All language subtitles for S02-V02-D03-E65 - The Case of the Dangerous Dowager

( suspenseful music playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( jazz theme playing )

( crowd chattering )

Sorry. Gotta
be announced.

I-I have an appointment
with Mr. Barker.

My name is--
I know.
Excuse me.

Boss.

Mrs. Sylvia Oxman
to see you, okay?

All right.

Mr. Barker will
see you.

Oh.

( door buzzes )

Seven thousand
five hundred dollars.

Do you want to
count it?

I take your word.

Please, may I have the IOU's?

For $7,500?

Heh-heh-heh.

Mrs. Oxman...

when a man has
a piece of merchandise...

only one buyer,
takes what's offered.

Two buyers,
he sells it

to the highest
bidder.

Has my husband
been in touch with you?

All negotiations
in this business

are confidential.

How much did he offer you?

( letter opener clangs on desk )

How much do you offer?

I had trouble in--
In raisingthisamount.

Your grandmother,
Mrs. Oxman...

how many million
has she got?

Oh, I don't wanther
to know about this.

Mr. Barker...

if you sell those IOU's
to my husband,

he'll take
my child away.

Money, Mrs. Oxman.

Money.

Makes me
a very generous man.

Not much money.

Maybe 25,000.

Mr. Barker.

Mr. Barker, look at me!

( low, slinky jazz theme
playing )

Don't sell my husband
those IOU's.

Are you threatening me?

I don't know whatI'm doing.

I only know that something
terrible will happen

to me, to him,
even to you.

Because nothing must happen

to my child.

I'll be back.

( door buzzes )

( dramatic theme playing )

( door closes )

( dramatic theme playing )

Your granddaughter just left,
Mrs. Benson.

Her IOU's are for $7,500.

Mr. Barker wants 25,000.

No, ma'am.

Nothing's settled.

Has her husband,
Frank Oxman,

been there yet?

I haven't seen him.

But I know
Mr. Barker expects him.

Oh, very well.

I'll send you
another check tonight.

And thank you.

Does Frank
have $25,000?

He has those paintings.
Oh.

Grotesque things
that mean...

absolutely nothing.

Why don't you buy
the IOU's, mother?

Twenty-five thousand dollars
isn't so much.

No.

But this is a form
of blackmail.

And once begun, there's
no telling where it will end.

Mm. Of course.

We can't submit
to blackmail.

But refusing to submit
involves certain dangers.

We will make a list
of those dangers,

evaluate each one
calmly and objectively.

Well, shouldn't we
wait for Sylvia?

Oh. Do you think that
would do any good?

No. No, of course not.

Sylvia would only
confuse matters.

No, we'll let her
muddle about for a while.

The anxiety will perhaps
do her good eventually.

Uh, we'll settle
this matter ourselves.

We must first decide on
a proper course of action.

The intelligent thing
would be to engage a lawyer.

MATILDA:
I believe in
first things first.

I've looked you up, Mr. Mason.
I know all about you.

You will do
the same to me.

You will
find out

that I am
very rich.

You will try to charge me
an exorbitant fee.

I will not pay it.

But there will be
no haggling

over a proper
and reasonable fee,

plus expenses.

Now, with that settled,

you will do precisely
as I tell you.

You will do--

First things first,
Mrs. Benson.

We've settled that.

Mm, not yet.

I'll have to know
what this is all about

before I agree
to accept any fee.

I know what I want done.

Then I suggest
that...

you do it.

It's been a great
pleasure meeting you,

Mrs. Benson, Mr. Benson.

Oh, but of course.

Sit down, Mr. Mason.

I'll tell you
the story.

The place?
Gardena.

The web? The Clover Club
Poker Parlor.

The spider?
Daniel Barker.

Clear?

Clear.

The fly?

Sylvia Oxman...

my granddaughter.

Barker holds IOU's
amounting to $7,500

signed by her.

I want them back.

Gardena is
a very unusual place.

Although gambling is
illegal in California...

public poker parlors
are permitted in Gardena.

If you want those IOU's back,
you'll have to pay them off.

I would...willingly...

but he's holding them up
for sale to the highest bidder.

Who else is bidding?

Frank Oxman.

My granddaughter's husband.

They're separated.

They have a child. Peter.

Why does Mr. Oxman
want the IOU's?

To prove that Sylvia
is a compulsive gambler,

and, therefore,
an unfit mother.

And is that true?

Well, family's run out
of strength, Mr. Mason.

