Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( peaceful theme playing )

ANNOUNCER ( on TV ): And now the announcement you've all been waiting for.

The winner of the contest

to choose "The Girl with the Lucky Legs" is...

number three, Cloverdale's own Marjorie Cluny.

( applause on TV )

Yes, the big contest is over and by your purchases

and your votes, you have helped to put

Cloverdale on the glamour map of the world.

And now, the man responsible for all this:

Mr. Frank Patton of Stellar Screen Productions.

Mr. Patton. ( applause )

Thank you.

Miss Cluny, it is my privilege to present you

with this contract for the title role

in our forthcoming Stellar production.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Mr. Patton.

And my thanks to all those who voted for me.

I'll try not to let you down.

ANNOUNCER: Congratulations, good luck.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Yes, sir

Good for you, Marge.

Thank you. Wonderful.

Folks, for the record here and now, let me prophesy

a meteoric career

for this lovely young girl from Cloverdale.

A career which will establish her

as one of Hollywood's brightest stars.

MARJORIE: Bob, please.

Now, look here, Doray...

I've stood by and watched you put over

this fake promotion of yours,

lining your pockets

at the expense of our local merchants.

But I don't care about that,

no, that's just money you're taking out of Cloverdale.

Margy is something different.

You'd better treat her right in Hollywood.

Do you understand me, Patton?

She's not expendable.

You might be.

( dramatic theme playing )

( frenetic theme playing )

MASON: How long ago was this "Lucky Legs" contest?

That was a month ago.

But, uh, Margy's Hollywood career

lasted exactly two days.

Then they told her she didn't photograph well enough.

According to this contract,

that gave them the right to cancel.

All right, Mr. Bradbury, what do you want of me?

Well, Margy's disappeared.

We've gotta find her.

I also want you to find Patton

and put him where he belongs: behind bars.

What did the district attorney's office tell you?

How did you know I went there?

You're a successful businessman.

You'd know if the district attorney

thought he could get a conviction

on the basis of this contract.

Well, Mr. Burger did say that the man undoubtedly was a crook,

but it was a question of, uh, proving criminal intent.

And so it is.

Well, up to the moment, this is all I could dig up.

Newspaper clippings about the contest, data like that.

All right, I'll look it over.

Della, get hold of Paul,

tell him I want to see him right away.

( rings )

Yes, Gertie?

( Gertie speaking indistinctly )

I'll be right out.

You know, Mr. Bradbury, you seem to have more

than just a passing interest in Marjorie Cluny.

She was my secretary.

If that, uh, contest hadn't come along,

I think it's safe to say that, by now,

she'd be my wife.

You'd, uh, might as well go out this way, Mr. Bradbury.

You'll hear from me soon.

Thanks, and spare no expense.

Someone else from Cloverdale, Utah.

A Bob Doray wants you to find Frank Patton

and put him behind bars.

Come in, Mr. Doray.

Won't you sit down.

What did J.R. Bradbury want?

Did you follow him here?

Look, I can't pay you as much as he can,

not in cash at any rate, but...

( sighs )

I'm willing to sign a note for any amount.

You're too late.

I've already accepted his retainer.

Yeah, I should have known.

Look, Bradbury's just trying to obligate Margy.

He thinks he can get her to marry him.

Evidently you think so too.

Mr. Doray.

You didn't ask me to find Marjorie Cluny.

So?

So it would help if you'd tell me where she is.

( dramatic theme playing )

Quite a character, this Patton.

Seems he's pulled his "Lucky Legs" stunt

in a lot of small towns.

I located one of the winners of a few years ago,

girl from Montana

who stayed on in Hollywood.

You saw her?

No, spoke to her on the phone.

She said if there's anything she can do

to help put Patton out of circulation, just ask her.

Uh, by the way, she gave me Patton's address.

Three-O-two, the Holliday Arms apartments.

What's the girl's name?

Thelma Bell, St. James Bungalows, Number 12.

Crestview 7-3891.

Good work, Paul.

All right, Della,

let's go calling.

Miss Bell or Mr. Patton?

Patton.

We'll need that briefcase left by Mr. Bradbury.

What's in it?

Oh, for one thing, proof that Patton

showed up at the Cloverdale newspaper

with an ad and a mailing list.

