All language subtitles for Perry Mason S06E15 The Case of the Prankish Professor.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

In Thomas Paine's Common Sense,

the same incident is related
by a group of observers.

But where Paine uses
the obvious disparities

in the descriptions
of the incident

to make an
anti-religious argument,

I am more concerned here
with the reporting of the incident

as it affects a phase
of creative writing.

I am concerned with the
sometimes unbridgeable gulf

between what we see,
what we remember,

and what we subsequently
commit to writing.

You asked for it, Hewes!

I warned you to stay away
from my wife. I warned you!

My good man, you are
interrupting the class.

Put that ridiculous toy away.

Oh no, Professor.

You talked me out of it
once, but not this time.

No, Mr. Moncton.
Stay out of this.

Heroics are quite
unnecessary, Mr. Moncton.

If you'll return to your seat, I'll
explain your next assignment,

which will prove unquestionably

that all of you have quite
undeveloped powers of observation.

What you have just
witnessed was an experiment.

The question is how much and
with what accuracy did you witness it.

In the remaining 25 minutes, all of you
will write a report of this little drama.

And you're on your honor not to
compare notes with anyone else

Drop your assignments
in my mailbox,

and at our next salon, I
shall read some of them aloud.

Man, am I shook up!

Who was that guy
that tried to jump me?

He was quite a hero, wasn't he?

But I'd have fired
the second shot if...

It wasn't necessary.

Quite an excellent
performance, Ollie.

I panicked, Professor.

That's the only reason
I didn't shoot again.

The second shot would
have been superfluous.

- And fatal.
- Hmm.

What?

I accidentally released the clip,
putting the gun back in the drawer.

The cartridge in the breech
of the automatic was a blank.

But, Professor, the clip was
loaded with live ammunition!

That's impossible.

I like to fainted when I saw it.

If the hero hadn't jumped when
he did, I'd have shot you dead.

There were blanks in
the breech and the clip.

I keep the clip with the live
ammunition in another drawer.

I swear to heaven, Professor,
I never opened the gun.

Don't be ridiculous, Ollie.

Hmm.

Somebody came
in here after I left.

Did you see anyone?

A guy brought this package in.

Ned Bertell of the...
of the bookstore.

Anyone else?

Yeah.

But that was before you came in
to get your books, between classes.

A woman.

One of my students?

I don't know.

I saw her from the
back coming in here.

That's why I waited
till after you left.

You having woman trouble?

Certainly not.

Here you are, Ollie.

Thank you for your help.

Thanks.

Hey, thanks, Professor.

That's quite all right.

Ollie, mention this to no one.

Understand? No one.

Anything you say.

Well, that was quite a show
you put on in class, Professor.

The peasants loved it.

No doubt.

Ned, as you well know, I'm an
opponent of censorship in any form,

but really this is...

Oh, well, give the
public what it demands.

A college campus
is not the public.

Maybe I could slip you
one in your next order.

There's no need
to be impertinent.

When you delivered my order before
class, did you see anyone in the office?

Male or female?

A woman.

Aha.

What does that mean?

Nothing. The office was empty.

Thank you.

But I did see her earlier.

Who?

Your wife.

You may mean my ex-wife?

It's quite impossible.
She's in Palo Alto.

Well, then she must have
made a quick trip, Professor,

because I sold her a copy of
L'Affaire Annabelle this afternoon.

She's staying
with the Metcalfes.

Hello.

Ronald, how are you?

Physically intact.

But I don't think my
state of mind a safe topic.

How long has my ex-wife
been your houseguest?

A few days, that's all.

A few days.

In that period I had the occasion
to converse with you several times.

Perhaps you didn't think the
matter of any interest to me.

Now see here, Ronald.

Really, I'd rather be left
out of this completely.

Laura is our guest.
That's the extent of it.

Is your wife there?

Let me speak to her, please.

Ronald Hewes wants
to speak with you.

Hello, Professor.

I would like to speak to Laura.

And I don't want to
make an issue of it.

Well, I'm sorry, but she's
lying down at the moment.

She's not asleep, is she?

Well, I really couldn't say.

She was out this afternoon
and seemed quite... quite tired.

Tell my wife I
want to talk to her.

I'll see if she's awake.

Laura?

Yes, Esther.

Your husband's on the phone.

Tell him I'm asleep, will you?