My oldest son, Robert's brother,
was a weak man.

He was also a snob.

He killed himself
when his wife ran away

with a Neapolitan fisherman.

Mr. Mason
is not interested

in the family
gossip, Robert.

Sylvia was my oldest son's
daughter,

born with thin blood.

She had no passion
for anything,

until she discovered
gambling.

Ten years ago
she met Frank Oxman,

fresh out of college,

and married him.

And he is Peter's father?

Yes.

And Peter
has broad shoulders...

a square jaw...

and the look of his
great-grandfather in his eyes.

He is the family strength
reborn, Mr. Mason.

It's a miracle.

And now Frank Oxman

wants custody of their child?

Yes. Not because
he loves him.

Unless he loves him
for being merchandised

to sell back to me
for some fantastic price.

In other words,
the problem is blackmail.

Exactly.

And I believe you can
prevent that, Mr. Mason.

I can only promise
to do my best.

Well, shall we, uh,

keep in touch
with you, Mr. Mason?

Mr. Mason will
keep in touch with me.

And now I believe our business
here is finished.

Yes, Mother.
Good day.

( door
closes )

Thus spake--
Zarathustra.

Della...
Mm-hm?

Get Paul in.

Give him
a check for $200.

Mm, what for?

Want him to go
to the nearest bank

and open up a new account.

( dramatic theme playing )

( chattering, chips clinking )

Raise 10.

( sighs )

Power, huh?

I'll see you.

It's all yours.

Well, now,
wait a minute.

I want to see
those cards.

You won,
didn't you?

Well, I've got a right
to see what I beat.

All right, whose deal is--
Oh, stop it.

I paid money to
see what he raised on.

I never
saw him before.

I gotta find out
what kind of a game he plays.

I agree
with you.

I called him, but
he won't show his cards.

Show them, mister.
The lady insists.

Bluffing. Ha!
( all laugh )

Where'd you ever learn
how to play poker?

Hm?

I'm, uh, out of money.
Can I cash a check?

How much?

Two hundred
dollars.

Cash it,
Mr. Manning.

We don't want to
lose him.

Step over to
the cashier's booth.

Uh-huh.

Hurry back,
young man.

You've got a lot
more learning to do.

Better deal me
out of this one.

Chicken, huh?

BARKER:
Well, well, well.

Ha-ha.

What do you know?

Mr. Frank Oxman.

He wants to
cash this?

That's what he said.

( chuckles )

Is Duncan
in his office?

Uh-uh. Haven't
seen him all night.

Mm-hm.

Okay, Manning...

bring Mr. Oxman in.

And, uh...

treat him nice.

Right.

Come right in,
gentlemen.

Which one of you
is Frank Oxman?

My name is Mason.

I'm with
this gentleman.

How do you figure
in this?

I'm his lawyer.

Mason?
Perry Mason?

Hm.

Okay, Manning,
you can go now.

( door closes )

Sit down,
gents.

I want no misunderstanding,
Mr. Barker.

You don't know
this man.

He offered you
a check

signed
"Frank Oxman."

That only means
he has

a bank account
under that name.

He didn't come here
to gamble.

Please remember that
in case

you're called to testify
on the witness stand.

So he is
Frank Oxman.

I haven't
said that.

Then he isn't
Frank Oxman.

I haven't
said that either.

( sighs )

I like you,
Mr. Mason.

You're a good lawyer.

You protect your client.

Maybe you could give me
a piece of advice.

Perhaps.

Mm.

If a lady's husband
wanted a divorce

and custody of
his child...

what better evidence
could he have

than IOU's made out

to a gambling joint?

Now, I'm asking you,
Mr. Mason, as a lawyer.

Could he have
any better evidence?

Notmuchbetter.

I could supply
that evidence.

On what terms?

Mm.

Something a little
better than 25 grand.

( chuckles )

If this gentleman
wereMr. Oxman,

and I represented him
in a divorce action...

we might be interested
in securing such evidence.

But it wouldn't
be necessary

to pay any money
for it.

All I'd need to do
is serve you with a subpoena

ordering you
to bring...

any notes signed by
Sylvia Oxman into court.

Mm.

I've got a very bad
memory, Mr. Mason.

I don't think I could
remember those IOU's.

Mm?

Then it would
cost you $7,500.

How come?

Uh, once you got on the stand

and testified that
you did not know of any IOU's

signed by Sylvia Oxman...

they would automatically
become uncollectable.

