01x32 - The Case of the Substitute Face

[bunniefuu]

[TYPEWRITER CLICKING]

MAN: Really, Carl,
I don't understand you.

I don't understand you at all.
Well, what is it?

I wanted
to get your dictation.

All right, get it
then leave us alone!

Yes, sir.

Now, Carl,
put yourself in my shoes.

All of a sudden,
my best bookkeeper quits,

just like that.

No, tell me the truth.
Have you got a better offer?

Oh, no, sir.

Well, in heaven's name,
what is it?

I--I just thought that
I'd like to take a little
vacation with my family.

Well, the truth of the matter
is, I need a little rest.

Well, if your mind's made up
I don't suppose there's
anything I can do about it.

No, sir.

Have a good time, Houser.
Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Thanks for everything, sir.

Oh, I heard about
your leaving, Mr. Houser.

I'm really sorry
to see you go.

Thank you, Marta.

[SLOW DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

All I can say is, I'm for
more contested wills

as long as they're contested
in British Columbia.

I'll bear that in mind
the next time I want you
to act as a witness.

Do that.

Are you sorry I talked you
into coming back this way
instead of flying?

Can you keep a secret?

You had the same idea.

Oh, here's the girl that has
the stateroom next to mine.

Laura, do you have
a minute?

Certainly.

This is Mr. Perry Mason.
This is Laura Houser.

How do you do?
I'm awfully glad
to meet you, Mr. Mason.

I've heard
a lot about you.

Propaganda.
Don't you believe
a word of it.

Oh, Mother, Dad.

This is my family.

This is Miss Della Street
and Mr. Perry Mason.

How do you do?
Mr. Mason.
How do you do?

If you'll all excuse me now,
I must be running along.

I'm meeting Roy.
Have fun, honey.

I will, Daddy. Bye!

We were just going to have
an after-dinner drink.

Would you care to join us?
Oh, perhaps a little later?

We'll be looking for you.
Good.

[SIGHS]

Good evening, Miss Whiting.
Good evening.

How's the patient?
He's doing very well,
thank you.

Oh, uh, Mr. Mason,
I hate to impose

but my nephew
collects autographs, and...

Well, I wondered if you...
Of course.

What's his name?
Alan Whiting.

"To Alan Whiting.

"My best wishes."

There you are.
Thank you very much.

Not at all.
Good night.

Good night.
Good night.

Poor man. He has
a broken neck. He isn't
even supposed to talk.

Do you know he has to
answer her questions

by squeezing her hand once
for "yes" and twice for "no"?

I wonder how long
he'll be in that thing.

No telling.
Probably quite a long time.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

Now look at me.
Look at me!

Would you believe it
that the doctors gave me
only six months to live?

That was 18 years ago,
when I first moved
to Los Angeles.

I can see why you're so fond
of it, Mr. Carter.

Fond of it?

Why, I'm a whole
chamber of commerce
all rolled into one.

Have you had enough moonlight?
For the time being.

Oh, Mr. Mason, Miss Street,
this is Mr. Carter.
How do you do?

How do you do?
We're neighbors,
aboard ship, that is.

Oh, this is my secretary,
Daniel James.

I've read about you, Mason.
I'm in real estate myself.

Carter Realty, Los Angeles.

Glad to meet you.

Well, well. Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason,
could I speak to you?

Well, of course,
Mrs. Houser.
Here, sit down.

Thank you.

[SIGHING]
I'll... I'll get in touch
with you later.

I don't want to upset anyone
who might be watching.

Well, at your convenience.

ANNA: This is Carl's
favorite picture of us.

DELLA: It's very nice.
Yes, it certainly is.

Now, Mrs. Houser,
would you like to tell me
what's bothering you?

My husband has
stolen some money.

Quite a lot of it.

In fact, $100,000.
Are you sure?

He must have!
He couldn't have won it
on the sweepstakes,

the way he says.

Oh, it has happened.

I know,
but it doesn't
make any sense.

There wasn't a word about it
in the papers.

That doesn't necessarily mean
he's stolen the money.

There's no other explanation.

He was an accountant
for the State National Savings
and Loan in Los Angeles.

He would have had
plenty of opportunity.

How long was he employed
by State National?
A year.

Ever since we came out
from Chicago.

And look here!

He bought that g*n
before we went on this trip.

He said he might need it
for protection, carrying
all that money on him.

You mean he's carrying it
in cash?
In a money belt.

I want him to return
the rest of the money
to State National,

if they'll promise
not to prosecute.

How much is left?

Over $90,000.
I've counted it.

