All language subtitles for Perry Mason s09e26 DeadRinger

It's the poor that gets the vines.

It's the rich what gets the gravy.

Oh, ain't it?

Watch it. Watch it.

Sorry,

Limey. Barely two days on the hospital.

Sorry, I said.

First drinks on the house.

Much obliged.

Much obliged.

What are you stopping here for?

That's Nate over there. Back in a
second.

Who's Nate?

What's this all about?

Nate's a private detective, and this is
about $7 million, March.

I'm not going to get $7 million.

Nobody is at the rate you're handling
things. Now, Otis, the lawyers are

their best to prove that the patent is
ours.

Well, their best isn't good enough.

The opposition has a lawyer, too.

And I saw him operating with that jury
today.

He made three of our witnesses sound
like morons. Now, we can't take a chance

losing. We do, and a patent worth seven
million goes down the drain.

We're listening to that crazy nephew.
That place across the street, the bar

there. Wait a minute, Dan.

Nate sends the guys in there.

This is one time one of my pub crawls
paid off.

I swear, when I spotted him in that
joint the other night, the idea hit me

in the face.

There he was, raising the devil, looking
like the devil. Still, I thought

with... The right haircut. He'd look
like... All right, all right. Let's see

him. Look like who?

I don't know what's going on, but I have
been around enough to know you don't

entrust a case to your lawyers, then go
behind their backs and... For the state

like this, you do.

Now, if it bothers you, March, if you're
so anxious to avoid trouble, then you

wait here.

Now listen, Uncle Otis.

My idea is that Sandra hasn't testified
yet, right?

Big help she's going to be.

Well, she won't until after the weekend,
right? So get to the point.

So the one sure way to win the case is
to take care of the guys giving us a

time.

You are out of your mind, and so is that
detective friend of yours who followed

him here. You must have been drunk when
you spotted him.

Now, wait a minute.

I want you to talk to Nate. No.

The guy with him is from one of the
studios.

He tells Nate it'll work. How many
people have you talked to?

You're a fool, Dan.

They're both all right.

The guy with Nate says we have to do
something about that scar, but there's

nothing to it.

Forget about all those clothes. Picture
them the way the makeup guy will fix

you.

And in the right place, at the right
time, with the right witnesses.

Yeah, watch it, mate, watch it. That arm
was twice broke, you know. I'll get to

die out of the cost.

Sorry.

Oh.

Never you mind, Gov.

I'm sure he meant no harm, sir.

Sure you meant no harm to the likes of
me.

Yeah, now!

Thank you, Mr. Grimes. Don't mind if I
do.

Please, sir. Oh, dear, please.

Oh, it's only for a bit of disinfectant.
Out of the way, this bloke is slicing

me up. Of course, of course. But not for
the next 36 hours.

That's part of our agreement.

Right. Oh, the things a man does when he
sells his soul.

There now, I've been thinking.

36 hours.

Suppose a Liverpool lady should be
sailed by then.

You know I...

The persecutions of poor foreign seamen
can be subjected to.

Don't worry, Mr. Grimes.

You're not going to miss your ship.

Not for any reason.

That's part of our agreement, too.

You're not to talk, you understand?

How is that so?

I suppose some innocent Samaritan should
offer me a drink.

I'm not even to say no politely.

You do just exactly as we've told you.
Nothing more, nothing less. Oh, I have

small children for the rocks of me for
the way I look.

Now, I ask you, Gov, would you let your
hair get colored like a silly woman?

You sit still, Mr. Grimes. We have much
time left. Now, now, now, now, laddie.

Laddie, don't get upset.

I'm only wanting to do my best for you
and the Gov, that's all.

But it would help if I knew a bit more
what I'm up to.

Grimes, the less you know, the less
chance there is of your hanging.

Blimey, what a sot.

What an horrible sot.

There you are. That's all there is to
it.

Naturally, naturally, man's got to be
dressed proper for his own funeral. Now,

told you, there's absolutely no danger
to you.

Oh, sure, Gerv, sure.

Your nephew, he took the lid off the
pudding, so to speak.

Made mention of the hangman he did.

And for anyone whose own dear father was
stretched by the neck until he was

dead. Dan's a fool.

Oh, not that I paid me mind to the young
idiot.

But it did set me a -thinking.

How would it look?