All you would get
out of the 7,500

would be a fee
for appearing as a witness.

Look, Mason...

let's cut out all
the legal tricks. I--

Excuse me,
Mr. Mason.

You're losing
your head, Danny.

You stay
out of this.

We're partners,
remember?

I'm Charles Duncan,
half owner of this business.

It's a good business:

profitable, peaceful
and legal.

I like it.

I don't want anything
to happen that might spoil it.

You're very wise,
Mr. Duncan.

Here's $7,500, Mr. Duncan.

I'll take those IOU's.

You Oxman?

He never claimed to be Oxman.

DUNCAN:
Put your money away,
mister.

We're not turning those IOU's
over to anybody

except the person
who signed them:

Mrs. Sylvia Oxman.

It's the only way I know
to keep this deal clean.

All right.

Mrs. Oxman will be here.

What time do you
want to see her?

I leave early tonight.
Danny closes up.

I'll be here at 10:00
in the morning.

MASON:
Mrs. Oxman will be here

at 10
in the morning.

Good night,
Mr. Duncan.

Good night,
Mr. Barker.

( door opens )

( door closes )

I warned you, Danny.
I warned you a dozen times.

This is thelasttime.

You try one more stunt
like that,

and I'll put you down
the nearest sewer headfirst.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Excellent, Mr. Mason.
My compliments.

You can be certain
that Sylvia will be there

at exactly 10
tomorrow morning.

I shall sleep
very much better tonight.

Yes. Good night,
and thank you very much.

You heard?

Hm?
Yes, I did.

It always pays
to get the best.

Hm.

Naturally.

Tell Sylvia
I want to see her.

She hasn't come home
yet, mother.

Oh. Well, then,
write a note.

And tell her
no matter what time

she comes in
to waken me,

because I must see her.

I wish we had told her
about Mr. Mason.

Will you please
write that note?

Yes, Mother.
( sighs )

( dramatic theme playing )

( doorbell
buzzes )

( buzzes )

May I come in?

Oh.

These are nice, Frank.

It's like you.

Pictures you love.

Grandmother hated.

I can't help it, can I,
if she didn't like them?

You've been
drinking.

Yes.

I've been drinking
and gambling, and...

gambling and losing, and...

signing IOU's
for $7,500.

You know all about that,
don't you, Frank?

Yes.

Sylvia, I don't
want to be cruel...

but this is something
I must do.

If it takes
everything I own...

I'm going to
have my son.

No matter how
or who it hurts.

Have us both, Frank.

Mm.

Have us both.

And your grandmother too?

No.

To tell us when
to breathe, and...

how to think,

and why to live
as she thinks best?

We'll go away.

Just the three of us.
Hm.

We'll go away
from her.

We talked about that
from practically

the day we were
married.

We left three times,
remember?

And each time
she made you return,

and I followed...

because I loved you...
( gasps )

...and our son.

But I'm not following
anymore.

Do not take my son
away from me.

The courts will
do that for me.

Why are you so sure?

I'll have those notes by
9:00 tomorrow morning.

I'm drunk,
Frank.

And when I'm drunk,

I'm not responsible
for my actions.

It's why I drink.

Grandmother says I'm not
responsible, drunk or sober.

Grandmoth--

I've lost you, Frank.

And you were half my life.

If I lose my son too,
that's the other half gone.

Then I have no life
left at all.

Sylvia.

( door opens )

I'm doing
what's best.

You hate me.

And you'll teach my son
to hate me too.

No, Sylvia.
I don't hate--

( ominous theme playing )

Who do you
wanna see?

I have
a 10: 00 appointment

with Mr. Duncan
and Mr. Barker.

Just a minute.

Take over.

Follow me.

Perry Mason, I didn't know
you were a poker player.

You and I have had
a few good hands together.

Did you have anything
to do with this one?

I don't know.
Who's playing?

Well, a fellow named, uh,
Daniel Barker was one of them.

But I'm afraid he's out of
the game for good.

Hm. Do you
suspect someone?

They were telling me
about some missing IOU's.

You say Mrs. Oxman's
lawyer

promised that she'd
be here at 10:00 a.m.

to pick 'em up?

That's right.

Oh, what about it?

It's five after 10.
She isn't here yet.

It's a long ride
from Pasadena.

She your client?
Indirectly.

Like to ask her a few
questions-- Oh, routine.

( phone rings )

Lieutenant Tragg.

Get out an all-points.