In all fairness
to your husband, I think
we ought to hear his story.

Oh, he won't listen to you!
He won't talk to you.

Maybe not.

But I'm not going to assume
he's guilty of embezzlement.

Suppose you let me
investigate the situation.

Come on, Della.

We'll send a wireless to
the Drake Detective Agency
in Los Angeles right away.

And if Carl really
embezzled the money?

Then restitution
has to be made.

You'll have to get the money
and hand it over to me.

Do you think
you can manage that?

I'll manage somehow.

I tell you, Mr. Drake,
this is all my fault.

I knew that fellow Houser
was a thief the moment
I laid eyes on him.

He had that look.

Now, wait a minute, Mr. Dale.
You're jumping to conclusions.

All I said was
that a client of mine

is interested in
Carl Houser's credit rating.

Then why did you make
such a point of his quitting
without notice?

You made the point of it.

I merely asked
if he'd given you
the traditional two weeks.

And then you wanted to know
when was the last time
we audited his accounts.

I can't help it
if you thought
there was a connection.

You're not fooling me,
young fellow. Not one bit.

When I think of the way
I trusted that man,

how I let him sign checks...

All the time,
he was robbing me blind.

Well? Did you find out
how he did it?

We--We can't find
anything missing, Mr. Dale.

What?
Everything is in
perfect order.

His books balanced
to the penny.

Thank you, Mr. Dale.
Good day, sir.

Come out on deck.

[WIND HOWLING]

Oh, hello, Mason.

James and I were just
going in for a drink.
Won't you join us?

I was about to take a turn
on deck. Just going back
for a coat.

Oh, man. You don't want
to go on deck. You'll get
washed overboard!

This is no night
for a man to be out.

No! It's not healthy.

Come on, this may
be our last chance
before the boat docks.

I don't know that a brandy
will be healthier but it'll
certainly be a lot drier.

[CHUCKLES]
Pretty good.

Aah.

You went to Vancouver
on a case, I'll bet you.

That's right.

Funny, I didn't see anything
in the papers about it.

Who was the victim?

Sorry to disillusion you,
Mr. Carter.

But my practice isn't
entirely confined
to m*rder cases.

Sometimes, I...

[SHIP BLOWING HORN]

[ON PA]
Your attention, please.
This is Captain Walters.

A man's been reported
overboard and we're stopping
to investigate.

All passengers will please
return to their staterooms

so that roll call
can be made.

Do not go on deck.

Excuse me, gentlemen.
I'll see you later.

[SHIP CONTINUES BLOWING HORN]

ANNA: Who is it?
Perry Mason.

Oh, just a second.

[OUT OF BREATH]
What is it?
Have they stopped?

[AGITATEDLY]
And what are
the searchlights for?

A man's been
reported overboard.

[SCREAMS]

What's the matter?
Do you think that...

What happened to the picture
of you and your daughter?

I don't know.
It was here this afternoon.

I don't understand.
Carl wouldn't have...

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Who is it?

This is the captain,
Mrs. Houser.

I'd like to
talk to you, please.

Come in.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

MASON: Captain.

You know our purser,
Mr. Buchanan, I think.

Mrs. Houser,

where did you
and your husband go
when you left the dining room?

Why, what is it, Captain?
What's happened?

Where's my husband?

I'm afraid your husband's
been washed overboard.

Oh, no!

Oh, it can't be!

Oh, Carl!

Mrs. Houser,

you recognize this?

It's Carl's!

Why did he do it?

Mrs. Houser,
I believe you had on
a black dress at dinner.

Will you let me
see it, please?
Just a minute, Captain.

Aren't we in California
territorial waters?

I am still the law
on this ship, Mr. Mason.

I'm responsible
for my passengers' safety.

I believe one of them's
been m*rder*d.

Oh, no!
Yes.

Now will you let me
see the dress, please?

You have no right!

Oh, no!

Gentlemen.

Would you step in here
a moment, please?

I may require your services
as witnesses.

I have asked Mrs. Houser
to show me a certain dress,
gentlemen.

Since she has refused
I'm going to have Mr. Buchanan
search for the garment.

Mr. Mason, are you going
to let him do this?

Aren't you going to stop him?
I can't.

Now then, Mrs. Houser.

You say you did not go out
on deck with your husband?

Captain Walters, Mrs. Houser
happens to be my client.

I'm afraid I'll have to
ask you what you're
getting at

before I allow her
to answer any more questions.

Very well, Mr. Mason,
but I...
BUCHANAN: Captain?

