Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( playback of blues recording over speakers )

� To end

� This being alone

� A guy

Hi.

� That I �

Oh, darling.

Oh, you remember Joe Marsden.

Frank Thatcher.

Uh, Donna, I've got a conference tonight

and a board meeting in the morning.

Can you leave here now? Baby,

this is my demonstration record.

Joe and I are polishing it up for Star Recording.

The vocal's--

The vocal is just great, Donna.

But right here there's a horn note.

Let me make a few fixes, and run off a new demo

for you to listen to. Baby, this is important.

If my voice gets on the Star label,

the whole world opens up.

Now, why can't I take a cab

back to the hotel?

Because I have a surprise for you.

Now, please hurry.

Bye, Donna. Bye.

Thatcher.

( mellow theme playing )

Good evening, Mr. Thatcher.

Good evening.

Frank, w-what on earth--?

How do you like it?

It's even soundproofed so you can practice.

And look...stereo.

The very best there is.

I think I'd like a drink.

Straight.

( mellow theme playing )

Well, what do you say?

How do you like it?

Look.

Oh, that stupid decorator.

Just for one minute, when I stood in that doorway

and I looked at this lovely apartment,

I said, no, this isn't the surprise.

Tonight he's gonna tell me that he loves me.

Here, drink this. Tonight he's gonna tell me

that he's gonna divorce his wife and marry me.

And this is just his cute way of proposing to me.

Donna, this is no time to start that again--

Or-- Or maybe divorce the Dameron Company.

A surprise.

"I am ridding myself of the great Henry W. Dameron.

"I am divorcing my precious father-in-law.

I am divorcing $50 million!"

( glass shatters )

Oh. Frank.

Frank, this-- This means that...

you're not gonna do any of those things, doesn't it?

You're never gonna marry me,

isn't that right?

Is that right?

You know how ridiculous

it would be for me to give up

these business opportunities.

Oh, nothing must...

spoil your success.

Nothing.

( mysterious theme playing )

( brakes screeching )

( dramatic theme playing )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

"Alexander died,

"Alexander was buried,

"Alexander returneth

into dust."

Charles, I bet you didn't know

that's in the gravedigger speech from Hamlet.

Tad, you didn't bury him, did you?

No. But he could've used a good funeral

after what our dear brother-in-law did to him.

Please stop drinking.

Really, sir, why you ever sent him out there,

I'll never know.

Because only the weakest of people

have strong stomachs.

His name was Alexander, if you'd just listen.

Alexander Colin.

Paid-up member of the Steamfitters Union.

Also belonged to a bowling club.

Tad, you didn't take those off the body?

You didn't move him?

It really doesn't make any difference, Charles.

I'll phone the police now.

I should've done it in the first place, of course.

Yes, but you didn't, old boy. Did you?

That's enough out of you, young man.

I...wanted to report the accident, naturally.

Unfortunately, at the club,

somebody spilled whiskey on my suit.

I kept thinking the--

There's the Dameron position to uphold.

I know how much that means to you, Charles.

There was also blood all over your car...

and a skidmark 200 feet long.

So for speeding, drunk,

reckless, hit-run

manslaughter--

I said that's enough!

Tomorrow morning, there's a meeting of the board

to discuss a Dameron Company merger.

Doctors say I mustn't attend.

I wonder which one of my sons even knows what a merger is?

The bookworm?

The bottle-worm?

Why do you suppose I picked Frank

to marry Judith in the first place?

Why? Because neither of you

has the native sense to run a lemonade stand.

But, sir...

he committed a crime.

We have a moral responsibility.

We're going to do what we have to do,

from this moment on.

We simply know nothing of this accident.

Do you both understand me?

Tad...

I want you to take care of

Frank's car.

Do whatever else is necessary.

Well, go on. Do it.

Wait a minute, sir.

You're forgetting something.

This man Colin must have a family.

A widow, or children perhaps.

Oh, Charley, what kind of an ogre do you think I am?

We'll investigate, send them a gift.

Anonymously, of course. Say $10,000?

That's not enough.

Unless you make it $25,000,

I-- I still think the accident

should be reported.

All right. Twenty five and have done with it.

I'm glad you see it my way, H.W.

I'll have someone arrange the payment.

You'll arrange it yourself, Frank.

You killed the man, didn't you?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Yes, sir.

Well, well, well.

So there you are, Mr. Thatcher.

Hello, Judith.

I was expecting you home for dinner.

I thought perhaps something had gone wrong.

