All language subtitles for Perry Mason s04e01 Treacherous Toupée

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Springfield.

Bassett residence.

No, I'm sorry.

Mrs. Bassett just left the house.

What?

I'm Lucy, I'm the house cleaner.

Well, where did Mrs. Bassett go? Do you
expect her back soon?

Well, search me.

She's on her way downtown on business to
the company, you know.

Business? Her?

Yes, sir.

It's some kind of meeting. Could it be a
sharecropper's meeting?

Yeah.

Domestic tool and dye.

The what?

Look here, I want the Bassett tool and
dye company.

Our name has been changed for quite some
time, sir. Whom are you calling,

please? Dawson. Peter Dawson. He's still
the general manager there, isn't he?

Mr. Dawson is president of the company,
sir, but I'm afraid his line is busy.

President.

Look here, is there a shareholders
meeting going on there this afternoon?

I really wouldn't know that information,
but if you'll just give me your name,

sir. Hello?

Hello?

Hello, Sybil.

Don't you look nice. Oh, thank you. Oh,
I hope I'm not late.

I, uh, I brought my husband's proxy.
Now, you didn't tell me whether I

need to have a copy of it when we vote,
but anyway, I thought I'd better stop by

the bank.

Here.

Everyone knows it's a blanket proxy.
That's all that's important.

Dora, you can tell the others the
meeting will start.

Mrs. Bassett is here now.

Peter, I am doing the right thing,
aren't I?

Now, I thought we agreed yesterday.

No cold feet, remember?

Oh, I know. If Richard could hear me say
that just once more, he'd throw

something at me. Mother, can't you ever
make up that molasses mind of yours?

I think your son's a little too anxious
about this.

Matter of fact, that's why I sent him to
San Francisco on company business, to

let you decide alone.

Oh, Peter, you've been so thoughtful
about everything, and patient.

You know, when I'm alone with you, I
know everything is going to be all

Two years is quite long enough for a
woman to keep shielding a husband who

deserted her.

Come in, gentlemen. Come in.

How do you do?

Thank you.

Well, this shouldn't involve too much
time, I think.

And roughly, the plan is to sell the
assets of the present corporation to a

firm, which Mrs. Bassett and I are
establishing, and in which you will all

participate, but in which Hartley
Bassett will have no interest.

Now, since Mrs. Bassett has decided to
use the proxy that her husband gave her

in our bread -and -butter days... Wait!
You can't go in there!

Mr. Bassett!

Looks like I got here just in time,
doesn't it?

Well, at least the house doesn't seem to
have changed very much.

Cleaning woman must have gone home.

Her name's Lucy.

Well, now, that's interesting.

You, uh, still have to hide the liquor
from that useless son of yours?

Oh. Oh, would you like a drink, Hartley?
Yes.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so awfully sorry.

I suppose if I'd been away seven years,
you would not only have had me declared

dead, but probably buried me, too.

But, Harley, I didn't know what to do.

It's quite a sensation to walk in on
your own funeral.

It was just about like that, you know.

To find my wife and my employees getting
ready to dispose of my assets, my

company. Where did you go?

Where were you?

Under the circumstances, I don't think
I'm the one who needs to explain things.

Oh, well, after you just disappeared, I
didn't know what to do.

Aside from personal feelings, I had
nothing to fall back on. The company was

almost bankrupt.

Or perhaps you don't remember that sort
of thing.

Go on.

If it hadn't been for Peter Dawson, I
don't know what would have happened.

He made people stay on without any
salary. He borrowed money. He worked day

night. Oh, that's very touching.

I read in the papers there are a lot of
new government contracts that are using

our type of bearings.

Yes, yes. Suddenly last year, everything
began to go right for us again.

Sybil, are you in love with Peter
Dawson?

You have no right to ask a question like
that of me.

And I can imagine my dear, greedy
stepson has been egging matters along,

don't know what you're talking about.
And, of course, by now, you have

investigated the possibilities of
divorcing me.

Dawson has proposed a merger by
marriage. No, that's not true.

Sybil, don't pretend to be any stupider
than you already are.

