All language subtitles for Perry Mason S06E21 The Case of the Lawful Lazarus.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

Six weeks.

Six weeks, and this
is my first night out.

A girl is no computer.
Gotta get out.

Gotta talk a little,
have a cocktail...

One cocktail, that's
all I was gonna have

till you walked through the
door and smiled, Mister...

Lazarus, as in the Bible.

I know.

That's the place where the road
is with all the good inventions!

Oh dear.

Well, I'm sure your Uncle Edgar
wouldn't begrudge you one night off, and...

Not my... uncle. My boss.

- Mr. Edgar Thorne.
- I'll bet he's not business all the time.

The way you describe
that big house...

Two of you working
alone, mostly...

It's nothing like that!

There's his wife. And
Nora, the housekeeper.

And Mrs. Jill Garson,
and her brother Clarence...

I didn't tell you
about that. Did I?

Well, they don't
live in the house.

Anyway. Not for years.

But he's not the one with the
money. Your Uncle Edgar, I mean.

You just, uh, manage
his things, for the niece.

Say! I didn't tell you that.

The niece? The
one that's an invalid?

Barbara Billings?

I don't remember.

And her two children away
at camp for the summer.

And her missing husband.

Might as well be dead.

Trevor Harris.

Mr. Barbara Billings, that's what
the newspapers used to call him.

Yeah.

But, uh, this
Barbara Billings...

Friend of mine was telling me
what a hard time he's been having

trying to get in touch with her.

Where have you been,
Mr. Lazarus-from-the-Bible?

Don't you know...

How should I know
anything, except, uh,

- what you've been telling me?
- Barbara Billings is not just an invalid.

She's in the
hospital. She's dying.

Now this is the only
doctor's bag I have in stock

that still looks pretty good.

I'm afraid that it doesn't even have
half a complete set of instruments.

Well, I'm not
interested what's inside.

Just the bag
itself. I'll take it.

Thank you.

Barbara?

Yes?

It isn't true.

I'm afraid it is, darling.

Your long-lost husband.

Everything you've done...

Everything, Trevor...

I forgive you.

I heard you were ill, Barbara.

That you were an invalid,
but I didn't know that it was...

While there's still time,

perhaps you'd
better forgive me too.

- Will you?
- We haven't needed love,

forgiveness or anything else
from each other for so long.

Barbara Billings.

Billings Enterprises, Limited.

A marriage I couldn't
make work with either?

You fault and mine.

Honey, does the finger
have to point anyplace?

How are they? The children?

Very well, and very happy.

And very wonderful.

Both of them.

Your cousin, Jill Garson, I...

just heard she's not taking
care of them any longer.

Well, you don't have
anything to worry about, Trevor.

It's all arranged.

Teddy and Ellen
will be in the care of...

the one person whose love...

I never had any reason to doubt.

Your uncle? Edgar Thorne?

Yes.

Why him, and not Jill?

Ten years. Nothing.

Barbara, please. Maybe I have
no right to be here to talk to you.

I know, I don't deserve
to be called their father,

but those kids and their
welfare are my concern.

You didn't even write once.

I left strict orders Miss
Billings was not to be disturbed.

I don't know who you are, sir,

- but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to...
- I'll leave in a moment, Doctor.

Barbara, this
concerns the children.

You must listen to me.

- If I have to, I...
- If you have to, what, Trevor?

Kill her?

Please, Uncle Edgar.

It's all right.

I know you're upset, my dear.

The doctor will give you something
to relax you. Make everything fine.

And make sure
you don't talk to me.

Doctor?

It will only agitate the
patient if I have to call for help

- in removing you from this room.
- Oh, look, Doctor...

Trevor, you better go.

Can't stop me from
talking to her, Thorne.

She's my wife.

Teddy and Ellen are my children.

I'm sorry, my boy, but I'm afraid
you're not being quite correct.

You fixed a lot
of things, Edgar.

But that's something
that even you couldn't fix.

I can't imagine why you think
I'd concern myself about you,

one way or the other.

The truth, Trevor, happens to
be that the mother of your children,

the wife you deserted,
went into court two years ago

and had you
declared legally dead.

Actually, Mr. Harris,
I'd say the first step

would be to
reestablish legal identity.

- I don't want that.
- Why not?

Mr. Mason,

the reason I left ten years
ago and never returned

is aside from the point.

This week, I just
found myself in town,

I thought I'd say
hello to Barbara,

perhaps see the children.

