Original subtitles

Unbelievable and slightly decadent. What is your appetite, the way you eat? I

was hungry.

I thought eating habits like yours were characteristic of growing teenagers and

unloved matrons. Together with overworked, underpaid public servants.

I take it you weren't hungry. What time is it?

It's a little before nine. They've been out quite a while.

How do you think it'll go?

Hard to tell.

The evidence was there. The testimony was there. But... But North was there,

too.

It's uncanny what that man can do in a courtroom. There ought to be a law.

More coffee?

No, thanks.

Something eating you, Alex?

Well, since you ask, I think Laszlo's guilty.

So?

So I think we got him off. But he is guilty.

Well, not unless the judge and jury say so. It's up to them. You know that.

Do you think he's guilty?

I think you should have some more coffee and let the jury do their thing.

Trouble with North is that he sees the law as based on adversary relationships

rather than a search for truth.

You know, I sometimes wonder if it's not a waste of time and money bringing

suspects to trial with lawyers like North around.

Fortunately, there aren't too many like him.

You really don't care, do you?

We have a job to do, Alex, and we're very good at it. We have a lot of

customers, and we make a lot of money. Yeah, but are we happy?

Do we sleep well?

Alex, not only are you talented, but you're like a breath of fresh air.

I'm going to give you a raise.

The jury's coming in.

We find the defendant, Simon Laszlo, innocent of all charges.

The court thanks the jury for the conscientious performance of its duty.

The defendant is hereby released from custody.

Court is adjourned.

Chief, I was telling Alex at dinner how much I admired you and have for a lot of

years. And I sometimes wondered what it would have been like if we'd been

friends. One of us would have corrupted the other.

Well, how could you corrupt anyone, Chief?

Maybe honesty is a form of corruption.

I'm not sure I like that. You know what you've done here?

You've gotten 12 honest men and women to believe in a lie that premeditated

homicide with self -defense.

You gave them a show.

You made them turn their whole moral world upside down, and you've given a

killer back his hunting license.

You like that, Mr. North?

I thought you weren't hungry.

I wasn't, but now I am. What time is it?

The jury's in, Chief. Oh, that's right. Your friend Gaynor was going to drop by.

It's nearly 10.

Check the Sussex house, will you please?

See if he left.

Maybe we can hit him off.

Oh, it was 7.

He said between 9 .30 and 10, didn't he? He must be on his way.

Good evening, Mr.

Gaynor, please.

I see. Thank you. No answer.

What did you mean, hit him off? I thought you were looking forward to

him. I've known Elliot Gaynor for a long time.

I've always had mixed emotions about him.

Now, I'll tell you the truth.

I would rather eat this sandwich and go to bed than sit around waiting to cut up

touches of old times.

It's ten o 'clock. You'll miss your appointment.

It doesn't matter.

Elliot, it's getting late. I want to go home.

You promised we could talk. We have talked.

You know as well as I do that anything we had to say was said a long time ago.

Look, you have got to let me see you once in a while.

Is that too much to ask?

Look, I am my own boss now. I travel a great deal.

I can get to San Francisco as often as I like.

Captain's paradise.

What?

I said Captain Paradise. Don't you remember that movie with Alec Guinness?

He had two wives in different cities.

That's what you want, isn't it? A wife and family at home and me here, waiting

for the phone to ring.

You had the choice, and you made it.

Susan, wait a minute. Hey, Susan, listen to me, please.

Don't listen to me.

I love you.

I know it now that I really love you.

And I want to be with you whenever I can.

Now, what is so complicated about that?

Nothing.

It's simple.

Only it doesn't go anyplace.

And right now, I need something that's going someplace.

I have to... get my act together.

Isn't that the way the kids say it?

And see, I'm not a kid anymore.

And I won't tell you that I'm not lonely a lot of the time.

But what you need and what I need are two entirely different things. Susan.

Elliot, go home to your wife and don't call me anymore. Wait a minute, please.

That's right. Robert Ironside.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

He left the hotel about nine, hailed a cab.

Hasn't come back yet. You know, that's strange.

He wouldn't call if he were delayed or wanted to cancel.

