All language subtitles for Perry Mason - The Case of the Laughing Lady - Best Crime Drama TV Show Full Episodes 2024

What kind of car you got? Oh, good one.

I'm pretty happy with it. The plan is to
open one every six months all across

the country.

Yeah, how you doing?

That's supposed to be a picture of you,
Mike.

Billy had bigger shoulders then.

And my own knee.

Well, it sounds like a gold mine.

We could use one.

Who couldn't?

I gotta play host, Ken. I'll see you
later.

Why? I heard Mike's partner is Johnny
Sereno.

Don't worry. It's strictly a legitimate
deal.

You say so, Joanna.

Is he here?

Johnny?

Right over there.

Working the room.

But then I can't hammer a nail in
straight either, and I own a couple of

construction outfits.

Look, excuse me. I'll be back in a
minute.

Great party, huh?

Yeah, thanks, Johnny. Wonderful.

Frank!

What's the matter, pal? I haven't heard
you congratulate me.

I'm supposed to congratulate you?

You make a ten -minute pitch to the
corners and it takes me six weeks to

the papers. Come on, piece of cake.

You never asked for a single change.

Now all we need is a country full of
health nuts.

We had that for starters. Anyway,
congratulations, Johnny. It's another

Yeah. Talk to you later.

Give me another, and we'll be ice this
time again.

Don't you think you've had enough?

Jiminy Cricket.

I mean it.

Since we got here, you've been glued to
that stool.

How would you know?

It is three o 'clock in the afternoon
for God's sake. You're making a fool out

of yourself.

You mean I'm making a fool out of you.

Okay. You just drink yourself to death
if that's what you want to do.

You'd like that, wouldn't you? Yeah,
maybe I would.

I'm not going to make it that easy for
you, Johnny.

I'm going to put you through seven kinds
of hell first.

and try.

And it'll be the last thing you ever do.

Wanted to see me.

Come on.

You got something to say, say it.

You screwed me over, Johnny.

I don't like it.

What are you talking about?

It's called a connection deal.

Give me a piece of that.

Oh, hey, I owe you nothing.

Who the hell do you think you are trying
to cut yourself in on my operations?

Don't treat me like some punk, Johnny.

I could make a lot of trouble for you.

Just telling you how it is. I asked, was
that a threat?

Johnny. Was it?

Because you know how I react to threats.

Just like the old days.

Like this.

You'll pay for that, Johnny.

I mean it.

To tell you the truth, I'm still nervous
about this whole thing.

We've been over it and over it. I know,
but... Look, Joe.

We were washed up in more ways than one.

On the verge of bankruptcy. Now we're on
our way back.

Just remember that. We're on our way
back.

a lot more dangerous than Nancy said you
were.

Oh, yeah?

Nancy who?

Nancy Gellis.

Oh.

Oh, Nancy.

She hasn't forgotten you either.

Have we met before?

No, no.

I would have remembered.

You bet you would have.

Listen.

Have you seen the house?

I mean, all of them.

Like the upstairs?

We've got some very interesting stuff up
there.

More interesting than what I'm looking
at now.

Maybe not.

Lead the way.

Ray, you can't keep doing this to
yourself.

Let me go.

Maria, just think about it. I said let
me go.

Maria. Maria.

Maria.

I

will

see you in court.

You don't understand what that was all
about. I have understood what sex was

since I was ten years old.

No, Jack, I appreciate your thinking of
me.

And three months in Florida is very
tempting.

Yes, Dylan.

Mr. Halloran's here.

Oh, bring him in.

No, no, Jack, I'm sorry.

But it would be impossible for me right
now.

Let me know how the case and the fishing
comes out. Right.

Goodbye, Jack.

Well, Frank.

I hope I didn't keep you waiting too
long.

Just long enough so Della and I could
catch up on things.

Great to see you again, Perry. Good to
see you, too.

The Blar Association seminar three years
ago, right?

It's awful, isn't it? We live in the
same city and we have to go to San

Francisco to see each other.

I'll be working on the Parker brief.

Della, why don't you stay?

I may just need some support here.

Sit down, both of you.

What's this all about, Frank?

Remember when I called, I told you that
I wanted to present something to you

face -to -face?

I remember.

Perry. Oh, excuse me. No, no, come in.
Frank, this is... Yeah, we met. We met

the party, you remember?

Oh, yeah, we have.

Ken Malansky.

Frank, this business or personal?

It's business.

Sit down, Ken.

Perry.

Do you know the name Johnny Sorrento?

Who doesn't? Especially since his wife's
murder three days ago.

This morning they arrested Johnny for
the murder.

What's that got to do with you?

I'm Johnny's corporate attorney.

But Sorrento is a gangster.

You must have a rap sheet that could
paper this office.

Now look.

I'll be the first to admit that Johnny
Sorrento came out of the rackets. He'll

tell you that himself.

But he's been straight for the last ten
years, maybe longer.

Believe me, Perry, when he came to me, I
was just as skeptical as you. And I had

him thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly,
investigated.

He was clean as a whistle.

How does he make a living?

He's a promoter, he's an entrepreneur,
into a dozen different enterprises.

Shopping centers, construction
companies, new chain of fitness centers,

movie company.

But everything is strictly legitimate.

I know. I negotiated most of the deals
myself.

And you want me to represent him on this
murder charge?

Well, Perry, I'm no criminal attorney.

He's out on bail, and he wants you.

Oh, Frank, I don't think so.

Any way that I can convince you just to
meet him as a personal favor?

I will think about that.

But that's all I can promise.

Can't ask for more.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Thanks, Perry.

Philip, Ken.

Thanks. I can find my way out.

Bye, Frank.

Bye -bye.

Well, what do you think?

Remember the speech you made at that
same Bar Association seminar?

What about it?

You said in this country, every person
is entitled under the law to a legal

defense.

Even the lowliest and the most despised.

You went on to say the more serious the
crime, the more important the defense.

And you said something about it being
the attorney's job to defend any

And how it was only the jury or the
judge who should determine guilt.

In other words...

You think I should take the case?

I don't think you're going to reject it
out of hand.

What do you think?

I think you should reject it out of
hand.

Johnny Sorrento changed his stripes?

Somebody's really putting you on.

Now, down at the shop, we can't believe
you're even talking to him.

Your men found the murder weapon?

Yeah, under some brush on the side of
the hill about 60 yards above where the

car went over.

And... We also found the butt of a
cigarillo there, and the laboratory has

already identified it as exactly the
kind Johnny Sorrento smokes.

You see, he has them made up special,
smuggles them in from Cuba.

He's quite a piece of work.

And the rifle was registered to
Sorrento. That's right.

Any prints?

Only his.

But Johnny left the party after his
wife. I saw him.

Yeah, immediately afterwards, which
means he obviously had some preplanned

vantage point behind and above her.

By the way...

You know, we do have a witness who saw
and heard Sorrento threaten his wife's

life not 20 minutes before she was
killed.

You have a motive?

The best, filing for divorce.

And it would have cost him millions in a
settlement.

Hood like Sorrento wouldn't like that.

I was just told that he's been clean and
out of the rackets for 10 years.

Mr. Mason, you could take a man out of
the mob, but you cannot take the mob out

of the man.

At downtown, we got ten to one odds
you're gonna walk away from this one.

And if he's innocent?

Johnny Sorrento never drew an innocent
breath in his life.

Even if he didn't kill his wife, and I
say he did, he's still got a lifetime of

other doozios.

Sergeant Baranski, you'd better let your
mind go back over what you just said.

Mr. Malanski?

But you were in the rackets.

Loan sharking, running, making
collections, the whole works.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

But you gotta understand something.

I grew up on the streets of Jersey City.

And it was like going to school.
Everybody was into it.

My old man, his old man, too. They were
both into it since they were kids.

I mean, it was all I knew.

What about enforcement?

Now, that wasn't my department. I mean,
I guess I had to make some threats once

in a while, but I didn't go around
breaking knees or anything, if that's

you mean.

The family business.

How can you prove you're not part of it
still?

Yes, you just have to take my word for
it.

Maybe Frank's.

Perry knows what I think, Johnny.

I've told him you're absolutely clean.

Yeah, the family business.

And to tell you the truth, my old man
didn't want me anywhere near it.

He actually put away money for me to go
to college.

But I was a smart -ass kid. I thought I
knew everything already.

Anyhow, I put in 16 years.

Then I got out.

I had to.

Why?

Oh, a lot of reasons.

I guess I saw too many of my old buddies
wind up dead or in the slammer.

Then I got married. I had a kid.

I guess I turned into my old man. I
mean, I didn't want my son mixed up in

that either.

So I got out.

And believe me, Mr. Mason, I'd never go
back. Perry, he's telling the truth.

It's okay, Frank.

I'm not sure I'd believe me either.

But, Mr. Mason, it does happen to be
true.

You were found by the Calders at the
edge of the cliff. Then the police found

all of you there.

Then your rifle was found.

And I hadn't touched the thing in
months.

I do a little hunting sometimes.

Why did you keep the gun? In the back of
some closet. I can't even remember.

Somebody could have taken it without
your knowledge?

Anybody could have taken it. People are
in and out of here all day long.

They found only your prints on the gun.

And whoever stole it must have worn
gloves.

And a cigarillo they found?

I laid them all over the place just like
this.

You think somebody's trying to frame
you?

Of course.

And that's what's driving me nuts.

Look, as long as the cops are looking at
me, they're not looking anyplace else.

And I want whoever did it nailed.

And nailed good.

Who would have wanted your wife dead?

Look, there are a lot of guys out there
that would love to see me ice, some from

the old days, some from now.

But nobody could have had it in for her.

The way I figure it, somebody was either
trying to get back at me or they were

more like it.

They thought I was driving the damn car.

But... It was daylight.

Yeah, all the shooter was what? He was
60, 70 yards away and the car had tinted

windows?

The police think you killed your wife
because she was going to file for

Mr. Mason, I wasn't the easiest guy to
live with.

But I loved her.

We had some bad times.

I caught her with another guy.

She swore to me that she had never slept
with him and I...

I could never prove that she had.

So we just went on.

But it was never the same.

She started drinking.

I started whoring around.

And yet somehow we got through all that.

And yeah, yeah, she talked about
divorce.

But she never went through with it, and
she never would have.

I mean, she still loved me, even after
23 years.

And I still loved her.

So, bottom line,

are you going to take my case or not?

I'll let you know.

All right.

Frank, I'll let you know.

Hello? Yeah, Della. Hold on a second.

Yes, Della.

Barry, I'd like you to hear this right
away.

Johnny and Maria Sorrento have a 21
-year -old son, Jeff.

And he tried to kill his father two
years ago with a .38 revolver.

Why are you asking me all this stuff
anyway?

What do you think, maybe I had something
to do with my mother's murder?

Not at all. I was just... You're the
only person in this world who ever gave

damn about me.

I think your father gives a damn.

Yeah. You know, there's a theory that
whoever shot at the car thought your

father was driving it.

I wish he had been.

You hate him that much?

My old man quit picking me up and
holding me when I was five.

Ever since then, he's never been there,
not for me or her.

Now, why wouldn't I hate him?

That's why you tried to kill him two
years ago.

Hey, look, I didn't try and kill him.

I was messed up on drugs.

He was threatening to put me away
someplace.

down to his office to maybe scare him
out of it. He grabbed for the gun. It

off. It was an accident. That's all.

You're clean now.

Yeah.

Yeah, my mom got me into a recovery
program.

I've been off the stuff for almost a
year now.

Like I said, she's the only one who ever
cared.

No, I think your father cares.

When was the last time you saw him?

I saw him at the funeral yesterday.

I didn't talk to him.

For that, uh, nothing's that gun
business.

He kicked me out of the house.

Where were you when your mother was
killed?

Uh, Saturday. I was home watching a game
on TV.

If only I'd been with her, maybe she'd
still be alive.

If only you'd been with your father,
you'd know he didn't kill her.

We'll call Frank Howard.

Well, Johnny Sereno is a hood. I just
don't think he's the type of client we

should have in this office.

Who should we represent?

Just college professors?

Presidential candidates?

Nobel Prize winners?

Why doesn't he get one of these hot
shots and make a living defending wise

You are a friend of Mike Calder, right?

