All language subtitles for Perry Mason S06E12 The Case of the Polka Dot Pony.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

The child was placed here
some nineteen years ago.

I don't see how she can be of
any concern to the orphanage now.

Quite true, Mr. Renshaw.

But as I told you on the
telephone... Regulations.

Reuniting a child with
a long lost parent...

Certainly the regulations
can be relaxed a bit.

There are other ways of tracing her,
you know... state records, for instance.

No, the family would like
everything handled very discreetly.

Discreetly, of course.

There's a great deal
of money involved.

Ah yes, money.

It's usually that.

I, uh, took it on myself,
Mr. Link, to suggest to her mother

that a contribution would certainly
help the fine work you're doing here.

We have accumulated a
lot of files in all these years.

And I believe you stated
the child was abandoned.

Therefore, no identity.

Though, of course,
there's usually some clue.

Her first name was Maureen.

I happen to know the approximate
date she was left here...

The month, at any rate.
That should narrow it down.

Suppose we go along
to the file room and see.

Fine.

That's quite an
animal you have there.

A lion, isn't it?

Does it have a name?

I know... it's a cat
and it took your tongue.

You about through, Mr. Renshaw?

Just another minute.

I'll have to lock this door while I
go down to the gates for a moment.

Some stranger's talking
to one of the children.

Maureen.

All right, Pop,
what do you want?

Now, honey, that's
no way to talk.

Would you come and sit down?

Someone's meeting me.

You can spare a
minute, can't you?

It's been two years
since you've been home.

Home?

Well, no, I guess
it wasn't very much,

but I thought you might come out to
see your old foster-pop once in a while

for old times' sake.

Look, there was a fella was over at
the house asking about you yesterday.

His name's Renshaw.

What's he selling?

Nothing.

He said he was your uncle
Burt. I showed him your picture.

My uncle?

Oh, he was a salesman!

Did you tell him
where to find me?

- No.
- Well, don't!

It's possible he could
be your uncle, isn't it?

How would I know?

And for that matter,
how would he know?

Look, what do you want
me to tell this fella, huh?

You just tell him that I
left home five years ago

and haven't returned since.

It's half true anyway.

Oh, look, Pop, he's a phony.

And even if he isn't,
I don't need him.

You don't need anybody, do you?

Only the friends I choose.

Do you need any money?

I've never asked you
for anything yet, have I?

Well, this won't
spoil your record.

I'll try to get out and
see you some time.

Your flight was announced
a half an hour ago.

What did you do, take the train?

The pilot got fresh over
Fresno, and I had to walk home.

Fresh over Fresno?

Well, aren't you going to
punch him or something?

And have a shiner for tomorrow?

Oh, no. I'm a
lover, not a fighter.

What's tomorrow?

Well, I thought we'd
drop in on my family

and let them meet the
girl I'm going to marry.

Oh no, Rich.

Have you told
them I'm an orphan?

Well, no.

But I didn't tell them you were a
registered foreign agent, either.

Aw, they'll get
used to it, darling.

Besides, that's not really
important to anybody.

Except to an orphan.

Come on in out of
the storm, orphan.

May I help you?

Oh, yes. Is
Mr. Renshaw in, please?

It's a personal matter.

- Yes. Right in the office.
- Uh...

- You can go right in.
- Oh, thank you.

Yeah?

Oh. Come in, come
in, Mr. Thomas.

Ha ha. Nice to see you.

I suppose you've
talked to Maureen.

Of course you have, or else
you wouldn't be here, right?

She doesn't want to
see you, Mr. Renshaw.

Well, that's hardly the point.
But I do want to see her.

She doesn't think
you're her uncle.

Oh?

Well, I've got $20 here
that says she's wrong.

What do you think of that?

When we got her from the orphanage,
they didn't even know her last name.

It's Renshaw. She
was my brother's child.

That should prove that
I'm her uncle, shouldn't it?

Seems reasonable
enough to me, but...

Oh, wait a minute. I got a
little something here for you.

A little souvenir.

Why, that's me!

How in the world
did you ever get that?

Professional secret.

Took it when you
were in here yesterday.

Go ahead. Put it in your pocket.

Well.

Thanks.

Oh, how are you, Mr. Grove?

- Will you come on in?
- Sure.

I'm just putting through
a call to New York.

To Maureen's mother.

Well, it seems I dropped
in at the right time.

She'll be very happy to know
you and I bumped into each other

because I've found
out where Maureen is.

Really?

Hello?

Yes. I'm calling
Mrs. Arturo Fernaldi.

Yes, thank you.

Her second husband was Italian.

Died several years ago.

