Original subtitles

Thank you.

As soon as the judge heard that, he called a recess, took us into his

and he lit into the DA like there was no tomorrow.

I mean, all the poor guy could do was move to dismiss.

Why do I even bother?

With what?

Going to law school.

When I can learn everything I need to know from you.

No, there's no substitute for experience, Andrea.

Yeah, you've taught me that, too.

Oh, did you have a chance to talk to Larry Klein about my clerking with his

this summer?

No, I didn't.

But you will?

Of course.

Next time I see him.

Promise.

Oh, when is the next... I'm going to see you.

It's tomorrow. Soon enough? How about tonight?

Well, I gotta work late. Oh.

Tell you what.

Why don't we meet at the apartment tomorrow and have lunch?

Better yet, we could meet at the apartment and not have lunch.

Oh.

Gotta get back.

Tomorrow? 12 .30?

Can't wait.

Oh, Mr.

Lawson.

Here are your messages.

And Mr. Jordan is waiting.

Ed Jordan?

What's he doing here?

He had a two o 'clock appointment.

Why in the hell didn't you tell me?

I told you this morning. Your job isn't just to tell me. It's to make sure that

I know.

Ed Jordan is important.

You've embarrassed me, Phyllis.

And the next time that it happens, that's it.

were coming in. Please, have a seat.

Get a pen and write this down.

Find two clean cups, fill them with coffee, and bring them to us.

Did you get that, dear?

Yes, sir.

What's worse, I heard you tell him about that two o 'clock.

I could think after all these years that I'd get used to it.

He seems to get worse and worse.

Well, you know he's not going to fire you.

Oh, no. He enjoys humiliating me too much.

I can't quit because at my age, who would hire me?

Trapped like a rat in a cage.

Well, what can you do?

I don't know.

It's a terrible thing to say.

Sometimes I wish... He were dead.

Rank.

It must be the vitamins.

Listen, I'll call you tomorrow, 2, 2 .30, a week later, okay?

Ride down with me?

What do you got in mind?

Well, we are 40 floors up.

Andrea, what are you doing here?

You were supposed to be working late, remember?

I brought you dinner.

Who was that?

Her name's Carol.

How long has this been going on?

It's none of your business.

It's over with us, Andrea.

The hell it is.

You're a grown -up, Andrea.

You knew you weren't the first.

Surely you didn't think you'd be the last.

Nobody dumps me, Frank.

Nobody. Look, I enjoyed you, you enjoyed me. And we both need a change. What

about that job you were setting up for me?

I can hardly ask Larry Klein to hire a girl I used to sleep with. Used to sleep

with? Yes.

Past tense.

Go away.

I'm busy.

Yeah, Mom, it's me.

I ordered some pizza.

There's plenty left.

No, thanks.

I thought you said you wouldn't be back till after ten.

I have to tell you something.

What is it?

Mom, I had an affair with Frank Larson.

My Frank Larson?

Could you?

I know you hate him, Mom. It's just that he was so nice to me.

He called me and he sent me flowers.

He told me he loved me.

He seduced you.

Oh, God.

My poor baby.

Why didn't you tell me? I think I killed him.

What? What happened?

I went to his office.

Tonight, only he was there with another woman.

And after she left, I confronted him.

He laughed at me, Mom. He said that I wasn't his first and I wouldn't be his

last. I was just so hurt and I was so angry. I didn't know what I was doing. I

picked up...

I hit him over the head.

Dad,

did anyone see you?

No.

How did you get into the building?

I took your card.

Give it to me.

What did you do with the bookend?

I threw it in a dumpster somewhere downtown. I didn't even realize it was

in my hand until I was about out of my car.

If anyone asks...

You tell them that you were here all night. You were studying.

You hear me?

Yes.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to make sure that bastard's death doesn't ruin your life.

No, the janitor is absolutely right.

I was in the office last night. I just didn't kill Mr. Larson.

What were you doing there in the first place?

Mr. Larson and I had kind of a blow -up yesterday.

He embarrassed me in front of the whole office.

More or less threatened to fire me.

I went to the office last night to try and smooth things over. I knew he was

working late. When I got there, his door was closed. He was talking to somebody.

So I went out to my car. I read the paper.

About 45 minutes later, I went back to the office.

Whoever he was talking to was gone.

And he was dead.

