All language subtitles for Perry.Mason.S09E16.The.Case.of.the.Midnight.Howler.DVDRip.x264

It's that time again.

Time for the man you either
hate or love but can't ignore.

Time for the man to whom
nothing is sacred except the truth.

Time for the most
controversial program on the air,

the Barney Austin Show.

Well, let's get right
down to business.

Let's see, our first call
tonight is to some nut

who says I called him a chiseler

because he's holding
up freeway construction.

This chiseler's
name is Louis Ogden.

Clinton 7-0-7 9-9.

And, uh, don't forget to turn
down your radio, Mr. Ogden.

Hello? AUSTIN: Hello.

It's Barney Austin.

I've got your card.
What's your beef?

I just want you to know I'm
suing you for libel and slander.

People like you shouldn't
be allowed on the air.

Well, I never lost
one yet, Mr. Chiseler.

See you in court.

Well, here's one that ought to
shake up the boys in the control room.

I have a note here from the man
who owns this station, Mr. Kevin Steele.

Okay, boss.

If this is a gag, turn your
radio down anyway, huh?

Adams 2-7-3 9-9.

- Hello?
- Chief? Barney Austin.

Well, I wanted... How
did you get in here?

Put that gun away be... Chief?

Chief, what is it?
What's happened?

Chief, answer me.

Get the police over
to Steele's place.

Fast.

That was close.
Are you all right?

I think so.

I have a first
aid kit in the car.

Clara?

Clara?

This is Holly. I just got back.

Clara and Ronnie were
here and they're both gone.

Did Clara leave a message
with you at the switchboard?

Have you seen them?

All right. Thanks.

Danny, what is it?

What happened? What's wrong?

Oh, now, calm down, Holly.

- Well, where's Clara?
- Clara's husband phoned.

He must've had an
attack. She went to see him.

- I came over to watch Ronnie.
- Where have you been?

Well, he couldn't sleep, so I thought
a little ride might do him some good.

Looks like it did.

Yeah, I'll put him to bed.

How did you cut your arm?

There was a little accident.
I was driving too fast.

- Kevin wasn't home, and I'm so...
- All right, Holly.

You know I believe
everything you say.

Are you sure Kevin
Steele didn't do this?

I told you, he wasn't home.

Holly.

Your ex-husband was home.
He was murdered tonight.

The last report said he was
shot with a .38 caliber revolver.

All right, Mr. Richards, which one of
them brought her car in for repairs?

Keep your hands
to your sides, please.

Yeah, that's the girl.

The third one.

She asked for an
insurance estimate.

New glass in one door
and some chrome trim.

Sergeant Brice.

- Thank you. We'll be in touch.
- Now, put him through.

- Perry Mason.
- Will you show Mr. Richards out?

- Yes, sir.
- Steve Drumm.

Steve, what are you doing there?

They finally get smart and transfer
you from Homicide to Traffic?

I thought I was supposed
to identify a woman

who was in an
accident I reported.

I'm still with Homicide, Perry,

and you were supposed to
identify this woman, and if you do,

she won't be an accident
victim, she'll be a killer.

Look, I made a
simple accident report.

But now you're a key
witness in a murder case.

Perry, come on, where
are you? What's up?

I'm sorry, but my probate
case was called late.

I really don't see how I
can get down there today.

- Get them out, Brice.
- Yes, sir.

And turn those lights on.

All right, girls, you can leave.

Okay, I understand.
I'll tell you what.

Let's wait till it gets dark
so conditions will be similar,

and I'll take the suspect up to
the scene, say, two hours, 8:00.

Shall I pick you up?

Well, that's
the girl, all right.

You get the brass ring, Perry.

Her name is Holly Andrews,

and you've just clinched
the case for the DA's office.

On my identification alone?

You identified her in the area of
the murder at the time of the murder.

And you've come
up with a motive?

Steele was worth
over $10 million.

And although they were
divorced, their 4-year-old son

is now the richest
kid in L.A. county.

Did she receive much of a
settlement at the time of the divorce?

According to what we've
been able to piece together,

she divorced him before he
found out he was gonna be a father.

She didn't ask a dime from him.

Apparently Steele was difficult
to live with and she wanted out.

Murder is a pretty
permanent way of getting out.

I knew it, Perry.

I give you a set
of circumstances,

and you start thinking like
the lawyer for the defense.

Do me a favor, will you?

Start thinking like the state's
star witness for a change.

Why are they doing that? I told
you where I had the accident.

I know what you told me.

Now, Perry, you saw her car
come down from that road, right?

- Yes.
- That road goes up to Steele's place.

