All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E01 The Case of the Treacherous Toupee.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

For Boston.

With service to Chicago
and Hartford and Springfield.

Basset residence.

No, I'm sorry,

Mrs. Basset just left the house.

What?

I'm Lucy, I'm the house cleaner.

Well, where did Mrs. Basset go?

Do you expect her back soon?

Well, search me.

She's on her way
downtown on business.

To the company. You know.

Business? Her?

Uh, yes, sir.

It's some kind of meeting.

Could it be a share...? Mm,
"sharecroppers" meeting?

Share...

Hello? Hello?

Domestic Tool & Die.

The what?

Look here, I want the
Basset Tool & Die Company.

Our name has been changed
for quite some time, sir.

Whom are you calling, please?

Dawson. Peter Dawson.

He's still general
manager, isn't he?

Mr. Dawson is president
of the company, sir,

but I'm afraid his line is busy.

President. Look here,

is there a shareholders' meeting
going on there this afternoon?

I really wouldn't
know that information,

but if you'll just give
me your name, sir...

Hello? Hello?

Hello, Sybil. Don't
you look nice.

Oh, thank you. Oh.
I hope I'm not late.

I, uh... I brought
my husband's proxy.

You didn't tell me
whether I'd actually need

to have a copy
of it when we vote,

but anyway, I thought
I'd better stop by the bank.

Here.

Everyone knows
it's a blanket proxy,

that's all that's important.

Dora, will you
can tell the others

the meeting will start.

Mrs. Basset is here now.

Peter, I am doing the
right thing, aren't I?

Now, I thought we
agreed yesterday,

no cold feet, remember?

Oh, I know.

If Richard could
hear me say that

just once more he'd
throw something at me.

"Mother, can't you ever make up

that molasses mind of yours?"

I think your son's a little
too anxious about this.

Matter of fact,
that's why I sent him

to San Francisco on
company business.

To let you decide alone.

Oh, Peter, you've been so
thoughtful about everything.

And patient.

You know, when
I'm alone with you,

I know everything is
going to be all right.

Two years is quite long
enough for a woman

to keep shielding a husband
who has deserted her.

Come in, gentleman, come in.

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

Thank you.

And how are you?

Well, this shouldn't
involve too much time,

I think, some time.

Good to see you.

And roughly, the plan
is to sell the assets

of the present
corporation to a new firm

which Mrs. Basset
and I are establishing

and in which you
will all participate,

but in which Hartley
Basset will have no interest.

Now, since Mrs. Basset
has decided to use

the proxy that her
husband gave her,

in our bread-and-butter days

Wait, you can't go in there.

Mr. Basset!

Looks like I got here
just in time, doesn't it?

Well, at least the
house doesn't seem

to have changed very much.

Cleaning woman
must have gone home.

Her name is Lucy.

Well, now, that's interesting.

You, uh, still have
to hide the liquor

from that useless son of yours?

Oh, oh.

W-Would you like
a drink, Hartley?

Yes. Yes.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so awfully sorry.

I suppose if I'd been
away seven years,

you would not only have
had me declared dead,

but probably buried me too.

But Hartley, I-I didn't
know what to do.

It's quite a sensation,

walk in on your own funeral.

Was just about
like that, you know.

To find my wife and my
employees getting ready

to dispose of my
assets, my company.

Where did you go?
Where were you?

Under the circumstances,

I don't think I'm the one
who needs to explain things.

Well, after you just...

Just disappeared, I-I
didn't know what to do.

Aside from personal feelings,

I had nothing to fall back on.

The company was almost bankrupt.

Or perhaps you don't
remember that sort of thing.

Go on.

If it hadn't been for...
For Peter Dawson,

I don't know what
would have happened.

He made people stay
on without any salary.

He borrowed money.

He worked day and night.

That's very touching.

I read in the papers there are

a lot of new
government contracts

that are using our
type of bearings.

Yes. Yes, suddenly last year

everything began to
go right for us again.

Sybil, are you in love
with Peter Dawson?

You have no right to ask
a question like that of me.

And I can imagine my
dear greedy stepson

has been egging
matters along too, eh?

I don't know what
you' re talking about

And, of course, by now
you have investigated

the possibilities
of divorcing me.

