All language subtitles for 07 The Case Of The Scandalous Scoundrel (1987)

(theme music playing)

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

(horn honks)

MAN:
Yes.

Yeah, I understand.

Yes, I understand. I understand.

Mr. Wade, I got a guy here says
he was kidnapped by Martians.

Said they took him home with 'em

and they all went swimming
in the canal.

Says he's got pictures.

Hmm. If that's the best
we can do.

Hold. Uh, Mr. Wade?
Mr. Wade, um...

there's still the Reverend
Stafford's ex-chauffeur.

Now, he swears that Stafford
made three attempts

on his wife's life,
but he won't budge on his price.

Pay it, Frank.

You're the managing editor,
not the accountant.

It's only money.

- You know, paper clips.
- Paper clips.

Oh, Michelle.

How you doing?

Can I see you alone?

That's an invitation
I'll always accept.

Look, I'm a little nervous
about saying this,

but I'd like to beg off
the judge's story.

Michelle, we went all through
this last week. -And I agreed.

I know.

But the more of these I do,
the queasier I feel.

Nobody said it was... pretty.

A lot of what we do
isn't pretty.

Irangate wasn't pretty.

- Watergate wasn't pretty.
- For God's sake, Harlan,

where's the comparison?

What we're doing is sleaze.

The hell it is.

We provide a service,

a kind of journalism that the
people can't get anywhere else:

kicking hell out of
Commie-loving politicians,

drugged-out actresses,

-doctors who suppress cancer
cures. It's... -"It's our duty

under the First Amendment.” I've
heard that song before, Harlan.

It's just not playing right
for me.

Michelle...

...you're just tired,
burned-out.

Sort of goes with being
a good reporter.

I need...
(sighs)

your help, sweetheart.

Those others out there?

Glorified hacks.

If I take you off the judge's
story, I may as well forget it.

I can't afford that.

The paper can't afford it.

Harlan, when I came here,
you promised...

I know what I promised.

And I'll stand by it.

Then why haven't you answered
my memos?

I've sent you at least five
on that chain of nursing homes.

You get me what I want,
and I'll give you what you want.

You have my word, Michelle.

I wish I could believe that.

Believe it.

Hit a home run, baby.
I'm counting on you.

And you know I know
how to be grateful.

Say, a week in Bermuda?

Or Hawaii? Cozumel?

Anywhere you want to go. On me.

First class,
with everything thrown in.

Wonderful man.

I'm having a medal struck
in his honor.

Save one for me.

I don't believe it. Paul.

Surprised, huh?

Tell me you're thrilled, too.

What on earth
are you doing here?

DRAKE: I'm working on a case
with Perry,

which gives us plenty of time
to get reacquainted.

Want to buy me some lunch?

Paul, I'm up to here
with assignments.

Honestly, I'm really jammed.

- Oh, sorry. This is Rick Conner,
my partner in crime. -Rick.

Hi.

DRAKE:
Well, um,

you know, he looks
pretty competent.

Why don't you let him do
a single today, huh?

I'd love to, Paul, but I'm
already late for an appointment.

Okay. Well, you leave me no
choice. I'm gonna come with you.

I want you to wait right here.
I'll be right back.

Where is he going?

Mr. Wade.

Who are you?

You remember me, Paul Drake.

That's for you.

What is this?

It's a summons,
a complaint for libel,

compliments of Senator Langley.

Have a nice day.

Hey, you can't come...

Oh. I was afraid we laid it on
a little thick

-for that Langley feature.
-(snorts)

Wouldn't you know, the lawyer
on this is Perry Mason.

Mason?

Frank, I want you to drop
everything you're doing.

Dig up what you can on Mason.

If you can't find anything,
invent it.

The usual.

(shutter clicking)

So, you consider yourself
a good friend of Judge McGill,

isn't that right?

Uh, well, yes.

Uh, he said hello to me
every morning. Uh...

And knowing his lovely wife,
you must've been shocked

when he and that pretty,
long-legged secretary of his

came sneaking in here
that night.

Very shocked.

Uh, yes, very shocked.

And you never did see them
come out, did you?

She stayed here all night?

I didn't see them come out.

No. E-Excuse me.

Judge Sanford McGill,

in line for the state
supreme court vacancy,

has been having
a secret love affair

with his pretty,
long-legged secretary,

a close friend confided.

"I was very shocked,”
the friend explained,

"when the two lovebirds slipped
into a classy midtown hotel

and didn't come out
until morning."”

(sighs)

Who am I kidding?

Not me.

How about you?

I wish I could.

(tape clatters)

Why did you have
to show up anyway?

- Did I advertise
for a conscience? -(chuckles)

Does this mean
that I have to pay for lunch?

There you are.

(Della sighs)

You're not dressed.

The party starts at 2:00.

We're not going.

Not going? You don't feel well.

Oh, I'm feeling fine.

You know where the Society
for Homeless Children

is holding the event this year?

Yes, at the, uh...
the Millburn estate.

- According to this,
Mm-hmm.

It was recently purchased
by Harlan Wade.

Now you know
why we're not going.

You're on the society's
advisory board.

We are not going.

But...
(sighs)

not even for the children?

WADE:
If I can't get circulation up,

the only thing
we'll be publishing around here

is our obituary.

Oh. Nice of you folks
to join us.

Sorry we're late, Harlan.

(sighs)
What'd you get from the doorman?

Nothing. He suddenly had
an attack of conscience.

Catches up to all of us
sooner or later.

That's too bad.

But we'll get it.

Just up the ante.

Now, you were supposed to see
him at 10:00. It's 1:30 now.

Where have you been
all this time?

Working on something else.

The chain of nursing homes.

Handled right, the story
could get us a Pulitzer.

If you saw what Rick and I did
this morning, old people

abandoned and dying,
you'd know what I mean.

Nursing homes, old people.

Okay, kid.

Go win us a Pulitzer.

Thanks, Harlan.

You won't regret it.

You'll see.

Conner.

I was wrong about her, Frank.

Very wrong.

I want her out of here. Today.

- (soft jazz playing)
- (indistinct chatter)

Dr. and Mrs. Clayman,

still the most attractive couple
in town.

Glad you could come.

General, you're not
leaving already?

My wife isn't feeling well.

I thought we would
go home early.

Oh, I am sorry.

Uh, I know this is
a terrible imposition, sir,

but I wonder if you could pose
for just one picture with me.

It isn't too often
that I get the opportunity to...

be photographed
with a great war hero.

Well, another time.

Oh, please, General,
there may not be another time.

Uh, I'd really appreciate it.

Well, to be quite frank,
Mr. Wade, I'd rather

be photographed with a snake.

Excuse me.

What's with him?

You.

You see,
the general came by here

to help a good cause, all right?

So, why don't you just forget
who he is.

And while you're at it,

call off that pack of wolves
that call themselves reporters

because we don't need
your kind of stories.

Understand, Harlan?

(chuckles)

Great party.

You would pull your gun
at your own party?

Ortega, what kind of way is that
for a banker to behave?

I was merely getting
your attention

since you don't answer
phone calls.