Yes. Have a warrant issued

and, uh, notify
the district attorney.

No, no. Never mind.

I'll take care of that
myself.

Well, Mr. Mason...

I think your client's

been here and gone.

What makes you
think so?

Well, the bullet
that killed Barker...

came from a gun

licensed to
Mrs. Sylvia Oxman.

Now, isn't that
a coincidence?

And before you ask
any more questions,

will you excuse me?

( dramatic theme playing )

( rings )

Yes, hello?

Oh, good morning, Mr. Mason.
I'm so glad you called.

I wasn't able to give
your message to Sylvia.

MASON ( on phone ):
Why not?

Well, she didn't
come home all night.

I've been telephoning
her friends

since 8:00
this morning,

and none of them
have seen her.

We must find her.

MATILDA:
Why?

Dan Barker was killed
early this morning.

The police have reason
to believe that Sylvia did it.

Oh, sheer insanity.

My granddaughter isn't capable
of killing anyone.

Does she own a gun?

Yes. She keeps it

in the glove compartment
of her car.

Frank gave it to her
several years ago

for protection, when
she was driving back and forth

from those gambling
parlors at night.

The bullet that
killed Barker

came from Sylvia's gun.

But she couldn't.

Frank knew about that gun.

And I can tell you
something else, Mr. Mason.

He saw Barker last night.

How do you know?

Well, I have sources
of information, Mr. Mason.

Private sources.

Name them.

Well, I'd rather not.

Look, Mrs. Benson...

Sylvia's in serious trouble.

If we're to help her,

we can't have any secrets
from each other.

Well, his name is Manning.

All right, Mrs. Benson.

The police are likely to be
at your house at any moment.

Don't lie to them,
but, for the present,

tell them as little
as possible.

Should Sylvia telephone...

tell her to go directly
to my office

and wait there for me.

That's right.
Goodbye.

( ominous theme playing )

Getting ready to
start up again?

Why not?

The business
didn't die.

You are very realistic.

That's how
I see it.

You strike me as a man
who sees plenty.

Plenty to see
from where I stand.

My name's Mason.

I know.

Mine's Manning.

Mr. Manning.

Frank Oxman here
last night?

There were two.

What time did
the second one arrive?

When the first one
was going out.

Thanks. Where's
Mr. Duncan?

In his office.
Go right in if you want.

Everything is still
wide open.

Thanks again.

( jazzy theme playing )

( knocking
on door )

Come in.

Back again,
Mr. Mason?

I take it
you don't expect

business to be
interrupted.

Place under
new management already?

Why do you ask?

You can't continue
the gambling

until you've settled with
your dead partner's estate.

Sit down,
Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

The partnership was dissolved
on the death of one partner.

We had an agreement.

Provides that
the business goes on...

and that life-insurance policies
on each partner's life

pays off the estates.

Most of your income
is in cash, is it not?

That's right.

How is the cash collected?

We charge a rental on the chairs
and use of the tables:

50 cents a half hour
for a $2-limit game,

up to $2 a half hour
for a $20-limit game.

How many tables
do you operate?

Thirty-five.
The legal limit.

What are your hours?

Ten in the morning till 5
in the morning. About 19.

Then, conservatively
speaking...

your average daily income

is approximately $10,000.

Andthat,Dan Barker
was endangering.

You trying to pin
a motive on me?

If you are,
you may as well know

I've already told
all of this to the police.

Taking no chances,
now, are you?

I run a gambling parlor,
Mr. Mason.

But I'm nota gambler.

I only make sure bets.

There's no such thing
as a sure bet,

unless the deal
is fixed.

Nice seeing you.

I trust we'll see
each other again, Mr. Duncan.

It'll be a pleasure,
Mr. Mason.

( ominous theme playing )

You look very handsome
in that chair, Manning.

It fits.

Now, you're
a little too big.

Might have to
cut you down to size.

Like maybe you did Barker?

You're kind of running
over the mouth, aren't you?

I could.

I could tell that lawyer...

or even the DA...

maybe enough
about you and Barker

to give 'em a whole new slant
on his killing.

Maybe even how
you were doing a...

A little extra reaching
in all that cash take

Mr. Mason was
talking about.

You've got big ears.

You don't appreciate me,
Duncan.

To you I'm just a...

floorman.

But I'm a brain, Duncan.

A big brain.

You're also a big talker.

( tense theme playing )

Don't let me catch you
in that chair again.

( door opens )

( door closes )

Hi, Perry.

