Original subtitles

And then operative picked up subject again at...

Let's see, uh...

I'm not going too fast for you, am I, Della?

No, it's just fine, Paul. Go on.

After which, subject departed from hotel.

Della, are you eating a candy bar?

I most certainly am not.

Go on, Paul.

Give me the rest of it.

At 7:12, second operative relieved first operative.

At 7:15... Wait a minute.

Why don't you just read the whole thing back to me?

"to 5th Street, "then west Alvarado,

"uh, south on Alvarado to 7th.

"Subject was wearing a brown hat.

"Subject went from gas station at 6:27..."

Paul Drake! Someday I'm going to...

It's all right, Della.

I do yoga myself sometimes.

It's not yoga!

Besides, don't you worry one bit.

I'll have these notes ready for Perry

by the time he gets back from lunch.

You taking up judo, then?

You know, I know a great exercise

for building up those back muscles.

Believe me, I'm not trying to build up anything.

Well, you sure don't have to take anything off, beautiful.

If you only knew.

Trouble is, I have a lunch appointment

with a watercress girl from back home, a Dianne Adler.

- Friend of my Aunt Mae's. - Watercress girl?

I don't know how she does it.

Skim milk, carrots maybe.

Of course, she's only 22 years old.

Paul, every time I see her,

I start feeling self-conscious and envious.

Why? What do you mean? What's so special about her?

Aside from having a face

that's absolutely beautiful...

she was voted "the female

"with the most perfectly formed figure

in all of the Smoky Mountains."

Della, wait a minute.

I, uh, I just remembered something.

I haven't had lunch myself yet.

There's a...

candy bar in the second drawer.

Bye, Paul.

♪♪

This is even better than the cream of chicken soup.

Dianne, ever since I met you last month,

I've wanted to ask you something.

Excuse me, would you care for something to drink now, ladies?

Oh, yes. I'd like some, uh... tea.

Just lemon, no milk.

Do you suppose they could make me a chocolate milk shake?

♪♪

Oh, thank you, Miss Street.

It was so lovely of you to ask me out.

For heaven's sakes, Dianne,

don't keep calling me Miss Street...

- My name is Della. - Oh, I'm sorry.

But you've been so kind to me since I came to Los Angeles.

Well, you probably know that my Aunt Mae said

that you might need a little looking after

in the big city.

But enough of that.

Tell me, Dianne,

- how do you do it? - Do what?

Eat all that food!

A-And still keep that lovely figure.

Oh. Oh, well, I did have a little more

than I usually...

Anyway, as I started to say,

your Aunt Mae was so sweet to me when my mother died.

I did need help at first,

especially finding a job,

because there simply weren't any back home.

How is your job?

You know, you haven't even mentioned it.

Oh. Oh, haven't I?

- No. - Oh, well, it's, uh...

you know, fine.

Just fine.

- But... - Uh, but, uh, about your Aunt Mae,

Miss Street, what do you hear from her?

Care for any more, ladies?

Uh, no, thank you.

That one with the caramel layers

is my own favorite, ma'am.

Oh...

Oh, you mean between the whipped cream

those are actually layers of...

Oh, no, thank you.

I simply couldn't.

Oh, besides, we better be going.

I mean, back to work.

Oh. My glove.

- I left my glove. Excuse me. - All right.

Excuse me, uh, your friend's name is Mary, isn't it?

No, it's... No, it's not.

Ah, D-Dianne? Deborah?

- Dorothy, maybe? - Excuse me.

Look, I'm not trying to be fresh,

it's just that I'm sure that I know her

from someplace, that's all.

In, uh, fact,

she just arrived from England.

That's it. See,

I was just over there in the army.

At ease, General.

Bye-bye.

No harm in trying.

Wow.

♪♪

Hello. Jones and Jones?

Uh, I'm a friend of Dianne Adler,

and I just had lunch with her.

When she comes back to the office,

would you please have her call...

She what?

Well, when did she quit her job?

Two weeks ago?

Do you know what she could be doing now?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Uh, sorry, Mac.

- No harm done. - That's mine, I'm afraid.

Beat it, will you, beach boy?!

Oh, I'm sorry.

You're Mr. Drake, aren't you?

And just who are you, a collector of fortune cookies?

Dillard, sir, my name is Dillard.

I tried to get a job with your agency once.

I guess you don't remember me.

Well, I try to hire men who aren't so clumsy.

Whose case you on now?

Well, uh, you wouldn't think very much of my ethics, sir,

- if I come right out and... - Then what are you doing here?

Sir, I-I'm never gonna get a job with a big outfit like yours

if I betray my client's nom de plume.

