Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )

( inaudible dialogue )

Twenty-seven fifty.

There it was, simply shrieking at me.

Every single line the same, every pleat, every button.

And there I stood in your--

Your precious Dunbar original,

that you wanted me to palm off on my customers

for $200. ( door opens )

Oh, Rick, I'm glad you're here.

Mrs. Wainwright,

this is Rick Stassi, my designer.

Your designer?

Your cartoonist. Your fellow swindler, you mean.

Madam, you really should wear a tighter girdle with that.

DUNBAR: Rick, Mrs. Wainwright says that she used to worked here,

back when my father was alive.

She now has a small and exclusive shop on Wilshire.

I have such a bad memory about faces.

Rick. The fact is someone

has stolen our designs again.

Stolen?

You mean, swiped, pirated and duplicated.

Atley must have had this in production

just about as long as you.

How do they manage it?

Wally, when you have been in the business as long as I have,

you'll be more philosophical about pirating.

Well, I don't have to be philosophical about it.

You're getting my entire order back.

And from now on, don't even bother to call on me,

because I've had it with Dunbar Fashions.

( door opens, closes )

That's our third cancellation this week.

Oh, well. Bathing suits are what the name Dunbar

really stands for.

Have you looked at these bikinis yet?

Rick, we're standing on the edge of a cliff.

If any of our major designs were to be stolen this year,

we're through. I mean finished. Bankrupt.

Our new bathing suits? Yes.

Our whole new spring line? Mm-hm.

Wally, don't!

We're gonna do them over. Every single one of them.

In secret, you understand?

Under lock and key if necessary.

And when they're done,

we're gonna have security around this place

that'll make Fort Knox look like a parade ground.

( mellow theme playing )

Ouch. Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Lisa.

You must be so tired.

There.

I'll put the red print in your suitcase

as soon as it's off the machine.

You are going to Bud's for photography tonight, aren't you?

Wally won't let any of the other models

take suits out of the building.

Of course not.

Just like a spy movie, isn't it?

Oh, but just think,

after tomorrow you can sleep and sleep and sleep.

Oh, don't forget to show those changes to Rick.

Lisa...Wally does understand

the strain you've been under

these past few days,

oh, with the redesigning and everything. ( scoffs )

Wally, Wally, Wally.

You've turned into quite an authority on the boss,

haven't you?

No. It's just that...

Well, he hasn't really said anything yet.

Oh, darling, I didn't mean te-- ( door opens )

More changes.

Scoot, dear. ( pats )

So local girl makes good, eh?

From rags to riches.

From designer to boss in six easy months.

Just what do you mean, "from designer"?

Just what do you think I mean?

You have circles under your eyes, my dear.

I should have told our new scoutmaster

a little more clearly...

what hours I prefer in my department

for the girls to keep.

Particularly the ones who write letters

or...do any posing.

I thought you said you threw everything away.

Rick, there wasn't really anything between us.

( chuckles )

What have you told Wally?

( laughing )

Stop it.

Please!

Oh, what do you want from me?

Oh. I'll let you know.

Let me go.

Oh, I hate you.

I could kill you.

( laughing )

( door closes )

Kitty?

Hello, honey.

Hey, I like it.

Lisa, I like it.

Oh. Thanks, Wally.

You should, boss. It's the last one.

You'll now really have some spring design worth stealing.

You mean I can now go see

about getting some protection?

Now's where's the security starts.

( sighs )

( mysterious theme playing )

In other words, you've just finished the preparation stage,

is that it?

Specifically, there are Rick's drawings,

some photographs and the bathing suits themselves,

which are just being completed.

Uh, pilot models, you might say.

Seems as though you've been very thorough so far.

The next three or four weeks are the critical period.

I buy materials, lay out patterns.

I show the suits to a few selected buyers.

I already have a magazine cover in work.

Hm-hm. That sounds fairly public to me.

No, it's not.

The buyers we admit will only be the most reputable.

Although I'd still like them checked and rechecked.

Also, my own employees,

and I'd like an eye kept on certain competitors,

like Simon Atley.

Della, see if Paul Drake is in his office.

Have him drop by.

You know, Judge Learned Hand once said,

"When it comes to fashions and changing styles...

( door opens, closes )

...others may imitate at their pleasure."

Mr. Mason, once we're on the market,

I don't mind being copied.

It's too late to hurt us then.

In the meantime, we'll see that you continue to have

the legal protection.

That your drawings and sketches

are private property.

