01x29 - The Case of the Hesitant Hostess

[bunniefuu]

[LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]

I'm warning you, Sanders.

I catch you hanging around here again,
I'll call the cops.

Evening, Mr. Archer.

Kind of slow tonight.

Yeah.

WOMAN: How about
a light, baby?

What's the matter?
You look worried.

You should know
about that, Kim.

Did you arrange
for the money?

Pick it up at 5:00
tomorrow afternoon

at the apartment.

Then you have nothing
to worry about.

I can keep a secret.

I want you to know
one thing, Kim.

I'm not going to
go on being...

You'll go on being
anything I want you to be,

Mr. Frederick Archer III.

Let's get that straight.

There's nothing more
between us.

Nothing but money.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOOR OPENING]

Don't turn on the light.

[DOOR CLOSING]

[BOTTLE CLATTERING]

Know where I am?

I'm at the Regis Towers.

It's a penthouse
on the very top floor.

And there's a man waiting
in the drawing room to take me out.

A strictly uptown man.

That's the way
it's going to be with me.

Strictly uptown.

Even champagne can't
hold back tomorrow, Kim.

Tomorrow I won't care.

Sure.

That's the way
it's going to be, Inez.

I've got the world
by a string.

Only for some of us,
the string's got knots in it.

It's not so bad for you.

I got you a good job,
didn't I?

Dance hostess?

Best way I know to get a massage
to music.

Know any
other business

that you could
travel as much?

Well, of course,

we do get overseas modeling
assignments now and then,

but there's always a catch.

You've always got to come back to
Danceland Ballroom.

You know, if it wasn't for those trips,
I'd quit tomorrow.

Too late to quit, baby.

You're as much a part
of the operation

as the bricks
in this building.

What do you mean,
"operation"?

When you find that out,
you'll have just invented security.

Security?

I don't understand.

When you do, baby,

you can quit your job
like I did.

Tomorrow night's
my last night at that joint.

From then on, Kim Lane's
walking nine feet tall.

[SLOW WALTZ PLAYING]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in.

Miss Rayburn?
Larry Coles said you wanted to see me.

Yes, I did.

I understand
that you left word

that you wanted to
talk to Mr. Archer

if he should come in.

That's right.

Well, Inez, Mr. Archer
is only our landlord.

I run Danceland Ballroom.

Now, if there's something you want
to discuss about your work...

[CHUCKLING] Oh, no.
It's nothing about my work.

It's Kim Lane.

Well, what about Kim?

Well, she left the apartment
this morning.

She, uh, had a date
and didn't come back.

What does this have to do
with Mr. Archer?

Oh, well, Kim and Mr. Archer
were going together.

[SIGHS]

Inez, Mr. Archer is
a very happily married man.

Now, he's not going to have
any back-alley association with Kim.

Miss Rayburn,

as, uh, long as we are
on the subject of Kim,

she said she quit.

This was her last night?

Well?

Well, she'd been
drinking last night,

so I didn't pay too much attention at first,
although she did say,

"Once you get to know
this operation,

"you've invented security."

Oh.

Well, what else
did Kim have to say?

Oh, you know,
just rambled.

Somehow I got the impression

she was talking about those overseas
modeling jobs we take.

Look, if you aren't happy with your
modeling assignments,

I can see that
you don't get any more.

Oh, no, I want to go.

Well, then, let's forget all this talk
about what Kim said

and get back on the floor.

Yes, ma'am.

[LIVELY JAZZ PLAYING]

Martha, I need help.

I was driving down
Front Street,

and I stopped for a red light when this fellow
pulled a g*n and held me up. Before I...

MARTHA: Just a moment.

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

[SNORES]

PURVIS: All right,
Sanders, get up.

Huh? Huh?

Come on, Sanders,
we haven't got all day.

[STAMMERING]
What do you fellas want?

I ain't done nothin',
Officer. Honest.

You ain't done nothin'.
These guys are all alike.

How did this get into your
trash can outside?

That is your
trash can, isn't it?

Yeah.

All right.
Where'd you hide the g*n?

