Original subtitles

Order, please, order.

Defense has reached back 116 years this time to find precedent for still another

delay.

Still, it is a valid petition.

The court will give it careful study.

These delays are making a mockery of this court.

Defense is laughing at the law and at me, and I will not tolerate it.

Court is adjourned until Monday at 10 a .m.

Sergeant, you must be getting pretty tired of hanging around here.

Well, it keeps me off the streets. And we at least had some fireworks today.

Oh, my dad won't be pushed around, especially when someone challenges the

dignity of his court.

You see, he's the original straight arrow.

Well, have a nice weekend.

You too.

Okay, come on, come on.

Bye.

Very sorry, Mr. Memo.

Don't get so cocky. You know, you ain't got me nailed yet. I've done my job.

It's up to the court. And it looks like Judge Fredericks is way ahead of you.

Are you kidding? He hasn't got the guts to go to trial.

Really a shame the evening has to end.

Why does it? We have the whole weekend ahead of us.

That's right. Hey, and I kept a call.

You wait here. I'll get the car.

I haven't seen your father so happy in weeks.

It must have been an exciting session this afternoon.

Or you probably would have been bored.

Nothing your father does bores me.

I'm sure.

And I think we could manage to enjoy the rest of the evening.

And the weekend?

We try.

What do you think?

Well, hello, Sergeant.

Good evening, Miss Frederick.

Don't tell me your father is holding court here.

Uh, the atmosphere is hardly judicial.

Fran Belding, Isabel Fredericks. How do you do?

Oh, this is Eleanor Fredericks, my stepmother.

Mrs. Fredericks? How do you do? I'm Ed Brown, Mrs. Fran Belding. How do you do,

Mrs. Fredericks? Thank you.

Here we go, ladies.

Hey, Brown, I got a 518 hit and run.

2430 Baylor.

Suspect vehicle is a white pickup truck. Last three numbers of the license plate

are 73 Quebec.

Sergeant. Right.

Headed east on Baylor. You got it?

Okay. Sergeant, you've got to do something. Now, just take it easy, Ms.

Fredericks. Your father is okay. No, you don't understand. That was deliberate.

Someone is trying to kill him.

This is the third time this month.

Two weeks ago, my father's boat caught fire and sank.

A month ago, there was almost an explosion in our cabin at Tahoe that

obviously turned the gas on.

Don't you see that they just can't all be accidents?

Miss Fredericks, from what I know of your father, I'm sure he raised you with

healthy respect for facts.

Yes, I suppose.

Well, you haven't given us any to work with.

I've told you everything I know. I'll get it.

Chief Ironside's office.

Was anyone with your father on the boat or up at the cabin?

Yes, Eleanor.

My stepmother.

Oh, yes.

Yes, your father was just married.

Six months ago. In Europe, wasn't it?

Paris. That's where he met her.

But she's American. She just lived there for 14 years.

And does she agree with you that they weren't accidents?

Oh, I haven't told her about it. She wouldn't know the difference anyway.

She and my dad are on a pink cloud all their own.

Well, have you brought it up with your father? Yes, last night, as a matter of

fact, and he laughed at me.

There was a report on the truck.

A black and white spotted it late last night, went after it, it slammed into a

utility pole.

The driver? He got away, but there was blood on the windshield. He was hurt.

There. There. Now, doesn't that mean something?

At the moment, only that he was afraid of being picked up for hit and run.

You don't believe me.

Miss Frederick's attempted murder is a serious charge. We need evidence, no

matter how little.

Well, I'm sorry I bothered you.

Miss Frederick.

Forget it. Forget it.

But you hear what he had to say. And so I did.

She doesn't strike me as an hysterical type.

Just how does she strike you?

Like a girl who's terrified for her father. Or a girl who might be having

usual problems adjusting to a stepmother and is making waves to get attention.

Suppose she's right.

Your housekeeper told me I could find you here. Am I disturbing you? Not at

Not at all. Good to see you. You know, even the law is entitled to Saturday

Well,

this latest motion for dismissal in the Menlo trial.

I've got to come up with a lawyer -proof decision.

Well, what can I do for you?

What can I do for you?

I hear you had a close call last night.