Any action
around here?

No, not since we arrived.
Nobody in or out.

But I checked with
some of the neighbors.

It seems Sylvia came
to see Frank Oxman

around 2:00
this morning.

When did she leave?

No information on that.

Paul, I want you
to find out what you can

about Arthur Manning
and Charles Duncan.

Bank accounts,
everything.

All right.
I'm going in to see Oxman.

Apartment 209. Want me
to go in with you?

No, you better
get started.

I don't think
we'll have much time.

Call the office when
you have something.

Will do.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

( car
starting )

( buzzing )

Mr. Oxman?

Yes?

My name is Perry Mason.
May I talk to you?

What about?

Your wife, Sylvia...

and some IOU's
she signed.

Come in, Mr. Mason.

Won't you sit down?

I'm afraid we don't have
that much time, Mr. Oxman.

You saw Dan Barker
last night.

You talked with him
about your wife's IOU's.

Did he tell you they were
still available for purchase?

Indirectly, yes.

Indirectly?

Well, he wouldn't admit
they even existed.

He said he'd
heard rumors

and offered to
track down those rumors

for a minimum fee
of $25,000.

Did you offer
to buy them?

Well, I didn't have
that much money available.

He said to
come back at 9.

He didn't give you
much time

to get the money together,
did he?

There must be a reason

for all these questions,
Mr. Mason.

There is.

Dan Barker was murdered
this morning.

Murdered?

Between 6 and 9:00.

Can you explain...

where you were during
that period of time?

I haven't been
out of this house.

Not since your wife
called on you about 2:00?

Who told you
about my wife?

That isn't
important.

Sylvia.

I'm Sylvia Oxman.

I heard what you said.

I can assure you that

Frank and I have been
right here

since 5:00 this morning.

Can you prove that,
Mrs. Oxman?

I can.

I brought her here,
Mr. Mason.

( doorbell
buzzes )

Is there somebody--

Well, hello, Perry.

Well, I hate to tag
you around like this,

but you're always
such a great help

when we have to
find somebody.

You Sylvia Oxman?

( quietly ):
Yes.

I have a warrant
for your arrest...

charging you with the murder
of Daniel Barker.

But I didn't have
anything to do with it.

I just explained
to Mr. Mason--

I'm afraid you'll also
have to tell it to Mr. Burger.

He's the district
attorney.

He's very curious
about a gun you own.

MASON:
You might inform
Mr. Burger

that Mrs. Oxman
has been right here

since 5:00 this morning.

These two gentlemen are
prepared to swear to that.

We have half a dozen
who'll swear that

she was at
the Clover Club.

And not one is related
to Mr. Burger.

Would you please
get your coat?

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Now, would you explain
this diagram

to the court, please,
lieutenant?

Sure.

Well, this is the,
uh, Clover Club.

And here's the entrance
to the parking lot.

Here's the storm drain
where we, uh,

found the gun.

Would you indicate the streets
and avenues, please?

Yes, sir.

Uh, this is Copley Avenue.

And the storm drain's
on the corner

of Copley and 231st street.

A car leaving the parking lot
and traveling toward Pasadena

would come
along 231st,

turn here
at this corner,

and then continue on down
past 230th,

229th, and so on.

I see. Thank you,
lieutenant.

That'll be all.

Your witness.

No questions.

I was changing to
the day shift.

Going on duty
at 9:00.

Parked my car in the lot

and walked around
to the front entrance.

Now, I ask you,
Mr. Manning,

did you see any cars
in the parking lot?

Yes, sir. There were
three or four.

Did you recognize
any of those cars?

Yes, sir.

I noticed a '59 Ford
convertible

belonging to Mrs. Oxman.

You'd seen it
before?

Sure. Lots of times.

All right, Mr. Manning,
you went into the club.

What did you do next?

Well, the...

club wasn't open
to the public yet.

So I went to my locker,
passing the corridor.

I saw Mrs. Oxman running
from Mr. Barker's office.

I called to her,
but she didn't answer.

She went out
the side door

to the parking lot.

And you're sure
it was Mrs. Sylvia Oxman?

Sure.

I've seen her
often enough.

BURGER:
I see.

Now, Mr. Manning, I want you
to recall a meeting

that took place
in Mr. Barker's office

the evening
preceding the murder.

Yes, sir.

Who was
in the room?

Mrs. Oxman.

She wanted to
buy back her IOU's.

And what happened?

Well, uh...

Mr. Barker said it would
cost her $25,000.

