All language subtitles for Perry Mason S05E05 The Case of the Crying Comedian.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

♪ ♪

I guess your husband didn't
know you were coming, Mrs. Gilrain.

Oh, but I'm sure he
won't be late getting home.

Uh, he so seldom is.

If there's anything I can... No.

Well, it's simply
marvelous having you back.

Thank you.

Good evening. Club Cadenza.

Uh, is Mr. Grimes there?

Mr. Gunner Grimes?

Un moment, s'il vous plaît.

I will see.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

making his first Los
Angeles appearance...

the Club Cadenza
proudly presents

Mr. Charlie Hatch.

Charlie?

May as well warn you right now,

I'm one of the sick comedians.

Rheumatism.

I enjoy being here in
Los Angeles, though.

It's a wonderful town,
absolutely wonderful.

I've only been here
two days, and already I...

I've received a picture offer.

My doctor wants to
have my liver x-rayed.

He's quite a doctor.

All his patients are sick.

He sent me to a
psychiatrist the other day.

Sent me to an
Irish psychiatrist.

This psychiatrist doesn't have

a couch, he has a Murphy bed.

Welcome home, darling.

I, uh...

I couldn't stand that
place any longer.

And I really am
better. I'm a lot better.

Yes, that's, uh, quite apparent.

Oh, you might as
well finish it now.

But then you've got to go back.

Please, Tom.

Please, just give me some
money and-and let me leave town.

Leave?

Now, if you'll all
fasten your seatbelts,

I'll try to get this big
clunker off the ground.

Oh, that's where you want to go,

back to your saloon comic.

No, I-I didn't know
he was there, really!

I didn't know.

Please, I don't need to
go back to the sanitarium.

Just give me some money,
and I-I'll go anywhere.

Dr. Iverson, please.

Mr. Gilrain.

It's my money!

And you have no
right to keep it from me.

Doctor?

Just what kind of a sanitarium
are you operating out there?

You know what I mean.

I just came home
and found my wife.

Of course, tonight.

Good evening, Mr. Gilrain.

One of these nights,
I'm gonna strike a blow

for saloon comics everywhere...

I'm gonna kill a heckler.

Man, you sure fixed
that punk tonight.

They laughed him
right out of the joint.

At least you can work
in the middle of the floor.

I tell you, in these small clubs

where a girl has to
practically dance on the tables,

it's the pinchers that
ought to be bombed.

So, put a song in your act.

Think of the high notes
you'd be able to hit.

Charlie dog, you got
a great audience here.

Multiply him ten times and...

Excuse me, a gentleman
to see you, Mr. Hatch.

Send him in.

All right, I'll start. Hello.

End of conversation. Good-bye.

You left out the
message in the middle.

I don't use language
like that in front of ladies.

Rowena, are you a lady?

Are you kidding?

Take a short walk, kids.

I never thought I'd be
glad to see you again,

and you know something? I'm not.

I see you haven't changed any.

Ah, that's where you're wrong.

Two years ago, I'd
have belted you on sight.

Now, I'm more charitable.

What do you want?

Well, I'm just waiting for
you to ask about my wife.

All right, how is she?

You have been seeing her.

They said there was a man out

at the sanitarium yesterday.

Sanitarium?

Where? What's wrong with her?!

Do you deny that she phoned
you just a little while ago?

What's she doing
in a sanitarium?

It doesn't matter.

She, uh, ran away tonight.

So, if you haven't
heard from her yet,

you will shortly.

But I'm warning
you right now, Hatch,

don't interfere!

Why was Anne in a sanitarium?

That's none of your business.
What have you done to her?!

Tell me, Gilrain, or I'll break
every bone in your body!

Hey, what are you trying to
do? Stop it! I'll beat his head in!

Remember what I said, Hatch.

Stay away from my wife.

Brawling is not permitted
in the Cadenza Club.

Wait a minute, Remy, wait.

He said she phoned me.
Did I get any calls tonight?

No, Mr. Hatch.

Think. It was a woman.

Maybe when I was on the floor.

The only call was
for Mr. Grimes.

Was it Anne who called?

Okay, maybe it was.

Why do you want to get
mixed up with that dame again?

Don't call her a dame.

Nearly ruined you two
years ago... you know,

worrying about her
Charlie. Don't do it again.

She's in a
sanitarium, isn't she?

Yeah, Glen Haven...

Gilrain said someone
was out to see her...

That was you, wasn't it?

I did it for your
good, kid. I mean...

See, she sent you this
letter a couple of days

ago, but it was kind of wild.

I knew there was something
wrong with her, so I went out there

to see, you know,
thinking to protect you.

Oh, so you stopped
the letter, too, huh?

Take it easy, will
you? Listen to me, now.

You can't do her no good.

She's sick.

Stay away from her.

Now, look, you've got to
get ready for the next show.