( tense theme playing )

Oh, Simon, there you are.

Your girl's gone home, I guess.

I-- I didn't know whether to knock

or just sort of crawl through the keyhole

Madge, I'm in rather a hurry.

Simon, did you know that Dunbar Fashions

tore up their spring designs just ten days ago?

For heaven's sake, why do you come to me with this tidbit?

You're not interested? No.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

What about the new designs?

The brand new ones?

Every single one of them.

Every new style he's got.

And just what do you want out of this?

Money.

Madge, I ought to have you arrested.

I wouldn't pay you 1 cent for stolen fashions.

Even Dunbar's.

And furthermore...

I don't even want to hear about them.

( mysterious theme playing )

( drawer closes )

Well...

all finished? Mm-hm.

You did remember to lock your sketch file, didn't you, Rick?

Always, dear. Always. I don't even dare

to take a pencil out of the building anymore.

Have you been able to spot some of the hired security detail?

( chuckles ): No.

We can't really blame Wally for worrying.

After all, he has everything at stake.

Mm-hm.

I suppose our scoutmaster

is down in one of the gaudy hotels,

welcoming his precious buyers and editors

with sarsaparilla.

Rick.

Rick...now that we're finally through...

Well...what I mean is,

here we have finished a whole beautiful,

new spring line again.

I thought that--

Well, maybe you and I could have a drink together.

Like we used to.

Remember your diet, dear.

( scoffs )

Rick, you-- You're not angry with me, are you?

Just because I made

a few minor changes in your design?

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

Every seamstress has her little needle.

Rick. Rick, couldn't we just--?

Lisa. Don't you understand I have other plans?

Isn't that clear enough?

Good night.

Rick. Rick, please, look at me.

Just once.

All right. Let's see.

It's 10:15.

Bud ought to be finished

with the pictures he was taking by now.

Why don't you call him up?

Why don't you go out with your husband for a change, huh?

( dramatic theme playing )

( winces )

( door opens )

( door closes )

( door closes )

Hi, Charlie. What's with the, uh, photo studio?

CHARLIE: A little night work, I guess.

The girl arrived about ten minutes ago,

and she was carrying a suitcase.

Which girl? Kitty Wynne.

You want me to stay here covering the place,

or the girl, if and when she does leave?

No, don't worry about the girl. She's all right.

Just worry about the studio:

lab, equipment, pictures and the photographer.

Okay. Check with you later.

If anything happens, I'll give you a call.

Okay.

Ah, that's it.

Lady Godiva on a bicycle.

Startled, snooty blush.

Bartender's just asked you how old you are.

( giggles )

Uh...take the jacket off.

That was pretty bad.

Baby, what's wrong with you tonight?

You-- You're Cinderella.

Please, Bud, can't we just take it?

It's the last one.

No more suits in there?

No, just the three.

Those are my own clothes.

You know, learning to relax

is like learning to stay alive.

Too many noises?

Shut your ear.

Got a worry?

Float it away.

I mean, look at me.

Now, I know I'm not much,

but look how things just fall off.

Sometimes, baby--

Sometimes you've just got to ride this crazy world...

sidesaddle.

( phone ringing )

Bud, wait.

If that's Wally Dunbar, tell him--

Well, tell him we've already finished, and I've gone home.

I have my own car.

Oh-ho.

So that's it.

You and Wally are having a little trouble.

Bud, please, I--

I just have other things to do tonight, that's all.

Yeah?

( woman speaking indistinctly )

Oh. What?

( mouths ): I'm not coming home.

Well...

where are you going?

Out with that Stassi character?

Lisa, aren't you coming home at all tonight?

Oh, just skip it. It's all right.

Sure, sure.

I'll see you.

( sighs )

( dramatic theme playing )

( punches )

( horn honks )

All right, all right.

Come on. I'm closing up.

Oh, it's you. Good night, sir.

Good night, Mr. Stassi.

Stassi? Would that be, uh,

Rick Stassi from over at Dunbar's?

Maybe. Why?

Heh. I'm sorry. My name's, uh, Paul Drake.

Mr. Dunbar told me-- Oh, sure, sure.

How are you, sir? Boss said you'd be down.

Well, what can I show you?

Well, I'd...

kind of like to get familiar with the building.

How, uh, things are locked up.

And-- Oh, one other thing. Yeah?

This employee list. Oh.