No, wait.

Ask him if he'll come over here
tomorrow afternoon after classes.

I think I'm ready
to face him now.

Laura would like you
to come here tomorrow.

Would 3:30 be satisfactory?

Quite satisfactory, thank you.

With the social amenities
out of the way, Mr. Mason,

I would like to ask one question
involving a legal situation.

Yesterday, during an experiment,

I was nearly shot with a gun
supposedly loaded with blanks.

That's a statement,
not a question.

I'm aware of that obvious fact.

The question evolves from the
statement. It concerns my divorce.

I'm sorry. I don't
handle divorce cases.

I didn't ask you to, sir.

My wife has already
obtained a divorce.

The final decree will
be entered next week.

If I die before then, can my
wife claim any of my estate?

Did your wife receive a
community property settlement

at the time the
divorce was granted?

There wasn't any
community property.

I gather there is now.

I've saved some
money since the divorce.

Apparently, she discovered this.

Professor Hewes,
what are you looking for,

a way to dispossess your wife or a
way to prevent her from killing you?

I must remember that lawyers usually
have well-developed powers of observation.

To answer your question, money
acquired after an interlocutory decree

is still community property.

I'm to meet my wife at 3:30 this
afternoon at the home of Dean Metcalfe.

I... I wonder, could I prevail upon
you to monitor our discussion?

As your attorney, no.

As a legal arbiter to expedite a fair
settlement between you and your wife,

perhaps yes. That is, if your wife
has no present attorney of her own

and if she agrees to accept
my nonpartisan services.

My wife has no present
attorney of her own,

and I gather you're none
too eager to be mine.

There is nothing wrong with
your powers of observation.

This afternoon, then.

Assuming you reconcile
your differences,

I'll try to draw up a fair
settlement between you,

one which your wife can then
submit to counsel of her own choice.

Agreed.

You realize, of course, that
any settlement will require

that all factual information
be reduced to writing.

Factual information?

Specifically a full financial
statement from you.

When you appear at this lower-case
peace conference of ours, Mr. Mason,

you'll discover that my
dear ex-wife already knows.

Knows what, Professor?

That I happen to have a
balance in my bank account

of nearly $90,000.

I could learn to hate him.

Perry, why did you
agree to involve yourself

with someone as
disagreeable as that man?

Della, that's a
very good question.

The door was unlocked.

It's still unlocked.

I'll leave, after we come
to an agreement about this.

If you wish to hold a literary seminar,
I shall have to disqualify myself.

I never discuss cheap novels.

Cheap?

This novel has earned over
$90,000 in royalties alone.

When you accosted me a week ago,

I told you then I wasn't interested
in you, the hysterical story you told,

or that piece of
literary trash, Mrs., uh...

Sheldon. Sally Sheldon.

And in case you forgot what I told
you, my maiden name was Lawrence.

And in case that
doesn't ring a bell,

let me tell you again, I was
Monica Lawrence's sister.

Oh, yes.

I did have a student
by that name once...

about two years ago.

Yes. Yes, you did.

And for her term paper,
she handed in a short novel.

Did she? I'd quite forgotten.

Oh. Is that going to
be your defense, huh?

Unconscious plagiarism?

Well, Professor, I'm afraid
that's not going to work.

All you did was to flesh out
and expand on Monica's story.

I suggest, in that case, that
you contact, uh, E.G. Stuart

or the publisher.

I wrote to publisher. They
referred me to a literary agent.

Mr. Estridge was
not very helpful.

I had no luck at your home,

so yesterday I came to
your office, and I searched it.

So you're the one.

Mm-hmm.

And I reclaimed Monica's
original manuscript

with inserts and revision in
your own handwriting, Professor.

You're being
ridiculous, Mrs. Sheldon.

Your sister, if I may be
blunt, was extremely beautiful

but quite incapable of writing anything
as distastefully literate as that novel.

You're quite right,
Professor Hewes.

She came to me for help.

I wrote that novel outline,
Professor, every last word of it.

I don't believe you.

Well, I'll have no
trouble proving it in court.

But I don't think that
you can afford a lawsuit.

Can you, Mrs. Sheldon?

- I can afford quite a lot.
- Hmm.

Including all the hushed-up
details of your sister's death.

The fact she was suffering from a
very mild case of incipient motherhood

when she perished from that
"accidental" overdose of sleeping pills?