When I couldn't get in touch with her,
I tried to find out what was happening.

I found out, all right.

That your wife is dying, and that
you are a walking ghost, so to speak.

You'd, uh, like to take legal
action in regard to the children?

Yes, of course.

But right now, all I want
is to get into that hospital

- to talk to Barbara.
- That could be difficult.

I know it's difficult, but can
you arrange for me to see her?

Della, see if you can reach
Judge Ellison on the phone, please?

Mr. Lazarus?

Michaela!

You shouldn't have
let me talk like that.

Well, I'm sorry about that, I found
out you were Edgar's secretary

and I tried to look you up.

I know it wasn't very nice, but...
when I finally caught up with you

in that cocktail lounge, I...

You pumped me for information.

I was worried. I had to
find out what was going on.

I'm sorry, but you didn't need
very much encouragement, talking.

The family is waiting.
They'd like to see you.

Is that why Edgar
Thorne had me followed

and planted you here...
To bring me to the family?

Are you coming?

Sure. Why not?

And so, I felt it imperative we all
meet together as soon as possible.

Because, frankly,

what has happened
affects all of us.

It's essential that
we, as the family,

for the sake of the
children, and for Barbara,

present a solid front.

"United we stand, divided..."

Little old Trevor.

Clara!

Why don't you forget about
this meeting, go back to bed?

Oh, no, Edgar.

Not when you need my help.

Family solidarity, all the way.

Trevor Harris has been
declared legally dead.

And insofar as this
family is concerned,

he must remain so.

- What about Trevor himself?
- Well, what do you mean, Jill?

Exactly how have
you planned to...

To get rid of him?

Is that what you're
trying to say, Jill?

Oh, uh, thank you, Michaela.
You don't have to stay.

Yes, Mr. Thorne.

Welcome back, Trevor.

For a corpse, you look
disgracefully healthy.

Clara, you look
as lovely as ever.

Jill, how are you?

Nora. Good to
see you're still here.

Thank you, sir.

And Clarence.

You haven't thanked me.

It must have been worth quite a
legal fee, going through the procedures

to declare me dead.

In this case, it was a pleasure.

Ah, too bad Uncle
John isn't around.

At least he had the happy faculty of making
these little family to-dos less grim.

A questionable talent, at best.

You never did like your
brother, did you, Edgar?

What were you?

33rd vice president in charge
of emptying wastebaskets,

while he ran the company?

And you were a shining example of
his business acumen, weren't you?

Ah, I was a real beautiful
mistake, wasn't I?

"Richest Girl in the World
Buys Herself an All-American."

"Geologist Halfback Is Square
Peg in Round Hole of Industry."

You did about as well
as husband and father.

I struck out, Clarence.

There are those of us who
face it and get out of the game.

What about you?

Weren't you Uncle
John's favorite protegé?

When I read that he died, I
expected you, not Uncle Edgar,

to be Grand Vizier of
Barbara's little estate.

Just as I expected the
children still to be in Jill's care.

You consider me unfit
to be their guardian?

Yes. You're no good.

You're a scheming,
unprincipled parasite...

with a mania for
money and power.

Completely lacking
in ethics, morality,

or even the slightest
regard for the human dignity

I want my children
to have and respect.

Well, here lies the
body of Edgar Thorne.

Slain by... whatever
it is you are, darling.

Do you think that Uncle
Edgar forced Barbara

to take the children from
me, and name him guardian?

Didn't he?

So he could control the
millions of dollars they'd inherit?

No, Trevor, he didn't.

I asked to be relieved of the
responsibility of raising the children.

And I insisted that Barbara name

Uncle Edgar as guardian.

Jill, I don't understand.

You're the only decent
one in the family.

Well, whatever it is,
I'll straighten it out.

I'll talk to Barbara,
and I'll straighten it out.

The way you straightened
out the company books,

just before you ran
away ten years ago?

What are you talking about?

The facts speak for themselves.

Facts, figures, affidavits...

Incontrovertible proof...

that before you left, you embezzled
over $50,000 from the company.

It's a lie.

Of course, with the
statute of limitations,

prosecution is impossible.

It's a lie. Barbara
will never believe it.

There's no reason why
she should ever know it.

That's the past.
But you will admit,

you're hardly in a position
to give advice to Barbara,

or the court, on the proper
guardianship for her children.

Nora, call the
sanitarium for me.

I've made mistakes, I
admit, more than my share.