Come on, I'll explain the
whole thing to you later.

You've been with me
a long time, Gunner.

But if you've
messed anything up...

If I can't find Anne...
You're out, understand?

Out for good.

You know the trouble
with me, Mr. Brigham?

I'm always falling
for the wrong guys...

The small-timers,
the half-smart ones.

Well, maybe your
luck's going to change.

I'm telling you,

the next guy is
going to have assets.

And he's going to
let me count them.

Or there'll be no deal.

Won't he have to have any,
uh, charm, brains or muscle?

Oh, he'll have those,

if he comes up with the loot.

Well, I think I'll be running
along now, Rowena.

Maybe I'll start
saving my money.

Good night, Mr. Brigham.

Friend of yours?

I don't know yet.

If he's as loaded as he lets on,

he might become
a very good friend.

Will you lay off that stuff
and give me a chance?

I-I told you I was
trying to work things out.

There's, uh... complications.

I may need a little help.

There'll be a phone call for me.

And if I'm not here...

If it comes in tomorrow sometime

during the daytime...

The club'll switch it
over to your apartment.

Okay?

Who's calling?

Never mind.

Just take the message.

And then what?

And then, you
start packing a bag.

We're going away: you and me,

and more than $50,000.

I was just a guy
with a million laughs

and a rented tux.

Doing fill-ins mostly...

Private shows, private parties.

20 bucks a crack.

Afterwards, we'd sit in an
Italian restaurant, Anne and me,

till they practically
swept us out.

Hmm. You've come
quite a way in two years.

Yeah, but all alone.

She married a guy named Gilrain.

How did that happen?

I don't know. He
was there, I guess.

Probably gave her a
snow job when she was

too cracked up to
know what was going on.

See, she lost both her parents
in an automobile accident.

I didn't know about it. I...

I didn't tell her I left
town to take a new job.

Oh? Why not?

Well, never mind that.

What I want to know is
the quickest way to get Anne

out of this mess.

There is no quickest
way, Mr. Hatch.

As long as Anne
is properly married

to Gilrain, you can't interfere.

The law is on his side.

But do you happen to know
if he was married before?

Yeah, as a matter of
fact, he was. But so what?

Well, we can
certainly investigate

the legal status of that
marriage, and if there's

anything irregular...

But Anne needs help right now!

Is that why she was
in the sanitarium?

I don't know why she was in,
but I guarantee you one thing...

She's not going back.

I'm afraid there's nothing

you can say about
that, either, Charlie.

That's between Anne
and her husband.

Suppose she leaves him.

No law says she can't
get a divorce, is there?

That depends on whether

she entered the
sanitarium voluntarily.

No, Gilrain probably
put her there,

so he could get
control of her money.

How about that, Mr. Mason, is

that legal?

If he had a court order, yes.

Then they gave
him a license to steal.

Okay, I'll handle it my way.

Now, wait a moment.

Why? Seems to me I've wasted
enough of your time already.

But thank you, Mr. Mason.

Thanks for listening.

I'm sorry there
weren't any laughs.

Hello.

Uh, hello. Is Mr. Grimes there?

I... I have an appointment.

He's not here.

Well, I was told
to call this number.

I-I'm sorry.

Wait a minute, honey.

D-Did you call the Cadenza Club?

Well, yes, but...

Okay. Mr. Grimes said I
was to take a message.

He'll get in touch with me.

Does that make sense?

Yes. Uh, would you tell him that

I'll be waiting for him
at Nico's at, uh, 10:00?

It's on Beachwood Drive.

Hello, Charlie.

Hello, Anne.

I've been looking
all over for you.

Every place I could
possibly think of.

I sure never thought
you'd remember Nico's.

Well, of course I remember. I...

A-As a matter of fact, I'm
meeting someone here.

I...

Charlie, I didn't want
you to see me like this.

Like what?

You look beautiful.

I'm, uh, planning to go away.

Uh, Tom thinks I'm sick,

but all I need is a long rest.

For what?

Oh, sweetheart, you look great.

Uh... terrific.

Gorgeous.

I heard about your folks.

I tried to get in
touch with you.

I found out you were married.

Oh, baby, what happened?

Mama's little girl
never grew up, I guess.

Then when they
weren't there anymore,

I just sort of fell apart. I...

I really don't know
what happened.

Except that... Tom
seemed so kind.

Well, he was kind, until
we actually got married.

Tom Gilrain was a nothing.

Now he's a nothing
with money in his pocket.

Yours, I suppose.

You still say the
things you think.

Well, anyway, I-I needed
someone to manage things.

You see, when
you and I broke up,

I became very busy...

With this.

You mean... that's
all that's wrong?

That's why I went
to the sanitarium.

Tom felt drinking
was dangerous for me.

He knew how terrified I
was of becoming an alcoholic.

But you went to the
sanitarium on your own?

I mean, he didn't put you there?