Perhaps you could afford a scandal,
but what about your husband?

What about yours
and Monica's parents?

My family won't be
the only one to suffer.

You appropriated Monica's
story after she died,

but what you didn't
know was that this story

was based on letters and things
that Monica had told me in confidence.

Now I want you to remember
just one thing, Professor.

The characters in this
novel are still very much alive.

Only the names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

I think this conversation has gone
quite far enough, Mrs. Sheldon.

Good afternoon.

Oh, no, Professor.

You don't get rid of
me quite that easily.

Tell me something.

Uh, this married professor whose
house Monica used to go to so often,

do you have any
idea who he could be?

What an odd way to
refer to him... Graffy.

Oh, Professor, where did you
ever get such a silly nickname?

Good morning, Professor.
I'm so glad for you.

Are you? I can't imagine why.

Laura's back!

Your wife's back.

You've been peering
through your curtains again.

I've been doing nothing
of the kind, Professor.

I've been raking leaves.

And I presume you've been raking
the same pile of leaves ever since.

Laura.

I wondered who was
charging in here like that.

What's happened to you?

Your hand.

Your face.

Oh, nothing. I slipped
getting out of a cab.

I had it bandaged
in a drugstore.

I guess I'm awfully
late, aren't I?

I suppose I'll have to start
off by apologizing to him.

To whom?

Well, to Ronald.
Isn't he here yet?

No, and he won't
be. He's left town.

But I don't understand.

And he asked if a
lawyer could be here, too.

A Mr. Perry Mason called up this morning
and asked if I had any objections to...

That must be Ronald.

Mrs. Hewes? I'm Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry to be late, but
I was held up in court.

Oh, won't you
come in, Mr. Mason?

Oh, this is Doctor Metcalfe, the
Dean of the English Department.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Mason, too bad you
had your trip for nothing.

I don't think Hewes
is going to be here.

He left town.

It seems that this conference
and having you here

was just a stall, a trick.

Mr. Mason, will you help me?

Dr. Metcalfe, do you
have a phone I might use?

Certainly, right over there.

Excuse me.

Oh what's Hewes'
home phone number?

HOllywood 2 0799.

You meet a very
literary-type mind in this job.

That one just asked
for a book by "Frood."

A "Froodian" slip?

Hey, you're swinging,
man, but don't intellectualize.

The chicks don't dig it.

All they want is
emotional release.

What's the matter?
Have a fight with your girl?

Yeah, something like that.

Well, call her up and
surrender. It always works.

She's been dead for a while.

Oh. I'm sorry.

Let's get back to
Professor Hewes.

I gave you the whole bit.

He wanted to know if I
saw a woman in his office.

He didn't know his
wife was back then.

The professor wouldn't believe
it until he called her himself.

Oh, he was all shook
when he left here.

Uh, can I use your phone?

One thin dime will do it, dad.

Yes, money is involved.

Um, about two years ago,

Ronald told me that it was imperative
that he get a hold of $5,000 in a hurry.

I borrowed it from my parents.

How was this money used?

As a sort of campaign fund

to promote his appointment as
Dean of the English Department.

It was only after Doctor
Metcalfe was installed as Dean

that I found out that he'd spent
the money paying his personal debts.

How did you learn
that his fortunes had...

recently improved?

Friends wrote to me.

Mr. Mason, if that had been my
$5,000, I would have forgotten about it.

But it's my parents' money,

and Ronald should
have paid it back.

He refused?

Well, I haven't
actually seen him yet...

He phoned here yesterday,
but I didn't speak with him.

It's for you, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Hello.

Oh, yes, Paul.

There's no trace of Hewes.

And the professor's assistant
in that test, Ollie Benson,

denies anything like the
loaded gun bit ever happened.

What else?

There seems to be a witness
to Mrs. Hewes' presence

in the professor's
office yesterday.

Uh, hold on a moment, Paul.

Mrs. Hewes, were you at your husband's
office at the university yesterday?

No.

I haven't been
there in over a year.

Paul, meet me at
Hewes' office right away.

Mrs. Hewes, do you know if there's
any other woman in your husband's life?

Of course I don't.

It's been over a year since...

Well, as a matter
of fact, Mr. Mason,

a woman called my office
this morning, asking for Ronald.

Did she leave her name?

Yes, she did. It was...