And had marked copies of the paper

sent through the mails.

Using the mails to defraud, huh?

Think you can make it stick?

Perhaps I can make him think so.

At least it will start him talking.

Keep on it, Paul. Will do.

( dramatic theme playing ) That girl's frightened.

He must be in. There's no key in his box.

Maybe he doesn't want company.

( ominous theme playing )

Is he dead?

Stabbed...

with a wood-carving knife.

MASON: "Mr. Patton, Margy called.

"Crestview 7-3891, 5:05 p.m.

I must see you tonight."

Let's go, Della.

The police will have to be notified.

Mm-hm.

Well, I live in the apartment just below

and when I heard this woman yelling--

You told me all that before.

Now, uh, could you make out what she was saying?

Well, something about "Lucky Legs."

And then I heard something fall.

Very heavy. Guess he isn't home, Della.

Let's go.

Ah, something wrong, officer?

This woman said she heard a commotion.

Did you two people just get here?

Well, we stopped up to see Mr. Frank Patton,

but no one answered the door, and--

Well, someone was sure here when I called the police.

Yes, Miss Fields.

My name is Mason.

This is my secretary, Miss Street.

Well...

MASON: We'll be on our way.

I-- I guess we can find you if we need you.

( sighs )

You mean, you think the girl who bumped you

was our client, Marjorie Cluny?

That's what I'm gonna see her about.

You'd better go home in a cab.

But how are you going to find her?

That telephone message on Patton's table.

Isn't Crestview 7-3891 the same telephone number

that Paul gave us for Thelma Bell

at the St. James Bungalows?

( vehicle approaching )

They're the same.

You and your memory for phone numbers.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( bell dings )

( woman speaks indistinctly )

J.R. Bradbury, please.

( line ringing )

( Bradbury speaks indistinctly )

Mr. Bradbury, this is Perry Mason.

Oh, Mr. Mason,

I hardly expected to hear from you so soon.

I hardly expected to call you so soon.

Frank Patton is dead.

Patton dead?

You mean, he was--?

Murdered.

When? Who?

I don't know who.

But just as we arrived at the apartment house,

a girl I'd say was in a state of panic left hurriedly.

She was about 5'6", blond, blue eyes.

Around 120 pounds.

That could have been Margy.

Remember, Mason, she's your client,

you've got to find her and protect her.

All right, Bradbury.

( dramatic theme playing )

( water running )

( knocking on door )

Good evening.

I'd like to speak to Miss Cluny, please.

Margy? Heh.

What gave you the idea she was here?

You left your shower running.

Miss Cluny?

Miss Cluny, my name is Mason, I'm an attorney.

I've been retained by J.R. Bradbury

to represent you.

MARGY: I don't want an attorney.

I'm afraid you're going to need one when the police get here.

Police? Why should they--?

You were in Frank Patton's apartment, were you not?

You're the man I bumped into.

Right in front of his apartment house.

And you told the police? No.

But why shouldn't I have told them?

Because you were in Patton's apartment

at about the time he was stabbed to death?

No, no, I wasn't. Stabbed?

MASON: With a wood-carving knife.

Or shouldn't I have talked to the police

because there was a phone message from you

on a table in his living room?

But she didn't kill him.

How do you know?

Because she told me so.

However, you were in his apartment, Miss Cluny.

I had an appointment to see him at 8:00 tonight.

I was late.

What happened when you got there?

Nobody answered when I knocked.

I was angry.

I thought he was putting me off again.

I tried the door and it was unlocked,

so I walked in.

I've never done anything like that before.

Then what did you do?

I didn't do anything. He was--

Touch anything?

Yes. What?

I didn't know whether he was dead or not.

I tried to pull the knife out. I couldn't. I--

I ran out of there.

Did anyone else see you

in or around the apartment house?

I don't know. I just wanted to get away.

Mr. Mason, I didn't kill him. You have to believe me.

It isn't what I believe, Margy,

it's what the police are going to believe.

You left a rather broad trail.

Margy--

What are you doing here?

I was about to ask you that.

All right, Margy, hurry up and get dressed.

We've got to get out of here.

Mr. Mason is my attorney, I'll do whatever he says.

DORAY: Isn't it about time you started listening to me?

