Original subtitles

I'll be leaving shortly.

Hold on a moment.

You won't change your mind?

I don't think so.

This is one of those headaches that just won't go away.

You're sure you don't want me to stay?

I'll be fine.

You go on.

Thomas, don't bother about the car.

I'll get it myself.

Freda.

Freda, I'm in the kitchen.

I thought you had gone.

What about your dinner?

Would you like Mrs. Gibbs to bring you a tray?

No, thanks, dear.

Later, perhaps.

All right, I'll tell her.

What time do you think Mrs. Grayson would like it?

Well, why don't you check with her in about 45 minutes or an hour?

Yes, sir.

I didn't keep you waiting.

You're right on time.

It's exactly 8 .30.

Good to see you, Mel.

Bob, when I walk out of my office at night, There isn't much time left for

anything.

Perhaps you should live in your office the way I do.

Maybe you have a point there.

But it would be small consolation for cutting out cheesecake, whipped cream.

I still have to watch my weight.

Not like the days when you could walk it off on the force.

Not anything like it at all.

That's something else I owe the force.

Flat feet.

No better reason for going to law school.

If you're trying to imply that the police force is responsible for your

with the DA's office, we accept the credit.

Call for you, Chief Ironside. Thank you.

Ironside.

Yes, Ed.

Affirmative.

Go ahead.

Yes, I'll do that.

There's something wrong, Bob.

Bad news, Mel.

It's freedom.

It appears to be pretty clear -cut, Chief.

Motive, burglary.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Grayson heard him breaking in. He panicked and strangled

her.

Do you mind if I ask a few questions?

Not at all. I can use all the help I can get.

Ed, I'd like to talk to the servants.

They're just outside.

You come in, please.

Miss Gibb, you found Mrs. Grayson?

The poor thing.

Tell us about it.

Well, she said that she would like to have a tray up later.

When did she tell you that?

About 8 o 'clock over the intercom.

This one?

Yes, sir.

And you were in the kitchen?

All of us were.

All of you?

Me and Thomas and Mr.

Grayson. Oh, we had to have...

Just had a couple of cocktails upstairs.

When she told me she had a headache, while I finished dressing, I came to the

kitchen.

That was the last time I spoke to her.

I was just leaving to meet you.

Go on.

About nine o 'clock, I went up to see if she wanted to eat.

I didn't want to wake her. She was sleeping.

You found the body lying here by the French doors?

Yes, sir. There she was.

Cold and not moving, and the rain pouring down on her.

Mr. Gibbs, you didn't hear any sound at all from up here?

No, sir.

But I wish I had.

Well, thank you both.

That'll be all for now.

No I

can't

believe it.

I know come on sit down How

did it happen police think it was a burglar

What are we going to do, man?

I don't know.

Paul.

Where have you been?

At the... last game.

At the nightclub?

At a disco joint.

How long were you there?

I stopped in around... five.

And you've been there since five?

Until maybe a half an hour ago when I left to go home.

Now, is there some place you and Paul could stay for a few days?

Yes, the college club.

Bob, are you going to stick with us?

Yes, would you mind?

Oh, I'd be grateful.

Please let me know if anything turns up.

I want to stay on top of this case until it's all cleared up.

So do I.

I gather we've just attached our office to the homicide squad.

Sometimes you wonder.

I wonder if I've been a cop too long.

An old friend, currently assistant DA, we're having dinner together.

His wife is murdered.

The question enters my mind if it isn't all just too blasted convenient.

Well, as long as you're wondering, there's something else for you to chew

over.

The carpet is damp here where the rain blew in.

This area, right in the middle of it where the body was lying, is... Is dry.

Dry as a bone.

Eve, you're Frida Grayson discovering a thief in her bedroom.

Mark, you're inside the house in a darkened room and Frida startles you. Go

ahead, Eve.

What are you doing, Mark?

Getting rid of the light.

What for?

Well, so I can grab her like he did.

Well, forget what he did.

What would you do?

Well, I'd clobber with this.

And so would any other thief.

It's faster and safer than strangling.

And here's another thing.

The area where the body was lying was dry, but the cook said it was raining

on Frida's body when she found it. And it's been raining since about 7 o

If the burglar had come in those doors, it would have rained on the carpet

before he killed her.

Conclusion?

The killer did not come into the bedroom through the French doors.

He came through the house.

In Grayson's neighborhood, no strangers or prowler cars.

There were several parties going on between 8 and 8 .30, but nobody saw

unusual. How about street traffic, patrol units, postal service, laundry,

those things? Negative.

Negative on Paul Deeks. He checks out at the last gape.

