Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Long distance. I want to call Los Angeles, California.

Person-to-person to Mr. Allen Sheridan

at Hollywood 2-4699.

( phone ringing )

( door opens )

( footsteps approach )

Hello.

( speaking indistinctly )

Oh, hello, Aunt Sarette.

How's the weather in New York? How's the--?

I haven't received your check yet, Allen.

It's been three months now.

You haven't sent me a penny in three months.

Problems, Auntie.

This Ralph Curtis I wrote you about.

Didn't get a letter?

Well, now, don't tell me I forgot to mail that.

Well, anyway, you know what a soft touch I am

for a guy with troubles.

I just couldn't put him off.

So the money I was supposed to send you, I gave--

Allen, I've never even heard of this Ralph Curtis.

Now, tell me the truth.

Aunt Sarette.

Ralph Curtis is a guy I used to play poker with in New York.

Well, if you've thrown it away gambling--

Look, I'm going to a meeting right now.

I'll take care of everything.

I'll send you the money over the weekend. I promise.

Allen, you promised your father too.

And it's in his will.

You've got an obligation to me.

Oh, for the love of--

Look, I gotta go. Goodbye.

Don't you dare hang up on me.

Curtis...Ralph.

604 West 8th.

No, he hasn't sent me any money.

I haven't heard from him for six months.

Well, I've got these doctor bills, and I'm all alone too.

Well, you shouldn't say that, Miss Winslow.

Hello, Miss Winslow?

Hello? Hello?

( somber theme playing )

Information?

The phone number of American Airlines, please.

Yes. I'll hold on.

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

( engine starts )

( piano playing mellow tune )

Oh. I was giving you

just three-and-a-half minutes more.

And after that, I was going to...

( chuckles ): ...wait for a while.

I was held up by a phone call.

Oh?

My Aunt Sarette in New York,

just wishing me a happy birthday.

What's the matter?

Sneak a look over at the guy

sitting at the bar.

Dark sport coat, white tie.

Darling, what's the matter? You look petrified.

Who is he?

ALLEN: Lou Caporale.

He's a gambler.

Joyce, I owe him $5,000.

I can't pay it.

What can he do about it? He can't sue you, can he?

Well, there's, um,

nothing he can do if he can't find me.

What do you mean?

Joyce, I've made a plane reservation.

You have?

Well, what do you expect me to do,

stay around here and get killed?

Just you, Allen? Alone?

He's coming over. Well, I just thought we might

take in a show tomorrow night, because if we're gonna

play tennis Sunday morning-- Anybody who didn't know

any better, Allen, would think you were avoiding me.

Well, that's--

That's quite a trick these days, Lou.

You're everywhere.

It runs in streaks. You should know.

For a while, you see a guy every night,

then you don't see him at all.

I was coming around when I raised the money.

That's good, Allen.

Come around anytime.

Like tonight, okay?

Tonight?

Well, you're, uh-- You're busy right now.

And I wouldn't dream of interfering with your fun.

Live it up while you got the chance,

like there's no tomorrow.

That sounds very much like a threat, Mr. Caporale.

( chuckles )

No.

If I'd said,

"Get the 5 grand, or you'll bleed,"

now, that's a threat.

But I didn't say anything like that, did I?

So, um, I'll see you tonight, kid.

My door's always unlocked to you.

Allen, what are you going to do?

Here.

It's every last penny I could scrape up.

Put it in your purse. What for?

I want you to pick up my plane reservation.

The guy's got me watched all the time.

Can't let him think I'm running out on him.

Who else are you running out on, Allen? Me?

Baby.

I've got to protect myself, just in case.

Look, I've got a scheme to get the money.

And if I get it, I won't need that plane ticket.

( sighs )

Ho-ho.

( snickers )

Honey. Trust me, huh?

Look, the reservation's under the name of William Wyatt.

You go there, meet me at my business manager's office.

Three o'clock, okay?

Don't forget the name: William Wyatt.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

( knock at door )

Sit down, Allen. I'll be finished in a minute.

Victor...

I need $5,000.

( sighs ) Doris, would you bring in

Mr. Allen Sheridan's accounts, please.

Thank you.

What's the sudden need for money?

Finally answering one of your aunt's letters?

I owe it to a gambler.

( laughs ): Oh. Come on, Allen.

I've played poker with you, remember?

More likely the gambler owes it to you.

Victor, I've got to have that money.

I hired you to handle my financial affairs,

not to make jokes.

Now, please. By tonight.

Here you are, sir.

Thank you.