I told you I had a conference over here tonight.

( chuckles ): Of course.

And I suppose you still have your little singing friend

to attend to too,

don't you, sweetie pie?

My what? Well, I understand

that she's back in town, and I-- Have you--?

Can't you two find a better rooftop to fight on?

( dramatic theme playing )

( knock on door )

Come in.

I'm going to lunch now, Mr. Drake.

Okay, Margo. I'll lock up

if none of the boys get back.

( door closes )

Mr. Paul Drake? Uh-huh.

My name is Frank Danco.

How do you do, sir?

I have rather an unusual job for you.

I don't suppose you'd mind giving some money away?

Depends on whether or not it's mine.

Well, I thought it best to hire you to handle this.

You see, this is for a Canadian friend of mine, Jim Booth,

of Booth and Blackwell.

Attorneys. Up in Winnipeg.

Won't you sit down, Mr. Danco?

Thank you.

( sedate theme playing )

Are you Mrs. Alexander Colin?

Yeah. My name's Paul Drake.

I'd like to talk to you if I may.

Like some coffee? Mm, thank you.

So what is it, mister?

I always enjoy a good pitch.

I've been getting a lot of 'em the last few days.

Heh. I'm a private investigator, Mrs. Colin.

Indirectly, I represent a friend of your husband's.

A man from Canada, a steamfitter.

They used to go bowling a lot together,

kid each other about losing weight.

Oh, did they?

They were both overweight, were they?

Ha.

Well, now, that's a personal touch.

I-- I gathered that this man was

a pretty good friend of your husband's.

It's just that, well, he doesn't want his name used.

Oh, no, no, no. 'Course not.

Anyway...

they talked a lot about prospecting for uranium.

Apparently, your husband even loaned this man some money

to do a little investing.

And the man never paid it back.

Instead he went up there and made himself a fortune.

Now, he wants your husband to accept a gift.

A debt of gratitude.

Accept a...

what of what?

Twenty-five thousand dollars, Mrs. Colin.

This, um...

This good news of yours

don't have to be delivered

to Alex personally, does it?

No, of course not. It's for you both.

I was just hired by a man in town here

by the name of Danco to handle matters,

make sure of the proper identification and so forth.

That's easy enough.

It's only sort of Humpty Dumpty.

All you gotta do is put old Alex

back together again.

What happened, Mrs. Colin?

They found him knocked off a culvert crossing.

His car was down the road a mile

with a flat tire.

I suppose he was walking to a gas station.

'Cause he sure wasn't walking to take off weight.

He wasn't overweight?

The only place my husband was overweight

was on his driver's license.

A hundred and ninety-five,

instead of 165 pounds.

It's a misprint.

You know, somebody's been looking

at his driver's license.

There are a few things I've got to look into.

I think I'd better leave, Mrs. Colin.

Well...

tell that gift-giving friend...

if he's so considerate for me...

how about arranging some noises

around the house... ( sobbing )

...somebody next to me,

snoring so loud I can't sleep.

Tell him--

Well, you know what to tell him, don't you?

( sobbing )

( melancholy theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )

( door opens )

( doors closes )

Well, better late than never.

You starved?

Oh, of course not.

How was Santa Barbara?

Full of people.

Paul Drake. Mm-hm.

What did Paul want to see me about?

Oh, that was earlier.

Something about a tax question.

A gift or some money from Canada.

He's still having dinner with us?

Well, Margo, his secretary, called,

said that he came steaming back to the office

a little while ago very upset.

That we should go on to the restaurant,

and he'd try to meet us later.

Paul upset?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Here, just one moment,

if you please.

Whom do you wish to see?

Mr. Frank Danco.

Well, we have no one by that name.

So if you don't mind-- Oh, yes, you do.

He gave me this telephone number--

Will you kindly take your hand off me, sir?

Sorry. This Danco said he was fixing up an apartment

for some cousin of his.

Oh. Oh, of course.

The gentleman with the, uh, cousin.

Well, why didn't you say so? It--

Well, so there you are. Come along, Drake.

Well, it's about time, I might say.

I've been searching for you all afternoon.

Like a scotch?

I've had a few other things to locate

besides Mrs. Colin.

No, thanks.

Well, if you'll just give me the receipt,

I'm sure that's all my friends in Canada care about.

( puts Donna's blues recording on player )

You did receive some sort of receipt

for the money, didn't you?

I presume you already knew the police

had the investigation just about closed.

I beg your pardon?

