Original subtitles

Don't improvise, Barbara.

Dance the dance as you learned it.

Admit it, Scott. We're very good together.

Barbara. Please.

So this is the secret to your success.

It's not enough to teach them how to dance.

You have to throw in a little cheap romance too.

Laura, it's not what you think.

I know what I saw.

Laura!

Laura!

Laura.

Forget it, Scott.

Laura, I love you.

My attorney will begin dissolving this partnership

in the morning.

Are you out of your mind?

All the woman did was kiss me.

What about the others? What others?

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

No, I don't.

I'm the one who wants to get married.

You're the one who won't leave your husband.

My husband's money set you up in this business,

and now I'm gonna close you down.

Laura.

Tough luck, old buddy.

Getting caught like that.

Somebody told her I was playing around.

You wouldn't have any idea who that could be?

None.

None at all.

Who do you suppose knew

I would be helping Barbara tonight,

and called Laura and told her to come down?

Beats me.

But if you have to look to see who's watching you,

you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Good night.

Out late again, my dear.

Oh, Garland. You startled me.

Committee meeting.

Yes, dear.

The opera ball. You remember?

I thought the committee had finished its work.

Well, they're tying things up.

Please don't be tedious, darling.

I am absolutely dead.

Good night.

Laura, give it a chance. This is all a big mistake.

I've worked too hard to let you pull the plug now.

Laura.

Laura?

Do you have any idea why your wife

was, uh, headed out that way tonight?

No. Uh...

Uh, perhaps a charity board meeting, or...

Yeah.

Well, maybe she got her dates mixed up.

Bob, I think you better come outside

and take a look at something.

Recognize this fabric?

Yes. It's part of the dress

my wife was wearing today.

Oh, my God. How did this get there?

Where were you tonight, Mr. Frazier?

At home.

All evening?

Yes, yes.

Can anyone verify that?

Oh, yes. My houseman, Chester.

Bob, I found this.

This, uh, pen belong to you?

I've never seen it before.

They all look alike,

so I cut a notch in the screw cap, there.

Then, uh... this is your pen.

Where'd you find it?

Found it on the floor of the car

that killed Laura Frazier.

How did it get there?

Well, now, that's another good question, Scott.

What's this?

I don't know.

Well, looks like they match.

This is the key to Garland Frazier's car.

The one that was used to run down his wife.

And this is a duplicate.

Scott, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you

to come downtown.

Yes, Laura and I were having an affair.

Yes, she put up the money for the dance studio.

Yes, we had a little argument, personal.

I don't care what Dash Hamilton said.

I didn't kill Laura, Mr. Matlock.

I loved her.

You making any money?

Studio is successful.

How long have you been taking dance lessons?

About a year, year and a half.

Oh, off and on.

About that.

Can you dance?

He's all right.

Huh.

Well, give me a couple of minutes.

I'll see if I can take the case.

Well, thanks, Ben.

And, uh, listen, I'm sorry about, uh...

Yeah.

It's okay.

Well.

So...

She got the place if you died first.

Yes.

And you got it if she went first.

Yes.

Where were you last night?

Home.

Alone?

Yes. Figures.

I didn't do it.

Someone planted that evidence.

Well...

I'll tell you what a jury's gonna see.

Jury's gonna see this younger man

romancing this older woman,

taking her money from her.

And she gets the feeling she's being two-timed,

and he kills her.

I'm just telling you what a jury's gonna think.

They're gonna think you're a gigolo.

Well, it's not true!

I loved Laura.

I don't care what you or anyone thinks.

Look, I'll understand if

you don't want to take the case.

Maybe you could just... recommend someone.

Ow!

Ah! Oh.

Oh. Oh, Ben.

I thought you were an intruder.

Oh, no, I just fell over that chair

that used to be in the living room.

Oh, I'm so sorry about the chair,

but I thought it was lost in the living room.

Well, I found it in the hall.

What are you doing home?

Oh, I was gonna call, but it was so late.

What happened to your fishing trip?

Ah, this case came up.