She's still an Italian
citizen, though.

Spent most of the time traveling
with a woman companion.

Now the woman drowned in a
boating accident of some sort,

and Mrs. Fernaldi's all alone.

I suppose I told you about that.

No. No, you didn't.

Hello. Mrs. Fernaldi?

James Grove.

Oh. How sweet of
you to call, Mr. Grove.

Where are you?

In Los Angeles.

I have some news
for you about Maureen.

Good news, Mr. Grove?

Oh. Wait.

Let me sit down
before you tell me.

It's all right. I'm
quite all right.

You were saying, Mr. Grove?

I've succeeded in
locating your daughter.

Oh!

Oh, my dear, that's wonderful.

Oh, I... I think
I'm going to cry.

They've found my little girl.

Oh, I... I can't talk.

Uh, just a moment.

Get all the details for
me, will you, George,

and tell that wonderful young man that
I'll be the first plane to Los Angeles.

This is a friend of Mrs.
Fernaldi. We met on a plane.

She's rather excited.

I think she took it very well.

Yes, I'll take care of
everything at this end.

Good night, sir.

You might have
let me talk to her.

- Why?
- Why? Because she's my sister-in-law.

That's why. She probably
doesn't even know I'm still alive!

I didn't realize you had such
strong family feelings, Mr. Renshaw...

After all these years, too.

Excuse me.

Just a minute, Mr. Grove.

There's something else
you'd better realize, too.

I'm the only one who happens
to know where to find Maureen.

You tell Angela to
get in touch with me.

I don't think your help will be
needed in the future, Mr. Renshaw.

Maureen?

Maureen, this is
your Uncle Burt.

I didn't even know
I have an uncle.

You may not see him again
for another twenty years.

Goodbye, Mr. Renshaw.

Now just a minute, Mr. Grove.

I said goodbye, Mr. Renshaw!

It's a swindle, Mr. Mason.
It's an out-and-out swindle.

That's all it is.

Grove is trying to pass off
that girl as Angela's daughter.

I don't know where
he dug her up,

but I do know he hasn't got
any real evidence to go on.

Just pieces of incomplete
records, maybe.

But he's not going
to get away with it.

I imagine Mr. Grove will make
the same charge against you.

So let's see what there
is in the way of evidence.

Well, to begin with, Maureen was
left at the Bolton Hall Orphanage

when she was a
year and a half old.

Two years later, she was placed
in a foster home in Orangedale.

The foster family's
name is Thomas.

As I understand it,

she was abandoned with no
identity other than a first name.

Well, yeah, that's true but...

Were you familiar
with the circumstances?

Well, certainly.

My brother divorced Angela
and got custody of the child.

He was awarded custody?

Why not the mother?

Because she was an alcoholic.

Isn't that nice!

I'm only telling
you the way it was.

Then Ed went into the Navy, so
he left her on the orphanage steps...

I must've been a
beautiful baby, hmm?

Look, Ed didn't
consult with me about it.

I was a bachelor, and if I'd known, I'd
have done something about it myself!

Anyway, after Ed's sub sunk,

I did send money every year or so to
the orphanage, to get you a few extras.

Did you do this anonymously?

Well, yeah. I thought
it best at the time.

Then there is still no positive proof
that this particular Maureen is your niece.

How do you feel
about it, Miss Thomas?

Oh, very wanted.

Look, I have a date in forty
minutes with my future in-laws,

if they want me.

Wait a minute. You can't just
walk out on Angela like this.

Why not? She did it to me.

But that was twenty years ago.
She's straightened herself out now.

How do you know
that, Mr. Renshaw?

Well, Grove told me she married
this Italian... a big industrialist.

He left her plenty, I guess.

A villa in Rome, a place on
the Riviera, Paris every spring.

Oh, she's got plenty
of money, all right.

I mean, why would Grove
pull in this phony on us?

Now here's my plan...

I'm not interested in any
of your plans, Mr. Renshaw.

I think it would be wiser to let
Mr. Mason handle this for me.

So that's the way it is, huh?

Okay, try it and good luck.

But I happen to know
something nobody else does.

And make no mistake.

You'll all be coming back to Uncle
Burt before this whole thing is over.

Don't look at me
that way, Mr. Mason.

Maybe I could use somebody
important in my background.

Well, now what's the first move?

Say, you by any chance Maureen's
young man she's been talking about?

I must be.

I'm her uncle Burt...
Burt Renshaw.

Oh? I didn't know
Maureen had an uncle.

Well, in that case, I think
we'd better get acquainted.

Suppose I give you a
call one of these days.

Fine, do that.

