All language subtitles for Perry Mason s01e13 Moth-Eaten Mink.eng

WOMAN:
Thank you.

MOREY: Miss Street, Mr. Mason.
- Hello, Morey.

- How is it going, Morey?
- Fine. I have your table all ready.

Dixie.

Excuse me.

I'm really starved, Morey.

So am I.

- Morey, we'll have two--
- I know. I know.

Two big steaks, lyonnaise potatoes,
two salads, coffee.

The man's a mind reader.

- I took the order for you, Dixie.
- Oh, thanks, Morey.

[DIXIE GASPS]

[GUNSHOTS]

[TYRES SCREECHING]

[PEOPLE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]

Sorry about the delay, Mr. Mason.
We had a little trouble with your order.

- Oh, what happened?
- Waitress never gave it to the chef.

- Why not?
- I don't know. I can't find her.

Just walked out and today is payday.

The help situation today is murder.

If I had to do it all over again,
I'd open a hot-dog stand.

Excuse me. Mr. Allen, can I speak
to you for a minute?

Sure. Excuse me.

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

- Are you sure?
- Absolutely, Mr. Allen.

Excuse me.
Can I talk to you folks a moment?

MASON:
Of course, Morey.

If you're gonna give me
that mink coat

because we had to wait so long,
I'll take it.

Look, I just had some word
about Dixie,

the waitress who disappeared,
she's been in an accident.

- She was run over.
- Run over?

Somebody saw her running out
of the alley.

- Was she hurt badly?
MOREY: I don't know.

They've taken her to the hospital.

There's something else, Mr. Mason.

My parking attendant said
he thought he heard two shots

just before the accident.

He'd know the difference
between gunshots and backfiring.

Mr. Mason, this coat belongs
to Dixie Dayton, the waitress.

That coat?

A waitress with a mink coat.
How long have you known this girl?

Only about ten days,
just walked in for a job.

I can tell she had hard luck.

- Maybe the coat's stolen.
- No, I know it's not. She's a good kid.

Down on her luck, that's all.
I tried to help her.

But now the cops are outside
and they'll ask a lot of questions.

- Well, answer them.
- But they'll ask me about this coat.

There are cheap restaurants

where waitresses
mingle with the guests.

I turn this coat over to the cops,
they'll give it to reporters.

The reporters will print it
and I'll be dead.

You've got company.

I knew it. When you need a cop,
you can never find one.

You know how long I worked
to build up this restaurant?

Morey, leave the coat here.

We'll talk about it
when you come back.

MOREY:
Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Go ahead.

That mink's a dream,
moth holes and all.

They've eaten
right through the label, it's loose.

No, it isn't, it's made that way.

What's that?

A pawn ticket.

Portland, Oregon.

"6384J."

Well, she got $18
for whatever it was she pawned.

Why would anybody hide a pawn ticket
in a place like that?

I've got a better question, Della.

Why is Morey Allen so concerned
over a waitress

he says he's only known
for ten days?

A romance?

No.

If it were a romance,
she'd be eating the food not serving it.

Funny how everyone gets so curious
when the police arrive.

Almost everyone.

He must have a date.

All those questions,
those guys make me nervous.

DELLA:
Was the girl badly hurt?

They think she'll be in the hospital
a couple of days.

Here, she'll be wanting her coat.

No, no,
I wish you'd keep that a while.

- Why?
- Mr. Mason,

would you represent me
in this thing?

Represent you?

Why, Morey? What have you done?

Look, maybe there will be nothing,
okay?

Then you do nothing
and send me a bill.

I just wanna be prepared,
just in case.

In case of what?

I don't know. Just let me feel
I've got somebody like you to call on.

I'll give you a cheque.

- Morey.
MOREY: Yeah?

What else do you know
about Dixie Dayton?

That is her name, isn't it?

Mr. Mason, you and Miss Street
were here, the girl rushed out,

maybe something scared her. I don't
know. Why would I hold out on you?

A man came in here alone tonight,
you seated him right over there.

Do you remember?

- Empty table there?
- Yes.

Fat face, short, stocky type fellow?

I remember him
but I never saw him before. Why?

You may be in for more
than just some bad publicity.

I don't follow you, Mr. Mason.

One of your waitresses runs away
from her paycheque,

somebody shoots at her.

And she just happens
to own a mink coat.

Morey, I'd like to know
who that man was.

Excuse me.

Lieutenant Tragg, please?

[PHONE RINGS]

Homicide, Tragg.

Perry Mason, lieutenant.
Would you do me a favour?

I doubt it but go ahead.

