Original subtitles

for you to be up, isn't it?

I've got a hair appointment.

Then I'm having my nails done.

Then lunch with Suzanne.

Never a moment to yourself, is there, dear?

No smoking at the table, Mitchell.

Are you just getting in?

Four parties.

Don't you find your lifestyle or travel expensive?

In the unlikely event I want your advice, you'll be the

first to know.

You think I don't know how tight the two of you are?

Well, I do.

Whether you like it or not.

Albert. I've gone to Hong Kong five times already this morning.

I told you to stonewall them, Philip.

They have several other buyers waiting in the wings.

I've investigated.

They're not bluffing.

If we don't close this in 30 minutes, we'll lose it.

Let them wait.

Come on, Albert.

I've put in six months on this deal. I run this company, Philip.

In case you've forgotten.

I could never forget that, Albert.

Oh, good morning, Phil. Morning, Michelle.

Oh.

His fangs are showing this morning.

Mr. Gordon, why did you cancel the installation order I put in for a PR3

The one that would have given you access to my personal computer?

Mr. Gordon, I have nothing but the utmost respect for your privacy. It's at

top of my list.

But if I'm supposed to be your in -house counsel, I have to stay up to date, and

you rarely have time to brief me.

It seems all I do is sit around and wait for someone to sue you.

Excuse me, Miss Thomas.

Here's your tea.

Also, Mr.

Douglas is in the foyer.

He seems to think you'll want to see him, even though he hasn't got an

appointment. Sure, ma 'am.

I'm totally satisfied with your performance, Michelle.

Anything else?

Mr. Douglas.

Morning, Mr. Gordon.

What have you got?

Good day, Mr. Gordon, sir.

Father.

You're late.

I was checking out the jet.

Philip flies to Antwerp tomorrow.

Philip? Why is Philip going?

Because in my opinion, I think Philip should represent us.

And if I'm going to be second in command around here, I think you should... Oh,

shut up, Eric.

Don't talk to me like that.

Get out of here.

Hello,

darling.

You look in need of champagne.

Lawrence, bring the glasses in straight away, please. Never mind the champagne.

Just leave us alone.

I don't know what you two are up to, but you're not going to make a fool out of

me, Fiona.

What are you saying?

These were taken last weekend.

Look at them.

Don't understand.

Look.

There.

Yes, this is Brother Eric.

I'm a city drink.

All right, I'll be there.

Mr. Gordon, as long as we're both here early, why don't we... You have

heard how the murder weapon was found in Eric Gordon's car the morning after the

murder.

You have also heard evidence to the effect that he was seen both entering

leaving the scene of the crime the night of the murder.

Most importantly, you've heard...

On the previous day, Eric Gordon had an ugly and public quarrel with his

father.

I believe that it has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the unlawful

killer of Albert Gordon was his son.

Take those files down to the courthouse. I'm a model of efficiency.

Mail call.

Occupant.

Occupant. Bill.

Bill.

Bill. Bill.

Occupant.

No love letters?

No hate mail either.

Oh, and this came from Trader Ed's.

They look just like your old shoes.

They are just like my old shoes.

How do they feel?

I guess they need breaking in.

Ben Matlock.

Oh, one moment, please.

Long distance operator.

This is Ben Matlock.

Yes, I'll hold.

Overseas.

London?

I wonder what anybody from London wants with me.

Yes. Then Matlock to see Laura Gordon.

Is Miss Gordon expecting you?

Yes. Come in, please.

Wait here, sir, please.

Some yeah some no

Miss Gordon's gone out, and I've no idea when she's returning.

Could you come back another time?

Oh, well, um... Oh, Miss Gordon's taken you on.

Well, she offered me the job. I didn't take it yet.

Would you like to have a look at her horse?

Her horse?

In the stable yard.

I have to be honest with you, I'm afraid of horses.

Well, you're not only independent, but courageous as well.

Well, not really.

Do you mind if I sit down? I've got on a new shoe and they're just killed.

Oh, please be careful.

It's George III.

Sybil, has a Mr. Matlock called for me?

Mr. Matlock. Yes.

I went to the airport to pick you up and I must have missed you. I'm sorry.

Oh, that's okay. We were just getting acquainted.

This is Sybil Gordon, my stepmother.

And this is Mr. Matlock, the lawyer I've hired to retry Eric's case.

What's this all about, Laura?

I have arranged a trial, a mock trial, to draw attention to Eric's case.

You see, with Mr. Matlock here to give Eric a better defense, we can get public

support for a rehearing of his case.

Sounds like a tasteless publicity stunt.

You don't understand, Sybil.

You see, everything about this trial will be exactly like a real one.

All the rules of an English court will be strictly enforced.

I have arranged to have retired Judge Woolsey preside, and I have even got

egomaniac Sir Alec Moore to repeat his prosecution.

It's out of the question.

Sybil, please.

This is Eric's last chance, and everyone has been very cooperative.

Of course, the fact that you're contesting our dear father's will so

a dime until this whole thing is settled might have something to do with that.

Mr. Matlock, my brother, Mitchell.

We've met, sort of.

Look, Eric is my brother, too.

But all the evidence indicates that he murdered our father.

I know the evidence indicates that, but it was circumstantial.

That's right.

Mr. Matlock, will you take this case?

I don't know.

