All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E09 The Case of the Nine Dolls.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Hey, I wouldn't mind
having this myself.

Come in handy for snagging
the olives out of martinis.

Look at these flies, Paul.

A retired government
man up near Palo Alto

is teaching me how
to hand tie them.

Well, if I were a
trout in Scotland,

I wouldn't worry too much.

What do you mean by that?

Look at the record.
For three years now

you've been polishing
up your Highland brogue

and your fly casting,
and the closest

you've gotten to Scotland
so far is Pasadena.

I know, Paul.

But this time
nothing interferes.

Lawyers have as
much right to vacations

as, uh, plumbers,

stock brokers,

and/or private investigators.

I couldn't agree more,

but 8-to-5 you don't make it.

Here, look.

Jet non-stop to London.

Berth on the night
train to Edinburgh.

A confirmed
two-weeks reservation at

the Inn at Glenkindie in
the Cairngorm Mountains.

By this time Monday I'll be

knee-deep in some
little stream fishing...

Yes, Della?

I know you said
no business today,

but, uh, there's a
young lady outside

who insists on seeing you.

Della, even if
Cleopatra were out there

I still wouldn't see her.

I have a feeling
she's in trouble.

You always have that feeling
about prospective clients.

Especially if they're, uh,
personable young ladies,

which I'm sure she must be.

She's more than
personable, Perry.

You'll fall in love
with her at first sight.

Well, it might be better

to explain to her in person.

All right, Della,
have her come in.

All right, Della,
have her come in.

Miss Smith.

Hello.

This is Mr. Drake,

and this is Mr. Mason.

How do you do?

Uh, excuse me, how do you do?

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

And now, Miss Smith.

I'm Peggy.

All right, Peggy.

Now, you wanted to
consult me about something?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

Virginia Hobson recommended you.

Virginia Hobson?

She's my best
friend at Westcroft.

That's the school I go to.

Virginia said her father said

that you were the only
lawyer he would go to,

if he were in trouble.

Are you in trouble, Peggy?

Yes.

Well, how can I help you?

Could you find out
who I am, Mr. Mason?

Find out who you are?

Yes. You see,
nobody seems to know.

But you see, Mr. Mason,

I wasn't here when Peggy
was enrolled at Westcroft.

Miss Clemmens was
headmistress then.

Well, she must have
told you something

about Peggy's background.

Oh, I never met Miss Clemmens.

She died before I came West.

As for Peggy's background,

well, all I know is that
she's apparently the offspring

of a Swiss bank and
an electronic brain.

That's a rather odd combination.

What has she told you?

Well, only that she doesn't
think she's Peggy Smith.

And she'd like me to
find out who she really is.

And that in the five
years she's been here,

she hasn't received one
visit or one letter from anyone.

That does seem absurd.

Absurd, but true, Mr. Mason.

You see, Peggy's
tuition is paid by

Tobler & Sons Bank
in Geneva, Switzerland.

We bill them quarterly

for her clothing,
medical expenses,

allowance, summer
camp, everything.

And back comes a check.

Miss Lorimer,

who brought Peggy
here in the first place?

Well, the story
goes that she arrived

in a gleaming limousine,

unaccompanied
except for a rag doll

and a chauffeur,
who just left her.

No reference names in her file?

No names at all.

Well, it's certainly a
glamorous mystery all right.

Swiss banks,
gleaming limousines.

Where does the
electronic brain come in?

I'll show you in Peggy's room.

Will you come with me, please?

She's just lovely.

Her name is Maggie,

and she came here with me.

I used to pretend
she was my sister.

But that's only when
I was a little girl.

Not that I'd mind
having a real sister,

or somebody.

Peggy, aren't they
good to you here?

Oh, yes. They're very good.

Especially Miss Lorimer.

But teachers aren't the
same as a family of your own,

are they, Miss Street?

Well, maybe not.

But if you don't have a family,

who gave you all of
these beautiful dolls?

I was just going
to tell Mr. Mason

about the dolls, Miss Street.

Hi, Mr. Mason.

Hi, Peggy.

You were also gonna tell
me about the electronic brain.

Oh. Well, that's the
only thing I can think of

that could be sending
Peggy her dolls.

You see,

each year, two of these arrive.

One on the day before Christmas,

and the other on
the 11th of June.

No card, no message, nothing.

Just a doll.

Nine since Peggy's been here.

The 11th of June.

Is that, uh, Peggy's birthday?

We think so.

Is that your birthday, Peggy?

Nobody ever told me.

Oh.

Oh, surely you remember
having a birthday party

before you came here?

