01x06 - The Case of the Silent Partner

[bunniefuu]

( suspenseful theme plays)

( noirish jazz theme playing)

WOMAN: It's just
beautiful, Mr. Tulloch.

It was worth waiting
seven years to get a bloom.

Just look at the
width and texture

of that dorsal sepal.

It was all your idea.

I'm thinking we should name it

"The Mildred
Kimber" in your honor.

(chuckling): Oh, no, I couldn't.

MAN: That's what
I like: modesty.

(chuckles)

I always say if a person
has something on the ball,

he doesn't have to brag.

Hey. What did you do

to get this feathery throat?

You use a Brasso?

Would you put this away, please?

Afraid I'll steal it?

Uh, Tulloch,

be sure and put it
in a good, safe place.

(chuckles)

That orchid will bring
in 20, 30,000 a year.

With your black
tiger and white queen,

got a little gold mine here.

What can I do for
you, Mr. Marlow?

Oh, well, I heard you were sick.

Well, I'm much
better now, thank you.

Well, I don't understand why

you don't like me, Mrs. Kimber.

You ask anyone
about Harry Marlow.

I have.

(chuckles) So I
served a little time.

After all, if I hadn't
gone to San Quentin,

I wouldn't have
learned to appreciate

the beauties of nature.

Heh.

You wouldn't think a
big, fat slob like me wo...

Sure, I don't kid myself.

I know what I look like.

But that don't mean inside
I don't like nice things.

I'd make a good partner
for you, Mrs. Kimber.

With my connections...

I'm not interested
in your connections.

Okay. We could keep it quiet.

I could be a sort
of silent partner.

No, thank you.

Suppose if I were a pretty boy

like your husband,
it would be different.

(scoffs) Funny.

You take a smart woman like you,

and a young punk comes
along and makes with the...

All the charm...

Get out!

No, Tulloch!

That's what I
like: devoted help.

I've got a couple of boys feel
the same way about me. Hm.

It'll be nice when we're
all working together.

That dafty pig.

It's enough to make
a man's blood boil.

If I... (heavy thud)

(panting) What is it?

What is it? My pills...

Yes, yes? In my purse.

Okay.

( slow big-band theme playing)

Evening, Mr. Curtis.
You know your way, sir.

Certainly, Mack.

MAN: Is it honest?

I mean, the wheel.

Absolutely. Take my word for it.

I know the owner personally.

Sam Lynk.

As straight as they come.

(indistinct chatter)

WOMAN: Ohh!

MAN: Oh.

(taps table)

I open, for 500.

You would, Lynk.

If you'd like to cash
in, Mr. Marlow...

I raise 5.

You're a fool, Kimber.

Too rich for my blood.

I think you're bluffing.

I'll try another raise.

Into a pat hand?

There's my bet.

(snaps)

Have the last one, Lola.

(chuckles)

Thanks.

Don't let him scold you, honey.

Next time Harry will
bring you two boxes.

(chuckles) (telephone rings)

Mr. Lynk's office.

It's Miss Carling.

(snaps cards on table)

Hello, baby.

I'm lonesome, sweetie.

You've been at that silly
game since 8:00 last night.

When are you coming out for air?

Oh, right after this hand.

I'll go home and change first.

I should be over at your place

around 12:30.

I'll be waiting.

Your thousand and
a thousand more.

How much have you
got there, Mr. Kimber?

Two... (chips clattering)

3, 5,000.

That's my bet.

(chips thud on table)

Five thousand to call.

Aces full.

Sorry.

Not good enough.

(exhales deeply)

Settle with the gentlemen...

please.

Well, I know what I owe for...

Five thousand.

And, uh,

this is for the service.

You're sweet, Mr. Marlow.

That'll be 37,000, Mr. Kimber.

I'll need a blank check.

I'm sorry, Mr. Kimber.

No more checks.

What's the idea? No offense.

It's just that your checks
aren't always reliable,

Mr. Kimber.

All right.

I brought along some
securities worth 35, $40,000.

But you'll have to give me
a chance to redeem them.

A hundred shares
of Orchids Unlimited.

Do you have the right
to transfer this stock,

Mr. Kimber?

Of course I do.

I think you can take
his word for it, Lynk.

I happen to know his
wife made him trustee

for 49 percent of her business.