( door closes )

Well, Allen, your balance amounts to exactly $14.

I know how little I've got.

Victor...

I want you to loan me the 5,000.

Allen, I'm afraid I'm going to say no.

Oh, it isn't the loan. Even if you had that much money

in your account, I would still have to refuse,

for your own good.

For my own good.

Victor, try to understand.

I've gotta pay up that $5,000 by 10:00 tonight,

or they're gonna kill me.

( chuckles ): You know, I've never lost a client that way yet.

Oh, you can think of a better way than this

to put the bite on me.

VICTOR: Miss Fulton.

Am I interrupting?

No, no, no, of course not. You've just saved me

from a very hairy old story-- Allen, he's here.

He's almost behind me.

Who?

Did you get the ticket?

Yes, it's in my purse.

Your plane leaves at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

Allen, I didn't realize you wanted to get

so far out of town as Mexico City.

Baby, baby. I ask you to trust me.

I'm still trying to get the money.

( scoffs )

Excuse me, are you looking for someone?

No, I know where he is.

I'm just waiting.

Well, this happens to be my place of business.

Do you mind telling me--? I know where I am

and who you are too, so we don't have to waste

time talking, do we?

Just save that for Allen.

He could use all the time he can get today.

( sighs )

( sighs )

There's a door into the back hall. You can go out that way.

Victor-- Go on. Go on.

I'll see what I can do.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

It's 5:00.

Where's the girlfriend?

I took her home.

Like, she didn't want to be around when you bleed?

( chuckles )

( laughs )

You know, I thought of throwing in a little physical stuff,

but, uh, what if somebody got scared and hit me back?

It was a great performance, Lou.

Early George Raft and a touch of beatnik.

Did it sell?

All the way around.

I just talked to Victor.

He'll bring you the cash this evening.

Five thousand bills.

You'll get your 500, boy. You earned it.

Only listen, Allen. Didn't you tell me that you were gonna get

some really big moola on your birthday or something?

Lou, ever since I came here six months ago,

this guy Victor's been dipping into me,

just for handling my allowance

and keeping a few people off my neck.

Do you know how much I paid that leech?

Five thousand bills?

You guessed it, boy.

Now, you don't think he's gonna see

any of that money back, do you?

But if he kept people off your neck, Allen?

Are you kidding?

Guy in New York that keeps crying to me for help.

Then there's my old biddy aunt who keeps whining for dough.

Now this Joyce keeps hinting around.

I don't know what she wants.

Lou...

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.

This is it. This time I'm gone for good.

I'd sure hate to see Joyce's expression when she finds out

that you really do leave town.

You know that trust fund money?

Well, they turn it over to me tomorrow.

One hundred and sixty-two thousand silver sinkers.

All mine.

Whew.

Now, you just bring that chicken feed for traveling expenses.

When will you be home?

Ten o'clock tonight?

Uh-huh. Ten o'clock.

( glasses clink )

( clock chiming )

( slow, suspenseful theme playing )

Anybody home?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

Allen?

( grunts )

( whimpers )

Oh.

( engine starts )

If you've been on the plane all night,

I'm sure you can use some coffee.

Yes. Thank you, dear.

That's very thoughtful.

Is this your first trip to Los Angeles?

Yes. I came out to see a relative:

Allen Sheridan.

His father is my cousin, Henry Sheridan.

Well, then...

what brings you first to a lawyer?

Well, I--

I may need some help.

You see, a number of years ago...

I gave up an apartment, my way of life, in Cincinnati

to go to New York.

Henry's wife had died,

and he needed someone to look after the large house,

to manage things.

I understand.

But...last year,

Henry died too.

He didn't leave me anything.

Not...specifically.

Was there a will?

Everything reverted to a trust fund.

His son, Allen Sheridan,

was his first heir.

He was to receive control of the money

on his 30th birthday.

Until then, he has a $2,000-a-month allowance.

You say "first heir"?

Henry wanted me to be taken care of.

He said so in his will.

It's just that--

That it was up to Allen's discretion

how much money I should have. That's all.

But, um...

I'm the next heir.

The next in line, in case anything happened...

to...well...

Miss Winslow, have you been unsuccessful

in getting money from him?

Is that the trouble?

Well...

Allen came out here six months ago...

and during the last three months, he hasn't sent me

a single penny.

I finally wrote to his business manager.

Someone named, uh, Victor...Latimore.

But he won't answer me either.

Now, when is this, uh...

birthday you spoke of?

Today.

( inhales )

Oh. Mr. Mason.