We think Peggy was about 3 then,

so naturally her
memories are rather dim.

Now, the only names
that she can recall

are "Auntie" and "Martha."

And Maggie too.
She's my own doll.

There's, um,

one lead here.

These dolls all came
from the same shop.

Oh.

Kringle's Gifts & Dolls,
Gstaad, Switzerland.

You know, a good investigator,

working in Geneva and Gstaad,

should, without any trouble,

unearth the person
who bought these dolls.

You see, Mr. Mason,

we'd all like to help
Peggy find out who she is.

But I'm afraid
it's just not a thing

that Westcroft School
has any business financing.

I understand.

I'm afraid we'll have
to be going now, Peggy.

Goodbye, Mr. Mason.

Bye, honey.

May I see you for a
moment, Miss Lorimer?

Why, yes, of course.

Bye-bye, Peggy.

Take good care of Maggie.

Miss Street, but...

But what?

I thought if I could
find my family,

and they could see I
really wasn't so terrible,

they might want me back again.

Peggy, I'll come and see you.

I'll come and see
you real soon. Okay?

Okay.

Goodbye, Miss Street.

Bye. Bye.

Perry, it's getting late.
We better get going.

I'm just about ready. Della...

Oh.

It's getting late.

Perry, I was just thinking

about that poor little girl.

Got the tickets, Della?

They're right here.

Look, Perry,

suppose I went to Westcroft...

Are you sure they're in order?

Everything is in order.

Los Angeles to London,

by way of Geneva, Switz...

Geneva, Switzerland?

Uh, Perry, you better hurry.

I, uh, think she's
gonna kiss you.

I'm only stopping there
because I need a new watch.

I received your
cable, Mr. Mason.

And I must tell you at
once, I can't give you

any information
about Peggy Smith.

You must know something
about her, Mr. Tobler.

Otherwise you wouldn't
be paying for her education.

Tobler & Sons are not paying.

We merely act as agents.

Agents for whom?

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,

but I cannot tell you that.

Mr. Tobler,

Peggy Smith is a little girl,

a rather pathetic little girl,

who needs a family.

A family to love
and to be loved by.

You're denying her that.

I have no choice.

Very well then, tell me this.

Do you forward
her bills to someone,

or has an account
been set up for her?

An account, Mr. Mason.

A numbered account.

One with no name attached?

Exactly.

Except in a secret book,

which under the Swiss law,

I'm forbidden to show anyone,

except in case of
national emergency.

You could hardly call

the problem of
one child in America

a Swiss national emergency,

could one, Mr. Mason?
No, thank you.

No, I don't suppose one could.

I'm extremely sorry to have
bothered you, Mr. Tobler.

Oh, it's quite all right.

Bonjour, monsieur.

Mademoiselle?

I wish to place a call,

to the United States of
America. Los Angeles, California.

The number is Crestview 14699.

She's beautiful, isn't she?

Mm.

Do you send many of these
to America, Mr. Kringle?

No.

Most of them are sold
to tourists here in Gstaad.

Except, of course,

two we send to Los
Angeles each year.

Yes, of course.

To, uh, Peggy Smith.

Yes.

Oh, please wait.

I'll be with you
in just a moment.

Are you sure that's the man?

I looked at the hotel register.

Perry Mason.

Linda, remember
when we were kids,

and we used to think this
was Santa Claus' shop?

Whatever gave you that idea?

Kringle, stupid. Kriss Kringle.

Miss Osborne, I'll be
with you right away.

All right, Mr. Kringle.

Now, uh,

you know Peggy
Smith, Herr, uh...?

Mason. Yes, I know her.

Then perhaps you
can explain something

which has been puzzling us here.

I'd be glad to try.

Exactly who is Peggy Smith?

A collector of dolls?

Oh, no. She's a little
girl in a boarding school.

Hm.

Miss Osborne,

our mystery has been solved.

Peggy Smith is a little girl,

just as you thought.

Yes, I heard.

Mr. Kringle told
me about the dolls.

We're old friends.

But apparently there's
even more mystery, mm?

Well,

I would like to find out

who's been paying for the dolls.

Why, Tobler & Sons.

A bank in Geneva.

How did you know that?

- Mr. Kringle told me.
- Mm-hm.

And somebody
picked out those dolls?

I pick them out, Herr Mason.

Well, when did all this
get started, Mr. Kringle?

Who ordered the
dolls in the first place?

It began, uh, five years ago.

A letter came from the bank

describing a certain doll

and asking it to be sent.

For three dolls it was this way.