The coroner's office has Colin's death

listed as auto injury, hit-run.

But the police weren't able to find much.

And don't worry. I haven't told 'em anything.

Not yet.

I see.

You wanted to present your personal bill

first, of course.

All right, how much do you want?

Mr. Danco, in my business,

a client's case is supposed to remain confidential.

But yours won't. You've told a few too many lies.

And I don't like being chosen either to pay conscience money,

or to help cover up a felony.

Who did it?

You?

Some member of your family?

Mr. Drake.

There'll be a check in the morning's mail for you

in the amount of $10,000.

And you'll get it right back, along with the 25,000.

Only from now on, if you don't mind,

I'm gonna let a lawyer friend of mine

handle matters for me.

Come back here. No two-bit private eye

is gonna blackmail me.

( dramatic theme playing )

( sighs ) I'm glad you did that.

( grunts )

( blues song finishes )

( knocking on door )

( blues song playing again )

( knocking on door )

MAN: Hello, sir.

It's me, the clerk.

Come on, open up.

� I need

� A man

� A man I know ( exhales )

� I can own

What do you want? � I...

I rang and rang, but there wasn't any answer.

Somebody phoned the apartment from outside.

I knew the gentleman must be in.

I'd seen this man go upstairs with him.

OFFICER: Better watch him, Harry.

� A guy

� That I can love--

This one's dead.

� Till the day I die

( phone ringing )

Lawyers are almost as bad as doctors

when it comes to frantic calls. Hm.

Hello. ( Paul speaking indistinctly )

Yes, Paul. Where have you--?

Of course. Immediately.

I'll bet he was full of apologies.

Della, Paul's being held on suspicion of murder.

( dramatic theme playing )

Oh, come in, Perry.

I'll, uh-- I'll have Paul brought up here.

You can use my office.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I want to show you something.

We found this in his desk.

Twenty-five thousand dollars. Cash.

Hard money.

It fits into a pattern for us, Perry.

I don't know much about anything yet, lieutenant.

There's nothing we can do but ask for an indictment.

It's locked up.

You know the spot a public servant's in, Perry.

Hamilton, I understand.

Why did Paul have to get mixed up

in a thing like this in the first place?

And he was shot. Twice.

With my gun.

Do you know what was found in the way of fingerprints?

Mine. I even have powder marks too.

They gave you a paraffin test? Uh-huh.

I've been doing some shooting lately out on the range.

Brushing up 'cause I had to carry a gun

on account of a mail case we're handling.

Now, you mentioned the name Danco.

Downstairs, I heard the name Thatcher.

One and the same.

Frank Thatcher, executive vice president

of the Dameron Company.

His father-in-law is the great Henry W. himself.

Power and influence personified.

Brother, this was sure my day to be innocent.

I gather Thatcher made his story pretty convincing.

Better yet, he made it so wild, it sounded routine.

However, by this evening,

I had it pretty well figured out.

But instead of phoning him,

I had to wash him off in person.

So you got there about ten minutes after 7?

That's right.

Paul, did you start the fight?

No. But it's not because I didn't want to.

And after it was started...

he...hit you with something.

Knocked you out.

What time was that?

About 7:15.

And from then until 7:30, you didn't see

or remember a thing?

There's only 15 minutes there.

Fifteen minutes for someone to...walk in,

take advantage of the situation, murder Thatcher

and walk out again.

Well, until I can try to push a few people

into showing their hands,

just deny that you killed him.

Just say that I'll let you

answer no other questions.

Perry.

Isn't there anything else you want to ask me?

Mm. Paul...

the only real doubt I have about you

is what you're gonna say when you see my bill.

Talk to you later. Okay.

( mysterious theme playing )

Oh.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Come in, won't you?

Thank you.

I'm Henry Dameron's daughter. I'm Judith Thatcher.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Thatcher.

I don't think condolences are quite in order, Mr. Mason.

At least not from the lawyer

of the man who made me a widow.

I think we all have a good deal to yet learn

about your husband's death.

You do?

Well, maybe the newspapers can instruct us all.

This way, Mr. Mason.

That's what I'm doing here.

There were 17 reporters at my house.

My father keeps his castle better guarded.

I imagine your father has always

kept his castle well-guarded.

Well...

my brother, Tad, slips in and out

of a scandal column now and then.

Never like this, of course.

"Love Nest Slaying."

They've already started calling it that. Did you know?

The mere fact that your husband's death

occurred in an--

Tact is not in order either, Mr. Mason.

