All language subtitles for Perry Mason s01e09 Vagabond Vixen.eng

You're sure you know the car,
Veronica?

Yes, I told you I know it, Pete.

Well, put on a good show, baby.
I'll meet you back in town.

What if he doesn't stop?

I know that mouse. He'll stop.

You won't be in the car 30 seconds
before he'll start to get friendly.

Okay, Pete.

Looks like I'm going your way, huh?

No need being frightened of me.

I see pretty girls all the time
in my work.

- Oh?
- The name's Edgar Ferrell.

Fidelity Studios.

Oh, you're a motion picture producer,
Mr. Ferrell?

That's right.

Maybe, uh...

Maybe I could find a job for you.

Well, I'd certainly like to hear
about it.

Why are we stopping here,
Mr. Ferrell?

Now, Veronica, who ever heard
of talking over a movie contract

and fighting traffic
at the same time, hm?

You do wanna talk about it,
don't you?

All right.

Is this-- Is this whole place yours,
Mr. Ferrell?

In a manner of speaking.
Belongs to my studio, Fidelity Pictures.

We do quite a lot
of location shooting here.

It's just beautiful.

Yes, indeed.

You use this beautiful place
just to work in?

Not entirely.

I come out from time to time
just to relax.

So as you can see, I make it a point
to have all the comforts of home.

Like to see the rest of the house,
Veronica?

I'd love to.

[CAR APPROACHING]

That may be my wife.

Go in the back and stay there
until I tell you to come out.

- But you didn't tell me that you--
- Do what I tell you.

[GUNSHOT]

MAN [ON PHONE]:
Club Martindale.

Hello, is Peter Handsell there?
This is Veronica Dale.

Sorry, he ain't here.

He ain't here.

I-- I wonder if you could give me a ride
to town, sir.

I know I don't look very nice

but when you hitchhike, sometimes
you don't ride with the nicest people

so I chose to walk the last five miles.

- Sure, get in.
- Thank you.

My name is Veronica Dale, mister.

- My name is Perry Mason.
- How do you do, Mr. Mason?

I'm Myrtle Northrup, Mr. Addison's
assistant. He's expecting you.

- Won't you go in?
- Thank you.

Thanks for coming to the studio,
Mr. Mason.

Uh, it's hard to believe
that I have so little time.

I hope it wasn't too much
of an imposition.

Not at all.
I was coming out this way anyhow.

Well, what I wanna talk to you about
is a rather personal matter.

There's a girl in jail.

- I'd like you to get her out.
- What's she charged with?

Vagrancy.

I gave this young girl
a ride last night.

Later on, she was arrested.

Why did she get in touch with you?

I suppose I'm the only one
she knew to call.

She just got into town.

- What's her name?
- Veronica Dale.

I think if you just quietly get her out,
that will be all there is to it.

Vagrancy?

Is there something more
I should know?

It's every bit as innocent
as I've explained it, Mason.

But I still want to keep it quiet.

You know what one of those scandal
magazines would do with it.

I see.

All right, I'll take care of it.

Thanks very much.

And if I can ever do you a favour
around the studio,

you just let me know.

All right.

It's the first time I've ever been
in one of these places.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate
what you've done, Mr. Mason.

Where are you from, Veronica?

Albuquerque.

Why did you leave there?

Well, you get sort of tired

seeing the world from the back
of a second-rate lunch counter.

Oh, I take that back.

I mean, about the second-rate.

You see, it's my mother's place
and she does the very best she can.

Does your mother know
you're here?

Oh, sure.

She was upset about me
hitchhiking though.

Well, I don't blame her.

It's not the safest way in the world
for a young girl to travel.

Why are you doing this?

At your age, the reason would sound
just a little square.

I wish there was some way
that I could thank you.

Well, there is.

As soon as I drop you off
at your hotel, pack your things

and take the next bus back
to Albuquerque.

Oh, I will. Thank you.

[WHISTLING]

- Good morning, Della.
DELLA: Good morning.

We have a lot of calls here. I thought
you'd be back in the office yesterday.

Well, it turned
into a pretty busy afternoon.

I heard, about your bailing
the young girl out of jail, that is.

How did you hear?

I collected a hundred dollars
from her mother.

Veronica didn't say her mother
was in town.

Well, she didn't know it.

You see, Mrs. Dale said that she flew
in from Albuquerque just for the day

to see how
Veronica was getting along.

What's the hundred dollars for?

