All language subtitles for Perry.Mason.S09E26.The.Case.of.the.Dead.RingerDVDRip.x264

It's the same the
whole world over

It's the poor what
gets the blame

It's the rich what
gets the gravy

- Oh, ain't it a blooming shame?
- Now stay out, hear me?

Watch it! Watch it! I
got a broken rib, I have.

Sorry, limey.

Barely two days out of hospital.

Sorry, I said.

First drink's on the house.

Much obliged,
matey, much obliged.

What are you stopping here for?

That's Nate over
there. Back in a second.

Who's Nate?
What's this all about?

Nate's a private detective, and
this is about $7 million, March.

I'm not gonna get $7 million.

Nobody is, the rate
you're handling things.

Now, Otis,

the lawyers are trying their best
to prove that the patent is ours.

Well, their best
isn't good enough.

The opposition has a lawyer too.

And I saw him operating
with that jury today.

He made three of our
witnesses sound like morons.

Now, we can't take
a chance on losing.

We do, and a patent worth 7
million goes down the drain.

- Listening to that crazy nephew...
- Place across the street. The bar.

Now, wait a minute, Dan.

Nate says the guy is in there.

This is one time one of
my pub crawls paid off.

I swear, when I spotted him
in that joint the other night,

the idea hit me
right in the face.

There he was, raising the
devil, looking like the devil.

Still I thought, with the
right haircut, he'd look like...

All right, all right.
Let's see him.

Look like whom? I don't know what's
going on, but I've been around enough

to know you don't entrust
a case to your lawyers

then go behind
their backs and...

With a stake like this, you do.

Now, if it bothers you, March, if
you're so anxious to avoid trouble,

then you wait here.

Where?

Now, listen, Uncle Otis.

My idea is that Sandra
hasn't testified yet, right?

Big help she's going to be.

Well, she won't until
after the weekend, right?

So? Get to the point.

So the one sure
way to win the case

is to take care of the guy
who's giving us a hard time.

There.

You are out of your mind.

And so is that detective friend
of yours who followed him.

You must have been
drunk when you spotted him.

Now, wait a minute.

- I want you to talk to Nate.
- No.

The guy with him is
from one of the studios.

He tells Nate it'll work.

How many people
have you talked to?

You're a fool, Dan.

They're both all right.

The guy with Nate says we have
to do something about that scar.

But there's nothing to it.

Now, forget about
all those clothes.

Picture him the way the
makeup guy will fix him.

And in the right
place at the right time

with the right witnesses...

Here, watch it, mate. Watch it.

That arm is twice
broke, you know.

- And not yet a day out of the cast.
- Sorry.

Never you mind, guv.

I'm sure you meant no harm, sir.

Sure you meant no
harm to the likes of me.

Here, now!

Thank you, Mr. Grimes.

Don't mind if I do.

Please. Hold still, please.

Oh, it's only for a bit of
disinfecting, governor,

the way this bloke
here is slicing me up.

Of course, of course, but
not for the next 36 hours.

That's part of our
agreement, right?

Oh, the things a man
does when he sells his soul.

But here now,
I've been thinking.

Thirty-six hours.

Suppose the Liverpool Lady
should be sailed by then. Ha.

You've no idea
of the persecutions

a poor foreign seaman
can be subjected to.

Don't worry, Mr. Grimes.

You're not gonna miss your ship,

not for any reason.

That's part of our
agreement too.

You're not to talk,
you understand?

Oh, is that so?

And suppose some innocent
Samaritan should offer me a drink?

I'm not even to
say "no" politely?

You're to do just exactly as we've
told you, nothing more, nothing less.

And if small children throw
rocks at me for the way I look?

Now, I ask you, guv,

would you let your hair get
covered like a silly woman?

Will you sit still, Mr. Grimes?
We haven't much time left.

Now, now, now, laddie.

Laddie, don't get upset.

I'm only wanting to do my best
for you and the guv, that's all.

But it would help if I knew a
bit more what I'm up to, eh?

Grimes, the less you know,

the less chance there
is of your hanging.

Blimey, what a sight!

What an horrible sight.

There you are.
That's all there is to it.

Naturally, naturally,

a man's got to be dressed
proper for his own funeral.

Oh, I told you, there's
absolutely no danger to you.

Oh, sure, guv, sure.

But your nephew, he took the
lid off the pudding, so to speak.

Made mention of
the hangman, he did,

and for anyone whose own
dear father was stretched

by the neck until he was dead...

Dan's a fool.

