Original subtitles

You looking for somebody, young lady?

I'd like to see Mr. Jazbo Williams.

Yes, ma'am. That's me.

Oh!

Well, I'm Amy Jo Jennings

and I just came up here recently from down South.

No!

Why, I never would have guessed.

Oh, you...!

Well, anyway, I sing folk songs

and Hootenanny and all like that, and I'd like a job.

Well, do you have any notices?

Notices?

Yeah, I mean, where have you worked before?

Professionally?

Oh.

Well, before I came to Hollywood

I used to sing with a little hillbilly band back home.

But, fiddlesticks, I might as well have been

a turkey gobbler at Thanksgiving,

for all the future there was in that.

Yeah, I see.

Well, you see, we can't afford much for talent around here,

except for ourselves, of course.

Oh, it won't cost you anything

to give me a chance, Mr. Williams.

Okay?

Okay, Amy Jo Jennings.

You want to take a run at a number?

♪ Alas, my love ♪

♪ You do me wrong ♪

♪ To cast me off ♪

♪ Discourteously ♪

♪ And I have loved you so long ♪

♪ Delighting in... ♪

You got a great voice, baby...

for callin' hogs.

♪ ...company ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was all my joy ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was my delight ♪

- ♪ Greensleeves... ♪ - It's me, Amy Jo.

Your old flame, and I'm still burnin'.

I followed you out here to Hollywood, Amy Jo.

Now, you take it from an old platter spinner:

you ain't never gonna make it to the top.

So why don't you come home and marry me?

Lester Crawford, you get out of here!

Aw, now, baby, look, now get them stars out of your eyes.

You ain't nothing but a queen-size flop!

This ain't no place for...

All right, mouth, out!

Amy Jo, come on home.

You ain't gonna do nothing here.

Oh...

Lester's a disc jockey at a little radio station back home.

He's been pestering me for years to marry him,

but I could never love anyone as awful as him.

I understand, honey.

But, you know, maybe... you should quit this racket.

Maybe the thing for you is to get married

and raise pretty babies, like you.

You just don't want me to sing at your club

because everything was such a mess tonight.

Okay, okay.

You can come back.

Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night. Anytime.

But you're a nice kid,

and I don't want to see you get your heart broke.

This can be a cold, cruel town.

I'll do better tomorrow night.

You'll see, Mr. Williams.

- Jazbo. - Jazbo.

Oh, I know what you're thinking.

A lot of girls come out here thinking they can be big stars,

but... well... I'm determined to stick it out.

Well...

don't think I'm not pulling for you, kid.

That's where I live. The second building.

Uh-huh.

You're spending too much money, too, I'll bet.

Well... thanks for everything, Jazbo.

I'll-I'll see you tomorrow night?

Okay.

- And if I'm good, I can stay? - No pay.

Whatever you say.

Jazbo... I get billing?

Well, you've been here a week.

You're entitled to something.

Oh, you're an angel!

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ You see what love ♪

♪ Has done for me. ♪

Well, you insisted on hearing the kid,

but don't say I didn't warn you. Let's go.

Sit down, Lionel. What's the rush?

Look, Harry, I did you a favor

and wasted last night meeting her.

She's a sweet, simple kid with no talent.

Now, come on... I want you to introduce me.

Harry, you're out of your tree.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Mason,

but they seemed halfway to want an encore,

so I accommodated them before they could change their minds.

I'm sure the applause was wholehearted, Miss Jennings.

Oh, this is all so wonderful, Mr. Mason.

I just adore show business.

Well, now, what was it you wanted me to sign?

This power of attorney

and this receipt for a stock transfer to your account.

Evidently you haven't kept in very close contact

with that business of yours.

Oh...

Aren't I awful?

Since I got out here, I've been so busy

trying to start my career that I almost plumb forgot about

the Home Folks Remedies Company.

Well, as company president, I suppose you can do as you want.

Since you happen to control the stock.

Well, my daddy left it to me.

You know, Mr. Mason, he started out peddling freckle remover

and cold cream and cough syrup door to door, and now look.

I'm impressed.

You've inherited quite a financial empire.

Isn't it sinful?

Mr. Mason, how did my lawyers

down in Tennessee know about you?

I went to law school with one of the partners.

George Hutchinson.

Oh, Mr. Hutchinson's a doll.

Well, now, where do I sign?

Right there... and there.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

You're a doll, too.

Except, uh, I think maybe in the future

I ought to come to your office.

See, the folks around here might not quite understand if...

well, I want them to like me, you understand?

To take my career seriously, and not just think that I...