Maybe I knew
why you were calling.

I am sure you do.

It's about the smear you're
planning, with me as the target.

What smear?

I'm in the business of news,
human interest.

Then you should be more careful
of your sources.

Am I clear?

Maybe we can talk later,
when things get quiet.

In the meantime...
enjoy yourself.

I intend to.

Next time, let's try
to get a few friends here.

Who?

No, thank you.

DELLA:
Oh, thank you.

You don't care for any?

I'm here because I promised.

I said nothing
about having a good time.

Mason, I'm Harlan Wade.

- Is that so?
- We've never met,

but I recognize you
from your pictures.

You must be Ms. Street.

Thank you. Yes.

How do you do?

Would you excuse us a minute
for a little business talk?

Mr. Wade, I'm not going
to discuss the lawsuit.

I think you'll recall dates

and places--
you and Miss Street.

Very inventive.

I can get bellmen,
maids, hotel staff,

others who will swear
to occasions when you

and Miss Street stayed together
at the same hotel,

how shocked they were
by your behavior.

To buy all that, you must have
a very large editorial budget.

- Largest in the world.
- Mr. Wade,

I'd save your money
for your attorney's fees.

Young lady?

I think we've enjoyed this
extraordinary event long enough.

Mr. Wade. Mm.

The doorman will get it.

Paul, I told you,
I've got at least three hours

at the word processor
to get this story out.

Wade is never
gonna print your story.

Yes, he will.
He has to.

The only way I'm ever
gonna get off the Informer

is to make a name for myself--
this is my shot.

Good luck.

If I make it before midnight,
is that all right?

If you make it before breakfast,
it's all right.

Any coffee left, Rick?
I've got a ton of work.

Michelle, I tried to find you,
warn you, but I didn't know...

Did Wade say where I was
supposed to pick up my check?

Look, Michelle, getting canned
isn't the end of the world.

Why don't we go out for a drink,
get you calmed down.

You know something, Rick?

For a second, you sounded
just like him. Don't.

You're a good guy and he's
a vicious, sadistic hypocrite.

Michelle, where are you going?

To show Wade
what I think of him.

He's not getting away with this!

(chuckles)

Everything okay out here?

- Yeah.
- All right, all right.

Hey, you're doing good.
I'm gonna go back in the house.

Yeah.

(crickets chirping)

(laughs softly)
Don't shoot, Harlan.

You could spoil
a lovely evening.

I used your bathroom
to freshen up.

I hope you don't mind.

What do you want?

Harlan, I need your help.

You want me to kill the story
behind your divorce, don't you?

Oh, I'd be very grateful.

You really think
I'd give up that story

for anything
you've got to offer?

Good night, Marianne.

(exhales softly)

Great security, Moretti.

Sorry, Mr. Wade.
She must have...

- She must have...
- Yeah, she must have.

Why don't you
get me a pair of trunks.

I'm gonna take a swim.

Sorry, Miss Benti,
Mr. Wade's in the pool.

Strict instructions:
no more visitors.

Tell Mr. Wade I don't give
a damn about his instructions.

(sighs)

Mr. Moretti, this is Matthews.

Yeah. Moretti.

Yeah, right.

Mr. Wade?

Michelle Benti's on her way in.

The cleanup crew should be done
with the party now.

I'm gonna go secure the place.

You have three minutes
to say anything you want to.

After that, I expect to hear:

"Good night,
thanks for the memories,

and I'll see you around.”

Oh, no, it's not that easy.

You lied to me.

WADE:
You're young, Michelle,

really naive.

You knew what my paper was like
when you came to work here.

MICHELLE:
I got to hand it to you, Wade,

you did one
smooth con job on me.

WADE:
It wasn't all con.

I liked you, kid.

If you'd been
a little nicer to me,

who knows, I might have
given you anything you wanted.

Wade, you really are a sleaze.

I'm only sorry
I didn't see it sooner.

Careful, baby.

You could fall on your face.

(horn honking repeatedly)

♪♪

(siren wailing)

(siren continues wailing)

(siren stops)

(indistinct radio transmission)

-I know I was speeding.
-70 in a 55 zone.

May I see your license, please?

OFFICER: Run a check
for wants and warrants, please.

(car door closes)

Step out of the car, please.

- Why? -I'm afraid you'll have
to come with me, ma’am.

What's wrong?

There's been a murder.

You're wanted for questioning.

What's going to happen
to the lawsuit

now that Wade is dead?

Well, if the new management

agrees to print retractions,
we'll drop the suit.

Oh. Morning, Paul.

- Good morning.
- Did you get to see Michelle?

- Yes.
- How's she holding up?

She's feeling a lot better

knowing that
Perry's gonna see her.

Who do you think, uh,
might have killed Wade?

I think we could fill

a football stadium
with suspects.

Why do you think they're so
convinced that Michelle did it?

DRAKE: The party was over;
everyone had gone home.

Michelle was left alone with
him, then he was found dead.

When the police
finally caught up with her,

she was speeding away
from the scene, so...

There was one other thing.

DELLA:
What's that?

Her fingerprints
were on the murder weapon.

It must've happened
when I was leaving.

I slipped and grabbed the statue
to keep from falling.

Mr. Mason, are they sure

that's what
was used to kill him?

I've just gone over
the police report.

Wade was found
floating in his pool.

Fragments of the statue
were found in his skull.

It just doesn't make sense,

the thought of me
wanting to kill Wade.

The prosecution's
gonna make a compelling case.

Wade fired you.

You were furious, you fought,

he wouldn't relent...

you lost control,
grabbed the nearest handy object

and kept hitting him
till he was dead.

I didn't do it.

(chuckles softly)

Of course you didn't do it.

Good morning.

Ah. I should have expected
to see you here,

but it's always
something of a surprise.

- A pleasant one, I hope.
- Of course.

You, uh, may be
interested to know

that I canceled my vacation
when I heard

that you were gonna
defend Ms. Benti.

Oh, that's too bad.

- Or is it?
- Even as we speak,

I should be barreling
down the Colorado

on a rubber raft,
white water everywhere,

fast, fast, fast.

No guarantees, mind you,

but you could be barreling
out of this courtroom

fast, fast, fast.

RESTON:
Your Honor, this was not a death

resulting from reckless conduct
or even voluntary manslaughter.

The People allege
that this was a murder

of premeditation and
deliberation by this defendant.

We respectfully request
that bail be denied.

Your Honor,
I have known Michelle Benti

for almost two years,
and I can assure the court

she is a responsible young woman

with substantial ties
to the community.

She is a professional
journalist who...

Journalist?!

Your Honor...

this young woman is a procurer

of libelous
misstatements and innuendos

for a weekly tabloid
that mocks the First Amendment

while it pads
its corporate wallet...

We're all acquainted
with the Confidential informer.

I would remind

my distinguished colleague

it is my client,
not this journal,

who is the accused here.

Ms. Benti denies any involvement
with this death

and is looking forward
to her day in court.

The court is granting bail
in this case

in the amount of $200,000.

Thank you, gentlemen.