You're interested in something as petty as that? I'm curious.

I understand the accident last night wasn't the first.

You've been talking to my daughter.

She's concerned.

Then she told you about the boat.

And the cabin at Tahoe. Accidents, pure and simple.

You know, you're a respected man.

But even Justice Holmes made enemies.

John! Oh, excuse me. Eleanor, come in, my dear.

The Lord claimed the seventh day for rest.

And I claim the sticks for myself.

Haven't you worked long enough? I'm yours.

Chief Ironside, my wife, Eleanor.

Mrs. Fredericks? I'm sure you've come to remind me that the day is almost gone.

I'm to steal you for dinner?

Uh -huh.

Theft is a punishable offense.

I don't want to witness it.

Thanks for your interest, Chief.

But don't you think it's more a matter of youthful imagination than anything of

any real concern?

If that's all it is, I'll handle it accordingly.

Bye, Mrs. Fredericks.

I'm very happy to have met you.

Goodbye, Chief Ironside.

It paid her on the sixth try.

Emergency ward had treated a scalp cut patient, Fred Williams, phony.

Address 3216 Green Street, phony.

Well, I suppose he could have something to do with the thinking of the judge's

boat, but it'll be hard to prove.

It's at the bottom of the bay.

Because the cabin could have been blown up, but we talked to the guy who checked

the furnace.

Nothing wrong, I suppose.

Just the pilot. But he thinks it was accidental.

Look, can I go home? Right now, my love life is just wounded.

But it'll be altogether dead. I'm sorry, Fran, but I really think we should wait

and see what the chief wants to do now.

Morning, Ed.

Good morning.

No law says you have to get dressed on a Sunday morning, you know.

Semper Paratus.

For anything special?

If we discount the accident theory.

You switching now? You started this.

Don't remind me.

If we assume these have been deliberate attempts to kill Judge Frederick, we're

faced with a who and a why.

Only one man I know fits both, Joe Menlo.

He's accused of conspiracy and moral turpitude.

If convicted, the most he'll do is a couple of years.

Be a fool to risk a murder rap for that.

But if he really wasn't trying to kill Fredericks, just frighten him.

Influence his conduct in the case.

We're checking out, I guess.

All the way back.

What was Menlo doing 14 years ago?

On Tuesday or in October?

Did he work for anyone? Who were his friends, associates? Did he know a girl

named Rogers?

14 years ago. All right, I'll get on it. Judge Frederick, please.

I see.

No. No, thank you. No message.

Start now.

It's Sunday morning.

Sergeant, you don't have to dress.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Chief Ironside.

Perfectly all right.

I was just admiring your husband's portrait. The artist really caught his

character.

He could be one of our Puritan forefathers.

John isn't in. He's playing golf with Isabel this morning. I know.

I came here to see you.

Nothing official, I hope. Not yet. I'm simply exploring a possibility.

These accidents.

The truck the other night, the boat, the cabin at Tahoe.

They could be deliberate.

Oh, I can't believe that.

Miss Fredericks, do you know Joe Menlo?

The gangster John is trying?

No.

But you can tell me about Brad Collins.

Uh, no, I never heard of him.

The police record of one Eleanor Rogers.

Born Tacoma, Washington, 1939.

Resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1958 to 60.

Occupation, showgirl.

Arrested, San Francisco, 1960.

No, stop it.

It was a long time ago.

And the charges were dropped.

I know.

Teef, I wasn't a... I mean, I didn't...

Showgirls had a very special kind of life.

Gamblers liked to be seen with them.

Dinner companions.

It was exciting.

They gave expensive presents and... Oh, Chief, I was so young.

But you never went back.

No, I was frightened. I went to Paris and studied fashion

designing.

Opened my own shop.

I thought I'd live there forever until I met John. You haven't told him?

I wanted to tell him.

But every time I tried... You were taking a chance.

Coming back to San Francisco.

I was only here that one weekend.

So long ago.

Who would remember?

That's just it.

Has anyone remembered?

But I don't understand what I have to do with these accidents.

Fourteen years ago, we booked you so we could bring Man Act charges against Brad

Collins.

When we finally put Collins away, Joe Menlo took over his operation.