More or less.

Do you like him?

Yes and no.

More or less. Yes and no.

Well, we were in the same dorm at
college, so we should be friends.

But I don't know. He was always so
perfect.

All -American running back, great looks,
prom queens hanging on each arm, all

that stuff.

I don't know if I just don't like him or
if... I've always been jealous.

Why did you go to his party?

Same reason I go to any party.

To meet women. Why?

Well, if he's part of this case, he'd
probably rather I talk to him.

That's okay.

Perry, more background information.

Three years ago, Johnny was arrested in
Vail.

He was suspected of murdering a drug
dealer called Ray Dominick.

I thought Frank Halloran told us Johnny
had been straight for the last ten

years. Well, he was released when
another man, Dave Barrett, confessed the

crime. What happened to this Barrett?

He was convicted of manslaughter.

Got five years, served three.

Sergeant Baranski told me Barrett was
released a month ago, but almost

rearrested. What for?

Barrett tried to attack Johnny at a
restaurant, a Knicks place.

But Johnny wouldn't sign the complaint.

I'll try to contact this Barrett.

Baranski's office must know where to
find him.

And track down that girl at the party. I
want to go upstairs with Johnny. I

think her name is Karen Thatcher. Karen
Thatcher.

Where are you going?

I'm going to see your friend Mike
Calder.

And then I'm going to have lunch at
Nick's place.

Calder, I must say, you do have a
beautiful home here.

Thanks. And with your help, maybe I can
keep it.

My help?

Yeah. Getting Johnny acquitted.

You know the Calder connection, fitness
centers?

Problem is, it'll never get off the
ground without Johnny's backing.

You couldn't swing it yourself?

Mr. Mason, I'm just about broke.

You see, we bought this place when I was
making big bucks in the pros.

Then I tore up my knee.

The money stopped.

There must have been other
opportunities.

To tell you the truth, the only trade I
ever learned was how to take a handoff

and run like hell.

I suppose I could get a job coaching at
some backwater college, but that

wouldn't be fair to Joanna.

Mr. Mason, all we've done the past few
years is go through our capital.

So when Johnny came to me with this
fitness center deal, I jumped at it.

All I had to do was lend my name and
make a few TV commercials, and I was in

40%. Did you know Johnny's background?

Sure. But we gave him the benefit of the
doubt.

40 % is 40%. Mrs. Calder, do you have a
copy of the guest list

for the party?

Sure, I'll get one to you.

Thank you.

By the way, did you notice anyone other
than, uh...

Nick Angel leave the party before Mrs.
Sorrento. I didn't notice anyone.

I didn't either, but there was a big
crowd.

Your partnership agreement with Mr.
Sorrento, does it provide for mutual

insurance policies?

To tell you the truth, I never read the
whole thing.

I guess I should have, huh?

I would have, but then I'm a lawyer.

Mr. Mason.

You can get him off we've got a lot at
stake So there's Johnny

Yeah. Dave Barrett live here?

Who wants to know?

My name's Ken Molanski. I work for the
attorney who's representing Johnny

Sereno. Can I talk to you for a minute?

Yeah, well, my husband's not here right
now, so, uh... I guess not. That's okay.

I think you can tell me what I want to
know.

You feel alone?

Two and a half, three years.

Your husband, he was just released from
prison.

Yeah.

And right now he's out looking for a
job. Must be tough out there for an ex

-con.

Look.

Look, why don't you come back later and
ask him, okay?

So what do you think?

Ronk's gonna trade Winder?

What?

Still warm.

And no lipstick.

My name's Molanski.

I'm sorry, honey. I tried to stop him.

I hear you say you're Johnny Serrano's
lawyer.

I work with Perry Mason. He's
representing Mr. Serrano. Look, I

to the cops.

Why the cops?

Because like you probably know, I took a
swing at Serrano a couple of weeks ago.

Have anything to do with the Ray
Dominick murder?

Not murder.

Manslaughter.

But yeah, that was part of it.

You mind talking about it? It ain't no
secret.

I used to work for Johnny. I drove for
him back east and then out here.

But I had a little thing going on the
side.

Dealing drugs?

Yeah.

Anyhow, Dominic was holding out on me.
So I went to see him one night, he

the knife and I shot him.

Why'd you pick up Johnny?

I used his car to go see Dominic and
somebody made the plate as I was driving

away. Now, how'd they nail you?

I was dumb.

I didn't get rid of the gun and they
found it with my prints, so I had to cop

plea. And they let Johnny go.

He had an hour by anyway. That still
doesn't explain why you took a swing at

that night.

Look, I did three years hard time for
the Dominic thing, and I figured

give me a job when I got out.

So I went to see him, told him I really
needed the dough and didn't care what

kind of work it was.

Well, he said he was strictly legit, and
he couldn't afford to have an ex -con

on his payroll. I couldn't believe it.

Anyway, when I saw him a couple of
nights later at Nick's, I sort of lost

went for him.

Look, Mr. Barrett, the reason I'm here
is because we're trying to find out who

actually killed Maria Sereno.

And you came to me?

Huh?

Why the hell would I kill her?

I think you better get out of here,
mister.

Yeah, sure.

But first, would you mind telling me
where you were at the time of Maria

Sereno's murder?

Yeah, we were here.

Together. The whole day.

Oh, I can't tell you how lucky you are
to have an alibi from such an impartial

witness.

Thanks for your time.

I'm looking for Nick Angel.

I'm not sure he's here.

My name's Mason. I'm an attorney.

And some guy named Mason wants to see
Nick.

Okay?

Okay, we'll talk

later.

You're Mason.

That's right.

I heard about you.

I'm Nick Angel.

That's my wife, Connie.

How do you do?

Pleased to meet you.

I heard you're representing Johnny.

He and I grew up in the same
neighborhood in Jersey.

Did you come out here with him?

No, I came out here first and worked
around and finally opened this place

two, three years ago.

Then you weren't part of Johnny's
organization in the East.

No, no, we traveled in different
circles.

No offense, Mr. Angel, but your circle
must have played a little rough.

Yeah? Yeah.

You've served time for armed robbery and
assault. You were charged at various

times with extortion, arson, even
attempted murder.

What do you want, Mason?

Well, I believe Johnny's innocent.

I believe somebody else killed Maria.

You want to pin it on me?

You're nuts.

You and Johnny had a fight at the Calder
party.

What was it about?

Ask him.

I did.

I want to hear your side of it.

Yeah, that's fair.

Johnny owed me some points on that
fitness center deal.

See, I introduced Mike Calder to Johnny
in the first place.

so there wouldn't be any call to
connection if it weren't for me.

Anyhow, when I tried to talk to him
about it at the party, he blew up. He

slugged me.

And you were heard to tell Johnny that
he'd pay for that.

Come on, it's something you say when
you're mad, that's all.

You made a threat, and 15 minutes later,
Johnny's car was fired on.

Having left the party early, you
wouldn't have known he wasn't driving.

I'd like to see you make that charge in
public, Mason.

Sue your tail off.

You know, I heard about Maria finding
Johnny at the party with some dame.

It's typical.

Give Johnny a ladder, he'd hit on a
giraffe.

I'll tell you.

I'm still surprised, though.

Why?

Well, I thought he had this thing going
with Joanna Calder.

But I guess you knew about that.

Of course.

Doesn't everybody?

Well, I suppose there are too many
people who know for me to deny it.

So, I had an affair with Johnny.

If you want to call it that.

What would you call it?

A mistake.

It went on for a couple of months and
then it ended.

Your ending or his?

His.

Johnny has a low threshold of boredom.

When Mike found out, things got pretty
ugly for a while.

But... Not ugly enough to call off the
partnership.

Mason, if you make any of that public,
I'll sue you for slander and Joanna will

deny everything.

One reason Maria was divorcing Johnny
was because she found out about his

with your wife.

I think you got that wrong.

And you, Mr. Calder, were you just going
to overlook it?

Joanna and I were going through a bad
period then, Mason.

We've worked it out now.

Johnny's forgiven?

It wasn't anyone's fault, really.

That's an interesting attitude.

I looked at your partnership, at the
papers.

If anything happens to Johnny, you will
have a lot of money coming

to you.

A lot of money.

Ken, stay on Dave Barrett.

By the way, did you get in touch with...
The girl at the party, Karen Thatcher?

I called her apartment.

But her roommate said she's out of town
for a few days.

How'd you know she had a roommate? I
don't know, just figures.

Well, she should be back soon, maybe by
tomorrow.

Well, Della, that leaves the guest list.

Frank and I went over it twice.

Everybody except Johnny's bodyguard
seemed to be friends of the Calders.

right. By the way, Perry, Johnny wants
to see you as soon as possible.

Look, I think it's something personal.
It hasn't anything to do with the case.

I hate to say this, especially with Mr.
Halloran here, but why are we so certain

Johnny didn't do it?

A divorce would have cost him millions
of dollars.

How much would have been involved,
Frank?

Millions of dollars.

But Johnny has many millions of dollars.

I mean, whatever a divorce would have
cost, it never would have been enough to

justify his killing Maria.

Wait a second.

His womanizing aside, Johnny really
loved Maria.

Besides, men from Johnny's background, I
mean, they like to think they control

their women. They don't kill them.

You don't know where a guy like this
draws the line about killing.

I saw the way he took care of Nick
Angel. Believe me, he didn't look like

Boy Scout, Frank.

Johnny didn't kill Maria.

Thank you, Frank.

Dillon.

Ken.

This office is defending Johnny
Sorrento.

But you're certainly free to
disassociate yourself from this case, if

you feel.

No, I'm in it for the duration.

But I can't help how I feel.

A lot of guys in the department lost a
lot of money betting on Mason.

It still doesn't make sense. I mean, you
guys working for a hood like Sorrento.

So who should we represent?

Just heads of state?

Pulitzer Prize winners? The United
Nations?

It's okay. I didn't bet.

So what about the dominant case?

It's like I told you, I thought we had
Sorrento nailed, but he got away.

Well, I guess that's what happens when
somebody else is guilty.

It happened in bail, so I wasn't
directly involved.

Who was?

That would be Lieutenant Wyatt's case.
He was killed last year.

Keen accident.

So, uh, why are you so interested in the
Dominick case?

Just curious.

Really curious?

Yeah.

Well, I'll call the station in bail,
have them fax you a police report.

Thank you.

Molanski, right?

Right.

You know, I remember the Dominick case,
and I always felt like there was

something fishy about it.

Well, sorry we had to meet here, but I
had to appear before the judge.

That's all right, Mr. Mason.

Frank tells me you saw my son.

Yes, I like him.

And he hates my guts.

He thinks he hates your guts.

That's what I wanted to see you about.

I'd like you to talk to him. You know,
tell him... Tell him I'd like to see

Maybe straighten things out between us.

You mean that?

Yeah.

You see, since Maria was... I mean, now
that his mother's gone, I think it would

be good for both of us. You know, uh...

Getting together.

I mean, I tried, but he wouldn't even
answer my calls.

How long has it been since you kicked
him out?

He was into that drug thing, and it was
driving me crazy.

Look, just tell him that I think we need
each other right now, okay?

I'll tell him.

I can't promise he'll listen.

Excuse me, I'll... Mr. Mason, please.

Stay.

I sort of thought that you and I could
get back together again.

You know, start over or something.

Like nothing ever happened.

Look.

Why don't we just forget about all the
bad stuff that happened, you know?

What, pretend like you were this really
great father?

Come on, Jeff.

More like you were this really great
husband.

That's not fair. Yeah?

Well, how fair was it to Mom the way you
always chased your damn women around?

I made her so crazy jealous she turned
into a drunk. But, son, I made mistakes.

And what about me?

Are you fair to me?

You kicked me out of the house. Jeff,
you know why I did it. Look, all I know

how it was hurting.

But right now, I think we could really
help each other. No.

I'm off the stuff.

I got a job, and I'm doing just fine,
okay?

What job? That crummy construction...
Hey, look, it's not that bad, okay?

I don't need any help from you.

Oh, yeah?

Well, how the hell do you think you got
that job, huh?

I got it for you. It's my company.

Where do you think you're going?

To go take your company. I quit!

Jeff, you sure you know what you're
doing?