Found this hanging
in the shower, sir.
It's quite wet.

Is this your dress,
Mrs. Houser?

Yes!

I also found this, sir.
It appears to be a money belt.

Is there money in it?
Oh, yes, sir.

CAPTAIN: All right, count it.

CAPTAIN: Gentlemen, will you
please watch him and see
that the count is correct?

Mr. Carter?
Yes?

Will you please make
arrangements to keep in touch
with the authorities

when we dock
in the morning?

I'm sure they'll want
to question you. You and
your secretary, Mr. James.

Oh, really, Captain,
I don't want to get mixed up
in this.

I'm so pressed for time,
and it seems impossible...

I--I think it could
be arranged, sir.

All right, then.
Eighty-nine, ninety...

$91,500, sir.

CARTER:
Well, goodbye, Mason.

Don't forget.
Carter Realty.

[LAUGHING]

Bye.
Bye.

Laura, I talked
to the police.

They'll let the others
go ashore before they
take your mother in.

And you intend
to stay in Los Angeles?

All I know is
I don't want to go back
to our apartment.

Not now.

Couldn't we get her
a room at the Graystone?

Is that all right
with you?

Anything you say,
Mr. Mason.

All right.
You register under
the name of Laura Wilson.

I don't want
the press to bother you.

Della, will you
take care of it?
Mmm-hmm.

I forgot something
in my stateroom.
Excuse me.

Must be a terrible shock
to have your mother accused
of your father's m*rder.

What's the matter with you?

Oh, nothing much.

I'd give a lot to know
who called the bridge
last night

and reported a man overboard.

Miss Street,

I just wanted to stop by
and say goodbye.

And thanks again, Mr. Mason.
Not at all.

Bye.
Bye.

How do you feel?

All right, I guess.
I had some rest.

Good.

Now, if I'm going to
help you, Mrs. Houser,

I'll have to know
exactly what happened.

Why did you go out on deck
with your husband?

Well, I...

He said he wanted to be
alone with me.

And then he took off
his money belt
and gave it to me.

Then what happened?

Well, he...
He seemed so upset,
and it worried me.

And I--I followed him.

Up to the boat deck?
Yes.

That's where I got wet.

I tried to get him
to tell me what was wrong,

what was going on.
And he...

He just got mad! And...

And he told me to go away.

And then...

Then what?

Then what?

Well, he...

He grabbed me

and kissed me hard.

And then he pushed me away

and told me to go back
to our stateroom!

You think your husband
committed su1c1de?

What else?
Everything pointed to it.

I guess he realized
that they were bound to
find out about the money.

And I think he thought
that would make it easier
for Laura and me.

Have you returned it?

No.

It so happens that
State National can find
no funds missing.

But where did the money
come from?

That's what I'd
like to know.

You know, you--you lived
in Chicago before
you came out here.

What made you decide
to move to Los Angeles?

Well, it was
the strangest thing.

It was in the wintertime

and Carl had been summoned
to jury duty.

He felt very strongly
about things like that.

How do you mean?

Well, when he believed
he was right,
he wouldn't stop.

I remember
this particular case.

He believed
that the man was innocent.

And he held out until the rest
of the jury agreed with him.

Oh, I'm sorry
if I'm digressing.

No, no, it's all right.

Well, anyway.

There was a terrible blizzard
at that time

and I guess that's
what made up his mind.

He said it was silly
to live in a climate
like that

and so he brought us all
out here.

Anna...

Has it ever occurred to you
your husband might be alive?

Oh, that wouldn't make
any sense.

Why would he pretend
that he was dead?

No, there--there'd be
no reason for that.

Apparently,
there was no reason

for someone substituting
a photograph of Carl

for the one of you and Laura,
yet they did.

Do you suppose...
Do you suppose
Laura might have taken it?

Oh, I hadn't thought of that.

I'd better check with her.

Do you think you could arrange
for me to see her?

Of course.

I'll look in on you tomorrow.

Thanks.

What's the trouble?

I just phoned the Graystone.
They claim Laura Houser
never arrived at the hotel.

Did you forget I told her
to register under the name
of Laura Wilson?

No, I asked for her
under both names.

It just doesn't make sense.

No, it doesn't make sense.

A girl disappears right before
her mother goes to trial
for the m*rder of her father.

Something's wrong somewhere.

That may be
the understatement
of the year.

Paul, I want you to find her.
I don't care...

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Yes, Gertie.

Just a minute.
It's the District Attorney's
office.

Hamilton Burger.

Hello?

How're you feeling, Perry?