I may not be fit to
wipe my kids' shoes.

But you're not going to get
away with calling me a crook.

It's ringing.

Barbara will never hold still
for it either. Don't kid yourselves.

I'll get to the bottom
of this business with Jill.

Hello? I would like to speak with
Barbara Billings' doctor, please.

I want to arrange to see
Barbara just as soon as...

Trevor? What is it?

They were trying to reach us.

Barbara just... died.

Nora. What do you want?

Please, Mr. Harris. I
have to speak to you.

If Edgar sent you,
you're wasting your time.

I have to get back
to my job overseas.

But I'm having my lawyer, Perry Mason,
look into those embezzlement charges.

Please listen to me.

I heard Mr. Thorne talking.

That evidence he has...
That's why I'm here.

The evidence is in an
envelope in his safe.

That envelope. A final
bequest to my children.

Their mother dies and
makes them millionaires...

I return from the dead and
make them children of a crook.

Nora, I swear I never
stole a cent in my life.

Then don't let anybody
ever see that envelope.

I spoke with Clarence
this afternoon.

He all but convinced
me. There's no question.

It's bad, all right. I may have
goofed up the company books.

I could be blamed for
that $50,000 shortage.

I told you, destroy
that evidence!

Tonight. I'll help you.

Nora, you're wonderful.

You did all you could to keep
Barbara from marrying me,

and now you do this... why?

You were selfish. You
were even... unkind.

But you were never evil.

And that envelope
Edgar has in the safe,

I heard him talk to
Clarence about it.

That envelope must never
be opened in a court of law!

Because of what it
contains about me?

Because of what it could
do to those two children.

To the rear gate.
To the library door.

The combination to the
safe is on a piece of paper

pasted inside the lower
right hand desk drawer...

in the library.

I'm seeing Joe at
10:00. Morgan at 11:00.

With a little luck, I should have the
merger details wrapped up by noon.

Mm-hmm.

Is that the material on Trevor?

The case history
of an inept fool.

I think I talked
some sense into him.

He won't trouble us.

I'm sure of that,
Clarence. Very sure.

Wait a minute, Edgar. I may
need some papers out of the safe.

Oh, nonsense. You've got
all the data there you can use.

And if you need me,
call me here at the house.

Edgar, the, uh... The
funeral arrangements.

- Would you prefer me to...
- I've already made them.

Now on your way.

I'll call in the morning.
Good night, Edgar.

Good night, Clarence.

- Yes?
- Mr. Thorne?

Remember, you said
something about dictation?

- I'm waiting.
- I told you not to use the intercom!

Tomorrow.

We'll get to that...
dictation tomorrow.

And just how do you
define "dictation"?

I wondered how long it would
be before you started looking

for greener pastures.

Nora? Mrs. Thorne's in my
room, and uh, she's not well.

I think you'd better
look after her.

That's right, Nora. Lock her
up and throw away the key!

You're sick.

Yes. Sick.

Sick for years. Living with you.

Dreading the day that we couldn't
stand the sight of one another.

The day that your greedy eyes
would find some stupid young thing!

Get her out of my sight.

Where a binding final contract
for performance is remiss

in expressing an element,
such of time of payment,

mutual intent may be
construed by the court.

But where the agreement
at issue is a preliminary one

that leaves essential
terms still to be agreed upon

in the final contract,

the court is not
compelled to determine

what the parties intended.

Hello?

- Yes, Mrs. Garson?
- Mr. Mason. You represent Trevor Harris?

- Yes, I do.
- I'm at Edgar Thorne's house.

I think you'd better
get out here right away.

Edgar Thorne has
just been murdered.

Shot to death, and
not too long ago.

Wonder where the police are?

- I haven't called them yet.
- Why not?

Well, I thought for Trevor's
sake, I should talk to you first.

You saw a man running from
the library before you came in here

and found the body.

Yes.

Was it Trevor Harris you saw?

Yes. That's why I called you.

He had mentioned your name.

Mrs. Garson, why did
you come here tonight?

Nora, the
housekeeper, called me.

She said she'd been
over to talk to Trevor.

About an envelope
in the safe here,

that contained some
evidence against him.

When Nora thought it
over, she realized she'd done

probably what... what
Edgar wanted her to do:

Lead Trevor into Edgar's trap.

She tried to reach
Trevor, but he was gone.

So she called you?

Yes. I couldn't locate him.

So I came here to...
To try to warn him.

