Original subtitles

Flight 411 now arriving at gate two.

Passengers for flight 330,

please board immediately at gate five.

Oh, well, this is it.

Long, long wait is just about over.

But we haven't waited that long, Todd.

Her plane's almost on time.

- Give or take six months. - Hmm?

Six months. It has been almost a year

I've been waiting for that silly aunt of mine to return.

How anybody can be so vague,

so undecided, so downright fly-brain...

Oh, cut it out.

She's our Aunt Nellie.

And it can't have been easy on her,

losing Uncle Herbert, you know.

Well, she could have answered my letters, couldn't she?

Just sat still in Paris or Rome, or on the Riviera some place.

Just sat still long enough to sign those papers.

Darling, I'm sure that in her usual faithful way,

Nellie has been lingering near Herbert's resting place

for devotional reasons, so...

And don't you be catty about it, either!

Me be catty?

Todd dear, if you had your uncle's money,

and something happened to you on a world cruise,

do you think that I would simply

rush straight back to the old homestead? Oh!

For life, I wouldn't, darling.

All right, all right, so I'm upset.

I don't like going broke. I don't like the poorhouse!

Well, hello!

Well, well, well, the whole Meacham tribe!

Mr. Brody.

Well, how's the development game, Todd?

Well, you should know.

What are you doing here, Brody?

Same thing you are. Came to meet Nellie.

Well, we rather planned a family affair.

Oh, I've known Nellie for years and years.

She's probably still in mourning, you know.

Hmm?

Well, uh... condolences.

But the Hacienda Grande is not for sale!

I beg pardon your pardon?

It's true, Roger. We're just waiting

for Nellie's return to make the formal announcement.

We're going to subdivide the old homestead ourselves.

Keeping it right in the family, right where it belongs.

And we're a very close family, Mr. Brody.

Oh, darling!

- Nellie, darling. - Elaine.

So wonderful to have you home.

Honey, you look marvelous.

You look tres marveilleux!

That's my French. Now, Todd, if I

didn't write to you it was because...-

Nellie... Jimmy! Oh!

There's one to grow on.

Roger Brody. What a pleasant surprise.

Nellie, you look like a million dollars.

Pierre...

you've heard me speak about Elaine,

and Todd,

and Jimmy, and this is an old friend,

Roger Brody. I want you all to meet

Monsieur Pierre Dubois.

Isn't he handsome?

Pierre is my new husband.

It is a pleasure to meet you.

Your husband?

Now come on, let's all go home to the Hacienda

and have a drink and I'll tell you all about it.

Oh, Paris was marvelous. Hurry up, honey.

Come on, boys!

Oh, Victor, you're a mind reader.

Oh, yes, thank you, Victor. I can use it.

Yeah, me, too. A couple of 'em.

I'm sure we all need a smash.

It was a bit of a surprise, if I may say so.

Hmm. Bit of a surprise?

He's very attractive, of course.

But he must be at least 15 years her junior.

12... I looked at his passport.

He's a fortune hunter. That's what he is.

You want to bet? I don't understand how Aunt Nellie

could get mixed up with a guy like...

Now, now, now, now. Be calm, be calm, everybody.

Just be calm. This doesn't change anything.

Aunt Nellie will wrap this chap around her little finger

just like she did Uncle Herbert. Besides, a deal is a deal.

What Aunt Nellie chooses to do with her private life

should have no affect upon our plans.

Oh, Todd, how can you be so stupid?

To stand around and just watch your favorite aunt

being bilked by that gigolo?

But I'm not going to be bilked, don't you understand?

No, sir, I'm not going to be cheated out of my time

and my investment. Yes, thank you, Victor.

I don't mind if I do.

And suppose they decide to live here?

Just live... in the Hacienda?

Yeah.

What'll happen to the subdivision plans then?

Their present choice of residence I believe

is Monte Carlo.

There. Nellie could never stand living on a farm.

I heard it in the car.

What else, Victor?

Well, Monsieur Dubois is an excellent skin diver.

There. You see?

You see, they just want to have fun.

And I'm just the man who can show them how to do it.

Oh, I tell you, once they realize the full benefits

- of our development... - Darlings!

Here you all are, darlings.

Nellie, what a beautiful necklace, darling!

Madame est servi?

Oh, thank you, Victor.

- Yes, isn't it lovely? - Yeah.

That's my wedding present from Pierre.

It's been in his family for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Now, let's all go into dinner, right away.

I have been looking for you, Mrs. Meacham, to show me

- the swimming pool. - Todd, I can't wait to sit you down,

and talk business.

Oh, Nellie, I knew it! I knew it.

Right down to business.

Well, you see, the basis of the plan is...

