got minutes
to get yourselves

and all of this paraphernalia
off my property.

And if you're still here
when I quit counting,

they're gonna have
to carry you off.

No. And that's final.

Now, you can get
all the court orders you want.

You can get more lawyers,

and you can lie yourself
blue in the face,

but if that oil company
so much as throws a shadow

across my property line,
they're gonna regret it.

Mr. Rohan, there's no question
about my client's legal right

to run geophysical tests
on your property.

Here's the lease option sighed by
your wife allowing Klee Oil Industries--

She had no right.

I was out of town
when she put her name on that paper.

- She accepted the money.
- I'm not gonna argue with you.

I had my say, and that's that.

Somebody sent for you?

Job and me been thinking, sir,
after talking to Mr. Mason.

I don't recall asking your opinion,

and how many times I got to tell you
to take them boots off

before you come
into the sitting room?

Sorry, sir.

What you been trying to do, lawyer,
set my sons against me?

Mr. Rohan,
I explained to Matt and Job

that there is a chance,
a very good chance

that there's a major new oil pool
under your land,

but to be certain,
we must drill a test hole.

If there is oil there, we could do
the cross-fencing across the road.

You'd sell out.

I guess I never did teach
you boys anything.

Now, you seen them fields
out there, them hills.

Takes you half hour
to walk across my homestead.

Now, it feeds me and mine,
it puts a roof over our heads.

Now, what more do we need?
Nothing money can buy.

No, sir, we don't want any part of it.

Maybe you don't, Jason, but I do.

Minna, you've made enough
trouble already.

Not as much as I'm gonna make.

Have a cookie, Mr. Mason,
and the water's on for tea.

Minna, in the two years
we've been married,

you never acted like this
in front of a stranger.

About time I got started then.

This is my house and my land.

No, you're wrong. This is California.
It's our land.

And anyway, I decided to go along
with this oil thing.

I signed my name to it
and that means I gave my word.

I'm not gonna sell out my soul
for a few dollars.

MINNA: Nobody's asking you
to spend a dime.

And anyway,
if they do find oil, Jason,

why, I won't have to sew another
seam on this sewing machine

or cook another meal
on that two-eyed stove.

You wanna ruin our land?

Your land won't be disturbed,
Mr. Rohan.

If the drill hole is successful,
Klee Oil will be able to pump it out

without creating the noise
and unsightliness you fear.

We're only using the top couple of feet,
you might say.

These oil people Mr. Mason
works for,

they're only gonna be
using it way down,

maybe six,
eight thousand feet down.

You have nothing to lose, Mr. Rohan,
and possibly a great deal to gain.

Minna had no business,
no right to do it.

But Jason Rohan never went back
on his word in his life.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, boys, now, where are we
gonna put the new TV set,

and the couch and the chairs?

And what are you gonna use
to pay for all that?

Oil, Jason.

Oil.

Oil. It's got to be oil.
You can smell it.

Another couple hundred feet,
maybe a thousand.

Mr. Mason,
I really think we're into a big one.

You've moved quickly
in the past days.

Have you got any idea what this will
mean to a little outfit like ours?

Subcontracting for Klee Oil,
that'd give us a boost.

But when the word gets out
that we've discovered this field,

we'll have it made.

Well, how's my oil well coming,
friends?

Well, the test hole looks
pretty promising, Mr. Rohan.

You got some more mud for me
to smell?

ROHAN:
Shut up, boy,

I don't want anybody wasting
Allan's time messing with mud.

When he brings my oil up
is the time for smelling.

Well, good to see you again,
Mr. Mason,

but it don't seem real neighborly of you
to come all the way from L.A.

and not drop by for a visit.

I'll take you up on that another time.

I have a meeting
with the adjacent landowners.

You won't have to worry about them.

When they seen
what you done for us,

they're just chomping at the bit
to do business with you folks.

I never would have believed it,
Mr. Mason,

but if there's anything more fun
than just spending money,

I don't know what it is.

You're aware there isn't any oil yet,
Mr. Rohan.

- It might be wise to wait.
- Wait for what?

Why you told me I was gonna
be a rich man, didn't you?

And I got to say you were sure right.

Why, that bank took
one look at that lease option,

they just couldn't do enough for me.
Ha, ha.

And you ought to see what's
going on up to the house.

Mr. Mason's right, Mr. Rohan.

Now, we think we've got
oil down there, but, well, uh...