I'm in Morey Allen's place.

One of the girls who works here
was run over a little while ago.

Yeah, just got it off the wire.
She was sent to the hospital.

She should be put in a private room
and nobody allowed to see her.

- Why? Is she a client of yours?
MASON: No.

Well, what's the pitch?

Before the accident,
there were some shots.

She could be in danger,
might get herself killed.

- In the hospital?
- Look, it's just a hunch.

Just a feeling I have.
It won't hurt to follow through on it.

Okay, I'll take care of it,
but it sounds fishy to me.

Any time you go this far,
there's usually a reason.

Thanks, lieutenant,
and tell the hospital to send me the bill.

You know I will.

Paul Drake Detective Agency.

Yes, Mr. Mason,
Mr. Drake is still here.

I'll connect you.

Mr. Mason is on the line.

Perry, you still in the office?

No, I'm at Morey's.
Looks like he's in some kind of jam.

Do you have a man
in Portland, Oregon?

Herb Mulligan. A good investigator,
trained him myself. What's up?

I want you to check
on a pawn ticket for me up in Portland.

The number of the pledge is 6384J.
It's for $18.

"Globe Pawnshop,
813 Circle Avenue, Portland."

- Got it.
- What was pawned and by whom.

I'll put Herb on it
first thing in the morning.

Fine, Paul. Thanks.

John.

- Morning, Gertie.
- Good morning, Mr. Mason.

- Good morning, Terry. Morning, Della.
- Good morning, chief.

Oh, Jackson left the Williams
memorandum for your approval.

Fine. I'll get right on it.

Any mail?

Morey Allen sent
a thousand-dollar retainer.

He also said he found out
the name of the man

you were so curious about
last night.

His name was Fayette.
George Fayette.

Then he did know the name
last night?

What makes you think so?

Any time a client sends in
a thousand-dollar retainer voluntarily,

he knows he's in trouble.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

That's Paul.

Call Morey Allen.
I wanna see him right away.

Right.

- Hello, beautiful.
- Good morning, Paul.

MASON:
Any news?

I just heard from Herb Mulligan
in Portland.

We weren't the only ones running
down pawn tickets this morning.

By the time Herb got
to the Globe Pawnshop,

the cops had already been there
with a ticket of their own.

- A second pawn ticket?
- They found it in Dixie's purse.

That's the waitress.

- You mean for another item?
- Mm-hm.

Only the pawnbroker told the cops

that the same party
had pawned two items.

- What were they?
- The ticket the cops had

was for a diamond engagement ring.

The number you gave me covered
something a little more interesting:

A gun. Smith & Wesson .38,
a police special.

- Cop's gun?
- It's a little heavy for a handbag.

MASON: What else?
- Nothing.

Cops took the ring and the gun,
told the pawnbroker to clam up

- about the whole thing.
- Two pawn tickets...

One she hides in the label
of a mink coat,

the other ticket stays in her purse
where anybody might find it.

It's inconsistent.

- She's a woman.
- No, that's no excuse.

That second pawn ticket caused
some activity down here this morning.

What kind of activity?

Morey Allen's place looked like
a policeman's convention this morning.

You were there?

Oh, the cops know
that Morey gave you a mink coat,

and that Della wore it
out of the place last night.

- Morey didn't tell them?
- One of the waitresses.

They were questioning her
when I got there.

- Who is this girl?
- Her name's Mae Nolan.

I thought you might wanna talk to her
so I brought her with me.

- She's waiting in my office.
- Good.

- Della?
DELLA [OVER INTERCOM]: Yes.

There's a girl by the name
of Mae Nolan waiting in Paul's office.

- Girl, he says.
- Will you bring her in, please?

DELLA:
Yes, sir.

Paul, have you ever heard
the name Fayette?

George Fayette?

No.

If I'm not too far wrong, you can run
across him in police records.

PAUL:
Have you ever seen him?

About 5'5" and a half, sort of bald,
regular features,

but kind of hard looking.

I want everything you can find on him,
the whole package.

This is Mr. Mason, Miss Nolan.

- How do you do?
- You're no stranger to me, Mr. Mason.

I've seen you many times
at Morey's place,

but I never waited on you.

I'm sure that's my loss.

You're a smooth article.

Sit down, please?

Thanks.

Very nice place you have.

Mae, will you tell Mr. Mason

what you told me on the way up here
in the car?

I don't know.

Maybe I shouldn't be here at all.

I'm not really a blabbermouth.

Some people go around saying
everything that comes into their head.

Know what I mean?

Of course.

We're anxious to find out as much
as we can about Dixie Dayton.

