All language subtitles for perry.mason.305.The Case of the Startled Stallion

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

( camera clicks )

Reverend, would you help
my husband, please?

Of course,
Mrs. Brant.

There we are.

Safe and sound.

Just fold the chair up
and put it in the back seat.

Could I have your name
and address, please?

What for?
To send you your pictures.

I don't want any.

You don't? Well,
what about your husband?

He doesn't want any either.
Now get out of my way.

( starts engine )

Good luck.

( dramatic theme playing )

Exit John Brant, bridegroom.

Now, really.
Now, how did I do, huh?

At least you had sense enough
to keep your mouth shut.

Here's your money.

Thousand dollars?

Count it.

No. No, that would
be impolite.

But there is one thing,
fair lady.

Uh, how do I
get in touch?

I mean, in case
something comes up.

You don't.

That was the agreement,
remember?

Oh, I remember.
I just hate to

lose track
of you, Mrs. Brant.

You're a very
attractive woman.

Get out.

Just like that?

Just like that.

All right.

Well, anyway, uh...

good luck, as
the reverend said.

( peaceful theme playing )

( snorting )

( upbeat jazzy theme playing )

What was the time?

Sixty-one seconds.

Isn't that pretty fast,
Terry?

I can move a lot
faster than that.

Idiot. They'll see us.

( adventurous theme playing )

One minute, 59.2.

Phew.

I knew he could move,
but not that fast.

No wonder the old man's so
bent on getting that horse.

Wasn't that marvelous?
It sure was.

Two-and-a-half lengths
and still pulling ahead.

Champagne and oats
for you tonight,

Spindrift,
old boy.

Well, that was
quite a race, sis.

It sure was,
Jo Ann.

Stop jabbering,
get me off of here.

( grunts )

And take that haybag out
and shoot him.

Now, Mr. Brant.

Well, get him
out of my sight.

I wanna talk to you,
young lady.

And your brother.

That's
Spindrift.

It is.

I've been looking
for a horse like--
( whinnies )

He's-- He's just
afraid of the chair.

He'll learn better.
As I was saying:

I've been looking for

a horse like that
for 50 years.

And I hear you've entered him
in the American Classics

at Hollywood Park.
That's right, Mr. Brant.

And with the winnings,
we expect to--

I was talking
to your sister.

Jo Ann...

I want Spindrift
racing under my colors.

We're very grateful
to you, Mr. Brant,

for all you've
done for us and

for letting us
use your track.

But he's
not for sale.

Well, who's talking about
buying him?

I've got a conditional
contract of sale

on everything you inherited
from your father, remember?

Well, you're
in default.

I can take every single
piece of property...

( bangs chair )
...you've got right now.

Oh, you can't.

Oh, I can.

But I won't.

If you give me
title to Spindrift.

But he's the only way we have of
paying you the money we owe you.

That's my proposition.

Take it. Or I'll take
the colt...

along with
everything else.

I'll fight you.

Huh. Clara...

over to
the car.

I want you to
drive me into town.

Now?
Yes, now.

I'm going to put
that lawyer of mine to work.

But, John, you can't do that.

Don't you say "can't" to me.

You're my secretary,
and you're my bookkeeper...

but you're not my wife.

( dramatic theme playing )

You'd better leave
Spindrift here.

He's as good as mine
right now.

Oh, no, he isn't,
Mr. Brant.

I won't give him up
no matter what.

Huh. Well,
what's holding you?

BRANT:
Peter. Lend a
hand here.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, Della.

Never mind, Gertie,
he's just walking in.

I've been looking
all over for you.

I just stopped by
to see Paul. What's up?

There's a Jo Ann Blanchard
waiting to see you.

Says that you knew
her father.

Uh, Blanchard
Stock Farms?

Sure. Tom Blanchard.

Harness horses. Heh.

I remember her too.

Scrawny little kid
with pigtails.

Come in, Jo Ann.

Well...

I wouldn't have
recognized you.

Here, sit down.

Thank you.

( sighs )

I probably shouldn't be
bothering you, Mr. Mason,

but you knew Dad,
and...

Knew him? We were
very good friends.

Are you in some sort
of trouble?

Over a colt Dad gave me
just before he died.

That would make the colt
a 3-year-old, wouldn't it?

Most marvelous
3-year-old

you've ever seen,
Mr. Mason.

He's been under two minutes
for the mile six times.

Ha. And you call
that trouble?

No, it's a man named
John Brant.

He's trying to take
Spindrift

away from me.
Oh?

It's our finances,
Mr. Mason.

Well, what's happened?

Cars happen. Clothes, travel.

Gambling debts.

You?

Terry's the family spender.

Part-time actor, clerk,
salesman.

Almost anything since
he's gotten out of school.

But a full-time spender.