No.

But since I practically had
a nervous breakdown, I...

Then you don't
have to go back...

To the sanitarium or to Gilrain.

You don't want to go
back to him, do you?

Oh, no. That's all over.

I was planning on going away
as soon as I found some money

somewhere.

I have plenty for both of us.

Will you listen
to me for a while,

instead of everybody else?

Anne, I haven't been
alive without you.

Sweetheart, would
you look at me?

Come on, Anne, let's go.

She's not going
anyplace with you, Gilrain.

Oh, yes.

She's going back
to Dr. Iverson's.

Aren't you, dear?

You beat it.

Stay out of this, Hatch.

I'm talking to my wife.

Talk fast, because she won't
be your wife much longer.

Now are you going
to leave her alone,

or do I have to belt you?

Why don't you? That
might be very helpful.

Mr. Hatch, stop.
Now, take it easy.

You let Nico handle this, huh?

You, take your
business someplace else,

before I call a cop.

I'd be glad to.

Just as soon as
my wife is ready.

Your wife?

We don't want
no trouble, mister.

Take your wife
and get out, okay?

You stay right there, honey.

Maybe you should
call the cops... for him.

Come on. Mr. Hatch, take easy.

A man's got a right
to take his wife home.

A cop would tell
you the same thing.

You took a key of
mine. I want it back.

Hey, Charlie dog,
what's the matter?

I just happened to come in here,
and here you are, the funny man.

Only you're not making
jokes, Charlie. What is it?

If he keeps wrecking
her life like this, I'll kill him.

I don't care what
happens, I'll kill him.

Mr. Hatch, don't talk like that.

He's got the law on his side.

Hey, Nico, get
us a drink, will ya?

Hey, Charlie,
i-it's me... Rowena.

There's got to be some
justice in this world.

I'll kill that Gilrain,
so help me, I'll kill him.

Oh, Charlie.

Yes, Mr. Gilrain.

Hello?

Hello?

What did you say?

Mr. Gilrain?

Hello? Hello?

Mrs. Gilrain, I know
it's been a shock,

but I have to ask
you some questions.

You feel up to it?

Yes, Lieutenant
McVey, I'm all right.

Good.

Now Dr. Iverson says
you left the sanitarium

a couple of days ago.

Yes.

And you went to your
husband's apartment in town?

Yes. I went there to pick
up some things I needed,

and then I went to a hotel.

And you came
back here last night.

Quite late, wasn't it?

I don't know, I guess so.

Did you see your husband
before his death last night?

Yes.

It was a lot earlier...
About 10:30, I guess.

Do you know if your
husband had any enemies?

Look, I don't know.

I've been in this
sanitarium for months now,

and I'm completely out of touch
with anything about my husband.

Dr. Iverson, you said you
had a record of visitors here.

Yes, that's right.

They're required to
sign our visitors book.

May I see who's been coming
to see Mrs. Gilrain, please?

Why?

Well, no, Doctor, he
has no right to do...

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid the police
do have that right.

Listen, there was only one
visitor in the last few weeks,

and he isn't important at all.

This one?

Yes, Grimes.

First name appears to be Gunner.

The writing isn't very legible.

I can assure you, Lieutenant,
he has nothing to do

with this. I know, ma'am,

but he might lead
us to someone else.

You know, uh,
I really don't like

to have to poke around like
this, but when you're upset,

naturally you have a hard time
remembering things like, uh...

Like even what time you
got back here last night.

It must have been
a little after midnight.

But what possible difference

could it make?

The night matron said
she let you in at 2:15.

Does that sound about right?

I guess maybe

you didn't know, ma'am...

Your husband was shot
right around 1:00 a.m.

I'm not sure what it
is you want, Charlie.

I'm not even sure
why you're here.

But that's the guy
Anne married...

Tom Gilrain.

What do you think I ought to do?

I don't know how
deeply you're involved.

Well, I'm in love with his wife.

Or his widow.

And I sure hope
whoever plugged him

gets a big, shiny medal for it.

You know, Charlie, I did have

the Gilrain marriages
investigated.

It's possible he married
Anne a little too soon

after an interlocutory decree.

So their marriage might
have been set aside.

If you'd only waited.

Oh, now, look,
Mr. Mason, I didn't kill him.

Only the police will be
looking for me pretty soon.

You see, they picked up Gunner
Grimes a couple of hours ago.

Who's he?

Gunner? Well, he
sort of looks after me.

You know, goes for
coffee, things like that.

I give him a few bucks
every now and then, and...

Why was he picked up?

They probably
found out that he went

to the sanitarium to see Anne.

Oh, maybe I forgot to tell you.

You see, Anne wrote me
a letter about a week ago.

Gunner... he handles my
mail, so he went out to see her.

I didn't know.

Well, it seems to me
you have a choice,

if this man Gunner doesn't
reveal your connection with Anne.