- You see, I... - Oh, excuse me.

I think I dropped something.

Uh, did you happen to see...

Oh. Oh, there it is. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Here I am!

Oh, but it's perfectly all right, I tell you.

You see, Harrison Boring...

Uh, that's the man who picked me up this afternoon...

Well, he spoke to me at the beach one day

a couple of weeks ago.

He noticed my figure.

Oh, but not the way you think.

I mean, he's always been a perfect gentleman.

And a couple of days later, we signed this contract.

- Contract? - Mm-hmm.

It's a fashion idea.

Oh, but you mustn't breathe a word.

Mr. Boring says there are spies everywhere in fashion.

And that's why I couldn't tell you I quit my job, Miss Street.

Well, anyway, Mr. Boring has this big manufacturer,

and he's coming out with a whole new line of clothes

designed especially for the girl who's a teeny bit plumpish,

and I'm going to be the model!

They're going to build their whole campaign around me!

So that's the mystery.

You know, I didn't mean to meddle.

- It's just that... - Oh, Della, yes!

That's why I've been eating so much.

I have to gain 12 pounds.

Oh, but still keep the same measurements here and here.

Oh, you know what I mean.

But if you don't think it hasn't been wonderful...

I mean, all my life I've had to diet and diet...

This man is paying you $200 a week?

Uh-huh. Even before we get started.

Just to eat! Isn't it fabulous?

Oh, Della, these past two weeks

have been the first real vacation in my life.

You see, Mr. Mason,

my father drowned when I was ten years old.

And then I had to leave high school when my mother got sick.

The money's to be paid to you

for the duration of this contract for two years?

Yes, yes! How can I lose?

And maybe there'll be TV and-and magazine pictures.

Uh, yes?

Special delivery.

There. Every week.

Every week right on time,

my 200 pretty little dollars.

Perry, of all the crazy things I've ever heard.

It's a rather stringent contract,

but it seems proper.

No, I mean, maybe it is a good idea for once

not to have a model as skinny as a rail.

All income above $200 for magazine, photography

or any source whatsoever, she's to divide 50/50

with Mr. Boring.

You mean she's to pay him 50% of everything that she...

He's also gambling, Della.

Paying her out of his own pocket for two years.

That's what it is!

And you know what I'm gonna buy with it?

Big steaks, French fries... shortcake.

Maybe I am just meddling.

Oh, no!

No, no.

The manufacturer changed his mind.

No money?

Well, why didn't Harrison tell me about this this afternoon?

It's, it's all over.

Oh, Della.

I've already gained ten pounds!

Here he is.

Mr. Harrison Boring.

- Mr. Mason. - Thank you.

Well, how do you do?

Mr. Mason, it's a pleasure, a pleasure indeed.

Please sit down.

Oh, thank you.

I was almost certain you'd be in to see me, Mr. Boring.

Well, of course... since this letter you sent me yesterday.

I'm a little afraid of letters from lawyers.

I mean, who isn't?

Since you failed to make payment this week to Miss Adler,

under the terms of her contract,

I felt she ought to clarify her position.

Oh, I'm blasted sorry about that thing.

You know, this time I thought I really had one going.

The deal was practically ready to sign

when this stupid manufacturer...

Furthermore, you should understand that Dianne intends

to sue for recovery of any additional checks

you may fail to send her for the next two years.

I should also mention the inconvenience

caused by your inducing her to become overweight.

Well, uh, just a moment, Mr. Mason.

I mean, uh... you can't get blood out of a turnip.

I-I'd pay if I could.

Until a few weeks ago, you were employed by a man named Foster,

who has some vague sort of insurance office.

And you don't see the connection between that and high fashion?

Well, you're right, there isn't any.

Uh, you see, I am basically a promoter, an idea man.

Uh, look here, now, if you don't see the sound validity

in these designs for the pleasingly plump...

In fact, I'm on my way to a meeting right now.

It may still work out.

I'd rather look at this, Mr. Boring,

and the 50% clause.

Was it your idea?

If Dianne acquires a large sum of money

during the next two years...

If she should marry a rich man, for example...

Then 50% of that money would be yours.

If what?

Um, uh, Mr. Mason, y-you don't think

that I'm the kind of a man that would...

I mean...

I-If you think that I was trying to take advantage of Dianne...

I just thought it was sort of a stock contract arrangement form.

There, how's that?

Isn't that good faith?

Doesn't that make you feel better?

Not when you still have your copy of the contract

with Dianne's signature on it.

It'll be here in the morning,

uh, but right now I, I do have to get to that meeting.