I wonder if you could give me some descriptions to match

these names and addresses. Well-- I'd, uh--

I'd be glad to. As soon as I lock up here,

I'll be right with you.

( mysterious theme playing )

( door opens )

Mm, I couldn't find everything at the building

he said I should find there.

Namely, those draft sketches from the designer's file.

Mm, the watchman told me that Stassi had just driven home,

I thought I'd run out and check with him.

And...that's when you found Kitty Wynne's car,

with those in the suitcase?

That's right.

They are our new fashions.

Go on, Paul.

She was just leaving his house as I arrived.

And I followed her back to the Dunbar building.

She, uh, put the suitcase inside when she left.

I picked it up.

Look, Kitty was out for photography yesterday.

She always returns her things to the plant.

Mr. Dunbar...how did those sketches

get into the suitcase?

There's no harm done, Mason.

We've got everything back, haven't we?

I'm sorry if I act upset.

But I certainly didn't expect Drake

to go snooping around after my own girlfriend.

Excuse me, Mr. Mason,

but I thought you'd want to see this right away.

It's from the morning paper.

An advance ad of Simon Atley bathing suits.

"Soon available in all our outlets."

PAUL: They're the same. Every one of them.

Mm-hm. They even admit it too.

"Budget styling identical

with that of the most expensive fashion houses."

( sighs ) MASON: Mr. Dunbar...

before you call Kitty...

suppose we get your designer over here.

What's his number?

State 1-1781.

Della. Mm.

( phone rings )

MAN: Hello?

Hello, Mr. Stassi?

Uh, who is this, please?

Perry Mason calling. Is Mr. Stassi there?

Oh, yes. He's here, all right.

In body, if not in spirit.

Who is this?

Why, this is Homicide, Della. Lieutenant Tragg.

( dramatic theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

( birds chirping )

Oh, Mr. Mason.

I'm Sergeant Macready, remember?

Yes, sergeant, I remember.

Uh, Lieutenant Tragg wanted to

see Mr. Dunbar right away.

Well, lieutenant's busy inside the house.

Be just a minute.

Lisa.

What are you doing here?

I didn't kill him, Wally.

Honestly, I didn't kill him.

Traffic detail picked her up downtown about 3 a.m.

Suspicion, drunk driving.

She gave the name Rick Stassi.

Said he'd vouch that she'd only had a couple.

I just said it, that's all.

It's the first thing that came to me.

Only when they got around to checking Stassi,

the milkman had already been here.

Found him dead.

I-- I really hadn't been with Rick at all.

Where was Stassi killed? Out here?

Just this side of the car.

Shot.

Was he getting in or out of the car when it happened?

Well, neither one, maybe.

He apparently kept a gun in the dash compartment.

That, and the fact there had been a little scuffle

outside the car. We dug a wild bullet out of the post.

Well, good morning, Perry.

And, uh, you're Mr. Dunbar, eh?

Did you ever see this before, sir?

I don't think so.

You should. It's registered to you.

No, no, no. Hm?

Oh. Well, that must be the one

that I gave to Rick Stassi then.

Well, that was weeks ago.

You see, I have several guns. Target pistols mostly.

And, well, he asked me for one.

I guess it was a .9 mm like that.

Why'd he want it, Mr. Dunbar?

Well, we've been taking steps to maintain complete security.

You see, I've been concerned

about certain items in my plant being stolen, and I--

Yes, I already know quite a few things about that.

Well, Mrs. Ferrand, I don't think we need you anymore

for a while.

Uh, Macready, have one of the men drive her home.

Uh, this Rick Stassi

must have been, uh, quite a ladies' man, I gather.

Mm-hm.

Has the, um, time of death

been established, lieutenant?

Well, the doctor says it was before midnight.

I wonder if you'd mind, uh,

driving back to town in my car,

sort of fill me in, uh, on a few things as we go?

Well, if Mr. Mason thinks it's all right--

Oh, I'm sure the lieutenant won't expect you

to answer any questions except those

concerning your personal experience of last night.

I'm sure you'll be a great help, sir.

Well...goodbye, Perry.

( knocking on door )

Hi, Perry.

You locate Kitty Wynne?

No. No luck so far.

Perry...

how far are you really going on this case?

Well, I'm...finding a thing or two here.

Of course, technically,

I'm only concerned with...

whose property was stolen from whom.

Well, that's what I figured. The reason I asked was

there's a DA's man in my office right now

with a court order for my records on the Dunbar job.

Mm-hm. What's in them, Paul?