Oh, he'll sing
like a nightingale.

Don't let the name fool you.

Gunner... he's
afraid of the dark.

Then I suggest you go to
the police before they come

to you. That's a
good idea, Mr. Mason.

Maybe I should go
down and see them

a-and tell them anything I know.

Except I would
feel a little better

if you went along with me.

All right, I'll go with you.

But with the very
clear understanding

that I'm free to withdraw

if I find you haven't
told me everything.

You got yourself a firm deal.

Well, I wish I'd known
you were coming, Perry.

I would have, uh...
tidied the place up.

Hardly worth the trouble.

This is just a casual visit.

Yes. When a lawyer says that,
he usually means off the record.

Well, that's all right.

We, uh, may
change the rules later.

Oh, I guess you know,
uh, Lieutenant McVey.

He's been handling the
Gilrain case, uh... up to now.

Nice of you to
drop in, Mr. Hatch.

Saved me a trip.

And it may save Charlie
a little unwanted publicity.

You have some information
that may be of help to us, I take it.

Nope, can't think of a thing.

Your attorney brought you here
just to assure us that you have

no connection with the murder?

Look, Lieutenant, let's
stop kidding around.

By now you know I'm a
friend of Mrs. Gilrain's.

Let's get on with it.

McVEY: How good a friend?

I knew her before she
married that crumb.

And since?

She's still a friend.

McVEY: Didn't Gilrain object?

In fact, didn't he object so

strongly that the two
of you got in a brawl

in your dressing
room the other night?

You really turned Gunner
Grimes on, didn't you?

Like I said, no guts.

Let's have your
version of the fight.

Fight? There was no fight.

Gilrain was a nothing.

You saw Gilrain again
last night, didn't you, Hatch?

Yeah, yeah, I saw him again.

A little after 10:00
at Nico's Restaurant.

But I didn't see him after that.

10:00.

What time's the show go
on at the Cadenza Club?

I do the first show at 9:00, the
second show is between 12:00 and

1:00 a.m. Uh-huh.

1:00 a.m... that's about
the time Gilrain was shot.

Well, Perry, that's
all the questions

we're going to ask your client.

Fine.

Until I can get a
stenographer in

to take down a formal statement.

Now, just a moment.

I'd like to confer
with my client alone.

But I reserved the right to, uh,
change the rules, Counselor.

In that case, I'm
instructing Mr. Hatch

to say no more at all.

These guys don't
bother me, Mr. Mason.

If you're wondering why I
didn't do the second show

last night, the answer's simple.

I got stoned.

All right, I'll give you
five minutes alone.

Then he makes a statement,

or I'll book him as
a material witness.

If you recall, Mr. Hatch,

there was a slight proviso
attached to my representing you.

Unless I get the
truth right now,

I, too, am going
to change the rules.

I didn't kill Gilrain.

Nobody would have
known it from your answers.

Now, what's the idea?
You trying to keep the police

from looking in
Anne's direction?

Is this place bugged?

That's hardly
necessary with you.

Do you think she
killed her husband?

You certain?

Well, I know I didn't do it.

Believe me, Mr. Mason,

she had plenty of reasons to.

He was no good. He was a... Ugh!

Do you seriously
intend to let yourself

be charged with
murder to protect her?

Let me ask you something.

When somebody is charged
with murder and then acquitted,

do the cops ever start
a new investigation

and arrest somebody else?

Do you remember one case
where they ever did that?

At the moment, no.

However, there's one
small flaw with that idea:

You may incriminate yourself
to the point of no return.

Ah, but I'm holding back an ace.

I have an alibi...

somebody who knows
where I was every minute.

Well, of course, Mr. Mason,

Charlie was right
here in my apartment.

I-I mean, somebody had
to take care of the poor guy.

He'd had too much to
drink, and he passed out

on your divan, is that correct?

Like somebody
knocked him in the head.

Thank you, Miss Leach.

Uh, but of course,

I-I don't know how
long he stayed out.

What do you mean?

Well, naturally, I
was in the other room,

and I came out once
in the middle of the night

to see if he was all right,
and, uh... he wasn't there.

Charlie told me he
was here all night.

Well, sure, he was on the couch
when I got up the next morning.

He said he'd come
out here on the patio

to get some
fresh air, that's all.

Do you remember what time
you woke during the night?

Hmm, it was around 2:00, 'cause
I thought he'd left to go home,

and-and I thought he'd
have trouble catching a cab

at that time of night.

But, but, look, Mr. Mason,

I'll say that Charlie was here

all week, if it'll help.

Oh, I-I-I-I mean, I'll say
anything that you'd like.

Shall I?

Hamburgers and coffee, please.

Mr. Drake, it was,
uh, kind of you

to drive me into the city...

but you're not just doing
me a favor, are you?

No, your friend
Charlie Hatch is in

serious trouble, Mrs. Gilrain.