Then it's your brother
who's in debt to Mr. Brant.

Yes, but when Mr. Brant
gave us the money,

I signed the papers too.

Papers?

What papers did you sign?

He had us transfer
all the legal titles

to everything Dad left us
in his will

to a dummy for cash.

The dummy
sold to him,

and then he sold it
back to us

on a contract
of conditional sale.

Didn't you say the horse
was a gift to you

before your father's death?

Yes.

I have
any appointments?

Not until
this afternoon.

All right, I think
we can go out to the ranch

and tell Mr. Brant that
the horse is legally yours.

Let's go.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

( car approaching )

( car door
opens )

( footsteps
approach )

Clara.
Oh!

Oh, you frightened me.

Uh, I'm--
I'm sorry.

What happened
in town today?

I had some errands to run,

so I left John
at the lawyer's office.

You mean, he's still
going through with it?

Did you think
he wouldn't?

Well, in my book,
it's about

the shabbiest trick
he's ever pulled.

Peter.

You may be
John Brant's ward,

but that doesn't
give you the right

to mess around
in my desk.

Oh, I was going to
tote up

some of last month's
grain invoices.

I do the bookkeeping here.

I know. But you
weren't around, and...

And maybe
it's a good thing.

I found
some checks.

Canceled checks,
signed Clara Brant.

Can't say
as I blame you.

He's skin-flinted
me too.

Eight years of pocket money
and peanuts

for the honor of being
allowed to live here.

But even so,
I can't stand by

and let you
embezzle.
Embezzle?

( closes drawer )

Is that what you
think I'm doing?

Well, isn't it?

Does that look like
embezzlement?

The weekend
you were bringing

the horses back
from Phoenix.

Why didn't
you tell everybody?

John won't let me.

He's afraid
people will laugh.

You know how touchy
he is.

He'd kill me if he found out
I showed you this.

But it's bound
to come out.

Don't worry.
I'll see to that.

Clara, do you love him?

What's that
got to do with it?

Nothing, I guess.

In fact, it serves
him right.

Do you still want
those invoices?

If they're handy.

Here.

Be sure to bring them back
when you're through.

I will.

Oh, and, uh...

Clara...

congratulations.

Thanks.

( door closes )

( dialing phone )

( man speaking indistinctly )

Terry?

I've got to see you.
Something's come up.

No, I can't tell you
over the phone.

Yes, now.

It can't wait.

The usual place.

( jazzy music playing
over speakers )

( dice
clacking )

How can you say
it's all my fault?

That crazy business
with the checks.

That was part of
the plan.

Like the charge
accounts to show

we were living
as man and wife.

You could have waited.

If he has another attack,
he could go anytime.

Only now we give him

a little nudge...
is that it?

Oh, I hadn't figured on
anything quite like this.

You want me to do it?

No.

That would be even worse.

Uh, suppose we meet
again tomorrow.

That might be
too late.

Tonight?

Why not?

Yeah.

Why not?

No time like the present.

I'll see what
I can dream up.

Do more than dream, Terry.

Yeah.

You want me to go out first?

Mrs. Brant.

Well, hello.

Could I buy you a drink?
What are you doing here?

Look...

why don't we
sit down over there,

and I'll tell you
all about it, huh?

Oh. Come on.

What do you want?

Wasn't that Terry Blanchard
who just walked out of here?

You know, I got to know
Terry quite well

when he was trying
to break into TV.

He's a good-looking boy,
but, uh,

you know, no actor.

Are you going to
tell me what you want?

No. Now, I think
you know.

Blackmail?

Tsk. Let's just say,

recompense for the trouble
I had finding you.

But you overlooked
one little thing.

You remember that application
for a marriage license

that we filled out,
with names and addresses--?

You went back
to Las Vegas--

Yeah, and from there
I came here.

And I'm very impressed
with what I found.

Luxurious ranch,
racehorses.

Semi-invalid old man.

You're barking up
the wrong tree.

I don't own the ranch,
I'm only the bookkeeper there.

I know, but a bookkeeper
with prospects.

There's no money
in prospects.

Well, there's
gotta be some.

Oh, say, um...

10,000?

Not a chance.

Well, I must have some
nuisance value.

Five thousand?

No?

You know, I hate to be
persistent, but, you see,

I've been given
this chance to buy into

this summer stock
company

in Carmel
as actor/manager.

I'd be out of your way
for good.

That was our Las Vegas
agreement.

I know it was. But that
was before I heard about

the stock company.

Now...actually...

I think I might be able
to buy in for...

3,500.

What guarantee do I have
you'll stay away?

Now, do you
imagine that,

if I made a success
up there,

I would
jeopardize it with

any further
hanky-panky down here?

I could catch a plane
out tonight.

All right.

But just remember, you're
in this as deep as I am.