The fact is, you're spending money
you don't have.

I don't worry about that. I'm gonna
leave everything to you, Mr. Mason.

Your word's good enough for me.

All right, boys,
I'll drive you around the back road.

We'll take a look at the herd.

- Can I drive it now, sir?
- Not yet.

- Well, when?
- When you're old enough.

- Well, when'll that be?
- Whenever I say.

ROHAN:
All right, so long, friends.

If Mr. Klee was as sure about
this field as Mr. Rohan and I,

we'd be in.

Allan, look at it. Look at it.

That is it.

That is it. It's oil.
That's the name of the game.

We've hit it. We've hit it big.

Allan Winford's made
his biggest strike.

When you talk to old man Klee,
you can tell him I brought it in.

[SOFT JAZZ MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

From the looks of this place,

Mr. Klee must know as much
about spending money

as he does about making it.

And he's about to make
quite a bit more.

Well, I'd be satisfied
to own just one oil well.

One itty-bitty one, only for a month.

Do you suppose
the prince has arrived yet?

I wonder how large a retinue
he brought with him.

- Retinue?
- Of course.

Any prince wouldn't be caught dead
without a retinue.

I wonder if he brought his entire harem
or just several wives or so.

DARLEY:
Mr. Mason?

Hello, Ross.

Della, have you met Ross Darley,
Mr. Klee's executive assistant?

Oh, only over the telephone.
How do you do, Mr. Darley?

How do you do?

You do have the lease options
with you?

They're right here.

Good, then I'll tell Mr. Klee
you're here.

- Cocktails, Della?
- Why not?

- Would you excuse me, please?
- Certainly.

- Would you hold this?
- Of course.

- Oh! Oh, excuse me.
- It's all right.

Aren't you Monique Martin?

Oh, you've guessed.

I saw your last television show.
You were wonderful.

Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.

Well, Della,
sometimes you amaze me.

You're a veritable storehouse
of information.

Ha, ha. That's not the only information
I have.

According
to the latest gossip columns,

do you know who Monique really is?
I mean really?

No, who is she, really?

Jerome Klee's new friend.
And I mean close friend.

How he could he do it, Harry?

How could he bring
that little tramp here tonight?

Mirabel, you know Jerome Klee
just as I know Jerome Klee.

He does what he pleases
when he pleases.

Just wait till I tell him.

Take an old friend's advice, honey.
Don't.

Nobody tells Jerome Klee
what to do.

Mason.

Well, hello, Mr. Klee.

- This is my secretary, Miss Street.
- How do you do, Mr--?

Find another drink or try
an hors d'oeuvre or something.

Mason?

Here is your other drink.

Mr. Klee, I don't think it's--

Have you got Winford's report
and the estimate on pool production?

According to his findings,
it looks like a major new oil discovery.

Should be worth
who knows how many millions.

Have you shown this to anyone
or discussed it with anybody?

- Only the rancher who owns the land.
- Then don't.

Don't talk about it till later.

Then I'll tell you what to say.

Mirabel, he's busy now.
I don't think you should--

Bother him?

Jerome asked me to talk to you.

For five months he's refused
to answer a phone call,

refused to see me and now
he tells his stooge to talk to me.

He wants you to have this.

Well, that's why I was invited.

Here's a tip, Mirabel, old girl,
for services faithfully rendered.

Let go of me, errand boy.

I've been your friend, Mirabel.

- Calling me names isn't going to--
- I'm being kind to you, Ross.

Considering where Monique
came from,

I could call you lots worse.

- I didn't send for you.
- Oh, yes, you did.

You wanna see my invitation?

I had you invited here tonight
for one reason.

Civilized people
behave in a civilized fashion.

I'm not ungrateful.
Ungrateful is not the word.

I'm not unmindful
of your good qualities.

You're loyal, you're not a nag,

and you haven't had your hand
in my pocket.

I've been a good girl.

And so you're paying me off,
$ , .

Ha, ha. That's roughly, uh,
$ a month for years.

That's a retirement fund
for the old retainer

to make way for that French tramp.

But of course,
it's the civilized thing to do.

You don't want the check?

- Because if you don't--
- Jerome, Jerome--

Mirabel, do you want the check
or not?

There's only one thing I want.

I want heaven to strike you dead.

BEN ALI:
May I suggest one of these?

They're delicious.

Thank you.

You're right. They are good.

