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(ethereal music)

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(gentle music)

- [James] Many years ago,

my father was the senior member of the law firm

of which I was then the junior member.

It fell to his lot in the distribution of the business

of the firm to have charged primarily of the litigation

and other legal matters

in which William Marsh Rice was interesting.

As my father advanced into the evening of life,

I gradually took on greater responsibilities in the firm

and very naturally succeeded to much of the business,

which had formerly received his personal attention,

thereby bringing me more and more into contact

with Mr. Rice,

who was said to be the wealthiest man in Texas.

- Where are we?

- College Station, halfway home.

- The Agricultural and Mechanical College.

- Sir.

- Let's take a look.

- We're about to pull out.

- Then we better hurry.

- Well, what's at A&M?

- Higher education.

- Mr. Rice.

Mr. Rice, why don't you come back tomorrow?

If they knew you were coming,

maybe they'd give you a guided tour.

- [Mr. Rice] You are always afraid to have fun.

(train engine rumbling)

- Mr. Rice, the train's moving.

(train engine rumbling)

Mr. Rice.

Oh, hell.

- [Attendee] You want this?

- [Mr. Rice] I wonder if we could get Jonathan there

from Cambridge, a chemist.

- [James] As Mr. Rice had no children of his own,

he had decided to leave his estate

to the boys and girls of Texas

in the form of an institute of higher learning.

Some said he chose the one place on earth

where it was needed the most.

- I shouldn't have bent it, but it wasn't his fault.

He tried to stop me.

- He should have tried harder.

He needs to take better care

of the firm's most important client.

- What are they doing?

I did not tell them to plant those trees there.

Now you, you've messed up.

I don't want those trees there.

I did not tell you to put them there.

- There's your immortality judge.

Someone to carry on your name.

If Libby and I had children,

well, I'd have someplace else to leave my money.

- Mr. Rice, do you appreciate what this will do for Houston

or the entire state?

- I expect it to do some good.

- You have the reputation, perhaps not totally undeserved,

of being a wild territory

of illiterate horsemen and hooligans.

- Some of us Texans are mighty proud

of our horsemen and hooligans, Mr. Raphael.

You're not in England anymore.

- Captain, there's not a day that passes by

I'm not reminded of that fact.

- I should like to propose a toast to Mr. Rice's institute.

May it be as magnificent as his vision.

(glasses clinking)

- Mr. rice, this is crazy.

We can't plant the trees between the buildings

when we don't know where the building's gonna be.

- My dear, I think you're doing a splendid job.

- Oh, but doesn't it make more sense

to start construction now?

Maybe we could build a little cottage next to the campus?

- Libby, if people ever got wind of how much money I have

and what I'm willing to do with it,

the line of beggars would stretch from here

to New York City.

You would just have to wait

on a building till after I'm dead.

- Well, that might take years.

- I certainly hope so.

- Well, what's the good of being rich

if nobody knows about it?

Oh, no. No, no, not there.

- Mr. Rice, who's gonna be in charge?

I mean, if we can't get started

until after you pass on, can't you?

- I'm putting my lawyer in charge.

What do you say to that?

- This isn't Judge Baker, Mr. Rice, it's his son.

He doesn't have the experience.

- I know who he is, dammit, I'm not senile.

I need someone young and strong

to take over the reins when I'm gone.

You do want the job, don't you?

- I don't know anything about running a college.

- You've got plenty of time to learn.

My great-grandfather lived to be 101 years old

and I intend to break his record.

Now, I'm putting my trust in you

to make this something worthwhile.

Well, what do you say?

Oh, my god.

- Come on, Mrs. Rice, we've been all through this.

It's what you want.

- I don't understand.

- Has the doctor been here?

- Mr. Rice, I believe so.

I just stopped by to tell my wife

I won't be home for supper.

Captain. - Mr. Warren. Ma'am.

- Will you excuse us?

- Johnny, well, you look so young.

- It's Jim Baker, Libby, he has some papers for you to sign.

- He wanted me to sign some papers too, but I didn't.

And you ought to be obliged to me.

- Who, Mr. Warren?

- I hope you didn't come to take me back to Silver City

'cause I won't go.

- No ma'am.

- Well, Johnny,

you don't have a thought in your head.

You never did.

- Libby, I have some medicine for you

that'll make you feel much better.

Why don't you just a little drop?

There you go.

- [James] Mrs. Rice never fully recovered

the use of her faculties.

And after a few weeks, she passed away.

- I fell in love with that woman when I was 25.

She was the mayor's daughter.

The sweetest, prettiest little thing.

- Johnny Brown took her off to California in the Gold Rush.

20 years later, she came back a widow.

And I asked her to marry me.

I suppose the old folks have to die off

so there'll be room for the young ones.

What can you do about this?

I had Warren left it in my mailbox yesterday.

- Is this your signature? - Looks to be.

- Just giving away a lot of money?

- Half my estate. Can she do that?

- It's community property.

10% for the executor, that's pretty high.

- Do you realize what this does to the institute,

your institute, Mr. Chairman of the board of trustees?

- [James] Has Warren ever done any legal work for you

or your wife before?

- [Mr. Rice] Not that I know of, no.

- [James] You think he put her up to it?

- [Mr. Rice] Probably.

What can we do about it?

- [James] Well, look, this is dated May 30th.

That was after her stroke, wasn't it?

- [Mr. Rice] Could we prove

she didn't know what she was doing?

- [James] We get some witnesses to back us up.

- [Mr. Rice] Witnesses?

Everyone she knew gets money outta that will,

they're not going to testify against it.

Get in.

- If I signed any papers at any time,

giving her willing away any of my property,

I did so without knowing their purpose

and direct my executor to declare them illegal

and act as he thinks best.

- As he thinks best.

- I trust my husband will give no trouble to my executor.

- [Mr. Rice] Oh, well, I'll give him trouble.

I'll shoot the son of a bitch.

It's something worthwhile.

And I don't want it to be a bit physical.

No settlement.

- I don't know, we're gonna have a hard time fighting it.

- I don't care, he's a scallywag and a thief.

No settlements.

- To get off without a fight,

now he might settle for--

- [Mr. Rice] No settlements.

It's the institute's money.

- Good afternoon, Mr. Rice.

- [Mr. Rice] Where did that come from?

- Well, I found it in the store room

with a note asking me to hold it for Mr. Stanbury,

but it's got your name on it.

- [Mr. Rice] You're Jones, aren't you?

- Yes, sir. Charlie Jones.

- [Mr. Rice] Well, then bring it in, Jones.

Put it over there.

- She didn't have a claim to your separate property,

what you had before you were married.

- Oh, that won't save us much.

Here's something for you.

- Thank you.

Well, aren't you gonna open her up?

I was hoping that you would in case there was a treasure,

maybe there'd be a reward.

- A reward? - If there was a treasure.

- Oh, right, 10% of all the treasure.

- I hope it's a million dollars.

- I do too.

- Go ahead, open it up.

- Well, it's locked,

but if you don't have a key I could pry it open.

- Go ahead. Go ahead.

- Perhaps it's a question of residence.

- Residence?

Use some leverage on that.

- I'm trying.

- Let me see what I can do.

- I sure been wondering what's in her.

- Oh, that's no use. We'll have to get a locksmith.

- [James] Locksmith, this whole drum.

- Leave it to a lawyer to think of something sneaky.

- Open her up.

- I remember Libby dancing in this dress.

- Oh, I was sure hoping for something more valuable.

- Son, don't count on getting rich the easy way.

You'd just be doomed for disappointment.

- Yes, sir.

- Mr. Rice, what state is your legal residence?

- Ever since I got married, I've traveled back and forth

between Texas and New York.

New York has no community property.

- And if we can prove you and your wife

were residents of New York and not Texas,

the court would rule this invalid.

- We did live in New York. I still do.

- Residence is a slippery concept.

For now, I suggest you settle your affairs in Houston

as soon as possible and return to New York.

- I hate the thought of going back to New York by myself.

- Well, Jones, did you discover any treasure?

- Just this purse, sir, with $5.30 in it.

- And how much is 10% of that?

- 53 cents, the way I reckon it.

- That's right.

Here you go, 50, one, two, three.