Well, so far, mostly just notes

on what my men and I did last night.

Times, places, things like that.

How'd they find out your agency was even mixed up in this?

Watchman at the Dunbar building.

Perry...Mr. Dunbar is on the phone.

He's found Kitty down at police headquarters.

They've apparently had her there for quite a few hours.

And, uh, now, he says

they're booking her for the murder.

( dramatic theme playing )

Kitty. Why did you go to Rick Stassi's house?

Kitty...

Mr. Dunbar wants me to defend you.

I can't do that unless you and I

have faith in each other.

It's just that they've asked me so many questions,

that's all.

And I know I've given all the wrong answers.

Mm, take it easy.

Just tell me when you arrived there.

Eleven o'clock.

And then what?

Well, I knocked, but no one answered.

So I went inside.

Rick wasn't there. No one was.

You mean, no one was in the hall or living room.

Or in the back either.

There's a studio, and-- And his room.

You...looked into all those places?

Why?

A person usually stands and calls out.

Well, I did at first, but...

Well, you see,

Rick had been hinting around the past few days.

I didn't know whether he told Wally

things that weren't true or what.

That's why I went out there.

I just had to see him.

Kitty... ( sighs)

...what was between you and Rick Stassi?

I dated him a few times, that's all.

It was last year, when I first went to work for the company.

Before Wally was even there.

And...well,

I posed for Rick.

After all, he was an artist.

And I was so young, I didn't know.

But there wasn't anything between us.

Honestly.

I suppose Rick kept the drawings he made of you,

plus any notes you might have written him.

Anything like that.

Yes. How did you know?

Did you find those drawings he'd saved?

Yes.

In a desk in his studio.

And my notes to him also.

Did you take that material with you?

I was awfully scared.

I went to the living room and-- And grabbed my coat,

and ran out to my car as fast as I could.

I hadn't even seen Rick, so how could I kill him?

Please, Mr. Mason.

When you see Wally, will you explain?

Let's go back to the desk and those things you took out of it.

What did you do with them?

I took them home and burned them up in the fireplace.

All right, Kitty...

let's come back to something else.

You know that the... Dunbar fashion designs

were being stolen, don't you?

Yes.

And you know that the work sketches of those designs

were found in a suitcase you'd been carrying?

I just don't know, that's all.

How they got there, or--

Or how long they'd been there,

or-- Or anything.

All right, Kitty.

Please, Mr. Mason.

Is it going to be too hard to have faith in me?

Hm-hm.

No.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

All right, boys. We'll handle it that way.

Okay. Goodbye.

Thanks. Thank you.

Hello, Mason.

Stuyvesant.

Ha. Simon, sweet, you've done it again.

Look. Just look. There it is. ( door closes )

Madge, I'm very busy. Oh, I shouldn't wonder.

Getting the jump on Dunbar with all those lovely styles of his.

I can just see Rick Stassi's face.

He must be simply frying. I'll bet he is too, Madge.

Only not the way you think.

Darling, I know that he's dead.

Please come in, Mr. Mason.

You are the sly one, aren't you?

You had it all arranged all the time, didn't you?

Hm.

The trouble with fashions is the, uh,

people who wear them. Hm.

Is she a friend, or someone

you've been doing business with?

No, no. No business. No, sir.

But I can tell you this.

I happen to know that Madge Wainwright

was fired by Wally Dunbar's father once.

And for suspicion of theft too.

Mr. Atley...

I'm interested as to why you've just seen your lawyers.

I ask because I represent Miss Kitty Wynne.

She's being held on suspicion of murder.

Oh, I, uh, didn't know that.

I suppose the police must have talked to you, though.

About some, uh...

fashion sketches in a suitcase?

Mr. Mason, I know you are aware that in the United States,

there is absolutely no copyright or patent protection

for fashion design.

In the state of California,

the penalty for receiving stolen goods

can be as much as one to ten years in prison.

What?

Of course, your lawyers will tell you

that a conviction depends upon proving

that the purchaser of said goods knows they are stolen

at the time of purchase.

Just what are you suggesting?

But I must warn you, Mr. Atley,

that I've had private detectives working

to maintain Dunbar Fashions as private property,

so in the event any of them were stolen--

Mr. Mason, I haven't touched one single, solitary sketch,

bathing suit, photograph,

or anything else belonging to Dunbar...

and neither has any of my employees.

Thank you.

That's what I was hoping you would say.