No. Ah, Dawson has proposed

a merger by marriage.

No, that's not true. Ha-ha.

Sybil, don't pretend to be

any stupider than
you already are.

Peter hasn't said a word.

He's only been trying
to protect your interests.

He's been stealing from
me and so have you.

Stealing!

What about that $6,000 you took

when you went away? If
anybody's been stealing...

Six thousand dollars?
What are you talking about?

You know very well.

Oh, I hate you.

Why did you come back?

Why? Why?

You'll find out.

Operator,

I want to put a call to
San Francisco, please.

Ah! Oh.

Hello.

Oh, yes, operator, go ahead.

It's L.A. calling.

I think it's the office,
must be Mr. Dawson.

Well, you just tell
him you're busy.

Hello, Richard?

Mother.

Hey, I'm glad you called.

I was going to wait
until this evening.

Now, Mother. Wait a minute.

Now, just wait.
Now, let me talk.

Only first, um...

We're getting the
money, aren't we?

Money? What money?

I mean, they had the meeting,

they're going to
switch all the stock?

I mean, we're going to
be able to sell out now,

aren't we? To raise cash?

Richard, you... You've got
to come home, right away.

Not a chance.

I just got married.

And I know you must
think it's awfully fast,

but when you meet Teddi.

When you see her...

Mother?

It's... It's all right,
Richard, I-I'm here.

I was just thinking that

it never rains, but it pours.

Mother, you really come out
with the odd ones sometimes.

What?

Who?

He's...?

Quit calling him my father.

That guy's not my father.

Oh, yes. Yes, your
stepfather, Richard,

I'm so sorry, but please,
please come back.

I'll be there. Yes,
only stop crying.

Stop it!

I'll be there.

And I'll make it rain too.

I'll make it pour.

On him.

Dick, there's
nothing that can really

spoil our wedding day, is there?

Yes?

Mr. Woodman is
here from the factory.

Send him in.

What was it you wanted, Pete?

Sit down, Ken.

If it's about Hartley Basset...

I figured you'd have
heard about that by now.

I Just wanted to prepare you

for what it'll probably do

to your program at the plant.

There are apt to
be some changes.

Uh, right you are, Dawson.

Hello, Hartley.

I didn't know you
were in the office.

I've been talking
to your secretary.

Maybe you'd better go see her.

She seemed rather upset.

What's the matter with her?

I just fired her.

Don't rush off, Woodman.

Just testing some new models.

I was right in the middle. Oh.

Well, I don't want you to
worry about your own job.

I certainly wouldn't
dream of replacing you

as plant superintendent.

Thanks.

Besides, I still remember
those bridge sessions

Sybil and I used to have
with you and your wife.

We'll have to start
them up again,

now I'm back.

My wife is dead.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Ken.

What happened?

Last year.

She died by her
own hand, I'm afraid.

They wrote me a letter
about it, from Manila.

Manila?

That's apparently
where she went.

Where she ended up.

She left me some
time before that.

Disappeared.

It was about the same time

that you disappeared,
Mr. Basset.

What's the big idea?

She's been with
us for five years.

With me even longer.

You have no right.

Save the sympathy
for yourself, Dawson.

You're fired too.

Well, technically,

he may have the right to
discharge you as president.

On the other hand,

your old contract
as general manager

will be in force for six months.

Mr. Mason, I know
what a mess it is.

I need clarification
and protection.

Not only for myself,
but for all the others too.

That's the only reason
I'm willing to stay around

for as much as five minutes.

It seems to me you've
stayed around for too long.

Instead of starting a
concern of your own,

you've continued
to do all your work

for the benefit of the Bassets.

Why?

Mrs. Basset, I suppose.

She had a first marriage
that wasn't very happy either,

a son by it who's never
been very much comfort to her.

Anyway, I knew we
could straighten things out

sooner or later with that
proxy vote she still held.

I never really thought that
Basset would come back,

but we would have made
him fair payment for his shares.

My intention was always
legal and honorable.

You believe that,
don't you, Mason?

You believe that the only reason

I want to be protected
now is so that...

So that she'll be protected too.

Della, put in a call
for Hartley Basset.

Buy off Dawson's contract?

The answer is a
flat and final "no."

He doesn't get another penny.

Then I may advise
my client to sue.