Look, a fine gentleman like that to
approach the Pendergates with only $1

in his pocket's admittance fee.

Grimes, I'm going to give you $2 ,000. I
was just saving it for a

surprise, that's all. Of course you
were, Gav. Of course you were. I knew it

the time. God bless you, Gav. Bless you.

All right, that's enough.

Yes, you only got three hours to learn
how to walk, huh?

Stand up straight.

Come on, suck your belly in. Straighter,
get your head up.

Right you are.

Right you are.

Now, there's just one little detail I
will have to know, gents.

What might I be calling these nibs?

Perry Mason.

Mr.

Mason?

mason's office no mr mason isn't here
this evening he went right to his

apartment when he left court if you'll
give me your message i can get it to him

well yes i'm sure that's where he went
unless it's quite urgent

what did you say your name was please
hello

Excuse me.

I'm Sandra Dunkel. Is there a message
for me?

Mr. Perry Mason asked me to meet him
here.

Mason? We have no guest by that name,
madam.

Oh, well, he said to meet him here at H
Sharp.

Excuse me a moment.

Your change, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Mason?

Perry Mason.

I thought he looked familiar.

Yes.

I heard him speak once, Harley.

He's a good speaker.

Good tipper, sir.

What for you?

Nothing, thank you.

I appreciate your phone call. I do need
money right now. If there's any way that

I... What is it that you want me to do?

And you say that you were secretary to
Mr. Kramer prior to his death last year?

Yes, sir.

I'd held that position for about two
years.

She was the worst secretary my father
ever had. Can you read her on shorthand?

Well, actually, I haven't been able to
follow it.

Then let me explain it very simply.

Now, my client, Swanson Radio
Corporation, maintains that the patent

should be turned over per agreement at
the stipulated sum.

On the other hand, Kramer Engineering
maintained that... If counsel wishes to

give a capsule version of the issues, I
have no objection.

But I would prefer to state the
defendant's position myself.

Go right ahead, Mr. Mason.

Let me put it this way.

Swanson Radio maintains they had no
previous knowledge of the value of the

patent in question.

The defendant, Kramer Engineering,
maintains that two days before his

Kramer discovered that...

Mr. Swanson had prior knowledge of A &T
Industries' intention to purchase the

patent rights for $7 million.

Information Mr.

Kramer had no access to when he
concluded the agreement with Swanson

Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now you see why your testimony is so
important.

Now tell me, Miss Dunkel, did you spend
much time with Mr. Kramer?

particularly while he was sick the last
year. And did you ever hear him say

anything about selling the patent in
question to Swanson Radio?

Only that he thought he'd made a good
deal.

Yet we've heard testimony here this
morning that Mr. Kramer had seen some

mysterious letter written by some
mysterious person that purported to show

Mr. Swanson, before negotiating with Mr.
Kramer, knew that he could get $7

million for the patent.

Now, did you ever see any such note?

No, sir.

Did you ever hear of any such note?

No, sir.

Yet didn't you tell the court earlier
this morning that it was Mr. Kramer's

practice to dictate to you a summary of
each day's activities?

Yes, sir, but he never dictated anything
like that.

You seem very nervous, Miss Dunkel. Is
there any particular reason?

Yes, sir.

The lawyer on the other side, Mr. Mason,
he wanted me to answer that last

question differently.

What?

You don't mean that you discussed this
with... Yes, I do.

Mr. Mason telephoned me last night.

He said that they needed my help.

Objection, Your Honor.

Aside from the fact that I've never
spoken to this witness, her statement is

inadmissible. Sustained.

The jury will disregard the last
question and answer.

Perhaps we'd better clarify this, Miss
Dunkel.

Do you mean that someone telephoned you
last night and said he was Mr. Mason?

Yes, sir.

He said to meet him at the Babson Arms
Hotel and that he'd give me written

instructions.

Objection.

Just tell us what you actually did, Miss
Dunkel. Well, I went to the Babson Arms

Hotel at the time that he said, and a
man walked in, handed me an envelope,

it was him.

That's not true, Your Honor.

One moment, Mr. Mason.

Can you tell us what was in that
envelope, Miss Duncan?

This.

It's some type questions and answers for
me to give.

And if I said all that, it would sound
like Mr. Swanson over there was a thief

and a swindler who had stole Mr.