Do you really think that I would have
taken that stinking job in the first

if I knew it was another one of his
crooked deals?

How do you know it's crooked? Because
everything he touches is crooked.

Don't you get it?

My dad's a gangster.

From everything I know, he's been out of
all of that for years.

Yeah, well, that's crap.

He's sent it up through his neck, always
has been.

How do you know that?

My mom told me.

Probably would all come out at the
divorce.

I guess that's why he killed her.

Jeff, someone killed your mother, but it
wasn't Johnny.

Do me a favor.

When the hearing starts, I'd like you
there.

What for?

So you can hear the evidence and judge
for yourself.

You owe him that much

Jeff

you owe yourself that much

You following me or what?

Yeah. Said you're out looking for work.
I just wanted to find out where.

Well, now you know.

You can get the hell out of here.

Your condo.

Found out your wife paid cash for it
right after you went to prison.

Until then, you were living in a two
-room walk -up at 300 bucks a month.

Look, I put some dough away before I was
sent up. I wanted Paula to have it easy

while I was inside.

Condo costs a quarter of a million.

That's a lot of dough to have stashed
away, especially for a guy who was

as a driver. I told you I had some stuff
going on the side.

My guess is killing Ray Dominick got you
a bundle.

Oh, yeah?

From who?

You tell me.

What the hell do you want?

I want to know who killed Maria Sereno.

Yeah?

Well, it wasn't me.

If you're saying it was, your mouth's
about to get you in some bad trouble, my

man. Where'd you get the money for the
big new car with the phone and the CD

player? You lousy son of a... Get out of
here, mister.

We don't want any trouble.

There won't be any trouble.

It'll be for real.

Well, I'm striking out with Dave
Barrett.

He's got a lot of money from somewhere,
but he'll never tell me where he got it.

Somebody must have paid him for killing
Dominic three years ago. Well, our

illustrious client was arrested for it
first.

You think it was him?

I don't know.

But I think Barron knows a lot more
about both murders than he's told us so

Well, it's a dead end for me. He almost
ran me down yesterday afternoon. Before

that, he tried to brain me with a pool
cue.

Then get to his wife somehow.

I want to know if Johnny was any part of
this Dominic business.

I'll do what I can. Good.

Hearing starts tomorrow morning.

And don't forget to follow up on Karen
Thatcher.

What can she tell us? What she was doing
at the party. Did the Calders invite

her? If not, who did?

Della. Well, she should be back in town
by now. Good. Find her.

Right.

Della, those financial statements, any
luck?

I'm still working on them.

And the phone records you wanted.

We need them.

Hearing starts tomorrow.

Paula, isn't it?

If Dave didn't do anything wrong, you
shouldn't be afraid to talk to me.

The money for the condo, the car,
where'd he get it?

Killing Dominic?

Check okay on two.

Something else?

How dare you talk to me like that?

What's your problem, lady? Is this guy
bothering you? Yeah, this guy is

bothering me. He just made a very
obscene proposition.

I'm going to go talk to the manager
about that.

to pick up chicks, but you gotta be a
little bit more subtle, okay? More

right? Yeah.

That the result of your research on the
Calder?

The top one.

Very interesting.

Well, well, well.

This is the police report on the Dominic
murder. It was just faxed in from bail,

and I was reading it as it came off the
machine.

Johnny Sorrento's alibi was provided by
the manager of a restaurant here in

town. He claimed Johnny and his wife
were having dinner at his place at the

of the murder.

Tell her I can read. I can read.

And the manager's name is Nick Angel.

Do you find that interesting?

Yeah.

Nick Angel's statement not only gives
Johnny an alibi, it also gives Nick an

alibi.

Is Karen Thatcher in?

Uh, Karen, someone's here to see you.

Oh.

Excuse me.

My name's Kim Alansky. Uh, Janice
Kirkwood. I'm sorry, I'm running late.

work. No, I'm sorry. We were just
getting acquainted.

Well, um, maybe later.

Oh, great.

Hi.

Hi. Ken Malansky.

Was that your roommate?

Janet? Yeah, she's a dance teacher.

And you're Karen Thatcher.

Do I know you?

I saw you at the Calder party.

I work with an attorney who's
representing Johnny Sereno.

Oh.

Wasn't that just awful?

I mean, his wife getting killed like
that.

I feel just terrible about it.

Did he really do it? We don't think so.

Why were you at the party?

I was only there because Maria invited
me.

Maria Serena?

You see, we both went to the same beauty
shop and got to be really good friends.

Seemed like she really needed one, too.

Like she was real lonely or something.

Anyhow, she asked me to go to this party
so she'd have somebody to talk to.

She didn't care much for her husband's
friends and there wouldn't be anybody

else there she knew.

And you stayed with her at the party?

For a while, but then, well, then she
started drinking and I was sort of

left on my own.

And then you decided to get acquainted
with her husband?

I know, I know, it sounds awful.

But see, Maria told me she was filing
for a divorce, so I didn't think I was

like, you know, like trespassing or
anything.

Johnny Sorrento sure is a fascinating
guy.

And you didn't think she'd mind you
going upstairs with her husband?

I don't know.

But I sure was blown away when she
busted in and yelled at him the way she

I mean, she told me she hated him. And I
guess what I'm trying to say is that

argument they had wasn't really my
fault.

But I still feel really rotten about it.

I mean...

What if she hadn't have driven away like
that, you know, so upset?

Then maybe she wouldn't have been... You
couldn't have foreseen something like

that.

Oh, thank you for saying that.

But I can't help it.

Every time I think about it, I just
start to cry.

All these pictures.

You an actress?

trying to be.

But so far, all I've done is a little
modeling.

Well, I won't take up any more of your
time.

Hey, Barrett's just a punk.

He had Ray Dominick killed over a drug
deal that went bad. You didn't give him

job when he got out of prison. Maybe he
has it in for you. I made a mistake

hiring him in the first place. It caused
me enough trouble.

You mean using your car when he killed
Dominick? Yeah.

He's not only a punk, he's a dumb punk.

So, how's it look?

We'll find out in the morning.

Hearing's at 10 o 'clock.

Do you know the name of the beauty shop
your wife went to?

Yeah, it's, uh, Paul Garcia's. Why do
you want to know? Get back!

Stay with him.

This is an emergency.

There's been a shooting. We're at 1655
Quincy.

Send an ambulance.

I'm sorry, we have nothing more to say
at this time.

Well,

then he said that if Shaver tried
anything like that, it'd be the last

Shaver did.

And from the tone in his voice, did you
believe this to be an actual physical

threat? Objection.

Improper opinion and relevancy.

Sustained.

Mr. Halstead, was Mr. Sorrento smiling
when he said this to his wife?

No, he looked really mean.

Thank you, Mr. Sorrento. Mr. Halstead?

No further questions.

Mr. Halstead, how long have you worked
as a bartender?

About 11 years.

And I imagine you must have witnessed
quite a few arguments.

Yes, sir.

In which one person threatened to do
bodily harm to the other.

Yes, sir, and many times they did.

But did you ever find it necessary to
call the police because of verbal

you may have heard?

No. No?

Why is that, Mr. Halstead? Well, you
know, people get drunk and a lot of

gets said that really doesn't mean
anything.

Hmm.

No further questions.

An attorney?

You're not representing that hard crane
woman, are you? The one claiming we

burned her scalp?

No.

Actually, I wanted to ask you a few
questions about Maria Sereno.

Wasn't that the most awful thing? I
mean, I adore that woman. And when I

what happened, I couldn't even come into
work. I just stayed home and cried my

eyes out.

What I wanted to know was how close a
friend was Mrs. Sereno to Karen

Who?

Karen Thatcher.

Now, I don't believe I know the name.

She was a customer here, early 20s,
blonde.

Anybody hear her to Karen Thatcher?

No, I'm sure she had one of our people.

Is it possible Mrs. Serena went to
another shop sometimes?

Of course not. Maria was in here at
least twice a week for years.

Matter of fact, poor darling was in here
the day she passed away. Get her hair

done for that party she was going to.

I see.

Well, thanks for your time.

And then when we got into the room, he
grabbed me and started kissing

me. And then the next thing I knew...

Maria burst into the room and said that
she'd see him in court.

Wow.

And then she ran out.

And that's really all I know.

Thank you, Miss Thatcher.

Your Honor, the prosecution rests.

Does the defense wish to cross -examine?

Not at this time, Your Honor, but we
reserve the right to recall this

Granted. You may call your first
witness, Mr. Mason.

And you may step down.

You and your wife, Joanna, were the
first to arrive at the scene of Maria

Sorrento's crash and find Johnny
Sorrento on the edge of the cliff,

help her, were you not?

Yes, apparently we arrived shortly after
Johnny did.

Now, you say shortly.

Would there have been enough time for
Johnny Sorrento to have stopped his car

somewhere down the mountain, picked up a
gun...

and shot Maria's car off the road?

Well, I... Be very careful how you
answer the question, Mr. Calder.

If Johnny had stopped the car, left the
motor running, fired the gun, and then

raced down the hill, yes, there would
have been enough time.

Thank you, Mr. Calder.

That will be... Oh, there is something
else.

If... Johnny had time to stop his car
and shoot a gun at Maria and then

down the mountain.

So did you.

Now, just a minute. No further
questions.

Mrs. Stewart?

No, no questions.

Defense calls.

Joanna called her.

All the events mentioned in your
husband's testimony happened just as he

they did.

Absolutely. You followed Johnny Sorrento
down the mountain. The car you followed

him with was yours, was it not?

Yes, it was my car.

Mrs. Calder, there's a very odd rack in
the back of your car. What is it used

for?

Guns. Guns?

Yes.

Yes, it would appear that your husband
wasn't the only sportsperson in your

family. No, I was the champion in France
in 1988.

In what sport?

Biathlon. Well, I'm a skier, you see.

In the biathlon, you also have to use a
rifle, do you not?

Yes, I'm an expert with the rifle.

So, in reality, if you had shot Maria
Sorrento off the road,

you could have used Johnny's gun or one
of yours.

Thank you, Ms. Calder.

No further questions.

No questions.

You may step down.

Well, I was wondering when you'd get
here.

Why, who's up next?

You.

And I could hear the bullets hitting
just over my head.

As far as you know, Mr. Malansky, was
anybody aware that you and I were going

be at the defendant's house last
evening?

Objection. While the witness's story is
very exciting...

I fail to see how this so -called armed
attack has any relevancy here.

Relevance? Here's your relevance.

Your Honor, part of our defense will be
to establish that Mr. Sorrento was the

target of the gunman when his wife was
killed.

Therefore, Mr.

Malansky's testimony is offered to prove
a continuing pattern of armed assaults

against Mr.

Sorrento. Mr. Stewart?

I withdraw the objection.

The witness will answer the question.

To the best of my knowledge, except for
the defendant himself, nobody else knew

that you and I were to be there at that
time.

No further questions.

Thank you.

Mr. Malensky, is it true that
immediately following this incident, you

phone call to the police?

That's right.

What was the subject of that call?

To report the attack, of course.

and to give them a description of the
car and a partial license plate number.

Your Honor, may I approach the bench?

Your Honor, I know this is unusual,
but... A rebuttal witness has just come

our attention, and I would like
permission to examine him at this time.

Stewart, you know how I feel about
surprises. I understand, and I

Your Honor, but this matter only just
came to our attention.

Mr. Mason, of course, you have every
right to object, and quite frankly, I

be disposed to sustain.

Quite frankly, Your Honor, I'd like to
see what excites the prosecution so

I have no objection.

Very well, gentlemen.

I call Albert Farrow to the stand.

The police picked up me and Paul Gilardi
and took us in for questioning.

Why did they do that?

Because somebody ID'd our car, they
said.

Were you arrested?

Well, yeah, for the shoot -up at Johnny
Sorrento's place.

Were you and Mr. Gilardi the ones doing
the shooting?

Well, yeah, but we wasn't trying to hurt
anybody. It was just a stunt.

Did someone pay you for that stunt?

Yeah.

And is that someone in this courtroom?

Well, sure.

Johnny did.

Let the record show that the witness
indicated the defendant.

Hey, believe me, I don't know how Mr.
Mason got shot. I mean, we was aiming

their heads. It must have been an
accident.