Well, I really don't have
any information.

- Come on now, Mae.
- Wait, Paul.

If Miss Nolan
doesn't wanna tell us anything,

why, that's her business.

We already know quite a bit
about Dixie Dayton.

We know that she's
a very experienced waitress,

that she's probably worked in some
of the best restaurants in this town.

You're kidding, aren't you?

This girl knows from nothing.

If she'd had no experience,
why would Morey give her a job?

Boy, what a detective you are.

Well, as far as I know,
Morey Allen is strictly business.

If those two never met
before she came to work,

I don't know human nature,
which I do.

Then they were friends?

Of long standing.

I'd like to have a friend
who gives me a mink coat.

You mean, Morey gave Dixie
a mink coat?

Yeah, the one you took
out of the restaurant last night.

I was there the day he gave it to her.

He brought it in a shopping bag.

When she saw the coat,
she started to cry.

- Happy, huh?
- No.

He'd been keeping it for her
in that bag

and never even thought
to use mothballs.

Mae, is there anything else
you can tell us?

Look, it's none of my business.

I understand.

Now, thank you, Miss Nolan,
you've been very, very helpful.

Not at all, Mr. Mason.

Oh, I'd appreciate it

if you wouldn't mention I was here
to Mr. Allen.

Oh, don't worry, we won't.

I wouldn't want him to think
I'm a blabbermouth, which I'm not.

- Bye.
- Goodbye.

Oh, and by the way,
the next time you eat at Morey's place,

I hope you'll ask for my table.

I think she's got you spotted
for a big tipper, Perry.

MASON: I'd rather know what
Morey Allen has me spotted for.

He didn't tell you about any of this
last night?

Nope.

- Well, I'll go check on Fayette.
- All right, Paul.

Della?

DELLA [OVER INTERCOM]:
Yes?

Della, tell Jackson that memorandum
will have to wait.

- Yes, sir.
- I'm going over to the hospital

to see Dixie Dayton.

TRAGG:
Oh, hello, Perry.

Well, Lieutenant Tragg.

- How are you?
- Fair.

What brings you here?
Conference with your client?

Miss Dayton isn't my client.
I told you that last night.

Oh, yes, I forgot.

- Then this is just a little friendly visit.
- More or less.

You know, considering that lawyers
are supposed to be paid for their time,

you're giving this girl here
an awful lot of it free.

Well, I'm interested in her.

Oh, that's all?

Come on.
Where do you fit in this thing?

Miss Dayton works for Morey Allen.
He's a friend of mine.

- You represent him?
- Yes.

What kind of trouble is he in
that he needs a lawyer?

You know I never discuss
my clients' affairs.

Yeah. Last night I did you a favour.

Today I ask you a question,
you get cosy with me.

You must ask me a favour again
sometime.

I've told everything I can tell you.

- Everything, huh?
- Yes.

- Even about the mink coat?
- Which mink coat is that--?

Don't horse around with me,
Mr. Mason.

- Now listen--
- I've been listening

and I haven't heard anything.

I'll be around at your office
this afternoon to pick up the coat

and if I don't get it, so help me,

I'll pin a rap on you
for withholding evidence.

Lieutenant, if you'll excuse me,
I have to see Miss Dayton.

Well, that will be about
the neatest trick of the week.

What do you mean?

Miss Dayton disappeared sometime
last night,

bandages and all.

[PHONE BUZZES]

Yes?

Oh, hello, chief. Where are you?

I see.

Yes, Paul Drake called.

He's got some information,
says it's important.

I'll go directly to his office from here.

If Tragg drops in on you,
you call me there.

What about Morey?

I couldn't reach him.
He seems to have disappeared.

Call the cashier at his restaurant.

Leave Paul Drake's night number
so Morey can reach us at any time.

Do you think he's deliberately trying
to avoid seeing anyone?

On the contrary, Della.

Wherever he is,
I think he's got company.

PAUL:
That's all there is on Mr. Fayette.

Arrested three years ago
for bookmaking,

released on a $100 bail.

The case never came up.

MASON:
Good connections, huh?

Solid.

Paul,

I have a feeling that--

That Morey's in this thing
up to his ears.

Worse than that,
he may be in over his head.

The fact is you might wanna
give him back his retainer.

- Why?
- Perry,

do you remember
the Claremont case?

It was in the newspapers
about a year ago.

Mm-hm. Claremont was a cop.

That's right, a young detective.

Here's a picture of him.
We got it from the newspaper files.

He was taken for a ride,
real mob style.

Shot with his own gun
and thrown out on the highway.