Come in.

Excuse me, Miss Jennings.

Remember me? Last night?

Oh, Mr. Albright! Do I!

Oh, Mr. Mason, have you met Mr. Lionel Albright?

He's the movie star.

Hello, Mr. Albright.

How do you do?

Harry Bronson is at my table, Miss Jennings.

He would very much like to meet you.

Harry-Harry Bronson, the agent?

Yes, he's, uh...

Oh, you'll have to excuse me, Mr. Mason.

- I've got to go now. - Of course.

But if I can help you again in Los Angeles...

Oh, now don't you worry about me for a second, Mr. Mason.

Bye-bye!

There we are, Mr. Bronson.

I'm all signed on the dotted line.

Is there anything else?

Well, that's it for now, Amy Jo,

but you will be hearing from us very soon.

Oh, I just can't tell you how thrilled I am

that you're gonna be representing me.

It's a real pleasure for Harry Bronson

to represent such a fine, new talent.

I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial association.

Thank you very much for coming in.

Oh, thank you.

'Bye now.

What's the matter?

That... that person out there.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Bronson.

What person?

Well, his name is Lester Crawford, from back home.

I just can't turn around without his following me.

Oh, I'd be mortified if he came around here pestering you.

Natalie?

Natalie, there's someone named Crawford out there.

Will you get rid of him, please?

Immediately. Just do as I say!

Oh, I feel like a nuisance already.

Nonsense.

There you are, my dear.

Just one of the many services we hope to give you.

Is he gone?

Take the other door there, it goes out the side way.

Well, goodbye, my dear. We'll keep in touch, hmm?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I take it my husband is in his office.

Good morning, Mrs. Bronson. Yes, he is.

But I believe Mr. Siebring was just waiting

- until the girl... - Never mind, dear, never mind.

Harry, don't start talking yet.

Oh... hi, Evelyn.

Well, what got you out of bed before noon, baby?

And to the office, yet!

Al and I were just gonna...

Harry, my diamond watch bracelet... it's missing.

What do you mean, it's missing?

Well, I lost it.

Or someone stole it.

Who knows?

Who knows? Just like that, huh?

Well, what do you expect me to do about it?

Well, you could have it replaced, darling.

Evelyn, you think I'm made of money?

That watch bracelet set me back $5,000.

Five thousand bucks!

So put in a claim to the insurance company.

What else are they for?

How many claims do you think I can put in?

Last month you "lost" a diamond dinner ring.

Before that, you said somebody stole your mink coat.

Now, how can I go back to the insurance company?

- Forget it! - All right, Harry, I will.

And I'll pick out another one and charge it.

You do that, Evelyn,

and I'll cut off every charge account in this town.

All you know to do is spend.

Spend! Spend!

You know I'm putting every dime I can spare

into production right now.

Even the dough he owes me, Evvie.

Well, that's your problem, Al.

I have my own.

Yeah?

Well, I've got problems, too. Plenty!

But right now you're not gonna be one of them.

Now, get out of here.

And you don't have to keep needling me

about what's coming to you.

You'll get your dough.

That road show is going to be booked solid through the summer.

So hold your horses!

Harry, we are supposed to manage talent,

not produce summer musicals.

You don't know anything about producing musicals.

And you don't know anything about a talent agency.

That's why you backed my experience.

Right?

Who brought in the stars?

I did, right?

What stars?

What big name have you brought in, aside from Lionel Albright?

Albright is box office!

Starring in a musical road show, he's money in the bank.

Money in the bank?

You haven't even got enough cash to pay advances!

I'll get the cash.

Now stop bugging me!

I'm a terrible bother,

making you drive me home every night.

Well, it's better than letting you pay for the bus.

You don't have to do it Friday night,

if you'll let me have the night off.

Yeah, what's the deal?

Well, Harry Bronson is throwing a party at the Crystal Room,

and if I'm not there, I'll just perish.

Well, we can't have that.

Who's your date?

Oh, I'm stagging.

It's just for agency clients

and picture people.

You, uh, moving up kind of fast, aren't you?

Well, is there anything wrong with that?

I'm not sure.

I mean, you're an unknown.

So, why is a man like Bronson paying so much attention to you?

Well, that's knocking me down, but good.

Well, that's not the way I meant it,

but, well, it's a fair question.

All right, Mr. Smarty,

I wasn't going to tell you until I was sure,

but, uh, I just may have a part

in Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Now, do I get Friday night off or don't I?

Okay.

All right, you can go

if I can pick you up after the party.

What are you, big brother?