Well, it's too late for him to show up now.

I don't know about you, but I'm turning in. I'll see you in the morning. Right.

Good night. Good night.

That about does it.

Alex, you know I'm giving you the opportunity of a lifetime.

By the time I get back, you can be in business for yourself with half my

clients. How do we reach you?

You can't. That's the beauty of vacations, Alex. You vacate. You vacate

tired old premises and all the tired old schedules, and you're free associated

with life.

What do you say?

I say you practice in your clients' estate with me.

Till you get back.

And after that?

We'll see.

I like that. That's a challenge.

Hey, come on. I was just kidding.

All right. You coming?

No, you go on. I'm going to stay here and have a drink and think about my

vacation. And besides, you have to mind the store tomorrow.

Have a good time.

Yeah.

Sam. Yeah.

You don't sleep, do you?

And you're not really very happy.

You've got it all and you're not happy.

You're bored.

No, not really.

Just fed up with the predictable.

Good night.

Who is it?

Susan Harmon.

We met at the Stevenson's, remember?

You took me home?

You said we had a lot in common.

Yes.

I remember.

You were going to call me.

Well, I'm sorry. I've been busy.

How have you been?

I have to talk to you.

Why? What for?

Please.

I'll just kill the man.

You sure you don't want a drink or some coffee?

So then, uh...

Then he moved away with his family and some time went by before you saw him

again.

That's right.

He began calling me. He said he wanted to see me, that he still loved me.

So far as you know, his wife never suspected that you were seeing each

No.

Finally he called, said he was in town, that he had to talk to me.

He said he had an appointment with an old friend so he wouldn't have very much

time.

Somehow that made it seem all right.

So I said I'd meet him in the park where we used to meet once in a while.

Look, why do you have to know this? What difference does it make he's dead? I

killed him in self -defense. I should have turned myself in already.

Did you see anyone in the park or hear anyone?

No. You didn't leave anything behind?

No. Why?

Listen.

You turn yourself in and there's a hearing. You'll find yourself answering

sorts of questions.

What sort of questions?

Miss Harmon, what was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

Why did you agree to meet the deceased at night alone in the park?

Miss Harmon, were you aware that the deceased was a married man?

Are you in the habit of having affairs with a married man? You're making it

sound like some kind of... I'm just giving you an example of what will

you if you go to the police. Questions, all kinds of questions. It's possible

you'll have to spend some time in jail.

fingerprints and mug shots.

And when it's all over, there's a good chance no one will believe you.

Why are you doing this?

Why are you saying these things?

Because they're true.

You came to me for help.

Yes, I want to turn myself in. I thought you'd advise me, represent me.

I will.

My advice is go home. Do nothing.

I don't understand. I thought you... How do you visualize the law, Susan, as

some single abstract truth? It's people.

Narrow -minded judges and simple -minded juries. People who can be manipulated.

All you have to do is wait.

If you have the nerve.

And the patience.

But what about Elliot?

What about him?

Great many murders go unsolved and unpunished. So unless you have a deep

be punished for an accident... I don't want to be punished.

Then go home.

Try to go about your business as if it never happened.

And if you have to talk to someone, call me.

Yes, that's right.

I see.

Thank you very much.

Hey, you dozing off?

No, just mulling.

Mulling what?

That old friend of the chief's never filled last night. He didn't call.

Is he worried about him?

Just curious, I think.

Except... Except what?

Well, I checked with the hotel again.

Apparently, he never came back last night. Never picked up his key.

Well, he had to sleep somewhere.

He's a happily married man, and he should be. He's married to a beautiful,

intelligent, and altogether extraordinary woman. Do I detect a note

do. Pure envy.

Thank you.

If you must know, Elliot Gaynor beat my time with Laura.

Swept her off her feet, married her right out from under my nose.

Took me a long time to forgive him.

Matter of fact, I may not have forgiven him yet.

Ah! That's what you meant last night when you said you had mixed emotions

seeing him. Oh, Chief, there's a front page story on the Laszlo trial this

morning's paper. They make Norse sound like William Jennings Bryan.

Let's see it.

