All language subtitles for Perry Mason s01e34 Gilded Lily.e

[SIGHS]

Well.

[SOFTLY]
Hey, Enid. Are you awake?

Enid?

Enid!

Enid?

Operator.

Operator, this is an emergency.

How is she, doctor?

Your roommate is a very lucky girl,
Miss Bowers.

- Who's the man?
- Man?

Isn't that why Miss Griffin
tried to commit suicide?

Oh, no, it was an accident.
No, honest, doctor. Enid's been--

Well, she's been having trouble
sleeping lately

and I guess maybe she got
desperate and took too many pills.

Oh, they won't have to put this
in the papers, will they?

Well, I'll have to file a report, but I don't
think the papers will pick it up.

Thanks, doctor.
Oh, can she go to work tomorrow?

I don't see why not.

If you run into any difficulty,
give me a ring.

Thanks, doctor.

- Good night.
- Good night.

How could he do it, Sheila?

Just because our boss got married

that doesn't mean
it's the end of the world.

It is for me.

Enid, Mr. Charles Stewart Brent
is your employer, not your boyfriend.

You work for the man,
you don't own him.

He was so kind.

And so considerate.

And after his first wife died we got

to be so close.

You saw that yourself.

Enid, get down from the clouds
and face facts.

Kindness and consideration
aren't exactly

symptoms of passion, you know.

And you better remember that before
he gets back to the office next week.

He was trapped, I know it.

And I'm not...

Not gonna give up.

I'm-- I'm going to go on fighting.

Enid, honey, will you listen to me?

I must have been

crazy to try what I did.

It would just make things
easier for her.

I won't do that again.

Going to be a long day, darling.

Good morning, Mr. Brent,
and congratulations.

- She sure is pretty.
- Thanks, George.

- Perry.
- Good to see you, Brent.

And congratulations.

Thanks. I'm anxious
to have you meet Anne.

We're having a party Tuesday night.
We'd love to have you and Miss Street.

- Count on us.
- I won't hold you up.

- I know you're busy.
- I'll see you.

Good morning, Sheila.

Good morning, Mr. Brent,
and congratulations.

Thank you.

- Will you tell Enid I'm in?
- Yes, sir.

Oh, may I help you?

I'd like to see Mr. Brent.

May I have your name, please?

Arthur Binney.

Will you please have a seat?

Mr. Brent's secretary is out
at the moment,

but she'll be back in a minute.

Morning, Enid.

Good morning.

Meet my new boss.

Beautiful, isn't she?

By the way,

did you get my wire about making
arrangements for the reception?

Yes, it's all taken care of.

Oh, and there's a Mr. Arthur Binney
waiting to see you.

Binney?

Can't you handle him?

He said it was a personal matter.
Something to do with Mrs. Brent.

All right, send him in.

Mr. Brent?

That's right.

Can't tell you how happy this makes
me. I've heard a lot about you.

Well, I don't wanna be rude,
Mr. Binney, but I am a busy man.

Sure you are.

I'll come right to the point.

My partner and I are planning
a little business venture,

and we thought you might
like to buy some space.

Just how does this
concern my wife?

My partner and I were planning
a series of articles

on the wives of prominent people.

We thought that Mrs. Brent
would make an interesting story,

particularly with, uh, mug shots
and fingerprints.

What do you mean?

We thought it'd make
a nice three-page spread.

Blackmail.

I wish you wouldn't talk that way,
Mr. Brent.

I'm just trying to sell a little
advertising space.

BRENT [OVER INTERCOM]:
A three-page spread?

How much?

BINNEY:
Ten thousand dollars a page.

Oh, it's not expensive
considering our circulation.

Just what has my wife supposed
to have done?

Well, she had this jewellery
that was insured.

She made the mistake of pawning it
and then reporting it stolen.

Police take a very dim view
of those kind of tactics.

I'm gonna want some time
to look into this.

Sure. Take all the time you want.

Don't want you to think
we're rushing you.

You can, uh, keep those mug shots
if you like.

We have others.

Just a minute.

How do I get in touch with you?

You don't.

I'll get in touch with you.

In exactly a week.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Yes, Mr. Brent?

Enid, get me the
Paul Drake Detective Agency.

If he's not in, his telephone
answering service can locate him.

Yes, Mr. Brent.

Could that be a forgery?

Could be.

There's an easy way to find out.