Not that I paid any
mind to the young idiot,

but it did set me a thinking,

how would it look?

How would it look,

a fine gentleman like that
to approach the pearly gates

with only $1,000 in his
pocket, admittance fee.

Grimes,

I'm gonna give you $2,000.

I was, uh, just saving it
for a surprise, that's all.

Of course you were,
guv, of course you were.

I knew it all the time. Why,
bless you, guv, bless you.

All right, that's enough.

Yes, you only got three
hours to learn how to walk.

Huh?

And stand up straight.
Come on, suck your belly in.

Straighter. Get your head up.

Right you are. Right you are.

Now, there's just one little
detail I will have to know, gents.

What might I be
calling his nibs?

Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason.

Perry Mason's office.

No, Mr. Mason isn't
here this evening.

He went right to his
apartment when he left court.

If you'll give me your message,
I can get it to him tom...

Oh, yes, I'm sure
that's where he went.

Unless it's quite urgent.

What did you say your
name was, please?

Hello?

Excuse me.

I'm Sandra Dunkel. Is
there a message for me?

Mr. Perry Mason asked
me to meet him here.

Mason? We have no
guest by that name, madam.

Oh, well, he said to
meet him here at 8 sharp.

Excuse me a moment.

Your change, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Mason?

Perry Mason.

I thought he looked familiar.

Yes.

I heard him speak once, Harley.

He's a good speaker.

Good tipper, sir. What for you?

Nothing, thank you.

I appreciate your phone call.

I do need money right now
and if there's any way that I...

What is it that you
want me to do?

And you say that you were
secretary to Mr. Kramer

prior to his death last year?

Yes, sir. I'd held that
position for about two years.

She was the worst
secretary my father ever had.

She couldn't even
read her own shorthand.

Well, actually, I haven't
been able to follow it.

Then let me explain
it very simply.

Now, my client, Swanson
Radio Corporation,

maintains that the patent in
question should be turned over,

per agreement, at
the stipulated sum.

On the other hand, Kramer
Engineering maintains that...

If counsel wishes to give a
capsule version of the issues,

I have no objection,

but I would prefer to state
the defendant's position myself.

Go right ahead, Mr. Mason.

Now, let me put it this way.

Swanson Radio maintains

they had no previous knowledge of
the value of the patent in question.

The defendant, Kramer
Engineering, maintains

that two days before his
death, Mr. Kramer discovered

that Mr. Swanson
had prior knowledge

of A&T Industries' intention

to purchase the patent
rights for $7 million.

Information Mr. Kramer
had no access to

when he concluded the agreement
with Swanson Radio Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now you see why your
testimony is so important.

Now, tell me, Ms. Dunkel,

did you spend much
time with Mr. Kramer?

Particularly while he
was sick the last year.

And did you ever
hear him say anything

about selling the patent in
question to Swanson Radio?

Only that he thought
he'd made a good deal.

Yet we've heard
testimony here this morning

that Mr. Kramer had seen
some mysterious letter

written by some
mysterious person

that purported to
show that Mr. Swanson,

before negotiating
with Mr. Kramer,

knew that he could get
$7 million for the patent.

Now, did you ever
see any such note?

No, sir.

Did you ever hear
of any such note?

No, sir.

Yet didn't you tell the
court earlier this morning

that it was
Mr. Kramer's practice

to dictate to you a summary
of each day's activities?

Yes, sir, but he never
dictated anything like that.

You seem very
nervous, Ms. Dunkel.

Is there any particular reason?

Yes, sir.

The lawyer on the
other side, Mr. Mason,

he wanted me to answer
that last question differently.

What? You don't mean
that you discussed this with...

Yes, I do.

Mr. Mason telephoned
me last night,

he said that they
needed my help.

Objection, Your Honor.

Aside from the fact that I've
never spoken to this witness,

her statement is inadmissible.

Sustained. The jury will disregard
the last question and answer.

Perhaps we'd better
clarify this, Ms. Dunkel.

Do you mean that someone
telephoned you last night

and said he was Mr. Mason?

Yes, sir.

He said to meet him at
the Babson Arms Hotel,

and that he'd give
me written instructions.

Objection!

Just tell us what you
actually did, Ms. Dunkel.

Well, I went to the Babson Arms
Hotel at the time that he said,

and a man walked in,

handed me an
envelope, and it was him.

That's not true, Your Honor.

One moment, Mr. Mason.

Can you tell us what was in
that envelope, Ms. Dunkel?

This.