Oh, that's too bad.

Are you sure you're all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Where did I hit you?

Right here. Right...

Oh! Can I fix you something?

No, I'm fine.

I think I'll just go to bed.

Oh.

What's the matter?

I'm in your bed.

Oh. Um...

Ben, I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay here.

Why not?

Well... Well, you can't go home.

The workmen will be at your house for two weeks.

Yes, I know. But today I saw your neighbors looking over.

And they must think...

Well, the hell with them.

Oh, we have rights. Well...

Oh, I don't think so.

Ugh. I'll tell you what.

Why don't you just go on back to bed?

I'll sleep across the hall.

No, no, no. Let me... No, no,

no, no, no. no. I'm really wiped out.

I'll just go on back and I'll...

I'll see you in the morning.

You all right?

I just knocked over my alarm clock.

Yeah, I heard the noise.

I was afraid you would.

Well, I figured it was a clock or a glass or something.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.

That's okay.

Are... Are you sure you're all right?

Oh, yes.

Well, good night.

Good night.

Well, good morning.

Good morning. How did you sleep?

Fine. How about you?

Fine. Good.

Of course, I woke you once.

Oh, just once. Heh.

How's your...?

Oh, fine. See.

Mmm. Bacon and eggs.

Yes. I've kept a plate hot for you.

Ah. I can't eat bacon and eggs.

Cholesterol.

Oh, I'm sorry. What can you eat?

This stuff here.

The doctor told me I had to cut back on cholesterol.

I'll get the milk.

Skim.

Uh, have you seen the "Metro"?

Oh, yes. Here it is.

Oh.

Here's the rest of it.

Oh. Have you finished?

Yeah. All right.

I hope you're not one of those people

who hates sharing the newspaper.

No. I like sharing the newspaper. Heh-heh.

'Course, uh, here at home, I don't usually.

I know. You're alone.

Yeah.

Hm.

Ben, excuse me, but we have a problem.

We do?

Uh-huh. The Scott Lazar case.

Oh, you've been assigned.

Yes, I just got the call.

Oh.

Well, I think that's fine.

We have a very strong case.

I'm sure you do.

Word is he's a gigolo.

Yeah. I... I hear he likes women.

How did you get involved?

Well... You're not gonna believe it.

Bob Brooks studied dancing under Scott Lazar.

Lieutenant Brooks?

Yeah, I guess his wife made him. I don't know.

Oh! Oh, so... So you're doing it as a favor.

Yeah, I'll give it my best shot. Oh.

Do you think I should move out?

Of here? Yes.

No.

You don't think it will affect our relationship?

Well, why should it?

We've argued cases before.

Yes, I know.

Well, there you go.

Miss March.

Thank you.

Um, Your Honor,

Scott Lazar has been a resident

of the state of Georgia for less than two years.

He has no real ties to this community,

and the state feels that risk of flight is substantial.

Therefore, we ask that bail be denied.

Your Honor, if the courts denied bail

to everyone in Atlanta who's lived here less than two years,

then it would deny freedom

to half the citizens of the city.

Uh, and excuse me for saying,

that would include our learned prosecutor,

who has lived here under two years herself.

That is a specious argument, Your Honor.

May I remind the eminent counsel for the defense

that we're not talking about an ordinary citizen here.

We're talking about a young man

who has been living off the money

of an older, married woman while he was seducing her.

Wait a minute, Your Honor.

We're not arguing the case here.

We're just discussing bail.

Your Honor, I am merely stating matters of fact.

If... If I could just... If I could just...

Counselors!

Are you lecturing me?

No.

Counselors! Will counsel approach the bench?

Off the record.

I will not have this shouting match in my courtroom.

Your Honor, we're just having a reasoned argument.

Mr. Matlock, that'll be enough.

Back on the record. As far as bail is concerned,

prosecution's argument is well taken.

Bail is denied.

Thank you, Your Honor. But Your Honor...

Mr. Matlock, that is all.

I'm sorry, but I do think that was fair.

Oh, I suppose.