Mr. Mason, it was
Trevor Harris...

I saw running away from here.

My brother Clarence ran
after him to try to catch him.

Mrs. Garson, call the police.

Then get all the occupants
of this house together

in another room, and
wait there for the police.

Can you do that?

- Yes, I think so.
- Good.

- Find something, Paul?
- A contact switch behind the safe door.

The moment the door was open,
the switch activated something.

Probably an alarm
to warn Edgar Thorne.

Well, if not that, then...

Then what?

Perry, this is an infrared lamp.

Infrared?

Wonder if it could be
connected to that switch.

It wouldn't have to be. Paul:

Suppose the switch on
the safe activated a camera.

A camera loaded
with infrared film.

Sure. And aimed
directly at the safe.

That must be the trap that
Thorne set for this man Trevor.

Camera.

Yep. Eight millimeter,
magazine load.

You can see where the
film compartment is open,

and... empty.

This gun, recently fired, was found in
the mud just outside the library door.

The gardener must have
watered there late this afternoon.

Now, does this gun
belong to anybody here?

Edgar Thorne owned a gun.

Exactly like that I think,
Lieutenant Anderson.

Miss Martin?

As far as I can tell,
it's all here, Lieutenant.

- Was there any cash in the safe?
- Yes, sir.

$10,600. It's still here.

Fine. Thank you.

Mrs. Garson, Mr. Henry,

if you'll remain here in the
library, I'd like to talk to both of you.

Mrs. Thorne, Miss
Kasner, Miss Martin...

If you'll go to your rooms, we'll
call you when we're ready for you.

Mr. Mason and Mr. Drake,

I don't think it's necessary to
detain you any longer, do you?

- Of course not, Lieutenant.
- Mrs. Thorne!

What are you doing?

Well, I felt that these were
rather inappropriate at this time.

Well, I understand, ma'am,
but they'll have to stay here

until we've gone
over the entire room.

Would you put them back, please?

Certainly, Lieutenant.

Let's go, Paul.

Yeah, she sure was clumsy trying
to get rid of that camera, wasn't she?

I wonder where the
not-too-grieving widow hid the film?

Paul, stick around till
Andy's through with her,

then bring her
straight to the office.

- Mrs. Thorne.
- No, no. Jill Garson.

Why, Mrs. Garson? Why
did you call Perry Mason?

Well, under the circumstances, I
felt an attorney should be present.

Your brother, Mr. Henry,
isn't an attorney?

- He was present.
- No, not at that particular moment.

I was, so to speak,
beating the bushes outside,

- driving all over the neighborhood...
- And I'm investigating a murder,

in which both of
you are involved.

Now, does Mason represent
Billings Enterprises?

No.

Was he associated
with Edgar Thorne?

No.

Does he represent
you, Mrs. Garson?

No.

Lieutenant, I'm
upset, and it's late.

Would you mind very
much if I went home?

After you tell me why
you called Perry Mason.

The man we saw running
away, the one I was looking for...

Trevor Harris?

Mason is his attorney.

I'm quite sure my brother can
tell you anything you wish to know.

May I go now, please?

We can get your complete
statement in the morning.

All right, Mrs.
Garson. You can go.

Thank you. Good night.

"There is some
soul of goodness..."

A remarkably loyal and
generous woman, my sister.

I like that line you quoted.

"There is some
soul of goodness..."

I particularly like the way
it ends: "in things evil."

You're very
perceptive, Lieutenant.

And you're very evasive.

Why was Trevor
Harris here tonight?

- Why?
- Save the poetry. Just one good reason.

Will you settle for 150
million good reasons?

- How good?
- Legal tender, Lieutenant.

$150 million.

The approximate sum
Trevor Harris' children

are about to inherit.

And which Trevor
Harris will control?

Possibly now.

Since the rather sudden elimination
of the children's legal guardian,

Mr. Edgar Thorne.

Mr. Harris came in
about five minutes ago.

Mr. Mason, I know what happened.

Do you?

I was there. Someone
came, and I ran.

- Why did you run?
- Standing in a room,

trying to open a safe that
somebody had already opened?

Turning and seeing a dead
body lying on the floor, I...

It seemed like the
smartest thing to do.

- Why did you come here?
- I thought it over,

and decided to talk to you,

and give myself
up to the police.

- And confess that you killed Thorne?
- No, Mr. Mason.

Edgar Thorne was dead,
and that safe was open,

before I went into that room.