You're not going to like it. Why not? Didn't they spell my name right?

You know, we're not finished with Mr. Laszlo. We're going to start all over on

him. Build an entirely new case on an entirely new charge.

Chief, last time it took us nearly six months to get him into court.

You going somewhere?

Ed, Laszlo's been in the rackets most of his adult life.

I know it's got him off on a murder charge, but there's got to be a lot of

and ends about Mr. Laszlo that just needs some painstaking, thoughtful, and

aggressive police work.

Ed, what is it?

An identified body was discovered in the park earlier this morning. No wallet,

no identification.

And? On the description, it could be Elliot Gaynor.

Fran, you come with me. Ed, get over to Gaynor's hotel and see what you can find

out about him.

Mark, you start on live vote.

these years, I've never gotten used to going to the morgue.

Was it?

Yes, it was Gaynor.

What'd you get?

Body was found about 5 a .m. by a jogger.

No watch, no wallet, no rings.

Some signs of a struggle, but nothing specific.

Gaynor was either slugged or hit his head when he fell.

No witnesses.

That's the best you can do?

The very best.

You could have called her.

I don't think so.

I don't think I could have called and said, Hello, Laura, it's Bob Ironside.

Your husband's dead.

No, I guess not.

How long has it been since you've seen her?

Not since they left San Francisco, and that was some time ago.

Brian, something on your mind?

Yes.

Gaynor, and what happened last night?

Well... Well, apparently, he left the hotel and took a cab to meet you.

You said you expected to be free between 9 .30 and 10.

But according to Ed, he left a good hour sooner than he'd have to to get to the

office on time, so he must have had an earlier appointment.

And, Chief, do you know why he wanted to see you? Nothing special, most likely.

He's called before when he was in town.

Anyway, my guess is...

He was mugged on his way to see you after that meeting.

Unless whoever he met in the park killed him.

The park at night is kind of a funny place for a meeting, don't you think?

That depends.

That depends on who the meeting is with, whether it's business or... Or monkey

business? Yeah, monkey business.

It's so good to see you.

Come in, come in, come in.

I was really surprised when you called from the airport.

Laura, this is one of my associates, Fran Belding.

Laura Gaynor. Can I get you a coffee, a drink or something? Oh, nothing for me.

If I could just freshen up. Oh, yes. Up there at the first door on the left.

Thank you.

Oh, she's charming.

And discreet. And obvious.

How are you, Laura? How have you been?

I'm fine.

I'm busy with the house, Elliot, the children.

Oh, Bob, I wish you could see the children. They're in school. Well, they

beautiful.

They'd have to be.

I am glad you came.

I... Elliot and I think of you very often.

You know, it's funny you're being here today.

Elliot's in San Francisco on business.

He was going to call you.

Laura, I have something to tell you.

It's bad news.

About Elliot?

Laura, Elliot's dead.

I'm very sorry.

I had a feeling.

When you called, a strange feeling.

I pushed it to the back of my mind.

What happened, Bob?

We're not sure.

It looked like a mugging.

No wallet.

No watch, no ring.

It hadn't been easy for us.

We've had our ups and downs.

Elliot was so restless.

But I finally thought we had it made.

It wasn't a terribly exciting life. It was a... It was a simple life.

A good life.

Forgive me, Bob.

It was good of you to tell me. It was good of you to come here.

Tell me.

There'll be arrangements to make.

You leave the children?

The neighbors.

Is that necessary?

I'm afraid so.

I made the identification, but there may be some questions.

Questions? I thought it was a mugging.

It's a homicide, Laura.

Will you be there?

Of course.

Yeah, that's him. What do you got?

So far... Billy Joe Rock.

No address, no job, no relative, no friend.

No money.

Gaynor? You got it.

What's he say? He says he was walking in the park and saw the body.

He thought the guy was drunk or asleep.

Saw the wallet laying on the ground and took it.

When the guy didn't move, he took the watch and rings and beat it.

The cruiser picked him up running out of the park.

He didn't kill Gaynor?

He says he didn't kill Gaynor.

He's been saying it for about two hours.

Thanks for calling me.

I figured a chief would be interested.

He will be.