You don't have to babysit me.

I'll be waiting for you after the party.

Really, you are unreal.

I can take care of myself.

So, I told this director I needed motivation,

not a lesson in how to act.

Oh, Mr. Bronson, it's so thrilling

to be even a little tiny bit of all this.

Feel like a dream come true?

Oh, if you only knew.

Well, you just trust Harry Bronson, my dear.

This is the beginning of a whole, new exciting life.

Mr. Bronson?

Uh, they want to take our picture.

Oh, may I have some of those

for my hometown paper and my friends and all?

Don't worry, honey, I'll take care of it.

Like to dance, my dear?

Hello, Mr. Bronson.

Oh, hello.

Oh, I tell you, the folks back home

are just never going to believe it.

Their own Amy Jo, star of a musical.

Why don't you divorce him?

And why don't you go out and get yourself a job, Chris?

Now look, honey... No.

No, I, uh, I've done all I can for you, Chris.

I've had it.

All right.

I'll redeem your bracelet, just soon as I get a break.

But we could be together, Eve, if you would just...

Now is not the time to hit Harry for alimony.

As a matter of fact, right now...

Right now he's worth more dead than alive, huh?

Chris.

How could you say such a thing?

Well, Harry,

you've got little old Amy Jo in seventh heaven.

What did you...

Why don't you mind your own business?

But all I meant was that she's a nice kid, Harry.

I just wondered what...

I know what I'm doing,

and that's all you need to know.

Okay, actor?

Now, just wait.

Just you sit there and wait.

Hey, buddy.

Isn't that that, uh, Audrey Stemple, the singer?

Yeah, big deal.

Well, I hope she's not just coming to the party.

I thought it would be all over by now.

She ain't going to no party, friend.

She's gonna fry an egg, she says.

Take just a minute, she says.

Slow baste it in gin...

What that dame needs is a Saint Bernard

with a keg around its neck.

Well, that's one way to stay awake, I guess.

Yeah.

- Excuse me, Mrs. Bronson. - Yes?

Your husband isn't feeling very well.

Oh, now don't tell me he's pooping out on his own party.

It's his stomach again, that's all.

But he would like to go home right away.

Go home?

Well, darling, I can't leave all my guests.

Tell him to drive himself.

He's afraid to.

Please, you understand, Mrs. Bronson.

When Harry takes tranquilizers...

You can nursemaid him yourself, I'm sure.

Mr. Siebring will help you.

Now run along, darling.

That's a good girl.

I've got to go, I tell you.

Please, Audrey...

And I said I want to see Harry.

And I said tomorrow morning, huh?

That's all I know.

He said see him tomorrow morning.

Al, do you know how many offers

I've had for other parts?

If he thinks I'm going to sit around twiddling...

Baby, it is all arranged.

You'll get your advance, Harry says so.

Well, then why can't I see him tonight?

Oh, because his wife's here.

Because a million things, I don't know.

Now look, be a good girl,

let me go, and you go home, huh, baby?

No!

You will get your advance tomorrow.

In cash.

Cash?

Amy Jo.

Jazbo Williams,

what in the world are you doing here,

and dressed like that?

Come on, Amy Jo, let's get out of this joint.

No.

Oh, I'm sorry I've kept you waiting and all, Jazbo,

but this is my night.

Look, I got to talk to you.

And I've got to talk to you,

'cause you don't know what happened.

Listen, don't tell anybody yet,

but I'm going to play opposite Mr. Lionel Albright.

Really true!

In Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Come here.

Wait a minute.

Could we have your autograph please,

Miss Stemple?

Why, you sweet thing, you.

You certainly may.

Jazbo, please.

My friend here works on a high school newspaper.

I thought maybe I could get her a story or something.

You are going to do a musical show this summer

for Harry Bronson, aren't you?

Well, as a matter of fact...

With Lionel Albright, maybe?

How'd you guess?

Of course I don't usually do summer shows,

but yes.

Harry Bronson has persuaded me... No.

No, he's only doing one musical and...

Oh, it's all been very secret,

honey, so far.

But I've got that part.

I'm going to star in... You're what?

You?

Amy Jo, now listen... It's true!

He promised me!

Well, even before I...

Well, I'm even a partner, sort of.

Don't look at me that way, Jazbo.

It's true!

Wait a minute.

What do you mean, partner, honey?

I gave him my check just tonight

for $50,000.

Amy Jo!

Amy Jo!

Amy Jo, come back here!

Miss Jennings' phone still doesn't answer.

I wonder if she went home at all after the party last night.