Kramer's invention and then lied about
it. That's enough, Miss Duncan.

We're quite capable of examining that
paper ourselves.

Please, Your Honor.

May I only ask if there was anything
else in the envelope that the witness

show us?

Well, Miss Dunkel?

Yes.

Yes, there was.

And I was going to keep it.

But I just couldn't sleep all night.

So this morning, I went to see Mr.
Bates.

And I realized that I just couldn't go
through with it.

I just couldn't commit perjury.

Not even for $10 ,000.

I remember you because it's not every
day someone gives you a 75 -cent tip for

handing them a 25 -cent cigar.

I know you think you saw me, but I don't
even smoke cigars. I beg your pardon,

sir. I saw you light it up.

And besides, the Reverend was standing
right there.

Well, I thought I recognized you when I
first saw you at the counter.

And then when the young lady called your
name, I remember it.

But you hadn't seen me for two years,
and at that time you were sitting in the

balcony of the Shrine Auditorium, and I
was on stage at least a hundred feet

away. Well, I've seen your picture in
the papers.

You saw one side of a man's face last
night, and then his back in a dimly lit

hotel lobby. And you assume it was me.

I'm sure you saw someone, perhaps a man
who vaguely resembled me, but... I am

sorry to say so, Mr. Mason.

But it was you.

And you met her.

And you handed her that envelope.

Seven million dollars!

The patent is theirs.

Mr. Parkinson, if your judgment... I
knew it was wrong to let a criminal

handle a case like this.

You know, it's amazing how quickly your
opinion changes.

A few days ago, after he'd finished with
Swanson's treasurer, you stood right

here in this office and swore that Perry
was a genius.

I don't believe Mr. Mason did it, Jess.

That's all it took. Just one shabby
shyster trick that backfired and we

That's just enough.

I won't listen to any more of this.

Mr. Parkinson, how many times do I have
to tell you Mr.

Mason was in his apartment that night?
Someone even called here to make sure of

it. But can he prove it? Of course not.

Well, they couldn't prove that Miss
Dunkle really talked to him either.

And the way Perry tore into those
ridiculous typed instructions... Look,

lady, I'm like the jury.

I have no use for alibis, nor for lies,
either.

Now, Mason can make them up until he's
blue in the face, but... I've heard just

about enough out of you two, pal.

We're investigating this frame, and when
the time comes for you to eat your

word... The Bar Association's
investigating, too, but does that do me

Of course not.

Mason keeps talking about reversals,
retrials.

Well, suborning perjury is the only...

I told you before we went to court that
we were handicapped since we couldn't

find the letter proving Swanson had
known about the offer to buy the patent.

Now, you said you'd find that letter,
but you haven't. Are you trying to blame

me for losing a $7 million case?

No. And this case isn't lost. I've moved
for a mistrial. I believe we'll have

another chance.

But without that letter, there's no
guarantee we'll win.

Barbara can do as she pleases, but as
far as I'm concerned, there'll be no

second chance for you.

I'll get somebody I can trust.

You've paid for the right to criticize
my legal ability.

But I've no intention of listening to
attacks on my integrity. I hope that's

clear. Well, all I can say is, if I wind
up in the poorhouse, I'll have you to

thank. Coming, Barbara.

Barbara.

Look, he's angry and I can't blame him.

But he's wrong.

You know how sorry we all are. Sorry?

Well, losing a lawsuit for any reason is
disappointing.

Yes,

of course.

Look, look, Barbara.

Don't you believe I told the truth?

Do you actually think I delivered that
envelope?

Please, no, no.

I'm sorry, excuse me.

It's the poor what gets the grime.

It's the rich what gets the grimy.

Oh, I get a blooming shine.

Just keep your hips moving.

I can't stop. Come on, save me. Oh, come
on, Dad.

No, no, I'm an old man. I've only got
the strength of ten.

Ten martinis.

Who shot the piano player?

Hi, kids.

Don't stop, don't stop. Just passing
through. Hi, you pretty thing. Hello,

Sure don't mind him. He just lives here.
Nice party, Dan. Pretty girls.

Uncle Lotus, you remember Barbara, don't
you?

From the time she was on her father's
knee when he gave me a job 20 years ago.

Hello, honey.

Hello.