You have that brief filed. And then we'll call Compton at the DA's office

see if he wants to talk a deal on the murder one and save himself some trial

time. Right.

What's funny?

It's about that vacation you took. You know, I still can't figure out what made

you change your mind. There's nothing to figure out. There's no place I wanted

to go. I'm a creature of habit, so I came back here.

Well, I thought maybe something came up.

Yes.

Did you tell her I was in?

All right, I'll see her.

Uh, Alex, excuse me for a few minutes, will you? Sure.

Oh, it's Harmon. I'd like to meet my associate, Alex Benton. How do you do?

Well, this is a surprise.

Is it?

Have you seen the paper?

The police have picked up a suspect for Elliot's... for the murder.

I see.

I didn't expect that to happen.

Well, neither did I.

But I'm not sure you should have come here to discuss it. Why not?

Discretion. What are we going to do?

Why do anything?

An innocent man has been picked up.

He's just being held for questioning. He hasn't even been arraigned yet.

I don't understand.

Well, first he has to be arraigned. And then there's a preliminary hearing.

If there's insufficient evidence, the judge can throw out the case.

And since we know he's innocent, that might very well happen.

All I know is I'm sitting here and he's sitting in jail because of you.

You came to me, remember?

I gave you an opinion. You didn't have to accept it, but you did.

You're a grown woman, Susan.

You have to take responsibility for your actions.

I was frightened.

I'm still frightened, but I'm willing to take the responsibility now before it's

too late. Well, maybe too late already.

What do you mean?

The police will wonder why you waited.

Well, I'll tell them the truth. I came to you and you advised me.

When? What? I said when. When did you come to me?

Well, you know as well as I do.

This is the first time we've seen each other since the Stevenson's party.

You simply showed up today at my office.

What are you doing?

What's going on?

Look, you're into something I don't understand.

You frighten me.

You understand, Billy Joe?

It's just a procedure, formality. We plead not guilty, then the judge sets

date for the hearing.

Okay.

Hi. Morning.

Probably defender's office gets an early start.

Billy Joe, this is Sergeant Brown. We've met. How are you, Billy Joe? Okay, I

guess. Scared.

And this is Chief Ironside.

Chief? Listen, I don't want any trouble with any chief.

I didn't kill anybody. I never did.

He's been telling me what happened.

Do you have any objection to his telling me, Counselor?

No, none at all. Go ahead, Billy Chip.

No, you don't have to be scared.

I was in the park. I go there a lot, you know, to walk.

Sometimes when I don't have a room to sleep, it's nice there.

It's quiet.

And it smells good.

You ever go to the park, mister?

Sometimes.

Yeah.

Well, anyway, I was...

I was walking along, you know, I was looking for empty bottles.

And sometimes you find empties in the park and you turn them in.

Once I even found a bracelet.

A lady's bracelet, you know, with a green stone.

Turquoise.

Yeah, yeah, that's it.

Well, anyway, I saw this pile of clothes over near the steps, so I went over to

look.

Only it wasn't clothes.

It was a man.

I thought he was asleep or drunk maybe.

His wallet was laying there.

So I took it.

But he didn't move.

He didn't make a sound.

Did you know the man?

No. I never seen him before, honest.

Was there anyone else around? Did you see anyone else? Only the cops.

I mean the officers that stopped me. Did you hear anything?

I don't know.

I'm not sure.

Maybe. But what?

What did you hear, Billy Joe?

Nothing, I guess.

Lady, can you help me?

I think so.

I'm going to try.

Good morning, Chief.

Sergeant. Morning.

Mr. Norris, you know Mrs. Sanger, Public Defender's Office?

By reputation, I hear you're a cop.

I hear the same about you, Mr. Norris.

Well, what happens now that they've caught the man, the killer?

He'll probably be arraigned, brought to trial.

You know, he didn't have to kill Elliot to get that wallet.

What kind of man would do something like that?

Laura, don't think about it.

I can't help it.

Whatever Elliot was, he... Well, he tried. He... He struggled

very hard to get where he was.

Children adored him.

He was young and strong.

I can't believe I'll never see him again.

Hear his voice.