Too bad it wasn't a million dollars,

but I do appreciate you bringing me the trunk.

- Oh, it wasn't anything.

- [Mr. Rice] Are you a married man, Jones?

- Oh, no sir, I'm still window shopping.

- How much do I pay you here at the hotel?

- $20 a month.

- Ever been to New York?

I'll be going there in a few days,

how'd you like to go along?

- Me?

- I need someone to act as a sort of a valet,

cook meals for me, write letters.

You can write, can't you?

- Oh, yes sir, I can write.

- I'll give you a room and board and $25 a month.

What do you say?

- Well, how soon are we going? - Right away.

- New York City.

- In gathering evidence to support

Mr. Rice's New York residence.

I traveled north in the summer of 1900.

(jaunty music)

- Jim Baker. - Charlie Jones.

Well, well, how are you?

- Good, sir.

- I am sure you'll like the Fifth Avenue.

It's an old hotel, but one of the best.

- I'm sure it'll do fine.

- Is this peptonized milk?

- Yes, ma'am. - Good.

- Maria's been guarding my diet like a watchdog.

- Yeah, you deserve it.

- Sir, this somo stuff came.

There was 35 cents postage due, so I only have--

- Postage due? - Yes, sir.

- Why, that shipment is always sent prepaid, Charlie.

You know that.

- Well, I didn't think he'd ask me for it--

- Of course you didn't think.

He asked you for the money and you paid him.

I'll bet he does that all the time

and there's always some dunderhead there willing to pay him.

- William, it's only 35 cents.

- It's the principle.

I don't like anybody stealing my money.

Somebody's gotta get that son of a gun fired.

Charlie, get your typewriter.

- Yes, sir.

- This will only take a few minutes

and if I don't do it now,

I won't be angry enough later on.

Here, try this.

Maria says, if you drink a glass every morning,

you'll live to be 100.

To the United States Express Company--

- If I had to drink this every day,

I don't know if I'd wanna live to be 100.

- If you desire a healthy body,

you must be very careful what you put into it.

- And claimed that 35 cents

postage was due on the shipment.

- 35 cents.

- About this deposition.

You won't ask me anything too embarrassing, would you?

- Oh no, ma'am.

I'll just ask you a few questions about Mr. and Mrs. Rice,

where they lived,

where they considered their home, that sort of thing.

You just tell what you know.

- I suggest that you seriously investigate

the character of your delivery man.

- [James] We're trying to prove

they were residents of New York.

- Well, that shouldn't be too difficult.

After all they did live here.

- Nothing to it.

- [Bailiff] Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- Yes, I do.

- Mrs. Vandermeer, it is in evidence

that for several years, Mr. and Mrs. Rice

occupied apartments at the Berkshire Hotel,

500 Madison Avenue.

Did you ever visit them there?

- Quite often. They had me over every week or so.

- While Mr. and Mrs. Rice occupied these apartments,

do you know where their home or domicile was?

- Right there in their apartments.

- The defendants object to the question

because it is leading to the answer

because it states the opinion and conclusion of the witness.

- How do you know this was Mr. and Mrs. Rice's home?

- Because they considered it their home

and they told me so all the time.

- The defendants object to the question

because it's leading into the answer

because it state the opinion, the conclusion of the witness.

- Well, what else could Mr. and Mrs. Rice have said?

It was their home. It was where they lived.

- Mr. Warren is objecting for the record.

Just answer as best you can.

To whom and on what occasion

did Mr. and Mrs. Rice express themselves

that these apartments in New York were their home?

- To me and to a whole lot of other people.

And whenever the subject of Texas came up,

Mr. Rice always said, "New York is my honing."

- The defendants object to the question--

- I am telling exactly what Mr. Rice always said to me,

and I have not deviated from the truth one iota.

- The defendants objected the answer

because the declaration of the complainant is not admissible

to establish the fact of domicile.

- I think that's enough.

- May I leave?

- Unless Mr. Warren has something to ask.

- Mrs. Vandermeer, how many times have you been married?

- Twice.

- What was your first husband's name?

- Joseph Wright.

- When did you marry him?

- It is so long ago, I don't believe I can remember.

- You don't remember your first marriage?

- Of course I remember the marriage.

I don't remember the date.

- Oh, oh, oh.

Well, do you remember if you had any children?

- Yes. One.

- One.

Now, how long did you continue with your first husband

as his wife?

- Do I have to answer these questions?

I really don't want to.

- I'm afraid all I can do is object for the record.

You should try to answer the best you can.

How long did you continue with your first husband

as his wife?

- I don't remember.

- Were you separated, divorced?

- That is not any of your business.

- Patrick, this line of questioning

is completely irrelevant.

- Well, where is your first husband now?

- I don't know.

- You don't know.

And this child of this man whom you can't remember marrying,

could this child be illegitimate?

- Excuse us one moment.

- Jim, I'm sorry, I'm just following Warren's instructions.

- Well, I want you to stop.

Maria Vandermeer is a fine lady.

- Will you withdraw her as a witness?

- I can't do that.

- Well, I suppose I could try a different tack.

- Thank you.

- Mrs. Vandermeer, we've established that you are a widow

and a friend of Mr. Rice.

- That is correct.

- [Patrick] How close a friend?

- I beg your pardon?

- Does he give you presents?

- Presents?

- Money.

Does Mr. Rice give you money?

- Captain Baker, I can't do this.

How dare you?

- Mrs. Vandermeer, I'm sorry, I didn't expect...

- Counselor, you really should be more careful

in your choice of witnesses.

- Who is this Patrick fellow?

Well, he used to practice in Texas until he got disbarred.

- Well, he ought to be hanged

right alongside you for letting him get away with it.

- Maybe so.

- Jim, this isn't Domino's.

There's over $2 million of the institute's money at stake.

- I know that now.

Sir, I'm very sorry about what happened to Mrs. Vandermeer.

- Maria's tough as tar paper.

Actually, it's the institute I'm worried about.

Our opponents seem to be doing their homework.

Now I sure as hell don't want to be caught

flatfooted a second time.

Well, I'll be more careful, I promise.

See that you are and don't bill me for that deposition.

- Fair enough.

It was about this time

that Albert Patrick came to call on Mr. Rice

and made the acquaintance of Charlie Jones.

- Is Mr. Rice in?

- Well, he's doing his exercises right now.

- Well, how long might that take?

- Well, he generally goes to bed right after.

Why don't you come back in the morning?

- You a friend of Mr. Rice?

- Well, I kinda take care of him.

- That sounds like a pretty challenging job

from what I hear.

- Yeah.

What'd you say your name was?

- Phillip Smith. What's yours?

- Charlie Jones.

- You sound like you're from Texas, Mr. Jones.

- I was born and raised in Goose Creek.

- Well, I used to live in Harris County myself.

- You on your way out?

- Just to mail some letters.

- Well, let me buy you a beer?

Us Texans in New York have to stick together, you know?

- Yeah, because you can't understand

what any of 'em are saying up here.

(both laughs)

(performer singing in foreign language)

(attendees claps)

And I'm his secretary as well as his valet.

I mean, whatever he tells me, letters, checks,

sometimes for thousands of dollars.

I write him up and he signs them.

Did you know that he's a millionaire?

- [Joy] Really, a millionaire?

- And you're his closest friend?

- Yeap. (group chuckles)

- Boy, oh boy, I sure wish I was in your shoes.

- Well, heck, your feet are way too big. (chuckles)

- So Charlie, is he gonna leave you any of his money?

- Mr. Rice?

Hell, I don't know.

- Well, he ought to, you are his best friend.

- She's right. What happens to you when he dies?

You're outta work, you're outta money,

you're 2000 miles from home.

That doesn't seem fair, does it?

- I don't guess so.

- Well, have you seen his will?

- No, he's bound to leave me something.

- Charlie, we need some more champagne.

- I guess he is.

- We can't just sit here if we don't drink.

- I'm busted.

- Sure. Let's have another bottle.

This is a special night, isn't it?

- Gosh, Phillip.

- Charlie? - Yeah.

- Can I trust you?

- Sure.

- At dinners and parties,

Mrs. Rice loved the New York society.

