01x04 - The Case of the Drowning Duck

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Perry Mason". Aired: September 21, 1957, to May 22, 1966.*
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
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01x04 - The Case of the Drowning Duck

Post by bunniefuu »

Emily Dodson you're under arrest
for the conspiracy kidnapping

of Charlie Dodson.

How does your client plead?

Guilty.

She said not guilty!

Not guilty, Your Honor!

You didn't k*ll your baby.

Bad men did that.

You really think Emily
was a part of it?

She laid with the man

that m*rder*d your son.

What is it, Della?

It's from Mr. Baggerly.

I think we got fired.

Sometimes I think this is
no longer my world.

I've been looking for you.

Down in the alley

I found dried blood
and this.

What was George's body
even doing over at county?

Did she kidnap little Charlie,
or did something else happen?

Who k*lled you, George?

Are we gonna be expecting
another surprise?

Do you hear the voices?

You don't have to worry
about Charlie Dodson.

I'm going to resurrect him.

We wanted Sister to know

how much she's in our thoughts.

We've rented a pew for, gosh,
how many years now?

Oh, since before
Gloria was born.

Row 14.
Oh.

There's 50 of us that chip in,
we're all big tithers.

Sister's heart will be warmed.

"Each one must give
as he has decided

in his heart,
for God loves a cheerful giver."

Second Corinthians.
Memorized the whole thing.

Remarkable.

Sister, some visitors
to brighten your day.

Nice of you folks
to look in on me.

We're lost without you, Sister,
and we miss you.

Well, I'll be back on my feet
in no time.

That's a promise.

What have you got there,
sweetheart?

Don't be shy.

Do you like sweets, Sister?

I would eat them for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner if I could.

Me too.

Maybe we split some? Right now?
What do you say?

The fear of the Lord
is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance
and perverted speech!
Oh, God!

Sister, come. Come.
The Lord rebukes you.

The God of Peace will crush you.

Today of all days.

sh*t.

And now, we're bringing people
back from the dead.

Perhaps I should announce
my love of communism

to finish the icing
on this lovely cake.

At least you're not the one
on trial.

I am 100 percent the one
on trial.

That's what it means
to be a defense attorney

in this town.

When did you leave Emily?
6:00 this morning.

She was too scared to sleep

and certainly bruised enough
to press charges

on those bastards.
What's my day?

Writing time,
promotions on discovery,

suppression of statements,
and 1:00 p.m. interview

with the Beverly Hills Post--
First thing's first.

Let's see Judge Wright
for bail reduction.

Great, and we can follow that
by filing a formal complaint

with the police commissioner.
Cops investigating cops?

That's a trip for biscuits.

Well, then,
we can file a civil suit

for excessive force,
police misconduct--

Della, the actions
of the police are a golden arrow

in my quiver.
They brutalized her, E.B.

My goal, our goal, remains
securing Emily's release,

pending trial.

Now, there are several avenues
that I can pursue

to achieve that end.

But police thuggery, we save
for a judge and jury.

They smacked her
around like a ragdoll.

Mr. Jonathan's secretary
has an imagination.

Bring Emily in, Your Honor.
See for yourself.

It's jail.

Maybe the girl got roughed up,
but it wasn't by my detectives.

Detectives?
Those men are savages.

If you want a bail change,

you need to show me a change
in circumstances.

My client
is in imminent danger.

They tried to b*at a confession
out of her.

Because your case

is a bar of hand soap

shrinking into nothing
every hour.

My case against Emily Dodson
is stronger today than it was

just a few days ago.
Soap.

Matthew Dodson
is cooperating with us.

What?
He's waving spousal privilege,

and is prepared
to testify against her.

That-- That's news to me.

Well, Mr. Dodson contacted us
just this morning.

You'll have his
cooperation agreement

by this afternoon.

I'm ordering the D.A.
to move Mrs. Dodson

to protective custody.
Thank you, Your Honor.

Only E.B. and his people
are allowed near her

and Maynard,

if I hear your detectives
are trying any shenanigans

with that girl, you're gonna
have a big problem with me.

Bail stays the same.
No.

I'll make sure the baby k*ller
is comfortable.

If you'll excuse me,
I have a case to prepare.

Oliver, is it me?

Or was there a time
when Fred here

wouldn't stand
for this type of show

from the district attorney?