No more questions.

Your Honor, I request a 15 -minute
reset.

All I can say is I'm sorry.

Very sorry.

Sorry doesn't cut it, does it?

Johnny, I don't know what you could have
been thinking about.

It's just that you guys weren't giving
me much encouragement, and I figured we

could use a little help.

Call that charade help?

Look, I said I was sorry, and I swear I
didn't mean for you to get hurt. I

didn't want anyone to get hurt.

You're the one that got hurt.

I don't know whether we can repair that
damage or not, but if you don't shape

up, you can find yourself another
lawyer.

You hear that, Frank?

I hear.

You hear that, Johnny?

And you testified Maria Sorrento invited
you to the party.

That's right.

You became friends with Maria at a
beauty shop you both went to.

Yes, sir.

Miss Thatcher, what if I told you that
the only beauty shop Maria Sorrento

patronized is called Paul Garcia's and
that nobody there ever heard of you?

You know what perjury is, don't you?

Yes. Then perhaps you should tell us who
invited you to the Calder party.

It, um... It was a man I was involved
with.

Objection. I fail to see how the love
life of the witness has any relevancy to

this case.

Your Honor, the argument between the
defendant and his wife resulted in Mr.

Sorrento driving home alone and being
the sole victim of the killer.

Consequently, all circumstances
surrounding that argument are extremely

to the defense.

I'll allow the question, and I hope the
relevance will soon be more apparent.

I assure the court it will be.

Then you may continue.

May I ask why, if you were involved with
this man, you agreed to

go upstairs with the defendant?

Surely you must have guessed what he had
in mind.

Well, my friend wasn't paying any
attention to me, and, well,

I thought that I could make him jealous
or something. I mean, it was really

stupid because, you see...

He's married.

And I knew he didn't want anybody to
think there was anything between us, but

was just feeling so rejected.

Miss Thatcher, who is this man?

Oh, do I have to say?

I would say you have to say.

His name is, um... Nick Angel.

Anyhow, I couldn't let anyone know that
Karen and I were together.

I knew I'd get back to my wife.

But you did invite her to the party.

I wasn't planning to.

When she heard about it, she insisted on
going.

And since my wife wasn't going to be
there anyway, one of us always has to be

the restaurant.

Like a real dummy, I said okay.

And you'd been seeing her secretly for
what, days, weeks?

Months? Yeah.

The worst part is I was planning on
breaking it off as soon as I could.

Why were you going to do that?

Because I knew I was acting like a real
jerk. Karen was young enough to be my

daughter. Besides, I was getting scared.

I mean, if my wife had found out about
it, I knew she'd walk.

I really love Connie.

I guess I was just going through a...
What do you call it?

A midlife crisis or something.

Trouble is, it'll probably cost me my
marriage.

Is it true... Johnny Sorrento provided
the financing for your

restaurant?

Yeah, most of it. But it paid off for
him, too.

Is it also true that three years ago...
You provided an alibi for Johnny with

respect to the murder of Ray Dominick?

Johnny didn't need an alibi. Some other
guy confessed.

Dave Barrett.

But before Dave Barrett confessed, you
gave a statement to the police that at

the time of the murder, Mr. Sorrento and
his wife were dining in a restaurant

managed by you.

So what? They were there.

They were.

Yeah, they were.

I have no more questions.

Mr. Stewart?

No, no questions.

Then we'll reset for half an hour and
resume at 3 o 'clock.

Here's your coat.

Thank you.

How do you feel?

Oh, some days have been better.

Think that was a good idea?

Making it seem like Nick was lying about
the alibi he gave Johnny?

To find who killed Maria Sorrento, we
need the truth from everyone.

You think the alibi was a lie?

Well, let's say I have a strong feeling
both Karen Thatcher and Nick Angel were

not telling the truth.

Ken, I want you to get a subpoena for

Karen Thatcher's roommate.

But you don't know what she's going to
say.

So you serve the subpoena and talk to
her before I put her on the stand.

Well, I can do that.

Harry, I was afraid I'd miss you.

Have you taken your medicine? No. What's
this?

These are the financial reports you
wanted. They were delivered at the

just a few moments ago. Good. And here
are the phone records, too.

Here.

I'll go with them later.

Now, I'm sure Nick was lying.

Not exactly the portrait of a cheating
husband and his jealous wife, is it?

Great. That was great, ladies. I'll see
you all on Friday.

Hi.

You remember me?

Sure.

You here to sign up for a class?

No, I'm not a dancer.

Then what?

This, I'm afraid.

I was hoping to see you again under
different circumstances.

Well, this is a subpoena.

Yeah, we want you to testify at Johnny
Sereno's trial about Karen Thatcher.

What can I say about Karen?

What is there to say?

To tell you the truth, I was planning on
kicking her out of the apartment.

She hasn't paid her share of the rent in
three months.

And she also hit on this guy that I was
dating.

We were talking about a real flake.

Well, I'll tell you what. Why don't you
get changed and we'll head right over to

the courthouse.

Okay. I'll be right back.

Are you saying she wasn't romantically
involved with a man named Nick Angel?

Nick Angel?

She hated Nick Angel.

She worked for him about a year ago as a
waitress.

He promised her he'd help her get a job
in show business.

Then after about four months when he
didn't make good, she told him off and

quit.

Do you know how or why Miss Thatcher was
invited to the Calder party?

She told me...

that she was going to the party as part
of some weird job, and that it would

lead to a part in a Hollywood movie.

Thank you, Miss Kirkwood. Thank you very
much.

I have no more questions.

No questions.

In that case, we'll recess until 10 o
'clock tomorrow morning.

Excuse me for interrupting.

But are we going to be here much longer?

No. As a matter of fact, you can leave
immediately.

Good. I want you to get a subpoena
issued and served on Dave Barrett

But I have a dinner date with Janice
Kirkwood tonight.

That's all right.

She can go with us.

Della and I will take very good care of
her. Will we not?

Oh, yes.

Um, the Rose Room at the Carlton.

Would that be all right?

Oh, that'd be great.

Just great.

Bear! For you.

What the hell is it?

Speed.

Dave! Dave!

Excuse me.

The lady with the guy that was trapped,
where'd she go?

Man, she took off in a major panic.
Didn't even wait for a car.

Didn't say anything?

Just wanted to know where the nearest
bus station was.

Let's go.

No. Leave the lady alone.

She's a witness to a murder. If she
doesn't come with me now, the cops will

you on the road.

Make it fast.

Paula.

No. If I stay, they'll kill me too.

Who will?

I don't know.

But they got Davey.

They got Davey and they're going to get
me too.

Not if we find them first. We'll protect
you, I promise.

Please, look, just let me get out of
town, okay? Let me get out.

You know I can't do that.

I'll make it easy on both of us.

Okay, you'll really give me some
protection.

All you want.

And so, Mrs. Barrett, your... Your
Honor, may I have a moment, please?

Very well, Mr. Stewart.

Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, may I
have a moment?

You gave the prosecutor the ballistics
report on the bullet that killed

Yes.

It didn't match with anything in our
files.

Did you ever test the bullet that went
through me?

I guess they thought it wasn't
necessary. It had to come either from

gun or Gilardi's gun.

Sergeant, I need your help fast. Check
that bullet through. Let me know the

results immediately.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Before the interruption, Mrs. Barrett,
you were telling us your husband did not

kill Ray Dominick. Your Honor.

As we discussed in chambers this
morning, the prosecution has continuing

and relevancy objections to Mr. Mason's
entire line of questioning of this

witness. Your objections are noted, Mr.
Stewart, but the court is overruling

those objections for now.

You may, of course, move to strike
should Mr. Mason fail to fulfill the

of proof he made to this court.

Thank you again, Your Honor.

Mrs. Barrett.

Your husband did not kill Ray Dominick,
did he?

No.

We weren't even in town that day. We
could have proved it.

Then why did he confess?

He got paid half a million bucks.

Five thousand a month while he was in
prison.

I begged him not to do it.

He said he could earn more money in jail
for a couple of years than he could on

the outside.

So... Do you know who paid him this
money?

He told me it was better if I didn't
know.

Mrs. Barrett, you told the police that
on the day Maria Sorrento was killed,

your husband never left home.

Now, that wasn't true, was it?

Mrs. Barrett, there's nothing more for
you to fear.

Now, please, tell us.

No.

He wasn't home that day.

Do you know where he was?

He was on a hill overlooking Crestline
Road.

Waiting to kill Maria Sorrento.

Objection, Your Honor. Motion to strike.

Motion to strike denied.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

How do you know where your husband was
when Maria Sorrento was killed?

He told me where he was going.

He even showed me the rifle he stole
from Johnny's house.

Then, when he got back, he said...

He said it all went like clockwork.

Did he tell you why he killed Mrs.
Sorrento?

He didn't have to.

I knew.

He already got paid $250 ,000.

He was supposed to get another $250 ,000
after he did it.

How did you know that?

I heard him talking on the phone with
this guy a few times.

Well, once when I answered the phone,
this guy asked for Dave, and Dave, like,

you know, motioned for me to get on the
extension.

So I did.

Your Honor.

I know, Mr. Mason. Have your moment, but
make it brief.

Mrs. Barrett.

Why did you and Dave go to Nick's place
last night?

Because the same guy calls up and...

Tell them to get over there and collect
the rest of the money.

I know it was the same guy because I
answered the phone again.

Whose voice was it?

I don't know.

Was it Johnny Sorrento?

No. No. I would have known him.

No further questions.

But I request the right to recall the
witness.

Granted. Mr. Stewart.

Mrs. Barrett, you're telling us that
your husband took the fall for someone

in the murder of Ray Dominick. That's
right.

Well, tell us, if you know, who that
someone else was.

My husband took the fall for Johnny
Sorrento.

Dominick was dealing bad drugs to
Johnny's kids, so...

Johnny killed him.

Aye. No further questions.

Mr. Mason.

No questions at this time, Your Honor,
but I will recall this witness.

Granted.

Witness may step down.

You knew that was coming, didn't you?

Yes. Didn't you?

Mr. Mason?

Defense calls Frank Halloran to the
stand.

Mr. Halloran, tell us your occupation
and your relationship to the defendant,

John Sorrento. Yes, I'm an attorney, but
for the past ten years, my practice has

been exclusively limited to managing the
business affairs of Mr. Sorrento.

Including payment of outstanding
accounts?

Yes. During the past ten years, did John
Sorrento or any business connected to

Mr. Sorrento pay any monies to Dave
Barrett?

Not that I know of.

And I would know.

Yes, you would.

Thank you, Mr. Halloran.

No further questions, but I reserve the
right to recall the witness.

Mr. Stewart?

No questions, Your Honor.

You may step down, sir.

I recall Paula Barrett.

Mrs. Barrett, under oath you told us you
couldn't identify the voice of the man

who phoned your husband. Is that still
true?

No. Then who was it?

The man who just testified.

Frank Halloran?

Yeah.

Thank you, Miss Barrett.

Mr. Stewart?

I... I have no questions for this
witness.

Witness may step down.

Defense recalls Karen Thatcher to the
stand.

We ask that she be declared a hostile
witness.

Mr. Stewart.

No objections.

Granted. Miss Thatcher, you testified
you went upstairs with Johnny Sorrento

make Nick Angel jealous. Is that
correct?

That's right.

But how could you make him jealous?

If he'd already left the party.

I don't know. I guess I didn't realize
he'd already gone.

But you approached Mr.

Sorrento immediately after his
altercation with Nick Angel.

And you did see Mr.

Angel leave.

I don't remember.

You don't remember.

Your roommate, Miss Kirkwood, testified
that you hated Nick Angel.

Now, it really wasn't Mr. Angel who
invited you to that party, was it?

Miss Thatcher, we are talking about the
murder of Maria Sorrento.

Isn't it time you started telling the
truth?

You're right. It wasn't Nick.

If it wasn't Nick, then who was it?

Just a man I met when I was working for
Nick.

He said he wanted me to go to a party
and make a play for Johnny Sorrento.

He said all I had to do was to get
Johnny to take me upstairs and he'd give

thousand dollars and a part in one of
Johnny's movies.

Just a man.

Just a man.

What man?

Frank Halloran.