He may even be
charged with murder.

I didn't want him to get
involved. He shouldn't have...

They why did you go
looking for him last night?

I didn't! He found me at Nico's.

Oh, then it was Gunner Grimes

you were really trying to reach.

Why, Mrs. Gilrain?

Well, my husband had
control of my money,

and Mr. Grimes knew how I
could get ahold of some of it.

How did Grimes know about it?

Well, he was in business with
my husband some time ago.

And he told me that Tom had
some money in a safe deposit box

in a bank in the
suburbs somewhere.

Well, I knew where
Tom kept the key, so I

took it.

Did you get the money?

No, I changed my mind.

Which bank, Mrs. Gilrain?

Mr. Grimes wouldn't tell
me that until I got the key.

He probably wasn't
taking any chances

on getting his share.

He didn't want any of the money.

He just wanted me to
stay away from Charlie.

What sort of business was it

your husband had
had with Grimes?

I don't know.

It must have been back
when I first met Tom.

That was at Lake Tahoe.

That's where I met Charlie, too.

Lake Tahoe.

I don't know anyone
named Gunner Grimes,

but Gilrain, yes.

He worked here
about two years ago.

Thanks. What was his job?

He was a dealer.

You, uh, mind telling
me why he left?

He didn't give a reason.

Then he wasn't fired.

Nope.

Do you know Charlie Hatch?

Oh, sure, Charlie
got his start right here.

He's made it big
since those days.

His next booking
may be in a courtroom.

For knocking off Gilrain?

He's the number-one suspect.

Okay.

Two weeks after
Gilrain quit his job here,

the club was robbed.

Gilrain?

Who knows?

Two men, neither
was ever identified.

Gilrain's name came up
once in a police investigation.

That's all I know.

Well, that puts a
new face on things.

Was it a big robbery?

$65,000.

I'd say murder's been done
for a lot less, wouldn't you?

Mr. Drake then double-checked

and found that
the police up there

at Tahoe had, uh... dropped
the entire investigation.

Oh? That so?

This often seems to happen when
an insurance company takes over.

Now we find it's your company
that's involved, Mr. Brigham.

That's right. Company paid off

on that insurance
claim some time ago.

Mr. Brigham, I'm quite
aware that your job is

to recover the money,
not to put people in jail.

That's the only
reason Gilrain's name

never showed up again.

Am I correct?

Yes, Mr. Mason, that's correct.

Oh, I've dug up plenty of
evidence against Gilrain,

but I've never come up
with any of the money,

and it should have been easy.

They got stacks of new bills,

all the serial numbers
were on record.

Could have been
taken out of the country.

No, I don't think so.

While they were
waiting for it to cool off,

Gilrain married
a very rich girl.

The way I see it, the stolen
money probably became

just a big problem
to him after that.

Yeah, just might have
left it where it was hidden.

Well, he certainly
didn't need it.

But I was counting on the
fact that the second man

wouldn't be so well off.

What does that mean?

Well, I'm gonna level with you.

I've been living across the hall
from Gilrain for some time now.

I've been checking up on
everybody who's ever gone

in or out of his apartment.

The second man is
probably in my notebook.

I just haven't been
able to sift him out.

That's a pretty big
stakeout for one man.

Oh, I've had some help;

I've got an arrangement
with the desk clerk.

Would it be possible for
me to see that notebook?

Why, sure, Mr. Mason.

But you'll have to
check with the police.

They're holding it for evidence.

Is Charlie Hatch's name
in that notebook of yours?

The last entry.

The night of the
murder, about 12:45.

Yes, it was about 1:00
a.m. I had been dozing.

Then the switchboard lighted up,

as if Mr. Gilrain
wanted to make a call.

When he just mumbled something,

I went up to see what was wrong.

He was dead by
the time I got there.

Now you say that he
mumbled something.

Would you tell this
court, sir, if you were able

to distinguish what he said?

Yes. He said, "Hatch, Hatch."

I think that'll be

all, sir. Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Lordan, is it true
that you'd been retained

for some time by an
insurance investigator

to note all visitors to
the Gilrain apartment?

I, uh, I don't
understand the question.

Then let me put it
to you another way.

Did you ever, at any
time, see the defendant

in that apartment building?

Never.

Then when Mr. Gilrain mumbled
something over the phone

that sounded like "Hatch,"

you did not know to
whom he was referring?

Not at that moment.

I didn't know
anyone named Hatch.

Then wouldn't it be fair
to say that it wasn't until

after the arrest
of the defendant

that you realized
the significance

of the name?

It's possible, Mr. Mason.

Are you absolutely positive
that what you heard mumbled

over the phone was
not, "Help, help"?

Absolutely positive?

Thank you. No further questions.

Yes, sir, I was living
in the apartment

directly across the
corridor from his.