I did notice something fairly interesting in the transcripts of the

Yes? Yeah, nobody seemed to look too closely at other family members who

have committed this crime.

Beg your pardon?

Oh, I'm not saying one of you did. I just said nobody seemed to look too

at one of you who might have. And if I were to do this, I'd have to.

I've got a date.

What do you mean?

Well, for instance, where were you at

the time of the murder?

What? I just wanted you to see what it would be like.

Where were you?

I was at home, reading.

Can you corroborate that?

Well...

You signed a premarital agreement with your husband, didn't you?

How did you know?

Figures.

He'd be worth a lot more dead than divorced.

She had a lot to gain.

Yeah.

She wasn't the only one.

A lot of times I wished he was dead, but I didn't kill him.

It wasn't in me.

Well, do you have any idea who might have?

No, I don't.

Your father was several times a millionaire before the

family moved from America to England, right?

Yeah. And when he was murdered, he was a billionaire.

It's a good, clean motive.

I wonder why just then.

What do you mean, just then? Well, when somebody's murdered, usually there's a

reason why at a particular time.

I wonder why your father was killed at his particular time.

I don't know.

Prosecution says your car was seen in front of his building.

I didn't do it.

Well, now...

You went somewhere.

I got a phone call from a girl who didn't tell me what her name was.

She just told me that my brother Mitchell was drunk, so I went to pick

bring him home.

Will you take the case?

Will you represent him?

I don't know.

I... I just don't know.

It is interesting, though, isn't it?

I've never done anything like this before.

And it's as close as I'll ever come to arguing a case in the British court.

But I wouldn't want to take it on unless I could show you some real progress.

Let me look into it.

Albert was an old friend of my father's. So when he offered me this job, I took

it, and here I am.

What did you do for it?

Not much.

I was supposed to be a confidential assistant in private counsel, although

never confided much.

He sounded like a strange fellow.

He wasn't ordinary.

As comfortable as I am.

Oh.

Well, the state of the crime can give you a little bit of a creep.

Yeah. Has this door been kept locked?

Yeah, the police locked it after the murder and Lawrence kept it locked since

the trial.

All this time?

Lawrence lifted.

Why?

You, I suppose.

The transcript said that Albert put up a little bit of a fight.

Yeah, I guess so.

And the coroner's report said that he was murdered between 7 and 10 p .m.

Would the front doors have been locked then?

They get locked at 6 .30.

Who has the keys?

I do. Albert did.

His two sons, Eric and Mitchell, and Laura, of course.

Anybody else?

Phillip Dudley, Albert's executive VP, and Sybil, Albert's wife.

What's this?

Sealing wax.

Albert was, as you suggest, a little eccentric.

It amused him to seal documents with the family crest with this.

Oh.

Well, that was found over there.

Yes.

Anything else I should see?

Well, actually, I don't know if this is relevant or not, but it is kind of odd.

Last week, we received a bill from a private detective for services performed

for Mr. Gordon before he died.

What kind of service?

Bill didn't say.

Think you could set up an appointment with this fellow?

I'd like to know about that bill. Tell me, tell me exactly what you did for

Albert Gordon before he died.

Mr. Gordon hired me to do some surveillance work to log the movements

certain subject.

Take photographs.

Well, who was the subject?

The girl, Fiona Maxwell, his mistress.

His mistress?

Didn't it occur to you that she might have had something to do with his

Why didn't you come forward at the trial?

I maintain the confidentiality of my clients, alive or dead.

And, incidentally, if you should require any investigative services during your

stay here, I shall be pleased to make myself available.

You wouldn't happen to still have the negatives?

Better than that.

There you go, sir.

Nicely composed, wouldn't you say?

Did Albert Gordon say why he wanted these taken?

No, I assumed he thought she was cheating on him. That's usually why it's

My instructions were to take photographs of everyone who went in and out of our

home over the course of a weekend.

Did he say anything when he saw her?

Yes. He said, Damn, I should have known.

Maybe you better give me this woman's address.

I don't know if Maxwell doesn't live here anymore.

Are you sure?

Absolutely sure.

If you don't believe me, come in and see for yourself.

She's gone all right.

Yeah.

You know where she moved to?

No. I only wish I did.

Why? Easiest job I ever had. That's why.

She gave me a weekly salary.

But only asked me to work on Wednesdays. He just worked one day a week?

He had the same deal. Ask him.

Then out of the blue, she told us she was moving and asked us to come in today

and clear up.

Nearly broke my heart. Fear flattened me.

Do you have any idea what she did on the days you weren't here?

No.

Now, if you don't mind, we have work to do.

You'll pay to clean the place, not run a tour.

Get back to work.

What do you want?

Are you the owner?

That's right.

Do you know a woman named Fiona Maxwell?

Why? Well, we were looking for her. She owes him some money.

Yeah.

What?

Damn.

What are you looking at?

Where'd you get those shoes?

If you're interested in buying this, make an appointment with the broker.

Here's her card.

There's the door.

Well, I just wanted to know... Thank you very much.

Good day.

What makes him such hot stuff?

That was Robert Harris.

He runs a casino in London as well as several other businesses that are

less than legitimate.

Did you get my drift?

Where to now?

The Gordon estate.

I got something to tell Laura.

What?

I'm taking the case.

Mr. Matlock, thank you.

I wouldn't be thanking me yet. I'm going to need a few things to get started.