I ain't got no g*n.

And I don't suppose you were
anywhere around Front Street
about midnight last night.

No! You've got to believe me, Officer!
Please!

All right. Come on.
We're goin' downtown.
No, no, no!

Now, wait a minute!
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Morning, Mr. Sanders.

My name is Perry Mason.
I'm going to represent you.

I didn't ask
for a lawyer.

I know.
I was in court this morning when you were arraigned.

And who's
gonna pay you?

All I got in the
world is $23

and a b*at-up
old trailer.

Oh, I volunteered
to defend you.

The court appointed me.

Why should a big-sh*t lawyer
like you waste his time

on a charity case?

Do you think
it's a waste of time?

What I think or feel
doesn't make any difference.

Anyway, who cares?

You know, you've been
a good many things, Sanders,

but never a quitter.

How would you know?

Oh, I've made
a few inquiries.

I know a good deal about you.

I know that eight years ago,
your wife and two children

were k*lled
in an automobile accident.

It was all my fault.

If I hadn't fell asleep
at the wheel...

Because you'd been driving


to get here in time
for a job.

You can't keep on blaming yourself
for an accident.

Now, shall we get down
to business?

Yeah.

All right.

Tell me exactly
what happened this morning.

About 9:00, the cops
started bangin' on my door,

wanted to know what Frederick Archer III's wallet
was doin' in my trash can.

Had you ever seen
this Mr. Archer before?

Never.

MASON: According to
the police report, Mr. Archer,

you were on Front Street
and stopped for a red light

at about 12:00 midnight
on Monday of last week,

when this man ran out
from the curb

and held a g*n on you
and your lady companion.

I was the
lady companion.

But you didn't bother
to report the robbery.

If it hadn't been
for a druggist

who witnessed the whole thing
from his shop, why, you and...

I'm sorry.
Uh, it's probably my fault, Mr. Mason.

You see, I rent this ballroom
from Mr. Archer,

and we had some business
to discuss in his office.

However, I didn't
feel very well,

and I decided to go home.

That was when
it happened.

I just didn't feel up
to talking to the police,

so Mr. Archer drove me
straight to my apartment.

Really, Mr. Mason,

I hate to see
so much made of this.

After all,
no one was hurt.

No one but my client,
Albert Sanders.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Talk to them all?
Mmm-hmm.

Rene, Dawn, Jovine.
Oh, what names, and what actresses.

They all had their parts
down so pat

they could have been
reading them from the same script.

They try to sell you
anything in particular?

Yes.

That they hadn't seen their boss,
Martha Rayburn, at all

the night of the robbery.

So it would seem
she was in that car with Archer.

So it would seem.

Thank you, Della.

Now...
Morning, Paul.

How were the girls
at the Danceland Ballroom last night?

Well-rehearsed.

Yeah. The Drake
Detective Agency

hasn't been letting
any grass grow under its feet.

I paid a visit to the State College campus
this morning.

Made a friend of a third-string
halfback.

Kid who, uh, doubles as bouncer,
down at the Ballroom.

Oh? What's his name?

Larry Coles.

I showed Larry a list of the
employees at the Ballroom.

Apparently,
we overlooked someone.

Who?

A hostess
named Inez Kaylor.

She was fired
last week.

So?

So, according
to her landlady,

Inez said she was fired
the night of April 16,

which was the night
of the robbery,

and that she was fired
by Martha Rayburn, in person.

At the Ballroom?
Right after closing.

A little more than two hours
after the robbery.

You know,
this Miss Kaylor

might make a very
interesting witness.

Think you can get her
to Sanders' trial?

Well, she moved to Las Vegas,
but we'll try.

I'll, uh, I'll send Ralph Faulkner
to talk to her.

He can be
very convincing.

PAUL: Hiya, Faulkner.

Mr. Drake,
this is Inez Kaylor.

How do you do, Miss Kaylor?
Fine.

I'm glad Ralph could talk you
into cooperating.

I could never refuse
a gentleman.

Nice going, Ralph.

Sit down, Miss Kaylor,
please.