In other words,

you had Mr. Gilrain's
apartment under surveillance?

That's right, sir.

Why?

Well, I was interested
in some stolen money

that I thought he
had cached away.

And I hoped I could
find out who his partner

in the robbery was.

Mr. Brigham, can you
identify this notebook for us?

Yes, yes, that's mine.

I kept a list of
Mr. Gilrain's visitors in it.

And did you put down
the visitors' names

at or about the time they
actually entered his apartment?

Yes, sir, that's right.

Now Mr. Brigham, I want
you to read for us, please, the

last two entries
in this notebook

made on the night of the murder.

Let's see. Ah...

"10:30 p.m.:

"Mrs. Gilrain went
in with her husband.

At 12:45, Charlie
Hatch arrived."

That's a dirty lie.

I was in Rowena's
place all night.

Don't forget that
you were drunk.

Then you actually
saw the defendant enter

the deceased's apartment
approximately 15 minutes

before the established time

of Mr. Gilrain's death?

No, no, no, I didn't. Uh, I
was busy on the phone.

Anyway, I didn't think

Charlie Hatch was
involved in the robbery,

so I didn't pay any more
attention after he went in.

I see. That'll be all, sir.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Brigham, the desk
clerk Mr. Lordan stated

that he'd never
seen the defendant

in the apartment building.

Well, then I won't
pay him for that night.

But, uh, how could you be so
sure Mr. Hatch wasn't someone

you were interested in?

I recognized him.

Oh, I'd caught his
act a couple of times

at the Club Cadenza.

In the line of duty, that is.

Would you explain that, please?

Oh, well, I... I was checking
up on someone at the club

that I thought was
the second man

in the robbery.
And who was that?

Objection.

Your Honor,
Mr. Brigham has testified

that the defendant has
nothing to do with the robbery.

Therefore, Mr. Mason's question

about a second
man in the robbery

has no possible bearing

on the murder.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor, a man
suspected of holding $65,000

in stolen money has been killed.

I think we're dealing here

with a strong and clear
possibility of motive.

Your Honor, the
prosecution is presenting

its case at the moment.

If Mr. Mason will
just be patient,

we'll show the
motive for the murder.

Until that time, I think
it's highly irregular

for the defense attorney
to cross-examine

on matters not yet introduced.

All right, now, Mr. Burger.

But, Counselor, I'm going
to sustain the objection.

Then I've no further questions
of this witness, Your Honor.

I call Elwood Grimes
to the stand, please.

Elwood?

Perry, I went through
some old clothes

and records the widow
dug up for me. Any luck?

Yep. A receipt for a safe
deposit box in a suburban branch

- of the Fidelity Bank.
- Do you solemnly

swear to tell the
truth, the whole...?

Good work. Maybe $65,000 worth.

- State your name.
- Elwood P. Grimes.

Be seated.

Mr. Grimes, would you
please describe for us

your relationship
to the defendant?

Well, I'm his, um... well,
bodyguard, for one thing.

You mean by that that
he needed to be protected?

Oh, yeah, he needed.

Everybody could
put the bite on him.

Charlie never could say no
to nobody with a sob story.

You know, artists are
kind of emotional-like,

and, uh... Yes, of course.

Now let's leave that area
for a moment, Mr. Grimes.

Would you please describe
for us the events that took place

the night prior to the
murder in the dressing room

of the defendant?

Yeah, well, Gilrain come in,
and he started shouting around.

Shouting around?

What exactly did he say?

Well, he said, uh, uh... "Stay
away from my wife, Hatch."

Of course, he

didn't mean nothing 'cause, uh,

Charlie hadn't seen
her in two years.

How do you know that?

Because I kept 'em apart.

You see, when Charlie
heard that she married Gilrain,

it busted him up bad.

Now, I didn't want
that to happen again,

so I, uh... I didn't show
him a letter she wrote,

and, uh, I headed off
her phone calls and...

I mean, you know, I was...

being a bodyguard,
don't you think?

Mr. Grimes, tell me this.

Did Mr. Hatch ever find out

that Mrs. Gilrain was
trying to reach him?

Oh, sure. It was that night,
right in the dressing room.

That's why he got sore at me.

Thank you, Mr. Grimes.
That'll be all. Mr. Mason?

Mr. Grimes, in your efforts

to protect the defendant
from Mrs. Gilrain,

did you talk to her yourself?

Yeah. I told her it
was better for Charlie

if she stayed away.

Isn't it true that you
also discussed a plan

for stealing a large
amount of money?

Money Mr. Gilrain kept
in a safe deposit box?

Do what? What do you mean?

I hardly knew the dame,
except to talk to her.

Now, what do you want to go
after me something like that for?

Thank you,
Mr. Grimes. Thank you.

No further questions.

Now, Mrs. Gilrain, out of
deference to your ill health,

I'll be as brief as possible
with the rest of this.