Listen here, Mr. Mason,

before I've finished
with Dawson,

he'll really need your services.

There are two sides
to this story, you know.

Just what do you mean?

I mean your client
is a thief, of course.

I'd be careful of any
accusation, Mr. Basset,

unless you're prepared
to back it up in court.

Hold on a moment.

Colemar, how much longer
do you think it will take us

to go over these books?

Another four or five hours.

I tell you what, Mr. Mason.

If you'd come here
later this evening,

I'll be glad to talk
this over with you.

Yes, four, five hours.

Say, 10:00 tonight.

Teddi?

Teddi. Say something.

What's the trouble?

I don't know.

Her forehead's bleeding.

I was just stepping
out of the elevator

I-I heard her scream.

Know who she is?

She's my wife.

Teddi. Teddi, please. Oh, baby.

Teddi, say something.

Dick? Oh, Dick.

Honey, what happened?

Someone knocked me down.

What are you doing here anyway?

Mother told me you came down.

I-I was looking for you.

I was afraid you'd try to
see your stepfather alone.

I didn't want you
to fight with him

Someone in here
knocked you down?

Well, the minute I
walked through the door,

the lights went out and...

And he hit me.

He came rushing past me.

"He?"

Yes.

Even in the dark
I could see him.

I'd know him anyplace.

It...

It was the man that
came out of there.

He's dead. He's been shot.

It's Hartley Basset, isn't it?

Eh, sure.

You see, Honey?

I told you there was
nothing to worry about.

Somebody beat me to it.

Looks like he
put up a little fight.

What is that?

Something he grabbed, I guess.

Looks like hair from a wig.

A toupee.

He... Yes, he... He
had it in his hand.

This little... This
little piece of hair.

Oh, yes, and... And
they didn't see a gun,

but he'd been shot.
He'd been shot twice.

Hair?

Oh, Peter, please
come over right away

and tell me what to do.

Sybil, of course, don't worry,

I'll take care of everything,

but I just walked in
the door this minute.

I'm sorry, even though I...

I think this is what
I've been dreading

all along.

You know, Peter,

I almost wish I'd been
the one to kill him.

Sybil, everything's
going to be all right.

I'll be there, of course.

I went for a walk, Mr. Mason.

Quite a long walk. All alone.

I didn't get back
to the apartment

until just after 11:00.

That's when Sybil telephoned.

So for the time of the murder

you have no alibi.

Is that what you
wanted to tell me?

Well, mostly about the toupee.

The fact that I wear one.

That one thing in itself
can't be too incriminating.

No, but Mr. Mason,

sometime yesterday
afternoon or last night

somebody stole my extra one.

They only found a small
part of one in Basset's hand.

But that's enough.

That's all they need.

You see, there are ways
of identifying a toupee.

You're absolutely correct, sir.

You must be Peter Dawson.

You see, in the ordinary...

Good morning, Perry.

You see, in the ordinary toupee,

there may be 40 to
60,000 individual hairs,

but of course nobody's
hair is a solid color.

You take Mr. Dawson's
case for instance.

I believe there are
six different shades.

Isn't that right, sir?

Uh, look here, lieutenant.

I need hardly remind you
that there's a young lady

who claims to have
seen a man running out

of the murder room last night,

and who claims, moreover,

that she's able
to recognize him.

Richard Hart's bride. Teddi.

I was just about to
suggest to Mr. Dawson

that he come along
with me and face her.

Yes, if she's telling the truth,

she'll clear me.
Oh, by all means.

If you'll be good enough,
Perry, to tell us where she is.

What do you mean?

Well, you told
the first officers

to arrive last night
that she'd gone

to the Ladies'
Lounge to lie down.

That's right.

Her husband
assisted those officers

in searching the building
for some trace of the man

she claimed to have seen.

So?

So when Homicide
arrived and went back

to question the girl,
she disappeared.

We've found no
trace of her since.

Even Richard, her husband,
can't seem to help us.

And now you've
jumped to a conclusion.

Naturally.

You wasted no time in getting

that girl into
hiding, counselor,

so that your client
wouldn't have to face her.

Well, I'm not going to
waste any time, either.

Perhaps Mr. Dawson
should come along with me

instead of you.