Here. You can reach
me at this number.

- Richard Campion, eh?
- Right.

Yeah, I'll... I'll
be calling you.

Good.

So there I was on a roller coaster
20,000 feet over the continental divide

with my seatbelt fastened and nothing
but one of those ridiculous paper sacks.

Oh... you were queasy, Richard?

Yes, Mother. I was
queasy, all right.

The stewardess
can vouch for that.

Yes. He was as
green as a Martian.

Uh, do you suppose that
Martians are really green?

Well, if they are, I know
exactly how they feel.

Yes, well, I must say that, well,
planes have always frightened me.

Yes.

I should think your parents
would worry about you constantly.

Oh, I do the worrying
about her now.

All those handsome pilots...

My father is dead.

I'm so sorry.

He was a submarine commander.

He was sunk by an enemy.

Fine tradition, the Navy.

My mother's lived
in Europe ever since.

Why don't we all have
another drink, huh?

Her name is Mrs.
Arturo Fernaldi.

Hello.

Oh, yes. Just a minute, please.

Maureen, it's for you.

It's not the Prince of
Monaco, but take it anyway.

Don't be surprised
if it's all true.

Hello.

Hello, Maureen.

This is your uncle Burt.

Surprised to hear
from me so soon?

How did you know I was here?

Oh, I get around, Miss Thomas.

Angela arrived today.
I've been over to see her.

Did you have a
nice family reunion?

Well, I wouldn't want
to say how nice it was,

but I sure learned a lot.

Oh yes, it was
very enlightening.

Am I her daughter?

Well, now, suppose you come
over here and I'll tell you, huh?

I think we can do business.

All right? Here's the address.

Well, of course I'll come alone.

But it'll take me
at least an hour.

Mr. Renshaw?

I've never met anyone named Pop
Thomas, nor have I met a Richard Campion.

"Maureen" could be anybody.

The "Mason" probably is me,
but what made you think so?

His clerk, a Margaret MacDonald, said
he had an appointment with you yesterday.

Yes. He consulted me on a legal
matter, but I haven't seen him since then.

You're not likely to now, Counselor.
He was murdered last night.

- Where?
- In his camera shop in Hollywood.

That list was found on
his desk beside the phone.

Looks like he made three calls,
but never got around to the last one.

So far as I know, Lieutenant,
he had no reason to phone me.

Hmm. And you can't help us
on those other three names?

I'm afraid not.

I'll take care of this
later, Della. Thank you.

Doesn't the clerk at the camera
shop know who these people are?

Maybe.

But so far, she's
just been hysterical.

Which probably means Miss
MacDonald was very close to Renshaw.

Yes.

Maybe she can
tell us a great deal.

If she ever stops
being hysterical.

Oh, we'll calm
her down, all right.

Della, get hold of Paul.

Have him make a fast check
at the Bolton Hall Orphanage...

A baby left on the
doorstep nineteen years ago.

She was a year and a half at the time
and had only a first name... Maureen.

Do you think it's
really Miss Thomas?

I think it would be a
lucky accident if it were.

However, it looks as if Renshaw
simply located a Maureen, any Maureen,

in the hopes of foisting
her off on Angela.

Oh, Miss Thomas...

Mr. Mason. What are
you doing out here?

Waiting for you.

Well, it must be very important.

Am I really Angela's daughter?

At the moment, there's
no proof either way.

I've made an appointment for you to
meet her tonight, that is if you want to.

If she's really my mother,
why shouldn't I want to?

Was Burt Renshaw your uncle?

I have no idea.

Why do you say "was"?

He was murdered last night.

Murdered?

Why?

Well, in my office,
didn't he say in effect

that he was the only one who
could identify Angela's daughter?

You mean now we'll never know.

I'd say your chance at the money is
just as good as Maureen Franklin's.

Don't talk to me about
money, Mr. Mason!

I've been making my own living
since I was sixteen years old,

with no help from any
mother or anyone else!

I just think I need
someone right now.

Why now?

Because I went over to
meet Rich's parents last night.

Do you want to know
something funny?

I suddenly realized I'm
just a status seeker after all!

I really want a mother.

I hope you get one.

You know, Mr. Mason,
I'm rather glad

California has jurisdiction
in this parentage matter.

Why, Mr. Grove?

If my firm knew you were
representing the competition,

they'd certainly send
out the first team.

It's a great opportunity
for me to be here.

I was under the impression
that Mrs. Fernaldi was your client.

Well, my firm was retained
to locate her daughter.

Having done that, it
seems I have to verify it.

Can you do that, Mr. Grove?

My mother will be...