Young man's game, E.B.

Even the great Mr. Holmes
is retiring next week.

He's 90.

I've got 16 years on him.

This was you guys?

Sure was.
Wow.

Should I show him
Chubby's shoe?

His shoe?
Show him the shoe.

Wow, that is some shoe.

Hit me right in the noggin.
Have another pull there, Virg.

Here you go.

Oh, you guys have all
the good stories.

When I tell stories about work,
folks wanna run out of the room.

Not us, we love your stories.

Private detective,

that's-- that's adventure...

...danger, excitement.

What'd I say?

You don't wanna know.

Muchas gracias.

Secret password.

Wow.

Watch out for planes.

Welcome.
There are--

There are planes out there.

I thought you lived
on a farm.

It is a farm.
Hey, sit down.

Where are the chickens?
Chickens is a good idea.

You get eggs, you get meat.
Sit.

So, Virg, there's something
I wanna show ya.

Is it, um, p*rn?

No.

It's just that...

you guys tell all these stories
about...

clandestine meetings
and tailing dames and...

cheating wives.

Well, I-- I could go get some
if you want, Virg.

Pale formaldehyde.
dead, putrid bodies

and the monotony of existence

does a number
on a man's virility.

You know, I can relate
to Mr. Carmichael.

You know, for him, it's food.

For others, it could be...

imagining you're
just a few inches tall,

and the woman hides you
away in her purse.

Why don't I show you that thing
I was gonna show you?

Ta da!

That's a dead body.

I told you he was an expert.

Holy cow, that's--
Meet George Gannon.

But you-- you stole a body.

Hmm, just this one.

Look, I can't be here.

Virg, Virg. Virgil! Virgil!

George Gannon didn't ice
those stiffs on Central Ave,

and he didn't run home
and blow his own head off.

Nope.

Well, how do you know?
Show him.

Because of this.

This denture was found
in an alleyway

behind that apartment building.

It fits perfectly
in Mr. Gannon's mouth here.

And I'm no expert like you are,
but that's a b*llet hole

in his shoulder
and a hip that don't look right.

We think George was m*rder*d
that night with the others.

You guys are breaking
so many laws right now.

That's-- That's how you get
all the good stories, Virg.

We need you to give
George here a proper autopsy

because the police report
is a fairytale,

and you're gonna help me
prove that.

But you stole his body
from the county coroner.

I can't just write
another autopsy

in your-- your-- your pioneer
root cellar.

And Jesus Christ,
you stole a body

from Frank A. Nance.
I mean, who does that?

Frank Nance f*cked up.

He f*cked up, Virg. He was--
He was told to f*ck up.

Now, I need you--
I need you to be the hero

that makes this right.
No, I don't wanna be a hero.

Yes, you do!
Oh, God, Mason, please.

Don't do this to me.

You guys said
we were gonna have fun.

Well...

Ain't we having fun, Virg?
Right?

Let's go upstairs.

We'll get a bottle.

And you can tell us
more about you

being in a lady's purse.

When we study law,
we are studying not a mystery,

but a profession.

The reason why
it is a profession,

it is, uh...

Della, did you get a hold
of National City?

4:00 p.m.

And it is Howard Brown?

Uh, a Mr. Tod Robbins.
Howard Brown wasn't available.

Who the hell is Tod Robbins?
Um.

"The reason it is a profession,"
Oliver Wendell Holmes?

I came to this little pueblo
about a year

before he ascended
to the Supreme Court.

Oh.
Since that time,

Justice Holmes has distinguished
himself as...

the nation's foremost jurist

and Los Angeles
has disgraced itself

as a Gomorrah
where truth is bought

and sold like the head
of a-- of a... rutabaga.

What are you waving about?

He just wants me
out of the picture, Chief.

This is why I have taken up
the cause of Emily Dodson.

When a state aims
its annihilating power

against a mere individual,
who will stand up against it?

Who will defend the defenseless?

Who will fight for justice
against a heartless expediency?

This is what your readers
need to know.

Yes, of course. Uh...

Something else our readers
would like to know.

Where do you go to eat
when you have a night out?

I am fond of the French dip
at Phillipe's.

From a medical perspective,

what occurred on stage
was an epileptic seizure.

The sister has a history
of these episodes.

And they can be treated
with a program of bromides

or Luminal.