Uh, I'm Della Street. Are you one
of Mr. Klee's associates or a friend?

Neither, actually.

Though I am here in somewhat
of a business capacity.

I am Ben Ali.

You're Prince Bhudeem?

But you don't, uh--
I mean, you haven't--

No burnoose or turban?

Right.

You see, I was educated at Oxford,
and I...

That is, my brother the King,

believes he has a responsibility
to move his people forward.

This is difficult enough without
surrounding oneself with archaic,

medieval trappings.

I want to thank you, Jerome.

After all these years,

I never realized how pleasant it was
down at this end of the table.

You mustn't let her bother you,
Jerry.

I have read
Miss Mirabel Corum's novels.

A waste of good paper stock
all of them.

But she wanted them published,
wanted to be a famous author.

I don't understand what appeal
she ever had, Jerry.

For one thing, Mirabel had better
sense than to call me Jerry.

Touché.

But don't ever think that you can
get away with seating me

at the low end of the table.

Want to bet?

The papers are all in order,
assigning the entire oil output

of your brother's kingdom
to Klee Oil Industries,

delivery to be our responsibility.
Correct, sir?

Now all that remains
is to agree on the terms.

Terms?

I understood-- That is, my brother said
the terms were already agreed on.

DARLEY: Why, certainly your king
wouldn't have sent

anyone as important as yourself,
his own brother,

and not allowed you some authority
to negotiate on specific points,

to everyone's advantage?

By "everyone,” somehow I sense
that you mean myself.

Perhaps.

How specifically,
could it be to my advantage?

A hundred thousand dollars

in a numbered account
in a Swiss Bank to your credit,

and an adjustment of, uh, perhaps

one and a quarter cents a barrel
in the suggested price?

There is one factor, gentlemen.

In my country,

a brother who would betray
a brother's trust,

his fate would be unpleasant.

- But how would the king ever know?
- We know.

And how could I be sure?

Because you have my word.

Why, you little...

How long do you think you'd last
with a brilliant man like Jerome Klee?

Not as long as you, probably.

But then I wouldn't have to work at it
quite so hard.

Writing that awful trash
that passes for books.

[MONIQUE GRUNTS]

Mr. Klee would like to see you alone.

Excuse me, Della.

Enjoying your glimpse
of the hoi polloi, Della?

A thrill a minute.

I'm sure in my own mind we won't
run into any trouble doing it.

I made sure of that
before I approved the contract.

But I would like to hear it
from my legal adviser.

Trouble doing what?

Capping the Rohan well.

You're not going to pump it
or develop the field? Why?

Because I've just concluded
a -year deal with Ben Ali,

to keep my refinery going full blast.

Then why not sell off the crude
from the Rohan field?

Not enough margin in it.

Besides, years,
I might need that oil.

Meanwhile, on the market,
it could depress the crude price.

Ten years?

That oil has been under the ground
for millions of years.

It will be just as good in .

But what will Jason Rohan do?

- He's put himself in debt.
- I made him no promise.

Tell him to read his contract.
You wrote it.

But he's liable to lose his ranch.
You can't do that.

Mr. Mason, years ago,

a man tried to tell me
what I could or could not do.

That man was my own father.

I broke his jaw for him.

He was the last one to try it.

I've noticed you have
your associates intimidated.

- But not you?
- No, I'm not intimidated.

I'm appalled.
What kind of man are you?

A money man, Mr. Mason.

Some fellows like paintings,
boats, land.

Heaven knows why I don't.

I collect money.
It's as simple as that.

How much money do you want?

If I can get it, all there is.

Well, Mr. Mason.
How are you, friend?

By golly, I thought
you were just chewing your lip

when you said you'd come
for a visit.

But I should have knowed you was
a man of your word. Come right on in.

I, uh, drove out to talk with you,
Mr. Rohan.

I feel a certain responsibility.

You come all the way from L.A.
just to talk to me?

Well, isn't that just fine.

Hi, there, Mr. Mason.

Come on in. It'll do your heart good
to see what you've done for us.

How do you like it?

And you should see my kitchen.

It has a brand new stove
and a refrigerator

and a freezer
and a washer and dryer,

and they've just about sold me
on one of those talk boxes

so I can hear the boys
out at the barn.

Here, try the couch. It's real nice.

You sit and I'll fix some tea.

- You got all this on credit?
- No, sir. Cash money.

I just dropped by the bank
a couple of times,

and they've been as nice
and friendly as can be.