Bob Doray, when are you going to stop

trying to order me around?

I said, get dressed.

I think both of you girls better get dressed.

All right, Doray, what is it?

Nothing.

Now, there must be something.

You dashed in here with a wild look in your eye,

told her she had to hurry, that she had to get out of here.

Where you going to take her? No place.

I'm speaking to you as Margy's attorney.

Margy phoned me.

I know what she found in Patton's apartment.

If you really had the best interests of that girl at heart,

you'd leave now and let me handle things.

Yeah, Bradbury hired you. He'll get all the credit.

Bob, who'll get the blame if she's convicted of murder?

( dramatic theme playing )

( door slams )

Hey.

Who said you could go poking around in my closet?

Have something to hide?

Oh, well, now, wait a minute--

You were also the winner, or I should say victim,

of the "Lucky Legs" contest.

That would give you the same motive as Margy to kill Patton.

That's right. But it just so happens I didn't.

I couldn't have. I went to dinner with my boyfriend.

His name would be? George Sanborne.

I'd like to talk to him.

Well, now, you go right ahead if you want to.

He lives at the Alvesta Apartments.

His phone number is Oldfield 4-1654.

( rings )

Hello?

MASON: Mr. Sanborne?

Speaking.

This is the Hollywood Receiving Hospital.

A woman named Thelma Bell was injured an hour ago

in an automobile accident.

She's asking for you.

Receiving hospital?

What are you talking about?

I dropped Thelma off at her place

no more than a half an hour ago.

Who are you? What are you up to?

Sorry.

Satisfied?

Oh, where's Bob?

He had to leave. Oh.

I'd like you to stay at a hotel for a few days.

As soon as you've checked in, call my secretary, Della Street.

But no one else is to know where you are.

I'll get a few things together.

You mean, she can't even tell me?

That way the police can't make you tell them.

Ah, you make sense...

sometimes.

That wood carving.

Oh, it doesn't take very much room.

Who carved it?

I did. Why?

It's good.

Quite good.

( door opens, closes )

( mysterious theme playing )

( knocking on door )

Mr. Sanborne.

Yeah, who are you?

My name's Mason.

I'd like to talk to you.

I heard of you, an attorney.

I heard of you, a prize fighter.

That's right, 19 K.O.'s.

How many against attorneys?

I called you a little while ago about Thelma Bell.

Oh, so, uh, you're the guy.

You told me you'd been out together

until a quarter of 9.

Well, I was.

What time did you pick her up?

A little after 7.

Where'd you go? Eddie's Bar and Grill.

Will, uh-- Will they remember you there?

Go ask 'em.

When you first sat down, what did you order?

Bourbon on the rocks.

Both had bourbon?

Yeah. Then what?

We had a steak sandwich.

Both had steak sandwiches?

Yeah.

Rare.

Then what?

We switched to highballs.

Bourbon highballs? Yeah.

You both had bourbon highballs?

Yeah. Doubles.

You're lying.

Yeah. Hey, wait a minute-- Look,

you both had bourbon on the rocks.

You both had rare steak sandwiches.

You both had double bourbon highballs.

Haven't you any imagination?

( suspenseful theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( switchboard buzzing )

Hello.

I'd like to speak to Mr. Doray.

Mr. Robert Doray.

Okay, hold it.

Isn't he in?

I'm ringing.

I'd like to leave a message, please.

Yes, ma'am.

This is Miss Street, Perry Mason's secretary.

The message is: Developments indicate a long trip advisable.

Suspicion mounting in M's direction.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Good morning, Della. Good morning, Perry.

What word from Marjorie Cluny?

None yet. Mr. Bradbury called bright and early though.

Oh?

Wants you to represent Bob Doray if the need should arise.

Why Doray?

The police are looking for him.

Seems his car with the Utah plates

was spotted near Patton's apartment house

shortly before the murder.

Well, why should that concern Mr. Bradbury?

And why should he assume the cost

of his rival's legal defense?

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Lieutenant Tragg.

Put him on.

Good morning, lieutenant.

( Tragg speaks indistinctly )

Yes, I'll be right there.

Della, get hold of Paul.

Tell him to wait right here for me till I get back.

"Suspicion mounting in M's direction."