Are you coming home for dinner? Yeah.

Good.

I'll make you the best fried chicken you've ever had.

Yeah? Yeah.

You know, it must be terribly painful

for you to hear some of the things being said

about your marriage.

Mm, yes, but of course, I know the truth.

Laura and I were very happy together.

What is that?

Oh, uh, that, uh, is a trophy for the mambo.

Laura and, uh, her partner earned that

in Montreal... last summer.

It's just... Ugly, isn't it?

Well, she was a champion ballroom dancer, wasn't she?

Yes, yes. I...

must confess I never understood her interest

in ballroom dancing. But far be it for me

to squelch her passion.

Mr. Frazier, I'm... embarrassed to ask,

but you did know about your wife's affair

with Scott Lazar?

No, not at all.

And I must say I'm shocked

to hear such unfounded and vicious gossip.

Oh.

Didn't you hire a private investigator

to spy on your wife?

Who said anything of the sort?

But you did hire the Temple Detective Agency.

Well, suppose I did.

There's no great crime in that.

And... to be painfully honest...

I had heard rumors about Laura and her...

gigolo friend.

Was your wife aware that you knew about her affair?

Well, I never found any actual evidence,

so naturally I didn't discuss it with her.

One of my Washington friends

heard about your being considered

for an ambassadorial post.

Nothing has come of it yet.

You could stand to lose a lot

if there was some sort of scandal.

You could make a case for that.

A suspicious person might consider that a motive

for murder, Mr. Frazier.

I'm sure he could.

But I didn't commit murder...

and no one can prove that I did.

So you're wasting your time... and mine.

And I could make an even stronger case for that.

Hello?

That's pretty fancy footwork.

Why, thank you.

Don't you just love the merengue?

It's very impressive.

Uh... could you tell me

where I might find, uh, Mrs. Barbara Raymond?

I might.

Who are you?

Ben Matlock. Uh, Scott Lazar's lawyer.

I'm Barbara.

Oh.

Uh... may I ask you some questions?

Well, I hope you don't mind if I continue to practice.

My partner is late, and we only have two weeks

until the competition.

Uh... that... That competition.

Is that the same one that you were rehearsing for

with Scott Lazar when he had his argument

with, uh, Laura Frazier?

Yes, but that was a tango.

This is a merengue.

Well, how involved were you with Scott Lazar?

Well, since you are his attorney,

I expect you to keep this in confidence.

Okay.

Scott and I are lovers.

According to Scott, you were...

attached to him, but...

there was nothing to it.

Well, yes. That's, uh, Scott's way.

And I agree, Mr. Matlock.

Discretion would be best under the circumstances.

Well...

I think the truth would be the most helpful.

Well, let's just say that Scott and I were good friends,

and Laura misapprehended the situation.

You told the police that at the time of the murder,

you were at a tanning salon.

I would appreciate it if you kept that in confidence too.

Though I do go there once a week.

Well, um, uh... M-Mrs. Raymond... uh...

Ben. Spending some of your exorbitant fees

on dance lessons?

Oh, Archibald. You're the last person

I'd have expected to see here.

Judge Smith is my dancing partner.

Well, actually, I-I'm just here working on a case.

Well, actually, I'm just here working on the merengue.

Well... you were right about one thing.

This is the best fried chicken I ever had.

You're just being kind.

No, no, no. I'm not.

It's the best.

I was just kidding when I said it would be the best.

Are you sure that's okay?

It's the best.

With all the fried chicken you've ever had in your life?

Julie... I don't say this to just anyone

that rolls some chicken in batter,

throws it in a skillet and fries it up.

Your chicken is the best.

It's got the crispiest skin, the juiciest meat,

the most perfect flavor I ever tasted.

It's the best.

Oh.

Let me put it this way.

My mother... my very own mother

who won blue ribbons at state fairs,

never made fried chicken as good as yours.

Hah! Ben, I don't know what to say.

It's the best.

Would you like some more?

No.

My doctor would fire me if he knew I ate this much.

Oh, I forgot. Your cholesterol.