Because Pierre and I want to buy a sailboat.

- What? - With a red sails.

You have seen the sails of a Greek fisherman, yes?

- No. - Oh, it's a lovely color.

And, Todd, you're so smart about buying things.

Unless, of course, we go skiing in the winter, my sweet.

Oh, darling. Well, you'll help us decide.

We'll all decide whether it's a red sail

or white sail.

Now, come on. We're gonna talk about it.

Magnifique.

For miles and miles it goes on.

Of course.

Hacienda Grande.

And it is all yours... ours... someone's...

Land poor, that's our trouble.

You see, it belonged to all of the Meachams once,

but now it's Nellie who technically

holds title to the land, so...

And your husband who holds ambitions in his head, eh?

Oh, Todd's a wonderful developer, he really is, Pierre.

I am happy for you, Madame.

What I mean is, if you understood some of these things,

well, then you could explain to Nellie...

You would ask a Frenchman

to explain bulldozers to his bride?

Well, um... perhaps if I explain...

No, no, no. C'est impossible.

If this is all hers,

then it is hers to decide, eh?

Now how about a race?

Pierre...

don't Frenchmen ever want to develop...

anything?

But like I say... this is all hers, no?

Oh, smell the orange blossoms.

Yes, yes, they're all over.

Well, now, you see, the point is,

this is plan that Uncle Herbert really wanted. We spent...

Please, Todd.

Talk about Uncle Herbert.

Not with the orange blossoms.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, now, anyway,

uh, these 500 acres, here,

they get cut up into 1500 lots.

Now that should gross close to eight million dollars.

So... What a lovely shade of blue.

And do you know something?

This is the same shade of Pierre's little sports car.

Oh, we should have brought it across.

Yes, you should have.

Well... Todd, I'm sorry.

Did you say we're gonna get eight million dollars?

Oh, that's just the first two years.

Of course, with the improvements,

gradings, commissions...

Never mind, never mind.

It's Pierre you should be telling this to.

Aunt Nellie.

He's my husband, now.

He has to decide everything.

He decides.

Oh, but this is a wonderful map you made.

This shade is the same shade

of his sports car.

Of course it will take about five years

before the entire construction program is completed

but in the meantime...

You should work on that serve every day.

I like it.

I should be working at my job every day.

Why? To play is more fun,

and my Nellie, she likes to pay the bills.

Now, come on, let's go swimming.

Wait a minute, Pierre. Look, If you think

that we're just trying to sponge off Aunt Nellie,

you got it way wrong.

Todd's plan will just hand her,

and you too, I guess...

just hand her ten million dollars over seven years.

Why won't you just listen to us?

Now, now, we are friends, Jimmy.

You know what Roger Brody says?

- Roger Brody? - I have no head for business.

Have you been talking to Roger Brody?

Marchons. It is my house.

We swim.

The point is, Perry,

if this guy Brody were to buy their property now,

they'd only get about two million dollars for it.

That's all it's worth now.

But if they develop it,

they can make at least three times that much.

I see what you mean, Paul.

Sounds as if the cloud of battle is looming over the estate.

The only trouble is, the wacky widow

controls the property, and her new French husband

controls her.

And if somebody can't make her see the light,

my friend Jimmy Meacham and the rest

of the family may be left out in the cold.

I wonder why they'd even be considering a sale right now?

Well, it's at least worth doing some checking

on this Pierre Dubois. Wouldn't you say?

Certainly. But why ask me?

So you won't be upset if you don't see me for a few days.

At great sacrifice to my business,

I told Jimmy that I wouldn't mind...

flying to Paris?

Well, I hired a detective.

Detective?

Well, what good is that gonna do?

I thought if he could find out something about Pierre...

Of course, of course, Nellie is the one

we have to reach.

Now if Pierre could be exposed somehow

Nellie might listen to reason.

Oh, Todd, don't be so stupid.

Don't you think that Nellie knows what she married?

- Huh? - I said...

I may be permitted to agree with your wife, Mr. Meacham.

To attack the bridegroom is to make a tigress of the bride.

Of course. So he's younger, than she is, so what?

So he's after her money, so he's some kind of a crook?

Precisely. I'm afraid

your approach can only make matters worse.

Well, what else are we going to do?

Now three weeks of doubletalk. Victor, don't you understand?

Please, please, it has already been done.

What's been done?

I am not one to sit idle while Rome is burning,

Mr. Meacham.

The moment I saw that child outside the gates,

so lonely, friendless, hungry...

What the devil are you talking about?

The solution to all of your problems.

The one thing irresistible to all Frenchmen.

The trap which any man might easily fall into...