PERRY: [ON PHONE] Fine.

I'm glad to hear it.
Did you enjoy your boat ride
down from Canada?

Yes.

I envy you.

BURGER: You know, I've been
wanting to take a trip
like that for ages.

All right, Hamilton.
What's on your mind?

You can't get me to believe
this is just a social call.

Well, as a matter of fact,
there's a little problem
that's come up.

I have the captain and
the purser of the Westminster
here in my office now.

You know, they have
a very tough schedule.

And they may not
be able to be here
for the hearing.

Really?

I was wondering,
under the circumstances,

would you consent
to my taking a deposition?

Well, you know
better than that.

The defendant's got the right
to face his accusers.

Yes, but that means
if I want them to testify,
they can't sail.

They'll have to wait over
and rejoin their ship
in Panama, by air.

Well, that's too bad.

But I refuse to
waive my client's
constitutional rights.

All right, Mr. Mason.
They'll be here.

I'll just have the hearing
moved up on the calendar.

I'm afraid I upset
Mr. Burger.

Paul, you've just got
to find Laura Houser.

I'll do my best, Perry,
but I need time.

I'll try and get time.

I think I know
a way we can stall.
All right.

Thank you.

People v. Anna Houser.

Are the People ready?

Ready for the People,
Your Honor.

Is the defense ready?

If the Court please,
may we approach the Bench?

Your Honor,
I believe the court has
no jurisdiction of this case.

The alleged crime
was committed
on the high seas

on a vessel
owned and operated
by a British company.

If a crime was committed
on the high seas

then the jurisdiction would
be in Great Britain.

If it please the Court,

Your Honor is aware
from our discussion
in chambers

that I was prepared for
Mr. Mason's delaying tactics.

We have the ship's log,

which shows clearly
that the Westminster was in
California territorial waters.

I refer you to the case
of People v. Stralla 14,
California, Section 617.

I have examined
Mr. Burger's authorities

and I am satisfied the Court
does indeed have jurisdiction.

Very well, Your Honor.

Then the defense is ready.

Excuse me.

You may call
your first witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I call Frank Buchanan
to the stand, please.

...and then I discovered
the dress.

Mr. James and Mr. Carter
were present at the time,

having been summoned
by Captain Walters.

Did you discover anything else
at this time, Mr. Buchanan?
Yes, sir.

As I already told you,
I found a money belt.

That would be this money belt,
marked People's Exhibit "D"?
Yes, sir.

And how much money
did this belt contain?

$91,500.

Thank you, sir.

Your witness.

Mr. Buchanan, I shan't take up
much of your time.

Now, when was the last time
you saw Mr. Houser alive?

At dinner that same evening.
He was seated at my table.

You spoke to him?

No, sir, but I gave him
a note in passing.

Oh, who was the note from?

One of the other passengers,
Miss Evelyn Whiting.

Miss... Miss Whiting
is a nurse, I believe?

Yes, sir.
She tends a patient
by the name of Roger Cartman.

Was Miss Whiting in
the dining room at the time
she gave you the note?

No, sir.
I met her and her patient
as they were leaving the lift.

By the lift,
you mean the elevator?

Yes, sir.
The one that goes up
to the ship's hospital.

Thank you, Mr. Buchanan.
That will be all.

JUDGE: You may step down,
Mr. Buchanan.

Della, get a hold of Paul
right away. I want a complete
check on that Whiting girl.

Evelyn Whiting's address
on the passenger list
was a complete phony.

But this is where
the ambulance brought her and
that guy in the wheelchair.

I haven't been able
to get a line on her patient,
Roger B. Cartman, either.

Here or Vancouver.

Nobody in the house?
No.

Let's take a look.

MASON: Impressive-looking.

Yeah, these are people
with dough, all right.

The wheelchair's inside.
You can see it
through the window.

Who owns this place?
Some character
named Morgan Shreves.

Morgan Shreves?
Wait a minute.

Wasn't there
a Morgan Shreves

tried on a big tax-evasion
charge about a year ago?

Yeah. He was a big guy
on some gambling deal.

Bookies or... Wire service.
That was it.

It looked like they had
him cold, but he got off.

Happened someplace back east.
In Chicago.

That's right.

Paul, I want to get inside.
Wait a minute.
That's illegal.

Well, I suppose it might
be called a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor?

The last time I read up
on the subject,
it was called a felony.

No, in order to constitute
a felony, there must be
an unlawful entry

for the purpose of committing
certain unlawful acts.

As, for example, removing
something from the premises.

What did you have in mind?

I plan to do
just the opposite.