What did Mrs. Oxman
say to that?

She said she didn't
have that much money.

I see. Thank you,
Mr. Manning.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Manning...

you said you saw
Mrs. Oxman's car

at the parking lot.

Yes.

Were her keys
in the lock?

Well, uh,

anyone parking on the lot
has to leave their--

Has to leave his keys
in the car.

Did you ever open the...

glove compartment
in Mrs. Oxman's car?

No.

Then you wouldn't
have known

the defendant kept
a gun in there.

Of course not.

What are you trying to say?

That I took her gun
and killed Mr. Barker?

Look-- What would
that do for me? I make--

You knew about
those IOU's,

didn't you,
Mr. Manning?

Sure, I did.
I told you.

And you knew
that Mr. Barker

thought they were
worth $25,000?

Yes, but--
And you knew
where they were kept?

Sure. In the desk.

But there was only
one key to that desk...

and Mr. Barker had it.

Nobody else could
get into that desk.

Well, with
Mr. Barker dead...

getting the key
was no problem, was it?

Thank you. That's all.

When I drove
onto the parking lot,

I saw Mrs. Oxman
come running out

of the side entrance
of the club.

She was in an awful hurry.

I called her, but
she didn't look back.

She got into
her car...

a 1959 Ford
convertible.

She just tore
out of that lot.

All right.

What did you do then?

I went in the side entrance
and saw Bill Manning.

Went to Barker's office,

found him dead,
called the police.

Thank you.

Cross-examine.

Why are
they lying?

They're all
lying about me.

Mr. Duncan...

your story corresponds
so beautifully

with that of
your employee's,

it suggests
rehearsal.

It could also
suggest truth.

Did you, uh, know
about those IOU's?

Yes, I did.

Did you know
that your partner

was trying to make some money
on the side, illegally.

And that his greed
threatened

your very lucrative
business?

Oh, Your Honor, I object.

That's incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.

It's also improper
cross-examination...

since it deals with matters
not touched on in direct.

Mr. Mason?

I'm inquiring into
possible bias

of the witness,
Your Honor.

Objection
overruled.

But this is not
to be construed

as a license for
a fishing expedition, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor.

MASON:
Now, will you answer
the question, please?

Wasn't your partner's
blackmailing activity

a dangerous threat
to your business,

and didn't you object to it?

Yes.

But I didn't kill him.

Thank you.
That's all.

JUDGE:
Ah. You may stand down.

BURGER:
I call Walter Cobb, please.

Well, the reason I remember

this particular
'59 Ford convertible

was because it had just
run out of gas

when it got up to the pump.

And where's your gas station
located, Mr. Cobb?

On 229th Street
and Copley Avenue.

How far is that
from the Clover Club?

About two blocks.

Now, would you look around
this courtroom, please,

and see if you can identify

the driver of the 1959
Ford convertible

who was in
your gas station

at approximately
quarter to 9

on the morning
of the murder?

That's her.

Let the record show
that the witness is pointing

to the defendant,
Sylvia Oxman.

Cross-examine.
Thank you.

M-Mr. Cobb...

are you the manager
of the gas station?

I-I'm the owner of
the gas station, Mr. Mason.

Is the defendant

a regular customer
of yours?

Oh, no, sir.

How many times had you seen her
previous to that day?

That was
the first time.

How many times have
you seen her since,

that is, at
your gas station?

Oh, I never saw
her again, uh, there.

Mr. Duncan
a regular customer?

COBB:
Oh, yes.

MASON: Good customer?
COBB: Yes, sir.

MASON:
Mr. Manning?

Yes, sir.

Would you say there's
a very friendly relationship

between you, Mr. Duncan
and Mr. Manning?

Well, you might
say that.

How many cars
do you service a day?

Quite a few.

Many as 50?
Oh, yes.

A hundred?

Well, it all depends
on the day.

Yes, sir, I'd
say it averages

about 100 a day.

A hundred cars a day.

That's 700 cars
a week,

3,000 cars a month.

And now you remember
one single '59 convertible

and one driver you saw
once and only once.

W-Well, I do. I...

I remember her

because she just
ran out of gas

as she coasted
in.

I have no further
questions of the witness.

JUDGE:
Uh, you may stand down.

I call Dr. Ralph Caldwell
to the stand.

Now, Dr. Caldwell...

I ask where you were
on June 2nd

at approximately
8:45 in the morning.

I was in a gas station

on Copley Avenue
and, uh, 229th Street.