Naturally I have photostatic copies

of that contract with which to sue you.

It'll be here, it'll be here, I tell you,

a-and, Mr. Mason, the very second that I have some money,

I'll make a settlement with that poor girl.

Don't you understand?

I'm sorry.

I-I mean, I really want to do what's right,

a-and if you'll just give me a little more time...

A-And thank you for your time, Mr. Mason,

and... don't worry, I'll keep in touch.

Don't worry, I...

Portrait of a promoter in panic, hmm?

Perry, you're beautiful.

Dianne may have trouble losing those pounds,

but she'll certainly never have trouble

with that stupid man.

Della, that contract had nothing

to do with fashions, and it never did.

I should have spotted it the other night.

Every single word about Dianne losing weight

or being used as a model is just red herring.

- Just camouflage. - Well, what do you intend...

Find Paul.

Tell him to meet me at the office

of this man, Foster... Uh, Montrose Foster.

And tell him to make it fast.

Uh, yes, but...

Harrison Boring, yes.

Yes, he used to work for me.

He was here for a couple years, as a matter of fact.

What was his job, Mr. Foster?

Oh, we're engaged in a number of activities.

- Some insurance... - Yes, I understand.

But I want to know exactly

what Boring was doing before he quit.

Mr. Mason, you're an attorney.

Perhaps, if you told me who your client is,

I'd be better able to...

Did he handle what you'd call cases?

Investigative work?

Well, yes, I suppose you might say that running down

some of these old insurance things might...

You mean running down missing heirs, don't you?

I beg your pardon?

Isn't that your real business?

The missing heir racket?

I don't like your choice of words, Mr. Mason.

What has Harrison Boring done to you?

By the way, where is he now?

You mean you don't know?

If I did, I'd break his stupid neck.

What do you mean walking in here and suggesting that I...

It's one of the oldest stunts there is, I guess.

A wealthy person dies, leaving no close relatives.

But a kind investigator finds distant relatives

who don't know of the death or the deceased.

But for a certain percentage... Say, uh, 50%...

The kind investigator

will tirelessly help prove a relationship.

Well, so you read one of our standard form contracts.

But, uh... well, the... the locating of missing heirs

is a very worthwhile service.

Unfortunately, there were some deceptive decorations

on the contract I saw.

Mr. Mason, uh, why don't we make a deal?

Sort of, uh, swap what we know.

Oh, here, have a drink.

Now, this... this client of yours,

who very well may be an heir to a fortune...

Uh, no, thanks, Mr. Foster.

You've already told me all you know.

Oh, but, Mason...

Boring double-crossed you, didn't he?

He ran into an inheritance so large

that he quit his job to take over on his own.

Maybe so, but...

And you don't even know whose inheritance it is, do you?

Do you, Mr. Foster?

W-Wait. Wait, Mason.

Look, I'll help you if you'll just tell me...

I'm sorry I'm late, Perry, but I had another report

on Harrison Boring... The jackpot.

Be right back.

He's been spending his time where, Fair Oaks?

That's right.

Boring even keeps a motel room out there

so he can be close to the guy's house

he's been visiting on the q.t.

George C. Winlock. Now, who's he?

He's the guy with the house... The richest man in town.

How long has this Winlock

- had his money, Paul? - Not too long.

He only came to Fair Oaks about 12 years ago,

and he's made it all since then in real estate.

Nothing on him before that? No record at all?

Not that I can find.

He's married to some society dame now,

but that's all in the last 12 years, too.

He's our man, Paul.

- Let's go. - Sure.

Perry, I don't get this.

If Boring's real interest in Dianne was to sign her up

as a missing heiress to somebody's fortune,

it sure can't be Winlock's because Winlock isn't dead.

Step on it, Paul.

At least not yet.

Yeah?

- I'd like to see... - I can't hear you.

- What do you want? - Is Mr. Winlock in, please?

Oh, he's playing golf.

Look, mister, he never comes here.

Call the office or something.

His office is closed for the day.

I'd like to wait, if you don't mind.

My name is Mason.

It's quite important.

Whatever you like.

Who is it, darling?

Nothing, Mother. I'll take care of it.

Mason, huh?

I've heard that someplace.

Come on in here.

I just cracked some of the old boy's 16-year-old...

Marvin, will you please turn that thing down?

Why? If you don't like it, shut your door.

Oh, really, darling?

Uh, Mrs. Winlock, my name is Perry Mason.

Oh. Well, for goodness' sake.

Oh, surely, not the famous attorney.

How do you do?

Mother, I told him George was out playing golf.

Oh?