Then...Kitty Wynne was in no way responsible

for your getting any of these bathing suit fashions?

Now, how can I answer a question like that?

Mr. Atley...

these are Dunbar work sketches

completed just yesterday.

I notice, in several cases, the slightest differences

between them and the sketches in your ads.

Now, apparently, a woman named Lisa Ferrand

was often responsible for the final Dunbar designs.

At least, she often added touches to Rick Stassi's work.

Your designs don't seem to have had the benefit

of those touches.

All right, what of it?

Well, it makes me wonder if you didn't get these designs

from Rick Stassi himself.

He was the only person who

wouldn't have really needed

to...steal those designs,

since he had the designs in his own head.

I paid $25,000 to Rick Stassi

for a complete set of new designs,

which he came here and drew for me.

I paid him in cash, in $100 bills.

And there was absolutely no one else

in any other way involved.

Thank you, Mr. Atley.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

How do you suppose those sketches

got into Kitty's suitcase?

Well, I'd say that Mr. Stassi put them there.

Tsk. Small wonder he was murdered.

Oh, but I'm so relieved

she's apparently telling you the truth.

( knocking on door )

Come in, Paul.

( door opens, closes )

Paul...

did the police get copies of these records of yours?

Uh-huh. But you know the old adage:

Give 'em a finger, they want a whole hand.

Now it's me they have a subpoena out for.

However, I did manage to pick up a couple of things

down at headquarters. Oh, what?

The boys who went out to Kitty Wynne's apartment

found paper ashes in the fireplace.

So now they'll probably reconstruct evidence

of that blackmail material.

Also, they found a crumpled-up $100 bill

on the floor of her closet,

and another one in her car.

That, uh, mean anything to you?

( dramatic theme playing )

Was there a bullet recovered from the body, doctor?

Yes. It had been slowed down

by an angled collision with the spine.

Now tell me, doctor...

when you arrived at the scene of the crime with the police,

was Mr. Stassi substantially as we see him here:

that is, half in and half out of the right side of the car

with his feet on the ground, and his body fallen

against the left side of the seat?

That's correct.

Rigor mortis was quite complete.

I'd say death occurred at least eight hours

prior to first examination.

That would make it before 11:30 the night before.

Mm-hm. Thank you, doctor.

That'll be all. Cross-examine.

Uh, no questions.

BURGER: Uh, then, Mr. Ellis,

your tests definitely proved

that these bullets were fired from this gun.

Is that correct?

That is correct, sir.

And that these...

are the matching cases.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir. Those cartridge cases

uh, bear the so-called breech-block signature

of this gun.

We found them on the cement floor of the carport

not far from the body.

And what else could you tell us that you observed

about this murder weapon when you examined it?

Well, the gun obviously hadn't been used very much.

There was enough cleaning oil, gun oil, on it to show streaks

where it had been wiped clean.

And also, there were a couple of threads

caught in the breech mechanism.

Really? What kind of threads?

Linen. I see.

Thank you, sir. I think that'll be all.

Your witness.

MASON: Uh, no questions.

I call...

Madge Wainwright.

It was about 9:30 when I talked to Mr. Stassi on the telephone.

I should say he was most alive at the time.

How did you happen to phone the Dunbar office,

Mrs. Wainwright?

I was trying to locate a friend of mine,

but he couldn't help me.

A-- A woman answered. That, uh--

That Lisa Ferrand person, I believe.

And then Rick himself.

But, uh, he said he and the woman were all alone,

so, um, hm...

naturally, I hung up.

But you were able to recognize the voice as that of Mr. Stassi?

Oh, yes, of course.

There was a day when I knew Mr. Stassi.

Though, of course, he forgot any girl

after she passed the age of, uh, 22.

BURGER: Yes. Now, you said that you...

once worked for the Dunbar company.

Was the defendant in their employ

at the time that you were there?

Yes, it was, um, last year.

She burst on the place, like a...

springtime off the half shell.

Your Honor-- Uh, just yes or no,

if you don't mind, Mrs. Wainwright.

Now, of your own knowledge, what was the relationship

between the defendant and Rick Stassi?

Well, I know that she posed for him in the near-nude.

I also know that she wrote him letters,

which he showed me,

that were certainly not innocent.

Uh, what else do you have to know about these things?

I mean, looks, touches, the--

The whole electricity of two people

having a...

A-a relationship?

No!

That's not true!

( crowd murmuring ) No!

I think that's all, Mrs. Wainwright. Thank you.