Perry, just because she signed with Harry Bronson

doesn't mean that she has any connections with...

That's what worries me, Della.

Why would Harry Bronson sign an unknown

who has no great talent,

but does have a great deal of money?

Ordinarily, I suppose she wouldn't even be invited

to this kind of party.

Exactly.

And I found that Bronson's in financial difficulties.

And now, Bronson being dead

and Amy Jo missing...

Hello, Paul. Do you have something?

Well, this didn't get in the papers,

but the police found a woman's glove lying

on the floor next to Bronson's body.

A glove could belong to anybody.

Have you checked at Hillbilly Haven?

Club isn't open until 4:00 p.m.,

and Jazbo Williams, the proprietor,

isn't listed in the phone book,

but I hear he has a small beach house out in Malibu.

Which, of course, takes in a lot of territory.

Find him, Paul.

Go over that beach with a fine-toothed comb.

You mind if I use vacuum cleaners?

Might sell a few, going door to door.

I think it's a good idea.

Mr. Williams?

- That's right. - Paul Drake.

I'm looking for a girl

who works at your place, a Miss Amy Jo Jennings.

Well, what makes you think she's here, Mr. Drake?

Just a hunch.

Well, I hope when you go to the races,

you don't pick horses the same way.

No, I have a system with the horses.

This is her lawyer's hunch, not mine.

- Her lawyer? - Perry Mason.

What does Mr. Mason want with me?

Well, after what happened last night,

Miss Jennings, he's a little worried.

Particularly since you couldn't be reached at home.

What happened last night?

Haven't you read the morning papers?

Harry Bronson was murdered.

Murdered.

Oh, no.

Why, when I saw him, he was...

he was only asleep.

When was that?

Amy Jo went to a party he gave last night.

That's the last time she saw him.

Yes.

Yes, at the party.

That's where I saw him. He was...

Well, he takes pills or something.

Are you missing the mate to this?

Yes, I lost it last night.

I guess in the parking lot, after the party.

Why?

What's the matter?

Well, I guess Perry Mason has better hunches than I do.

Perry, I'm with Amy Jo,

and she's in this thing up to her neck.

Yeah.

Here's the address.

And then I ran out of the parking lot,

and I took a cab to Mr. Bronson's house.

Who admitted you, Amy Jo?

Well, somebody had left the keys in the door.

Rather convenient, wasn't it?

It's the gospel truth, Mr. Mason.

Nobody was home except,

well, Mr. Bronson was in the library,

flat on his back on the couch.

I didn't even see him at first, he was so sound asleep.

Honestly, I didn't dream he was dead.

There wasn't any blood or anything like that.

So, you tried to wake him up?

Well, I shook him a little.

I even poured some water on his face

from a glass that was there, but it didn't faze him.

Water would hardly faze a dead man.

But maybe he wasn't dead then.

He was sort of limp, not rigid and all

like they say a corpse gets.

And then I heard something

and thought maybe I'd better leave.

And then when I ran down the hall,

I saw a car coming up from the side street,

and I knew he'd be all right.

How long were you there, Amy Jo?

Just long enough to try to get my check.

Well, I thought it would be in his wallet.

You searched his wallet?

Well, it just sort of fell out of his pocket.

But the check wasn't there.

And even before I saw him, I'd looked through some papers

on the desk and the desk drawer and...

Well, after all, I felt I had a right

to get my check back, now didn't I?

Your fingerprints will show up

everywhere in that room, of course.

Well, good gracious, Mr. Mason,

that doesn't mean I killed the poor man!

All right.

Now tell me about the car you saw.

Well, I didn't really see what it looked like.

I just wanted to run, don't you understand?!

I walked all over that neighborhood

trying to find a cab.

And then Mr. Williams here came driving by,

but he's just mad at me 'cause I have so much money

and 'cause I'm so plain dumb foolish.

Oh, Mr. Mason, if you only knew how mortified I was.

Believing that awful man was gonna put me in

some kind of a big starry...

Oh, but what am I gonna do?!

I understand, Paul. Right away.

Yes, and if the check is on her hometown bank,

maybe I can stop payment, but...

If and when the check's deposited,

that's what I want to know.

And who the person is who deposits it.

Exactly.

Meanwhile, I've got some other stuff

to run down for Perry, so...

And maybe that person is the murderer.

Well, don't count on Amy Jo not getting some votes.

Bronson's death was a terrible shock to me, Mason.

I could hardly believe it when I saw the papers.

Mr. Albright, I assume you've been represented by Bronson

and Siebring for some time.