Sit down, Mr. Harris.

You can give yourself
up after we've talked.

Now, that envelope you went
there to get. What was in it?

Evidence, supposedly proving
that I embezzled $50,000...

from Billings Enterprises
before I left ten years ago.

- Supposedly?
- Mr. Mason, I never embezzled a cent.

But I might have made
some bad mistakes,

or messed up the
company books...

I-I can't say.

What about this so-called
"embezzlement" evidence?

You know, it might appear in
court, and mitigate your rights

insofar as the custody of
your children is concerned.

I told you before, I...
neither expect nor deserve

the custody of my children.

The inheritance has
nothing to do with it.

All I want is the legal
right to petition the court

to make Jill Garson the
guardian of my children.

And you're not concerned over
your own possible opportunity...

of controlling
millions of dollars?

No.

Some people might
find that hard to believe.

Believe what you please.

I said, "some
people," Mr. Harris.

I have only one concern
in any of this: my children.

I want them left in
the care of Jill Garson.

- Why Jill Garson?
- If my children have any hope

for a normal upbringing,
for love or understanding...

Those hopes lie
with Jill Garson.

- And not with you?
- No, not with me.

Mr. Mason, try to understand.

I'm not sorry for
having left my wife.

That marriage was a
mistake from the beginning.

I was just a-a
possession to her.

Another trinket on
a charm bracelet.

An expensive trinket?

Yes. They were generous.

Her Uncle John even made
me an officer of the company,

to bolster my self-respect.

No, I just couldn't take it.

I know, it was immature
and childish perhaps, but...

I went away as far as I could.

I'm not ashamed of what
I am, or what I do now.

But you are ashamed of what you
were and what you did ten years ago.

I left my kids, Mr. Mason.

Whatever happened between
Barbara and me, it doesn't change that.

I deserted them, too.

But they'll need
you now, Mr. Harris.

With $150 million left
them by their mother,

they need a father
they haven't seen,

don't know... Don't
even remember.

A father they've been taught
to believe is a no-good bum.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Mason, I...

Excuse me. Come in, Paul!

Trevor.

Trevor, why? Why did you do it?

Didn't the children
have enough to bear?

Jill, I want them with
you... The children.

Please, don't say no.

I know you love them.

You'll see to it, please?
Won't you, Mr. Mason?

In due time, Mr. Harris.

Della, call the Thorne
house. Get Andy on the phone.

He's still there,
isn't he, Paul?

Mrs. Garson, did your brother go
with you to the Thorne house tonight?

Why, no. He was leaving just
as I came up to the front gate.

He went back to
the house with me.

Why, Mr. Mason?
You don't think...

Lieutenant Anderson, please.

Excuse me.

Andy?

Trevor Harris is
here in my office.

If you'll come down, he's
prepared to surrender himself to you.

Assuming, of course,
that you're looking for him.

I'm looking for him, all right.

And for a roll of infrared film.

Now, you wouldn't happen to
know where that is, would you, Perry?

Yes, Andy. The film
will also be in my office

when you arrive.

Won't it, Mrs. Garson?

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

The camera would
have been difficult to hide.

But you did manage to get the
magazine of film, did you not?

I thought you were
trying to help Trevor.

Mrs. Garson,

I'm his attorney.
You're his good friend.

We can't help him by
subjecting ourselves

to a felony indictment on a
charge of concealing evidence.

May I have the film, please?

All right, Andy.

There's one thing you should understand
about this infrared-sensitive film.

It doesn't give
a regular picture.

About all you'll be able
to distinguish from this

is the action that
was photographed.

Well, that's all there was.

Not much to go on, is it?

All right, Hamilton.
Where are they?

Where are what?

Well, unless I'm very wrong,

prints developed from
the individual frames

of that film would show
a great deal of detail.

Knowing you, I'm sure
you had them made already.

Now, do I need a court order
compelling pre-trial discovery?

Of course, not. Andy,
show them to him.

Clarence Henry.
Jill Garson's brother.

That's him, all right.

Did you, uh, know that before
you had these films developed?

Yes, we knew it.

And if you think that's
gonna help your client, Perry,

you're in for quite
a shock... In court.

Lieutenant, you testified that
in addition to the fingerprints

of the decedent and
those of his attorney,

that you found and identified
a third set of fingerprints.

Yes, sir.

To whom did this third
set of fingerprints belong?