Oh. I mean Mrs. Fernaldi
will be out in a moment.

Thank you.

Miss Franklin,
this is Mr. Mason.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

Oh, and Miss Thomas.

Oh.

So you're an alumnus
of Bolton Hall, too.

Yeah, a refugee.

Oh, isn't this nice?
We're all here.

And you must be Mr. Mason.

Yes. You fit the voice.

Mr. Mason telephoned me today,
and I was quite taken by his voice.

So often when one
meets the person,

well, they don't really match,
if you know what I mean.

Oh, you must be Maureen.

One of them.

Let me look at you...

Oh, you're... you're
quite lovely, but...

What is it, Mrs. Fernaldi?

I just don't know.

I mean, one would think that a mother
would know her own child by sheer instinct.

But of course, I was
a very bad mother.

Oh, no.

I'm afraid it's dreadfully,
unhappily true.

I abandoned you, my dear.

Or was it you?

How does one tell?

Mr. Mason, please help me.

What am I going to do?

I'm afraid there's nothing
for you to do, Mrs. Fernaldi.

If the records and the evidence
available aren't conclusive,

- a court will have to decide.
- Oh.

Would you excuse
me, please? Mr. Mason?

Yes.

I'm afraid it's all terribly
confusing, isn't it?

I mean, you don't even
know what to call me.

Mr. Mason, I have a
considerable head start on you.

I'll try to catch up, Mr. Grove.

I have no doubt of that.

But I think you'll find the evidence
tends to support Miss Franklin's claim.

There are certain blood
tests which could be made.

They might eliminate
either one of the girls.

Yes, yes, I've already
made arrangements for that,

but we don't have much
data on the father's blood.

I take it you feel this
should not go into court.

Well, I think it would certainly be
presumptuous of me to give you advice.

Not at all. I'd welcome it.

Well, I suppose you've heard
of Burt Renshaw's murder.

Yes.

Well, I'm not suggesting
your client isn't sincere

in believing she's Mrs.
Fernaldi's daughter.

However, if the tests
should show against her

or, more likely, if the
court decides against her...

And I'm confident it will... there could
be an implication of attempted fraud.

And you think Renshaw was
murdered because he knew of the fraud?

I think that's what the
police are bound to suspect,

and it could put your client
in an uncomfortable position.

Now, I'm sure she had
nothing to do with the murder,

or I wouldn't make
the suggestion.

Are you as sure of your
client... Miss Franklin?

Well, that's pretty
farfetched, isn't it?

Why?

Until one or the other is proven
to be Mrs. Fernaldi's daughter,

they're interchangeable,
aren't they?

Della.

- Oh, Perry. Hello, Miss Thomas.
- Hello.

Paul would like for you to meet him
at this address as soon as possible.

All right. I'll get
right over there.

Mm-hmm. And here's the latest edition.
I thought you might find it interesting.

Miss Thomas, I'll be
gone about an hour.

I'd like you to stay here.

Why?

Convenience.

I could use this
picture on a passport.

How could they have
gotten that picture, Maureen?

I don't even remember
having it taken.

Maybe nobody will recognize me.

I wouldn't count on that.

Good work, Paul.

These files aren't usually
available without a court order.

I told the assistant director I knew
Burt Renshaw got in on a little grease.

He became suddenly agreeable.

Where's Maureen's file?

Which one? There have been
half a dozen Maureens in this place.

Well, from the facts that
Burt Renshaw gave us,

you can eliminate
most of them, can't you?

Well, only two really fit,
but that doesn't help much.

Here. Look at the
information on this tab.

It does not match
the record inside.

Somebody did a real
sloppy job of filing.

Maybe some of the pages
could have been switched.

But this is obviously a
file on Maureen Thomas.

"Found on orphanage
doorstep August 8," and so forth.

What's wrong with that, Paul?

That was the month that Renshaw
said that his brother abandoned the baby.

I'm afraid you're
backing a loser.

I checked Ed
Renshaw's service record.

In August of that year, he was on
submarine patrol in the Coral Sea.

He'd been there for a month.

What about this file?

I traced this Maureen from the orphanage
through three different foster homes,

each one of which gave
her a different last name.

What name is she using now?

Maureen Franklin.

- Well, hello, Andy.
- Perry, Paul.

Have you seen this, Counselor?

- Yes.
- "Do you know this girl?"

But that's no
longer the question.

She was identified by an airline as
Maureen Thomas, one of their hostesses.

All I want to know now: can
you tell me where this girl is?

Let's go into my office, Andy.

- Paul, I'll talk to you later.
- Good luck.

Maureen, Lieutenant Anderson
would like to ask you some questions.