Oh, of course.

Oh, of course. Isn't that too bad?

Perhaps I could help you, Mr. Mason.

It's a personal matter I have to discuss

with your husband, Mrs. Winlock.

Personal?

Oh, for goodness' sakes, what... what has Georgie been up to?

Oh, no, no, I'm only teasing.

I do manage a great many details around here,

Mr. Mason, so if you'll just come...

You looking for me?

Oh, George...

Darling, we thought you were still at the club.

I've been home for the past hour trying to hear myself

on the telephone over that crazy...

Oh, never mind.

Dear, this is Perry Mason to see you... the lawyer.

Really, if I had any idea you...

All right, all right. Thank you, dear.

What's on your mind, Mr. Mason?

I'm rather busy today.

Yes, I can imagine.

I only hope I'm here in time.

What's that supposed to mean?

Mr. Winlock, I represent a young girl named Dianne Adler.

Adler? Adler.

The name means nothing to you?

I meet a great many people, Mr. Mason.

Not to mention the stream of functionaries

my wife has running in and out.

And how about the name Harrison Boring?

Boring?

That's an odd one.

No, I can't say that I've ever...

All right.

Thought I was playing a long shot.

Now I know it's a sure thing.

What is? For heaven's sake...

Let me tell you about Dianne Adler.

She's an innocent young girl.

Gullible, mixed-up.

She had no advantages or family environment.

You see, she lost her father about 12 years ago.

Now her mother is dead.

Well, what's that got to do with me?

Her father was drowned

in a fishing accident... Lake Superior.

Some of the bodies were recovered, but not his.

Too bad, Mason, but I really don't see...

Where were you 12 years ago, Mr. Winlock?

To be explicit, who were you?

What on earth are you driving at?

Of course, I only have

enough information to formulate a guess...

A guess that you might have lived through that accident,

changed your name, all the rest.

But I suppose Harrison Boring

has proof that you're Dianne's father.

- Isn't that right? - Look, I just told you,

I never even heard of anyone by the name of...

I have evidence that you've been meeting

with Boring secretly at the Shady Glen Motel.

Mason, even if this girl... This... this client of yours...

Did have a missing father somewhere,

I'm not sure I understand what sort of claim

you think she'd have on him.

Well, putting aside

the moral obligation between human beings...

Dianne is the sole heir of her dead mother's estate.

It was a four-room house

with taxes and mortgage overdue, incidentally,

but it does mean Dianne has the legal ability

to disassociate her father from her mother's share

of his earnings since his disappearance.

Answer your question?

Legally, I mean.

Mason, I told you I'm a very busy man.

One more thing.

Boring cheated Dianne into signing a contract

entitling him to part of her money.

But then he tore up the contract.

Only one explanation seems logical.

Boring realized he could receive more money from you

directly by blackmail.

How much is he asking to keep your secret?

How much money does Boring want?

Mason, please.

I need a little time.

Please leave me alone now.

I have an investigator who'll keep an eye on Boring.

I'll also reserve a suite

for this evening at the Fair Oaks Inn.

It's close. We can talk there privately.

I want to do the right thing.

But I've got to have time... That's all.

Time to think.

Perry.

Back too soon, aren't you?

I wanted Boring's motel kept under surveillance until...

I know, but he's pretty cagey, I'm afraid.

While I was registering for a room,

I spotted him outside sneaking a look at my car registration.

So you left all together?

But don't worry. We're covered.

There's an investigator already there

who's only too glad to have the job.

Dillard. The clumsy guy I met at the beach, remember?

You said you thought Dillard

was working for the stepson, Marvin Palmer.

He was, but Palmer fired him an hour ago.

Fired him?

Della?

Fired him without pay. Dillard's madder than a wet hen,

but at least he'll keep in touch with me

until one of my own boys takes over.

Dianne. What are you doing here?

Oh, well, I was out by the bus stop, you see.

And, uh, I mean, I couldn't find the place was I was looking for,

so I had to find somebody to help me.

Uh, but then Miss Street...

I found her, Perry.

She was on her way to see Harrison Boring.

Why? And how did you know he was in Fair Oaks?

Oh, oh, well,

I found these matches he'd loaned me...

But what did you want to see him about?

Oh, Mr. Mason, you understand, don't you?

To stop all this trouble I've been causing.

I mean, if all we want is to get that other copy

of my contract back...

Oh, just because I've been a stupid little idiot,

gaining all that weight.

Why should all of you be involved?

Did you tell her we were coming here?

No, Gertie did.

After a man named Foster visited Dianne.

Foster?