- And when she arrived at a ball

or other social occasion, was there any particular way

Mrs. Rice liked to be introduced?

- Well, yes, she often asks to be announced

as Mrs. Rice of Texas often.

- Mr. Hudson, you're speaking of social functions

that took place where?

- Various locations around New York City, as I was asked to.

- Yes, you were.

You are a beneficiary of Mrs. Rice's will aren't you?

- Yes, sir.

- The defendant objects on the grounds

the question is completely irrelevant.

- Did you ever live in Houston, Texas?

- Yes, sir, for several years.

- Did you ever attend a social function

at which Mrs. Rice was present?

- Oh, many times.

- Do you remember how Mrs. Rice was introduced in Houston?

- Well, I'm not sure.

- Mr. Hudson, we're all after the same thing here,

the truth.

Find out what is fair

and to guide our actions by what the law provides.

Now you believe that should be our goal, don't you?

Oh, certainly, yes.

Well, you have said that when Mrs. Rice was in New York,

she liked to be referred to as Mrs. Rice of Texas.

I've never attended any social functions in New York

and I'd never heard her referred to as Mrs. Rice of Texas.

But I have attended many such social occasions in Houston,

and I remember quite clearly

how she liked to be referred to there,

and I'll wager you do too.

- Well, Mrs. Rice of New York.

I guess she thought it sounded like she was more important,

you know, being from out of town.

I completely forgot about that just now. (laughs)

- [James] It's not a complete design, more of an idea.

- It seems very European.

- [James] The architect said the weather in Texas

is a lot like it.

- I like it.

You're not anxious to begin construction?

- Oh no, just looking ahead.

And here's something you may want to have a look at.

It's been a while since we drafted it.

- Well, I'll look at it,

but I don't think there are any changes need to be made.

Let's get my wife's will taken care of first.

- Warren wants a settlement.

He knows he doesn't have a case.

- Don't let him have it.

I'd rather spend a million dollars

fighting him than let him have one dime.

- [James] A million dollars?

- Well, let me rephrase that.

Don't compromise. Prevail.

- Yes, sir.

(horse steps clacking)

(door knocks)

- Yes.

- Does Mr. Patrick live here, the lawyer?

(door knocks)

- Mr. Patrick, you have a visitor.

- Coming.

Oh, Mr. Jones.

Well, come in, come in.

Thank you, Mrs. Francis.

I hope you weren't disturb.

- Oh no, not at all.

- I was about to give up on you.

- I am not in it.

- Christ. An institute?

What kind of institute?

- After all I've done for that old man.

- A college.

All that money, and he's leaving it to a college.

And Baker's in charge.

You're right, you're not mentioned at all.

I think Mr. Rice needs a new will.

- Yeah.

- How do you feel about the old man?

You don't like him?

- No, except when he chews me out for being dumb.

I can't think of things the way he can, he's real smart.

- Smart enough to murder his own wife and get away with it.

- Who did? - Mr. Rice.

- Oh, he didn't kill her, she died of a stroke.

- That's what he wants everyone to think.

He poisoned her for her money.

- No.

Do you swear to God?

- That's why I'm working for Mr. Warren.

We're trying to get back Mrs. Rice's money

for all her friends and relations where she wanted it to go.

- Oh, well I can't see Mr. Rice poisoning anybody,

especially his wife.

- Anyone could commit murder

under the right circumstances, Charlie.

- Even Mr. Rice?

- Bringing me this will was a very courageous thing to do.

- I thought you might wanna see it.

- Yeah. I have a present for you too.

- You do?

- Mm-hm. Look in there.

(gentle suspenseful music)

Well, you remember Miss-- - Joy.

- Miss Joy.

You have her for half an hour.

Try not to make too much noise.

We don't want Mrs. Francis to know.

(singer vocalizing in foreign language)

- Who's that one too?

- Jimmy, he's six.

He can already play "Yankee Doodle" on the piano.

- It must be nice to have a family.

- Don't you have a girl?

- Not really.

I think I need to make something of myself.

Get a better job. Be more important.

Charlie, you've got a wonderful job taking care of Mr. Rice.

Well, yeah, but he's not gonna live forever.

Then where will I be?

He plans to live to be 100.

- He might.

Is it true he got rich selling cotton

to the Yankees during the war?

- Where'd you hear that?

- I don't know. I just heard that's how he got rich.

- Well, during the war, the Yankees blockhead the coast

and Texas planters couldn't sell their crops.

So Mr. Rice and some other men

had them set up trade routes through Mexico.

Texas economy would not have survived.

- So he did get Rich down to the Yankees.

He's a traitor.

- Who have you been talking to?

- [Charlie] Nobody.

- If Mr. Rice heard you talking like that,

he'd take a whip to you.

- He probably would.

- Charlie, is it safe?

- Yeah, he's just gone to bed.

- Good. Did you type out that letter for me?

- I sure did.

Only I don't see how you're gonna get Mr. Rice to sign this.

I mean, you're not his lawyer.

- I'll take care of that.

Now address some of his envelopes to me.

We'll need postmarks for all these letters

he's been writing.

- You think of everything.

- Then we'll start on the will.

Yes, sir, in a few weeks, you and I'll have it all.

We'll sail to Europe.

We'll have lunch on the Eiffel Tower,

and we'll go see the girls at the Folies Bergere.

- Yeah. (chuckles)

- Men like James Baker won't be fit to black my boots.

- How are we gonna do all this without Mr. Rice finding out?

- Well, perhaps you could suggest

how we might put him out of the way?

- Mr. Rice? Hell, you have to use a Gatling gun.

He's healthy as a horse.

- What if he got sick for a while?

Then people get used to the idea

that he's not healthy as a horse.

Then they won't be surprised when he passes away.

- Well, what if he doesn't get sick?

- Charlie, it's gonna be up to you to see that he does.

Give him some medicine.

What's that? Is that poison?

- Well, it's not what his doctor would prescribe for him,

but it is medicine.

That'll just weaken him

and we'll let nature take its course.

And if necessary, I'll help him along.

Then when the time's right,

bring out the old bastard's new will

and you and I will be the heirs to over $6 million.

- Excuse me, Charlie, I didn't realize you had company.

- Mr. Rice, this is a friend of mine.

This is Alfred-- - Alfred Curtis.

Mr. Rice, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Mr. Jones has told me what a fine gentleman you are.

I hope you're feeling well.

- Yes, thank you.

I was having a little trouble sleeping

and I was gonna ask Charlie to fix me some warm milk.

But no hurry, just when you have time.

- [Charlie] I'll come right away with it, sir.

- Very good. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Curtis.

- Thank you, sir, pleasure's all mine.

- Do you think that he heard us?

- Of course not.

Here, give him some of these.

Tell him they'll help him sleep.

- Oh Lordy, I don't know, Albert.

- Charlie, the man's a murderer.

- You'll be a hero.

- I'll be a murderer.

- No, you'll be a hero.

(gentle staccato music)

- Evening, ma'am.

Is Mr. Rice here?

- He'll be back shortly.

I don't know whether to be upset with you, Captain Baker.

- I'm really very sorry about what happened.

- Oh, good you're here.

Excuse me, but I've had a little accident

and I have to go home.

But I'm sure Jim can take good care of you.

- Willie, are you all right?

- Oh, oh, yes, really. Nothing serious.

A bit of digestive rebellion,

but I certainly can't stay here.

- Here, take some of these, vitalize tissue salts.

You take one now and one every morning. Promise me.

- Goodbye, Maria.

Goodnight Jim.

Have a good trip back, and kiss your wife for me.

- [James] Yes, I'll kiss her for both of us.

Goodnight sir.

- All right.

(gentle staccato music)

- Can you really hear anything?

That's not where I would--

- Shh, shh.

- What is it?

- Mr. Rice, when we get older,

we must be very careful of our diet.

- I've been careful of my diet for 20 years now.

Isn't there anything you can do?

- Mr. Rice, you're 80 years old.

- [Mr. Rice] 84.

- Most people would be glad to be alive at all.

- Well, my great grandfather--

- I've heard all about your great grandfather.

Now, you may live to be 100 too

if you eat plenty of red meat

and stay away from too much exercise.

Now, I'll come back on Monday.

(train engine rumbling)

- Jimmy.