Well, by Harry Bronson personally.

We've been friends for a long time.

The night of the party,

did you know Miss Jennings gave Bronson $50,000?

No, not precisely.

I didn't know she had that kind of money.

But I knew that Bronson wasn't leveling with her.

He was using her some way to... Audrey!

Not so loud. My head might fall off.

Miss Stemple, this is Mr. Perry Mason, the attorney.

Hello.

Where's your tomato juice?

Mr. Mason represents Amy Jo Jennings.

Drink, Mason?

No, thanks.

That stupid little wench.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason, but I hope she gets the limit.

Audrey...

There have been no accusations against her yet, Miss Stemple.

Well, if I'd have just kept my big mouth shut,

Harry would still be alive

and you and I, Lionel, would be getting some fat paychecks

this summer, and could I use a few.

Well, anyway, I hope they find her.

I hope they throw the book at her!

Shut up, Audrey, and drink this!

I won't shut up!

I'll scream my head off until...

Hello? Yes?

There's not enough pepper in this.

Just a moment, please. Mr. Mason, for you.

Thank you. Hello?

Perry, one of the banks just called back,

and that check has already been deposited.

Who, when and where?

First thing this morning.

Deposited to the agency account of Bronson and Siebring

by Harry Bronson's own secretary.

Thanks, Della.

Any news? Anything important?

Miss Stemple would like some more pepper.

There was nothing improper about depositing Miss Jenning's check

in the agency account, Mr. Mason.

But I understood it was made out to Bronson Productions.

That's a subsidiary.

True, my partner handled that end of the business,

but I'm a vice president.

And Miss Graham here is authorized

to make any and all deposits.

That's correct.

How did you acquire the check so quickly, Mr. Siebring?

Well, there's nothing mysterious

about that either, Mr. Mason.

Natalie and I drove Harry home last night.

And he gave me the check

to take straight to the bank this morning.

Mr. Siebring, you know, of course,

that Miss Jennings gave your partner the check under

the assumption that she would be starred in his summer musical.

Natalie, do you know

of any such agreement in writing with Miss Jennings?

No. The only contract that we have with Miss Jennings is

to represent her in all phases of entertainment.

So there you are, Mr. Mason.

We really didn't ask Bronson any questions.

Money is money.

Not until it clears the home bank, Mr. Siebring.

We'll stop payment on that check immediately.

Jazbo?

Mr. Drake?

Amy Jo? It's me, Lester.

Amy Jo, now I know you're in there.

Now you open the door.

Now you want me to go running up and down the beach

yelling your name?

Amy Jo, you want everybody to know where you're hiding?

Lester, how did you find me?

Shucks, honey, that was pure easy.

I just followed you down here nearly two weeks ago.

Oh, you snoop!

Sure, that's the way a fella's gotta be, Amy Jo.

Well, at least for certain girls.

Well, I don't want to see you, Lester.

Please, just... Sure.

What are you doing here all alone, Amy Jo?

Where's that Jazbo character, huh?

He-He went out to get us something to eat.

When?

Three hours ago.

Hmm.

Well, Amy Jo...

if you're hungry, I got a candy bar here.

You want it?

Well, anyhow, I sure wouldn't desert you.

I don't care how much trouble you're in.

He didn't desert me!

Or let myself get caught by the cops, maybe.

Well, what's the difference?

Bu I sure do hate to think

what he might be saying to them about you, that's all.

That is not true!

Jazbo wouldn't!

Oh, Lester... I didn't really do anything.

I didn't kill Harry Bronson.

Well, Amy Jo, now whether you did or whether you didn't,

I guess you had motive enough,

and I want you to know

that I'm gonna do anything that I can to help.

I told you I didn't kill him!

Well, Amy Jo, now then what are you sittin' here for?

Don't you see what I mean?

They gonna accuse you of this.

And your reputation...

they're gonna spread your name all over them papers.

Amy Jo, your career, it is gonna go kerflooey.

Oh, I wish I'd never even come out here.

Oh, Lester, I've been such a fool.

Oh, now, now, now Amy Jo...

you ain't nothing but a woman.

I'm gonna think real hard for you.

Yeah, I'm gonna think real hard for you.

Oh, Lester!

Mind if I come in, counselor?

Oh, hello, Andy.

I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier when you called.

Which time? Well, never mind.

When you're hiding a client, I understand how it is.

All right, Andy, if you'd like to take a ride now,

I'll surrender Amy Jo Jennings.

Perry, why don't you ride with me instead?

We've already got her in jail.

She wants to see her lawyer.