The bank gave you how much?

Well, what with the car and all,
let's see.

I had lumber and brick and plumbing
delivered the other day

for the new house.

I guess all in all they advanced me
maybe , , .

On the basis of the lease option,
that doesn't sound reasonable.

Well, I put up the land for security
till the oil money starts coming in.

Then the way they tell it,
I can just pay it off like that.

Mr. Rohan, we have to talk.

Fine. Sure. But let me show you
all these things first.

Look at this. This is Minna's favorite.

You know, these fish
is real interesting.

Sometimes if there
isn't anything real good on the TV

I just lay there on the sofa
and watch them.

Two sets?

Well, one's got wheels.

See, the boys, Matt and Job,
they got their favorite programs

and maybe Minna and me just wanna
watch wrasslers or something like that.

Hey, go on, sit down.

Did you ever see anything
outside a coffin any more

soft and lovely looking than that?
Ha, ha.

Now, Mr. Rohan,
you must listen to me.

I know what you got
on your mind, Mr. Mason,

and, uh, I've been giving it
some thought too.

Why, just this morning,
Minna was saying to me:

"Jason," she said.

"You've got to get yourself
a fine lawyer like that Mr. Mason.

After all, you're a rich man now."

That's just it, Mr. Rohan.
You're not a rich man.

What do you mean?

You trying to tell me
there isn't any oil down there?

Well, I've seen it myself.

No, the oil's there.

Well, if it's there and it's mine,

and that oil company
is gonna take it out for me.

They're not going to take it out,
at least not now.

Well, they are so.
I got that agreement Minna signed.

Why, you told me
I had to keep my word.

Now Klee's got to keep his.

He has years
in which to exercise his option.

What am I gonna do?

That means they can take
my land away from me.

I know it sounds inadequate,
Mr. Rohan, but I'm sorry.

Truly sorry.

Now, if there's anything I can do...

I'll tell you what you can do.

Now, you tell that Klee fella
that Jason Rohan

isn't gonna lose his land

just because somebody
changes his mind.

Now, you tell him
I ain't gonna wait any years.

You tell him
I listened to his lying lawyer

and went against
my own common sense,

but I ain't listening any more.

Now, you tell him that.

Mr. Rohan,
I came here on my own.

I don't believe a word you say.

Man lies to me just once,
and you forget about Klee.

I'll take care of him myself.

But you don't seem to understand.

You left me way out on a limb
in Sacramento.

I understand.

What you don't understand
is that I pay you money

to climb out on limbs,

and to make the best of it
when I have to saw them off.

But I stuck my neck out,
made promises,

promises you told me to make.

There could be an inquiry.

That might be
an interesting spectacle.

Tell me, Harry,
how many of your politician friends

do you think you might have to drag
through the mud with you? Hmm?

If I don't make good
on my promises,

the least that will happen will be
my effectiveness will be destroyed.

No one will ever give me
the time of day again.

You've got a problem, Harry.

If that should happen,

it wouldn't make much sense for me
to retain you, would it?

Good evening, sir.
There's a Mr. Winford waiting for you

at the field office.

We've got to talk this thing out.

You can't cut my throat this way.

Don't look now, Harry, but if you listen,
you'll hear the death rattle.

Jerome. Mr. Klee.

I want you to look
at the pipeline termination

so you can make plans
for the Jodhpur operation.

First of all, I wanna have it out
about that Rohan field.

Now, I've got orders to cap that well.
I don't buy that.

I didn't send for you
to conduct a debate.

That decision's been made.

Well, at least give me an explanation

to why you're holding off on
the exploitation of that Rohan strike.

Mr. Winford, if I made a practice
of explaining my actions,

most of the time I'd use
one five-letter word, money.

Mr. Klee,
with the kind of pipelines

you're talking about from the
Jodhpur fields to the Mediterranean,

that's gonna take about eight weeks
to prepare for shipment.

And we've got to run pressure tests
on all the pumping equipment.

When can I take a look at the pump?

Well, we already have one
in operation at the Oboe Field,

right here in Los Angeles.

I'll let you know as soon
as we've run the tests,

providing, of course,
we can get together

on your future plans
for the Rohan field.

I don't make bargains.

Winford, you want
that Jodhpur contract,

you'll take it, no strings attached.

Well, at least let me make
the announcement of the discovery,

- the potential of the Rohan field?
- No. That's final.