You say that after you
left Nico's that night,

you accompanied your
husband to his apartment. Why?

Well, Tom had
control of my money,

and I wanted some to
go someplace for a rest.

Did you suggest a divorce?

Yes.

With the idea of marrying

the defendant
when you were free?

Well, I hadn't
thought that far ahead.

Well, did your husband
agree to the divorce?

No.

I see. I think that'll
be all, Mrs. Gilrain.

This court will reconvene
tomorrow morning at 9:30.

Paul, we'll have to get to that
bank before everyone goes home.

Okay, we'll hurry, but the
money isn't going anywhere.

I have an idea it's been
gone for some time.

I can only go by the
record, Mr. Mason.

It seems the box was
rented before I came here

by two persons:

George Engstrom
and T.H. Gilrain.

Engstrom could be a phony name.

You said there was something
special about the box.

Yes. Well, as you know,

it usually requires
two keys to open a box.

One key goes to the
subscriber, the other to the bank.

Well, in this case, they
requested a third lock.

A special box had to be built.

That is, two keys to the
subscriber and one to the bank.

Let's assume that George
Engstrom had possession

of both keys.

He'd have access to
the box, would he not?

Providing he presented signed
authorization from T.H. Gilrain.

And that was done, wasn't it?

Uh, probably last Wednesday?

The day after the murder.

No, I find nothing
in the records

to indicate that anybody
got into the box, Mr. Mason.

However, somebody
did show up Wednesday

uh, with, uh... only one
key and no authorization.

Then he didn't get into the box?

Oh, no, it wasn't a
he. It was a woman.

Uh, can you describe her?

Yes, I-I remember she
was a young woman.

Dark haired.

Very pretty.

She wore sunglasses.

But she left rather hurriedly

after she found she
couldn't get into the box.

Uh, but you mentioned
the word "murder."

I noticed that, uh, one of these
names looked familiar to me.

Uh, T.H. Gilrain.

It's the, um, Gilrain
who was murdered.

So I'm sure you'll
want to seal the box.

Oh, yes. I better get
the manager. Excuse me.

Dark haired and very pretty.

So, it must have
been Mrs. Gilrain.

Let's see. Her husband
caught up with her

at Nico's the night before.

He took her home and tried
to take the key away from her.

They fought and she killed him.

Well...

that sure takes your client
off the hook, doesn't it?

If I follow that line
of reasoning, Paul,

my client is very apt to stand
up and confess to murder.

That would be
mighty noble of him.

He's a comedian.

You stated
yesterday, Mrs. Gilrain,

that your husband controlled

the money you
inherited from your father.

Yes. He kept telling me

I wasn't competent
to handle it myself.

When you left the sanitarium
to get some of your money,

where did you expect to get it?

In a safe deposit box.

There was money in it.

I-I didn't know how much.

How did you discover
the existence of that box?

Mr. Grimes told me. All I
had to do was get him the key,

and I was pretty sure I knew
where my husband kept it.

Do you know where Mr. Grimes

got his knowledge of that money?

No, I don't.

Mr. Grimes and my husband
had been in business,

uh, together in the past.

Then you had no way of knowing

whether this money was
part of your inheritance

or the proceeds from
their previous business.

No. I didn't think it
made any difference.

Anyway, I gave the
key back to my husband.

You didn't go to a suburban
branch of the Fidelity Bank

on Wednesday, the day

after the murder?

Well, no, I didn't.

I-I didn't even know
what bank to go to.

All I knew was that Mr. Grimes
was going to give me some money

if-if I got ahold of
the key that would go

with some other key
that would open the box.

That'll be all.

Now, Miss Leach,
will you tell this court

what else transpired
at Nico's Restaurant

the night of the murder?

Well, Charlie dog
started to take a swing

at that Mr. Gilrain.

You're referring to the
defendant, Charlie Hatch?

That's right. Only I'm sure
he didn't mean to hurt him,

'cause after they left...
Mr. Gilrain and his wife...

Charlie dog was so
upset, he was crying.

Were you able to determine
the cause of his, uh, grief?

Well, I don't blame
him for being shook.

But-But just because a guy
takes a swing at somebody

doesn't mean he'd
belt him for good.

So now, isn't it true

that Charlie Hatch
loudly proclaimed

that night that he
intended to kill Tom Gilrain?

W-Well, maybe he did
say something like that,

but-but maybe he'd
been drinking, too.

Like, later he was
drunk, I told you.

Why-Why, he had to sleep
on my couch the whole night.

And you can swear
that he didn't leave

sometime after you
were asleep and return,

perhaps hours later?

Well, of course he didn't.

He-He told me he only
went out on the patio to get...

Oh...

Very well.

You may cross-examine.

Miss Leach, you do believe

the defendant never
left your apartment

on the night of the
murder, do you not?

Oh, I'm sure he didn't.

Objection.