Ask Mrs. Brent.

Now, look, Mr. Drake,
I'm in love with my wife.

I'm not looking for a divorce.

How much do you know
of your wife's background?

Well, actually not much.

We only met two weeks ago
in Las Vegas. Heh.

It was like getting caught up
in a cyclone.

Well, I'll check it out.

It'd help if I had samples
of her fingerprints

to compare with this police file.

I'm having a wedding reception
in my penthouse tomorrow night.

- Maybe you could arrange to be there.
- I'll be there.

I know I don't have to remind you
to keep this thing quiet.

Don't worry.

Mr. Brent,
may I give you some advice?

Like what?

Blackmail, like cancer,
needs radical treatment.

If I were you, I'd see a lawyer.

I'll keep it in mind.

- Goodbye.
- Thank you.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PIANO PLAYING MELLOW MUSIC]

Darling, I'd like to have you meet
Perry Mason.

- How do you do?
- How do you do, Mr. Mason?

I've always wanted to meet
my husband's most famous tenant.

Infamous might be a better word.
Have you met my secretary?

Yes. I envy you, Miss Street.

You must have
a most fascinating job.

Oh, it is.
Just don't ask me about the hours.

- Mm. Will you excuse me a moment?
- Certainly.

Donald, I think you're putting too much
vermouth in these martinis.

The other Mrs. Brent preferred serving
her martinis a little on the sweet side.

How delightfully old-fashioned.

Will you please make up
a fresh batch?

I do hope
you're not annoyed with me.

No, I'm not annoyed, Mrs. Brent.

Besides, what difference
does it make?

- I'm just your husband's secretary.
- That's no way to talk, Enid.

Why, Stewart does nothing
but rave about you.

You won't blame me
if I'm a little bit jealous.

Why don't we sit down
and have a little chat?

Well, what about your other guests?

Oh, pooh on my other guests.
I'd much sooner get to know you.

- Bored?
- No, just hungry.

What do you think of our hostess?

Attractive.
And she has a mind of her own.

Instinct?

Observation.

She just had a mild skirmish
with Brent's girl Friday.

I didn't know Paul
was a social butterfly.

Mrs. Brent,
you're missing an earring.

I know. I left it in the music room.

How very observant of you.

Heh. Mr. Brent says
that I never miss a thing.

Maybe he's minding the silver.

- Do I need glasses?
- Maybe we both do.

By the way, Perry,
are you interested in music?

Why?

I'd like to show you
the wedding present I gave.

Sounds interesting.

- Mind if Della joins us?
- This way.

- Nice?
- Beautiful.

[PLAYING ORGAN]

Like the tone?

Very nice. But you didn't bring me
in here just so you could play.

That's right.

Look, Perry.
A very close friend of mine

is having trouble with one
of those scandal magazines.

Apparently,
they've uncovered some dirt.

Probably false,
but they threaten to publish it.

They promise to hold the press and
sell him the story if he buys space?

My friend asked me for advice,
I promised I'd mention it to you.

I advise your friend to go
to the police.

What about the scandal?

Unfortunately,
your friend should realise

that scandal, like murder, will out.

- I can see that but--
- I'm terribly sorry. Am I intruding?

BRENT:
Not at all, darling.

I think I left one of my earrings
in here.

Was that it?

Thank you.

You should be ashamed
of yourself.

Monopolising Mr. Mason
and Miss Street.

I do want you to meet all our
other guests.

I'd be delighted.

BRENT: That you, Drake?
- Yeah.

I'm in here.

- Well?
- I'm afraid it's no good, Mr. Brent.

Mrs. Brent's fingerprints
on that matchbox

check out with the police bulletin.

As you can see by these photos,
I've listed 15 points of similarity.

In court you only need 12.

Anything further on her record?

Came in this morning.

She was convicted in Tacoma
six years ago.

Under the name of Ann King.

She served a year in prison.

Thanks, Mr. Drake.
Just send me a bill.

Sorry, Mr. Brent.

[PHONE RINGS]

Brent speaking.

At least you'll admit
I'm a man of my word.

I promised to give you a week.

My partner wants to know
if you've decided to buy that space.

I have the money in cash.

Good.

Now, why don't you just drive out
Ventura Boulevard to Angelus.

There's a motel on the corner
called the Valley Motel.

You go in and register
and I'll see you around 9.

