All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E27 The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Here, here, here, here,
just a minute out there.

Just a minute.

Just a... Oh.

Oh, it's you, sir.

Evening, Mr. Gideon.

I was just driving by.

Good many lights
upstairs, wouldn't you say?

Oh. We're very careful about
the electricity, Mr. Gideon.

Uh, some of the folks
are working late, I guess.

Well, I'm not.

You mean there's a
light up in your office?

You wait, I'll take a look, sir.

Oh, no, you don't.

That cleaning woman
is nipping my whisky,

I'm gonna catch her
myself, thank you.

Who's here? Who's in here?

Who's here? Who's in here?

Hey.

David.

Oh, hi, Granddad.

What on earth are
you doing here?

Well, it's too
early for nightclubs

and a little late
for the racetrack.

What's that? Blackstone?

Yeah.

Say, the moth's really fly
out of that one, don't they?

You mean to say you
came here to read?

To study?

Well, don't look so surprised.

You always said come in,
help myself any time I wanted to.

Sure, what can a
guy do but read?

There aren't any good
pictures in Blackstone.

I'm sorry, David.

You know, I never realized
that you were back in law school.

Well, I've been
thinking about it.

I mean, I spoke to the dean

and it's just a matter of making
up an examination or two.

You can do it too.

Not gonna be easy.

See, I never finished.

The reason I've kept all
those law books all these years

just to remind me.

Oh, I admit I did think
your Uncle Lucius

would go back to
law school but, uh, no.

Guess he never
quite had it in him.

David, I can't tell you
what this would mean to me.

Sure, Granddad, but maybe I
shouldn't use your office now.

No, no. I'll leave.
I won't interrupt.

You just make yourself
comfortable, son.

Pitch in.

Now, uh,

you want a nightcap,

when you get through
you just help yourself,

because, I mean, after all,

the watchman will
get it if you don't.

I'm gonna be awfully
proud of you, David.

Oh, dear.

Shh.

Your grandfather
would absolutely kill me.

He'd have me skinned,
fried and basted in acid.

It's your fault, David.

Following me into
the building like this.

You know I'm
supposed to be working

for Mr. Comminger tonight.

Well, he's not so easy to
fool, that grandfather of mine.

He raised me since I was a kid.

"You just make yourself
comfortable, son.

Pitch in."

I tell you, two glasses
were used, not one.

Look, why do you suppose
they polish this edge so carefully?

Take off some lipstick,
wouldn't you say?

Oh, yes, sir, I suppose it
could have been lipstick.

But I'm an accountant,
not a detective.

That woman was here.

Now, you'll admit that she
was supposed to be helping you,

and she didn't show up.

I've been using her
to help check back

Mr. Lucius Gideon's
records, that's all.

Comminger, I asked you
to investigate and document

my son's recent
mismanagement of this company,

and nothing else.

But I obviously have to
consult Lucius's private records.

And since Dorine was
his private secretary...

Why do you suppose my
son committed suicide?

Because he drank too much?

Because he was foolish?

It is commonly
known, Mr. Gideon,

that Lucius was in poor health.

And there was certainly
nothing improper

between him and Miss
Hopkins that I know of.

And for you to
suggest anything...

Oh, you're all the
same. Every one of you.

Silk, perfume and a pretty leg.

Off roll your heads like
so many useless pumpkins.

Yes, sir.

Is that all, sir?

Oh, I don't know.

I came in here this
morning and find this.

You were right about
his Uncle Lucius.

He was ill, weak and foolish.

But David is different.

David can be like his
own father used to be.

Now, look, Comminger, I know
that you have to use this woman

to straighten out our books.

And I still want you to find
out every bit of truth for me.

But I don't want Dorine Hopkins

within 10,000 miles
of my grandson.

Never again, do you hear that?

Oh, David, it's you.

Well, who'd you think it was?

Dorine, where have you been?

Look, David, I haven't
got much time right now.

We're going to the
Red Ox for lunch,

and you're going to explain to
me why you've moved three times

in the last three days.

Look, David, I can't, okay?

It's because of my
grandfather, isn't it?

Well, he's not gonna run
your life or mine either.

David, your
grandfather doesn't have

a thing in the
world to do with it.

Darling, I've got to go.

You're a very sweet boy

and maybe we'll see each
other again sometime, hm?

Dorine, don't you know
how I feel about you?

Yes, David.

Every time you look
at me, you shake.

Well, you are the
most beautiful...

Now, look, darling, there are
plenty of pretty college girls

with pom-poms instead
of me with all my problems.

Darling, I've got to go.