Peter hasn't said a word. He's only been
trying to protect your interests. He's

been stealing from me, and so have you.
Stealing?

What about the $6 ,000 you took when you
went away? If anybody's been

stealing... $6 ,000? What are you
talking about?

You know very well.

Oh, I hate you.

Why did you come back?

Why? Why?

You'll find out.

Hello.

Oh, yes, operator, go ahead.

It's L .A. calling. I think it's the
office. Must be Mr.

Dawson. Well, you just tell him you're
busy.

Hello, Richard.

Mother! Hey, I'm glad you called.

I was going to wait until this evening.

Now, Mother, wait a minute.

Now, just wait. Now, let me talk.

Only first, uh, we're getting the money,
aren't we?

Money? What money?

Well, I mean, they had the meeting.

They're going to switch all the stock.

I mean, we're going to be able to sell
out now, aren't we?

To raise cash?

Richard, you've got to come home right
away.

Not a chance.

I just got married.

And I know you must think it's awfully
fast, but when you meet Teddy, when you

see her... Mother?

It's all right, Richard.

I'm here.

I was just thinking that...

It never rains, but it pours.

Mother, you really come out with the odd
ones sometimes.

What?

Who?

Quit calling him my father. That guy's
not my father.

Oh, yes, yes, your stepfather, Richard.
I'm so sorry, but please, please come

back. I'll be there.

Yes, only stop crying. Stop it!

I'll be there.

And I'll make it rain, too.

I'll make it pour.

On him.

Dick, there's nothing that can really
spoil our wedding day.

Is there?

Yes? Mr. Woodman is here from the
factory.

Send him in.

What is it you wanted, Pete?

Sit down, Gavin.

It's about Hartley Bassett. I figured
you'd have heard about that by now.

I just wanted to prepare you for what
it'll probably do to your program at the

plant. There are apt to be some changes.

All right you are, Dawson.

Hello, Hartley. I didn't know you were
in the office.

I've been talking to your secretary.
Maybe you'd better go see her. She

rather upset.

What's the matter with her?

I just fired her.

Don't rush off, Whitman.

Just testing some new models. I was
right in the middle.

Oh? Well, I wouldn't want you to worry
about your own job.

I certainly wouldn't dream of replacing
you as plant superintendent.

Thanks.

And besides, I still remember those
bridge sessions Sybil and I used to have

with you and your wife. We'll have to
start them up again now I'm back.

My wife is dead.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Ken.

What happened?

Last year, she died by her own hand, I'm
afraid.

They wrote me a letter about it from
Manila.

Manila?

It's apparently where she went, where
she ended up.

She left me sometime before that.

Disappeared.

It was about the same time that you
disappeared, Mr. Bassett.

What's the big idea?

She's been with us for five years, with
me even longer.

You had no right... Save the sympathy
for yourself, Dawson.

You're fired, too.

Well, technically, he may have the right
to discharge you as president.

On the other hand, your old contract as
general manager will be in force for six

months. Mr. Mason, I know what a mess it
is. I need clarification and

protection.

Not only for myself, but for all the
others, too.

That's the only reason I'm willing to
stay around for as much as five minutes.

It seems to me you've stayed around for
too long.

Instead of starting a concern of your
own, you've continued to do all your

for the benefit of the Bassetts.

Why?

Mrs. Bassett, I suppose, she had a first
marriage that wasn't very happy either.

A son by it who's never been very much
comfort to her.

Anyway, I knew we could straighten
things out sooner or later with that

vote she still held.

I never really thought that Bassett
would come back.

but we would have made him fair payment
for his shares.

My intention was always legal and
honorable.

You believe that, don't you, Mason?

You believe that the only reason I want
to be protected now is so that she'll be

protected too.

Donna, put in a call for Hartley,
Madison.

off Dawson's contract.

The answer is a flat and final no. He
doesn't get another penny.

Then I may advise my client to sue.

Listen here, Mr. Mason. Before I finish
with Dawson, he'll really need your

services. There are two sides of this
story, you know.