Sally Sheldon.

Who is Sally Sheldon?

Two years ago, Dr. Metcalfe.

That young girl who
died... You remember.

The very beautiful one
who took the sleeping pills?

Well, her name wasn't Sheldon.
It was Monica something-or-other

Monica Lawrence.

Yes, but she had a
sister, a married sister.

You must remember, don't you?

You're right, Laura.

Her sister's name
was Sally Sheldon.

What I don't understand, Mr. Mason,
is why is she looking for Ronald now?

- Paul.
- Hi, Perry.

A little homework?

These students' reports
of Hewes' experiments.

I'd like you to go through them.

All of them?

Every last one.

Hold it, Perry.

What is it, Paul?

Lieutenant Anderson
and Sergeant Brice.

I wonder when this
became a case for homicide.

Perry, there are a couple
of people waiting for you.

Mrs. Hewes one of them?

Yes, I called her, told
her you wanted to see her.

She's waiting for
you in the library.

The other one is a
man, a literary agent.

He wants to see you
about Professor Hewes.

We'll get to him in a minute.

First I want Mrs. Hewes to
get a cab, go to your apartment,

and stay there until
she hears from us.

Well, shall I show
Mr. Estridge in?

No. I'll do that. Just get
Mrs. Hewes out of here,

and please hurry.
There isn't much time.

All right.

Mr. Estridge?
Come in, won't you?

This is Mr. Paul Drake of
the Drake Detective Agency.

- Here, sit down.
- Thank you.

Nice of you to
take time to see me.

I should have phoned, but
I'm a friend of Professor Hewes.

My secretary tells me
that you're a literary agent.

- That's right.
- You represent Hewes?

As a matter of fact, I do.

He's been doing a
little freelancing lately.

And very successfully.

Oh, well, then he told you.

No, Mr. Estridge. You told me.

I never was any good
at keeping secrets.

As a matter of fact, he did
write L'Affaire Annabelle.

Have you read it?

Not as yet.

When you do, you'll see why
he had to use a pseudonym.

It's the documental-type experiences
of a sweet girl undergraduate.

It smells, but it sells.

I've got another royalty check in my
pocket right now, but where is the author?

Excuse me.

Yes, Gertie?

All right, send them in.

What makes you think I'd know
the whereabouts of the author?

When I talked to him
on the phone yesterday,

he said he was meeting
with you and Laura.

Now nobody can find him.

That just about sums it up.

Hi, Andy. You're looking well.

Oh, I feel fine, Paul.

A little slower
than I used to be.

It seems we just missed you and
Perry at Euclid University today.

Well, if I'd known you'd
wanted to talk to me, Andy,

I would have waited for you.

This is Mr. Estridge.

Lieutenant Anderson and Sergeant Brice...
Homicide, Los Angeles Police Department.

I've been wanting to
talk to you, Mr. Estridge,

but right now I'm interested
in asking Mr. Mason

where I might find
Mrs. Ronald Hewes.

You are representing
her, aren't you, Perry?

She consulted me
on a legal matter.

Having to do with her
late husband's estate?

Late husband?

Found his body
about two hours ago.

If you'd waited at the
university, I'd have told you.

Any details?

Where can I find her, Perry?

I imagine I'll be hearing from her.
Shall I have her get in touch with you?

That wasn't what I asked, but
yes. Have her get in touch with me.

Mr. Estridge, we'd like to
talk to you at headquarters.

Why, certainly, Lieutenant.

Mr. Mason. Mr. Drake.

She's on her way
to my apartment.

Better call and leave word that
she's to come right back here.

Are you going to
surrender her to Andy?

No, but I'm going to advise
that she surrender herself.

Might as well.

Once Andy starts
looking for somebody,

sooner or later, he's
going to find them.

You're right, Paul.

Huh?

Della, I would like you to buy a copy
of a book called L'Affaire Annabelle,

a woman's overnight case, some
extra clothing to put into that case,

and a pad of writing paper.

Well, here we go again.
And what is it I have to do?

Just make sure you
don't lose your shadow

Good evening.

Miss Sally Sheldon, please.

Just a minute.
I'll see if she's in.

Give me Miss Sheldon's room.

No. No answer.

I guess she must've gone out.

Is her key in the box?

No. Then I guess she is in.

Maybe she's just not taking
calls. Let's go up and see.