Mr. Drake, I've told you
all I know, believe me.

Are you sure you
don't know where...

Oh, hi, Perry.

Paul.

I see you've already found him.

Mr. Mason, please,

I've got to get back to Mother.

I just came down to the office

for a few minutes

and I've told him
everything I know.

Now, please. All right.

We don't want to bother you.

I can check with you later.

He says he doesn't even
have a snapshot of his wife.

That's very interesting.

He's only known her a week,

so maybe it's true.

Mr. Drake? Yes.

I was told you
were looking for me.

I'm Arthur Colemar,
the company controller.

Oh, yes, Mr. Colemar.

It was for Mr. Mason.

How do you do, Mr. Colemar.

Uh, thanks, Paul.

You'd better get going.

Don't let that get lost.

I won't.

I'd like to ask you a few
questions, Mr. Colemar.

Mm-hm. You're
Mr. Dawson's attorney.

Sure.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

I understand you, uh,

worked rather late last night.

Mr. Basset wanted me handy

while he went over the books.

What time was it
when you left here?

Nine forty-seven.

The police figure I
was the last one out.

Before it happened, that is.

How can you be so
precise about the time?

Well, you see, Mr. Mason,

I don't drive a car.

I was trying to catch a bus.

The 9:50.

I ran all the way
to the boulevard,

but I missed it and
had to wait 20 minutes.

When you left the office,
was Mr. Basset here alone?

Sitting right in
there waiting for you.

I, uh, called him here
late yesterday afternoon.

Were you here with
him at that time?

Correct.

Then you heard him refer

to Peter Dawson as a thief.

You heard him say that when
he was finished with Dawson,

Dawson would
really need a lawyer.

I could hardly believe my ears.

What was he talking about?

Why don't you ask
Mr. Dawson that?

What makes you think he knows?

Well, earlier in the evening,

just as I was going
out for a bite to eat,

Mr. Dawson came barging in here

to demand an answer
to that very question.

What time was that?

About 8, I'd say.

Was he still here when
you came back from supper?

I don't know. I didn't see him.

My accounting offices
are on the floor below

and I went directly
there on returning.

Worked alone a while,

adding up some
figures and so on.

Then I brought them up here
to show them to Mr. Basset

and to tell him good night.

I didn't see anyone
else here at that time.

Tell me, Mr. Colemar,
are conscious of the fact

that Mr. Dawson wears a toupee?

Well... yes and no.

We never spoke about it.

I don't know him that well.

But I did sort of guess once,

when I saw another of
the men kidding with him

and trying to give
Mr. Dawson's hair a pull.

What man was that?

Mr. Ken Woodman,

our plant superintendent.

Mr. Woodman, I'm...

Counsel for the Defense.

That's no reason for me
to let my lunch get cold.

I understood you lived alone.

Those things are
as my wife left them

two years ago.

That's a long time
to sustain an illusion.

Your wife died in
Manila, didn't she?

May I sit down?

If it'll help you
come to the point.

Did you ever connect
your wife's disappearance

with that of Hartley Basset?

Is that all you came to ask?

Except for where
you were last night

before 10:00.

Two questions, one answer:

I'm not on the
witness stand yet.

All right, we'll take
it from there then.

On the witness stand.

That girl, Teddi.

What about her?

You actually believe

that cock-and-bull
story of hers?

About the man running
out of Basset's office?

She had a fortune to gain

by the death of Hartley Basset

at that time, being
married to his heir.

Another day or two

and Basset would have chopped

his family off without a penny.

You're saying
the girl killed him?

Well, if she didn't,
her husband did

and she was an accomplice.

Otherwise, why has
she disappeared?

Mr. Woodman, you have
just asked the key question,

about the key witness.

Perry, still no lead on Teddi.

And now they've found the gun.

They're finding
all sorts of things.

What gun was it?

Well, supposedly it was
purchased for the office,

but it was registered
to Peter Dawson.

And they found the box
of shells in his apartment.

Paul, you've just
got to locate Teddi.

She gets more
important every minute.

Grab a plane. San Francisco?

San Francisco.

All I know is she
sang and played piano.

Called herself Teddi Lansing.

Where was she from?

Oh, they come and go.

This one wandered
in here one night,

ran through a number,
and I hired her on the spot.