The fourth, uh, only a check,

leaving the selection to me.

And it has been
this way ever since.

Odd, Herr Mason,

but, uh,

very good business
for Kringle's.

Yes.

And a very baffling
business for me.

Excuse me.

Everything satisfactory,
Monsieur Osborne?

Yes, thank you.

Will you bring us
the check, please?

Certainly.

Bonsoir, monsieur.

Good evening, may I
have a table for one?

Yes, monsieur, this way.

Good evening. Good evening.

The man from the
doll shop again.

Come on, let's go upstairs.

I think I'll go talk to him.

Helene.

Now, darling,

don't play the stuffy husband.

The dolls intrigue me.

So does he.

May I join you, Mr. Mason?

Pardon, mademoiselle.

Please do.

Uh, bring another
glass, will you please?

Oui, monsieur.

How did you know my name?

My sister-in-law told me.

Miss Osborne?

That's right,

you were with her in the
shop this morning, weren't you?

Thank you.

Yes, and after you left,

Linda told me the
story of the little girl

and her nine dolls.

How did you know
there were nine dolls?

Thank you.

Mr. Kringle said there were,

and if I don't hear
the whole story

I shall die of
unrequited curiosity.

Unless it's
something top secret?

No, I don't suppose
it's a secret at all.

Then you'll tell me about it?

Well, unfortunately,
Mrs., uh...?

Osborne.

Helene Osborne.

Mrs. Osborne,

I'm a lawyer working
on behalf of a client

and it just wouldn't be
ethical for me to talk about it.

Unless, of course,
you can convince me

that you have a legitimate
interest in the matter.

Have you?

No, it's just
curiosity, as I said.

I didn't mean to pry.

Oh, you're not prying.

Helene. It's getting late

and we're leaving
at 6 in the morning,

so don't make me twist your arm.

All right, Larry.

Perhaps I'll see you
before we go, Mr. Mason.

And perhaps you won't.

Do you like our cognac?

Oh, yes, very nice.

Um, I'll have some more, please.

Certainly.

Attractive woman, Mrs. Osbert.

Osborne.

Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Osborne

and Mademoiselle Linda Osborne.

They're very nice people.

Very nice and very rich.

They have been coming
here for many years.

From Chicago.

No, from Los Angeles.

I thought that you Americans

would know all about
each other by now.

Didn't they speak to you?

After they followed you
out of the hotel this morning?

Uh, no, I guess we
missed each other.

What, you're not an American?

Oh, oh, yes, I'm an American.

Uh, I understand
they're leaving.

Yes, they are taking a plane

from Geneva tomorrow afternoon,

flying back to America.

I'm sorry they're going.

Yes, I'm sorry they're going.

Tell me, is there anything
you'd like me to do for you?

No, uh, everything's fine.

You can leave the
bottle, thank you.

Uh, here you are.

Oh, merci, monsieur.
Merci beaucoup.

Hello.

That's right, operator.

The Westcroft
School in Brentwood.

I wanted to speak...

Oh, you have? Yes, I'm ready.

Hello?

This is Perry Mason,

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

She isn't?

Well, is it possible
for Peggy Smith

to come to the telephone?

Went out with whom?

Well, who was the woman?

You don't know?

All right, thank you.

Operator?

Operator.

Hello.

Perry. Where are you?

Gstaad?

Well that's pretty fancy
even in summer, isn't it?

Me? Oh, I'm just, uh,
stealing a couple of your books.

Sure, what's wrong?

Peggy Smith?

Well, shouldn't I
notify the police?

Okay, as soon as I check.
I'll call you the minute I get...

Wait a minute. You can relax.

Nothing's happened to Peggy.

That's good.

But, Paul, I still want
some things done.

A day and night
watch put on the school

until I get back.

And this I'd like you
to handle personally.

Uh, hold on a minute, Perry.

Female births in the county,

June 11th, seven,
eight and nine years ago.

Perry, that'll run
into thousands.

Oh.

Just females named Margaret.

Okay. Will do at once.

And, uh, send us a
wire and we'll meet you.

Well, this certainly
is a coincidence.

Not only the same
plane, but the next seat.

My lucky day, Miss Osborne.

Thank you. And your
quest for the person

sending the dolls
to the little girl?

Were you lucky with that too?

Oh, I might have
come across something.

Do you live with your brother

in Los Angeles, Miss Osborne?

No. With my uncle,
Courtney Jeffers.

The oil man?

My mother was his sister.

We went to live with
him when my father died,

and then when Mother
died I just stayed on.

You know, I'm surprised

a girl as pretty as
you hasn't married.