It isn't that I'm greedy for myself.

You see, I'm still living in the family house...

and I've had to contract bills in my own name.

I just don't know what to tell people anymore.

And Allen promises...

and promises...

All right.

How can we get in touch with him?

Oh.

At, um...

Hollywood 2-4699.

( dialing phone )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( line ringing )

Uh, just one moment, please.

Mr. Perry Mason calling.

Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr. Sheridan, please.

Well, Mr. Mason, he, uh-- He ain't here.

I'm the cleaning woman.

What?

No, he's not asleep. I just cleaned up his bedroom.

( scoffs ) Of course I'm sure.

Mr. Sheridan's just plain somewheres else.

Oh.

Yes, Mr. Mason. I know who you are.

I'll leave a note.

Goodbye.

Oh. He's not dead. Perry.

Thank heaven he's not dead.

Oh. Here. Take her. ( sobbing )

He's not dead.

( sobbing )

What did you say, Miss Winslow?

Oh.

I'm so ashamed of myself for coming here like this,

Mr. Mason.

( whimpers )

I sat in my car all night last night,

wondering what to do.

But he's all right.

Oh, forgive me.

Suppose you tell us the whole story.

Thank you.

( sniffles ) I need help.

( sniffles )

You see, I--

I never know what he's up to.

The tricks he plans

and...the things he says.

Just start at the beginning.

Well...I--

I learned from Ralph Curtis...

( sniffles ) ...that Allen hadn't sent him

any money either.

( mysterious theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( screams )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Mason. Sit down.

( door closes )

What can I do for you?

I'm trying to get in touch with Allen Sheridan.

Oh, what for?

Probably a matter you'll be handling.

I'm representing Sarette Winslow.

Oh, yes, in New York.

She's now in Los Angeles.

I'd like to know what Mr. Sheridan's intentions are,

Mr. Latimore.

Is he going to respect his late father's wishes,

and provide some kind of permanent

and regular support for Miss Winslow?

Well, Mr. Mason,

Allen is hardly the confiding type, I'm afraid.

I understand he has other traits:

quick and easy, generous with promises,

and capricious in the fulfillment of them.

You left out charm...

and persuasiveness.

I apologize.

You should. Last night, he persuaded me

to lend him $5,000.

Oh? What for?

He's in trouble...

with a gambler named Lou Caporale.

You know, of course, Mr. Sheridan's getting control

of a fortune...

perhaps as early as today.

Today?

Well, he told me his 30th birthday

wasn't until next year.

Today.

Oh. This, um...Caporale.

You know where I can reach him?

Oh, yes. Ye-- Um...

1040 Las Palmas, Apartment 4.

I, uh...

delivered the money myself.

Well, Mr. Latimore...

where is Sheridan?

Oh, I don't know.

Is there anyone else who might help me find him?

Well, he's been going around with a young woman.

( phone rings ) Excuse me.

Yes, Doris?

Right. And, uh, get Joyce Fulton's phone number

for Mr. Mason.

( clicks button )

Yes, Lieutenant Tragg.

Speaking.

Well, I don't know.

Well, is anything wrong?

Well, why have the police--?

I see.

Homicide.

He said they're looking for Allen too.

Well, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Latimore.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Better cover the whole area.

You can start up there.

Well, hello, Perry.

What's he supposed to be doing on the side of the mountain?

Maybe he's buried up there. What are you here for?

Well, I was in Victor Latimore's office when you called.

I'm working on an estate problem

that may involve Sheridan.

Uh, don't, uh, touch anything, Perry.

We're not finished out here yet.

Blood? Yes.

Lot of it.

From the porch? Uh-huh.

It's all cleaned up nice up there.

Whose blood, lieutenant?

We're checking.

Your client in this, uh, money affair

wouldn't be a woman, would it?

Why?

Well, we're looking for a woman.

Sergeant...

you can start over to the east,

and then work down both sides of the road.

Uh, why a woman, lieutenant?

Well, these slatted wooden porches were never designed

for a-- A narrow kind of heel like this.

You're sure it's murder, lieutenant?

Well, it's early yet.

I'd like to have a body.

Where is this Allen Sheridan?

He could be anywhere.

Why do you figure it's a woman, lieutenant?

If there was a murder...

how could she have transported the body?

( chuckles )

All downhill, isn't it?

Steps.

Nice, handy slope.

Now, just suppose that that's

a rental car parked below there.

See how easy it would be to slide a body down

and right into the trunk.

Or roll it over onto the rear seat of a convertible?