I'm sorry.

Oh, that's okay. I'll eat cardboard tomorrow.

But it was really good.

It was the best.

Well, ahem, I, um...

I had a couple of interesting developments

in the Scott Lazar case.

Ben, I don't think we should discuss that.

It's not unethical.

You know what I mean.

To you, Scott Lazar is the victim of a frame.

To me, he's a murdering gigolo.

Oh, well. I wouldn't call him a gigolo.

I mean, I know you don't like him,

and you think he's guilty,

but to call him a gigolo is kind of like street talk.

Oh, come on, Ben. He is what he is:

a good-looking guy who trades on his charm.

Well, Scott's a professional.

He... He... He offers a service.

A service for older women.

Well... Yes. And a lot of them.

The fact that he was in love with Laura Frazier

has nothing to do with that.

The fact that he used her for her money does.

They were legal partners.

They were until he killed her.

Well, I don't think he killed her.

What happened to the presumption of innocence anyway?

Want some coffee? No, thank you.

Ben, I refuse to argue this case out of court.

Well, who's arguing?

And I also refuse to be put on trial

for my personal point of view.

We're just having a discussion, for Pete's sake.

Oh, excuse me.

Where you going? I'm going to take a shower.

You just had one.

I'm going to take another one.

I happen to like showers.

Damn.

Good morning. Good morning.

So how'd you sleep?

Just beautifully. And you?

Okay.

Just okay?

Maybe that fried chicken set heavy.

Now, here is your cereal, your milk,

your pills, your paper,

including the ever-popular "Metro" section.

Now, I don't know whether you take sugar

in your cereal or not, but here it is just in case.

I have a breakfast meeting, so I'll be running along now.

Have a wonderful breakfast.

See you in court. Bye.

I'm really looking forward to working with you, Letitia.

Oh, well, I always wanted to learn the tango.

My guess is,

is that you're championship material.

Oh!

We'd find out sooner

if you doubled up on your lessons.

But I just bought a year's worth.

Two years costs...

just a few dollars more than one.

Ooh!

I hadn't thought of it quite that way.

Ciao.

Ciao.

Now that is some sales pitch, Mr. Harrison.

Have we met?

Tyler Hudson.

I'm working on the Scott Lazar case with Ben Matlock.

Not interested.

Now this could take a couple seconds

of your valuable time, sir.

Or we can drag you into court.

I hadn't thought of it quite that way.

So you attended a local softball game

the night Laura Frazier was murdered.

That's right.

I don't suppose anyone saw you there

who could corroborate your story.

I'm new in the neighborhood. I don't know anyone.

Look, I already told the police everything.

No. Not everything.

According to Scott, you were Laura's lover

before he came into the picture.

So what?

So we heard that she intended

to set you up in your own studio.

But those plans changed when she met Scott.

My friend, you're whistling in the wind.

Ah, but a man in your dancing shoes

must have found it pretty difficult

taking orders from her new boyfriend.

Look, chum... Scott killed Laura.

We'll see, chum.

We'll see.

Mr. Frazier, are you connected

with the Frazier Building downtown?

Yes. My father built it 50 years ago.

I believe it was sold three years ago.

A distress sale, wasn't it?

Yes. I had some minor cash flow problems.

An oil lease in the Middle East

was, uh, affected by the... trouble there.

Well, that must be nice,

to have a... A building to sell

when you need to raise a little cash.

Most people have to settle for a swap meet.

Your Honor.

Mr. Matlock, I assume this is leading somewhere.

Your Honor, I assure you it is.

Proceed.

Uh, have you ever heard

of the Christian Ferrare Jewelers?

Oh, yes. I-I've, uh,

purchased some items, uh, from them in the past.

Ever sold anything?

I-I can't recall.

Well, maybe this will refresh your memory.

Uh, a diamond and emerald necklace,

several other items, uh...

three months ago.

Oh. Yes.

Uh, these belonged to, uh, Mrs. Frazier, didn't they?

Yes.

Did she know you sold them?

