All language subtitles for 05 The Case Of The Sinister Spirit (1987)

(theme song playing)

♪

♪

♪

♪

(crystal chiming)

♪

(ringing)

Hello?

Oh, hello, Jordan.

I wake you, Perry?

MASON:
Oh, that's all right.

I wanted to catch you
before you checked out.

I'm, uh, flying back to L.A.
in the morning.

Did you finish the book?

I got up to the part
about the...

chandelier crashing down.

Do you see what I mean

about the character called
"James Whitney"?

Yes, I do.

WOMAN (over P.A.): This is
the final boarding call...

Just tell me if I can slap
David Hall with a libel suit.

As a favor to an old friend

who may someday
publish your memoirs.

You have to ask yourself
three things, Jordan.

First...

is anyone else
going to see similarities

between the Whitney character
and you?

Everybody who knows me will.

That's a lot of people.

Was there any malicious intent
on David's part?

There sure was.

He thinks he got a raw deal
when we published his last book.

This is his way
of getting back at me.

Third, don't you think
you should at least talk to him

before you go suing him?

He's one of your most
profitable writers, isn't he?

Of course.

The troublemakers always are.

Al right.

He's asked me to fly to Colorado
this weekend to meet with him.

This will be the first item
on the agenda.

Are you gonna be some place
where I can reach you?

Jordan, you don't
need me for this.

Use one of your attorneys.

They've got me into enough
trouble with David as it is.

MAN: This is your final boarding
call for flight number 44...

My plane's about
to leave, Perry.

I'll talk to you from Colorado.

- Uh...
-(dial tone)

Jordan?

Mr. White, I'm Andrew Lloyd.

I'm David Hall's assistant.

We met two years ago, remember?

I remember.

Uh, David will be
joining us for dinner

just as soon
as everyone arrives.

Everyone arrives?

I thought I was
seeing David alone.

Oh, no, no, no.

You must have misunderstood.

Susan!

This is Susan Warrenfield.

She's the assistant manager
here at the Briarcliff.

- Hello.
- How do you do?

- Good. -Susan will
show you to your room.

All right. Well, if you'll
just follow me...

Come on.

Okay, here we are.

WHITE: Why do I get
the feeling nobody's here?

Mr. Hall has taken over
the hotel for the weekend.

Are you related
to the Warrenfield

that built the place?

Yes, my grandfather.

Family still have it?

No, they haven't for years.

Actually, I just started working
here about three weeks ago.

I finished hotel management
last fall.

Here you go.

Here's your room.

There you go.

If you need anything,
uh, just let me know, okay?

- Thank you.
- Bye.

♪

Well...

it looks like
we're dining together.

Have a seat, Mr. White.

Do I know you?

I'm Donald Saver.

It's all right
if you don't remember.

Actually, we've never met.

MAN: He wants you
and the rest of America

to believe he's a psychic.

Ha!

You look familiar.

Well, you've probably
seen my picture in the papers.

I do a syndicated column, hmm?

Oh, yes, of course.

You're the astrologer.

Quite so.

I have a small gift
for doing astrological charts.

WOMAN:
Hello.

Well, what a surprise.

David invited all of you
for the weekend, too?

I thought I was the only one.

Oh, I'm afraid not, darling.

Maura McGuire, I'd like you
to meet Jordan White.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

Uh, this is Donald Sayer...

- Hello.
- Hello.

LLOYD:
...and Michael Light.

McGUIRE:
Hello.

Mademoiselle.

McGUIRE:
You, I've seen.

You, I've heard of.

You, I don't know from Adam.

The conglomerate he runs
publishes David's books.

Oh, I see.

I starred in the movie they made

of David's second novel.

You know, Cry of the Dead?

I thought you were marvelous.

I've never seen anyone
look quite so dead

and yet so... attractive.

Thank you.

I think.

WHITE:
Where's David?

Oh, he's, uh,
running a little late.

But while we're waiting,

David asked me
to explain the reason

for inviting you here.

This is not strictly
a social gathering;

it has to do with his new book,
The Resort.

He'd love for you all
to read it,

so he's left copies
in your rooms.

How thoughtful.

Yes.

You may find some similarity

to the characters in the book
and yourselves.

Each of them had
a tragic experience.

One with drowning, Mr. White;

one with prison, Mr. Saver;

one with fire, Mr. Light;

and one with suicide,
Ms. McGuire.

Yes, you will find David's book

is undoubtedly
his finest work to date,

and so the faint-hearted
are advised to take heed.

(laughs)

Let's have some wine, shall we?

White or red?

Mmm, white, please.

(clears throat)

You tell your employer I've lost
my appetite and my patience.

If he wants to see me,

it'll have to be in the morning.

I'm with him.

And I'm with her.

No, wait, please!

David said he'd be right down.

This is just one of his
silly practical jokes.

You know David.

Yes, don't we?

♪

♪

♪

♪

(knob squeaks)

(screaming)

(screaming)

CHILD'S VOICE:
Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy.

♪

I could've suffocated in there!

Who the hell do you think
you are to scare me like that?!

I didn't come here
to be the butt

of a sadistic practical joke!

I had a feeling something
like this would happen.

Enough.

Thank you for coming.

You're here because,
you must admit,

you all needed
to be taught a lesson.

A lesson?!

A lesson in what?

People look at what I write...

and say that I'm possessed.

Frankly, even I
used to think that.

Then I realized
we are all possessed.

We all lived with demons.

With our own personal horrors.

Not the ones
that spring from fear,

but the ones
that come from guilt.

Some of you are frauds.

Or fakes.

Or cheap imitations.

And it's what you really are

that haunts your dreams.

You are your own...

worst nightmare.

You maniac!

And not to overlook those of you

who have your own flesh
and blood on your hands.

You're sick!

Mr. White,
Mr. White, please.

I want nothing to do with you.