Barbara, I'm awfully glad to have a
chance to tell you how sorry I am

Not another word. Some people win, some
people lose, that's all.

I know, but... Besides, if I had all
that money, I might not have the

to catch a rich husband.

Oh, don't you believe it. I'm rich, but
am I getting anywhere?

Barbara, if there's ever anything I can
do for you, let me know.

Dan, I'll give you the keys to the wine
cellar. Some of these girls might prefer

champagne.

Be right back.

Well, that's my favorite uncle talking.

You idiot.

Get her out of here.

Where'd you ever meet her anyway? Of all
the stupid... Take it easy.

She's not a sorehead like old Parkinson.

She's a...

She's a cute girl, that's all. And
suppose Perry Mason put her up to it.

he even introduced you to her.

Mason? Of course.

He's having me followed, stupid.

And you're being watched, too.

And what will you bet that he's had Paul
Drake sneak a man in out there right

now, dancing to my records, drinking my
liquor? I know all those people, Uncle

Otis.

Now, what's the matter with you these
days, anyway?

What's the matter with the district
attorney's office?

A full month has passed and not one move
yet to prosecute Mason.

Well, you know lawyers, they always
protect each other. Of all the lawyers,

had to pick for a frame -up.

So maybe one jury is suckered for a
while, but look, there's nothing that

wrong. It's all over.

We won.

All right.

Here, drink it all up.

And you know something?

I should have kicked you out of this
house ten years ago.

But you can't kick me out now, can you?

parking problem here.

You're late.

I had to make a plane reservation. I'm
flying up to San Francisco.

Why? I didn't tell you you could go to
San Francisco.

Well, it's a personal matter.

I'll be back in the office on time
tomorrow.

All right, all right. Let's get this
work cleaned up. This blasted

reorganization needs about five heads
instead of two.

Oh, uh, your secretary said this special
delivery came just after you walked out

of the office.

It's a board meeting notice from the
country club, isn't it?

Mr. Swanson, your secretary tells me
you've been upset by several letters

have come in the mail recently.

My secretary talks too much. Now, come
on, let's get to work on these figures.

Don't you think I should know about
these letters? I mean, if there's

wrong?

Mr. Swanson, ever since you won that
lawsuit, you've been as nervous as a

March, let me remind you of something.

You're just an appointed vice president.

You I can get rid of any time I like.

Of course you can, Mr. Swanson.

Liverpool lady.

Sailor missing.

What else?

Well, I don't get this yet.

The Liverpool lady had just returned
from South America.

Three hours after it docked in San
Francisco, March was up there nosing

And he had a friend with him. The only
name I could get was Nate.

Maybe it's only business, but I doubt
it.

Me too.

March and Nate asked questions about the
crew, not the cargo.

The, uh...

Mate tell you that?

Yeah, after I slipped him 50 bucks.
Anyway, March was very upset when he

out a certain sailor had already left
the ship.

Some character named Grimes who told the
captain he had to visit the bedside of

his dying maiden aunt.

Good story.

In Los Angeles yet. But how all this
connects, who Nate is, who Grimes is, I

don't know.

For your information, Paul, the
Liverpool lady was docked in Long Beach

repairs Pier 42 during most of last
month.

You check the exact dates? After you
call from San Francisco.

Well, Perry, this is the best lead we've
had yet. I'll get some men out to find

this man Grimes and... Perry, she's
here.

Barbara? To sign the tax papers.

Perry!

Only we better move fast.

Hold it, Paul.

Barbara, I've tried to get in touch with
you several times.

I know, I've been busy.

Besides, we don't really have anything
to say to each other anymore, do we?

I think so.

Look, I've forgotten all about that
perjury thing. I know you didn't do it.

That's not what I mean.

Barbara, you've gone out five times in
the past week with Dan Swanson.

Six.

What of it? It's my personal business.

Look, we're making headway in this case.

I don't want you playing at being
private detective.

Now, did you have lunch today with
Sandra Dunkel?

What are you doing, spying on me?

Sandra Dunkle was my father's secretary
once.

Yes, and I know how bitter you were
about all of those people at the time of

your father's death.

I know how bitter you still are about
the Swansons.

Mr. Mason, what I do is my own affair.
You have no right to interfere in it.

Maybe I'm just having fun for once. And
maybe you're headed for danger.

Barbara, I told you to be patient.