Well, you can't stop me
from announcing it.

No, but I can stop you from ever
working in this industry again,

and if you don't think
I have connections,

I don't say friends, enough to do it,
why you go right ahead. Try me.

[g*nsh*t]

If I'd have caught that b*llet, Winford,
it would have solved all your problems.

Out of gratitude,
I'll give you some free advice.

If you're gonna be a winner,
get a break like that,

don't play the hero.

You take that break.
Let the other guy be hanged.

I wanna caution both parties
to this contract

against divulging the contents
of paragraph , subsection .

Or any part of it for that matter.

I like to keep
the competition guessing,

even when there's nothing
to guess about.

Paragraph , subsection .

This relates to penalties
to be paid by your company

if the deadline date is not met

eleven months
from validation of the contract.

Why the secrecy, Mr. Mason?

Knowledge of the penalty payments

could adversely affect the market value
of Klee Oil stock

- until the deadline is met.
- It'll be met.

I've never paid cents in penalties.

I have no intention of starting now.

Jerome, I'm sorry.

Who let you in?

Darling, I had to come

as soon as I heard
somebody sh*t at you last night.

I'm touched at your concern.

Now, run away. I'm busy.

He's tied up right now, Mirabel.

You've got to do something
to protect yourself.

Whoever it was got away.
He's still free. He'll try it again.

Lannon, get her out of here.

I know people
who'd like to knock me off,

but not one with guts enough
to do it.

Since Miss Corum is here,

I suggest she witness the signature
along with Mr. Lannon.

I should consider it a favor,
Miss Corum.

Is it all right, Jerome?

Mr. Klee,
with the preparation of this contract,

my obligation to you is completed.

KLEE:
Mason.

Have it your way.

But just so I can write it down
in my memory book, why?

Why are you giving up
a $ , a year retainer?

Because, Mr. Klee, representing you
is like hiring out to be a hatchet man.

Good afternoon.

- Where's Winford?
- I don't know.

- His message said--
- About that message,

what exactly did he say?

"Urgent I see you tonight
at my Oboe office at ,

otherwise can't meet penalty date.
Winford."

Penalty date?
I still don't know what it means.

I know what it means.
That's all that's important.

See if you can raise Winford
on the phone in that shack

or try to find somebody
who knows where he is.

Yes, sir.

Who's there?

Who's there?

Where are you?

- Hi, Steve.
- Hi, Paul. How are you?

Is, uh, this where Klee got it?

What was the m*rder w*apon?

A -inch monkey wrench,
belonged to the suspect.

Well, that would do it. Can I see it?

It's already gone to the lab.

What's the charge,
first or second degree m*rder?

First. The victim was deliberately
lured out here.

How?

Paul, you'll have to ask
Hamilton Burger that.

BRICE: What do you make of this,
lieutenant?

Looks like some kind
of a foreign coin.

BRICE: Lying back up there
where the car was parked.

Does it have anything to do
with the case?

Paul, I'm just a cop,
not a clairvoyant.

You've talked for an hour,

and you've told us only
that you're innocent

and that you've been badly used.

Very well, without argument,
I'll accept that much.

But all this adds up to nothing
if you can't explain your actions.

Well, I can't explain how the k*ller
got a hold of my wrench

or how Klee was fooled into
believing that I'd sent him a message,

or why I didn't see or hear anything
before I drove off in my pickup,

but that doesn't make me guilty.

What about your fight with Klee
over the Rohan oil strike?

I wasn't the only one hurt
in that deal.

You're not the only one with a motive,
but you're the only one in jail,

the only one on trial for m*rder.

You'd better stop lying to me,
Jason Rohan.

I ain't lying.

Now, get off my back, woman.

Quit studying them fish.

Turn around, stand up
and look me in the eye.

That poor man, Mr. Winford,
he's in jail.

Poor man? He's just the one
that brought all those trucks

and gadgets out here
in the first place.

Now, Jason, tell me true,
I know how much you hated Mr. Klee.

All I did was wish him dead.

I wanna believe you,
but how come you lied to me

the night you went to Los Angeles

and came home
at : in the morning?

I didn't lie.

Oh, you and that lawyer Mason
sure sold me a bill of goods.

Oil ain't been nothing but a curse.

A blessing.

Oil has been a blessing
and a salvation to my country.

It is transporting us
from the th century to the th

with dizzying speed.

Is that the right word, dizzying?