Yes, this Mr. Foster came to see me, late this afternoon,

and he started asking questions that I couldn't understand.

So after he left, I called your office and...

And I thought I was bluffing Foster.

You're not angry with me, are you, Mr. Mason?

Answer that, will you please, Paul?

It's probably Mr. Winlock.

Of course I'm not angry, Dianne,

but you really shouldn't be here.

And there's something you should be told.

And I think Della should be the one to tell you.

About Mr. Winlock, you mean?

Who's Mr. Winlock?

Please remember we're your friends, Dianne.

Why don't you slip out the back way, Della.

What?

I can't hear you.

It's Dillard, Perry, but I can't hear what he's saying.

Dillard? Say it again, will ya? I still can't hear you.

But I can't talk any louder, Mr. Drake.

There's cops all over this place.

I said, cops.

I tell you, it's been a regular parade around here.

No, no, look, I gotta get out of here fast.

There's no point in watching Boring any more.

Didn't you hear me?

From all I can see, Boring's dead.

I guess I don't write so good in the dark,

but I got it all down right here.

Who was in this parade you mentioned?

A whole string of people

come to see Harrison Boring this evening.

Then no sooner the last one's gone,

than the manager comes running over.

Then four minutes later, a squad car.

That's when I started trying to get hold of you, Mr. Drake.

I mean, I figured maybe, uh,

you guys might be more interested in seeing this

than the police.

Yeah, I'd say we might.

I don't know what your interest is in this, Mr. Mason.

I don't know who you're trying to nab or anything, but...

Please, the notebook. Who was there?

Well, um,

first this young creep Marvin Palmer.

I don't know what he's up to.

First he has me tailing a dame,

then switches me over to watching this Harrison Boring.

Go on. Who's next?

Well, a few minutes later

a woman comes, big car, dressed nice,

kinda middle-aged lady.

I never saw her before. Stayed seven minutes.

But no sooner she's gone,

a guy slips in. He must've been watching, I guess.

On foot, hat pulled down.

I'd have trouble spotting him.

Was he the last visitor?

No, sirree.

And, Mr. Drake, I guess now you'll hire me, all right.

Get this.

"Entered 8:05, left 8:21, running."

Just two and a half minutes

before the cops and the manager and everybody.

And guess who it was, Mr. Drake.

That same broad you were tailing down at the beach.

That Dianne Adler.

Pretty good work, huh?

All right, yes, yes!

I was there!

Why did you lie to us?

Because I didn't kill him.

Honest, I didn't.

Oh, please, please believe me.

He was dead when you walked into the room, I suppose.

And you stayed there 16 minutes with his dead body?

What?

Oh, no.

No, I was only there for a few minutes... four or five maybe.

Dianne, there's evidence to the contrary.

I don't care, it's a lie.

Look, he wasn't dead.

He was perfectly alive.

And you naturally talked to him about the contract.

Yes. Yes, that's what happened.

And he gave it to me.

Oh, I thought he'd argue or threaten me even,

but when I told him what I thought about him,

why, he laughed and he threw it in my face and...

Dianne, stop it. Stop making up this story.

But it's true, Mr. Mason.

And then I walked here to the center to catch a bus.

Oh, I was really going to leave Fair Oaks,

and then Della saw me.

And I did lie then, of course, but...

And you're still lying, every word.

Perry.

Oh, it's you.

I know I'm a little late, Mr. Mason.

It's a difficult decision to reach.

Decision?

Oh, yes, I know what you must think of me.

I know what I've thought of myself sometimes.

But my first marriage, well, it just wasn't very successful.

You've got to understand.

When I realized people thought I was dead

and I had a chance to change my name...

Mr. Winlock, I know of only one marriage.

Your present situation certainly isn't legal.

My present wife doesn't know the full truth.

That's one of the difficulties.

But she took me on faith.

She was willing just to tell all our friends

that we'd eloped to Las Vegas one weekend.

But there wasn't really any ceremony.

It was a great sacrifice for her.

Position is very important to her, what people would think.

Well, that eliminates bigamy.

Don't be so impatient.

I'm trying to explain, that's all.

I must be impatient.

There's very little time.

Mr. Mason, I know that I can never

make up to Dianne for what I did.

But I'm quite willing to discuss a financial settlement,

willing to give her a quarter, a third of my money perhaps...

Whatever you think proper.

But I must insist that this be kept

absolutely secret between us.

Dianne.

So you're my...

Look at him, Mr. Mason.

He's my father.

No wonder I'm a liar.

- Look what I come from. - Dianne.

Oh, why don't you ask him if he killed Mr. Boring?