She thought that would be
a reasonable fee.

When she heard there was trouble,
she wanted to settle.

Especially since Veronica
is starting work today.

- She's working?
- Mm-hm.

Where?

Fidelity Studios.

But who told Mrs. Dale all this?

- I don't know.
- Get hold of Addison.

Find out if I can see him
on my way home.

And file this. File it.

ADDISON:
Oh, hello, Mason. Come on in.

I'd like to introduce you

to Mrs. Lorraine Ferrell.
My partner's wife.

- How do you do, Mrs. Ferrell?
- Mr. Mason.

- She's also one of our best writers.
- Are we through, John?

Yes, I think these changes
will play fine.

We'll have Miss Northrup put through
the blue pages.

Fine. Good night, good night.

- Good night.
- Good night, Lorraine.

ADDISON: Drink?
MASON: Yeah, thanks.

Just straight, no ice.

Your partner's wife,
she's very attractive.

Yes.

She and her husband
don't have too much in common.

If she appears to be working late,
it's because she prefers it that way.

Your health.

I understand you hired
Veronica Dale.

That's right.

- Do you think that was wise?
- Why not?

Well, for one thing, it looks like
she wanted to get herself arrested.

I was going to call you this afternoon
when I got your message.

What about?

A man named Peter Handsell
found out that I got Veronica out of jail.

He's one of the group
that I've been concerned about.

He digs up dirt
for scandal magazines.

Whether it gets printed or not
is up to me.

- How much?
- Ten thousand.

Of which Miss Dale gets 5.

I'm not so sure of that.

Then how did she convince you
to give her a job?

Well, she seemed like a nice girl
and she said she needed work

so I told her to contact Myrtle Northrup
and something could be worked out.

You must admit that a person
who is out for blackmail

wouldn't be interested in a job.

Wouldn't she?

That would tie her much closer to you,
giving Handsell's filth more credibility.

I didn't think of that.

MASON:
All right.

What did you tell Handsell?

I told him to come over in the morning,
that I'd pay.

If you know a better way...

First thing you do
is to forget that appointment.

Tell Handsell to be at my office
tonight at 10:00.

All right. What else?

Write your name
on a piece of paper.

Then I want you to fill in the amount
of $2,000 on a blank cheque.

Now...

Trace your signature
on that cheque.

- Trace my own signature?
- That's right.

You can't pay off a blackmailer
with that kind of a cheque.

There are all kinds of ways to pay off
a blackmailer, Mr. Addison.

I'll be in touch with you.

The office isn't wired, if that's
what's bothering you, Mr. Handsell.

Oh, just being careful.

Sit down.

I'm only half-awake
so let's skip the social amenities.

Mr. Addison told me
of his conversation with you today.

I'd like to think
he misunderstood you.

Get with it, Mason.

You didn't study law
in seminary school.

- How much?
- You know how much, 10,000.

Ten thousand seems like
a lot of money for a man to pay

just to keep his name
out of the trash you contribute to.

Do you know anything
about Fidelity Pictures?

No, not much.

It's a closed corporation.

Addison owns 40 percent of the stock,
Ferrell owns 40.

The other 20 is divided up
among old-timers.

So?

Next week,
there's a stockholders' meeting.

Everything being equal,
Addison will stay head man

because the 20 percent
go along with him.

But they find out he's using the studio
to cultivate a teenager

and Ferrell's as good as in.

How do you know all this?

Well, when you eat
by digging up information,

you dig up all kinds.

I don't trust cheques.

And I don't trust you.

In case you wanna come back
for more,

your endorsement on that cheque

will give my client a little blackmail
material too.

Now take it or leave it,
2,000 a week for the next five weeks.

I'll take it.

As you said, this is no time
for social amenities.

Now get out of here.

- Della.
DELLA: Yes, sir?

Did you call
the Drake Detective Agency yet?

Paul's right here.

Send him in, will you?

- Hi, Perry.
- Hello, Paul.

You had company so I waited.

What's the detail?

Well, first thing in the morning, I want
you to notify all the banks in town

that a cheque forger's around,

and that he's forging the signatures
of some pretty important men.

Okay. Oh, I've gotta go to San Diego
tomorrow morning.

Is it all right
if I put somebody else on it?

Well, I'd rather have
the eminent Paul Drake himself

but I'll accept a substitute if I have to.

- Would you like my autograph?
- Well, tomorrow will do.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Yes, Della?