She didn't say who she meant by M, did she?

No. Well, it doesn't matter. I know.

Uh, you got the name right?

Miss Street, Perry Mason's private secretary?

She phoned the message?

Yes, sir.

Well, that's why I asked you to meet me here, Perry.

When did all this happen?

CLERK: About 40 minutes ago.

Where's Doray?

Already gone, skipped. Lock, stock and barrel.

Tragg...

you don't really believe Della made that call?

Don't I?

What would be the purpose?

Oh, same purpose you always have.

To protect your client, to create confusion,

to evade the law.

Didn't you tell Marjorie Cluny to go in hiding?

Is it a crime for me to ask Miss Cluny

to change her address?

Yes, it is, when we're looking for her.

Don't you think it would be a good idea

to let me know when you're looking for one of my clients?

You knew all right.

You planning to call in a mind reader

to establish that fact?

Won't have to now, not with Thelma Bell around.

Oh?

She volunteered the information.

( dramatic theme playing )

Hi, Paul. Hi, Perry

I've got some news for you.

Good. Della, the minute we're through here,

get hold of Thelma Bell. Let's have it, Paul.

Well, Miss Fields, who lives in the apartment

directly beneath Patton's, works for Stellar Studios,

the outfit Patton used to be tied up with.

Also, the police have traced the--

The wood-carving knife. Right.

It was bought two days ago in a little art shop.

A girl who bought it answered Marjorie Cluny's description.

Perry, you already knew it was hers?

I was afraid it might be.

Paul, what about that list of phone calls

Bradbury made from his hotel?

There were a group of calls to various messenger services

which we're still checking out.

And there were a couple of calls that were pretty interesting.

One last night to Thelma Bell's apartment.

And the other this morning

to the Agua Caliente Hotel in Mexico.

Della, call the airport charter service

for a flight to San Diego right away.

Mm-hm. Why San Diego?

San Diego means Mexico.

California requires a three-day wait

for a marriage license, Mexico requires none.

Gertie, I want you--

Oh, put him on. Paul.

Mine.

Yeah? Oh, hi, Harry.

Uh-huh.

I see.

Uh, good going, thanks.

Well, San Diego was a good idea but a little late.

Bradbury and Margy Cluny were picked up

just this side of the border.

And?

She was booked for murder.

( dramatic theme playing )

MAN: Death was instantaneous,

the knife entering and penetrating

between the fifth and sixth ribs

and continuing through both walls of the aorta.

Was the fatal thrust such

that it would require considerable strength, doctor?

No.

Then the murder could have been committed by a woman?

Oh, yes.

Thank you, doctor. Cross-examine.

Forgive me, doctor,

but in the official photographs of the deceased,

the knife didn't seem to be in the area you describe.

It wasn't, not in the photographs.

I don't understand.

The second wound was not the cause of death.

There was more than one wound?

Oh, yes, there were two.

Thank you, doctor, that'll be all.

You're excused.

Yes, sir, those are the prints found on the murder weapon.

Were they identified, lieutenant?

Yes, they're the prints of the defendant,

Marjorie Cluny.

And can you identify this object?

Oh, yes, that-- That's the murder weapon.

If it please the court,

I should like this photograph and the knife

entered in evidence

and marked as the People's State Exhibit A and B.

No objection, Your Honor.

Now, lieutenant, are you familiar with this letter?

Oh, yes.

Would you tell us, please, why you're familiar with it?

Well, I found it on the decedent.

And could you read the letter to the court, please?

"October 1st, to Mr. Patton.

"I'm down to my last few dollars.

I won't be put off any longer with empty promises."

Signed, Marjorie Cluny. BURGER: Mm-hm.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I should like this letter marked for identification.

Mr. Mason?

No objections.

Now, lieutenant, just one final question.

Where was the defendant when she was apprehended?

A few yards from the Mexican border.

Really?

Thank you, lieutenant. Cross-examine.

Lieutenant,

didn't the fingerprint expert's report say,

in effect, that there were indications

the knife handle had been wiped clean?

Yes, but there were three latent fingerprints found:

a thumb, index and middle finger of the defendant.

But no other latent fingerprints?

No, no.

Was this not a condition compatible

with the knife handle having been wiped clean

before the defendant's fingerprints were superimposed?