- To the defendant, Trevor Harris.
- I see.

Lieutenant,

I show you now this moulage.

I ask you to explain to this
court exactly what this is.

This is a plaster of Paris casting
made from a footprint we found

in the freshly-watered flower
bed just outside the library door

of the Thorne home.

All right, Lieutenant. Go
ahead about the moulage.

The confirmation of
the sole and heel, as

well as the distinctive
pattern on the heel,

identify this as an Italian product,
not available in the United States.

Additionally, here
on the sole, there is a

distinctive, half-moon
tear in the leather.

All right, Lieutenant,
now what can you tell us

about this shoe, marked for
identification People's exhibit 4.

Well, these comparison
photographs, uh, "A", the plaster cast,

and "B," the shoe,

show at least five positive
marks of identification.

And to whom does this Italian shoe,
still bearing traces of mud, belong?

The shoe belong to the
defendant, Trevor Harris.

And is one of the pair he was
wearing on the night of the murder.

Yes, I did go to Trevor Harris
and tell him about the envelope.

But why, Miss Kasner?

Why did you feel you
must betray your employer

and go to Trevor Harris?

Edgar Thorne was
not my employer.

I worked for Barbara
Billings for twenty years.

I loved her, and I
love her children,

and it was them I
was concerned about.

What time was it when you gave
this information to Trevor Harris?

About, uh, 8:30.

Why, that was less than
two hours before the murder.

- Yes, but I'm sure that...
- Thank you, Miss Kasner.

Your witness.

Miss Kasner, you say you
went to the defendant to warn him

because of the information
contained in this mysterious envelope.

- Information concerning the defendant?
- Yes.

And you had no concern for
what that envelope might contain...

about other members of the
household, including perhaps yourself?

- No.
- Miss Kasner,

did you tell anyone other than
Mr. Harris about the envelope?

Yes. Jill Garson.

My husband was killed
in an automobile accident,

many years ago, and when
Barbara Billings became an invalid,

I went to work for her,
taking care of her children.

Then you did know Trevor Harris?

Yes.

After Trevor Harris left his
wife and children ten years ago,

when did you next
see the defendant?

When Michaela Martin
brought him to the house,

to, uh, see the family.

And on this occasion, did the
defendant make any statement to explain

his convenient return, just as
his wealthy wife was about to die?

Your Honor, I object to the question
on the ground that it's incompetent,

irrelevant and immaterial.

Your Honor, the testimony to be
adduced by that question is admissible.

And it's also competent, since it tends to
show the state of mind of the defendant.

Without stipulating as to
relevancy or materiality,

the question's incompetence is
implicit in lack of proper foundation.

It presupposes knowledge
on the part of the defendant

not yet in evidence
at this hearing.

Mr. Mason, Trevor Harris certainly
knew that his wife was dying.

He certainly knew that she was one
of the wealthiest women in the world.

And you knew the question
was so framed as to be

unduly prejudicial, making impossible
any objective appraisal of fact.

- Your Honor...
- That is enough, gentlemen.

The objection is sustained.

Did Trevor Harris,
in your presence,

say anything to Edgar
Thorne to explain...

the reason for his return?

Well, yes. He did
say he did not want...

Uncle Edgar to be the
guardian of his children.

And what did Edgar Thorne say to
this statement of the defendant's?

He warned Trevor that he
had documented evidence

that would discredit any
attempt on Trevor's part

to make any changes.

What was this
documented evidence?

Your Honor, I object on the ground that the
evidence asked for is not best evidence.

Oh, Mr. Mason, for...

When the contents of a
written document are at issue,

the rule of best evidence requires
that the original document be produced.

But we don't have
the original document!

Then account for its
unavailability as foundation

before you introduce
secondary evidence.

Objection sustained.

All right, I'm finished
with the witness.

- No questions.
- Very well, Mr. Mason.

I call Michaela
Martin to the stand.

When I told the police there
was nothing missing from the safe,

I'd forgotten about
the envelope.

You mean, Edgar
Thorne's envelope?

Allegedly containing documentary
evidence about Trevor Harris?

That's right.

All right then,
just for the record,

and to lay the
foundation for Mr. Mason,

that envelope and its contents
had been removed from the safe,

and were not available
to the authorities.

Yes.

Mr. Henry, were you aware that Edgar
Thorne was trying to trap Trevor Harris?

Edgar wanted to prove
that Trevor Harris today

is as basically dishonest
as he was ten years ago.