Your witness.

Mrs. Wainwright...

were there other girls at Dunbar

that you would call attractive?

Yes, all of them were...

one way or another.

And to how many of them

did Mr. Stassi... give special attention?

All of them.

Mm, for a while, at least.

You're very attractive yourself, Mrs. Wainwright.

Thank you.

Did he give you special attention?

For...how long?

Thank you.

That'll be all.

I could hear them talking in Rick's office,

but I wasn't sure of what they were saying.

And then I heard Kitty shout, "Let me go!"

And I heard her say, "I hate you. I could kill you."

And this was the afternoon of the day he was murdered?

Yes.

Thank you, Miss Lacoste.

Your witness.

MASON: Uh, no questions.

You may step down.

I'm sorry, Kitty.

Well, let's see now,

it was about 10:30 when the wife called.

Uh, Lisa, that is. She had driven downtown

after leaving the office, she said.

BURGER: And at what time did Kitty Wynne leave your studio?

Well, we quit right after that.

So as quick as she could slip into her clothes.

I guess 10:35, or 40.

Kitty was pretty upset and anxious, like I said.

I see. Thank you, Mr. Ferrand. I think that'll be all.

To you, counselor.

Mr. Ferrand, when did you develop the pictures

you'd taken of the defendant?

Well, to tell you the truth, I decided to replace

a broken bottle first.

Then you also went out

about 10:35 or 10:40 that evening?

I was tired.

I had wanted a drink, that's all.

I was back to fix the pictures by...midnight.

Does that answer your question?

Would any of the places you went to during that time

remember your presence?

Who remembers the furniture?

Hm.

What about your wife? She was downtown.

Perhaps you had a drink with her.

No.

Then you didn't see your wife all that night?

She had nothing to do with this.

What kind of accusations you trying to make?

Are you always so quick-tempered, Mr. Ferrand?

Thank you, that'll be all.

You may stand down.

And then we-- We talked about going out together...

but Rick was in a hurry.

That was the last time I saw him.

Thank you.

Counselor.

Mrs. Ferrand...

now, just exactly what is your job at Dunbar's?

I'm a seamstress in the design department.

Aren't you the one who often adds the final touches

to Dunbar designs?

The things that some people say

make those designs so distinctive?

Sometimes, I-- I guess I helped.

What is your salary, Mrs. Ferrand?

I'm paid $150 a week.

Have any idea how much, uh...

Rick Stassi received

for his services?

Now, I think ab-- About $20,000 a year.

Oh, but if you mean, uh...

did that bother me, the-- The difference between us...

I never gave it a thought, as long as--

MASON: As long as what?

It's not true that I did anything special.

Rick was the designer.

Rick did everything.

Rick deserved everything.

Even being murdered, Mrs. Ferrand?

Mr. Stassi drove out of the parking lot

at 10:30 on the button, sir.

Well, how can you be so sure of the time?

Well, that's when I come to work.

Uh, I just punched my clock.

You see, I'm watchman for that building,

and my first job is, uh, locking the fence gate

and, uh, cranking up the windows.

But, of course, when he hit the horn,

and I saw that flashy car of his, I--

I let Mr. Stassi out.

I think that'll be all, sir. Thank you. Your witness.

Did, uh, Mr. Stassi say good night to you?

No, I guess he didn't.

But I said it to him.

Are you sure it was Mr. Stassi

who drove out at 10:30?

Well, of course it was. I saw him.

I saw his car, and I, uh, saw my clock.

Now, you said part of your job

was...cranking up windows.

What do you mean?

Well, car windows.

On nights it looks like there's gonna be rain, you see?

Hm.

Well, on the, uh, night in question,

there were intermittent showers beginning late in the evening,

and, uh, clearing shortly after dawn.

And did this circumstance contribute in any way

to your findings at the scene of the crime?

Well, there are no sidewalks or paved shoulders in that area.

So we noticed that any cars parked in the Stassi place

left, uh, muddy tire tracks.

Well, go on, lieutenant. What exactly did you find?

Well, Mr. Stassi's own car left tracks coming into the drive,

of course.

And then there were marks of tires

similar to those of a car

belonging to Mr. Paul Drake.

A third set of tracks was parked in front of the house

with the same tire design...

as the defendant's car.

And that's all? Just those three cars?

That's all.

I see. Now, lieutenant...

I show you this handkerchief,

and I ask if you recognize it.

I do. That has my identifying mark on it.