Mr. Albright, you've stated that you knew that Mr. Bronson was

having trouble financing this musical.

Now, when did you first have knowledge

that the money for the production had been raised?

At the party before Bronson was murdered.

He told me we were all set to go into production.

In fact, that's what he was celebrating.

Well, did you know that the defendant was providing

this financial backing,

apparently on the basis of promises

that she was going to have a part in the production?

Well, at the time, I could only surmise

that's where he got the money.

I did know that Bronson was in no position

to risk Amy Jo in a starring role.

I understand, but when did you learn that

she was to have no part at all?

At Bronson's party that night.

- The night of his murder? - Yes.

Then, you say that you had learned that even after

Bronson had accepted the check from the defendant,

he still planned to have Audrey Stemple play that part,

just as he had intended all along?

Yes, I warned Harry he was making a mistake

pulling a stunt like that.

I warned him that he was headed for trouble.

Well, did you mean that Miss Jennings might simply withdraw

her financial support or were you suggesting that the shock

of finding out that she had been used, cheated

might cause her...

- Objection, Your Honor. - Sustained.

I'd never seen this girl before until she came up with that man.

He asked me if I was going to do Harry Bronson's show,

and well, for some impulsive reason, I admitted it,

even though Harry asked me to keep it secret for a while.

Now, what was the defendant's reaction when you said

that you were gonna star with Mr. Albright?

Well, you'd think she was being murdered

like poor Harry was.

And what did Miss Jennings do?

She ran out of the bar.

And what did you do, Miss Stemple?

I had my taxi drive me home.

The next morning, of course, I was very upset

I had even spoken to that couple.

If I had kept my mouth shut,

poor Harry would never have been murdered.

Objection, Your Honor.

If this witness is gonna persist in...

Objection sustained.

The witness will confine herself to direct answers

to counsel's questions.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Anderson, it has been established that the victim died

from a severe blow on the back of the head,

administered by some blunt instrument

similar to this ashtray.

Now you have, of course, seen the ashtray before?

Yes, sir.

And you also heard testimony

to the effect that the indented fracture

in the back of the victim's skull exactly matched

the curve of this ashtray?

- I did. - Now, what other laboratory investigation

was this ashtray subjected to?

Fingerprint analysis.

We found clear prints of the defendant on the sides, there.

I see.

Lieutenant, would you tell us, please,

where you found this lady's glove?

On the floor in Mr. Bronson's library,

near the couch on which the body lay.

And where did you find the mate to this glove, Lieutenant?

In Mr. Williams' beach house, where the defendant

had been staying until she was taken into custody.

Now, what other evidence did you uncover

to place the defendant at the Bronson home?

Her fingerprints were found on some desk drawers

which apparently had been ransacked.

Also on an empty water glass on a table near the body.

I see.

And now, Lieutenant, finally,

would you identify this wallet for us?

Yes, sir.

It belonged to the deceased.

The morning after the murder, the police recovered it

from some bushes along the main front drive

of the Bronson estate.

Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all.

Mr. Mason?

Lieutenant,

were fingerprints found on the wallet you just examined?

- No. - It has been stated

that the victim lay face-up on the couch,

that he had been struck on the back of the head,

therefore there was no blood nor visible sign of injury.

Now, is that correct?

Well, he was a little mussed up.

There were some signs of a struggle, but...

Now the doctor stated that his autopsy indicated

traces of a tranquilizing agent in Mr. Bronson's stomach.

You're familiar with that report, of course.

I also heard the doctor state he did not think

the amount was sufficient to induce any heavy sleep.

Now, Lieutenant, please confine yourself.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

But you do know what I'm driving at, don't you, Lieutenant?

If Mr. Bronson had been heavily, soundly asleep,

then wouldn't you say that a visitor to the room

might become worried about him,

might have picked up a glass to put water on his face?

Perhaps even move that ash tray aside so...

And you, Mr. Mason, please.

I'll, um,

I'll withdraw that question, Your Honor.

That's all, Lieutenant.

After the party, I left our car at the hotel.

Mr. Thompson drove me home.

We had just parked and switched off the lights

when we saw a woman running off down the street.

Did you recognize that woman, Mrs. Bronson?

Of course.

It was Miss Jennings.

Didn't you attempt to follow her?

No.

At the time it seemed more amusing than alarming.

Mrs. Bronson,

I show you this diagram of your area.

Now, the police have testified

that they found your husband's wallet

in this shrubbery by the drive.

Did the woman you saw fleeing

pass anywhere near that shrubbery?