You snoop.

(grunting)

All right, he deserved that.

Take him out to the bar, Welsh,

and let him cool off.

You better get out, Marlow.

Sure. I'll just take that stock

and be on my way.

Tomorrow.

And bring another
10,000 in cash.

Forty thousand was
our agreement, Sam.

You've already
been paid in full.

Good night, Marlow.

What's the idea, Sam?

My services come higher...

for people I dislike.

(door slams)

( suspenseful theme playing)

(knocks)

MAN (slurring): Come in.

♪ Come in Whoever you are ♪

(chuckling)

Darling, where have you been?

Oh, hi, chicken.

Hey.

What are...? What are
you doing out of bed?

Bob...

where have you
been since last night?

Me?

Hmm.

Where have I been?

Business, chicken.

Important business.

You haven't been
near the shop in days.

Tulloch told me.

Oh, chicken...

little old Bob's been out of
town drumming up customers

for Mildred's orchids.

Big deal.

You're gonna be proud.

Proud of little old Bob.

Ahh.

Very proud.

Hey. Harry Marlow came
in the nursery tonight.

That flabby-mouthed...

Bob... he talked and acted

like he was coming
into the business.

(chuckles)

That flabby-mouthed Marlow. Bob.

Flabby-mouthed...
Where is that stock

I signed over to you?

Stock? Do you still have it?

Yeah.

Sure.

Wouldn't let the
stock out of my hands.

Bob, you're lying.

Does Marlow have it?

Bob, answer me!

I... I know, I know.

I promised I wouldn't
go near that place again.

But I felt lucky.

Bob... who has the stock?

Lynk.

Sam Lynk.

Little card game.

But don't you worry, chicken.

Little old Bob will
take care of everything.

(sleepily): You just leave...

Leave everything
to little old Bob.

( slow, intense theme playing)

And in this merger...

the corporate assets of
Pacific Midland Railroad

will be legally... (rings)

Perry Mason's office.

No, I'm sorry, he's busy...

Just a minute, please.

It's Mildred Kimber.

Kimber? Orchids Unlimited?

She says it's a personal matter.

Yes, Mrs. Kimber.

Mr. Mason, I must
see you immediately.

I'm... completely snowed under.

Would, uh, tomorrow at, um...

Ten-thirty.

Uh, 10:30 be satisfactory?

W... Couldn't you
make it tonight?

No, Mrs. Kimber. I'm sorry.

All right.

Tomorrow morning at 10:30, then.

I think you should
have seen her, Perry.

You know, she's convalescing
from a heart att*ck.

She wouldn't call
at this time of night

unless it was vital.
So is this brief vital...

to a railroad and several
thousand stockholders.

Now, where were we?

( upbeat big-band theme playing)

I want to see Mr. Lynk, please.

Mr. Lynk isn't here.

You tell him Mrs. Kimber
must see him immediately.

I'm sorry.

He really isn't
here, Mrs. Kimber.

Where can I reach him?

I have no idea.
Excuse me, please.

Hold it, Mack.

Wait a minute, Mrs. Kimber.

We'd better have a little talk,

you and me.

Who are you? Lola Florey.

What is it you
want, Miss Florey?

To help you.

And maybe get a little dirt
off my hands in the process.

(tires screech)

Come back this way.

Sam Lynk has too
many eyes out here.

This ought to be private enough.

I can trust you, can't I?

If Sam Lynk ever
found out I tried to...

You can trust me.

All right.

I know why you want to see Lynk.

But it's no use.

He'll never return the stock.

Not unless you're ready to
bargain with Harry Marlow.

So Marlow is involved.

Involved?

He made a deal with Sam Lynk

to fleece Bob in a
crooked poker game.

Only Sam pulled a switch

and upped the price of
the stock from 40 to 50,000.

What?!

Now, don't get excited.

It's not gonna cost
you a thin dime

to get that stock back.

But you just said he was...

The game was crooked.

Marked cards.

I'm gonna give you one
of Sam's marked decks.

Well, what good's
that going to do?

He'll only deny it.

He'll deny it, yes,

but he'd k*ll you

if you ever repeated the story.

It would ruin his reputation

as an honest gambler.

Why are you doing all this?

The oldest motive
in the books, honey:

the woman scorned.