(gavel bangs)

Okay, Wade was sitting here
at the edge of the pool.

She grabbed the statue...

Someone grabbed the statue.

And when Wade turned his head,

she smashed his skull in.

MORETTI: I should have never
left him alone with her,

not the mood she was in.

Mr. Moretti,

from the time
Ms. Benti left the estate

to when you discovered the body,

how much time had elapsed?

Minutes. Three, four at the max.

Wait a minute.

If you're saying somebody else
had a chance to do it,

impossible.
There wasn't time.

Besides, nobody
could have got off the estate.

Everything was
buttoned down tight.

Nobody in, nobody out.

MASON:
You're positive?

I'm paid to be positive.

Anything else, Mr. Mason?

I understand Mr. Wade always
carried a gun wherever he went.

MORETTI:
That's right.

Did he have it with him
at the time he was murdered?

I saw him put it in the pocket
of his robe just before

he came down for his swim.

And he put the robe over there
on that chair.

Lieutenant, there's no mention
of the gun in the police report.

Well, no gun was found.

Then it is missing?

Well, what's your point,
Mr. Mason?

Well, it wasn't found on
Ms. Benti when she was arrested.

This estate is certainly
well-guarded.

I wonder how
it could have disappeared.

She must have taken it with her,

and, uh, dumped it
along the road.

Why would she take it,
Lieutenant?

The gun wasn't
the murder weapon.

How should I know?

How, indeed.

Thank you both
for your cooperation.

Well, what about letters?

Did Wade receive
any actual death threats?

Just your run-of-the-mill
hate mail.

Let's face it.

Anybody who's been the subject
of one of Wade's smear jobs

would love to see him dead.

Well, what about,
uh, like a story

that might have still been
in progress.

Kill Wade before
it's even published?

Yeah, maybe.

In an attempt to keep the story
from getting to print.

It's a lot stronger motivation
than revenge after the fact.

You know,
that makes a lot of sense.

I think it does, too.

Except most
of what Wade publishes

is just rumor, innuendo.

Well, maybe he had something

a little bit more concrete
this time.

What were some of the stories
he was working on?

All sorts of things.

I've got notes on all of 'em
at the office.

Well, uh, notes.

What about, uh, Wade's file?

(scoffs)
Wade keeps all the juicy stuff

and the evidence locked
in his safe.

You have the combination?

Uh-uh.

Hmm.

Well, let's go get your notes.

I think
I better get dressed first.

(Drake laughs)

Michelle,
let me ask you something.

If this guy was such a lowlife,

why did you end up
working for him?

Best job I could get.

Why?

This condo, car,

half a dozen credit cards
that go along with it?

Yeah, it's part of the trap.

But, you know, reporters
at the Informer

make three, four times
the going rate of other papers.

Plus, all this.

You start out working there
thinking

you'll just put aside
a little nest egg,

and then leave
to do something important.

But you get real used
to those big bucks.

Guess I don't have
to worry about that anymore.

No... not anymore.

Paul, it's not locked.

You wait here.

I mean it. Stay.

(glass clinking)

♪♪

(grunting)

(grunts)

(men grunting)

(Drake grunts)

(man groans)

(grunts)

(explosion, glass breaking)

(debris clinking)

(sighs)

(coughing)

Perry, the simplest explanation
is that there was information

that was incriminating

so it had to be extracted before
it fell into the wrong hands.

If that's true,
why take all four files?

You're sure
only four are missing?

Positive.

Wade kept them together
in a special folder.

"The hot file,” he called it.

When I checked the safe after
the break-in, it was gone.

And with it all the evidence
Wade had dug up

on General Sorenson,
Oscar Ortega

and the Doctor
and Mrs. Clayman.

There's information
on all four of them in my notes.

Della, are those four
on the guest list?

Yes.

They all seem
to have been at the party.

All right, I'll check them out.

You have breakfast yet?

Yes, I did.

And you're still here?

Paul, we need that safecracker.

Right away.

Michelle, if you're up to it,

would you help me, please?

Let's go.

Okay.

You really love
to get on his case.

(Mason laughs)

Yes, I guess I do.

Do you want me
to type up those notes?

Soon as I've checked them
through.

(knocking)

Yes?

Ms. Street, these are for you.

Where would you
like me to set 'em?

Right over there.

That's okay,
the tip's been taken care of.

Have a good day.

Oh, uh, thank you.

(laughs)

Strange.

Ever see a bellhop
that won't accept a tip?

MASON: Maybe he's
independently wealthy.

Who are they from?

(Della chuckles)

They're, uh, from the hotel.

I guess when you take
an expensive suite,

you get an expensive welcome.

(horse snorts)

Good, Drexler.

Looks good for a green horse.

(horse whinnies)

It's my day off.

I'm hungover, so if you want
another screaming session,

try primal therapy.

I won't take long.

But I'm in a little jam.

I'm deeply moved.

Jack, I need some money.

You've frozen our accounts
and...

Your next check will be on time.

Thursday a week,
just as the agreement says.

$30,000, Jack.

I need $30,000.

Temporary alimony
isn't going to cover that.

$30,000 for what?

I can't say.

You're being blackmailed,
aren't you?

How would you know that?

Unless...

you're being blackmailed,
too, aren't you?

You're getting off easy.

I'm supposed to cough up a...

Excuse me, may I help you?

MASON:
Sorry if I'm intruding, Doctor.

I'm Michelle Benti's attorney.

My name is Mason.

Well, I'm sorry for her.

She deserves a medal.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that's
all the help I can give her.

I take it you had
a problem with Harlan Wade.

Since you're here, Mr. Mason,
you already know that.

And you already know
we were both at the party

the day he was killed.

Care for a beer?

No, thank you.

I hate to rush you, Mr. Mason,

but my husband and I were going
over some important business.

So if there's something

you'd like to know,
please ask it and then go.

I understand from
the police report

you left Wade's party so quickly

nobody seems to have
seen you leave.

I left early.

I was bored to tears.

If necessary,
a friend will confirm

that I was home
tucking my son in bed

when the happy event occurred.

MASON:
Friend?

That's right.

Bobby Conwell.

Oh, yes, Bobby Conwell.

Wasn't he one of the reasons

for your pending divorce
from Dr. Clayman?

Who told you that?

MASON: Wade had reporters
researching rumors

about both of you.

Stay away from me, Mr. Mason.

Far away.

Oh, uh, Jack...

what we discussed before--

I need it today.

Or I swear it'll take

more than a court order

for you to visit your son again.

(sighs)

It's going to be one hell
of a divorce, Mason.

But she'll go down
like the Titanic.

I've got enough on her

to get custody of my son

and to leave her
scrounging for nickels.

I'm betting on a draw.

Doctor, just where
were you when...

I was here,

getting plastered

and feeling sorry for myself.

Alone?

- Of course.
- Of course.

He's not there?
You think he'd be at the park?

Thanks. I'll try him there.

Grab that. I'll take this.
We're out of here.

Well, well, look who's here.

I'm just getting my things,
Frank.

No, no. I'm glad you came by.