I knew all about that stupid,

sentimental creature of Frank's.

Then perhaps you knew something

about the murder too, Mrs. Thatcher.

If you knew about Donna Kress,

you must have known the location

of that apartment, mustn't you? ( gasps )

There you are, Judith.

Oh, Mr. Mason, my father.

Mr. Dameron.

Perry Mason, eh?

I've heard a great deal about you, sir.

Judith, my dear...

how's about pouring us some coffee, and then, uh--

Oh, I'm sorry.

Poor girl's dreadfully upset.

Uh, I've been expecting you, Mason.

I'll, uh, get right to the point, Mr. Dameron.

I represent Paul Drake, as I guess you know.

Yeah, of course. Of course.

Rascal calls himself a private detective, I understand.

Paul's a personal friend of mine, Mr. Dameron.

He did not kill your son-in-law.

Sit down. Sit down.

Mason...I'm disappointed.

Why, you came here asking for help, didn't you?

Not at all.

I only want to know which member of your family

was involved in a hit-run accident the other night.

( chuckles )

You know, there was a time

when I had a great admiration

for your work.

I even thought of offering you a sizable retainer once.

To make an annual trip to Europe, perhaps.

Inspect some of my legal affairs over there.

Are you thinking of making the offer again?

Don't misunderstand me, Mr. Mason.

If you say your friend Drake is a good man...

I'd take your word for it.

And I might make him an offer too.

In return for what?

I could testify to my son-in-law's nasty temper...

his sarcastic denunciation of anyone

with whom he might not agree.

In other words...

I can furnish evidence of provocation.

For manslaughter.

You're suggesting that Mr. Drake plead guilty, is that it?

Hm, at the worst, your friend might, uh,

get perhaps one or two years in prison.

No, Mr. Dameron.

Mason...

I want you to think twice

before putting me on the other side of any fence.

Mr. Dameron, I want you to think twice

before withholding evidence

just to protect your family from embarrassment.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Tad?

Tad, are you upstairs?

Son, do you hear me?

I'm here in the den. What do you want?

Did you talk with the police yet?

TAD: Police?

Haven't we seen enough of them for one day?

I mean about what you found in the garage the other day.

About Frank's car.

Yeah. Yeah, I called 'em,

if that's what you mean.

Yes, sir. They know Frank ran into that guy, all right.

I guess that's what that private detective was, uh,

maybe blackmailing Frank about.

Mason...maybe everything's

being taken right out of our hands.

Goodbye, Mr. Dameron.

� Love till the day I die

� Oh, he Who'll see �

� His loving means--

Now here's that phrase coming up

where I left your vocal in the clear.

� I want to give--

Who is it?

Excuse us, Miss Kress.

My name is Mason. This is Miss Street.

Hello. I spoke to you on the phone.

Oh, yes. I--

I'm sorry that I was so hard to locate,

but there were so many people at the hotel,

and-- And reporters. There's, uh--

I thought I'd better get back here to work.

That's what I'm gonna have to do

from now on anyway.

I suppose you know all about Frank and me.

The whole world seems to know.

I don't know as much as I'd like to know.

Well, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm sorry, there's really very little

that I can tell you to help.

How long have you known Frank Thatcher?

Nine years.

( scoffs )

It's longer than he's known them.

"Them?"

The Damerons.

We were gonna be married.

� The way

That was a long time ago. � I love you...

But then he met his present wife?

Judith? All right, now.

Can't we just wait a while?

I'm sorry, Miss Kress.

Oh, that's all right.

I'm sorry. Th-- This is Joe Marsden.

Miss Street, Mr. Mason.

Marsden?

You knew Thatcher too, didn't you?

Mm, just to look at. That was enough.

But your name was on a police report.

Didn't you call Thatcher last night at 7:30?

Thatcher? Of course not.

As I understood it, the clerk at the apartment house

said that a call from a man named Marsden

led to the discovery of the murder.

Oh. Well, of course, I phoned the apartment.

You mean you were calling Miss Kress?

You expected her to be there?

( recording ends )

Yes, I would've been there.

But there was an unexpected call.

A-- A rehearsal call at the nightclub.

Frank went to the apartment without me.

You were probably the last person to talk with him,

at any length, before he died.

( voice breaking ): Yes, I suppose so.

Did he mention the name Paul Drake to you?

Yes, he-- He was worried about Paul Drake.

He always was gonna phone him,

or he was worried about

Mr. Drake phoning the apartment.