Experts have tried to find the truth
about your father's patent.

If you'll just give us time.

Just? Leave me alone.

Barry Mason's office.

It's for you, Paul.

Drake speaking.

Yeah, Joe.

Bank? What about it?

What?

Joe, you just got yourself a raise.

All of a sudden, Mr. Otis Swanson
decided raising money.

He's liquidated stocks, bonds, and drawn
cash out of his private bank accounts.

All together, $200 ,000.

Perry. Man, that's interesting.

Interesting?

You want to bet that two and two adds up
to blackmail?

Paul, I'm worried about her.

About Barbara?

Why don't you start worrying about your
own neck for a change?

With the two of you to help, I'm well
taken care of.

There's just no one to take care of her.

Tell him, pour a little water on his
head, will you, while I go out and try

save his stubborn neck.

Paul, I want you to stay with her.

But if we work fast enough and if the D
.A. will cooperate... I want you to stay

with Barbara.

It's the time, over, over.

It's the poor what gets the blind.

It's the rich what gets the divy. Oh,
ain't it a blooming sign?

Mrs. Watson.

Stay there, you.

Oh,

please.

Please help me.

And in the course of that struggle, Your
Honor, a shot was fired and Otis

Swanson met his death.

The state will demonstrate that this
girl, Barbara Kramer, had every reason

hate Otis Swanson.

For she believed that Swanson had not
only ruined her father's life, but had

stolen his life work as well.

The state will show that there is every
reason to believe that this same Barbara

Kramer It's the girl who fired that
fatal shot and who should therefore

trial in superior court for murder.

The defendant was quite hysterical when
I arrived, Mr. Berger. She was quite

disheveled, as I said. She had blood on
her hands and on her skirt.

And blood also found on this
handkerchief identified as belonging to

She was wiping her hands on that
handkerchief when I walked in.

Lieutenant, I show you now this .45
caliber revolver identified by

the murder weapon. I ask you what
further tests you had it subjected to.

Well, there was blood all over the gun,
Mr. Berger. It was identified as the

victim's blood. We tested it for
fingerprints.

None were identifiable.

By the way, when you found the weapon,
Lieutenant, did you notice anything

particular about its condition?

Yes, we did.

The gun was new. There were traces of
cosmoline on the working parts and on

barrel. And in the course of your
investigation, did you find any other

of cosmoline?

Yes, we did.

Chemical tests proved that spots on the
defendant's skirt...

were cosmoline stains.

When I first saw him, I didn't know he
was dead.

I was kneeling by the body and the gun
was right there on the floor. ...having

been found at the scene of the crime.

It's too bad, incidentally, Mr. Mason,
that this letter wasn't available at a

recent civil suit.

Would you tell us, Lieutenant, exactly
where you found this letter?

When I arrived on the scene of the
crime, Mr. Berger, I removed that letter

Barbara Kramer's purse.

You found no money anywhere.

Other than a normal amount of cash in
the victim's pocket.

No, sir, I didn't, but we conducted a
thorough search.

You were aware that Mr. Swanson had
taken home nearly $200 ,000 in cash that

same day.

Yes, sir, I was.

Didn't that money, coupled with the
existence of this extremely valuable

suggest to you the possibility of a
blackmail killing?

Blackmail, Mr. Mason, not killing.

Why, differentiate.

Couldn't a blackmailer have gone into
that room and... Killed Otis Swanson,

the blackmail letter, taken the money.

Hardly, Mr. Mason.

Your client herself stated that she saw
the blackmail letter and the money right

there on the desk.

No, Mr. Berger, I did not blackmail
anybody. I didn't even know about any

letter. That's all right, Miss Dunkel.
Thank you.

I just thought you should have a chance
to clear yourself.

Counselor.

Miss Dunkel, you once stated in another
court that I personally handed you some

typed instructions in the Babson Arms
Hotel.

Just a moment.

Mr. Berger, aren't you going to object
to this unrelated matter?

On the contrary, Your Honor, I feel that
everyone should have a chance to clear

himself, including the defendant.

Thank you, Mr. Berger.

Yes, I remember what I testified before,
and I thought I was telling the truth.

Did you not hear Mr. Paul Drake describe
the man he saw through the window of

the Swanson house?

Yes. A man who bore a striking
resemblance to me?