Look, Michelle, uh, how much
you want for your story?

Rick, uh, get up here
and get some pictures, will you?

Now, it's got to be
an exclusive, now,

'cause I don't want you talking
to anybody else.

Frank, that's the sickest thing
I've ever heard,

and I've heard a lot
around here.

Why? I mean,
somebody's gonna do the story.

It might as well be us.

Sounds like Harlan Wade's
philosophy. Come on. Let's go.

You're gonna regret this.
You're gonna regret this!

DRAKE:
Why don't you back off?

Come on, y-y...

you got a camera.
Will you use it?

Mr. Mason.

May I sit down?

You must have made quite
an impression on my secretary

to find me here.

I told her it was a matter
of life and death.

My life...

Wade's death.

I mean, it is Wade
we're talking about?

- That's right.
- And I am a suspect?

Now, why would I want
to kill my friend Wade?

I understand he had his people
working on a...

rumor about your bank being in
the money laundering business,

that its top clients
are drug dealers.

- That's a lie.
- Is it?

For a sophisticated man,
you're very gullible, Mason.

Maybe what Wade had in his safe

was proof
of your bank's dealings.

Maybe Wade was killed
to stop him from exposing you.

What the hell is this
about a safe?

It's in the late edition,
Mr. Ortega.

Somebody broke into Wade's safe

and took a number of files,
yours among them.

Why would I go to the trouble
of stealing my own file?

So that I could blackmail
myself?

That's right.

Whoever got into that safe
called me an hour ago.

He told me he had information

that could destroy me
and my bank.

He wanted $100,000 for it.

And?

I don't pay blackmail,
Mr. Mason.

For a lot less than $100,000,
I can hire a specialist

to deal with the situation
more permanently.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I like to be at the bank
before it closes.

Stunning maneuver,
Pasquale, very first-rate.

But... checkmate, I'm afraid.

(chuckles) My dear, Michelle,
you're free again.

Only on bail.

I want you to meet
a good friend.

- Paul Drake, Cyril Enright.
- How do you do?

- How do you do?
- Cyril's been very helpful

to some of the reporters
on the paper.

I'm a marvelous
character witness,

my credentials are impeccable,
my record is spotless.

And he'll testify
to anything for a price.

That's right.
What have you for me today?

I need some information.

Michelle tells me that you know

everything that goes on
in this city.

Something tells me we're gonna
talk about the underworld.

Cyril, it's important.

Last night, I had a run-in
with a safecracker.

Wide shoulders, uh,
chains on the wrist,

around the neck.

He's very good at his job.

Do you have any ideas
who it might be?

Yes, he's so boring.
He's also very dangerous.

If I were you,
I'd stay very wide of him.

Well, I need his name.

Would you believe
he's called "Animal"?

Where can we find him?

He usually frequents
the Three Aces.

Probably still does.

Thanks, Cyril. I owe you one.

Be extremely careful.

This Animal's no pussycat,
he likes to hurt people.

We've met. Thank you.

Where do you suppose
I can find a cab right now?

Meaning, "Go home
like a good little girl

because Cyril says
he's dangerous"?

(Drake laughs)

Paul, I can handle myself.

I'm sure you can.

You know what?
I think I'm gonna rent a car.

Paul, you're not gonna find
a rental car around here.

Use mine. I'll get a cab.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

All right.
It saves me some time.

I'll call you
when I have something.

Go home!

(men yelling)

Let's go, let's go,
let's go, let's go!

(machine guns firing,
explosions continue)

Impressive, General.

They're weekend soldiers.

They're learning fast.

They'll be very effective.

In whose army?

It's hard to say.

But they'll probably wind up
in Central America.

Have you been doing this long?

No. Both Captain Rivers
and myself are retired.

We're volunteers, that's all.

It fills in some long hours
and some very long days.

You don't sound like a man
who's ready for retirement.

Far from it.

Mr. Mason, what brings you here?

Some files concerning you
were stolen

from Harlan Wade's safe
last night.

You're certainly not suggesting
that I took them?

I'm suggesting
that you are being blackmailed.

Don't dance with me, Mr. Mason.

I don't like cute politicians
and clever lawyers.

You're implying
that I had something

to do with Wade's death.
Well, I didn't.

I went directly home
from that party,

saw my wife to bed and fell
asleep in the den watching TV.

Would you be able to prove that?

Unfortunately, no.
I didn't think I'd have to have

an alibi for a murder
I had no motive to commit.

I can think of one.

Isn't it true you were about
to be appointed

to the board of directors
of the Southwing Corporation?

How'd you find out about that?

What's important is
Wade found out about it.

And a scandal involving you

that went all the way back
to Vietnam.

Sir, do we have
to listen to this?

No.

Mr. Mason has just
overstayed his welcome.

I enjoyed every minute of it.

♪♪

Are you all right, Mason?

- You all right?
- Yeah.

We're all right.

What the devil's
the matter with you?!

This is a restricted area!

Didn't you see the warning sign
back there?!

If there had been a sign,
General,

my driver and I surely would
have seen it.

You and I both know that.

See what the hell
happened to it!

Yes, sir.

Well, thank you for the ride.

I enjoyed every minute of it.

Well, what do you think?

(chuckles)
Just great, Della.

Especially this one
on Dr. Clayman.

Where'd you get it?

A Jerry Stringer
from Kansas City.

- Ah.
- He came up with it.

- Would you like it
poured now, or... -Oh.

Shall we let it chill
for a few minutes more?

I'm so sorry.
Uh, we didn't order that.

It must be some mistake.

It was ordered for you,
Miss Street.

By... By whom?

I wasn't given a name.

Well, uh,
just leave it right there

and come back in a little bit,
would you, please?

Maybe he's... married.

Or maybe he's, uh, just shy.

(chuckles)
It must be some mistake.

Well...

work on it later.

Right now, I need you
to check on the caterer,

all the temporary help
at Wade's party.

I want their precise schedules:

what they did,
when they left and...

Unless you've made some plans
I know nothing about.

Never.

Never?

Hardly ever.

Hey, Mike, where's my drink?

Hey.

On me.

Get lost.

Now, that'd cost you money...

(clears throat)
and mess me up.

See, uh, I got a job.

And I was talking
to your friends,

and they were telling me
that you're the best.

I ain't got no friends.

Now, come on, Animal.
I mean, uh, Mr. Animal.

You mind if I call you that?

Now, we are talking
about big money here.

Not the kind of money
you made last night.

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

Well, come on, now.

He laid the whole thing out
for me.

Said you pulled it off
nice and clean.

That's why I got to have you
working for me. I got to.

Laid what out?

Come on, Mr. Animal,
you got a short memory.

(laughs)

You know what I think?

I think you're fishing.

I think I know you.

Maybe you ought to get your face
out of mine

before I break yours.

(clears throat)

Okay.

It's your loss.

What are you doing here?

You didn't really think
I'd go home, did you?

Here, I brought you some coffee.

Black with sugar, right?

Yes, I did think you'd go home,

and no, I don't like sugar
in my coffee.

I'm surprised you forgot.