And when I told him that I'd been
subpoenaed, he gave me that Nick story.

And he told me it had been cleared with
Nick, too.

Will you recall, Frank Halloran?

Your job with the defendant pays you a
substantial salary, enough that you need

no other clients.

It's very demanding work.

But you could ill afford something like
Mr. Sorrento being convicted of murder.

I won't deny that, Counselor.

But that's not what I had in mind when I
retained you to defend Mr.

Sorrento. Oh, I'm not talking about this
case.

I'm referring to the murder of Ray
Dominick.

I don't know what you mean.

Isn't it true that when Johnny Sorrento
was arrested for the murder of Ray

Dominick, you arranged an alibi for him?

My actions, Counselor, on behalf of my
client, Mr. Sorrento, were totally

proper. Didn't you promise Nick Angel
special financing if he would swear that

when Dominick was killed, Johnny and his
wife were dining at a restaurant

managed by Nick Angel? No, I did not.

Didn't you also make a deal with Dave
Barrett to confess to the murder?

Absolutely not.

Mr. Halloran, I have photocopies of 36

checks.

36 checks for $5 ,000 each.

Signed by you and endorsed by Dave
Barrett.

Checks he received every month while he
was in prison.

I'd say that somebody must have been
forging my signatures.

A month ago, you learned from Maria
Sorrento's attorney

that Maria finally intended to divorce
Johnny and was threatening to reveal

something incriminating about him. Isn't
that correct?

I suppose so.

What of it?

Well, your next move was to...

Have all the phones in the Sorrento
household tapped.

You had to know all that was going on,
and you did.

You felt Maria was going to implicate
Johnny in the Dominic murder.

If that happened, you would be
implicated.

You'd face criminal charges. Your career
would be destroyed.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

You knew of Maria's obsessive...

so you hired Karen Thatcher to make a
play for Johnny.

You made sure Maria saw the two of them
going upstairs together. You were

sitting with her, weren't you?

You made sure she followed them.

You waited till she stormed back and out
of the house, and then, Mr. Halloran,

you had to get to a telephone.

Get to a telephone?

To do what?

You called Dave Barrett in his car to
tell him Maria was on her way.

Dave was already at his vantage point.

He then shot Maria's car out from under
her.

This is... Your Honor, this is all an
obscene lie.

Dave Barrett left Johnny's rifle where
it could be easily found. He planted one

of Johnny's cigarrillos there.

Now, Frank, now you are in bad trouble.

You had to clear Johnny without
implicating yourself.

You can't prove any of this.

Karen Thatcher's testimony.

Checks made out to Dave Barrett.

Paula's testimony that she recognized
your voice.

There's more, Frank.

There's what, more lies?

The Calder House phone records show a
call placed to Dave's car phone ten

minutes before Maria was killed.

We have your home and office records.

Then we have this.

That bullet came from the gun that
killed Dave Barrett.

It is the bullet that went through me.

Now, Frank, you were the only other
person who knew we'd be at Johnny's

house.

We've been friends for almost 30 years,
Frank.

Why did you try to kill me?

Because you're getting too close.

All this time I've known you, I never
thought you were a great lawyer, just a

lucky one.

You were getting too close.

All I wanted you to do was to get Johnny
off. I didn't want Maria to die, but

I couldn't let her go through with the
divorce, could I?

I didn't want to kill Dave Barron.

I didn't want you to die.

But I couldn't let you get too far. You
learned

too much.

I was...

I was never lucky.

You were always just lucky.

I'm sorry, Frank.

Your Honor, I move that all charges
against the defendant be dismissed.

Motion granted.

The bond is discharged.

And the defendant is free to go.

But I order the arrest of Frank Halloran
for first -degree murder.

And the arrest of Nick Angel and Ms.
Thatcher on charges of perjury.

And I request that the district
attorney's office further investigate

of Ray Dominick.

This court is adjourned.

Nathan, thank you for everything and
nothing.

My office will not charge you for
either.

Dominic business.

You want to handle it for me?

Jeff.

Jeff, do you trust him now?

I want to trust him.

No, I don't trust him.

I can't.

That's how it is, Johnny.

We can't trust him.

You will stay in touch with us.

Just that... It's just what I had to do
to Frank.

Just... I know.

Yes, you know.

This was a man who lived his life in the
service of others.

He was a confidant of presidents and
kings, but he never forgot who he was

where he was from.

He worked tirelessly for the people of
this state.

He will not be forgotten.

Senator Hyland's sudden death marks not
only the end of 27 years in the Senate,

but also of a political era. The
question now is who will serve out the

remaining three years in his term.

Governor O 'Neill is not scheduled to
announce his appointment until sometime

next week, but sources say that at the
head of his list are Congressman William

Harding, State Representative James
Marshall, and Laura Robertson.

Laura, listen, everybody.

Listen, a toast to Laura.

May she go from senior partner in our
firm to junior senator.

Here.

When do you think you'll be meeting with
the governor, Laura?

Actually, I already have. Laura, I don't
really think you should. Oh, darling,

we're all old friends here.

If anybody should be the first to know,
they should.

I met with Ted privately two days ago.

I got the appointment.

Folks, folks. Out of respect for the
late senator, the governor isn't going

announce this until next week.

So please, until then, say nothing to
anyone.

Laura.

Terrific news.

Now, don't you go taking my name off the
office letterhead just yet, okay,

Elliot? Nothing's going to go wrong,
darling.

She may practice corporate law, but she
lives her fees.

Glenn. Phone call.

Excuse me.

I'm very happy for you. For all it was,
Audrey.

Laura.

Congratulations.

Washington is precisely the kind of
place where a woman of your class should

Thank you, Emmett.

Hello. Mr. Robinson, you want to see
your wife make it to the Senate?

Of course.

Well, then you and me better meet.

Do you know where the Ridge Bar is?

Who are you?

Just somebody that has some information
for sale.

Information about what?

You know, um, my son...

Sunland Arizona.

Why don't you meet me at the Ridge Bar
in an hour?

Hello.

Hello!

Glenn?

or my new shopping center development
may fall through. Oh, couldn't it wait

till morning?

It won't take long.

Mr. Robinson?

Please, please sit down.

I saw you on TV today.

You look great.

Me, I never go to funeral.

Depressing.

What the hell is this all about?

Well, uh... You know, being a senator is
a high -pressure, high -visibility

job.

Now, me, I say, so what? Your wife spent
time in a mental hospital.

Most politicians probably should, right?

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

You're right.

You showed up here because you're
thirsty.

Sit down.

This is what I'm talking about.

It pretty well details the nervous
breakdown your wife had seven years ago.

It's all here.

Everything they did to treat her. The
drugs, psychotherapy, shock treatments.

Now, I have an open mind about this sort
of thing. I say if it works, use it.

But most people... Most people are very
old -fashioned about the mental

stability of their representatives.

How'd you find out?

I wouldn't worry about that.

And you won't have to worry about it
either.

Once you give me $50 ,000.

$50 ,000?

Cash.

There's a phone in front of your bank.

I'll call you there at exactly 11 o
'clock tomorrow and tell you what to do

the money.

What if I can't get it?

Then I have to give this to the person
that hired me.

And by 11 o 'clock tomorrow night, Laura
Robinson will be the lead news story on

every show in the state.

And I guarantee you it won't be because
she was appointed to the Senate.

You have a good day.

What are you doing sneaking about like
that? I nearly called the police.

I wasn't sneaking about.

I just didn't want to wake you up.

Where have you been?

Bill and I had to drive out to see the
property owners.

Got late, so we stopped for dinner.

I'm sorry that I worried you, darling.

You missed a great party.

Are you all right?

I am.

A little tired, maybe.

Nothing that a little time in bed
couldn't cure.

Sounds good to me.

Glenn!

It's good to see you again. Hello,
Arthur.

I was on my way to your office.

We've sure got our fingers crossed
around here.

What? Laura's appointment to the Senate.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

I need some cash, Arthur.

Certainly. How much you want?

$50 ,000.

Yes, and I need it in a hurry.

I'm sorry, but I've got to get the
president to approve waiving the notice

period for a withdrawal this large.

He's not going to be in till 1.

All right.

I'll be back by 1 .30.

And I want my money waiting for me.

You got the money?

Not yet, but I will.

I'll get it.

You're damn well better.

How do I look?

Oh, I'd say gorgeous.

No, no, no.

Fantastic.

How do I look?

Nervous.

Nervous?

Well, I'm not nervous.

Relax, darling.

You've been to these fundraisers before.

But never with a beautiful U .S. senator
on my arm.

Will the governor be there?

At $500 a plate, you'd better believe
it.

It won't be long before they start
paying to see you.

I'll get that.

You get your coat.

Hello.

You got the money?

Yes, I've got it.

You know where the Pioneer Motel is?

I'll find it.

All right.

Now, this is what I want you to do. I
want you to bring me the money to room

three at exactly 10 .30. Do you
understand?

10 .30?

Right.

Right.

Ready, darling?

Reporters here who'd like to interview
you, Mr. Croft. Oh, tell them I'll be

glad to talk with them in my office, but
no.

Will do.

You're on your own.

Where are you going? I want to say hello
to Walt.

I'll be right back.

Perry.

As always.

look wonderful.

So do you.

Beards old, canes new. I was skiing
yesterday.

What are you doing here?

I'm at the hotel for the weekend.

Trial lawyer seminar.

Still practicing law? On occasion.

I'm here to lecture.

Not me, I hope.

Am I intruding? You certainly are.

Laura, this is Michael Reston. He's
representing the prosecution at the

Hello.

If you'll excuse us.

Can I take you away from all this?

Hotel bar.

You might say so, yes.

Excuse me.

It wasn't too easy getting away.

You remembered.

A gimlet with fresh lime.

Yes, I remember.

It's been quite a while.

Who's counting?

How are you, Perry?

And you, Senator?

Oh, that's a bit premature.

The smart money says you're the one.

Who would have thought when we were
younger that I would become a Senator

you'd become, well, Perry Mason?

Or that we'd see each other rarely.

I've missed you.

The governor's looking for you.

You remember Perry?

Of course.

Perry. Hello, Glenn.

I'll be right there.

How long will you be in town?

Until tomorrow.

I wish there was more time.

Anybody here?

Yeah, that was a nice play by Elway.

It's not locked, Ella.

Perry.

I've no right to come to you, but I
don't know what else to do.

Here, sit down.

Can I get you something?

What's wrong?

Yesterday, somebody called my husband
and said that he had a file of

that could ruin me.

He wanted $50 ,000.

So Glenn took the money to the Pioneer
Motel at 10 .30.

Only when he got there...

The blackmailer was dead and the file
was gone.

What did Glenn do?

What anybody would have done. He ran.

He came back to the fundraiser and told
me everything.

What was in the file?

Clinical records from seven years ago.

My depression.

I couldn't work.

And people were told that I'd gone away
on an extended vacation.

But you went away to be treated?

To the Halvan Clinic in Arizona.

I was home within six weeks, and I felt
fine ever since.

The problem is, the therapy included
shock treatment.

Proof of that was in the file?

Glenn knew what would happen if the
media got hold of that file.

My political career would be ruined.

But now, what should we do?

Well, first Glenn has to go to the
police. He has to make a report.

But he'd have to tell them everything.

Where's Glenn now?

At home.

Laura, I can only advise you that two of
you will have to decide what to do.

We're investigating the death of Luke
Dixon.

Laura, where have you been?

Out getting help. Who's this?

Police. Sergeant Austin, Metro Division.

What have you told her?

Nothing.

What is Perry doing here?

He thought he could help.

Did he?

As I was saying, a man was killed
tonight in what appears to have been a

at the Pioneer Motel. The death clerk
says you were there tonight, Mr.

Robertson. He said he recognized you
from the news.

What is it you want, Sergeant?

I just want to ask Mr. Robertson a few
questions, preferably downtown.

My client has nothing to say.

All right.

Thanks for your cooperation.

I didn't know that we'd hired you as my
attorney.

You needed one just then.

We're very lucky to have him.

Did you tell him everything?

I had to.

Perhaps the two of you should discuss
this privately.

No, that's not necessary.

She's right.

I'm grateful you're here.

I'm going upstairs.

Good night, Glenn. Good night.

Perry.

