Original subtitles

Hello, I'm Carl Burke, and today we're visiting Hastings, Georgia.

Hastings is small -town America, typical in many ways.

Quiet, conservative, church -going. But recently, Hastings has been rocked with

controversy. That's when this book, Secret Confessions, was published a few

weeks ago and became an instant national bestseller.

Not since Grace Metallius wrote her thinly disguised expose of a small town

called Peyton Place has a book like this caused such a furor.

This is the home of the author of Secret Confessions, Mary Ann Newton, a widow

whose first book is a local sensation.

Miss Newton, I'm Carl Burke, and we'd like to ask you a few questions about

Secret Confessions.

Well, I don't think I should be talking to you.

You'll have to talk to my publisher first.

If you'll excuse me.

This is the home of Barbara Gleason, who some say bears a strong resemblance to

one of the three leading characters in this steamy drama.

Mrs. Gleason, I'm Carl Burke, and we'd like to ask you a few questions about...

Hastings is the kind of town where everybody knows

everybody else.

And you can still find a parking place here on Main Street, like right in front

of Mark Douglas' jewelry store.

Mark Douglas may very well be portrayed in Secret Confessions as a compulsive

gambler, local roué.

Dr. Philip Egan is a resident at the local hospital.

And many raise the question, is he the model for the third leading character in

Secret Confessions?

A young doctor caught stealing drugs from his own hospital.

Dr. Egan.

Dr. Egan, I'm Carl Burke.

Yeah, I know who you are. I'd like to ask you a few questions. Right ahead.

Well, can we stop?

I'm sorry, I'm in kind of a hurry. Well, Dr. Egan, is the character Dr.

Clark Laszlo based on yourself?

No, it's not.

Unfortunately, a lot of people think otherwise.

Are you going to sue Mrs. Newton?

A lawsuit would be very expensive and could take years.

Besides, it won't restore the damage done to my medical career.

No, a lawsuit's too good for Marianne Newton, and someone ought to repay her

kind for the damage she's done to this town and people like myself.

Marianne Newton is a coward and a liar and should be deeply ashamed of what

she's done.

I wish she'd had the integrity to refrain from this slander campaign.

Thank you, Doctor.

Well, things seem to be heating up here in Hays.

Eggs all over my car again.

I will fill out a report.

This is the third time.

Well, let's hope it's the last.

Say, the waitress in here, the one with the bedroom eyes that always say yes no

matter what the utterance, is that Rosemary Sawyer?

I want to know if you're going to provide me with protection.

Oh, Marianne, it's hard to believe anybody brings you any real harm.

I saw that Philip Egan on TV this morning.

He was practically threatening.

Now, if and when at such time as person to person, known or unknown, attempt to

cause you bodily harm, I will personally conduct a full -scale investigation.

Till then, I can't do anything. So you go on home and don't write any more

books. You know what that is, Marjorie Sawyer.

I may have to spend more time down there at the Coffee Cup Cafe.

Marianne, it's Reverend DeLuca.

Good evening.

Oh, Reverend, come in.

Thank you.

Are you all right?

Oh, well, the nerves are a little frayed, I suppose.

Perhaps that book should never have been written.

I'm worried about you, Marianne.

Yeah. Everything will calm down.

Eventually.

How about a nice cup of tea?

That'd be lovely.

Thank you.

I guess you've heard about all the excitement we've had down here. Oh, yes.

It's all over the TV and radio.

Uh -huh.

Well, that's about the way I remember it.

Uh -huh.

It's your move.

Well, don't rush me. It's been three months.

So, how's the investigation coming?

We've made an arrest.

Young doctor.

What you got on him?

Footprints outside the window where the shot was fired match his, and a murder

weapon was found in his car.

Why do you think he killed this reverend?

I don't think that the reverend was the target.

Oh, you think he did it after the author?

It certainly appears that way.

Why did you want to see me?

I've got the doctor in custody.

He needs a good lawyer.

When did you start soliciting lawyers for your suspects?

I don't think you did it, Ben.

How's that?

Oh, I've known Phil Egan since he was a boy. I know how he was raised.

Just doesn't feel right.

Well, he sure had reason to be mad the way she wrote him up in her book.

You read that book?

Well...

Somebody had it down at the courthouse, and I glanced at it. Uh -huh.

Pretty racy stuff.

Uh -huh.

I gotta charge him, Ben.

this another time.

Hey, the waitress in that book, would that be Marjorie Sawyer?

Yeah.

I sincerely doubt it.

Court appoints you?