Just what do you mean?

I mean your client is a thief, of
course.

I'd be careful of any accusation, Mr.
Bassett, unless you're prepared to back

up in court.

Hold on a moment.

Colmar?

How much longer do you think it'll take
us to go over these books?

Another four or five hours.

I'll tell you what, Mr. Mason.

If you'd come here later this evening,
I'll be glad to talk this over with you.

Yes, four or five hours. Say ten o
'clock tonight.

Say something.

What's the trouble?

I don't know.

Look, her forehead's bleeding.

I was just stepping out of the elevator.
I heard her scream.

Know who she is?

Well, she's my wife.

Teddy. Teddy, please.

Oh, baby.

Teddy.

Teddy.

Say something.

Dick.

Oh, Dick. Honey, what happened?

Someone knocked me down.

What are you doing here anyway? Mother
told me you came down.

I was looking for you.

I was afraid you'd try to see your
stepfather alone.

I didn't want you to fight with him.

Someone in here knocked you down?

The minute I walked through the door,
the lights went out.

And he hit me.

He came rushing past me.

He?

Even in the dark, I could see him.

I'd know him anyplace.

It... It was the men.

They came out of there.

He's dead.

He's been shot.

It's Hartley Bassett, isn't it?

Sure.

You see, honey, I told you there was
nothing to worry about.

Somebody beat me to it.

It looks like he put up a little fight.

What's that?

Only grabbed, I guess.

Looks like hair from a wig.

A toupee.

Yes, he had it in his hand, this little
piece of hair.

Oh, yes, and they didn't see a gun, but
he'd been shot. He'd been shot twice.

Hair? Oh, Peter, please come over right
away and tell me what to do.

Sybil, of course, don't worry. I'll take
care of everything. But I just walked

in the door this minute. I'm sorry.

Even though I... I think this is what
I've been dreading all along.

You know, Peter, I almost wish I'd been
the one to kill him.

Sybil, everything's going to be all
right.

I'll be there, of course.

I went for a walk, Mr. Mason.

Quite a long walk.

All alone.

I didn't get back to the apartment until
just after 11 o 'clock.

That's when Sybil telephoned.

So, for the time of the murder, you have
no alibi. Is that what you wanted to

tell me? Well, mostly about the toupee.
The fact that I wear one.

Well, that one thing in itself can't be
too incriminating. No, but Mr. Mason,

sometime yesterday afternoon or last
night, somebody stole my extra one.

They only found a small part of one in
Bassett's hand.

But that's enough.

That's all they need.

You see, there are ways of identifying a
toupee.

You're absolutely correct, sir.

You must be Peter Dawson.

You see, in the ordinary tou... Good
morning, Perry.

You see, in the ordinary toupee, there
may be 40 ,000 to 60 ,000 individual

hairs. But, of course, nobody's hair is
a solid color.

You take Mr. Dawson's case, for
instance.

I believe there are six different
shades.

Isn't that right, sir?

Now, look here, Lieutenant.

I need hardly remind you that there's a
young lady who claims to have seen a man

running out of the murder room last
night and who claims, moreover, that

able to recognize him.

Richard Hartsbride.

Teddy.

I was just about to suggest to Mr.
Dawson that he come along with me and

her. Yes. If she's telling the truth,
she'll clear me. Oh, by all means.

If you'll be good enough, Perry, to tell
us where she is.

What do you mean?

Well, you told the first officers to
arrive last night that she'd gone to the

ladies' lounge to lie down.

That's right. Her husband assisted those
officers in searching that building for

some trace of the man she claimed to
have seen.

So? So, when Homicide arrived and went
back to question the girl, she

disappeared. We found no trace of her
since.

Even Richard, her husband, can't seem to
help us.

And now you've jumped to a conclusion.

Naturally.

You wasted no time in getting that girl
into hiding, Counselor, so that your

client wouldn't have to face her.

Well, I'm not going to waste any time
either.

Perhaps Mr. Dawson should come along
with me instead of you.

Drake, I've told you all I know. Believe
me. Are you sure you don't know

where... Oh, hi, Perry. Paul?

