All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E28 The Case of the Guilty Clients.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

And that was not the
only time he struck her.

Oh, no.

Again not long afterwards
when they were having guests

for an out-of-door... barbering?

Barbecue?

Yes. Thank you. Barbecue.

Uh, when Lola accidentally
tipped the steaks

into the fire, he lost
his temper with her.

Mr. Patton, the president
of his company, was there.

He saw it. He can tell you.

There were many
people there, Your Honor.

When the steaks
fell in the fire,

he spanked me in
front of everybody.

Well, that's not quite
true, Your Honor.

When I suggested that
the steaks were overdone,

she threw 'em into the fire.

You said they were worthless,
What was I supposed to do?

I did not say they
were worthless,

and as for that spanking...

Mr. Bronson, it was
my understanding

you were not going
to contest this action.

Well, Your Honor, I'm
not just gonna stay here

and let her make me
into some kind of a sadist.

You are a sadist.

That's quite enough.

I realize you're both
under an emotional strain.

The breakup of a marriage
causes deep wounds,

painful wounds.

But you must remember
this is a court of law.

Yes, sir.

Is there any possibility
at all, Mrs. Bronson,

of a reconciliation,

of your going back
to your husband?

I'd rather be dead.

Well, that goes for me too.

Very well.

Plaintiff is granted an
interlocutory degree.

You have your
divorce, Mrs. Bronson.

Sadist.

Oh, I wish now I'd
really belted you.

Try it. Just try it.

Thank you for your
help, Mr. Gillman.

Perry, thanks for coming out.

Old friend in court never hurts.

She signed the agreement,
just as you drew it up.

I gathered that from the
fact you weren't contesting,

and there was no objection

to giving you a 90 day
option on her company stock.

She wanted to
get rid of me so bad

that she probably would
have given me the stock itself,

if I had asked for it.

A hundred thousand
shares is a high price to pay

to get rid of even you, Jeff.

Well, she's done it. And
we've got what we want.

Control of Bronson Aircraft,

with her option, and
your shares and mine.

Who is that?

Bill Ryder. Our
chief test pilot.

Well, that's that.
Goodbye, Lola.

Shall we, uh, get a
drink or something?

I'd better get back
to Los Angeles, Jeff.

Can I give you
a lift, Mr. Patton?

Well, thanks,
but I gotta go over

to the test center with Jeff.

You know, our new plane
gets its final checkout tomorrow.

Yes, I know. Good luck.

How's it going, Clarence?

Oh. Both engines sweet
and smooth as China silk.

Too bad the test's
tomorrow, instead of today.

Eh, Jeff, you wanna
check 'em now?

I just design planes, Clarence.

You make 'em run.

If you say the engines
are okay, they're okay.

Give them another check
in the morning, though.

Figured to about an
hour before takeoff.

Good.

Well, got your seat
belt fastened, baby?

Yes.

Afternoon, gentlemen.

Pleasure to see you again.

I thought I told you to stay
away from here, Walker.

Heh, heh. Now, Mr. Bronson,

it happens that I'm
here by invitation.

Well, I thought you ought
to hear his latest offer, Jeff.

I told you, and I
told you too, Walker.

No offers, late or otherwise.

Now you've got things
a little twisted, son.

You see, I'm
selling, not buying.

Selling? Selling what?

Well, let's call
it, uh, insurance.

I have here a
confidential report

on the Bronson Aircraft Company.

"Company has
exhausted cash reserves

"perfecting an
experimental executive plane

"that will outperform
all similar aircraft.

"Should plane be successfully
tested and certified,

"company's common stock,

"now selling at
slightly under $1,

will rise sharply."

Now, I might add
that should the plane

be unsuccessfully tested,
the stock will drop sharply.

No argument about that.

So why not insure, Mr. Bronson?

One hundred thousand
dollars for half of your share

of the company.

Fifty thousand dollars to
Patton for half of his share.

Now, if the plane is
successfully tested,

we all share in the bonanza.

If it's unsuccessful,

well, then, you'd salvage
a tidy little nest egg.

Jeff. Sorry to break in.

I'm all cleared
to take off for LA.

Mind if I give Lola a lift?

Why should I mind?

Well, it being a company
plane, me being a diplomat,

uh, just thought I'd ask.

Well, you can take her. Welcome.

A pleasure, boss.

You were about to say
something, Mr. Bronson?