So no more funny business.

Oh. Fair lady...

you have my promise.

I'll offer you
the checks on two banks.

Oh, that's quite
all right.

Uh, the name is
Earl Mauldin.

M-A--
Yes.

I know.

Oh.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

First thing I want you to do
is meet Spindrift.

I'd like to.

He must be a remarkable
horse, to be able to--

I've been trying to reach you,
Miss Jo Ann.

He's gone.
Spindrift's gone.
Gone?

I tried to stop them,
but they just laughed at me.

Who was this?

Two fellas with
a horse trailer.

And John Brant.

Who are you to be delivering
ultimatums around here?

You can call it
what you like, sir.

Either you give
the horse back or--

Or I'm
walking out.

Well, I didn't know
that you were

that soft on the girl.

I like her.
But even if I didn't--

That's gratitude for you.

Where would you be
if I hadn't taken you in,

made you my ward?

Talking about gratitude,
I've repaid you five times over.

You think so?

Well, I've had it in mind
to give you Spindrift

and a lot of other
things someday.

So let's have
no more ultimatums, boy.

Not until I'm gone.

What I said still goes,
Mr. Brant.

You'd walk...

for that girl?

All right. Walk then.

Walk as far as you like.

And while you're walking--
Mr. Brant.

Well, who are you?

My name is Mason.

I'm Miss Blanchard's
attorney.

Get out.

But I merely wanna talk
to you about Spindrift.

What's there to talk about?
I've got him. That's it.

Oh, I'd say there was something
to talk about, Mr. Brant,

since you've stolen the horse.

What do you mean?

I've got a conditional contract
of sale on that horse.

No, sir.

On everything in
Mr. Blanchard's will.

The horse was a gift
to his daughter before he died.

Mason, I've got the horse.

That's nine points of the law.

Peter.

Show him out.

No, sir.

( dramatic theme playing )

Get out of here.

You're a lawyer.
Take me to court.

All right, Mr. Brant.

( dramatic theme playing )

WOMAN:
Terry?

I still think we should
go get Spindrift.

Oh, stop worrying.

Mason said he'd get him
in the morning, didn't he?

What if Mr. Brant
hides him?

He'd never do that.

You won't help me, then?

How many times
do I have to say no?

It's a harebrained
idea.

And furthermore, I don't
want you fooling around

Brant's ranch tonight,
is that clear?

I'm sorry, Terry.

This time something
positive has to be done.

I'll handle it.
In my own way.

Like you handle
everything else?

I'm talking about
this now.

I'll take care of it.

No, I'll take
care of it.

I can't depend on you, Terry,
and I'm not gonna take a cha--

Where are
you going?

Out.

( door closes )

Spindrift?

Spindrift.
( horse whinnies )

Oh, don't worry, boy.
We're going home.

All right.

( dramatic theme playing )

( action theme playing )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Well. This the horse?

Yes, sir.
Spindrift.

Ah, he doesn't look vicious.
He's not.

We figured the wheelchair
scared the horse, lieutenant.

Maybe bumped him
in the stall.

So he
kicked out.

You were the one who found
Mr. Brant's body?

Yes, sir. Uh, this morning
when I went to water Spindrift,

I unbolted the door and--

And found Mr. Brant
lying there.

You unbolted the door?
Yes, sir.

Were you looking for me?

TRAGG:
Mrs. Brant?

I'm Lieutenant Tragg
from Homicide.

I'd like to ask you a few
questions, if you don't mind.

But I've already
told this man

and the others
everything I know.

Now, Mrs. Brant, uh, how did
your husband get into the stall?

Did someone
push him there?

What do you mean?

Well, I understand
that he, uh--

He was completely
paralyzed.

Only his legs.

He could wheel himself around.

But he couldn't walk
or stand without help?

No.

But I don't quite see
what you're getting at.

Well, we believe
that he died

soon after midnight.

Isn't it strange
that he'd pick that time

to go and see a horse?

Not strange at all.

John often wandered around
the ranch late at night.

And that particular horse
was the answer

to a dream he'd had
for years.

Of owning a trotter capable
of winning the Hamiltonian.

That's a race.

Yes, I know.

Then you must know
how he felt.

Like a boy with a new bicycle.

He couldn't stay away.

Only the horse killed him.

I want that horse put
out of the way, Peter.

He killed John,
and he'll kill again.

I won't be responsible
for him.

I can't, Clara.

Will you take him,
lieutenant?

Destroying horses is not
exactly in my field, Mrs. Brant.

Then I'll call the vet.
He'll do it.

Have you finished
with me, lieutenant?

Yes.

Seems a pity.

Let's have another look
at that stall.

Better send that bolt
to the lab.

I don't get it,
lieutenant.

Look. Look here.

