All language subtitles for Perry.Mason.S09E24.The.Case.of.the.Fanciful.Frail.DVDRip.x264

Oh, it'll be just
perfect, Mrs. Alford.

And thank you, Reverend Alford,

for letting us use the chapel when
there won't be any people here.

Every girl wants music
and flowers, Ethel.

The truth of the matter is,

when you marry a
couple in your office,

you miss the music and flowers.

I wanted a big wedding.
Well, not really that,

but where I'd wear a gown
and maybe have one attendant.

But Bruce wanted
to keep it secret.

You know we haven't told a soul.

We're just gonna show up
at work after the honeymoon.

You can imagine how
surprised everybody's gonna be.

While we wait for the groom,
suppose we have a cup of coffee?

Well, I wonder where Bruce
is. He said 11, and it's...

What time is it?

Well, it's close to 12.

Uh, do you think I could use
the telephone to call the office?

Bruce isn't there?

Has he been there,
Mr. Carruthers?

No, he hasn't, but
the police have been.

Ethel, we're missing
$50,000 in securities.

And we found out this
morning they'd been sold,

and that your signature is
on the transfer authorization.

We have... Have to find Bruce.

Ethel, I tried to reach Bruce, thinking
he might help us check the books.

But his vacation started
today and he's gone.

- Gone?
- Look, Ethel...

Ethel, I promise I'll stand by
you, but you've got to come in

and explain why you signed
that transfer authorization.

Ethel? Ethel?

Ethel, where are you?
How soon can you get here?

Hello?

Yes, this is Peggy
Sutton, operator.

I'm doing you a good turn, baby.

I could have my neck wrung if
the word gets out I warned you.

Warned me? But...

There's a contractor out of
Chicago, I think, who's looking for you.

Contractor?

A hired gun, Peg,
a torpedo, a killer.

Well, thanks, I...
I owe you a favor.

Then do me one.
Forget who called you.

Yes?

Who is it?

Chambermaid,
miss. Can I clean up?

Won't take me long, miss.

You checking out?

I'll get you a boy.

It's okay. It'll take
maybe 30 minutes to fix.

Something to do with
what's underneath the car.

Thank goodness you weren't
hurt. I just wasn't watching the road.

I've had a bit of a shock and...

Well, frankly, I've been
crying my eyes out for an hour.

Man trouble?

Uh, let's try the coffee
shop while we're waiting.

- What'd you say your name is?
- Ethel.

Well, take it from me,

there's not a man in the world
that's worth shedding a tear over.

Nine-tenths baloney
and one-tenth ego,

that's what little
boys are made of.

Wanna check the brakes on this
one? I'll start to work on the other job.

I think the fuel
line was torn out.

And then I found out that Bruce
had used me and left me behind

to face the boss and
my friends and trouble.

Maybe even jail.

I need time to find him,
to prove that I didn't steal...

They're looking for
me in Oceanview,

and they're gonna find me before
I've had a chance to find him.

Listen, honey, you're not the
only girl in the world with a problem.

Take me, for instance, this
guy who's been hounding me...

We had some fun, he
gave me some presents

and now he thinks he owns me.

In a way, I'm in the
same boat you are,

only he's looking for me,
and I'm trying to shake him.

Oh, and now I've
delayed you. I'm sorry.

Don't worry about Peggy.

I can take care of myself,
but just suppose now,

suppose that I could
give you the time you need

to find that guy you
were going to marry.

- How?
- By swapping places.

You'll be Peggy Sutton,
and I'll be Ethel Andrews.

Oh, I couldn't.

You can do a lot of
things if you have to.

I don't know if I should
let myself into this, frankly,

but in a way, it would
be helping me too.

How much time do you need?

A week? A week.

I know his folks live in Los
Angeles, where he might go, but...

It would never work. No
one would take me for you.

You're so... You're so pretty.

You could take my car,
my identification, everything.

You'd be in the clear to
do whatever you have to.

Then in a week, we
could meet in, say, Tijuana,

swap cars and
get our things back.

Suppose they stop
you at the border?

Then they've got the wrong
girl. They can't do anything to me.

Thanks for lending me the $25,
Ethel. I hadn't counted on a repair bill.

That's all right. It
was my fault anyway.

Well, are we going to swap off?

I don't know, I...

Here. My
identification is inside.