Anything. Name it.

Well, limousine and a driver, apartment in London, briefcase containing

100 ,000 pounds.

That's a lot of money, isn't it? A lot of money.

Anything else?

No, that'll do for a start.

I'll have everything for you within an hour.

I'm Ben Matlock.

Are you Philip Dudley? That's right.

Oh, good to see you. Oh, I'm sorry. What happened to your wrist?

I fractured it. It was an accident.

Excuse me, I have to get to the safe. Oh, go right ahead.

I was just getting a feel of the room, seeing the crime and everything.

Did you work for Albert Gordon a long time?

17 years.

I guess it was frustrating.

Why frustrating?

Well, I hear he was pretty hard on his employees.

You included.

Mr. Matlock, I'm no hypocrite.

Albert Gordon was, in most ways, a thoroughly disagreeable man.

Why should I kill him?

I don't know.

But with, uh...

With Eric found guilty of his murder, that stands to make you head of the

company. I can vouch for Philip.

Oh, hi.

Really? Yes.

Mr. Matlock, just for the record, with the salary I earn and the stock I own, I

am more than secure financially.

It would make little difference to me were I to become head of the company, as

you put it.

Uh, where were you again?

The night of the murder?

He was with me.

In fact, that's the night he hurt his wrist.

He took a fall in my kitchen and I ran him to the emergency room.

Oh.

I didn't know you were such good friends.

Ms. Maxwell.

Fiona Maxwell.

The Fiona Maxwell who was a friend of Albert Gordon's?

I don't know any Albert Gordon.

He certainly knew you.

So does Robert Harris.

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

I'm a lawyer, Ms. Maxwell. Eric Gordon's lawyer.

Not yours, unfortunately.

Maybe you didn't know they're retrying his case.

Go away. This has nothing to do with me.

No?

I bet this time you'd make a very interesting witness.

Ms.

Maxwell.

Officer, this gentleman is annoying me. What's the problem, sir? My feet hurt.

What? Big winner at table eight.

Once the limit taken off.

Thank

you,

Pam. I'll take over.

Am I going to be able to get some real money here or what?

I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure.

That's right.

You haven't.

What's your name?

Hudson.

Tyler Hudson.

We have to talk.

We have to wait.

We can't wait.

Why don't you see what the lady wants?

We can play another time.

Excuse me for a moment.

Pam?

Someone's asking questions.

Some yank lawyer.

His name's Matlock.

He's some guy they call in for that kangaroo court. Forget it. He said he

going to make me testify.

It's not a real trial.

He can't make you do anything.

He could go to the police.

He had copies of those pictures. They don't prove a thing. I want to go away.

I'm afraid.

I give you this because I know how secure it makes you feel.

It separates you from all the lower species.

I want to go away.

We will when the time is right.

Now go on home.

I'll stop by later if I can.

Excuse me, miss.

My employer wishes to know if you'd accept a lift.

Thank you.

Well, here you are.

Well, thanks for the ride.

Miss Maxwell.

How do you know my name?

This is for you.

I don't understand.

With this much money, you can put a great deal of distance between you and

of your problems.

Who are you? I'm Tyler Hudson.

And this is from the Gordon family.

They are willing to pay you to tell the truth.

Mr. Matlock sent you? I work for the family.

And Mr. Matlock has his means of doing things, and I have mine.

He prefers to make people's lives miserable.

I prefer to spread a little sunshine What do you say?

Thanks for the ride

I'm not impressed.

Speaking for the family, I would like to say that we believe so strongly in my

brother's innocence that we have staged this public rehearing of his case.

And it is our sincere hope and belief that what happens in this court will

justify an official retrial of my brother's case.

Thank you.

You're enjoying this exhibition?

I certainly am not.

I'm enjoying it only slightly more than Eric is.

Come in.

Woolsey, I am Eric Gordon's attorney, Ben Matlock.

Mr. Matlock, though I have been lured out of retirement to preside at this

trial, I intend to conduct it as if it were the real thing.

Oh, I understand.

The rules and procedure of the Crown Court will be adhered to as closely as

possible.

Accordingly, I will not tolerate any breaches of decorum or...

Colourful courtroom antics.

I have acquainted myself with British courtroom procedure.

Though I might need a little guidance and patience from your honour.

Your lord. My lord.

I'd like to shake hands with the prosecuting attorney.

You will find your counterpart, Sir Alec Moore, in the robing room.

Sir Alec, why are you participating in this?

I cannot account for the motives of the others involved.

I suspect the quest for publicity has much to do with it.

As for myself, as the original prosecuting counsel, I have an interest

upholding the validity of the original trial.

I have every confidence that I shall do so.

And the American lawyer, do you have anything to say about him?

I think under the circumstances, the less said, the better.

Thank you, Sir Alec.

Sir Alex, I'm Eric Gordon's attorney, Ben Matlock. How do you do, Mr. Matlock?

How do you do?

Well, I trust that we can make this not only a fair fight, but also a civil one.

I'll do my best.

Oh, your gun hangs over there.

And here is your week.

I'll see you in court.

Yes, thank you.

Silence be upstanding in court.

All persons who have anything to do before my lords, the Queen's justices,

near and give your attendance.

God save the Queen.

If you are ready.

My lord, though I should like to express my readiness to proceed, I submit that

my learned friend is already guilty of contempt of court.