There are two
vices in this world

I can't resist:

chocolates by Andrei...

and Sam Lynk.

I see.

Miss Florey, would you be
willing to tell Perry Mason

everything you've
just told me...

in absolute confidence?

If you could meet
me at his office

at 10:30 in the morning

and bring along the marked deck.

Say...

that's smart, honey.

Lynk would never
touch either one of us

with a man like
Mason in the play.

You bet I'll do it.

Well, I better be
getting back now

before Lynk's
watchdog misses me.

(horn honks)

( slow big-band theme playing)

Sneaking away so early, Lola?

Do you mind, honey?

I have a scandalous headache.

Good night. Oh, I almost forgot.

This just came a
few moments ago.

(rattles)

Candy. (chuckles)

That's funny. No card.

From one of your army of
silent admirers, no doubt.

Honey... no admirer of mine

would ever send me
chocolates by Andrei,

not if he knew what they did

to my waistline.

(laughs) (chuckles)

Good night. Night.

( suspenseful theme playing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

(rings)

Perry Mason's office.

WOMAN: I must
speak with Mr. Mason.

Line five.

(faintly): Please,
you've got to come.

Help me!

The candy. The candy's poisoned.

Please come.

Who is this?

Who's speaking?

Lo... Lola Florey.

Miss Florey, where are you?

Home.

What is the
address, Miss Florey?

Mrs. Kimber said... to meet...

your office... tomorrow.

Hello, Miss Florey?

Miss Florey?

Della, get on the switchboard.

Have the phone
company trace this call.

(clicks) The line's still...

Never mind. It went dead.

Who is she?

I don't know, but
she needs help fast.

Here. Get me the phone
book, will you, please? Hm.

(telephone ringing)

(sighs)

Lieutenant Tragg.

Lieutenant, this is Perry Mason.

Just because you work all night,
Mason, doesn't mean that I...

Listen, lieutenant.

A woman just phoned my office.

She's eaten some poisoned candy.

(laughs)

You do get some
strange ones, don't you?

Oh, she gave the
name of Lola Florey...

but she's not in the phone book.

Uh, "Florey" did you say?

Lola Florey.

Uh, hold on.

Florey...

(clicks)

MAN (on intercom):
Yes, lieutenant?

Get me, uh, Sergeant Barlow.

Yes, sir.

What's taking him so long?

TRAGG: Hello, Mason?

Yes?

Yeah, I thought I
recognized her name.

She's a hostess.
Works at the Eldorado.

She lives at 42 Longdale Place.

You better get an
ambulance for her right away.

Well, wait a minute, Mason!

What's your connection
with this Lola Florey?

Phone call for help.

It'll take at least
a half an hour

to get out there.

Let's go, Della.

How'd he get her address?

All nightclub personnel have
to register with the police.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(siren wailing)

TRAGG: Out of the way,
Mason! Break it down, Conroy!

(loud thudding)

Hey, hurry up there!

She's still alive.

Not by much.

MASON: She
evidently ate six pieces.

(sniffs)

No unusual odor.

Hey, put that down!

You know better than
to handle evidence.

Sorry.

If she passed out while
she was on the phone,

how come the receiver
got back on the hook?

Obviously someone
must have put it there.

See if there's a
wastebasket in the bathroom.

And... look,

but don't touch.

Nothing in there but
a few facial tissues.

All right, now,
what's this all about?

Why did Lola Florey phone
you and not the police?

I honestly don't
know, lieutenant.

She one of your clients? No.

Who are you protecting?

I'm not certain if I'm
protecting anyone yet.

What kind of
double talk is that?

We're taking her to
the hospital, lieutenant.

Will she be all right?

Yes.

Well, there's nothing
more we can do here.

If you don't mind, lieutenant,

Della and I will
be getting along.

All right, you play it your way,

but watch yourself.
(siren wailing)

Burger will be
dogging this case,

once he hears
that you're involved.

I'd feel slighted if
the district attorney

didn't give me his
personal attention.

Ah.

Good night, lieutenant.

You, uh, ready, Miss Street?

Good night, lieutenant. Oh.

(doorbell buzzes)

( suspenseful theme playing)

Bob.

(heavy thud)

(doorbell buzzes)

(sighs)

What's the matter, Mrs. Kimber?