You rang for me, Monsieur Billings?

Yes. I should like to present you

to some members of Madame's family.

Mr. And Mrs. Todd Meacham, Mr. James Meacham...

this is Marie.

Madame, Messieurs, it's a great pleasure.

Say, you're French.

Oui, monsieur.

And so lovely.

Please, Madame, no.

A most excellent addition

to our menage, wouldn't you say?

And I am so pleased the uniform fits.

Oh, that is very kind of you, Monsieur Billing.

But, uh, this is my first such employment.

I hope you be very patient with me.

I think you may count on that, Marie.

And now, if you'll take these canapes out on the terrace?

And after that you may go back to the kitchen.

Terrace?

Through that door.

Oh, thank you.

Excuse me.

Ooh, if Nellie could have seen that.

In due time, sir, in due time.

Ah.

Victor, I could have told you,

Pierre was much too smart to be lured into that...

How do you know?

Never mind.

♪♪

Oh, Victor, you're a genius.

Now, if it only doesn't take too much time.

I believe this type of dynamite

has a very short fuse, sir.

But I told the croupier

that I didn't put any money on the black,

but, of course, you know, you simply can't question

a croupier in Monte Carlo.

Todd knows that.

Thank you, dear.

And then this lovely English gentleman... older... spoke up.

His wife was with him

and she was wearing, darling, one of those green knit things.

It was Italian, of course, but it was so out of place.

But let me tell you, don't you love those knit suits?

Oh, there is a shop in Juan-les-Pins

where I simply go wild.

Shh.

Look, please I-let me go.

Marie, I must talk to you.

But i-if anyone should see us...

To play this game, one must live dangerously.

But they're so nice to me here.

There is no other way.

Meet me tonight.

- Tonight? - In the summer house.

Summer house?

Brody.

- What is he doing here again? - Shh.

But, Victor, maybe there isn't time.

But didn't you hear them?

Mr. Meacham, our moment has come.

Victor, what the devil are you doing

with a tape recorder out here?

Tonight is the night, 10:00.

Look, I think this is some kind of a cheap trick you're pulling.

Please, Mr. Meacham, I do feel sorry for your Aunt Nellie,

but isn't it better that she be hurt a little now

rather than...?

Paul Drake will be calling from Paris this evening.

He'll have some better way of handling all this.

Sir, you're standing on the microphone cord.

Oh.

Besides, I'm not just thinking of Nellie.

- I'm also thinking of her. - Hmm?

How a sweet, innocent kid could get mixed up

with a professional heel like that Frenchman, well...

Marie.

Oui, monsieur?

Uh... um... Look, I may just have to go

to, to town tonight and, uh...

you said that you hadn't even been to Disneyland yet

and, and I thought, well,

I-I may just be going that way, uh, tonight and...

Oh, oh, no, monsieur, I'm busy right now.

Uh, uh, Madam said sh-she wants this very quickly

and, and she said she's in a hurry to go out and she said...

Oh, well, dear, if Nellie is going out,

then, then there's no reason that you can't go...

Oh, oh, no, no, monsieur, no, I cannot.

I have other things to do... Letters and, well, th-things.

Uh, no, thank you very much, monsieur, but no.

- Victor, I... - I'm sorry, sir,

but I-I didn't invent human nature.

Look at the bright side, sir.

Vive la France.

Well, why can't you reach that number?

Look, operator, I've...

Wait a minute, hold on, New York.

Try this number.

It's also in Los Angeles.

Yes, Paul, how's Paris?

What are you doing up?

Shank of the morning in your part of the world, isn't it?

Well, if you're sure Jimmy's at the hacienda,

I suppose I could stop by on my way home, but...

Yes, I understand.

But what have you found, Paul?

What's the urgency?

I just dug up a bombshell, Perry.

The Frenchman's a bigamist.

Sure, I'm sure.

I'm looking at a picture of his other wife right now.

- Pierre, take your hands off me! - But you will not listen to me.

Now, I put a note in your purse.

I have listened long enough.

You are nothing but promises and lies, lies, lies, lies, lies.

I have asked you for time, Marie, time.

Oh, yes, so that you can run away again.

You're getting money from that Mr. Brody.

- I heard you and Ma'am talking. - Why, you lit...

But when you will get the money, you will run away again,

- and still with another woman. - No,

- cherie, no. - I will tell Madam.

I should have told her in the first place.

We are going to be rich, Marie,

- you and I. - Monster, monster!

I should have...

♪♪

- Oh! - I'm sorry, are you all right?

Oh, yes, excuse me, monsieur, it was my fault.

- Is something wrong? - O-Oh,

no, no, i-it's just my night off

and I-I'm too much in a hurry, that's all.