How will you know
which unit I'm in?

That's simple.

You register under the name
of Thomas Walsh.

Better get a move on, sweetie.
He'll be here in half an hour.

Why can't I stay in here?

I told you a dozen times, sweetie,
we can't take the chance.

Now, be a good girl
and get a move on.

I'll call you
as soon as I get the cash.

WOMAN:
Night.

Night, baby.

Let's see. His was--
Last time out came in 8th.

When he runs in the mud...
Oh, that's no good.

[PHONE BUZZES]

Valley Motel.

Who? Mr. Reed?

Yeah, he's in Unit 4.
Wait a minute, I'll connect you.

Oh, good evening.

- I'd like a room.
- We can fix you up all right.

You don't mind sharing
a bathroom?

- Not if it's necessary.
- Well.

Mr. Walsh.

- Well, we got your reservation, yeah.
- Good.

How long did it take to drive
from San Francisco?

- About eight hours.
- Eight hours.

That's quite a trip.
Now, here's a nice room here, Unit 8.

This is a room that's spotless.

I just finished painting it myself
this afternoon.

And you wanna know something?
There's no smell from this paint.

The new paint they're
turning out now is marvellous.

And I always say give your customer
a good clean place to live in.

They'll come back again and again.

That's very interesting.
Could I have the key?

- Be glad to show you over.
- That won't be necessary.

- How much is it?
- Five dollars.

Checkout time is 11 a.m.

Oh, say, Mr. Walsh?
Do you believe in hunches?

There's a horse running here
in Santa Anita called Walsh's Pride.

I'm gonna put 2 bucks on his nose.

[LAUGHS]

No sense of humour.

[BODY THUDS]

[CLATTERING]

[PHONE RINGING]

MITCHELL:
Mr. Binney?

Mr. Binney?

Mr. Binney?

This yours?

What about the briefcase?

That's mine too.

Then how do you explain
the initials C.S.B.?

My name is Charles Stewart Brent.

And yet you registered under
the name of Thomas Walsh.

How well did you know
Arthur Binney?

Well enough to kill him.

You realise what you're saying,
Mr. Brent?

Exactly.

If you'd care to,
I'll dictate a statement.

Well, I... I'd like that very much.

Suppose you'll make it
at headquarters.

[PHONE RINGS]

Lieutenant Tragg?

There's a phone call for you.
A Mr. Hamilton Burger.

I'll be right back.

Would you let me have a cigarette?

DISPATCHER [OVER RADIO]:
2518 Code, 7 Station.

Thanks.

And 344, that's an eighth of a mile
east of the Mission Valley overpass.

All right, let's go.

[ENGINE STARTS]

I don't believe it.

I don't believe one word.

All I can tell you, Mrs. Brent, is
that I spoke with your husband

not more than an hour ago.

And he says he killed this man?

No. What possible motive
could Stewart have?

Your husband claims Binney
had proof

he was involved in a hit-run
accident eight months ago.

- Binney was blackmailing him?
- That's right.

Oh, no.

No, it's not true.

Why, even if it were,
why should Stewart kill him?

He could have bought him off.

That was Binney's idea.

But Stewart says
he wouldn't stand for it.

And the police didn't find a penny
in that motel room.

No. You can never get me
to believe that.

Whatever possessed Stewart
to make up such a story?

Isn't that obvious?

He must be shielding someone.

Have you any idea
who this someone could be?

No.

Did you know Arthur Binney?

- Of course not.
- Are you sure?

I resent that.

Your husband's in serious trouble,
Mrs. Brent.

He could very easily wind up
in the gas chamber.

He admits Binney
was blackmailing him.

But I'm sure Stewart's never
done anything wrong in his life.

Can you say as much for yourself?

You know, I've got a feeling

that Binney was playing
both sides of the street.

Just what does that mean?

I think he was blackmailing both you
and your husband.

- Well, I can't speak for my husband.
- But he was blackmailing you?

Yes.

He knew I served a year for defrauding
an insurance company.

Were you guilty?

I could say no,
but it wouldn't be true.

I needed money desperately
at the time.

Oh, I know that's no excuse.

But I'd like to think I paid
for what I did.

How did Binney find out about you?

I have no idea.

He threatened to go to Stewart.
I couldn't afford it.

So I paid him.

In cash?

No, I gave him a pair
of diamond earrings.