But they won't do much good
without rest and relaxation.

Otherwise, you're asking
for a recurrence.

How long before
she can return to work?

Several weeks.
Oh.

I cannot allow her to resume
the schedule she was on.

Dr. Bundy, you do not have
that authority.

We-- We appreciate
your observation--

Her schedule
is what brought about--

Sister has had
these episodes before,

and she's risen stronger
each time.

In the meantime, we need
to tighten security

around the mansion.

And I will lead the temple
in worship.

No offense, Birdy, but...

you're not the orator
your daughter is...

nor are you the one
to walk back the heresy

that went out on the wire.

Heresy?

We're not running
a tent revival anymore.

We've scaled back the speaking
in tongues and miracle healings.

Let's leave raising the dead
to Christ our Father.

The ramifications
of this latest message,

the Sister's unavailability,
threatens the financial health

of the assembly
and every elder in this room.

Wouldn't you agree, Herman?

No one has lost more than me.

A hundred thousand dollars
b*rned in a chimney

by conspirators...

one of which our church
publicly supports.

Brother Herman, it has not
escaped my notice

that you vacated your seat
on stage for the pews.

It's a wonder
I'm still in the building.

I know it's--
it's been a challenging time.

But a faith untested is a--
You do not know.

Offense is taken every time
the Sister speaks

for my Matthew's harlot wife.

I won't go on playing the rube.

This church can no longer afford
to teeter on the whims

of hysterical women.

We need to prepare a statement

renouncing what the Sister
promised under her seizure.

Sister receives messages
from God.

Those messages are the bedrock
of our church.

Absurdity! The cruelty...

of suggesting that she could
bring the child

back from the dead.

You cannot pick and choose
which messages to believe

based on your convenience.

We decided this as a group.

Away from hysterical women.

You will censor the Sister,

or the spigot will be
turned off.

I'm afraid
it's not a discussion,
Mother McKeegan.

Elder Brown will lead worship.

I'll advise Sister
of your recommendations

when she's regained
her strength.

I've reviewed your situation,

taking into consideration
the entirety of your--

your holdings.

That's your savings,
stocks, and bonds.

Didn't fare too poorly
in the crash, considering.

No, sir. Not at all.

We also looked at your income,

income sources,
potential collateral.

Meaning my house?

Three mortgages on it, yes.

Your car, all of that.

It is my unfortunate duty
to inform you that...

twenty-five thousand is simply
not a number we would be...

comfortable with.

I'm sorry?

You see, the numbers here
do not add up

nearly close enough--
I asked...

to meet with Howard Brown.

As I mentioned,
Howard is no longer with us.

He and his wife
moved to Carpinteria,

for the air, I think.
Son,

I've got a lot of years
with this bank.

Put in a call to Howard.

I spoke with
the branch manager, sir.

And he also regrets
to inform you--

Are you saying
I'm not good for it?

That my loyalty, that my word,
and my relationship

with this institution,
with Howard--

I'm only asking
for a g*dd*mn measly loan.

A four-month loan.

I understand that,
Mr. Jonathan.

I've got my savings.

Your savings
are propping up your law office,

and your mortgages--

Why didn't you tell me
the office was under water?

Mind your damn business.

...Warner Brothers Studios.

And now, to draw to a close,
a very stirring number

with a dazzling...

Have you considered
where your eternal remains

will be laid to rest,
Miss. Prystock?

Not terribly much, Mr. Fogg.

Then allow me to extoll

the sylvan virtues
of Forest Lawn,

set amidst the undisturbed
nature of Glendale.

Sylvan virtues, he says.

Three hundred acres,
forever tranquil,

with very reasonable
monthly payments

and headstones carved
in red Italian marble.

Hmm, someone looks ready
for burial right now.

Long day.

Locking lips
with Chubby Carmichael, were ya?

No, goodness.

He's a married man, Della.
You should know better.

What's a dead man want
with red marble, Mr. Fogg?

To memorialize
a life well lived, of course.

Is this--
Cod, from the genus Gadus,

creamed beyond recognition.

When you check yourself
into the Biltmore,

you can make
your food requests known.

He didn't mean anything
by it, June. See?

You get your Mrs. Emily out?

Take a load off, Dell.

I'm gonna take it upstairs...

pretend I'm still a kid
back home

and anything is possible.