According to the cigarette girl, whose name, bless her heart, is Chickie D, he

was there from 5 in the evening on.

But here's something positive.

That'll be a switch.

There was an imprint of a rubber -clad shoe found below the trellis.

The lab estimates him at between 160 and 175 pounds.

That's a size 14.

Statistically, that would make him something over six feet, three inches

And that's an awful tall fed man.

You argue with the lab chief.

I have no intention of arguing with anyone.

But I will point out to all present and presumably listening, I hope that we can

assume the rubbers were stuffed.

To disguise the actual size?

Pretty clever.

He did a good job of covering the physical evidence.

But why?

Why, if the thief somehow managed to get in the front door, why would he have to

create evidence that makes him look like an intruder?

Hello, Chief.

Easy, baby!

How's the most gorgeous cop I've ever seen?

You know, Benji, flattery will get you everywhere.

Yeah, how about that, huh?

I bet you thought I'd forgotten you.

Look what I brought you.

For me?

Nothing but the best for Evie.

That's my most expensive model.

I'll treasure it always.

Whenever you two are through.

Oh, I got the blast you wanted to see me, Chief.

How's business?

Not like it was in the old days.

I figure I gotta sell 144 of these stupid...

Beautiful dolls.

To make the turnover I used to make on one gold cigarette case.

Yeah, what do you think of these?

These for real?

Yeah, those are insurance company photographs.

Beautiful stuff. Antique setting.

Well, that's where a lot of the value is.

Wouldn't make a very good deal.

Why? Well, you can't pass them the way they are.

They're too easily spotted.

You break them down, melt them down, and you lose a fortune.

How about those?

Worth an easy hundred

Gs.

Just a matter of resetting them. That's all.

Nobody would ever spot them. They'd disappear forever.

That's what we thought.

Well, if that's all, I got a big deal with the car name.

Good luck, Benji.

Call me anytime, Chief.

Well, not very encouraging, but it shows us something.

That the burglar knew what he was doing.

Perhaps he knew a little too well.

How too well?

He's killed a woman.

He's killed a woman with servants in the house.

He seems to have known where all of Frida's jewels were.

He didn't know when someone might have walked in on him, yet he took the time

sort out exactly the right pieces. Now, how did he know he wouldn't be

disturbed?

I think I'll turn in now.

How about a nightcap?

No, I think not.

I'd have one for the road, except I'm not going anywhere.

Paul.

Paul, this is... This is something we have to live through.

I know, Mel.

Get interested in something.

Like Las Vegas?

I was supposed to have learned my lesson, remember? I mean it, Paul. Find

something to do for your own sake.

Sure, Mel, sure.

This picture was taken at the scene of the murder. This one was taken at the

autopsy. It obviously took a while for the bruise to appear.

This is a shot Eve had made up from the insurance company photo of the missing

necklace. Watch what happens when we put them into the projector.

The markings of the bruises and the setting roughly match.

She was wearing the necklace when she was strangled.

But she was supposedly killed between 8 and 9, after she had undressed and gone

to bed.

Women don't usually wear jewelry to bed.

Excellent work, Eve. Thank you, sir.

But what does it all mean?

Well, we think it means that she didn't go to bed at all.

That she was undressed and placed on the floor after she was murdered.

So the killer was no stranger.

That being true...

The housekeeper and her husband could have changed her from her street dress

her nightgown. With her husband creating the phony physical evidence.

Except, why bother to make it look like she was murdered later in the evening?

To create an alibi?

The servants wouldn't need to do that since they were home all evening.

The time of death wouldn't have been important.

But it could have been important to Paul Deeks, who was at the discotheque.

Or Grayson.

Who was with me.

Good evening, Bob.

Well, it looks as if you should be comfortable here.

Oh, this will do for a while.

Would you like a drink before the bar closes? No, thank you.

Well, anything new?

Well, if you think you're up to it, it's time for

some rather personal questions.

Sure, of course.

First, about the servants. They've been with you for years. Any reason to

suspect them?

Thomas and Etta? Oh, ridiculous.

Well, isn't it a little odd that they didn't hear anyone or anything?

In the kitchen? Well, it's pretty well set off from the rest of the house.

Besides, there was quite a racket from that storm.

They were also very familiar with your wife's jewelry.

Bob. You're on the wrong trail.

Money can always be a motive.

Well, and it was.

The house was broken into by a burglar.

Well, then if we eliminate the servants... You sure you're

ready to talk about this?

Yes. I said I was.

Well, if we eliminate the servants... Then who remains?

Who might have known the inside of your house, Mel?

Who?

How about Frida?

Did she have any enemies?

Personal ones?