Where did you find it? Lying on the ground,

in, uh, front of the Stassi home.

What's the material of this handkerchief, lieutenant?

It's linen. It's Irish linen.

I see. Now, I notice there's some dark stains on it.

Did you analyze those?

Yes. Those stains are from gun oil.

The same oil that was on the murder weapon.

And up in this corner of this handkerchief--

Yes, the initials, uh, "K.W."

BURGER: K.W. Kitty Wynne.

If it please the court, I should like this handkerchief

and this attached chemist's report

entered in evidence for the people.

Mr. Mason?

No objections.

Cross-examine.

( sighs )

Is it yours?

Can you tell?

Well? Mr. Mason?

I have no questions of this witness.

Court adjourned until 10 a.m.

I don't know, Mr. Mason. I just don't know.

I guess I had a handkerchief in my purse.

Mine are like that.

Did you keep the purse with you?

What?

At Rick's house,

when you went into the studio.

Yes, I guess I must have.

I put the drawings and things in it.

Well, what about your coat?

Remember you said you picked your coat up

when you ran out to the car?

Yes, that's right.

What kind of a coat was it, Kitty?

What does it look like?

It's just a jacket. An old car coat.

It's beige, and it has slash pockets.

All right.

Della...call Paul.

Tell him to meet me at the Dunbar building right away.

Then try and find that beige jacket.

I'll see you back at the office.

( mysterious theme playing )

Time to get up.

Oh.

( grunts )

I'm sorry I'm so late, Della.

That Kitty's coat?

Mm-hm. The landlady helped me find it.

Let me see the pockets.

Remember your trench coat? Now, here.

You put your hand in the outside,

goes into the pocket.

Or you could put it right through the slip

to the inside of the coat.

Now, suppose someone was there when Kitty arrived.

Kitty started to look around...

finally went into the study.

Mm-hm. Leaving her coat in the living room.

Mm-hm.

You know, most girls

carry handkerchiefs in their pocket, Perry.

I know I do.

Now, suppose whoever was there...

wiped the gun off with her handkerchief.

And then to incriminate Kitty put the handkerchief

and a couple of those $100 bills into her coat pocket,

or what felt like the coat pocket.

Then Kitty came running through the house...

grabbed her coat in the living room, ran out.

The handkerchief must have fallen out of the lining

even before she reached the car.

One of the bills fell unnoticed to the floorboard,

and one of the bills

apparently stayed caught in her coat

until she reached home. ( door opens )

And that's the way it could've been. ( door closes )

Hi.

Well, we were lucky.

Here's the rest of the information you wanted.

And now, if no one minds, I did have a date.

At this hour?

No. No one minds.

Della will still have to put this together. ( sighs )

Coffee, anyone?

Now, to recapitulate,

you saw Miss Wynne come running out of that house

at exactly what time, Mr. Drake?

I arrived at exactly 11:10.

And it took you how long to get there from the Dunbar building?

About 20 minutes.

Go on.

Well, as I said, I arrived at 11:10.

By the time I'd looked into her car and she'd come out,

driven off, and I followed her, must have been 11:15.

Now, Mr. Drake...

did you at any time see so much as one indication

of any other person or any other car

anyplace on that road,

either approaching or leaving that house?

No, sir, I did not.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.

Thank you for the accuracy of your observations,

and those of your operatives.

And thank you for not making me treat you as a hostile witness.

To you, counselor.

Mr. Drake...

let's return to the Dunbar building for a moment.

To the, uh, parking lot between buildings.

Now, you stated you arrived just as

Mr. Stassi's car drove off.

I stated I heard the watchman say, "Good night, Mr. Stassi."

But you did see his car drive out through the gates?

Yes, I did.

Tell me, had it begun to rain at that time?

Mm, there was a little drizzle.

But was it enough to...

cloud the windows of a car?

Well, I didn't actually look at Mr. Stassi,

if that's what you mean.

The headlights were too bright anyway.

May it please the court, I would like to recall a witness.

Which witness, Mr. Mason? What for?

Your Honor, I object.

Counselor?

Uh, Mr. Miller, the watchman.

It seems to me he's more qualified

to answer my next question.

What is the question?

One I should have asked before.

Was Mr. Stassi alone in the car?

I can't answer that, sir. I don't know.

If it please the court, I'm gonna withdraw my objection

to the night watchman being recalled.

I think that question should be answered.

He was alone, I tell you. Of course he was alone.