DELLA: John Addison wants to talk
to you. He seems awfully upset.

Oh? Put him on.

- See you later.
- All right, see you.

- Hello?
ADDISON: Mason, I need your help.

Meet me at the house up in Malibu.

It's called Gull's Way,
26800 Pacific Coast Highway.

Wait a minute.
What's this all about?

I can only say I need you.
Please hurry.

Mason, over here.

This way, Mason. Hurry.

Just a minute, Addison.

What's this all about?

I think you'd better see for yourself.

Maybe I'd better not.

If something's happened
in that house,

if a crime has been committed
in there and I see that it has,

I'd have to report it
to the police immediately.

However, if you tell me about
something that's happened in there,

that would be a confidential
communication

between attorney and client.

Edgar Ferrell, my partner,
he's been shot.

It's going to sound a little strange
to the police,

your coming here
at 2:00 in the morning

and accidentally finding a body.

I was up above Paradise Cove,
checking a location.

On my way back, I thought
I'd drop off here and get some sleep.

I'm your attorney
and even I wouldn't believe that.

It doesn't matter whether you
or the police believe it.

It doesn't take an expert to see
that Ferrell's been dead for some time.

Since Tuesday?

That sound about right to you?

How would I know?

For one thing, you were out this way
last Tuesday.

- That's not so.
- Isn't it?

What about Veronica Dale?

Didn't you pick her up at a gas station
on the highway last Tuesday night?

All right.

I was trying to help Ferrell.

Lorraine-- That's his wife, you know.

Well, she found he was using
this place as a rendezvous

and I thought I ought to tell him.

And you found Ferrell
just the way he is?

- Exactly.
- Where'd you pick up that girl?

About a mile from here.
I stopped to call the police.

When she saw me,
I realised that she could identify me

so I changed my mind.

All right. So I wasn't very smart.

Not coming across dead bodies
every day,

I was a little mixed up.

Or do you think all of this
is a lie too?

No, I believe you.

But why did you decide
to come back here tonight?

Well, I started to think
about that blackmailer, Handsell,

how this girl could nail me
to the cross

and I thought
it would be better for me

if I just stumbled on the body
with someone like you.

As your attorney,
I wouldn't make a very good witness.

What should I do?

First of all,

find yourself a new companion,
then call the police.

I'll see you
at your office tomorrow night.

You think I'll still be a free man?

Nobody can be sure, Addison.

Do you wanna have the furnishings
in the house

moved to the studio, Mr. Addison?

Yes, I think so. We don't shoot
any interiors here anymore.

You needn't have come.
I could have brought a man

from the Property Department
to go over the inventory with me.

Well, I was looking forward
to the ride.

Besides, I might find a piece or two
I'll want to put in my own house.

Uh, you might as well start in here

and I'll see if, uh, there's anything
we can use in the small house.

Fine.

MYRTLE:
Mr. Addison, Mr. Addison!

Good Lord.

It's Mr. Ferrell.

I'd better call the police.

No. No, don't.

What?

I mean, don't you call them.
Let me do it.

I'll say that I came out here alone.
Why should you be involved?

I appreciate that, Myrtle.

But it's all right.
I have nothing to hide.

Well, let's call the police, shall we?

You wanted me, Perry?

MASON:
Yes.

Nobody in your office knew
about that job I gave you last night?

No, they wouldn't have.

I called an operative on my way
to San Diego.

- Were the banks notified?
- Sure. Why?

Excuse me, Perry. Sergeant Bent
down at Central Precinct called.

He wants you to come down right
away. Something about a forgery case.

All right, call him back,
tell him I'll be there.

Right.

What's wrong, Perry?

Oh, everything.

My original intention was to trap
a blackmailer, a man named Handsell.

But now I'm afraid his story
is gonna help the police

pin a murder charge
on one of our clients.

Well, do the police know that this guy,
Handsell, can be such a big help?

They will
unless I get him out of jail first.

HANDSELL: What kind of
a frame-up are you trying to pull?

BENT:
All right, that's enough.

- Sit down, Mason.
- No, thank you.

This man is Peter Handsell.

We picked him up for trying to cash
a $2,000 cheque

supposedly signed by John Addison.

He tells me you're the one
who paid him off.

You were at my office,
Mr. Handsell?

You know I was.
You gave me that cheque.

What was the cheque for?

Keep crowding me and I'll tell you.

All right.

I'm crowding you.