I didn't hear your question.

I mean, my mind wandered.
I'm terribly sorry.

No, I am the one
who should apologize.

I have talked so much.

Foolishly I thought I might help you
forget your pain.

It's just that...

Jerome and I were so close
for so long.

I tried to warn him that day
after someone sh*t at him,

but Jerome wasn't afraid.

Nothing frightened him. Nothing.

I remember your warning him.

The day we signed the contracts,
wasn't it?

I never saw him alive again
after that.

I couldn't help it, Ross.
You know how he was.

Couldn't help it.
Couldn't resist it, you mean.

He was going to help me
with my career.

The way he helped Mirabel Corum?

I was afraid of him, Ross,
that's all it was.

When he wanted something
or someone,

who could stand up to him?

Who didn't lay down and die
when he reached out

with that cold, clammy hand?

I wouldn't know about his cold,
clammy hand.

Matt, you put that g*n back
and go find your pa.

Me and Job was gonna go hunting.

Ain't had the dogs out
for a couple of weeks.

Do as I say. I'm worried about Jason.

He's been acting funny, and I--

I just don't know
what's going on in his head.

I know what's going on in his head.

He's just like the rest of us.
He's scared.

Scared they're gonna call his loan.

We ain't gonna be able to hold
onto our place.

I haven't seen him torn up
like this before,

and you and me and Job
is responsible.

I signed that fool paper,

and you two boys worried him
into going along with it.

Well, how do I know
where he took off to?

He'll come back.

Just like he done the other night
when he was gone all that time.

There's nothing me, nor you,
nor Job can do about it.

So this is the w*apon that crushed
the skull of the decedent, Jerome Klee.

Who owns this wrench, lieutenant?

The defendant, Allan Winford.

This moulage,
it has been established

consists of tire tracks
found at the m*rder scene.

Whose tire tracks, lieutenant?

They match the tires
of the defendant's pick-up truck.

BURGER: And now, lieutenant,
to anticipate defense counsel,

let me ask you this.

Do these tracks on this moulage

positively establish
the presence of the defendant

at the m*rder scene at the time
of the m*rder?

No, they don't, Mr. Burger.

But they do corroborate the statement
of the gas station attendant

who identified the truck
as being in service

less than a mile
from the m*rder site,

minutes after the m*rder.

Yes, of course.
Thank you, Lieutenant Drumm.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Lieutenant Drumm,
you've identified some eleven items

taken from the m*rder scene
and linked by fact,

innuendo or hearsay
to the defendant.

I've offered no objection,
but I wanna make certain

that everything you found at the
m*rder site has been introduced.

- Now, has it?
- Well, Mr. Mason,

the area was in constant use
the day prior to the m*rder.

We found a lot of things,
a lunchbox, a plumb line.

MASON:
Did you find anything unusual?

Yes, sir, we found a coin,
a foreign coin.

MASON: Do you have it here in court?
- No.

MASON: Would you bring it to court
after the recess?

Your Honor, I have no idea
what counsel is probing for.

We'll be happy to agree
to bring the article to court

if he'll agree to justify its relevance.

MASON: Thank you, Mr. Burger.
I'll accept the bargain.

BURGER: And you definitely
recognized the truck

that pulled away
from the area immediately

after the decedent was k*lled?

Yes, sir.
It was Allan Winford's truck.

Thank you, sir.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Now, Mr. Darley,
from your testimony,

I gather you were not
with Mr. Klee on the night

someone attempted to sh**t him
at the plant.

DARLEY:
No, sir, I wasn't.

Now, it's obvious that the defendant
saved Mr. Klee's life that night.

BURGER: Objection.
JUDGE: Sustained.

MASON: Mr. Darley,
where were you that night?

I was in my apartment.

MASON: Alone?
- No.

Is there any reason
why you don't wanna tell the court

- who was with you?
- No.

Monique Martin and I.

- She came up for dinner, we talked--
- Objection, Your Honor.

Where do you suppose counsel
is heading on this fishing expedition?

Your Honor, I don't want it to look like
I'm trying to hide something.

I'll answer the question.

I know what Mr. Mason is getting at.

Monique was my girl,
and Mr. Klee went for her.

It's not the end of the world
when you lose your girl.

A normal man doesn't
k*ll somebody because--

That's right, Mr. Darley.

Under those circumstances,
a normal man doesn't k*ll.