Chief, you've got to believe me. I don't know him. Is it possible he knows you?

I guess it is. Then there could be a connection between your past and these

-called accidents.

Mr. Menlo.

Why don't you quit hassling me? Can't you let me relax? I gave you a whole

of relaxation.

I'm glad to see you can still walk. All right, all right. What do you want?

I picked up a little scam around town.

Somebody's trying to hang a murder rap on you.

Are you out of your mind?

That's where you'll go if anything happens to Judge Fredericks.

What are you talking about?

A man got out of stir four years ago. We haven't seen him around, but he could

be. He's pulling your string behind the scenes.

Nobody pulls my string.

How about Brad Collins?

Brad Collins?

John?

Yes?

Do you really have to go to the office again today?

I haven't finished that brief yet, and I have to be ready for Menlo's attorneys

in the morning.

But we've hardly had any time together, and... Well, I really want to talk to

you. Well, go ahead.

Oh, no.

Quietly. When you have nothing else on your mind.

When you can listen.

Tonight at Downey's, the little corner table on the back, candlelight, wine,

can talk to me to your heart's content.

As long as you include how much you love me.

Do I have to tell you?

Yes.

You're getting me wet.

Go on.

Get dressed if you must.

Hello. Eleanor? Yes.

Long time no see.

Brad Collins.

Sorry to bother you, honey, but I want the case against Joe Menlo dismissed.

Now you go to work on that husband of yours.

Or everybody loses.

Now you want me to find Brad Collins?

Bury him.

Bury the past.

Oh, I don't know.

Something, anything.

They're trying to use me.

And I'm just terrified that he'll think I'm part of it. Well, you are, at least

indirectly.

No, I'm not.

If nothing else, that's what the phone call did to you, Mrs. Fredericks. It

your so -called secret to make you a participant.

Good evening, Mrs. Fredericks.

Sergeant.

Well, I'm late and my husband... Mrs. Fredericks.

The sergeant knows everything about this case.

Find Joe Menlo? Mm -hmm. He gave me the word about Brad Collins.

Brad... Mrs. Fredericks got a call from Brad this afternoon.

This afternoon?

He threatened to expose her unless she influenced her husband to dismiss the

Menlo case.

Chief, I just spent the last hour on the phone verifying what Menlo told me.

After Collins got out of prison, he bought a bar in Mesa, Arizona.

He drank up the profits, and he died last year of a heart attack.

Invasion to Superior Court in and of the County of San Francisco is now in

session. The Honorable Judge John Fredericks presiding.

Court has informed that people in defense are ready to proceed pending a

on defense petition for dismissal.

Very good.

Syllabus by the court on number 2724, a motion citing Gurney v.

U .S. 91 Appeals Court, D .C., 119F -16 -1956, which excused an unlawful act on

the basis of Lexord and Andi coercion. I hand the clerk the court's full written

finding. I will read a crazy... Court is recessed until further notice.

Bailiff, we'll clear the courtroom at once.

Everybody out, please.

Clear the courtroom, please. Everybody out. Clear the courtroom.

Everybody out. What's the problem? None of us phone call.

Someone says there's a bomb in here.

Clear the courtroom.

Chief Ironside's office?

Yes, sir.

Hold on.

What's happening?

Oh, cool, Chief.

Wiley found the bomb in the judge's bench. Dynamite. He's taking it down to

lab. Have him bring it over here first.

Uh, you better tell him that yourself, Chief.

Hello, Chief.

Bring that bomb over to my office.

Oh, come on. Now, you know better than that. I have to... I want to see it

before you mess it up.

What's the matter? Getting old?

Afraid of a little dynamite?

Be there in a little while.

Why do I ever listen to him?

Yes, sir.

Security must have a list of people in the building over the weekend.

Yeah, I get the names of the cleaning crew.

One of them called in sick.

Send a substitute.

Well, Sergeant, that sounds promising.

I'm going to chate out now. I'll talk to you later.

Sergeant, how long are your men going to be here? You're delaying my trial. I'm

sorry, sir. Standard procedure.

Standard procedure.

Answer for everything.

Hey, Wiley.

Take it easy with that thing. The chief wants it in one piece.