I got as far as the altar once.

Any more questions, Mr. Mason?

Yeah.

Yesterday I had a
very curious feeling,

that I was being followed

all the way to the toy shop.

Followed by you,

your brother and his wife.

Oh, why, that's absurd.

We were just out for a stroll.

And later did one of
you stroll into my room?

With a broken doll?

A broken doll?

And a note attached.

Oh, I don't know
anything about it.

What was in the note?

Nothing really.

Probably just a
joke of some kind.

Probably just a joke.

Eustaces, Newbolds and Lemkos,

they all got a daughter
named Margaret,

and I haven't got a
clip on any of them.

What's this all about, Paul?

I'm not exactly sure myself.

All I know is I'm
supposed to get a list

of all the Margarets born
in the county on June 11th,

seven, eight and nine years ago.

The County Clerk's
Office came up with eight,

along with the names and
addresses of their parents.

This Perry Mason
business? Uh-huh.

Now, none of these
names rang a bell,

so I thought I'd see
if you had anything

in your files on any of them.

Paul, you know that newspapers

don't keep clips
on just anybody.

I know.

I have a hunch that
this Margaret's parents

aren't just anybody.

Now, the ones you tried
were for seven years ago.

Let's try the two
for eight years ago.

Barry and Elizabeth Fitzjames,

and Clark and Margaret Lawson.

Fitzjames and Lawson.

Nothing on Fitzjames.

"Margaret Lawson, see Jeffers."

Jeffers, Jeffers, Jeffers.

Margaret Jeffers, here's one.

"Oil heiress elopes
with bond salesman.

"Margaret 'Peggy' Jeffers,

"daughter of oil tycoon
Courtney Jeffers,

"early this morning
eloped to Las Vegas

with Clark Lawson,
a bond salesman."

That's a picture of them.

Oh. Here's some bad news.

What's the matter?

"Oil heiress killed in
Palm Springs crash."

Yeah, I remember that one.

When was this?

Six and a half years ago.

Does it say anything
about her being survived

by a baby daughter?

Well, hm.

You're lucky you got that much.

Courtney Jeffers
hates publicity.

And besides being a friend of
the publisher of this newspaper,

he's probably one of
the most cantankerous

old buffaloes in the city.

Martha!

Coming, Mr. Jeffers. I'm coming.

Where the devil is Linda?

It's after 5 and her plane
was supposed to land at 3.

She's here, sir.

Then why hasn't she
been in to see me?

Well, who'd dare
wake an old grizzly bear

when he's taking
a nap. Oh, Linda!

You're the only one who
would dare, Miss Linda.

Go away, go away, go away.

I missed you, child.

When you still had
Martha to roar at?

No, it's not the same,

because you always roared back.

Leave that fire alone,
Martha, and get out.

Yes, Mr. Jeffers.

You see, what fun
is there yelling at her?

How was Gstaad?

Lovely.

Your mother always
thought so too.

And your trip back?

All right.

Most of the time I
sat next to a man

named Perry Mason.

We didn't hit it off at first,
but later I found him charming.

Charming, indeed.

Do you know who Mason is?

He's a criminal lawyer

and he'll charm the gold
right out of your back teeth.

Mr. Jeffers. Yes, Benson?

A caller, sir. A Mr. Mason.

Perry Mason?

I believe so, Miss Linda.

Of all the unmitigated gall.

Not three hours off the plane

and he has the
nerve to come calling.

Or did you invite him? Not I.

He asked for you, sir.

Me?

Very well. Show him in.

Aren't you staying?

He asked for you, Uncle C.

Right in here, sir.

Thank you.

Mr. Jeffers, my name is
Mason. I'm an attorney...

I know who you are.
What do you want?

I'm here on behalf

of a young child
named Peggy Smith.

Peggy Smith? The name
means nothing to me.

I have every reason to believe
that she's your granddaughter.

Granddaughter? I
have no granddaughter.

I have no children.

What are you up to, Mason?

You had a daughter, Margaret,

who married a man
named Clark Lawson.

Get out.

I don't quite understand.

Ever since her marriage,

Margaret's name has up until now

been mentioned but
twice in this house:

When I disinherited
her and when she died.

It is not to be mentioned again.

Very well.

Did you also intend to
disinherit your granddaughter?

There was no granddaughter.

According to the records

in the County Clerk's
Office there was.

Here's a photostat
of the birth certificate.

Are you, by any chance,

representing Clark Lawson?

No, I'm not. Well,
he is back of it.

And you, yourself are
either a knave or a dupe.