Well, sir, Mr. Winford, he told me:

"You're gonna be a millionaire

and I'm gonna be the biggest man
in the oil business."

And that was, of course,

before Mr. Klee ordered
the well capped, right?

Yes, sir.

After it was capped,
it was a different story.

I went to see Mr. Winford
up by the well,

and he was red in the face,
top of the lungs mad.

BURGER: What did he say to you
at that time, Mr. Rohan?

He said I could do whatever I liked,

but he was gonna be sure
Klee didn't get away with it.

Thank you, sir.
Your witness, Mr. Mason.

I have no questions for Mr. Rohan.

Oh, one moment, Mr. Rohan.

On the night someone sh*t
at Mr. Klee, where were you?

I don't rightly recall.

MASON:
Did you leave your ranch?

I went out for a drive in my car.

I was gonna have to turn it back in,
so I just drove around all by myself.

MASON:
Did you by any chance

drive in the vicinity of the
Klee Oil Industries cracking plant?

I drove all over.

Mr. Rohan, is it not a fact

that you attempted to gain admission
to the plant that night?

Well, I wanted to talk to Klee.

But that guard,
he wouldn't let me in.

Did you have a w*apon
with you in that car, Mr. Rohan?

- No, sir.
MASON: Did you leave your car

at all that night?

No, sir.

MASON: Thank you, Mr. Rohan.
No further questions.

Witness may stand down.

Since I have a meeting
in my chambers,

court will stand adjourned
until : tomorrow morning.

[ALL CHATTERING]

Well, where are we?

I have a feeling we're treading water.

We're overlooking something obvious,
something very obvious.

You're sure there's been no word?

When did you last check?

Okay, well, as soon as the call does
come through, switch it down here.

Relax, Paul, we've placed
a call halfway around the world.

- It's bound to take time.
- Well, if we do get through,

at least we'll know whether Ben Ali
sold out his brother

or played it straight.

Depends on whether the final contract
was less favorable

than Klee's original offer to the king.

Here's the copy you wanted.

This is what lured Jerome Klee
to the m*rder scene.

I have a feeling that somewhere
in this note is the solution.

It sounds harmless enough.

"Urgent I see you tonight
at my Oboe office at .

Otherwise can't meet
the penalty date.”

- Signed Winford.
- You're convinced your client

didn't send it?

I don't think Winford had any way
of knowing about that penalty date.

[PHONE RINGS]

Yes? It came through.

- Della, take the other phone.
DELLA: Mm-hm.

Hello? Is this Jodhpur?

Could you switch me through
to the palace, please?

Hello? Oh, you speak English?
Good.

Uh, I realize this is very irregular,

but I'm calling from the United States,
and I'd like to speak with the king.

But can't you make an exception?

Tell His Majesty it's of the utmost
importance to his country.

I see.

No, no message. Thank you.

Impossible to speak to His Majesty

under any circumstances
until further notice.

After all the time
we wasted sitting here.

"Impossible.” Of course it is, Paul.

"Until further notice."

Why didn't I think of that before?

MASON:
"Tonight at my Oboe office at .

Otherwise can't meet penalty date.
Winford."

- You were aware of this penalty date?
- Of course.

It was at my insistence
it was written into the contract.

This was in the best interest
of the king of Jodhpur?

Of course.

I would never do anything
that was not in the king's best interest.

MASON: Not even make a private deal
with Mr. Klee?

Shaving the price of the crude oil
in return for a payment

into a private bank account
for your benefit?

Mr. Darley told you about that?

MASON:
Yes, and he's willing to testify to it.

I will not deny that such an offer
was made, but I refused it.

MASON: Along with all other
such subversive offers?

BEN ALI: There was only one other
subversive offer.

Would you explain that, please?

Of course. It was an offer
from someone close to Mr. Klee.

I was told that if I would call off
the deal for my country's oil,

I would be substantially rewarded.

Again, I refused.

And he threatened me
with blackmail.

MASON: Who was this person close
to Mr. Klee?

Mr. Harry Lannon.

Why that--

I've been double-crossed by experts,
but this Arab tops them all.

Mr. Mason.

- Excuse me, Your Honor.
- All right, Mr. Mason.

You've got to put me on the stand,
give me a chance to explain.

You have pertinent testimony?

I have the pertinent testimony.

My offer to Ben Ali
would have benefitted everybody.

Mr. Rohan's oil would be developed,

Winford's discovery could
be broadcast, making his reputation.

