All language subtitles for Perry Mason s06e19 Surplus Suitor

Somebody still here?

Okay, to answer your wife's basket now.

Where'd you go?

Blessed young lady, why don't you watch
where you're going?

Well, if it isn't Hurricane Hollis.

You're cute, Mr. Hatfield.

What are you doing dashing off in all
directions?

Well, I had to run some errands for
Uncle John. I had to come here and get

silly old papers out of his safe. And
I'm supposed to be dressing for a date.

Which one is it tonight?

Alex. No, it's Martin.

I mean, uh... Well, come on, now, make
up your mind. Which one do you want it

be? Well, now, that's the trouble.

You know, they're both so, well,
impressive and sweet and polite, and

know what to say to head waiters. You
don't, I suppose.

Now, which one would you choose here?

What's that, the size of his bank
account?

Oh, dear, nobody's supposed to see that.

Mr. Hatfield, I was wondering if you
could check these tax forms again.

Miss Wilburn?

How are you?

Hi there.

Um... Vern, Elliot.

I ordered books for your uncle once in a
while.

Oh, I remember.

Vernon. Well, now this is Alex and the
dark one's Martin. Now what is your

absolutely best advice?

Um, I'd say whichever one can afford
you.

For heaven's sake, they both come from
wealthy families.

Well, I mean, that's how I know that
they're not just interested in my money.

Your what?

Oh, well, you know, me being the Wilburn
heiress and all that.

Hollis, would you mind stepping into my
office just for a minute? I think

perhaps it is time that we had a little
discussion about your future.

Oh, oh, no. My future's calling for me
in just a minute, and I'm supposed to be

in a cocktail dress. Listen, I'll crash
into you again sometime, Mr. Hatfield.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

She's a real kook, isn't she?

Well, I'm afraid the kook is a square.

Miss Wilbur, the young gentleman is
here.

Alex!

What are you doing here?

I've come for our date.

Have you forgotten?

Well, no.

No, of course not.

Don't be silly.

Alice, I was under the impression you
had a date with me tonight.

Oh, dear.

Oh, I don't know how this happened.

I'm positive I have a date tomorrow
night with one of you.

I don't know what to do.

Alex, you were here first, but I thought
I had a date with you tonight, Martin.

So please forgive me.

I will call you.

I'm really awfully sorry.

Have a seat and I'll get my jacket.

You take your time. I told the taxi to
wait.

I'll only be a minute.

I've been comparing your presentation
against a survey I had made last year.

Being European, you have the advantage
of knowing the market.

Yes, sir.

Also, I speak French as well as German.

I suppose your family is anxious for you
to get this franchise.

The dealership of my company over there
is a pretty big thing, you know.

So you just got your dates confused.

That's stupid of me.

But I've thought since I was here
anyway.

You thought a little pressure wouldn't
hurt.

Does that mean you have no confidence in
your presentation?

Mine speaks for itself.

I don't have to sneak in here like a
thief.

Would you like to speak for yourself
outside?

Anytime. Gentlemen.

I could award the franchise to the
winner.

But muscle really isn't important to a
salesman.

Just relax now.

Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir. My apologies,
Mr. Wilbur. As I started to tell Alex,

I've compared both your presentations
with my own survey.

And you're both so close, there's not
much choice.

So we have to consider other factors.

I think that the most important factor
is a sound financial background, sir.

Which you, as a member of the Potter
banking family, feel that you have.

Well, I have no intentions of getting
help from my family. But you don't seem

object getting help from Hollis.

I noticed that it didn't take you long
to turn on that continental charm.

It's all fair in love and business.

Now, that's enough.

My niece hasn't entered into this.

In fact, she seems to think about the
same of both of you. So are you. And

that's not very much.

I guess it's nice to know what I really
mean to you.

I mean, any girl would be flattered by
two men being so utterly attentive.

Hollis, I'm... I know what you are,
Martin.

I'm shocked, but... Well, at least now I
do know.

Oh, well, what am I?

A sales promotion or a stepping stone?
Is that it?

Or maybe I'm just an extra added
dividend, you know?

Winner take all.

Well, it really doesn't matter because
I'm no longer available.

Excuse me, sir.

No, Alex, you stay. I'll go.

Both of you stay here. Women are always
like that.

Now, you boys want me to make an
important decision.

But as I see it, you... Hello?