I see you've already found him. Mr.
Mason, please.

I've got to get back to Mother.

I just came down to the office for a few
minutes, and I told him everything I

know. Now, please.

All right, we don't want to bother you.
I can check with you later.

He says he doesn't even have a snapshot
of his wife.

Very interesting.

Well, he's only known her a week, so
maybe it's true.

Mr. Drake? Yes.

I was told you were looking for me. I'm
Arthur Comar, the company controller.

Oh, yes, Mr. Comar. It was for Mr.
Mason.

How do you do, Mr. Comar?

Thanks, Paul. You'd better get going.

Don't let that get lost.

I won't.

I'd like to ask you a few questions, Mr.
Comar.

You're Mr.

Dawson's attorney.

Sure.

Won't you sit down? Thank you.

I understand you...

Worked rather late last night. Mr.

Bassett wanted me handy while he went
over the books.

What time was it when you left here?

9 .47.

The police figure I was the last one
out.

Before it happened, that is.

How can you be so precise about the
time?

Well, you see, Mr. Mason, I don't drive
a car.

I was trying to catch a bus.

The 9 .50.

I ran all the way to the boulevard, but
I missed it and had to wait 20 minutes.

When you left the office, was Mr.
Bassett here alone?

Sitting right in there, waiting for you.

I called him here late yesterday
afternoon.

Were you here with him at that time?
Correct.

Then you heard him refer to Peter Dawson
as a thief. You heard him say that when

he was finished with Dawson, Dawson
would really need a lawyer.

I could hardly believe my ears.

What was he talking about?

Why don't you ask Mr. Dawson that?

What makes you think he knows?

Well, earlier in the evening, just as I
was going out for a bite to eat, Mr.

Dawson came barging in here to demand an
answer to that very question. What time

was that?

About eight, I'd say.

Was he still here when you came back
from supper? I don't know. I didn't see

him. My accounting offices are on the
floor below, and I went directly there

returning.

Worked alone a while, adding up some
figures and so on.

Then I brought them up here to show them
to Mr. Bassett and to tell him good

night. I didn't see anyone else here at
that time.

Tell me, Mr. Kumar, are you conscious of
the fact that Mr. Dawson wears a

toupee?

Well, yes and no.

We never spoke about it.

I don't know him that well.

But I did sort of guess once when I saw
another of the men kidding with him and

trying to give Mr. Dawson's hair a pull.

What man was that?

Mr. Ken Woodman, our plant
superintendent.

Mr.

Woodman, I'm Perry... Counsel for the
defense.

That's no reason for me to let my lunch
get cold.

I understood you lived alone.

Those things are as my wife left them
two years ago.

It's a long time to sustain an illusion.

Your wife died in Manila, didn't she?

May I sit down?

If it'll help you come to the point.

Did you ever connect your wife's
disappearance with that of Hartley

Is that all you came to ask?

Except for where you were last night
before 10 o 'clock.

Two questions.

One answer.

I'm not on the witness stand yet.

All right.

We'll take it from there, then.

On the witness stand.

That girl, Teddy.

What about her?

You actually believe that cock and bolt
story of hers?

About the man running out of Bassett's
office?

She had a fortune to gain by the death
of Hartley Bassett at that time, being

married to his heir.

Another day or two and Bassett would
have chopped his family off without a

penny. You're saying the girl killed
him?

Well, if she didn't, her husband did,
and she was an accomplice.

Otherwise, why has she disappeared?

Mr. Whitman, you just asked the key
question about the key witness.

no lead on teddy now they found the gun
they're finding all sorts of things what

gun was it well supposedly it was
purchased for the office but it was

to peter dawson and they found the box
of shells in his apartment well you've

just got to locate teddy she gets more
important every minute grab a plane san

francisco san francisco

Well, all I know is she sang and played
piano.

Called herself Teddy Lansing.

Where was she from?

Oh, they come and go.

This one wandered in here one night, ran
through a number, and I heard her run

on the spot.

There's something funny, though.

What's funny?