Jimmy boy.

- Oh, couldn't you wait for the train to stop?

- Lord, I missed you.

- Hey Jimmy, what's that inside your ear there?

- Did you bring me a present too?

- Aww, honey, I sure did.

- Did you bring me something too?

- Oh yeah.

- Now dentist are murdering people.

- Sir?

- This article in The Times.

Did you know that last month,

three people died in New York alone

because dentists used too much chlorophyll?

- Well, I didn't think that was supposed to kill you.

- It must. Enough of it.

Here, take them

- Mr. Rice, why don't you take some of your medicine?

- Every time I think of those pills, I get sick.

- Well, Dr. Curry says they're real mild.

At least take one.

- You take one.

- Well, there's nothing wrong with me.

- Well, if it's so mild, it won't hurt you.

- Don't you trust me? - Take one dammit.

- Yes, sir.

- There. Do you trust me now?

- I'm sorry, Charlie.

I'm just not accustomed to being sick.

- Good afternoon, Charlie.

- Hello, Willie.

- Maria, what are the lights--

- You sit right back down. You look absolutely awful.

- It's nothing serious.

Just a case of the galloping. What's this?

- What's the doctor say?

- Oh, he says I'm getting old.

I think the man's an idiot.

- Horse pills, you take them away, thank you.

I have what you need right here, plantains.

- Well, what's that?

- They're from Brazil

and they're just the thing for diarrhea.

Charlie, cook up a few of these for Mr. Rice

and then make sure he eats them.

- Yes, ma'am. Sir?

- Go ahead, Charlie, I'm willing to try anything.

- He's cute, isn't he?

- Cute? Haha.

- Really, you're in such a foul mood these days.

We've gotta get you well.

- Maybe I am just getting older

and getting ready to die.

- Please cheer up.

Think of life as a party, a really grand party.

If you worry too much about

when the party's going to be over,

you are not gonna have any fun while it lasts.

- And if you overdo it at the party,

do you have to pay for it the next morning?

- Well, let's see.

No, you just sleep it all.

Just imagine everyone in the world spending eternity

just sleeping off their party.

Thing is, you have to be sure

the party's worth sleeping off.

The best, the biggest.

- And one that'll remembered for a long time after.

(dramatic music)

- Charlie, I got to talk to Maria

about her natural cures.

- Aren't you feeling any better, Mr. Rice?

- Worse, worse, worse, Charlie.

- What is it?

- Pain.

- Hold on. It'll be all right.

- Give me some of those pain pills.

- Mr. Rice, this isn't really,

I mean, what I mean is,

I've been, well, God...

- Take me to the bathroom, Charlie.

- Yes, sir.

(dramatic music)

(Mr. Rice coughing)

- What a mess.

- It's all right, I'll take care of it.

Oh, Charlie.

Charlie, you're so good to me.

So kind.

I don't know how I can manage without you.

(thunder rumbling)

- For instance, they offer courses in 57 subjects.

Archeology, architecture,

astronomy.

- Astronomy?

What about biology?

- Biology?

Biology. Biology.

Botany. Zoology.

Anatomy.

- Anatomy. Now that's a subject I know something about.

This is the tibia,

and this is the patella.

- Do tell.

- And this is the femur.

- Mom, I'm scared.

- Oh, honey. - Oh, sweetie.

Come on, sweetie.

- Come here. Let me see.

- I suppose anatomy will have to wait for another day.

(wind whistling)

The hurricane that struck Galveston and Houston

in the fall of 1900

was the worst natural disaster on record.

Thousands of lives were lost,

and a great number of homes and buildings were destroyed,

including a large cotton oil mill owned by Mr. Rice.

- Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Jones.

Come in.

- So how's our friend?

- Man, he's still pretty sick.

He sent us some money down to Texas.

- $25,000?

- What's this for?

- The hurricane down in Houston

knocked out one of Mr. Rice's factories.

I gotta send this telegram to Captain Baker.

- So an account of 250,000 available for repairs,

25,000 coming now.

There goes our grand prize.

- What do you mean?

- That quarter of a million dollars

is his most liquid asset.

If he spends that now,

Charlie, I'm afraid Mr. Rice has forced our hand.

- [Charlie] What are you gonna do?

- There is no time for me to do it.

It has to be you.

- [Charlie] Oh no.

I can't, please.

- Charlie, all our plans depend on you.

- [Charlie] But he's a good old man.

I can't hurt him anymore, Albert, I just can't.

- He's a good old man. I can't hurt him anymore.

- I'm sorry, I know it's my fault.

- Listen, you little snot.

I'm not gonna let you squirm out of this.

Not after all the planning I've done, not after all my work.

Well, it's over, isn't it?

- What?

- When the draft goes through, it's finished.

You poor boy, I know what you've been through.

You've been so courageous.

- You're not mad at me?

- Of course not.

I just don't wanna lose you, Charlie.

I just wanted to make it work.

- I did too.

- Well, there is one more thing we can do.

- What is that?

- Chloroform.

Remember that newspaper article?

Use a little bit of this.

You'll be completely finished.

No more poisoning,

no more wondering if you're gonna be found out.

No more Mr. Rice.

- [Charlie] Oh, Albert, no.

- If you don't do this for me,

I'll tell Mr. Rice that you've been poisoning him

and then I'll leave you.

- All right.

(gentle foreboding music)

(doorbell dings)

- Oh Jesus, oh Jesus.

- William. (door knocks)

Willie, I have Dr. Babson here.

- He's a very good endocrinologist.

- Oh Jesus.

- Willie?

- Lexington, 922, please.

♪ Up form the grave, he arose ♪

♪ With a mighty triumph over his foes ♪

♪ He arose a victor from the dark domain ♪

♪ He arose ♪

♪ He arose ♪

♪ Hallelujah, Christ arose ♪

(telephone ringing)

- Hello.

- Hello. May I speak to Mr. Patrick, please?

- Yes, just a moment.

Mr. Patrick, I believe it's Mr. Jones.

- Thank you.

- Hello.

- Oh God, I'm pretty sure I killed him.

- So it's done, is it?

Call Dr. Curry and tell him to come at once.

I'll be there as soon as I can.

Stay calm, Charlie.

Everything ahead will be easy.

- Oh Lord, I hope so.

(brooding music)

- He's dead are all right.

How long ago did you find him?

- Just a few minutes before I called you.

- Was he noticeably uncomfortable today?

- Well, he got real sick yesterday

after he ate a bunch of bananas.

Mrs. Vandermeer gave them to him.

- I told him not to listen to that mad woman.

- He's been sick for so long and a man of his age, you know?

- Evening Charlie. Doctor.

- I trust Mr. Rice isn't having a relapse.

- Well, I'm afraid it's far more serious than that.

- Oh my God.

Poor man.

- I hadn't realized that you were so close to him.

- Oh, Mr. Rice was more than just a client.

He was my friend.

Well, he had very specific instructions

in the event of his death,

he wanted to be cremated as soon as possible.

Could you fill out a certificate of death

so we can proceed with a cremation in the morning?

- Well, you can start the arrangement in the morning.

You know, of course there must be 24-hour notice

before the body can be cremated.

- A full day?

- Well, it takes that long to prepare the furnace.

You can call the crematory yourself.

I doubt if anyone will be there on Sunday though.

Well, if you have no further need of me, gentlemen,

I'll be on my way.

Good evening, Charlie.

- Thank you, Doctor, you've been very helpful.

- Good evening, Mr. Patrick.

My condolences on the loss of your friend.

- What are you doing?

- As executive of his estate,

I'm in charge of all his property now.

- But his wallet, his watch.

- You want some? Here.

- It doesn't seem right.

- All right, where'd he keep his papers?

Here's his will, good.

- Why does he have to be cremated?

- So there can't be an autopsy.

- If there's an autopsy, can they tell that we killed him?

- Let's hope not.

Now, this is what you do.

You telegraph Baker and tell him Rice is dead

and the service will be here on Thursday.

That'll give him time to get here

and give us time to get ready for him.

Do they keep any more cash here?

- Not that I know of.

That $25,000 bank draft.

You still have it, don't you?

We'll tear it up and write one out to me.

- To you? - Yes.