MASON:
I recall.

Before he was killed,

Claremont was seen talking
with a bookie named Tom Sedgewick.

After the killing,
this Sedgewick disappeared.

He's wanted right now.
Here's a picture of him.

They never found Claremont's killer,
did they?

They never even found the gun.

That is not until today.

Dixie Dayton's pawn ticket
was a pledge for that gun.

I should've known Tragg
wasn't just visiting that hospital.

So it's homicide.

A special kind of homicide,
a cop killing.

They won't stop till they crack it.

They'll take this town apart
brick by brick.

And if Dixie Dayton pawned that gun,
she knows who killed Claremont.

Exactly.

It just doesn't make sense, Paul.

Whoever killed Claremont
knows that gun is hot.

A lawyer doesn't live
who can get an acquittal

for anyone in possession
of that gun.

That's just the point.

The way this thing stacks up,
nobody can win.

Perry, take my advice,
give Morey back his retainer.

Don't get yourself involved in this.

That would be easy, Paul.

What if he had nothing to do
with Claremont's killing?

[PHONE RINGS]

Yes? Yes, he's here.

It's for you, Perry. It's Della.

Hello, Della.

Have you had any word
from Morey?

No, sir,
but Lieutenant Tragg is here.

He's been waiting for you.

Something about a mink coat.

You have the receipt
from the fur storage company

- where you left the coat?
- Yes.

Give it to Lieutenant Tragg.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Mr. Drake instructed me to ring you
if a call came in.

I have a Morey Allen on the line.

- I'll take the call.
- Yes, sir. Just a moment, please.

Go ahead, Mr. Mason.

- Hello.
- Mr. Mason?

Morey, what kind of a runaround--?

I gotta see you, Mr. Mason.

MASON: I've been trying
to reach you all day.

Tomorrow morning I want you--

Morning could be too late.
I must see you tonight.

What do you mean too late?

MOREY:
Can't talk on the phone.

Please, Mr. Mason,
I need help right now.

If you're in danger, call the police.

I can't.

MASON: Where's Dixie?
- She's with me.

Where are you?

Keymont Hotel. Room 721.

Keymont Hotel.

Room 721.

I'll be right over.

And don't let Dixie out of your sight.

Don't worry. I've got very little choice.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Paul, this is Perry.

I know.
Who else would call me at this hour?

I just heard from Morey Allen.
He's at the Keymont Hotel.

Dixie Dayton's with him.

It sounds like trouble, Paul.
I may need help.

Room 721.

Okay.

I'll be there as fast as I can.

HOXIE: May I help you?
- Any mail or messages?

What room, sir?

The box is empty.

HOXIE: Would you like your key?
- I have it. Thank you.

Well, this is a cosy little trap.

Just like home, if you happen to live
in a dungeon.

I thought Morey Allen
was gonna meet you here.

- What about the girl?
- Come over here.

Somebody was kind enough
to leave a message for us.

How'd you come to find that?

This was on the floor.

Yes.

That woman's lips are smooth.

This lipstick has been rubbed over
a rough surface.

This lipstick led you to the table.

Well, whoever wrote that, had to do it
in a hurry and upside down.

Did you ever try sitting at a table
and writing upside down?

- What's that prove?
- Here. Sit down.

Put this paper against the bottom
of the table.

Now write the word help on it.

- I must have done this wrong.
- No, wait.

Bring it over here
in front of the mirror.

What kids call,
looking-glass writing.

Then that message is a fake.

More commonly known as a trap.

Move over, brother,
I'm in that trap with you.

What kind of trap?

PAUL:
"262 V3L15."

What's the V?

Victory.

Value.

Vulnerable.

Volume.

Volume. Book.

Bible.

No, volume 3.

How about these?

Volume 1, 2, 3.

Phone directory.

Try page 262.

262 V3.

All right.

Two sixty-two. Got it, what's next?

L15.

L could be line.

Granton, Herbert Sydney,
1024 Colinda Avenue.

Herbert Sydney Granton.

Anyone we know?

No, I don't think so.

Wait a minute.

That name.

Sure, listen.

"George Fayette, care of H.S. Granton,
1024 Colinda Avenue."

We got it from police records.

It's the address Fayette gave when
he was picked up for bookmaking.

I'll make book
that Herbert Sydney Granton

and George Fayette
are one and the same.

Maybe they want us to think

that they have Morey and Dixie
at that address.

I have an idea, Paul.

There's a payphone out in the hall.

Call this hotel, ask for Mr. Fayette.

All right, what's the number?

Four.

Keymont Hotel?