TRAGG: A condition, yes.

Thank you, lieutenant, that'll be all.

You may step down, lieutenant.

I call Miss Laura Fields to the stand, please.

( inaudible dialogue )

CLERK: Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

FIELDS: I do.

CLERK: State your name.

Laura Fields.

Now, Miss Fields, what time was it in the evening

when you heard this sound of a heavy body

falling in the apartment above you?

I looked at the clock, it was 20 after 8.

And what did you do?

I phoned upstairs.

With what result?

There wasn't any answer.

I thought that was kind of funny.

Well, the fire escape leads upstairs, so I went up.

Did you go into the Patton apartment?

No, sir. Well, what did you do?

I stopped and looked in through the window.

And what did you see?

I saw a woman kneeling on the floor.

Did you get a good look at her?

No, all I could see was a pair of legs

and white shoes.

Oh, the white shoes were stained with something dark.

Yes, thank you. What happened then?

She got up and ran out of the apartment.

And did you get a good look at her face then?

Yes, I did.

That's her there.

Marjorie Cluny.

I see. Thank you, Miss Fields.

Your witness.

Miss Fields, you said that right after you heard the heavy thud,

you telephoned the apartment directly above you.

Yes, sir.

Now, how did you know the phone number?

Well, I knew Frank Patton.

How well did you know him?

Just as a neighbor.

I have no desire to entrap you, Miss Fields,

but let me advise you that I have here proof

that you once were married to Frank Patton.

A Photostatic copy of your marriage certificate.

That's past history, we've been divorced for years.

Yet you still lived in the same apartment house?

Yes.

And you knew his telephone number?

Yes.

I still felt as if I were married to him.

And that's why after hearing the commotion,

you went up the fire escape,

and suspecting something was wrong,

then telephoned the police?

Yes.

On the night of the murder,

why didn't you tell the police the whole story?

I didn't want it to seem as if...

I was afraid that if they found out

I'd once been married to Frank,

they'd think I went in the room.

Then you in fact did not go into the room?

No, I didn't.

Now, on the night of the murder,

after trying to phone the deceased,

how much time elapsed before you went up the fire escape?

A few minutes.

Ten minutes?

No, not that long.

One minute?

Well, a few minutes. Four, five.

Enough time for the real killer to have escaped

and for Miss Cluny to have innocently entered the room?

And upon seeing the body,

been shocked into kneeling beside it

to see if Mr. Patton was still alive?

I don't know.

I'm not an expert on time.

Thank you.

Oh, uh, one more thing, Miss Fields.

You testified that when you looked into the window

you saw a woman kneeling down.

Yes.

She was wearing white shoes.

Yes.

There were dark stains on them?

Yes.

Were there any stains on her stockings?

No.

The shoes were stained, but the stockings were not?

That's right.

Thank you, Miss Fields.

You may stand down, Miss Fields.

And on the afternoon of October 2nd,

you personally sold

this wood-carving tool to the defendant.

Is that correct? Yes, sirree.

To the defendant, Marjorie Cluny.

Your witness. Thank you.

May I, Mr. Burger? Of course.

Mr. Clayton, how can you be certain

you sold this knife to the defendant?

Well, it isn't often that a pretty girl wants

to buy something like that and doesn't even know

that it's a wood-checking tool she's after.

She didn't seem to know much about wood carving?

CLAYTON: No, sirree.

Thank you, Mr. Clayton, that'll be all.

You're excused, sir.

I call Thelma Bell.

So I ran into her at Stellar Studio one day,

and when I found out

she was another one of us unlucky girls with "Lucky Legs,"

and practically broke, I let her move in with me.

I see.

Now I show you this knife

and I ask if you've ever seen it before?

Uh, yes, I have, at the apartment.

Under what circumstances?

Oh, Margy said she bought it for a friend.

When was this?

Uh, oh, the day before Mr. Patton was killed.

October 2nd?

Was that the last time you saw this?

No. No, I remember seeing it on a table

sometime before I went out the following evening.

That was the evening of the murder? Yes.

Now, what time did you go out that night?

Oh, about 5.

And the knife was there when you left? Yes.

Was the defendant in the apartment at that time?

Yes.

And what time did you get back that night?