I'll go to the bank in the morning

before anybody knows he's dead.

If they telephone,

tell them they should honor it, all right?

- Are you sure this is all right?

I mean, he didn't want me to write one out to you.

- He didn't want you to kill him either.

Charlie, listen to me, if anybody asks you any questions

you don't want to answer, just act confused.

- That shouldn't be too hard to do.

- The old bastard deserved to die. Remember that.

- You continue to do your homework, Captain.

I think you like the idea of this institute.

- How many students do you think we should start with?

About a hundred?

- Excuse me, Captain, it's just arrived.

It's from Charlie Jones.

- [Mr. Raphael] Let's start small. We can always grow.

- Mr. Rice has passed away. - Sorry, sir.

- It seems that we may be building Mr. Rice's institute

sooner than we thought.

- Good morning. - Morning.

- Mr. Swenson.

- I'll need to verify a check of this size,

if you'll excuse me.

- [Albert] Certainly.

- Lexington 122.

(telephone ringing)

- Mr. Rice's residence.

- This is Eric Swenson.

Is Mr. Rice in?

- He can't come to the telephone. May I help you?

- I'm calling to verify a bank draft.

- If it's to Albert Patrick for $25,000,

you should honor it.

- That's the one. Thank you very much.

It is good, if you'll just endorse it on the back.

- I already have.

- So I see. Very well then.

Is there a problem?

- Your first name, what is it?

- Albert, why do you ask?

- I'm afraid this draft is made out to Albert Patrick.

A-B-E-R-T.

- Mr. Rice must have misspelled my name.

I'll just endorse it again as Albert.

That is the proper procedure, isn't it?

- Usually.

Wait, let me try to telephone once again

just to make certain.

- Look, that's Mr. Rice's draft.

That's his signature, you called his man to verify it.

Now what's the trouble?

- We have a responsibility to our depositors

and matters of this nature.

Surely you can wait another minute or two.

- Oh, well I must have left out the L,

it is supposed to read Albert Patrick.

- You wrote the draft?

- Well, I write all of Mr. Rice's drafts,

but he signed it.

- I'm afraid I must insist on speaking to Mr. Rice.

- Well, he can't come to the telephone.

- [Swenson] Surely you could disturb him

when the matter is important.

- Well, I can't disturb him. Nobody can disturb him.

- But why in heaven's name not?

- Because he's dead.

- What did you say?

- Mr. Rice is dead.

- He died last night.

- [Swenson] But you said he was there?

- Well, his body is,

but he's gonna be cremated tomorrow morning.

- I see. But I'm very sad to hear it.

Mr. Rice was a fine gentleman.

Mr. Patrick, I'm afraid we cannot honor your draft.

It appears Mr. Rice is dead.

- I'm aware of that.

He wrote the check on Saturday, the day before he died.

Mr. Rice wanted me to have that money.

- It's our policy to freeze all funds

on the death of a customer.

Your draft will be paid in due course if it's valid.

Now look, I'm the executor of Mr. Rice's estate.

If you can't do business with me,

I'm certain I can find another bank that will.

- Mr. Patrick, should such circumstances arise,

that is your prerogative.

Until then, however, I suggest you sit quietly and wait.

Get me Western Union.

- Hello sweetheart.

- Hello James, I'm so sorry.

- I'm gonna miss the old fella.

- How long will you be going this time?

- I don't know. Maybe a week?

- Seems like you just got back.

- Captain Baker.

- What, another one?

- It just arrived.

- Oh my, Mr. Rice died under suspicious circumstances.

Body will be cremated tomorrow. Cremated.

- Who's it from? - Swenson, Rice's banker.

- I'll start getting your things together.

- Right.

- Shall I check the train schedule?

- Put me on the first train to New York.

Get this over to Western Union right away.

We need to stop this cremation.

- Yes, sir.

(train engine rattling)

- Oh, here it is.

Millionaire's funeral set for 10:30 AM, Thursday.

Jones is not giving us much time to unpack.

Who's this fellow Patrick?

- Albert Patrick?

- Rice's attorney Albert Patrick stated

that Rice left him the estate of more than $5 million,

largely go to his relatives

and business relations in Houston.

- Oh lord.

- I suppose that includes the institute.

Do you know him?

- I sure do.

Has the service started?

- [Coachman] I don't think so, sir.

- Where are you taking the body?

- Straight to the crematory, as fast as I can.

- You're Baker, aren't you?

- That's right. - You think it was murder?

- Murder?

- Captain Baker of Houston cries murder.

- Who are you?

- Walter MacArthur, New York graphic.

Who do you think did it?

- Now, slow down.

We don't know anything about a murder,

but we do need some help.

You know the county coroner?

- Like my brother.

- Can you get him to stop the cremation?

- I'll have to move fast.

That's a story on this.

Can I get an exclusive?

- [James] If you're successful.

Mr. Rafael will go with you.

- [Walter] Come with me then.

- Lord, thou hath made by days as it were a span long

and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee.

For man is quiet of himself in vain,

he heath without riches

and cannot tell who shall gather them.

And now, Lord, what is my hope?

Truly my hope is even in thee.

For as much as it has pleased Almighty God

and his wise providence to take to himself

the soul of our deceased brother,

we therefore commit his body earth to earth,

ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Looking for the general resurrection in the last day

through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

- [All] Amen.

(pensive organ music)

- Hold on, Patrick, I want a word with you.

- Jim, I'm handling this.

Come along, gentlemen, the hearse is waiting downstairs.

- Don't move that casket.

Come with me.

(pensive organ music continues)

Who puts you in charge here?

- The old man himself.

I came here to try to get him to compromise

on his wife's will.

At first, he'd have nothing to do with me,

but I was persistent until he finally realized

it was his only logical course of action.

- You got him to agree to a settlement?

- [Albert] Mr. Rice was a very intelligent man.

- Why wasn't I-- (door knocks)

- Come in, Mr. Raphael.

- Ah, Mr. Raphael. Delighted to meet you.

I'm Albert Patrick.

Mr. Rice mentioned your name so many times.

He thought very highly of you.

- Thank you. It's true then?

- I haven't seen any proof.

- Well, you haven't asked for any.

Here's an agreement dated July 6th

that officially makes me Mr. Rice's attorney.

- That's his signature.

- The news isn't all bad, Jim.

One of the first things Mr. Rice had me do

was draw up a new will.

Take a look.

In it, you'll find that both you and Mr. Raphael

come out a good deal better than under the old will.

As trustees of the Rice Institute,

you'll both be paid generous fees.

And Jim is co-executor,

your fee is substantially larger than before.

That's his signature too.

- [Albert] He signed it at the bottom of each page.

- I'm co-executor of this?

What do you get out of it?

- In actuality, not as much as you.

Mr. Rice did, however, have me work up a secret trust

for charitable purposes.

He privately specified to me how he wanted a portion

of his estate handled

and he leaves me in charge of that part.

- Whoa, that part seems to be about 90% of the estate.

- Good lord.

- Not to me personally, Mr. Raphael,

but for the secret trust.

- Mr. Rice told you in secret

how he wanted his money spent and he gives it to you

and trust you to spend it that way?

No, we are not talking about the same Mr. Rice.

- There were certain confidential aspects to our work

that the executors should discuss in privately.

If you'll excuse us, Ms. Raphael.

You've been working on settling Mrs. Rice's will

for some time, haven't you?

- [James] Mm-hmm.

- Have you billed any of it yet?

- Not much.

- What does it come to, 10, $20,000?

- [James] Something like that.

- As chief executor of the estate,

I can authorize, say, 100,000.

How does that sound?

Provided of course there's no opposition to the new will.

After all, I can't pay you until it's settled.

So you'll accept?

- Do you have Mr. Rice's old will, the one that replaces?

Of course, it's of no force and effect

having been superseded.

- True.

- Then there's no reason for you to hang onto it.

- Jim, the new will is better for everyone.

- It's not better for the institute,

for Mr. Rice's dream.

- Old man Rice had better things to do with his money

than leave it to some school.

- Leave it to you? Certainly.

That's what he worked all his life for,

earned all his money for,

for Albert Patrick in his old age.

If Mr. Rice were here, he'd tear your head off.