You two gentlemen together?

We are now.

Sergeant Brice... Homicide.

A master key, please.

Thank you. Coming, Drake?

The Lieutenant wants her, Drake.

Sally Sheldon?

Mrs. Hewes. It's the
same thing, isn't it?

Mason had her use a
phony name to register.

Nope. Two different people.

Okay, then who's Sally Sheldon?

I haven't the faintest idea.
Never laid eyes on the lady.

I assume Mr. Mason broke the news
to you when he arranged this meeting?

I know my husband
is dead, but that's all.

He was found in
his house, murdered.

Exactly how was
he killed, Lieutenant?

Stabbed in the chest.

Do you own a letter-writing
kit, Mrs. Hewes?

A kit of pen, paper, envelopes?

Yes, it's a leather
traveling set.

May I ask where it is now?

In my room, at the Metcalfes'.

And a letter opener?

Was that the murder weapon?

Better ask the
District Attorney that.

Mrs. Hewes, we have
a warrant for your arrest

on the charge of murder.

As a literary agent,

I was always on the lookout
for new sources of material.

About a year and a half ago, I suggested
to Professor Hewes that he do a book.

- And did he, Mr. Estridge?
- Yes.

A novel, L'Affaire Annabelle.

And did Mrs. Hewes know about
the success of her husband's book?

Why, yes. I think I may have mentioned
it to her in a letter a month or so ago.

Mr. Estridge, as a matter of fact,
you're still receiving royalty checks

on Professor Hewes'
account, aren't you?

I would have handed one to him a
week ago if I could have found him.

And what becomes of that check
now? And of future royalty checks?

Well, I suppose I'll turn it over
to the executor or administrator

for the benefit of next of kin.

Mrs. Hewes.

But didn't Mrs. Hewes divorce
the professor almost a year ago?

There was an
interlocutory decree.

In other words, Mr. Estridge,
because Professor Hewes was killed

a few days before that
divorce could become final,

Mrs. Hewes is the legal heir?

The legal heir of $90,000?

So I understand.

Well, somebody put the other clip,
the one full of live ammo, in the gun.

But the Professor told me
not to tell anybody about it.

Did the professor take any steps at all to
find out who had tampered with his gun?

Well, he asked me if there was
anybody in the office after he left.

And what did you
say, Mr. Benson?

A guy from the bookstore was
delivering a package, and a woman.

Did you know the
woman, Mr. Benson?

I sort of thought it
was Mrs. Hewes, but...

- Objection.
- Sustained.

The witness will tell what
he saw, not what he thought.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Benson, I gather you didn't see
this mysterious woman in the office

well enough to identify her.

No. I... I wasn't
very close to her.

Then it could have
been the defendant.

Isn't that an
opinion, Mr. Mason?

Or it could've been a student?

That's right.

Or one of the secretaries.

Sure.

Or even Sally Sheldon?

Who?

No more questions.

Mrs. Hewes was our
houseguest at the time,

which made for an
uncomfortable situation.

Professor Hewes was
a member of my faculty,

and both my wife and I
were extremely fond of Laura.

Of course I knew that Professor
Hewes was coming over at 3:30,

but I have no idea why.

What time did you arrive
home that afternoon?

Shortly before
the appointed time.

I wanted to finish some
work and be out of the way.

But Professor
Hewes never arrived.

No.

I'd quite forgotten about it
until Laura returned about 4:15.

When Laura returned,
was she marked in any way?

Yes. She had a bruise on
her face, and her hand was cut.

She said she'd tripped and
fallen while getting out of a cab.

And isn't it true
that later that day,

she unexpectedly
moved out of your house?

Yes. We were both
quite worried for a while.

We couldn't understand
why she had gone or where.

Did you subsequently
find out where?

No.

The next we knew,
she'd been arrested.

Mrs. Williamson, your house is right
next door to the decedent's house.

- Is that correct?
- Yes, that's right.

Would you please tell
this court in your own words

what happened on the afternoon that
Professor Ronald Hewes was killed?

Yes.

I was outside raking leaves...

You know, the lawn was
just covered with them...

And I saw Mrs.
Hewes go in the house.

Well, naturally,
I was surprised,

them being divorced
and everything.

Yes, I understand.

Now, did you see the defendant
leave the house, Mrs. Williamson?