Won't you read this photostat?

It's a forgery.

Or another one
of Lawson's tricks.

Get out.

A piece of paper can easily
be destroyed, Mr. Jeffers.

But it's another matter

when it comes to one's
own flesh and blood.

Won't you at least see Peggy?

Won't you at least talk to her?

Benson!

Yes, Mr. Jeffers?

Show this man out.

That won't be necessary.

It's all right, Mr. Mason.

I like to come out with Della,

and Mr. Jeffers doesn't
sound very nice anyway.

Peggy, he's probably very nice.

Perhaps he just wasn't
feeling well today.

I suppose so.

Yes, Gertie?

Oh, just a minute.

Would you like to
see Linda Osborne?

Linda Osborne? Mm-hm.

Peggy, would you mind

if I spoke to Miss
Osborne for a moment

before we start back to school?

No, Mr. Mason.

All right.

Take Peggy into the library,

and bring Miss Osborne in,

will you please?
I'll get the phone.

Come on.

Uh, Gertie, Della
will be right out.

Any word from Paul Drake?

Well, keep on checking.

Thank you.

Well, Miss Osborne,
this is rather a surprise.

Won't you sit
down? No, thank you.

I had to come, Mr. Mason,

to beg you to please
leave my uncle alone.

He's old and ill

and a hoax like
this could kill him.

What makes you
think this is a hoax?

I grew up with Margaret Jeffers

and I know she
never had a child.

Were you with her all the time

between her marriage
and her death?

No, but my mother was.

And she certainly
would have told me

if Margaret had had a baby.

Didn't Mr. Jeffers tell you

I'd found a record of the birth?

He said records could be forged.

And little girls, can
they also be forged?

I heard what you
were talking about.

If Mr. Mason is right,

we're maybe
relatives, aren't we?

You and me.

I always knew if I
belonged to somebody

it just must be somebody
as pretty as you are.

I'm Peggy, and this is Maggie.

Don't touch me.

Don't you dare touch me.

You keep her away from me.

You keep her away
from our house.

Could I go back to
school now, Mr. Mason?

A little more brandy, Helene?

I need something
to liven things up.

This has been more like a wake

than a welcome home party.

You two have a
quarrel or something?

No. I'm just tired, I guess.

It's been a long day.

Not that long.

What's eating you, sis?
You're acting as though

your best friend has
just kicked the bucket.

Mr. Jeffers.

What is it, Benson?

Mr. Mason is here again, sir.

Mr. Mason?

Yeah, I sent for him, Linda.

He's in the library, sir.

Go away, go away!

Uh, Linda, uh, help me please.

Why is Mason here?
What does he want?

You two just sit tight.

I didn't think you'd dare
produce her, Mason.

She's right here, Mr. Jeffers.

You brought her here?

Miss Osborne,

I'm sorry I upset
you so this afternoon.

I didn't mean to.

Really, I didn't.

Peggy. My Peggy.

Come here, child.

Come to your grandfather.

The foregoing instrument
was on the date hereof

by the said Courtney
Jeffers subscribed, published

and declared to be his
last will and testament

in the presence of us,

who at his request
and in his presence,

and in the presence
of each other,

have signed the same
as witnesses thereto.

Leave the usual
underlined places

for the witnesses'
signatures, Della,

and that ends that.

I'm so happy for Peggy
I could almost cry,

if that makes any sense.

Of course it makes sense.

Under that new will,

Peggy stands to
be a very rich girl.

Hm, I'll get it.

Hello.

What's that?

Mr. Mason, something
awful has happened.

Something awful.

I'm going to need your help.

I... I'm... I'm going
to need your help.

Please hurry.

These last three days
have been a nightmare.

Questions and questions.

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

I swear I didn't.

I believe you, Linda.

Now, you must understand

that today will be just
the preliminary hearing.

I'll try to clear
you, of course,

but if I can't that won't
be the end of things.

Not by a long shot.

Now, just remember what I said.

Thank you.

What about Peggy?

I told you. I won't see her.

But why?

Why do you dislike her so,

when all she wants is just
someone to be close to?

Because she is
so like her mother.

But her mother
was your best friend.

You grew up together.

Margaret, Peggy's mother,

eloped to Las Vegas
with Clark Lawson.

Yes, I do know that.

What you don't know is that

on that very day Clark
and I were to be married.

I was left waiting
at the church,

like a bride in the comics,

only it wasn't funny to me.

Two people I loved
most in the world.

Uncle Courtney sided with
me, and kept it out of the papers,

but I was crushed.