For the next week,
you're Peggy Sutton.

But I could get you
into terrible trouble.

What the heck. Nothing
ventured, nothing gained.

Look, Peggy,

I can spare you an extra
$20. You might need it.

And, well, you can
pay me back next week.

At the place I told you in
Tijuana next Wednesday morning.

I guess I'd better give
you a hand, young lady.

Oh, thank you.

Here you are, miss. Looks like your
package slipped back in the tire well.

Oh, thank you.

I'd like to pay you for
this if you don't mind.

I wouldn't hear
of it. Glad to do it.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

So if I come forward,
admit that I'm alive,

they'll say that I violated
a trust, stole $50,000,

and in trying to get away, killed
Peggy to cover up my tracks.

If you continue this
disguise as Peggy Sutton,

they'll continue
to search for you

as the possible murderer
of Ethel Andrews.

Now, on top of that,

you know nothing
whatsoever of Peggy Sutton,

who she was, what she did,
what problems she may have had.

Well, she said there
was a man following her,

that she was trying to get away.

After knowing her for half an hour,
you agreed to change identities with her?

You gave her your car, your
luggage, your identification.

Well, I did change my mind.

I turned around and
went back after her.

I was gonna call
the whole thing off.

Now, about the money,

didn't you say that your
prospective bridegroom, uh...?

Bruce Strickland.

Uh, that Bruce Strickland, a
customer's man in your office,

took $50,000 with your unwitting
help, then disappeared with it?

Yes, I was crazy to believe him.

You don't have the $50,000?

Well, I... I do have $50,000.

Not that $50,000,

but Peggy's $50,000.

Peggy's 50,000?

Actually, it's
51,700. I counted it.

- Where did you get it?
- I found it in the trunk of her car.

You're telling us that she had
this money in the trunk of her car,

but that she had to
borrow $45 from you?

Now, how do you explain that?

I can't.

Oh, what am I
gonna do, Mr. Mason?

At the moment, being Ethel Andrews
or Peggy Sutton has its problems,

but at least Peggy is
supposed to be alive.

We'll need a little time.

We don't know the
identity of the man

who was looking over
Peggy's car this morning.

But you surely can't
afford to have him knock

on what he may think is
Peggy's door and find you there.

But that's probably her
boyfriend who was chasing her.

She told me about him.

I wouldn't count on anything
she may have told you.

We'd better put this
money in a safe place.

Della, let's step into your office
for a minute, then I'll explain

how I want you to handle it.
- Mm-hm.

Yeah, but what do
you want me to do?

As soon as Della
types up her notes,

I want you to sign
them as your statement,

and then I want you
to follow instructions.

Don't I handle this like
our other trust accounts?

Of course.

I simply wanted to know
what you think of her story.

I think it's fantastic.
Unbelievable.

You don't think it
could possibly be true?

I ask you, would you
meet a total stranger

and over a cup of coffee,
switch identities with him?

I didn't ask if it sounded
logical or sensible,

only if it could
possibly be true.

Do you think it could?

I don't know, but I
might be able to find out.

Now, after she signs the statement,
take her to a movie, a double feature.

I want her out of circulation
as long as possible.

And where are you going while I take
Peggy...? Ethel Andrews to the movie?

Ethel Andrews' funeral.

It's hard to believe that
only a brief moment ago,

this young girl, vibrant with
life and energy and enthusiasm,

stood before this very altar
on the threshold of married life,

waiting to be a bride.

Now instead, Ethel
Andrews lies in eternal sleep.

And we hope she finds the peace
and happiness in the life hereafter

which were denied
her in this earthly one.

You can imagine
the shock, Mr. Mason,

when I found out
what Ethel had done.

Why, I trusted Ethel
as I trust myself.

You're absolutely certain
that she and no one else

disposed of those securities?

No one else could have.

Except for myself, only Ethel
was authorized to sign a transfer.

You're bonded, of course,

so your client and your
company won't suffer.

No, they won't. But I suffer.

I thought the world of Ethel.

The minister said she was
expecting to be married.

Married? Ethel?

Oh, uh, Martha is my secretary,
worked very closely with Ethel.

If Ethel were planning
to be married to anyone,

I most certainly would
have known about it.

By the way, have you heard
anything from Bruce Strickland?

I understand he's disappeared.

Disappeared?

Bruce is right over there.
He's one of the pallbearers.