That's exactly where I saw her first.

It's exactly the way she said.

I saw exactly the same thing as Mrs. Bronson.

All right, but will you tell us in your own words

exactly what you saw when you went into the house

and entered the library.

Well, as Evelyn said,

Harry was lying there on the couch, face up, dead.

The desk drawers had been gone through,

like the Lieutenant said.

There was a glove on the floor.

Naturally, I didn't touch anything

except, of course, the telephone to call the police.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Thompson,

you were a frequent visitor at the Bronson home,

were you not?

I was there occasionally.

Did your visits usually coincide

with Harry Bronson's absence?

Of course not.

He was away from home a lot, that's all.

I notice neither you nor Mrs. Bronson

stated just how quickly you entered the house

after seeing a woman run off down the street.

The defendant, you mean?

Well, I suppose it was a minute or two.

There really didn't seem to be any cause for alarm.

That is, until we found the key in the front door.

A minute or two?

Could it have been three?

Perhaps.

Or four, five, ten?

- Now, see here... - Or were you quite oblivious

of the passage of time, Mr. Thompson?

Look, I resent... Why do you resent it?

You've identified yourself as a family friend.

Surely there's nothing wrong

with parking in a secluded spot with an old friend's wife.

Your Honor!

I beg the Court's indulgence,

but I would like to ask one question.

Do you happen to know how much life insurance

Harry Bronson carried?

No, the thought never entered my mind.

Well, Mr. Williams,

you just heard the judge tell you

that you must answer these questions.

Now, where did you finally find Miss Jennings

that night?

She was on the street,

a couple of blocks from the Bronson house,

looking for a taxi.

And what was her appearance?

Her manner?

Upset, I guess.

Wouldn't hysterical be a more accurate word, Mr. Williams?

No.

No, I said before, she was crying, that's all.

Oh, I see, you took her down to your beach house

and hid her there just because she was crying.

I wasn't trying to hide her.

She was in a state of shock, you might say.

I was afraid she would...

I got this spare room.

Mr. Williams, we all understand

what she'd been through that night.

Isn't it true that you hid her at your beach house

because you were afraid of what she might do

in her hysterical condition?

Harry gave Natalie, his secretary, his keys,

so she could open the front door and let us in the side way.

And when you and the secretary left,

the keys were still in the door lock?

I suppose so; I didn't really notice.

I think that'll be all, Mr. Siebring.

Cross-examine?

Mr. Siebring, why did you and Bronson

want to enter the house through the side door

instead of the front?

Well, uh,

we just wanted to be alone for a minute, that's all.

Discuss some personal things,

money matters, without Natalie there.

Money matters?

The fact that your agency was going broke?

Going broke because Bronson had never put in his share

of the company financing he'd promised?

Mr. Mason, if you're still trying to imply

that I had no right to deposit that check of Miss Jennings'...

Your Honor, I see no reason for counsel

to pry into the business affairs of this witness.

Your Honor, this matter involves a fraud

- perpetrated against my client. - Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am curious, Mr. Siebring, why did you form a partnership

with a man like Harry Bronson in the first place?

Well, Harry had some big clients and I didn't.

At least, he had Lionel Albright.

Only instead of using him

on something that would bring in quick cash,

Harry had to go gambling on his own with summer musicals.

In other words, Bronson had no intention

of your sharing in the profits he'd made.

That's the general idea.

So when you saw a $50,000 check,

you saw a chance to avenge yourself.

No.

Temptation was too great?

- You saw a chance to... - No, that's not true.

I didn't steal that check, and I didn't kill Harry.

Oh, Mr. Mason, I didn't hit Mr. Bronson

over the head with that ash tray or anything else.

But unfortunately, your fingerprints...

Well, when I was trying to find my check.

There were some papers on the desk.

Maybe that's when I moved the ash tray.

Well, yes, maybe it is; I remember now.

I just wish you'd remembered to stay put

in Jazbo's shack on the beach.

But I told you.

Jazbo hadn't come back.

He'd already been caught like you said,

and they'd made him tell where I was.

So, you decided you just had to go out and get a hamburger.

But I was hungry.

Oh, I know you'd told me not to leave there,

and I wasn't going to run away or anything.

At least, I don't think I was, but I was all so confused.

- And Lester said... - Lester?

Lester Crawford.

It was his idea I could leave the beach house without being...

Paul, you have some long distance investigating...

- To do in a hurry, I know. - And don't forgot the nice guys.

Don't worry.

Nice guys?

Cross your fingers, Amy Jo.

But I did not pry into private affairs.