You're laughing
at me, aren't you?

No, David.

I'm telling you goodbye.

Hey, you. Let go of her.

Beat it, kid. Please...

Listen, I said let
go. Listen, punk...

No, Dav...!

Did he hurt you? No.

You all right? What
was that guy trying to do?

David, you idiot,
he's my husband.

David, please, you've
got to get out of here.

I'm not going until I
know you're all right

and until you explain.

David, look, I... I'll
meet you for lunch.

I'll do anything you say,
but please, please go.

Thank you.

Well, now, just what
kind of an explanation

do you feel you deserve?

Do you think I should apologize
to you just for having a husband

and not telling you about it?

David, can't you do something

other than just sit
there and stare?

Yeah.

Ow.

He really slugged
you, didn't he?

It doesn't make any
difference, David.

I should have killed him.

Don't say that.

W hat do you expect me to say?

Darling, listen to me.

My husband is very unimportant
because I don't like him.

I haven't liked him for
years and years and years.

That's why I went to
work for your Uncle Lucius,

as a matter of fact:

to get away from Tony.

Why didn't you divorce him?

Because I couldn't... Hello.

Uh, two martinis,
please. Yes, sir.

You'll just have
to trust me, David.

I can't get a divorce from Tony

until I get something
back from him.

And I can't get those
things back until I...

I give him something.

Well, what?

Get what?

If you'd just tell me the
kind of trouble you're in...

It wouldn't do any good, David.

Tony has some very
rough friends, and...

Oh, look, if you think I'm
afraid of Tony and his rough...

Uh, two martinis, please,

and we're in a
little bit of a hurry.

Excuse me, sir, may I
see your driver's license?

Look, if you don't think
I'm even 21 years old...

Well, it's just that the boss...

Well, you understand.

I'm terribly sorry. I'll get
your drinks right away.

Sure.

All right, so maybe you are a
couple of years older than I am.

But I'm gonna help you
whether you like it or not.

Can you help me
find $10,000, David?

Well, David, still home?

I thought you were going out.

Yeah, well, I was just
waiting for a phone call.

Well, I'll see you, Granddad.

Wait a minute.

I got a call from Peterson
at the bank today.

He said you were in
inquiring about the money

your mother left you
and if there was any way

of getting it out of trust.

Oh, that. I was just
curious, that's all.

Yes, yes, of course.

I understand that you
dropped in at a couple of,

uh, used-car lots,

and wanted to know what you
could get for your automobile.

What do you do, have
somebody follow me around

every place I go? "Six
hundred dollars plus 75,

government bond: 1000."

What is she up to?

Why is she after you?

What is this woman trying to...?

It's none of your business.

I'm sorry, Granddad.

And I'm sorry about
lying to you the other night,

about her being in
your office, and all.

I understand.

No, you don't.

She's been chasing you

ever since she set eyes on you.

Granddad, I've been chasing her.

A boy of your age
never comprehends

what a woman like that
does, how she can work.

David... Listen to me.

You want to know
how this really started?

Because I was curious as to
why Uncle Lucius killed himself

and because I
couldn't stand to see

anybody as unhappy
as Dorine was.

You don't know what
you're talking about.

Don't I?

You kicked Dorine
out of a good job

the minute Uncle
Lucius was dead. Why?

You won't ever
talk about it. Why?

You won't even say why
you got that guy Comminger

sniffing around the office. Why?

And none of that is
any of your business.

Well, I know this.

Whatever's happened to Dorine
is our fault, our family's fault.

And you just won't admit it.

Oh, you poor,
stupid young whelp.

This cheap, conniving dame

leads you around by the nose.

Why, she's nothing but a...

Yeah?

Oh.

Uh, look, I'm afraid
I haven't quite done

what you wanted me to yet.

But I don't want you to
do anything, now, silly.

Don't you understand? I got
all the money all by myself.

Yes, the whole 10,000.

You see, I sold my fur coat

and I had a couple of bonds
and I got some money for my car.

Well, anyway, that doesn't
make any difference.

The point is this: I'm on
my way now to pay Tony.

And I thought, well,

if you'd like to meet
me at my place,

I'll be there in
about 20 minutes.

I thought maybe you'd
like to help me celebrate.

I mean, you were so
sweet to try to help me

when there wasn't
anybody else to turn to.

I'll be right there.

Bye.

Boy, how wrong can
anybody be about people?

David. Son.

Tony! Tony!

Dorine, what happened?

Dorine, Dorine, Dorine,

Dorine, Dorine.

What happened?

He laughed at me.