It's some typed questions
and answers for me to give.

And if I said all that, it would
sound like Mr. Swanson over there

was a thief and a swindler who
had stolen Mr. Kramer's invention

and then lied about it.

That's enough, Ms. Dunkel.

We're quite capable of
examining that paper ourselves.

Please, Your
Honor, may I only ask

if there was anything
else in the envelope

that the witness can show us?

- Well, Ms. Dunkel?
- Yes.

Yes, there was.

And I was going to keep it,

but I just couldn't
sleep all night.

So this morning, I
went to see Mr. Bates,

and I realized that I just
couldn't go through with it.

I just couldn't commit perjury.

Not even for $10,000.

I remember you

because it's not every day
someone gives you a 75-cent tip

for handing him a 25-cent cigar.

I know you think you saw me,
but I don't even smoke cigars.

I beg your pardon,
sir. I saw you light it up.

And besides, the reverend
was standing right there.

Well, I thought I recognized you
when I first saw you at the counter.

And then when the young lady
called your name, I remembered.

But you hadn't seen
me for two years.

At the time, you were sitting in
the balcony of the Shrine Auditorium

and I was on stage at
least a hundred feet away.

Well, I've seen your
picture in the papers.

You saw one side of
a man's face last night

and then his back in
a dimly lit hotel lobby,

and you assume it was me.

I'm sure you saw someone,

perhaps a man who
vaguely resembled me, but...

I am sorry to say so, Mr. Mason,

but it was you,

and you met her

and you handed
her that envelope.

Seven million dollars!

The patent is theirs.

- Mr. Parkinson, if you'll just...
- I knew it was wrong

to let a criminal lawyer
handle a case like this.

You know, it's amazing how
quickly your opinion changes.

A few days ago after he
finished with Swanson's treasurer,

you stood right here in this office
and swore that Perry was a genius.

I don't believe
Mr. Mason did it, Jess.

That's all it took.

Just one shabby shyster trick
that backfired, and we lose.

That's just enough.

I won't listen to
any more of this.

Mr. Parkinson, how many
times do I have to tell you,

Mr. Mason was in his
apartment that night.

Someone even called
here to make sure of it.

But can he prove
it? Of course not.

Well, they couldn't prove

that Ms. Dunkel really
talked to him, either.

And the way Perry tore into
those ridiculous typed instructions...

Look, young lady,
I'm like the jury.

I have no use for
alibis, nor for lies, either.

Mason can make them up
until he's blue in the face...

I've heard just about
enough out of you too, pal.

We're investigating this frame,

and when the time
comes to eat your words...

The bar association
is investigating too,

but does that do me any good?

Of course not.

Mason keeps talking
about reversals, retrials.

Well, suborning perjury is the only...
- Mr. Parkinson,

I told you before we went to
court that we were handicapped

since we couldn't find the letter
proving Swanson had known

about the offer
to buy the patent.

Now, you said you'd find
that letter, but you haven't.

Are you trying to blame me
for losing a $7 million case?

No. This case isn't lost.
I've moved for a mistrial.

I believe we'll have
another chance.

But without that letter,
there's no guarantee we'll win.

Barbara can do as she pleases,

but as far as I'm concerned,
there'll be no second chance for you.

I'll get somebody I can trust.

You've paid for the right
to criticize my legal ability,

but I've no intention of listening
to attacks on my integrity.

I hope that's clear.

Well, all I can say is,

if I wind up in the poorhouse,
I'll have you to thank.

Coming, Barbara?

Barbara.

Look, he's angry
and I can't blame him.

But he's wrong.

- You know how sorry we all are.
- Sorry?

Well, losing a lawsuit for
any reason is disappointing.

Yes, of course.

Look. Look, Barbara,

don't you believe
I told the truth?

Do you actually think I
delivered that envelope?

Please, I... No. No, I...

I'm sorry. Excuse me.

It's the same the
whole world over

It's the poor what
gets the blame

It's the rich what
gets the gravy,

Oh, ain't it a blooming shame?

See? You can do it.

- Oh, now, slow down.
- Just keep your hips moving.

- I can't stop them. Save me.
- Come on, Dan.

Oh, no, no, I'm an old man.
I've only got the strength of ten.

Ten martinis.

Who shot the piano player?

Hi, kids. Don't stop, don't
stop. Just passing through.

Hi, you pretty
thing. Hello, kids.

Sure, don't mind
him. He just lives here.

Nice party, Dan. Pretty girls.