Uh, Mr. Strickland.

Mr. Strickland, my name
is Mason. I'm an attorney.

I've been engaged to, uh,
straighten out Ethel Andrews' affairs.

How do you do?

I was under the impression
that you had left town.

I was on vacation,

but as soon as I read about Ethel,
I decided to come back to work.

Thought I might help
straighten out the books.

It must have been
a trying experience,

since you and Ethel
planned to be married.

Who told you that?

It isn't true?

Mr. Mason, I don't know how
much you know about women.

As much as any man, nothing.

Especially repressed women.

Well, I make it a point to
be nice to women, all women.

You take a girl like Ethel,
introvert, repressed, living alone.

What other outlet did she
have except, well, romanticizing?

You mean the
notion of a wedding,

of getting married to
you, was all in her mind?

It certainly wasn't in mine.

Now, as I understand it,

Perry's problem is a dead
girl who claims to be alive.

That's right.

Posing as the girl
who's really dead.

Couldn't she just come back to life
as herself, clear the whole thing up?

Not without going to jail.

Did you learn anything?

Well, I met Ethel's
fiancé, Bruce Strickland.

He's never heard of
any wedding plans.

Well, by the time I
dropped Ethel at her motel,

she had told me every
detail of her wedding plans.

Until I know whether to believe or
disbelieve what Ethel has told us,

I'm not sure how to proceed.

I can't believe a girl would buy a
trousseau, hire a chapel, unless...

It doesn't make sense.

Neither did switching
identities with Peggy Sutton.

That's where you come in, Paul.

I received these names
and addresses from Ethel.

They were in Peggy's effects,
evidently people in her life.

Ethel has no idea
who they could be.

And you want me to
get in touch with them?

Discreetly.

And discreetly find out what?

Whether or not anyone
happens to be missing $50,000.

Over the rocks or on
the stem, Mr. Drake?

- On the stem, please.
- Aha.

I can see you make an
excellent martini, Mr. Milgrave.

I'd hate to have it
ruined with melted ice.

My sentiments exactly.

It's too bad more people
don't think that way.

Here we are.

Thank you.

To your good health, sir.

Ah. Perfect.

Mr. Milgrave, if you ever decide
to go into another line of work,

you could patent this
and make a fortune.

The Park Milgrave Martini.

Sorry, I've made my fortune
and I'm happily retired.

And my wife has dedicated
her life to keeping me that way.

Don't disturb
yourselves, gentlemen.

I'm a big girl now.
I can pour my own.

Althea, this is Mr. Drake.
Mr. Drake, my wife.

A pleasure, Mrs. Milgrave.

You remember Peggy Sutton, dear?

Mr. Drake is a
private investigator.

And from what he's free to
tell me, he's trying to find her.

Don't tell me Peggy's
in trouble again.

Has she, uh, been
in trouble before?

Well, not really.

You see, Peggy's the
daughter of an old friend.

And since he died, why, we've
tried to keep an eye on her.

Which is difficult at times.

The girl is a little wild.

Uh, what kind of
trouble was she in?

Mm, gambling, mainly.

She couldn't stay
away from the tables.

Whenever she'd run up a tab,
she'd give us as a reference.

And you paid the tab?

What else could I do?

Peggy is, well, like
a foster daughter.

I see.

Mr. Milgrave, would it be likely

that Peggy Sutton would be
carrying a large sum of money?

Peggy?

A large tab, maybe, but money?

No, it's very unlikely.

Well, as I was telling your
husband, Mrs. Milgrave,

he makes an excellent martini.

Here's to Peggy.

Let's hope finding
her will be easy for you

and inexpensive for us.

Ah.

Don't make one sound,
Miss Sutton, if you want to live.

You got the message?

Mm.

You must be very
good at treasure hunts.

I turned this place inside out
and I couldn't find a thing, Peggy.

Oh... Oh, but...
But I'm not Peggy.

No, no, no, of course not.

Now, don't tell me any stories.

Just show me where it is.

Heh. Sorry to have
kept you waiting so long.

- That's all right, Frank.
- Is Bruce in?

- He's in his office.
- Ah...

I've just been to
police headquarters.

Mm, they've searched
Ethel's car, every inch.

There isn't a sign of any
money, burned or otherwise.

Then maybe she
wasn't carrying it with her.