Something quite
simple, Mr. Walker.

You've been trying to
move in on our company

for nearly a year
now, and I'm fed up.

Jeff, he's only making a
perfectly reasonable offer.

Okay. I'm unreasonable.

Walker, I don't want to see,
hear or smell you again, ever.

Is that clear?

Court.

You helped Dad
build up this company,

became president when he died,

and you know how he dreamed
and worked for this plane.

I know, Jeff.

You also know
Walker's reputation.

You give him a foothold,

and the next thing you
know he's in control.

And once in control,
he'll sell us to Conair

or Skycraft so they
can junk our plane

to protect their own
production lines.

Now, I'm not gonna
sit quiet for that,

not when it's no longer
a dream, but a reality.

Jeff, what if reality
comes unglued tomorrow?

It won't.

That plane'll take anything
we or the FAA can give it.

Court...

You haven't already accepted
Walker's offer, have you?

What? No, of course not.

Good.

By tomorrow, you'll wonder
why you ever listened to him.

I hope so.

Jeff, about you and Lola.

I, uh... I'm really very sorry.

I wish I could say the same.

Jeff.

Hello, Violet.

W-was that Bill just taking off?

Well, darn him.

Was he supposed to
see you before he left?

Well, when you
live in the sagebrush

and your husband
lives in the city,

it would be rather
nice if he stopped

to wave to you once in a
while, don't you think? Yeah.

Say, Lola wasn't
with him, was she?

Yes, she was. Why?

Well, then get out
another glass, Dad.

We're going to
drink a confusion.

A confusion?

Yep. To Lola and Bill.

Why include Lola?

Well, why not?

Bill's been buzzing around her

like a bee around a daffodil
for the last six months.

Or didn't you know that?

No, I didn't.

I've had other
problems. All right.

To Lola and Bill.

A confusion.

A confusion.

Well, baby, let's celebrate.

Celebrate what?

Oh, you being a free woman

and me about to come
into a big inheritance.

Bill, what are you doing?
The plane will crash.

Ah, not a chance.
It's on automatic pilot.

But what if we
meet another plane?

You don't wanna
live forever, do you?

Besides...

Here, have...
Have a little of this.

It'll help you relax.

No, thanks.

Better change your mind, honey.

I'm gonna really tie one on.

Bill, you have the test flight
tomorrow morning, don't you?

Oh, I could fly that plane
in my sleep. You kidding?

Besides, gonna
have a little help

from my trusty
friend in the back.

Your parachute?

Know something else?

You're gonna bail
out on this okay too.

I'm seeing to that.

See to what?

Don't you worry.

Just you be grateful.

In fact, how about a
little gratitude in advance?

You know, Lola,
ever since I saw you

down in Argentina that day,

you've had me in a tailspin.

Now that Jeffy's gone bye-bye...

Bill, don't. Stop it.

Stop it.

Oh, well.

It's not so good out
of a bottle anyway.

But just wait till I open
that bottle of champagne.

Ho-ho.

Who is it?

Jeff.

Jeff.

What do you want?

Where's Lola?

She's gone to bed.

You can't go in there.

Okay.

You give her the message.

You tell her to stay
away from Bill Ryder.

What do you care what
happens to Lola now?

I'll tell you...

She's a silly, no-use,
extravagant dame...

but I brought her
here from Argentina,

and lived with
her for three years,

and I feel responsible for her.

Like you would a stray
cat that you picked up.

Stray cat, am I?

Silly? No-use? Extravagant?

Well, let me tell you
what you are: a stupid ox.

And as far as Bill Ryder
goes, I will see him when,

how, and as often as I like. So?

So it's your funeral.

But, uh, let me tell you this.

I won't be among the mourners.

Well, Lola.

I didn't expect to see you here.

I decided to come, that's all.

I'm still reading you
loud and clear, Bill.

Stand by.

He's at 15,000 feet and the
clouds are just above him.

Tell him he's gotta
climb to 20,000 feet.

Clouds or no clouds.

Ground to Flyboy.
Ground to Flyboy.

Climb to 20,000 feet.

Does he have to
go up that high, Jeff?

That's part of the final test.

We're asking the
FAA for a certification

for 18,000 feet, and
we wanna make sure

the plane has a
little left to spare.

Oh, I see.

Jeff.

He's past 17 now.

We want instrument
readings at 18.

Certainly gets up
there fast, doesn't he?