This is Cross Continental Airlines,
reservation desk.

Do you have a Mr. George Fayette
registered in room--

Hey, Joe, did you write down
that room number?

I can't read it.

Is there any message?

I have to report a flight cancellation.

Oh, I'll ring him.

Mr. Fayette doesn't answer.
Any message?

No, I'll have to call back.

You've been very helpful.

Glad to be of service.

HOXIE:
Incidentally, that's Room 815.

Thank you, sir.

- Room 815.
- Nice going, Paul.

Fayette's not in his room.

Either that
or he's a very heavy sleeper.

We'll take the chance he's not in. Let's
go to 815 and have a look around.

Fayette?

Yes.

Well, he's shot.

Just once, as far as I can see.

That's all it takes.

Perry, let's call the cops.

This is what Tragg is paid for.

No, wait, Paul. If Tragg knows we've
been here, he'll have to know why.

- I can't tell him that.
- But I have to.

I'm not a lawyer. I don't have
your professional immunity.

It's your duty to answer questions.

You don't have to run around
giving information.

If you wanna make
a fool of yourself--

[DOOR RATTLING]

Shh.

Funny thing, you don't see a fellow
for several weeks,

and then all of a sudden,
you run into him twice in one day.

- This is Sergeant Jaffrey, vice squad.
MASON: Vice squad?

One of his officers
was killed a while back.

- This thing may be tied in with it.
- Claremont case?

- What do you know about Claremont?
MASON: Only what I've been told.

Who told you?

That's confidential.

TRAGG:
Cut the stalling, Mason.

What are you doing in this room?

I don't think that's important.

We decide what's important.

Where do you stand in this?

Don't look at him.
Answer my question.

Perry, you've always played it
right down the middle

and I'm not ready to believe
that you'd cover up for a cop killer.

I'll tell you where we stand

and I expect you to lay it on the line,
everything.

I'd like to know what they're doing
in here with a man that's been shot.

Here's the way it stacks up.

The man who lives next door in 813
heard an argument,

what he thought was a shot.

He phoned the police.

A patrol car answered the call.

They found him
and then notified Homicide.

When I got here, the clerk
was spilling the news to Jaffrey

that you were in 721.

So you left everything alone,
nice and quiet,

to see if we'd find our way up here.

That's the picture, Mason.

That's simple, lieutenant.

I had reason to believe
that Fayette was in this room.

We came in here to talk to him,
found him just as he is.

He's not gonna level with us,
lieutenant.

Where's Morey Allen?

I don't know.

Listen, Tragg,
I'll answer any questions I can.

- But do we have to do it here?
- Why?

You're playing for time, counsellor?

A man's dead.

The least we can do
is show him a little respect.

Okay, Jaffrey,
phone down to the clerk,

see if he has a room we can use.

What's the matter with 721 ?

I've told you, a client phoned me
and asked me to come here.

- Who is the client?
- I can't tell you that.

Mason tell you the name of the client
who phoned him?

I want an answer, yes or no.

Yes.

Who was it?

A year ago, a cop was killed.
A cop, do you understand?

He was knocked off because
he got too close to cheap crooks

who thought they had
this town sewed up.

Somebody in this case
knows who gave it to Claremont

and I mean to find out who it is.

You get in my way
and I'll lean on you.

Now, who was it that called Mason?

I'm afraid I can't tell you that.

- Why, you--
- Hold it, Jaffrey.

- You won't get anywhere that way.
- Yes, he will.

He'll get a chance to face a charge
of intimidating a witness.

Don't scare me, Mr. Mason.

You have a licence to operate
as a detective.

You know as well as I do,
that we can take it away

- if you withhold evidence.
- I know.

I don't care if you go on earning a living
as a private cop or not.

You're gonna make that decision
right now.

All right, Tragg,
you've got all the cards.

I had a call from Morey Allen.
He was with Dixie Dayton.

TRAGG: Here?
- Yes.

- How did you get up to Room 815?
- We found a message.

Where?

Under the tabletop.

It was written there with this lipstick.

You'll find the answer to this jumble
in the phone directory.

Herbert Sydney Granton.

Alias George Fayette.

He was registered here
under the name of Fayette.

Where did you come off
to move this evidence?

As a lawyer, you are supposed
to know better.

Were we supposed to know
in advance

- that a crime had been committed?
JAFFREY: Who says you didn't?

Morey Allen called,
told you he'd killed George Fayette,

then asked you to come over
and help him cover up.

That's exactly how someone wanted it
to look.

Perry, where is Morey Allen
and Dixie Dayton?