They were worth $2,500.

And you didn't go out
to the Valley Motel last night?

You have my word, Mr. Mason.

For what it's worth.

Mrs. Brent, I just got the news.

I went down to police headquarters,
they wouldn't let me see him.

Mr. Mason,
you've just got to do something.

Mr. Mason
will do everything he can.

That's a promise, Mrs. Brent.

I'll see there's no trouble the next time
you wanna see Mr. Brent.

BRENT:
That dirty swine. He deserved killing.

No one deserves killing, Brent.
Let's stop that right now.

But he was blackmailing
my wife too.

That shouldn't be
a complete shock to you.

- You must've thought she killed him.
- No.

Then what else
could've made you confess?

What did you find in Binney's room
that seemed to indict your wife?

That night I went to the motel room,
Binney hit me from behind.

- How did you know it was Binney?
- I just assumed it was, that's all.

Anyway, when I regained
consciousness,

I went in the bathroom to wash up.
And that's when I saw my gun.

- It was wrapped in a little hand towel.
- Go on.

Well, then I walked into the
adjoining room and saw Binney. Dead.

Near the body was one
of my wife's diamond earrings.

You remember. The kind she
misplaced at the party.

What did you do with the earring?

I wrapped it in the towel and hid it
in Lieutenant Tragg's police car

when they were taking me
to headquarters.

Where did you hide it?

In back of the rear seat.

Can you prove you drew the payoff
money out of the bank?

Well, Enid Griffin,
my secretary, can.

She made the withdrawal for me.

I just hope you've been
telling me the truth, Mr. Brent.

We've got
an awfully tough row to hoe.

It's the darndest thing, Perry,

but all I can find out
about this guy Binney

is that he came down here
from Tacoma about three weeks ago.

What about his background?

Seems to have made a career
out of these scandal magazines,

but he's never published
a single copy.

Obviously,
he was always bought off.

What about partners?

According to my information,
he always worked solo.

Yet he definitely told Brent
he had a partner.

I know, but I can't help it.

Sorry to bother you, Perry,
but Enid Griffin's here.

- Well, I'll be moving along.
- Keep digging, Paul.

All right, Della.
Better have her come in.

Right. Will you come in,
Miss Griffin?

Thank you.

MASON:
Won't you sit down?

[DOOR CLOSES]

Doesn't look good, does it?

Well, it doesn't look that bad.

You're just trying
to make me feel better.

- Mr. Brent did not kill Binney.
- Well, I don't think he did either.

You've got a 50 percent chance
of being right.

Did you withdraw $30,000

from Mr. Brent's personal account
on May 17?

Yes, I did and I brought
the bankbook to prove it.

Now, what are you going to do
about the towel?

What towel?

The one that Mr. Brent
hid in the police car.

Who told you about that?

He did.

I went back to the jail after I saw you
and they let me in.

You've got to get it
before the police do.

That's impossible, Miss Griffin.

First of all, if such a towel exists,
it must be evidence

and should be turned over
to the authorities. Secondly--

Look, I don't want to hear any
of your legal mumbo jumbo.

All I know is Mr. Brent
can go to the gas chamber.

Don't give me
your legal technicalities.

Those technicalities are designed
for the protection of us all.

Look, are you going to get that stuff
out of Lieutenant Tragg's car or not?

[DOOR SLAMS]

DISPATCHER: Unit 344, on Mission
Valley Road. One-eighth mile east of--

Happy birthday, lieutenant.

- What'd you say?
- Happy birthday.

- Well, ain't it?
- Where'd you get that idea?

- That girl.
- What girl?

The blond. She was here an hour
ago and she said she was your niece.

- Go on.
- Well, it'll kind of spoil the surprise.

I'll take my chances.
What did she want?

She had a gift for you and she wanted
to put it in your car.

- Did you let her?
- No, sir.

I told her it was against regulations.
She seemed upset.

Well, I should wonder.

Let's see if my hunch is right.

Washington, state your name.

Unit 7, come in.

Correction: Unit 3, come in.

Thirty-three, disregard--

Let's try the back.

Mission Valley and--

Here, give me a hand.

On the east side of 395 by Cherry
Road and Tennessee at 11:48.

And that's the spot
where the cops found the body.

Oh, the police took a bullet
out over there.

How long had
Mr. Binney lived here?

MITCHELL: Well, let's see.
He checked in-- I think it was the 8th.