That he would do anything
to gain his own ends.

Yes, I knew he was
planning some sort of trap.

Can you tell us the
nature of the trap?

Well, I didn't know then,
though of course I know now.

It was a special camera
device, using an infrared film.

Mr. Henry, can you tell us
who was caught in that trap?

- Was it the defendant?
- No, I activated that camera...

when I went there that
night, to get some papers

I needed from the safe.

Routine business papers.

Now, Mr. Henry, when
you opened that safe,

was that envelope, that you've heard
discussed here at such length, in it?

Oh, I'm sure it was.

Perhaps you could
tell us, Mr. Henry,

why your... visit that
evening was so secretive?

Well, it was late. I saw no point
in disturbing the whole household.

I see.

And as soon as you had gotten
the routine business papers

from the safe,
you left the house.

Yes. And as I drove out the front, I saw
someone else coming in the back gate.

- It was Trevor Harris.
- Well, what happened?

At the end of the driveway, I met
my sister, Mrs. Jill Garson, driving in.

She insisted we
go back together.

As we approached the house,
we saw this man running out.

It was Trevor Harris.

I went after him, but lost him.

Mr. Henry, you testified that
when you opened the safe,

the envelope was in it.

Now at that time, was
Edgar Thorne in that library?

Alive or dead.

No.

And ten, or at the most, 15
minutes after you saw Trevor Harris

running from that house,

Edgar Thorne was found
shot dead on the library floor,

and the envelope was missing!

Mr. Henry, do you know, of
your own personal knowledge,

the contents of that envelope?

Yes. It was indisputable,
documentary evidence

proving Trevor
Harris an embezzler.

And unquestionably unfit in
any way to control his children,

or the fortune
they would inherit.

It's ridiculous. My
husband was a fine man.

A good man. A man
of high moral character.

He loved Barbara, and
he loved those children.

And his exceptional competence
to provide for those children,

to guide in their bringing
up, should be questioned

by a criminally
irresponsible man like...

Please, Mrs. Thorne.

Don't excite yourself.
You're not well.

The children's mother
knew what was best for them.

Barbara Billings designated
my husband as their guardian.

And now, you may become
guardian of those children.

And their money.

Tell me, aside from Trevor, did
anyone inside or outside of the family

ever question Edgar Thorne's fitness
to serve as guardian to the children?

No, never.

This paragon of virtue to
whom you were married,

he had no faults at all?

Edgar was a good man.

I'm not sure whether you're
trying to convince me or yourself.

Mr. Mason, I hardly
think that it's...

Did Edgar Thorne
ever drink excessively?

- No.
- Gamble?

- No.
- Play around with other women?

- No.
- No?

- I said no.
- Why do you drink to excess?

- Why, I...
- Don't you drink to excess?

Well... I...

That is, I...

I'm talking to you here, now,

because I don't want to produce
a dozen witnesses in court,

who are waiting to prove that you do,
and that you have done so for years.

I'm an alcoholic. Yes.

And Edgar Thorne was
no longer in love with you.

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

I'm talking about your husband's
interest in a younger woman.

- No.
- The woman he planned to marry...

after Barbara Billings died,
and after he'd gotten rid of you.

No! No. No...

Now, who was that woman?

Miss Martin. Michaela Martin.

The defense calls, as its
first witness, Mrs. Jill Garson.

The witness is reminded
that she is still under oath.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Garson, you
took care of the children

belonging to the defendant
and the late Barbara Billings

for about seven
years, I believe.

Now, are you fond
of those children?

I love them, Mr. Mason.

No less than if
they were my own.

Then would you tell
the court, Mrs. Garson,

feeling as you do about them,
why they are no longer in your care.

Barbara Billings, my cousin,

decided, at my request,

to put them under
Edgar Thorne's care.

You were busy
planning many activities,

that would make continuity
of supervision impossible.

Yes. Mm-hmm.

So, you told your cousin you'd
changed your mind about Edgar Thorne,

and bowed out of the picture.

That's right. I...

Now, tell the court, if
you will, Mrs. Garson,

why you changed your mind
about Edgar Thorne's fitness

to serve as guardian
to the children?

Well, it wasn't that I
ever thought he wasn't fit.

It's just that...

Well, after Uncle John
died, I felt it was time

I had a life of
my own, that's all.

This change of status came about

when the long-time president
of Billings Enterprises died,

and Edgar Thorne, instead of
your brother Clarence, replaced him.