Mr. Matlock has asked me to allow him to appear without our traditional robe and

wig.

I have granted him this deviation from the norm, and as this trial is somewhat

unusual to begin with, I have agreed.

Not that it matters how Mr. Matlock is or is not dressed, as Your Lordship

pleases. It matters not one jot that Mr. Matlock is dressed in less than an

exemplary fashion.

I am confident the truth in this case, much as before, is so compelling that

nothing will distract us from it.

The prosecution will demonstrate that Eric Gordon murdered his father and that

the facts allow of no other conclusion.

And where was the gun found, Inspector?

In Eric Gordon's car.

The morning after the murder.

Thank you, Inspector.

No questions.

And what did your investigation reveal?

We discovered that the bullet removed from the body was fired from that gun.

The same gun that was found in Eric Gordon's car?

Yes, sir.

No questions, my lord.

You drew up Mr. Gordon's last will?

Yes. Did all members of the family benefit?

Yes.

But who's left in control of the business?

His son, Eric.

This time I have a question, my lord.

Two questions.

One, did Eric Gordon witness this will?

No.

Two, who did?

Members of our firm.

and Mr. Gordon's wife, Sybil.

Thank you.

That little leather shop on King Street, okay? Very good, sir.

You are employed as a security guard in the building adjacent to Albert Gordon's

office building.

Yes, sir.

At about nine o 'clock on the night of the murder, did you see anyone enter Mr.

Gordon's building?

Yes, sir.

And who was that?

Mr. Eric Gordon.

You knew him on sight?

I used to see him quite often.

And how did you know him by name?

I found out. I rather fancied that car he drove.

Thank you.

Now, this car you fancied, it was parked outside the Gordon building that night.

If this is the building...

Where was the car parked? Here?

No, sir. There, across the street.

This is a one -way street, isn't it? Yes, sir.

What I don't understand is why someone would park a car way over here

to go in a building over there.

What do you think about that?

If it please, my lord, my learned friend is leading the witness to a purely

speculative conclusion.

My lord, once answered.

These questions will elucidate a major point of the defense.

What major point?

That whoever parked that car here, that person wanted to be seen

by this witness.

I will uphold the objection, and I would ask you to restrain yourself from

further speculation.

I withdraw that question and submit this one in its place.

Mr. Crossland, isn't it true that not ten feet from where this car was parked

was a street lamp?

I suppose.

And isn't it true, when lit, the street lamp backlights anyone crossing the

street, making a clear view of that person's face impossible?

I suppose so. Did you get a clear view of that person's face?

Not his face, no. When you patrolled the building next door to Gordon

International Office building,

Do you follow any kind of pattern?

I generally tour the rooms in the same order each night. Yes.

How long does this tour usually take?

20 minutes.

So you saw someone you assumed to be Eric Gordon cross the street at

around 9 o 'clock.

Yes, sir. And you saw this same person go back across the street at 9 .20, 20

minutes later.

Yes.

If this person...

wanted you to see him going in and out of this building. He couldn't have

planned it any better, could he? If it please, my lord.

No further questions. Thank you, Mr. Crossley.

That is the case of the prosecution, my lord. The court will take a brief

adjournment. Court will be upstanding.

I am very impressed.

Well, poking holes in their case is one thing.

Plugging up the holes in ours is something else altogether.

Mr. Matlock, I'm ready.

I'll testify.

I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give...

shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Ms. Maxwell, let's clarify something up front.

Did someone pay you to appear in court this morning?

Yes.

Was that person a representative of the Gordon family?

Yes. Did that person tell you what to say up in the witness box?

Yes.

The truth.

And it took money to get you to do that.

Yes, I shall need it to get away after I testify.

Before I ask you from whom, tell me this.

Did you know Albert Gordon?

Yes.

How would you describe your relationship?

We were lovers.

God, she's been shot.

Dead.

Why was she shot?

I don't know why she was shot.

Someone obviously did not want that woman to testify, and it certainly was

my brother.

And if anyone had any doubts before, then they should know now that Eric is

innocent.

Whoever killed your father had to have a key to the front door of the office

building.

It had to be a friend or a member of the family.

The facts are Mitchell didn't get along with your father. Everybody knows that.

What's not generally known is that he was that close to bankrupting his trust

fund. With your father dead, he stands to inherit a great deal of money.

And Philip... With your father dead and you incarcerated, Philip would take over

Gordon International.

becoming not only several million dollars richer, but also one of the most

powerful financiers in the world.

If your father was having an affair with Fiona Maxwell, then

his marriage with Sybil couldn't have been very strong.

Maybe you didn't know there was a prenuptial agreement.

No, I didn't.

In the event of a divorce, Sybil would have gotten nothing.

But now she'll be one of the richest women in the world.

But none of them could have killed that woman in court.

I don't think so. But there had to be a connection with somebody.

Somebody killed my father.

He went through a lot of trouble to make it look like it was me.

Now with that person behind bars, I don't care who it is. I don't care how

time it takes or how much money it costs.

You just find out who did it.

Well, what's going on at the casino?

Cops are all over my newfound and very dear friend, Robert Harris.

Spoken to him?

Ben, we are like this.

We've gambled together, had drinks together. At any moment, I'm expecting

invitation to tea.

We need the person responsible for that girl's death.