- I don't know.
- You're a liar, Mason.

I've had about enough out of you,
sergeant.

Mason, this is more than homicide,
it goes back to a cop killing.

I don't have to tell you what that is.

You're no little old man
whose candy store has been held up

and you're afraid to talk.

We've made a connection between
Dixie Dayton and Tom Sedgewick.

He looks like the man
who killed Claremont.

What makes you so sure
you've got the right people?

Well, if we haven't, we'll find out.

Right now, they're suspects
and I want them.

I want them by noon today.

What happens
if I can't produce them?

I think you can.

As a lawyer,
you're also an officer of the court.

You have a responsibility, Mason.

And if you duck it
or obstruct the police,

you're going to have to face
the consequences.

Meaning what?

If you fail to surrender Dixie Dayton
and Morey Allen,

I'm going to ask
the district attorney

to start disbarment proceedings
against you.

Let's go, Jaffrey.

Della.

DELLA: Hi, Paul.
- Where's Perry?

He's at home asleep.
He said you two had a rough night--

- Will you get him on the phone?
- What's the matter?

The cops just picked up
Morey Allen and Dixie Dayton.

So I'm asking you to represent
Dixie Dayton too, Mr. Mason.

All right, let's start with Dixie Dayton.

Now, what is she to you?

Dixie's sort of a...

Well, she's engaged
to my half brother, Tom Sedgewick.

Where is he?

MOREY: Hiding out.
Dixie knows but she won't tell.

Believe me, we tried to get him
to quit the racket

but he was paying off.
He thought he was safe.

- Where did he get the payoff money?
- Fayette.

He was the go-between
for somebody higher.

About a year ago,
a rookie cop came.

- Claremont?
MOREY: Yeah.

He wanted to use Tom
to get to the top man.

Then Claremont was killed
and Tom left town.

He and Dixie went up to Portland.

Do you think he killed Claremont?

No, of course not.

How do you account
for the gun that killed Claremont

was taken to Portland
by Dixie and Sedgewick?

What?

Take it easy, Morey.

Sit down.

Then Tom really did kill him.

I'm in a real mess.

Why did Dixie and your brother
come back to town?

On account of Tom has TB,
he has to live down here.

But Fayette told him
if he ever came back, it's curtains.

Then the night that I went
to your restaurant, Fayette came in.

Is that why Dixie ran out?

Yeah. She thought they'd torture her
to find out where Tom was.

- Why did she leave the hospital?
- Some woman phoned her,

said she knew who killed Claremont.

Asked Dixie to check
into the Keymont Hotel

and come to Room 815.

Dixie ran out of the hospital
and called me,

asked me to go with her.

And you agreed to that?

It was a long shot
but it just might have been true.

I felt sorry for Dixie, Mr. Mason.

How long could the poor kid
keep running?

So I got hold of a gun just in case.

And you checked into Room 721 ?

Yeah. Pretty soon, I discovered
we were being cased from the outside.

I got panicky and called you.

How did you get out?

Just as I hung up,
two hard characters came in.

One of them pulled a gun.

The other one took my gun away
and left the room.

Did the police tell you that
it was your gun that killed Fayette?

Did you or Dixie leave any message
for me in Room 721 ?

No, I just called you, that's all.

Morey,

did you kill George Fayette?

No, I swear it.

You've gotta believe me, Mr. Mason.

MASON: Who's ever gonna
believe Morey Allen?

What if he's telling the truth?

What if he is?

The important thing is,
it doesn't sound like the truth.

It sounds more like a story cooked up
by a lawyer,

an idiot lawyer at that.

You could take a chance,
put them both on the stand,

and let them spill it.

And send them to the death house?
This is first-degree murder, Paul.

Well, if you can't put them
on the stand

and you can't let them not testify,
what do you do?

Start digging for information.

Paul, I wanna know
how that night clerk found out

how he knew we were in Room 721.

I want to know everything
about Frank Hoxie.

PAUL:
Okay.

I'll need any kind of information
I can use for a line of questioning.

If we can't catch the breaks,
we'll make our own.

Right, Perry.

- What do you want me to do, Perry?
MASON: You, Della?

Why...

You just stick around,
help me worry.

People against Morey Allen
and Dixie Dayton, defendants.

Your Honour, I would like to make
a few preliminary remarks.

Your Honour, I am proceeding jointly
against Morey Allen and Dixie Dayton

on a charge of murder
in the first degree,

the murder of George Fayette.

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

BURGER: I expect to show
that the motivation for this crime

stems from an attempt
to cover up another crime,

the murder of a police officer.