You know, that's
not only the speed,

it's the streamlining.

Modulair-flow, Jeff calls it.

I know.

You know, if we can just
pass these tests today,

we could capture the
executive plane market

for the whole country, Lola.

And the way Jeff's
increased the speed...

I know all that, Court.

Are you above the clouds yet?

Just pulling out now.

What's your altimeter reading?

Twenty thousand feet.

Still got plenty of
climb left in her.

Bill, this is Jeff.
That's far enough.

Level out now, level
out. Do you read me?

Read you loud and clear.

How soon you want me
to jump off the high board?

Start your dive
whenever you're ready,

and don't forget, a sharp
pullout at 12,000 feet.

Wilco. Sharp
pullout at 12,000 feet.

Here goes.

Three hundred, 325. Three fifty.

She's really moving now.

Three seventy-five.

Four hundred.

Yeah, got some
vibration in the tail section.

End runs aren't working.

Pieces falling off the wings.

Bill. Pull out. Pull out.
Never mind the test.

Can't pull out. Stick's dead.

Pieces flying off the wings.
End run's aren't working.

I can't do anything. I can't.

Bill. Come in, Bill.
What's happening?

Come in, come in.

Jeff, the plane.

Get the firefighting
rig, Joe, Harry.

Jeff. Jeff, look up there.

Thank heaven.

What do you think went wrong?

I don't know.

I don't know, but it's a
major disaster for all of us.

And for the company.

What is it you're
thinking, Lola?

You haven't said a word
since we came back.

Is it about the loss of your
money in Jeff's business?

You know I was against that.

I know.

And I was against your
marrying Jeff as well.

How right I was.

But just think, darling.

Now we can go back to Argentina.

Back to the estancia.

I'm not so sure about
the estancia, Conception.

Aren't you going
back to Argentina?

Oh, of course I am.

But I put nearly $300,000
into Jeff's company,

part of which I borrowed.

And to pay it back,

it may be necessary
to sell my land, that's all.

That's all?

Lola, an O'Higgins has
been estanciero in that part

for over a hundred years.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

I'm fed up with ranch life,

and it's my money, isn't it?

Of course. I forget. I
am only your poor cousin.

But I am also an O'Higgins.

Hello.

A Mr. Walker?

Thank you.

He told them at the desk
he was to come right up.

What does he want?

I don't know, but I'd
like to talk to him alone.

Come in.

Leander Walker, Mrs. Bronson,
and very much at your service.

So you said on the
phone, Mr. Walker.

But what is this service you
are so anxious to render me?

Now that I like.
Right to the point.

Very unusual for a lady.

Especially one so lovely.

I have here a check for
you, a very substantial check,

and also a document
for you to sign.

Fifty thousand dollars?

In payment for your
Bronson Aircraft stock

at 50 cents a share.

That's very generous of
you, Mr. Walker, but Jeff...

I mean my ex-husband has
a 90-day option on the stock.

Well, what of it?

He couldn't pick up his
option at ten cents a share,

which is probably more
than the stock is worth now.

If that's so, why are you
offering me so much more?

Oh, part of a deal I made
with an admirer of yours.

Just who is this admirer?

He said you'd know.

Now, if you'll just sign this,

giving me possession
the day after

your ex-husband's
option expires...

I think you'd better
leave, Mr. Walker.

You're refusing my offer.

I'm asking you to
leave right now, please.

Have you lost your mind, Lola?

What are you doing?
Who are you calling?

An admirer of mine.

Operator.

All right, Violet.

If you want the unvarnished
truth, we are through.

Have been for months.

Me living here, you
out in the sagebrush.

Never seeing each other.

Like strangers when we do.

Now, why don't you just
be a good girl and run along?

Just like that, huh?

Nine years and now I can
just run along like a good girl.

For nothing.

For not even a share of,
um, today's profits at all.

Profits?

You think I wrecked
that plane this morning?

Well, didn't you?

Oh, Vi, your imagination
just gets bigger and bigger

all the time. Ha-ha!

No, dear, I think you mean
my ears do, don't you?

You see, that's one advantage
of being ignored so much.

You hear all sorts of things.

Now, suppose I told Jeff

about your meetings
with that man Walker.

Do you think he'd kill you...

or just cripple you for life?

Who's that?

How should I know?

Well, suppose we find out.

You're so anxious
to get rid of me.