Yes?

You don't know me, Mr. Wilburn. I'm
calling for a friend.

He'd like me to give you a message.

I'm busy just now.

My friend knows about that money you
have hidden in a Swiss bank.

What are you talking about?

He knows it's money you haven't paid
taxes on.

So you better talk to him before you
give that franchise to anybody.

Who are you?

Who put you up to this?

Hello? Hello?

All right.

Which one of you?

Did one of you have that man call me?

I don't know what you're talking about,
Mr. Wilburn. Never mind.

You better go now.

Time for your pill.

I don't want it. You get out of here,
too.

Now, Mr. Wilburn, you'll only have
another heart attack.

Tell me what... Oh, Uncle John.

They don't even care about me. All
they're interested in is your old

What am I going to do?

Oh, now, tears aren't going to help.

But let's just see how much we know
about these young fellas.

Oh, for instance, Martin.

Says he's from the Potter Petroleum
family.

But has he talked much about the new
Potter investments in the... Oh, he went

Harvard and... Well, Alex, then.

What's he actually told you about
Gossner Industries?

How close is he to... Well, he went to
the Surbund and he said... Hollis, I'm

asking you a... Well, I was so impressed
that they'd even look at a girl who

went to Great Lakes High.

Oh, I wish I was back in Indiana right
now.

Well, you can go anytime you like, my
dear.

Might not be a bad idea.

Uncle John?

Is something wrong?

Do you have a problem, too?

Why, Mr.

Wilburn, what in the world... Tell Mr.
McKinney I want to see him right now.

You know you shouldn't be here. You're
not supposed to walk upstairs, let alone

five blocks to the office. If you're a
doctor... Oh, stop fussing, Jean. I took

a taxi. This is important.

Mr. Wilburn would like to see you.

Is there anything I can do to help you?
No.

Mr. McKinney will be right out.

In my office.

You're new.

Not really. I've been here since last
April.

Well, I haven't.

So that's the big boss.

I was beginning to think he really
didn't exist.

Now you know differently.

John, what is this nonsense? You ought
to know better.

What's been happening to my safe?

What kind of a question is that?

One I want answered.

Well, I've had the workmen up this week
to install a more modern safe in my

office, but yours is... I mean, who has
the combination now?

You have. I have.

No drastic changes have been made around
here. Why?

I had an anonymous phone call last
night, Gage.

A man claiming he got proof out of this
safe of some money I'm supposed to have

buried in a Swiss bank.

You mean illegal money?

Blasted, Gage, don't you play games with
me.

I don't even know what's been going on
around here for the past year.

But I'm going to find out.

Are you hiding money in a foreign bank?

I'll take into consideration, John, that
you're upset.

And overlook that.

All right.

All right, maybe it's just a bluff.

Forget I asked.

Just a moment.

Oh, Mr. Wilburn, there's a phone call
for you. Tell Mrs. Abernathy I don't

a pill.

It's a man. He said he called you last
night.

Well? My friend said you'd go to your
office this morning.

I guess he's got you figured out.

You can tell your friend he's a liar.

There's nothing missing from my safe.

I'm going to report this to the police,
and you can tell your friend that, too.

I don't think that would be very smart,
Mr. Wilburn.

My friend has your passbook from the
Swiss bank.

All right.

If you can prove to me that he has that
passbook, I'll do whatever your friend

wants.

Suppose you meet me... Well, my friend's
idea is that... Not your friend, you.

Please do this my way.

You could use a thousand dollars or so
for yourself, couldn't you?

I think

this is my cab.

Mr. Wilburn?

Are you the one that's been calling me?

Sure am.

Hop in.

He wanted me, then he didn't want me.

Called from the bank to say that we'd
have to have lunch some other day. Oh,

dear.

But, uh... I've got a teller friend at
that bank, and, uh... He tells me that,

uh... Your uncle... Your uncle drew $2
,000 in $50 bills, and

then had the bank record the numbers.
Then he, uh... Went outside and got into

cab and disappeared.

Something's wrong. I know it is. Poor
Uncle John.

Hollis, could it have anything to do
with your two young suitors?

They're not mine.

You know, one of the contradictions of
our society is that the female can marry

for money, but if a man doesn't, he's
a...

He's an unscrupulous opportunist.

They're not that.

Anyway, neither of them were interested
in me.

All they wanted was that European
franchise.