Or anything you write.
I'll see you in hell first!

♪

I want to get out
of here tonight.

All right, then have the plane
here in the morning.

First thing.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

It's David.

Listen, it's very important
that we talk.

After what you did?

Don't hang up, please.

I'm sorry.
It was a tasteless

and totally insensitive thing
for me to do.

I'm sorry.

But we must talk, Jordan, now.

Meet me in the bar
in five minutes.

No tricks, I promise.

(click, dial tone)

(gasps)

(chuckling):
Oh, God.

Mr. White, you scared me.

(chuckling):
You scared me.

What were you doing down there?

I was taking inventory.

The last
of my daily duties here.

If you want a nightcap,
I'm afraid you're too late.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Yeah, one second.

It's for you.

Hello.

DAVID: I want you to take
the elevator to the top floor.

Get off, take the stairs
to the door to the left

and meet me there.

No.

Not until you tell me
what this is all about.

It's about Janet.

(click, dial tone)

Good night, Mr. White.

(elevator bell dings)

(men arguing indistinctly nearby)

No!

- David!
-(Warrenfield screaming)

Oh, God.

So, you were in the bell tower
how long?

No more than a few seconds.

I heard Ms. Warrenfield scream.

Came through the door.

Looked over the side.

And I saw the body.

And I went downstairs
immediately to call the police.

And you didn't see
Mr. Hall fall?

No, no, I didn't.

Didn't see anybody else
in the bell tower?

No.

Just a second, Mr. White.

Where did you get that?

MAN:
David Hall's hand.

Oh.

I'm, uh, sorry, Mr. White.
What were you saying?

I said, no, I didn't see
anyone else in the tower.

Frankly I don't know
why you're asking.

You're investigating
a suicide here.

Are you not?

No, I don't think so.

See, we just found this
in David Hall's hand.

Very attractive blonde
you're with, Mr. White.

You see, I think
there was somebody else

up there in that tower
with Mr. Hall.

I think he and Mr. Hall argued
over this picture.

And it was torn
when Mr. Hall fell...

Oh, uh... let's make that
when Mr. Hall was pushed...

from the edge.

But until I can find
the rest of the picture,

that's just speculation
on my part.

And I'm not having
much luck on that.

Mr. White, would you mind
emptying your pockets for us?

Of course I'd mind.
(scoffs)

I didn't kill him.

And I resent
your implying that I did.

Please.

Ah-ah-ah-ah.

I'll take that.

Have a seat, Mr. White.

Pretty lady.

Your wife?

I want to talk to my lawyer.

WHITE: So, thinking
I had nothing to hide,

I did as he asked.

Next thing I knew, there I was,

pulling the picture
out of my pocket.

MASON: So it wasn't the result
of an unauthorized search.

(chuckling):
Ah...

I incriminated myself
quite voluntarily.

Do you have any idea
how the torn picture got there?

I was wearing the coat
from the moment I arrived.

I can only assume somebody
either slipped it in my pocket

either during dinner,

or when we all descended
upon David later on.

Did anyone question why you'd
keep that half of the picture?

I think the police assume
either I panicked

or I didn't have the opportunity
to dispose of it.

- don't know.
- Jordan?

Who's the woman in the picture?

Her name is Janet Lang.

She's an interior designer.

And?

We were lovers.

Carol?

Carol didn't know.

I didn't think anyone did.

I don't know
where that picture came from.

Someone must have hired
a private detective.

MASON:
David Hall?

Hall... but why?

To blackmail me?

David was on top.

Right up there
with Stephen King.

It's not as if he needed money.

With Carol...

what's gone wrong?

Carol and I have
barely spoken since...

...Bobby drowned last year.

It's like we...

have nothing to say
to each other.

So we separated.

I don't love Janet.

I took up with her because I...

wanted to escape, I guess.

Didn't last long.

It's over now.

I'm alone.

(White sighs)

Now Carol's gonna know
about her, and...

it's gonna get dredged up again.

We're both gonna go
through hell.

Oh, God, what a mess.

And it's all my fault.

-(children clamoring)
-(dogs barking nearby)

Getting a train to Denver
is almost impossible.

When are you going to realize

that flying is the safest way
to travel?

You're just superstitious.

- I am not superstitious.
- Yes, you are.

(laughs)
I fly when I have to.

Only, uh...

not on Friday.

(laughs)

-(reporters clamoring)
- Excuse us.

MAN: Do you have any idea
how long the trial's gonna be?

- Just to the right.
- Sir, one more shot, please.

(indistinct chatter)

Hello, Della. How are you?

Fine, thank you, Jordan.

Sorry we're meeting here.

Yeah, so am .

Hi.

Hello, Mason.

Seems to me I run into you
wherever I go.

How reassuring.

Yes, isn't it?

Bail will be set at $300,000.

And now, if the bailiff
will hand up my calendar,

we'll move on to the matter
of setting a date

for the preliminary hearing.

MASON:
Uh, Your Honor, if I may,

I'd like to point out

that the news
of David Hall's death

and my client's
subsequent arrest

has already made the front page

of every major newspaper
in the country.

And you would like me
to consider a change of venue

because of the pretrial
publicity.

Actually, I believe
that unless we move quickly,

the members of the news media

who will descend
upon this community

will make it difficult,
if not impossible,

for any of us to do our jobs.

JUDGE:
Mr. Reston?

Your Honor, the prosecution
is confident that it will have

no problem proceeding in
its case against the defendant

no matter how swiftly
Mr. Mason would have

the wheels of justice spin.

Very well.

Then the preliminary hearing
will be held in this court

on March 15 at 9:00 a.m.

Thank you, Your Honor.

(gavel bangs)

Next case.

And thank you, Mr. Reston.

- Mr. White.
- Yes?

Oh, excuse me.

I, um, have a few messages here.