Could you tell me where I might find Mr. Jimmy Meacham?

Oh, oh, yes, yes, in the house.

If you go by the side...

Now, i-if you please, monsieur...

♪♪

Just where do you really figure in this, Perry?

Lieutenant, I merely called the police.

I came here to deliver a message to Mr. Meacham, and that's it.

You see, I've been expecting an important long-distance call.

I was in bed reading, waiting for it.

I guess something's wrong with the phones.

Mr. Mason and I discovered that the receiver

in Pierre's bedroom was off the hook.

Uh-huh, but just what was

the message you came to deliver, Perry?

Why, ask Jimmy.

It's his business, not mine.

Oh, aren't you his lawyer?

What do I need a lawyer for?

I didn't hit that guy over the head and shove him in the pool.

And neither did I, Andy,

so, if you don't mind, I'm going home to bed.

Oh, uh, Perry, you're, uh,

you're sure you're not involved here?

Absolutely not.

Good night, Jimmy.

Officer, where did you move my car?

Which one's that, Mr. Mason?

The gray convertible.

I parked it over there.

I haven't seen any gray convertible.

♪♪

Oh, it's definitely the same girl.

That's how I described her to the police.

Okay, but I ask you, Mr. Mason,

does Marie look like a thief?

Well, my car was stolen, and Marie is still missing.

She's a sweet, innocent girl.

She's all alone in a strange country.

She'd no more commit a crime than I would.

All right, Jimmy, all right, take it easy.

It's true, though, Perry.

Marie comes from a nice family in Lyon.

Seems this guy Pierre swept her off her feet,

married her then deserted her the very next day

for greener pastures, long green.

So the poor kid must have...

Excuse me, Perry, but they found it

in an alley in Glendale.

His car?

What about Marie?

- Uh, no. - She just dumped it there?

Smashed it into a telephone pole.

Poor kid.

Now, Perry, don't jump to any conclusions.

The sergeant also says

they found part of a diamond necklace in the car.

It was one that was stolen

from your Aunt Nellie, Mr. Meacham.

Oh, the poor, sweet, innocent kid.

She-she needs help.

Don't you understand?

Glendale, sure, sure.

She's got a friend there,

a girl married a soldier.

Marie has a friend in town?

Why didn't you tell the police?

Well, I forgot, I guess.

And exactly how did you know about it in the first place?

I followed her one night.

I wonder why they don't come to the door?

Maybe nobody's home.

Somebody's there, all right.

How do you know, son?

'Cause she just went in the house.

She? You know the lady?

Heck no, but she's making me a sandwich.

What's her name?

I don't know.

Ring some more, maybe she'll make you a sandwich.

Good idea.

I guess she don't hear you.

Come on.

Hey, lady, there's a man in here!

What was that?

It was a pow! Come on.

Something's leaking in there, I bet you.

What what do you want?

I want to know what you know

about the murder of Pierre Dubois.

About what?!

Oh, I apologize for your beautiful car, Mr. Mason.

I-I'm so truly sorry.

But I didn't know it was your car!

I thought it was only a family car, one of Pierre's.

And it was permissible to steal one of them, I suppose.

Oh, no, no, no, I would not have kept it.

But-but when I was married, Pierre ran away with my car.

Oh, it was just a little car, but he didn't only smash it,

he also sold it... and went away with the money, too.

- How do you know? - From a private detective.

All right. But why were you in such a hurry last night,

running away from the house?

Well, because there was such shouting up there in that house.

I was afraid someone has found out the necklace is gone.

And then they would come chasing after me.

Oh, but I didn't know anything about the murder, Mr. Mason.

Won't you please, please believe me?

Well, I'm severely tempted.

But you do admit you stole the necklace?

Oh, no, no, the necklace is mine.

For my grandmother.

It's all I had in the world, except for my little blue car.

And Pierre went away with them both.

Then why didn't you go to the police?

Because I was ashamed.

Because I didn't want my mother and father to know

I was so foolish to marry such a...

And then when I found Pierre,

he said he would give me the necklace back, and...

Oh, Mr. Mason,

why do you have to ask questions?

Can't you just help me?

Yeah, Mr. Mason, how about it? Can't you just help?

Yeah, Perry. How about it?

Please?

But I hadn't the remotest idea who she was, Mr. Mason,

not when I hired her, never.

You just noticed Marie outside the gates one day?

Yes. Yes, that was the first day.

She was looking in through the fence.

Oh, but that's perfectly natural.

Hundreds of people stop by,

curious about such a grand old estate as this.

And among those hundreds, you just happened to notice Marie?

It seemed natural at the time.

You said first day.