In connection with the
murder of Burt Renshaw.

All right.

Not here. Downtown.

On what evidence?

The background was trimmed
off before the papers ran it.

You can see for yourself that this picture
definitely places her in the camera shop.

Being in a place of business
is hardly incriminating.

On the night of the murder?

- He was already dead...
- Maureen,

the Lieutenant
forgot to warn you

that anything you say
may be used against you.

Okay, so you've said it for me.

Now you can tell me where
you got this picture from.

Remember Renshaw's clerk?

Margaret MacDonald.

She's not hysterical anymore.

Shall we go, Miss Thomas?

Now let's see, Miss MacDonald,

you say that you were employed by
the late Burt Renshaw for how long?

Twenty-one years.

Then it's fair to
assume that you knew

something about your
employer's private life?

A little.

Including the circumstances
of his brother's child?

Well, I didn't know his
brother or his brother's wife.

But I helped take
care of the baby

after Ed was shipped out to the
South Pacific nineteen years ago.

After he was shipped out?

Then how could the brother have
put the baby in the orphanage?

He couldn't. It was Burt
Renshaw who did that.

When was this?

Well, that's the trouble. I
don't remember the date,

well, because he didn't tell
me until after he'd done it.

And was that the last contact
Burt Renshaw had with his niece?

Until he went out to
look for her just recently.

Went to find her with what
results, Miss MacDonald?

Well, he found a
girl named Maureen.

Now, Miss MacDonald, I show
you this photograph of the defendant.

I ask if there's anything about
this photograph that you recognize.

Oh, yes, that was taken
with Burt's secret camera.

Would you explain to us, please,
what you mean by secret camera?

Well, Burt set it up as
a promotional gimmick.

Every customer that stepped on
the mat in front of the cashier's desk

took his own picture with a camera
that was concealed in the wall.

Is there any way of telling when
this particular picture was taken?

Yes, I changed the film after
closing time the evening of the murder.

So this picture would have to have been
taken sometime later during that night.

And on that evening, did
the decedent Burt Renshaw

stay in the shop
after closing hours?

Yes. He said he had
to wait for somebody.

I had a girl friend with me.
She's sitting right over there,

and she heard him
say all the things I did.

Did he tell you who
he was waiting for?

No. But he did say

"I've discovered she's an impostor
and a phony. You better go on home."

Than he was waiting for a woman
who was an impostor and a phony?

Well, that's all he told me.

So I said good night and left.

Thank you, Miss
MacDonald. That will be all.

You may cross-examine,
Mr. Mason.

Miss MacDonald, nineteen years
ago, did you register any objection

to the placing of the
defendant in an orphanage?

Your Honor, I'll register
an objection right now!

Counsel knows perfectly well

that the defendant has not been
identified as Maureen Renshaw!

Objection sustained.

Miss MacDonald, did you object to
the Renshaw baby being abandoned?

Well, it was too
late for objections.

He did it without
even telling me,

even though I had offered
to raise the baby myself if...

If what, Miss MacDonald?

Well, Mr. Renshaw and I vaguely
discussed the matter of marriage.

I see.

Now, leaving her on
the orphanage doorstep

wasn't Burt Renshaw's last
contact with the baby, was it?

Oh, yes,

until he went out to look
for her several days ago.

But isn't it true

that Burt Renshaw made occasional
anonymous contributions to the orphanage

to be sent on for the care
and support of the child?

No.

I mean, yes, the money was
sent to the orphanage, but I sent it.

Well, I took it out
of the cash register.

Well, he could afford it.

It was the only decent
thing he ever did,

even though he didn't
know he was doing it.

Yes, the orphanage records show

that contributions were
received at irregular intervals

over the last nineteen years.

And you say that these were
anonymous contributions?

Yes, sir. It started long
before my tenure there.

However, there is a note on file

that the money was to be used for
extra benefits to a child named Maureen.

No further
identification than that?

None.

And, of course, there were
several children of that name.

Of course. What was
then done with the money?

One of my predecessors
apparently deduced

that it was intended for one
of two particular Maureens,

and his decision was to
divide it equally between them.

We followed that policy.

Can you further identify for us

the two particular
Maureens to whom you refer?

Well, I believe they are now known as
Maureen Franklin and Maureen Thomas.

Thank you, sir.

When our Maureen... the
defendant... First came to us,

we got the regular
amount for child support.

Then after a while, the orphanage
started sending us more...

Oh, $300 or so extra,
every year, maybe.

How long did these extra
payments continue, Mr. Thomas?

Hmm, up to the present, I guess.

How many years has it been
since Maureen left your home?