I'll be right with you.

(chandelier tinkling)

DELLA:
What is it?

Deja vu, I guess.

Is it true we really have
this place all to ourselves?

The owner doesn't want
to open to the public again

until David Hall's murder
is resolved.

WHITE: Perhaps he wants
to be sure he doesn't have

two malevolent spirits
on his hands now.

DELLA:
Spirits?

Don't tell me this place
is haunted.

(chuckles) Only by the rather
curious group assembled here.

Speaking of whom,

the sooner we talk with them,
the better.

I'm really gonna need them now,
aren't I?

We're both gonna need them...
at least for another week.

(clamoring)

MASON:
Hey, hey, hey!

Legally, of course, you're under
no obligation to stay.

We can interview you
over the phone

or subpoena your testimony
if necessary.

But frankly, it will look much
better for you if you do stay.

Yeah, but at this point,

all I'd like to do
is get out of this...

WHITE:
I'd be very grateful

if all of you stayed.

You know how grateful I can be.

I'll stay. No problem.

I'm willing to let bygones
be bygones.

All right, you can count on me,
Jordan.

Rich, I think everybody else
has called it a night.

Why don't you do the same?

Sounds good to me.

- Okay, good night.
- Good night.

♪

♪

♪

(footsteps)

♪

WARRENFIELD:
Who are you?

Could you tell me
where I could find my room?

Ow.

Didn't anyone tell you
I was coming?

Oh, yes, they did,

but, um, well,
it got to be so late,

I just figured
that you weren't going to show.

Paul Drake, right?

Yeah, and you are?

Susan Warrenfield.

God, I am so sorry.
Are you okay?

I'm fine. This is not
pre-Columbian art, I hope.

Look, uh, why don't I let you
into your room

and you can get a key
in the morning, okay?

Okay.

Sorry.

Now, I suppose that I should
have... (clears throat)

called from the airport,

but, uh, I thought I could
get here faster

if I just hurried on, you know?

- You all right?
- What?

Boy, I must have
really frightened you, didn't I?

No. No, I'm fine.

I'm okay, really.

What's wrong?

That's John Warrenfield.

He, um... he built this place
80 years ago for my grandmother.

DRAKE:
Oh, yeah, I read about him.

He committed suicide, didn't he?

Yeah, he did.

Um, he walked into one
of the rooms here and...

and found her in bed
with another man.

And then he walked up
ten stories

to the bell tower and jumped.

Hmm.

You know, they say
he still is around here,

that he walks the hallways
at night.

Come on. You don't believe
those stories, do you?

Tonight, just before
you came in here, I, um...

I was looking at this portrait
of my grandmother,

and it looked like
she almost started to cry.

DRAKE: Well, she's been hanging
there a long time, probably.

You'd cry, too.

Yeah, I suppose so.

Shall we go?

Yes.

I'll show you. Come on.

So, we got more on McGuire,

queen of the
slice-and-dice films,

Michael Light,
alleged astrologer,

Donald Sayer, alleged psychic,

and Andrew Lloyd,
the victim's personal secretary.

That makes four suspects.

All of them in the hotel
at the time of the murder.

They all said they were alone
in their rooms.

What about the hotel staff?

Good question.

Check them out, Paul.

See if any of them had
a connection with David Hall

or motive for killing him.

The assistant manager
of Susan...

DRAKE:
Warrenfield, right.

So you've met her already?

You know me, always working.

Yes, we know.

What else, Perry?

How far into Hall's book
did you get last night?

Oh, I, uh... I fell asleep
right about where the character

James Whitney found his son
drowned in the pond.

It's no wonder Jordan was upset.

Then you're past the house fire,

the part about about the man
in prison

and the woman
who committed suicide.

Sounds like a fun book.

We know our four suspects
are characters in the book.

We need to know all about them,
everything.

Della, why don't you
handle that?

I'll look in my crystal ball.

MASON: After that,
call Jordan's office.

His staff can get you
whatever you need.

Right.

And where will you be, Perry?

Andrew Lloyd said he'd meet me
at Hall's place in one hour.

Be careful, Perry.

I hear his digs
are very strange.

(chuckles)

He lived in a house, Paul.

What's so strange about that?

(squawking)

(doorbell rings)

(doorbell rings)

Mr. Mason, come in, come in.

I'm sorry you had to wait.

It is a large house.

Again, I, um... I hope
you weren't waiting too long.

But you are early.

What time is it?

It's 9... it's, uh, 9:25.

I wasn't even going to start

keeping an eye out for you
until 9:30.

- I told David a hundred times

that he should get an intercom
for that gate,

but, uh, he refused.

I think he liked making people
wait out there.

Uh, may I take your coat?

No, thank you.
I won't be staying.

This way.

I'm, uh... I'm still trying
to organize David's things.

This, is, um... this is his...

this was, uh, David's desk.

That's mine over there.

Exactly what were your duties
as Mr. Hall's assistant?

Uh, absolutely everything.

From transposing his manuscripts
from legal pads to floppy disks,

to ordering the groceries,

to answering the telephone,
to... to...

Well, David didn't refer to me
as his assistant.

He referred to me
as his head mechanic,

the man who keeps
the writing machine oiled,

fueled and running at...

Damn it!
Where are the paper clips?!

Thank you.

David's death has me rattled.

I can barely function.

As I understand it, you do
a little writing yourself.

I don't know what you mean.

Jordan White told me you tried
to have a book published.

One which detailed
David Hall's life

during the time
you worked for him.

A man like David Hall
must have been furious.

He considered it
a gross breach of privacy.

But that's not at all
what I intended.

Then there's something
his attorney told me yesterday.

What was that?

David Hall left you
his entire fortune.

Yes.

I withdrew the book
from publication,

I turned all copies over
to David,

and I told him that I had made
a terrible mistake.

And he forgave me.