Oh, Bob.

I can't remember his voice.

But we found it.

Part of him's alive, if I can remember.

I'm sorry, Bob.

I'll be all right.

I'm all right now.

Yes.

You're all right.

Elliot was here in San Francisco on business.

Yes. Do you know who he was planning to see?

What do you mean? He had business meetings.

His office would know that.

And he was going to call you. That's all I know. Why?

What are you getting at?

Well, you have to understand, Laura, so far the man the police have is just a

suspect. He hasn't been tried or convicted.

There are bound to be a lot of questions raised by his attorney.

What kind of questions?

Whether anyone might have reason to want Elliot dead, who he knew in San

Francisco, what he was doing in the park alone at that time of night.

What are you getting at?

I'm just trying to...

Prepare you for what's ahead.

You think there's a chance that a man, Billy Joe Robbins, might get off?

I think that there's a chance that he didn't

kill Elliot.

And who?

That's something you'll have to think about, Laura.

Hi, Chief.

Hiya. How's Mrs. Gaynor?

She's fine.

And how are you?

Fine. Just fine.

And you, Mark?

Hard -headed on the Laszlo stuff, Chief. Beginning to show a couple of

possibilities.

Ed?

Something's come up.

Would you care to discuss it?

The department's begun a routine check on Gaynor. His friends and associates at

home. They were in town before he moved.

They've turned up a rumor.

What kind of rumor?

Apparently, Gaynor and his wife didn't get along very well.

There was someone else, a girlfriend.

She and Gaynor saw each other for quite a while.

Who? No one seems to know. Maybe nobody.

Maybe it's just a lot of gossip.

But if it's not, and if there is somebody, and it comes out, it could

very difficult for Mrs. Gaynor.

Thank you, friend.

Hello, Miss Harmon. Well, they're going to arraign him.

Oh, no.

That simply means they'll charge him and allow him to plead.

But he didn't do it.

Unfortunately, it looks like he did.

Well, that settles it, then.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about doing what I should have done in the first place, no matter

what you say.

Well, he could get off at the preliminary hearing.

Well, how?

Does he have money?

Does he have a high -powered lawyer?

Why not?

What? He'll have excellent representation.

The best.

The defense waives the reading of the charges, Your Honor.

Well, how do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Mr. Robbins, the charges against you are extremely serious.

Bail is set accordingly at $100 ,000.

I ain't got it, Your Honor.

No outbursts, please.

If the court please.

Mr. Benton, is it?

Do you have something relevant for these proceedings?

I do, Your Honor. May I approach the bench?

Yes.

Court is recessed ten minutes.

The singer with you and Mr.

Carstairs join me in chambers?

Of course, Your Honor.

I don't understand, Bob. What's happening?

Looks like Billy Joe has found himself a new attorney.

That's right, Chief.

So far, no apparent connection between North's office and Billy Joe Robbins.

The first anyone knew about it was right there in the courtroom.

I don't get it. This is completely out of North's line. There's no controversy,

no publicity, and no large fee.

You're right.

It's out of character, so there must be some explanation.

Ed, first thing in the morning, you and Fran.

See if you can find that explanation.

Are you discriminating, too? I thought you were back on the Laszlo matter.

Oh, yeah, right.

Well, since you don't need me tonight, I thought maybe I'd take my wife out to

dinner. Oh, you're right.

Any more customers?

Uh, not me, thanks. Well, as a matter of fact... Good. I was hoping I'd have her

all to myself. See you.

Bye. Bye -bye.

Well, how are you today, Billy Joe?

Okay, I guess.

Now, you remember when we talked the other day.

Oh, yeah, with that other lawyer, that lady?

We asked you if you saw anything that night in the park, and you said no.

But you seemed less certain when we asked you if you heard anything.

I don't know.

I'm not sure.

Maybe. Now, think back to what you were doing that night.

It was cold.

I remember that, and I was hungry, too, but I didn't have any money, you know.

Night before, I slept in a park, but I had some wine, so it wasn't so bad.

And you were just walking in the park?

Yeah.

And it was dark.

And something scared me.

The sound?

Yeah.