Now, according to report,

the accident took place
at ten minutes after 12.

Steele was murdered
at six minutes after 12.

You know I was at the house and
you know where the accident occurred.

- That doesn't prove anything.
- What did you do with the gun,

- Miss Andrews? HOLLY:
I didn't touch the gun.

You just saw it on the
floor by the body, huh?

I didn't see the gun
and I didn't see the body,

and that's the third
time I've told you so.

Miss Andrews, you're being
held on suspicion of murder.

- Do you understand?
- No, I'm stupid.

Well, I'm gonna tell you once more,
and in the presence of witnesses.

You have a right
to be represented.

And I'm gonna tell you once
more in the presence of witnesses,

I didn't do anything, and I'm
not afraid to answer questions.

Okay, let's go up to the house.

Steve, I asked Paul to pick me
up either here or at the house.

Since he hasn't arrived yet...

I don't wanna leave you stranded.
Come on up there and wait.

But, Perry, do me
a favor, will you?

Restrain yourself.

Keep quiet.

You know, Steve, if
that girl did kill Steele,

she certainly carries
off a bluff very well.

And if she didn't, she
certainly has plenty of spunk.

Now, Miss Andrews,

where did you stand
when you looked in?

Here, by the French doors.

- If you get in, you could turn lamp...
- Perry, please.

- You're a guest here.
- I'm sorry.

- This key was found in your purse.
- I know that.

Was this the key you
used to get inside?

I didn't go inside.

The key was just
still on my key ring.

I hadn't taken it off since
I'd moved out of this tomb.

Sergeant.

- Go inside and turn on the lamp.
- Yes, sir.

Now, Miss Andrews, I want you
to tell me exactly what you saw

when you looked in the
window the night of the murder.

There were no lights on
except the light on the end table.

The radio was on. I could
see it and I could hear it.

- The only furniture...
- You're talking about furniture.

What furniture?

The bookcase, the coffee table.

Just the furniture
near the fireplace.

Would you describe
the fireplace, please?

It's marble. There's a
painting over the fireplace.

The fire was on.

Miss Andrews, you saw all
this, but you couldn't see Steele?

That's right.

Her story checks, Steve,

with one exception.

There's no painting
over the fireplace.

What painting? This room hasn't
been touched since the murder.

You didn't see a painting when
you examined the room yesterday?

I was examining a dead
body, a very dead body.

All right, let's go in.

Ready, Perry?

Just a few minutes, Paul.

Meantime, take a
look around back.

Does your return
bother you that much?

Everything in this
place bothers me.

Every wall, every door.

That's all that's
left of Kevin Steele.

A chalk mark.

Not one kind word
for the deceased?

If you can find one person
with a kind word for Kevin Steele,

I'll find one too.

Why did you hate
him, Miss Andrews?

I don't think you understand.

Let me show you something.

Kevin Steele may
have died last night,

but part of me died in this
room nearly five years ago.

Does this room have anything to
do with what happened last night?

How do you explain a man's ego?

His conceit.

His belief that the world
exists for only his benefit.

He had to have everything
completely his way.

He had visitation rights,
but he never exercised them.

He wanted Ronnie
for himself alone.

The few times we
went out socially

he was furious if I even
spoke to another man.

"You're not checking coats
on the Strip anymore," he'd say.

"You're my wife.
Try acting decent."

All right, so he gave you
a bad time, Miss Andrews.

Now, how does this
room figure in that?

We had a visitor
one day, Dan Thorne.

You knew Thorne at that time?

Dan was a stranger.

He wanted financing
for his military academy.

When Kevin indicated that
he might invest in the school,

Dan came back with
the plans he'd drawn up.

Kevin wasn't home.

Dan and I went over
the plans in this room.

That's what we were doing when
Kevin returned and saw us here.

He wouldn't let me explain.

I thought they'd
kill each other.

Why didn't they?

- Someone walked in.
- Who?

It's unimportant.
His name's Jackson.

He used to help Kevin
with his art collection.

Why was the room left this way?

As a reminder that I was to never
be alone again with another man.

If I'd stayed married
to Kevin Steele,

I'd have wound up
as insane as he was.

All right, sergeant, lock up.

- Perry, we'll be seeing you.
- Thanks for letting me tag along.

You're welcome. I didn't know that
you were interested in sob stories.

Mr. Mason, you're an attorney.

Do you think I'm guilty?

I think anyone
who'd talk as freely

and answer questions
as willingly as you have

is either innocent or a fool.

And I don't think you're a fool.

How'd you like to take on a
client who probably can't pay you?