It's the Santa Ana.
There's no Santa Ana.

You feel it, don't you?
Leave the kid out of it.

Go spot the ball, huh?

Five bucks says I could bean him
from here.

Hey, cut it out now.
Oh, man, that guy.

See those pictures in the paper?

Uh, is it me or does printing
a black bar

over your jimmy
make it look worse?

What the hell's up now?

Hey, kid,
those are Tommy Armour specials.

Kid!

Oh!
Oh, God.

Oh, smells like
someone had quite a night.

Unless you're working on
Old Overholt himself.

I wish I could pull
my own brain out.

It's k*lling me.

Oh, I'd offer you
an eye-opener, but they...

tell me drink's illegal.

God love you.

Someone has to.

What do we got here?

John Doe,

found him in a sand trap
with his head blown off.

Naked.

Those fuckers!

Golf course?
We had to make sure

it was the right place so that
he would end up

on Virgil's slab.

So, what it means, E.B.,
is that you now get

a second official autopsy
on the same body,

but this one
will have a shattered left hip,

and a b*llet wound
in the shoulder.

And that means what, again?

You try shifting gears
in New Year's traffic

with a bum arm and no left hip.

Oh, I got a client who wants
to tell the whole world

she's guilty.

I went from Herman Baggerly
to working pro bono.

And now this.

This is a huge, huge break.

Drake gave us the dentures,
he told us the blood trail

went up the fire escape,
not down.

We figured George got plugged

with the two Polacks,
tried to escape via the hallway,

via the roof...
And got the heave-ho

off the building
by the actual k*ller.

You're saying
there's a fourth man?

There was a fourth man
in the room.

It was the two Polacks,
George...

And who?
I don't know that yet.

And this Drake,
he's gonna testify to all this?

Not a chance.
Police already made

their evidence fit the story.

Which pins it all on Gannon.

But we know he was
already dead in the alleyway.

How am I gonna get this
into evidence?

That's what you're so good at.
And it's the truth.

The truth won't move
wind chimes.

I need more than this.

We'll get you more.

All right.

With the caveat that we never
had this conversation,

tell it to me one more time.
Load my lips.

George Gannon
did not k*ll himself.

There was a fourth man.

There's a fourth man.
A baby-k*ller on the loose.

How's that for a headline?

Of course,
I'm not going in that direction,

but I did think that I owe you
a taste of what we've dug up.

Just so that you have a chance
to save some face.

Professional courtesy.

Always the gentleman, E.B.

George Gannon
did not commit su1c1de.

The su1c1de note
was donkey dust.

The crime scene was staged.

By this fourth man.
Fourth man.

That's right.
Not sure of his identity yet.

But with the information
I have right here

and the investigative powers
of your office,

we'll get to the bottom
of this mess forthwith.

And in return
for this courtesy?

Drop the charges
against my client.

What do you got in there?

Drop the charges,
I'll lift the latch.

Short of that, the particulars
need to stay with me.

I have a legal duty
to my client, Emily Dodson.

Are you enjoying this, E.B.?

I am, Mr. District Attorney.

Let's relish it then, huh?

Let's remember
this feeling of victory, huh?

Now, what are--

what are your legal duties
to Quentin Bates?

Quentin Bates?
Or Birch Corp,

or Walter Thompson.

Let's see.
Foster's Tool and Dye.

Who?

What about your legal duties
to Stella Chrome?

You know former clients
of mine, congratulations.

You stole from those clients
to keep from going under.

That's an outright lie.

You sure you wanna stand
by that? It's all right here,

with the particulars,
as you put it.

I never stole from my clients.
I paid back every penny.

Misappropriated client
escrow funds,

that's grand larceny
under the law.

We all hit hard times
before the w*r.

Everyone's moved
a little something.

Oh, come on.

Let's hope the bar association
footnotes that fact

in your disbarment order.

There's no way you'd be
dredging up old ghosts

if you had a solid case.
No way. My boy Mason's right.

You got three options here.

Plead Emily Dodson out,
take the case to trail,

or get yourself disbarred,

and that's the kind of news
that makes the cover

of the Law Journal, kid.

She's innocent.

This goes out on Friday noon.

You let me know.

There's the door.

♪ Every time I ♪

♪ Feel this feeling ♪

♪ Moving in my heart... ♪

That's enough.
No.