No. She was there
when he got home later.

How can you be
so certain of that?

He went in the house, and he left
the door open for a minute or two,

and I heard him saying to her...

Well, I mean, I couldn't
help but hear him say it...

He said, "You shouldn't
be here! Get out!"

- But she didn't leave?
- No.

And he closed the door.

Well, anyhow, later, I
had to be outside again,

and, uh, well, I noticed,
there was no one home.

And you know, I got worried,

so I called the police.

Thank you, Mrs. Williamson.

Do you wish to
cross-examine, Mr. Mason?

As I understand
it, Mrs. Williamson,

your house is situated
in such a manner

that you can comfortably watch
the house of Professor Hewes?

Well, I suppose so, yes.

Well, is it possible that Mrs. Hewes
might have left the house unnoticed by you

so that the woman who was
asked to leave by the decedent

was, oh, Sally Sheldon
or someone else?

I object to that, Your Honor.

That's incompetent,
improper cross-examination,

and it assumes a
fact not in evidence.

If the court please, on cross-examination,
I have a right to ask leading questions

and to test the recollection of the
witness by mentioning specific names.

I'm going to sustain the objection
as to any specific name at this point,

but you can ask the
witness if it isn't possible

the woman the decedent asked
to leave was someone else.

Thank you, Your Honor, but I
believe we've made the point.

I have no further questions.

There were obvious signs of
a struggle in the living room.

What about the
rest of the house?

All right, except
for the bathroom.

Blood was splattered
on the washbasin,

and one of the hand
towels was bloodstained.

Was that blood the same type as that of
the decedent, Professor Ronald Hewes?

No, sir, it wasn't.

Lieutenant Anderson, I show you
now this letter opener, People's Exhibit 3,

which was found impaled
in the decedent's body

and identified by the medical
examiner as the murder weapon.

Were there traces of blood found
on the handle of this letter opener,

- as well as on the blade?
- Yes, sir.

Now, Lieutenant, you did a
blood test on the defendant.

With what result?

The defendant's blood matched that
found on the washbasin, the hand towel,

and the handle of
the murder weapon.

Lieutenant, did you check the
premises for identifiable fingerprints?

Yes. Aside from those of
decedent and a cleaning woman,

we found fresh prints, a
good many of them smudged,

on doorknobs, the bathroom mirror,
and the handle of the murder weapon.

All prints were of
the same person.

Who was that person, Lieutenant?

The defendant, Laura Hewes.

Yes, I was there that afternoon.

Mrs. Williamson saw
me going into the house.

But I didn't kill
Ronald, Mr. Mason.

When I thought I heard him
coming home, I ran out the back door.

That's why Mrs. Williamson
didn't see you leave.

Yes.

But Mrs. Williamson heard Professor
Hewes order someone out of the house.

- Who was that?
- I don't know.

All right, let's take
it one step at a time.

Why did you go there?

The fact Ronald had arranged
for an attorney to be present

confirmed everything
that Mike had written to me.

I needed proof about...

About that book and about
any money he might have.

Now, where in the house did
you expect to find that proof?

There's a file
cabinet in his closet.

I didn't have a
key to open it, so I-

I'm afraid I know what's
going to come next.

I brought the letter
opener to pry open the file.

- And...
- Go on.

Well, I had to stand
on a chair to reach it.

The chair slipped, and I cut my
hand on the letter opener when I fell.

And when you went to wash the
cut on your hand in the bathroom,

you left the letter
opener on the floor?

While I was in there, I
thought I heard Ronald coming.

I was frightened, and I ran out.

Laura, think carefully.

Could it be that what you
heard was something else,

someone else who
had followed you there,

was inside the house,
hiding, watching you?

Mr. Bertell, does the College
Book Shop also carry stationery,

leather-bound sets?

We stock them.
We don't sell many.

Why is that?

Well, the line we
carry is too expensive.

The kids can't afford them.

I see.

I show you now this letter
opener, People's Exhibit 3,

identified as the murder weapon.

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. It's the same brand.

This is a rather particular item. It
has a gold leaf initial on the handle.

Well, that was a special order.

Well, you recall it, then.

When was this sale made?

About three months ago.

And to whom?

A Mr. Michael Estridge.

Mr. Bertell, do you remember

whether or not Mr. Estridge took his
purchase with him when he left the store?