And how long is this
gonna take?

Well, I should have you on a flight
back to Las Vegas tomorrow afternoon.

Miss Kaylor, are you familiar
with this case?

Yes, but, uh, just what am I
supposed to tell them?

Just the truth,
and as I understand it,

Martha Rayburn fired you
the night of April 16.

Indeed, she did.

Then she was
at the Ballroom?

Well, she didn't relieve me of my duties
by mental telepathy.

But Miss Rayburn swears
she wasn't at the Ballroom that night.

Oh, my, how that woman
can lie.

Does Martha
know I'm here?

No, we--we thought
it would be nicer to surprise her.

I'll tell Mr. Mason
you're here.

PROSECUTOR: Now, Miss Rayburn,

you got a good look at the man who held up you
and Mr. Archer at the point of the g*n?

I most certainly did.

There was a streetlight
shining directly on his face.

And do you see the man
in court here?

Yes, I do.
He's sitting over there next to Mr. Mason.

You're referring to the defendant,
uh, Albert Sanders?

I am.

Thank you.

Your witness,
Mr. Mason.

Miss Rayburn, exactly what did you do
after the robbery?

[SIGHS]

I'll ask you once again,
Miss Rayburn.

Are you absolutely positive you did not
go to the Danceland Ballroom

on the night in question?

Yes, I'm absolutely positive.

Mr. Drake, will you please
bring in Miss Inez Kaylor?

Inez?

You know Miss Kaylor?

Well, yes.
She used to work for me.

When was her employment
terminated?

Well, I don't
exactly know.

Perhaps Miss Kaylor
will be more specific.

[INAUDIBLE]

If it please the court,

I want the witness to look
at Miss Inez Kaylor

for purposes
of identification.

However, it seems
it will take some time

to bring Miss Kaylor
into court.

Therefore, I should like to continue
my cross-examination

of Miss Rayburn
on Monday morning.

JUDGE: Very well, as the hour
of adjournment is near,

this court will recess until 10:00
on Monday morning.

The witness
may stand down.

[BANGS GAVEL]

Paul, why didn't you
post a man with Inez?

Perry, she wanted to put Martha Rayburn
on the griddle.

I had no idea
she'd fade like that.

Well, find her, Paul,
by Monday morning.

I'll find her.

Della, I'll meet you
at the office.

[BOYS CHATTERING]

Get him, Lenny!
Hurry up!

BOY 2: He's gone home.
Come on, Bobby, come on.

BOY 3: Hurry up!
BOY 1: Throw it!

BOY 1: Lenny,
what's wrong? Throw it!

MASON: I don't know.
It just doesn't make sense.

Inez Kaylor just couldn't
up and vanish.

Someone had to
pull a string.

And you think that someone
was Martha Rayburn?

Well...

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Yes, Gertie?

Lieutenant Tragg's here.

Who else would it be
but Tragg? Send him in.

Send him in, Gertie.

Listen, will you
check on Paul

and see what luck
he's having?

Thank you, Della.

My pleasure,
Lieutenant.

Well, how are you, Tragg?

Well, I'm glad to see you
in a good humor.

Now, sit down.
Let me make you unhappy.

This afternoon,
some boys playing ball

came upon what was once
a very pretty girl.

Inez Kaylor?

No, it so happens
her name was Kim Lane.

Kim Lane.

She used to be a hostess
at the Danceland Ballroom.

Your, uh, client
used to hang around there.

Are you trying to say

Albert Sanders
m*rder*d this girl?

That's what
the evidence says.

Miss Lane's purse was missing.
So was her jewelry.

We went back to his trailer,
and guess what?

We found Miss Lane's
purse and her jewelry

under the chassis.

But there's--
But there's always a bright side.

At least it's nothing
for you to be concerned with.

You're only losing
a--a robbery case,

but some legal eagle's
going to lose Sanders

on a charge of m*rder.

You mean
the District Attorney's office

is going to drop
the armed-robbery case?

You know better than that.

Mr. Burger just likes
to keep everything

buttoned up tight.

Wait a minute.