You're not on the pulpit now,

it's enough when I say
it's enough.

Oh, come on. Don't be a brat.
You don't listen.

No, that's your problem,
daughter.

Sister.
Daughter.

We had an agreement
about Emily Dodson.

God thought otherwise.
Oh, stop with that.

I sent everyone downstairs,
it's just us.

Do you hear that singing?

Yes, it's your audience,

come to keep vigil.

Half of them wanna kiss
your feet.

The other half wanna k*ll you.

We've got bodyguards
in the living room.

Reporters climbing in windows.
Elder Brown licking his chops.

How am I to make this right?

That's not your job.

That's all my job is...

letting you run wild
on our stage.

And I run myself sick
chasing your revelations.

What was true in the Bible
will be true again.

Oh, come on.
I came up with that.

You-- You had an episode.
You misspoke.

I did not.

It was real, Mama.

You misheard.

Did I mishear him in Oklahoma?

He speaks, we do. You said that.

You think I want this, Mama?

Do you think I want God
in my head?

You have a gift.
You have a spirit

that moves people,

changes people, saves people.

Don't let your vanity
squander it.

And if you truly believe God
told you to do this,

then you get his attention back.

And you tell him
it can't be done.

But it was--
No, because it can't.

A box full of snakes
from our own people.

You-- You--

You have to let me protect you.

You have to let me be
your mother.

Hmm?

He's a what?
Civil rights attorney.

He's suing the police department
for joining a vigilante mob

that dragged him out
out of his hotel.

Write it up and bother me later.

Frank.
Hey, Maynard.

Get the f*ck out.
I'm peeing.

Pinch it off,
stand outside,

make sure no one comes in.
Now.

Frank.
Yeah.

Did you wash your hands?

What level of f*ck-up
am I looking at on

People V. Dodson?

Detective Holcomb, is it some...

standard ground-floor form?

You and--
you and junior here

give a little help
with the crime scene?

With all respect, sir,
I got no idea

what you're talking about.
Who k*lled Charlie Dodson?

Uh, hard to say. Uh...

George Gannon,
one of the other two mugs.

If you want us to get specific,
we can do that.

Yeah.
I want you to be specific

'cause I got
Oliver Wendell Jonathan

blowing some fourth man smoke
in my face.

Why would he do that?

'Cause he's desperate
and got no case.

If we'd had another 30 minutes,
you'd have a confession.

Thirty minutes? You had
three f*cking days, detective!

Couldn't break
a f*cking housewife!

You arrested
the wrong f*cking guy.

It was your office, sir,

that pushed us to arrest
Mathew Dodson.

That's on you.

Detective Holcomb here
has done some ace work.

Dodson's lawyer ain't got sh*t.

Says his guy knows different.

Who, Perry Mason? He's a bum.
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Only a bum would hire him.

There's no fourth man,

and the housewife,
she knew plenty.

It's tight, sir.

Yeah. It ain't that tight,

and it sure as f*ck
ain't "ace work."

You better pray E.B.'s bum

ain't playing this better
than you are.

Linda, you're--
you're right. You're ab--

You're absolutely in the right,
again.

I-- I-- I shouldn't--

I shouldn't have yelled.
But if you had just paid

the two cents,
he could have--

Don't start that again,
okay, Perry?

I'm-- I'm not.
I'm-- I'm absolutely not.

I'm-- look, I am--
I am so sorry.

He just walked in.
You wanna talk to him?

Yes, please.
Thank you, Linda.

Honey,
your dad is on the phone.

Hi, Dad.
Hey, Theodore.

Come on, Dad.

I know. I know. It's Teddy.

Hey, did you get the truck?
I-- I am so sorry

that it came after Christmas.
I didn't--

I didn't put
enough stamps on it.

You know how dumb
I can be sometimes.

That's okay.

Did you like it?

No one really
plays trucks anymore.

What I really want
is a ball glove,

the Eddie Collins one.

Eddie Collins, huh?

He plays second base,
just like me.

Okay. Well,
you know, I'll--I'll--

You like pictures of my cock,
you son of a bitch!

You like sneaking around,

sh1tting on people's lives?

I'll knock your f*cking balls
outta your ears.

Dad? Are you there?
You f*cking louse.

Are you still there?

And you owe me a wingtip.

f*cking milkmaid.