Actually, I just guessed.

Where is he?

Right there.

Well, Doctor...
you're a fine artist.

Thank you.

What's on your mind, Mason?

You told me...

you were on your ranch

at the time Wade was murdered.

That's right.

Your answering service
called you there

three times during that evening.

One of them was an emergency.

You never picked up.

Maybe I was in the shower
or asleep.

(Mason chuckles)

You can do better than that,
Doctor.

All right.

I was at a singles bar,

trying to find a girl, any girl.

I was lonely, drunk...

but I went back
to the ranch alone.

Why are you picking
on me, Mason?

Do you really think
I killed Wade

just to keep my divorce
out of his scandal sheet?

No.

But you did have something
much more damaging to hide.

What are you talking about?

A young doctor...

much older and very rich wife

suddenly and mysteriously dies.

Self-administered
overdose of insulin.

Kansas City, 1967.

You were almost indicted.

Finally, the district attorney
dropped the whole thing.

Insufficient evidence.

You inherited $2 million,

moved here.

If Wade printed the Kansas story

along with your present divorce,

you would've been ruined.

I didn't kill him, Mason.

No one that I know of

has said that you did,
Dr. Clayman.

No one.

♪♪

You stay here.

♪♪

(tires squealing)

You okay?

(Drake groans)

Oh... God, I blew it.

No, you didn't.

You know who lives
in this building?

My good buddy and photographer,
Rick Conner.

You like it?

I love it.

Let's go pay him a visit.

(elevator bell dings)

I always wondered how
Rick could afford this place.

Maybe he couldn't.

That's why he's moonlighting.

He hired the Animal?

He's our blackmailer?

This is his place.

Wait a minute.

MICHELLE: Looks like
somebody beat us here.

(grunts)

(Michelle gasps)

Did you see who it was?

This has not been a good day.

(loud rock music plays)

♪ Ooh, she's cool ♪

♪ Walking down the alley
on her way to school ♪

♪ All the guys I know... ♪

MICHELLE:
Paul, relax, he'll show.

Before or after I'm deaf?

If he's alive, he'll be here.

This is his second home.

Another drink?

I don't think so.

You know, I never
really did thank you

for getting Perry Mason
to take my case.

There's no time
like the present.

Get out of here, Doug!
I mean it!

One of your former associates?

Now I know what if feels like
to be fair game.

Oh, no.

♪ She wants the same ♪

♪ She's fair game,
too wild to tame ♪

That look familiar?

♪ I said come on,
let's have some fun ♪

DRAKE:
Your partner's here.

Come on.

♪ I give personal biology ♪

♪ Satisfaction guaranteed ♪

- ♪ To the rich ♪
- ♪ Rich ♪

- ♪ Young ♪
- ♪ Young ♪

♪ Pretty ♪

- ♪ Rich ♪
- ♪ Rich ♪

- ♪ Young ♪
- ♪ Young ♪

♪ Pretty ♪

♪ Oh, she's rich... ♪

- DRAKE: Excuse me.
- Beat it.

- ♪ Young ♪
- ♪ Young ♪

♪ Pretty ♪

Oh, watch it,
watch it, watch it!

All right. Excuse me.

Whoa, hey! Whoa!

Back off, easy.

All right? Let's go.

♪♪

(thuds, grunting)

Go get help, go on.

(grunts)

(horn blaring)

Hey!

Knock it off!

(groaning)

(gunshot)

♪ All at once ♪

♪ She hit me
like a tidal wave ♪

♪ She knows... ♪

Call an ambulance!

How is he?

RESTON: Lieutenant Donahue...
the medical examiner's report.

Lieutenant, the defense
has been kind enough

to stipulate to the admission
of the medical examiner's report

on the autopsy
and cause of death of Mr. Wade.

Did you assist the examiner

in the preparation
of this report?

Yes, I did.

Referring to the report

which you're
holding in your hand,

which is marked
People's Exhibit H,

what was the cause of death?

The, uh, victim died of
a massive cerebral hemorrhage

resulting from one
or more blows,

uh, by a blunt object

to the base of the skull,
approximately here.

This piece of carved marble

is marked People's Exhibit A.

Do you recognize it?

Yes, I do.

RESTON: What is it
and where was it found?

DONAHUE:
Well, that portion of the statue

was found at
the bottom of the pool,

underneath the victim.

And, uh, those portions

were found on the deck nearby.

Could this have been
the murder weapon?

DONAHUE:
Yes, the, um...

fragments from the statue

were found in the wound
on the, uh, victim's head.

And, of course, the, uh,
portions that you see there

were found, uh, close by
the decedent's body.

Now, the statue is weighty,

but it's not... terribly heavy.

Tell me, could a woman
lift it, do you think?

MASON:
Objection.

No foundation,
improper opinion.

JUDGE:
Sustained.

Uh, Lieutenant,
one last question.

Fingerprints were found

on the smooth portion
of the statue.

Were those identified?

Yes.

They matched those
of the defendant.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

No further questions.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason?

Uh, Lieutenant Donahue...

Lieutenant Donahue,

the medical examiner's report

also indicates the presence

of several other deep bruises

to the back of Mr. Wade's neck.

Is that correct?

Yes, it is.

MASON:
So it's possible

that the killer

inflicted additional blows
to Mr. Wade's head,

either before or after

the one that caused his death.

- DONAHUE: Well, I suppose...
- Objection.

Calls for conclusion
on the part of the witness.

Withdraw the question.

Lieutenant...

the defense has learned

that Mr. Wade carried a gun

with him at all times.

Does this agree
with your findings?

Yes, we have, uh, statements
to that effect, mm-hmm.

MASON: Isn't it true Mr. Wade
had the gun with him

in his robe pocket
when he went down to the pool?

According to Mr. Moretti.

It, um...
it's all in my report there.

Now, when I first
entered this case,

I asked you
if you'd found that gun.

Now I'll ask you once again.

Have you found it?

Uh, no, sir.

The... since the gun had
no bearing on the crime

one way or the other,

and assuming that the defendant
took it with her

and disposed of it...

That's all. That's all.

RESTON: Mr. Moretti,
is the woman you admitted

to the estate that night
present in the court?

Yes, she is.

Would you point her out, please?

That's her, right there.

Indicating the defendant.

Now, Mr. Moretti,

were you with Mr. Wade

when the defendant
arrived at the house?

Yes, I was.

Was that before
or after the party had ended?

It was a long time after
the party ended.

RESTON:
Was Ms. Benti expected?

MORETTI (chuckles):
Are you kidding?

Mr. Wade had just fired her
that afternoon.

So the three of you
were alone by the pool.

And then you left...

To secure the estate.

RESTON:
Leaving the defendant alone

with her former employer,

the man who had fired her
that very afternoon.

Objection.

Argumentative.

Sustained.

Strike Mr. Reston's statement.

Uh, Mr. Moretti...

how did Ms. Benti appear to you?

How did she seem?

Uh, angry?
Uh... upset?

Objection!

Improper opinion.

All right,
I will withdraw the question.