Young lady, if you weren't in orbit all
the time, that possibility might have

occurred to you.

Well, what difference does it make?

I'm really worried about his Uncle John
and all the nice things he's done for

me.

How about that?

You know, I once dreamed of putting
myself through law school doing this.

a fact.

I'd hustled a few city slickers for
eating money.

Those days I looked like a simple,
earnest country boy who wrote home every

week. But then I met up with a real
hustler and found out that's exactly

was. A simple, earnest country boy.

And sharing time came around.

You think I'm the original farmer's
daughter, don't you?

Hollis? No one's immune to a broken
heart.

But that's not what I'm talking about.

Well, what then?

Your uncle once told me that I was to
safeguard the interests of all his

stockholders. Fortunately, that includes
you.

Because I find that your uncle is a
pretty sharp businessman.

What are you talking about?

My uncle is the nicest and the most
generous businessman. I know, I know, I

know. But suppose he isn't the only one
who is in trouble.

A lawyer is supposed to do his job and
keep his feelings to himself.

But suppose he sees a nice little lamb
getting sheared.

Do you mean me?

That's nonsense. I'm not even going to
listen to you.

So you got back.

I didn't go on a world cruise.

I'm just surprised you didn't drop in
the street someplace.

Mrs. Abernathy, I phoned the druggist to
have my prescription refilled.

You can pick it up any time.

That's when I'll do it.

All right.

You win.

Tell your friend I'll meet him tonight.

I'm too ill to go out anymore.

You'll have to come over here.

Say, eight o 'clock?

Sure, Mr. Wilburn.

And thanks for the, uh, tip.

Mrs. Abernathy said you wanted to see
me.

Uncle John, I've been trying to see you
all afternoon, but... All right, Hollis.

Now you better tell me who it was you
gave that combination to.

Comma what to?

Just try to keep it a simple answer,
please.

Uncle John, I know you've been upset
about something, but... My office safe

rifled by somebody who knew that
combination.

There was only one place that could have
got it.

That's a horrible thing to say.

You had it the day you went to get the
envelope.

You wrote it in a card, remember?

Now, whom did you give it to?

Oh, nobody. What a ridiculous... I warn
you, I'm going to find out anyway.

So you may as well tell me the truth
right now.

Uncle John, do... Do you think of me
as... As a lamb?

Oh.

Suppose I told you I decided to go back
to Indiana.

I told you it wasn't a bad idea, didn't
I?

I need some money.

All right, all right. But just now,
Hollis, I'm too big.

Maybe I'd even have to sell my share of
your company.

Your share?

The 15 % my father left. For the love of
Pete, you signed that over to me.

What concerns me now, Hollis, is that...
Well, you said you only wanted control

of it for business reasons.

But all those papers I signed...

Uncle John, have you really been trying
to cheat me? How dare you talk to me

like that? Well, I don't know. Maybe
it's the truth. Shut up, you little fly

-bring. Well, let go of me. Swiss bank
accounts.

Blackmail, and now you're talking like
this? Well, Uncle John, all I have... Be

quiet, I said.

You gave that combination to someone.
You may be helping someone.

Now, who was it?

Hello? Doctor's Exchange.

I want you to get Dr. Lewin right away.

This is Mrs. Abernathy.

Mr. Wilburn went down to his office
today, and I... Is that John Wil...

I know I should have stopped him, but
now he's having a terrible quarrel with

his niece.

I know it'll bring on another seizure.

Mrs. Abernathy, what do you think you're
doing?

Get off the line. I want to make a call.

No, Mr. Wilburn. You've been
misbehaving, and I want the doctor.

Then give me my pills.

Give me my prescription.

Do something useful for a change.

Please, Mr. Wilburn.

I don't need doctors. I need lawyers.
Most of all, I don't need you stupid

around here.

No, don't do that.

Alice, help!

Please!

Mr. Wilman!

Mr. Wilman, I've locked the door!

Mr. Wilman, please!

Answer me!

What's

wrong?

Don't just stand there doing nothing.

Run to the neighbors.

Get help. Get the doctor.

Hurry!

Is anyone there?

Hello? Oh, Mr. Hatfield?

Vern? Don't tell me you're still at the
office.

Well, I just finished those tax reports,
and your private phone rang.

It rang so long, I thought maybe I'd
better answer it. Anyway, I'm almost

it was Mr. Wilburn's voice.