Well, it's still
around somewhere.

Well, I've been thinking
about that too, but where?

If I only could have
persuaded Ethel to come in

and return that money after you
discovered the shortage, she...

Well, she'd still be alive.

I've been thinking, Frank.

That lawyer that turned up

- at Ethel's funeral.
- Perry Mason?

Could he know something
about the money?

I understand he's representing
a girl named Peggy Sutton.

Did Ethel ever mention
that name to you?

Peggy Sutton.

No, no, I don't think so.

You didn't accomplish
anything with the police?

No.

I wonder, do you need
me anymore tonight?

There's something
I have to check on.

Well, go ahead, Bruce.

If I can do any good,
I'd be glad to stay.

No, there's no point in it.

Well, then, uh, see you later.

Good night, Bruce.

I didn't wanna mention
this with Bruce being here,

but, uh, there may be
something in what that lawyer said

about Ethel being
married, or expecting to be.

No, please!

All right, thank you, that will be all.
We'll call you when we're through.

Let's see who it is.

He's been shot.

Dresser drawers and
closet cleaned out.

Girl must have taken a
powder after she shot him.

Get the girl's name from the manager,
detailed description and so forth.

Put through an APB,
airlines, buses, trains.

Maybe she took a car.

No, according to the
manager, the car's outside.

Put her on through an APB.

Right. Who was he?

Bruce Strickland.

Money's all here, it
couldn't be robbery.

Employed by Frank Carruthers,

Oceanview Security
Investment Company.

Miss Peggy Sutton?

Uh, no... Uh, yes. I'm so glad
you're here. That man behind...

You're under arrest.

Arre...? Arrest? No.
No, no, I was kidnapped.

I was forced to get
on that plane by a man.

What man?

I don't know. He was here, but
I don't know where he's gone.

Before you say anything more,

I'm required to advise
you of your rights.

You don't have to
make a statement.

Anything you say may be
used against you as evidence.

You have a right to be
represented. Let's go.

- Aren't you gonna look for him?
- I know.

- I know.
- I was kidnapped.

I have heard some strange
stories from clients, Miss Andrews,

and eventually many
proved to be true,

but this story of
yours beats them all.

But it's true all the
same, every word of it.

Even as to how
you got the money?

Yes.

You didn't get it from
the Oceanview office,

even though securities
worth $50,000 are missing

and only you could
have disposed of them?

- I'd better tell you about that.
- Yes, you'd better.

Bruce said that all we
needed to get married,

to be happy, was a stake.

- The securities?
- Yes.

Bruce had to pledge them as
a security on a fabulous deal.

Overnight, he'd make enough
money for us to be married on.

Then he'd replace them and...

Well, it wasn't like stealing.

But it didn't work out that way.

Bruce did steal the securities,

sold them, and left
you standing at the altar.

- Is that what you're saying?
- Yes.

That's also what the police are
saying, with one significant variation.

They say you took the money,
that Bruce discovered this,

- and that's why you killed him.
- Oh, but you can't believe that.

Then why were you running away?

- Why were you on that plane?
- I was kidnapped.

I told you about that man who...

Well, who came to the
apartment and threatened to kill me

and forced me to
get on that plane.

And then vanished into thin air.

Didn't you spend hours looking
at mug shots with the police

and come up with nothing?

Oh, there was a man. It's true.

And you did not kill
Bruce Strickland?

I didn't even know he was
dead until after I was arrested.

Ethel, I hope you
realize your position.

If you admit the $50,000 you turned
over to me came from your office,

then that's your
motive for killing Bruce.

But it didn't.

But if they believe you took
the money from the dead girl,

then that could be a
motive for killing her.

And they might charge
you with her murder.

Mr. Mason, what can I do?

I wish I knew.

In all the time I've been in the
Los Angeles Police Department,

I thought I'd seen everything,
fellas, but I was wrong.

Today, for the first time,

I saw the remains of a
bowl this big, full of money.

- Remains?
- Somebody burned it.

Brand-new bills.
Large denominations.

Fifty, maybe a hundred
thousand bucks.

Who would have done that?

Apparently, the man your
client is charged with murdering.

- Bruce Strickland? DRUMM:
It was found in his apartment.

Why would Strickland or
anyone else burn money un...?

I thought of that.

But I had the lab check
it, ink, paper, engraving,

and the Treasury
Department just confirmed it.