No, I'm a friend of Chief Johnson's. Oh. Well, no offense, but I need a top gun

here.

Well, who you got in mind?

Well, it's Herman Wilkerson.

Herman's all right.

He's not too good, huh? No, he's all right.

How about Luther Jarvis?

Luther can be good.

He's in and out?

No, he can be good.

What about Ben Matlock?

Did you do it?

Hell no.

You got an alibi?

That's home reading.

You aware of the evidence? It's a frame. Look, I'm a doctor. I'm supposed to

save lives, not take them.

This lady's done you a lot of damage. Not as much as this will.

You never answered my question about Ben Matlock.

Sounds like his kind of case.

I hear he's expensive.

He's flexible.

I think I'll try him.

Thanks for the advice, and please, no offense.

Oh, I'm rarely offended.

I'll tell Chief Johnson you've decided.

Thanks.

I'm ready.

Uh, the waitress in that book, that wouldn't be Marjorie Sawyer.

Dr. Philip Egan has no prior criminal record.

He is totally dedicated to his medical work at Hastings Community Hospital, and

we respectfully submit that he's no threat to society.

In fact, there's no real danger of flight.

Defense hopes that the court will release him on his own recognizance.

Nail is set at $25 ,000.

Court will take a 15 -minute recess.

I thought I hired Ben Matlock.

You did.

Morning.

You're Ben Matlock? Yeah.

I got a videotape from the TV station.

We'll go back to the office and look at it. Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want to undo the influence.

I'll post bail on him.

I wish she'd had the integrity to refrain from this slander campaign.

Thank you, Doctor.

So, everybody thinks you're this Dr.

Laszlo in Miss Newton's book. Of course they do.

The physical description fits, and the character was involved in a theft of

drugs from the hospital.

Did you read that book?

Well, yeah.

To prepare for the case.

Oh.

Were you?

What? Involved in drug theft.

No formal charges were filed.

Don't hedge with me.

I didn't do it. Another resident did.

Uppers mostly to keep up with the hours.

I didn't turn him in.

Who are you?

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Ben Matlock, Philip Egan's lawyer.

Oh.

What do you want?

I was just looking through your window.

I noticed.

Well, since everybody assumes you were the one who was shot at, I was just

trying to see if I could figure out how whoever did it could make that big a

mistake.

It's possible.

Is that where they found the footprint?

Yes, I think so.

Well, can you think of why anybody would want to shoot this Reverend DeLuca?

Mr. Matlock, Reverend DeLuca is a man who devoted his entire life to the

I can't imagine why anyone would want to do him any harm.

What was he doing here?

Well, he was concerned about me.

And he came to get a donation, I promise.

See, I... I pledged to give a percentage of my royalties to this church.

Very generous.

Mr. Matlock, I didn't write this book because I wanted to stir up trouble or

hurt anyone.

I wrote it because I wanted to use a small town like this one as a moral

example.

It never occurred to you that people might be upset?

Never occurred to me it would ever get published.

I not only dislike Marianne Newton, Miss Matlock.

I hold her responsible for the breakup of my marriage.

Because of the character she patterned after you in her book?

A character that slept with half a dozen men in her town.

Try explaining that to a husband.

Did you?

Yes. But what was it to her?

Mrs. Gleeson, where were you the night of the murder?

I was alone. Why?

I have to ask.

What are you insinuating? Just part of my job.

Asking, not insinuating.

Oh.

It's a very lovely flower arrangement.

Look, my husband...

He's the manager of the bank in town.

He wasn't coming home till 10 or 11 o 'clock at night.

I got bored.

I like TV, but night after night, seven nights a week.

But whatever I did, it was personal.

It was private, and she had no right.

Marianne Newton is like a plague, or worse.

Excuse me. Of course.

Excuse me.

How much is this watch right here?

The round.

That's 200.

I remember when they used to go for 20.

Maybe you should try the drugstore.

I guess Marianne Newton's book didn't help business much.

What do you think?

She writes about the only jeweler in a small town.

who winds up owing everybody because of his gambling problem. Now, I am the only

jeweler in this small town, so who else would everybody think she was writing

about?

Her business just dropped right off.

Let me put it this way.

You're my best customer.

Boy, being in a book like that sure would make me mad.

You got it.

I guess you'd like to get back at Mary Ann Newton.

Who the hell are you?

Ben Matlock.

I represent Philip Egan in this murder case.

I don't suppose you'd remember where you were the night Reverend DeLuca was

shot.

I'm not answering any of your questions.

Well, you have to answer.

Either here, or I can send you a written invitation to a beautifully carved

wooden chair just a few feet from the judge.