Bolt's here.

The body was here.

Now...

how could a cripple
in a wheelchair

reach over
and lock himself in?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Around midnight, huh?

( man speaking indistinctly )

And no one missed him?

I see.

All right, thank you, Charley.

The body was found
early this morning

by a Peter White,
Brant's ward.

Apparently, it had been in
the stall since midnight.

But the horse
did kill him.

Oh, there doesn't seem to be
any doubt about that.

However, there's one
interesting aspect.

Brant was secretly married
to his secretary.

He's over 70.

Della, there's been
many a bridegroom--

( phone rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Miss Blanchard is here.
She w--

( door opens )

Mr. Mason,
I know I shouldn't

break in on you
like this,

but they're gonna kill
Spindrift.

Who is?
Clara.

Or Mrs. Brant,
I should say.

I telephoned the vet.
He's ours too.

And he's going over there
at noontime,

but we don't have much--
Now, just a moment, Jo Ann.

Sit down.

Now, let's take this
a little slowly.

Mrs. Brant is going to have
the horse destroyed?

Peter White called me.

Clara thinks
that the horse--

Now, just a minute.

Della, see if I can meet with
Judge Praeger in his chambers,

and ask Paul Drake
to come down.

Now, what does
Mrs. Brant think?

That he's a maverick,
a born killer.

But he isn't.

He did kill Brant.
( door closes )

I don't believe that,
Mr. Mason.

He's the friendliest, most
wonderful horse I've ever had.

And he's as gentle as a lamb.

Last night he was just like--

You saw Spindrift last night?
What time?

I don't remember.

After midnight?

Mr. Brant was already dead,
wasn't he?

I just went over
to bring Spindrift home.

What time was this?

Just after 12.

I went into the stall and
I saw Mr. Brant lying there, and

I got terrified.
So I-- I just left.

Did you tell anyone about it?

My brother.

And what did he say?

To keep it quiet.

I suppose I'd better
tell the police now.

I'll have to know
a little more about this

before I advise you
what to do.

The thing I have to do
is save Spindrift.

Yes, I know. Della?

Judge Praeger can see you
in 15 minutes,

and Paul's on
his way down.

Good.

I'm going to try to obtain
a court order,

restraining Mrs. Brant
from disposing of the horse.

I'm also gonna get a--
( knock on door )

Excuse me.

Come in, Paul.
Hi, Perry.

Miss Blanchard,
this is Paul Drake.

How do you do,
Miss Blanchard?

Paul, do you know anything of
a man named John Brant?

Well, just what I heard
on the 9:00 news.

Don't tell me you're
defending the horse?

That's exactly
what I'm doing.

I want a complete
rundown

on everyone
on the Brant ranch,

particularly Mrs. Brant,
and why

she's so determined
to destroy

a horse of such
potential value.

That's a pretty big order.
Oh, that's not all.

I want to know what the police
are doing about Brant's death.

If Homicide
is handling it.

That one I can
answer now.

I was gonna have lunch
with Sergeant Grimes.

He called it off
because Tragg put him

and a half a dozen others
on Homicide on the case.

Then, there's a possibility
it was murder?

And I hope not, Jo Ann.

( ominous theme playing )

Clara...

what's all this about
getting rid of Spindrift?

Why shouldn't I?

But that's insane.

I realize you have to play
the brokenhearted widow,

but to kill him
to do it...

Well...

Have you any idea
what that horse is worth?

We'll have enough.

Think what it'll do
to Jo Ann.

She's raised him
from a colt.

It's too late
to think about that.

What if the police decide
to examine Spindrift?

Why shouldn't they?

Because when they find
there's no trace of blood

on his shoes or hooves,
they'll know it was murder.

( dramatic theme playing )

I don't like killing
this horse, Mrs. Brant.

I can easily get
another vet, you know.

I know.

Come on, boy.

Clara, please.
Keep out of this, Peter.

Terry, you talk
to her.

Spindrift.

Mrs. Brant.

Yes, I'm
Mrs. Brant.

I have something
for you.

What's this?

I'll save you the trouble
of reading, Mrs. Brant.

It's a court order restraining
you from disposing of Spindrift

until his rightful owner
can be determined in court.

In court? Terry, why
didn't you tell me

your sister was
going to do this?

Oh, I-I didn't know.

Well, it's your problem
now, Terry.

( speaking indistinctly )

The quicker you get
that horse

out of my sight,
Jo Ann,

the better
I'll like it.

Oh, I've missed you,
Spindrift.

I've missed you.

Miss Blanchard?
Yes?

I'm Lieutenant Tragg. I have
a warrant for your arrest.

What for?

For the murder
of John Brant.

( dramatic theme playing )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Paul, he's here now, and he'll
see you if it's convenient.

Mm, I'll tell him.