Perhaps he did.

Or perhaps you simply killed him

before he had a chance
to change his will.

Ah, Mr. Mason. Tea?

No, thank you.

This is a wonderful place
to work.

Puts me in the mood.

You're doing someone's
astrological chart.

Just so.

You sound skeptical, Mr. Mason.

I recognized the tone of voice.

David Hall wasn't much
of a believer, was he?

David Hall wasn't much...
period.

What about Harriet Purcell?

She was quite a believer,
wasn't she?

- Who?
- Harriet Purcell.

You remember, wealthy widow?

You saw her every day
for her horoscope.

One day, you told her
the stars demanded

she lock herself in her room.

Her house caught fire
and she burned to death.

- That had nothing to do with me.
- Really?

It's in David's book.

Not the whole story,
perhaps, but enough.

Now David's dead.

What can I say? Bad karma.

Which is not to say
that I killed him.

You certainly had
very good reason.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Your chart,
I just finished it.

I don't mean to alarm you,

but the stars suggest
that you proceed, uh,

how shall we say, cautiously?

(chuckles)

I always do.

Mmm.

(sharp whistle)

Yeah! I-l can see you there.

Are you sure you're standing
exactly where you were

the night of the murder?

Uh-huh.

All right, go back in.
I'll meet you downstairs.

Okay.

♪

(shrieks)

(shrieks)

Susan, it's all right! It's me!

- He's after me!
- Who?!

Susan, for crying out loud,
girl, this is a painting!

- Paintings do not come to life!
- This one did!

That's it for me.
I'm out of here.

I'm getting as far away
from here as I can.

- That's exactly what someone
wants you to do! Susan! -Why?!

Because you're a witness
to a murder!

It has something
to do with that!

What? What are we supposed
to do, huh?

Someone's doing a number on you.

Let's find out who's here
and who's not.

(fire alarm ringing)

Come on.

(fire alarm ringing)

MAN: This has been the worst
night I've ever spent.

- WOMAN: Is there a fire?
- MAN: I don't know.

WOMAN:
What is that noise?

(ringing continues)

WOMAN:
What is that sound? Oh, no!

DRAKE: All right, I want you
to tell me if anyone is missing.

Rich, um, the maintenance man
isn't here.

I don't see... I don't see Tim
the doorman, either.

I'm gonna go turn
that thing off.

Al right.

Excuse me!

Uh, ladies and gentlemen,
excuse me.

I'm-I'm Paul Drake.
I work for Mr. Mason.

Uh, I know this seems
like a fire drill,

but, uh, actually
what happened is I, uh,

bumped the fire alarm upstairs.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

Please go back to bed.

Marvelous!

-(ringing stops)
- That's marvelous! God!

God!

Well, now that the party's over,

will you walk me home?

Something I want to do here.
I'll be up shortly.

All right, Paul,
what was this all about?

Someone is frightening Susan.

Trying to make her doubt
her sanity.

What exactly happened tonight?

Well, upstairs,
the picture of her grandfather.

Now, Susan swears
that it came to life

and it chased her
down the hall.

What?

This girl was not hysterical.

I'm sure that she saw something.

She's just misinterpreting it.

But she actually believes
a man from a painting

chased her down the hall?

Yes.

Thank you, Paul.

I think you should stay
in Denver, get away from here.

Maybe.

What is it, Jordan, the trial?

Not entirely.

You can't keep blaming yourself
for what happened to your son.

It's been over a year.

I thought I'd gotten past
the worst part.

(sighs)

Looks like David Hall had the...

last laugh after all.

I'll be in Denver.

How about a drink, counselor?

No, thank you.

Well, if you don't want a drink,

I can only assume
that you followed me in here

because you want me.

I'd like to get
to know the real you.

Just what would you like
to know?

Why did you try
to commit suicide?

You do like to get right
to the point, don't you?

Yes, I do.

Well, so do ll.

It's none of your business.

It must have been
a great problem

to find your deepest secret
in David Hall's new book.

I had a couple of bad days...

but they passed.

How did you meet Hall?

He saw me in a TV commercial
I did back in Houston.

I was still a model then.

I sat on a zebra,

smiled while my then-fiancé
hawked used cars.

But David must have liked
what he saw.

He had his lawyers sigh me

to a seven-year
personal services contract,

and immediately put me
in the lead role of a movie...

Then you became
a celebrity overnight.

Who says there's no justice?

(chuckles)

I've been doing
some homework on you.

You were getting your weekly
salary from David Hall,

but after that one film,
he didn't use you,

wouldn't let you work
for anyone else.

Which means your career
would have just faded away.

Well, I'm not under contract
anymore, am I?

My point exactly.

Don't insinuate
that I killed David Hall.

Why did he stop you
from working?

I don't know.

(sighs)

David never made a pass at me.

Not once.

But his secretary
came on strong.

And when I didn't come across,

that's when David put me
in the freezer.

Did Andrew Lloyd have
that much influence over Hall?

I never thought so...

but I guess he did.

What do you think?

I'm not sure.

Good night, Miss McGuire.

Have one for me.

Good night, counselor.

I will.

MASON:
Mr. Saver.

Looks like you worked up
an appetite.

That damn fire alarm drill

woke up me and my stomach.

Would... would you like some?

Oh, thank you, no.

Well, I see you're still reading
David Hall's book.

Well, I wanted to get some sense
of who killed him.

I have a very strong feeling
it was Michael.

Really?

Well, I've been responsible
for the apprehension

of several murderers.

You may have read of my work

with the Boston
and Detroit police.

Yes, I have.

It's impressive.

I gather you were
briefly involved

with the Miami
homicide division, as well.

Not that I remember.

MASON:
Come now, Mr. Saver.

It's obvious the psychic
in Hall's new book

is a thinly veiled
version of you.

David would like you
to have believed that.