Was there a second or third day?

Well, you might say a day and a half.

I was in the village that afternoon

- rather keeping my eyes open. - For Marie, of course.

Uh, no, no, no, I was shopping, looking for bargains.

Uh, well, I did happen to notice her once more.

She was crossing a street.

There was the most hideous screech of brakes.

Then she was also noticed by other people?

It was Pierre.

He very nearly ran her down.

And then he jumped out and tried to get her into his car.

Didn't you think that rather unusual?

I only thought: how crude!

And then after a few words, phht! he drove off.

The girl still stood there, looking rather shaken,

so naturally,

- I went over to comfort her. - Naturally.

It was then, sir, not until then...

that my miserable, scheming mind took over.

You see, I discovered she was French.

Victor, didn't it occur to you

that she might have known Pierre in the past?

That you might have witnessed

their first meeting in this country?

It only occurred to me, sir,

that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

I could only think what a lovely accident

his next sight of that girl might cause.

In my vile imagination, I could only think

what Madame might say when she...

- Excuse me, sir. - Uh, Victor,

your tape recorder, where is it?

Oh, but didn't you know, sir?

The police have it.

There's a good deal of blood on it, I believe.

He was struck over the head, you know.

That's what killed him.

Mr. Brody, how thoughtful.

Hello, Victor. Is Nellie in?

Roger?!

Oh, Roger, is that you?

Oh, Roger, I've been such a fool!

And now poor, poor Pierre!

And now that poor little girl they're looking for!

Well, now, what actually happened?

I mean, what was it that... He was drowned!

He got drunk, and he fell in the pool,

and that's what killed him!

Oh, Roger...

Either way, sir... I am a beast.

So they're both right.

Yeah. First hit over the head.

Then conscious or unconscious, he was rolled into the water

and held under with one of these things.

How do you know that?

Because that's not the skimmer that did it.

The one we took down to the lab had bits of his hair

and jacket tangled up in the webbing.

But first he was hit with a flower pot.

Flower pot?

Metal holder on it had fingerprints.

Same fingerprints we found on the handle of the skimmer pole.

And you found the prints elsewhere?

In your car.

Oh, but, uh, don't worry,

I've already talked to Paul Drake

about bringing Marie in.

Uh, since you're not involved, of course.

♪♪

Look, I'm in a hurry.

The girl's going straight to trial.

Les Americains!

Barbarous.

You are the private detective Marie hired once, aren't you?

I concede to that distinction.

You tried to find her husband for her, Pierre,

but you failed, didn't you?

Monsieur, how do you think she was finally able

to locate that man in the United States?

She saw his picture in the society section.

Then I concede to that, too.

I failed.

Why? Didn't Marie pay you enough to keep after him?

Well, monsieur, a...

Oh, a Frenchman thinks of other things besides money.

Or did someone else pay you more?

- Huh? - To not find Pierre.

Monsieur Drake, if you were not a fellow professional,

a-a member,

a member of the same union, so to speak...

Look, just let me in; that's all I ask.

Now, you reported to Marie that Pierre had sold the blue car.

That was my last report.

After that I lost complete track of him.

Pierre's other wife Nellie says he didn't sell the blue car.

Eh, bien, women and cars.

Perhaps this Nellie was lying.

I have just seen the blue car in a storage garage in Nice,

so you're the liar, not Nellie.

Now, before we discuss your honor and reputation

with another old union member... The prefect of police...

Can't we just start over?

You, uh, you are in a hurry, monsieur?

Yeah, but, uh... don't leave anything out.

I want to hear it all.

All about Pierre Dubois.

Let me see.

Well, I tried and I tried and I tried to tell Nellie

what Pierre was like, but she wouldn't listen.

She would never listen.

Mrs. Meacham, please could we get back

to the night of the murder?

Oh, but that was the night of the murder.

I'd been begging Nellie to listen to Todd

instead of Pierre...

for her own good, of course.

Of course.

Now, exactly where and at what time

on that evening did your conversation

with her take place?

Well, it was in her dressing room,

about 8:00, I guess.

Nellie was changing.

She had to go into town that evening, she said,

to visit with some friends.

Mrs. Meacham, I show you now this necklace...

People's exhibit 3.

Did you see this necklace that night?

Oh, I certainly did.

It was lying there on Nellie's dressing table.

See, she's always been like that...

Doors open and jewelry just left anywhere.

Did anybody else come in at that time?

Yes, for a moment she... The defendant Marie was.

She brought Nellie a glass of milk and a sandwich.

And did the defendant see this necklace?

But of course she did.

She ran out afterwards like...

Mrs. Meacham, please,

we can't deal here in conclusions or opinions.