I was having gas
put into the car.

Did you notice
anything coincidental

in that gas station?

Yes.

Yes, I did.

A car just like mine

was parked at
the next gas pump.

Well, go on, doctor.
Did you take note of the driver?

It was a young woman.

She seemed terribly upset.

I, uh,
had the thought of

getting out of my car and...

going over to hers.

But you didn't?

No.

No, she drove off

before I had
the opportunity to do so.

But you noticed her
for two reasons:

First, because she was driving
a car exactly like yours.

And second, because of
her apparent anxiety.

That's right.

Now, doctor, I ask you
to look around this courtroom

and tell us if you recognize
that young woman.

Yes, I recognize her.

That woman there.

BURGER:
The witness is pointing
to the defendant, Sylvia Oxman.

Will the defendant
rise, please?

Now, Dr. Caldwell,
please be very careful

with your identification.

Are you
absolutely certain

that that is
the young woman?

I'm certain.

Thank you, doctor.

That will be all.

Cross-examine.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

No questions.

( dramatic theme playing )

Sit down, Sylvia.

All right, Sylvia...

we're going to...

think together,

calmly and quietly.

I don't like to
think, Mr. Mason.

My brain is too critical
of the rest of me.

I get too ashamed.

There always comes
the time

when a person must look
inside himself.

I tried it.

All I saw
was emptiness.

You were very lonely.

Was I?

It was a good life.

Orderly, peaceful.

Busy life. From
getting up in the morning

to going to bed
at night.

And all
well-planned.

By your mother?

I hardly knew
my mother, Mr. Mason.

We don't talk about her
in grandmother's house.

No.

She ran away...

with a Neapolitan fisherman.

That was a cheap
and vulgar thing to do.

That what
your grandmother says?

No, no.

Grandmother's
too much of a lady

to soil herself
with dirt

from the family skeleton.

As long as I can
remember...

I was taught to
hate the things

my mother must have loved.

When did you learn
notto hate them?

I don't think I ever did.

It just grew with me
as I grew older.

I was trained to be part
of Grandmother's brain.

We're tied together
like Siamese twins.

And whenever I tried
to cut away...

I wandered without direction.

All the things that
I ever learned...

were the things
I must not do.

I must not love beauty.

Because I may run off
with a Neapolitan fisherman.

And if not beauty, then what?

The ugliness of drink.

Nightmare of gambling.

There's another world
in drink, Mr. Mason.

A desperate hope
in gambling.

No Neapolitan fishermen.

I wish we'd talked
like this before.

I don't think
I could have.

I know it sounds
a kind of paradox...

but being in here
has given me

a kind of freedom.

I don't think very clearly,
Mr. Mason.

Sitting in a cell alone...

I've had the time
to try to learn.

You're not
alone now, Sylvia.

Your life depends on
just how clearly

we can think together.

Now, how many times
did you see Dan Barker?

Three times.

The first time was when you went
to pay off those notes,

and you were told they were
gonna be sold

to the highest bidder?
Yes.

What did you do after that?

I was desperate.

I went to see Frank,

and I begged him
for a reconciliation.

But he refused.

Said he'd have the IOU's
by 9 in the morning.

And then?
( inhales )

I almost went crazy.

I guess I didgo crazy.

It was 2:30
in the morning

when I remembered
I had the gun

in my glove compartment.

I put it in
my coat pocket...

and I returned
to the Clover Room.

To kill Barker?

No. I only wanted to
frighten him

into giving me back
those IOU's for the 7,500.

When he asked
for more money...

I waved the gun at him.

He didn't frighten.

He simply...

took the gun
away from me.

What did he
do with it?

Put it in
his desk drawer.

The third visit?

Oh.

I was
desperate.

I went home, and I got
all the jewels I owned,

and I put them
in my purse.

You spoke to
no one at home?

Not then.

I wanted to get back
to Barker's before 9:00.

When I got there,
all the doors were open,

and I went into the office.

And he was lying
on the floor, dead.

Your gun...

where was it?

It was on the floor
beside him.

You lost your head...

ran out of
the office...

tossed the gun into
the nearest storm drain.

Yes.
Then you went home?

Yes. I didn't want...

Grandmother...to hear me.

I was too terrified

of what she might
say or do,

but...I guess Uncle Robert
heard me crying,

'cause he came
into the room.

He was terribly upset
when I told him about the gun.

At that time,
he thought out your alibi?