He's on his way down.

Good.

I still don't
understand it.

How could the police
even suspect that girl?

Mm.

Well, the district attorney's
set for a hearing, and

I'm afraid it's gone far beyond
the suspecting stage, Della.

Now, Spindrift makes
an excellent motive.

Mr. Burger will contend
that Jo Ann killed Brant

while trying to
take the horse,

and pushed wheelchair
and body into the stall

to make it look like
an accident.

But we and her brother
are the only ones that knew

she was over there.

Oh, don't sell
Lieutenant Tragg short.

He knows, or he wouldn't
have acted.

And I'm sure he has other--

( knock on door )

Hi, beautiful.
Hi, Paul.

Perry, I have the dope
on the Brant dame.

Complete dossier.
Let's have it.

Some of this I dug up,
some my people brought in.

Born Clara Tinsley,
Galesburg, Illinois.

Went to
high school there.

Came to Hollywood,
did modeling,

bit parts
in movies.

Then, married a retired
Idaho rancher,

one John Hammon,
age 67.

The old boy died
four years later,

apparently on
the up-and-up,

but relatives
contested the will,

and Clara had to
settle for 75 grand.

Two years later,
employed by John Brant.

Three months ago,

married Brant in Las Vegas.

Same pattern.

Yeah, but with variations.

One is, that for
the past couple of years,

she's been friendly--
extremely friendly

--with one
Terry Blanchard.

DELLA:
Uh-- Uh, Jo Ann's brother?

Mm-hm. Something else.

Ever hear of a man
named Earl Mauldin?

Name doesn't register.

Well, a pal in the Bankers
Protective Agency

gave me a rundown on
Clara's accounts in two banks.

One under the name of Clara
Hammon, the other Clara Brant.

Anyway...on the day of
Brant's death,

this Earl Mauldin cashed
checks on both accounts,

for a total take
of $3,500.

Two checks?

Mm-hm. There wasn't enough
in either account

to cover that much.

Sounds like an emergency
of some sort.

Otherwise, it seems to me,

she would've shifted the money
and just made out one check.

Do you know
who this Mauldin is?

Yeah, he's a broken-down actor.

I located the rooming house
where he'd been living,

but he checked out.

Told the landlady
he'd bought into

a summer playhouse in Carmel.

I called, and he's there.

All right.

Have your people find out
what they can about him,

but I want you to work on
that Las Vegas marriage.

Why was it kept secret?
Who were the witnesses?

Where did the Brants stay?
Everything you can dig up.

And, Paul...

you'll have to
work fast.

The preliminary hearing
starts tomorrow.
All right.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

( door opens )

Uh, doctor, as chief pathologist
for the coroner's office,

how many cases have you
examined where death was caused

by a fracture
of the skull?

A large number.

I should say considerably more
than a hundred, Mr. Burger.

Testifying then
as an expert, doctor,

you say that the decedent
in this case was not killed

by the flying hooves
of a frightened horse?

Now, that's correct.

Death resulted
from a series of blows

struck by a smooth,
circular object,

uh, such as an iron bar.

This iron bar,
possibly?

Objection,
Your Honor.

Unless that bar, which
I assume to be a jack handle,

is properly introduced
in evidence, why--

It will be, Mr. Mason.

However, I'll rephrase
the question.

Doctor, in your opinion,
could the fatal blows

have been administered
by a person

using this
as the weapon?

Yes.
Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Now, I show you this bolt,
previously identified

as having come from
the horse's stall,

and marked for the people
Exhibit C,

and I ask if you
subjected it to exhaustive

fingerprint examination
in the police crime laboratory?

Yes, sir.
What did you find?

Prints left
by two persons.

One proved to be
a Peter White.

And the others?

The defendant,
Miss Blanchard.

( man coughs )

This moulage is a cast
of a tire print we found

in the soft earth
near the stable.

Well, what did you do
after you made this moulage?

We examined a number of cars,
and finally found the tire

that made
the print.

BURGER:
Where did you find the tire?

On the left front wheel of
Miss Blanchard's station wagon.

I see. Now, did
you find anything else

when you searched
the defendant's car?

Yes.

A bloodstained
jack handle

wedged under
the front seat.

I don't know
where it

could have come from,
Mr. Mason.

Now, lieutenant...

is this the jack handle

that you found under the seat
in the defendant's car?

Yes, sir. It has
my identification mark

on it right there.
Thank you.

If it please the court,
I should like

this jack handle entered
as People's Exhibit G.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.
Very well, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, lieutenant, you testified
that there were bloodstains

on the jack handle.

How were you able to determine
that the stains were blood?

The jack handle was tested
in the laboratory.

And what were the results
of those tests?

Human blood, type O.

Were tests also run
on the decedent?

TRAGG:
Human blood, type O.