There's something funny, though.

What's funny?

She kept promising to
have her picture taken

so I could hang it out front.

She never got
around to doing it.

Yeah, I know. She's
real camera-shy.

How long was she here?

Just short of a month.

Some young guy
started hanging around,

a few days later she was gone.

No notice, no nothing.

She quit so sudden,

as a matter of fact, she
forgot some of her stuff.

May I take a look?

Sure. I went through it myself,

to see if I could find some
kind of address to ship it to,

but wasn't anything here.

What'd I tell you?

"Flo's Beauty Salon. Fresno."

Look, Miss...?

Hi. Just call me Flo.

Flo, you've already had me

cooling my heels out
here for a half-hour.

Now, do you or don't
you remember a customer

answering to the description
of this "Teddi Lansing"?

Like I said: I'll have
to think about it.

You see, it was
this way, sweetie.

I made a phone call.

What for?

Oh, you'll find out any minute.

There, you see?

Mr. Drake, meet Wilbur Fenwick.

Mr. Fenwick.

Drake, what about this
girl you're looking for?

Do you think you know her?

What I think is she's my wife.

Well, I just can't believe it.

Dick.

Six months ago in Fresno,

Wilbur Fenwick met
and married this girl,

known to him as Nikki.

In his case too it was
a whirlwind courtship.

Where upon she
promptly proceeded

to take him for
every dollar he had.

And Fenwick had quite a few.

You're taking his word for it.

No, not entirely.

I double-checked, and
came up with certain facts

that just can't be
explained away.

Fact Number One:

She left in a hurry without
saying goodbye to anyone.

Fact Number Two:

There's no evidence
that she even bothered

to get a divorce from
Fenwick before marrying you.

Well, of course
she got a divorce.

Mr. Mason, you've
just got to find her.

I couldn't agree with you more,

but let's keep it quiet for
the time being, shall we?

Oh, it's all right with me.

Well, at least we now know

why Teddi took off
so fast the other night.

The surplus husband. Sure.

As soon as she realized

she was involved in a murder,

she figured the police would
start prying into her past.

She would have
decorated the newspapers

from coast to coast.

For everyone, including
Wilbur Fenwick, to see.

All of which adds up to the fact

that she'll hardly reappear
of her own volition,

certainly not soon enough
to help Peter Dawson.

Listen.

I'd swear I was being followed.

Of course you were.

And are and will continue to be.

Who? Why?

The police think you'll find
out through me were she is.

They think that sooner or later

you'll lead them right to her.

And maybe you will at that.

Well?

What do you think?

They could be twins.

Look, mind telling me
what all this means?

Miss Grant, you'll
receive a full explanation,

along with detailed instructions

before you leave town.

And where am I going?

One of my favorite
vacation spots.

Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Oh, you'll need
some expense money.

Ah.

Look, Mr. Mason, I
know you're on the level,

but your reputation, well,

you do skirt the law at times.

You will be doing
nothing illegal.

Okay.

When do I leave?

If you call back
within the hour,

I'll have made all
the arrangements.

Yes, sir.

Now, would you mind telling me

what all this means?

It means the preliminary hearing

starts tomorrow morning.

Teddi was lying on the floor,

unconscious.

I picked her up and
carried her over to the couch

and that's when he showed up.

Who? Mr. Perry Mason.

Really?

All right, Mr. Hart, go on.

Teddi opened her eyes

and explained about
the man who had hit her.

Your Honor,

due to reasons which
will become self-evident,

Mrs. Teddi Hart has not
been available for subpoena.

Under res gestae,

the rules against
hearsay evidence

therefore become inoperative,

and the state wishes
to invokes its right

to bring out what
Mrs. Teddi Hart said

by means of the
testimony of this witness.

Mr. Mason?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may proceed.

Mr. Hart, what did your wife

say to you and to Mr. Mason

about the man who had hit her?

She said that
the lights went off,

and he rushed in
from the outer office.

And he hit her.

Well, that's all she
could remember.

Did you ask her if she would
recognize her assailant?

Yes.

She said that she'd
know him anywhere.

I see. Now would
you tell this court,

please, the circumstances
of your wife's disappearance?

Well, we called the police.

A squad car came first.