No, sir. He had
me mail it as a gift.

And to whom did Mr. Estridge
have you mail this letter opener

later used to murder
Ronald Hewes?

Mr. Estridge had me mail
it to the professor's wife...

The defendant, Laura Hewes.

Thank you, Mr. Bertell.

Mr. Mason?

Do you recognize this
examination paper, Mr. Bertell?

Yes, it's the report of Professor
Hewes' classroom experiment.

Written by you?

My name's on it.

Your Honor, I would
like to read this report

for comparison with the
actual events of that experiment.

If you'd pass it up here, Mr. Mason,
the court would like to look at it first.

Well, this seems to be the worst piece of
English composition I've ever encountered.

I agree, Your Honor.
It is badly written.

But at the same time, according
to the testimony of Ollie Benson,

it is a true recital
of the experiment.

Now, Mr. Bertell, how do you account
for writing such an accurate report?

I just wrote down what I
saw, just like everybody else.

But it so happens
that everybody else

reported at least some
of the details incorrectly.

How is it that you're so
particularly gifted in this respect?

I'm a post-graduate student.

I took the course once
before, two years ago.

Were you accurate because you
knew what was going to happen?

Because you put the clip
of live shells in that gun?

I refuse to answer on the grounds
that the answer might incriminate me.

Two years ago.

That's when Sally Sheldon
was in school, wasn't it?

I don't remember
anyone named Sal...

What about Monica Lawrence?

She's dead.

Why do you have to drag
her name into this mess?

Mr. Bertell, didn't Monica
Lawrence have a sister named Sally?

A sister you saw on the
campus and recognized recently?

Yes.

And isn't Sally Lawrence's
married name Sheldon?

Mr. Burger, it seems to
me you should object to this.

Mr. Mason, your repeated introduction
of the name Sally Sheldon into testimony

is quite improper.

If it please the court,

my only hope is to
find Sally Sheldon.

I'm sure the court is
well aware of the difficulty

a defense counsel may
have in locating a key witness,

what with scant
facilities and little time.

You mean you've
built this woman up

just so the District Attorney's
office would... would get curious?

So the police would
go looking for her?

Yes, Your Honor.

And since the District Attorney
seems uncommonly slow

about entering this discussion,

I think it's very likely that he's
already found Sally Sheldon.

Is that true, Mr. Burger?

Yes, Your Honor. As a
matter of fact, it is true.

We just located Mrs. Sheldon.

And since she has no
information which has

any direct bearing on
the facts of our case...

Mr. Burger, if you
don't intend to call her,

the court feels defense counsel,
who has been seeking her,

should be permitted
to confer with her.

Mrs. Sheldon's testimony can have
no direct bearing on the case at all.

But we'll call her, let
Mr. Mason cross-examine her.

Yes. Yes, it's true.

The novel was based on Monica's
term paper while in the Professor's class.

I had started out
to help Monica,

but I ended up writing
the whole thing myself.

A friend of mine
saw me write it,

and I mailed a registered copy to
myself before Monica submitted it.

Mrs. Sheldon, why didn't
you file suit for plagiarism?

Well, my husband didn't
know anything about the book.

He might have wondered which
parts of the book were, well, about me.

But none of them were, honestly.

Did you also try to avoid any
notoriety concerning your sister's death?

Yes.

Our parents are still alive,

and they didn't know
anything about Monica, either.

But you see, I knew something that
Professor Hewes thought was a secret.

I knew that he was
involved with Monica, too.

How did you discover
that, Mrs. Sheldon?

In a letter Monica wrote me,

telling me about frequent
visits to a professor's house.

The letter specifically
mentioned Professor Hewes?

No, no. Only by a nickname.

But when I called Professor Hewes
by that name, he nearly fainted.

He never believed that anyone knew
that Monica used to call him Graffy.

In addition to this
information about Graffy,

did Monica Lawrence's letters
name the father of her unborn child?

Yes.

Ned Bertell.

I was in love with Monica, sure.

And I admit I put those real
bullets in the professor's gun.

But I didn't kill him
with that letter opener.

Believe me, I didn't. I didn't!

Mr. Bertell, Professor Hewes was
Monica's friend Graffy, was he not?

I heard him called all sorts
of things but... but never that.

No, he's not Graffy.

The shortening of a man's name

may be a middle
name, such as Curtis?