You said Burger.
I thought Walsh was on this.

Oh, no, no.

Mr. Burger's going to
try the rest of the case personally.

Mr. Burger.

MASON: Well, that's
the situation, Sanders.

This afternoon the grand jury will be
asked to indict you for m*rder.

[SIGHING]

And what about
this robbery rap?

The District Attorney
is going ahead with that, too.

He wants to make sure
he isn't gonna lose me, don't he?

Did you ever talk
with this Kim Lane?

I wouldn't know her
if she slapped me in the face.

No more than I knew that Archer fellow,
or Martha Rayburn.

But you were seen hanging around that
ballroom almost every night.

There was the music to listen to,
happy people to see.

Was that so bad?

No, not if you'd told me
the rest of it.

Rest of what?

About that girl's purse
and her ring.

I get up that morning,
go outside,

spot this purse
and wallet in the trash.

The wallet's empty.

Why didn't you tell me
you took that purse?

Wasn't I in enough trouble
without that?

Wasn't very smart.

If I was smart, I wouldn't be sittin'
in that courtroom

havin' them all look at me
like I was dirt!

Now get a hold of yourself.

But smart or no smart,

I'm full and runnin' over
with justice,

and I'm
gettin' rid of you,

this trial
and this jail!

And if anybody tries to stop me,
they're gonna get a broken neck!

It's all right.
He'll be all right.

[SNIFFLING]

Always in the gutter.

Why?

[DOORBELL BUZZING]

It's Paul Drake, Inez.
I'd like to talk to you.

Honey, Mr. Mason pays me
to be awfully persistent,

so why don't we
get this over with?

Hello, Mr. Drake.

Hi, Larry, how're things
at the ballroom?

Still bouncing 'em every night,
but I don't mind.

Keeps me in shape
for football season.

By the way, thanks for bringing Inez
back from Vegas.

Of all the girls,
she's my favorite.

[SOFTLY] Well,
my goodness.

What about Kim Lane?

[SCOFFS]

See you around,
honey.

Bye, Larry.

You and Larry getting
pretty chummy, huh?

Uh-oh, there must
be a law.

No. But he's only
a college kid.

And did you have some
reason for coming up here?

Uh, besides wanting to
change the world.

Yeah. What happened
at the courthouse?

Well, I wouldn't know.

I wasn't there very long.

Oh, I'm painfully
aware of that.

The point is,
why did you leave?

Let's, uh, call it
a change of heart.

You have
a change of heart,

and an innocent man
pays for it, huh?

Oh, honey,
send him my regrets.

He'll appreciate that.

Right up to the time
they drop the cyanide pellets.

You don't seem
very shook up about it.

Why don't you just
quietly drop dead?

Inez,

anybody check
your whereabouts

the night Kim Lane
was m*rder*d?

What kind of a cr*ck
is that?

All I know is you're doing the greatest
silent act since they invented talkies.

Why?

You told me
that Martha Rayburn lied

when she said she wasn't at her Ballroom
the night of the robbery.

Now, why won't you
tell the court?

Oh, get out.

Did, uh, Fred Archer
and Martha suggest

you might bleed a little
if you cooperated with us?

Didn't I say
get out of here?

All right, honey, if that's the way
you want to play it.

And this is?
A subpoena.

If you won't appear voluntarily,
we'll do it the hard way.

Look, Paul,
I won't do Mason any good.

If I show,
I--I'll blast his client.

Mr. Mason just wants to
give you the opportunity

to commit perjury
on the stand.

Because Faulkner
and I will testify

you told us an entirely
different story.

You know, you should do something
about your personality.

You give a girl
a headache.

Must be some headache.

Well, I won't have it long.

You know, we have
something in common.

You say I'll be responsible
for Sanders' death,

and I say you've just become
responsible for mine.

[DOOR BANGING SHUT]

Honey, you should have
used a g*n.

They just haven't
figured out a way

to remove a b*llet
with a stomach pump.

Come on, Inez, open up!

Inez!

[CAR ENGINE STARTING]

Well, hello,
Lieutenant.