In the first place, a client whose
son is going to inherit $10 million

could probably pay
off in gold bullion.

And in the second place, Mr. Mason
is already engaged for this case

as a witness for the state.

He is right, Miss Andrews.

If the district attorney
calls me, I'll have to testify

to everything I've seen
and heard up to this moment.

I'll chance it.

Get some sleep. I'll
see you tomorrow.

Something told me I
should have sent you home

down on the road, Mr. Mason.

Well, I knew you wanted
me to find somebody,

but I never expected this.

You're a little frail for
second-story work, aren't you?

You picked a strange
time for a robbery.

Not robbery. I was
taking what's mine.

My name is Abel Jackson.

I run a small gallery
on Beverly Boulevard.

I bought many paintings
for Kevin Steele,

but he refused to
pay me for this one.

I paid out $75,000 of my own money,
every cent I had for this Van der Meer,

but he refused to pay me back

until the canvas was appraised
by an expert from Chicago.

Well, he was killed before
the expert could come here.

I had neither the
money nor the painting

nor anything in writing
to prove it was mine.

I had to have the picture back.

Can't you see that?

I can see you're not a
very good businessman.

Well, you can't be a good
businessman with a god,

and that's what Kevin
Steele thought he was.

You went along with
it or he'd ruin you.

All right, Mr. Jackson,
you may leave.

But I advise you to make
yourself available for questioning.

May I take my painting with me?

Uh, don't press your
luck. You'd better clear out.

Why did you give him a break?

He can't run far.

And besides, he's
put up a $75,000 bond.

I didn't even know Kevin was dead
until I got home and Dan told me.

But I've told the
police all of this.

Did you tell them why
you went to Steele's?

- No.
- Would you tell me?

Gordon Sellers called me.

He owns one of the
independent radio stations.

He's had a running
feud with my ex-husband

ever since Kevin hired
Barney Austin away from him.

Well, last night, they
had another big argument.

And after Kevin left,
Mr. Sellers called to warn me.

About what?

Kevin was going to get a court order
to have our son taken away from me.

Ever since he'd
found out about Ronnie

he had been trying
to do exactly that.

I was so scared after
I talked to Mr. Sellers.

- And since Clara was with Ronnie...
- Clara?

Clara Michaels.

I had to work awfully late getting
out tuition notices for next semester.

Clara was sitting for me.

I went to the house
to plead with Kevin.

Knowing full well there was
no way of convincing him.

Then when he didn't
answer the doorbell, I...

I thought I was
too late. I've...

I thought he was
already on his way.

That's why I was driving
down the hill too fast.

That's why I was so
anxious to get away from you.

You didn't hear anything
inside the house?

Voices? An argument? Shots?

No.

Only the radio. It was tuned
in to Barney Austin Show.

And the police say that Steele
was killed with Dan Thorne's gun.

Do you have any idea how the
gun got into the murder room?

Well, a few months ago

when Kevin first threatened
to foreclose on Dan,

I went to see him.

We argued as usual.

He took the gun away from me.

Is there any reason
to bring Dan into this?

Would he object to being brought
into it if he knew it might help you?

I don't know.

Dan's been awfully good to me.

He gave me a job
when I was dead broke.

He even let me
live on the grounds.

I don't know. I
can't answer for him.

All right. We'll let him
answer for himself.

Perry, would you
do something for me?

Today is Ronnie's birthday.

His presents are at my
house. Clara's with him.

I'll see that he
gets his presents.

Come on, break it up. Break
it up. Break it up. Come on.

Come on, now. No fighting.
Get back in the game.

Come on. Come on.

- Daniel Thorne?
- Yes, that's right.

I'm Paul Drake, a private investigator
working with Holly Andrews' attorney.

I wonder if you could
give us some information.

Well, what sort?

Well, Kevin Steele
was killed with your gun.

Holly told the police she didn't
know how the gun got in the house.

Was that the truth?

No...

No, it, uh, wasn't.

How did it get there?

Well, uh, I gave Holly the gun.

Showed her how to use it,

in case she had to
protect herself from Steele.

Did Steele loan you the
money to start this school?

Well, I approached
him, but he refused.

Maybe Holly told you
about the big ruckus we had.

You're sure he didn't hold
the notes on this place?

I didn't say that.

I arranged financing.

The first couple of years, I managed
to get extensions on my payments.

But a little while after she
left him and had Steele's child,

I got the word Steele
bought up my mortgage.

How did you feel about that?

Scared.

Thank you very
much, Miss Street.

I'll see that Ronnie
gets these with his cake.

- How is he, Mrs. Michaels?
- Oh, he's fine.