I plan to
leave something there.

What?
My fingerprints.

That is still a misdemeanor

and you can
go to jail for it.

I know that.

Come on, give me a hand,
cellmate.

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Yes?
RECEPTIONIST: Sorry
to disturb you, Mr. Burger,

but there's someone on
the phone who claims to have
some important information.

He won't give his name.

Give it to Murphy.

He won't speak
to anyone but you.

All right.
Try to trace the call.

He's on line one.

Burger speaking.

MAN: I got a little tip
for you, Mr. Burger.

I happen to know that nurse,
Evelyn Whiting,
and her patient

were in the ship's hospital
the night Carl Houser
was m*rder*d.

What's that?

You heard me.

I understand they saw
everything that went on.

Go on.

When the ship docked,
they took an ambulance

to 455 Alder Lane
in the Palisades.

Are you positive about that?

That's where Perry Mason
found them.

You mean, Mason bribed them
to disappear?

Mason's been there,
and they're gone.
Isn't that enough?

Well, how can you prove
Mason was there?

Look for fingerprints.

Perry, I sure hope you know
what you're doing.

Look, Paul, we've got to get
the police started

looking for Evelyn Whiting
and her patient.

Yeah, but when the police
find our fingerprints
on that Shreves' house...

That should convince them
your tip was on the up and up.

If the police can't find
Evelyn Whiting, no one can.

What about Laura Houser?

I'd just as soon
the police knew nothing
about her disappearance.

I want you to find her.

Have you heard
from my daughter yet?

Not yet, but I'm sure
she's all right.

BAILIFF: Everyone rise.

BAILIFF: Please be seated
and come to order.

Your Honor,
may we approach the Bench?

You may.

Your Honor,
I would like to serve notice
on the prosecution

that unless the body
of Carl Houser is produced

there is no corpus delicti,
and consequently, no case.

If it please the Court,

I'm astonished
that Mr. Mason doesn't know
that corpus delicti refers

not to the body of the victim
but the body of the crime.

Nevertheless, there must be
evidence of actual death

or actual v*olence
in order to support
a charge of m*rder.

And I intend to produce
such evidence with my next
witness, Your Honor.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I call Laura Houser!

Your Honor, I should like
to know the meaning of this!

Miss Houser is the daughter
of the defendant!

BURGER: Which is exactly
why she's being held
as a material witness.

Your Honor,
this is outrageous,

arresting this girl
when it was
completely unnecessary,

concealing the fact
from me!

Just a moment, Mr. Mason.
You're out of order.

Didn't you really know
where she was?

I most certainly did not.

We only picked her up
an hour ago ourselves
at International Airport

getting off a plane
from San Francisco.

I repeat, Mr. Burger.
You may proceed.

Now, Miss Houser,
where were you
on the Westminster

at approximately 9:00
on the night of
the sixth of this month?

I was out on the "A" deck.

That's the one below the one
they call the boat deck?

Yes, sir.

Why were you there?

I wanted to think.

Was that because
your mother and father
were constantly quarreling?

Your Honor, I object.

The District Attorney
is leading the witness.

May I remind Counsel
that Miss Houser is
a hostile witness?

I withdraw the objection.

Continue, Mr. Burger.

It's a fact, isn't it,
Miss Houser?

Your mother and father
were constantly quarreling?

Yes.
What were they
quarreling about?

Money.

I see.

And when you were out
on "A" deck alone
did you see anyone else?

No.
Did you hear anything?

Yes.

I... I think it was
a g*nsh*t.

Where'd it come from?

From the boat deck above me.

Did you investigate
this sh*t?

Well, I--I went to the rail
and looked up.

What exactly did you see?

It's very difficult to tell.
I was looking up into
the rain and the wind.

To the best of your knowledge,
what did you see?

I saw a man
hanging over the rail
of the boat deck.

Was there anyone with him?
Yes.

Was that your mother?
I don't know!

I could see only her arms
and part of her back.

Well, was she wearing
a black, strapless dress?

It was dark.

Was there anything distinctive
about her arms or hair,
anything?

There were two bracelets
on her left arm.

Miss Houser,
had you seen your mother
earlier in the evening?

Of course.
Was she wearing
bracelets then?

Yes.
How many?

Two.

When you were out on "A" deck,
looking up over the rail

what did you see next?

I saw the man

sort of rise,

go over the rail

and fall past me into the sea.

As a matter of fact,
didn't you see the woman
lift or push him overboard?

I don't know!

After this happened,
what did you do?

I called the phone operator
from the "A" deck

to report a man overboard.