Not that I know of.

And how about you?

Jealous girlfriend?

Absolutely no dice.

Paul Deeks?

He loved her.

So we've come full circle.

No, we haven't. There's still that burglar.

And if there isn't, I think you should explain why not.

Now, Bob, you promised that you'd keep me informed.

Sure. But right now, I wouldn't be surprised if you knew as much about the

as I do. Or more.

What do you mean?

The murderer, Mel. I just...

I just can't focus on him. I'm as much in the dark as you are.

Well, the motive is clear.

Frieda's jewelry.

So the jewelry is it.

Do you want a tip?

Certainly.

Find the jewels.

They'll lead you to the burglar.

Whoever has that jewelry, I promise you I'll get him.

Promise me you'll get her killer, he says to me.

I'll give you a tip, he says.

Just find the jewels.

Find the jewels.

Nice tip.

If we were looking for a burglar, which we are not, agreed?

Agreed.

All right, let's examine what we know about the Graysons.

I remember Mel when he was a rookie.

Young, bright, ambitious.

A likable young cop with a conscience.

And then he married Freda Hopkins.

They were married 20 years plus.

No money worries.

Freda had inherited plenty when Mel married her.

No extramarital activities, no boyfriends, girlfriends.

No children.

But Paul, Freda's nephew, was the same as their own. When he was orphaned,

became his trustee. Left the police force, went to law school.

Undoubtedly his ruination.

Thank you, sir.

Eventually... Eventually, he used the knowledge he gained to attempt a perfect

crime.

If it was he.

Seems to me he was right about one thing. We're going to have to find that

jewelry if we pin it on either of them.

You won't find it.

You think it's in the bay?

It'd be easy to toss it out of a car from a bridge. Sure, it would be simple.

But do you think Grayson would do that?

Could you do it? Could anybody do it?

Simply toss a fortune away?

No, it's hidden someplace. It's hidden and it'll never show up.

Chief Ironside's office.

I'll tell him.

There goes his theory, Chief.

I just found some of Grayson's jewelry.

Mr. Grayson has identified this bracelet as belonging to his late wife.

Jewelry. That's your specialty, Shelby.

You don't think I'm that dumb to try to fence it off in the open if I knew it

was that hot.

Who asked you to fence this piece?

Nobody, I swear.

Well, maybe you decided to leave out the middleman and take the whole thing for

yourself, huh?

You know I'm not a second story, man. I found it in my mailbox, laying there.

Who do you think left it, Santa Claus?

Look, you can't do it. This is a bum one. If you send me up this time, I'll

playing marbles with the old men for the rest of my life.

This time, Shelby, I think you're telling the truth.

I'm inclined to believe you.

How about you, Bob?

I'm not sure.

He's been around too long to pull a boner like this.

Every murderer pulls a boner sooner or later.

Well, without being positive, you know what'll happen to him if he gets a four

-time sentence.

How positive do we have to get?

Shelby has the bracelet.

It was stolen. He was trying to fence it.

Obvious possession of stolen goods.

I wouldn't want to have to prosecute.

How much do you weigh, Shelby?

135.

Didn't you tell me the Freitas killer weighed more than that? Yeah, around

Not the same as you.

Me and a thousand others.

Still, it is a coincidence, unless... Unless what?

Unless our man was weighted down with 25 or 30 pounds of gear.

I still don't think it was Shelby.

I wasn't talking about Shelby.

Well, maybe you're on to something this time.

Bob, you'll have to excuse me. I've got to get back to my office.

What about it, Chief?

Turn him loose.

Thanks a lot, Chief. I won't forget you.

Nor are you.

Sometime remind me to ask you what everyone was talking about.

We were talking about Freda Grayson's killer and how I was going to catch him.

I'm still not digging you.

It was Mel Grayson. Buddy told me what I wanted to know. Which means something,

of course.

Means I finally think I know who our man is.

And how to get him.

Well, you'd have a tough time convincing me.

Paul Deeks has an iron -fired alibi.

Which we are going to break.

I think it'd be easier breaking Grayson. Except for the fact that Mrs. Grayson

was alive when he left the house.

Why, gee.

Servant will testify to it.

They'll testify they heard her voice, but they did not see her.

Whose side are you on?

Oh, my side.

Was it a recording?

There was a stereo in the bedroom.

Third name. Someone could have recorded a lot of trivial conversation days,

perhaps weeks earlier.

Then edited the conversation, keeping the words and phrases he needed, and re

-recorded it.

And held the tape for the proper moment, in this case a rainy night, with the

ironclad alibi.

He must have timed it out exactly.

But it... How did he make that old intercom in the bedroom work when he was

the kitchen?