I spent the whole night with my girlfriend.

Her name is Jessie Peter.

Now, please, would you just leave the store? Oh, you got it. Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Keep an eye on him.

His girlfriend's named Jessie Peters. He used her as an alibi.

Where are you going to be?

I got to go over to the Coffee Cup Cafe to see somebody.

Then I'll be over with Cliff Johnson at the jailhouse.

Hi, Mrs. Peters. I'm sorry I'm late.

Tyler Hudson, you did get my letter.

I don't think so.

Well,

look, since I'm here, I'd be glad to take a look around.

Look around what?

Your house. You did want an appraisal.

My house is not for sale.

Nobody's house on this block was for sale until they found out that the

expressway is coming through here.

I've never heard anything about that.

See what I mean.

You see, a lot of these people are selling their houses now before the

announcement is made and the values go down.

Oh.

How much is this going to cost? Oh, no, no. This doesn't cost you anything. The

real estate associate can get my bill. Look, let me help you.

No, I... Come along.

So how many square feet do you have here?

Not after lunch.

Oh, I really don't know.

Do you mind if I take a look around?

Sure. Go ahead.

You know what?

I bet you're going to ask me if I'd like to have a cup of tea.

Yeah. Would you like a cup of tea?

I would love a cup of tea.

Let me take a look at that. Okay.

make the announcement?

What announcement?

The expressway.

Oh, um, they're not sure. But soon.

Very, very soon.

Oh.

Oh, I'll be right back.

Jesse,

if

you hear from a guy named Matt Locke, tell him I spent all night Wednesday

you. I'll explain later.

Mr. Hudson?

Mr. Hudson?

Jesse, if you hear from a guy named Matt Locke, tell him I spent all night

Wednesday with you. I'll explain later.

Let me speak to Mr. Douglas.

Where is he?

Would you tell him to call me as soon as possible? It's very important.

What are you doing here?

The florist gave me directions.

The man who sent you flowers.

Bill, one of your gentleman friends?

You read the note?

Is that Bill over there?

He sent me flowers.

He's very thoughtful.

But is he the last of the red -hot lovers?

Barbara, you've been working here three nights a week for the past 18 months.

This is very honorable.

But you lied to me. You gave me some long story about how you were at home

lonely all the time.

I have my reasons.

But you weren't at home, and you weren't bored.

It's almost as though you wanted to have people think you're having affairs.

Could we talk about that?

stays between us, okay?

What if I need it in court?

I don't think you would.

Everything I told you about my husband was true.

I tried everything.

I lost weight. I gained weight.

I used makeup. No makeup.

I had black hair. I dyed it red.

I walked around with clothes on.

I walked around with some clothes on. I walked around with no clothes on.

He was just losing interest in me.

Well, I certainly don't understand that.

But it happened.

So I decided to try and make him jealous.

I know it's stupid, but what the hell?

So you mean you weren't really having any... I tried.

I really tried, but it's a small town and... So Barbara, you

weren't very upset about Marianne writing about you in her book?

No.

I've become a very desirable woman.

I show you People's Exhibit 6.

And I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, sir.

We found that weapon in the glove compartment of Philip Egan's car.

And the Hastings Police Department Ballistics Laboratory performed tests on

weapon? Sure, I am the Hastings Police Department Ballistics Department.

Yes, I did.

Tell us the results of the tests.

In my opinion, that's the weapon that killed Reverend DeLuca.

And were any other physical evidence secured from the scene of the crime?

The angle and trajectory of the shots indicated that they were fired through

side window.

Outside that window, we found some freshly made footprints in the

What did you ascertain about those footprints?

That they were made by a man.

Size, 12 shoe?

The same size as the defendant's. Yes, sir.

No further questions.

Thank you, Chief.

Cross -examine.

You know, Chief, I'm impressed with the forensics work the

police department do nowadays.

They can find a thread of hair, and they can tell you the color of the person's

hair, how old he is.

When he had his last haircut?

Probably what he had for breakfast.

Well, not quite what he had for breakfast.

Well,

what if I... What if I made a footprint in this box of sand?

Could you tell me from that footprint what my shoe size is?

Well, surely.

I'd need a tape measure and a scrap paper.

Okay.

There you go.

And here I go.

Let's see here.

Okay.

That's it.

Now, this is not exact, but you

are wearing a size 12 shoe, probably leather sole.

The shoe I'm wearing does have a leather sole, and it's exactly a size 12.

But my foot size is a 10.

So what I did, I shoved cotton in there to make up the difference.