Uh, why was he upset?

Was Mr. Drake causing trouble,

or threatening him?

No.

Did...Thatcher mention

any words like "shakedown"

or "blackmail"?

No, he was just doing a job for him.

Frank was upset.

Did Thatcher mention what the job was?

No.

But he said he was gonna make Mr. Drake

come around to his way of thinking.

Frank always thought he could make people

come around to his way of thinking.

He learned all about...

twisting people's arms

from that precious father-in-law of his.

You don't care for the Damerons very much, do you?

Well, how would you like it?

You know Tad, the-- The-- The one that drinks?

He was even trying to interfere with

Frank's leasing the apartment.

Wait a moment. When was this?

He saw Tad earlier in the afternoon.

So Tad Dameron was here in town, and...

must have known the address of the apartment.

Miss Kress, I'd like to get

this all down in statement form... ( sighs )

...right away.

Uh, Donna, we're not finished yet.

Don't slough your big chance.

You want Star Recording to buy your record.

Please, I really ought to do this.

The life of an innocent man

may depend on your statement, Miss Kress.

All right. Look, just as soon as we finish here,

Joe will drive me down to your office.

( blues song playing )

( door opens )

( door closes )

� I need a man

� A man--

Miss Kress? ( gasps )

� I know I can own

Forgive me for interrupting.

I-- I'm Charles Dameron.

I came to discuss something rather important.

And rather private.

The only thing that's

important to me is my work.

Leave me alone.

Well, I came to discuss your work, Miss Kress.

My father is rather concerned about your future.

He's heard about your singing

and this record that you're making

that you want to sell to Star Recording Company--

Now, look, bud. I'll give you about three seconds

to get out of here.

My father can help you, Miss Kress.

He's just bought the Star Recording Company

lock, stock and barrel.

� Who'll see �

Well, we can make it this evening if--

Miss Kress, either you remember things or you don't.

I-I understand, Mr. Mason. But, you see...

Frank never said anything specific

about Tad or-- Or anything. I--

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

But I have my whole life to live...

and I have just changed my mind.

I'm-- Can't help you.

I'm sorry. Goodbye.

( ominous theme playing )

Correct, sir. These are the murder bullets.

Caliber, .38 slugs.

I show you now

this .38-caliber revolver,

previously admitted into evidence and identified

as belonging to the defendant.

I ask if you examined it.

Yes, sir. This is the gun

from which the bullets were fired.

And now I ask you if you performed a test

in your laboratory... uh,

to determine whether or not

the defendant recently fired a gun.

Yes, sir. A dermal nitrate test

was made in my presence.

I object, Your Honor,

to the introduction of any evidence

based on the so-called paraffin test.

On what grounds, Mr. Mason?

I refer the court to a recent decision

of the supreme court of the state of Colorado,

reported in 339, uh,

Pacific 2nd, page 993.

Will you read it please, counselor?

In the case of, uh, Brooks Jr. v. People,

decided June 1, 1959,

the court held in part that,

"The paraffin glove test for dermal nitrates

"is neither sufficiently certain,

"nor subject to such scientific accuracy

"as to justify its routine use in establishing

whether a suspect or deceased did or did not fire a gun."

The court concluded, Your Honor,

"We hold, therefore,

"that the result of a paraffin test,

"rather than being placed in the category

"of the accepted tests,

"has the same reputation for unreliability

as the lie detector test."

Have you arguments to support the admissibility

of such evidence, Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, the point is really not that important

to the prosecution's case.

Your objection is sustained, Mr. Mason.

All right.

And we found the murder weapon

in the defendant's shoulder holster

when we searched him. I see.

Now, at what exact time did you enter the apartment?

We opened the door of the apartment at 7:33.

All right, officer, thank you very much.

Cross-examine.

Officer Wilson, as you approached the apartment,

did you see anyone besides the clerk?

No, sir.

Would you have seen anyone leaving the building?

Yes, sir, I would have. But there was no one

in sight when I went upstairs.

MASON: Did you hear any sounds from the apartment

as you approached it?

No, sir. The place is very quiet.

I didn't hear the phonograph from right outside the door.

Phonograph?

Uh, there was a record on the player.

What sort of record?

Blank label.

A lady singing.

Thank you, that's all.

Frank left me about 6:30 p.m.

And did he say where he was going?

Yes. I-I think he wanted to telephone home first.

Will you speak louder, please?

Oh.

He was trying to get in touch with his wife.

He, uh, wanted to tell her

that he wouldn't be home until late.