Uncle Otis, you remember
Barbara, don't you?

From when she was
on her father's knee,

when he gave me a job
20 years ago. Hello, honey.

Hello.

Barbara, I'm awfully
glad to have a chance

to tell you how
sorry I am about...

Not a word.

Some people win, some
people lose, that's all.

- I know, but...
- Besides,

if I had all that money, I
might not have the incentive

- to catch a rich husband.
- Oh, don't you believe it.

I'm rich, but am I
getting anywhere?

Barbara,

if there's ever anything I
can do for you, let me know.

Dan, I'll give you the
keys to the wine cellar.

Some of these girls
might prefer champagne.

Be right back.

Well, that's my
favorite uncle talking.

You idiot. Get her out of here.

Where did you meet
her? Of all the stupid...

Take it easy.

Now, she's not a
sorehead like old Parkinson.

She's a... She's a
cute girl, that's all.

And suppose Perry
Mason put her up to it?

Maybe even
introduced you to her.

- Mason?
- Of course.

He's having me followed, stupid,
and you're being watched too.

And what will you bet
that he's had Paul Drake

sneak a man in
out there right now,

dancing to my records,
drinking my liquor?

I know all those
people, Uncle Otis.

Now, what's the matter
with you these days, anyway?

What's the matter with
the district attorney's office?

A full month has passed

and not one move yet
to prosecute Mason.

Well, you know lawyers,
they always protect each other.

Of all the lawyers you
had to pick for a frame-up.

So maybe one jury is
suckered for a while, but...

Look, there's nothing that
can go wrong. It's all over.

We won.

All right. Here,
drink it all up.

And you know something?

I should have kicked you out
of this house ten years ago.

But you can't kick
me out now, can you?

Bit of a parking problem here.

You're late.

I had to make a plane reservation.
I'm flying up to San Francisco.

Why?

I didn't tell you you
could go to San Francisco.

Well, it's a personal matter.

I'll be back in the
office on time tomorrow.

All right, all right, let's
get this work cleaned up.

This blasted reorganization needs
about five heads instead of two.

Oh, uh, your secretary said
this special delivery came

just after you walked
out of the office.

It's a board meeting notice
from the country club, isn't it?

Mr. Swanson, your secretary
tells me you've been upset

by several letters that have
come in the mail recently.

My secretary talks too much.

Now, come on, let's get
to work on these figures.

Don't you think I should
know about these letters?

I mean, if there's
something wrong?

Mr. Swanson, ever
since you won that lawsuit,

you've been as nervous as a cat.

March, let me remind
you of something.

You're just an
appointed vice president.

You I can get rid
of any time I like.

Of course you can, Mr. Swanson.

"Liverpool Lady."

Sailor missing.

What else?

Well, I don't get this yet.

The Liverpool Lady had just
returned from South America.

Three hours after it
docked in San Francisco,

March was up there nosing
around, and he had a friend with him.

The only name I
could get was Nate.

Maybe it's only
business, but I doubt it.

Me too.

March and Nate asked questions
about the crew, not the cargo.

Did the, uh, mate tell you that?

Yeah, after I
slipped him 50 bucks.

Anyway, March was very upset

when he found out a certain
sailor had already left the ship,

some character named Grimes,

who told the captain he had to visit
the bedside of his dying maiden aunt.

- Good story.
- In Los Angeles, yet.

But how all this connects, who
Nate is, who Grimes is, I don't know.

For your information, Paul,

the Liverpool Lady was docked
in Long Beach for repairs, Pier 42,

during most of last month.

You checked the exact dates?

After you called
from San Francisco.

Perry, this is the best
lead we've had yet.

I'll get some men out
to find this Grimes and...

Perry, she's here.

- Barbara? DELLA: To,
uh, sign the tax papers.

Perry.

Only we better move fast.

Hold it, Paul.

Barbara, I've tried to get in
touch with you several times.

I know. I've been busy.

Besides, we don't really have anything
to say to each other anymore, do we?

I think so.

Oh, look, I've forgotten
all about that perjury thing.

- I know you didn't do it.
- That's not what I mean.

Barbara, you've gone out
five times in the past week

with Dan Swanson.

Six.

Well, what of it?

It's my personal business.

Look, we're making
headway in this case.

I don't want you playing
at being private detective.

Now, did you have lunch
today with Sandra Dunkel?

What are you
doing, spying on me?

Sandra Dunkel was my
father's secretary once.

And I know how bitter you
were about all of those people

at the time of
your father's death.