He wouldn't stop laughing.

Tony? That was Tony?

He...

I went to his place.

I gave him the money.

He... He had all
the papers I wanted

right in his hands in a
brown envelope, and...

And then he just put it
back in a bureau drawer

and he started laughing.

All right, he wouldn't
give you the envelope.

I begged with him, I
argued with him, and...

And then he... He hit me,

and then he made
me get back in the car.

And now he's got the
car and the money.

What's the number of that place?

2247.

It's on Pine.

Oh, David, if only I'd waited
for you to come with me.

I'll get your envelope.

David, what if he
should come back?

I'll get there first.

David...

David, wait!

Be careful!

Tony.

The witness may step down.

I call...

Perry, Mr. Gideon on the line.

A Mr. J.J. Gideon.

I told him how busy
you were, but he insisted.

Gideon?

Same as the boy in the
papers this week? Dave Gideon?

That's right. This is
the boy's grandfather.

Uh, switch him on, Della.

This is Perry Mason.

Hello. Hello, Mr. Mason?

I've got to see you right away.

This may not take over
an hour of your time,

and I'll pay you
anything you want

if you'll only get here quickly.

Where are you, Mr. Gideon?

But hasn't the
hearing already...?

Oh, I see.

Yes.

Yes, I will.

Right away.

Della, I'm going to
the county courthouse.

Apparently Hamilton
Burger is winning a case.

Now, Mr. Farrell, to review,

we heard the doctor testify
that death was caused

by a blow alongside the head

with some sort
of a blunt object,

45 minutes to an hour and a half

prior to the arrival
of the police at 10:45.

We also heard
testimony indicating

that Tony Montgomery put
up a fight against his murderer.

Now you stated that you
came to call on Mr. Montgomery

that night on a
matter of business,

and that your cab arrived at
exactly 10:30, is that correct?

That's right.

There weren't any lights
on inside when I got there

so I told the driver to wait.

Well, like I told you, I went
up, found the door open,

saw the body
there in the kitchen

and hurried back to
yell to the taxi man.

So it was then, a
moment or two after 10:30,

when you say you saw a
man running across the yard?

There's just no question
about who I saw.

It was him. The defendant.

The police reported

that when they picked
David Gideon up

some 15 minutes later,

that he was reasonably
neat and clean.

And I can tell you

he wasn't that way
when I saw him.

There was a big dark smear,

could have been dirt
or blood, on one cheek.

His shirttail was half out and his
whole appearance was a mess.

As though he, just
like the deceased,

had recently been in a fight.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Cross-examine.

No questions.

The witness may step down.

May it please the court,

having amply demonstrated
both motive and opportunity,

having proven beyond any doubt
David Gideon's angry presence

at the scene of the murder,
the State sees no reason

for presenting further
testimony at this time.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

Does the defense wish
to introduce evidence

or make any statement?

No, Your Honor.
Not at this time.

There seems to be
sufficient evidence.

The defendant will be held
for trial on a date to be set later.

Court will adjourn
for 15 minutes.

Hello, Perry.

I told Mr. Gideon a
couple of days ago

to ask you to take over here.

I gather the boy hasn't
been much help to you, Avery.

He will be with you,
Mr. Mason. I'm sure he will.

Now, the only thing that's
holding him back now

is because his
mind is not clear.

You see, he was
knocked unconscious.

Well, well, well.

Excuse me.

The Marines are landing a
little late, aren't they, Perry?

Hello, Hamilton.

Or did you just drop by to
watch me deliver my windup?

I really wasn't
at my best today.

You know how it is sometimes
when almost too much evidence

is on your side.

You trying to tell me something?

Only that that boy
has no chance at all.

Even your kind of
tricks wouldn't help him.

Why, Hamilton.

Tricks?

Any possibilities so far, Paul?

No, not yet.

But I've got three men
scattered in the crowd out there.

Let me know the
minute you spot anything.

All right.

Okay, Mr. Mason. Here he is.

Judge's order says keep it
down to 20 minutes or so.

No more than that.

This kind of thing attracts
a lot of people, you know.

I know. Thank you, sergeant.

We'll talk right
here in the kitchen.

I hope you're not going
to be too disappointed.

I guess the only reason
you could arrange this

was because I didn't seem
to remember certain things.

Only... well, there just isn't
much more I can tell you

about what happened here.

Let's jog your memory a little.

You say you got here
a few minutes after 10,

tangled with a man
you couldn't see.

When you came to, on the
floor, it was almost 10:30.

The envelope you took
from the bureau was gone.

That's right, only I don't know

if it was Tony
who hit me or not.