BURGER: Did he say where he was going?

To the apartment.

Did he say why he was going there?

Yes.

He said that Mr. Drake might be

trying to reach him there.

BURGER: Thank you, Miss Kress.

That'll be all. Your witness.

Miss Kress, do you recall telling me

that Frank Thatcher was with you in the nightclub

at which you were appearing?

Y-y-- Yes, sir.

And that he left the club ahead of you

to go to the apartment

because you were involved in a rehearsal?

Yes.

But after a short time,

the band decided they had more work

on arrangements, and I left.

What time was that?

About, um... a quarter to 7.

Then you had plenty of time to go to the apartment

before the murder?

But I didn't.

I walked over to the restaurant

where Frank and I planned to have dinner.

Did you speak to anyone there?

No.

Is there anyone who can corroborate

your statement that you were there?

I don't know.

Thank you.

That'll be all.

Well, the, uh--

The blood was dried on Frank's car.

There were big dents.

The, uh-- The car was pretty much of a mess.

Yes, but this was the day after

Frank Thatcher's murder.

The day that you finally reported

your findings to the police.

That's right.

Well, hadn't you had occasion to see the car before?

Well, Frank had two other cars.

He parked this one in our old garage

where no one would notice it.

BURGER: But didn't he say anything to you

about the car, Mr. Dameron?

Oh, yes. He'd asked me before to look at it.

He, uh, said he'd had an accident.

Ran over a...dog, he said.

Didn't want to upset his wife.

May it please the court.

The defense understands that, had the accident involved a man,

the Dameron family should have notified the police...

and in the light of subsequent police investigations

and a coroner's hearing,

the defense is quite prepared to stipulate...

that Frank Thatcher's car did, in fact,

strike down and kill a man, not a dog.

If it please the court.

But my intention here is to establish...

what Frank Thatcher told the other members

of his family about the accident,

and then if he had trouble with Paul Drake over it.

And that would be hearsay.

Well, technically, yes.

But it seems to me that both you and Mr. Burger

could stipulate that the evidence

may go in as part of a res gestae.

Mm, so stipulated. Thank you, counselor.

So stipulated, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Dameron...

did you or anyone of your family...

know until after Frank Thatcher's murder,

that he'd been involved in a hit-and-run accident?

Oh, no, sir. None of us did.

Otherwise, we'd have persuaded Frank

to call the police

instead of using this private detective

to cover up for himself.

Thank you, Mr. Dameron.

That'll be all.

Mr. Dameron...

this conversation you had with, uh,

Frank Thatcher about the dog.

When and where did it take place?

Well, um, the afternoon before, I guess.

The afternoon before he died?

Yes.

Actually, I'd dropped by the office

to, uh, talk about some other things.

Nothing important.

That would be his office in town?

That's right.

When did you return to your country home?

Well, I, um...

dropped by a couple of places

for a drink. Um...

I suppose 8:30.

That gave you ample time

to stop by the Westpark Apartments

and see Frank Thatcher again.

Perhaps around, uh, 7:00?

No.

No? You didn't have time?

Well, the time, yes.

But I didn't even know about that apartment.

Not then.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Mr. Dameron, did Frank Thatcher consult recently

with you about money?

He did.

Under what circumstances?

Frank asked me if I would, uh,

get him a rather large amount in cash.

In bills that could not be

traced back to us in any way.

What day was that?

It was the day before his death.

And how much money did you get him?

Twenty-five thousand dollars.

No, sir.

I didn't see one single, solitary penny.

But Mr. Drake did tell you

about the money, didn't he?

'Course. Even acted like

he was gonna hand it right out.

But he didn't?

MRS. COLIN: No.

BURGER: Why not? What happened?

Well, after I told him about Alex,

he seemed to get some other idea.

He just upped and left.

And that was the last you saw of Paul Drake, is that correct?

Sure was.

Him and the money too.

I'd been out to fetch some magazines, sir.

Just down to the corner.

And when you returned, this person, uh, Mr. Drake,

was behind the counter of your desk,

trying to read the names

on the apartment-house switchboard?

Yes, sir. He was quite rude about it.

When I protested, he just shoved me back.

BURGER: Uh-huh. His manner changed, however,

when the deceased, Frank Thatcher, entered the building?

Yes, sir. They went upstairs together.

And from that time until 7:30,

when you received the phone call which caused you

to ring Room 201,

how many people entered the building?

No one entered the building.

BURGER: How many people left?