I know how bitter you still
are about the Swansons.

Mr. Mason, what I
do is my own affair.

You have no right
to interfere in it.

Now, maybe I'm just
having fun for once.

And maybe you're
headed for danger.

Barbara, I told
you to be patient.

Experts have tried to find the
truth about your father's patent.

If you'll just give us time.

Just leave me alone.

Perry Mason's office.

It's for you, Paul.

Drake speaking.

Yeah, Joe.

The bank? What about it?

What?

Joe, you just got
yourself a raise.

All of a sudden, Mr. Otis
Swanson has started raising money.

He's liquidated stocks, bonds

and drawn cash out of
his private bank accounts.

Altogether, $200,000.

- Perry.
- Yeah, that's interesting.

Interesting?

You wanna bet that two
and two adds up to blackmail?

Paul, I'm worried about her.

About Barbara?

Why don't you start worrying
about your own neck for a change?

With the two of you to
help, I'm well taken care of.

There's just no one
to take care of her.

Della, pour a little water
on his head, will you,

while I go and try to
save his stubborn neck?

Paul, I want you
to stay with her.

But if we work fast enough
and if the DA will cooperate...

I want you to stay with Barbara.

It's the same the
whole world over

It's the poor what
gets the blame

It's the rich what
gets the gravy

Oh, ain't it a blooming shame?

Well, I'll be.

Swanson.

Stay there, you.

Help!

Murder! Police!

Police!

Murder!

Oh, please. Please, help me.

And in the course of that struggle,
Your Honor, a shot was fired,

and Otis Swanson met his death.

The state will demonstrate
that this girl, Barbara Kramer,

had every reason to
hate Otis Swanson,

for she believed that Swanson
had not only ruined her father's life,

but had stolen
his lifework as well.

The state will show that
there is every reason to believe

that this same Barbara Kramer

is the girl who
fired that fatal shot

and who should therefore stand
trial in superior court for murder.

The defendant was quite
hysterical when I arrived, Mr. Burger.

She was quite
disheveled, as I said.

She had blood on her
hands and on her skirt.

And blood also found
on this handkerchief

identified as belonging
to Paul Drake?

She was wiping her hands on
that handkerchief when I walked in.

Lieutenant, I show you
now this .45-caliber revolver

identified by Ballistics
as the murder weapon,

and I ask you what further
tests you had it subjected to.

Well, there was blood all
over the gun, Mr. Burger.

It's identified as
the victim's blood,

we tested it for fingerprints,
none were identifiable.

By the way, when you
found the weapon, lieutenant,

did you notice anything
particular about its condition?

Yes, we did. The gun was new,

and there were traces of Cosmoline
on the working parts and on the barrel.

And in the course
of your investigation,

did you find any other
traces of Cosmoline?

Yes, we did.

Chemical tests proved that
spots on the defendant's skirt

were Cosmoline stains.

When I first saw him, I
didn't know he was dead.

I was kneeling by the body and
the gun was there on the floor.

As having been found
at the scene of the crime.

It's too bad,
incidentally, Mr. Mason,

that this letter wasn't
available at a recent civil suit.

Would you tell us, lieutenant,
exactly where you found this letter?

When I arrived on the scene
of the crime, Mr. Burger,

I removed that letter from
Barbara Kramer's purse.

You found no money anywhere?

Other than a normal amount
of cash in the victim's pocket?

No, sir, I didn't, but we
conducted a thorough search.

You were aware that
Mr. Swanson had taken home

nearly $200,000 in
cash that same day?

- Yes, I was. MASON:
Didn't that money,

coupled with the existence of
this extremely valuable letter,

suggest to you the possibility
of a blackmail killing?

Blackmail,
Mr. Mason, not killing.

Why differentiate?

Couldn't a blackmailer have
gone into that room and...?

Killed Otis Swanson?

Left the blackmail
letter? Taken the money?

Hardly, Mr. Mason.

Your client herself stated

that she saw the blackmail letter
and the money right there on the desk.

No, Mr. Burger, I did
not blackmail anybody.

I didn't even know
about any letter.

That's all right, Ms.
Dunkel. Thank you.

I just thought you should
have a chance to clear yourself.

Counselor?

Ms. Dunkel, you once
stated in another court

that I had personally handed
you some typed instructions

in the Babson Arms Hotel.

Just a moment.

Mr. Burger, aren't you going to
object to this unrelated matter?

On the contrary, Your Honor,

I feel that everyone should
have a chance to clear himself.