Okay, wise guy.
I knew Addison had retained you--

Addison was paying you off
because you had something on him?

HANDSELL: So what?
- That comes under the heading

- of extortion.
- What?

Establish your innocence
in a possible forgery

and you've laid yourself wide open
to a charge of extortion.

It's not a very good alternative,
Handsell,

so if you're trying to lie your way
out of here,

- you better be careful what you say.
- Well, right on the ball, eh, counsellor?

Oh, this is Peter Handsell, isn't it?

BENT: That's right, lieutenant.
We picked him up on that forgery rap.

He traced John Addison's
signature--

TRAGG:
Yes, I know. I know. I went over it.

I thought all your interests
were in homicide, lieutenant.

It all ties together.
I think you know that.

Edgar Ferrell, Addison's partner,
was found murdered today.

BENT:
So that's it?

Wouldn't be surprised
if Handsell could tell us something.

The way he and Mason
have been talking--

Wait, wait, wait a minute.

Now maybe we all
made a mistake, huh?

If there's no blackmail,
there's no forgery either.

Wait a minute. Nobody is gonna
tell me that that signature isn't traced.

Have you spoken with Mr. Addison
about the cheque?

Does he say he didn't sign it?

He doesn't have to say it,
this says it for him.

It seems to me
you should've called him to make sure.

Yeah, why don't you do that now,
sergeant?

You could find him at Fidelity Studios.
I just left him there.

- Number is Hollywood 2--
- Six-two-three-one.

Yes.

And as for you,

the district attorney wants to have
a little talk with you, alone.

Remember, Handsell,
the police can't give you immunity.

We can get it for you.

Mr. John Addison, please?

This is Sergeant Bent,
Central Precinct.

- Well--
- Oh, stick around, Mason.

The sergeant might find it necessary
to place a charge against you

for forging Addison's name
to a cheque.

Hello, Mr. Addison?
This is Sergeant Bent.

We have cheque here
in the amount of $2,000

made out to Peter Handsell.
Did you sign this cheque?

When?

Are you sure?

But your signature looks
as though it's been traced.

All right. Sorry to have disturbed you.

Well, sergeant?

I don't care what he says.
This signature is a tracing.

You tried to trap him.
And since you gave him the cheque--

Let it go, sergeant.

Mason set a trap, all right,

but he was smart enough to take out
an insurance policy.

He got Addison to trace
his own signature.

Well, all right, Mason, that's all.

We'll take care of your friend,
Handsell, here.

LORRAINE:
Who is it?

Perry Mason.

LORRAINE:
Come in, Mr. Mason.

Where's Mr. Addison?

Oh, he'll be here.
He's having a meeting on the pictures

to go into production
in the next 60 days.

Just in case he isn't available
to give them his personal supervision.

I see.

Oh, Mrs. Ferrell, this is
Miss Della Street from my office.

- How do you do?
- Hello. I was very sorry to--

My only regret is that my husband
had to go in such a mysterious

and messy way.

However, upon demand,

I will try to muster
the proper display of grief.

Mr. Addison said
you wanted him to see

if your husband was out
at the old mansion last Tuesday night.

That's right.
I was planning on getting a divorce

and everything helps
in the settlement.

Did Mr. Addison tell you
what he'd found?

No, he was very vague.

So I assumed he'd surprised Edgar
with some woman

and, well, was trying to keep
a man-to-man silence about it.

And what's so amusing?

Well, you'd have to know Edgar
to appreciate it.

He was overflowing
in all the qualities of a little man.

Petty, mean, a sneak, revengeful.

To think of him
as a Lothario, well...

Well, good evening, Perry.

Mr. Addison said we'd find you
in here.

ADDISON:
They, uh-- They've come to arrest me.

Oh?

On what charge?

Oh, you know the charge.

That forgery idea of yours
was very smart.

A sure way of getting rid
of blackmailers,

unless what they know
ties in with murder.

In other words,
they've promised Handsell immunity

on the blackmail charge

if he fabricates the kind of story
you're looking for.

Well, he's got the kind of story
we're looking for.

We'll let the judge decide
if it's fabricated.

Don't worry about it, Addison.

Lieutenant Tragg is making this sound
much worse than it really is.

The court usually discounts
the testimony

of a questionable witness.

Miss Dale, have you ever seen
this gentleman before?

- Yes, sir.
TRAGG: Where?

Why, out on the Coast Highway
last Tuesday night.