Here.

Is that a new suit?

Yeah. Taylor over on Saville Road made it for me.

Shoes new too?

Yeah. Shop on Bond Street.

How much?

Oh, I don't remember exactly.

Over $50 a pair?

Over $50 a shoe.

I'm going to give you some money so you can get out of town.

Rob, we've got to talk.

There's nothing to discuss.

Two of the people in that courtroom picked out your mugshot.

You've got to lay low.

No thanks.

I got rid of the woman to safeguard my cut.

I'm not going to live in it.

Nicky.

You've earned your share and you'll get it.

What's the matter?

Don't you trust me?

I'll get you a drink.

John is in the hospital.

In the hospital? What the hell for?

Goldstones. He's going to be there at least a week.

After all the trouble I went to setting up Albert Gordon, we don't have a torch

man because of some bloody goldstones.

We have to find another torch man.

Starting right now. Come on!

He once said that with a single drop of water, you can produce the whole ocean.

Get our killer, we just need the right drop.

I think I might have a little something for you.

Michelle Thomas.

Tyler Hudson. Hi.

Nice to meet you.

Robert Harris is in a scheme that requires setting up Albert Gordon.

My guess is that's where Fiona Maxwell came in.

What scheme?

All I know is in order to pull it off, he needs a torch man.

Torch man?

It's somebody who can cut open a safe.

You think you can figure out what this Robert Harris is up to? Well, all right.

I'll talk to you later about it.

Please sit down. My shoes are killing me.

Fiona's affair with Albert Gordon was part of a set -up.

I wonder if his murder was part of a set -up, too. Do you suppose something went

wrong? Pictures must have something to do with it.

Private investigators said that Albert got real upset.

Maybe he saw something in him that made him realize he was being

used.

What if he had to be killed?

Who's that fellow?

I don't know.

Wait a minute, isn't that the butler?

Yeah, that's... He worked for her on

wind.

Yeah, that's right.

Oh, right.

Those pictures were taken on Saturday.

Davidson Davies Academy for Household Administrators.

I'm going to look for the office.

Ben?

This young man will direct.

Those butlers were staring at me.

Household administrators.

Really? Household administrators.

The term butler is archaic and demeaning.

Okay.

Why were they staring at me?

I suppose they thought you were a class project.

Mr. Davis is in there.

Thank you.

Mr. Davies? Yes.

Hello, I'm Michelle Thomas.

This is Benjamin Matlock.

I didn't know.

We're looking for a boss.

A household administrator. That's right. I presume you do have references.

I couldn't place any of our graduates unless I first examined the employers.

We're not actually doing any hiring.

We're lawyers.

And we're looking for one particular...

administrator.

I'm afraid I couldn't possibly.

It's a rather complicated story, but our client, who must go unnamed,

was paid an act of kindness by this man when he returned the wallet that our

client had accidentally left in a taxi cab.

The gentleman refused any reward or compensation at that time.

and it's his final wish to include this honest man in his will.

We've hired private investigators who've been surreptitiously photographing

household administrators these past few weeks in what, until only recently, has

been a vain attempt to locate this man.

Well, just a few days ago, one of our investigators did photograph the right

man, but he was leaving a house that's unoccupied and therefore a dead end, so

to speak.

We were hoping you might know the gentleman's name.

As I said, it's a record.

No, I don't know him.

What's his name?

That's what we're trying to find out.

Miss Brookins. Do you know this gentleman?

I've seen him.

Thank you. Of course, I'm talking about the one you gave it, Fiona Maxwell's.

We just want to ask you a few questions. We represent Harry Gordon, and I

promise you Robert Harris will never find out.

Did Fiona know you weren't a real butler?

She was a friend.

She needed a butler. I needed a job.

She only needs you on Wednesdays.

Look, she was your friend. Help us find the person who killed her.

Wednesdays was the day she had Albert Gordon over.

Oh.

Was he... Was he there the day before he died?

Yes, but very briefly.

They had an argument.

About what?

What were they saying?

Well, he was doing most of the talking.

I remember him saying something about, I don't know what you two are doing, but

I'm going to put a stop to it.

Then he left.

He was quite angry.

But you were seen going into Fiona's townhouse not on a Wednesday, but on a

Saturday. What were you doing there?

I needed an advance on my salary. I was there for all of five minutes.

Yes, I think it was a hymn.

I remember seeing a cigarette lighter on the kitchen table.

I'm sure it was a man's.

That, and the way she was acting, made me think that she must have had somebody

upstairs.

Did this lighter have any initials or a monogram on it?

It was one of those promotional jobs.

It was burgundy color with white letters and medical insignia.

You know, it was one of those favors they give away.

charity balls.

It wasn't a ball. It was a dinner for the health fund.

Over here.

I didn't know you smoked.

I don't.

On Saturday, before your father was murdered, around 2 .30 in the afternoon,

this lighter was seen in Fiona Maxwell's home.

I didn't even know her.

Where were you then? Look, there were hundreds of those lighters given away at

that dinner.

Ask her. She was there.

Shall we repeat the question?

I was out for a drive.

With whom?

No one.

Stopped for gas?

I don't remember.

You know, it's a lot like where you were the night your father was murdered. You

don't remember that either. You have a kind of problem with your memory, don't

you?

Phone numbers.

I'm real good with girls' phone numbers.