Including the defendant?

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Yes, I remember
what I testified before,

and I thought I
was telling the truth.

Did you not hear Mr. Paul
Drake describe the man he saw

through the window
of the Swanson house?

Yes.

A man who bore a
striking resemblance to me?

Yes.

Perhaps you could tell
us a little more about him.

No, I never saw such a person.

Did Mr. Swanson say
anything to you about this man

when you visited his house that
evening a few hours before his death?

- No.
- But you did visit with Mr. Swanson.

Now why? Why did you
go to his house, Ms. Dunkel?

I didn't visit with him.

He was too busy to talk.

He was all upset.

I was only there one minute.

I called his office
about a quarter of 7,

but the phone just rang
twice and then it disconnected.

So I went on out to his house.

I asked why you went
to see him, Ms. Dunkel.

Because his nephew, Dan

had set it up for me to meet
his uncle that night about a job.

When I knew I was going to
be late, I... That's why I called.

You've been seeing quite
a lot of Dan Swanson lately,

- isn't that correct?
- No.

Well, he's dated
me a couple of times.

That doesn't mean anything.

What have you been doing,
having me followed or something?

Yes, Ms. Dunkel, I have.

That's all, thank you.

All right, Mr. Swanson,
it's not necessary for you

to demonstrate any further
that you're an unfriendly witness.

I'll repeat my last question.
I want a straight answer.

Where were you at the time
your uncle was murdered?

I guess I was asleep
in the rumpus room.

It's a separate place
out back by the pool.

And was there anyone with you
at the time that you fell asleep?

- Barbara, the defendant.
- Mm-hm.

Would you tell us,
please, what you remember

about the evening
up to that point?

Well, when Barbara came, we
were going to call some couples

and have a little party, but, uh...
- Mm-hm. But what?

Well, I guess I had too
much, that's all. I fell asleep.

Had you been drinking
before you came home?

Yes, that's all it was.

And did you continue afterwards?

Did you have more to drink
after Ms. Kramer arrived?

A couple, I guess.

And who made those
drinks, Mr. Swanson?

Look, I don't think
that really matters.

I'll decide what matters
here, Mr. Swanson.

Now listen to my
question carefully.

Who prepared the drink or drinks
which actually put you to sleep?

Well, she...

She made it a
little strong, I guess.

Thank you.

Now, I show you these
keys, Mr. Swanson.

Lieutenant Drumm
testified that he found them

in the defendant's
purse after the murder.

Among them is a key
to your uncle's house.

To whom do these keys belong?

Those are my keys.

And where were they
before you passed out?

They were in my pocket.

My appointment was for 9:30

and that's when I got
to the Swanson house.

He was already dead.

May I ask what your appointment
was about, Mr. Parkinson?

He was trying to get
me to work for him.

To work for him? I thought
you were bitter enemies.

We were.

But we'd all been together once.

Old John Kramer,
Swanson, March and myself.

And business is business.

I'll work for anybody,

for the devil himself
if he pays me enough.

You mind telling
us what happened

when you arrived at
the Swanson house?

I noticed a car
parked on the street.

I figured the driveway might be full,
so I parked my own car on the street.

And did you happen to
recognize that other car?

Yes. It belonged to Paul Drake.

I thought I recognized it, so I
checked the registration card.

I see. What happened then?

While I was doing
that, I heard yelling.

"Help! Murder!"
That sort of thing.

And then I saw a man.

He looked like a
bum. He didn't see me.

He ran down the driveway
toward the other street.

And what did you do
then, Mr. Parkinson?

I did what anybody
would have done.

I ran up to the house to
see what was the matter.

And there was poor Barbara
in hysterics and this man Drake.

- Your Honor. JUDGE:
Yes, Mr. Mason?

I'm sorry to interrupt
this testimony,

but may I ask the court's
indulgence for a moment or two?

All right.

I'm glad you called, Paul.

I'd like you to check
Swanson's office telephone.

See if anyone reported trouble
on the line the night of the murder.

Yeah, but it's liable to
take 30 or 40 seconds.

Hey, hurry it up
in there, will you?

I'm having trouble on this line.

I was only reaching
for me bitter, that's all.

Now, look, you spilled it.

Blimey, it's a whole
nation of inhospitality.

Oh, no, sir. No, sir.

I wouldn't presume to
say there was any similarity

between your
lordship and myself.

Thank you, Mr. Grimes, but I asked
if you had ever impersonated me.

No, how could I do that?

Had I ever heard of Perry Mason?