Can you tell us anything positive to indicate

that the defendant actually saw this necklace?

Well, I, uh,

I saw Marie look in the direction of the necklace.

I, uh, I heard her gasp

and I, uh, saw her drop the glass of milk.

No, Marie wasn't upset or nervous.

She just said she didn't want to go out with me, that's all,

so I talked to Victor in the garden

for ten or 15 minutes and then I went to my room.

But didn't you see anyone else after that?

Oh, I passed Aunt Nellie as she was leaving the house,

but that's all.

I didn't see anyone else, I didn't hear anyone else

u-until Mr. Mason got there.

Very well, sir, that'll be all.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Meacham, your sister-in-law testified

that she left the house

immediately after your Aunt Nellie.

Now, didn't you hear her when she left?

I had the television on.

There was a hockey game.

Therefore you wouldn't have heard a number of people come in

or out of the house, the garden, or the swimming pool.

No, no, I didn't hear anything.

But you said you were waiting

for the telephone to ring.

Oh, well, there's a bell in my room.

I would have heard that.

But it didn't ring, of course, because the phones

are inoperable if the extension is left open,

and you stated that the receiver in Pierre's bedroom

was off the hook.

You saw that yourself.

Pierre must have heard me talking to Paul Drake earlier

and been afraid... Mr. Meacham,

if you couldn't hear a splash in the swimming pool,

you could hardly know who removed that receiver,

now, could you?

No, I guess I couldn't.

For five years I worked with Uncle Herbert,

planning the development of Hacienda Grande.

Well, if he hadn't developed Parkinson's disease

and a bad heart and a worse memory,

it would have gone through.

You mean he forgot about it, Mr. Meacham?

Well, he didn't put his part down in writing anyway,

didn't put it in his will.

He didn't do anything.

Just left poor Aunt Nellie there

to make all the decisions... Oh, not that I blame her.

She had troubles enough over there when he got sick,

and it's a very complicated deal.

I explained all that to Pierre.

You mean you explained this whole matter

to Pierre Dubois the night of his death?

Yes, yes, I went there late that afternoon... oh, around 6:30...

And I laid out the entire project

dollar by dollar.

I explained about my own investment,

I explained about how much money they would make...

$10 million without any gambling...

But Pierre, of course, he just stalled again,

said, well, he'd talk it over with Nellie

and maybe he'd let me know the next day.

And what time did you leave the decedent that evening?

Oh, well, it was still early.

7:00?

Thank you, that'll be all. At this time I'd like

- to call Mrs. Nellie Dubois. - Uh, Mr. Burger,

I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Excuse me, Counselor.

Mr. Meacham, would this scheme of yours have required

that Mr. and Mrs. Dubois tie up all their money

for a long period of time?

No, no, it wouldn't.

Why, they would have realized $200,000 the first year,

four or five the second,

and after that, well, it was just clover and daisies.

You see, in amortizing the...

The autopsy report mentioned alcohol in the bloodstream.

Did you get Pierre drunk that night?

No, I just...

Well, I spiked his aperitif a little,

but, you see, I was getting desperate.

Now, I would have done

anything to get that guy to sit down, relax, and listen.

I only wondered how you had time for everything

and still managed to leave the house at 7:00.

Oh, well, I-I wasn't too sure about the time.

It might have been later.

Was it dark when you left?

May have been, yes.

The sun set at a quarter to 8:00 that evening, Mr. Meacham.

That's all, thank you.

Well, I, I didn't know whom to believe.

If only Herbert had explained things, but he didn't.

I remember once in Juan-les-Pins...

I only asked you what happened that night, Mrs. Dubois.

Well, I'm telling you.

Can't you listen?

Pierre was so sweet

and he did understand business,

and when he said that Todd

and the others in the family were just trying

to feather their own nests...

Oh, Elaine, darling,

was I wrong? Was it horrible of me?

Mrs. Dubois, you were asked

to explain the events of that evening.

I'm coming to that, Your Honor, sir.

Because I told Elaine that night in my dressing room,

that I was going to see friends,

but I really went to see Roger Brody.

Yes, I went to his house.

Because Pierre asked me to.

Pierre asked me to tell Mr. Brody

that the deal had to go through that night.

I didn't know what "the deal" was...

I didn't, I didn't know.

But, but Roger was so sweet

and, and reassuring, and he told me

I was doing the right thing.

So I, I waited there while he went out

to get some things, uh, some papers, and...

and when he came back... he drove me home,

and the police were there...

Just a minute, Mrs. Dubois, please.

Did you just say you had no idea

what the deal was between your husband and Mr. Brody?

Well, I knew...

he was going to sell him land.