Well, what did he want? What did he say?

Well, that's just it. He shouted,
Hollis, no, don't do that.

Hollis, help.

Well, the line's still open, but
nothing. I've yelled, whistled

it. I'll get right over there.

Just a minute. I think somebody's on the
line now.

Hello, Mr. Wilburn?

Who's calling him?

Well, Mr. Wilburn called here.

May I speak to him, please?

Not a chance. This is the police.

I killed him, Mr. Hatfield.

What?

You were right about me being sheared
like a lamb.

I am such a fool.

You know, first it was the boys and then
Uncle John.

I called him a thief. I guess I exploded
all over the place. And he accused me

of robbing his safe.

Well, then I shouted at him and...

He had another attack, and I... Now,
now, now. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

thing at a time.

Were you in the study with your uncle
when he had the attack?

Yes.

Oh, no. I mean... Well, he started
getting all purple in the face, and... I

so angry, I just ran out and bawled like
a baby.

Where did you go, Miss Wilbur?

You're Lieutenant Anderson.

We've never met Mr. Hatfield, but I
understand the deceased was calling your

office when he died.

So I've been told.

Yes, well, we'll get back to that.

Where did you go, Miss Woodburn, after
you left the study?

I climbed up on the wall.

Up on the wall?

Under the avocado tree.

You know, in the garden.

I see.

But why?

Well, I... I just wanted to be alone and
cry it out.

All my life, back home in Indiana, when
I wanted to be alone and cry, I'd climb

up on the fence, and tonight I climbed
up on the wall.

Under the avocado tree.

You can see the window of your uncle's
study from there, can't you?

Yes, but I couldn't see anything. The
drapes were closed.

But if anybody had come out of that
window, you would have seen him,

you? But I saw nobody come out of the
window.

And the only other exit was the door.

bolted from the inside.

Lieutenant, are you suggesting that
Wilbur wasn't alone when he had that

He couldn't possibly have been alone,
Mr. Hatchfield. You see, he didn't die

a heart attack.

He was murdered.

Oh.

We've reconstructed it this way.

He telephoned your office. Somebody
there, a Mr. Vernon Elliott, answered

heard him shout, Hollis, no, help.

And there was a crash.

The murderer ripped the phone out of Mr.
Wilburn's hand and struck him on the

temple.

The blow was fatal.

And the murderer escaped through the
window.

Without Miss Wilburn seeing him?

Yes. You see, Lieutenant, she ran into
the house when she heard Mrs. Abernathy

scream. That left the way open for the
murderer to escape by the window. That's

very quick thinking.

By the killer, I mean.

He commits a murder and waits calmly in
the study with his victim, all the while

the housekeeper is trying to break the
door in until Miss Wilburn leaves the

garden? You're up against a very clever
murderer, Lieutenant.

He's brilliant, Counselor.

If he wasn't, he'd never have guessed
that Miss Wilburn was sitting up on that

wall.

You knew Perry still count blessing,
didn't you?

I thought he might be.

That's why I came over now. I don't want
him around while I make a proposition

to you.

Oh, goodness.

What is it this time?

Did Perry come to work for me?

Isn't it bad enough you're picking my
brains about one of Perry's old cases?

Did you check the file?

Mm -hmm.

And, uh, now tell me just, uh, what did
you find out?

Mm -hmm.

Wilburn versus Wilburn. Mm -hmm.

It happened about a year ago. A girl
named Hollis Wilburn sued her uncle over

estate.

There's only one trouble, though.

Aren't you John Wilburn's lawyer now?

I was, briefly.

He managed to get himself murdered last
night.

Oh.

Well, Hollis's father had done some work
which gave him a small interest in Mr.

Wilburn's company.

She inherited it from her father, but...

Mr. Wilburn denied any such interest.

What was the legal determination?

Perry won the case for her.

She was awarded 15 % of the company.

Della, what I don't understand, though,
is why didn't Perry continue to manage

her interests?

Oh, because she moved to Indiana.

Oh, no, no, she didn't. That's the
fascinating part of it.

She went to live with her uncle.

Perry didn't know about this.

Perry doesn't know about everything.

Don't keep him talking too long, will
you?

Oh, I wish I had somebody to make a fuss
over me like that.

Hello, Perry.