Uh, Mr. Moretti,
only a few more, uh, questions,

but they are vital ones.

Did you see Ms. Benti leave
the estate that night?

Yes, I did.

How did she leave?

She left very fast.

She peeled rubber going down
the driveway.

RESTON:
When was that?

It was when I was walking back
to the pool.

Right before I found Mr. Wade
floating in the pool.

How much time would you say
actually elapsed

from the time you saw Ms. Benti
leave the estate

until the time you discovered
Mr. Wade's body?

Two, three minutes max.

Two to three minutes.

Mr. Moretti, could anyone else
have left the estate

after Ms. Benti drove off?

Absolutely not.

Not unless they could fly.

I secured the gates personally
after she left.

So let me tell you
something, pal.

That beating you took last night
is nothing compared

-to what's coming up for you.
- Oh, come on, come on.

Look, I wasn't blackmailing
anybody, all right?

Oh, give me a break!

We're gonna be hanging coats
off your nose in a minute!

I'm trying to help you!

You know, you're not the world's
most popular guy these days,

you know that?

It's up to you.

Okay, okay.

I was in hock up to my neck.

When I found out about
the stories we were doing,

I saw a chance to bail out.

So when Wade got killed,
I hired the Animal.

I got my hands on the files.

All it took was a couple
of phone calls...

Where are the files, Conner?

Make 'em public knowledge,
and you're home free.

From the cops, too?

So, yeah, you give 'em
Mr. Animal,

and you make a deal. Come on.

The files are in my locker...

the Spartan Athletic Club.

These guys that made your face
so pretty last night,

you recognized them.

Who sent them?

Sure, I took pleasure
in having it done.

The only thing I regret
is that my people screwed up.

I wanted the file on me,
the one the blackmailer had.

All I bought was trouble.

Lately I seem to be paying
too much for too little.

DRAKE:
Meaning what?

Wade owed a lot of money.

He had thousands in promissory
notes floating around town.

I bought them all up
at a premium.

So, if he printed any scandal
about you,

you could've throw him
right into bankruptcy.

You got it.

He and I made a deal
at his party:

his silence for his solvency.

You see, Mason,
all you can do is nail me

for turning a two-bit
blackmailer inside out.

But as for murdering Wade...

why would I want to do that?

I had him in my pocket.

Of course,
you can prove all that?

Photocopies of Wade's
promissory notes.

The originals are in my safe.

You want to save that girl,
Mason...

you're gonna have
to find another patsy.

What's up?

Oh. Coffee?

No, thanks.
I had it in the shower.

Sorry about that.

What happened?
You find Wade's missing gun?

I'd like you to find
a Lieutenant Colonel

Stanton Macaulay, retired,
as soon as you can.

He lives somewhere in this area.

How does he fit in?

He served with General Sorenson
in Vietnam.

He was one of the junior
officers who investigated

the general on some
rather serious charges.

Find out if Macauley thinks
any of it's true.

It's all here.

(knocking)

I'll get it.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I thought you went
to get some rest.

I was going to,
until I saw this.

This hits the newsstands
tomorrow morning.

(Mason chuckles)

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa.

I don't remember kissing you.

MICHELLE: Welcome to
Harlan Wade's photo retouch lab.

You might also notice
that my neckline has dropped

about two or three sexy inches.

Wait till my mother sees this.

Don't tell me your mother reads
the Confidential Informer.

Are you kidding me?

She wouldn't miss it.

You want to get some dinner?

This doesn't bother you?

Not if it doesn't bother
Paul's mother.

(Della laughs)

Come on.
Let's make some more headlines.

(knocking)

Ms. Street?

Right through there.

Excuse me.
Um, this just arrived for you.

For me?

Oh, that-that won't be
necessary.

The tip's been taken care of.
Thanks.

Well, open it.

Perfume?

$400 worth.

Sounds serious.

I just don't understand
what's going on.

You know the flowers
that were sent the other day?

They weren't from the hotel.

And-and then the...
the champagne, and then this.

Who's sending these to me?

What does the card say?

(clears throat)

"From an admirer.”

Well...

you've done it again.

MASON:
Mr. Moretti,

yesterday you testified
that on the night of the murder,

nobody could have left
the estate after Ms. Benti did.

In fact,
she was the last one out.

Is that still your testimony?

Yes, it is.

But you're not positive,
are you?

I believe I told you
once before, Mr. Mason,

I'm paid to be positive.

MASON:
Yes, you did.

But you told the police
you saw Mrs. Clayman

in Mr. Wade's house long after
the other guests had gone home.

MORETTI:
She was there, all right.

I saw her come running out
of his bedroom

just before he went and took
his final swim.

MASON: You didn't see her
leave the estate, did you?

MORETTI:
No.

Now, would you look at that...

young blonde lady

seated in the second row?

Ms. Henderson, please stand.

You recognize her, do you not?

Yeah, I know her.

Wasn't she one of the cocktail
waitresses employed

by the catering service
at the party?

Yeah, I believe she was.

And she left with the catering
van after Ms. Benti did?

No.

Well, maybe.

Maybe-maybe she did.

Mr. Moretti,
you testified earlier

that from the time
Ms. Benti left

to the time
you discovered the body,

only two to three minutes
had elapsed.

Yeah, that's pretty close
to the time.

But you're paid to be positive.

Isn't it true you delayed the...

catering van's departure
at least eight to ten minutes

while you tried to, uh,

hustle Ms. Henderson's
telephone number from her?

Eight to ten minutes?

Excuse me, but it's never
taken me eight to ten minutes

to get any girl's phone number.

Eight to ten minutes,
Mr. Moretti.

The gate guard, the van driver

and Ms. Henderson
will all testify.

Maybe, well... it might have
been a little longer.

It was a little longer.

Uh, thank you, Ms. Henderson.

Mr. Moretti, if I now understand
your testimony correctly,

it is entirely possible
that someone

hiding in the house

could have gone down
to the pool,

waited for Ms. Benti
to leave, killed Mr. Wade,

and then fled the estate.

Objection, Your Honor--
calls for speculation, calls...

I have no further questions,
Your Honor.

Yeah, I drive that old van.

Logan Caterers use me a lot.

How many people
did you drive out

to the Wade party, Mr. Forbes?

Uh, eight, but I didn't know
any of them, though.

MASON:
You're sure it was eight?

FORBES:
Now, there's one thing I can do

and I can do good:

I can drive and I can count.

And when I said
that there was eight people

penciled in on that... that, uh,

whatchamacallit,
that roster thing,

that's precisely how many
there was,

and that is precisely
how many I took.

When you left
the Wade estate, Mr. Forbes,

after the party was over,
was your van full?

FORBES: Ain't had an empty seat
in the house. (laughs)

MASON: How many passengers
does your van carry?

Carry? Let's see now.

Let me figure this out.

It... it's got nine seats
plus mine.

So...

nine.

In other words, Mr. Forbes,
you brought eight people out

to the party,
but took nine back to town?

(laughing):
Yeah.

That's right.
You-you pretty good.

Now, you're not trying to say

that I helped
no murderer escape?