I had to know that because I had to sign some things.

And Pierre said it was a marvelous offer,

and he said the deal couldn't wait another single day.

Yes, I understand your husband

wanted a deal completed right away.

But do you know how much Mr. Brody was going to

pay you and your husband for the Hacienda Grande?

Well, I know...

there was going to be more than enough for a yacht,

and to live on forever,

and a house on the Riviera.

Todd, I...

I thought I was doing the right thing.

You know how Pierre

had his heart set on those red sails.

Two million dollars, exactly.

That was the price, and mostly in cash, I gathered.

Just tell us the rest of the words

you heard, if you please.

But naturally, sir.

I heard decedent, Pierre Dubois,

whisper into the telephone out in the garage...

That is a separate number out there, of course...

He said, "Yes, two million dollars,

and again, yes, you are an honest man, Roger."

And then he hung up.

Best evidence of this, of course,

must come from Mr. Brody himself.

But you can tell us, if you would,

at what time you did this particular piece

of eavesdropping?

I had planted my ill-fated tape-recorder

in the summer house, as I remarked earlier, Your Honor.

About 9:40,

I went out to check it, to start the motor running

when I saw someone moving toward the garages.

I decided to investigate, quietly, of course,

and when I got there, I found the decedent,

- talking on the telephone. - And what did you do then?

Well, I placed my faith in science.

I had no idea someone would find my little recorder

and smash it and spoil the tape.

So a moment or so later, when I saw Marie

slipping out of the house, moving toward the summer house,

I went up to my room.

I saw nothing else.

I went straight to bed.

The broken piece,

the single pendant which matches the necklace,

we found on the floor of Mr. Mason's car

the next morning.

There was also an envelope which we found under the seat.

An envelope?

Was it, by any chance, this envelope, Lieutenant?

Yes, it was addressed with only the one word, "Marie."

Your Honor, the state intends to call experts shortly

to prove that the writing here

is that of the decedent, Pierre Dubois.

At the moment, however, I should like this witness

to describe the contents of this envelope for us.

Well, inside, I found a note in the same handwriting.

Would you read it please, Lieutenant?

"Marie, my love,

"please take this little gift.

"It's all I can pay you.

Take it and go quietly, as you said you would."

The note is signed, "Pierre".

And what else was does the envelope contain, Lieutenant?

This.

$5,000 in cash.

But it wasn't blackmail.

I-I hadn't asked Pierre for anything

but my grandmother's necklace,

and it was worth much, much more.

So, you took the $5,000 and also stole the necklace.

Yes. N-n... I mean, no!

Well, yes, I took the necklace,

but that money, I didn't even know about that.

I mean, Pierre said something

about putting a note in my purse

but-but I didn't even look.

I ran went of that house so fast.

Oh, Mr. Mason, please, please, please.

Perry, if you put on a defense,

if you prove that the necklace really belonged to Marie...

And help Burger prove that Marie was holding out for a price?

That for $5,000, she'd kept quiet

and then killed her husband in a rage when she discovered

how much more she could have been paid?

No, it is not true!

I mean, how could anybody say anything

so-so horrible, awful...

Oh, Mr. Drake, you will save me.

Well, wait till I unfasten my seat belt.

My mother and father, did you talk to them?

Oh, please maybe they didn't hear about me yet.

I received the message from your office, Paul,

and the items from the bank.

But it was Pierre himself

who paid that French detective, wasn't it?

Yup. That was a year ago.

Pierre didn't want to be found.

He'd already met a rich American lady, Nellie.

But it seems the French like to hedge their bets.

You mean Pierre was mixed up with someone else, then?

No, I mean the detective was!

So, this is the other one who paid him.

And really paid.

Who?

What are you talking about?

I only ask... Marie,

why do you have to ask questions?

Can't we just save you?

Me pay who?

Arnaux? Monsieur Arnaux?

Now look, I may have heard the name somewhere but...

We'll save time and money

if you don't necessitate my asking for a recess

to fly the man from Paris.

But I didn't do anything wrong.

But you did hire that detective, didn't you?

Well, I-I paid him, that's all,

for, uh, certain information.

Roger!

I was concerned for Nellie.

Widow, all alone over there.

I mean, what happened was I had this friend in Paris,

and I asked him to look out for her.

Only then he bumped into this detective who was also watching.

Watching Pierre, that is.

I think we understand.

Your friend put you in touch with the detective.

Now, let's proceed from there, shall we?

Well, then I learned from this detective,

Arnaux, what Pierre was.

No background, working as a chauffeur

in the next villa to Nellie and Herbert's.

And then suddenly introducing himself

to her as a sportsman later on.

Did you relay this information

to the family here in Los Angeles?