Oh, about, um, 6:30.

Was the knife there then?

Um, no.

And was the defendant at home?

Uh...

BELL: Uh, no. BURGER: I see.

Now, what time did the defendant come home that night?

Uh, it was a couple of minutes till 9.

And would you tell us please what her mood was?

Well, it was pretty terrible.

I mean, I was scared because she was so scared.

Did she say what she was scared of?

Yes, um, well, she said that-- That Patton was dead,

b-but she didn't kill him,

and would I please, please,

help her wash the stain off her white shoes.

BURGER: And where are those shoes now?

BELL: Well, after we cleaned them, I put them in-- In the closet.

And later I went back to look at them, but...

they weren't there.

They were gone? Yes.

Thank you, Miss Bell. Your witness.

( door closes )

Miss Bell, you testified

that a pair of white shoes disappeared from the closet?

That's right.

What else disappeared from there?

A pair of stockings.

Silk stockings? Yes.

Had they been washed?

Yes.

Why?

To get out the blood stains.

To whom did those stockings belong?

To Margy.

Would you say many women wear silk stockings today?

No, I guess not.

( door opens, closes )

Uh, how many women in this courtroom

would you say are wearing silk stockings?

BELL: I wouldn't know.

Well, I would.

Only one.

You.

What if I do happen to be wearing silk stockings today?

I ask you once again, Miss Bell,

to whom did those stockings belong?

And I'll tell you again. Margy.

How could that be?

You heard Miss Fields say that she saw stains

on the white shoes but not on the stockings.

I don't care what she says.

MASON: Didn't you once tell Miss Cluny

that you were extremely allergic to nylon and had to wear silk?

No. I almost always wear nylon.

Then may I ask you to...

wrap this nylon stocking around your wrist,

leave it there

while I proceed with the questions?

Why should I?

Why shouldn't you,

if you're telling the truth?

( tense theme playing )

Thank you.

Now, then, you testified that Miss Cluny returned

to your apartment a couple of minutes before 9.

Yes.

And told you Patton was dead.

Yes.

MASON: At that time, hadn't you called a friend

to ask him to lie for you,

to say that you and he had been together

during that period of time that the murder was committed?

Now, isn't it true that instead of being with that friend,

you actually were in Patton's apartment

about the time of the murder?

No, I wasn't.

( dramatic theme playing )

You also denied being allergic to nylon.

All right, they were my stockings

and I did go to Patton's apartment,

but I didn't kill him.

Then you were the one Miss Fields heard screaming

something about "Lucky Legs."

Well, I couldn't take it anymore, I mean--

Well, all his lies

about trying to get me a break in the movies, and--

Well, I blew my top, and I-- I bawl like a baby, so--

I was in fixing my face in the bathroom, and...

I heard this fall.

No cry, no scuffle?

No, just one great big thud, and--

Well, I-I mean I was so frozen, I couldn't do anything and--

Well, I heard this door shut, and I opened mine and...

I saw him lying there.

And the bloodstains on your stockings?

It was from bending over him, to take out the knife...

in case he wasn't dead.

Did you hear the telephone ring?

Yes, yes, y-yes.

Well, it was then that I realized

that I'd touched the knife.

And you inflicted the second wound?

Yes.

And wiped the fingerprints from the knife?

Yes.

But I didn't kill him, Mr. Mason.

I-I swear I didn't kill him, I--

Honest, I didn't kill him.

Your Honor, since the innocence of the defendant

is here clearly established,

I move for a dismissal of the charges against her.

Well, I'm interested in your reasoning, Mr. Mason.

Evidence here presented by the prosecution

has deduced the fact

that there were two knife wounds in deceased,

the second of which was not the cause of death.

Now, Miss Bell had wiped the knife clean of fingerprints.

And therefore when the defendant touched the knife,

it was clearly after the fact of murder.

Hmm.

Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, I am most anxious to argue this point,

but my arguments will require some time.

Oh, it's almost 5, it's time to adjourn.

I'll reserve argument and consideration

of the motion for the defense until 10:00 tomorrow morning.

Court's adjourned.

I've asked you over and over again, Margy,

why you suddenly decided to cross the Mexican border

and marry Bradbury.

And I've told you over and over again, Mr. Mason.