Then I went to the boat deck,

but there wasn't
anybody there.

And then you went back
to your stateroom?
Yes, sir.

You were the woman who turned
in the "man overboard"
alert, weren't you?

Yes.

And didn't you tell
the operator

that you'd seen a man
pushed overboard?

I guess I did.

That's all.

Laura, where did you go
when you left
the Westminster?

I took a cab
to the Union Station

and bought a ticket
to San Francisco.

I just wanted to get away.

Because you did not want
to be a witness?

Yes.

Now suppose I were
to tell you that your father
is still alive.

I don't understand.

You do understand
there's been no
concrete proof of his death.

JUDGE: Just a moment,
Counselor.

Mr. Burger, have you
any objection to
this line of inquiry?

No, Your Honor.

I would never want it said
that the district attorney's
office

would seek to obscure
the truth by taking advantage
of technicalities.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Laura,
let's try to examine
the reasons

behind your behavior.

First off, you were distressed
because your father and mother
had quarreled during the trip?

That's right.

On the night of the storm,
your father left
the dining room

and your mother followed him?
Yes.

So you decided to go out
on the "A" deck?
Yes.

Since the decks
were otherwise deserted
because of the bad weather

you assumed that the couple
on the deck above you
had to be your parents?

That's true.

All right, let's go
one step further.

As you stood
on the below deck

you saw a figure hurtle
past you into the water?
Yes!

What, then,
was the first thing you did?

I ran to the nearest phone
on the "A" deck.

You told the operator
that you saw a man
go overboard?

Yes!

At that time, did you know
it was your father?
Yes!

So why didn't you say,
"I saw my father
go overboard"?

I don't know!

Is it possible

that you weren't certain
at that moment

that the man
who went overboard
was your father?

What do you mean?

Laura, I'm only trying
to clarify in your mind

the true sequence of events.

I was so sure it was Father.
I saw his body go past me.

But did you reach
the conclusion
it was your father

simultaneously with the event,
or, in fact, after it?

It must have
been afterwards.

All right now, Laura,
when did you arrive
at the conclusion

that the woman involved
was your mother?

When I saw her
on the deck above
with my father.

Which, of course, presumes
that the man was your father.

Now suppose
you had later learned

that the man
who went overboard was,
let us say, a Mr. Smith.

Would you have still believed
that the woman responsible
was your mother?

Let me put it this way.

After you heard the report
that your father was missing,

wasn't it then you concluded
that the woman involved
was your mother

because
you had last seen them
quarreling,

or thought you had
seen them quarreling?

I guess I did!
In other words,

it's quite possible
that all your conclusions

have been just a fabric
of your imagination?

Yes! What have I done?

[SOBBING]

You made a very
human mistake, Laura.

You put two and two together.
It just came out five.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Your Honor, I have no further
questions for this witness.

The witness is excused.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

If Your Honor please,

I know the Court
has been perplexed
at my lack of objection

to Mr. Mason's
cross-examination.

I would like to state
at this time
that my purpose

was simply
to give Mr. Mason enough rope.

JUDGE: Would you please
explain that to the Court?

As I understand Mr. Mason's
theory, it is, in effect,
that Miss Houser

did not see her father
fall overboard

because her father is,
or may be, still alive.

And, is that your theory,
Mr. Mason?

It is, Your Honor.

We've seen no evidence
to contradict it.

Well, if it please the Court

the prosecution will be ready
at 10:00 tomorrow morning

to furnish definite proof
of the corpus delicti.

I have been advised
that Carl Houser's body

has been discovered
and taken to the morgue.

Oh, no!

I got the dope
on the postmortem.

Carl Houser's body
was found floating
about a mile offshore.

He d*ed from a g*nsh*t wound
and not from drowning.

It was
a .38-caliber b*llet

but it was not from the p*stol
they found onboard ship.

Anything else on that house
on Alder Lane?

No. Nothing except
Morgan Shreves
owned it outright.

Oh...

Carl Houser was
on the Chicago jury

that acquitted
Shreves of tax evasion.

Perry, that's where Houser
got the $100,000.

Maybe Shreves bribed him.

How... How was
that nurse,
Evelyn Whiting,

how was she involved
with Shreves?

It could have been Shreves
in the wheelchair under
the name Roger B. Cartman.

Sure.

Suppose the nurse and Shreves
got Houser up on deck,

sh*t him,
and pushed his body overboard.

What do you think, Perry?
Could be.

But you're overlooking
one thing, Paul.

What does your contact
at headquarters say?