Because he was already dead when I got there.

And he didn't give me the contract, I found it.

I looked all over till I found it.

I thought he was just lying there drunk.

You could smell whiskey a half a mile away.

Only...

Only when I touched him...

I felt the blood.

So I ran.

And I ran and I ran.

And I ran down the road, and I telephoned the motel,

and I said that they should go and look in cabin ten.

And then I hung up.

But you don't believe any of this, do you?

Nobody would.

Oh, it's all crazy.

My whole life is crazy.

Isn't it, Daddy?!

Just like you!

Run and lie and lie and run and run!

No!

Oh, my Lord.

Excuse me, ladies.

Which one of you is Miss Dianne Adler?

What do you want?

Never mind.

You're her, all right.

Just a minute.

I'm Miss Adler's attorney.

Oh, is that so?

Well, you might like to know

we just caught one of your investigators

and found a notebook he threw away.

Well, there's more to this case

than the times people went into motel rooms.

Would you ask the gentleman in the other room

to step in here, please?

He's pulling your leg; there's nobody in here.

Well, read this if you like, lawyer.

Come on, honey, we're going downtown.

Let's go. Come on.

That's right.

Right ahead.

Says first-degree murder.

You heard the doctor testify that the deceased,

Harrison Boring, was killed with a blow from a blunt instrument.

You also heard him say that there were scratches and bruises

on the face, indicating that there might have been

a struggle prior to that fatal blow.

Yes, sir, I heard all that.

But did you hear anything

on the night of the murder to substantiate this?

From your vantage point in the cabin across the way,

did you hear any struggling?

Any fighting?

No, I told you.

I didn't hear anything, except people's radios all the time.

Besides, it's a couple of hundred feet across there,

like your diagram shows.

You think I got radar?

Just because you've been declared

an unfriendly witness, Mr. Dillard,

there's no necessity for you continuing to prove it.

Now, you heard the police testify that someone had

hurriedly searched Mr. Boring's cabin and his luggage,

and that they had found liquor spilled all over it.

You heard an expert identify fingerprints of the defendant

taken from the desk and from the bureau drawer,

and one bloody fingerprint of hers was found

on the wallet in Boring's coat pocket.

That's the pocket where I found the contract.

Moved around in that cabin quite a good deal,

wouldn't you say so?

Sure.

And still, you couldn't see

any of that movement through the window?

No, the curtains were too thick.

You couldn't see anything or anybody in there.

Fine.

That's all I wanted to find out.

Then everything that you saw or heard that night

is recorded in this notebook... Exhibit A... is that correct?

Yes, sir, that's correct.

But the police found this notebook

in a highway trash can, Mr. Dillard.

Did you put it there?

Yes, sir.

Why?

Well, to get rid of it.

I saw a patrol car making a U-turn.

I was afraid maybe they spotted my license number.

You're sure that Mr. Mason or possibly Mr. Paul Drake

didn't suggest that?

No, no!

That's not true at all.

Mr. Mason told me he couldn't order me

to destroy evidence like that.

I was going to burn it!

Well, they certainly suggested

that you get out of town in a hurry.

I remind you, Mr. Dillard, you were clocked

going out the highway 90 miles an hour.

But that was my idea, don't you understand?

I figured maybe if I disappeared for a while...

You mean, you were willing to take all this risk on yourself?

The risk of removing evidence and removing yourself,

a material witness, in a murder case?

Well... yes.

I didn't want to get their client in the soup.

After all, I was still trying to earn myself

maybe a good job, that's all.

Well, I certainly think that Mr. Mason should thank you

for keeping his reputation clear.

And I'm sure that your fine work will get you

a top job in the Paul Drake Detective Agency.

Now, if you'll read for me please

this last entry in your notebook.

"Miss Dianne Adler.

"Entered Cabin ten at 8:05, left at 8:21.

"8:23-and-a-half, the manager arrived.

8:27-and-a-half, the police arrived."

Your witness.

Mr. Dillard, concerning the first entries

in your notebook, the earlier visitors to Boring's cabin

the prosecution has been rather vague about identifying...

Your Honor, we've already explained

to counsel and to the court,

we're not presenting our full case at this time.

Just those few facts necessary to have Miss Adler bound over.

I'm inclined to go along with that approach, Mr. Mason.

This is only a hearing.

Of course. I understand.

I'm quite willing to postpone... For the moment, at least...

My interrogation of the visitors who have been identified.

But I have a question about the person

who immediately preceded Miss Adler in Boring's cabin.

Quite pertinent. Proceed.