Why wouldn't any girl want to marry a man so rich,

kind, generous?

You haven't said you love him.

If I didn't, why would I want to marry him?

Oh, out of gratitude for his having instructed me

to defend Bob Doray if that should become necessary.

Really, Mr. Mason.

I broke up with him even before the contest came along.

He's such a hothead.

Is that why you're so positive he's guilty?

What are you saying?

When Thelma left the bungalow, didn't Bob pay you a visit?

Didn't you give Bob that knife?

I--

Did you go out together?

N-no, he left.

And a little while after I went out to dinner.

I see.

Well, now where is he? Why's he been in hiding?

I don't know.

Mr. Mason, he didn't kill Frank Patton.

You were the one who said he was a hothead, Margy.

Now, Mr. Bradbury asked me to protect Bob,

but I can't let that conflict with my responsibility to you.

But isn't that all taken care of?

Didn't you prove I didn't kill him?

I offered what I think is proof.

But I want to get at the truth, Margy.

And proving that you didn't kill him

isn't the same as proving who did kill him.

But they are going to dismiss

the charges against me, aren't they?

It's impossible to tell what the judge will do.

Well, I'll see you tomorrow.

Matron.

PAUL: Perry.

You locate Bob Doray?

Yeah, he's the wood carver, all right.

He needed dough, so he sold one of his figurines

to a little art shop on Olvera Street.

I've traced him to a third-rate hotel the other side of town.

Well, hello, Tragg.

Paul has some information for you.

The whereabouts of Robert Doray.

( dramatic theme playing )

And in addition to the forgoing, Your Honor,

relative to the defense motion to dismiss,

the prosecution has a request to make.

Go ahead, Mr. Burger.

Before the court rules on this matter,

the prosecution would like to call another witness.

All right, call your witness.

I call Robert Doray.

BURGER: Your Honor, in view of this witness' persistent efforts

to evade questioning by the police

and his lack of cooperation

since we discovered his whereabouts,

I request the court's permission

to treat him as a hostile witness.

All right, Mr. Burger, you may consider him a hostile witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Doray, did you visit the defendant

at Thelma Bell's apartment on October 3rd,

the evening of the murder?

Yes.

Was it between 5 and 6:00?

Yes.

Did she show you this knife?

Answer me, did she?

Yes.

BURGER: What did she say about it

and what did she then do with it?

She said it was to be a gift for me.

Then she put it on the table by the mirror.

A gift.

All right, what time did you leave the apartment?

About 20 minutes to 6.

And did you leave the defendant there?

Yes.

Did you take your gift with you?

Well, Mr. Doray, did you take this knife with you?

That's why I kept out of sight.

I went into hiding.

I didn't take it, Margy.

( softly ): He did.

I mean, I really thought he did.

Your witness.

No questions.

Your Honor, in view of these unexpected developments,

and before the court rules on my motion

to dismiss this case against the defendant,

I would like to recall Miss Thelma Bell

for additional cross-examination.

Mm. Permission granted

and, Miss Bell, will you take the stand, please.

Now, Miss Bell,

you testified that you had asked your friend,

George Sanborne, to be your alibi

the night of the murder.

Yes.

You'd gone out to dinner with him,

did he return with you to your apartment?

Yes. How long did he stay?

Not very long.

About 45 minutes.

In fact, he left about 7:15.

Wasn't that rather a short date?

Did you have a fight with him, Miss Bell, or an argument?

An argument.

About Frank Patton?

No, no.

Miss Bell, you won a "Lucky Legs" contest

and came to Los Angles several years ago.

Three years ago.

Isn't it true that you stayed on in Los Angeles

primarily because of Frank Patton?

Yes, he promised that-- Marriage?

MASON: Now, isn't it a fact

that all your arguments have been about Frank Patton?

Isn't it a fact that George Sanborne

is a very jealous man?

Now, look, you're giving everybody the wrong impression.

Now, Miss Bell,

on the afternoon of October 3rd,

did you receive a telephone call?

What do you mean?

Oh, perhaps anonymous, asking for your address?

Oh, yes, yes, there was,

but he said he was a delivery man.

You told him where you lived?

Sure.

But there was no delivery made that day.

In fact, I'd even forgotten about it.

How about an envelope?