BURGER:
Mr. Blanchard, I realize
that your relationship

to the defendant
makes you reluctant

to answer
my questions,

but I must
remind you, sir,

that you've sworn here
to tell the whole truth.

Didn't your sister,
on the night in question,

ask you to go with her
to the decedent's ranch

to help her
bring back her horse?

I--

I-I don't
remember.

At one time
you did remember?

I have an affidavit here
from Mrs. Brant

stating that you told her
that your sister asked you--

Objection, Your Honor.

Mrs. Brant's alleged statement,
even if it were admissible,

is pure hearsay.

Well, I'm not trying

to get the statement
admitted, counselor.

I'm just trying to refresh
the witness' memory.

Didn't you tell
Mrs. Brant that

such a conversation
took place?

Yes.

Yes, I-- I guess--

Well, then, will
you please give us

the gist of
that conversation.

Well, my sister
did suggest

going over to
get the horse...

but I refused.

Well, what did
she say then?

Well, that's about all.

Your Honor...

it's obvious that this man
is a hostile witness.

I ask permission to
treat him in that fashion.

You may ask your leading
question, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Blanchard,
didn't your sister say

that something positive
would have to be done?

Well, she--
She--

Just answer me yes or no.
Yes.

And didn't she further say
that she'd have to do it herself

because she couldn't
count on you?

Yes, but--
That's all.

Thank you, Mr. Blanchard.

Your witness.

Mr. Blanchard, from your
prior conversation,

was it made clear to you
what your sister referred to

when she said
she couldn't count on you?

Oh, I guess she meant
I haven't been

the most...

considerate brother.

I see.

Now, Mr. Blanchard...
did you not say

you would handle
the problem yourself,

in your own way?

Yes.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Well, I wouldn't exactly
call it a quarrel,

but she defied John to take
the horse away from her.

And then later that day,
or rather that night,

did anything unusual
happen at the ranch?

Yes. Shortly
after midnight,

I heard a car's engine.

I was sure John and Peter
were both in bed,

so I went to the window.

And what did
you see?

I saw Miss Blanchard's car
leave the stable

and go down our private road
toward the gate.

Would you recognize
the driver?

Yes. It was Miss Blanchard.

I thought at first
she was just making sure

her horse was
all right,

but now I know better.

And there's no doubt at all
in your mind that it was

Miss Blanchard's car, and
that it was Miss Blanchard,

the defendant,
who was driving?

No, sir.
No doubt at all.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Mr. Mason.

( clears throat )

Mrs. Brant, how far is
your room from the stable?

Well, I don't know exactly.
Maybe 200 feet.

And after midnight, from
a distance of some 200 feet,

you could see who was
driving that car?

Yes.

MASON:
Mrs. Brant, don't you
realize it's impossible

to identify anyone in the dark
at a distance of 20 feet,

let alone 200 feet?

Yes. But I don't think
you realize something.

There was a full moon
that night.

I'll be happy to lend you
my almanac, counselor.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Now, Mrs. Brant--

Your Honor. Your Honor!

I can't keep still
any longer.

I killed John Brant.
( tapping gavel )

I killed him!

Pop, sit
down, please.

I killed him!
Now, sit down, Pop. Please, sit.

Your Honor, in view of
this unexpected development,

the prosecution moves
for a recess

until tomorrow morning.

Does the defense
object?

Uh, no, Your Honor.
Defense has no objection.

The bailiff will
take this man

into custody
for questioning.

( taps gavel )

Court is adjourned until
10:00 tomorrow morning.

( crowd murmuring )

Congratulations,
Mr. Mason.

On what, Mr. Burger?

On that piece of
razzle-dazzle--

That's the most flagrant stunt
I've seen pulled in years.

What stunt?

That phony confession.

I didn't know
you were that desperate.

I had nothing
to do with it.

I don't believe you.

Is the confession
so outlandish, Hamilton?

Couldn't Pop Abbott
have done it?

You know what
we go through downtown

before we indict, Perry.

We've got the guilty one.

( dramatic theme playing )

You sure Paul was at
the airport when he called?

Mm-hm. He said he was
going to take a cab.

Then why isn't
he here?

Perry, what about
Pop Abbott's confession?

You think he did that
to help Jo Ann?

If he was just trying
to confuse things,

I think by now Tragg
and Burger have found

a dozen holes
in his story.

( knock on door )

Come in, Paul.

I'm out of breath,
but I'm here.

And the news
isn't very good.

No?

I talked with the minister
and both witnesses.

They say the marriage
was strictly on the level,

and the descriptions
tally exactly.

The only unusual
thing was

that the Brants
refused to buy

a wedding picture
a photographer took

right outside
the chapel.

Of course, that isn't
necessarily out of line

in a secret
marriage.