Anyway, he must have been killed

during the time I
was unconscious.

I found him here against
the chair where he'd fallen.

Well, that's all I know,
Mr. Mason. Honest.

That man Farrell
testified at the hearing

that when he saw you run
away from here, you were dirty.

A mess. This place
doesn't look very dirty to me.

Well, I'd been
on the floor there.

I mean, he just must have
meant bloody, disheveled,

don't you think?

Look, David, one way or another,

Dorine Hopkins
got you into all this.

Now, she still won't tell
what was in that envelope.

But it's not relevant.

How do you know?

I don't really.

But I'm sure
she'd tell if it was.

I know she wants to help.

Her husband had taken her car.

It isn't very likely that she
could have got over here

in time to kill Tony herself.

So why are you still
shielding the girl?

That's what you're
doing, isn't it?

Still hiding information
because of...

Mr. Mason,

I bet I've followed every
case you ever defended

since I was in high school.

You have no idea how glad I felt

when they told me you were
actually going to defend me.

I feel very confident.

David, you're scared
to death and you know it.

But you can get me off.

I know you can get
me off, Mr. Mason.

Hi, sarge.

I just brought these cigarettes

that Mr. Mason wanted
from his car, okay?

Okay.

What's up, Paul?

There's a dame
in a long beige coat

with a skimpy mink collar.

My men said she walked
by here twice last night.

Also the night before.

Know who it is?

Yeah, it's a woman
that does typing, I think,

in my grandfather's office.

Ah, here we are.

Oh, hello, Sue.

You sent for me,
Mr. Comminger? Yes.

This is Mr. Mason.
Miss Franks. Hello.

Mr. Mason is young
David's lawyer, you know.

Yes, I know. I've
read the papers.

I asked to have
some typing done.

That shouldn't take
you too long, Sue.

Just a few company records
Mr. Mason needs copies of.

Anything I can do to help.

I just now discovered that Tony
Montgomery once worked here.

Along with his wife.

Well, not exactly with, I'd say.

The records say one month
in the shipping department

five years ago.

And then he was fired
for being drunk on the job.

That's just about the time
they separated, I guess.

Wasn't it, Sue? You were
here then, Miss Franks?

Well, I really don't
remember him too well.

I'll type this for you.

You did know Tony
Montgomery, though?

Just casually, that's all.

Mr. Comminger here said

he'd seen you a couple
of times at the racetrack,

just last year, with
Tony Montgomery.

If Mr. Comminger had
looked more closely,

I'm sure he would have
seen my mother too.

We go every Saturday,
my mother and I.

I don't see any harm
in that, nor in the fact

that we might just bump
into all sorts of people there.

Of course there's no harm.

I only thought you
might be able to tell us

something more about Tony.

He's such a
shadowy sort of figure.

But if we know he followed
the races, for instance.

Not half as much as
he followed the dice.

You mean, like in Nevada?

Las Vegas?

How should I know?

I never went there with him.

He wasn't my husband, you know.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I'll get started on
this right away.

It's all in the court
record, Mr. Mason.

My acquaintance
with Tony Montgomery

was strictly business.

What sort of business? Gambling?

Don't be silly. When
you live in a town like this,

you either leave it
alone or you go broke.

Me, I prefer fishing.

But I find your business is
called a "collection service."

That's part of
gambling, isn't it?

It's part of the automobile
rental business,

also the used car trade.

You should see how many buyers

don't keep up with
their payments.

Was that what you were going to
call on Tony Montgomery about?

A used car?

I like to stay out of
trouble, Mr. Mason.

Besides, I'm a witness
for the prosecution.

You went there to
collect a gambling debt,

isn't that right? Now, you know,

gambling debts can't be
collected legally in California.

All I want to know is whom
you were collecting the debt for.

Just one of the
big houses in town.

Not any one individual.

And there was nothing
personal between him and me.

Nothing like that.

How much did Montgomery
owe the gambling house?

Ten thousand dollars.

I'd been after him
for it for quite a while.

You talked to him before?

Yeah. Here in Vegas,
before he went to L.A.

And then on the telephone,
a couple of times a day.

Sounds like you were
pushing him pretty hard.

Nah. No, I don't use
rough stuff, Mr. Mason.

It's just how they said
to handle him, that's all.

"They"?

Other boys in my trade.

It seems that Montgomery
used to walk out on a debt

every few months or so.

And the, uh, houses still
allowed him to gamble here.

Come on, Mr. Farrell.

What else did the boys
in your trade tell you?

They said push the guy hard
enough and he'd push his wife.