I'm sorry. We didn't
mean to surprise you.

Please, it's... It's all right.

You've been crying.

Oh... No, I...

I, uh... just felt
a little bit faint,

and I, uh... broke an
ammonia ampoule.

They always make my eyes water.

You shouldn't be out of
bed. Where's your husband?

He's sleeping.

Please don't wake him. He...

He just got back
from a business trip,

and he's just exhausted.

I got to worrying about your
phone call earlier this evening.

I thought perhaps you'd like
to discuss the problem tonight.

Oh, you're very
considerate, Mr. Mason,

but the problem's been solved.

Oh?

It was nothing really.

It was silly of me to
get you all stirred up.

I guess you're used
to hysterical women

in your profession.

I haven't been very
well lately, you know.

Well...

thank you for coming.

Did you know that Lola
Florey has been poisoned?

Who did you say?

Lola Florey. She
called my office for help.

She mentioned your appointment
with me in the morning.

Said you asked
her to be present.

Well, there must
be some mistake.

I never heard of her.

But I took the
call. I heard her...

It's getting late, Della.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Mrs. Kimber.

Oh, by the way, Mrs. Kimber.

I called here about midnight.

Didn't get an answer.

Oh. I was at the nursery.

Nothing short of an
expl*si*n will wake Bob.

Good night.

Good night.

( suspenseful theme playing)

She was lying, Perry.

You phoned her
nursery at midnight too.

No one answered there, either.

Yes, she's in trouble, Della.

Well, there's not
much you can do.

You've been politely dismissed.

No. Since I intend to bill her

for tomorrow's
canceled appointment,

I think she's entitled
to a little of our time.

Well, where do we go from here?

I want you to go
back to the office.

Call Paul Drake,

have him check on
Lola Florey's condition,

and find out what kind of poison

was put in that candy.

Where are you going?

I'm going out to
Sam Lynk's place.

Why Sam Lynk? Intuition?

Addition.

One of Lynk's
hostesses is poisoned,

Lynk isn't in the
club at the time,

the victim knows Mildred Kimber.

And everybody knows Bob Kimber

is a sucker for a
game of chance.

And Lynk is well-known

for accommodating gaming gentry.

It adds up.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(rings doorbell)

(rings doorbell)

(meowing)

(pulsating tone)

( suspenseful theme playing)

(meows)

(pulsating tone stops)

WOMAN: Drake Detective Agency.

This is Perry Mason.

Can you reach Paul Drake
for me right away, please?

He's at General
Hospital, Mr. Mason.

Hold on, please.

(cat meowing)

WOMAN: Go ahead, Mr. Drake.

PAUL: Perry?

Yes, Paul?

I just spoke to the resident.

Lola Florey's
gonna be all right,

but she won't regain
consciousness till morning.

What about that poison?

Well, I haven't had time
to check that out yet.

There's something I
want you to do for me first.

I'm out at Sam Lynk's place.

He... (footsteps approaching)

PAUL: Yeah, what?

Hold it.

Hello, Paul?

Perry, what's
going on out there?

Private patrolman just passed.

I was afraid he'd find me.

Afraid?

MASON: Lynk's been m*rder*d.

Mur...

Aren't you gonna
notify the police?

No, I want you to do that.

Just give me two minutes
to get away from here.

PAUL: Okay.

Then stand by.

I'll be in touch with you.

Right. Watch yourself.

( dramatic theme playing)

(doorbell buzzes)

I'm looking for a
g*n, Mrs. Kimber.

g*n? I don't have a g*n.

Mr. Mason, what are you doing?

Listen, I told you, I...

No. No, please don't.

Please...

Give that to me.

Been fired recently.

How did you know I had that?

It was in this coat

when you almost
fainted earlier tonight.

And you dropped
a prescription box

at the m*rder scene.

I didn't k*ll him.

Who did?

Mrs. Kimber, I know
you're not well...

but I don't have time to baby
these answers out of you.

Your arrest for m*rder
is only minutes away.

I left that prescription
box exactly where it was.

By now, the police have
found Sam Lynk's body.

Do you have any idea
how efficient they are?

So you deliberately
left that box there?

I had no other choice.

You've got to believe
I'm trying to help you.

Now, where is your husband?

I have no idea.

You'd better brief me
from the beginning.

Well...