How about Fiona's?

You think I'm a suspect. I'm flattered.

People don't usually think to include me in family matters.

I do have a lousy memory.

But I certainly wouldn't forget killing my father.

right everybody be cool now we know why you've been such a faithful customer

you've been casing us boy anybody gets

too imaginative i want you to know i have very serious friends in chicago

why don't you relax mr hanson if you're actually any good with that torch

we may be able to do some business what kind of business

Are you any good?

Michelle, I've seen so little of you since this thing began. Why don't we

dinner tonight?

All right.

Mr. Dudley, I'd appreciate it if you'd stand by. You're my first witness today.

Would you please examine this and tell the court what it is?

It's a telex.

And from the code, it would appear to have been sent to Mr. Gordon on May the

8th of this year.

At what time?

20 .07 hours.

So this telex was sent to Albert Gordon at 8 .07 p .m. on May the 8th, the

night he was murdered. In fact, it was the last telex he ever received.

My lord, either I doze off, which is quite possible, or my learned friend has

yet to even remotely suggest the pertinence of these questions.

The coroner has testified that Albert Gordon died between 7 and 10 p

.m. the night he was shot, my lord.

The police conclude that since someone was seen entering the building around 9

and leaving at 9 .20, that the murder occurred shortly after 9.

These questions will demonstrate that, in fact, his death could have been

accomplished a whole hour earlier.

You may continue, Mr. Matlock, if only to keep Sir Alec awake.

Would you please tell the court where this telex originated?

Etchells and Thunberg.

That's a brokerage firm in Los Angeles.

And tell us what it says, the gist of it.

Basically, it's a request for Mr. Gordon's permission to sell a certain

immediately. And by ignoring this request, how much did Albert Gordon

lose?

I'm not sure.

I'd say about $1 million.

According to my information, closer to $2 million.

Was it like Albert Gordon to ignore such a request?

Not really, no.

Under what circumstances would he ignore a message like that?

Well... What if he were dead, Mr. Dudley?

What if he had been murdered around 8 o 'clock instead of 9?

And the murderer used the hour in between to frame Eric Gordon. With

lord, my learned friend is leading the witness.

Mr. Matlock, you will have ample opportunity to draw conclusions in your

remarks.

As your lordship pleases. No further questions.

Mr. Dudley, would you describe Albert Gordon as eccentric?

Not exactly.

I would say he was an individualist.

He liked to do things his own way.

Yes. The way that had, after all, made him a billionaire.

Yes.

Had he, on occasions, refused to take advice to his ultimate loss?

Yes. And hadn't he sometimes ignored telexes, even when it cost him money to

so? On occasion, yes. In fact, Albert Gordon could afford to lose two million

dollars and not bat an eyelid, couldn't he, Mr. Dudley?

Yes. So it isn't too difficult to believe that on this occasion he simply

to ignore some telex.

From his stockbroker.

I don't suppose so.

Thank you, Mr. Duffield.

My lord, I call Mitchell Gordon to the stand.

Mr. Gordon, you're an American, is that correct?

I was born in the United States, but my family moved here several years ago.

Mr. Gordon, where do you currently reside?

At my family's home.

And how do you support yourself?

I live off a trust fund my mother left for me when she died.

Isn't it true that your unpaid bills have mounted up and, in fact, you're

Yes.

And didn't you go to your father and have a violent argument with him over

money?

Yes.

And isn't it true that he refused to give you any more?

Yeah. And isn't it true now that he's dead...

You stand to come into more money than even you can spend.

Well, I'd be delighted to try.

Thank you for being so honest with us, Mr. Gordon.

Now, where were you the night your father was murdered?

I spent the evening at several parties.

Whose parties?

I don't remember.

It is true that several of your friends recall seeing you at a party that night.

But they also recall your leaving around 7 .30.

Where did you go?

I suppose I went to another party.

Send in Mr. McNulty, please.

Mr. McNulty drives a taxi for Gray's Livery Service. Do you recognize him?

He's prepared to testify that he picked you up in the West End that night at 7

.23 p .m.

and drove you to Wharton Road.

Thank you.

What were you doing at Wharton Road?

I told you I mean...

I don't remember. I suppose I went to another party.

I think you'd better try to remember.

You see, it's the defense's contention that Albert Gordon was murdered long

before 9 o 'clock.

Now, Wharton Road is a short 10 -minute walk from his office. You could have

taken the taxi to Wharton Road, walked for 10 minutes to his office, and killed

your father.

No! He didn't kill him.

Order!

Order in the court. Please take your seat.

Mitchell.

Tell me.

Another outburst and I will have you arrested.

I, uh... I believe my learned friend asked the witness a question.

The truth...

is that I know exactly where I was on the night of the murder.

I haven't told anybody because I promised my stepmother, Sybil, that I

She called me at a party in the West End.

And as you say, Mr. Matlock, I hailed a cab and I took it to Warden Road. But

when I got there, I met Sybil and I drove her in her car to our country home

where we spent most of the night.

Unless you get the wrong idea, Sybil...

Has a drinking problem. And my father told her that if he caught her drinking

again, he'd have her committed. And that night she was... She was very drunk and

she was terrified that my father would find out. So I took her to the country

and helped her sober up.

And then drove her home.

And we found out the next morning my father was dead.

Why have you kept this a secret even after your father's death?