Didn't you kill a man
in a bar fight

because he called you
a fake and a fraud?

Are you suggesting
that I killed David Hall?

MASON:
You killed a man in a bar fight

because he called you
a fake and a fraud.

Now, do you expect me to believe

that you wouldn't
kill David Hall

for exposing you in that book?

I don't care what you believe.

Then you have nothing
to worry about.

(crystal chiming)

DELLA:
Perry.

Perry!

Are you all right?

I'm fine.
Now, get back to your room.

But... but ...

Now, look...

I think you just saved my life,

but get back to your room.

♪

(knock at door)

DRAKE:
Hi.

Are you the one
with the leaky faucet?

- Yeah. Come on in.
Mm-hmm.

That thing's been
dripping all night.

You can hear it all the way
in the bedroom.

RICH: Well, probably needs
a hew washer.

Yeah.

So what do they call you?

RICH:
Richard.

Rich for short.

DRAKE:
Nell, Rich, I appreciate

you getting up here so early.

I mean, you gotta
be tired and all.

Well, what do you mean?

DRAKE:
Y-You know, the fire drill.

Well, actually, uh...

me and a friend sort of
played AWOL last night.

Drove into town for a few beers.

Is that right?

Boy, I had no idea there was any
place around here to do that.

Where'd you go?

Oh, lots of places.

No place in particular.

Huh.

Here it is.

DRAKE:
What is it, a bad washer?

Not a bad washer; missing.

Huh.

Well, that goes
to show you that, uh,

strange things do happen
in this hotel, don't they?

We're going to be late.

By the way,
thanks for calling last night.

I was worried.

You left awfully early
this morning.

Anything new?

I'm following
too many sets of tracks.

Each one of our suspects
had a real reason

to hate David Hall,

and he was very aware of that.

You know, this is all
turning out very odd.

Odd isn't the word.

Why did he invite them
to this place?

It's almost as if he...

wanted to be murdered.

You're right, we are late.

RESTON:
I show you now

people's exhibits
numbers four and five.

Ask you if you recognize them.

Yes, I tagged them myself.

Can you tell me, please,

where did you find
people's exhibit four?

It was clutched
in David's Hall's hand

as he lay dead on the portico

outside the Briarcliff Hotel.

And people's exhibit five
was found...

In Jordan White's coat pocket
about one hour later.

Mmm.

RESTON:
These, uh... these two pieces

fit together rather well.

They match perfectly.

RESTON: Your Honor, it has been
specified by defense

that this is, in fact,
one photograph

that has been torn in half.

Lieutenant...

do you recognize the two people
in this photograph?

Yes, the man is Jordan White

and the woman's name
is Janet Lang.

RESTON:
Isn't the defendant married?

Yes, he is, but not to her.

I see.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Oh, one more thing.

Would you please tell the court

what, uh, Mr. White and Ms. Lang

-are doing in this photograph?
- Certainly.

Yes. They are kissing.

I see.

No further questions.

Your witness, counselor.

I have no questions, Your Honor.

You may step down.

Next witness, Mr. Reston.

Uh, call Ms. Susan Warrenfield
to the stand, please.

So I looked up and saw
two people in the tower.

It was dark, I couldn't really
see their faces clearly,

but it looked like they were
struggling or fighting.

And what happened then?

And then I saw David Hall
fall from the tower

and land about
ten feet above me.

And then... what happened?

And then I looked
back to the tower

and saw Mr. White
standing there.

Are you positive it was him?

Yes.

He was leaning over,

and his face was directly
in the spotlight.

- Thank you, Ms. Warrenfield.
- Okay.

Your witness, counselor.

MASON:
Your grandfather

was John Warrenfield,

the man who built
the Briarcliff Hotel.

Is that correct?

Yes.

MASON: Would you please
relate to the court

the circumstances under which
your grandfather died?

RESTON:
Objection.

Relevancy.

MASON:
The relevance of my question

will become clear

just as soon as Miss Warrenfield
answers it, Your Honor.

Overruled.

MASON:
Miss Warrenfield...

I know this is
difficult for you.

Please, take your time.

My grandfather committed suicide

by jumping from the bell tower
at the Briarcliff Hotel.

So...

knowing what happened
to your grandfather,

you must have been
particularly upset

when you saw the man falling
from the tower that night.

Yes, it was... pretty strange.

All I remember is screaming

and thinking for a moment
that it was my grandfather.

Which, of course, is impossible.

He's been dead for 70 years.

Unless you believe the legend

that says the spirit
of John Warrenfield

still walks the halls
of the Briarcliff Hotel.

Do you believe that legend,
Miss Warrenfield?

Yes.

Why?

I've seen things.

What kind of things?

Isn't it true
that less than two days ago,

you saw a portrait

of your grandfather
come to life?

Yes.

MASON:
Isn't it true that

not only did it come to life,

it chased you down the hall?

Yes.

Miss Warrenfield...

isn't it true you believe

the figure that chased you
down the hall

was the ghost
of your grandfather?

It was my grandfather.

Do you expect us to believe it?

It's what I saw.

Do you really expect us
to believe what you say you saw

in the bell tower
the night of the murder?

I don't think so,
Miss Warrenfield.

I really don't think so.

No further questions.

You may step down.

BAILIFF (whispering):
Judge...

JUDGE: This court will take
a half-hour recess.

(gavel bangs)

Susan!

(indistinct chatter)

With all due respect,

isn't there another way
to do this?

Our obligation
is to Jordan White.

You know that.

Perry, someone is trying
to terrify that girl.

Then get out there and prove it.

And do it soon.

(knocking at door)

DRAKE:
Susan?

Leave me alone.

Look, I didn't know
he was going to do that.

I swear to...

Open the door, please.

There. It's open.

- Good-bye.
- Wait a minute.

Don't. Just don't.