Uh... I-I don't think so.

N-not at the time.

So you have testified...

that to raise cash,

you sold a building, some jewels...

Yes, but what does that have to do with Laura's death?

Maybe you'd better let me ask the questions.

Um... last year, you took out

an insurance policy on your wife

in the amount of $2 million.

Isn't that true?

Yes. But, uh, taking out insurance i-i-is not unusual.

No. No, no, it's not,

but as you say, with the soft oil market,

and your having to, uh, sell off assets,

it appears that maybe you were living

in a financial house of cards

that could've come crumbling around you at any minute.

Mr. Matlock, I did not kill my wife!

I was home.

My houseman has already testified to that.

Uh, your houseman, Chester Grant,

was nowhere near your estate that night.

He was playing poker.

Ordinarily, he plays poker on Thursdays,

but it was postponed because one of the regulars was ill.

Now, that player is prepared

to testify to that, if necessary.

Where were you, Mr. Frazier?

You were not at home.

Why did you lie?

To protect someone.

Who?

Someone I love very much. My... M-my daughter.

You and Mrs. Frazier... had a child?

Laura was not the mother.

Well, who's the mother?

Her name was Caroline Blum.

She worked in an art gallery.

I... I barely knew her.

I had a casual affair years ago.

Caroline became pregnant and...

elected to have the child

over... my objections.

Oh, I told Laura about it... hm...

and... And Laura stayed with me,

but, well, it ruined the marriage.

I tried to keep it very quiet.

I... supported the mother, the child.

And then last year, Caroline died.

Oh, um... where has, uh...

your daughter lived since her mother died?

I-I found a place for her

with the... The sister of my houseman.

See, I was with my daughter the night Laura was murdered.

I...

No, I didn't take the Mercedes,

because i-i-it was so conspicuous.

And I got home just before the police arrived.

No further questions.

Cross-examine?

No questions, Your Honor.

Court stands adjourned till 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

What do we do now?

Well, I... I guess we'd better regroup.

Believe me, it's all in her mind.

Did you see Julie leave?

No.

You ever been to a tanning salon?

Hey, Julie.

Hey, Julie, I'm home. I brought Chinese.

Got all your favorites.

Hey, Julie, where are you?

Dear Ben, you've been so kind

to let me stay here,

but I think things would be simpler if I go.

Thank you for everything.

Julie.

"P.S. Leftover chicken warming in the oven.

I hope it will be okay."

Julie?

Hi.

Hi. Thanks for the chicken. It was good.

Sometimes it's better left over.

Even cold.

It was.

Did I forget to turn on the oven?

Oh, no. Um...

I'm... I'm sorry you left like that.

Ben... So... So we... We argue a little.

Who doesn't?

I know. But neither one of us likes to give in.

Heh. I know.

Um...

besides wanting to tell you I'm sorry you left,

I have to tell you

I think I'm onto something...

that'll clear Scott Lazar.

Excuse me.

Yes.

He's right here. It's Michelle.

Yeah, Michelle?

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Okay. Uh... Uh, gimme... Gimme 20 minutes.

I've got to go.

I really think we're onto something,

and I just wanted you to know, and...

I hope you know... how fond I am of you,

how much I enjoy your company,

and you... You really do make great fried chicken.

And I'm sorry about our disagreement.

If you wanna call Scott Lazar a gigolo, that's fine.

I... I think he may be a gigolo myself.

Anyway, I, uh... I just, uh, wanted you to know

I really think we are onto something,

and I'll see you later.

Well, what's the verdict?

Fifty seven, thirty four.

It's possible to make the trip in an hour.

But not without speeding.

And I forgot about that speed trap on Route 10.

Oh.

Can you fix a ticket?

No.

You know somebody?

I might.

Mrs. Raymond...

uh, you've been a widow for seven years.

Is that right?

Yes.

And how have you filled the void

since your husband's death?

Uh, church, charity work?

No. Dancing.

Dancing.

That's right. You're, uh...

You're something of a champion, aren't you?

Yes.