A few days ago,

Harry Marlow came
to my greenhouse.

I was there with Mr. Tulloch,

my nursery man.

(siren wailing)

Well...

Lola Florey agreed to
bring the marked deck

to your office.

When I returned home...

Bob was gone,
and so was his g*n.

So you went out to Lynk's place.

When I got there,

the front door was open, and...

Lynk was dead.

I guess I must have blacked out,

because the next
thing I knew, a...

A cat was staring
down at my face.

I can't stand cats.

Please, Mrs. Kimber,
we don't have much time.

Well, I took a pill, and...

I guess I must have
dropped the box.

All I could think of
was to get out of there.

Where did you find
your husband's g*n?

On the floor, beside the body.

And you took it to protect him?

Did you remove
any other evidence?

I searched the place
for the stock certificates.

May I have them, please?

I couldn't find them.

(siren wailing distantly)

The police are
here, Mrs. Kimber.

Now, may I have those
certificates, please?

I told you, I
couldn't find them.

Mr. Mason, I didn't sh**t Lynk.

Do you realize the police

will give you a paraffin test?

A paraffin test?

A method for
testing whether or not

a person has
recently fired a g*n.

(doorbell buzzes)

Just let me do all
the talking, please.

I don't care about
myself. It's Bob.

(doorbell buzzes)

His fingerprints
must be on the g*n.

Be careful.

(g*nsh*t)

Break her down!

Mildred Kimber, I'm afraid
you'll have to come with me.

Quick, Tragg, call Dr. Rubin.

It's Crestfield, 4...

I know. I know what it is.

( dramatic theme playing)

Will you call the hospital?

We may need
another t*nk of oxygen.

Look at her, the
poor, wee thing.

And they've charged
her with m*rder.

It's enough to make
a man's blood boil.

She'd never live
through the trial, Mason.

Any further shock
might very well k*ll her.

Well, I'm due in
the operating room.

The nurse will be
back in a minute.

Would you mind

keeping an eye
on her, Mr. Tulloch?

Aye, she'll be safe
with me. Never fear.

It would help immeasurably

if her husband could
be here with her.

The police are looking for
him as a material witness,

but he seems to have
dropped from sight.

How is she, doc?

When can she be questioned?

Well, that depends
on her rate of recovery.

Does that mean you
won't allow the DA

to arraign your client?

That's not for
Mr. Mason to say, boys.

That's a matter for
my office to decide.

Hello, Burger.

Dr. Rubin, this is
Hamilton Burger,

our district attorney.

How do you do?

MASON: And Lieutenant Tragg.

Doctor, I want to
talk to Mrs. Kimber.

I'm sorry. It's out
of the question.

She's critically ill, Burger.

You can't stop me, Mason.

I'm not.

I'm advising you that
if you disturb my client,

and she has a fatal relapse...

I'll charge you
with manslaughter.

(camera clicks)

That's a very gallant
speech, Mr. Mason.

It's not gonna save your
client from facing justice.

Doctor, I've instructed
the city medical officer

to notify me the moment that
Mrs. Kimber can be arraigned.

I'm sure you'll
have no objection

to a fellow physician
examining her.

No, not at all.

See you at the
arraignment, Mr. Mason.

Oh, by the way, Mason,

I'm having you charged
with malfeasance.

What's the specific charge?

That he willfully,

and with deliberate
intent to obstruct justice,

advised his client
to fire a second sh*t

from the m*rder w*apon,

thus making any subsequent

paraffin test inconclusive.

Have you discovered who
Lynk was on the phone with

when he was m*rder*d?

Not yet.

Goodbye, Mason.

Bye, Dr. Rubin.

I don't get it, Mr. Mason.

I thought the paraffin test

would prove Mrs.
Kimber fired the sh*t.

Not conclusively, Smitty.

And no paraffin test can
determine whether or not

the suspect has fired
more than one sh*t.

Huh? If Mildred Kimber's guilty,

she fired two sh*ts:

one at Lynk, and the
second one in her apartment.

Thanks to Mr. Mason,
the DA will have to find

some other way to prove
she fired that first sh*t.

Did you really do

what Mr. Burger says, Mr. Mason?

No comment.

Out of my way.

( dramatic theme playing)

Hiya, Perry.

Good morning, beautiful.

