Original subtitles

After this defendant took the sacred vows of marriage with Ann Wilson, he

purchased a $1 million life insurance policy on his new

wife's life.

The months went by.

One, two, three.

And then...

Then, ladies and gentlemen, Ann Wilson disappeared off the face of this earth.

She disappeared because this defendant, Kenneth Wilson, her husband,

took her life away.

A perfect crime.

Almost.

Tiny bloodstains on that blue bathroom towel.

and tiny bloodstains in the trunk of his car, both Ann Wilson's blood type.

Now, you can never bring Ann Wilson back again.

No.

But you can, and you must find her killer guilty

of murder in the first degree.

Thank you.

People of the state of Georgia versus Kenneth Wilson.

Believe that, ladies and gentlemen?

Thousands of counting city police.

Millions of dollars in resources and bureaucracy.

And the prosecution does not have a fingerprint, a murder weapon, a

witness.

They have not been able to show us the body of Ann Wilson to prove beyond a

reasonable doubt that anyone took her life, much less Kenneth Wilson.

Kenneth Wilson loved his wife.

He feels nothing but grief at her loss.

He committed no crime, perfect or otherwise.

You must understand his tragedy.

And his loss is his tragedy.

We find the defendant guilty.

Hi, are you the manager?

We're filled up, nothing for rent. Does Norman Bower still live here?

Not anymore.

Well, he moved?

He died.

When?

A few days ago, a heart attack or something.

Everything, cancer, smoked all the time.

Who came and got his things?

Nobody yet.

Well, I had to sell some of his stuff.

Pay the rent and utilities.

The rest is in the basement.

Look, I'm with his brother -in -law.

I'd be happy to clear his things up for you.

Fine.

Fifty bucks storage fee, and it's yours.

I can't help it, Benj. I love her. Who?

Bernice Woolley. She's the love of my life.

Where'd you meet her?

Templin's Bar.

Gorgeous burnette.

Big eyes, full lips. How old is she?

48 -ish.

And it's not just physical.

She's smart, too.

She does crossword puzzles in ink.

And she knows all the words to Hard -Hearted Hannah.

At least that's what she told me.

Or Vamp of Savannah.

She's got a birthday coming up. What do you think ought to get her?

I don't know. Ladies like flowers or candy?

To where?

Well, Ken, come in.

Ben, I've discovered something you won't believe.

Yeah? I heard you had been paroled. Hey, Les, this is Ken Wilson. My neighbor,

Les Calhoun.

Ace. Ace. Ace. How do you do? Now, what was that you were saying? Do you

remember Norman Power?

He was my brother -in -law. He was stationed in Greece when my wife

Oh, yeah. Well, I tracked him down to Atlanta.

Is that right? He's dead.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Ben, I have spent the last seven years sitting in a jail cell, thinking about

Ann and nothing else.

I know, and I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. Nobody could have done more

for me. You didn't have anything to go on.

But I found something.

I found these in Norman Bower's personal effects.

They're canceled checks, eight of them. Each one is made out for $100 ,000, all

of them payable to Golden West Land Management.

Two checks a year for the past four years. Every one of those is endorsed by

somebody named Kelly Manning.

That's right.

That's right.

Norman inherited all that insurance money, a million dollars.

Yeah, but you should have seen the boarding house he was living in. It was

dump.

Well, if there was an insurance policy on Ken's wife... Why did her brother get

all the money? Because I was in prison for Ann's murder.

The law says a criminal can't profit by his crime.

Oh, that makes sense.

As I remember it, the insurance policy was Ann's idea, wasn't it? Yes.

Her brother inherits all this money, invests in some real estate company in

California, and yet he lives like a pauper.

Oh, Ben, you've got to get right on this.

And this Kelly Manning fella.

That's your key.

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high, but you're right. You're right. This is

something to go on.

Hi.

I'm here to see Kelly Manning.

I'm Ken Wilson, but I don't have an appointment.

She'll be with you in just a minute.

Kelly Manning's a woman?

Definitely.

Mr. Weldon?

I'm Kelly Manning. You wanted to see me?

Mr. Wilson?

I'm sorry. You... You remind me of someone. I'm sorry.

Oh.

That's all right. What can I do for you?

Norman Bower. We were related.

He's sent you a lot of money over the years, and I wondered why.

Oh, Mr. Bower's one of our investors.

He died.

When did he die?

Just recently.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Are you an accountant?

No, no, I'm not.

Well, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Wilson, I really must get back to work. Wait,

wait, wait, please.

You look so much like Anne.

Please, Mr. Wilson.

What's going on here?

Mr. Wilson seems to have made a mistake, that's all, haven't you, Mr. Wilson?

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Absolutely. It's a terrific deal.

You'll love your new weekend home at Sunspring.

Be entertaining, you'll do.

Don't forget to invite me. Ask any banker, any investment counselor,

that knows anything at all about money, and they'll all tell you the same thing.

Real estate.

Great crowd.

Didn't imagine we'd go so well.

Listen, I better go. See you later.

Ann, how could you do that?

Mr. Wilson, I already told you.

You made a mistake.

What about this?

You broke into my house.

Okay, pal. What's with you? That used to use a wedding present.

He is crazy.

You sent me to prison for a crime that never happened. How could you do that?

Well, just so you could collect a million bucks. Okay, okay, okay.

Ann, why?

This guy's a nut. Get him out of here. I don't understand why. We loved each

other. We were married.

Why?

What's going on here?

Hey, that's crazy.

What can I say?

Are you going to play? I might as well play with the cat.

Oh, it's just another guy they're chasing, Bernice.

Oh.