I have a silver medal in the tango,

and I'm going for the gold.

Oh. Hm.

Uh... do you, uh, study dancing?

Yes.

For... For how long?

Five years.

Oh, that's right.

That's right. The first four years

at the Holiday Dance Salon,

and then the last year with, uh, Scott Lazar.

Yes.

I understand those, um...

Those, uh, dance lessons are, um, expensive.

Uh... how did you afford them?

Well, mostly with my husband's pension,

but I took out a loan for the rest.

Mrs. Raymond...

you couldn't really afford...

those lessons.

They came...

at great sacrifice, didn't they?

And I... I guess, I... I guess you wanted...

your money's worth,

and you allowed yourself

to slip into some kind of fantasy.

A fantasy in which, uh,

Scott Lazar was... Was your instructor,

but he was also your... Your hero.

Your... knight in shining armor,

so to speak.

Could rescue you from...

the terror and loneliness

you felt as a widow.

Ah...

Uh, Mrs. Raymond...

isn't it true that you were the one...

who called Laura Frazier

to come out to that deserted road that night?

No.

And didn't you somehow manage

to borrow the keys to the Frazier car

from Mrs. Frazier's purse

and have two copies made,

and place one copy...

in Scott Lazar's desk?

While you were doing that...

took out one of his fountain pens

and planted it... in the Frazier Mercedes.

No. This is all lies.

Scott and I are lovers.

We were wonderful together.

Yes, and that's right. You...

You were at your tanning salon

at the time of the murder.

You were supposed to keep that confidential.

Everything has to come out now.

And I'll tell you what I think.

I think you killed Laura Frazier...

and made it look like...

you were at your tanning salon at the same time.

Why are you doing this to me?

You went to your tanning salon,

and yes, you signed in.

But you slipped out the back door, didn't you?

I don't remember.

I think you did.

I think you slipped out the back door...

went to the Frazier estate...

took the Frazier car...

drove out to that lonely road.

You knew Laura Frazier would be there.

And then you used that car

to take her life away.

After the murder...

you drove back to the Frazier estate...

and then you got in your own car

and drove like the wind back to the tanning salon.

Went in the back door, and made it appear

as if you had just finished your session.

Oh, that is ridiculous.

No one can do all of that in an hour.

That's right.

You'd really have to race.

And there's a speed trap on Highway 10.

You were almost certain to get a ticket.

I have never gotten a speeding ticket in my life.

Are you sure a motorcycle officer

didn't give you a citation that night?

Yes.

You can just go to city hall and check the records.

I did.

And you're right.

There is no citation.

Well, then... what more do you want?

So we checked...

with all the officers on duty that night.

When a citation is given,

there is the original.

That is sent to the Department of Public Safety

to be processed in the courts.

And two duplicates.

The first duplicate goes to the offender,

the second... to the officer.

Now, that original

is the one that causes all the trouble...

unless you've got someone who can fix it.

Do you have a friend who can fix a ticket?

I don't know what you mean.

The Honorable Archibald Smith.

Your dance partner.

He can fix a ticket, can't he?

This is Officer Kevin Miller's copy

of the citation he issued to you

the night Laura Frazier was murdered.

It states that the time was 8:33 p.m.,

and the vehicle you were driving was Mrs. Frazier's.

Do you know what I mean now, Mrs. Raymond?

We all know what it means to be lonely.

I know I do.

It must've been very painful...

to love Scott Lazar...

and not have that love returned.

It still is.

Oh, Scott, I... I'm sorry.

I'm sorry too.

Your Honor, under the circumstances,

the state moves that the charges against Scott Lazar

be dismissed.

By the people's motion, this case is dismissed.

Court is adjourned.

Congratulations.

You do like champagne, don't you?

Well, yeah.

You're right.

About what?

Good friends should be able to argue.

Sometimes. But not tonight.

Here's to us.

Yeah.

You put on a fine case today.

Yes, but like you said, you...

knew something.

Oh. Heh.

Mmm. By the way, the repairs on my house

are going to take another two weeks.

Oh.

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