She kept promising to have her picture
taken so I could hang it out front.

She never got around to doing it.

Yeah, I know. She's real camera shy.

How long was she here?

Just short of a month.

Some young guy started hanging around. A
few days later, she was gone.

No notice, no nothing.

Well, she quit so suddenly. As a matter
of fact, she forgot some of her stuff.

May I take a look?

Sure. I went through it myself to see if
I could find some kind of an address to

ship it to, but there wasn't anything
here.

What did they tell you?

Clothes Beauty Salon, Fresno.

Look, miss.

What? Just call me Flo.

Flo, you've already had me cooling my
heels out here for half an hour.

Now, do you or don't you remember a
customer answering the description of

Lansing?

Like I said, I'll have to think about
it.

See, it was this way, sweetie.

I made a phone call.

Well, what for?

Oh, you'll find out any minute.

There, you see?

Mr. Drake, meet Wilbur Fenwick.

Mr. Fenwick? Drake, what about this girl
you're looking for?

Well, you think you know her?

What I think is she's my wife.

Well, I just can't believe it.

Six months ago in Fresno, Wilbur Fenwick
met and married this girl, known to him

as Nicky.

In his case, too, it was a whirlwind
courtship.

Whereupon, she promptly proceeded to
take him for every dollar he had. And

Fenwick had quite a few.

But you're taking his word for it. No,
not entirely.

I double -checked and came up with
certain facts that just can't be

away. Fact number one.

She left in a hurry without saying
goodbye to anyone.

Fact number two.

There's no evidence that she even
bothered to get a divorce from Fenwick

marrying you.

Well, of course she got a divorce.

Mr. Mason, you've just got to find her.

I couldn't agree with you more.

But let's keep it quiet for the time
being, shall we?

Oh,

it's all right with me.

Well, at least we now know why Teddy
took off so fast the other night.

The surplus happened. Sure.

As soon as she realized she was involved
in a murder, she figured the police

would start prying into her past.

She would have decorated the newspapers
from coast to coast for everyone,

including Wilbur Fenwick, to see.

All of which adds up to the fact that
she'll hardly reappear of her own

volition, certainly not soon enough to
help Peter Dawson.

Listen, I'd swear I was being followed.

Of course you were, and are, and will
continue to be.

Who? Why?

The police think you'll find out through
me.

Where she is they think the sooner or
later you'll leave them right to her And

maybe you will at that

Well

What do you think I Could be

twins and look mind telling me what all
this means

Miss Grant, you'll receive a full
explanation along with detailed

before you leave town.

And where am I going?

One of my favorite vacation spots,
Carmel -by -the -Sea. Oh, you'll need

expense money.

Look, Mr. Mason, I know you're on the
level, but your reputation,

well, you do skirt the law at times.

You'll be doing nothing illegal.

Okay.

When do I leave?

If you call back within the hour, I'll
have made all the arrangements.

Yes, sir.

Now, would you mind telling me what all
this means?

It means the preliminary hearing starts
tomorrow morning.

Teddy was lying on the floor
unconscious.

I picked her up and carried her over to
the couch, and that's when he showed up.

Who? Mr. Perry Mason.

Really?

All right, Mr. Hart, go on.

Teddy opened her eyes and explained
about the man who had hit her.

Your Honor, due to reasons which will
become self -evident, Mrs.

Teddy Hart has not been available for
subpoena.

Under race chastity, the rules against
hearsay evidence therefore become

inoperative, and the state wishes to
invoke its right... To bring out what

Teddy Hart said by means of the
testimony of this witness.

Mr. Mason.

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may proceed.

Mr. Hart.

What did your wife say to you and to Mr.
Mason about the man who had hit her?

She said that the lights went off and he
rushed in from the outer office.

He hit her.

Well, that's all she could remember.

Did you ask her if she would recognize
her assailant?

Yes.

She said that she'd know him anywhere.

I see.

Now, would you tell this court, please,
the circumstances of your wife's

disappearance?

Well, we called the police.

The squad car came first.

And we carried her into the ladies'
lounge so that she could lie down. See,

was still woozy.