And we carried her
into the Ladies' Lounge

so that she could lie down,

see, she was still woozy,
and a couple of other

officers and I checked
the rest of the building

as quickly as we could.

Soon after that the
other squad cars arrived.

Excuse me a moment.

Do you know where Mr. Mason
was during this period?

Well, the last time I saw him,

he was on the phone,

trying to get Mr. Dawson.

And how long was it after that

that you returned to
that part of the building

and found that your
wife was missing?

About five minutes,

but you're wrong if you think
Mr. Mason sent Teddi away.

Wait just a moment.

The witness will refrain

from volunteering
information or conclusions.

All of the answer of the witness

after the words "five minutes"

will be stricken
from the record.

Proceed.

I have no further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Hart.

Your witness.

No questions.

And where were this

torn piece of toupee
found, lieutenant?

I saw it clutched

in the left hand
of the decedent.

Was there any other
indication that Mr. Basset

had struggled or grappled,
perhaps, with the murderer?

Well, a lamp had
been knocked over.

The wastebasket had been spilled

halfway across the floor.

The carpet had been twisted

and kicked up in
a couple of places

near the decedent's feet.

I see.

I show you now this .38
caliber automatic pistol,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, it has my mark on it.

And was this weapon
checked ballistically?

Yes, sir.

This gun fired

the two bullets
which were removed

from the decedent's body.

It's been checked out
as the murder weapon.

Thank you, lieutenant.

If it please the court, I
should like this automatic

and this piece of torn toupee

enter in evidence as
People's Exhibit D and E.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Oh, and lieutenant,
where was this gun found?

In a culvert.

Four blocks from the
scene of the crime.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I think that'll be all for now.

Your witness.

Lieutenant, I take it you
made a search for this gun

in the defendant's apartment?

Certainly.

Yet you found it
not in his apartment,

but in a culvert where
anyone might have thrown it?

Was found in a culvert, yes.

Lieutenant, isn't it true

that the police rate
culverts among their favorite

hunting grounds for
missing weapons?

Oh, that's only
because criminals

seem to find culverts so handy.

This particular culvert
is in a public park.

About a third of
the walking distance

from Mr. Dawson's office
to his apartment, I'd say.

Thank you for
adding that information

and in view of it, don't
you therefore think

it possible that
the murder weapon

was deliberately
discarded in that culvert,

so discovery of it
would be certain?

So that Mr. Dawson
would be implicated?

Objection, Your Honor.

Those questions
are argumentative.

Sustained.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all, then.

I'd say.

I call Mr. Stanley Roderick.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly promise to swear

the testimony you're
about to give will be

the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?

This headblock was made by us

to conform exactly to the shape

of Mr. Dawson's head,

in order to create his
particular hairpiece.

I see.

Now, Mr. Roderick,
is there another way

to positively
identify a hairpiece

other than the method
you described to us?

That is, other than
matching the hair shades?

Oh, yes, indeed.

Under a microscope,
each person's hairline

is as different and
distinctive as a fingerprint.

It's like a shoreline,

with infinite and varied
juttings and inlets.

I'm sure it is. Mr. Roderick,
would you please

tell us what these marks
on the headblock are for?

Well, this is the
outline of the tuft of hair

that was found in the,
uh, dead man's hand.

And would you please
demonstrate for us

how the tuft of hair fits
between this markings?

Oh, yes. It fits...
right in here.

And it's your conclusion,
then, Mr. Roderick,

that this tuft of hair
could only have come

from Peter Dawson's toupee?

Oh, absolutely.

Thank you, very much.

If it please the court,

I should like this headblock
entered in evidence

as People's Exhibit F.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Your witness.

Mr. Roderick.

You think it plausible
that someone grabbing

at a man's head could tear out

a small segment of his toupee

without ripping or
removing the entire thing?

Oh, entirely plausible,

if it were properly
attached with spirit gum.

If you'd like a test,
Mr. Mason, grab away.

Mr. Colemar, I show you this
item marked People's Exhibit G,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. Yes. This is a Photostat of
a page from a company ledger.

For the month in which, uh,

Hartley Basset disappeared.

Do you know who requested
that this Photostat be made?

Ah, Mr. Basset.

On the day he returned.

Did he by any
chance told you why?

No, he didn't say why.