No, Mr. Forbes,
it's just simple arithmetic.

I've no further questions.

JUDGE:
Mr. Reston?

Nothing, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
You may step down.

Oh.

MASON:
Defense calls

Marianne Clayman to the stand.

Mrs. Clayman, you've heard
testimony to the effect...

What I've heard
is beneath contempt.

May I finish my question?

I'll finish it for you.

Yes, I stayed behind
and waited for Wade

after the party was over.

And yes, I was in his bedroom
with him just before

Mr. Moretti saw me leave.

But no, I did not kill him.

Thank you.

Mrs. Clayman,

you will please restrain
yourself from doing

anything more than answering
counsel's questions.

Is that understood?

Your Honor,
what Mr. Mason is about to do

is to smear me with innuendoes

about why I was in
Mr. Wade's bedroom,

my past relationship
with him...

You are not to anticipate
counsel's questions

nor speculate on what
he may be going to do.

You will simply

wait for counsel's question
and respond.

Is that clear?

Yes, perfectly.

JUDGE:
Thank you.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Clayman...

weren't you waiting
in Mr. Wade's bedroom

in order to persuade him
not to publish a story

about your impending divorce?

I guess so.

In fact, you didn't

want him to publish anything

in any way that touched
on the divorce,

isn't that true?

(sighs)
Oh, what's the use?

No, I didn't want him to go
within a million miles of it.

How did you plan to persuade him

not to publish that story?

I offered to do...

whatever he wanted,

if he'd keep it out
of his lousy paper.

(gallery murmuring)

And... did you?

Objection, Your Honor.

This is no relevancy here.

Mr. Mason is harassing
the witness.

Your Honor,
I am attempting to prove

that my client
wasn't the only one

with the opportunity
and the motive to kill.

Sustained.

I'll not allow the question.

MARIANNE:
No.

It seemed he preferred
to take a cold swim.

JUDGE:
Mrs. Clayman, you are not

to answer questions to which

I have already
sustained objections.

The answer will be stricken.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

You were married

before your marriage
to Dr. Clayman, were you not?

That was a long time ago.

I was just a kid.

Back in Texas, wasn't it?

Yes.

Isn't it true
you never divorced?

And you knew

you weren't divorced
when you married Dr. Clayman?

No!

Mrs. Clayman, isn't it true

that Harlan Wade
discovered all of this

and threatened
to publish his discoveries,

thus making your marriage
to Dr. Clayman a nullity,

depriving you of support
and community property?

Mrs. Clayman.

Look, I knew
that Wade had found out

and that if he
published the story,

I'd be finished, ruined.

But I didn't kill him.

MASON:
Didn't you?

Mr. Moretti testified

that he did not see you
actually leave the estate.

No one else did, either.

Objection, Your Honor.

Mrs. Clayman is not
on trial here.

Mr. Mason is argumentative...

MASON: Your Honor,
I'm merely attempting

to establish that my client

might not have been
the last person to leave.

That, in fact...

...Mrs. Clayman could have been

the ninth person in the van.

I'm sustaining, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
Mrs. Clayman,

you're acquainted with
Miss Hilary Scott?

Yes, she babysits my children.

Isn't it true you had to pay
Miss Scott overtime

because it was nearly midnight

when you returned
from the party?

Where were you all that time?

(gallery exclaiming)

Objection! No relevancy.

Mr. Mason is harassing
and humiliating this witness.

(gavel pounding)

JUDGE:
Order. Order.

Mr. Mason, I have been
tolerant up to now,

but this concludes
this line of questioning.

Yes, it does.

Thank you, Your Honor.

No further questions.

Did she do it?

What do you think?

No.

No.

Yes.

I was part of
the investigating team

that raked General Sorenson
over the coals.

Hated the whole damn business.

No finer man alive
than the general.

Then and now.

The charges were really ugly.

But they were lies,

conjured up by
the general's enemies

in MACV, Saigon regime.

They would've gone to any
lengths to destroy him.

Why so passionate, Colonel?

I mean, this was
a long time ago.

It was yesterday.

War is always yesterday.

We went through a lot.

The general and I
nearly died together.

After the hearings,
we ran into each other

up at I Corps.

Got ambushed by the NVA.

We were backed up
against a river.

Had to fight our way out
at night, hand-to-hand.

No, Drake.

War is never "a long time ago.”

Colonel... in the military,

isn't hand-to-hand combat
standard training?

Yes, of course.

Was there anyone in your unit

that was particularly
accomplished

in that style of fighting?

One last question, Mr. Peterson.

Even though Mr. Wade
fired Ms. Benti,

would she have had difficultly

in finding another job

at another newspaper?

Uh, no, I don't imagine so.

She had a lot of experience,
good reputation.

In other words,
you would say she was

quite capable at what she did?

Yes, I would say that.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Thank you.

Mr. Peterson...

you, uh, stated that

Michelle Benti
would have no difficulty

finding another job.

But would that job
have provided her

with credit cards,

a convertible,

a paid-for condominium?

All the other perks

that were provided
for her by Mr. Wade?

No, hardly.

Mr. Wade was
a very generous man.

Uh, particularly when
it came to Ms. Benti.

Ah.

Ah...

Thank you.

No further questions.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason?

MASON:
Your Honor, it's after 4:00.

Defense would like
to request a recess.

JUDGE: I have no problem
with granting that request.

This court stands in recess

-until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.
- Thank you.

Perry...

just what are we looking for?

Wade's missing gun.

It was in the pocket
of his robe,

right here in this chair.

Meaning anyone
could have taken it

while he was in the pool.

Della, what if Wade
wasn't killed in the pool?

What if he got out of the pool,

came over to this chair,

put on his robe,
and then...

$26,000 for the de Bresse...

$20,000 for that vase,
not a dime more.

It's third-century A.D.
at the earliest.

Hmm.

Oh, you're from that firm
representing Mr. Wade's estate?

Not exactly.

MAN:
You look like a lawyer.

My name is Jennings.
Collier Jennings.

I'm doing the appraisal
for the probating of the estate.

Uh, maybe $30,000 for that,

once we verify it's authentic.

Nice to meet you.

Mr. Jennings...

JENNINGS:
Huh?

I'd say your...

appraisal was a little high.

JENNINGS:
What is that?

A moth hole?

MASON:
That hole, Mr. Jennings,

was made by a bullet.

From Wade's missing gun.

You have a pencil?

Yeah.

There, hold it right there.

Mm-hmm.

That, I bet, is the missing gun.

DELLA:
Perry, then...

That's what it means, Della.

Wade was killed right here.

MASON:
General...

would you describe yourself
as a man of action?

I would describe myself
as a former soldier.

Who's seen combat...

a great deal of combat.

Fought in two wars.

And you've killed?

I was an Airborne Ranger,
Mr. Mason...

not a pastry chef.

MASON:
Meaning you have killed.

SORENSON:
Yes.

Have you ever killed
with your bare hands?

Objection.

Relevancy.