I gave my word.

No further questions.

Hudson?

Time.

Just a minute.

Thank you.

You go with Nicky.

Wait a minute. You said the score wasn't going to go down until after midnight.

I changed my mind.

Look, I made plans for the evening.

Mind if I cancel them?

All right, where are we going?

Okay.

Ben, we're at the Gordon International offices.

What in the world are they trying to steal?

Hello, sweetheart.

I'm sorry, but I'll see you tomorrow next door.

I promise.

Tyler, are you all right?

Let's go.

Bye, baby.

We need Michelle Thompson.

Yep.

Come on, then.

Dr. McNeil, upstairs.

Sounds good.

Tyler never would have called if there wasn't something wrong.

Then where is he?

What is the matter with you? Look, there's something the matter with the

Give me a minute, will you?

Certainly, gentlemen.

Any of you.

You guys get caught in traffic or what?

May I help you?

You're under arrest, Mr. Harris.

Conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

Inspector, may I have a moment with you?

I'll be right outside.

Uh, Mr. Harris, then Matlock. We met the other day.

The sheikh who owns the building next to Gordon International arrived in town

yesterday with his people and around four million in diamonds.

Mr. Matlock, I run a casino.

What do Arabs and diamonds have to do with me?

Well, I imagine greed, Mr. Harris.

You knew for months that those diamonds would be stored in that vault underneath

that building, so you dug a tunnel, didn't you?

From the basement of Gordon International to the basement of that

And tonight, your men cut into that vault to steal those diamonds.

That's ridiculous.

Thing is, to get into Gordon International, you needed a contact

And I believe that contact is the person who killed Albert Gordon.

This may be your only chance to help yourself.

Who was it?

You know what my problem is, Mr. Matlock?

I never learned how to sing.

Well, it's never too late.

For me, it is.

Inspector!

They've arrested Robert Harris?

Yeah.

Did he kill Albert?

I don't know.

But if he didn't, he probably knows who did.

He's not talking, but Mr. Matlock thinks it's just a matter of time.

Are you sure you don't want to call this off?

I'm three hours late.

Why do you think they invented the microwave?

Like the candle.

Red or white?

Red.

You really enjoy Mr.

Matlock, don't you?

Yeah, I am enjoying working with him.

It's a lot more compelling than shuffling papers.

I haven't felt as good about being a lawyer since... I'm very happy for you.

Thanks.

I thought you were lighting the candles.

Does he have any suspects?

Not that I know of.

Oh, Philip, this was a bad idea.

I'm really not hungry.

In fact, I don't feel too well.

What's wrong?

A little dizzy. Just tired, I suppose.

You can sleep here. Not tonight.

I'll see you tomorrow.

No. Look, it's all right. Fine.

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

What's the matter?

I broke myself.

What are you doing?

Oh, I was just messing with this stuff.

If this sealer was found over there on the floor the morning after Albert

was shot, then it might be that he was using it about the time whoever killed

him came into the office.

He could have been knocked off the desk or out of his hand in a struggle.

This came for you, sir.

Express mail.

Thank you.

Do you need a card?

From someone named Cassie.

Yeah? These came from Trader Ed's. They sent you a half size too small.

You got anything new?

Philip Dudley has a cigarette lighter identical to the one that Butler says he

saw in Fiona Maxwell's apartment.

And when I was there last night, it almost seemed like he was... Oh,

hell, who am I kidding?

He was... Pressing me to see whether you knew who the killer is.

I think maybe it's him.

Tell me I'm wrong.

Take a look at these.

See if you can see maybe without guards.

Take a good look.

The car?

That's Philip Dudley's car.

Parked in front of her townhouse.

Yeah, but there's not a picture of him.

No.

Just the car.

These pictures were taken over the weekend.

He came on Friday and didn't leave till Monday.

But you can't see the license plate. You can't even tell what color it is. How

do you know it's Philip's?

The same way maybe Albert Gordon did.

Consider yourself still under oath, Mr. Dudley.

My lord.

What is your association with Robert Harris, Mr. Dudley?

I've never met the man.

Well, you've spent considerable time in his gambling casino.

According to records obtained by Scotland Yard, enough time to have

a debt of almost half a million pounds. My lord.

Though my learned friend, obviously.

revels in these sojourns into the obscure.

I and everyone else the least bit concerned with expediency do not. I must

object. I intend to show relevance and much more, my lord. If you will bear

me, please.

You have my permission, however temporary, to proceed, Mr. Matlock.

Now, Mr. Dudley, isn't it true that in order to settle your gambling debts, you

entered into an agreement with Robert Harris?

I certainly did not.

And if this Robert Harris fellow says that I did, then he lied.

Did you ever read a Sherlock Holmes story called The Red -Headed League?

It's about these crooks who arranged for this red -headed man who owned

a store to be away from his store at certain times so they could dig a tunnel

from his shop to the bank next door.

You've lost me, Mr. Matlock.

Well, Albert Gordon, the red -headed man, on Robert Harris didn't want to dig

a tunnel to a bank. He wanted to dig a tunnel to a vault containing several

millions of dollars in diamonds in the Yossi building next door to the Gordon

International building.

The problem was that Albert Gordon, the red -headed man,

often worked late at night.

So Robert Harris used one of Mr. Gordon's weaknesses.

He arranged for him to meet a woman.