- But he isn't here is he?

And I'm in charge.

And if you want anything outta this,

you better go along with me.

- They're here, Captain.

- Wait a minute, where are you going with that?

- We are confiscating the body.

- No, you're not. I won't allow it.

- Don't worry, it's just a routine autopsy.

You'll get him back in a day or two.

Will you sign here?

- Not in a hundred years.

- I'll sign it.

- Okay boys.

- Thank you, sir.

- Just a routine autopsy.

Good job. I have renewed my faith in the press.

How did you get things done so fast?

- Told the court in you with the Houston Police Department.

- Told the court?

- Are you Captain Baker?

- Yeah, I am.

- And you must be Rafael.

Can you tell me exactly,

what is your connection with the Houston Police Department?

Or are you the Texas Rangers?

I'm captain of the Houston Light guard,

the reporter must be--

- Can't go order an autopsy just anytime you please.

After much consideration on the matter,

it is my firm desire to have my body cremated

as soon after my death as possible.

Do you not recognize the signature?

- Poor old Mr. Rice sent me the letter just three weeks ago.

- Mr. Patrick, I think this settles the matter.

I apologize for any inconvenience

and promise to have your client's remains

delivered to the crematory this afternoon.

- Oh, Captain McKlusky, you're a site.

And now if you gentlemen excuse me,

I have quite a lot of business to attend to.

- Now what am I going to do with you?

- Impersonating an--

- Captain.

- Dr. Donlin, there's no reason

to open the old gentleman's body,

we'll just send him onto the cremator.

- No, you can't.

If you knew Mr. Rice,

you know he never would've hired Patrick--

- That's enough outta you.

- But it does look suspicious, Captain.

- Oh?

- There's some inflammation in the lungs,

and I can't really find the cause of death.

- Yeah, but we don't...

Suspicious?

What else?

- Could he have been poison?

- I'm not sure.

Stomach doesn't look good. We'll have some tests run.

- How long will it take?

- Two or three days. - Two or three days?

That lawyer will give me holy hell.

- When I'm through with the body, you can have it back.

We remove the organs we need.

- Can you make it look like we haven't done anything?

- David, dress this one, put him back in the coffin.

Your lawyer will never know we touched him.

What makes you think he might have been poisoned?

Stomach aches, diarrhea.

- I would check for a phenol or a mercury compound.

Was he a relative?

- No, just a friend.

Do you know Albert Patrick?

- Yes, sir.

- Did he come here before Mr. Rice died?

- Yes, sir. Real fancy fellow, that Mr. Patrick.

Did you ever see him with Mr. Rice?

- No sir, never did,

but that don't mean anything.

A lot of people came to see Mr. Rice.

I never saw him together, Captain.

(doorbell buzzes)

- Charlie, we've gotta talk.

- I'm kind of busy right now.

- Is Albert Patrick in there with you, Charlie?

- No, but he'll be here tomorrow.

Why don't you come back then?

- I know what Patrick's up to, Charlie,

and he's going to jail for it.

If you're involved with him, you're going there too,

so cooperate with me, Charlie.

I'll help you the best I can.

- [Charlie] Please go away. Please.

- [Mr. Raphael] Absence of sympathy, I like that

- Greed and avarice.

Yes, that's Patrick all right.

- So what do you think?

Shall we take it to the police?

- I'm afraid this isn't exactly

the kind of proof they need, my dear.

- I was only trying to help him, you know?

- Poor William?

If I only hadn't given him those plantains.

- What? You gave him what?

- Brazilian bananas. They're supposed to help diarrhea.

But that Patrick says that the plantains killed him.

That it's my fault that Willie died.

- Maria, no one has ever died

from eating bananas, I promise.

- Captain James Baker.

- Captain Baker. - Yes.

- You're a difficult man to track down.

How do you do?

- I'm Osborne, the assistant district attorney.

Could I talk to you for a minute?

- This is Mrs. Vandermeer.

- [Osborne] How do you do?

- Mr. Raphael. - How'd you do?

- Pleasure.

- If this is about Mr. Rice, they should hear too.

- All right, may I sit down?

McKlusky called me an hour ago.

They found mercury by chloride in the old man's stomach.

So it looks a lot like murder.

- Ye gods and little fishes.

Are you certain?

- Apparently Mr. Rice had been taking the mercury

over a period of several days or weeks.

So do you have any idea who might have given it to him?

- Jones. - Jones.

- Mr. Rice's valet?

- The butler, huh?

It's been known to happen.

- I didn't do nothing,

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

- Do you think I'm stupid, do you?

- No, sir.

- Charlie, you've gotta tell us.

- You think I did it too?

- I can't believe anything else.

- Well, I did give Mr. Rice some medicine

Albert told me to.

But I mean, it made him kind of sick,

but it didn't kill him.

I swear it didn't, I couldn't kill anybody.

- I believe you, Charlie.

- Then will you be my lawyer?

- No, I can't do that.

But I'll make sure you get a damn good one,

but first you gotta tell us what really happened.

If you didn't kill Mr. Rice, then how did he die?

- Albert chloroformed Mr. Rice.

He wanted to stop the money from going down to Houston

for the building that the hurricane destroyed.

He wanted to keep the money for himself.

I tried to stop him, but I couldn't.

- Did he tell anyone else what he was planning?

- I don't know. I don't think so.

Wait, there was a girl from the Tenderloin.

She was a whore.

She might have heard something.

Her name was Joy.

- [McKlusky] Joy what?

- I don't know.

- [Osborne] What do you think?

- [McKlusky] You're lying to me.

- Patrick was behind it.

Jones couldn't have done it by himself.

If we put him on the stand

and get him to say what he told us.

- We'd need a lot of corroborating evidence.

- He told me that he would kill me if I told anybody.

- What if he's telling the truth?

- He better be telling the truth.

(reporters chattering)

- Go ahead, tell him what you told me.

He's a mesmerist.

- I am the hypnotist, Dr. Eslo Durrough.

Mr. Jones came to my office

and said that he had a friend that he wanted to hypnotize,

and so I told him.

But do you see,

that's what they used on the old millionaire.

- They hypnotized the old man into signing the will?

- [Dr. Eslo] Well, I've been a student of Dr. Famesma,

and I practiced the art of hypnosis for the last 17 years.

- Where did you find this fella?

- Well, he came to see me when he read in the paper

that I was a friend of Mr. Rice's.

- Did he ask for money? - Yes.

You think he's a fraud?

- Most likely.

(door banging)

- What is it? - Is Mr. Albert Patrick in?

- My goodness.

- Oh, is it for me?

Well, I see you brought reinforcements, Jim.

- No, I just came along.

- Mr. Patrick, you are under arrest

for the murder of William Marsh Rice.

You better come with us.

- Murder? You're arresting me for murder?

- I don't see what there is to laugh at.

- You will when you try to prove it.

I'm entirely innocent.

Mrs. Francis and her friends will testify

as to where I was the night Mr. Rice died.

- Let me stay and talk to the landlady.

Ma'am, may I?

- Mr. Patrick is entirely innocent.

The night that man died, Mr. Patrick was here with me.

- [James] Alone With you?

- Certainly not.

Mrs. Willoughby was here with her daughter Julia,

we were singing hymns.

Mr. Patrick was accompanying on the piano.

- What time did Mr. Patrick leave?

- About 06:30, a young man called on the telephone.

I believe it was Mr. Jones,

and Mr. Patrick left shortly after that.

- Did you hear what Mr. Patrick said on the telephone?

- He said, "So it's done, is it?"

And then he told Mr. Jones to telephone the doctor.

- "So it's done, is it?"

That's sort of an odd response.

- I took it to mean

that poor old Mr. Rice's suffering was over.

- [James] How did you know

it was Mr. Jones on the telephone?

Did he come here before?

- Oh yes, many times.

He's a shy young man.

But he and Mr. Patrick are good friends,

and they see each other two or three times a week.

- Mrs. Francis, I'm gonna prepare a statement

based exactly on what you told me.

And I'm gonna ask you to sign it

with perhaps one of your tenants as a witness.

Would you be willing to do it?

- Oh, I wouldn't want to cause Mr. Patrick any trouble.

I would rather die.