What about
the license application?

Mm, took some doing,
but I got a Photostat of it.

Wait a minute.

What's that?

Photostat of
a notice of default...

with John Brant's
signature on it.

They're
just alike.

Not quite.

Look at the default notice.

The lines are frail and spidery,
as an old man would write.

Now, look at the license.

The lines are bold and heavy.

Maybe another man.

Or a woman...

who was well-acquainted
with Brant's signature.

Notice anything odd
about this, Paul?

No.

He's taking off
his gloves.

PAUL:
What's so odd
about that?

Well, look at
the ungloved hand.

Certainly isn't the hand
of an old man.

You don't think
it's Mr. Brant's?

No.

I think it's someone very adept
at the art of makeup.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

All of great Neptune's ocean
wash this blood

Clean from my hand?

No, this my hand will rather

The multitudinous seas
incarnadine,

Making the green one red.

( taps )

Hark! more knocking.

Get on your night robe,
lest occasion call us,

And show us
to be watchers.

Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

To know my deed,
'twere better not know myself.

( tapping )

Wake Duncan
with thy knocking!

I would thou couldst.

( sighs )

Well. That was
excellent, my dear.

( sighs )
Thanks.

Excellent. Listen.

Take a ten-minute
break, everybody.

Next week's show?

Yes. I think a streamlined
version of Macbeth

should be
very effective.

Uh, why don't we go
in my dressing room.

We can talk
there, huh?

Although,
I'm afraid

you're, uh...wasting

a trip from Los Angeles,
Mr. Mason.

You see, all I know
about the Brant case

is what I've read
in the papers.

Poor Clara.

You know, my heart
really bleeds for her.

That's as it should be.

Apparently, she bled
for you, Mr. Mauldin.

Uh, I don't know what

you're talking about,
Mr. Mason.

The $3,500 she gave you on
the day of John Brant's death.

Uh, why don't you
sit down?

Now, that, uh, $3,500
was simply a loan.

A loan, or a payment
for services rendered

on a certain night
in Las Vegas?

( scoffs )
In Las Vegas?

Where you took part in the
fraudulent marriage ceremony

posing as John Brant.

Well, that's
absurd. I never--

Do you, um...

recognize this license
application?

No.

The signature,
John Brant, is forged.

Well, not by me,
it wasn't.

And, uh...

this isn't
a photograph of you

coming out of
the chapel?

No.

Think carefully, Mr. Mauldin.

The truth may be
your only hope

to escape a charge
of accessory to murder.

Murder?

Wait a minute.
Are you saying that Clara--?

I'm saying that if you're
not part of a murder plot,

you'd better clear yourself.

And quickly.

( chuckles )

Oh, no.

Now, no soap,
Mr. Mason.

I assure you this isn't
a picture of me,

and I'm not
an accessory

to anything
worse

than tinkering with
Shakespeare's dialogue.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I beg
your pardon.

I'm sure that
if I were,

you'd have
the police with you.

Perhaps you're right.

That's quite
a collection

of photographs
you have there.

Oh, uh, actor''
vanity.

Although, these are
some of

my finest
performances. Uh,

Marlowe, Shaw,

O'Neill,
Shakespeare.

And, uh, this one?

( dramatic theme playing )

An actor's vanity,
you said.

You had to keep a record of
an outstanding impersonation.

Hence this photograph
of John Brant

that you must've used

as a model
for your makeup.

Shall I call the police now,
Mr. Mauldin?

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Your Honor,
yesterday afternoon,

Mr. Timothy
Abbott confessed

to the murder for which
Miss Blanchard here

stands accused.

After a careful investigation,

the district attorney's office
has reached the opinion

that Mr. Abbott was moved
by considerations

more emotional than logical

when he made
his so-called confession.

And although we intend to
continue investigating

every aspect of that
so-called confession,

nevertheless, we intend to
proceed with this hearing.

Very well.

Mr. Mason was in the process
of cross-examining a witness.

Have you finished
your examination, Mr. Mason?

If it please the court,
I would like to continue

my cross-examination
of Mrs. Brant.

Then call Mrs. Clara Brant
to the stand, please.

BAILIFF:
Ms. Clara Brant, will you

take the stand, please?

You are still
under oath, Mrs. Brant.

( man clears throat )
( door opens )

( door closes )

Now, Mrs. Brant...

you told us of
your life at the ranch

and your growing regard
for Mr. Brant,

but haven't you
left out the name

of a very
important person?

The name of
Terrance Blanchard?

What was your relationship
with him?

CLARA:
We were friendly.

Now, how do you define
friendly, Mrs. Brant?

Isn't it true that you were
having an affair with him?

That's not true.

I'd be crazy to do
a thing like that,

when I'd just
married John.

Marriage? You were never
married to John Brant.