Sherman Hatfield's here, and... Tell him
I won't be ready for a game of pool

until next week.

I heard that, Perry. It's a date.

In the meantime, tell me, why did you
throw Hollis Wilburn to the good gray

wolf? Well, I didn't do it willingly,
Sherman.

The girl mailed me a check and
terminated my services.

Why? Is she in trouble?

Up to her pretty teeth.

Tell me, who does your gumshoe work for
you?

Paul Drake.

Sherm. I like Hollis Wilburn.

What are you trying to do to her?

Defend her.

Hollis, I didn't mean to frighten you.

Whatever. Think about whether I should
go into the house or not.

That's all right.

If you'll excuse me. There are things I
wanted to explain.

There are?

Of course, I read about your uncle's
murder.

Did you also read that the killer
escaped from the window?

You know, the killer couldn't have seen
me sitting on the wall because of the

branches of the avocado tree.

But I think there's something that I
better tell you.

I saw him.

I don't understand.

It says in the newspapers.

I lied to the police.

Why? Well, I thought that Uncle John had
had another heart attack, and I saw no

reason to involve either you or Martin.

What you really mean to say is that you
saw the murderer, but because of the

dog, you didn't know who it was.

I didn't say that.

Alice, you should be saying that to the
police, not to me.

And the other young fellow, Martin
Potter, caught up with her not ten

later.

And I suppose he was just as anxious and
denied it just as loudly.

He said she was an idiot to have lied to
the police and advised her to come

straight to you.

Well... Come in, will you, Hollis,

please?

How much money have you got in that
pocketbook of yours?

Huh?

About $20. Let me have it, huh?

This is Mr.

Drake. This is Miss Wilbur. Hi.

I'll give you a receipt a little later
on. Now, you've just retained me as your

counsel, and, young lady, you're going
to tell me the truth.

Did you or did you not see a man climb
out through that study window last

Yes, I did.

But I didn't see who it was, and he got
away before I could climb down the wall.

Well, it's the truth.

I believe you, but I'm not entirely
objective.

Now, let's pretend that Mr. Drake here
is a policeman. Are you convinced, Paul?

Nope.

Well, I don't think you're very nice.

What he means is the police are going to
think that you created an unidentified

man when you realized that the murderer
could only have left that study through

the window.

Because if there wasn't a man, then you
must have killed your Uncle John.

But just because we had a little
argument?

Tell me, Hollis, what happened to your
15 % interest in his company?

Well, I don't know exactly, but I signed
a lot of papers, and after the

settlement, Uncle John was very nice to
me and asked me to come live there.

You know, I guess what I did was sign a
release, giving him control of my share.

But then he made out a will, leaving me
the whole company.

Who witnessed that will?

I don't know.

Well, Uncle John showed me the rough
draft, and he said he was going to give

to his lawyer.

Oh.

That was done before I was retained, you
see.

Tell me now, uh... No, never mind.

You run on home now, young lady, and try
and keep out of trouble if you possibly

can.

With that for a motive, I'd make an
arrest.

But, uh, only if John Wildman left such
a will.

Or threaten to change it afterwards.

No, that's what worries me.

He intended to change it. He mentioned
it to me on the phone the day before he

died.

You know, Gage McKinney swore nobody had
the combination to that safe except

John Wilburn.

I guess he didn't know about you.

Do

I

look all right?

Yeah, you look... Why?

Well, I've never been in court before. I
didn't know what to wear.

You didn't have much choice, did you?

I would say you look very lovely.

Could we please stick to the main
issues, Mrs. Abernathy?

Now, when you went to get the deceased
his medication, how long were you away?

Down at the corner drugstore.

How long does that take?

That's what I'm trying to determine.

Ten minutes, maybe?

All right.

You didn't see the defendant leave the
study?

I didn't see anything.

All I know is the door was bolted on the
inside.

I pounded and I hollered.

You got no response at all?

He shouted, don't do it, Hollis.

No, Hollis.

Something like that, but nothing more.

Now, those were his exact words, Mrs.
Abernathy?

Mr. Berger, you don't stop to take notes
when a man sounds as frightened as Mr.

Wilbur did.

Your witness, Mr. Hatfield.

Mrs. Abernathy.

Were you gone from the house long enough
for the defendant to have left the

study? How long does it take to walk out
a door?

Matter of seconds, I should think. And
the same length of time for somebody

to be admitted.