Is that the Dixon file?

I was just taking it to Laura. It's my
file, Audrey. I can manage. Thanks, it's

the same.

Here's the headlines on our victim.

His name was Luke Dixon.

The police said he was a small -time
nickel -and -dime private eye.

Said the guy spent most of his time
tailing philandering spouses and

whatever was cheap.

How could he have gotten hold of those
files?

And more important than that, where the
hell are they now?

You can be sure they'll surface.

Glenn, we should go to the police. Tell
them the truth.

How do we know they'll believe me?

The thing is, if you don't come forward
now, nobody's ever likely to believe

you. Terry's right.

Hold on. Let's not rush it.

We've got to think things through here.

If we handle this right, maybe do some
damage control.

A little stage managing. You just might
be able to survive this.

It seems to me our main concern should
be Glenn's future, not politics.

That goes without saying. You
misunderstood me.

You mustn't throw Laura's career to the
wolves.

Mrs. Robertson, the police are here.

Show them in.

Hello again, Sergeant.

We got a tip early this morning telling
us Luke Dixon was blackmailing someone.

and that if we wanted to find out who,
we should check out the Halvern Clinic

Sunland, Arizona.

So we did.

We were told that some records were
recently stolen.

Your records, Mrs.

Robertson. And the thief's fingerprints
matched Luke Dixon's.

Are you the person he was blackmailing?

That's quite an accusation, Sergeant.

Considering you have nothing to support
it.

Wondering where you lost your cigarette
case, Mr. Robertson?

You know, the golden with your initials
on the front?

How about the Pioneer Motel, room three,
not six feet from Luke Dixon's body?

You're under arrest, Mr. Robertson.

Your Honor, in the interest of time and
to assist the prosecution, defendant

waives further reading of the indictment
and advisement of constitutional

rights. and wishes to proceed directly
to the matter of bail.

The record shall so reflect the
defendant's waivers.

On the issue of bail, does the state
wish to be heard?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defendant is an extremely wealthy
man.

Not only does he own a home here, he
also maintains an apartment in the city

New York and a house just outside
Zurich, Switzerland.

This indicates not only that he has few
real roots here, it also suggests that

fleeing the jurisdiction of this court
is well within his means. Therefore, to

ensure the defendant's appearance in
this court, the state urges that bail be

denied. Your Honor, Mr. Robertson is a
well -rooted, successful member of

the community who has never been accused
of a crime and who is determined to

appear here in court.

until his innocence has been proven.

I urge the court to release Mr.

Robertson on his own recognizance.

Mr. Mason, I think some bail is
appropriate here.

Bail is set in the amount of $200 ,000.

Preliminary hearing is set on December
10th. Is that acceptable to the defense?

It is, Your Honor. Mr. Reston?

Prosecution agrees.

Next case, bailiff.

State v.

Sinclair.

I certainly didn't expect to see you
here.

I thought you would have gone home by
now.

Well, in view of Mrs. Robertson's
political prominence, the district

felt that this case warranted a special
prosecutor.

I'm delighted.

Oh?

Yes.

When Glenn Robertson is found innocent,
no one can say it was because of

politics, right?

Right?

Right.

Has the governor at all been brought
into this?

Seven years ago, I became ill, something
that currently afflicts close to 10

million Americans.

I went away, got some treatment and some
rest, and came home cured.

It was my husband's devotion to me, his
fear that this somehow might be

misconstrued or blown out of proportion,
that landed him in this unfortunate

situation.

Given the circumstances, I can well
understand why the governor would be

reluctant to appoint me to the Senate.

Frankly, that's no longer important.

My job now is to do everything possible
to make sure the truth is told and my

husband is exonerated of all charges.

That's all I'm concerned with.

Nothing else matters.

What's the matter, Counselor?

Lose your client?

Where'd you get him?

About an hour ago.

The hotel said I could find you here.

Let's get to work.

He's in a great mood.

The police discovered Laura's file had
been stolen, found Glenn's cigarette

near Dixon's body, and took him in.

Any ideas?

Only what I've already told you.

So Dixon got greedy, tried his hand at a
little blackmail instead of turning the

file over.

Then you think the person that hired
Dixon to steal the records is the person

that killed him?

Sounds good.

Paul, here's his office address.

See if you can find out who his last
employer was.

You did say you've been here before.

Oh, I used to date somebody who lives up
here.

Broke up with her about three years ago.

Not a happy ending.

Let her down kind of hard.

hoping to see her again.

Tell her it's a big city.

The odds against that are astronomical.

Besides, I checked the phone book. She's
now listed.

Just bear in mind, both of you, the
murder was, one way or another, the

of an attempt to discredit Laura. When
we unravel that, we'll get to the

Thanks.

How is Laura?

She's a trooper. Always has been.

By the way, Perry, I've been meaning to
ask you, we didn't happen to go to the

fundraiser because we knew she was going
to be there, did we?

What are we saying?

35 years isn't so long ago.

It was 30 years ago.

Who's counting?

Not me.

Talk to you later.

Excuse me, my name's Mason.

Name, address, license plate, business
phone, and a major credit card, please.

would just like the key to room three.

You know the time?

Defense attorney, here's my card. Flix,
Flix, get rid of it.

It's Mr.

Lane, isn't it?

Sorry.

Thank you.

Quite a game.

Right.

Clipping? Oh, give me a break.

Those referees will do it to you every
time.

I

want

you to tell me and show me exactly what
happened last night.

You want me to go through it again?

You're going to have to trust me
sometime, Glenn.

Look, I'll level with you.

I don't like this arrangement.

All right, Glenn.

I'll level with you.

There's nothing between Laura and me
except friendship.

Everything else ended a long time ago.

I, uh... I walked through the door. It
was open.

The room was dark.

Curtains open or drawn?

Drawn.

I bumped into the desk coming in.

Knocked the phone to the floor.

I picked it up, placed it back on the
desk.

Then I saw him lying there.

Then what?

I could feel his pulse.

He was dead.

And I started looking for the envelope
that had the file in it.

I tore through the dresser.

I headed back to the desk and I tripped
on something.

Right there.

Everything fell out of my jacket pocket.

And that's how the cigarette case got
there.

And when you were picking things up, you
saw the envelope.

Yes. It was behind the dresser.

A piece of it was sticking out, and I
walked towards it and picked it up.

I looked for her.

It was empty.

I left.

Did you see anyone in the parking lot or
around the office?

Not just the fellow at the desk.

Look around and think hard.

What else about last night comes to
mind?

I could have told you this

trip would be a waste of time.

Waste of time?

Not at all.

Sorry.

Is there something I can do for you?

Well, that depends.

On what?

Who you are.

Pete Sutton.

I'm Luke Dixon's partner.

Who are you?

Paul Drake.

I didn't know he had a partner.

I got another surprise for you.

Luke took a cab. He's dead.

Finny. I know. I'm investigating his
murder.

Cop? I work for a defense attorney.

Wants to know who hired Dixon to dig up
Laura Robertson's past.

Well, don't look at me.

I'm trying to see if Luke squirreled
away some money.

Get my half before his ex -wife grabs
it.

Don't spend much time in the office, do
you?

Why do you say that?

You're tan.

You spend a serious amount of time in
the sun, don't you?

Hey, that's very good.

Hey, you're a trained observer.

That's all right.

I do a lot of surveillance.

I'm the outside man.

Must have an idea who some of his recent
clients were.

Oh, sorry.

You know, you have to ask Luke.

At least if you don't mind waiting a
very long time for an answer.

Didn't keep any records?

Uh... Well, of course he did. Man was
obsessive. Help yourself.

In here?

No, in the closet. Where else? Here,
I'll even unlock the door for you.

It's unlocked.

Got a report that somebody broke in
here.

Looks like you're under arrest, friend.

Hello, Della.

Hello. I think Perry's expecting me.

Yes, he is.

Sit down, won't you?

Can I get you anything?

No, thanks, sir. Is Perry here?

He'll be back any minute.

Laura.

I'm very sorry for what's happened.

Thank you.

We'll survive somehow.

I've always admired you for your
strength.

Oh, I'm a professional survivor, Della.
It's what I do.

What about you? How have you been?

Fine. Just fine.

Steadfast and loyal, as always?

That's what I do.

Ever marry?

No.

I've always wanted to ask you, but never
had the nerve and the bad manners at

the same time.

What about you and Perry?

I mean...

Perry and I have... Good.

I see you two are getting reacquainted.

Right.

Laura, it was nice seeing you. If you'll
excuse me, I have to go out for a

while.

Where?

Oh, I'm going to buy some supplies. You
just bought supplies.

Right.

Well, I'll just go return a few phone
calls.

Am I interrupting something?

No. No?

Bye, Laura.

Laura, you said seven

years ago when you had your breakdown,
people were told you'd gone away on

vacation. Who knew what really happened?

Let's see.

Emmett, of course. Emmett Michaels. You
remember him.

Still your doctor?

He's still a good friend.

Who else?

My law partner, Elliot Moore.

He could see for himself that something
was terribly wrong.

The same went for Jennifer Parker.

She not only stuck with me.

She's such a determined young woman.

Sometimes I think she willed me back to
health.

And, of course, my assistant, Audrey
Pratt.

Besides Glenn, that's all.

You're certain of that?

Yes.

I'm going to need all the information
you can give me on those four people.

Why?

Because one of them could have hired
Dixon to steal your medical records in

order to ruin your career.

And one of them could have killed Dixon
when he tried to blackmail you on his

own.

Oh, Perry, you're wrong.

Those are my friends.

It's entirely possible.

that one of them is not a friend at all.

Excuse me.

Perry, Paul's on the phone.

He sounds strange.

Excuse me.

Um, I ran out of change or I'd use the
machine down the hall. Do you think it's

possible I could have a cup of coffee?

Sure.

What? Please.

And who do you work for?

Lieutenant McNabb.

Lieutenant McNabb.

I'm a PI working on the Robertson case.

Oh, that's nice.

I haven't had an opportunity to meet the
officer in charge yet, but they're

usually very defensive about a PI on a
case.

But I have nothing against cops.

They do the best they can.

You're free to go, Paul.

Hello, Sergeant.

Mr. Mason.

Sergeant.

Come on, John Juan.

Oh, do the best you can.

The guy searching Dixon's office did the
breaking and entering, not me.

Any idea who he was?

Definitely not his partner. Probably not
Pete Sutton either. At least I couldn't

find a Pete Sutton in the phone book.

I'd like to know what he was doing in
that office.

I wouldn't believe how much that looked
like Linda.

Who's Linda?

Girl I used to date here.

I'm sorry, what were you saying?

I said I'd like to know what he was
doing in that office.

Oh, my pleasure.

Matter of fact, I'll get on that right
now.

Oh, Paul.

I really don't need any more clients.

Just watch yourself.

we again.

That hurt!

Well, you're a real crime stopper,
aren't you?

Okay, so I'm sorry, you know?

I saw those cops coming and I freaked.

You're not Dixon's partner. You're not a
P .I.

You want to tell me who you are?

My name's Wheeler. Sid Wheeler. Big Sid
Wheeler. So, Sid, you break into Dixon's

office. Now you break into his house,
what is this, a chronic condition with

you, breaking and entering?

I'm a desperate man, Paul. Dixon had
something I must find. Like what?

Pictures.

Pictures?

That's my wife.

I thought she was stepping out on me, so
I hired Dixon to follow her. Turns out

I was right.

And he got pictures, in color.

Boy, did he get... pictures.

Didn't he turn them over to you? He gave
me a couple of samples.

Said he'd keep the rest until I paid my
fee.

Which he suddenly doubled, that little
creep.

What makes you think they're here?

Maybe they're not. They've got to be
someplace. They weren't at the office.

It's just a process of elimination.

He didn't take them with him, that's for
sure.

Well, big sin, I gotta go.

But good luck.

Thanks.

Well, by the way, the guy your wife was
running around with, friend of yours?

Who said it was a guy?

Huh.

Huh.

Get a chance to say hello at the
arraignment. What can I do for you?

I need some answers.

Anything to help?

I understand Laura was under your care
at the time of her breakdown seven years

ago. Yes.

What was your diagnosis?

Well, in general, she was acutely
depressed.

So much so that she simply could no
longer function.