Peggy brought it all back
that day in your office.

Brings it back every
time I look at her.

I know it's not her fault.

She's a wonderful little girl,

but I just can't bear
to have her around.

I hate myself for it, but I...

I just can't bear
it. I just can't.

The state's
evidence will disclose

a motivation based upon
a hidden relationship.

Now, if it please the
court, I would like to explain.

Mr. Jeffers, at the
time of his death,

believed that,

through the activities
of Perry Mason,

he had discovered a grandchild
about whom he knew nothing.

Now, it may well appear
that this young woman

actually was a grandchild.

But that matter will have
to be established or refuted

in another court
at another time.

But the fact that the
deceased did believe

that this girl was
his grandchild

caused him to prepare
to change his will.

And the state contends it
was this change in the will

that brought about his murder

at the hands of the defendant.

Now just where did
you find that button,

Sergeant Willoughby?

By the dead man's right hand.

Uh, Mr. Jeffers, I mean.

And what did you do about it?

I showed it to Lieutenant Tragg.

And then?

He told me to see if I could
find the garment it came from.

Were you successful in this?

I was.

I located it in a
closet upstairs.

Now, I ask you to
examine this robe.

That's the garment.

You can see where
the button was pulled off.

Did you discover to
whom this robe belonged?

Yes, sir. To Linda Osborne.

The defendant.

Sergeant Willoughby,
I think you heard

the coroner's physician
testify that in his opinion

death was caused by a blow

from a rod-like metal object?

Yes, sir, I did.

I now show you this poker,

already entered into evidence.

Do you recognize it? Yes, sir.

It's the one I
found by the body.

That's my identifying
tag on the handle.

Did you test this
poker in the crime lab?

Yes.

Toward the working end

were traces of
blood identical in type

to those of the decedent.

On the handle were
found fingerprints.

The defendant's fingerprints.

Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Uh, may I see that poker
again, Mr. Chamberlin?

Of course.

Looking isn't going to erase

either blood stains or
fingerprints, counselor.

Sergeant,

in taking samples of blood
for testing in the laboratory,

it was necessary
to clean this poker?

No, sir. The poker was clean,

except for blood traces.

And all I removed of them
were a few dried flakes,

as you can see.

And the only
fingerprints found on it

were those of the defendant?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sergeant.

No more questions at this time.

Uncle Courtney
called Linda and me

into the library
after Mr. Mason left

and told us about the new will.

You two being the sole
heirs up to this point?

Well, so we'd been
given to understand.

Now, you were cut off completely

in favor of this granddaughter

that had materialized
out of thin air?

Well, that's the general idea.

Were you angry about this?

Well, no. No, not really.

Why should we be? I have a job.

After all, it was his
money, wasn't it?

Then you didn't
go into the library

with your husband
and, uh, Miss Osborne?

No, I wasn't
included in the will.

But you waited for your
husband to come out?

Yes, and when he did he said,

"Let's have another brandy."

And I said, "Why?" And he said,

"Because it isn't every
day you lose $9 million."

And then he told me
what had happened.

Now, while you were drinking
this brandy, Mrs. Osborne,

did you hear anything unusual?

Yes. Linda and Uncle Courtney
were shouting at each other

in the library like a couple
of Indians on the warpath.

Helene!

Well, Larry, I can't help it.
That's how they sounded.

We can do without any
outbursts, Mr. Osborne.

Please resume your seat.

Could you hear what they
were saying in the library?

No, just their voices.

And then Linda stormed out,

mad as a hatter
and ran upstairs.

Objection, Your Honor.

So far as the Mad
Hatter is concerned,

the witness is
volunteering an opinion.

Objection sustained.

The witness' answer
after "Just their voices"

will be stricken.

You will please confine yourself

to answering such questions
as you are asked, Mrs. Osborne.

Yes, Your Honor.

Now, what did you
and your husband do

after the defendant
ran up the stairs?

We went home.

Thank you.

Then you were in the
library, Mrs. Benson,

during this quarrel.

I mean this rather
noisy discussion

that went on between Miss
Osborne and her uncle?

Yes, sir.

With the warm
milk and the two pills

that I always took to
Mr. Jeffers at 10:00.

What was the discussion about?

It was about the little girl.

Go on.

Well, Mr. Jeffers was determined

to bring her into the house

so Miss Linda
could care for her.

What was Miss
Osborne's reaction to this?

Well, Miss Linda

not only said she
would not care for her,

but she would not even

live in the same house with her.

And Mr. Jeffers' reply?

Well, he told her to
pack up and get out.

But of course, he
did not mean that.