Of course I was.
We went to Las Vegas--

John Brant never
went to Las Vegas.

I submit that you went through
a fake marriage ceremony there

with a man that you'd hired
to impersonate John Brant.

Well, that's
ridiculous.

Ooh, I have
the marriage certificate,

and there's a minister and
witnesses who'll testify that--

( door opens )
That...

( dramatic theme playing )

No.

MASON:
Do you know who
that is?

Earl Mauldin.

MASON:
The man you hired
for the impersonation?

CLARA:
Only, he'd promised
to stay away.

But that was before
John Brant's death.

That was before you,
Clara Hammon,

made him an accessory
to murder.

But I didn't kill John.

I didn't kill him!
You must believe that.

I didn't kill him.

BURGER:
Now, let me get this straight.

Clara Hammond paid you $1,000
to impersonate Brant,

and then paid you
$3,500 more

to keep quiet about it?

Is that correct?

That's right.

And Clara Hammond hired you
in the first place

because of your acquaintance
with Terrance Blanchard,

the brother of
the defendant?

Yes.

So at least three of you
are in on this plot together.

Well, I guess you could
put it that way,

if you're talking about that
marriage business, you know.

But I wasn't in on any plot
to kill the old man.

Why did you
come back here?

Oh. Because Mr. Mason there
told me that, uh,

if I didn't come back,
I'd be in more trouble

than I was
already in.

I see. Thank you.

You've been very
resourceful, Mr. Mason.

Although I do think
your tactics are more suitable

to a county fair, perhaps,
than to a courtroom.

The court was fully informed
of counsel's intentions

this morning, Mr. Burger,
and approved.

I'm aware of that,
Your Honor.

However, none of this
has any bearing on

the evidence against
the defendant.

And the prosecution
intends to proceed.

Your witness.

Mr. Mauldin...do you
remember the adage

of the goose that laid
the golden eggs?
Oh, yeah.

Only in this case,
it was necessary

to kill the gander
first, wasn't it?

Uh. I don't--
I don't think I follow you.

Wasn't it to your advantage
to have John Brant dead?

Once Clara Hammon
received her inheritance,

you'd be in a position to demand
a handsome sum for your silence,

instead of a paltry $3,500.

Yeah, um, I see.

No, uh, that never
occurred to me.

Not even on the day
you were paid the 3,500?

The day you were so close
to the scene of the crime?

No.

No, because I left
right after seeing Clara.

You see, that was
part of the deal.

For me to fly to Carmel.

But you didn't fly to Carmel

until 6:30 the next morning.

Now, what did you do
on the night of the murder?

Uh. Well, after I cashed

the two checks...

I celebrated.

Where?

Some places up on
the Sunset Strip.

And after
you finished celebrating?

Then I went to
my boarding house...

and-- And I checked out.

And what time was this?

Around midnight.

Oh, no, Mr. Mauldin.
It was after 2.

Your landlady was definite
about the time

because she resented
being awakened at that hour.

So it was after 2:00.

And then, in the rented car
you'd been using all day,

you drove to the airport?

Yes.

And you checked
the car in at 3:55?

I...

In case you're still
confused about time,

I have the check-in slip
right here.

Well, if it says 3:55...

must be 3:55.

Actually, I'm more interested
in the car than the time.

Now, at the airport,
when the rental agency

checked the car,

they found
something missing.

A jack handle,
Mr. Mauldin.

This jack handle.

The jack handle you hid
in Miss Blanchard's car.

Oh, no, I didn't--
The jack handle you used

to crush the skull of
John Brant--
No! No, I didn't!

Take it!

Take it.

See if you can recall
the impact of metal on bone.

Go on,
take it.

I can't!

I can't.

( dramatic theme playing )

Not again.

You see...I did it.

I killed him.

And here's a little something
to remember us by.

Thank you.

And here is
a communication

from Peter White,
who, as you know,

has been declared sole heir
to John Brant's estate.

Enclosed is your mortgages,
marked "paid in full."

That's just
like Peter, but--

Well, I'll have to
talk to him about this.

I imagine that's exactly
what he's hoping you'll do.

Now, about
your brother.

He can't escape
serving time, Jo Ann...

but I have a feeling

he'll be a better man
when he comes out,

if that's
any consolation.

It is. I know
you're right.

I can't tell you how
grateful I am, Mr. Mason.

Spindrift is too.

But he knows he can't
pay you for your service.

Oh, that's
all right.

But it isn't all right.

Spindrift has a service
of his own to perform.

There's the title
to his first foal.

Well...

And for all of you,
for Saturday.

Uh...what's
for Saturday?

Three box seats
for the big race.

From Spindrift.

Better he should tell us
if he's gonna win.

( chuckles )

( noirish jazz theme playing )