About five years, I guess.

The orphanage
was unaware of that?

Well, no, I guess we just
sort of pretended that...

So there's a good deal of money which
Maureen never received, is that right?

Well, you see, my wife was
very sick the last few years,

and I had so many expenses,
so I just kept on using it, I guess.

The orphanage records show

that you received half of the money
contributed indirectly by Burt Renshaw

for the support of a
girl named Maureen.

Oh, yeah, sure. That's how
he knew where to find his niece.

Your Honor, for the second time,

the defendant has not been
established as Burt Renshaw's niece.

I'll withdraw the question, so the witness'
answer may be stricken from the record.

The clerk is so instructed.

Let me put it this
way, Mr. Thomas.

Isn't it true that Burt
Renshaw discovered

you had been misappropriating
money intended for your foster daughter?

Well, yes, but I explained
the circumstances to him,

and I promised
to pay it all back.

Did you actually pay him back
any of that money, Mr. Thomas?

Well, no. See, he
was killed, and...

That's all, thank you.

He was stabbed with
that pair of scissors.

They were kept on his
desk for photo trimming.

Tell me this, Lieutenant.

Was blood found anywhere
other than in the murder room?

Yes. An examination of
the defendant's possessions

revealed a handbag
with dried blood on it...

The same type blood
as the dead man's.

Thank you,
Lieutenant. Mr. Mason?

No questions.

Very well, Lieutenant Anderson.
You may step down, sir.

I call Mr. James Grove
to the stand, please.

I almost tripped over him.

That's when I dropped my
handbag right next to him.

Do you swear
to tell the truth...

- But he was already dead.
- And nothing but the truth?

He was.

- State your name, please.
- James Grove.

Right now, it's more important for
you to prove you are Angela's daughter.

Mr. Mason, can you remember
back when you were four years old?

The best place to begin my search
was with Mrs. Fernaldi's brother-in-law...

The decedent, that is.

I was still under the impression
Mr. Renshaw had raised Maureen.

However, Mr. Renshaw
was extremely evasive,

so I undertook to follow him.

This took me to
Bolton Hall Orphanage.

How did you then
proceed, Mr. Grove?

I obtained the necessary
authorization to examine the files.

From that and other
background information I had,

I became satisfied Mrs.
Fernaldi's daughter was a girl

who is now known
as Maureen Franklin.

Of course, since then
we've taken blood tests.

They were inconclusive.
They didn't eliminate either girl.

However, Mrs. Fernaldi was
able to recall one additional fact

that a certain possession of
Miss Franklin's has now verified.

Indeed!

Well, since Mrs. Fernaldi is
present today in this courtroom,

her own testimony will, of course,
be best evidence on that subject.

But, Mr. Grove, I have one
additional question of you, sir.

Is your law firm acting
as executor of a trust fund

established several years ago
by Mrs. Fernaldi's late husband?

That is correct, sir.

It's a trust fund set up
in favor of the daughter,

in the event she could be located
and was still living, of course.

And when the identity of Maureen
Renshaw is finally and fully established,

what amount will that
young lady receive?

When she's twenty-one her next birthday,
she will receive approximately $200,000.

That time long ago was a
time of great sorrow in my life.

My husband divorced me,
not without some justification,

and won the custody of my baby.

Due to the state of my health,

the recollections of that
period are quite disconnected.

Yes, I understand.

And yet there was one thing
you were able to remember

which was of assistance to
Mr. Grove in his search for your baby?

Well, so he indicated.

But I can't imagine what it was,

unless, of course, he meant
the only picture that I have of her.

Where is that picture
now, Mrs. Fernaldi?

I'm afraid it's
not very helpful.

She was less than
one year old at the time.

Besides, the toy sort of
tends to hide the baby.

Oh, I've compared
it to both Maureens.

I'm afraid it's quite useless.

Yes, but would you describe
the toy the baby is holding?

That was her polka dot pony.

It was a little stuffed animal I
bought for her in a toy store.

The last time I ever saw my child,
she was clutching that silly little pony.

When I was placed
in my first foster home,

the orphanage sent along
a little box with my toys in it.

There weren't
many, but I do recall

one of them was a small stuffed
animal, like a horse, maybe?

Do you know what happened to
these playthings of yours, Miss Franklin?

Yes. When I left my first foster
home, the box was left behind.

My next parents were
always going to get it for me,

but I guess they really wanted
me to play with the new toys.

When I told Mr. Grove about it, he
got the box and took it up to his office.

I see.

Is this the box you refer to?

Yes. That's the
one. I can remember.

I haven't seen it yet,
though... Opened, I mean.