- If you really believe Mr. Patrick is innocent,

than you must tell the truth.

It's the only thing you can do to save an innocent man

(footsteps thudding)

(dramatic music)

(chains clanking)

- Baker.

Don't you ever rest?

- I've got a problem.

Jones lied, Patrick was with his landlady

the night of the murder, singing hymns.

- Oh hell.

- We've gotta talk to Jones.

- All right, just let me get a shirt.

- What'd you tell 'em, Charlie?

You are gonna hang us, Charlie,

'cause of what you told them.

You ever seen a man hang, Charlie?

I did, once,

when I was 10 years old.

Saw the Klan hang a negro man,

Jodi Taylor,

who's a friend of my pa's.

We used to go hunting and fishing together.

On that night, we just stood back and watched.

Burned a cross in his front yard,

and they dragged him out of his shack.

Oh, he was so scared.

His eyes are jumping around, looking for someplace to run,

looking for somebody to help him.

Then they put the rope around his neck

and they threw the end over the limb

of a big old black walnut tree.

- Please stop.

- He was kicking and screaming.

He didn't scream long though.

I guess his neck was crushed.

He wet his pants and everybody laughed at him.

But he had spuck 'cause he kept kicking and struggling,

reaching out, trying to find a foothold.

But there wasn't any.

And just before he died, he looked at me

and he tried to say something.

I'll never know what it was.

Next day, they cut him down

and they laid him out to smell.

Never forget that smell.

I'm not gonna let them do that to me.

- Well, how you gonna stop them?

- I smuggled in some poison.

- Can you give me some?

- Only enough for one.

- Well, what am I going to do?

I can't bear the thought of hanging.

- All that money we would've had.

Cheers, Charlie.

- Wait, please.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

You've got to help me, please.

You've just got to.

- All right.

But you gotta be strong.

Here.

- What is that?

A knife?

What do you want me to do?

- [Albert] I don't care what you do.

I've made my decision.

There's a better life in the next world.

If you want to join me, you'll take that knife

and you'll put it to your throat.

If you do it quick, it won't hurt.

Cut quick and deep.

- Cut my throat?

- I'm taking the poison now, Charlie.

- No wait, wait.

- Now, now. It's gotta be now, Charlie.

Here's to you,

my wonderful Charlie.

- Oh God, it hurts.

Oh God.

(door knocking)

Oh Albert, I'm dying.

I'm dying.

- You poor little fool.

Do you really think I'd kill myself?

There's nothing they could do to me now.

- Charlie.

- Look who's here putting a hat, Wilson.

- Charlie. Charlie.

Quick, open the cell. - Come on, man.

- He said he was afraid of hanging.

- Well, I guess it doesn't matter one way or the other.

If he croaks, save the taxpayers the cost of a trial.

- You're gonna release Patrick?

- I have to, Jim.

I don't have enough evidence to hold him.

Why don't you go back to your hotel, get some sleep, huh?

That's what I'm gonna do.

- If Jones dies, institute dies.

- Well then, telephone me if something happens.

- Captain Baker.

Still the same? - Mm-hmm.

- Now come with me,

I have someone you've got to meet.

- Hmm, fortune teller?

- No, no, someone much more scientific than that,

a graphologist.

- Oh, Mrs. Vandermeer.

- Captain Baker, I've spent the entirety of the morning

talking him into it, he's very good.

- Well, I guess it can't hurt.

- Thank you.

- This is a man, he's right-handed.

Crossing of the T indicates he's very clever and determined.

The size of the letters indicates he's self-absorbed

with a rather exaggerated view of his own importance.

He is not wealthy, but he would like to seem so.

- Oh, how do you tell that?

- The taper?

It looks expensive, but the right content is very low.

- What else?

- He's well-educated, his spelling is perfect.

And he uses correct grammar even in the subjunctive mood.

Obviously a lawyer.

- Well, this is a legal agreement.

- But there are danger signs, Captain.

You see here, the clubbing of the T bars

and the petuosity in the descent of the Y,

the deviousness of the language.

I wouldn't trust this fellow.

- No, I wouldn't either.

See I told you Mr. Wendell is brilliant.

- What about the man who signed there, Mr. Rice?

- You can try to trick me, but this is not a signature.

It is a tracing.

- Tracing? - That's extraordinary.

- Now, look here.

You see here there's a lift,

here a touching, and here a natural movement of the pen.

Nobody writes like this.

- Would you be willing to testify to this in court?

- You must know the law.

In order to show a signature is valid,

you have to ask someone who knew the deceased

and was familiar with his or her handwriting.

Someone like you who can't identify

the crudest of forgeries.

- But if you say that it's trace, then--

- I can only say in my opinion.

And then the other side will present six experts

who will say that in their opinion,

the signature's authentic.

Such people are easy to find, all it takes is money.

No, my friends, I have been 12 times on the witness stand.

I have never been believed, I have been labeled a fraud.

I will not make it 13.

- Isn't there something we can do?

- Apparently not.

- Perhaps you could find the original signature

which was used.

Then we might show how closely it aligns with the tracing,

but of course it won't align perfectly.

And the other side will say,

we searched and searched,

until we found the one signature which was a match.

Now, you'll waste your time.

(Albert laughing)

♪ She's only a bird in a gilded cage ♪

♪ A beautiful sight to see ♪

♪ You may think she's happy and free from care ♪

♪ She's not, though she seems to be ♪

♪ 'Tis sad when you think of her wasted life ♪

♪ For youth cannot mate with age ♪

♪ And her beauty was sold ♪

♪ For an old man's gold ♪

♪ She's a bird in a gilded cage ♪

- [Passerby] Hey. You looking for Mr. Patrick?

- Yes. Yes, I am.

What do you want, huh?

What do you want?

Who made you do this?

- Well, I thought you Texans were supposed to be tough.

I think he's dead. Maybe we'll get a bone.

- This is a very generous offer.

- I think it's best for everyone.

- Captain, where in the world have...

Good God, man, are you all right?

- I think so.

Get him outta here.

- Mr. Patrick has made us a fairly generous offer.

I think you should hear him out.

Why don't you get it cleaned? - Get out.

- Captain, $2.5 million dollars.

- Get outta here.

- Don't compromise. Prevail.

- Captain Baker.

Captain Baker, he's awake.

- He lied to me, didn't he?

- There's been a lot of lying.

You killed Mr. Rice, didn't you, Charlie?

- Oh God, I wish I hadn't.

- All right. Let's start at the beginning.

Take it slow. Don't leave anything out.

And above all, tell the truth.

- He told me that he would tell Mr. Rice

that I was poisoning him,

and so I had to.

- Congratulations, Captain.

Looks like you've got your murderer.

Putting Jones away won't accomplish anything.

We've gotta get Patrick.

He killed Mr. Rice as surely as if he pulled the trigger.

- He's right.

Jones was just his weapon, his gun.

- You really don't think we're gonna get a jury to buy that.

- We have to. Mr. Rice is dead.

If Patrick wins, his dream dies too.

- The institute?

To convict Patrick, we'd have to have proof.

- What do you think that is?

- Yeah, that's really worth a lot.

Your Honor, I murdered Mr. Rice,

but Albert Patrick made me do it.

If I put Jones on the stand

without corroborating every single detail

with independent evidence,

the judge is gonna laugh me right out of town.

- Well, you've got the landlady.

She saw them plotting and meeting each other

and she heard Patrick say, "Oh, it's done, is it?"

on the telephone.

- The coroner's report should confirm the cause of death.

- And what else?

- Motive.

Patrick was the primary beneficiary in the will.

Jones wasn't even mentioned.

- See, you've got a lot.

- And Patrick's whole story

about Mr. Rice making him his attorney is ridiculous.

They never even met.

- I believed it. - So did I.

- All you have here is circumstantial evidence.

There's nothing that proves that Patrick did anything.

So Jones killed Rice and Patrick knew Jones.

And so Rice decided to leave all of his money to Patrick.

So what?

- So what do you think, Mr. Edison?

Patrick must have promised Jones a piece of the loot.

- He's bound to have made a few mistakes.

If we work hard, I believe we'll find him.

- Come on, go after him.

You know you really want to.

- All right, I'll go after Patrick.