Mr. District Attorney,
you must be aware

that the defendants are called upon
to face only one accusation.

I believe when you've heard
the evidence,

you'll realise that we're justified
in introducing proof of another crime.

Very well, Mr. Burger,
put on your first witness.

State your name, address
and occupation.

Frank Hoxie, Keymont Hotel.
Night clerk.

Mr. Hoxie, are you acquainted
with the defendants in this case?

HOXIE:
Yes, sir, I am.

BURGER:
When and where did you meet them?

At the Keymont Hotel
on the second of this month.

I'd just taken over the desk.

I'd say about 9:30 p.m.,
they came in and asked for a room.

Morey Allen told me, he and his wife
had come into town just for the day

and had decided to stay over.

He registered for them
as Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Martin.

- You assigned them a room?
HOXIE: Yes, sir.

Room 721.

They had no luggage so I asked
for the room rent in advance.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

Was there any other conversation
between you and the defendants?

He asked me if anyone had checked
into 815 that evening.

BURGER: And what did you tell him?
- I said yes.

Can you tell us who it was
that checked in to Room 815?

Yes, sir.

Mr. George Fayette.

The man whose body
was subsequently discovered there.

Yes, sir.

BURGER: Mr. Hoxie, before the
second day of this present month,

had you ever seen either
of the defendants?

No, sir.

I think that's all for now.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Hoxie,
how long have you been employed

as night clerk at the Keymont Hotel?

Three years.

Does that mean that you worked
at the hotel desk regularly every night

for three years?

Yes, except for the time
I was sent to Mexico City

- on business.
- What business?

HOXIE: I had to collect some
money that was owed to the hotel.

- How long were you gone?
HOXIE: About a month.

MASON: When did you leave?
Do you remember?

About a year ago.

I left on a night plane
on the 17th of September.

How do you place the date
so accurately?

HOXIE:
If you worked for the Keymont,

you wouldn't have trouble
remembering you got a free trip

to Mexico City.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

Then you left on the night
of the 17th?

HOXIE: Yes, the manager
called me in his office

and explained
what I was supposed to do.

He gave me money,
told me to get to the airport

and catch the 1:30 plane,
the morning of the 18th.

Frank, have you ever tried to get a job
with any other hotel?

I object, Your Honour.

Does the witness have to give
all the details of his past life?

Can't Mr. Mason confine himself
to relevant questions?

I am not going to limit
counsel's cross-examination.

Objection overruled.

Strike that last question, please?

Mr. Hoxie,

have you ever been convicted
of a felony?

BURGER:
The defence attorney

is needlessly trying to smear
the reputation of this witness.

It serves no purpose.

The question is permissible.

Counsel has the right to try to impeach
this witness if he can.

I will overrule the objection.

I repeat,

have you ever been convicted
of a felony?

Yes.

I did five years.

Armed robbery. San Quentin.

But that was ten years ago.
I've been straight since then.

No arrests or convictions?

I was picked up once on suspicion
but only on account of my record.

And after that?

I finally got a break.

A law officer sympathised with me.
He told me he had a friend

who managed the Keymont Hotel,
who'd get me a job

and they wouldn't worry about my--
My background.

This law officer who helped you,
he's kept in touch with you?

Yes, sir.

- He checks up on you periodically?
- Yes.

Now, Frank,

you've testified that you're...

You have a very clear memory

on the circumstances
of your trip to Mexico.

Yes, sir, I have a very good memory.

MASON:
Would you say that you have

a good memory for faces?

HOXIE:
Very good.

I show you this photograph.

Now, I ask you,

have you ever seen
this man before?

Yes.

Will you tell this court
where you saw this man

and under what circumstances?

The night I left for Mexico.

He went up to see a guest
at the hotel.

- Who was this guest he went to see?
- He was a regular tenant.

- What was his name?
- George Fayette.

The man who was murdered.

MASON:
If it please the court,

I place in evidence a photograph
of Officer Robert Claremont,

who was murdered in this city
a year ago.

Your Honour, Frank Hoxie's testimony
has brought to light certain facts

which may lead us
to a quick conclusion of this trial.

I ask the court's indulgence
and I request a one-hour adjournment

in order to assemble new
and important evidence.

JUDGE:
Very well, counsellor.

Court will recess for one hour.

Defendants are remanded
to custody.

Paul,

get down to the Hall of Records,

dig up everything you can
on the Keymont Hotel.

- If it's a corporation, who's behind it.
- A hunch?

I've gotta find out why a third-rate hotel
would send a clerk to Mexico

- to collect a bill.
- Where will you be?