All right, now think back.

What kind of sound?

Sort of a... a tapping.

A tap -tap. Like a cane.

Sort of.

No, no. It was sharper.

It was like... someone walking fast, but sharp.

Like a woman walking fast?

Come in. I wasn't expecting to see you this morning.

We have some things to talk about.

Oh, what?

Billy Joe Robbins and you and Elliot.

Haven't we said it all?

I'm afraid not.

All right.

I, uh... I thought about things as you asked.

But if that man didn't do it, I don't know who it could have been. Do you?

I think...

It might have been a woman.

Oh, that's impossible.

How can you be so sure?

Well, how many women muggers do you hear about?

But if it wasn't a mugging, if it was someone he knew... I

don't like what you're saying, Bob, and I don't like you for saying it.

It is possible, isn't it, Laura?

No.

No, there was never a woman. Never?

Why are you doing this?

Whoever killed Elliot has to be caught. He has been.

Caught and punished.

No matter who it hurts.

All right. All right, Bob, suppose you're right.

Why would Elliot be meeting a woman in the park?

How do I explain that to our children?

He was seeing someone, wasn't he?

Oh, it's a long time ago. It was over a long time ago.

They were careful in a way.

But I knew.

I began checking up on him.

One day I followed him from his office at lunchtime.

And I saw him meet her.

Very attractive.

I died when I saw how attractive she was.

So I followed them to a... small hotel.

And I waited.

I was so ashamed of hiding there like a thief.

I don't know how long.

And then they came out and he... he took her to Paley, that big department

store, and left her.

They shook hands like friends.

And he walked away.

Was that the only time you ever saw her?

No.

No, um... A week later, I went back to Paley's and

wandered through. I saw her talking to someone. She was, uh...

She was wearing a smock and one of those nameplates.

She worked there.

And you never mentioned it to Elliot?

No, I was afraid.

Bob, it was over.

I thought it was over.

Do you think she was with him that night and she killed him?

I think it's possible, Laura.

How could she kill him if she loved him?

Do you know her name?

Yes, that's right.

No, we'll need them by next Tuesday.

They've been backordered for months.

Yes. All right, fine. Thank you.

Miss Harmon?

Susan Harmon?

Yes? My name is Ironside.

I'd like to talk with you.

And so the defense contends that the crime could have been committed by a

or persons unknown, if indeed the crime of murder was committed at all.

The defense does not deny that the defendant found the deceased's body and

robbed him. But we do challenge the state's contention that no one else

have committed the murder.

In fact...

The murder could have been committed by any one of a number of untold persons

who roam our parks and our streets at night, people in whom violence is just a

spark away from us.

Our case is as old as the law itself. It's the heart and soul of justice,

reasonable doubt.

Billy Joe Robbins is a human being over whose life and death you have sole

power.

I beg you to use that power wisely.

Your Honor.

Your Honor, I beg the court's indulgence, but I have new evidence

have a bearing on this case.

I killed him in self -defense.

I want to turn myself in.

What's going on, Sam? Who is she?

She's our witness, Alex.

I think I've just won my last case.

If my hunch is right, Mr. Laszlo will be on his way back to court.

Before you do them more damage.

And this time he won't have Sam North to defend him.

No, I'm afraid Mr. North will have his hands full for quite a while, even

the lawyer represents himself as a fool for a client.

Why do you suppose he did it, Chief? Because he's never done it before.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything. No, no. Come in. Come in.

You know everyone here. Good evening. Hello.

We're just going, Chief.

Yes. See you in the morning, Chief?

Oh, me too. I've got to go home and wash my hands. Good night.

Mrs. Gaynor, I hope you'll excuse me, too. It's not very often I get a night

off. Good night.

Well, you're really like a family, aren't you?

Yes. Yes, we are.

If you remember your Latin, all Gaul was divided into three parts.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm divided into four.

So, you've made a life for yourself.

Yes.

Obviously a good one.

I think so.

That's what I'm going to do, Bob.

I'm very glad.

Well, I have a cab waiting downstairs, a plane to catch.

I'll show you the way.

No, that's all right, Bob.

I can find my way.