And then off it goes, body and all.

Well...we found a few marks.

Little blood on the ivy, but that's how it was, Perry.

Uh, what prompted you to say "rental car," lieutenant?

Well, we happen to know that there was

a rental car here last night.

The Pleas-U-R-Drive Car-Rental people always have

an identifying star on the windshield.

And we have an eyewitness, Perry.

We know, uh, who rented it and where.

Now, I think you understand...

that we're looking for a woman

by the name of Sarette Winslow.

Right now, all we want her for is questioning.

But I'm going on record with you.

We want her. Mm.

Well, I'm sure you can always get her, lieutenant.

With a warrant.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Della. Paul.

PAUL: Hi, Perry.

Miss Winslow settled?

Mm-hm. I took her to a hotel.

( sighs )

Tragg believes that Allen Sheridan

was murdered last night.

Believes?

Uh, no corpse has been found.

Paul, Sheridan left New York

six months ago. I want to know

the circumstances.

Della, what was the name

of that man Miss Winslow mentioned.

Someone you might check with,

Uh, Curtis? Uh, Ralph Curtis.

He lives in Manhattan.

MASON: I want to know all about

Sheridan's financial dealings in New York and here.

All about Victor Latimore

and his management business.

Perry, do you believe that

Allen Sheridan's been murdered?

Well, it could be another case of his artful dodging.

As far as his being murdered...

for Miss Winslow's sake,

I certainly hope not.

Okay, Perry. Anything else?

Mm-hm. Complete background

on Lou Caporale, gambler,

1040 Las Palmas, Apartment 4.

Della, call this Miss Joyce Fulton...

Oleander 2-1652.

( piano music playing )

Okay, Rudy.

Good day, sir. I'm to see a Miss Fulton.

Miss Fulton. Oh, yes. Right this way.

Miss Fulton? Mr. Mason.

Uh, nothing now, thank you.

Very well.

I hope this was a convenient place for you.

Oh, fine.

Well, now to the point.

How long have you known Allen Sheridan?

Two months. It seems longer.

Did you see him last night?

Sure. He took me to dinner.

And after dinner?

I drove him home.

Look, Mr. Mason, I've told all this to the police...

and I haven't seen Allen since last night.

But what time last night?

About 9:00.

And since 9:00 last night,

you've neither seen nor spoken with him?

No.

And from what you told me on the phone,

he hasn't been home, and, heh,

no one seems to know where he is.

So...I can only assume that he left according to plan.

Mm?

What was the plan?

Well, I'd rather not say.

Oh, I mean, I'm sure you're not working for Lou Caporale,

but...I think the fewer the people that know,

the better it'll be for Allen.

Caporale was paid off last night.

Really?

Victor Latimore paid him off?

So he says.

Well, I guess I was right.

Imagine, running all the way to Mexico City

just to evade my little clutches.

That where Sheridan went, Mexico City?

( sighs ) Well, I guess so.

He was supposed to leave at 7:00 this morning,

only not if Victor--

Oh, boy. The circles that man can swim in.

Now, you said you drove him home last night.

In his car?

No, mine.

Didn't he have one?

Yes. It's a convertible.

Only he said he loaned his to someone else.

( scoffs )

To a friend, he said.

And Paul, see if a man answering the description of Sheridan

boarded the 7 a.m. flight for Mexico City.

Fine.

Now, what were you gonna say about that convertible?

( Paul speaking indistinctly )

Oh?

Yes, I have it.

Globe Studios.

Sorry, we're checking.

This car belong to you?

No. What's it all about?

Got a driver's license?

Oh, sure.

"Louis Caporale."

It's registered under the name of Allen Sheridan.

He's a friend of mine.

Uh, thank you, officer.

I think I can handle it now.

Mr. Caporale, my name is Mason.

I think you have, uh,

more than one profession, don't you?

What do you mean?

Today you're an actor,

last night you were a gambler...

collecting a $5,000 debt.

Well, a bit player's got to have

something working on the side for him.

What's your line, Mason?

I'm trying to locate Allen Sheridan.

Um, I don't know where he is.

When was the last time you saw him?

Do I have to answer your questions?

Do you have something to hide?

No, no. Nothing, nothing.

Where'd you get the car?

Oh, now, look, Allen loaned it to me.

I was doing a favor for him. I needed transportation.

I explained it all down at headquarters.

I don't have to go over it with you.

Did they tell you down at headquarters

that they think he may have been murdered?

Why, no.

That they suspected his body was hauled away in a car?

You mind opening the trunk, Mr. Caporale?