I know he was rough on you,

but his job
is to protect his client.

Yeah? And what's yours,
setting me up?

Hey, wait a minute.

...I don't deserve that.

- I'm trying to help you.
- Yeah?

Well, it doesn't feel
that way to me.

You walk away now,
you're never gonna

leave this place behind you.

Susan, somebody
doesn't want you here.

We have to find out who that is.

- It's all tied together...
- Who? Why?

The only person my testimony
hurts is Jordan White.

I don't have all the answers
yet, all right?

But I promise you,
I'm gonna get them.

Well, good.
Good for you.

I was hoping
that you'd stick around.

'Cause the fact
of the matter is, ll...

I like you.

And I need to see
the floor plans for the hotel.

You were David Hall's attorney
for how long, Mr. Parsons?

Six years.

And during that time,

you handled most
of his legal affairs?

As far as I know,
I handled all of them.

And his business
and financial affairs, as well.

Would you please describe

some of the work you did
on Mr. Hall's behalf

in the four months
prior to his death?

I handled the writing
of a new will for him,

closed out several
of his corporations,

used his pension plan

to purchase a rather large
life insurance policy.

Things usually undertaken
by someone anticipating

the end of his career,
perhaps even his life.

True, Mr. Parsons?

Objection, Your Honor.
Move to strike.

Calls for speculation
on the part of the witness.

And frankly, I fail to see where
any of this has the least bit

-of relevance.
- MASON: Your Honor?

This line of questioning
is central

to my client's defense.

Your Honor,
Mr. Mason is attempting

to put the victim on trial here.

To be more exact...

the defense intends
to demonstrate

the victim's state of mind

at the time of his death.

Overruled.

Let the record stand.

I've no further questions
of the witness.

You went to a lot of trouble
not to ask any questions.

I wanted to get a ruling
on admissibility now.

It's going to be very important
for us later on.

JUDGE:
This court will break for lunch

and reconvene at 2:00 p.m.

(gavel bangs)

(indistinct chatter)

Mr. Mason?

Would you mind explaining to me

why you put Harold Parsons
on the stand?

Yes, I'm defending my client.

By dragging David's good name
through the mud?

Mr. Lloyd, your loyalty
is very touching.

David Hall...

was a very talented

and a very good man.

Talented, yes.

Good remains to be seen.

Paul, we have been through
every room, every closet,

every air shaft in this place,
and we've found nothing.

Let's just call it quits.

No, no, no, no, no, wait, Susan.

We have not been right there.

That's because it's been sealed.

Why?

It was the air shaft
to my grandparents' suite.

Well, then,
it must still be there.

Paul, you cannot get in there.

The shaft was sealed
and the room eliminated

when they remodeled
this place in 1958.

Well, seeing is believing.
Come on.

Come on!

(sighs)

I'm telling you
there's nothing here.

Don't be negative.

Could've been a long way
from here by now.

You hear that?

No.

It's hollow.

So?

Hold that.

Paul, what are you doing?

I'm gonna prove a point.

Kiss for luck?

Paul, what are you doing?

Are you crazy?

Oh, God, be careful.

♪

Paul! Are you okay?

Yeah!

Susan!

What?

Go on downstairs.

What?

Go on down!

What did you find?

Never mind.
Just go on downstairs!

I'll meet you in the lobby.

(glass crunching)

DRAKE:
Susan.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to scare you.
Come on.

I found your ghost.

Come on.

Watch your step.

Pretty nice if you want to take
a trip back in time.

(Warrenfield gasps)

Did you turn on these lights?

No, I did not.

Friend of yours?

That's my father.

Well, I'll bet
whoever turned on these lights

was coming in and out
of these doors.

There's no cobwebs. Look.

Paul, don't-don't go in there.

- Come on, come on, come on.
- Don't. Come on.

Paul, let's just...

(door creaks)

(gasps) Paul!

(grunts)

(gasps) Oh, God!

(shrieks)

Paul!

Get this off...!

Hang on, hang on,
hang on, hang on.

Get this off of me.

(Drake groans)

These are part of the bars

that were
around Donald Sayer's bed.

You all right?

That is the mannequin

that Jordan White saw.

In this casket.

Does that look familiar to you?

Of course, it's the makeup

that completes the set.

WARRENFIELD: You mean
that thing that chased me

down the hall was just a man
dressed up in a costume?

Which one of your staff members

has been around here
the longest?

Um...

Rich.

Rich the maintenance man.

He's been here since, um...

since 1955, before they
sealed off this room.

That's what I thought.

MASON:
Dr. Froman?

You have a PhD

in psychiatry, is that correct?

Yes.

And you've practiced psychiatry

for how many years?

Oh, I've been
in private practice

for a little more than 30 years.

Dr. Froman,
did you know David Hall?

I never met the man.

But I feel like I know him.

MASON:
Why is that?

FROMAN:
Because, at your request,

I've reviewed his life history,

studied his novels,
interviewed his acquaintances

and otherwise analyzed
his behavior.

In effect, you've, uh, performed

a psychiatric autopsy.

Objection. Irrelevant.

Mr. Mason is again putting
the victim on trial.

There are precedents
for this type of testimony.

I am familiar
with the precedents.

JUDGE:
And so am I.

You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
Thank you, Your Honor.

What, in your expert opinion,

was David Hall like,
Dr. Froman?

He was a man beset
by demons.

By feelings and compulsions

over which he had
little control.

He was a driven, angry man.

Was that anger directed

at others or at himself?

Well, his tendency to enter

into self-destructive
relationships,

as well as his habit as a writer

of killing off
all his main characters,

led me to believe

his rage was inner-directed.

He hated himself.

Why would such a man
invite four people,

who all had a reason
to dislike him,

to spend the weekend with him
at a hotel?

Hmm.

I don't know.