They said, his wife,
she always makes good.

I didn't expect you in so early.

I flew in last night.

I think it's time for me to go
after Dorine Hopkins, Della.

I've got the ammunition now.
So if you'll just phone her...

Mm-hm. Wait a minute.

Paul just called in
about that Sue Franks.

The woman you've
had him watching.

Well?

Perry, she's out
at that house again.

The place where the murder was.

Only this time she's
gone digging in the garden.

Welcome to open house.

What's going on?

The world's getting too crowded.

Remember the story
about one elephant

following another elephant?

Well, meet the
last elephant in line.

Well, Mr. Mason.
Hello, Sergeant Brice.

Sorry we had to intrude,

but when my men saw this
woman digging behind a bush

and then saw her come up
with this brown envelope...

Perry, it's the right one.

I should say Miss Franks has
quite a bit of explaining to do.

Well, actually, her
explanation's quite simple.

She knew where the envelope was

because she saw a man hide
it there the night of the murder.

Your client, David
Gideon. I see.

What else, sergeant?

Well, it's not surprising
the boy was trying

to get rid of it before
he was caught.

Obviously, he was
shielding someone all along.

Yes, I knew that.

Yes, but Perry, maybe
not the same person.

Wait till you get a
load of those notes.

Apparently, David was trying
to protect his whole family.

His dead Uncle Lucius,
and his grandfather.

So at about 10:20 you went
into the kitchen and saw the body.

What then?

Well, then I remembered
the envelope.

It was still on the floor,

by the place where
I'd been slugged.

I lit some matches to see
what sort of stuff was in it.

Mr. Mason, do you know

that since my Uncle Lucius
died three months ago,

my grandfather has paid
Dorine Hopkins $5000?

There were three
separate payments.

Her husband kept
Photostats of the checks,

besides those pictures.

Let's skip all
that for a minute.

Now, you say you
went out the back way

and ditched that envelope. Why?

Well, that was about 10:30,

and I didn't want that
guy Farrell to stop me.

I mean, I didn't want to risk

anybody else
seeing the envelope.

I know how much it
could hurt my grandfather.

Did you see any other cars
there besides Farrell's taxi?

Well, there was a car parked
in the driveway, probably Tony's,

but the back wheels were off

and the rear end
was partially removed,

so it couldn't have been
driven for some time.

There was a new convertible
parked across the street

when I got there, but
it was gone when I left.

And I remember wondering
where Tony had parked Dorine's car.

It was in the drugstore
parking lot at the corner.

Oh.

Mr. Mason, if my grandfather
gave Dorine $5000...

Apparently, she turned it
right over to her husband

to take care of his various
gambling debts, David.

Tony was the
blackmailer, not Dorine.

But why did Grandad
pay anything?

I mean, a few pictures of
Uncle Lucius and Dorine.

So maybe they
were really mixed up,

it doesn't hurt anybody now.

Just a nice, foolish ex-playboy

and the kind of dame you
can meet any day of the week.

I mean, who cares?

David, your grandfather has
a man checking into records.

It begins to look as
though your Uncle Lucius

may have mismanaged his
company out of nearly $100,000.

Oh. Naturally, your grandfather

wanted to keep it
as quiet as possible

until he has all the answers.

Besides, he was
thinking about you.

About leaving you a good name.

Mm.

Look what I'm doing
for his good name.

Not to mention yours, of course.

Mine?

Well, sir, I'd sure hate to be
the guy to spoil your record.

But didn't David ask
about me, Mr. Mason?

Didn't he even want me
to come and visit him?

I guess I forgot to
mention the possibility

of your being able to do that.

You mean, you think I've
done enough damage already?

I didn't say that.

But surely David can't
mean much to you.

Mr. Mason,

it's one thing to
tell an attractive boy

you're older than he is.

It's quite another
to tell it to yourself.

Now, Mr. Comminger,

as a qualified witness in
these fiscal investigations,

do you think it possible
that Lucius Gideon

was really an embezzler?

In other words, could he have
withheld certain investments

rather than simply
mismanaging them?

Well, I've found
nothing to indicate that.

It's scarcely possible.

No, no,

there was nothing criminal
about Lucius Gideon.

He was, just, well,
stupid, I'm afraid.

Did you find anything
of a personal nature

connecting him and the
wife of the deceased?

May it please the Court, since
Defense has already stipulated

to the description of material
found in People's Exhibit 4,

the brown envelope... I
withdraw the question,

Your Honor. And I'm
finished with this witness.