I hope he's in the same condition after he finishes fooling with you.

Come on, hurry.

Sergeant Brown, I have to talk to you. Sure.

But not now. You know what I mean? Can we meet someplace later?

West Gate of the Park, 1130.

Okay. If I'm not there, will you wait for me?

Sure.

Mr. Pissarro? Yeah.

Sergeant Brown.

Come in.

How are you feeling?

Okay. I just wondered, since you were too sick to go to work at the courthouse

over the weekend.

Oh, yeah.

A little touch of the bucks, you know. Yeah, it's going around.

Want some coffee?

No, thank you.

So you sent your cousin and your place, Fred Williams, 2216 Green Street.

Yeah, he needed to work.

But he doesn't live there. In fact, there's no such address.

Yeah, well, he's only a second cousin.

Mr. Fasari, a bomb was planted in the courthouse, and right now it looks like

your cousin was the gardener.

Hey, I don't know anything about any bomb.

Yeah, what do you know about your cousin?

He ain't my cousin.

Surprise.

Look, a guy came up to me Saturday.

Offered me 50 bucks to take my place on the crew over the weekend. What did he

look like?

About that tall, kind of skinny. Color hair, eyes.

Dark hair. I didn't pay any attention to his eyes.

All right, Mr. Vasari.

Stick around.

We may need you to identify him. Sure, sure. Hey, hey, look.

I'm not going to get any trouble over this, am I?

Depends.

Don't forget to report that 50 bucks on your income tag.

Light, battery, hookup, timer.

Simplest kind of bomb, but good.

That could have done a lot of damage.

Simple, but professional.

Absolutely.

Of course, even the pro can foul up. Hey, battery's dead. I tested it in the

truck.

That's all you did to it?

Well, you told me not to mess it up.

So outside of prints or junk like that, there's nothing more you can Sherlock

out of that rig.

Frank, give Mark your necklace.

Now, wind it around your finger.

That's enough.

Now, compare that with the tape around the dynamite.

Well, the tape's wrapped the other way.

Mark's right -handed.

He wound the necklace clockwise.

The tape is... The dude's left -handed.

Nothing more I can Sherlock out of this rig?

I'm sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long? It's been entertaining.

She was testing the latest ordinance against nude sunbathing.

It's true, isn't it?

Someone really is trying to kill my dad.

You brought it up.

I know.

But after talking to you and Chief Ironside, I started to think that I was

crying wolf.

That bomb was no accident.

Then are you going to arrest Menlo?

No case against him yet.

Who else could it be?

Someone out of your father's past.

A man he set up looking for revenge.

Oh, yeah. Of course.

Or someone with something to gain.

And close to him.

Close?

Yeah.

Close enough to know when he'd be on the boat and at Tahoe and at the

restaurant.

Mrs. Fredericks, you had something you wanted to talk to me about.

Well, I don't really think it's important.

I'm sure I was wrong about it.

Phone call?

You know?

Mrs. Fredericks told me.

Oh, good. Oh, I'm glad.

I'm so glad.

Hey, listen, it's almost lunchtime.

There's a little stand near here. Best hot dogs in town. Best hot dogs in town.

Let's go get about a dozen. A dozen each.

Hello?

Anybody home, Eleanor?

Yes, John, I'll see you right there.

Hello. Hello, love.

Well,

I haven't had a welcome like this since our honeymoon.

I was worried.

What kept you?

Oh, that stupid business this morning. I had to rearrange everything.

Hardly stupid.

It was terrifying.

Infuriating. A bomb in an American courtroom.

It's incredible.

What's happening to people? Are they all going mad?

Not people.

The one man who is trying to kill you. Menlo, please, not you too.

Why are you so stubborn?

I know it's true. Isabel knows.

Even Chief Ironside.

All right.

I suppose it's true. You're right. All of you are right. Menlo is trying to

scare me. What can I do about it?

Drop the case. No. Give it to another judge.

Menlo is filth.

He's worse than any mad bomber or any thief, any killer. I can find reasons

them. I can understand them.

But Menlo, coldly, deliberately preying on human weaknesses, I can't tolerate

that. It violates everything within me, every law I've ever lived by. I don't

know, he has to be punished, crushed along with every rotten thing around

I have to accept the way I am.

