All language subtitles for Perry Mason S08E05 The Case of the Betrayed Bride.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

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.