Something in it?

Well, how should I know?

I never had any reason to open the trunk.

I have no idea what's back there.

Then you don't mind? Now, look, Mr. Mason.

This isn't my car.

I don't know what's back in there.

Shall we see?

Mr. Mason?

Call for you.

A Mr. Drake.

Would you ask him to hold on for a moment?

Yes, hello?

Perry, did you catch Caporale?

Yes, Paul.

Good. Look, I think I have something for you.

I just talked to the airline people.

A William Wyatt took off for Mexico City at 7 a.m.

William Wyatt.

They remembered this guy at the check-in counter.

Said he was all bent over, as though in pain.

I asked whether he could have been hurt or wounded,

and they said he virtually had to be carried onboard.

Go on.

And from what I can make out,

Wyatt answers the general description of Allen Sheridan.

All right, thanks, Paul.

I'll see you tonight at the office.

Oh. Afternoon, Perry.

I really came to find you, Mr. Caporale. I need your help.

Uh, is this the, uh, Allen Sheridan car?

That's right, lieutenant.

And Mr. Mason had me open the trunk for him.

Why, Perry, you weren't looking for

something in there, were you?

I guess I'm always looking, lieutenant.

You should have been looking down the county road

about five miles from the Sheridan home.

Want to come along while Mr. Caporale

identifies the body?

That's him.

That's Allen Sheridan.

That, uh, warrant you wanted for Sarette Winslow...

You wanna look it over and see if it's in order?

( dramatic theme playing )

So...

Sheridan established the fictitious William Wyatt,

and then to raise travel money,

he swindled his own business manager out of $5,000.

So he could run out on everybody.

Miss Winslow, Victor Latimore,

his latest girlfriend, Joyce Fulton.

Mm-hm. Quite a boy.

Quite a scheme.

Except someone moved in and took advantage of all his plotting.

Somebody now calling himself William Wyatt?

Mm-hm. ( knock on door )

Hi, beautiful. Hello, Paul.

Oh, Paul. Any luck?

Well, here's the rundown from New York.

It comes from Gebhardt and O'Riley,

trustees for the estate of Henry Sheridan.

Go on. For some time now,

Allen Sheridan's had it arranged with them

to transfer the bulk of his estate

as soon as he turned 30.

Which he's just done. Check.

Comes to $162,000.

I suppose he had the funds transferred to Mexico City.

To the Bank of Mexico in the name of William Wyatt.

And hold onto your hat.

The funds were not only transferred,

they were cashed.

In Mexico City? Mm-hm.

When? Just before the banks closed,

by someone who properly identified himself

as William Wyatt.

All right, Paul.

I want you to find this William Wyatt.

All right, Perry.

( ominous theme playing )

Then the defendant, Sarette Winslow,

confronted Allen Sheridan, her own cousin.

And when he resisted her pleas for money,

she contrived to kill him.

Her motives were anger and greed.

And finally, Your Honor,

we intend to demonstrate how, within that same hour,

the defendant returned to the scene of her crime

to obtain and cold-bloodedly to dispose of

the body of her victim.

Mr. Mason?

The defense will reserve its remarks at this time,

Your Honor.

Proceed with the prosecution.

I call Dr. Hoxie to the stand, please.

...causing a fracture just above the right temple.

The second blow struck on the opposite side of the head

on a line below the ear, down across the throat,

severing the external carotid artery.

And, doctor, I show you this section of a glass ashtray,

and ask if this could have caused such wounds.

Yes, sir, it could.

The jagged edge, the weight, everything.

Thank you, doctor.

Your witness.

No questions.

We smoked a cigarette on the porch,

and we used this ashtray.

Only it wasn't broken then.

it didn't have that jagged end.

When was this, Miss Fulton?

After we came back from dinner that night.

And I recognize the ashtray

because it was one I gave him.

Now I show you this blanket and ask if you've seen it before.

I have. Allen used to leave it out on the porch.

He used to take sunbaths on it.

I think that'll be all, Miss Fulton. Your witness.

You seem quite familiar with the household details

of Mr. Sheridan's home, Miss Fulton.

How is that?

Well, I suppose because I've been there

quite a number of times.

And just what was the relationship between you

and Allen Sheridan?

Well, I'm not sure that I really know.

Allen would never quite declare himself.

And I assure you that I hadn't made up my own mind

about things either.

MASON: And Miss Fulton...

you said earlier that you left his home,

and that you last saw Mr. Sheridan

about 9:00 on the night he was killed.

Is there any way you can verify that?