Now, it isn't your
function, Mrs. Benson,

to determine what
he did or did not mean.

What happened after that?

Uh, Miss Linda ran
out of the library.

And you were
still in the kitchen

at 11:00 that night, Mr. Benson?

Yes, sir.

Polishing the silver,
as I do each week.

And your wife was helping you?

No, sir. She'd gone to bed.

Oh, then, this is
not the same quarrel

that she testified to?

Oh, no, sir. This...

This was a good hour later.

Well, tell us what happened.

Well, I... I went
into the dining room

to put some of the silver back.

Suddenly from the
direction of the library

I heard Mr. Jeffers speak.

"Linda?" he asked.

Then he said, "No. Oh, no."

Then I heard a kind of thud.

I looked out into the hall

and caught a
glimpse of Miss Linda

just disappearing
up the hall stairs.

What was she
wearing, Mr. Benson?

A robe of some sort.

That's all for the
prosecution, Your Honor.

Gentlemen, it's already
ten minutes past 11.

And as I have a
motion for a new trial

set in another
case at this time,

I declare a recess of this
court until 2:00 this afternoon.

News, Perry. And at
least some of it's good.

You located Tobler?

No, not yet. My
people in Switzerland

say they're getting
the run around

at both his house and the bank.

Sometimes it's better to
use the direct approach.

Della, put in a long-distance
call to Mr. Tobler.

Mm-hm. I don't want
this phone tied up.

Oh, fine.

What about Clark Lawson?

Well, we ran him down
through his GI insurance.

He was killed in Korea.
No known relatives.

I see.

Is this the poker from
the upstairs sitting room?

From Linda's room? Mm-hm.

How did you know
it'd be the same?

I didn't.

Just hoped it would.

Well, wait till you see
the chemist's report.

Here.

What about the other robe?

Apparently doesn't own one,

but I'm having my men check all

the cleaning establishments
in the neighborhood.

I hope they find it fast, Paul.

And there's one final thing,

though I don't
know what it means.

For the past three years,

Larry Osborne has been
drawing large checks

to cash on his personal account.

They add up to 10 grand a year.

No clue as to what he's
been doing with the money?

Not a one.

Yes, Della.

I got through to Switzerland.

But, Perry, Mr. Tobler's here.

What?

He's here in Los Angeles
at the Sunset Hills Hotel.

You're forgetting that
I'm a Swiss citizen,

and as such you cannot compel me

to break my own country's laws.

This is a murder
case, Mr. Tobler.

A young woman's
life is in jeopardy.

I cannot help that.

Then I cannot help
giving you this subpoena,

answerable in Superior
Court at 2:00 this afternoon.

And I can assure you,

if you refuse to answer
my questions at that time,

you'll be held in
contempt of court,

Swiss law or no Swiss law.

I cannot have you do that.

My reputation and the
bank's will be ruined.

It can be easily
prevented, Mr. Tobler,

by answering the questions now.

You wish to know who created
the fund for Peggy Smith?

That's right.

Mr. Jeffers' late sister,
Constance Osborne.

The mother of Larry
and Linda Osborne?

Yes.

Then you were the one

who notified them
of my inquiries?

I notified Larry Osborne. I
called him in Los Angeles,

found out he was in Gstaad,
and I called him there.

What are doing here in Los
Angeles now, Mr. Tobler?

Mr. Mason,

the Tobler bank is not as
cold-blooded as you think.

I came here to
tell Larry Osborne

we would gladly release

all details about
Peggy Smith's fund

if it would save his sister.

And he refused
to let you do this?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I know it was wrong,

but I was hoping
Linda would get off

without the story
having to come out.

Will you please tell this
Court the whole story,

beginning with the
Las Vegas elopement

of Margaret Jeffers
and Clark Lawson?

Well, in less than two months

Margaret realized what
a mistake she'd made

and kicked Lawson out.

I think he joined the
Army or something.

Did Mr. Jeffers know that?

Margaret didn't
want him to know.

He'd disinherited her,
cut off communications.

She wanted to keep it that way.

Uh, even after the baby came?

She let my mother and
Martha help her with it,

but she still wouldn't let
them tell Uncle Courtney.

What was done with the baby?

She was placed in a foster home

and then in the
Westcroft School.

It was at that same time
that my Mother set up

the fund with the Tobler bank.

Why didn't she tell
Mr. Jeffers about the baby?

Well, that was
the shameful part.

She...

She wanted the
estate for Linda and me.

She knew we'd be left out of it

if he ever found
out about Peggy.