All right, you win.

You'll get your
cut, Violet, only...

Uh, half.

Half?

All right, half.
Only, get outta here.

Use the French doors, will you?

And I'll call you tomorrow.

Oh, no, dear. I'll call you.

Well, am I glad to see you.

Didn't I hear voices?

Oh, sure. On the radio.

Say, how about some champagne?

I just happen to have
a bottle in the icebox.

Behind that's another bottle.

I'd rather have a brandy.

Oh, good. I got
even more of that.

Say, Lola...

I wondered if you would
explain something to me.

What?

Well, Leander Walker
phoned after you did.

Told me you didn't
wanna accept his check.

Why?

Perhaps first I wanted to
see how much... gratitude

I was expected to show.

Well, first I thought...

And besides, I
wanted to know more

about what you did today.

Oh, got a haircut.

Shaved a second
time, just for you, and...

What you did about the plane.

Lola, I thought you said
you're through with Jeff.

I am.

Okay, then what do you care

what happens to
him, or his plane

or the company for that matter?

Then you did wreck the plane.

Well, did or didn't,

you're getting your
share, aren't you?

You're gonna come out all right.

Walker's gonna buy your
stock at a special price.

Now let's get back
to that gratitude bit.

Maybe I should be grateful
to Mr. Walker instead.

Did he suggest that?

Look, uh, just
between you and me,

maybe I didn't fly that plane
as good as I could have.

I didn't realize
you were so clever.

It sounded over the radio

as if the plane really
was falling apart.

Maybe I should've
gone on the stage.

I'll tell you one thing, though.

I almost waited
too long to jump.

That would have been a pity,

because then you wouldn't
be able to telephone Jeff

and tell him all about this.

Ho-ho. Telephone Jeff?
You gotta be kidding.

No, I'm not kidding.

Hey, uh, put that thing down.

I know how to use this,

and I will unless
you do what I say.

Now, go and dial Jeff's number.

Look, Lola, take it easy.

You don't care for Jeff anymore,

he's the only one
getting hurt by this thing.

Why don't you just relax, hon?

Dial the number.

Lola was gone, then,
for an hour and a half?

Yes.

She left around 10:30,

and she returned about
five minutes after midnight.

When she came in, she looked
as though she'd seen a ghost.

And later, when I tried to
find out what had happened,

she wouldn't even
let me in her room.

And that's when you called Jeff?

No, no. I called Jeff earlier.

That's the first time
I tried to place a call

to Mr. Bill Ryder.

To, um, ask him
what had happened?

Yes.

Uh, tell me, Miss O'Higgins,
why did you call Jeff?

Well, shortly after Lola
left I became alarmed.

I knew perfectly well she was
going to the house of Mr. Ryder,

and I didn't think
that she should.

So I called Jeff for advice.

And, uh, what was his advice?

He said, "Leave Ryder to
me," and then he hung up.

And since 7:00 this morning

I have been placing call
after call to Mr. Ryder,

and I haven't gotten any answer.

Wouldn't that, on top
of how Lola looked,

make one wonder if something
had not happened, Mr. Mason?

Jeff didn't answer at the club.

All right, do you have
Mr. Ryder's telephone number?

Yes. Empire 6-9500.

If something has
happened to Mr. Ryder,

just what is it you'd like
us to do, Miss O'Higgins?

I want you to protect Lola
in every way that you can.

The same even if
nothing has happened.

This Mr. Ryder seems to have
some kind of a hold over her.

I'm sure of it from her manner.

And you want us to
find out what that hold is?

Yes, so it can be dealt with.

No answer.

Well, I can't commit myself
as far as representing Lola

or Jeff or anyone,
Miss O'Higgins,

until I find out what
actually has happened.

We'll be in touch
with you later.

Paul.

Well, Perry?

Well, Paul?

Perry.

Glass.

Think the wind did this, Paul?

Well, if it did, it also
unlocked the door.

Maybe we've caught up
with Mr. Ryder. Mm-hm?

I'd say somebody else
caught up with him first.

Somebody with a gun.

And...

At exactly 11:58 last
night, if this clock's right.

Which pretty well
clears Lola Bronson.

She'd have a hard time
making the 15 or so miles

to her hotel in
five or six minutes.

Mm-hm. And she
doesn't look like the type

to be knocking over
the furniture, either.