He gave me a lift to town.

You ready, Mr. Addison?

When I entered the house,

Mr. Addison and Miss Northrup
were there.

Then I went over by the window
and discovered the body.

And Mr. Addison told you
he had not been to this location

at any time since Mr. Ferrell
had been away from the studio?

DEPUTY:
That's correct.

Most of the older tyre tracks
had been obliterated

but there were several marks
close to the house

from which I was able
to make casts.

And did these casts match the treads
of any tyre you examined?

They matched the tyres
on Mr. Addison's car.

BURGER:
Thank you.

MAN: There were
the fingerprints of the victim

and, of course, of Mr. Addison
and Miss Northrup,

who discovered the body.

Was that all?

MAN:
Well, no, sir.

There were three or four other prints
in the room.

And to whom did they belong?

There was a set of women's prints

but we haven't been able
to identify them.

Of course, we don't know
when they were made.

It could have been that they were
before the murder or after it.

Really?

Then tell me this, please.

How do you know when Mr. Addison's
fingerprints were made?

Well, I... I don't.

So they, too, could have been made
before the murder or after it.

His prints were there,
that's all I know.

That's enough.

No further questions.

Now tell me this.

Have the police recovered
the murder weapon, Lieutenant Tragg?

TRAGG: No, sir, but we know
that the murder gun had, for a time,

been in the possession
of the defendant.

BURGER: How do you know that?
TRAGG: Addison did a lot of practise...

- How's it going?
- It'll have to get better.

- Any word from Paul?
- Yes.

He was leaving Albuquerque.
He said he wants to meet you

at the Windsor Hotel
as soon as court adjourns.

He said he found
Veronica Dale's mother.

BURGER: Call Peter Handsell
to the stand, please.

Well, being a reporter,
I got this information about Addison

picking up a young girl on
the Coast Highway that Tuesday night,

getting her a hotel room
and bailing her out of jail.

So I thought I'd check it out
with him.

He told me to see his lawyer.

BURGER:
Who is his lawyer?

Perry Mason.

What did Mr. Mason say to you?

He said Mr. Addison
didn't want any publicity

and he gave me a cheque for $2,000,
signed by Mr. Addison.

You want this court to understand
that Mr. Addison gave you $2,000

to conceal the fact
that he'd been out in that section

of the Coast Highway
last Tuesday night?

- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Handsell,

you went to see John Addison
to blackmail him, did you not?

- Yes.
- I presume you know

that blackmail is a serious offence.

I-- I guess it is
but I've got to tell the truth.

Yes, along with an understanding
from the district attorney

that you will be granted immunity
in this matter?

We'll stipulate to that.

Extortion is a mild crime
compared to murder.

"17961 West Place, apartment 2."

That address mean something
to you?

That's where I live.

MASON:
How long have you lived there?

About a year.

Where was your residence
before that?

Wasn't it in the state penitentiary?

- That's right.
- Why were you there?

- I was convicted of a crime.
- What crime?

- Blackmail.
- And...

[CROWD MURMURING]

...have your blackmail operations
usually included a female accomplice?

Objection.

Counsel has the right to ask this man
if he's ever been convicted of a felony.

But once the witness has answered
in the affirmative,

counsel has no right
to question him further.

His impeachment
is already complete.

Your Honour,
the only purpose of my enquiry

is to find out who Mr. Handsell's
female accomplice is

so the court can ascertain
if her fingerprints are the same ones

found in the murder house.

And now counsel is using this court
as a sounding board

for his highly conjectural
conclusions.

As the hearing progresses,
Mr. Burger,

we shall see how conjectural
those conclusions are.

Gentlemen, we will keep personalities
out of this hearing.

As for the prosecutor's objection,
I will make a ruling in the morning.

Court's adjourned until 10 a.m.

PAUL: Hi, Perry.
MASON: Hi, Paul.

- Now where is she?
- Next room.

You're sure you have
the right Mrs. Dale?

Positive.

Here's a picture of her
with Veronica.

- That isn't Mrs. Dale.
- What?

Well, at least it isn't the one
that gave me the hundred dollars.

Nevertheless,
that is Veronica Dale's mother.

I've checked her out from A to Z.

Hi.

My name is Perry Mason.
May I speak with you for a minute?

Sure.

- A to Z?
PAUL: A to Z.

Thanks a lot for that airplane ride.

Mr. Drake said you were footing
the bill.