But if I let Jones off the hook

and we don't get a conviction, which we probably won't,

my boss is gonna hang me from a yard on.

I'll probably end up selling shoes in Hoboken.

- If I lose the institute, I'll have to join you.

- Well then, we'll be partners in shoes.

Is that a deal?

- Deal. I don't even know what Hoboken is.

(group chuckles)

News of the trial of Albert Patrick

filled the New York papers for months.

- [Clerk] All rise. (speaks faintly)

Please be seated.

- Mr. Osborne, are you prepared

to present your case to the jury?

- I am, Your Honor.

- [Judge] Proceed.

- The defendant, Mr. Patrick over there,

stands accused of premeditated murder,

murder for his own personal gain.

During the course of this trial,

you will hear from Captain Baker of Texas

how Mr. William M. Rice, a childless old man,

wanted to leave his wealth to the children of the state

where he had prospered.

And you will hear Charles Jones, his valet,

describe how he and the defendant conspired

to deprive Mr. Rice of his fortune and his life.

You'll hear doctors and scientists

describing the causes of Mr. Rice's demise,

and you will hear the independent confirmation

of the defendant's landlady, Mrs. Francis,

as she testifies how Patrick and Jones met

and plotted for weeks before they murdered Mr. Rice.

Mr. House, who is Mr. Patrick's attorney,

will refute every fact.

That is his duty.

Your duty as jurors

will be to scrutinize every witness,

to weigh every statement,

to sift through every shard of evidence

and determine one thing,

the truth.

- [James] After Osborne and Patrick's attorney

had presented their opening arguments,

Jones was called to testify.

- I knew what I was doing.

- Speak up, please.

- I knew what I was doing,

and I knew that it was wrong,

but I couldn't help it.

He told me that Mr. Rice had killed his wife.

He told me that we could serve the Lord

by sending Mr. Rice to hell where he belonged.

- Your Honor, I object.

How can we be expected to believe this man?

Not only is he an admitted murderer,

he's also a contemptible liar.

He'll say anything to get out of paying for his crime.

How can we possibly expect the jury to believe one word

of what this man has to say?

- Mr. Osborn made it clear in his opening statement

that the testimonies to be accepted only insofar

as it is corroborated by independent evidence.

Continue.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

- [James] After Osborne was finished with Jones,

I was next on the list.

The cross-examination by Mr. House was an experience

I would not care to repeat.

That's correct.

- Now your will, that is the will executed in 1896,

leaves the bulk of Mr. Rice's estate to a school in Texas?

- Yes, the William March Rice Institute, which he founded.

- [Mr. House] And who is in charge of this institute?

- I am the chairman of the board of trustees.

- You are?

And where's your institute located?

- In Houston, Texas.

And what is the address of its offices?

- At the present time, there are no offices,

Mr. Rice specified.

- No offices? Are there classrooms?

- Well no. - A faculty? Students?

- Mr. Rice specified that no work be started

until after his death.

Your Honor, I submit that there is no substance

to this institute.

It is made of air.

It is merely part of the stew

cooked up by this Captain Baker of Texas.

Captain of what, I'm not too sure,

to throw suspicion on arrival of his

and to secure old man writes his money,

not for some institute, for himself.

Now isn't that the truth, Captain Baker?

You wanted the money for yourself,

and now it's just killing you

that you are not able to get your hands on it.

- Objection.

- Mr. House, you will confine your discussion

to the testimony at hand.

- [Mr. House] No further questions.

- Very well.

As it's almost four o'clock,

I'm going to adjourn this court until tomorrow morning.

(gavel thuds) - [Clerk] All rise.

- Secretary.

Jim, don't feel bad.

The jury knows what's going on.

- I hope you're right.

- You've got a great deal of faith in your fellow man.

- It's an old strategy.

If your case fits the letter of the law, go to the judge.

If your case appeals to the hearts, go to the jury.

And if you don't have a case, abuse everybody in sight.

- Abraham Lincoln.

- You see, you're not as dumb as you look.

- I think he looks very intelligent.

- We'll see what happens tomorrow.

- Who's testifying?

- Mrs. Francis? - Mm-hmm.

- Yes, the landlady.

We'll see if she sticks to her story.

- She's an honest woman, she won't lie.

- You have a great deal of faith in your fellow man, too.

- Here's your grits, Captain.

- Thank you, John.

More coffee, please. - Certainly.

- [Diner] He married her for one reason

and one reason not only.

- And what's that?

- Because a wife can't testify against her husband.

- Innocent until proven guilty, that's what I say.

(people chattering)

- Dammit. Excuse me.

- Osborne. - Jim.

- You saw the paper?

- Surprise, surprise, but can't be at all.

- [Reporter] Mr. Osborne, how will Patrick's marriage

effect the outcome of the trial?

- I really have no idea.

- [Reporter] Will this wife have to testify against him?

- [Osborne] I have no idea.

- [Clerk] All rise.

- Well, what do you think?

- If we can't get him on the stand, we're in trouble.

Your Honor, may I approach the bench?

- Certainly.

I'd like to point out, sir,

that Mrs. Francis' testimony is crucial to our case.

- I understand your point, Mr. Osborn,

and I tend to agree with you.

However, the law is clear.

If the defendant and the witness are legally married

and that seems to be the case,

I have no alternative but to excuse her from testifying.

- Very well, Your Honor.

- State calls Dr. Charles Babson to the stand.

- Place your left hand on the Bible,

raise your right hand in the air please.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- [Dr. Charles] I do.

(doorbell dings)

- I'm coming. I'm coming.

- I've got something to show you.

We do have the proof, it's right here in the will.

- I've already explained to you

the difficulty of approving forgery.

- Wendell, four signatures.

The will has four signatures.

- Come in.

- One of the characteristics of a natural signature,

aside from a steady and comfortable rhythm of movement,

is a certain degree of inconsistency.

To demonstrate, I offer these two signatures

executed by Mr. Rice on the will of 1896,

a will which has been deemed authentic

by a wide variety of witnesses.

You'll notice as we superimpose these signatures

that it is impossible to align them character for character.

This is expected.

Normal signatures exhibit a variance in width and spacing.

- Stop this. - On what grounds?

- On any grounds.

- [Wendell] On the will of 1900, which Mr. Patrick--

- Your Honor, we object to these theatrics.

Testimony by a so-called handwriting expert is subjective,

ambiguous, and irrelevant.

And we strongly request that this witness be disallowed.

- I've already given permission

for the prosecutor's demonstration.

If the results are not understandable

by everyone on the jury,

then the testimony of this witness

will be stricken from the record.

Please continue.

- As we superimpose these signatures, one upon the other,

we notice something rather curious.

We see that these signatures agree precisely

in regard to width and spacing of the letters.

As we have just shown, this does not occur naturally, no.

This consistency occurs only

when the signature is a tracing.

We do not have the original which was traced.

- Stick around, it gets better.

- [Wendell] But we have here the copy

which agree completely.

It should be obvious to the most casual observer

that the signatures on the Patrick will,

all four of them were forged,

and rather poorly.

All four were traced.

(attendees clapping)

(gavel clacking)

- [James] After the defense had presented its case

and the closing arguments had been made,

the jury retired to deliberate Albert Patrick's fate.

They were out barely an hour,

during which time they had supper.

- Gentlemen, be seated.

Have the gentleman of the jury reached a verdict?

- We have, Your Honor.

We find the defendant guilty as charged.

(gavel thuds)

- I'll pronounce sentence tomorrow at eight o'clock.

The court has adjourned.

- We did it. We did it.

- What a trial.

- Well, Mrs. Vandermeer,

we couldn't have done it without your help.

- Oh, Jim. Willie would be so proud.

- I suppose you don't have to open

that shoe store after all.

- Mr. Raphael, I think I hear a train whistle blowing.

- You do?

- We've gotta get back to Texas.

(ceremonious music)

- The institute has since grown

and prospered from year to year.

And the fair name

of the educational enterprise Mr. Rice founded

has been well established

within and without the borders of the state of his adoption.

(crowd clapping)

(ceremonious music continues)

(lively jaunty music)

(lively jaunty music continues)

(lively jaunty music continues)

(lively jaunty music continues)