I just turned around and I ran.

I know I should have called the police, but it was such a shock.

Besides, I'd be lying if I said that it didn't occur to me that I might be

blamed.

This person he was talking to, have any idea who it was?

No. Man or woman?

Man. If you heard his voice again, would you think you'd recognize it?

I might.

No.

His voice was too muffled.

Oh.

You worked for him for a long time?

22 years.

Say he threatened to fire you.

Lately he's been threatening to find someone younger.

Will you take my case?

Oh, well... Mr.

Matlock, I did not kill Frank Larson. That is the absolute God's honest truth.

Well, let's see if we can get you out of here.

Morning. Morning.

Bobby. Morning, Ben.

So you took her case, huh?

Yeah, she's a nice lady.

Have you found the murder weapon?

Uh, no.

But we know he was struck over the head once with a heavy, flat -edged object,

so we're assuming it's the bookend that matches this.

Killer must have taken it with her when she fled.

With him?

With him. It was a man.

How do you know that?

Uh -huh.

Uh, my client heard Frank Lawson arguing with

somebody 45 minutes before.

Before he found the body and said it was a

man. Right.

I don't suppose you'd run into anybody who gives an idea of what it was. No.

If you're going to look, you better do it fast.

Frank Larson's widow wants all of his personal effects cleared out of here as

soon as possible.

Oh, in a hurry, huh?

Ms. Larson?

Hi.

I'm Ben Matlock. I represent Phyllis Todd.

Hello. The matching end tables go to everything in the study goes.

Yes, ma 'am. Are you moving?

No. No, I'm just getting rid of a few things I've no use for anymore.

Oh, what a nice desk.

It was my husband's.

Well, you're getting rid of all your husband's things.

Well, he's dead, isn't he?

Yeah, yeah, he's been that way for close to a whole day now.

Yes, I guess he has.

You didn't get along?

Oh, no, no, we got along just fine.

He had his affairs, I had mine.

Oh, were they business or pleasure affairs?

Both.

Was he seeing a...

Somebody recently.

He was always seeing somebody recently.

Would you have any idea who they were?

I couldn't have cared less.

Did you know your husband was going to be working late last night?

Oh, sure.

Did you do anything special?

Yes, I went to the Eastside Athletic Club, played tennis with some friends,

dinner. And you were there... Well, let's see what we got there about.

Six o 'clock. We were there till about ten. No.

Sorry, ma 'am.

No problem.

Those are Frank's golf tropes.

Most, if not all of them, completely undeserved.

He cheated at that, too.

Hey,

Michelle. Hey.

Been here.

He just left to go see Phillip.

Check out the athletic club? Yeah.

Laura Larson was there from 6 to 10, just like she said.

Witnesses all over the place.

I didn't get very far with Phyllis's co -workers either.

Everybody loved her, hated him, and had no idea who he could have been talking

to in his office last night.

This guy Larson, he kills me.

I can understand a guy wanting to have a fling now and then, but, I mean, Larson

wanted to have them all.

Well, it's a two -way street.

He did get a little help, you know.

From who?

From women.

He wouldn't have been nearly so successful in all his so -called

didn't get a signal from women.

And what kind of signal?

The three A's.

I'm approachable.

I'm agreeable. I'm available.

A woman can have just about any man she wants once she sends out those signals.

Oh.

Any man.

Yep, it happens.

Even say someone like Ben.

Oh, Conrad.

Exactly.

You make goo -goo eyes at him, you wiggle your little antenna at him, and

won't even notice it. He'll probably start shining his shoes or scratch his

up against the wall because he won't fall for it. I guarantee you he won't

for it.

I think you're wrong, Conrad.

Then do it.

What? You do it.

Give Ben the signal. I got 50 bucks that says it won't work.

Unless, of course, you don't think you can do it.

Oh,

I'm tempted.

Then try it.

You got signals.

But I know Ben Matlock.

You're on. Great.

50 bucks.

50 bucks.

If you don't mind my stopping by, I want to ask you something. Of course not.

I'm not interrupting.

No, not at all.

Andrea, come and meet my attorney.

This is Ben Matlock.

Oh.

How do you do?

Hello. I hear you're in law school.

Yes, I am.

My daughter went to law school and practices in Philadelphia.

If I sound like a proud father, it's because I am.

That's wonderful, Mr. Matlock.