And a couple of other officers and
myself checked the rest of the building

quickly as we could.

Soon after that, the other squad cars
arrived. Excuse me a moment.

Do you know where Mr. Mason was during
this period?

Well, the last time I saw him, he was on
the phone trying to get Mr. Dawson.

And how long was it after that that you
returned to that part of the building

and found that your wife was missing?

About five minutes. But you're wrong if
you think Mr. Mason sent Teddy away.

Just a moment.

The witness will refrain from
volunteering information or conclusions.

All of the answer of the witness after
the words five minutes will be stricken

from the record.

Proceed. I have no further questions.
Thank you, Mr. Hart.

Your witness.

No question.

And where was this torn piece of toupee
found, Lieutenant?

I saw it clutched in the left hand of
the decedent.

Was there any other indication that Mr.
Bassett had struggled or grappled

perhaps with the murderer?

Well, a lamp had been knocked over. The
wastebasket had been spilled halfway

across the floor.

The carpet had been twisted and kicked
up in a couple of places near the

decedent's feet.

I see.

I show you now this.

38 caliber automatic pistol. I ask if
you recognize it. Yes, it has my mark on

it. And was this weapon checked
ballistically?

Yes, sir.

This gun fired the two bullets which
were removed from the decedent's body.

It's been checked out as the murder
weapon.

Thank you, Lieutenant. If it pleases the
court, I should like this automatic and

this piece of torn toupee entered in
evidence as people's exhibit D and E.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Oh, and Lieutenant, where was this gun
found?

In a culvert.

Four blocks from the scene of the crime.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I think that'll be all for now.

You're with us.

Lieutenant, I take it you made a
thorough search for this gun in the

apartment. Certainly.

Yet you found it not in his apartment,
but in a culvert where anyone might have

thrown it. He's found the culvert, yes.

Lieutenant, isn't it true that the
police rate culverts among their

hunting grounds for missing weapons?

Oh, that's only because criminals seem
to find culverts so handy.

This particular culvert is in a public
park.

About a third of the walking distance
from Mr. Dawson's office to his

I'd say.

Thank you for adding that information.

And in view of it, don't you therefore
think it possible that the murder weapon

was deliberately discarded in that
culvert?

So discovery of it...

would be certain, so that Mr. Dawson
would be implicated?

Objection, Your Honor. Those questions
are argumentative.

Sustained.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

That'll be all, then.

I'd say.

I call Mr. Stanley Roderick.

Bring him in.

He has solemnly promised to swear the
testimony about to give will be the

the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.

This head block was made by us to
conform exactly to the shape of Mr.

head in order to create his particular
hairpiece.

I see.

Now, Mr. Roderick, is there any other
way of positively identifying a

other than the method you described to
us? That is, other than matching the

shades. Oh, yes, indeed.

Under a microscope.

Each person's hairline is as different
and distinctive as a fingerprint.

It's like a shoreline with infinite and
varied juttings and inlets.

I'm sure it is.

Mr. Roderick, would you please tell us
what these marks on the head block are

for? Well, this is the outline of the
tuft of hair that was found in the dead

man's hand.

And would you please demonstrate for us
how the tuft of hair fits between these

markings? Oh, yes.

It fits.

Right in here.

And it's your conclusion, then, Mr.
Roderick, that this tuft of hair could

have come from Peter Dawson's toupee?

Oh, absolutely.

Thank you very much. If it pleased the
court, I should like this head block.

Entered in evidence as people's exhibit
F.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Your witness.

Mr. Roderick.

Do you think it's plausible that someone
grabbing at a man's head could tear out

a small segment of his toupee without
ripping or removing the entire thing?

Oh, entirely plausible.

If it were properly attached with spirit
gum.

If you'd like a test, Mr. Mason, grab
away.

Mr.

Colmar, I show you this item marked
People's Exhibit G.

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. Yes, this is a photostat of a page
from a company ledger for the month in

which Hartley Bassett disappeared.

Do you know who requested that this
photostat be made?

Mr. Bassett, on the day he returned.