Said he was from Tacoma and was
supposed to be a lingerie salesman.

- Did he ever have any visitors?
- Only that blond.

Oh?

What blond was that?

Well, the same one I saw him
drive in with a couple of times.

Would you recognise her
if you saw her again?

I might, but to tell you the truth, I didn't
pay too much attention to her.

Was she here on the night
of the murder?

Well, I honestly couldn't say.

You were the one who discovered
my client near the body.

That's right.

What brought you down here?
Did you hear the shot?

No. I tell you,
I wondered why Mr. Binney

hadn't answered the phone.
I hadn't seen him go out.

Do you know who called him?

Some dame. Uh...

Pardon me.

It was the same one that called him
practically every day.

- But she never left her name?
- No, sir.

Well, thank you, uh, very much,
Mr. Mitchell.

Well, thank you.

Thank you. Ha.

Yes, sir.

Where you going?

Over to see Mrs. Brent.

- I'm worried about her.
- Heh.

- What's so funny?
- Oh, nothing. Nothing.

Oh, now look, Sheila--

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

- Oh, Mr. Mason.
- Good evening, Enid.

May I come in?

Of course, come on in.

I don't know if you know my roommate,
Sheila Bowers.

I believe we met once
in Mr. Brent's office.

- How are you, Sheila?
- I'm fine.

You'll have to pardon
my appearance.

I should apologise for disturbing you.

Well, it's perfectly all right.
Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Ahem. Well, uh, if you'll excuse me,
I'll change my clothes.

Excuse me.

I know I should apologise for the way
I behaved in the office the other day.

It was perfectly understandable.

You were under a strain.

- How's Mr. Brent?
- All right.

You don't think anything really
will happen to him, do you?

Well, it will.

Unless we can find someone
who had a better motive to kill Binney.

What do you think of Mrs. Brent?

- What do I think of her?
- As a person, I mean.

Well, I think Mr. Brent was very lucky
to have found someone like her.

I think she's a wonderful,
charming woman.

Do you think
she might've killed Binney?

Absolutely not.

And you don't feel she married
Mr. Brent for his money?

No.

But you do know her past
is a trifle shady.

No.

Didn't you overhear Binney
and Mr. Brent talking on the intercom?

That's what Mr. Brent told me.

Well, I figured
there was nothing to it.

All you have to do is look at Mrs. Brent
to see what a nice person she is.

Thank you very much, Enid.

You've been very helpful.

Heh. I don't see how.

Say goodbye to Sheila for me.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

There's a phone call for you.

- Who?
- She wouldn't say,

but she claims she has some
information on the Brent case.

Line 2.

- Hello?
WOMAN: Mr. Mason?

Yes, who is this?

I don't think names really matter,
do they?

Well, what can I do for you?

Nothing. I just thought maybe
I could do something for you.

You go to trial tomorrow, don't you?

Yes.

Well, before you do,

you ought to check the police files
on Mr. Brent's private secretary.

Did you know she tried to commit
suicide because of him?

No, I didn't. When was this?

The day after he got married.

You, uh, might find
there's a connection.

We will show you ladies and
gentlemen of the jury a statement,

which the defendant voluntarily
made and signed,

in which he confesses
to the murder of Arthur Binney.

Then we will prove to you that
the defendant, Charles Stewart Brent,

is indeed guilty of this crime
of murder and in the first degree.

Mr. Mason?

The defence reserves
its opening statement

until the prosecution rests,
Your Honour.

Very well, gentlemen.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

I call Miss Enid Griffin
to the stand, please.

MAN:
Miss Enid Griffin, please.

Yes, this is Mr. Brent's briefcase.

If it please the court, I should like this
marked for exhibit.

Miss Griffin,

were you in your office on May 15

when Arthur Binney first visited
Mr. Brent?

- Yes.
- Would you describe their discussion.

I object, Your Honour.

This is calling for the rankest form
of hearsay.

If it please the court,
this is not hearsay at all.

Miss Griffin knows about
that conversation

from her personal knowledge
as I shall shortly prove.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Miss Griffin, do you have
an interoffice communication system

between your office and that of your
employer, Mr. Brent?

- Yes.
- And on the occasion

of Arthur Binney's first
visit to Mr. Brent,

was the key to the intercom
turned up

so that you could overhear
the conversation?