I hope my mother can say the same someday.

Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like some lemonade?

Oh, no, thank you.

You wanted to ask me something. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. I had an opportunity to speak with Frank Larson's widow.

And apparently he wasn't what you'd call faithful.

Well, that does not surprise me.

I was hoping maybe you could help me figure out what lady or ladies he was

seeing. You mean you think he might have been murdered by a jealous husband?

Could be.

A lot of women phoned.

I never knew who they were.

You might look at the phone logs.

They're in my desk at the office.

Oh, okay. I'll do that. Thank you. Thank you.

That's it?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's it. Except I'm... Glad to finally meet you, Andrea.

Same here, Mr. Matlock. And thank you for taking my mother's case.

Oh, it's a pleasure.

And as one legal mind to another, is there anything

you remember about the night of the murder that might help you?

I wish I did. I came home around 6 .30.

She left to talk to Mr.

Larson at around 7 .30.

I ordered a pizza, studied, and went to bed.

Okay,

thank you.

Well, I'll be talking with you.

Bye.

Hi, Michelle.

Well?

I just went through two years' worth of phone logs.

Find anything?

Yeah.

A pattern.

I'm assuming that the women who called Frank Larson most frequently were the

women he had affairs with.

Shelly, Trish, Linda, Melanie, and Denise.

How do you have time to practice law?

Well, maybe because he saw one at a time.

Now, see, Shelly called him every day for about four months, and then her call

stopped and Tricia's began. She called him for about four months, and then

Linda's calls began.

Anything wrong?

No.

Go ahead.

Well, the really interesting thing is, about four months ago, Denise's calls...

Stopped, but nobody else's began.

Yeah, he needed to rest.

You know, Miss Larson said she thought he was cheating on her right up till the

night he died.

Well, then he was.

Wives always know.

Maybe his last affair never called the office.

But why?

Something has gotten in here.

I know.

The exterminator was here yesterday.

But the smell's usually gone by now.

So this was Larson's love nest.

He didn't read it for the view, did he?

I'll check the bedroom. Okay.

He didn't have many home -cooked meals, either.

Ever heard of the Amato's restaurant?

No.

Yeah, I knew Frank Lawson.

I mean, I knew who he was. He came in here all the time.

In fact, he came in here the day he died.

Was he with anybody?

Some blonde.

He's been bringing her in for a couple of months.

We are talking young and gorgeous.

Did you get a name on her?

No.

But I did overhear her saying something once that blew me away.

Yeah, what was that? She was talking about taking some criminal law class.

I couldn't believe it.

This beautiful chick was going to law school.

Oh, hi.

Glad you could make it. Want some coffee?

Oh, no, thanks.

I've got to get back to my study group.

Is something wrong with my mother?

Oh, no.

I just wanted to give you something.

Lax law dictionary?

You're giving this to me? Yeah.

It was my daughter's, and she doesn't need it anymore, and I thought maybe you

could use it.

Yes, I can.

Thank you. Yeah.

Well, I'd better get back. Okay.

Best to your mother.

Tell me, Mr. Matlock, how's her case going?

It's fine.

It's been coming along.

Good. Thanks again for the book. Okay.

Bye -bye. Bye.

Well,

that's her.

That's the blonde that Frank Lawson was with.

Something else, isn't she?

Yeah, she sure is.

Miss Hawkins?

Miss Hawkins?

Will you get that?

Uh -huh. Uh -huh.

Oh, Miss Thomas, I hardly recognize you.

What have you done to yourself?

Oh, nothing really.

It's probably my new hairdo.

Well, you certainly look nice.

Hi, Ben.

Hi, Cheryl.

Here's a little bit of news that'll curl your eyebrows.

Andrea was having an affair with her mother's boss.

No. Yeah. Now, that puts a whole new wrinkle on things, doesn't it? Yeah.

I guess that's why the phone call stopped.

Yeah, she couldn't call him at the office. Her mother would find out. Might

explain something else, too.

What's that?

Why he's dead.

Her four months were up.

What?

Do that again.

Do what again?

That little walk.

You go up and down again? You go up and down again.

You like this?

Yeah.

That's it.

That's it.

That's it. What?

That's it. What? That's it. Ernie Ford. Ernie Ford said a line to Lucille Ball

on the show one time. She was walking this little wiggly walk like this.