Well, no, no.

What Nellie did was her business.

And you obviously must have known

when Nellie and Pierre were married.

Well, uh, yes, yes, I knew about that.

Roger, and you brought me roses.

Please go on, Mr. Brody.

I wanted that property.

I knew I couldn't match what Todd could do for the estate,

but I could scrape up a fair price at today's market.

So the minute they got to Los Angeles,

I approached them both and made them my offer,

two million dollars.

Approached them both?

Well, Pierre was the one

who understood business, of course.

You mean the business about the other wife?

The French detective also told you that, didn't he?

I didn't threaten Pierre; I didn't coerce him.

I mean, after all,

I couldn't tell the family about the other wife,

or Nellie would have flown right into their arms.

But then, of course, the girl herself showed up.

And it, uh, became easier for me.

I can imagine.

Pierre grew panicky.

He wanted as much cash as possible.

So when Nellie came to me that night,

I flew to my banker's house, where I'd already

made arrangements for a cashier's check,

the first $200,000,

and then I tore to my lawyer's house

for the escrow papers.

And then I came back to pick Nellie up.

Just a moment, Mr. Brody.

You omitted your telephone call to Pierre at the garage.

I've already testified in direct examination

that he called me at my banker's home.

And pretty late it was, too.

Something about the other phones not working.

You can verify that.

You testified to everything but $5,000.

I don't know anything about that.

I didn't gave Pierre one penny

before he died, and I didn't kill him!

You can ask Nellie if... Never mind.

I know you didn't.

Your Honor, I would like to recall Mr. Todd Meacham.

All right, yes.

I gave Pierre $5,000. What of it?

And where did you obtain the money, Mr. Meacham?

Well, from...

from Victor; I was a little short of cash.

Victor has previously loaned you money, hasn't he?

Yes, he owns a part of my company.

That's why he was so concerned, too.

Would you tell us why you gave Pierre the money?

Because he asked for it.

He was afraid that if he wrote a check,

Nellie would spot it in the bank balance,

but what of it?

He needed the cash to pay the girl, that's all.

And I told you before, I was desperate.

I would have done anything to stall him

from making a deal with Brody.

And you never once questioned it?

Questioned what, Mr. Mason?

My investment plans were as sound...

Questioned the fact that your Aunt Nellie

could balance a bank book,

or the fact that she keeps the accounts in the first place.

Yet my investigator reports that her balance

is always in order, books properly kept.

Well, Uncle Herbert was a stickler for his books, too.

That doesn't mean anything; it's a matter of habit.

But your Uncle Herbert developed Parkinson's disease,

with tremors in his hands.

Now, did he keep his own records,

or was she forced to do it for him?

Mr. Meacham, isn't it obvious to you

that your aunt must have well understood the difference

between two and ten million dollars?

Well, but she was always so flighty, so vague.

Did it ever occur to you

that she had no choice but to do as Pierre told her?

That she might have pretended to be flighty,

vague.

But why? Why?

Isn't it possible that Pierre knew something about her

that she wanted kept secret?

What?

Mrs. Dubois, how did Herbert Meacham die?

Did you help him?

Did you kill him?

No!

Mrs. Dubois,

would you really have cared if Pierre had had another wife?

Would it have made any difference?

Or was it that the truth had to be kept from the family?

That they must not discover

your foolishness was really a hideous necessity?

You were the one who took the phone from the hook

in the master bedroom, aren't you?

And it was you who gave yourself the careful alibi,

but you could have easily left Roger Brody's house,

- returned home... - Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it!

Yes, I killed him.

I had to... because he saw me kill Herbert,

and now I've killed him.

Him and his red sailboat.

Jimmy.

Jimmy, what are you doing here?

Oh, uh... Oh, well, well...

You left that hearing in such a hurry.

Here, sit down.

Of course.

Uh... I-I mean...

You never did tell me how your fingerprints

got on that, uh, uh, that pool thing.

Oh, well, I dropped a tray with sandwiches

and you see, the napkins went into the pool,

so I had to fish it out.

But they were ham sandwiches,

and I didn't want Victor to find out.

So, there is grease on my fingers and so...

Yes.

Who cares?

I mean, you know, it's all over now.

And your poor aunt Nellie did everything bad.

Oh, bonjour, Jimmy.

Mr. Mason.

I had no idea you that were in-in Paris.

Oh, Marie needed help explaining things to her family.

Which I think we accomplished very nicely.

Now everyone's happy.

Yeah.

Where's Paul Drake?

Back in the smog and away from temptation.

Why?

Oh, well, uh...

I-I came here because, uh...

Marie hasn't even seen Disneyland yet.