Oh, not that it's not a distinguished
sounding name, mind you.

Mr. Grimes, you've been
cautioned of your rights here,

but I think you would do well

to let the court protect
those rights for you.

You just tell the truth.

That's exactly what I was going
to say myself, Your Eminence.

True, I did get dressed
up a bit like his nibs

with a fancy bit of
hair on top and all that.

And you went to the
Babson Arms Hotel

and handed the young
lady an envelope?

But I meant you no
harm, Mr. Mason.

There was nothing
personal in it.

No, only money, I suppose.

- How much? GRIMES:
Two thousand dollars.

That's the truth.
No more, no less.

Who gave you that money?

Mr. Otis Swanson, it was.

He did it all.

Oh, but if I'd known it
was all so dishonest...

You knew it all right,

otherwise you wouldn't have
come back to blackmail him.

To what?

Oh, no, no, your lordship.

It was you who wrote him
letters asking for $200,000.

It ain't so! It ain't!

Ten, 10, that's all I
would have asked.

Ten? What do you mean?

Now, look here.

Could I write anybody letters?

My ship has been
at sea, ain't it?

So all I knew of the world
was from old newspapers.

I asked what you
meant by $10,000.

I read of that trial.

Ten thousand is what you
were going to pay her, wasn't it?

"You," in a manner
of speaking, that is.

Hell, all I figured was that if
perjury was worth so much,

then maybe my forgetfulness
might be worth the same thing.

It's not blackmail,
Your Honor, it's not.

I wouldn't have
thought of it for a second

if I hadn't had a bit of
bad luck with the dice.

So when the Liverpool Lady
docked in San Francisco,

you hurried down here,

called Mr. Swanson
on the phone...

No, no, no, I didn't call him.

Considering the confidential
nature of our dealings,

I thought it would be more
private just to go and see him.

But when I did,

when I looked in that
window and saw what I saw,

oh, it was horrible,

just plain bloody horrible.

Why did you go running down
that drive yelling, "murder, police,"

and then disappear?
Why didn't you get help?

I got over the shakes.

I mean, look, the awful
embarrassment of the position I'm in now.

You gave the entire
police force and Mr. Drake

a devil of a time finding you.

Didn't you realize you'd be
needed as a material witness?

Oh, Mr. Mason,
your lordship, sir,

I could kill myself for being
such a thorn in your side.

A nemesis, that's what I am.

A nemesis.

How could I know of
such money as $200,000?

How could I know
to write any letters?

Of course not, Mr. Grimes,

and there were other letters which
you certainly couldn't know about.

So now just tell me, at
whom were you pointing?

"Ask him," you said.

Bless you, governor, I
am trying to help you.

It's, uh... It's him I meant.

Perhaps I neglected to
mention he hired me too.

Young Mr. Swanson. Him.

I'd like to see Mr. Swanson
return to the stand, Mr. Burger.

May it please the court,

first I'd like to ask a few more
questions of Mr. William March.

I don't know, I worked
till 8:00, maybe 8:30.

I often work late.

You were working in
your own office, I suppose.

Naturally.

Where you took a
few telephone calls.

I may have. I guess I did.

But if the phone rang in another
office, Swanson's office, for instance,

it would have rung three times,

and then the answering
service would have picked it up,

- isn't that correct?
- Yes.

And if the girl judged
the call important,

she'd have put it through
to Mr. Swanson at home?

To his unlisted number?

That's the usual procedure.

Your offices are
next to each other?

I wouldn't have noticed his
phone, if that's what you're driving at.

No, all that concerns me now is
that Ms. Dunkel testified earlier

that she called
Mr. Swanson's office.

The telephone rang twice and
then apparently disconnected.

Well, now really, Mr. Mason.

Unless it had rung twice

and then someone took
it off the hook, of course.

That would've given the
same effect, wouldn't it?

Well, I guess so.

Look, here, I may have
taken his phone off.

Well, the point is...

Yes, I just didn't
want to say here

that I'd been in his office
that evening, that's all.

I didn't wanna be
bothered with his calls.

You didn't want to be bothered?

Wasn't it that you didn't want
Mr. Swanson to be bothered?

Not by calls, by
one particular call.

A call you were afraid would
be rung through to Mr. Swanson

by the answering service if you
let the phone ring three times?

- What call? MASON:
Perhaps from the man

you'd hurried up to
San Francisco to see,

the man who had
already left his ship,

the man you were afraid would
get to Mr. Swanson before you could,

the man that you knew had been
mailing Swanson blackmail letters.