Have they located
Evelyn Whiting or the man
in the wheelchair?

No, not as far as I know.

Looks like
we left our fingerprints
in that house for nothing.

Your honor, I've been informed
of the existence

of two other eyewitnesses
to this m*rder.

My men have a lead
on one of them

and I expect to have
this eyewitness testify.

However, the other one
has completely disappeared
without a trace.

And I have
substantial evidence

to the effect
that Mr. Mason
is personally responsible.

Your Honor,
as a practicing attorney,
I...

Just a moment, Mr. Mason.

Are you prepared to
substantiate these charges,
Mr. Burger?

At this point, Your Honor,
I can't offer all the proof

I hope to produce
at a later date,

when criminal action
will be taken

against counsel
for the defendant.

However, I can certainly
produce enough evidence

to support my motion
for a 48-hour continuance.

I demand such evidence
be produced,

and I think after
the district attorney

has called his witnesses
in support of the motion

I should be allowed the same
privilege against the motion.

Of course,
the Court will at this time

entertain proof in support of
a motion by the prosecution.

In fact, such proof must
be advanced in order
to justify a continuance.

Proceed.

I call Christopher Walsh.

BURGER: Your name is
Christopher Walsh.

You are now and have been
for some years

a criminologist with
the police force of this city

and, in particular,
a specialist on fingerprints?

Yes, sir.
I'm so accredited.

Night before last, acting on
a certain anonymous phone tip
received by my office,

did you visit a suburban home
at 455 Alder Lane?

I checked the house
for fingerprints and made
photographs of them.

Have you got those photographs
with you?
I have.

Would you please
tell this Court
whose fingerprints they are?

Well, they are a woman's
fingerprints. They belong
to Evelyn Whiting.

Then there were prints
on the wheelchair

which we assume to be
those of Roger B. Cartman,
her patient.

And then there were prints
of the owner of the house,
Morgan Shreves.

And then, finally,
we found the fingerprints
of Perry Mason and Paul Drake,

a detective
who often works for him.

May I have those prints,
please?

If the Court please, I would
like these fingerprints
submitted in evidence.

Since there doesn't seem
to be an objection

the photographs
will be received
in evidence.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Walsh,

how many men
have you fingerprinted?

Oh, I don't know.
Up in the thousands.

Can you remember
the first man
you fingerprinted?

Oh, I can't remember
that far back.

Who was the last man
you fingerprinted?

Carl Houser.
At the morgue last night.

Do you, uh, have
Mr. Houser's fingerprints?

Yes, sir.

Here you are.

They're all marked.

Now, whose prints are these?

Evelyn Whiting, the nurse.

And these?

Roger B. Cartman,
her patient.

And these?

Those are the fingerprints
of Carl Houser taken
from the corpse.

Now just a moment.

You're making
your identification
not from the prints

but from your writing on
the bottom of the photographs.

Of course,
that's just to keep
the pictures straight.

You can't identify prints
from a glance.

You need a magnifying glass,
and a little time.

Oh, I see.

I--I don't suppose you could
do that in Court...

Well, of course, I could.

You could?

Well, let's see.

Would you be...

Would you be kind enough

to identify these for us,
please?

These, uh, these three.

It will take
a little time.

There's no hurry.

These two prints
are the same.

I think they're
Roger B. Cartman's,
but I'm not sure.

I'd have to check the data
in my notebook.

Go right ahead.

These two are both prints
of the right index finger

of the man we assume
is Roger B. Cartman.

I see.

Mr. Walsh, do you happen
to have a pencil?
Yes, sir.

Well, would you put a cross
on those two photographs

so there would be
no mistake?

Thank you.

Now...

Now, Mr. Walsh,
would you kindly
explain to the Court

how you happened to identify
as a fingerprint

of Roger B. Cartman
one belonging to Carl Houser?

Wait a minute!

Mr. Mason, do I understand
that you contend this witness
has confused the photographs?

Not at all, Your Honor.
I merely contend
that Carl Houser,

whom the defendant
is charged with k*lling
on the night of the sixth,

left his fingerprints
on the wheelchair
and elsewhere

in that house on Alder Lane,
m*rder at sea.

Your Honor, I can't help
suspecting trickery
here someplace.

May I ask the Court for
a brief recess to consider
this new development?

Under the circumstances,
I'm certain there would
be no objection

to a brief continuance,
Mr. Mason.

I'll agree on one condition,
Your Honor.

For two days,
I have had men searching
for Evelyn Whiting

to subpoena her.

I would like her
to testify on the motion
before the court.