Yes.

Now would you tell
the court, please,

how the roll of infrared film

came into the
possession of the police.

I removed it from the library,

and I gave it to you, at your
insistence, in your office.

And you turned it
over to the police.

When the police questioned you,
before you brought that film to my office,

what did you tell them
about Trevor Harris?

I told him I had seen
Trevor running away

before I found Edgar's body.

You liked Trevor, but you
wouldn't lie to protect him.

- Of course not.
- Then why didn't you, then and there,

tell them about the
film you'd found?

- Well, I...
- Was it because you suspected even then

that the film was not of Trevor,
but of your brother, Clarence?

Please, Mr. Mason...

That the film would show
your brother stealing the proof

that the embezzler of
$50,000 ten years ago

was not Trevor
Harris, but was in fact...

- Me!
- No, Clarence, no.

It's all right, Jill. You've
lied enough to protect me.

I can't let you
do it any longer.

Yes, I... I embezzled
that 50,000.

I was responsible, and Edgar
Thorne threatened to have me charged

with criminal negligence.

Oh, believe me, Mr. Mason,
Jill knew I was in trouble.

That I'd committed a crime.
But she didn't know what it was.

She had no idea, until
a couple of days ago,

it was the same crime Edgar was
accusing Trevor of having committed.

She did not know
that Edgar cleared me

by framing the
embezzlement on Trevor.

She knew only that, to save you,

she was forced to separate
herself from the children.

It wasn't much of a choice.
I could have gone to prison.

You saw the trumped-up
embezzlement proof in that envelope.

Now, could Edgar Thorne
have prepared it all himself?

No. Someone had
to have helped him.

Someone closely
connected with the family.

Did you remove that
envelope from the safe?

No. Believe me, no.

Mr. Henry, was Edgar Thorne
planning to divorce his wife?

Yes.

And did you know if he was
planning to marry somebody else?

Yes, he told me he was.

This other woman he
said he would marry.

Did he tell you who she was?

No. I asked, but
he wouldn't tell me.

He ordered me to take
her back to her room.

And who was the woman with whom
Clara Thorne accused her husband

of being in love?

- Michaela Martin.
- You couldn't be mistaken about that?

- Oh, no.
- Just as Clara Thorne was mistaken?

Believing the woman in her
husband's life was Michaela Martin?

Oh, no, she wasn't
mistaken. It was true.

I saw them myself.

Earlier that night, when I
got back from Trevor Harris,

Michaela and
Mr. Thorne... kissing and...

You saw, and you were
jealous, were you not?

Isn't it possible it was you
he had promised to marry,

- after he got rid of his wife?
- No.

No. No!

Shall I call Clarence
Henry back to the stand,

and ask when Edgar Thorne told him
he planned a divorce and remarriage?

Mr. Mason... No.

And suppose he testifies
Edgar Thorne told him

seven months ago... a month before
he met and hired Michaela Martin?

He was mine! Mine, Mr. Mason!

All those years, I did
his dirty work for him.

Like baiting Trevor Harris
into that trap he set for him,

and helping to frame that
embezzlement charge against him?

It was me! It was me,
working with Edgar together.

Everything! Together.

And when you got
back from Trevor's?

There he was, with her.

Kissing her.

So you killed him.

I... killed him.

When Clarence opened
the safe, Edgar came down

expecting to find you,
Trevor, in a criminal act.

The gun was possibly to restrain
you or even accidentally shoot you.

That we'll never know.
But he recognized Clarence,

and let him go without
saying anything.

- He was still waiting for you.
- Nora followed him.

They argued, fought,
and she killed him.

But tell me, Mr. Mason.

- Who took the envelope?
- Nora.

She knew those
trumped-up documents

would incriminate her
if they were examined.

Having killed Edgar, she had to
destroy anything that might point to her.

Uh, Trevor?

Excuse me.

Jill.

I understand you're flying
back to Saudi Arabia today.

Yes, the plane leaves
in about, oh, two hours.

Glad you came over
to say good-bye, Jill.

I have, uh, two young
friends with me outside.

I thought perhaps, before you went
away, you might like to say hello to them.

Oh, I'm sorry
you did that, Jill.

Trevor, they've been
told lies about you.

Not everything was a lie.

You're going to
punish yourself forever?

No, only until I earn the right
to extend my hand to them.

And until they're grown
enough to want to take it.

It won't be forever.

Take good care of them, Jill.