Now, Chief, the only thing we know about the person we believe shot through that

window is that he wore a size 12 shoe. Is that right? That's right.

So... It could be that somebody other than Philip Egan did what I just did to

throw off the police. Is that right?

That's right.

Thank you, Chief.

No further questions.

Redirect?

No, Your Honor.

This court will be in recess until 9 a .m. tomorrow.

I remind the jury that they are admonished not to discuss this case nor

opinion.

Miss Peter, would you step outside here with me just a second?

What do you want?

Mark Daniels was not with you the night of the murder.

Can you prove that?

My associate tells me that you have an eight -year -old son.

and that you have an ex -husband in California who wants custody of the boy.

Now, I'm not trying to blackmail you or intimidate you, but if you commit

perjury on the stand, I have no choice but to go after you.

And that could provide your ex -husband with ammunition in any custody battle.

What do you want me to do?

Well, now, Mark Douglas has brought you into this to do him a favor.

And I think you'd be much better advised to do yourself a favor and cooperate

with me.

Do you think Mark did it?

I think Mark has a lot of explaining to do.

If I tell you what you want to know, do I have to testify?

Maybe not.

Mark was with a guy Wednesday night. Some kind of business.

What's the big secret?

But it was a big secret.

He was a guy from Atlanta.

Funny sounding name.

Hey, Tyler?

Yeah.

Some guy from Atlanta.

Maybe deals in jewelry, maybe hot. Funny sounding name. Schimmelberger.

Funnier. Grok.

Grok. Grok.

You were supposed to sell this stuff. I will. Things are a little tight right

now, so just take it away for a couple of weeks, and then when things cool

it'll be business as usual.

Who's this?

I don't know. A customer, I hope.

Come on, open up. Look, I want to match a ring with this. No, it's too early. I

can't hear what you're saying.

Uh, it'll be about an hour and... Hello,

Gronk. What the hell is this?

We're not here in any official capacity, Mr. Gronk. We're not?

No, all we are after is some information on your associate here and where he was

last Wednesday night. Look, you have no right to come barging into the... Shut

up, Mark.

I'm a businessman.

Yeah, we know what your business is, Gronk. All we want to know is were you

Mr. Douglas doing business last Wednesday night while a murder was being

committed?

Look, Mr. Matlock, you have a reputation too, you know.

Maybe I move a few pieces of jewelry from time to time, but I am not in on a

murder ticket.

Oh, that's why you faked your alibi.

Because at the time Reverend DeLuca was murdered, you and Mr. Grock here were

trafficking and stolen merchandise.

What did you want me to do?

Come out, tell you what I was doing so I could go to jail?

Are we supposed to believe this?

Well, he made up an alibi that backfired.

You will go to jail.

But you won't go to jail for murder.

Congratulations. And to you, Mr. Grock.

You two look terrible.

What happened in there?

Douglas is guilty of a crime.

It's not the right crime.

Douglas didn't commit the murder.

And neither did Barbara Glees.

Who did?

Well, as far as I can tell, Charlene, nobody.

You've been hanging around the coffee cup cafe.

Well, a person has to eat somewhere.

You going to Supini, Roger Sawyer?

Who?

You know who.

I might.

Yeah, you get old Marjorie Sawyer over there in Atlanta.

The court will let out.

It'll be late.

She won't have any place to stay.

And you'll be standing there like ready money.

Huh.

You know, police work has given you an unduly suspicious nature.

What's that? Tell her how it's going. Dan, I've been snooping. Snoop, huh? I

snooped around Reverend DeLuca's office over at the rectory, and look what I

found.

Well, I'll be.

Isn't that something?

Hang on to that. Sure will.

What's that mean?

I don't know yet.

King me.

Mr.

Sears? Mr. Sears?

Ben Matlock.

You mind if I walk along?

Yeah, help yourself.

Nice dog.

I know.

Neighbors don't mind all this ruckus? Might as well.

You walk your dog every night at this time?

I like to get back for Johnny Carson.

Look, tomorrow's the big day, and I'd like to go over the events of the night

the murder just one last time.

Oh, sure.

Thank you.

Now, let's see.

You came in from the kitchen and saw the body from about here.

That's right. Then you dropped the tray and screamed when you saw Mr.

Sears staring at you through the window.

That's right.

Well, thank you.

And, again, I'm sorry to interrupt.

If I were to call you to the stand over in Atlanta, would you tell me this again

there?

Oh, sure.

Thank you.

Miss Newton, I've got a little confession to make.

I was apprehensive about reading your book.