Curtis Grafton Metcalfe.

Yes.

My close friends have often
referred to me as... Graffy.

Was Monica Lawrence
one of your closer friends?

That's ridiculous. I
barely knew the girl.

Are you the one who
secretly took certain students,

including Monica
Lawrence and Ned Bertell,

to certain wild, drunken,
off-campus parties?

Absolutely not.

It's ridiculous even to suggest I
could be involved in such a thing.

I have here copies of Ned Bertell's
academic grades two years ago.

The only thing that made it possible
for him to graduate from the university

was a passing grade he
received in your English class.

Now, you did give him
that grade, did you not?

Yes.

Doctor Metcalfe, this is Ned Bertell's
report on Professor Hewes' experiment.

Now, do you agree with the judge

on the present quality of
his English composition?

His English then, as
now, was atrocious.

He should have flunked.

But you didn't flunk him.

Why?

Because he knew your secret?

Mr. Mason, no.

I'm sorry, Doctor, but
my client's life is at stake.

In L'Affaire Annabelle, there is
constant reference to a beautiful woman,

a beautiful woman
addicted to alcohol.

Is that the secret Ned Bertell
knew... The identity of that woman?

Mason, I beg you, she's
tried so hard, so very hard...

Your wife Esther Metcalfe is
an alcoholic, isn't she, Doctor?

Along with Ned Bertell,

Monica Lawrence, as she wrote her sister,
visited Graffy's home often at night.

But it wasn't to see Graffy.
It was to see Graffy's wife.

His unhappy, alcoholic wife,
who, liking the two students,

secretly, and without
her husband's knowledge,

made the mistake of taking them
with her on her drunken sprees.

I was sick, confused. I
didn't know what I was doing

After Sally Sheldon spoke to
him, Hewes guessed the truth.

He knew you had a
considerable income of your own.

Now, with his book profits
threatened by Sally and by his wife,

and faced with
possible legal action,

did he try to extort money from you
by threatening to expose your past?

Everything I owned,

he wanted it all,
every penny of it.

Did you tell Ned Bertell

that Professor Hewes was
trying to extort money from you,

that he knew about
the drinking parties,

about Bertell's involvement
with Monica Lawrence?

Yes, she told me.

Oh, Ned, wait.

That was the first
day after Sally...

Mrs. Sheldon came to town.

Ned must have
gone wild with fear,

dreading Hewes' revelation about
what happened between him and Monica.

Hewes could have shamed
him, had him expelled.

I didn't know about this
until after it had happened,

but putting the bullets in that gun
was just immature panic, Mr. Mason.

Ned Bertell didn't know better.

But you did, didn't
you, Mrs. Metcalfe?

It all started with me.

It had to end with me.

I went to Ronald,
to plead with him.

But he wouldn't listen to me.

I refused to give him the money.

I told him I'd get a divorce

so he couldn't shame Graffy or
hurt him or destroy his position.

He became furious, abusive.

He struck me.

And I... I grabbed
him to stop him.

We struggled.
We fell to the floor.

He kept hitting me and
hitting me and hitting me!

All of a sudden, I felt the
letter opener near my hand.

And I picked it up...

and ohh!

Ronald was an arrogant,
impossible man to live with,

a man with an insatiable ego.

Our marriage had fallen apart
long before I had met Mike.

Laura was driving
herself too hard,

supporting herself and trying
to take care of her parents.

Is that why you told her about
the book and the royalties?

She was legally
entitled to the money.

That meant a great
deal to her parents.

And you had...

Yes. I'd already asked
her to become my wife.

Doctor Metcalfe is here.

Oh, show him in, Della.

Come in, won't you?

Mr. Mason, it's good
of you to see me.

Laura, I have a message for you.

From Esther?

She begs you to forgive her

and to believe that she never
would have permitted you

to be convicted for
something she did.

I know.

It's been almost two years
since she'd touched a drop.

She'd been doing
so well, so very well.

Ever since that poor
girl killed herself,

Esther seemed to face
herself for the first time.

And in just a few days,
Ronald Hewes ended all that.

No, not ended, Della.

She killed in self-defense.

We'll see to it that this nightmare
is no more than a temporary detour.

We, Mr. Mason?

You did come here to
retain my services, didn't you?

No sense in wasting time.

Suppose I go to see
Mrs. Metcalfe right now.