No, Mr. Mason.

There isn't.

Thank you, that'll be all.

Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, please.

Now, I ask if you've ever seen this blanket before.

Well, when the, uh, county notified us

that one of their road crews

had uncovered the body of a man,

I investigated personally.

I found this blanket wrapped around

the body of Allen Sheridan.

And what did you find on the blanket?

Bloodstains, type B, same as the victim.

Did you also find...

bloodstains on this ashtray?

No, sir. It had been wiped off.

The porch had been wiped off too.

Very carefully.

I believe you said that also applied to the fingerprints.

Yes, sir.

Someone had, uh, tidied up.

Huh. Tidied up. Very well-put, lieutenant.

However, what about the pool of blood under the porch?

Isn't that what started your whole investigation?

Well, it was dark, there were cracks in the porch,

and that was undoubtedly the oversight of the murderer.

I see.

Now, I show you this heel from a woman's shoe.

I ask you where this was found.

It was stuck between the floorboards on the porch.

Is there anything else you can tell us about this heel?

We took some scrapings, and down at the bottom of it,

we found samples of some blood, uh, type B.

That's the same type as that of the deceased.

Yes. The wearer of the shoe

had, uh, undoubtedly

stepped in some of the blood.

Well, were there any fingerprints on this?

Well, um, on the inside facing of the heel,

there were two we could identify.

The, uh, thumbprint of the cleaning woman

who tried to, uh, pull it loose from the porch.

And whose was the other print?

That of the defendant...

Miss Sarette Winslow.

Now, lieutenant, during the course

of your investigation in this case,

was it necessary for you to examine the records

of automobile rental agencies in the Los Angeles area?

Yes, I did.

Would you tell us what you found, please?

On the evening of the murder, about, uh, 9:00,

the airport office

of the Pleas-U-R-Drive Car Rentals company

signed out a convertible...

to Miss Sarette Winslow of New York City.

I think that'll be all, lieutenant.

Thank you very much. Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, what prompted you to look into the records

of the Pleas-U-R-Drive company?

The statement of an eyewitness.

What eyewitness?

Mr. Louis Caporale.

Thank you, lieutenant. That'll be all.

I started up toward the house

around by the front door.

I looked in, didn't see anybody.

Then this woman came hurrying around from the other side.

She looked like she might be a cripple,

or maybe wearing only one shoe.

She got into the car and, uh, drove away pretty fast.

Now, I ask you to look around this courtroom

and see if you can identify that woman here.

Well, sure.

That's her.

BURGER: Let the record show that the witness

is pointing to the defendant, Sarette Winslow.

Thank you, Mr. Caporale. Your witness.

Mr. Caporale...

after this woman drove away...

just what did you do?

Well, Allen obviously wasn't home, so I left.

You left?

You saw this woman

mysteriously dashing away from your friend's home,

and you didn't investigate?

I figured she was just somebody

who couldn't find him home either.

I thought I'd try him later.

And later, you did look around a bit more.

Did you go out on the porch?

Yes, I did.

And you didn't see a body?

There wasn't any body there.

Not at 11:00.

Now, would you please tell the court

what were you really doing there?

Why were you so anxious

to see Sheridan that night?

Well, I'd borrowed his car.

Now, isn't it true that a man named Victor Latimore

had come to see you earlier that evening,

and had given you $5,000?

Oh, now, look.

This was Allen's idea, not mine.

He was just gonna pay me a few bucks

to pick up the dough and deliver it,

and maybe act like a--

Well, like a tough gambler, that's all.

And what did you do with the 5,000?

Well, I was worried.

So I hid it in back of his car.

Look, that's why I had the shakes the next day

when you were looking in the trunk.

But I was gonna turn it in.

In fact, I was on my way over to police headquarters

when-- When you stopped me.

Well-- Well, that's what I did.

I turned it over to Lieutenant Tragg.

Uh, didn't I, sir?

No more questions.

BURGER: I call Victor Latimore, please.

Now, Mr. Latimore, are you acquainted

with the defendant, Sarette Winslow?

Well, I met her through Allen in New York.

Occasionally, I'd see her at

the brownstone on 55th Street.

Allen, at one time, had a weekly poker game.

Oh, it was just a friendly game, not for blood.

Would you mind explaining to this court, please,

the financial arrangement

between the defendant and Allen Sheridan?

Well, it was very simple.

While he was still living on his allowance...

he undertook to send $300 monthly to Miss Winslow.

His father's will suggested an obligation of this kind.