Menlo and anyone associated with him and his way of life are repugnant to me.

So I can't stop now.

Can you understand that?

Yes.

All right, enough.

All right, let's stop this. I am going to go upstairs and change, and then I'm

going to take you to the most marvelous lunch in San Francisco.

Give me 15 minutes.

Yes, sir.

Frank Wolser.

The only softball that I could find with a consistent record of playing with

bombs. Three arrests, two convictions, did four years on his last fall.

Came out last September.

And guess who sent him up?

John Fredericks.

Himself.

Your descriptions match him? Close enough.

I get the idea that he's trying to pay Fredericks back for that last arrest. Or

someone's paying him off. 50 -50 either way. Then I suggest that only Mr. Wolser

can change those odds.

Wolger moved out a month ago. No forwarding address.

Okay, we'll have to get a new warrant and hit the streets.

216 Cargo Street.

It's an apartment.

Hey, come here.

Volunteers show us.

If he isn't there, we won't go thinking you tipped him off.

He wasn't there either. Left last night. He's out of a shake -out, but I don't

think he'll be back. Seems to be living out of a suitcase.

I picked up those scraps off a table.

With the wire and the tape and insulation.

It ought to help us prove that's where he made the bomb.

How did you manage to persuade Sergeant Wiley to let you have that bomb again?

Threatened to suit the chief on it. He swore if we asked for it one more time,

we'd get permanent possession.

With dynamite.

That match up okay?

Some do, some don't.

But the tape doesn't match at all.

Wolzer built a new bar.

This is the man, Frank Wolzer. You sent him up on his last fall.

Oh, there have been so many.

The names and faces blur.

So, it was simply revenge after all.

It's the obvious motive.

What else could it be?

We'll know that when we catch him. Well, the house is clean.

Good. Tell Osborne and Marshall all deliveries are examined until further

notice. Would you please? Mm -hmm.

Are you sure there's another bomb?

It's a safer premise.

We've made arrangements for a 24 -hour watch on the outside of the house, and

Chief Ironside would like Officer Belding to stay in the house with you.

Of course.

Well, it sounds like the usual platitude, but I'm sure everything will

right.

Good night.

Good night, Sergeant. Good night. Keep in touch. Sure.

Oh, Miss Belding can have the room next to mine, can't she?

Certainly.

Is there anything you need?

No, thank you. I'm fine.

Good night.

Good night.

John.

A mess, isn't it?

I don't know if I'd listened to you before.

Well, at least we know who it is and why he's doing those terrible things.

Eleanor, I want you to go up to town.

No, I don't want to leave you. I'm a target.

I'm trying not to be frightened, but be frightened for you, too.

Please, my dear.

I'll join you as soon as it's safe. I'm sure it won't take long.

Meanwhile, why don't you go upstairs and pack? I want you to leave in the

morning, first thing.

Okay.

You're not going to work now, are you? Oh, no, of course not. No, I'm going to

call Brady, make sure the car is ready.

Okay. Don't be long.

Night.

Oh, you guys will be relieved at six.

Well, Nell wolves in, and we got it wrapped.

But I didn't think it would be this simple.

I'm willing to bet it's not.

Come in.

Oh.

Is Miss Belding comfortable?

Yes. Daddy just told me that you were going to the cabin.

He insists.

Oh, would you like to come too?

Oh, no. He thinks it would be better if we were all separated. So I'm going to

stay at the Daly's.

I hope this doesn't last long.

Eleanor.

I just... Wanted to say I'm sorry.

Sorry?

Well, I've had some pretty wild ideas about you.

And I'm really very ashamed.

Please be all right.

You see, um... My mother died when I was a baby.

So I've always had daddy all to myself.

I've been jealous.

I'm not a threat to you, my sweet. I never have been.

Oh, you think we could start out all over again?

Friends?

But I'm not going to call you mother.

I'd rather you didn't.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Daddy.

Nobody under the bed. I just checked.

I'm glad to see she's kept a sense of humor.

Clear conscience makes anyone feel better.

It's a good thing I called about the car.

Brady will stay late.

It'll be ready.