I don't know. I guess I'm old -fashioned. There's some pretty racy

there. Yes, I know.

But it has redeeming social value.

Well, to tell the truth, I did read it. And I found it very engrossing.

Oh, thank you.

When you write, do you write on a typewriter?

No, I use a word processor.

Oh, oh. I don't know much about these electronic...

Typing machines.

Just type it all in there and then punch a few buttons and the machine prints it

up. Is that about it?

That's about it.

Oh. And that's how you wrote Secret Confessions?

Yes, it is, Mr. Matlock.

Have you ever read Murder is My Calling?

No. How about Now I Lay Her Down to Sleep?

I don't think so.

Did you read Valley of the Shadow of Death or See No Evil or Adam's Serpent?

No, I didn't.

Neither did I.

And I'm sure nobody else did except the publisher who rejected them.

You know who wrote these?

I'm afraid I don't.

They were all written by the same person.

Reverend DeLuca.

And they were all rejected by the publisher.

Do you... Thank you.

Do you recognize this typewriter?

No, I don't think I do. It belonged to Reverend DeLuca.

And I'd like this typewriter marked Defendant Exhibit A.

And I'd like this manuscript marked Defense Exhibit B. So mark.

Secret Confessions.

And it was not written on a word processor. It was written on this

Reverend DeLuca.

Objection, Your Honor. Whether or not Miss Newton wrote Secret Confessions,

irrelevant to this case.

It is, Your Honor, if it shows motive.

Overruled. Thank you, Your Honor.

Miss Newton, Reverend DeLuca was a very frustrated writer. He wrote one mystery

after another, and nobody would buy them.

Then he wrote this novel.

But he knew if he sent it in with his name on it, it probably wouldn't get

published, just like the others didn't get published.

Besides, it was pretty seamy stuff for a preacher.

And so you and he came up with the idea.

What if it were written,

By a little spinster lady in a small town.

Might get published.

People might find it titillating.

And, in fact, they did.

Now, isn't that why the two of you put your name on it?

I wrote it.

You know, Miss Newton, we all have secrets.

And I think yours is that you came from being a little spinster lady in a little

town in Georgia to becoming a big spinster lady in a little town in

big way. Gee, you're on television, on radio, people are writing about you,

people recognize you on the street, and you kind of like that.

Some of them got mad, but... And you know, I think it got away from you.

I think somewhere in here, it got away from you.

To the point that you never wanted anybody to know your secret.

The thing that made you so big.

The reason why we're here.

That's it, isn't it?

that you did not want to share your book with Reverend DeLuca.

Objection, Your Honor. I withdraw that question.

Let me... Let me show it to you like it was a chapter

in your book.

You asked Reverend DeLuca to come over to your house a few minutes before 11.

Isn't that right?

Well, yes, but... And you knew that David Sears walks his dog every night a

minutes after 11.

So you waited till you heard the other dogs in the block barking.

And you asked Reverend DeLuca if he'd like some tea.

He would.

He went outside, around the house, to the side window.

Where you shot Reverend DeLuca.

I did not!

You know Mr. Sears is elderly and can't walk fast.

So you had plenty of time to go back into the house, pick up the tea tray,

in, drop it and look sharp when Mr. Sears came up and looked through your

window. That's not true!

I think it is.

I think after you shot Reverend Luca, and before the police started their full

-scale investigation, you planted the gun in Philip Egan's car perfectly.

You knew he was mad about the book anyway.

Philip Egan wears a size 12 shoe. You found that out.

Got a size 12 shoe. Made the footprint.

And in an effort to be truly convincing, you dropped the tea tray.

When you saw Mr. Sears looking through the window.

But you know, last night when I was over there, there was something missing.

It was missing from before, but I hadn't put it together.

You know what was missing?

Tea stains.

There were no tea stains on the rug.

You know why?

You didn't make any tea.

You didn't have time.

You didn't even have time to boil water.

That's not true.

You can't prove any of it.

I don't have to.

All I have to do is show this jury there is reasonable doubt that Philip Egan

shot Reverend DeLuca.

It's my book.

I wrote it.

I'm sorry, Miss Newton.

I guess that's all, Your Honor.

the defendant not guilty.

Enjoy the trial, Marshal?

Oh, it was very exciting.

I'm sorry I didn't get to call you as a witness.

That's okay.

It's getting late. The last bus for Hastings left at four o 'clock.

Good thing I hung around.

Looks like Marjorie needs a ride home.

Say, next time you're down around our part of town, we'll finish that game, I

bet. See you later.

How about some dinner?

Our treat?

Yeah.