I don't remember.

Well, let me refresh your memory.

Did you visit my office on Tuesday?

- Yes.
- Did I show you that time a statement

dictated by your employer Mr. Brent
in which he said

the key was turned up?

- Yes.
- And did you admit to me

that it was true and that you did
overhear that conversation?

Yes.

Well, all right.

I ask you again.
What did Mr. Binney say?

He said that he wanted $30,000
from Mr. Brent.

He said if he didn't get it,

he would expose Mrs. Brent.

Expose Mrs. Brent? How?

In a magazine.

He knew she had served
a prison sentence.

Thank you. Your witness.

Miss Griffin,

on May 17th,
did you make a withdrawal of $30,000

from Mr. Brent's personal account
at State National Savings and Loan?

I did.

At the time Mr. Brent
got this money,

was it your understanding he intended
to pay the blackmailer or kill him?

I object, Your Honour. It calls for
a conclusion not based on the facts.

Objection sustained.

You will refrain from this type
of questioning, counsellor.

I'm sorry, Your Honour.

I have no further questions.

- The witness may--
- If it please the court,

I have one question
for this witness on redirect.

Miss Griffin,

we've heard you testify that you
withdrew $30,000

for Mr. Brent from his bank account
on the day of the murder.

But to your own personal knowledge,

do you know whether he took that
money with him to the Valley Motel?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, as far as you know, he may
have hidden it someplace.

Well, then why would he
take it out of the bank?

In order to give himself an alibi.

I have no further question
for this witness, Your Honour.

You may step down, Miss Griffin.

I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.

Lieutenant, does this appear to you
to be an accurate diagram

of the two motel units in question?

- Yes, sir.
- This is Unit 8.

And this is Unit 9
where the dead body was found?

- That's right.
- Now, lieutenant,

did you conduct any investigation

with regard to the course
taken by the fatal bullet?

Yes, I did. With the help
of Dr. Cortley of the crime lab.

What was the nature
of the investigation?

Well, first we determined
by various tests

that the killer was approximately
ten feet away from the victim.

Then we determined the direction
by a shot track.

I see. Would you step over to the chart
please, lieutenant?

Would you explain to the court what
you mean when you say "shot track"?

You stretch a string along
the calculated path of the bullet.

We knew the angle at which
the bullet entered the wall

after passing through
the victim's body.

And would you point out to the jury,
please, on this diagram,

where you believe the killer stood
when the fatal shot was fired?

TRAGG:
Right there.

BURGER: You think he shot through
the connecting door from Unit 8.

TRAGG:
Yes, sir.

BURGER: Unit 8 is the one
that was rented by the defendant

under the fictitious name
of Thomas Walsh?

TRAGG:
That's right.

Oh, would you resume the stand,
please, lieutenant?

Now, I ask
if you recognise this towel.

- Yes, I do.
- And this earring?

- Yes, that was wrapped in the towel.
- Easy does it.

I see. I would like these marked
for exhibit.

Please hand these to the clerk.

How'd they find it?

Now, lieutenant,

would you describe for us
how you discovered this property?

Yes, it was hidden under
the back seat of my car.

Did you try to trace its ownership?

- Well, now may I use my notebook?
- Please do.

The, uh--

It was purchased by the defendant,
Stewart Brent, from Dorf and Cole.

And did Stewart Brent, the defendant,
ever ride in the back seat of your car?

Yes, sir.
We drove him to headquarters

on the night of the murder.

Thank you, lieutenant. Your witness.

Uh, may I?

Thank you.

Now, lieutenant, I believe
earrings customarily come in pairs.

- Is that correct?
- Yes, sir.

- Did you find the mate to this one?
- No. No, sir.

I assume you searched
the motel room thoroughly.

- We certainly did.
- And did you thoroughly search

the defendant too?

Well, a-- Preliminary, say.

And you didn't find the towel
or the earring?

Well, I found them in my car.

- How long after the crime?
- Oh, about 48 hours.

And during those intervening
48 hours,

isn't it possible that someone else

might have planted
that evidence in your car?

Yes, sir.

It's possible. Not probable.

Now, lieutenant,
let's turn our attention to the gun.

- Isn't this rather a noisy weapon?
- It does make a noise.

Yet, strangely enough,

no one in the motel heard the report.

Well, a silencer of some kind
might've, uh, been used on it.