Oh, no.

He rushed into
Grandmother's room.

When he came back,
he said Grandmother said

we were to go
immediately to Frank

and...offer him anything...

to try and make him say
we'd reconciled.

What did you do
with the IOU's?

I didn't take them.

( pants )

All I wanted to do

was to get out of the office
as quickly as possible

when I saw Barker's body.

That's the truth,
Mr. Mason.

Yes.

Yes, it is
the truth.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

All right, Sylvia.

I'll see you
in the morning.

( exhales )

"When a true thought
enters the mind,

"it gives the light which
makes us see a crowd of objects

never perceived before."

( knocking )

Yes?!

Mr. Mason would like
to see you, ma'am.

Mr.--

Well, ask him to
come in here.

Yes,
ma'am.

Would you like me
to leave?

Do you expect me
to receive a gentleman

alone in
my bedroom?

( chuckles ):
I'm sorry.

Come in,
Mr. Mason.

I apologize for
intruding at this hour.

Well, I'm sure
you had ample reason.

Uh, Robert, get
Mr. Mason a chair.

Now, please don't bother,
Mr. Benson. I prefer standing.

What did you come
to tell me?

I'm afraid I won't be able
to convince the court

that Sylvia is innocent.

But she wasn't there.

She has a perfect alibi.

Mrs. Benson, that alibi
is worth nothing.

But it's the truth.

Robert will swear to it.

Willyou?

I will.

You'd give false
testimony, Mrs. Benson?

Do you think I would let
my own flesh and blood die

for a crime
she didn't commit,

without fighting to save her
with every weapon I could find.

Even perjury?

Although it means giving up
your great-grandson?

Why do you say that?

Well, surely you knew
thatwould happen

when you told
Robert to...

work out a reconciliation

between Sylvia and Frank.

I told Robert what?

It did seem
strange that...

youwould construct
such an alibi.

Then it was
your idea.

Yes.

You told Sylvia
it came from Mrs. Benson.

She wouldn't have
done it otherwise.

You also neglected
to tell Sylvia

that I would make the 10:00
appointment with Barker.

Well, it was
too late.

Uh, if I'd been able
to find her--

No, you still wouldn't
have told her.

You didn't want her to know.

You wanted Frank
to have those IOU's

because you wanted Frank
to have his son.

Well, you're mad.

Robert knows that child
belongs with me.

No, Mother.

The boy belongs
with his father.

Robert!

You know, don't you?

Yes, I know.

How?

When I found the so-called
reconciliation

came after Barker's death.

I knew Frank Oxman
would help with that alibi...

only in exchange
for Peter's custody.

You...

deceived Sylvia

because that was what
you wanted.

It also gave you
an alibi.

You--?

You, Robert?

You killed this man?

Why should killing
shock you so much?

You killed us all...

over and over again.

Each time we...

showed
a spark of life.

You tried to
resurrect your youth

through us...

to live again.

Only we
failed you,

be...cause we never
could be you.

We failed ourselves,

because we didn't understand
until it was too late.

That's why I knew
Frank must have his son.

Before it was
too late.

( scoffs )

Only I bungled it.
I...

didn't know the gun
in Barker's desk

belonged to Sylvia.

You would have let her die...

for what you did?

My strength came
only once, Mother.

Then I was your son again.

( melancholy theme playing )

Robert.

Robert.

Please be
kind enough to

call the police,
Mr. Mason.

( phone dialing )

Lieutenant Tragg, please.

( jazzy theme playing )

( knocking on door )

Come in.

( door opens,
closes )

PAUL:
Hi, beautiful.

Hi, Paul.

Eh, what are
you doing,

opening a gambling
joint?

No, it's a good business.
Pick a number.

All right.
For how much?

Oh, very big.

A dime.

Seven.

Mm-hm.
I'll take three.

Come on, seven.

Come on.

Thirty-six numbers
on that wheel,

and she picks
the right one.

Where did
that come from?

Oh, it just arrived.

Mr. Charles Duncan.

Here's the letter
that came with it.

Duncan?
Mm-hm.

"Dear Mr. Mason,

"first time in my life
I ever told the truth,

"and you did not
believe me.

"But you're a good man,
so I'm sending you this wheel.

"Take my advice:
you always be the bank.

Let the pigeons
play the odds."

That wheel
is fixed.

( chuckles )

Another game,
pigeon?

( sighs )

( lighthearted theme playing )

( all chuckling )

( noirish jazz theme playing )