Yes. Perhaps you could tell us a little
more about him.

Oh, no, I never saw such a person.

Did Mr. Swanson say anything to you
about this man when you visited his

that evening a few hours before his
death?

No. But you did visit with Mr. Swanson.
Now, why?

Why did you go to his house, Miss
Dunkel?

I didn't visit with him.

He was too busy to talk. He was all
upset.

I was only there one minute.

I called his office about a quarter to
seven, but the phone just rang twice,

then it disconnected.

So I went on out to his house.

I asked why you went to see him, Miss
Dunkle.

Because his nephew, Dan, had set it up
for me to meet his uncle that night

a job.

When I knew I was going to be late, I...
That's why I called.

You've been seeing quite a lot of Dan
Swanson lately, isn't that correct?

No. Well, he's dated me a couple of
times, but that doesn't mean anything.

What have you been doing, having me
followed or something?

Yes, Miss Dunkle, I have.

That's all. Thank you.

All right, Mr. Swanson, it's not
necessary for you to demonstrate any

that you're an unfriendly witness.

I'll repeat my last question. I want a
straight answer.

Where were you at the time your uncle
was murdered?

I guess I was asleep in the rumpus room.
It's a separate place out back by the

pool. And was there anyone with you at
the time that you fell asleep?

Barbara, the defendant.

Mm -hmm.

Would you tell us, please, what you
remember about the evening up to that

Well, when Barbara came, we were going
to call some couples and have a little

party. But, uh... But what?

Well, I guess I had too much. That's
all. I fell asleep.

Had you been drinking before you came
home, Mr. Swanson?

Yes, that's all I was.

And did you continue afterwards? Did you
have more to drink after Miss Kramer

arrived? A couple, I guess.

And who made those drinks, Mr. Swanson?

Look, I don't think that really matters.

I'll decide what matters here, Mr.
Swanson. Now, listen to my question

carefully. Who prepared the drink or
drinks which actually put you to sleep?

Well, she... She made it a little
strong, I guess.

Thank you.

Now, I show you these keys, Mr. Swanson.

Lieutenant Drum testified that he found
them in the defendant's purse after the

murder. Among them is a key to your
uncle's house.

To whom do these keys belong?

Those are my keys.

And where were they before you passed
out?

They were in my pocket.

My appointment was for 9 .30, and that's
when I got to the Swanson house. He was

already dead.

May I ask what your appointment was
about, Mr. Parkinson?

He was trying to get me to work for him.

To work for him? I thought you were
bitter enemies.

We were.

But we'd all been together once.

Old John Kramer, Swanson, March, and
myself.

And business is business.

I'll work for anybody, for the devil
himself, if he pays me enough.

Would you mind telling us what happened
when you arrived at the Swanson house?

I noticed a car parked on the street.

I figured the driveway might be full, so
I parked my own car on the street.

And did you happen to recognize that
other car?

Yes, it belonged to Paul Drake.

I thought I recognized it, so I checked
the registration card.

I say, what happened then?

While I was doing that, I heard yelling,
help, murder, that sort of thing.

And then I saw a man.

He looked like a bum.

He didn't see me. He ran down the
driveway toward the other street.

And what did you do then, Mr. Parkinson?

I did what anybody would have done. I
ran up to the house to see what was the

matter. And there was poor Barbara in
hysterics and this man, Drake.

Your Honor.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry to interrupt this testimony.

But may I ask the court's indulgence for
a moment or two?

All right.

I'm glad you called, Paul.

I'd like you to check Swanson's office
telephone.

See if anyone reported trouble on the
line the night of the murder. Yeah, but

it's liable to take 30 or 40 seconds.
Hey, hurry it up in there, will you?

I'm having trouble on this line. I was
only reaching for me better, that's all.

Now, look, you spilled it.

Blimey, it's a whole nation of
inhospitality.

Oh, no, sir, no, sir. I wouldn't presume
to say there was any similarity between

your lordship and meself.

Now, thank you, Mr. Grimes, but I asked
if you had ever impersonated me.

Now, how could I do that?

Had I ever heard of Perry Mason?

Oh, not that it's not a distinguished
sounding name, mind you. Mr. Grimes,

you've been cautioned of your rights
here, but I think you'd do well to let

court protect those rights for you.

You just tell the truth.

That's exactly when I was going to see
myself, Your Eminence.