Now, whether chemical imbalances caused
the depression or a result of it,

nevertheless, they were there.

Once they were brought back into balance
via the proper treatment, she was

cured. I understand you were
instrumental in keeping this episode a

Well, I led certain people to believe
one or two things that weren't quite

concerning her health, yes.

Where were you when Luke Dixon was
murdered?

You surely don't think that I... I had
to ask.

You don't have to answer.

Probably reading.

Undoubtedly alone.

You should have married, damn it.

You'd have had a better alibi.

Sounds good, Phil.

Keep me posted.

Right.

According to my contacts at the Capitol,
the mail's been running 7 to 1 in favor

of Laura's appointment to the Senate. In
spite of what's happened. Or maybe even

because of it. Who knows?

Anyway, the best news is the governor's
decided to delay the appointment until

this thing's resolved.

Proving once again that America loves a
devoted wife.

And making it imperative that we give
them both barrels at this preliminary

hearing. Because the way I see it, if we
can get this case dismissed without a

jury trial, we might actually be better
off than we were to begin with.

Of course, it's really all up to you,
Perry.

What kind of progress are you making?

You seem quite determined that Laura
gets that appointment.

I am.

It's a chance of a lifetime.

For you or for her?

For both.

I'm not going to lie.

I joined up with Laura seven years ago
because I figured she could help get me

where I really wanted to go, and that's
to Washington.

There's nothing wrong with that.

It's natural.

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

Symbiosis. Only game in town.

Who do you think will get the
appointment if she doesn't? I don't

Or at least my sources at the Capitol
do.

Bill Harding, no doubt about it.

Which means he'd have to vacate his
congressional seat.

Obviously.

I understand you keep a residence in
that congressional district.

That's right.

But you don't live there.

No, I don't.

But that's your legal residence.

Yes.

So if Harding's congressional seat is
vacated, you could run for office.

It's called hedging your bets.

Yes, indeed.

You have a phone call.

Sergeant Austin calling on behalf of a
Mr. Drake.

Mason.

Maybe I should open a branch office down
here.

Oh, it's not going to happen again.

Especially if I get my hands on that
guy.

Still have no idea who he is? Well, he's
not a Pete Sutton and he's not a Sid

Wheeler either.

I checked the license number. The plates
were stolen.

You're dealing with a pro.

Yeah, well, so is he.

Linda!

For a second there, I thought... Good
thing that wasn't her.

You forgot to hide.

You know what?

I've been thinking. It's been three
years. She wouldn't carry a grudge that

long, would she?

You implied she was devastated when you
left her.

Yeah, but it's been three years.

That's practically a lifetime, isn't it?

Mr. Mason.

Thanks for coming down here to meet me.

I appreciate your taking the time to
talk to me, Mr. Moore. I'm sure you're

busy. Yes, well, first things first.

How can I help you? I understand you've
been with the firm for some time.

26 years.

Tom Robertson, that's Glenn's father,
founded the firm.

I was one of the first people he brought
aboard.

So you worked your way to the top.

Tom made me a senior partner 12 years
ago.

Three years before he died.

How long has Laura been a senior
partner?

Just about the same time, 12 years.

She also worked her way to the top.

She married the boss's son.

You mean she was given a full
partnership the day she walked in the

Close to it, yes.

How do you feel about that, Mr. Moore?

I don't harbor any resentment towards
Laura, if that's what you're getting at,

and I rather suspect it is.

The truth is, she's a damn good lawyer.

I understand she ran for Congress nine
years ago, unsuccessfully.

We all worked very hard in that
campaign.

I also understand you're the sole owner
of the LLD Corporation.

Yes. Why?

That corporation made quite a few
campaign contributions in that election.

of them perfectly legal.

All of them went to support Laura's
opponent.

You've been very helpful, Mr. Moore.

Thank you.

So what you're hearing now is Pete
Sutton or Sid Wheeler or whatever he's

calling himself these days thrashing the
guy's house after I left.

You think he was looking for the key?

Well, there were six keys in this case
when I saw it in Dixon's office.

There's only five now.

Yeah, I need to talk to Batman.

Hey, it's me. What's the morning line on
a Bronco game?

Well, get your money, all right?

How's noon tomorrow?

Yeah, I'll be there.

Gambler? My theory is he got that tan of
his at the racetrack.

A bookie named Batman.

Well, I'll see you.

Where are you going?

See if I can track down this Batman.

Well, you certainly have me convinced
that whoever killed Dixon had prior

knowledge of Laura's breakdown.

How many people knew?

Four, to be exact.

And each of them with a motive.

Della, there were a lot of photographers
at the fundraiser.

See if you can round up some pictures.
I'd like to know exactly who was there

and when.

All right.

Mr. Mason, what do you think your
chances are of winning this case?

I'll let you know when we win.

Mr. Robertson, just how far would you go
to protect your wife?

I've never even sought a reporter.

Mrs. Robertson, what do you think your
chances are of winning the Senate seat?

As I've said before, my only concern is
to prove my notes in venison.

Excuse us.

Look, I'd like to help you, but I'm due
in court.

Just tell me where I can find Batman.

Come again?

You know, this guy calls himself Batman.
He's a bookie. Where can I find him?

Try Gotham City.

Sergeant Austin, think of me as a lowly
PI groveling in the dirt

for tiny bits of information.

And then think of yourself in this
exalted position at the police

with access to all kinds of information.

Couldn't you, out of the goodness of
your heart, throw me some small, tiny

tidbit?

You need help.

That's the point.

All right, try Mitchum's bar and grill.
Thank you. You have a very nice smile.

Sergeant Austin, did the medical
examiner arrive at a cause of death?

Yes, sir, he did.

Please tell the court his findings.

A deep wound at the temple indicated the
decedent fell and hit his head on the

corner of the dresser, causing his
death.

Were there any signs in the room of a
prior struggle?

It appeared the decedent had been struck
on the head with a blunt object.

Do you recognize this carafe marked
People's Exhibit 3?

Yes, I do. It has my tag on it.

How does it come to have your tag on it?
It was found on the floor approximately

38 inches to the left of the victim.

Would that be the victim's left or the
onlooker's left?

The victim's left. So, here.

That's correct.

It has been stipulated by counsel that
People's Exhibit 3 was in fact... the so

-called blunt object used to strike the
victim.

Were fingerprints found on this carafe?

Yes, the defendant's.

I show you now People's Exhibit 9 and
ask you to identify it.

This is the customized cigarette case
which was found on the floor of the

victim's motel room directly beneath the
front window.

Directly beneath the front window would
be here.

That's right.

Were you able to identify the owner of
the cigarette case?

Yes, sir. It has the initials G .R. on
the front, and we traced it to Mitchell

Sterling's shop here in town.

Your Honor, we offer as Exhibit 10 this

sales receipt issued to Glenn Robertson
by Mitchell Sterling,

reflecting the sale of one cigarette
case engraved with the initials G .R.

On the front.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Thank you.

Sergeant Austin, in the course of your
investigation, did you discover

anything else, anything else, that could
link the defendant, Glenn Robertson, to

the victim, Luke Dixon?

Yes, sir.

The morning after the murder, we
received an anonymous phone call telling

Luke Dixon was a blackmailer.

Acting on the caller's information, we
contacted the Halvern Clinic in Sunland,

Arizona, and learned that records
detailing the hospitalization and

Laura Robertson had recently been
stolen.

Did you discover who stole those
records?

Fingerprints found at the scene of the
burglary at the Halvern Clinic matched

those of the deceased Luke Dixon.

Thank you, Sergeant Austin.

No further questions?

Your witness? Sergeant Austin, other
than on the carafe, Where else in that

motel room were Glenn Robertson's
fingerprints found?

They were all over the room.

On the chest of drawers?

Yes. Desk? Yes.

The phone?

Yes. Were anyone else's fingerprints
found on the phone?

No, just his.

Doesn't that strike you as rather
unusual?

No. No?

A motel room phone gets a good deal of
use.

Yet on that particular phone, only one
set of fingerprints were found.

Now, what does that suggest to you?

That somebody cleaned it.

A maid?

Or someone else?

Someone who was in that room ahead of
Glenn Robertson, someone who wiped the

phone clean to make sure no one would
know who the killer was.

Objection, Your Honor. Calls for
speculation on the part of the witness.

Sustained.

Let's go back to the murder weapon,
Sergeant.

How many sets of prints were on the
carafe?

Just one.

Dixon's? No, Glenn Robertson's. Then it,
too, had been wiped clean?

Objection. Speculation. Sorry, Your
Honor. No further questions.

You may step down.

Mr. Essendon, you may call your next
witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The people call Mr. Robert Lane to the
stand.

Were you working at the Pioneer Motel
the evening that Luke Dickman was

Mr. Lang?

I sure was.

On that evening at around 10 .30, did
you see anyone arrive at the motel?

Yes. That person right there.

Let the record show that the witness has
identified the defendant, Glenn

Robertson, as the person he saw that
night at the motel.

Did you happen to notice where he went,
Mr. Lang?

To room three.

Room three.

You're certain?

From the front desk, I have a clear view
of everything.

And I've got a hell of a memory.

That being the case, Mr.

Lane, did you see anyone else go into
room three that evening?

No, sir.

And I was right there at the front desk
from eight o 'clock on.

No one else went near that room.

Thank you, your witness.

Mr. Lane.

On the night of the murder, your shift
at the motel began at 8 in the evening

and ended at 8 in the morning, did it
not?

Yes, it did.

Twelve hours.

How do you usually pass the time?

Watch TV.

Sometimes read.

Is it possible someone could slip by you
unseen while you're engrossed in one of

these activities?

I can see things out of the corner of my
eye that most people can't see looking

straight on. My boss will tell you.

He did.

He also said you're quite a football
fan.

Oh, you better believe it. I never miss
a Bronco game.

I understand the game they played
recently against the 49ers was pretty

exciting. Oh, yeah.

Especially the last quarter.

Oh? Why was that?

Your Honor, I object. What possible
relevance can the discussion of a

game have to this case?

I intend to show relevance, Your Honor.

I beg the court to bear with me just a
moment or two longer.

Very well.

Proceed.

What happened in the last quarter of
that game, Mr. Lane?

I'm sure you remember.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

Score's tied with two minutes to go.

49ers have the ball on their own 48.

Montana drops back. It's a draw play.
Bam! Stop the line of scrimmage. No

Second down, Montana takes a snap, drops
back again.

Broncos rush, crowds going berserk.

Montana hits a screen pass, bam, out of
bounds on hour 44.

It's third and short. They rush, we
hold, out comes the field goal unit.

the 50, bam, from the 50 -yard line, he
hits it.

49ers are up by three.

Your Honor. Quickly, Mr. Lane.

Tell us about the last minute.

Okay. There's 32 seconds to go.

49ers have the ball again on R46. It's
second and seven, and they're killing

clock. Fans are heading for the exits.
TV announcers thanking all his

Montana runs a simple off -tackle rush.
Bam, there's a fumble. It's a huge

pileup. One by one, the referee pulls
off the players. There's a Bronco at the

bottom. Bam, Bronco's ball. And Mr. John
Elway leads his team out onto the

field. It's first and 10, 27 seconds to
go.

Bam, Elway hits a down and out on their
48. Stops the clock with 22 seconds to

go. Second and four, Elway takes the
snap. Drops back, two 49ers bust

Elway scrambles. Bam, he hits a fly
pattern on the 20. There's one 49er

our guy and the game. Their guy dies,
our guy cuts. Bam, TD Broncos win. It

awesome.

I remind the spectators this is a
courtroom, not a nightclub.

Any further disturbances and I will have
this courtroom cleared.

Yes, Mr. Lane, it certainly was awesome.

You watched the game on TV?

Most of it, yes.

At work?

Yes, I think I was at work.

Do you recall what night that was, Mr.
Lane?

I can't write off, no.

It was the night of September 12th.

The night of the murder.

Isn't it true, Mr. Lane, that from the
moment you arrived at work, you were

watching the game?

Well, yes.

Isn't it true the game ended at 10 .30?

And it was at that time you saw Glenn
Robertson arrive at the motel?

Yes. Isn't it also true any number of
people could have gotten into that room

without your seeing them while you were
watching the game?