Did you find any such silencer
in either motel room?

No. No, sir.

Thank you, lieutenant. That's all.

You may step down, lieutenant.

I call Dr. Otto Cortley.

MAN:
Dr. Otto Cortley.

BURGER: Dr. Cortley,
would you please tell the jury

what textbooks you've been
responsible for editing?

Burke's Criminal Investigation
23rd Edition,

Spiro's Forensic Medicine,

Danby's Detection of Murder.

I'm also a consultant
of the police crime lab.

If the court please, we are all aware
of Dr. Cortley's reputation

and stipulate his admission as expert
witness subject to cross-examination.

Dr. Cortley,
I show you now this towel.

And ask if you recognise it.

I do. It was brought to me, uh,
May 20th

by Lieutenant Tragg
for a detailed analysis.

Would you tell the jury, please,
the result of that detailed analysis?

The laundry mark in
the upper right-hand corner

will indicate that the towel
is the property of the Valley Motel.

Now, the towel's been used
for normal cleansing purposes

as you can tell
from the traces of lipstick.

If the court please, this is wholly
irrelevant and immaterial.

Mr. Burger?

My next question will establish
the relevancy, Your Honour.

JUDGE:
Proceed.

What else did you find, doctor?

There is a bullet hole in the towel

which, along with the presence
of nitrite and smokeless powder,

indicates that the towel
has also been used as a silencer.

Thank you, doctor. Cross-examine.

Now, Dr. Cortley,
you said you found traces of nitrite

and smokeless powder
on this towel?

- I did.
- And you also found traces of lipstick?

- Yes, sir.
- Can you tell us what kind of lipstick?

I can.

It is a shade called Hibiscus Red.

It is made by Duval Freres.

Did you find anything else
on this towel?

Well, there were some minute hair
particles that adhered to the surface.

Did you make a classification
to determine

whether they were human hairs?

Yes, sir. They were human hairs.

Did you subject these hairs
to a microscopic analysis?

- I did.
- What did they tell you

about the person who used this?

Well, from the structure and size
of the hair,

I should say that the woman that
used this towel was in her early 30s.

She is a habitual user
of peroxide ammonia.

And the hair endings indicate that
she was originally a light brunette.

Let me ask you this, doctor.

Did you personally view
the scene of the crime?

I did.

And you watched as Lieutenant Tragg
made a shot track

to determine
from where the shot came?

Yes, sir.
It was remarkably well done.

I'm sure it was.

But in all these things,
isn't there a chance of error?

- Yes.
- Could it be off, say, four or five feet?

It could.

May I have that diagram
of the motel, please?

Thank you, doctor.

[MAN COUGHS]

Thank you.

Now, doctor, let us take
a hypothetical case.

Suppose there was a blond
hiding in the bathroom

of a motel room
very much like this one.

And that a body were found
right over here.

Is it possible that this
hypothetical blond

could've fired the shot
from the bathroom like so?

So that the bullet would still wind up
in here as revealed by a shot track?

It is possible, Mr. Mason.

MASON: That's all I ask.
Thank you, Dr. Cortley.

Mr. Burger?

Oh, I'm sorry, Your Honour.

No redirect.

You may step down, doctor.

Since it is almost 5:00,

if counsel has no objection,
I would like to suggest that we adjourn.

- I have no objection, Your Honour.
- Nor have I, Your Honour.

Very well. This court stands adjourned
till 10:00 tomorrow morning.

What the devil is keeping Paul?

- He should've been here an hour ago.
PAUL: Speak of the devil.

Well, what did you find out?

Your informant was right.

Enid Griffin did try to commit suicide
the day after Brent was married.

Nothing about it in the papers.

- Did you get the pictures?
- Mm-hm.

Very blond and very pretty.

That is Mrs. Brent

Enid Griffin,

Sheila Bowers.

Have copies made of these
and send them to your man in Seattle.

See if any of these women
served time eight years ago.

We, uh, know that Anne Brent did.

I know, but don't tell your man that.
Let him find out for himself.

Take this set over to Mitchell
at the Valley Motel.

He'll probably testify tomorrow.

I'd like him
to look these girls over carefully.

Well, he's already seen them
in court.

Yes, but he wasn't
concentrating on them.

When dealing with someone
impressionable, it's surprising

how much more they can remember
by looking at a photograph.

Such as?