Did you find
any trace of the girl?

Haven't looked.
Haven't looked?

I thought you told me
she was loaded with sleeping pills.

Here, taste.

Sweet.

Yeah. My guess is, she took
an old prescription bottle,

put some sugar pills inside,
and played a big death scene.

Oh, and, Mason,
don't try to use this as an excuse

to delay the trial on Monday.

I'm not speaking for myself,
you understand,

but the prosecution might think
that you staged the whole thing.

Perry, I checked
her belongings,

and all I could find were
some drug-store cosmetics

and these two
evening dresses.

Paul, I want Archer
and Martha Rayburn

watched every second
until we find Inez.

All right.

Hello, Gertie?
Let me speak to Della.

Della, I want you to get us two tickets
on the 4:30 flight to Las Vegas.

I'll meet you
at the airport.

No, no time now.
I'll explain later.

Paul, somehow I've got to get inside
Inez Kaylor's Las Vegas apartment.

This, uh, Kim Lane

was buying a mink coat
on time, wasn't she?

Yeah.

Inez was wearing it
after Kim disappeared.

So?

Well, these conditional
sales contracts provide

that if the property
is moved to another state,

the seller has the right
to repossess.

And you want to
buy out the contract

on Kim Lane's mink coat?

With the right
to repossess

is the right
to enter the premises

and reclaim
the property.

Mr. Mason, you've just gotten yourself
into the finance business.

No trace of it.

That coat must be worth
quite a lot of money.

Mink coats don't come cheap,
Mr. Wickett.

Do you suppose Inez could be wearing it,
Mr. Mason?

It's quite possible,
Miss Street.

At what time does Miss Kaylor
usually come in?

In this town,
that's anyone's guess.

Then I'll wait.

No need for you to be inconvenienced,
Mr. Wickett.

You've been
quite helpful.

Uh...

Very helpful.

You check the bedroom.
Mmm-hmm.

Did you find anything?

Miss Kaylor is a clotheshorse,
all right.

Only, a funny thing, most of the labels
are from foreign countries.

I didn't know dance hostesses
traveled so much.

Nor I.

Did you find
anything?

Just the usual things.

Check the mail?

No. I was just
getting to it.

Here.

Most of it
has been forwarded

from Inez Kaylor's
Los Angeles address.

Some of it's addressed
to Kim Lane.

They lived together.
I guess their landlady forwards it all to Inez.

Mmm-hmm.

Bills, circulars...

A few letters.

Hmm.

Look at this, Perry.

Universal Model Agency.

MASON: "Miss Kim Lane.

"This is a confirmation
of position open.

"Report 20th of this month."

Report where?

There's no address
but Los Angeles.

Well, I guess Kim knew
what the address was.

[DOORKNOB RATTLING]

Well, you might as well
come in.

Thanks.

Well, I suppose we owe
each other an explanation.

What would make you
suppose that?

For one thing,
you don't belong here.

And you?

At least I have a key.

Well.

Let's call the police,
shall we?

You're probably bluffing,
but I can't take the chance.

Face the door
over there.

Hurry up.
I haven't much time.

He took some of the mail,
didn't he?

Mmm-hmm,
just one piece.

I wonder...

The card to Kim Lane.

Universal Model Agency.

In Los Angeles.

Why all this trouble
over a postcard?

When we know
the answer to that,

we may find ourselves
a m*rder*r.

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

WOMAN: Hello?

Yeah.

Oh, well, Jean may still be
out of the country

on that
Central American job.

Well, just a minute.
Let me check the files.

Oh. You're the girl
that called yesterday?

Yes.

The boss is busy.
Just sit down.

Yeah, she's still
out of the country.

Got another one
for you, though.

Okay.

She'll meet you
in Mexico City.

Hello, Marge.

Oh. And how are things in Rio
this time of the year?

Didn't you notice
my tan?

You look
absolutely stunning.

Anything else
coming up for me?

We'll let you know.

Okay.

The boss will call you
when he wants you.

I'm going down the hall
for a minute.

Thank you.

[THUDDING]

You the girl
sent for me?