I caught your
attention to this item,

it's a debit of $6,000.

Yes, that's the amount
that turned up missing

after Mr. Basset's,
um, departure.

And what explanation
was given for it?

Well, we assumed that

Mr. Basset had

skipped off with it.

"Assumed"? What
kind of an investigation

was held at the time? None.

Why was that?

Well, Mr. Dawson
asked the matter

be hushed up as
much as possible.

Really? Thank you, Mr. Colemar.

Your witness.

Mr. Colemar.

How could a substantial sum
like $6,000 turn up missing?

Well, our affairs were

a little precarious
in those days.

We were concerned
that an attachment

would be made on
our bank account,

so our employees
were paid in cash.

To that end, currency was
accumulated in the vault.

Who had access to the vault?

Besides Peter Dawson,
there was myself,

and Mrs. Basset, of course.

And Ken Woodman,
who was then doubling

as our purchasing agent.

Thank you, that will be all.

You've barely got time
to catch your plane.

After I left, I heard
Dawson starting to get angry

and then Basset yelled at him,

"You're fired too."

Mr. Woodman,
later that same day,

did you overhear another
angry conversation

between Mr. Dawson
and Mr. Basset?

Yes, I did.

And what did Mr. Dawson
say on that occasion?

He said,

"Hartley, some day
I'm going to kill you."

Cross-examine?

Ah, Mr. Woodman,

when you were in
Mr. Basset's office,

was the subject of
your wife brought up?

Yes. Yes, he... He
mentioned something

about our... Starting our
bridge sessions again.

He and his wife, me and my wife.

I explained that...
Agnes was dead.

And you also explained

that her death had
occurred in Manila?

And that she died
by her own hand?

Yes.

Did you explain that the
last time you saw your wife

was during December,
two years ago?

I-I don't exactly remember
everything I told him.

You felt that he already
knew these things?

Mr. Woodman, isn't it true

that after you were notified
of the death of your wife,

you took a leave of absence?

Sure. I went fishing

at Sawtooth Lake
region in Idaho.

I have here the Photostat
of an airline's passenger list

for the day your leave
of absence began.

It shows a Kenneth L.
Woodman booked for Manila.

All right, so I flew to Manila.

To go fishing?

What were you fishing for?

Proof of why your wife left you?

Wasn't Basset the reason?

I got proof that
Basset was the one.

I swore I'd find
him and kill him.

Well, I couldn't find him.

A man changes after a while.

Killing isn't always the
answer to everything.

I have no further questions.

I call Mrs. Sybil
Basset to the stand.

Uh, just a moment.

As we have arrived the
hour of noon adjournment,

the court feels it would
be better to declare

the usual recess at this time

until 2:30 this afternoon.

Mr. Mason, please.

Richard, where did he go?

Mrs. Basset,

it might not be proper
for me to tell you.

But why not?

Because a very great deal
might depend on what happens

where he is.

Come in.

Darling. Dick.

You're sure you
weren't followed?

Are you Richard Hart?

What's the big idea?

This is Sergeant Brice,
from the Los Angeles police.

He's up here to
get Mrs. Teddi Hart

to return to Los Angeles
with him immediately.

Well, my name is Lorna Grant.

And I suppose he
isn't Richard Hart?

What if I am?

You've got it all wrong.

This isn't my wife Teddi.

These initials happen
to be "T" as in Teddi,

"H" as in Hart.

Sorry, but the
little game is up.

Let's go.

Mrs. Basset, at 7:58 p.m.

on the day of the
return and the death

of Hartley Basset,

did you receive a
note from your husband

by special messenger?

Come now, Mrs. Basset.

If it's necessary to
refresh your memory,

here is the receipt
that you yourself signed

at the time of
delivery of that note.

Yes. Yes, I did
received a note from him.

Can you produce
that note in court?

No.

Why not?

I-I threw it away.

If it please the court, I
should like at this time

permission to enter this
Photostat in evidence.

Mr. Mason?

You represent this to
be what, Mr. Burger?

Our investigators found
impressions on a memo pad

on Hartley Basset's desk

of a message that had
apparently been written

on the top sheet of that
pad with a ballpoint pen.

The impressions were
developed to the point of legibility

in the police lab
and the Photostat

was made of the results.

No objection.