Mr. Dillard... this "man wearing dark hat,

walked to cabin, entered at 7:47... left at 8:02."

You say you didn't recognize him then?

No, sir.

It was too dark over there.

Now, since that night: have you seen someone

who perhaps reminded you of that person?

No, sir.

I'm sorry, sir.

Well, I told Miss Adler that Harrison Boring

was trying to cut her out of something big.

What did you mean by that, sir?

Well, I told her she'd better get after him

because he was cheating her.

And if I knew Harrison, she'd better catch him quick.

Yes, but cheating her of what?

I don't know.

I was just guessing.

But those were the exact words I used,

and she can't tell you any different.

All right, then.

What was the effect of your words on Miss Adler?

Well, she seemed to already know

he was cheating her.

But it sure made her mad, all right,

because the minute I left, she took off for Fair Oaks,

just like that!

Thank you, Mr. Foster, that'll be all.

Mr. Foster, you say you

deliberately upset and angered the defendant

so that she might lead you to Harrison Boring?

That's right.

Why were you so eager to find him?

Like I told you, he owed me money.

Not because he was cutting you out of something?

Absolutely not.

Is it possible that you won't admit it

because you hope to take over where Boring left off?

No, sir!

When Boring left my employ, he owed me $352.

If I could've caught him, I would have broken his neck!

But I didn't.

Like I testified: I tailed the girl and I lost her.

Dianne Adler went by bus to Fair Oaks.

You mean you couldn't follow a bus?

But I lost her in Fair Oaks.

She went into a drugstore and I didn't see her come out.

But I wasn't anywhere near that motel that night.

Are you willing to furnish proof of that?

Of course I am! I wasn't anywhere near it.

Good!

Now, would you mind, uh, putting on this hat?

Your Honor!

Just a moment, Mr. Burger.

I don't think this would do any harm.

Of course I don't mind.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

I just can't tell.

Well, what time will Mr. Mason be back from the courtroom?

But I must speak to him, the minute he gets back.

Yes, I... Oh, yes, I can wait.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Mrs. Winlock. What is it?

Mr. Mason, I want to know if you're going to

put on a defense for that girl this afternoon.

Well, that's not a matter I can discuss.

Oh, Mr. Mason...

The district attorney's office has been asking questions,

privately, of course.

I think they may realize that...

I'm the other woman

who was at Boring's cabin earlier that night,

just after my son...

after Marvin was there.

Yes, I've, uh... thought of that possibility, Mrs. Winlock.

But perhaps if you'd tell me why you visited Boring...

Oh, I'd be quite willing to give

a perfectly logical explanation for that, Mr. Mason.

From the witness stand.

If I testified for the defense?

If you what?

Oh, listen to me, please.

The girl, Dianne...

her story's going to be that she thought

Boring was drunk, isn't that right?

That when she came into the cabin

he was already lying there in the dark,

and she didn't realize that he wasn't just drunk, but dying?

Once again, I can't discuss it.

Mr. Mason, if I testified

that I thought exactly the same thing...

that I saw him lying there and smelled all that liquor...

and if my son, if Marvin should say exactly the same thing

about his visit there, on the witness stand...

wouldn't that save Dianne from further prosecution?

In return for what, Mrs. Winlock?

Oh, Mr. Mason,

she can have all of George's money that you want,

but the truth... the truth about Dianne,

about... about our marriage and all...

it just mustn't come out!

Not ever, don't you understand?

Of course, Mrs. Winlock.

I will definitely be in touch with you.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Goodbye.

Della, find Paul.

He has a job to do before we finish lunch.

This way, Perry, I'm parked in the alley.

Paul, what about the times Dillard testified to?

My boys are double-checking every one that's possible.

"two-and-a-half minutes" from the time Dianne left

- until the motel manager... - Sorry, Perry, it's right.

The Motel clock is right. Every one of these times is right.

Let me do this alone.

Thanks for getting here so quickly, Mr. Winlock.

Mr. Drake didn't give me much choice.

I'll come directly to the point.

You were the man in the dark hat, weren't you?

The man who was in the cabin after the woman

and just a few minutes before Dianne's visit.

What gives you a crazy idea like that?

Mrs. Winlock has offered to commit perjury.

She wouldn't do that unless she were positive

you were that man.

She offered to...?

Now, could we have the truth?

All of it?

Yes, I was there.

But Boring had already blackmailed me, Mason.

I'd already given him $10,000 in advance, in cash.

But after talking with you,

I realized there was only one thing to do.

I went to see Boring and I scared the daylights out of him.

I told him I was perfectly willing to expose myself

to the whole world... And expose him as a blackmailer.