It's real money, all
right, and brand-new bills.

Doesn't make any sense.

What angle of this case does?

Perry, that statement
your client gave us.

Now, that was something else.

- You're certain Strickland burned it?
- It was found in his apartment.

We're working on that
angle. I'll see you later.

So long, Steve.

- Hello, Steve.
- Hello, Della.

You'll never guess. PAUL: Heh.

- Now we're playing games.
- Oh.

Remember what I said?

That no girl would buy a trousseau,
a wedding bouquet and so forth...

That's right. You said that.

I was right.

I found the jeweler
who sold Ethel's ring.

And guess who bought it for her.

- Who?
- Bruce Strickland.

The jeweler identified
him from his picture.

Doesn't that help?

Help who?

The prosecution will say

it gives Ethel an even stronger
motive for murdering Strickland.

Well, it does prove one thing.

At least about that,
she was telling the truth.

She lied, Your Honor.

As a matter of fact, she left
a trail of lies and deception

halfway across the
state of California.

She lied when she contrived
to defraud her employer

of $50,000 in securities.

She lied when she ran away.

She lied to Peggy Sutton

when she convinced her
they should switch identities.

And then she continued to lie

as she lived out the
part of a dead woman.

Now, the decedent, Bruce Strickland,
apparently sensed the fraud...

Mr. Mason, I talked with
my bonding company,

and if you'll arrange to return
that $50,000 that Ethel took,

they'll drop the grand
theft charges against her.

Now, I don't know
how much that'll help,

but it'll be one less thing
for her to worry about.

Mr. Carruthers, it
hasn't been established

that Ethel took the
money from your firm.

The money you're referring to
could have come from Peggy Sutton.

Besides, I couldn't make
any disposition of the funds.

At this moment, I
have an investigator

trying to determine
ownership of the money.

Well, I just thought it might
help, and from the look of things,

that poor girl's gonna need
all the help she can get.

So then, Miss Erskine,

when you found that these
securities had been sold, you traced...

I got the information
from the clearinghouse.

That's when I
found out that Ethel,

the defendant, had signed
the transfer authorization.

And what action
did you take then?

I reported it to Mr. Carruthers.

He just couldn't believe it.

He brought in the police
and then Ethel called in.

Were you present when
Mr. Carruthers took that phone call?

Oh, yes, sir.

He begged her to come
back and explain herself,

but, of course, she
never showed up.

And that apparently started
the whole chain of events

that led to the murder of...

Objection. The district
attorney is leading the witness.

Withdraw the question,
Mr. Mason. Cross-examine.

Now, Miss Erskine, was
it your normal practice

to make a search of the records

for all securities held
by the, uh, company?

Well, no.

But on that particular
morning, without any direction,

working in an area foreign
to your normal assignment

as secretary to Mr. Carruthers,

you just happened to find those
particular securities missing,

just happened to check
further with the clearinghouse?

That's right.

I'm not one of those people
who just does enough to get by.

I knew we were shorthanded.

With Ethel out and
Bruce on vacation, why...

No offense, Miss Erskine.

You're conscientious.
Let's leave it at that.

Now, about Bruce
Strickland, the decedent.

How long had you known him?
- About two years.

Then you knew him before he
came to work for Mr. Carruthers?

- Yes. MASON: Was
that a coincidence,

or did you assist him
in getting the position?

We needed a salesman.

I introduced him to Mr. Carruthers,
and they hit it off right away.

And apparently, you
and the decedent were...

Well, tell me how you would
describe your relationship.

We were... close.

Did you ever visit
his apartment?

What's wrong with that?

Nothing. Would you
answer the question, please?

When he first came to
work, I helped him furnish it.

When was the last time you went
to that apartment, Miss Erskine?

We... We had
dinner there together

on... On the 25th.

That was the night before you
discovered the securities missing,

the night before the defendant
waited for Bruce Strickland

in the wedding chapel?

The night before he
started on his vacation?

I guess so.

Thank you, Miss Erskine.

- Coming out, coming out.
- Roll them.

And another.

Number eight.
Number eight's a point.

Here we go, number eight.

Okay, here we go.

Number six.

Doing any good?

Ah, so-so.

I'm afraid you'll never get rich on me
unless you can reach into my pocket,

- because I won't.
- Ah, you've learned the big secret.