He's a real good boy.

So good, it's hard to believe
he has Kevin Steele's blood.

You didn't like Mr. Steele?

I know you're not supposed
to be disrespectful of the dead,

but between you
and me, I hated him.

Not only for what
he did to Holly.

Let me show you something.

That's what Kevin
Steele did for me.

He made a wreck, an
invalid out of my husband.

He stepped on poor
Charlie like he was a bug.

But why, Mrs. Michaels?

Heh. Because we crossed him.

You see, Holly used to live
with us before she married Steele.

She was pregnant when
she left her husband,

but she wanted to keep it
a secret, so she came to us.

And Charlie and I helped her.

We found her a room
in a private hospital

under another name where
she could have her baby

without Kevin knowing.

- But he found out?
- Not right away.

But when he did...

Charlie was in real estate.

All of a sudden his
notes are called in.

His credit's no longer good,

and the Real Estate
Commission get complaints

so they lift his license.

And ever since,

Charlie has been
in that wheelchair,

just sitting and staring.

If I sound glad that Steele is
dead, it's because I am glad.

I only wish it could have
been somebody besides Holly.

But if ever there was a
case of justifiable homicide...

Why, after all these
years, would she do it now?

Who knows?

Maybe because he was going to
take Ronnie away from her legally.

And that does it for tonight, you
wonderful Barney Austin haters.

Turn the old dial to KRMQ
again tomorrow night,

same time, same old stand.

And maybe I can make you
mad enough to do something

about the world around you.

Good night and
unpleasant dreams.

Glad to know you, Mason.
I'm honored that you're a fan.

As a lawyer, I'm intrigued.

You always seem to
border on the edge of libel.

And I come up
smelling like a daisy?

I have some smart
attorneys of my own.

Your secretary said you
wanted to hear that tape. It's...

Wow. Feedback.

Somebody goofed.

I'm sorry about that,
Barney. It was my mistake.

You're not paid
to make mistakes.

I shouldn't have lost my temper,
but guys like that get to me.

You know, I'm not
really such a tough guy.

From your show, I
gathered that you were.

You think I'm really a heel?

You probably work at building
that kind of public image.

Ha. I'm the last
of the vigilantes.

When I was just a cog in
the machine, Mr. Mason,

my office looked
like a broom closet.

Obviously, you must have
become the whole machine.

I like a one-man show.

It's my show, my
existence, my lifeblood.

You're very fortunate.

You can hear that tape now.

AUSTIN: Okay, boss.

If this is a gag, turn your
radio down anyway, huh?

Adams 2-7-3 9-9.

Hello? AUSTIN: Chief?

Barney Austin.

Well, I wanted...

How did you get in here?

Put that gun away be... Chief?

Chief, what is it?

Well, that's it.

You get anything out of that?

I'm not sure yet.

Well, if it'll help, take
this copy with you.

The police have the
original from our files.

Thank you.

Oh, Mr. Austin,
one thing might help.

Do you know the
circumstances of that call?

Why Mr. Steele
wanted you to call him?

Oh, I'm afraid I
can't help you there.

Nobody could predict what the chief
would do from one minute to the next.

Could it have had anything
to do with Gordon Sellers?

Why do you ask that?

Well, we heard that Sellers and
Steele were involved in a bitter argument

a few hours prior to the murder.

Yeah, I see what you mean.

Now, if Sellers went up
there to finish the argument,

you might say, it just could be.

Hello, Paul. I'm sorry I'm late.

- Does Della know we'll be here?
- She does, and she'll refer all calls.

What's the deal?

I have a hunch we'll
be having company.

- Did you get to county museum?
- Right after I saw Thorne.

And I have a report that
Jackson gave us a snow job.

The painting is a forgery.

There hasn't been a genuine
Van der Meer in this country

in 120 years.

The museum people were
surprised he'd even try.

Jackson's had a fine
reputation for 40 years.

Well, score one for your hunch.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Gordon Sellers.

You expected me?

Just as soon as you'd finished
talking with Barney Austin.

Please sit down.
This is Mr. Paul Drake.

Hi.

Well, Barney called me.

He's a friend.

I figured I wanna help Holly.

I've got nothing to
hide, so here I am.

What can I do for you?

Well, Holly said you had a bitter
argument with her ex-husband

the same day he was killed.

Mind telling us
what it was about?

I guess not.

It wasn't our first argument.

And if he were still alive,
it wouldn't be the last.

Didn't Barney Austin
work for you at one time?

I started him in radio.

Developed the
Barney Austin Show.

Then Steele took
him away from me.

Was Austin that important?