And put him in prison for what he'd done.

You stayed there for only a few minutes, Mr. Winlock.

The gun in my hand helped to convince him.

And I might have used it, Mason, if he hadn't given in.

Given in?

He handed me back the $10,000,

and promised to get out of town for good.

And then you left?

Had Boring been drinking?

In his cabin there was the smell of whiskey.

He was alive when you left?

I asked you a question.

When you left that cabin, was Harrison Boring alive?

Good Heavens, Mason!

Haven't I done enough to Dianne?

What do you want me to do? Send her to the gas chamber?

So it's possible, from this diagram,

that someone could have visited

Cabin Number Ten without your seeing them?

No, sir, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry, but they just couldn't.

What about other means of access to the cabin?

There's a side window here, for instance.

If it please the court.

We've already proved that that window can't be opened.

That there is no back door to Cabin Ten.

That on that night, it was impossible even to

approach Cabin Ten without being observed by Mr. Dillard here,

from across the way!

Yes, I think we've been over that ground

satisfactorily, Mr. Mason.

Very well, Your Honor.

But one or two more questions

to clarify the notes in your notebook.

"Miss Dianne Adler at 8:05. Left cabin at 8:21."

Well, that's written clearly enough.

But what's this number here?

Uh... "Entered 7:47."

That the one you mean?

Oh, it's a seven.

I was writing in the dark, Mr. Mason.

But my watch does have a luminous dial, so...

Yes, of course.

And that's, uh... "left at" what time?

8:02... you mean the man wearing the dark hat.

Oh, yes.

The man in the dark hat.

And you're quite sure there's no mistake

about these times?

Well, like I said, I may be a little clumsy,

but at least I can read a watch.

Your Honor, it's obvious that Mr. Mason can't read a watch.

Certainly he's wasting the court's time.

May it please the court, we are trying to confirm

certain new evidence that we've uncovered.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

You'll be glad to know, Mr. Dillard,

that the man in the hat also looked at his watch,

and your figures agree.

You mean, you found him?

We are further prepared to introduce testimony

showing that when this man left the cabin,

Harrison Boring was still alive.

He will also state there was no smell of liquor in the room,

and that the only whiskey bottle visible was sealed.

Who is it, Mr. Mason? Who?

But why put him on the stand...

when it's you who committed murder?

What?

Mr. Dillard, Paul Drake is a very good detective,

but Boring still managed to spot him.

Is that what happened? Did Boring see you watching him?

That's not true!

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

16 minutes you said Dianne was in there.

In very clear writing. Why?

Because you wrote those times after the fact?

That's not true! Stop it!

Wrote them to cover up what you'd done?

Wrote them in a notebook which you could have destroyed,

if you'd really wanted to?

I won't answer that. I won't tell you.

Would a frightened girl think of pouring whiskey on a man

she'd just fought with?

That's not true! He was drinking it!

Oh, he was?

What else was he doing?

Your-Your Honor... see, I didn't mean to do it.

It's just... his head, it struck this thing when I hit him, see?

All right, all right he spotted me.

But-but by that time, I had enough on him...

See, he had this money, see?

Well, when that guy left, Boring comes right over to my cabin.

He says, "What gives?"

Well, naturally, I says what gives right back!

Let's have some of that money!

Well, he-he laughed at me.

He said he didn't have it any more.

But... I didn't want to rough him up, but...

well, you see, then I, um...

I, uh, I carried him back to his place

and-and, uh, I poured that whiskey on him, see?

I'm sorry, kid.

I'm sorry.

So the one thing wrong in Dillard's notebook

was the time he showed Dianne as arriving at the cabin?

Exactly.

With nerves of steel a person couldn't spend 16 minutes

searching a dark room with even a drunken occupant present.

But of course when... your wife decided to protect

the family name and reputation by committing perjury,

- why, I fully understood... - No, wait a minute.

It was that useless son of hers she was trying to protect.

Oh, Mason, we all make so many mistakes.

Marvin had been snooping around

for some time, I guess.

He was getting as close to nailing me as Boring himself.

And what's a mother to do?

The wrong thing, maybe. I don't know.

I'm sure no judge!

The way I... I ruined poor Dianne's life.

Well, we're not hiding the truth any more, now.

My wife is kicking Marvin out on his own.

So you see, mistakes can be changed.

Just like people.

Wait a minute.

How long has that thing been on?

Dianne.

Your father is taking us out for a steak dinner, Dianne.

Would... you come along?

Please?

Dianne?

How about it? Hmm?

Well...

well, I might be willing to try a little cottage cheese.