From the look of things,

I'd say that Ryder
discovered a prowler,

struggled with him and,
uh, got killed in the process.

Somehow I don't think so, Paul.

Operator, I'd like
police headquarters.

Yes, emergency.

Central police?

Lt. Tragg, Homicide, please.

Well, that's good of
you to call me, Perry.

Normally, you're not
quite so thoughtful.

You've been here all
the time, lieutenant?

No, no.

This, uh, lady,
Mrs. Violet Ryder,

came in through this door

and discovered
her husband's body.

Called police and
they notified me.

Mrs. Ryder, wouldn't
you like to wait in the car

with the driver?

Yes, I would, thank you.

Well, now, Perry, could
we have your story?

Yes, Paul and I came
here to see Mr. Ryder

on behalf of, uh,
some stockholders

of the Bronson Aircraft Company.

He was their chief test pilot.

Yes, so I am told.

We, uh, noted the broken door,

and when we investigated
we saw the body.

And then, as good
citizens should,

we put in a call to the police.

Well, then, now
as good citizens,

would you and Paul
mind clearing out

so that we can get to work?

Or, uh, should you wait

on behalf of your
stockholders, Perry?

No. No need to stay, lieutenant.

Come on, Paul.

Perry.

You were right. It
wasn't a burglary.

Glass only on the outside.

Broken from the inside.

Uh-huh, and if Tragg
hasn't already seen that,

he will soon. We'd better move.

I want you to find Jeff Bronson,
bring him back to my office.

In the meantime, I'll
talk to Lola Bronson.

All right.

Of course I'm shocked.

Death by violence
is always shocking.

But why did you
find it necessary

to come here and
tell me in person?

When I saw Mr. Mason
today, I told him about

your going to Bill Ryder's
house last night, darling.

And now you believe
it was I who killed him?

Lola, Mr. Mason isn't here
to accuse you of anything.

He's here to help you.

But why should I
want or need help?

I was never in the house at all.

I did drive there,

But at the door I heard voices

and I just went away.

Tell me, what time was it

when you heard
these voices inside?

Eleven or perhaps a
few minutes after. Why?

Did one of the
voices belong to Jeff?

No.

Besides, what would
he be doing there?

Miss O'Higgins
called him last night,

told him you were there.

I'll explain later, darling.

But Jeff couldn't
have been there.

It was 10 minutes past 11

when I called him at his number.

Hello.

Yes, he's here.

Mr. Drake.

Thank you.

Hello, Paul.

Any luck with...

Oh.

Yes, I see.

Thanks.

Well, whether Jeff
was there or not,

he's been picked
up by the police.

On what charge?

Murder.

Dr. Willard, you
have traced for us

the path of the bullet

through the rib
cage of the deceased

and into one of the
ventricles of the heart.

How far would you
say the pistol was held

from the decedent's body at
the time of the fatal shooting?

Ten to 12 inches,

judging from the
severity and the extent

of the powder burns.

Did you discover
anything unusual

when you examined the body?

Yes, there was a mild
contusion, or bump,

on the back of the
deceased's head.

Now, as an
experienced pathologist

who has examined
hundreds of bodies,

would you say, doctor,
that the decedent

had engaged in
a violent struggle

with some adversary
immediately before death?

I would say there had been
no violent struggle with anyone.

I see. Thank you,
doctor. That'll be all.

Your witness.

Doctor, in your opinion,
from the condition of the body,

could the deceased have
engaged in a mild struggle

with someone before
death occurred?

I suppose so, with someone
either unwilling or unable

to exert much strength.

A woman, perhaps?

Perhaps.

Thank you,
doctor. That'll be all.

The moment I saw
the glass on the ground

outside the French door,
I... I knew it wasn't burglary,

even though somebody obviously
wanted us to think that it was.

I see.

Now, lieutenant, I
show you three bullets.

One of them has
already been identified

as having been found
in the deceased's body.

Now, I ask if you
recognize these two slugs.

Yes, sir. They have my
identification marks on them.

This one was found in the wall
of the deceased's living room,

and, uh, this one from
a log in the fireplace.

How do you account for the
fact that three shots were fired?

Well, quite easily.

The murder shot,
and then two more

to bolster the burglary idea,

to make it look like
there had been a struggle.

Your Honor,

I move that both question
and answer be stricken.

The district attorney
has enticed this witness

into a conclusion.

Objection sustained.

Question and answer will
be stricken from the record.