He said, ma 'am, you got an itch in your get along.

You got an itch in your get along.

Excuse me, Mr. Matlock. Would you like me to fix you some lunch?

Sure. Want some lunch?

Um, why don't we go out?

You want to go out?

Okay, thank you, Miss Hawkins. Anyway, where are you going to go?

Well, the weather is so nice.

Why don't we eat alfresco?

Al who?

Outdoors. Oh. It's so pleasant and we can talk.

Okay.

I know just the place.

What a wonderful idea.

The Sidewalk Cafe.

What's it called?

Alfresco. Alfresco.

A hot dog in the park.

I must remember that.

Well, poor Frank Larson.

Doesn't know what he's missing, does he?

You know, if he was a creature of his habit, he must have been in the process

changing partners when he was murdered.

Yeah. Dumped Andrea.

Think maybe she's a very poor loser?

Maybe.

Her mother's covering for her.

You think maybe Phyllis found out what was going on, was outraged, and maybe

it herself?

Well, that too.

There's only one way to find out.

What's everybody looking at us for?

I have no idea.

Want another?

No, thanks.

No, I don't.

Oh. Hi.

You got a minute to talk?

I've got all the time in the world.

Is Andrea at home?

No, she's in class. Oh, she was thrilled with that book you gave her, by the

way. Books are such treasures for her.

She's always been such a good student.

I imagine she has lots of boyfriends.

Not really.

Getting an education is the most important thing in her life right now.

You must know.

The most important thing is for the client to be completely honest with her

lawyer.

You don't think I'm being honest?

I don't think you're telling me everything.

Of course I am.

Well, what about Andrea's affair with Frank Larson?

That's none of your business.

None of my business?

And it's got nothing to do with my case.

The DA won't look at it that way.

The DA doesn't know.

Phyllis, if I found out about it, it's likely she'll find out about it.

And I have to defuse this thing before she takes it in the courtroom and uses

to blow us out of the water.

No.

No!

I absolutely forbid you to bring this up in court.

It's an embarrassment. It would ruin my daughter's career before it's even

begun.

Your word, Mr.

Matlock, or I get a new lawyer.

Miss Richards, you work for the law firm of McPherson, Steele, Larson, and

Marcus. Is that correct?

Yes, it is. I've been there almost six years.

And on the day Frank Larson was murdered, did you witness an argument

him and the defendant, Phyllis Todd?

Well, yes, but it was more of a misunderstanding, really.

And it wasn't a big deal because it happened all the time.

I see.

Did they argue frequently?

Well, Mr. Larson was a very difficult man to work for. Just answer the

please.

Yes, they did.

Would you say that this particular argument upset the defendant?

Phyllis, it's very sensitive. They always upset her. And when you tried to

console her, what did she say to you?

I can't remember her exact words.

Your own words will be just fine.

She didn't mean it. What did she say?

She said, I know it's a terrible thing to think, but sometimes I wish you were

dead.

Thank you, Miss Richard.

Oh, hi.

Mom told me you know about the affair I had with Frank.

I'm so ashamed, Mr. Matlock.

I'm so grateful that you're not going to make it public.

Well, your mother told me she'd fire me if I did.

She needs you desperately, Mr. Matlock.

And I'm going to stand by her, as are you.

You're pretty close to your mother, aren't you?

I love her very much.

She told me that your father ran off when you were a little girl. It must

been very difficult for your mother and you.

We had each other.

You've made her very proud.

You're almost a liar.

And you did it all yourself.

You don't owe anybody anything except her.

Ben. Oh, excuse me. I just overheard something I think you ought to know

Excuse me.

Sure.

I just heard Julie tell Lieutenant Brooks to step up his search for the

weapon. Says if and when the police find it, she can wrap this case up in a day.

She has a new lead. Sounds like it.

Better be careful.

Like break a fingernail or something.

Could you help me? I'm looking for something that got thrown out in here by

mistake.

I'll pay you.

What's it look like?

It's a marvelous bookend. It's about this big. It's got a flat bottom and an

angular top.

It's really heavy.

Where are you going? I just gave you $20.

It'll cost you $50.

Fifty dollars more?

It's a bargain. Another ten seconds, it'll cost you sixty dollars more.

Nice doing business with you, sweetie.

If Ben could see you like this, he'd go for you in a minute.