Tape down the speak button.

Later he removed the tape, but the intercom was still sticky when I felt

button. You were right about Paul's gambling debt.

Only for me.

Coffee? I would love you forever.

He owes a wad to the bookies. And they collect his play rough.

Nails down our motive for Paul.

Except for one thing, this business with the edited tape proves a case against

Grayson.

It proves Grayson might have edited tapes. It does not prove Frieda Grayson

dead when those tapes were played.

Eve, what does the coroner's report have to say about the time of death?

Between 8 and 9.

If it were between 8 and 8 .30, Grayson could have done it.

But from 8 .30 on, he was with you.

At the coroner's office on the phone, I want the time of death pinned down to

the exact second.

Chief, you know that can't be done.

Ed, somewhere, somewhere there's a hole in Paul's alibi. I'd like you to find

it. I'll try.

Sergeant Brown, it is the considered opinion of this office, but the

opinion, that Paul Deeks is guilty.

Now, what does that statement suggest to you?

Somewhere there is a hole in his alibi.

Glory be.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Always a pleasure for me to see my faith in the intelligence of my colleagues

justified.

Eve, have you got him yet?

I'd be glad to make some fresh.

No, that's fine.

Mr. Grayson was fond of his nephew, wasn't he?

Oh, he'd do anything for that boy.

Loves him like his son.

Better, almost.

He and the missus didn't have any on their own.

Now, I remember Paul first came to live here when he was just a little fella.

Mr. Grayson taught him to swim, play tennis, golf.

He was a good golfer, too.

This is excellent.

Thank you.

How did Paul get along with Mrs. Grayson?

Well, the missus was always more firm with him than the mister was.

How that boy could spend money.

Did they argue about it?

Nearly all the time since he's been grown up.

Paul always said that he was asking for his own money, but she said it wasn't

his until he was 30.

Eve?

Ready?

Thank you very much.

You're more than welcome.

Find anything?

A pair of old rubbers and some gloves.

Paul's room?

Where else?

High five.

Back again?

High yourself, chickie.

Now I'm a customer.

The last gate welcomes the last of the big spenders.

What's on your mind?

Since the other day, something's been bothering me about Paul Deacon.

Paul? He's a groove.

Why don't you get off of him?

Well, maybe I'm just trying to eliminate the competition.

Now, you told me Paul stopped in here around five the day his aunt was

Yes, and he did, too. And stayed until around ten.

That's right.

Without eating, this place doesn't sell food.

Well, maybe he wasn't hungry.

Or maybe sometime he went out to eat.

I didn't see him go out. But you're not positive.

Now, it wasn't raining when he came in.

It didn't start until a couple of hours later.

When did he get his raincoat, Chickie?

He must have had it with him.

Must have.

What you really mean is you don't remember.

Look, I've got a pretty good memory.

Jackie, what really happened was this.

Paul Deak left here sometime after seven, went home and got his raincoat

then came back.

You're saying that, not me.

But you can't deny it, can you?

Bob, let's get down to cases.

What is going on?

For instance.

Well, for instance, your people are over at my house asking all these questions

about Paul.

How is he?

Well, how would you think? This whole thing is getting pretty hairy for him.

He worried about something?

Well, naturally, he's upset.

So am I.

Upset about what?

About you asking all these questions of him.

Now, Bob, what is going on?

How is his golf these days?

I don't know. We haven't played.

Now, Bob, I ask you a question.

I understand he used to be pretty good, four handicap.

Yes, between four and six.

Strong arms and wrists.

Bob, what are you getting at?

Put yourself in the murderer's place, Mel.

There's Frida.

Healthy, active, frightened, ready to cry out.

Chauffeur did not hear a noise.

Must have taken somebody very strong to silence her immediately.

Somebody with the arms and wrists of a four -handicapped golfer.

I'm sorry, Mel.

But we believe it had to be Paul.

And in addition to the traumatic experience of Frida having been

first suspected me. I never said that. You implied.

Dennis, you know the basic rule of homicide investigation?

Certainly. The murdered person's family is automatically suspect.

If you have any real evidence against Paul, then I'm entitled to hear it.

That's a reasonable request.

First, Paul was in the house during the possible time of the murder.

Well, that's impossible.

He was at that discotheque.

We've broken that alibi.

Secondly... Wait a minute.

Prove that he was in the house.

Secondly, Paul is badly in debt and he had a fight with his aunt over money.

Arguments, not fights. This is absurd.

Thirdly, the designs on the soles of his rubbers match the prints left by the

murderer.

I absolutely refuse to believe that.