Mr. Comminger, in the
course of your investigations,

have you found anyone
else besides Lucius Gideon

whom Dorine Hopkins
might be involved with?

That is to say, who
her friends are?

Whom she, uh, goes
out with in the evenings?

No, except for the
defendant, David, there,

that's all I know about.

What, um... What about yourself?

I beg pardon?

Well, hasn't she been
helping you in the evenings?

Haven't you taken her
to dinner many times?

But that's business.

Our relationship has
only been business.

That's all, thank you.

Tony shoved the
money into his pocket.

I know that policeman said
that they never found it later,

but that's what he did with it,
all of it. Ten thousand dollars.

Then he struck me.

Three, four, five times,

I-I-I don't remember how often.

And then he made me
get back into the car.

What time was this,
do you remember that?

Well, about 9:40, I think.

I was only there a few minutes.

Well, anyway,

I started to get behind
the wheel of my car,

and, well, all of a sudden,
Tony shoved me over

and said that he was
going to drive me home.

He had been drinking and...

Well, it seemed like he was
driving about 90 miles an hour.

But he took you to
your rooming house?

Mm-hm.

And what then?

Well, he hadn't told me that
he was going to keep my car.

He just did it.

He drove up alongside the curb

and he reached across
me to open my door,

and then he started to laugh.

As I got out of the
car, all of a sudden,

he roared off down the street,

and the next thing I
knew, I was on the ground.

And David was standing there.

And he reached down and...

And started to help me up.

Poor David.

Poor David.

Yes, sir, I saw the
defendant get into his car.

He sure did sound
like he was in a hurry,

way he skidded
them tires out of there.

They made a frightful noise.

Uh, did you happen
to notice the time, sir?

Indeed I did.

I was walking Alexander,
that's my wife's little dog.

I wanted to be sure I was
home in time for the news,

so I was checking my watch.

And exactly what time
was it that David Gideon

left the young woman
and drove off in such haste?

Uh, seven minutes before 10 p.m.

I see. What did you do then?

Well, when Miss
Hopkins got out the car,

she kind of hurt
her ankle a little.

So I helped her
inside of my house,

and my wife gave the
ankle a good soaking.

And she was there until,
oh, uh, 11:00, I guess.

Do you mean to say
that Dorine Hopkins

was actually inside your house

from the moment
that the defendant

drove off after Tony
Montgomery until an hour later?

Yes, sir, that's
what I'm saying.

Mon cher, monsieur,

I am positive that's
the man who got hit.

He over there, he
grabbed him over here,

and then he yelled,
"Let go of that girl!"

And the girl is that
red-head over there.

And you say that
this fight took place

the day before the murder?

Oui, monsieur, right
next door to my house.

And then one of the men

told the other,
uh, "Beat it, kid,"

and then him, David Gideon,

he hit that Tony
Montgomery so hard,

why, I thought he killed
him right then and then.

And of course he didn't die
until the next day, yes? No?

Uh-huh?

David came running out
of Mr. Montgomery's house

and down the steps.

He stopped, and then he
ran behind those bushes.

He kicked up some dirt
and I saw the envelope drop.

And then he scratched
the dirt back again

and I saw him running.

I see. Go on, Miss Franks.

Well, that's all there was.

About David, I mean.

Because then I
heard a car drive off,

and a shout, and two
men went into the house,

and before I knew it,
the sirens were screaming

and I thought I'd better leave.

You hadn't done anything wrong.

Why did you think
you better leave?

Well, I'd watched from there
sometimes before, you know.

It always made me nervous.

Why had you watched Tony
Montgomery's house before,

Miss Franks?

Because Mr. Gideon,
Sr. Had asked me to.

To keep an eye on
that man and his wife.

He didn't trust either of
those people one inch.

Now, Miss Franks,

you say that you were
there for 15 or 20 minutes.

During that time, did you see
anyone besides David Gideon

enter or leave that house?

Not until the taxi came.

Thank you, Miss
Franks. That will be all.

Your witness.

Miss Franks, when was
the last time Mr. Gideon

asked you to spy on anyone?

I don't remember, exactly.

Can you tell us the exact date

when he ever asked
you to do such a thing?

I'm not very good
on dates, Mr. Mason.

I know he definitely asked
me about Dorine Hopkins.

But isn't it true that watching

Tony Montgomery's
place of residence

was strictly your own idea?

Didn't you often watch for
him, hoping to talk to him,

hoping he'd talk to you,

perhaps because he'd
once given you reason

to think he cared for you?

For instance, isn't it true
that you went to the racetrack

week after week
just to meet him there,

or at least catch
a glimpse of him,

or perhaps to loan him money?