True, I did get dressed up a bit like
his nibs with a fancy bit of hair on top

and all that.

And you went to the Babson Arms Hotel
and handed the young lady an envelope?

Oh, but I meant you no harm, Mr. Mason.

There was nothing personal in it.

No, only money, I suppose.

How much?

Two thousand dollars.

That's the truth. No more, no less.

Who gave you that money?

Mr.

Otis Swanson, it was.

He did it all.

I'll be defied, knowing it was all so
dishonest.

You knew it, all right. Otherwise, you
wouldn't have come back to blackmail

Do I?

Oh, no, no, your lordship.

It was you who wrote him letters asking
for $200 ,000.

It ain't so, it ain't. Ten, ten, that's
all I would ask.

Ten? What do you mean?

Now, look here.

Could I write anybody letters?

My ship's been at sea, ain't it? All I
knew of the world was from old

newspapers. I asked what you meant by
$10 ,000.

I read that trial.

$10 ,000 is what you were going to pay
her, weren't it?

You, in a manner of speaking, that is.

All I figured was that if perjury was
worth so much, then maybe more

forgetfulness might be worth the same
thing.

It's not blackmail, Your Honor, it's
not. I wouldn't have thought of it for a

second if I hadn't had a bit of bad luck
with the dice.

So when the Liverpool lady docked in San
Francisco, you hurried down here,

called Mr.

Swanson on the phone?

No, no, no, no, I didn't call him.

Considering the confidential nature of
our dealings, I thought it would be more

private just to go and see him.

When I did, when I looked in that window
and saw what I saw, oh,

it was horrible.

Just plain bloody horrible.

Why did you go running down that drive
yelling murder, police, and then

disappear? Why didn't you get help?

I got over the shakes.

I mean, I mean, look at the awful
embarrassment of the position I'm in

You gave the entire police force and Mr.
Drake a devil of a time finding you.

Didn't you realize you'd be needed as a
material witness?

Oh, Mr. Mason, your lordship, sir, I
could kill myself for being such a fool

your side.

And me, me sees, that's what I am.

And me, me sees.

How could I know of such money as $200
,000?

How can I know to drop any letters?

Of course not, Mr. Grimes.

And there were other letters which you
certainly couldn't know about.

So now just tell me, at whom were you
pointing? Ask him, you said.

Oh, bless you, Governor.

I am trying to help you.

It's, uh, it's him I meant.

Perhaps I neglected to mention he hired
me, too.

Young Mr. Swanson.

A .M.

I'd like to see Mr. Dan Swanson return
to the stand, Mr. Berger.

May it please the court. First, I'd like
to ask a few more questions of Mr.

William March.

I don't know. I worked till 8 o 'clock,
maybe 8 .30.

I often work late.

You were working in your own office, I
suppose.

Naturally. Why, you took a few telephone
calls.

I may have.

I guess I did.

But if the phone rang in another office,
Swanson's office, for instance, it

would have rung three times, and then
the answering service would have picked

up. Isn't that correct?

Yes. And if the girl judged the call
important, she would have put it through

Mr. Swanson at home to his unlisted
number.

That's the usual procedure.

Your offices are next to each other?

I wouldn't have noticed his phone, if
that's what you're driving at.

No, all that concerns me now is that
Miss Dunkel testified earlier.

that she called Mr. Swanson's office.

The telephone rang twice and then
apparently disconnected.

Well, now, really, Mr. Mason.

Unless it had rung twice and then
someone took it off the hook, of course.

That would have given the same effect,
wouldn't it?

Well, I guess so.

Look here, I may have taken his phone
off.

Well, the point is, yes.

I just didn't want to say here that I'd
been in his office that evening, that's

all.

I didn't want to be bothered with his
calls.

You didn't want to be bothered.

Wasn't it that you didn't want Mr.
Swanson to be bothered?

And not by calls, by one particular
call.

A call you were afraid would be rung
through to Mr. Swanson by the answering

service if you let the phone ring three
times. What call? Perhaps from the man

you'd hurried up to San Francisco to
see.

The man who'd already left his ship. The
man you were afraid would get to Mr.

Swanson before you could.

The man that you knew had been mailing
Swanson blackmail letters. That's

preposterous. You deny you went to San
Francisco? No. Mr. March, who else was

blackmailing Otis Swanson?