Dad? Hello? You still there?

I filed those motions, Chief.

Clerk said he'd have them
in front of the judge

in the morning...

Newshawks were camped--

I need every file we've got
from '15 through '18.

What are you looking for?

Just get them all.
They're not here!

Well, we-- we moved
some of our older records

to your basement.
My basement?

That's your idea
of a filing system?

My filing system
started in 1924,

and it's pristine.
And you can stop yelling

'cause I'm six feet away
from you

and my ears
are working just fine.

I-- I just need you
to do your job.

And how do you figure I'm not?

I figure that
if you spend less time

sharpening that caustic
attitude you've mistaken

for attractive
and more time organizing,

then we wouldn't be having
this conversation.

Maybe you didn't hear me
when I first came in.

The motions I prepared for you,
that you signed unread,

those were filed.

The precedent that you couldn't
find for Emily, here it is.

I'll mark it
with this dry-cleaning receipt

for your court suits,

which are hanging
in your closet.

I hope it helps.
'Cause what won't help

the only client
you currently have,

a client who is rotting
in jail right now...

I know quite well
what's going on.
...is the file for

Foster's Tool and Dye...
Did you see the name
on that door?

...signed in 1916.
I'm the lawyer here.

Then act like one,
goddammit.

And that may be your name,
but those associates,

that's me.

Drive yourself home.

Hand me a cigarette, would you?

This hurt?

Mm-hmm.

What about this?
Yeah.

And this?

Why you do that job, papi?

Maybe you're not
so good at it anymore.

Fat-ass snuck up on me.

Sell me the house, papi,
give your face a vacation.

Seven thousand?

This is my parents' house.

I was born here.

This is the room
I shared with my brother.

We're actually on his bed.

One night he snuck
out of that door,

and he never came back.

I lived in that little
boarded-up house outside

with my wife.

My son was born there.

I'm the only one left.

Everyone else is gone.

And I never even liked it
all that much.

So?

So...

I sell you this...

this house
and you plow it under...

Hmm.

Well, who's gonna know
the Masons even existed?

Once you're gone, you're gone.

Whoever you are.

Sister Alice McKeegan
would disagree.

Who? Crazy preacher lady?

Mm-hmm.

No, no. Nobody's bringing me
back from the grave.

Why not?
Uh-uh.

Just means more screwing,
flying, and drinking.

What's wrong with that?

Not the same thing.

Los muertos.

They know things
you shouldn't know about.

Like who k*lled them?

This case is getting to you.

You have a little dark halo
around your head.

You don't see it.

I see it.

I'm just gonna put my head here
for a minute, then I go.

These floorboards,

they do squeak something awful.

You had a day, did you?

The Dodson girl?

Who needs proof
she even did anything?

They'd stone her at the edge
of town tomorrow if they could.

Papers say she had a thing
with one of the kidnappers.

Well, imagine where we'd all be
if they could hang you

for who you f*ck?

Oh, my stars.

Such language, Miss Street.

I am so angry.

I don't know where to put it.

Do I get you till sun up?

I'm taking the day off.

Son of a bitch can see
how things go without me.

How are Myrna's hands?

Better than the rest of me.

What?
It's just me.

Della, can you get that?
She's not here.

E.B. Jonathan & Associates.

Uh, yes, hold on.

D.A.'s office.

He's away from his desk
right now. Can I take a message?

No, no, just hang up.
Hang it up.

You know if we have that
interview with Matthew,

the one the detectives did
at his house?

Something Matthew said,
I need it.

I slept in my shoes,
goddammit.

Something about
the guy on the phone

and the bag
and what he said to Matthew.

Where is Della?

How should I know?

Oh, goddammit.

My feet swell at night,
hurts like a hemorrhoid.

I wouldn't know.

You will,
you will g*dd*mn know.

Got it.

And you'll wake up
with a nose hair

the length of your arm,

half your friends
in the cemetery,

and a million strangers
in the street.

Can you... just...

Yeah. Sure.

How old were you
when we first met?

How old were you?

Oh, I was still in the office
on Winston Street,

between a blacksmith
and a saddlery.

That's a growing business.

Your father showed up
in the most clapped-out

buckboard I'd ever seen.

A nag, and it looked
like death should be riding it.

Yeah, Pa could be
rough on the horses.