I guess so, but I'm sure that nobody...
No further questions, Mrs. Abernathy.

His exact words were, Hollis, no.

Don't do that.

No, Hollis.

Mm -hmm.

And then there was a crashing sound as
if he dropped the receiver, but... What

action did you then take, sir?

Well, I kept the line open, and I
contacted Mr. Hatfield on another phone.

And could you tell us, Mr. Elliott, what
you happened to be doing in Mr.

Hatfield's office that night?

Well, I... I'm an accountant in the
building there.

Very well, sir. Your witness.

Go on.

Just why were you working so late in my
office that night?

Well, you had all those tax reports
pertaining to the franchise deal in

you know. Yes, I know it, but the court
doesn't.

Well, a client of his, Wilburn and
McKinney, they were in the process of

awarding a European dealership for their
electronic amplifying devices.

Who were the bidders for this franchise?

One was a man from New York, Martin
Potter, and the other was...

A man representing a Swiss company, Alex
Gosner.

Did John Wilburn at any time ever
indicate to you which one he was going

the franchise to?

Well, no, sir.

Anyway, I guess Mr. Wilburn was murdered
before he could make a decision.

Wasn't he?

No further questions. Thank you.

Your Honor, the witness who could best
present the next step in the

prosecution's case is...

unavailable at this time.

I'm referring to Mr. Perry Mason.

However, we believe that substantially
the same testimony can be delivered by

his confidential secretary, who has, of
course... Your Honor, the defense has no

objection to Miss Street standing in for
Mr. Mason.

Well, thank you, Mr. Hatfield. Not at
all, Mr. Berger. I call Miss Della

to the stand.

Just where to tell the truth, the whole
thing... I remember her.

She's nice.

Why are you calling her?

To give you a motive for murder?

Well, Miss Street, having you here just
as a witness for the prosecution is a

rare experience for both of us.

I'll try not to be hostile, Mr. Berger.
Well, that'll be a rare experience, too.

Now, Miss Street, in March a year ago,
your employer, Mr. Mason, represented

defendant in this case in a civil suit
against her uncle, the decedent John

Wilburn. Could you tell this court the
nature of that suit?

Hollis Wilburn sued to establish
ownership of 15 % of John Wilburn's

And what was the outcome of the suit?

The court upheld Miss Wilburn's claim.

Now, could you tell us what disposition
she then made of her interest in the

business? I don't know, Mr. Berger.

We've had no further connections with
either party.

Well, could you tell us who paid Mr.
Mason's final fee?

We received a check.

From Mr. John Wilburton.

Thank you, Miss Jane.

Yes, I recall typing and witnessing an
agreement in which Hollis agreed to

transfer full control of her interest in
the company to Mr. Wilburton.

Miss Crewe, I have in my hand a document
which purports to be the last will and

testament of the decedent, which, with
the court's permission, I intend to

as States Exhibit 11.

This is a holographic will. I wish you
would examine the signature.

Yes, this is his.

It's all his handwriting, even the date.

Thank you.

We intend to confirm Miss Crew's opinion
with the testimony of a handwriting

expert, of course.

But briefly, Your Honor, this document
states that, aside from token bequests,

the decedent's half of the partnership
of Wilbur and McKinney goes to the

defendant. Alice Wilburn.

Thank you, Miss Crewe. That'll be all.

Your witness.

Miss Crewe, recently, when I was
retained as counsel for John Wilburn,

you delivered to me most of his private
papers.

Yes, I remember.

But there was no mention of this last
will.

He must have kept it in his safe.

However... Another will was included
among those papers, and it's dated four

years ago.

Therefore, it could be invalidated by
States Exhibit 11.

In this earlier will, you were named as
the principal beneficiary. Isn't that

right? Yes, I guess I was mentioned in
his will once.

Your name was also mentioned along with
John Wilburn in a number of gossip

columns. Isn't that right?

Several years ago, John Wilburn asked me
to marry him.

Then he had a heart attack, and his
doctor advised him against marriage.

Oh, then this will, in your favor, was
in the form of reparations.

Scarcely, Mr. Hatfield.

This will was made out long before all
this happened.

Did you know about this last will in
which you were to receive, well, only a

token bequest?

No, I didn't. And it wouldn't have
mattered anyway.

I wasn't going to marry him for his
money.

And I wasn't going to be nice to him for
his money or anything else.