The house percentages have
to beat you over the long haul.

- The way they beat Peggy Sutton?
- Yeah.

Poor Peggy, she was
a natural-born loser.

But she just couldn't
stay away from the tables.

How was her credit?

Eighty-six and out here
whenever I was on duty.

She was the type, the
deeper she plunged,

the more desperate she got.

Bad business.

Then you don't think she could
possibly have had a big run,

picked up a bundle
and just taken off?

You seem pretty sure. Why?

A professional hood, a torpedo,
showed up here with a contract on her.

That means she must have
dropped a big bundle somewhere.

Poor kid. Somebody
should have warned her.

Somebody did. Me.

That's all I can tell you, Drake.
Maybe I've said too much already.

Excuse me.

- Well, the handsome detective.
- Heh.

Hello, Mrs. Milgrave.

- Come on, I'll buy you a drink.
- Fine.

Just can't stay away from
where the action is, huh?

Well, actually I'm working.

- Same deal. Peggy Sutton.
- Oh.

I read about it in the papers.

Poor, hard-luck Peggy.

Yes, sir?

- Oh, my usual, Clarice.
- Scotch and water, please.

- Well, no hard feelings?
- What do you mean?

That story your husband told me,
old family friend, fatherly interest,

somehow I just didn't buy it.

But it was the truth.

Oh, not that my
husband's any saint.

And from time to time, I've
had to protect my position.

Some of them I've had
to beat off with clubs.

But not Peggy Sutton.

Not Peggy.

When Peggy first showed up,

I hired one of your fellow
specialists to look into it.

But where Peggy and my
husband were concerned,

there was absolutely
no hanky-panky.

Would you be willing to
testify to that in Los Angeles?

In case the prosecution brings
it up in the Ethel Andrews' trial?

Well, apparently, they're
going to bring it up.

I have a subpoena
to testify for the state.

The truth is, Mr. Burger,
Peggy Sutton was not only broke,

but had run out on a gambling
debt when she left Tahoe.

Yet you heard the
defense contention

that the defendant got
$50,000 from Peggy Sutton.

I can't understand that.

I can't understand it
either, Mr. Milgrave.

Cross-examine.

In the statement the
defendant gave the police

which was read into the record,

you'll recall she claimed that she
made a loan of $45 to Peggy Sutton?

Yes, I remember that.

Then your testimony, it seems,

would corroborate that part
of the defendant's statement.

I suppose so. All I know is...

What do you suppose
Mason is up to?

He's arguing
against his own case.

If Peggy Sutton had $50,000, she
certainly didn't have to borrow 45.

Now let's examine...

No further
questions at this time.

Witness may stand down.

The state calls
Mrs. Althea Milgrave.

I don't know yet if I'm gonna have
to call you to testify, Mr. Thomas,

but I had to be certain
you'd be here to back me up.

You can count on that.

Let's just hope somebody
gives you an opening.

No, I wasn't surprised
when she turned up missing.

She was in hock to
one of the casinos.

She knew my husband and
I wouldn't bail her out again.

Park had put his foot
down on that score.

So I guessed that she'd done
the only thing she could do,

run and drop out of sight.

And you can say that she had
no considerable amount of money

when she left Tahoe?

Certainly not $50,000, if
that's what you're getting at.

That's exactly what I'm getting
at, Mrs. Milgrave. Thank you.

Take the witness, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Milgrave, you
testified that your husband,

I believe you said,
"put his foot down"

and refused to pay
Peggy Sutton's debts.

Am I to understand that until
then, he had paid her debts?

Uh, that's true, yes. - Why?

I don't understand
what you mean.

I mean, what was the
relationship between them

that would make him
feel obligated to do so?

Well, it wasn't romantic, if
that's what you're implying.

You're quite sure of that?

I made quite sure of that.

Well, let's see now.

It wasn't romantic, but it seems
to have gone beyond friendship.

I wonder...

Thank you very
much, Mrs. Milgrave.

That's all?

That's quite enough.

Lieutenant Drumm,

after you completed your
preliminary investigation

at the scene of the murder,

and issued the APB
for Peggy Sutton,

what did you do?

We went to the decedent's
apartment, Mr. Mason.

Was there evidence
of forcible entry?

- No.
- Then apparently,

whoever entered that apartment
gained access with a key.

That's possible, yes.