Yeah, a fence line dispute.

All he had was a few scraps
of paper and a copy

of what he thought
was a land grant

from the King of Spain.

His son beside him on the seat.

He wanted me to see
what a man who worked

behind a desk looked like.

What does he look like?

Good as ever.

You all right?

I may have over served
myself, boy-o.

Well, I got the latest thing
for a hangover.

Second autopsy, official.

Oh?
They'll crap themselves when
they figure out it's George.

Blacksmiths and saddleries...

You mind if I retrace
some of my steps today?

I think I can get you some of
that "more" you were asking for.

You do that, son.

You get all the answers.

Here's the speech
approved by the elders.

We love you, Sister Alice.

I wish to thank
all the good people

who sent food, flowers,
and prayers these past days.

They have had their effect.

Can't hear you.

I will be returning
to the temple

before you can blink

or burn a sheet of cookies.
Can't hear you.

I can't hear you.

I wish to thank Elder Brown
for his powerful leadership

in my absence.

And when I return,
I have promised him...

I can't hear you at all.
...and our wise--

I have promised him and our wise
elders to refocus my energies

on the good works
of our ministry.

And the ever present--

I can't hear you, Sister.

Excuse me, brothers,
I can't talk behind a wall.

Part the seas, friends.

What I have to tell you is hard.

Hard for me to say
and hard for you to hear.

I thought God wished to use me
as a vessel

to give the world a gift of...

life, of...

hope...

of resurrection.

But I see now,
it was my ignorance...

my pride...

my arrogant, sinful pride.

Brothers and sisters, I--
Prepare the way.

Prepare the way!
Prepare the way!

Prepare the way!
Prepare the way!

Prepare the way. Let me go!

This is for Charlie.

He'll be cold
when he comes back.

Please.

Emily Dodson is innocent.

Charlie Dodson is in Purgatory.

And by these hands,

this year of our Lord, 1932,
in the City of Angels,

on Easter Sunday,

Charlie Dodson will rise again!
Daughter...

What is true in the Bible
will be true again.

Blasphemer! Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Blasphemer!

Yup.

Here's the desk.

So? This is it?

Well, you can see most
of the room from here,

so it's either this one
or the one next door...

We ain't gonna dirty the towels.

So, he's on the phone,

eyes on Matthew and Emily
the whole time.

When the guy says,
"Put the suitcase on the desk,"

Matthew says,
"Not until I see my son."

So here comes Angel's Flight.

And Mr. Black Hat
has Charlie.

So he takes him for a ride down
past the Dodsons.

Gives him a peek of the kid.

And they buy it
'cause his eyes are sewn open.

They leave the cash,
go down and get their son.

Extree! Extree!
The latest on the Dodson case!

Black Hat
leaves Charlie on board.

Then he jumps in the Phaeton.

Side-swiping the trolley,
running up toward 5th.

So that's one guy on the phone,
one holding the kid,

one driving the vehicle.
Three guys, three stiffs.

According to the cops,
that's it.

Except we know there's a fourth.

Most likely in the wind.

If you're gonna run,

why go to all that effort
with George?

Drive him across town,
you fake the su1c1de.

Type the note,

supposedly burn the cash.

You do it because you want
the trail to stop.

The fourth guy set it up
so no one's looking for him.

'Cause no one is.

Except us.

So where the f*ck is he?

When can I go home?

Mr. Jonathan...

Uh, well, that's what I need
to talk to you about.

Emily, yours is...

a complicated case.

I didn't do anything.

Well, I know that.

I believe that.

But anything...

I would have to quibble
with that word, Emily.

Anything.

You had an affair with the man
who masterminded

the kidnapping and the murdering
of your son.

You lied to the police
about being asleep.

Uh, they get very motivated
when you lie to them.

Now, a jury of 12
is gonna hear this,

and they will not believe you
as I believe you.

And I do believe you.

You have to understand that,
Emily.

Miss Street said
that Mr. Mason

was coming up
with a lot of evidence.

Well, Mr. Mason's evidence
is coming up short.

My job...

my sworn duty...

is to get the best result
for my client.

And sometimes, that means--

sometimes...

in the face of--
of accusations,

however baseless--

Are we going to lose?

I think...

I know that I can get you
a reduced sentence.

T-- T-- Twenty years, tops,

and as harsh as that may sound--

You want me to say
that I'm guilty?