John. Yeah?

Isabel's been honest with me.

And she's given me the courage to be honest with you.

Your checking account is overdrawn again, huh? Oh, now listen, please.

I've lied to you.

I've been living a lie.

Is that important?

But I never meant to deceive you.

You must believe that.

Whoever runs a race with his better self is bound to lose.

I want another self.

Not me at all.

That was so long ago.

Fourteen years ago. A weekend with Brad Collins.

Oh, my darling, why do you think I wanted to keep it quiet?

So there wouldn't be any investigation, any search into the past.

You've known?

You've always known?

I know you now.

That's enough.

Always will be.

Oh, Joe. I love you.

Insomnia? Inconsistency.

It's inconsistent.

Thank you.

Blackmail and attempted murder.

Where's the connection?

A pro making a bomb that can't work?

Just a mistake?

I'll make some coffee.

Looks like it's going to be one of those nights.

Well, he had a couple of keys in his pocket. Can't you get anything out of

All right, later.

Still haven't been able to find out where Wolter lived, Chief.

The bomb wasn't in his car. He left it somewhere.

Not at the Fredericks.

We went over every inch of that place again.

Besides, why would he break in and try to shoot Fredericks when he'd already

planted a bomb there?

Now, that is a good question.

Chief Arendt's office.

Hi, friend.

Mrs. Fredericks is ready to leave now. Does the chief still want me to go up to

Tahoe with her?

Good. Isabella's going to drive us to the garage to pick up the judge's car.

Brady's on 5th and Hayward.

All right, call us when you get there.

Bye.

Nothing new from the coroner. Call, step, one bullet right in the heart.

Saw that last night.

Some odds and ends.

Cut on the forehead from truck accident and grease under the fingernails.

Mark.

Look at this.

The position of his gun.

What about it?

Well, it's near his right hand.

Hey, what was it with his left hand?

Call Franz. See if Fredericks is... Wait a minute. She and Mrs. Fredericks were

just going out the door.

They had to pick up the judge's car.

His car?

Yeah, it's been repaired.

I believe you said grease under his fingernails?

Yes.

Sure you won't change your mind and come to Tahoe with me?

Oh, Dad, they're going up tonight. I guess you two ought to be alone for a

change. Thank you.

I'm sure Miss Belding is discreet.

Painfully.

Have a good time. Don't worry about it.

Okay. We'll have a better time when I come back.

Okay?

Bye. Ciao.

Bye -bye.

Superior Court in and of the County of San Francisco is now in session. The

Honorable Judge John Fredericks presides.

Promotions. We'll move to select a jury.

But first, Bench would like to comment.

The presumption of innocence may sometimes be based on a

convincing display of innocence or on an admission of guilt which

violates certain prejudice.

Prejudice is the relevant matter here.

And that my prejudice may color my conduct of these proceedings.

Therefore, in the interest of justice... You'd better

recess the court.

What's wrong?

Recess the court, Your Honor.

Recess for 20 minutes.

What is it? I'm waiting on my wife.

at Collins' and how many weekends.

Eleanor Rogers, how many names do you have and how many cities?

You knew.

Everyone knew.

Wherever we went, I'd see someone.

A stranger, even a friend.

I'd wonder if he and my wife had ate at me.

I couldn't stand to see someone with that look in his eyes, sly, mocking me.

He'd be laughing at me. He knew my wife first and no one would laugh at me.

That's enough.

You have no right to remain silent.

If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be

against you in a court of law.

You have the right to speak with an attorney and to have the attorney

during questioning.

If you so desire and cannot afford one, an attorney will be appointed for you

without charge before questioning. Do you understand each of these rights I've

explained to you?

It began with the opening of the trial.

Menlo knew about you and tried to blackmail your husband.

Why didn't he just leave me?

Shame.

Pride.

How could he admit to a mistake like this, the kind of man he is?

Then the accident?

Planned to establish a certain climate that would encourage the belief he was

really a target, then Mrs.

Fredericks would have been an innocent victim.

But he shot that man.

We were too close.

We would have caught him.

He would have talked.

I should have told him in the beginning.

I wish I could say thank you, Chief, but...

Well.

Let's get to work.