She told me all this just
before she died three years ago.

Told just you, not your sister?

Just me.

So you were the one who left

the broken doll in
my room in Gstaad?

Broken doll? What broken doll?

Did you kill your uncle?

No. I'd never do
such a thing. Never.

But you were perfectly willing,

by keeping silent,
to cheat a mere child

out of her rightful inheritance?

Yes, I was.

You were also willing
to be blackmailed

to accomplish
that, were you not?

Blackmailed to the
tune of 10,000 a year.

How did you know
that? Never mind how.

Just tell me, who
was blackmailing you?

To whom were you
paying the money?

Uncle Courtney's man, Benson.

You were recalled to
the stand, Mr. Benson,

for the purpose of
clarifying these issues.

Now, will you please
answer the question?

Well, I don't call
it blackmail at all.

Just a simple business deal.

It may not be quite so simple

if Mr. Osborne decides to
press charges against you.

Now, I'd like you
to look at this poker.

It came from what room
in Mr. Jeffers' house?

Why, the library, of course.

Isn't there another
poker just exactly like it

in Miss Osborne's
sitting room upstairs?

Well, since the
poker was missing

from the downstairs set,

I thought... Just a moment.

I'd like you to take a
look at this robe again.

Are you sure

this is the robe you saw
vanishing up the stairs

after you heard
Mr. Jeffers cry out?

No, I can't say positively.

Can you say positively

that the woman in the
robe was Linda Osborne?

Well, I didn't think it
could be anyone else.

Miss Linda was living there.

Couldn't it have
been someone else

who was familiar with the house?

Y-Yes, I suppose so.

Couldn't it have been
Helene Osborne, for instance?

Why, yes,

I... I guess it could
have been Mrs. Osborne.

I-I admit that, Mr. Mason.

I did put the broken
doll and the note

in your hotel room.

But I was trying to help Larry.

So you knew about
Peggy, about who she was?

Yes.

Larry told me a long time ago.

But I didn't kill his uncle.

I didn't.

Where were you
between 10:30 and 11:30

on the night of the murder?

I was with Larry.

He can tell you
that, so can Martha.

She saw us leave
the house together.

Yes, sir.

They left together,
all right. I know that.

Of course, I can't say that

either one of them
didn't come back.

And you, Mrs. Benson?

Where were you
between 10:30 and 11:30?

I was in bed.

Are you sure, Mrs. Benson?

Are you sure you didn't wait

until Mr. Jeffers
was finally alone,

and then enter the
library and kill him?

What?

Why, of course not.

Well, Mr. Jeffers
saw that it was Linda.

He called out her name.

Yes, he called out her name,

thinking it was Linda.

But it was you, was it not?

It was you wearing the robe

your husband saw
vanishing up the stairs?

Wearing this robe?

Your robe.

The robe you sent
to the cleaner's

after vainly trying
to wash blood from it.

Your employer's
blood, Mrs. Benson?

No.

No.

No?

Take a look at this poker, then.

This is the poker you
ran upstairs to get,

because you knew her
fingerprints would be on it

instead of yours.

This is the poker you exchanged

for the real murder weapon.

And while you were upstairs,

you tore a button from the
defendant's robe, did you not,

to further incriminate her?

Won't you tell the
truth now, Mrs. Benson?

Or must I show you
that second poker?

Must I show you
the chemist's report

of finding on that poker
minute traces of blood?

Your employer's blood?

Stop it!

The blood of the man you killed.

It...

It's true.

I killed Mr. Jeffers.

You see,

we were in his will.

Quite generously.

But when Mr. Jeffers found out

what we'd done,

how Mr. Larry had
been paying us,

how we had helped keep
his grandchild from him...

then he was going to cut us out.

He was going to get rid of us.

He was going to discharge us.

Oh, don't you see?

We were going
to lose everything.

I remembered using that poker

here in the library myself.

So when the police said

only your
fingerprints were on it,

I became rather curious.

That's when he
sent Paul upstairs.

When he discovered
the substitution.

She'd wiped the other
poker clean, of course.

But not quite clean enough.

I'm so terribly grateful to
you, Mr. Mason. Thank you.

What are your plans now?

A trip, I think.

Then perhaps Peggy better
go back to Westcroft School.

Unless, of course, you'd
like to take her with you.

No, I... I'm afraid
I can't do that.

She'd like you to continue

living here in the house
when you get back.

Thank you, Peggy.

But I'm afraid I
can't do that either.

Now if you'll all
excuse me, please.

Miss Osborne?

I just wanted to say goodbye.

Oh, Peggy.