And how did Allen Sheridan fulfill this obligation?

Well, he was frequently late with the check,

and many times he omitted sending it altogether. I see.

Did you ever have occasion to talk to the defendant

about this matter?

Oh, she wrote me several times from New York.

She was upset about Allen.

More specifically, what was she upset about?

Oh, about not getting her allowance,

and what was going to happen

when Allen came into his money

in a-- A lump sum on his 30th birthday.

You see, she knew that his birthday

was on September 5th

of this year.

I thought it wasn't till next year.

I see. Now, would you tell us, please,

the terms of Allen Sheridan's will?

Well, Allen left no will.

Then what happens to his estate?

Well, Miss Winslow is his only relative,

and, of course, is his sole heir.

Thank you, Mr. Latimore.

Your witness.

JUDGE: Uh, Mr. Mason...

do you anticipate a lengthy cross-examination

of this witness?

Well, it's possible it could take

quite some time, Your Honor.

In that case, since it's almost the noon hour,

court will recess until 2:00 this afternoon.

PAUL: Perry...

I finally got a few reports in.

At least we know

where William Wyatt was in Mexico City.

What about Ralph Curtis in New York?

That's the second piece of information we've got.

We can't find him.

But I did get a flash,

if you can call it that.

He did show up in New York.

Uh-huh. When?

Mm, according to a neighbor,

Sunday morning, September 6th.

How long was he there?

I don't know. Not more than a few hours.

Perry, heh,

you're awful persistent about this guy, Curtis.

What gives?

Figure it out yourself, Paul.

From all we've learned...

from what you've just told me...

Ralph Curtis and William Wyatt are...

one and the same person.

And Paul...

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

...you've just got to find him.

All right, Perry.

Now, Mr. Latimore...

you said that you knew Allen Sheridan in New York.

Well, since I've been out here on business,

it's only been occasional visits, of course.

Mm, how long have you been

in the personal management business?

Oh, about ten years.

I do income taxes, that sort of thing. Mm-hm.

What percentage did you take of the decedent's income

as your fee for handling his so-called allowance?

Well, in-- In this particular case...

25 percent.

Doesn't the normal fee

for the type of service you render

range from, uh,

oh, say, 3 percent to...

maybe 5 percent?

Oh, but Allen needed all sorts of special service.

You see, he came out here with things all tangled up.

Do you, uh, have Mr. Sheridan's power of attorney?

Y-yeah-- Uh-- Uh, no.

Uh, pardon me. Did you have

his power of attorney?

Yes, but it was revoked. Mm, when?

I received notice of it last week.

Allen had written the trustees in New York.

Now, if his body hadn't been discovered--

if he'd just disappeared

--would you still have been able to continue

using that power of attorney?

Well, I--

I suppose, until all the banks had been notified--

Oh, no.

No, that wouldn't have been proper.

No.

Now, you testified that...

you were...

part of an occasional poker game

held by Allen Sheridan.

Was a--? A man by the name of Ralph Curtis

also part of that game?

Yes, sir. Occasionally.

Was Mr. Curtis one of the special services

you took care of for Mr. Sheridan?

I don't know what you mean.

I mean the defendant wasn't the only person

after Sheridan for money, was she?

( scoffs ) Well,

I wouldn't know about that.

Tell me, Mr. Latimore...

were you and Ralph Curtis

blackmailing Allen Sheridan?

I object, Your Honor.

That question is completely incompetent.

Mr. Mason is threatening this witness.

Objection sustained.

No more questions.

( whispers indistinctly )

At this time, Your Honor...

the prosecution would like to call Ralph Curtis

to the stand, please.

( men clear throat )

So it was in a vindictive fit of temper

that Allen Sheridan tripped you

and sent you sprawling headlong

down that flight of stairs,

wasn't it?

Go on, Mr. Curtis.

Uh, that was in September of 1958...

in Allen's home in Manhattan.

I went to the hospital for a series of operations,

and it left me as you see me.

And what did Allen Sheridan do about it?

Well, he never once came to the hospital.

So when I found out I wasn't

going to get any better...

I had my lawyer send him a...letter.

That brought him around quick.

What do you mean by that?

He pleaded with me not to sue him.

Said it would tie up his funds and so on.

He said he felt he owed me an obligation...

and that he had an income of $2,000 a month.

He would pay me half for the rest of my life.

Well, he'd crippled me.

Well, did he keep his promise?

Well, he sent me a thousand a month

for two months.

And then he left town.

When was this?

March of this year.

Would you tell us, please,

what transpired on Friday, September 4th of this year?