Uh, yes.

Drop the coat.

Yeah, you look
all right.

Are you alone in town?

Yes.

Except for
my husband, that is.

Your husband?

Lady, did you read the ad?

It said
"unattached models."

Well, I'm...

I'm terribly sorry
to have bothered you, Mr...

Mr...
Mr...

And you and Mr. Archer were on Front Street
and stopped for a signal

when this man came towards you
with a g*n.

That's correct.

And the thief took nothing
but Mr. Archer's wallet.

That's right.

And at no time

did you go to Danceland Ballroom
that evening.

No, I had not.

Your Honor, I object.

These questions have already been asked
and already answered.

Mr. Mason is just
going over and over

the same points
in this case.

JUDGE: Mr. Mason, the questions
have been repetitious.

And they've contributed
no new evidence.

Objection sustained.

Very well, Your Honor.

Your Honor, may I have
a moment, please?

Any lead to
Inez Kaylor?

No, the phone number
the modeling agency had for her

was the Danceland Ballroom.

In fact, that was the number listed
for most of the models.

And the man
who runs the agency

was the same character
we met in Las Vegas.

The one who pulled
a g*n on me?

Mmm-hmm.

Get his name?

No. Paul's
checking on it.

Perry.

Hmm?

That purse
Martha Rayburn has.

One of the models
at the agency has one just like it.

As a matter of fact,

I've seen one
just like it myself.

Here.

Miss Rayburn, what sort of a
relationship

do you enjoy
with your hostesses?

It's strictly business.

I don't believe in getting
friendly with my girls.

It destroys efficiency.

And what are your policies as far as gifts
and bonuses are concerned?

I'm against them.

Any girl who works for me
can make a very good living,

if she's willing
to work hard.

I don't expect
any gifts from them,

so I don't see why they should
expect any from me.

I see.

Now I should like
to ask you something

about the purse
you're carrying.

BURGER:
Your Honor, really,

Mr. Mason is insulting
the intelligence of this court

in his efforts
to prolong this trial!

If it please the court,
I believe I can prove

the pertinence
of such an inquiry.

Very well.

MASON: That is a rather
unusual purse, Miss Rayburn.

I had it made for me.

Would you say
that such a purse

could be purchased in one of the
department stores in this city?

No.

Perhaps one of the smaller
specialty shops?

It was designed
specifically for me.

It could only be made
upon my placing the order.

Miss Rayburn, did you read
the newspaper accounts

of the m*rder of one of your hostesses,
Kim Lane?

Yes, I did.

Did you also see the accompanying
newspaper photos

which included
the personal effects

believed to have belonged
to Miss Lane?

Yes, I did.

Did you see her purse,
perhaps?

Well, did you?

Yes.

Wasn't that purse identical
with the one you now hold?

Well, Miss Rayburn?

Yes, it was.
I gave it to her.

Most of my hostesses
carry similar handbags.

But just a few seconds ago,
you said that you felt that

your help would be spoiled
by such gifts.

That it was against
your policy to give them.

Well, really, I don't consider
a handbag a gift.

I'm afraid the distinction
escapes me.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Well, who does
this one belong to?

Kim Lane.

How on earth
did you get it?

Don't ask questions.

And I've got to get it back to my contact
at headquarters in an hour.

All right.
You'll get it back.

Well, what
would you say, Della?

It's a little bulky,

but outside of that,
I couldn't say a thing.

It's a little too
bulky, isn't it?

Oh, I don't know.

You know the amount of junk
some women carry.

Let me see that.

Give me that nail
file, will you?

Mmm-hmm.

Paul, did you get the name of the man
who was running that model agency?

Yeah, uh, Joseph Gibbs.

I'd like him called as a witness
for the session tomorrow.

All right.

What about
Martha Rayburn?

I want to recall
her, too.

Della...
Mmm-hmm?

Wait a minute.

Yes. There's
the manufacturer's tag.

I would like you to do
some shopping for me

before court tomorrow.

Here you are, Paul.

Now, Miss Rayburn,

I ask that you examine
this purse.