We have the rubbers and a pair of gray gloves, Mel. When the time comes, I'll

present them with expert testimony.

That's impossible.

Why?

Oh, because... Why, Mel?

Because I don't believe he did it.

But our lab will prove it.

And I demand to see that proof.

You will.

At the trial.

Will you tell me why in heaven's name you lied to us? I didn't lie.

I just didn't think it was important.

All I did was to go out to get a sandwich. It was raining, so I went home

my coat.

Then I went back to the discotheque. But Ironside will make it look as if you

deliberately lied, and you can't prove that you didn't.

What about your pair of gloves?

Which pair, Mel? I have lots of them.

You have a gray pair?

Yes.

Why, is that the pair he took?

Well, Edda tells me he took several of them.

And rubbers, you do have a pair of those, don't you?

Sure.

I haven't worn them in years. What difference does it make?

What make are they? What's the design of them?

I haven't the haziest idea.

Look, Paul, get that through your head.

This time it isn't just a matter of money.

It may be real trouble.

But I didn't kill Frida.

You know that, Mel.

You know it, and I know it.

But does Ironside know it?

He's been gathering evidence, some of it pretty damaging.

But I still think he doesn't have a case.

And until he does, he can't make a move.

Mr. Paul Deeks?

Mr. Deeks, I'm placing you under arrest.

You're charged with suspicion of murder of Freda Grayson.

Come in.

Come in, Mel.

I came here.

You don't realize what you're doing to that boy.

I realize he's being treated no differently than many other suspects.

down.

He didn't do it.

Well, suppose he did.

Now I know you don't want to believe it of him. But go with me for a moment.

Suppose he did.

Shouldn't he be punished?

Well...

That's a tough question.

He's all the family I've got left.

Of course, but the courts won't have that problem.

Bob, how can you even suspect him?

Why not?

Do you know something I don't?

No. No, of course not.

Then I'm convinced I have a good case, and we'll leave it up to the jury.

But you don't have a good case. You know, a smart lawyer can point enough

evidence at me and get the boy off the hook.

Not a chance, Mel.

See, I know you couldn't have done it.

Coroner's final report.

Time of death, 8 .47?

You were with me from 8 .30.

How can they be so sure?

In your statement to the police, you said you and your wife were served a

cocktail in your bedroom while you were dressing to meet me.

Yes, we did that quite often before going out to dinner.

You said that Frida drank her cocktail at approximately 7 .30.

That's right.

By the amount of alcohol in her system and the amount still left in her

the medical examiner can testify that the...

The metabolic process has stopped at exactly 8 .47.

She was strangled while you and I were at dinner.

It can't be helpful more than 48 hours, can I know?

Not unless you're arraigned.

Do you think I will be? No, I don't think so.

You didn't think I'd be arrested, either.

Oh, Paul, now don't hit the panic button.

What happens if I have to stand trial and by some fluke I'm convicted?

Don't let your imagination run away with you. I've heard of other innocent men

getting convicted. Paul, stop it.

It won't come to that. I'll be here to help you.

You don't know how it feels being caged up in here for something you didn't do.

If I were guilty then it'd be different. Maybe I just feel I was getting what I

deserved.

All right.

Maybe this is the time to ask you.

Do you deserve it?

What? Paul, are you guilty? Did you strangle her?

Oh. You did go back to the house.

I told you that.

To get your red coat.

Yes.

And you didn't go into her room?

Paul, did you go into our room?

If you did, tell me.

Tell me what you saw. Tell me what you did.

No matter what, I'll understand, but I must know.

I got my raincoat.

Please, Mel, get me out of here. Put up bail.

There is no bail on a murder charge.

Then what do I do?

He won't have you arraigned.

You'll be released tomorrow.

Will I, Mel?

broken into by a burglar.

Are you guilty, Walt?

Did you strangle her?

Find the jewels.

They'll lead you to the burglar.

How can you even suspect him?

Do you know something I don't?

Would you care for another drink before the bar closes, sir?

Ah. No, no, thank you.

Franklin.

Have the doorman bring my car out.

Don't cry, Mr. Grayson. Both sides of the street are covered.

Here are the jewels. They would have shown up somehow and cleared Paul.

You were right after all, weren't you, Mel?

You said find the jewelry and it'll lead you to the burglar.

You were bluffing, weren't you?

I thought you were. I just couldn't... Couldn't afford to take that chance.

I realized that when you wouldn't let Shelby go to jail.

Congratulations. You almost had me believing I didn't kill her.

Of course, the coroner's report was a phony.

Completely.

Wasn't very honorable of you.

We all have our own concept of honor.

I thought it more important that I kept a promise to an old friend.