Mrs. Basset.

I ask you now if this is
not, in fact, a true copy

of the note sent to you
by special messenger

from your husband?

Yes.

Would you please
read it to the court.

"My... My Dear, Devoted Wife,

"Suggest you change your
plans for Peter Dawson.

"I didn't take that
$6,000, he did,

"and maybe more too.

"I'll be home when I'm
through checking the books.

Light a lamp in the
window. Hartley."

And now one final question.

Between the time
you received this note

and when your husband died,

some two hours later,

did you or did you not
inform Peter Dawson

of the contents of this note?

Yes.

Louder, please.

Yes.

That's all. Thank you.

Take the witness.

No questions.

Mr. Burger.

I beg the court's
indulgence, Your Honor.

To what end?

Your Honor, unrefuted
testimony has established

the fact that Mrs. Teddi Hart

said she could identify the man

who ran from the murder scene.

I've just learned
that this key witness,

Mrs. Teddi Hart,
has been located.

Bailiff.

Enforce quiet or
clear the courtroom.

Furthermore, Your Honor,

she has been located
under circumstances

which strongly
suggest the possibility

of grave misconduct on
the part of Defense counsel.

Eh, Mr. Burger,

do you have a specific
request to make

at the court at this time?

I have indeed, Your Honor.

The plane bringing Mrs.
Teddi Hart from Carmel

is due to land
here in half an hour.

I ask a recess
until this witness

can be brought
to court to testify.

Request granted.

Uh, court to reconvene at 3:30.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger.

I want to see both of
you in my chambers.

I must say, I can't help
but admire him for it.

Who? Mason.

Sticking his neck out
like that for a client.

Yes.

How about a cup of coffee?

No, thanks.

Now, Hamilton,

what is the basis for your
allegations of misconduct?

Well, Judge, I suspected
right from the beginning

that Mr. Mason was responsible

for the disappearance
of Teddi Hart.

Now I'm convinced of it.

We had Dick Hart under
surveillance all along.

This morning,
after he testified,

he slipped out of the courtroom

and met Paul Drake,

who drove him to the airport.

Followed by one of your men?

Exactly.

And the trail of the lonely
bridegroom ended at Carmel.

In the motel room of a girl
registered as Lorna Grant,

but fitted exactly the
description of Teddi Hart

and who, by curious coincidence,

had the initials
"T.H." on her luggage.

Well, Perry?

In the interest of my client,

I had to take a
desperate chance.

If I lose, I'll assume
sole responsibility.

I'm afraid you've
lost already, Perry.

No, the girl being
returned from Carmel

is actually Lorna
Grant, not Teddi Hart.

You set that up deliberately?

But why?

What possible excuse could
you have for such a thing?

There was no other
course open to me.

The murderer had to
believe that Teddi Hart

would shortly be
brought into the courtroom

to point an accusing
finger at him.

But the murderer happens
to be Peter Dawson.

I think I've made a pretty
airtight case against him,

even without Teddi Hart.

Well, supposing someone else

were guilty, and
supposing that this someone

now believes that
the girl being flown

from Carmel
actually is Teddi Hart.

Exactly.

And it isn't likely
that this someone

will lose any time in
getting away from here.

As far away as possible.

Will someone please fill me
in on Colemar's confession?

Della can give you
a first-hand account.

Well, when Basset skipped out,

it was really Arthur Colemar
who took that $6,000.

He thought Basset
wouldn't show up again,

so who'd be the wiser?

Yes, but when
Basset did come back,

it was Dawson he
blamed, not Colemar.

Until that night.

Then he went over some ledgers,

and found other discrepancies.

Basset finally
realized it was Colemar

who had been
doing the embezzling.

He accused him and
Colemar begged for a little time.

But then he used that time

in planning to frame
Dawson into a murder.

That's right,

with the bit of toupee
and all the rest of it.

There was only
one problem, though,

he almost didn't get away.

In walked Teddi.

In walked who?

Well, lieutenant.

We weren't
speaking of the devil,

but come right in.

All right, Perry, all right.

I just thought
you'd like to know

something about
Teddi Hart, that's all.

Sending her picture
out over the wires

finally paid off.

You mean, they found her?

In Vermont.

And guess what she was doing?

Getting married again.