Now, what if I told you
that that purse belonged to Kim Lane?

Your Honor, I want to know where
Mr. Mason got that purse.

Your Honor, I would be glad
to explain everything

to the District Attorney's
satisfaction

after my examination
of Martha Rayburn.

I object.

Your Honor, not only has Mr. Mason
no right to that purse,

but it's completely
irrelevant to this case.

I'm inclined to sustain
the objection, Mr. Mason,

unless you are in a position
to assure this court,

that there is some factor
in this situation

which you intend
to develop,

and which will establish
a definite connection

between the purse
and the issues in this case.

I assure the court, I will show a connection
with the purse.

Very well.

I'll overrule the objection
and admit the evidence,

subject, of course,
to the right of the prosecution

to bring a motion
to strike

in the event that the evidence
has no such connection.

Thank you,
Your Honor.

Lieutenant, find out
where Mason got that purse.

MASON: Now, Miss Rayburn,
will you describe

the inside of that handbag
for the court, please?

Well, it's-- it's
roomy and well-made.

It has a separate compartment
for everything.

What about the mirror?

Oh, yes, there's a mirror
attached to the outside flap.

MASON: And behind
the mirror?

Well, I don't know
what you mean.

There's a small setscrew.

I took the liberty
of loosening it.

Would you remove
the mirror, please?

Thank you.

There seems to be traces
of some kind of powder here.

Would you know
what that is?

I have no idea.

It doesn't smell,

so I don't suppose
it would be face powder.

But it does have a taste,
Miss Rayburn.

A taste of heroin.

MAN IN COURTROOM:
Heroin?

Your Honor,
I would suggest

that the police
confirm this analysis

and that the District Attorney's office
investigate

both Martha Rayburn
and Fred Archer

on charges
of smuggling narcotics.

That's not true!

Order!
Order in this court!

You have made some very grave
charges, Mr. Mason.

Charges, Your Honor,
which Miss Rayburn

will corroborate
for this court.

I will?

Miss Rayburn,
sitting in the next room

is a Mr. Joseph Gibbs
waiting to testify.

Among the questions
I shall ask him

is his connection
with you.

If he refuses to cooperate,

I shall ask that his records
be subpoenaed

and brought into
this court.

I shall also ask that every one of
your hostesses be subpoenaed

along with
their handbags.

The traffic in narcotics
has enraged

every decent-thinking man
and woman in this country.

Now, Miss Rayburn,

a jury of your peers

might give you up to life
in a federal penitentiary.

Would you prefer that
or the gas chamber?

What do you mean?

I mean you're headed
for the gas chamber

by placing yourself in that car with
Fred Archer as an accomplice to m*rder.

The m*rder of Kim Lane,

and perhaps the m*rder
of Inez Kaylor, as well.

Inez isn't dead.
She's staying in a downtown hotel room.

But Kim Lane is dead.

Now, why did you
and Archer k*ll her?

I didn't have anything
to do with it.

Were you in that car
with Fred Archer

the night of the robbery?

No, I wasn't.

I--I only said that
to help him.

Why did Archer need help?

Because, the druggist
reported that he saw

a woman in the car,
during the robbery.

And that woman
was Kim Lane?

Yes.

Was she alive at the time?

Was Kim Lane alive
at the time of the robbery?

No, she was dead.

She was Archer's girlfriend,

and she threatened to go to his family
unless he paid her off.

And he refused to pay?

Oh, no, no, he--he
paid off, all right.

In fact, I cashed one of the checks
for him myself.

He took the money
to Miss Lane,

to--to an apartment he had rented
under an assumed name.

After he'd given her
the money,

he told her
she had to clear out.

While she was getting
her things together,

he went out
to get some cigarettes,

and when he came back
about 20 minutes later,

she was dead.

And the robbery occurred

while he was on his way
to dispose of her body?

Yes.

No further questions.

Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, in view
of these developments,

I should like to ask
for a continuance.

Your Honor, in the interest
of overall justice in this case,

I should like to call
one more witness.

Proceed.