Well, just ask him if any of these three
blonds visited Binney at the motel.

As a matter of fact, don't let him
commit himself right off.

Let him sleep on it.

I'll be perfectly satisfied
if he's made up his mind

- by the time he takes the stand.
- Right.

Mr. Mitchell, you're the night manager
of the Valley Motel on Ventura?

That's right.

Would you tell us please what
happened on the evening of May 17th?

Well, around 9:30--
Is that the part you want

or you want me to tell you
about what happened all day?

No, no, that's right.
Just start at 9:30.

Well, like I was saying, about 9:30,
some lady called Mr. Binney.

I rang his room,
but there was no answer.

I thought it seemed kind of funny
because I didn't see him go out.

So I went around to his room
to check.

And when you looked in Unit 9
what did you see?

I saw him standing over
near the body.

By "him," you mean
Stewart Brent, the defendant.

Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Mitchell, the defence has
made much of a hypothetical blond.

Did you see any such woman
in Unit 9?

- No, sir.
- Was she in Unit 8?

Well, if she was,
I certainly didn't see her.

And would you have seen her if she'd
been in the adjoining bathroom?

I sure would.

That's all, Mr. Mitchell.
Cross-examine.

Now, Mr. Mitchell,

when you first saw the defendant
in Unit 9, was he holding the gun?

- Yes, sir.
- And what did you do?

I ran to call the cops.
Uh, excuse me, I mean the police.

But you said the defendant
had a gun in his hand.

- Did he try to stop you?
- No, sir.

Now, getting back to the deceased,
Mr. Binney.

How long had he been a guest
at the Valley Motel?

Close on to three weeks.

- Did Mr. Binney have any visitors?
- Only one.

You mean this person
only appeared once?

It was just that same dame, um--
Ahem.

Same blond. She was the only one
that used to come to see him.

How often did she visit
the deceased?

Two or three times a week.

I could see her from my office
when she drove up in the car.

Now, Mr. Mitchell, does the name
Shirley Carrol mean anything to you?

Shirley Carrol. No.

Then, let me ask you this.

Is Mr. Binney's blond visitor
present in this court?

She sure is.

She's sitting right over there.

That's a lie.

I didn't kill Binney.

Well, why should I?
We were partners.

He was alive
when I left the motel that night.

I didn't do it! I swear it!

I swear I didn't do it!

I swear!

MITCHELL:
Oh, here's the year.

I got one on the third,
I won the cup again.

- Good evening.
- I'd like a room, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, you're, uh...

You're Mrs. Brent.

I'd still like a room.

Preferably Unit 9.

Look, lady, I don't know
what your game is.

It's Button, Button,
Who's Got the Button?

- And I don't need any partners to play.
- Don't know what you're talking about.

Arthur Binney was my partner.

Are you crazy? That blond
was his partner, Sheila Bowers.

She was just my contact
with Binney.

Who do you think planned
this whole thing?

I served time with her.

You were gonna clip
your own husband?

Well, I figured 30,000 wasn't bad

for a marriage that couldn't last
very long.

Incidentally,
what happened to that money?

- How should I know?
- Who should know better?

How come you missed
that diamond earring?

I gave Binney the pair of them
to make the plot look good.

You tell me. You seem to know it all.

Well, I imagine
you were so nervous

when you took them out of Binney's
pocket you dropped one of them

and were afraid to take the time
to look for it?

You're a liar.

Oh, don't misunderstand me.

I feel that you are entitled
to some part of that money.

Binney told me
what a great help you were.

- Shall we say a thousand dollars?
- Shall we say nuts?

I wouldn't do that. It would
be more trouble to you, Mitchell.

I think we've had enough excitement
for one night. Excuse me.

All right, Mason, so you were right.

But, uh, what was the tip-off?

Well, if my client was telling the truth,
it meant that someone else

entered Unit 8
while Brent was unconscious.

Now, who was in the best position
to manage that?

Mitchell.

- He had a passkey.
- Mm-hm.

While Binney was putting
the money in his grip,

Mitchell entered,
took the gun off Brent's bed,

shot Binney from the bathroom,
using the towel as a silencer.

Darling, you were wonderful.

Tell me again.

TRAGG: All right, Mr., uh...
- Come on, Tragg.

I think Mr. Brent's
got the situation well in hand.

Yeah.

Now, let's wait in the car.

[MASON LAUGHS]

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