Beautiful woman.

Fiona Maxwell.

That's when Mr. Gordon's weakness came into play.

An affair followed.

They met Wednesday nights.

She probably told him she was married and could only be with him on Wednesday

evenings anyway.

Wednesday night, instead of working late, old Albert got in his Rolls Royce

drove over to Fiona Maxwell's Belgravia townhouse while Robert Harris' men, with

a key provided by you, entered the Gordon building, went down in

the basement, dug away at their tunnel until the next morning when the cleaning

crew arrived.

My lord, he's indulging in sheer fantasy. Surely I don't have to stand

My lord, the tunnel is still there as far as it went.

Proceed.

Mr. Dudley, do you drive a 1986 green Jaguar?

Yes, but... Now, before you speak, take a look at these.

I wouldn't want you to perjure yourself.

These are a set of photographs taken by a private detective outside Fiona

Maxwell's townhouse at the direction of Albert Gordon.

Here's a set for you, my lord, and a set for you, sir.

These pictures were taken the weekend before Albert Gordon was murdered.

In all but one of them, Mr. Dudley's car is parked out front.

Yes, my cousin drives a similar green car.

Mr. Matlock, I suppose you'll want to be questioning him, too.

Not unless it has a dent in the left front fender, the way that one does, and

not unless the estimate for its repair wound up on Albert Gordon's death the

this one did.

It was a company car, wasn't it, Mr. Dutton?

And I expect Albert Gordon was apprised of the insurance claim after your little

fender bender, and I expect...

He recognized your car when he looked at those pictures. What do you think?

I don't. Oh, I do.

I think when he saw your car, he knew that you and Fiona were,

as my mother used to say, up to something.

And when she knew that he knew about you, she told Robert

Harris, whose scheme to steal those diamonds was suddenly in serious

And he amended his agreement with you.

Killing Albert Gordon became part of the deal.

I didn't kill anyone.

I was nowhere near the Gordon office building.

That's right. You have an alibi.

Your wrist.

You were at the hospital having it x -rayed and a cast put on.

Yes, I was.

That is, assuming the murder took place around nine o 'clock.

But what?

If, as I have suggested, it actually took place around 8, and the person seen

going into the Gordon office building was really your friend Fiona, dressed in

trench coat and a hat to appear to be Eric Gordon.

None of this is true. None of it. Tell me about your wrist.

What did you do to it?

I stumbled and fell against the stove when helping a friend prepare dinner at

her house. I fractured it.

Burned yourself?

Yes.

If you'd like to see the hospital records, I'm sure they'll make them

That won't be necessary.

The emergency room nurse who supervised your treatment that night is in court

this morning.

Would you send in Miss Winthrop, please?

Objection, my lord. What does the nurse who treated Mr. Dudley have to do with

this? May I continue, my lord?

Continue.

Is this the nurse?

I think so.

According to the medical records from your orthopedist, you did fracture your

wrist.

But that was three months ago, wasn't it?

No.

Well, according to your doctor, it was.

But you didn't have a cast put on then because you were told that this sort of

injury often heals quite well on its own.

But the night of the murder, you insisted a cask be put on, but not

the fracture, to hide a burn.

My Lord, if you'll indulge me, I did something stupid yesterday.

I burned myself.

Burned myself with this.

This is the stamp that was found on the floor next to Albert Gordon's body the

morning after the murder.

I think he was doing what I was doing.

sealing an envelope with hot wax.

I melted the wax, heated the stamp, pressed the stamp

into the hot wax.

That's when I did something stupid.

Someone entered the room unexpectedly.

I burned myself.

Perhaps you can see the mark, Sir Alec.

Now, this is what I think happened, Mr. Dudley.

About 8 o 'clock that night, you went up to... Albert Gordon's office, struggled

with him briefly and killed him.

Then you had Fiona Maxwell lure Eric Gordon out of his house with a phone

about his brother being drunk.

While you went over to your friend's house, took your convenient fall, went

the hospital.

While Fiona impersonated Eric at the scene of the crime.

It's complete lunacy.

Ms. Winthrop, will you step forward?

I've asked her to bring her solid.

I think it's time for that cast to come off, don't you?

Milord, surely you don't expect me to comply?

Mr. Dudley, please step down. Kindly remove your coat.

Let the record show Mr.

Dudley has a partially healed burn on his right wrist, exactly the same size

shape of the Gordon family crest.

I believe in the case of the crown against Eric Gordon, there exists more

reasonable doubt.

That is the case for the defense.

and I feel very confident that when we have an official retrial of this case,

brother's name will be clear.

Excuse me.

Mr. Matlock!

May I?

You bet.

Thank you.

those deals that worked out well for everybody.

Eric gets a new trial and he'll take over the company.

Laura's not going to contest the will.

Sybil gets some money. Mitchell gets some money. I had a good job. Had some

Didn't have to wear a wig.

It worked out well for everybody. When I say everybody, not Al.

I'm sorry about Phil.

Oh, my.

Listen.

My daughter's off on her own. She joined a law firm in Philadelphia, so I've got

an empty office.

Proposition? Well, I could only offer a junior partnership.

I'll tell you what.

You think about it.

Let me know if you're interested.

Hey, Tyler, we catch the Concord.

We can get home and go to the Peachtree Diner in time for pork chops and grits.

You're buying.