Your Honor, it's our intention to call
the foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Haring,

and to recall Mr. Grove to show properly
how this box was stored and handled.

But with the court's indulgence,
I would first like at this time first

to open the box in
front of Miss Franklin.

Mr. Mason?

I think I have no
objection, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

Is that your toy, Miss Franklin?

Oh, yes. It must be!

Oh, yes, I'm sure it's mine!

It's her. She's the one.

That's my baby.

Well, what are we going to do?

It's a problem, all right.

Unless Mr. Grove is
an out-and-out crook...

Mr. Mason, I know Maureen.
She didn't kill Renshaw.

There's been so much pain in her
life, she can't bear to hurt people.

And it wasn't Angela's money she wanted.
It was just to be somebody's daughter.

Do you think she's
the real Maureen, Rich?

As far as I'm concerned, it
makes no difference at all.

I'm afraid it will to a jury.

If she's proven to be
the phony Maureen, it

gives her quite a
large motive for murder.

Perry, Angela Fernaldi could have shown the
baby picture to Mr. Grove, couldn't she?

So planting that stuffed animal to
fit the facts would have been simple.

I wonder if Paul's
contacts in Europe

could locate anyone to whom Mrs. Fernaldi
might have talked to about the pony.

If only our Maureen could only recall
something to help her verify her claim.

Della, how much can you remember

of what happened when
you were four years old?

Not very much.

Everybody believes that girl
because she's had a chance to talk.

Why don't you put me on the
stand and let me tell my side of it?

What would you say?

Well, I don't know exactly,

but I think that's
my polka dot pony.

Why do you think that?

Well, you see, when I was just a
little girl, I had a nickname... Buttons.

I hadn't thought about it for
years, but I remembered last night.

Well, I mean, those big dots
do look like buttons, don't they?

Yes, they do, Maureen.

Oh, well, they'd just think I'd
made it all up anyway, wouldn't they?

Not necessarily.

But there are other reasons why
I'm not going to put you on the stand.

Mrs. Fernaldi, did this
polka dot pony have a name?

A name?

Oh, dear. I'm afraid
I've quite forgotten.

Does "Buttons"
ring a bell for you?

No... no, I don't think so.

Can you swear that this is the same
toy that you bought twenty years ago?

I'm almost certain it is, but...

Oh dear. I thought
this was all settled.

Mr. Mason, which of the girls
do you think is my daughter?

Don't you have any more recollections
that might help to answer that question?

I've thought and thought.

I've wracked my brains
until I'm simply exhausted,

but there are some blank spaces
in my memory of that period.

Must I say why?

Well, I was young and
frightened, and my husband...

And, well, I just wasn't
able to cope with everything.

The ugly truth is, Mr. Mason,
that I was frequently quite drunk.

Was that the cause of
your divorce, Mrs. Fernaldi?

No. Excessive drinking
is not a cause, it's a result.

At least that's what my
doctor in Switzerland told me.

But the result of
those results was that...

Well, I couldn't properly
take care of my baby.

One day I accidentally burned her,
and that's when Edward took her away.

A serious burn, Mrs. Fernaldi?

I don't think so, but
oh, she was so tiny,

and I... I cried because I thought
she might be marked for life.

You mean left a scar?

Oh, I hope not, but...

Well, that would
help, wouldn't it?

Assuming your child does
have such a scar, Mrs. Fernaldi,

where would that
scar be located?

Oh, well...

it would be on her left
shoulder, just about here.

No more questions, thank you.

The witness may step down.

Oh.

Your Honor, the state feels

that there's no useful purpose served
in prolonging this hearing any further.

Certainly there can
be no doubt remaining

that the circumstantial evidence
against this defendant is conclusive.

And her motive is equally clear...
Burt Renshaw was murdered

because he knew which of these
two claimants is the impostor.

Well, Your Honor,

now that question has been
answered right here in this courtroom.

And despite
Mr. Mason's insinuations

that the evidence of the
polka dot pony was planted,

the state will not even bother to
recall Miss Franklin to the stand.

The fact that she has the exact
identifying scar described by this witness

is obvious to everyone.

All right, Mr. Burger,
you've made your point.

Mr. Mason, have you any other
witnesses to call in cross-examine?

Yes, Your Honor.

With the court's permission, I should
like to recall Miss Margaret MacDonald.

Referring to your previous
testimony, Miss MacDonald,

did the decedent ever discover

that you had taken money from his
cash register for the child's support?

Well, no,

not until he started
to look for her, I mean.

Now, we have heard that he demanded
the return of the money from Mr. Thomas.

How did he respond
to your confession?