That's preposterous!

- You deny you went?
- No.

Mr. March, who else was
blackmailing Otis Swanson?

Who else?

Who else besides poor,
simple, bumbling Mr. Grimes

who wanted his $10,000,

but who, by barging in,
was upsetting the apple cart

for someone else who was
playing for much higher stakes?

He was receiving blackmail
letters, anonymous, that's all I know.

It had to be someone who
understood the business, didn't it?

Someone who had been
close to John Kramer?

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

No?

Perhaps you'd rather
have me subpoena

a gentleman you know as Nate.

Now, he may know
what I'm talking about.

All right! All right, yes.

Yes, I was the one.

It all started when Otis
Swanson received a letter

from a relative who
worked for A&T Industries.

It tipped him that they were prepared
to pay 7 million for Kramer's patent.

Swanson rushed to see Kramer
to negotiate and close the deal.

And John Kramer, of course, did
not know of the forthcoming offer?

Not till I told him, no.

- What did Kramer do?
- Well, he was furious.

He promised me
an executive position

if I could get a photostatic
copy of the letter.

It took me a couple
of days to get it.

By that time, John
Kramer was dead.

So you remained silent
during a lengthy lawsuit

and went along with the
arrangement to frame me.

I wanna know, Mr. March,
why you stood by Swanson.

Well, Swanson didn't know I had
a copy of the incriminating letter.

That was the only way I had

to prevent him from
replacing me someday.

But he was going to do
that anyway, wasn't he?

- Bringing in Jess Parkinson?
- Yes.

So I decided all I could do was charge
Swanson a big price and then get out.

So you went to his house
and you fought with him?

Well, the company, everything
just got too big for me.

Even Swanson himself.

When he saw who it was,
there to deliver the photostat,

to collect the money,

he turned purple. He
didn't even speak to me.

He just knocked me down
and then he pulled a gun on me.

- And you grabbed the gun?
- No, no, that's not true.

I didn't even try to take
the gun away from him.

So he took the photostat and
he didn't give me the money.

He just said that he would
settle with me in his own way later.

He said I'd be killed if I
ever even opened my mouth.

He literally drove
me out of his house.

Thank you, Mr. March,

but if you left there,
leaving Swanson alive,

leaving both the
money and the letter,

then who would have killed him
and taken one but not the other?

Everyone around him knew
of the importance of that letter,

the danger of
leaving such evidence.

Everyone, that is,
except for one man.

It's a lie! A bloody lie!

After you came back?

You killed Swanson, took the
money but couldn't get out the gate

because Paul Drake's car was
there and Mr. Parkinson arrived.

So you went back to the
house, singing, and looked in,

made sure you were seen
looking in to give yourself an alibi.

All lies. A pack
of bleeding lies!

Spare us any more
playacting, Mr. Grimes.

Well, it's me you're
pointing a finger at.

Well, old Grimes
ain't the only playactor.

What one of you ain't playacting
and posing in a panto of your own?

Look at yourselves.

The sniveling, drunken nephew
who pretends to be a man.

A viper at the bosom who
plays the good and dear friend.

And a blackmailer without
the guts and gall to carry it off.

Ain't it the bleeding
truth, governor?

Oh, not a man among them.

A whole company
of liars and cheats.

Oh, it's a shame, guv.

You and me, only
men out of the lot,

and you turn on me.

You.

Oh, it's you what's the nemesis.

You.

You what's the nemesis.

Well, Perry, you can relax.

We shipped your nemesis
off to San Quentin today.

At least I think it was Grimes.

It would be funny
if you were Grimes

and I'd just shipped Perry
Mason off to San Quentin.

You know, I can still hear him in
the courtroom, laughing at everyone.

"Which one of you ain't
posing and playacting?"

You know, there's
a lot of truth in that.

Aha, a lawyer's weakness.

Empathizing with a
criminal despite himself.

Well, I wouldn't fret
about old Grimes.

He'll be a lot better off than
sailing around in that rust bucket.

Yes, but I'm not sure
he'd agree to that.

Gentlemen, being in a ship is
being in jail with a chance of drowning.

A man in jail has
more room, better food

and, uh, commonly
better company.

- Now, who said that?
- I said that.

Yes, but Samuel Johnson
said it 200 years before you did.

Great minds frequently
trod the same path.

It's the same the
whole world over

It's the poor what
gets the blame

It's the rich what
gets the gravy

Oh, ain't it a blooming shame?