What if I told you that...

he had, only weeks before,
suddenly changed his will,

leaving everything
to his closet associate,

and had also taken out
a large life insurance policy?

Then I'd say he'd invited
those people to the hotel

to bid them
some sort of farewell.

Why is that, Doctor?

It's quite conceivable,
in light of his personality,

that he was about
to take his own life.

- Objection!
-(gallery murmuring)

Speculation!

(gavel bangs)

JUDGE:
Overruled.

Thank you, Doctor.

No further questions.

Paul, you can't do this.
I could lose my job.

- I'm sorry, Susan.
- You're wrong.

No one here would do anything
like that to me.

No, you're wrong, Susan,
and I'm gonna prove it.

Paul, wait a minute.

(car engine starts)

(tires screech)

Rich, where were you and Tim
the other night

when the fire alarm went off?

Oh, in town.

- Doing some drinking.
- You were not.

You had just gotten through
trying to terrify me-- admit it.

(laughs)
Ma'am, honestly, I don't know

what you're talking about.

You know where Paul Drake
went just now?

He went to check out
your bank records.

He thinks somebody paid you
to do this to me.

Do what to you?

Make me think
I'm losing my mind.

Ms. Warrenfield,
if you think I...

Look, I don't know
what to think anymore!

I was David Hall's
assistant for...

or personal secretary,
if you prefer,

for seven years.

MASON:
Do you know why he invited

Jordan White, Donald Saver,

Maura McGuire and Michael Light

to the Briarcliff Hotel?

He had, uh, things to discuss

with each of them

concerning his latest book,
The Resort.

Then why did he play
ugly tricks on them,

tricks that were upsetting
and infuriating?

It was David's way of...
of, uh...

teaching them a lesson.

And... and he was
demonstrating a point.

Isn't it true he played
those tricks to provoke them?

No.

MASON: To make them want
to get back at him?

Perhaps even kill him?

No, that's outrageous.

But he wrote a new will,

closed out his corporations,

took out a new
life insurance policy.

Are those not
the acts of someone

putting his house in order

in anticipation
of his own death?

Absolutely not.

They're the acts of a man
going about the...

what he considers
the tedious business of-of...

of everyday existence,
Mr. Mason.

Period.

Let me ask you this, Mr. Lloyd.

Who... paid David Hall's bills?

I did.

It was part of my job.

Did you pay them on time?

Ahead of time, usually.

Then why was his
automobile insurance payment

two months overdue, Mr. Lloyd?

Doesn't allowing
an insurance policy to lapse

further indicate
that he did not intend

to live much longer?

You are so...

wrong, Mr. Mason.

David was just about
to start living.

I allowed
the insurance policy to lapse

because David was going to move.

To Gstaad.

He had just
bought a house there.

He...

he was going to start over.

See, the...
the doctor was r... was right.

It was very, very difficult

for David to...
to show kindness.

But he knew that;
he was trying to change.

He...

he also realized that

using his-his latest book
to, uh, avenge himself

on people that had wronged him,
that was a terrible mistake.

He invited those people to
the Briarcliff for the weekend

so that he could,
in-in his own... his own way,

make things up to them.

He was trying to get
the best of those demons.

But just when the pall

was finally lifting
from his life,

his life was taken from him...

horribly.

I have no further questions,
Your Honor.

I do.

Mr. Lloyd...

...would it be fair to say

that you were David Hall's
closest friend?

Perhaps... his only friend?

Yes.

Did he...

ever mention
taking his own life?

LLOYD:
No!

- Never?
- Never!

(gallery murmuring)

No further questions.

How are we doing?

Jordan, we're doing very well.

Perry...

how are we doing?

If I told you
what I was thinking,

you'd never believe it.

I'm not sure
I believe it myself.

I finally finished the book.

How was it?

It wasn't as frightening
as the others, but...

it was all right.

What is it?

- Della...
- Mm-hmm?

I've always said

you are my good-luck charm.

I didn't think
you were superstitious.

Only about you.

Aw...

♪

MAN (echoing):
Susan.

Susan.

(door creaks)

Susan.

Susan.

(Warrenfield screams)

No! Get off! No!

(grunting)

Who told you to do this to me?

Come on, let's hear it.

(birds trilling)

MASON: Susan, it has to be
what you haven't remembered.

I don't know what it could be.

There must be a reason
that Rich tried to kill you.

Now, think back to the night
of the murder.

Mr. Mason, I have been
over this 100 times.

DRAKE:
There was something you saw.

Some, uh, small detail.

Susan, there has to be
something.

I told you, I don't know.

Al right.

With your permission,

I'd like to put you
back on the stand.

What?

MASON:
All right, Susan?

Ms. Warrenfield,

I'd like you to tell
the court, once again,

what you saw
the night of the murder.

Only this time,

I want you to sit back,

relax...

let your thoughts drift,

and your mind...

Think only about the facts
that occurred that night.

Your Honor...

Mr. Mason isn't
questioning this witness;

he is hypnotizing her.

Your Honor,

I'm not really doing that.

We all know the psychology
of witness recollection.

How the testimony of a courtroom

often obliterates
meaningful facts.

I am only trying to get
at the truth, Your Honor.

This is a bit unusual,

but if Ms. Warrenfield
has no objections,

neither do I.

It's all right.

Now, once again, Susan,

I'd like you to relax.

Just listen to my voice
and relax.

Let your thoughts fade away.

Think about nothing
except that night.

Now, you feel very calm...

very relaxed.

That's it, just let go.

But keep listening to my voice.

Do you hear me, Susan?

Yes.

...want you to remember

that night, Susan.

The night Mr. Hall's
guests arrived.

Now, you are through taking
inventory in the lounge

and you're ready to go home.

You're walking to your car,

but then you stop.

Why?

I hear voices.

So... what do you do?

I turn around and-and look up
at the bell tower.

MASON:
What do you see?