And I gather
from Mr. Burger's remarks

and the fact that Mr. Walsh
identified her fingerprints,

that the district attorney's
office has Miss Whiting
in custody.

Is this true?

As a matter of fact,
it is, Your Honor.
We do have her in custody.

Do you have any objection
to Counsel examining her
on the motion?

None whatever.

Much as I resent Mr. Mason's
tactics, I still would
welcome anything

that will throw some light
on this matter.

Get Miss Whiting.

Miss Whiting,
you're acquainted,
I believe

with one Morgan Shreves?

Yes.

Am I correct in assuming

that you have
a romantic attachment
with Mr. Shreves?

No, you are
not correct at all.

Would I be correct
in assuming

that you have an attachment
for someone who is working
for Mr. Shreves?

Yes.

What sort of a relationship
is this?
We're married.

I see.

Now, Miss Whiting,
a little more than
a year ago

Morgan Shreves stood trial
in Chicago for
income tax evasion.

He was acquitted,
I believe,
by bribing a juror.

A juror named Carl Houser.

From your own
personal knowledge, can you
tell us if this is true?

Remember, Miss Whiting,
you're under oath.

Yes, it's true.

And isn't it also true
that when Morgan Shreves
learned

the authorities
were investigating
the bribery,

he enlisted the aid
of you and your husband?

Yes.

And, of course,
he knew that Carl Houser

would be a key witness
for the government?

That's right.

Accordingly, you,
your husband, and Mr. Shreves

flew to Vancouver,
British Columbia,

where you boarded
the Westminster.
Is that correct?

Yes.

Now, Miss Whiting,
on the night of the sixth,

did you send a note
to Carl Houser

asking him to meet you
on the boat deck after dinner?

No!
You did not?

What night
did you say that was?

The night of the sixth.
Oh, I'd forgotten about that.

Then you did send Mr. Houser
a note?
Yes.

You did meet Mr. Houser
on the boat deck?
Yes.

Whereupon, you promptly
sh*t him and pushed
his body overboard?

That's not true!

Miss Whiting, we've already
heard Miss Houser testify

that she heard a sh*t and saw
her father pushed overboard.

But you proved it might
not have been her father!
I read that in the paper.

But we definitely know
she saw something or someone.

Now, if it wasn't Carl Houser,
who was it?
It was a dummy!

A dummy?
Yes!

Oh, come now, Miss Whiting.
Would you have us believe
that you went through

this very involved plan
just to push
a dummy overboard?

Yes. Carl and I
had this all planned.

It was supposed to look
like he'd committed su1c1de.

How did you hope to get away
with this deception?

He got in my wheelchair
and posed as my patient.

He posed as Roger B. Cartman?
Yes.

But who was the man
I saw in your wheelchair
aboard ship?

Was it Morgan Shreves?
Yes!

Then you maintain

Carl Houser was still alive
when the Westminster docked
in Los Angeles harbor?

Yes, yes,
I took him off the ship
in the wheelchair.

But your su1c1de plan
went wrong

and Anna Houser
was charged with m*rder.

You realized then
that Carl Houser would
never let his wife suffer

so you sh*t him,
took his body offshore...
No, no!

I swear I had
no part in that.

Did I, Morgan?

Oh, Morgan, please!
You've got to tell him
the truth!

Don't let him
do this to me!

Darling, please!

It's all right, Evelyn.
Don't worry.

You want Morgan Shreves?
Well, here he is!

Rain.

I don't know why, but rain
always gives me an appetite.

Everything gives you
an appetite.

Della, you shouldn't have.
No, but I'll bet
you're awfully glad I did.

You know
what gets me, Perry?

The other night,
you said I was
overlooking something.

For the life of me,
I can't figure out
what it was.

I told you about
the substitution of pictures
in Houser's stateroom.

Yeah.

Well, obviously,
Houser had to be responsible.

No one else had a reason.
What was his?

He certainly wouldn't have
substituted the picture

if he thought
he was going to be m*rder*d.

Ergo, he planned to disappear
and wanted a remembrance
of his family.

Case of the substitute face.

Why didn't I think of that?

Why didn't I?
I was on the boat with him.

I'll bet he used
mental telepathy.

Miss Street, please.
I'm serious.

I can see how
you figured out that Carter
and his secretary, James,

were a couple of fakers.

I can even see how you
figured out that one of them
had to be Morgan Shreves.

But when James
turned out to be Shreves,
that really floored me.

And just in case
you're interested, Della...
Mmm-hmm.

...it floored me, too.

[COUGHING]