He was... Is top rated
in late-night radio.

And that was the
subject of the argument?

No.

After Barney left, I
found a replacement.

Started a new show,
the Larry Stephens Show.

Three months ago, Steele began
trying to take Larry away from me

just as he had Barney.

And yesterday I found out about
it, and things came to a head.

But why would Steele
want Larry Stephens?

Barney Austin's the biggest
money maker in town.

Nobody ever asked
Kevin Steele for reasons.

But I did ask Barney. I
thought he might know.

Exactly why did you call Holly?

I told you, I like the girl.

Steele told me what he
was planning to do to her.

Use a legal petition to prove
that she was an unfit mother.

For moral reasons, take
the child away from her.

A scandal like that could
have wrecked Thorne's school.

I don't think there
was any hanky-panky.

But you've got to understand,
Steele was an unscrupulous tyrant.

He'd been watching Holly and her
boyfriend, this... What's his name?

Thorne for six years.
Swore he'd nail them.

Who was supposed
to sign the petition?

From what I gathered, members
of the household staff and...

Oh, yes, Clara Michaels.
He did mention her.

We'd better have a look at that
petition before we go into court tomorrow.

Is there anything else I can do?

Yes, Mr. Sellers. Come
to think of it, there is.

Several hundred thousand people
actually heard this murder committed.

And the records of the radio
station now admitted in evidence

showed the exact time
the shots were fired:

six minutes after midnight.

Now, what time was it when you
saw the defendant Holly Steele

on the canyon road adjacent
to the decedent's property?

Ten minutes past midnight.

Would you describe the
circumstances, please?

Defendant had an accident.
Her car ran off the road.

I stopped to be of help.

Now, Mr. Mason, I'm
going to read to you

from the police
department accident report.

You were quoted as saying:

"The young woman
was extremely nervous.

She had a cut on her arm.

She had been traveling
at a high rate of speed.

She left the scene before I
could render first aid," unquote.

- Are those your words,
Mr. Mason? MASON: Yes.

Now, you visited the
scene of the murder

with the police and the
defendant next day, didn't you?

I'm sure the district
attorney realizes

that as the defendant's
attorney, I cannot be required to...

But, Mr. Mason, you were
not attorney for the defendant

until after you had visited
the scene of the crime.

Now, please tell us,

to begin with, the
distance from the house

to the spot where the
defendant ran off the road.

I'd estimate it at a
little over half a mile.

Very good. It's exactly
seven-tenths of a mile.

Now, driving at a
moderate rate of speed,

how long did it take you
to cover that distance?

I don't recall.

Police experiments showed
that driving with extreme caution,

it took less than two minutes.

Now, you, of course,
have the defendant traveling

at a high rate of speed,

so it's obvious, isn't it,

that the four minutes that elapsed
between the time of the shot

and the time the
defendant ran off the road...

Is the district attorney
putting questions to me

or merely getting
speculation into the record?

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

I'm so used to your
insistent voice behind me,

keeping me in line with your
brilliant, incessant objections.

I have just one more question.

How did you gain access to
the murder house that next night?

Lieutenant Drumm arranged that.

Yes, but you were
with Lieutenant Drumm,

able to observe him, weren't
you? How did he get in?

Why don't you ask him?

Isn't it true that the defendant
assisted in this process?

Didn't the defendant...?

The defendant said she had been
there on the night of the murder.

I didn't ask you that, sir.

She denied having killed him.
She said she heard the radio blaring.

She willingly
answered all questions.

She explained very clearly
why she'd gone there.

Your Honor, this witness is
not being responsive at all.

Do you have any further
questions, Mr. Burger?

Yes, Your Honor. I
want this witness to tell us

how the police gained
access to the murder house

on the occasion of his
visit there with them.

As the witness suggests,

you might question
the police on that score.

But if you wanna
continue the examination...

Thank you, Your Honor.

The witness is excused.

Yes, sir. The key taken
from the defendant's purse

was used to gain
access that night.

Did the defendant say why
she had the key in her purse?

Yes, sir. She said she
hadn't taken the trouble

to remove it from her key ring.

After nearly five years
since the divorce?

That's what she
said, Mr. Burger.

Lieutenant, your
investigations establish

that the murder weapon was
a .38 caliber service revolver

registered to Daniel Thorne,
the defendant's employer.

Now, when you
arrested the defendant,

did you have occasion to
question her about this weapon?

Yes, sir. She admitted that
Mr. Thorne had given it to her.

And now, lieutenant, let's discuss
the fingerprints that you were able to...

If the purpose of the
prosecution is to establish

the defendant was at the
house on the night of the murder,

defense will stipulate.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

That's all, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.