An envelope?

No.

Now, when you returned to your apartment with George Sanborne

at half past 6 that evening,

didn't you find that an envelope

had been pushed under your front door,

one addressed to Marjorie Cluny?

No.

You did not find any such envelope

anywhere in your apartment?

No.

MASON: That's odd.

A report from the Quick Alert messenger service

states that an envelope addressed to Marjorie Cluny

was picked up from Frank Patton at 4:50 p.m., October 3rd,

and delivered to Miss Bell's apartment at 5:50 p.m.,

but no one was home and that the envelope

was slipped under the front door.

No.

There was no envelope.

MASON: Thank you, Miss Bell, that'll be all.

JUDGE: You may stand down, Miss Bell.

If it please the court, I should like to call

James R. Bradbury to the stand.

Yes, Mr.-- Mr. Mason did call me

at my hotel that evening at, uh, 8:42.

Did he know at that time that Patton was dead?

Yes, he told me Patton was dead.

Your Honor,

this matter has only just been brought

to the attention of my office.

Eight forty-two is the time precisely

at which Officer Tompkins phoned Homicide

to report finding the body

of Frank Patton locked in his apartment.

I therefore ask that defense counsel

be required to reveal how he knew that Patton was dead,

if as he claims,

when he and Miss Street arrived there,

the apartment was locked and they were unable to enter.

JUDGE: Mr. Mason.

I need hardly point out to you the grave consequences

this could have upon your personal

and professional career.

Your Honor, I am prepared to answer that question

at the proper time and at the proper place.

But if it please the court,

I first have the right to cross-examine this witness

before being called upon to answer anything.

All right, Mr. Mason, proceed with your cross-examination.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Bradbury,

where did you get Miss Bell's telephone number?

What?

From the desk clerk at Patton's apartment house?

I didn't get it.

Then how did you know where Margy was staying?

In my office, you told me you didn't know where she was.

Mr. Mason, I, uh-- I can't see that

that has anything to do with this case.

Oh, I'd say it was relevant, Mr. Bradbury.

It began to point to you as Patton's murderer.

What's that?

MASON: Well, it put me on the trail,

so to speak,

of a letter or an envelope sent by messenger.

What envelope? What messenger?

The envelope Patton must have told you about.

The one he sent to Miss Cluny.

What was in it, Mr. Bradbury?

You tell me, Mr. Mason. You started all this.

Isn't it true that Mr. Patton was blackmailing you?

Blackmailing me? What for?

Weren't you so desperately in love with Margy

that you made an arrangement with him

to make sure she failed in Hollywood?

You thought if she were destitute,

she would have to marry you.

That's a lie.

Is it?

Once you learned where Margy was staying,

didn't you go out to the bungalow

because you had to intercept that letter or lose her?

Tell me, Mr. Bradbury,

how did you get into the bungalow

when you found nobody at home?

I didn't.

Then there wouldn't be any fingerprints of yours

in Miss Bell's living room.

None around the table on which the knife was lying.

All right.

Yes, I, uh...

I did go in.

And you found the envelope?

Yes.

You saw the wood-carving knife on the table?

Yes, I saw it.

And knowing it must have been Doray's, you took it with you.

Two birds with one stone.

Kill Patton, who was blackmailing you,

put the blame on Doray, who was your rival.

Isn't that the way it happened, Mr. Bradbury?

Yes.

You know...

I didn't have to bribe Patton.

He was a faker and a conniver, just as Doray said.

Margy--

Margy wouldn't have had a ghost of a chance

out of that contest anyway.

If I didn't have to start the whole thing,

I wouldn't have had to end it.

But he needed killing anyway, didn't he?

We want you to have this to remember us by,

and for good luck. Well, thank you.

MARGY: We appreciate everything you've done for us, Mr. Mason.

I have a question.

Why did that Miss Fields call me

and say she was Della Street

and for me to get of the country?

That was in return for a few crisp hundred dollar bills

from Bradbury.

And how about that envelope the messenger service delivered?

Well, it had to be something he didn't want Margy to see.

We just had to guess what that something was.

I wouldn't call that a guess,

I'd call it a logical deduction.

I see a great career ahead of you, Margy.

As a diplomat.

( noirish jazz theme playing )