What about Prince Ben Ali's
country?

I told him
I had a far better deal for his country

than the one Klee offered him.

MASON:
But the prince refused?

LANNON:
Not at first.

He let me go on, stick my neck out.

And then he said that he couldn't
go back on his word with Klee,

that they had already
passed the coin.

What did that mean?

LANNON:
A custom in his country, I guess.

You exchange coins
with the other fellow,

and that means
that you've made a contract.

This, uh, gold dinar,
Jodhpurian coin,

Lieutenant Drumm found
at the scene of the m*rder.

Could this have been the coin passed
by Prince Ben Ali to Mr. Klee?

I think so.

But he could tell you that
better than I can.

I intend to ask him.

Now, what about the reference
to blackmail?

It wasn't blackmail.

I just threatened to tell
his brother, the king,

that he turned down my offer,
a far better one than Klee's.

For what reason?

LANNON:
Simple enough, a bribe from Klee.

- And your thr*at kept him quiet?
- Until he got on the stand.

You're sure he didn't tell
Mr. Klee

that you were trying to undermine
the Jodhpur deal?

Of course not.

The prince knew what would happen
if the word got back to his brother.

I call your attention to this note
purportedly sent by Mr. Winford.

Now, this penalty clause
to which it refers,

would that be paragraph ,
subsection of the agreement?

BEN ALI:
I believe so, yes.

Which was to be held
in the strictest confidence?

Yes.

Now, Prince Ben Ali,
the previous witness accused you

of selling out your brother, the king.

That accusation forced you to remain
silent for fear you would be exposed.

Have you any comment
to make on that?

Such exposure
would have been impossible.

I think, Mr. Mason,
you know that, don't you?

- Let's say I guessed it would be.
- Objection.

Your Honor,
this witness and defense counsel

seem to be carrying on
some sort of a private conversation

with no possible bearing
on the case.

Your Honor,
once a single fact becomes clear,

I believe the import of the testimony
will be obvious.

JUDGE:
Overruled.

All right, Mr. Mason, make your point.

Would you please tell this court
your real identity?

I am Selim Ebu Bhudeem,
king of Jodhpur.

[CROWD MURMURING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

MASON: And Ben Ali Bhudeem?
- He is my brother.

He is at home in the royal palace.

Ben Ali is only years old.

MASON: And you adopted his identity
when you came to this country.

- Why, Your Highness?
- Caution.

I was advised that emissaries
from countries like mine

had been subverted,

induced to betray their trusts
before by Mr. Klee.

- And such offers were in fact made?
- As I have said.

But once I decided to act
as my own emissary,

traveling under my brother's identity,
I was safe from betrayal.

And therefore, Mr. Lennon's thr*at
to expose you

to your brother
was without substance?

BHUDEEM:
Obviously.

So there was no reason
for you not to reveal to Mr. Klee

that his associate Mr. Lannon

had offered you a deal
behind his back.

No reason whatever.

And did you in fact reveal
Mr. Lennon's duplicity to Mr. Klee?

BHUDEEM:
I did.

MASON: And that's why you lured
Mr. Klee out to the Oboe field that night,

on the pretext of a message
from Allen Winford,

isn't it, Mr. Lannon?

Mr. Klee knew of your attempt

- to ruin his Jodhpur deal.
- No.

Mr. Winford wouldn't
have sent the message.

He had no knowledge
of any penalty clause.

Mr. Klee wouldn't have sent
himself a message.

The king would not have sent it.

It was to his country's interest
that the penalty date not be met.

That left the only other man
in the room with us

when the penalty was discussed,
you, Mr. Lannon.

You had to be the k*ller.

Had to be. You're right. I had to be.

Everyone else who had anything
to do with him detested him.

But they were afraid,
afraid to k*ll him.

I had to.

Now, okay,
it's gonna have rooms,

and including the TV room
and the kitchen.

And right out here in the back
there's gonna be a big swimming pool.

It looks beautiful, Minna.

And incidentally, so do you.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

And thanks for the check.

You know,
it just doesn't seem possible

that we're pumping oil already.

Ah.

Well, Jason,
I like the elevation of your new home.

Where are you gonna
have the contractor build it?

Oh, Mr. Mason, no amount of money's
gonna change me that much,

at least not this time.

Well, new house is going up
right around this one.

Here, you hold this.

There isn't gonna be any contractor.

I'm gonna build this one myself.