I...

There's a place...

in a town called Chino.

It-- It's for women only.

I'm told
that it's quite acceptable.

Twenty years?

Mr. Jonathan.

When the state, Emily--

The power of the state
wants to crush you,

no matter how minor
your transgression

might seem to be.

It--

No.

No, we won't do this.

Will we?

You're gonna fight.

Because I believe in you, yes?

You're gonna fight.

Let me hear you say it.

I am-- I am going to fight.

G-- Good girl.

And you are gonna help me,
aren't you?

I promise. I'll do what's best.

Uh, will you open up here,
please?

There is no way you can get
off the phone there

and make it all the way
over here before Emily

is screaming for the cops.

What's the hurry?

Everybody's looking
at the dead kid.

Could have strolled.
Stopped for tea even.

These guys
are looking at a m*rder rap.

Had every detail thought out.

They're not risking a long walk
into a hornet's nest.

So maybe our fourth guy,
he's-- he's waiting nearby.

Matthew leaves the money
just sitting here,

the room is empty,

and this guy,
this fourth f*cking guy,

just has to reach in,

grab the suitcase and...

Head thatta way.

Out to Hill Street, toward
the screaming mother

and gathering crowds.

That seem likely to you?

Not entirely.

Or through this building
out the back.

Vanishing like the blush
of innocence.

What? Something I read.

After you, Mr. Keats.

Used to be pretty much full,

business types, mostly,
before the crash anyways.

And you should know
I was thanking God

this here a short building
on that day.

Ain't wanting to clean up
after no splattered money men.

Did have a hanging though
in 215, used his belt.

This the only way out
the back?

Right through
this door here, yes, sir.

What the hell is that?

Skyway.

Connects this building
with the Elk's Club there.

I suppose you can get out
that way.

If you had a mind to.

How do, friends?

Can't quite place your faces.

Visiting members?

Actually, we was thinking about
joining up.

Might we look around some?

Go ahead.
We're all brothers here.

Brotherly love.

Fidelity, charity, and justice.

Our cardinal virtues.

Believe those,
and you're practically an Elk.

The fidelity one,
that a deal breaker?

It's the poor little ones.

Do you mind if we...?

Please.
Thank you.

♪ Where you are ♪

♪ Someone far from harbor
You may guide across the bar ♪

♪ Brighten the corner
Where you are ♪

Well, isn't that
the real Angel's Flight?

Let's hear it, friends.

I know we all want to do
whatever we can

for these kids.

And nothing's better
for a sickly disposition

than fresh air and sunshine.

But before we send them up
to Big Bear for the summer,

we need to raise the cash.

Now...

I have here a dandy set
of gold-plated antlers

that any Elk will be proud of.

What can you bid?

Got one here!

Two!
Three.

I have three.
Do I hear four?

Can I hear four?

Three-fifty.

Three-fifty.

Do I hear four?

Four!
I didn't know you cared.

4.25.
My nine-year-old's
on the left with the braids.

Four and a half.
The hell you doing here?

Just looking for justice.

Charity. Can I count
on you support?

Oh, you don't get my vote.

Not much brotherly love,

but a lot of coincidence.

Oh, how's that?

You, member of this lodge,
one building over

from where the kidnappers
staked out.

I'm here two
or three times a week, pal.

It's my social club.
That's why I'm social.

Were you here that night?
I don't know.

Run me in and find out.

Would you hold up
as well as Emily Dodson?

You're like every amateur d*ck
I ever met.

Think you caught a fish, all
you done is hook your own ass.

Oh, no, I'm too stupid to think
I'm right.

Nine dollars.
I have nine.

Do I hear ten?

Ten?

Nine going once.

Twice.

Sold!

Thank you, brother.

I hope she has a great summer.

Next, we have a silver
loving cup,

beautifully engraved
with a majestic bull elk.

We have promising evidence
coming in.

You're being railroaded, Emily,
and it's wrong.

But I can help you.

Look, I'm on the Dodson case.

This guy, Joe Ennis?
Things ain't adding up.

Let's you and me have a talk.

The age of miracles
is here again!

Can I be saved, sister?

You're here for a reason.
You and me both.

Stashing evidence,
hidden secrets...

Just how illegal is this?

The way I see it,
there's what's legal

and there's what's right.
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