Yes. I look at the stars through
my telescope almost every night.

Yes, and what did you observe

in the general vicinity
of the Ryder house?

Well, I made my
usual observations

about the time I
got home from work,

that's, uh, near to midnight.

Made my usual sweep
of the sky and city.

We're only interested in the
decedent's house, Mr. Phinney.

Well, I saw a man
come out about 12:00,

through the French doors.

Got into a car parked
about a half block away.

Got the license number when
he passed under the street light.

That's how they
caught him so quick,

when I gave that
number to the police.

You're sure about
remembering the number?

Excellent memory.

Recall the license number.

Also recall another man

tried the doorbell
a little bit later.

No answer, so he left.

You later saw another person

try to get into the Ryder
house, and then leave?

Do you recognize that
person in this courtroom today?

Yeah, that's him
sitting right over there.

Well, sir, I was just
looking for a place to sleep.

See, I'd been in
town checking on jobs,

since it looked like the company
was going broke in a hurry.

Anyway, it was too late
to get back to the field,

so I thought I'd stay with Bill.

Done it before.

Dropped by there twice that
night, there was no one home,

so I went to a motel
down the street.

I wanna go back now to
something that took place earlier.

I call your attention
to the scene

between Violet Ryder
and the defendant

at the test center's
administration bungalow

the night before the murder.

Loaded. Both of 'em.

Had pretty well finished
a whole bottle of whiskey

before I joined them.

What were they
doing at that time?

Well, telling how
they fell in love.

Violet was saying how
she was just a hat check girl

when Ryder first met her.

And, uh, Jeff was
telling how he and Ryder

had been forced
down once in Argentina,

and how Lola
rode up to the plane

looking like a
goddess on horseback.

Fell in love with her the
minute he saw her, Jeff said.

And then, well, then they
started drinking confusions.

And Violet, why, she
suggested a killing swap.

Killing swap?

Yeah, uh, suggested
she kill Lola

and that, uh, Jeff kill Ryder

to pay 'em back for all
the trouble they caused.

And no one any the wiser.

And, uh, well, they...
They drank to that.

'Course I suppose
they was just kidding.

Well, of course we
were just kidding.

Well, if we were gonna
do anything like that,

you don't think
we'd talk about it

in front of a... Of a sub-cretin
of a mechanic, do you?

Mrs. Ryder, you
must confine yourself

to answering
Mr. Mason's questions.

I don't want to have
to warn you again.

Okay, Your Honor.

You have described how you
found your husband's body,

Mrs. Ryder, but you
haven't yet told us

when you last saw him alive.

Now, when was that?

Well, I guess it was just after

he parachuted down that morning.

You're certain you
didn't see him later?

Later that evening?

No. No. Of course not.

Oh, look, Mr. Mason, I
wish I had've been with him.

Then none of this would
ever have happened.

Never.

Now, lieutenant, I
recalled you at this time

because you are the one
charged with the Ballistics tests

on this pistol already
introduced in evidence

as People's Exhibit Four.

I'm the one.

Now, to review for a moment,

you heard how
the arresting officer,

having given the
defendant's license number

by our friend
with the telescope,

went to Mr. Bronson's club
downtown and impounded his car?

How he waited there
for the defendant to return

and took him into
custody for questioning?

Yes, sir, I heard.

I am, of course,
leading this witness,

but since this is
purely preliminary,

I trust there is no objection.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

You have heard
also, have you not,

how when a proper search
was made of the defendant's car,

the officer found this
pistol and also this wallet,

identified as belonging
to the deceased,

wrapped in rags and
hidden under the spare tire

in the trunk of the
defendant's car.

I heard the officer so testify.

Now, lieutenant, I
ask you what you found

when the officer turned
this pistol over to you

for ballistic tests.

I found it was registered
to Jefferson Bronson,

the defendant.

I, uh, found that a test
slug matched all three slugs

fired from the pistol
found in the murder room.

And that meant what?

That the fatal bullet,
and the other two,

came from the
defendant's pistol.

No. This is all wrong.

Jeff didn't kill Bill Ryder.

He couldn't have
because I killed him.

Don't pay any attention
to her, Your Honor.

Sit down. I killed Ryder.

I told Mr. Mason I
was never in the house,

that I was being
framed, but that was a lie.

We fought over the
gun and I shot him.

Then I tried to make
it look like a burglary.