I see a couple people fighting.

Who are they?

It's-it's too dark.
I can't tell.

Then what happens?

They're getting
closer to the edge.

Now, just relax.

Just tell me what you saw.

One of them is falling.

He's falling out of the tower.

MAN (screaming):
David!

It's David Hall.

- David!
- He's screaming...

I don't understand.

(sobs)

My God, he's gonna
hit the ground!

MASON:
You're all right, Susan.

You're all right.

You're just watching
and listening.

You're just observing.

MAN:
David!

I don't understand.

David Hall is falling
from the tower.

What is it you don't understand?

MAN:
David!

WARRENFIELD:
What he's yelling

as he's falling.

I can hear him,
even though I'm screaming, too.

What is he yelling?

He's yelling, "David."”

I don't...
Why is he saying his own name?

Are you all right, Susan?

Yes... I'm fine.

Thank you, Ms. Warrenfield.

That's all.

WARRENFIELD:
Thank you.

Susan... thank you.

Defense would like to recall
Mr. Andrew Lloyd to the stand.

Mr. Lloyd, would you mind
telling the court

how much David Hall paid you

for being
his personal secretary?

$100,000 a year.

That's a huge amount
for a secretary.

Yes.

Uh, - I had become
quite indispensable to David.

And I daresay that, uh,

he would've... he would've
paid me anything to...

to entice me to stay on.

You may have been indispensable,

but you weren't exactly loyal,
were you, Mr. Lloyd?

What do you mean?

I mean
the unauthorized biography

of David Hall written by you.

That was a terrible mistake.

Something for which I am sorry
even to this day.

Oh, there's no harm done,
is there?

The book was never published,

and David had you destroy
all copies, didn't he?

Yes, that's right.

Except this one.

The one you secretly left
with the publisher.

It's all right. David Hall
will never find out now.

I, um...
I'd forgotten about that.

Would you please tell the court

how your manuscript begins,
Mr. Lloyd?

Just the first sentence.

I can't. I can't. I don't, uh...

I don't... I don't remember it.

Every writer I've ever met says

the first sentence
of every book they write

is impossible to forget,

because it's the most difficult
one to write.

- Wrote that
well over a year ago.

I don't... I don't remember it.

Mmm.

David Hall...

wrote all of his novels
longhand.

Is that correct?

Yes. And I'd-I'd type them,
of course,

before sending them
to the publisher.

Mmm. From this picture,

David Hall appears
to be right-handed.

Yes, he was.

Mr. Lloyd...

I call your attention
to this handwritten manuscript

of The Resort,
written by David Hall.

From the way
the letters are slanted,

it would appear to me it was
written by someone left-handed.

Yes.

Uh, what time is it, Mr. Lloyd?

Well... it's 9:53.

You wear your watch
on your right wrist.

Yes.

You're left-handed, aren't you?

- Yes, but...

I noticed that
when I interviewed you

at David Hall's house.

I also noticed you didn't seem

to know your way
around your own desk.

Well, that's because
I was upset.

It's because
it wasn't your desk.

It was your secretary's desk.

What?

Isn't it true that you are,
in fact...

in fact, David Hall?

(gallery murmuring)

No!

Isn't it true seven years ago
you changed places

with a man named Andrew Lloyd?

That's ridiculous.

Isn't it true that you did so

in order to enjoy fame
and fortune as an author

without having
to surrender your privacy?

Absolutely not!

Isn't it true you invited
those four people

to the hotel to see which one
you could provoke to violence,

and when that person turned out
to be Jordan White,

you went about framing him
for your secretary's murder?

You are outrageous.

Isn't it true
that it was Andrew Lloyd

who fell from the tower?

No!

Isn't that why Ms. Warrenfield

heard the victim
scream "David” as he fell,

because you, David Hall...

pushed Andrew Lloyd
off that tower?

No, no, no!

I defy you to prove any of this.

Isn't it a fact...

we could take a sample
of your handwriting,

have it compared
to that manuscript?

Isn't it a fact that that
comparison would prove...

would prove...

that you are David Hall?

(sighs)

Yes, that's true.

(gallery murmuring)

(gavel banging)

Now, you... transferred

all your assets
to Andrew Lloyd,

the man you pretended to be
for seven years,

then you killed him.

Too bad you didn't support
the hypothesis

that David Hall
committed suicide.

You might never have been
found out.

I wanted the world...

to remember David Hall...

not... not as some
suicidal neurotic,

but as a man who,
as-as-as hero-heroes,

as heroes often do,

he met a sad,

sudden and tragic death.

RESTON:
Your Honor, the People move

that the charges against
Jordan White be dismissed.

Very well.

All charges against Mr. White
are hereby dropped.

Case dismissed.

Please take Mr. Hall
into custody.

(gallery murmuring)

Well, Perry...

Jordan, I may have presumed
too much,

but I made a call last night.

There's someone here to see you.

Carol.

This case had all the earmarks
of a very bad dream.

(chuckles)

You'll never know, counselor.

Someday I may tell you
the whole story.

Well, um, good-bye
and thank you, all of you.

No. Thank you.

It was you, Susan.

You were a great help.

Perry? (clears throat)

Thank you.

(Della chuckles)

If you ever get tired
of this clean mountain air,

you come down to L.A.
and see me.

Al right.

I might just
take you up on that.

Good.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

You think she'll be all right?

DELLA:
Paul, there are no such things

as ghosts-- I guarantee it.

Oh, I don't know, Della.

Oh, Perry.

- No.
- Why do you say that?

When I passed the Warrenfield
picture this morning,

I heard something.

You're kidding.

No.

I stopped, I stared...

I swear I heard his voice.

Well, what did he say?

He said, "Tell Paul Drake

to keep the hell away
from my granddaughter.”

(laughs)

Perry?

Della?

Hey!

(theme song playing)