Did he by any chance tell you why?

No, he didn't say why.

I call your attention to this item.

It's a debit of $6 ,000.

Yes, that's the amount that turned up
missing after Mr. Bassett's departure.

And what explanation was given for it?

Well, we assumed that Mr.

Bassett had skipped off with it.

Assumed? What kind of an investigation
was held at the time?

None. Why was that?

Well, Mr. Dawson asked that the matter
be hushed up as much as possible.

Really? Thank you, Mr. Comar.

You're welcome.

Mr. Comar, how could a substantial sum
like...

$6 ,000 turn up missing.

Well, our affairs were a little
precarious in those days.

We were concerned that an attachment
would be made in our bank accounts.

So our employees were paid in cash.

To that end, currency was accumulated in
the vault.

Who had access to the vault?

Well, besides Peter Dawson, there was
myself and Mrs. Bassett, of course, and

Ken Woodman, who was then doubling as
our purchasing agent.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Barely got time to catch your plane.

After I left, I heard Dawson starting to
get angry.

And Bassett yelled at him, you're fired
too.

Now, Mr. Woodman, later that same day,
did you overhear another angry

conversation between Mr. Dawson and Mr.
Bassett?

Yes, I did. And what did Mr. Dawson say
on that occasion?

He said, Hartley, someday I'm going to
kill you.

Mr. Woodman, when you were in Mr.
Bassett's office, was the subject of

brought up?

Yes.

Yes, he mentioned something about
starting our bridge sessions again, that

and his wife, me and my wife, and I
explained that Agnes was dead.

And you also explained that her death
had occurred in Manila and that she died

by her own hand.

Yes.

Did you explain that the last time you
saw your wife was during December two

years ago?

I... I don't exactly remember everything
I told him. You felt that he already

knew these things?

Mr. Woodman, isn't it true that after
you were notified of the death of your

wife, you took a leave of absence?

Sure, I went fishing. I saw it to the
lake region in Idaho.

I have here a photostat of an airline's
passenger list for the day your

leave of absence began.

It shows Kenneth L. Woodman booked for
Manila.

All right. So I flew to Manila. To go
fishing?

What were you fishing for?

Proof of why your wife left you? Wasn't
Bassett the reason?

I got proof that Bassett was the one. I
swore I'd find him and kill him.

Man changes after a while.

Killing isn't always the answer to
everything.

I have no further questions.

I call Mrs.

Sybil Bassett to the stand.

Just a moment.

As we have arrived at the hour of noon
adjournment... The court feels that it

would be better to declare the use of
recess at this time until 2 .30 this

afternoon.

Mr. Mason, please.

Richard, where did he go?

Mrs. Bassett, it might not be proper for
me to tell you.

Why not?

Because a very great deal might depend
on what happened.

Where he is.

Come in.

Darling. Dick.

You're sure you weren't followed?

Are you Richard Hart? What's the big
idea?

This is Sergeant Bryce of the Los
Angeles Police. He's up here to get Mrs.

Hart to return to Los Angeles with him
immediately.

Well, my name is Lorna Grant.

I suppose he isn't Richard Hart.

Well, what if I am? You've got it all
wrong. This isn't my wife, Teddy.

These initials happen to be T as in
Teddy, H as in Hart.

Sorry, but the little game is up.

Let's go.

Mrs. Bassett at 7 .58 p .m.

On the day of the return and the death
of Hartley Bassett, did you receive a

note from your husband by special
messenger?

Well, come now, Mrs. Bassett, if it's
necessary to refresh your memory.

Here's a receipt that you yourself
signed at the time of the delivery of

note.

Yes.

Yes, I did receive a note from him.

Can you produce that note in court?

No. Why not?

I threw it away.

If it pleased the court, I should like
at this time permission to enter this

photo site in evidence.

Mr. Mason?

You represent this to be what, Mr.
Berger? Our investigators found

on the memo pad on Hartley Bassett's
desk.

of a message that had apparently been
written on the top sheet of that pad

a ballpoint pen.