That isn't true. I
did it. I killed him.

She's lying. I killed him.

Mrs. Bronson,
counsel for both sides

are trying to get
this straightened out

at the suggestion of the court.

So would you please start your
story over from the beginning

and tell it carefully
and truthfully.

I got him to admit

he'd deliberately
wrecked Jeff's plane.

And then I took out the pistol

Jeff gave me when we
moved out to the desert.

I never gave her that gun.

You'll have your
say in a minute, Jeff.

In the meantime, hold off.

I wanted to make him
call Jeff and confess.

But then he turned off
the lights and grabbed me.

The pistol fired and he fell.

And when I got the lights
on again, he was dead.

Oh, that's all malarkey.

She was never in the house.

The body wasn't
where she said it was,

and what about the glass that
she claims she drank out of?

And the pistol.

Conception, did I
give Lola a pistol?

No, you did not.

Conception.

There, you see, all lies.

Well, won't somebody believe me?

I'm telling the
truth. I swear I am.

Mrs. Bronson, would
you and your cousin

please wait in the reception
room for a few moments?

Thank you.

Now, Mr. Bronson,
let's have the highlights

of your story again,
if you don't mind.

Well, Conception
called me about 11:10,

told me she was
worried about Lola

being at Ryder's alone.

I told her I'd take
care of Ryder,

or something like that.

So I got my gun
and I drove over.

I'd already figured out
what he'd done that morning,

and when he let me
in and I saw no Lola,

I accused him of
wrecking the plane.

He got sore and came
at me with a poker,

so I shot him.

That's when I got the
idea of the fake burglary.

And then I fired another shot.

There were two extra slugs
found in the living room, Jeff.

I mean two extra shots,

to make the struggle look
like it was bigger than it was.

And the glass with the whiskey?

You wiped it clean and
put it with the others?

Look, Perry.

If Lola had been in the
house, which she hadn't,

why should I cover for
her? Now, we're all through.

Why is she covering for you?

Well, who knows why a
woman does anything?

Would you please return
the prisoner to his cell?

Thank you, Mr. Bronson.

Well, Perry, which one
would you rather defend?

Which one are you
going to prosecute?

Well, one thing is certain:
They both can't be guilty.

But I'd hate the thought of
it being either one of them.

They're such nice people.

Nice but stubborn. Hello, Paul.

Hi, Perry.

What's Burger gonna
do, do you know yet?

Oh, he'll continue
against Jeff, probably,

if only to prove he was right.

And of course
he has Jeff nailed.

Weapon. Opportunity.

What better motive
than jealousy?

Not to mention
wrecking a man's plane,

ruining his company.

If it weren't for
that third bullet...

Third bullet?

Jeff said that he
fired two shots,

then amended his story hastily

when I reminded him that, uh,
Tragg had recovered three slugs.

Somebody else could
have fired that pistol?

It isn't likely,

but it's about the only
thing we have to go on.

Perry, maybe
something I just found out

fits in with that third bullet.

Remember you asked us
to check the whereabouts

of Violet Ryder the
night of the murder?

What have you come up with?

I had one of my men
check the register

of the motel where
Clarence Keller

stayed that night.

Violet was registered there too,

not three blocks
from the Ryder house.

Well, all right.
So I was in town.

What does that prove?

It proves perjury, Mrs. Ryder,

and a possible jail term.

Now, would you
like to go to jail?

Oh, no. No.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason,
what do you want from me?

I want the truth.

Now, you did pay a visit to your
husband that night, didn't you?

Well, yes, but...

Well, I knew he was
getting some money

for that plane
that he'd wrecked,

and, well, I just wanted
to talk to him about it,

but he pushed me
right out of the house.

Oh, look, Mr. Mason,

If I told the police one thing
I'd have to tell them the other.

And I mean, their
knowing about the plane

couldn't help anyone,

and, well, I was
afraid it might just

make things worse
for Jeff, that's all.

Now, this money your
husband was getting.

Did you expect to
receive a share of it?

Yes.

But only because
I was Bill's wife.

I mean, there was
nothing special that I knew.

Well, look, Mr. Mason, why
don't you talk to Courtney Patton?

He must have been
in on the deal too.

Yeah. I double-crossed Jeff.

I sold Leander Walker
half my stock for $50,000.

Insurance, he called it.

I'm ashamed.