- The office. Call me as you get it.
- Right, Perry.

MASON:
Excuse me.

Lieutenant, can I see you
for a minute?

- Go ahead.
- Yeah, I guess so.

Well, this is it, Paul.

One more thing, be sure and have
that handwriting expert in court.

Right, Perry.

Oh, Jaffrey.

I'd like to talk to you, Mason.

I haven't got much time.
I'm due back in court in a few minutes.

How come the office is empty?

One of my stenographers
is getting married.

They're giving her a luncheon.

Now, what can I do for you?

A little while ago,
back there in court,

it sounded to me like maybe
you have this Claremont case on ice.

Well, I'm glad you were listening.

- Do you know who killed him?
- Why?

Well, it's kind of a personal thing
with me.

You see,
Bob Claremont was one of my boys.

It would mean a good deal to me
if I could bring in his killer.

- Promotion?
- No, I don't care about that.

Then why don't you make it easy
on yourself.

How?

Give up.

What are you talking about?

You killed Claremont
and you killed Fayette

or you had him killed.

Mason, are you out of your mind?

Claremont was an honest cop
doing his job.

He got a lead on you
through Tom Sedgewick.

He went to the Keymont Hotel
to find you, remember?

Are-- Are you trying to frame me
to take the heat off your client?

You were in Fayette's room
the night Claremont went there.

I was nowhere near that hotel.

You're lying, Jaffrey.

Your protégé, Frank Hoxie, testified
that Claremont was at the hotel.

Eventually, he's gonna tell us
that you were there too.

Hoxie, a con like Hoxie
will say anything under pressure.

You had him sent on a phoney trip
to Mexico for a month.

You had him kept there
till the case died out of the papers.

You never give up, do you?

That was a pretty smart
insurance policy you had figured out,

planting a dead policeman's gun
on Sedgewick, an innocent man.

Save it, Mason. You're nowhere.

You were safe as long as Sedgewick
was a fugitive

but he came back.

Now why Fayette was killed?

Because he got panicky
when Dixie Dayton got away?

I never saw George Fayette
in my life.

I never even knew he existed
until the night he was killed.

What's that?

A receipt you signed when you took
the record of Fayette's arrest

for bookmaking out
of the Police Department's files.

Look, I'm a cop.

I take hundreds of records
out of the file every day

and I sign receipts for them.

It's part of my job.

Mason, you're wasting my time.

Mr. Wilson.

Is it part of your job
to own the Keymont Hotel?

A copy of the incorporation papers
with your signature.

You can change your name, Jaffrey,
but not your handwriting.

[DOOR SHUTS]

Put it away, Jaffrey.

You're through.
You've got no place to hide.

Let me worry about that.

You put a lot of pieces together,
Mason,

but you aren't going anywhere
with it.

How do you expect to stop me?

Easy.

I'm going to arrest you for trying
to bribe me into perjuring myself.

Think you can make it stick?

I don't have to.

You're gonna resist me

and I'll have to shoot you
in the line of duty.

All they gotta do is half-believe me
and I'm home.

Hold it, Jaffrey.

[GUNSHOTS]

Okay, lieutenant.

Wasn't one cop enough,
you miserable...

MASON: You all right, Tragg?
- Yeah.

Just sick to my stomach
at the sight of him.

You work hard at your job.

You try to take pride
in what you're doing,

and then a fink like this
comes along

and makes a rotten thing
out of his badge.

Here, I'd better call an ambulance.

Yeah, call an ambulance.

Don't hurry.

It's too bad
Tragg couldn't come with us.

Oh, he has a job to do.

It'll take days
just to get Sedgewick's statement.

And Jaffrey had a lot
of rackets going.

Yeah, he was a tough one, all right.

And careless.

That night at the Keymont Hotel

when we showed him
the lipstick message, he slipped.

How did he give himself away?

He wasn't curious.

He knew it was there
because he put it there,

so he didn't bother
to walk across the room

and look at it again for our benefit.

Come to think of it, he didn't.

After that,
came something more basic.

Paul, the last thing
a police officer would let you do

is take his gun away from him.

He'd rather be killed fighting it out.

But he would turn his gun over
to another officer who outranked him.

And Jaffrey
was Claremont's superior.

Oh, enjoy your dinner, folks?

- Fine.
- Wonderful, Morey.

How about a little dessert?

I might just find room
for a piece of pie and coffee.

Ice cream for me, Morey. Chocolate.

Right, how about you, Mr. Mason?

Oh, anything and coffee.

Anything?

Anything but a moth-eaten mink.

[ALL CHUCKLING]

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