I'm a secretary.

I've done only what I've been told to do.

I am not asking about the check, Miss Graham.

I simply wanted to know when you first heard

the name Amy Jo Jennings?

When she signed her contract with us, I suppose.

You handled no messages concerning the girl before that?

Well, I did hear Mr. Bronson ask Lionel Albright

to go hear the girl's singing a few days before that.

And I remember Mr. Albright said he couldn't be bothered,

but then, of course, Mr. Bronson insisted.

And where did Bronson learn the girl's name?

It might have been after that loud young man

came visiting the first time.

Loud young man?

A disc jockey Mr. Bronson met a few years ago.

His name is Lester Crawford.

All right, yes.

I did drop in to say howdy to Bronson, but that's all.

And tell him who Amy Jo Jennings really was?

Tell him how much money she had?

Mr. Crawford, I find that you left your last employment

with a radio station in Tennessee rather hurriedly.

Well, no, actually,

I didn't see eye to eye with...

I am also informed there is a slight discrepancy

in advertising accounts

which the station would still like to talk to you about.

A discrepancy of exactly $10,000.

Isn't that true?

No, that is not true.

Remember, you're under oath.

You wouldn't want to add perjury to your other troubles,

- would you? - I, uh...

I was going to pay the station back.

How? With whose money?

Amy Jo certainly had said no to you a thousand times.

Yes, but, uh...

Was Harry Bronson going to give it to you?

He said he might.

As payment for giving him a ripe plum named Amy Jo

just ready for picking?

Now, look now, that ain't no way to talk about...

Mr. Crawford, the day after the murder,

why did you want Amy Jo caught running?

Why were you so anxious to have her look guilty?

Now look, I, uh...

Listen, Amy Jo, I didn't...

Don't talk to her, or she'll tell you that

she didn't throw that wallet of Bronson's into the shrubbery.

Now, who did? You?

Maybe I did.

He owed me the money.

He'd promised to pay me $10,000

as soon as she paid him.

Were you in the house that night?

Of course I was! Don't you understand?

I killed him.

Go on, Mr. Crawford.

He said he wouldn't pay.

He got real nasty like.

He told me to get out.

That's when I hit him.

Only he didn't get up.

I carried him to the couch.

That's when I heard Amy Jo coming in.

I hid there until after she left.

Then I picked up the wallet and went out the side.

Only there was this car pulling in there,

so I took off across the back way,

through the woods.

But the wallet, Mr. Crawford.

Well, there wasn't but $50 in it.

I read in the papers the next morning,

that they were looking for Amy Jo.

So, it was a terrible thing to do,

but I went back and tossed the wallet

right near the front where Amy Jo had passed

when she went out.

Forgive me, Amy Jo,

but I just didn't want to go to the gas chamber.

Don't you see?

Let's continue, Mr. Crawford.

Did you hit Bronson with an ash tray?

I don't know.

He might have fell against it.

I don't know.

And the, uh, car on the side road.

Amy Jo also mentioned hearing it.

Of course, we've already established

that the couple parked in front were quite oblivious of time,

perhaps even to the sound of the other car.

I didn't want the guy to see me.

The guy? What guy?

Well, sure, the guy in the car.

Now, if he saw me...

Did you see him, Mr. Albright?

What?

Did you go inside and find Bronson still unconscious

from Lester's blow,

and realize that here was your chance

to even the score with your agent?

Mr. Albright,

you're considered to be quite a nice guy.

Why did you stay with Harry Bronson's agency?

Why were you willing to waste your talent

on a speculative summer musical,

for which even Audrey Stemple insisted

she be paid some sort of advance?

I'm not a nice guy.

Amy Jo, I...

I thought that guy running through the woods

would be blamed for it, not you,

but did I open my mouth about it?

No.

Well, once I was even less of a nice guy,

and Harry knew it.

And all of these years,

he's been using me, bleeding me.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I saw my chance.

I killed him.

♪ Wake up in the morning to the alarm's ting-a-ling ♪

♪ Hop out of the hay, face the day with zing ♪

How do you like the act so far?

♪ Life can be an endless dream ♪

♪ If you use Home Folks' Freckle Cream ♪

Well?

Well, what do you think?

Well, uh, uh,

I think Jazbo has a great future

doing singing commercials.

Singing commercials? Me?

Oh, Jazbo, you'll just love it down south, Jazbo!

You'd like working for Home Folks Remedies,

after all, you said I don't belong out here so...

Stop fighting it, son.

Who cares about the future?

Going to marry the boss someday, aren't you?