Aren't you more ashamed
of being involved with Ryder

in wrecking Jeff's plane?

Oh, now, look, Mr. Mason,

I didn't know
anything about that.

That wreck cost me plenty,

because I-I still had
stock in the company then.

Still had?

I sold Walker the rest of
my stock three days ago

for 10 cents a share.

He's been trying to get hold of
the company for three months.

The only way he could think of.

Where can we find Walker?

He was at the
Sunset-Ritz, but not now.

He could be anywhere.

Waiter, wait a minute.
I want another drink.

Paul.

Paul, I want an all-out search.

Also a re-check on
all telephone calls

made from Ryder's place
the night of the murder.

Maybe he was in
communication with Walker.

Mr. Mason, just
for your information,

I've decided not to proceed
against Lola Bronson.

I don't even want her
as a material witness.

As far as I'm concerned,
she can clear out right now.

There are just too
many holes in her story.

As for Mr. Bronson, you can
either plead guilty as charged,

or I'll proceed with
the prosecution.

Perry.

Here's the list
of the phone calls

made the night of the murder.

At least, the toll calls.

And, uh, check those
made from Ryder's house.

One to Patton, one
to the Sunset-Ritz.

One downtown to Jeff.

Ryder never called
me that night, Perry.

Only, uh, Conception.

The important one is
from the Sunset-Ritz.

Walker just checked out
and took a cab to the airport.

Paul, get your
car out of the lot.

Meet me out front.

All right.

What are you going to do, Perry?

First I'm going to tell
Mr. Burger and Judge Abernathy

that we've found the murderer.

Thank you.

Ah, I was about to
despair of you, ladies.

Mr. Walker.

At your service
again, Mrs. Bronson.

And yours too, Miss O'Higgins.

Shall we board the plane?

I think we better
check our tickets first.

Mr. Walker.

Mason.

Afraid you're gonna miss
your flight, Mr. Walker.

This is Sergeant Brice.

He has a warrant
for your arrest.

Arrest? On what grounds?

Conspiracy to defraud,
industrial sabotage,

Isn't that why you're
leaving for South America?

I'm leaving for South America

because that's
where Mrs. Bronson

is going to sell me her stocks.

Mr. Walker, who
told you I'd do that?

Your cousin. Miss O'Higgins.

All right, Mr. Walker. Let's go.

Why, Conception?

And why didn't you tell me?

I'll tell you on the plane.

Lola.

Just a moment.

I'm afraid there
are a lot of things

she hasn't told you.

What?

She hasn't told you
that she followed you

to Ryder's house that night,

that she was watching
while you struggled with him.

Watching when
that pistol went off.

That she must have seen
him fall against a chair

and knock himself unconscious.

Unconscious?

But he was dead.

No, he wasn't,

because after you ran out,

she got hold of the gun

and she killed him.

Isn't that right, Conception?

But how could I have done it?

I was at the hotel
telephoning Jeff

at that very moment.

You called Jeff
not from the hotel,

but from Ryder's house
after Ryder was dead.

We have a record
of that telephone call.

Conception.

He was an evil man.

I knew he would never
rest until he got you.

After you ran, he
picked himself up

and he went to
pour himself a drink.

I took the pistol.

But he laughed when I told him

he should never see you again,

or I would have him arrested

for what he'd done to Jeff.

He laughed when I told him

that you were going back
to South America with me.

He laughed, and he took my arm

and he twisted it.

And I shot him.

Your Honor, in view
of the new evidence

unearthed by my
esteemed colleague,

the state will not oppose

a defense motion for dismissal.

The defense so moves.

Very well.

Case dismissed,
with the defendant

to be released from
custody at once.

Court is recessed
for 15 minutes.

Well, so ends the
mystery of the three shots.

One fired by Lola, one by Jeff
and one fired by Conception.

I still have a mystery.

Why Walker's continued
eagerness to buy Bronson's stock?

Well, once in control,

then by threatening to
build another test plane,

he could force one of the
other aircraft companies

to buy him out.

Only now, the banks
are lending Jeff the money

to build the plane himself.

Well, I have another mystery.

She's full of them, sure.

Oh, no, now, really.

You said that
Conception called Jeff

figuring he'd go
to Ryder's house,

think Lola killed him

and then either cover up for
her or take the blame himself?

He did both.

But with the divorce,

how could Conception think

that Jeff still loved
Lola enough to do that?

Take a look.