The impressions were developed to the
point of legibility in the police lab,

a photostat was made of the results.

No objection.

Mrs. Bassett, I ask you now if this is
not, in fact, a true copy of the note

sent to you by special messenger from
your husband.

Yes. Would you please read it to the
court?

Aye. My dear devoted wife.

Suggest you change your plans for Peter
Dawson.

I didn't take that $6 ,000. He did, and
maybe more, too.

I'll be home when I'm through checking
the books. Light a lamp in the window,

Hartley.

And now one final question.

Between the time you received this note
and when your husband died some two

hours later, did you or did you not
inform Peter Dawson of the contents of

note?

Louder, please.

Yes.

That's all. Thank you. Take the witness.

No question.

Mr.

Berger.

I beg your course indulgence, Your
Honor.

To what end?

Your Honor, unrefuted testimony has
established the fact that Mrs. Teddy

said she could identify the man who ran
from the murder scene.

I have just learned that this key
witness, Mrs. Teddy Hart, has been

Bailiff, enforce quiet or clear the
courtroom.

Furthermore, Your Honor, she has been
located under circumstances which

suggest the possibility of grave
misconduct on the part of defense

Mr. Berger, do you have a specific
request to make of the court at this

I have indeed, Your Honor.

The plane bringing Mrs.

Teddy Hart from Carmel is due to land
here in half an hour.

I ask a recess until this witness can be
brought to court to testify.

Request granted.

Court to reconvene at 3 .30.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Berger, I want to see
both of you in my chamber.

I must say, I can't help but admire for
it. Who?

Mason, sticking his neck out like that
for a client.

Yes. How about a cup of coffee?

No, thanks.

Now, Hamilton, what is the basis for
your allegations of misconduct?

Well, Judge, I suspected right from the
beginning that Mr. Mason was responsible

for the disappearance of Teddy Hart.

Now I'm convinced of it. We had Dick
Hart under surveillance all along.

This morning, after he testified, he
slipped out of the courtroom and met

Drake, who drove him to the airport,
followed by one of your men.

Exactly. And the trail of the lonely
bridegroom ended at Carmel.

In the motel room of a girl registered
as Lorna Grant, but who fitted exactly

the description of Teddy Hart, and who,
by curious coincidence, had the initials

T .H. on her luggage.

Well, Perry, in the interest of my
client, I had to take a desperate

If I lose, I'll assume sole
responsibility.

I'm afraid you lost already, Perry.

No.

The girl being returned from Carmel is
actually Lorna Grant, not Teddy Hart.

You set that up deliberately?

But why?

What possible excuse could you have for
such a thing?

There was no other course open to me.

The murderer had to believe that Teddy
Hart would shortly be brought into the

courtroom to point an accusing finger at
him.

But the murderer happens to be Peter
Dawson.

I think I've made a pretty airtight case
against him, even without Teddy Hart.

Well, supposing someone else were
guilty, and supposing that this someone

believes that the girl being flown from
Carmel actually is Teddy Hart.

Exactly.

And it isn't likely that this someone
will lose any time in getting away from

here, as far away as possible.

Will someone please fill me in on
Colmar's confession?

Della can give you a first -hand
account.

Well, when Bassett skipped out, it was
really Arthur Colmar who took the $6

,000.

He thought Bassett wouldn't show up
again, so who'd be the wiser?

Yeah, but when Bassett did come back, it
was Dawson he blamed, not Colmar.

Until that night.

Then he went over some ledgers and found
other discrepancies.

Bassett finally realized it was Comar
who had been doing the embezzling. He

accused him, and Comar begged for a
little time.

But then he used that time in planning
to frame Dawson into a murder.

That's right, with the bit of toupee and
all the rest of it.

There was only one problem, though. He
almost didn't get away.

In walked Teddy.

In walked who?

Well, Lieutenant, we weren't speaking of
the devil, but come right in.

All right, Perry, all right. I just
thought you'd like to know something

Teddy Hart, that's all.

Sending her picture out over the wire
has finally paid off.

You mean they found her? In Vermont.

And guess what she was doing?

Getting married again.