Just drive.

How'd it go?

She bought it.

Literally. Went for the whole thing?

I got 70 bucks out of her.

I don't think she believed for a second that it was a fake.

Looks like we found the killer, Conrad.

Looks like.

I think so.

A little nervous.

Well, I won't be asking you any questions about you and, you know, Frank

Look at it this way.

As a student of law, it might be good for you to see how it feels up on the

stand, right?

Right.

You know, your mother still thinks you're the sweet young girl

that she devoted her life to after your father left.

Make it sound like you don't. Well, it's hard to imagine a sweet young girl

falling for somebody like Frank Larson.

Could be you wanted something else.

Like what?

Maybe a job.

You're wrong about me, Mr. Matlock.

I hope so.

We have a big problem, Andrea.

I don't think your mother has much of a chance in there.

You think they'll find Mom guilty?

I've done my best, but I have to be honest. It doesn't look good.

But she's innocent, and she said you were the best. She said that you would

her off.

Well, there seems to be a big difference these days between the way your mother

sees things and the way they really are.

You are the daughter of the defendant, is that correct?

Yes, I am.

And you live together in the same house?

Yes.

Did your mother ever talk to you about her employer, Frank Larson?

Yes.

Did you get the impression that she enjoyed working for him?

He paid her well, but I don't think she actually enjoyed working for him, no.

Why not?

He was very unpleasant and unfair. He used to blame her for things that were

fault, and he used to belittle her in front of everybody at the office.

How long was he unfair to her?

For as long as I can remember.

So arguments with her were a fairly common everyday occurrence.

Yes. When you came home the night of the murder, did your mother appear to be

angry or distraught?

No. Did she tell you of the most recent argument he had had with her?

All she said was that she needed to talk to him, which is why she went back that

night. She knew he'd be working late.

She left the house at what time?

7 .15, 7 .30, something like that.

And what did you do while she was gone?

I studied and then I went to bed.

Well, you didn't have dinner?

I think I ate on campus that night.

Oh, I remember now. I, um, I ordered a pizza.

Oh.

What time did the, uh, did the pizza arrive?

Um, just before eight, I guess.

Uh -huh.

Was your mother home by then?

No, she didn't get home until after I'd gone to bed.

sometime around nine or so. So you accepted delivery of the pizza?

Yes. Okay.

Mr. Matthews?

Do you recognize this man?

No.

Your Honor, I have to confer with my attorney.

You're out of order.

Please sit down.

I must talk to you.

I agree with you, Your Honor.

She's out of order. You can't do this.

You're out of order.

Now sit down or I'll have you removed.

You don't

recognize this man.

Well, the fact is, he doesn't recognize you either.

He's the man who delivered the pizza to your house that night.

And he says the door was opened not by you, but by her, your mother.

He saw her because she was at home. And your mother didn't use that car to enter

the building that night, did she?

Madam, you are weird, aren't you? I'm changing my...

Bailiff, restrain this woman. Andrea, who killed Frank Larson? I did. I killed

him. You must stop him. Bailiff, remove the defendant.

No!

I was having an affair with him.

And his police?

He broke it off.

I was so stunned and so furious.

I didn't know what I was doing.

I killed him.

Mom went back that night to cover up for me. That's why the janitor saw her

there.

I can't let you do it, Mom.

What is that?

Remember the deal? A response from Ben by the last day of the trial.

I assume there's been no response. So, subsequently, $50, please.

You said the last day. The day is not over yet. Oh, come on, come on. If he

hasn't cracked by now, what makes you think that at the 11th hour he's going

come charging up here and get... Oh, Michelle.

I'm glad I caught you.

I know this is short notice, but are you busy tonight?

Why, no, Ben, I'm not.

You like opera?

Oh, I love opera. A friend of mine has tickets, and he can't use them, and

you're the first person I thought of.

Oh, Ben, it's so sweet of you to think of me. Thank you.

As it happens, I can't go either.

They're yours.

Take anybody you like.

Have you noticed that Michelle's been acting a little strange lately? You

we ought to get her a man?

No, we don't have to do that. No, she can get any man she wants. All she has

do is give them the signal. The signal? Yeah. Didn't you know women, they give

these signals to men when they want to catch them?

Yeah? Yeah, yeah. See, they do these things to make themselves noticeable,

that brings up the three A's.