Morning, Paul.

What did you find
out? How's Miss Florey?

Scared, angry and yelling

to get out of the hospital.

So soon?

That babe has the constitution

of a dock-walloper.

Also the language to match.

What kind of poison
was in that candy?

Berynol.

A few more pieces,
and she'd have been

very easy to get
along with today...

Also very dead.

(telephone rings)

They're releasing
her this morning.

Yes, Gertie?

Mr. Harry Marlow to see you.

Send him in.

He'll see him now.

I wonder what the
"Petunia King" wants.

You don't know me,
Mr. Mason. I'm Harry Marlow.

I run the Lucy Darling
chain of florist shops.

I'd like to talk to you...

in private.

(door opens)

(door closes)

Mr. Mason...

you have something
that belongs to me.

Oh?

One hundred shares
of Orchids Unlimited.

Whatever gave you that idea?

They were taken by your client

after she k*lled Sam Lynk.

Lynk was acting as my agent.

That stock is my property.

And...

when were you
admitted to the bar?

Listen to me good,
Mason. I'm not kidding.

The cops don't know who
Sam Lynk was talking to

when he was m*rder*d.

It was you, of course.

Of course.

And, naturally, you
heard Sam Lynk

mention the m*rder*r's name.

Bob Kimber.

If I go to the police,

he's as good as
in the gas chamber.

And I don't have to tell
you what the shock will do

to his wife.

But you'll keep
silent for half interest

in Orchids Unlimited.

I'm a businessman,
not a reformer.

I suggest you take your...

business elsewhere.

I understand an attorney
is supposed to protect

the best interests
of his clients.

Think it over, Mason.

I'll drop in again
tomorrow morning.

Get out.

( ominous theme playing)

No, Mr. Mason.

I haven't heard from Mr. Kimber.

Not a word.

And neither has Mrs.
Kimber, bless her.

Nay, he would not contact me.

You don't get along?

Does a mouse get
along with a reptile?

I'd hardly classify you
as a mouse, Mr. Tulloch.

I'm obliged, but I
cannot help you.

If Bob Kimber
should contact you,

would you remind
him that if that stock

gets into the wrong hands...

Mrs. Kimber would have
an unwelcome partner.

What makes you think
Mr. Kimber has the stock now?

Just a bit of
information I've received.

Very interesting.

But it's no concern of mine.

If you'll excuse me, please.

What now?

I think we'd better have
a talk with Lola Florey

before she's released
from that hospital today.

Why?

MASON: I think I
finally figured out

what happened to
those little paper cups

they pack chocolates in.

The ones that were missing
from that poison box of candy.

That's what you were looking for

back at her apartment.

Lola ate six chocolates.

Mm-hm.

Six of those paper cups
should have been in that box,

or somewhere in the apartment.

The person that put the
phone back on the hook

must have taken them.

But why?

( dramatic theme playing)

(door closes)

Oh... hello, Mason.

I just dropped by to see
if I could take Lola home.

But she's made
other arrangements.

I'll see you in the morning.

What did he want, Miss Florey?

Eventually, or right now?

Right now.

To see me home.

MASON: Nothing else?

Nothing else.

You're shaking.

Poison disagrees with me.

Miss Florey, I want to ask...

Cut the preamble, Mr. Mason.

I'll tell you exactly
what I told the cops.

For all I know,

Christopher Columbus
sent me those chocolates.

I don't know why, or how,

or anything about anything.

I...

appreciate your
fear, but I want...

Fear? Mister, I'm petrified.

Mildred Kimber needs your help.

Do you mind if I pass?

The last time I
got public-spirited,

it almost earned me a shroud.

I'm not asking you to do a thing

that would put
you in more danger

than you're in already.

Then what are you
asking me to do?

Come with me right now, down
to the district attorney's office.

Tell him exactly what
you told Mrs. Kimber.

I get it.

You want me to focus
the heat on Harry Marlow.

Don't you see?

The same person who k*lled Lynk

sent you those
poison chocolates.

Now, the sooner you
go to the authorities,

tell them what you know,

the sooner the k*ller
will be put out of action.

Well, I'll play it my way.

I could have the
district attorney

have you picked up
as a material witness.

Well, go ahead.

You'll find I suddenly
got a loss of memory.

Do you mind opening the door?