I have no questions
to Lieutenant Drumm.

And so because of the recorded
broadcast of the event itself,

your examination confirmed rather
than established the time of death.

- Is that correct, doctor?
- That's correct.

Thank you, sir.

Cross-examine.

How did you establish
the post-mortem interval?

We were fortunate in this
case. We had two known facts.

The time the shots were fired,
the time the body was discovered.

It was only a matter
of, maybe, 15 minutes

before the police arrived.

Obviously, no
deterioration was evident.

Did you note if any autolytic
processes had taken place?

No, Mr. Mason.

The non-medical
facts were conclusive.

Thank you. That's all.

Well, I heard Kevin Steele accuse
Mr. Thorne and the defendant

of carrying on
while he was away.

It's been a long time. I
don't remember any details.

And did you have occasion
to visit the Steele home again

after overhearing this fight?

I handle Mr. Steele's art acquisitions
so I was in and out all along.

Well, did you notice any
other evidence of friction

between the defendant
and her husband?

For example, did they
agree about art purchases?

They couldn't agree
on the time of day.

No, I only dealt
with Mr. Steele.

Why was that, sir?

Well, about a
month after the fight,

I noticed that Mrs. Steele,
the defendant, had gone.

He hadn't given her a
dime, but she'd gone anyway.

Thank you, sir. Take
the witness, Mr. Mason.

Did Mr. Steele
always pay promptly

- and in full?
- Well...

Now, let's not waste the court's time,
Mr. Jackson. We both know the facts.

He stole from me for years.

Held back on my commissions,
that's the same thing.

But you arranged to get your
commissions paid in full, did you not?

Well, I took the painting,

but I've already
admitted that to the police.

You tried to pass off that painting
and Mr. Steele caught you at it.

Then you tried to take
it back after his death

to remove the evidence of fraud.

Were you also in and out of that
house on the night of the murder?

Objection.

Your Honor, it's been
established in previous testimony

that the painting missing
from the murder room

was taken by Mr. Jackson.

It seems pointless
to intimidate a witness

over an already
acknowledged fact.

That's all right, Mr. Burger.
I'm through with the witness.

For now.

Yes, I gave her the gun.

She was afraid of Steele.

And she had a right to be.

I saw her about a week after...

About a week after I
had the battle with Steele.

Her face was swollen.
He'd beaten her.

So you did see her again,

even after Steele had
warned her not to see you.

Well, that was
purely accidental.

I was talking to Clara Michaels

about acting as nurse for my
school when I was planning it.

And Holly, the defendant,
came by to see her.

Let's get back to
the gun, Mr. Thorne.

The defendant did
ask you for the gun

before she saw Steele
the first time, isn't that so?

I mean, you didn't
volunteer it or suggest it?

All right, she asked for it.

And after she had seen him

and I assume had no further use
for the gun, she gave it back to you.

- Is that right?
- No. As a matter of fact, she didn't.

That'll be all. Thank
you very much, sir.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Did the defendant tell you

why she was going to see
Mr. Steele that first time?

Yes. He bought up my mortgage,
and he was threatening...

- The defendant?
- Please let me finish.

He was threatening to foreclose.

So he threatened
you, Mr. Thorne.

Then the defendant went to
him to ask him to give you time.

- Is that correct?
- Yes.

Mr. Thorne, when the
defendant went back

to see the decedent on
the night he was murdered,

do you know why she went there?

Yes. He was gonna take Ronnie,
that's her child, away from her.

He'd tried for six
years unsuccessfully.

Now, why was that night any
different from any of his other attempts?

He wasn't above barging in
and forcibly taking the child.

But in this case, he was
getting together a custody petition

accusing her of being an
unfit mother and implicating me.

All of which is ridiculous.

Knowing that it might reflect on your
school, you nonetheless allowed her.

- She didn't ask my permission.
- Thank you, Mr. Thorne.

Oh. One thing more.

When the defendant took
your gun and didn't return it,

did she explain why she
couldn't give it back to you?

Yes.

She told me Steele had
taken it away from her.

So as far as you know,

anyone entering Steele's
house on the night of the murder

could have used that gun?

Yes, I suppose so.

I'm through with the witness.

Well, I'm not quite.

One moment, Mr. Thorne.

You say the defendant told you
Steele took the gun away from her.

Now, did Steele
himself ever tell you that?

- No.
- Did anyone else ever tell you that?

No. Why would they?

So all we really have is the
word of the defendant herself.

No, I never saw
anything wrong going on

between Holly and Dan Thorne.

Never.