When did you last see John Wildman? The
day before he was murdered. He came down

to the office for the first time in
almost a year.

For what reason?

I don't know.

He went into conference with Mr.
McKinney.

Thank you. No further questions.

As I said before, John was so upset that
day that he wasn't entirely coherent.

But he implied that something had been
stolen from his private safe.

And you claim that you don't know what
that was?

No, I don't.

Could it have had anything to do with a
Swiss bank account?

I beg your pardon?

Well, didn't he mention anything to you
about his being accused of having

concealed rather a large sum of money
illegally in a Swiss bank?

Mr. Hatfield, John specifically denied
having any such fund. But he did inform

you that someone was attempting to
blackmail him.

Well, yes.

He thought that one of the bidders for
the franchise was trying to exert some

pressure on him to influence his
decision.

But then he decided it was a bluff.

I mean, since John didn't have any money
concealed, the pressure wouldn't work.

Wasn't the pressure exerted on the wrong
man?

I, uh, I don't understand that question.

A bluff, Mr. McKinney, depends entirely
on the one person not knowing what cards

the other person holds.

Now, if John Wilburn didn't have money
hidden in Switzerland, the blackmailer's

evidence wouldn't have bluffed him even
for a minute.

Therefore, the blackmailer either was a
complete idiot or had evidence that

applied not to John Wilburn, but to
somebody else.

Could that somebody else have been you?

I wasn't trying to evade taxes.

If I declared it, Wilburn might have
found out.

You mean that you kept a record of your
deposits in John Wilburn's own safe?

I merely put the passbook in there for a
few days, that's all.

I was afraid the people at the office
might have caught on to the combination

my own saves, so I was having it
changed.

Well, John Wilburn hadn't been in his
office for a year, but... Yes, somebody

stole it and... somebody tried to
blackmail the wrong man.

Wouldn't all this have been simple
arithmetic for John Wilburn to have

out? He said nothing to me about his
conclusions.

Didn't he, Mr. McKinney?

I submit that he accused you of theft
and threatened you with exposure in

prison. And in order to prevent that,
perhaps you killed him.

No, sir, I did not.

I have no further questions. Thank you.

Mr. McKinney.

Now that you've brought up the matter of
who opened that safe and stole the

passbook, I suggest there's another
matter you better tell us about. Who had

combination of that safe?

John Wilburn or myself. That's all, just
the two of us. Are you sure that's all,

Mr. McKinney?

Well, I certainly never gave it to
anyone else.

Yes, but what about Mr. Wilburn?
Couldn't he have given the combination

niece, for example?

Oh, I see what you mean.

That's where the girl was arrested,
wasn't it?

Opening the safe again?

Hollis, about Alex and Martin... I don't
want to talk about them.

I tore up their pictures.

You said your uncle was going to award
the franchise to the one who had the

family connection.

Apparently that's the way he always did
business, with one eye out for his own

gain. My uncle was always pumping me
about the boys.

Did he ever say anything that suggested
he thought one of them might be a fake?

They both are.

No, that's not what I mean.

Mr. Drake is checking their background.

Martin is a remote cousin of the
petroleum potters, but we're not even

Alex is a member of the Gossner industry
families at all. What difference does

that make?

I want to find out which one was putting
pressure on your uncle to get that

franchise.

Well, I don't think that either of the
boys did it.

I think it was Gage McKinney that did
it.

Don't you?

And now, Mr. Gossner.

You were at this time trying to obtain
this European franchise from John

Wilburn, is that correct?

Yes. And at the same time you were
friendly with the defendant?

Yes, I was.

Did you ever in any fashion obtain from
the defendant the combination to her

uncle's safe?

Absolutely not.

Thank you, Mr. Gosner. That will be all.

Mr. Hatfield.

Mr. Gosner, you may answer this question
with a simple yes or no or any way you

like.

What were your feelings toward Hollis
Wilburn?

I was in love with her.

I still am.

And thank you for giving me the
opportunity to say it.

You're very welcome, Mr. Gosner.

Now you have the opportunity of telling
us if you at any time ever attempted to

blackmail Mr. Wilburn.

I did not.

You never told him any lies, never... Of
course I told him lies.

But only about my background.

How else could I get the job?

How else could I get the girl?

You don't understand, sir.

I felt only by obtaining the franchise
would I be in a position to ask any girl

to marry me.