- He struck me.
- I see.

Now, Miss MacDonald, the previous
witness has acknowledged a faulty memory

due to the great lapse of time.

If possible, I would like you
to substantiate her recollection.

Well, I never even
saw the parents, so...

I mean about the
baby, Miss MacDonald.

Oh.

Well, let me see.

You know, babies, all babies,
acquire scars and bruises of some sort.

I don't remember,

but I suppose there could have
been something on her shoulder.

Corresponding to
Miss Franklin's scar?

Yes.

Thank you. That'll be all.

The witness may step down.

Your Honor, at this time, I should
like to recall Mr. James Grove.

Very well. Mr. Grove?

You're still under
oath, Mr. Grove.

Mr. Grove, when you were assigned
the task of locating the missing heir,

were you shown the baby
picture that we've seen here?

Certainly. We compared notes
on everything we knew of the child.

Then one of the questions I
later asked Maureen Franklin

was if she remembered
any of her toys.

That's when she told me about the box that
had been left behind at her first home.

Mrs. Fernaldi and I went
over there to get that box.

The people there had a
vague recollection of it.

They were afraid it might
have been thrown away,

but we finally located
it in an old woodshed.

It had the name "Maureen" on it.

Now, I'm not
ignoring the possibility

that such evidence as the polka dot
pony could have been planted, Mr. Mason.

However, it does seem farfetched

that Maureen Franklin could
quite so rapidly acquire a scar

to fit Mrs. Fernaldi's
recollection.

Mr. Grove, suppose it
were the other way around.

Suppose Mrs. Fernaldi
acquired a "recollection"

to fit an existing scar on
Maureen Franklin's shoulder?

What? Oh, this is ridiculous.

You're just trying to confuse
the matter of identification.

No, Mr. Grove. I'm trying
to establish identification.

Which of the two Maureens is
the daughter is no longer the point.

The question should
be who is the mother?

- What?
- In other words,

do you know this woman is
really Mrs. Arturo Fernaldi?

I... I... Well, she had all the necessary
identification... the papers, passport.

But suppose it wasn't a traveling
companion but Mrs. Fernaldi herself

who was drowned in
Europe some months ago.

Wouldn't all the necessary
papers and information

have been available
to this other woman?

A woman who'd been her
nurse and friend for years?

Well, how should I know? I
believed she was Mrs. Fernaldi!

She is Mrs. Fernaldi.

And so did everyone
else believe her,

except Burt Renshaw.

Mrs. Fernaldi, you were the
imposter he was waiting for that night,

- were you not?
- No. What are you talking about!

Renshaw wouldn't have recognized
either girl after almost twenty years,

but he certainly would have
know his own sister-in-law.

Was that why you killed him?

Because he knew that you
weren't Angela Fernaldi?

It it was an accident.
I didn't mean to do it.

I meant no harm. I wouldn't
even have come here

if I'd known that Mr. Grove
would find a living relative.

But that Mr. Renshaw
demanded payment...

Every penny I could ever find.

I didn't have any money.

Angela had spent
every cent of it.

All there was left was that trust
fund they'd set up for her daughter

and for me, nothing.

Me, her constant companion,

waiting on her for fifteen years,
catering to her every whim.

Well, I was entitled
to something, wasn't I?

Really, I... I meant no harm.

I just wanted to
be taken care of...

for Angela's daughter
to take care of me.

Is that so terrible?

When you were suddenly arrested,

the woman decided by herself

to establish Maureen
Franklin as her daughter

by making her
story fit the evidence.

Mr. Grove was completely
unaware of what she'd done.

But how did you know that the
real Angela had died in Europe?

We didn't. My contacts in
Europe did find out, however,

that Angela Fernaldi always traveled
around with a nurse, a companion.

And neither of them
could ever be located.

And just on that
you guessed that...

If Burt Renshaw knew the person he
was going to meet was an imposter,

and Maureen
wasn't that imposter,

then who could it have been?

The woman answered
that question herself in court.

And Maureen Franklin didn't
have anything to do with all that?

No.

Now, I think the trust fund
is probably rightfully yours.

But I believe the court will have a hard
time deciding between the two of you,

so perhaps you ought
to agree to divide it.

Oh, I think so, too.

I mean, I'd be
happier about that.

Only well, at best
it leaves each of us

with just the memory of
half a mother, doesn't it?

My dear, a substitute is
never very satisfactory,

and I'm afraid Mr. Campion and I are
really out of touch with your generation,

but Richard's put up
with us all these years.

Well! I'm afraid I
said that rather badly.

No, Mrs. Campion.

I think you said
that rather well.