Yes, I suppose so, but...

Thank you, Mr. Lane. No further
questions.

You may step down.

Call your next witness.

Your Honor, the prosecution rests.

Court will recess until 2 .30 this
afternoon.

Thank you.

Meet Pete Dixon.

Meet me at the Crestmore Savings and
Loan at 4 o 'clock this afternoon. We'll

wrap things up.

No, but I will.

Right.

Does that call have anything to do with
the Robertson case?

I think we should talk, Mr. Dixon.

By any chance Luke Dixon's brother?

Oh, it wasn't by chance. My parents,
they worked hard to have me. Now, this

good sign.

I may never forgive you.

Jane came up and roll -called Drake.

Should I be flattered?

If you like being compared to bad cold,
unpleasant, hard to get rid of.

No, no.

Don't have anything nice to say. Don't
say anything at all.

What's in there?

Ooh.

New money.

Uh -huh.

Real name is Pete Dixon, as in Luke
Dixon.

You ever heard of him?

If you want a rap sheet on him, check
with records.

I wonder what this is doing in here.

Not on here.

The safe deposit key is from Crestmore
Savings and Loan.

Well, Dixon's supposed to meet someone
there at four o 'clock.

Do you mind if I... Sorry.

I think you're done here.

I think you're right.

Thank you.

Sure.

I won't forget this.

Here are the photos that were muffled so
far from the fundraiser.

Let me see them.

There isn't time.

Perry. What do you want them for?

Well, I don't know yet.

I checked out Pete Dixon.

He's done time for forgery, fraud, and
grand theft.

He must have had some angle on this
case. Knew who Luke Dixon was working

Thought perhaps he could get some money
out of it.

How is he?

He's still unconscious.

We could keep that appointment for him.
Unless he comes to.

Tell us who he was going to meet.

Thank you.

Bad news?

That's a good question.

All rise.

Court is reconvened.

Be seated.

Mr. Mason, you may call your first
witness.

I call Dr.

Emmett Michaels to the stand.

Dr. Michaels, you were Laura Robertson's
doctor at the time of her breakdown

seven years ago. Is that correct?

Yes.

Now, exactly, exactly what was her
condition?

Well, she was suffering from a psychosis
known as manic depression.

In layman's terms, she was on an
emotional roller coaster over which she

control. Fortunately, as most cases
nowadays, she responded well and quickly

the treatment. Your treatment?

Yes, my treatment.

And what did your treatment consist of,
Dr. Michaels?

Well, mostly just regular doses of an
antidepressant, trimipramine, I believe.

And shock treatment?

Yes, there was some electroconvulsive
therapy, yes.

That therapy is very controversial, is
it not?

And wasn't it controversial seven years
ago as well? It was effective seven

years ago.

And the diagnosis I had made in Laura's
case warranted it.

I don't suppose you could give us the
name of a medical authority who concurs

with your diagnosis.

Yes, I could.

Dr. Arlington agrees with me.

Who is Dr.

Arlington? He's a psychiatrist, Mr.
Mason.

Probably one of the most famous England
ever produced.

We're not above a little edification,
doctor. Tell us more.

Ten years ago, he published a book
called Arlington on Manic Depressives.

Is Arlington on Manic Depressives
considered definitive?

Yes, it's the definitive book on the
subject.

And in that book, he agrees with your
diagnosis?

Completely. Thank you.

Could you show us where Dr. Arlington
agrees with you?

That is a copy of Arlington on manic
depressives, identical to the one I saw

your office.

Please show the court where in that book
Dr.

Arlington agrees with you.

Now.

Yes, now. Show us, please.

Well, I can't. I can't do that now. As
you can see, that's a very thick book. I

don't want to take up the court's time
at searching through them.

Don't you even know where approximately
in the book he agrees with you?

Well, I'm not sure. I would have to go
through the whole book.

I don't think that we have time for that
now. Dr. Michaels, in order to hear the

truth, I'm sure this court will give you
all the time in the world.

Your Honor, I object.

Dr. Michaels is not on trial here.

Your Honor, The prosecution is basing
its whole case against my client on the

idea that the murder of which he stands
accused was the result of a blackmailing

scheme. None of this is relevant.

A scheme only a handful of people, the
people who knew about Laura Robertson's

medical history, could have
orchestrated.

I submit that the prosecution has left
me no choice but to pursue this line of

questioning.

Objection overruled.

still waiting for you to show us where
in that book.

Dr. Arlington agrees with you.

Is it true that you are and always have
been in love with Laura Robertson?

I suppose so.

Yes.

Isn't it true you were despondent when
she married Glenn Robertson?

Yes. Isn't it true that you diagnosed
her condition as emotional instability

keep her dependent on you?

No. Isn't it true that you subjected her
to unnecessary shock treatment because

you were afraid you were losing your
influence over her?

No. Isn't it true you knew if this
treatment ever became public, it would

her career?

I prescribed it because it was
consistent

with my diagnosis.

A diagnosis based on your need to
manipulate and control the woman you

have.

Oh, Dr. Michaels.

How could you say you love her?

You don't even know the meaning of the
word.

No further questions.

You may step down.

This court will adjourn until 9 a .m.
tomorrow.

If I'm right, whoever shows up to keep
that meeting Pete Dixon arranged is the

blackmailer.

Linda.

Paul. Linda.

Paul.

Linda.

Paul.

How are you?

Great. Pat.

How are you?

I'm fine.

It's a nice -looking baby you got there.

The one down here, I mean.

Thanks.

Well, you look like you're doing okay.

I am.

I'm doing pretty good myself. I'm in
town on business for a few days.

I gotta go.

Doctor's appointment.

Take care.

Well, I guess she managed to get over
me.

I guess she did.

There's the guy.

If you're waiting for Pete Dixon, he's
not coming, Mr. Moore.

What are you talking about?

You paid his brother a lot of money to
steal Laura Robertson's medical file.

I did no such thing.

Why were you going to expose Laura's
medical history?

You can answer in court if necessary.

The lawyer just waltzed into a job that
I worked a lifetime to get.

I was determined to stop this
appointment.

That's why I hired Luke, but he crossed
me up.

So you killed him?

No, no.

I never stepped foot in that motel room.
Where were you the night of the murder?

I had a testimonial, didn't I?

Mr. Moore, it would have been very easy
to slip out during the after -dinner

speech and slip back in again unnoticed.

Yes. But how easy is it when you're
sitting on a dais, Mr. Mason?

Giving the after -dinner speech with a
hundred witnesses.

Here's a list of your phone messages and
your notes from today.

And you still haven't looked at the
photos from the fundraiser.

Thank you, Della.

How's your leg?

Medium rare.

It hurts.

Take your medicine.

If you need anything, I'll be in my
room.

Della.

Thank you.

Night.

Night.

All rise.

Courtroom 92 of the Denver District
Superior Court is now open and ready for

transaction of business. The Honorable
Eleanor Daniels presiding. Be seated.

Defense may proceed.

Your Honor, defense calls Audrey Pratt
to the stand.

And you've been Mrs.

Robertson's executive assistant for how
long, Mrs. Pratt?

Almost a year.

But you worked with her prior to that.

Yes, for nine years.

Were you working for her September 12th,
the day of the big fundraiser?

Of course.

Did she get many phone calls that day?

Yes. People were calling left and right
to congratulate her on her possible

appointment to the Senate.

Did you keep a record of those calls?

I always write down the name of the
caller, the time of the call, and

not Mrs. Robertson takes the call.

I'd like you to think back, if you
would, Mrs. Pratt.

Do any of the calls that came in that
day stand out in your mind?

Well... I do remember receiving a call
that day that was a bit

unusual. In what way?

The caller refused to give me his name.

I remember arguing with him. He said he
just had to speak with Mrs. Robertson,

but he wouldn't tell me who he was.

What finally happened?

I put him through.

Mrs. Robertson spoke with him.

Briefly, as I recall, no more than two
minutes.

Were you present at the fundraiser that
was held that night?

You know I was, Mr. Mason.

That's right.

We spoke about it several days ago,
didn't we? I think you said Laura

was never out of your sight except for
the time she spent with me.

That's right.

Mrs. Pratt.

I've known you for a long time.

You've always been an honest and
forthright person.

Thank you.

I'm sure that you wouldn't knowingly
commit perjury while under oath, would

Of course not.

Did Mrs.

Robertson leave the hotel at any time
that evening?

I don't know.

Perhaps.

What time did she leave?

She left at 9 .45.

She told me that she was going to have a
private meeting with some backers and

that I should cover for her.

But she didn't come back, did she?

At least not right away.

No.

Do you remember...

What time she returned?

Around 10 .30.

Thank you, Mrs. Pratt.

That'll be all.

I call Laura Robertson.

Mrs. Robertson, as you know, You cannot
be forced to testify against your

husband. Yes, I know.

I show you this photograph, Mrs.
Robertson, and ask if you can identify

tell us when and where it was taken.

That's my associate, Jennifer Parker,
and me. It was taken at the fundraiser

the evening of September 12th.

Was the photograph taken before you left
the party?

I don't know.

This is a blow -up of part of that
photograph.

Could you tell the court what you see?

Jennifer's wearing a watch. It says 920.

That was before I left the party.

The man who called you at the office
that afternoon but refused to leave his

name, who was he?

Just a well -wisher, I suppose. I don't
remember.

Was it the blackmailer, Luke Dixon?

No.

Wasn't he calling to make sure your
husband would deliver the money?

Now think carefully before you answer.

The answer is no.

You're certain?

Objection asked and answered.

Please, Laura, don't make this more
difficult.

Would counsel kindly speak up so that
the court can hear his examination?

Isn't it true that you left the
fundraiser to go to the Pioneer Motel

had a violent argument with Luke Dixon
and accidentally, accidentally killed

him? Objection, Your Honor. Counsel is
using this witness not to elicit

testimony but to engage in pure
speculation.

It isn't speculation, Your Honor.

I can prove that Laura Robertson was at
that motel.

Then by all means, proceed.

You smoke, Mrs. Robertson?

Occasionally.

Sergeant Austin testified this cigarette
case was found here on the floor.

Below the window.

But Mr.

Robertson says when he tripped, things
fell out of his pocket.

Over here.

Near the foot of the bed.

Across the room.

You see...

Glenn Robertson just assumed that this
cigarette case was in his pocket when he

tripped and fell that night.

But it wasn't, was it?

You had it.

No, I... Look at this photograph.

The photograph you identified as having
been taken at the fundraiser.

There you are with Jennifer Parker.

Her watch says 9 .20.

What is that in your right hand, Mrs.
Robertson? What is that?

People's Exhibit 9, isn't it?

It's this cigarette case, isn't it?

Your husband didn't have the cigarette
case that night. You did.

And you dropped it in Luke Dixon's motel
room.

That is the truth, is it not?

When Luke Dixon called my office, I
found out that Glenn was going to pay

the blackmail.

I decided to go to the motel before he
arrived and try to get the file from

Dixon.

Your husband did not know that you were
going?

No.

What happened when you arrived in Luke
Dixon's room?

He was surprised to see me.

I tried to convince him to give me the
file, but when he thought he wouldn't

paid, he became ugly.

I tried to take the file from him.

He struck me.

I fought back.

He fell and hit his head.

I panicked and ran.

And you never told that to your husband?

No.

I allowed my husband, who has never
given me anything but love and support,

stand trial.

I used the loyalty and trust of my
friends to protect myself.

I succumb to a consuming ambition and
let it destroy everything that I value.

I'm sorry.

Your Honor, in view of these
developments, I move

that the people's case against Glenn
Robertson be dismissed.

Mr. Resnick?

The state concurs.

Case dismissed.

All rise.

you do that to Laura.

Now listen to me, Glenn.

Dixon's death was clearly accidental.
Any lawyer can prove that.

But if you and Laura need me, I'll be
back.

I realize it's an awkward time for me to
ask, but I'd love to buy you dinner

before I leave the city.

I'd like that.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Call me Linda.

Still here?

My plane leaves in one hour.

I was sure with you representing Glenn,
he wouldn't be convicted.

I was right.

I didn't want things to turn out this
way.

It was my plane leaving the last time.

Goodbye, Laura.

Zella?

Yeah?

Let's go.