Then you had good reason to use every
effort to obtain it.

Every effort, Mr. Hatfield.

But not blackmail.

It's ridiculous to think Hollis gave the
combination of that safe to anyone.

I'll bet she never even knew it.

Of course she knew that combination,
Your Honor. She had to.

The day after the murder, I found her
taking some papers out of the safe. Now,

how else could she... I think that
clarifies the matter sufficiently,

Lieutenant. Thank you.

Mr. Hatfield?

Lieutenant.

Did you actually see her open that safe?

No, I'll admit it was already open
before I walked in. But no further

Thank you.

Your Honor, the prosecution would like
to recall Mr. Vernon Elliott.

Yes, sir.

It was a day or two before the murder. I
remember I heard her tell Mr. Hatfield

that she'd been sent by her uncle to get
some papers for him from the safe.

It was late and everyone else had left
for the day. And when you saw the

defendant, did she have any papers in
her possession?

Well, she had a large envelope, which
she indicated came from the safe, if

that's what you mean.

That's exactly what I mean.

And thank you for settling the matter
once and for all.

Your witness.

Byrne, how well do you know Hollis
Wildman?

Well, a lot better than she knows me, I
guess.

We used to run into each other every so
often, but she never seemed to remember

me. In other words, uh...

Her retentive powers were not of the
best, huh?

Now, assuming that her uncle had given
her the combination that day, do you

think that she could have remembered it
two or three days later?

Your Honor, the witness is being asked
to state an opinion.

Anyway, even if the defendant's memory
is as poor as that, she certainly could

have written down the combination before
she left home.

That's right.

That's right.

Thank you very much, Mr. Berger. You
remember, Vern, she had it written on a

card. Don't you remember? And she said
something to the effect that nobody was

supposed to see it.

Yes, sir. I remember that she tore
something up, all right. Yes. And you

up the pieces and pieced them together.

I what?

Oh, no, sir, no. Of course not.

And then you opened the safe, probably
looking for anything of value.

But you hit the jackpot, didn't you,
Byrne?

A Swiss bank book that suggested
blackmail. Oh, isn't that correct?

You're not serious, are you?

Murder is very serious, Byrne.

But, Your Honor, I was in his office
when the murder happened.

I got the phone call from Mr. Wilburn.
Of course. And you heard him cry for

help. And the words you heard him say
were confirmed by Mrs. Abernathy.

But, uh...

Suppose you didn't hear those words over
the telephone.

Suppose you were right there in the
study with John Wilburn when he tried to

phone his attorney and when he tried to
call Hollis for help.

No, that's crazy.

So you killed him and escaped the only
way possible through the window.

Then you went straight to my office.

The phone there was still ringing.

Why? Because nobody yet had got into the
study to break that connection.

And you simply held on until the police
spoke into that receiver.

Now, tell the truth, Vern.

Isn't that exactly the way it happened?

I... I never thought anyone would
ever... It was such a perfect

alibi.

There's no such thing as a perfect
alibi, Vern.

Not when you've committed murder.

You guessed.

You just must have guessed it was Vern.

Why not?

Perry Mason does it all the time.

Does he? He does just what Mr. Hatfield
did.

He puts all of the facts in his head,
then spins them around until it hits the

lucky number. Ouch.

But you see, Hollis, there was no point
in my jumping to the same conclusion

that your uncle did, that it had to be
one of those boys who was putting the

pressure on him.

Too many people would like to have had
that franchise, including Burns.

So he had Burns' telephoning friend
accept some money.

extortion money, mark money, which, of
course, he started to spend.

Then he had the taxi driver followed,
and that led him to who Vern really was.

So when Vern showed up that night,
hoping to make all kinds of fancy deals,

was met by a man who had all the
evidence necessary to throw him into

attempting blackmail.

It scared Vern, so he killed him.

Well, I understand all that.

But, well, there's still one awful
thing.

Awful? Why, Hollis, you were just
cleared of murder charges.

And you were practically proposed to
right from the witness stand by two very

charming young men.

That's it.

That's just the trouble.

Now, if Alex and Martin, if they're both
really all right, what am I going to

do, Mr. Hatfield?

Which one do I really like the best?

Hollis. I'm going to leave this larger
problem in more capable hands.

The client is yours, Della. Good night,
ladies.

Good night.