Oh, come on, now.

A man like Kevin
Steele was not planning

to use your statement
in that petition

unless he had grounds to believe
that you were willing and able to say

that you had seen the
defendant and her employer

behaving immorally in
the presence of the child.

That's what the
petition alleges,

and that would certainly
constitute grounds

for his gaining
custody of the child.

- The decedent knew that.
- Well, I didn't know it.

I never even
heard of the petition

until the lieutenant
there showed it to me.

Didn't you tell
me in my office...?

I told you

that Steele had asked me
questions about it some time ago.

That's all.

Very well. Cross-examine.

Mrs. Michaels, let's
be fair with Mr. Burger.

Isn't it a fact you
told Miss Street...?

I told your secretary about
the petition after the murder.

And you just told Mr. Burger

that you heard about it
from Lieutenant Drumm.

Well, what I meant was I...

I heard about the details
of it from the lieutenant.

Thank you for making that clear.

Now, Mrs. Michaels, how did
you know about the petition,

I mean generally,
before that time?

Well, I don't really remember.

Isn't it true you went to the decedent's
home the night of the murder...?

No, that's not true.

Then where did you go

when you called Mr. Thorne
to sit with the defendant's son?

My husband was
suddenly taken terribly ill.

I had to go home.

- Did you call a doctor?
- No, I...

Mrs. Michaels,

is it not a fact that you went
to see Kevin Steele that night?

No. I... I started
to go, but I didn't.

I changed my mind.

Why were you going
there, Mrs. Michaels?

Steele said he
wanted my signature.

He'd already ruined Charlie.

He'd already taken
everything he had.

And now he told
me, either I sign

or he'd take what
little we had left.

But I couldn't lie.

I couldn't let that
animal take Ronnie.

Mr. Thorne testified that
he relieved you at 11:00.

Now, where did you go if you
did not go to Steele's residence

and you did not go home?

Well, I went up Sunset.

I didn't turn to Coldwater.

And then I went on to Westwood.

I tried to call Steele

to tell him that I wouldn't
sign no matter what he did.

- Tried to call him?
- I couldn't get any answer.

How long did you try?

Oh, until maybe
about quarter past 12.

Did you get a busy signal?

There wasn't any answer.

- You're certain about that?
- Yes.

More certain than you
were about the petition?

Yes, I'm positive.

Mrs. Michaels, several
hundred thousand people

won't corroborate
your testimony.

They heard Kevin
Steele answer his phone

the very time you say
you couldn't get an answer.

Your Honor, I'm going
to excuse this witness,

subject to recalling
her to the stand.

Well, the defendant
got all excited.

Said that she'd tried everything

to get Steele to leave her
and her boy alone and that...

And that what, Mr. Sellers?

That there wasn't
anything to do short of...

Short of killing him.

Thank you, sir. Cross-examine.

Mr. Sellers,

apparently you were quite
busy making phone calls that day.

You called Barney Austin,
you called the defendant.

I was just trying to help.

Now, you told us you had
an argument with the decedent

because he was taking
your star performer,

Larry Stephens, away from you.

We are to understand, I assume,

that Mr. Steele paused
in an argument and said,

"By the way, I'm gonna take
my son away from his mother."

- It wasn't exactly like that.
- Then how was it?

He broke off our discussion
and said that he had to leave

because of this thing about
his son, his wife and Thorne.

After this heated
argument, he told you that?

Yes.

Listen, Mr. Mason.

I've bent over backwards
trying to cooperate with you.

Just what are you getting at?

Mr. Sellers, there's
no intent on my part

to impugn your testimony.

I'm simply trying to put all
the facts before the court.

Now, tell us,

had Mr. Steele in fact managed to
take your star performer away from you?

- Yes.
- That was the second time, wasn't it?

The first time, he took Barney
Austin away from your station.

From a look at court records, you
were in considerable financial difficulty

before you recovered
from that loss of revenue.

But I did recover.

And Barney and I
remained friends.

Yes, I recall that you
talked to Mr. Austin too.

- Now, why?
- I wanted to find out what he knew

about Steele trying to take my
man away from me, that's all.

And what did
Mr. Austin tell you?

Nothing. He didn't
know anything about it.

Thank you, Mr. Sellers.

You may stand down.

Your Honor, at this point,
and with the court's indulgence,

we would like to attempt
a faithful re-creation

of the Barney Austin Show
the night of the murder.

How is that possible, Mr. Mason?

By using an exact
transcript of the tape.

Mr. Sellers has agreed
as a public service

to use his radio station,

and Mr. Barney Austin
has volunteered to assist us.