CLERK: None. BURGER: You were on duty

at your desk in the lobby all that time?

CLERK: I was.

How many apartments are there on the second floor?

In that central section, off the balcony there,

there are just two suites: 201 and 202.

And who occupies 202?

A gentleman who's been in Europe for some time, sir.

His doors are both locked and sealed.

I see. Then, to repeat, Mr. Anders...

from the time that Paul Drake

went up that stairway with the deceased...

until the time you stepped out the front door

to call a policeman, absolutely no one

went up or down that stairway?

No one.

Thank you, Mr. Anders. Your witness.

Mr. Anders...

what did you do with those magazines

you went out to buy?

I beg pardon? Well, didn't you sit down

behind your desk and begin to read some of them?

No, sir. Between 7 and 7:30,

the owner of the building often drops by.

I find it best to remain quite alert.

Just answer the questions, please.

Yes, sir. Now, I believe you said

that when you objected to Mr. Drake

looking at the names on the switchboard,

he just shoved you back.

He did.

And you in no way provoked him?

Absolutely not!

I pride myself on getting along with everybody.

You married, Mr. Anders?

Have been.

How many times?

Four times.

( crowd laughs )

That's all.

BURGER: I call Jacob Wiltzy to the stand, please.

BAILIFF: Mr. Wiltzy, take the stand.

BURGER: Now, Mr. Wiltzy, as maintenance man for the apartment house,

where did your duties take you that afternoon?

I cleaned up 201 after the new drapes were installed.

And I walked to the end of the hall--

uh, service room there

--to leave my overalls.

And to call my wife.

Then, sir, you see, it was 4:00,

and, as that's my quitting time, I went home.

How did you leave the building?

Out the back door and down the stairs.

Only other way there is

to get off the second floor.

And what did you do as you left the back door, Mr. Wiltzy?

Put a padlock on it.

A padlock? Why did you do that?

Well, Mr. Oswalt's off in Europe,

and the lady hadn't moved into 201 proper-like.

And, in other words, from 4:00 that afternoon,

the only way to get to or from Apartment 201,

the death apartment, was to use the front door

and the front stairway.

The area presided over by Mr. Anders.

That's the way she is.

Thank you, Mr. Wiltzy.

Your witness.

Uh, no questions.

Now, since it's within five minutes of 5:00,

court is adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow morning.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Perry.

Perry, somebody else had to

get into that apartment.

Between 7:15 and 7:30.

Take it easy, Paul.

I'll see you this evening.

Okay.

Della. Mm-hm.

How would you like to do a little second-story work?

Let's go.

PAPERBOY: Get your late paper.

Private eye on trial.

Boy, paper. Here you are, Mr. Anders.

There he is.

Talk to him.

Just keep his attention for awhile.

Okay.

( money changer clicking )

Thank you, Mr. Anders.

Excuse me. Can you tell me

anything about these apartments? Late paper.

Wish me luck. PAPERBOY: Private eye on trial.

Do you have any children living here?

And what about Sunday mornings? Are they noisy?

That's the only time I get a chance to sleep.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

( phone buzzing )

Westpark Apartments.

( Della speaking indistinctly ) What?

Speak louder, please. I can't understand you.

Which apartment did you wish to speak to?

Your name is what?

Street. I don't believe

I know any Miss Street.

Well, Mr. Mason, good evening.

Isn't this an honor?

Will you wait just a moment,

please? Hel--?

( disconnects )

Oh, but of course.

You put her up to that, didn't you?

To prove that it was possible

for someone to walk past me.

To go up the stairway while I'm busy with a telephone call.

If it weren't for one handy

little thing, Mr. Mason.

My rear-vision mirror.

( chuckling )

I wanna thank you, Mr. Anders.

You know, I think there's only one thing

that could possibly slip by you:

the truth.

Good night.

Good night.

Now, lieutenant, you hold in your hand

a copy of the coroner's report on Frank Thatcher, deceased.

I ask you if there's anything

in that report of an unusual nature

in connection with the appearance of the deceased.

Yes, sir. There is a very slight

fracture of the symphysis,

accompanied by the usual swelling.

BURGER: Symphysis, lieutenant?

TRAGG: Lower jaw. BURGER: Oh, I see.

Does it say anything in that report about the possible

cause of such an injury?

That it might occur if a man were struck by a fist.

Thank you, lieutenant. That'll be all.

Your witness.

I have no questions, uh...

concerning the fractured jaw.