Who else?

Who else besides poor, simple, bumbling
Mr. Grimes who wanted his $10 ,000?

But who, by barging in, was upsetting
the apple cart for someone else who was

playing for much higher stakes?

He was receiving blackmail letters.

Anonymous. That's all I know.

It... Had to be someone who understood
the business, didn't it? Someone who'd

been close to John Kramer.

I don't know what you're talking about.

No?

Perhaps you'd rather have me subpoena a
gentleman you know as Nate. Now, he may

know what I'm talking about.

All right, all right, yes.

Yes, I was the one.

It all started when Otis Swanson
received a letter from a relative who

for A &T Industries.

It tipped him that they were prepared to
pay seven million for Kramer's patent.

Swanson rushed to see Kramer to
negotiate and close the deal.

And John Kramer, of course, did not know
of the forthcoming offer.

Not till I told him, no.

What did Kramer do?

Well, he was furious.

He promised me an executive position if
I could get a photostatic copy of the

letter. It took me a couple of days to
get it. By that time, John Kramer was

dead. So you remained...

silent during a lengthy lawsuit and went
along with the arrangement to frame me.

I want to know, Mr. March, why you stood
by Swanson.

Well, Swanson didn't know I had a copy
of the incriminating letter. That was

only way I had to prevent him from
replacing me someday.

But he was going to do that anyway,
wasn't he? Bringing in Jess Parkinson?

Yes.

So I decided all I could do was charge
Swanson a big price and then get out.

So you went to his house and you fought
with him.

Oh, the company.

Everything just got too big for me.

Even Swanson himself.

When he saw who it was there to deliver
the photostat to collect the money, he

turned purple. He didn't even speak to
me. He just knocked me down and then he

pulled a gun on me. And you grabbed the
gun?

No, no, that's not true.

I didn't even try to take the gun away
from him. So he took the photostat and

didn't give it the money.

He just said that he would settle with
me in his own way later.

He said I'd be killed if I ever even
opened my mouth.

He literally drove me out of his house.

Thank you, Mr. March.

But if you left there, leaving Swanson
alive, leaving both the money and the

letter, then who would have killed him
and taken one but not the other?

Everyone around him knew of the
importance of that letter.

The danger of leaving such evidence.

Everyone, that is, except for one man.

It's a lock.

Bloody lock.

After you came back, you killed Swanson,
took the money, but couldn't get out

the gate because Paul Drake's car was
there and Mr. Parkinson arrived.

So you went back to the house, singing,
and looked in.

Made sure you were seen looking in to
give yourself an alibi.

No lies.

A pack of bleeding lies.

Spare us any more play acting, Mr.
Grimes?

Well, it's me you're pointing the finger
at.

Well, old Grimes ain't the only play
actor.

What one of you ain't play acting and
posing in a pen all your own? Look at

yourselves.

Sniveling drunken nephew who pretends to
be a man.

A viper at the bosom who plays the good
and dear friend.

And a blackmailer without the guts and
gall to carry it off.

Ain't it the bleeding truth, Governor?

Oh, not a man among them.

A whole company of liars and cheats.

It's a shame, Gov.

You and me.

Only men are the lot.

And you turn on me.

You.

Oh, it's you what's the name, he says.

You.

You what's the name, he says.

Well, Perry, you can relax. We shipped
your nemeses off to San Quentin today.

At least I think it was Grimes.

It would be funny if you were Grimes and
I just shipped Perry Mason off to San

Quentin.

You know, I can still hear him in the
courtroom laughing at everyone.

Which one of you ain't posing and play
acting?

You know, there's a lot of truth in
that.

Uh -huh. A lawyer's weakness.

Empathizing with a criminal despite
himself.

Well, I wouldn't fret about old Grime.

He'd be a lot better off than sailing
around in that rust bucket.

Yes, but I'm not sure he'd agree to
that.

Gentlemen, being in a ship is being in
jail with a chance of drowning.

A man in jail has more room, better
food, and, uh, commonly, better company.

Now, who said that?

I said that.

Yes, but Samuel Johnson said it 200
years before you did.

Great minds frequently trod the same
path.

It's the sign the whole world over.

It's the poor what gets the blind.

It's the rich what gets the grimy.

Oh, ain't it a blooming shine?