But Mr. Miller, you must admit

that the windows might have been fogged.

You hardly even looked in the direction of the headlights.

"Good night, Mr. Stassi," says I.

It was like that every night.

You get an impression. You know what I mean?

Of what? Could you tell what clothes he was wearing?

Well, maybe not that, no--

An impression of a hat? Did he always wear a hat?

Well, as a matter of fact, he did.

Of course, I couldn't swear that he had one on.

Well, then how could you swear there wasn't somebody

sitting beside him,

hunched down in the seat perhaps?

Because it's the kind of thing you see.

The car drives away...

one person in back of the wheel.

Anybody else and they'd have to be flat on the floor,

let me tell you.

Very well.

Now, um, you mentioned rolling up car windows.

Yes, sir.

Did you by any chance roll up the windows

on a 1959 green sedan parked either in the lot

or on the street outside?

MILLER: Nope.

Did you notice a 1953 convertible...

with a torn top?

I don't think so.

No, I'm sure not.

Did you roll up the windows on a 1959 Thunderbird? Pink?

Nope.

Well, perhaps...

They've got those little electric buttons.

Nothing you could do without the keys.

You mean, there was such a car?

On a side street between the buildings, mm-hm.

How long was it left there?

Oh, somebody came and got it before morning, I guess.

That's all I noticed.

With the court's indulgence,

I should like to recall another witness:

Mrs. Wainwright.

Your Honor, I must protest this parade

of recalled prosecution witnesses.

Surely the defense can put on its own case.

Uh, I do have a pink Thunderbird,

i-if that's all you want to know.

I think, Mr. Burger...

I think, Your Honor,

that I'll withdraw my objection.

JUDGE: Step down, Mr. Miller.

Will you take the stand, please, Mrs. Wainwright?

I remind you you're still under oath.

Oh, is the car you just heard described yours,

Mrs. Wainwright?

Yes, of course.

You've already found that out, haven't you?

Can you tell this court how your car happened to be there?

Yes, I parked it there.

Yesterday, Mrs. Wainwright,

you testified that at 9:30 p.m. on the night of the murder,

you telephoned the Dunbar building,

trying to locate someone there.

Who?

Uh, Mr. Simon Atley.

MASON: Why did you think Mr. Stassi would know where he was?

Well, he-- He was with him earlier in the evening.

And Simon paid him $25,000.

But if Mr. Stassi told you that Mr. Atley wasn't there,

why did you then drive your car to the Dunbar building?

Oh, that was just an excuse.

It was a-- A part of a plan that, hm,

just didn't work out, that's all.

Plan? Yes.

I drove my car, and parked it, and...

then I walked home.

Straight home.

Uh, Simon didn't want to use his car. He--

He was afraid it might be recognized.

You mean, Mr. Atley was there?

Oh, not with me.

He was going to wait in the parking lot for Rick.

Please, Your Honor!

Order! ( crowd murmurs )

You see, Rick wanted more money.

Oh, everyone knows what Rick was like.

And, uh...he was threatening to expose Simon.

And Simon was going to meet him that night and--

And straighten things out, that's all.

And then he was trapped...

inside the parking lot.

And the gates were going to close,

and... And he was trapped.

And-- A-and he-- He hadn't got what he came for, and--

And he didn't know what to do, and--

Get her off there!

Bailiff.

Simon, it-- It doesn't fit if I don't tell the truth.

It doesn't fit.

She's lying. I never had any dealings with her.

( crowd murmuring )

Mrs. Wainwright... wasn't all this

not what Mr. Atley did,

but what you did?

What do you mean?

You went to see Stassi...

you waited for him in the parking lot.

And before the watchman came on duty,

something terrible happened.

Something which made you panicky

when the gates started to close.

"Trapped," you said.

"Inside," you said.

The gates were going to close.

And then, didn't you drive Stassi's car off that lot?

Well, he was in no condition to drive.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

I'd already killed him.

( sobbing )

( mellow music playing)

Well, her confession claimed there was no premeditation.

They just sat in Rick's car, uh, arguing and fighting.

The gun was right there.

Arguing?

She had once been an accomplice of Rick's.

When Rick went out and made his own deal,

she wanted to cut in.

Yeah, that's why she drove him home. To get the money.

She also fired a shot into the post

to make it look like the murder took place there.

Yipe.

Excuse me.

You know...

sometimes this business is fun.

( both chuckle )

( noirish jazz theme playing )