Bailiff, will you ask Mr. Drake
to bring in Joseph Gibbs?

That's all I know about it.

I had a business connection
to Miss Rayburn,

but that's as far
as it went.

Tell us about this,
uh, business connection.

Well, she had
these hostesses.

I'd send them
to different countries

on modeling assignments.

They'd get a load of snow,
and then bring it back in.

Snow?

Heroin.

MASON: Were these hostesses
aware of their real function

when they were sent on
these foreign assignments?

No.

What was their
regular procedure

when they returned
to this country?

Well, they'd report to
the Universal Model Agency.

Go on.

If there wasn't
anybody around,

we'd take
pictures of them.

While they were
in front of the camera,

I'd switch
the little compartment

under the mirror
in their bags.

What would you do if a stranger happened
to be in the office?

Well, we'd work the switch
another time.

So should they have discovered
what they were being used for,

they were in an excellent
position to try blackmail.

But they never found out.

What about Kim Lane?

What about her?

Wasn't she
blackmailing you?

No.

Then where did that money
come from?

Well, you--you heard
what Miss Rayburn said.

She got $5,000 from Archer.

With the court's
permission,

I should like to ask
the stenographer

to read Miss Rayburn's testimony
about the blackmail.

Permission is granted.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Where would you
like for me to begin?

Mmm, toward the end
of the examination.

STENOGRAPHER:
"Was she Archer's girlfriend?"

That's about it.

"Yes, she threatened
to tell his family

"if he didn't pay off."

Question: "And he
refused to pay?"

Answer: "No,
he paid, all right.

"I cashed
one of his checks myself.

"He took the money
to Miss Lane,

"to an apartment he had rented
under an assumed name."

That's enough,
thank you.

Now, Mr. Gibbs,

did it say anywhere there

that Miss Lane received
$5,000 from Mr. Archer?

I--I guess it didn't.

But you knew
the exact amount.

Well, uh,
Kim must have told me.

Kim Lane could only have told you that
in one place.

In Fred Archer's apartment.

In Fred Archer's apartment,
where you k*lled her.

k*lled her for $5,000.

I--I demand
to see a lawyer.

That's all, Your Honor.

The District Attorney
is ordered to take the necessary steps

against the parties involved,

and the defendant is ordered
released from custody.

This court is adjourned.

[GAVEL POUNDING]

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

See you shortly.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Excuse me,
Lieutenant.

I never actually said
it was Kim Lane's handbag.

What did you say?

If you look at the record,
you'll see I said,

"Suppose I told you
it was her handbag?"

Can I help it if Miss Rayburn jumped to
an unwarranted assumption?

Yeah, but what about
the heroin?

You know
what that was?

Flour.

There's something
that bothers me.

Who did hold up
Fred Archer that night?

I don't know.
He'll probably turn up.
They usually do.

It's just sheer coincidence
that whoever did hold him up

just happened to drop Archer's
wallet and Kim Lane's purse

in Sanders' trash can.

Sounds logical.

You know what I like about this case?
Mmm?

You managed to k*ll
two birds with one stone.

You solved a m*rder
and a robbery.

Not a bad day's work.

Well, thank you.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Be our wandering boy.

Hi, beautiful.
Am I intruding?

No more than usual.

You know, one of these days,
you're going to give me a complex.

Oh, Perry,
it's all arranged.

Sanders starts work Monday
at the Concord Record Shop.

Good.
Record shop?

Yeah, he likes music.

This way, he can listen to it all day
and still get paid.

Oh, incidentally,
the police found Inez Kaylor.

Is she all right?

Mmm-hmm,
and a lot wiser.

She's going
to business college.

Business college?
Mmm-hmm.

Want some coffee?

No, thanks. I've got to run.
I'm, uh, supposed to pick up Inez at 9:00.

Well, she wants me to recommend
a good business college.

Just what do you know
about business colleges?

Are you kidding?

I used to teach
at one of the finest.

MASON: Mmm-hmm.
Paul was a track coach.

They figured any girl he couldn't catch
in three laps around the desk

was, uh, ready for
the business world.