I received a telephone call

about...4:00

in the afternoon, New York time.

It was from the defendant,

Miss Sarette Winslow.

BURGER: And what did she want?

Well, she...wanted to know if...

Allen had sent me a large sum of money recently.

Did she say why she wanted to know such a thing?

Yes. She said that Allen hadn't sent her any.

And he used the excuse

that he had sent a lot to me.

I told her he hadn't.

But...she became angry.

Might say she--

She even threatened.

She said she wasn't gonna let Allen

lie his way out of this.

BURGER: I see.

What else did she say, Mr. Curtis?

Well, she said...

she was gonna settle things with Allen

once and for all.

Thank you, Mr. Curtis.

Your witness.

I'm curious to know why, Mr. Curtis...

when Allen Sheridan stopped his payments to you,

you didn't seek legal relief in the courts.

Hm. Because the only witness to the attack

was Victor Latimore.

And when I asked him to testify for me,

he said that his recollection of the accident...

was that it had been my fault.

MASON: Why do you suppose he said that?

Mm. 'Cause Allen Sheridan was paying him to say it.

Twenty-five percent he got was his payoff.

Uh, Mr. Curtis,

did you volunteer to appear as a prosecution witness?

Well, uh, I didn't resist.

Well, did you go to the authorities,

or did the authorities come to you?

They came to me.

Where?

Here in Los Angeles.

I thought you lived in New York.

On the afternoon of the murder, you were in New York,

were you not? Yes, I--

I spoke to, uh, Miss Winslow...

in New York.

And when did you arrive here in Los Angeles?

About 5:30 in the morning...

after Allen was killed.

Five-thirty in the morning, by plane?

Yes.

MASON: On the morning of September 5th,

a little before 7:00,

a man boarded a plane bound for Mexico City.

He called himself William Wyatt.

He walked in a manner...

crippled and bent,

just as you.

I ask you now, Mr. Curtis...

were you that man?

No.

The man arrived in Mexico City.

He picked up a hotel reservation under the name of William Wyatt,

and before the day was over,

he withdrew $162,000

from the Bank of Mexico.

I'll ask you once again, Mr. Curtis:

were you that man?

No.

You're certainly aware that a man

with your distinctive

appearance and walk

will be easily identifiable...

to the Bank of Mexico

in Mexico City,

to the hotel there.

Even to fellow passengers

on an airplane.

Yes, I...

I did go to Mexico City.

Using the name William Wyatt?

Yes.

All right, I did take the $162,000.

But I didn't kill him.

I just...

took advantage of what he had already set up.

It seemed like some sort of...

justice.

How did you know about this plan of his, Mr. Curtis?

You were in New York on the day of the murder.

Who told you about the plan?

Well, somebody must have told you.

I heard about it.

By telephone? Yes.

Who could have called you, Mr. Curtis?

Could it have been someone

who hated Allen Sheridan

as much as you did?

Someone who, after killing him,

would immediately have

called you?

Well, you're only saying "could it have been?"

I'm now saying...

who could it have been, Mr. Curtis?

It must have been someone very close to you.

Someone also close to Allen Sheridan.

Someone who knew about the plane ticket.

Someone who knew about

William Wyatt and Mexico City,

and the money there.

We both know who that someone could be,

don't we, Mr. Curtis?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

I told you not to come back out here.

Why did you

come back out here, Ralph?

I couldn't leave you here all alone.

I couldn't.

Not after...

After I killed him.

Yes, I let him die, Ralph.

Look what he did to you.

Just look what he did to you.

( sobbing )

( piano playing )

DELLA: She was in love with Ralph Curtis.

That's why she followed Allen out here.

To make him pay in some way

for what he had done to the man she loved.

What happened that night?

Joyce and Allen went back to

his home after dinner.

Joyce told him that before he ran away again,

he would have to give Ralph Curtis

a decent settlement.

When he laughed at her,

she hit him twice with an ashtray.

The first time it broke, and the second time,

the shattered glass slashed an artery.

Mm, it shocked and stunned her,

and she went home as fast as she could.

And that's when I came along?

After she had gone?

PAUL: That's right.

By the time you had left,

Joyce had had time to figure out her plot,

and to call Curtis and tell him to take the next jet plane out.

How did you know about Joyce, Mr. Mason?

Well, mm, as soon as we were able to figure out

who was posing as William Wyatt...

it was comparatively simple.

SARETTE: Oh, I'm so grateful.

And so thankful.

( chuckles )

( noirish jazz theme playing )