You don't fly very often?

Ha-ha. Just around that joint of mine.

You know, I haven't left Albuquerque
in ten years.

I believe Veronica told me
you had a café.

Mm-hm. Had it since before Veronica's
father left for greener pastures.

That was in '52.

Oh, I don't care.
He was all dried up.

Said our teenage customers
were driving him nuts.

Personally, I get a charge
out of them.

They keep you young, you know?
Ha-ha!

Yes, I know.

Do you, uh--?

Did Drake tell you why we asked you
to make the trip?

No. He said you'd explain.

Is Veronica in some kind
of trouble again?

No, no, she's just a witness
in a court proceeding.

What kind of trouble
has she been in before?

Oh, just kid stuff. Running away
from school, things like that.

You know, she just started hitchhiking
around a little bit.

I'd always go get her
and bring her back,

then she'd take off again.

Did you know she was here
in the city?

Well, how could I?
I haven't heard from her in ten months.

I see.

Just one more thing, Mrs. Dale.

When she was away, did she ever call
on you for financial assistance?

Say, you say my kid
isn't in any kind of trouble,

yet you're asking me
all these questions.

Just what is this all about anyhow?

Perhaps I should let Veronica
tell you.

I'll arrange for you to see her
as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, you're my guest

so just go ahead
and have yourself a ball.

Oh, swell. Say, can I start
by ordering up a beer?

I'm so thirsty I could spit dust.

- Help yourself.
- Ha-ha! Swell.

PAUL:
A perfect lady.

Salt of the earth.

You know, this might be
just plain good-news day for you.

Not only do we locate
Veronica Dale's mother,

- but maybe some evidence too.
- What evidence?

It seems the man I assigned
to keep tabs on Veronica

just happened to find himself
in her room this morning

after Burger had her check out.

He also just happened to find that.

Pages and pages of numbers.

Let's get back to the office
and really check this out, Paul.

What about Mrs. Dale?
Are you just going to leave her here?

Yes, I don't want her daughter
or Burger

to know she's in town just yet.

- Ready, Paul?
- Mm-hm.

But then
there's this other Mrs. Dale.

Now, what if she--?

Coming, Della?

Do you swear the testimony
you're about to give this court

- will be the truth, the whole truth?
- I do.

- State your name.
- Veronica Dale.

Be seated.

- How old are you, Veronica?
- Eighteen.

Where do you live?

Well, I don't have any residence
exactly.

My mother lives in New Mexico
and I left town to try and better myself.

I had just gotten here

when all of these things
happened to me.

Are you acquainted
with the defendant, John Addison?

VERONICA:
I am.

Now, Veronica, I'm gonna ask you
to recount for the court

all the events leading up
to your meeting with John Addison

on the night of the 9th.

Well, I had been pretty lucky.

I got quite a few rides
and the last driver, a rancher,

let me off on the Coast Highway
just above Paradise Cove.

What did you do then?

Well, I started walking
until I got to this service station.

It was closed so I stopped to rest.

That's when Mr. Addison drove up.

And what did he do?

VERONICA: He-- I thought he was
going to use the phone

but he changed his mind
and he started back toward the car.

That's when I asked him for a ride
and he gave it to me.

Go on.

Well, he was very nice.

He even got me a room in town.

Did you see Mr. Addison again
after that night?

Oh, no, sir.

But I saw his assistant,
a lady named Miss Northrup.

She was very nice too.

She interviewed me
and saw that I was placed

in the studio's acting school.

Now, Veronica, one final question.

Are you acquainted
with Peter Handsell?

No, sir.

Thank you.

I suppose you're gonna wanna
cross-examine this young lady?

Yes, I am.

Remember,
she's hardly more than a child.

All right, Della.

Miss Dale,
you came directly to this city

from your home in New Mexico?

Yes.

How long did it take you to hitchhike
that distance?

About four days.

You lived with your mother
in New Mexico?

Yes.

So until four days before the murder,
you were with your mother.

MASON: What is it, Miss Dale,
don't you understand the question?

I'd-- I'd like a glass of water, please.

- Water?
- Yes.

Certainly.

Hi.

MASON:
Thank you.

Have you thought of an answer yet?

Well, I believe you wanted to know
whether I lived with my mother

when I was in New Mexico,
is that right?

No, Miss Dale.

I wanted to know if you were living
with your mother in New Mexico

until four days before the murder.

Oh, no, no. Not that recently.