The witness is
stating an opinion.

Sustained.

Strike it from the record.

Apparently, you're
not going to be allowed

to provide Mr. Hatch
with an alibi.

By the same token, of course,

he won't be able to
provide one for you.

Well, I didn't
know I needed one.

Why, I only saw Mr. Gilrain
twice in my whole life.

Then you would have no
knowledge of the money

he kept in his safe deposit box?

W-Well, no.

And you didn't go
to the Fidelity Bank

and try to get into that box?

No.

In your nightclub act, do
you ever have occasion

to use a wig?

Well, maybe I have a few times.

Did you, on the Wednesday
morning after the murder,

put on a dark wig,
go to the Fidelity Bank,

and try to get
into Tom Gilrain's

safe deposit box?

Oh, I should have known.

Half-smart guys...
That's all I ever meet.

Small-timers. All they give
you is a bunch of big talk.

How did you get the key
to that box, Miss Leach?

He gave it to me.

He told me all I
had to do was sign

Mrs. Gilrain's name a-and
we'd take off to South America

with more than 50 grand.

To whom were you pointing?

To him!

Mr. Ed half-smart Brigham!

May it please the court,

I would like to recall
Mr. Brigham to the stand.

The last time I was on
the stand, Mr. Mason,

you asked me a question.

You wanted to know
who I was checking on

at the Club Cadenza.

Is it all right if I answer
that question now?

I hear no objection.

Well, it was Gunner Grimes.

He was the second man
involved in the robbery.

It was Grimes and Gilrain,
but I couldn't prove it.

Anyway, my company
was only interested

in recovering the
stolen money, and

when I found Grimes to
be entirely cooperative,

I assured him the
company wouldn't prosecute

if the money was still there.

Now that's why I sent
Miss Leach to the bank.

With the understanding that you
and she would keep the money

and leave for South America?

Well, that's the
line I gave her, but...

Well, it may not
have been very nice,

but I'd already told the company

I was going to get results,

and as quietly as I could.

Will you tell us now where
and how you obtained the key?

From Grimes.

Well, I told you... I'd
frankly made a deal with him.

I'd assured him the
company wouldn't prosecute

if he'd make restitution.

And he accepted?

Well, he handed over the key.

Isn't it true, Mr. Brigham,
that two keys,

aside from the
bank's, are needed

to open that particular box?

Well, apparently, yes, but
I-I didn't know that at the time.

Are you telling us that
Grimes agreed to the deal,

handed you his key,
yet neglected to tell you

that a second key was required?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, he never
mentioned it at the time.

You didn't get that
key from Grimes.

You got it from Tom Gilrain.

You murdered Gilrain,

planned to keep the money,
and leave for South America

with or without Miss Leach.

Now, that's a lie.

I got that key from Grimes.

But you tried to get the
money the day after the murder.

I've already told
you about that.

I was trying to operate
for the company

and keep it quiet.

Look, there was a big
bonus in this thing for me.

I didn't want all that
money impounded,

tied up in the courts.

That's not true,
Mr. Brigham, not at all.

You never intended to
give a penny of that money

to your company, and
you got that key off the body

of the man you murdered.

I got that key off of Grimes!

Now, look, I don't
know where he got

that key... maybe he took
it off of Gilrain, but not me!

That should be
very simple to prove.

Mr. Grimes, do you
still have your key

to that box? Right here.

You bet your life, I got it.

That was Gilrain's key he had.

I don't care if I go
to jail for robbery,

but nobody's going
to nail me for murder.

It was him!

He was trying to take my money!

He was even trying
to steal my girl.

Well, that would have been
my biggest mistake, wouldn't it?

I'll bet that dame would have
wound up with every penny of it.

You know, I still can't get over
Gunner having enough courage

to commit a
robbery. Gilrain, yeah,

but Gunner?

Almost anyone is
capable of a crime

under certain circumstances.

Actually, Brigham never
intended to commit murder.

He'd overheard
Gilrain talking to Anne

about the key
earlier that night,

and later, when he tried
to sneak in and get it,

Gilrain woke up, jumped
him, and that was it.

Perry, after Rowena
couldn't get in the box

the next day with
just that one key,

you think Brigham would
have made a deal with Gunner.

Oh, he tried to.

For a big, fat split

and a promise not to
prosecute on robbery,

Gunner was supposed to
keep quiet about everything.

Even if, uh, Brigham threw
his name around in court.

But that's when
the panic set in, eh?

Like I said, no guts.

I guess Gunner finally realized

that Brigham was
the murderer, that's all.

And that he'd leave Gunner
holding the whole sack.

Same way Brigham tried

to leave you holding
it, Charlie. Huh?

By making up
evidence against you

about where you were
that night, remember?

You mean, I never
really left Rowena's?

I really was passed out on
that couch of hers all night?

Well, I certainly
hope so, Charlie.