I hated Tony.

It isn't true.
None of it's true.

You can't ask me these things.

Very well, I'll ask you
something different:

Do you drive a convertible?

No.

No, my mother always
insists on a sedan.

But by any chance were
you driving a convertible

the night of the murder?

No, of course I wasn't.

I-I took a bus there that
night. What on earth...?

Miss Franks, your memory wasn't
entirely accurate a moment ago.

So let me ask you
something else over again.

Now, during all the
time that you were there

watching for Tony,
watching his house,

are you absolutely certain

that you saw no one come
or go but the defendant?

Of course I'm certain.

There wasn't
anybody on the street.

There weren't even any
cars parked on the street.

There was...

No, now... Now, wait a minute.

That's funny. I think
there was a car there.

It drove away
just as I got there.

It was a convertible.

Miss Franks, why didn't you
recall that in your testimony

at the preliminary hearing?

Well, because I didn't
really see the car. I mean,

I don't know whose car it was,
or who was driving, or anything.

But you saw it.

Thank you, Miss Franks.

I have no further questions.

I've exactly eight
minutes. What about you?

Same, Perry. David
might have made it

a couple of minutes
faster, but I doubt it.

Paul, the important thing is,
this place was under almost

steady observation that night.

Perry, I've had a man
working on that hunch of yours

for three days with no results.

Yes, but now that Miss
Franks has spoken out,

it isn't just a hunch.

So put ten men on the job.

Look at it this way, Paul:

If David told me
the truth, and he did,

there's only one way this
murder could have happened.

Your statement, Mr. Farrell,

was that the boy
looked scared to death?

That's right.

He jumped into his
car and drove away.

That was at 10:30.

And what happened then?

Well, I shouted
to my taxi driver

and he spotted the
boy's license number.

Then he came up to the
house. The driver, that is.

Well, he looked at the body too.

We didn't touch anything.

Then we ran across
and woke up the neighbor

and called the police.

And I guess that's it.

That's a very clear narration,
Mr. Farrell. Thank you.

Your witness, counselor.

Mr. Farrell, you flew in from
Las Vegas earlier that same day,

is that correct? That's right.

And you checked in at the
West Los Angeles Hotel?

That's right.

I believe you stated earlier

that you had made
a 10:30 appointment

with Tony Montgomery.

That you made the appointment
by telephone from Las Vegas.

That's right.

He said he might be
able to tell me something

about the money he
owed a client of mine.

He said his wife was
scraping it up from a sucker.

Your return plane reservation

was made for the following
afternoon, wasn't it?

Yeah.

What did you intend to do
between your appointment

with the deceased and
the following afternoon?

Say, what is all this?

So I know a few girls in L.A.

Sure, I had a couple of dates.

Besides, I wanted
to do some shopping,

pick up a new sport coat.

Your Honor, I object to that.

There's certainly
been no foundation laid

for that sort of a quiz program.

I'm a little curious as to what
your purpose is, Mr. Mason.

May it please the court,

I hope to make my purpose
quite clear very shortly.

I'll withhold the ruling on
the objection for the moment.

You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

Now, Mr. Farrell, Los Angeles
is a large and scattered city.

There's considerable distance
between theatres, stores,

a hotel, and possible
girlfriend's apartment.

Now, tell us:

Did you intend to take a taxi

to all those
places, Mr. Farrell?

Sure.

Sure, why not?

Now, do you recall once
telling me that in addition

to gambling houses,

you sometimes do
work for used car men

and automobile rental companies?

That's right.

Don't they ever
extend courtesy to you?

Aren't you at least familiar
with their rates and so on?

Well, this trip
I just figured...

Now, be careful how you answer.

Didn't you, Mr. Farrell,

pick up a rental
car at the airport

to use in Los Angeles?

And then later
hurriedly return that car?

No.

Look in the company records.
You won't find that I had a car.

Yes, that's been the difficulty.

The rental services
have no such record.

Why is that, Mr. Farrell?

Because they don't bother to
record a courtesy assignment?

Your Honor, I see no
reason for this badgering.

May it please the court,

Defense has just
located a witness,

a young attendant
from a hotel parking lot

who recalls seeing Mr. Farrell

on the afternoon in question.

All right, yes.

I did have a rental car
for a while during the day,

but what of it?

It was a taxi I took out

to Tony Montgomery's
place at 10:30.

Just answer the questions
that are addressed to you, sir,

but I sternly remind you
that you are under oath.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Farrell, you state that you

took a taxi when you
went there at 10:30.