How recently then?

Well, about nine or ten months ago.

MASON: And where have
you been all this time?

VERONICA: Well, I don't know.
Wherever the rides have taken me.

During the ten months
you've been travelling,

you've had living expenses,
have you not?

Of course.

And you paid these expenses
yourself?

Well, I wouldn't let anybody else
pay for them, if that's what you mean.

- How did you pay them?
- I'd work.

MASON: Doing what?
- Different things.

I'd babysit or wait on tables,
any job I could get.

Would you give us the names
of some of your employers?

No, I don't remember.

I never worked one place long enough
to remember any of the names.

Miss Dale,

- what's my name?
- Mr. Mason.

- And the name of the defendant?
- John Addison.

- What's the date?
- The 19th.

- What's your mother's name?
- Martha Dale.

Your memory seems normal,
so I shall ask you once more.

For whom did you work
during the past ten months?

I told you I don't remember.

And you can't remember specific dates
when you were in various cities?

- No.
MASON: Perhaps you kept a record.

Well...?

Yes. Yes, I did keep a record.

Listing various licence plates
under each calendar date?

Yes, that's right.

And these licence numbers represent
the cars in which you rode each day?

Yes.

Would you please tell the court

why you were so interested
in keeping such a record?

Well, it's a hobby of mine.

And it is not possible
that these numbers were to be used

by an accomplice
for purposes of extortion.

- Objection.
- Overruled.

Miss Dale, you said that the last man
you rode with

before being picked up
by Mr. Addison was some rancher.

- Now, do you remember his name?
- No.

Is this his licence number,
KYL-907?

Well, if it's the last one, it is.

KYL-907. That's the number of the
studio car Edgar Ferrell was driving.

[CROWD MURMURING]

You were with Edgar Ferrell,
were you not?

Yes.

Why did you ask these men
for rides?

I think when we check out some of the
licence numbers you've recorded here,

we'll know why, Miss Dale.

All right. I'd ask them for loans.

Loans? Wasn't the money more
of an outright gift?

Objection.
Counsel is implying that this witness--

MASON:
I will rephrase the question.

Miss Dale, did you ever pay back
any of these loans?

- No--
- Wasn't it that you never intended

to pay them back?

All right, they had big cars
and good jobs.

What was wrong with taking money
from them?

But the point is how did you get
the money from them?

Didn't you ever hear
of a hard-luck story, mister?

And it was a hard-luck story
you gave to Edgar Ferrell?

- Yes.
- Where? In the house

- in which he was murdered?
- No.

I would like to request
that this young woman's fingerprints--

All right, I was in that house.

[CROWD MURMURING]

We would like to hear about that,
Miss Dale.

We had no sooner gotten
into the house when this car drove up,

and he told me to beat it
out the back way.

That's all there was to it.

- You saw the car?
- Just for a second.

Was it Mr. Addison's?

No.

That is all.

Mr. Burger, I assume that
you are aware of the contradictions

in this witness' testimony.

I would suggest you begin
an immediate investigation

for possible charges of perjury.

Yes, Your Honour.

And since the prosecution is interested
in serving the ends of justice,

I'd like to move for a continuance
of this hearing

so that the evidence
may be more thoroughly investigated.

Do you agree, Mr. Mason?

Only if I may have the privilege

of reopening my cross-examination
of Peter Handsell.

KEETLEY:
Is Mr. Handsell present?

You may step down.

Well, Mr. Handsell,
in your blackmailing operation,

you've used Miss Dale
as an accomplice, have you not?

- Well, Handsell?
- Look, Mason, I may not be a lawyer.

But I know a man doesn't
have to say something

the law might use against him.

MASON: You've been given immunity
in this particular case.

So you can claim no self-incrimination.
Now answer my question.

Okay, I knew Veronica.

MASON: How long?
- Six, seven months.

Just how did you happen to arrange
the pickup with Edgar Ferrell?

HANDSELL:
Nosing around the studios,

I found out he had a habit of spending
Tuesdays and Wednesdays

out at that beach place.

Just one more question.

Who is the woman you used

to impersonate
Veronica Dale's mother?

Why do we need somebody
to play mother?

We were doing okay by ourselves.

Thank you, Mr. Handsell.

That is all.

KEETLEY:
Court is adjourned until 10 a.m.

[GAVEL POUNDS]

For the first time,
I feel like there's still some hope.

There's always hope.

Get yourself a good night's rest.