Your Honor,

Mr. Mason is about to launch
another of his courtroom spectaculars.

And while I admit that in
the past, these have been

as entertaining and diverting
for me as for the spectators,

- I just fail to see...
- Mr. Mason?

It's vital to the defense
that we establish

the precise sequence of
events on the night of the murder.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

You may proceed with
your demonstration,

subject to the right
of the district attorney

to object at any stage.

We're ready, Your Honor.

Mr. Austin, please?

Oh, a technicality.

Since Mr. Austin will, in
effect, be giving testimony,

perhaps he should be
sworn in at this time?

As your witness, Mr. Mason?

As my witness, Mr. Burger.

The clerk will
administer the oath.

Raise your right hand. Do you
swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

- and nothing but the truth?
- I do.

- State your name.
- Barney Austin.

Be seated.

Your Honor,

there we have a studio microphone
on a direct line to Mr. Seller's station.

Mr. Austin's words will
be broadcast over the air

on a specially
assigned frequency

and will be received here on
the radio the decedent used.

The telephones are private lines
provided by the phone company.

Now, if Your Honor, please,
Mr. Sellers has agreed

to play the part of the
decedent, Kevin Steele.

This is the tape transcript.

May I remind you, Mr. Sellers,
that you are still under oath.

Well, here's one that ought to
shake up the boys in the control room.

This note's from the man who
owns this station, Kevin Steele.

Okay, boss. If this is a gag, turn
your radio down anyway, huh?

Adams

2-7-3-9-9.

- Hello?
- Chief?

Barney... Mason, what's wrong?

Mason, what's wrong?

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Your Honor, Mr. Mason
promised us an exact re-enactment.

To the last detail, that's true.

There ain't nothing wrong,
gentlemen. It's feedback.

If you've listened, you know that's
why I asked the guy on the other end

to turn the volume
down on his radio.

Yes, but thousands and thousands
of people will confirm the fact

that there was no feedback
on the air that night.

But Steele's radio was on.

I testified that the
defendant said she heard it,

and Lieutenant Drumm's
testimony will confirm it.

Then when Austin
called Mr. Steele's number

and Mr. Steele answered it,

then why wasn't there
feedback on the broadcast?

Mr. Austin, would you
explain that please?

Uh...

- I don't know.
- Everybody who listened

to the broadcast that night

heard Mr. Steele
answer the telephone

and then heard the
murder committed.

Not the murder, but what
purported to be the murder.

A tape recording
of Steele's voice

and the recorded
sound of two gunshots.

Mr. Mason, I made that call.

I don't think you called
Mr. Steele's number, Mr. Austin.

You remember Mrs. Michaels
testified that she tried to call Steele

several times and
couldn't get an answer.

I recall that testimony.

Someone saw to it that Mr. Austin
would not call the correct number.

That someone edited
together a tape of Steele's voice

from other radio conversations

and put it on an answering
device at another phone.

But that's impossible. No one
could have gotten away with it.

No one is going to get
away with it, Mr. Sellers.

The reason Clara
Michaels got no answer,

the reason Holly
Andrews didn't see Steele,

was because he was already dead.

Killed prior to the broadcast

by the person who planned so
well to commit the perfect murder.

A murderer who could
count on the corroboration

of thousands of witnesses.

This is Barney Austin.

Leave your message
when you hear the signal.

But he was my friend.

Kevin Steele was my
friend. I had no reason to...

What happened, Mr. Austin?

Did King Kevin decide
to get rid of King Barney?

Did he decide to take away
your microphone, your crown?

When Sellers called me, I
knew what Steele was up to.

I knew why he wanted
me to phone him.

So he could fire me on the air.

And when I went to him,
all I asked was for time.

Time to work something else out.

But the king didn't
make bargains, did he?

But I had it planned.

I had it so perfectly planned.

Except for one thing.

You forgot to turn
down the radio.

Look, nobody pulls the rug
out from under Barney Austin.

Nobody.

I don't get pushed around.

I'm the one who calls the shots!

Me! Barney Austin!

Let's hurry it up, boys.
Lights out in ten minutes.

Sacred except the truth.

Time for the most
controversial program on the air,

the Larry Stephens Show.

And a big fat hello

to all you Larry Stephens
haters. It's nice...

Clay, will you
turn that thing off?

What for? This
fellow's sensational.

He really kills them.

- The king is dead.
- We will play some of the windbags...

- Long live the king.
- It goes to prove, Della.

Nothing really changes. Life
goes on very much the same.

So let's call our first member

of the Larry Stephens
Should Drop Dead Club.

And remember, please,
to turn down your radio.