It would appear that Mr. Mason
is attempting to put

the entire state
on trial for murder

in the bizarre hope

of distracting this court
from the real issue:

the guilt or innocence
of Michelle Benti.

MASON:
Your Honor,

my sole purpose is to deal
with the real issue,

by proving to this court
that my client

is innocent.

JUDGE:
You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

When you did kill, General...

...how did you regard
your enemy?

As an enemy.

Is that how you felt
about Harlan Wade?

That he was an enemy
to be hated and feared?

I wouldn't say "feared.”

You didn't fear him?

Even though he was going
to publish articles

purporting to prove

that while serving in Vietnam
you participated

in the selling
of millions of dollars

of medical supplies
to the black market?

That you were a thief,
and worse...

a traitor to humanity?

Those would have been
Wade's allegations.

All those charges made
against me weren't true.

Anybody who knows me
knows that they are lies.

I didn't fear Harlan Wade
or his paper.

Wouldn't Wade's allegations--

indeed, wouldn't Wade himself--

have ruined your chance to
become executive vice president

of the Southwing Corporation,

a position paying hundreds
of thousands of dollars a year?

Anybody who would kill
for reasons like that

would have to be insane,
Mr. Mason.

There are many kinds
of insanity,

aren't there, General?

Yes, there are.

Do you recall an occasion

during the Vietnam War

when a man saved your life

by killing with his bare hands?

Isn't it true, General,

that you and a Colonel Macauley
were saved

by a young Jeep driver,
a black-belt expert,

who killed two of your attackers
with his bare hands?

Yes, that's right.

What, General,

is that heroic soldier's name?

You're talking about
my former aide-of-camp,

my friend...

Mr. James Rivers.

MASON: Captain Rivers,
you heard General Sorenson

describe you as a friend.

Isn't it true
that after you saved his life,

he recommended you
for Officers Candidate School,

and after you were commissioned,
he had you assigned to him?

Yes, sir.

And you resigned your commission
how long after he retired?

I believe it was
the very next day.

The next day?

You really are devoted.

Is that something I should
be ashamed of, Mr. Mason?

No, no.

Now, Captain Rivers,

would you please tell the court

just where you were at the moment
Harlan Wade was murdered?

I would imagine I was driving
General Sorenson

and his wife home.

No, Captain.

You came to the party
in your own car.

The gate guard noted
the license number.

And if necessary,
I can recall the general.

No, no, I'm sorry. I forgot.
It's my fault.

You see, I usually drive
the general everywhere he goes.

MASON: But this was
a special occasion, wasn't it?

You wanted to see Wade,
and you wanted to see him alone.

So you drove off, parked the car
nearby, and then walked back.

Isn't that so?

No, Mr. Mason, that is not so.

Tell me something,
Captain Rivers.

Isn't it true

that you are an expert
in unarmed defense?

I suppose I am.

And that if a man pulled a gun
on you,

and was within your reach,

it might be the last thing
he ever did in this life?

(chuckles)

I think that's, uh,
putting it a little strong.

Is it? Why?

Isn't that what really happened
when you confronted Wade

in the corridor of his house?

He was surprised,
he pulled his gun?

Confronted by an angry man
waving a gun,

you reacted as you'd been
trained to do:

you killed him with a karate
blow to the back of his neck.

Harlan Wade's body was found
in his own swimming pool.

He was...

He was dragged there,
thrown into the water

after you discovered
you'd killed him.

This statue was just
window dressing, wasn't it?

You used it on his corpse

to make it look
like the murder weapon.

Oh, you were lucky,
weren't you?

Lucky that the caterer's van
was still on the estate...

...lucky that there
was an empty seat,

lucky that you could pose as
just another temporary employee,

lucky to have gotten away
undetected.

RESTON: Your Honor,
this is pure speculation!

Your Honor,
may we have a moment?

Yes, you may.

JUDGE:
Proceed, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
Captain Rivers...

No.

Now, you are way out
of line, mister.

And you can't prove any of this.

I'm afraid I can.

Captain Rivers,
there's a bullet hole

in the wall of the corridor
where the murder took place.

At my request this morning,

the police removed a bullet
from there.

There are traces
of fabric on it.

Your Honor, all of this has

absolutely nothing
to do with me.

Police, at this moment,
are checking the jacket you wore

to the party to see if those
traces of fabric match it.

Defense is prepared
to prove that this bullet,

that this bullet...

taken from the wall,

was fired from this gun...

Harlan Wade's missing gun.

The gun that you,
Captain Rivers,

ripped from him
after he'd fired at you.

There was a struggle,
the gun was lost.

But the barrel of this gun
had your fingerprints on it.

More than that,
there is final proof

that you killed Harlan Wade:
a fresh bullet wound.

Somewhere on your body,
Captain Rivers,

there is a fresh
bullet... wound.

Thank you.

All right.

I did it. I killed him!

No!

I did it.

I didn't mean to...

but, sir, I don't regret it.

And yes, I waited for Wade
that night in his house

until after the party
'cause I was determined

to get him off
the general's back.

I was determined!

But before I could
open my mouth,

that man pulled a gun on me.

Oh, let me... let me tell you
about the wonderful Mr. Wade.

That man...

he feared and hated
the whole world,

and the world, in return,
hated him, and rightfully so.

That man was a disgrace...

to his profession...

to our country...

and most of all, to humanity.

And he set out...

to destroy...

one of our greatest patriots,

and one
of our greatest soldiers...

(voice breaks):
...and the fine...

...the finest man that I have
ever had the honor of knowing.

And in the end...

Harlan Wade destroyed himself.

Justice.

As for you, Ms. Benti,

all I could say is that if
you're gonna work for the devil,

don't be surprised
if you get burned.

I'm sorry.

(Rivers sighs)

Your Honor, the People move
for a complete dismissal

of all charges
against the defendant.

JUDGE:
Case dismissed.

(gavel bangs)

(gallery murmuring)

♪♪

(quiet, indistinct conversation)

Congratulations, counselor.

That was... remarkable.

Remarkable even for you.

FRANK: Michelle, Michelle,
I don't give a damn

what anyone else offers!
If you give us the story,

-the sky is the limit!
- DRAKE: Quiet! Quiet. Excuse us.

- Excuse us, please. -Frank,
Frank, for the last time,

-I am not interested.
- Name your price!

Well, a whole new start.

Somewhere I'm going to find
a paper--

I don't care how small--

that will let me do my job
the honest way.

Perry, I'd like to thank you.

Mr. Mason...

On your way, both of you.

Bye-bye.

DELLA:
Good-bye, dear.

Whew! At last, we're alone.

(Della chuckles)

Um, Perry,

I know who sent me the flowers,
the champagne and the perfume.

Who?

- You.
- Why would I do that?

Because Tuesday was my birthday,

you felt sorry for me

being here
so many miles from home.

I admit nothing.

(Della chuckles)

If you remember,

after I was 39, I stopped
counting my birthdays.

Really?

What about the pearls,
the amethyst ring

and all the other things?

- Well... -Does that mean
you're going to return them

when you get to be 97?

(laughs)
Absolutely not.

That's my girl.

Don't you forget it.