I'll just about make
it to the airport.

The police won't
let you leave town.

Well, then, I'll go home
and lock my doors until...

Till somebody gets
sent to the gas chamber.

MASON: Lola.

Did...

Harry Marlow
thr*aten you just now?

No. He came to hold my hand.

( slow, pensive theme playing)

(sighs)

I think we'd better drop by

the district attorney's
office tonight.

(car door opens, closes)

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, keep your eyes open.

Nothing yet, Mason.
Her apartment's dark now.

My men figure she's gone to bed.

They didn't see
anyone hanging around?

You know, it'll be my
neck if Burger finds out

that I'm letting you
use this department

as your personal watchdog.

I'm sure Burger wants
to find the m*rder*r

just as much as we do.

Yes, but he likes
to call the sh*ts.

He's peculiar that way.

Well, something's
bound to break soon.

Come on, Della.
We're going out there.

Not without me, you're not.

What about your neck?

Well, it's out so far now,

another foot won't
make any difference.

Come on.

( dramatic theme playing)

(match strikes)

Charlie, there's a firebox
on the corner. Hit it!

(Lola screams)

Help! Somebody's
trying to k*ll me!

All right, easy, ma'am.

I can't help it. It's
up in flames. Easy.

(sobbing): They're
trying to k*ll me!

What happened? The
place just flamed up.

(sobbing)

Lola, snap out
of it. Now, stop it.

Stop it!

(sirens wailing)

All right, you can
go in now, lieutenant.

Thanks.

Wow.

Feel all right, Miss Florey?

Somebody sure was
careless with matches.

Do you feel like telling us

what happened, Lola?

Well, it's all right.

Lieutenant Tragg
knows all about it.

What happened?

I...

I'm not too clear.

That sleeping pill I took...

Don't know how
long I was asleep.

I heard a noise
in the kitchen...

got up,

turned the lights on
in... In the living room,

and I...

Go on.

Well, something
struck me from behind.

And as I fell, I... I saw him.

Who did you see, Lola?

Marlow.

He tried to k*ll me.

Congratulations, Mason.

Sorry, Lola.

It won't work.

Harry Marlow has been in jail

ever since I left the hospital.

I got the DA to issue
a warrant for his arrest

on extortion charges.

I took him out of
circulation personally.

Well, then, I must
have been mistaken.

Maybe it was Bob Kimber.

Of course. I remember!

I...

We picked him up this afternoon.

Hm.

Little Lola made a boo-boo.

You did k*ll Sam
Lynk, didn't you?

Mm.

How did you get
Bob Kimber's g*n?

He brought it to the poker game.

Kids' stuff.

Typical of him.

What about the fire, Lola?

Mm.

Another one of
little Lola's boo-boos.

I figured that was
the icing on the cake.

Nobody would ever believe
I set fire to my own place...

Except your boss.

Say, why aren't I sore at you?

Now, don't let it go to
your head, Perry Mason.

Nobody ever accused
me of having good sense.

Lola...

I've got to take you
down to headquarters.

Sure, lieutenant.

I would've had to find a
new place to live anyway.

( somber theme playing)

I liked Lola.

So did I.

I still don't see how she
could've k*lled Sam Lynk.

After all, she was poisoned...

No, no, no.

She poisoned herself, Della.

I just can't believe it.

Well, it was all
part of her alibi.

Now, those chocolates come

in little paper cups. Yeah.

Well, if she'd eaten that
poison candy at her apartment,

those little cups
would have been there.

Then when she called you...?

She was acting.

She called from a phone booth

near Lynk's place.

She knew it would take
us at least half an hour

to run her down. Hm-hm.

And that gave her
enough time to k*ll Lynk,

get back home and pass out.

Mm-hm.

Like a lady.

But who was Sam Lynk talking to

when she walked in?

TRAGG: That was Tulloch.

Who do you think?

He wanted to get that
stock for Mrs. Kimber.

You're, um...

a little off your course,
aren't you, Tragg?

Well, I just finished
talking with Lola.

She... asked me to look you up.

How is she?

Fine, fine.

Oh, she, uh...

wanted me to give you this...

just to show that
there's no hard feelings.

Chocolates by Andrei.

(chuckles)

Hm.

Uh, ahem. After you.

( noirish jazz theme playing)