Was that because you
wanted to be with someone?

Mr. Farrell,

was that your second trip

to Tony Montgomery's
home that evening?

Yes. Yes, it was.

And what time was it that
you went there the first time?

That you drove the
rental car out there?

I don't remember exactly.

A little before 10.

What sort of a car
was it, Mr. Farrell?

It was a new convertible.

And so were you inside the house
when the defendant arrived there

shortly after 10?

Were you surprised by him?

Did you struggle with
the defendant in the dark

and hit him on the head?

No. I don't have to answer that.

Was there $10,000 in that house?

And if there was,
did you take it?

I didn't touch any
of the money. No.

It wasn't there.

But you were there, weren't you?

Now, did you strike David
Gideon and knock him out?

I won't answer.

Give me a chance to think.

Your Honor, I don't want to lie.

I don't want any trouble.

Give me a chance to think.

Your Honor, if the
Prosecution would

have no objection to the
recall of one of their witnesses,

I think we may get the answer
to this and other questions

a lot more quickly.
Which witness?

Mr. Lawrence Comminger.

I never met Tony Montgomery.

I didn't ask if you'd met
him, I asked if you killed him.

No. No.

But if Mr. Farrell really
arrived at Tony's place

before 10:00 and if,
as Miss Franks testified,

no one else entered there after
she saw the convertible depart...

David killed him!

He was there. The
police said he killed him!

From this testimony,
Mr. Comminger,

isn't it a lot more likely
that Tony Montgomery

was already dead before
David or Mr. Farrell got there?

I don't know.

Then tell us this:

Did you ever drive
Dorine Hopkin's car?

What? Wasn't it really you

who drove Dorine Hopkins

back to her rooming
house that night?

Yes.

Yes, it was.

But I didn't know
anything about the murder.

I had a call from
her about, uh, 9:40,

she picked me up and
asked me to drop her off,

and leave the car
for her husband.

There's a parking lot
in back of a drugstore.

But didn't it occur to
you later, Mr. Comminger,

that when Dorine picked you up,
her husband was already dead?

Just as he was already
dead when she telephoned

the defendant,
David, at his home?

No, no, I never thought of that.

And why not?

Does Dorine Hopkins have
some sort of hold over you

that stops you from thinking?

No! No, of course not.
We hardly know each other.

Has your investigation
of the Gideon Company

revealed facts
that are different

from those you
reported, for instance?

Have you perhaps found
some of that $100,000

which Lucius Gideon
supposedly lost?

I won't answer that.

Are you the latest
partner, the latest boyfriend,

Mr. Comminger, in a
long line of boyfriends?

I didn't commit murder!

I don't know anything
about murder!

Was it Dorine then
who killed her husband?

I don't know. Why would
she? It wouldn't make sense.

Oh, but it would make sense,
wouldn't it, Mr. Comminger?

Everything would
fit just perfectly.

If you could answer
a second question:

Did Dorine Hopkins also
murder Lucius Gideon?

No! No!

No! No!

No! No!

No! No! No!

Apparently Dorine
was in the process

of juggling the company books

when your Uncle
Lucius caught her at it.

That's when she killed him.

And successfully
made it look like suicide.

I suppose she would
have cleared out then,

only, uh, Lawrence Comminger

discovered the embezzlement
almost immediately.

And I would pick
him to investigate.

Dorine apparently persuaded him

to help cover the
embezzlement in return

for half of that
hundred thousand.

Only then along came

her blackmailing husband
Tony with his hand out.

When did you get on to
her, Mason, I mean, for sure?

When I realized what
Farrell had done that night,

and why he was
keeping quiet about it.

See, Farrell had
found the body too,

but then Dave showed up

and Farrell had to slug him to
get away without being seen.

Then he returned at
10:30 with a taxi driver

to publicly find the body,

but Farrell was afraid
to tell what he knew

because he was
afraid he'd be accused

of stealing $10,000.

You see, he hadn't found it.

Well, where was it?

No place. It never was there.

Dorine was waiting
for you to raise it

when she got into a
fight with her husband,

killed him, and then staged
herself the perfect alibi.

Well, at least when I get
mixed up with a woman,

it's sure a woman.

Grandad was the only man
alive who had her really pegged.

That's the first time in my life

I was ever right about a woman.

Well, here's your
book back, Mr. Mason.

What's that? Blackstone?

Well, a guy has to read
something when he's in jail,

but now I'm out.

Now, look here, son...

Oh, I expect he'll be around

to borrow a few
more, Mr. Gideon.

Sure, Grandad, you
may be proud of me yet.