Don't you think you could've given
Mr. Addison

a little more encouragement?

I will when it warrants it.

You completely ruined Burger's case,
what's he got left?

For one thing, the fact that the murder
was committed with Addison's gun.

But they haven't even found
the gun.

Well, they've cross-matched
the bullets.

And then there's Addison's fight
with Ferrell over control of the studio.

And Addison was seen
in the vicinity of the murder house

the night Ferrell was killed.

What's left is enough to send our client
to the gas chamber.

What do you plan to do?

Go back out to that house,

play the murder all over again.

How do you get in?

Probably Miss Northrup
has the key.

MASON: So the killer must have
been standing about here.

Evidently, Ferrell turned to face him
just about the time the shot was fired.

What do you think, Paul?

Perry, I don't get this.
You've gone over everything.

You've reconstructed the case
just like the police did.

What have you come up with
that will help Addison?

Yes, I know.
I've been grasping at straws.

You're not giving up on this case,
are you?

You don't mean
they'll convict Mr. Addison.

So far, I haven't found a thing
to prevent it, Miss Northrup.

But you said if you could get back
in the house

and go over things once more.

I was hoping.

Just hoping to come up
with something

we might be able to use.

Now, no need to hang around here
any longer.

Come on, Paul.

Mr. Mason. Wait.

That man and woman
who tried to blackmail Mr. Addison,

maybe they killed Mr. Ferrell.

Why should they?

They'd only profit if Ferrell was alive.

On top of that, how could they
have gotten Addison's gun?

MYRTLE:
Oh.

Only thing I can do is enter
a plea of second-degree murder.

I think Burger will buy it.

What will they do to Mr. Addison?

Chances are, I can get him off
in about 20 years.

Twenty years.

But, Mr. Mason, this is a great man.
He has so much to give.

They can't take 20 years of this kind
of talent and just lock it up in a cell.

They can if they feel he's guilty
of murder.

But he isn't guilty.

Our problem is to prove that,
Miss Northrup.

We're not able to do that.

I can prove it.

I overheard Mrs. Ferrell
call Mr. Addison that night

and ask him to come out here
to spy on her husband,

get evidence for a divorce.

But I knew Mr. Addison
would never do that.

So you came out here yourself,
hoping to get that evidence.

Yes.

I was going to use it as a threat,

force him to keep Mr. Addison
in the studio.

Didn't you realise
the district attorney

could accuse Mr. Addison
of the same motive?

But he wasn't even here.

I found Mr. Ferrell alone.
I didn't see the girl.

All that I knew,
she was around someplace.

He'd been drinking.

I warned him.

I told him I was going to ruin
his reputation.

I even started to call his wife.

His wife didn't say anything about it.

Mr. Ferrell stopped me.
He rushed me and tried to choke me.

The gun went off and I--

It didn't occur to me that a bullet
could be traced without a gun.

How did you happen
to have Addison's gun?

I took it from his desk in the office.

I just wanted to scare Mr. Ferrell.

I was just trying to hold him off
while I called his wife.

I... I didn't mean to kill him.

Mr. Addison must be very proud
to have a friend like you.

But I did kill him.

Mr. Addison
had nothing to do with it.

Let's go, Paul.

Mr. Mason.

Will you come over here, please?

In there.

Well.

I knew I'd never see my own name
up in lights.

And I was going to make sure that
Mr. Addison's would always be there.

- What's up?
- I thought I'd warn you.

There's newspaper guys downstairs.

They wanna talk to you about
Myrtle Northrup. They grabbed Burger.

Better get off on the second floor,
go out the back.

- What about the press?
- Handle them.

Are you kidding?
I don't know the answers myself.

Suppose they ask me what made
you suspect Myrtle in the first place.

Just say that since everyone
with a selfish motive was ruled out,

we'd look for someone
with an unselfish motive.

And Miss Northrup fit that description.
She was trying to protect Addison.

Two, please.

Why did she pose
as Veronica's mother?

So there'd be no connection
between the girl and Addison.

You weren't supposed to come up
with the genuine article.

You know, I feel sorry for her.

After all, she did say that Ferrell
came at her with a poker.

You know, with a good attorney
she might get off with a self-defence?

- That's what I thought too.
MAN: Second floor.

Any other message for the gentlemen
of the press?

You might tell them
if they're ever tempted

to pick up a lady on the highway,
don't.

If she's no lady, it could be murder.

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