Now, did you find
anything unusual there?

Yes, we found that a desk
drawer had been forced open,

and that a considerable
amount of currency,

an undetermined
amount, had been burned.

Now, about that money,
Lieutenant Drumm...

Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason is beginning
a line of questioning

which the prosecution believes

to be completely
immaterial and irrelevant.

Since defense counsel is
holding in trust a sum of money

equivalent to that stolen
from the defendant's employer,

and since Mr. and Mrs. Milgrave's
testimony leaves no doubt

that the deceased, Peggy Sutton,
had no substantial funds at all,

I fail to see how counsel
can possibly connect

Lieutenant Drumm's
testimony about burned currency

with the murder
of Bruce Strickland.

- Mr. Mason?
- Your Honor, not only do I believe

that the burned currency and the
murder are inextricably intertwined,

but by a brief
questioning of one witness,

I believe we can bring
this case to a conclusion.

Well, I'll, uh, not
rule out the subject,

but the district attorney may
object to specific questions.

The clerk will enter this package
and mark it defense exhibit number 1.

You will recall Lieutenant
Drumm's testimony

concerning the burned currency.

Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Burger, will you
approach the bench, please?

Now, let's dispose of the
question of admissibility.

Your Honor, the
prosecution has characterized

these defense
contentions as lies:

One, that a girl
with $50,000 in cash

was compelled to borrow
$45 from a stranger.

Two, that a man the defendant had
never seen before searched her room

and, unable to find what he
was looking for, abducted her.

Three, that Peggy Sutton
suggested on first meeting,

that she and the defendant
exchange identities.

That's right, Your Honor.

The prosecution also maintains
that the burned currency

found in the dead man's apartment
has no bearing on this case.

But, Your Honor,

there is one key that can explain these
apparently unrelated circumstances,

prove that Ethel
Andrews has told the truth

and point to Bruce
Strickland's killer.

Now, I believe we
have here such a key.

I'm going to allow you to continue,
Mr. Mason. Objection is overruled.

Would you agree, Mr. Milgrave?

Agree to what?

That the money in this
package is in fact the key?

What...? This, uh...

I can understand your
surprise, Mr. Milgrave,

because this is the money
you thought you burned

in Bruce Strickland's apartment.

And, Your Honor,
it also explains why,

after taking it from Mr. Milgrave,
Peggy Sutton was fleeing for her life,

why she was forced to borrow
money from the defendant,

why she was so eager to switch
identities, and why the defendant,

still being mistaken for
Peggy Sutton, was abducted.

How, Your Honor? Mr. Mason, how?

Because, Mr. Burger,

the money in this
package is counterfeit.

And if you have any doubts,

Mr. Thomas of the U.S.
Treasury Department

has already examined
it and is in court.

Mr. Milgrave,

you didn't even know Bruce
Strickland, but you killed him.

Why?

I... I honestly
didn't intend to.

But he was in there
searching the room.

I was afraid he was there
for the same reason I was.

And afterwards,
when I took the keys

and found the money in his apartment
and burned it, I thought I was safe.

A murderer is never
safe, Mr. Milgrave.

That idea is as false as
this money you printed.

This is just the evidence
we needed to break up

the biggest counterfeiting operation
we've bumped into in a long time.

And the engraving's
almost perfect.

For a woman who's just
been freed on a murder charge,

you don't seem very happy.

I'm also a woman who's
been naive and gullible.

I must be making some
progress. At least I recognize it.

There ought to be some
consolation in knowing

you were up against a professional
passer of counterfeit money.

Peggy saw a chance
to make a private deal,

stole the package
from her boss...

Switched identities with me so
they'd chase me instead of her.

There must be a moral
in that somewhere.

Yes. I'm sure it'll come to you.

Della and I will meet you
downstairs. We'll celebrate.

I'm taking everybody to the
best restaurant on La Cienega.

Sparkling Burgundy,
crêpe Suzette, the works.

Paul, I don't mean to look
a gift horse in the mouth,

but, uh, did you happen to pick
up some of that phony money?

Heh. Forget money.

When Paul Drake
entertains, the sky is the limit.

Oh, uh, speaking of money,
uh, could you let me have $50?

This, um...

- This is a loan.
- Uh-huh.

- And the celebration is on you.
- Certainly.

Just, uh, put it on
my expense account.

Uh, Della?