However, lieutenant, in your examination

of the murder apartment,

you must have taken note of the phonograph record.

Record?

The one Officer Wilson stated was playing

when he entered the room.

Is, uh, this that record?

Or one like it?

TRAGG: Well, I examined the record

on the phonograph, naturally.

It had a blank label like that one.

Of course I couldn't actually tell without hearing it.

Uh, with the court's permission?

( blues music playing )

I believe that's what's called

a demonstration record, lieutenant.

Do you recognize it now?

That's the piece.

With the permission of the court,

I would like at this time to recall a witness.

Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, I don't see any particular sense

in extending the prosecution's case indefinitely

by recalling witnesses at the slightest whim

of the counsel for defense.

� I...

The state has made an issue of showing that no one

other than the deceased and Mr. Drake

could have entered Apartment 201.

That, therefore, Mr. Drake

must have fired the murder gun.

Now, the defense wishes to pursue this particular matter.

On this particular matter I have no objection.

Call your witness, counsel.

I would like to, uh...

recall Miss Donna Kress.

JUDGE: You will take the stand again,

please, Miss Kress.

And you're still under oath.

� His loving means living

� To me

� I wanna hear

� The way "I love you"

� Will sound

� I wanna hear--

( clicks off )

Miss Kress...

do you recall a conversation we had

the day following the murder?

It took place at a recording studio.

Yes.

Do you recall the record

you were listening to at the time?

Uh, I'm not sure.

Well, it's an easy matter to check with Mr. Marsden,

the engineer who was there.

Wasn't it a master of the record we just heard playing?

A master of the demonstration copy

found in the murder apartment?

Mr. Marsden was going to make

some changes on it for you, I believe.

Yes. I, uh-- Uh-- It was the same.

Then tell us, Miss Kress...

how did that demonstration copy of yours

get into the apartment where Frank Thatcher died?

What?

Did you take it there the night before?

No. No, it wasn't fixed.

Well, then...

earlier on the day of the murder.

Did you go to the apartment earlier?

I told you, I was rehearsing.

Did Thatcher himself take it there?

No, of course not. I mean--

( gasps )

I don't know how it got there.

Miss Kress...

who had keys to that apartment?

DONNA: Well, Frank, and, um...

Didn't you have one?

Yes.

Now, the apartment house clerk stated that

he was out for a while, buying magazines.

Isn't it true that you could have entered the apartment

at that time without being seen?

No. Why not?

You stated in your own testimony

that you left the band rehearsal

right after Frank Thatcher, who planned to stop

on his way to the apartment to make some telephone calls.

So there would have been plenty of time

for you to have reached the apartment ahead of him.

But I didn't.

Weren't you in that apartment

when Thatcher and Paul Drake arrived?

No. And didn't you slip

into the next room, overhear their fight,

and take advantage of the opportunity

to murder Frank Thatcher? No, no!

And weren't you then almost trapped...

until you discovered the pay phone

in the service room at the end of the hall?

And wasn't that where

the outside call came from?

The call that sent the clerk after the police?

No.

No, you didn't make the outside call, did you?

Mr. Marsden made that call.

Mr. Marsden, the old friend

you might very logically

have asked to deliver the record

as soon as he'd fixed it.

The old friend to whom you would have given your key.

( crying ): Joe, please! Tell them you didn't do it!

Do you want me to tell them that you killed him?

Oh, Joe.

( crying )

I'm not sorry. Don't think I'm sorry!

Look at her.

You think she's beautiful?

You should've seen her when I first did.

Listen to her voice.

Heard it break.

Seeing the tears...

year after year.

I just wish I could have killed him ten times!

( dramatic theme playing )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

There you are, sir.

A very small token, I grant you.

This what you wanted to see me about?

Of course it is.

And I'm sending a bigger one to Paul Drake.

Do you realize how foolish I feel?

After all my efforts to steer the course of events.

You very nearly steered them into causing a great injustice.

Marsden might have confessed earlier,

if he hadn't seen that you were helping to cover everything up.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought it was necessary.

That's the tragedy, Mr. Dameron.

What is?

You know, when I leave here, I'm meeting Paul Drake

at a restaurant.

He'll pick up the check for dinner.

That'll be the fee for my services.

He's just a friend, but I never once

doubted his innocence.

What do you mean by that?

Mr. Dameron...

I've never before met a person

so far removed from humanity

that he believed every one of his own children

capable of committing a murder.

( dramatic theme playing )

( door opens )

( noirish jazz theme playing )