Chester Taft took her bowling the other night.

Oh, I don't think I know him.

Oh, he wears his hair in a pompadour and thinks he's Don Amici.

Anyway, I finally found the perfect birthday gift for Bernice, and I have to

send away, and it won't get here in time.

Hello?

You're kidding.

No, no, no, listen, listen, listen, listen.

Don't say anything to anybody.

I'm on my way.

Who's that?

Ken Wilson's just been arrested for killing his wife.

Again?

The fact is that a person in the state of California is dead. The victim of a

violent and brutal murder. But it's unconstitutional.

My client has already paid the penalty for this crime in full. He paid the

penalty for that crime, Mr. Matlock, not for this one. This is not a

constitutional issue here. Are you saying we should just forget about the

years he's been in prison for this very same crime he's now accused of?

What are you suggesting, counsel? He paid the penalty for this crime in

That's outrageous.

I'm suggesting... Thank you, counsel.

I've heard enough.

This court specifically finds that the defendant would not be facing double

jeopardy. Therefore, a defense motion to dismiss.

is denied.

Trial date remains the same. I look forward to seeing you next week,

Court's adjourned.

Ben Matlock, this is Bob King and Steve Davidson. Mr. Matlock. Oh, well, this is

an unexpected pleasure. I thought my meeting was just with Mr. Davidson.

Oh, well, I have to be at Sun Springs in less than two hours.

Please sit down.

Mr. Matlock, these are real Havannas. May I offer you a smoke?

No, I... The only smoke I like is in a fireplace or under a nice shoulder of

pork.

What can we do for you, Mr. Matlock?

Please, sit down. Well, you have me curious.

I just was wondering why two honest businessmen like yourself...

would get involved with a con artist like Kelly Manning.

We got conned.

She presented herself as a hard -working young lady that wanted to learn the

real estate business, and we bought it.

The way I hear it, you gave her a full partnership the day after she walked

through the door.

Let me explain.

Kelly Manning bought away into this company with $400 ,000.

Made her very welcome.

We didn't know she obtained this money through fraud.

Well, I don't suppose either one of you killed her.

I mean, you both had alibis?

I was with one of our sales representatives, Terry Young, till about

2 a .m. Oh, strictly business, gentlemen.

Mr. King?

Oh, I was at home reading.

By yourself?

Yes, by myself.

Well, I'm sorry.

I think I'm going to be late.

Oh, well, I appreciate your time. Certainly.

Hey, if there's anything else we can do for you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Please.

Sun Springs was made for couples like you. You're absolutely going to love it

out here.

What time would you like me to meet you at the bank?

Okay. See you then.

Bye.

Hi. Can I help you?

That's quite possible.

Sun Springs looks like a perfect investment.

We expect our homes to double in value.

Now you're talking my kind of numbers.

Do you want to buy one of our homes?

One is light housekeeping.

I'm talking investment here.

Five, maybe six.

Six?

My only concern is that my investment appreciate.

I need to know that Sun Springs is going to be a stable community. Now, I have

heard otherwise. There's this issue of a Miss Manning.

Now, please, be candid with me, Miss Young.

I am about to hand you a fortune in commissions.

Now, did Miss Manning have an argument with her business partners?

She did not.

And did you get along well with her?

That's rather a personal question.

But we didn't argue.

In fact, on the night of her murder, I was with one of the partners.

Working.

Thank you.

I didn't mean to get personal.

You've been very nice.

Bye -bye.

Excuse me.

Do you have a business card?

Of course.

Tyler Hudson.

You're a private investigator?

Get out of here.

You know, I really don't want to talk about this right now. I'm very upset.

Were you a close friend of Kelly Manning?

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that.

It's hard to be close to someone who has everything, you know, of brains, money,

looks, especially when they're not too fond of company.

But you called the police.

Well, yeah, I found her.

And, you know, as soon as I pushed open that front door, I had the most awful

feeling because she used to always keep it locked. She insisted on her privacy.

But you came in.

Yeah, I did come in.

Well, did you see anything or hear anything?

Well, I called her name twice because she didn't always answer the first time.

Did she answer this time?

No, no, but I did hear something.

I can't describe it. Well,

it sounded like... Beep, beep.

Beep, beep.

Well, anyway, then I heard somebody going out the back door, you know, so I

called out again, and when I still didn't get an answer, then I went in

And that's when I saw poor Kelly lying there.

Oh, blood all over.

Still beautiful, but... Oh, I'm just... I'm too upset.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I told you I didn't tell him anything. How do I know you didn't let something

slip? Because I'm too smart to slip. I'm too smart not to know when somebody

owes me, and you owe me big.

Maybe I should wait outside.

Mr. Matlock, no, please come in. Mr.

Matlock, this is Terry Young.

Oh, a pleasure.

I hear you've been selling up a storm up here.

Sun Springs is a fabulous opportunity.

Our homes practically sell themselves.

Oh, it's nice.

There's no smog. The air's crisp. And the drive's not bad. It only took me,

my watch of stuff.

What time do you have?

Oh, it's 11 .19.

That's one of those digital electronic things that hit all those buttons.

So, to what do we owe this pleasure?

Oh, I just wanted to see your place.

What time do you have?

11 .20. I have a friend. He's a heart patient.

And he sets the alarm on his watch to tell him when to take his pill. Does

watch have an alarm?

Time date alarm.

Cost $200 at Simpson's on Wilshire.

Sun Springs.

Harry Young speaking.

Mr. Matlock, if you want to look around on your own here, please feel free, you

know.

Are you looking for something, Mr. Matlock?

No.

No, I just... What's this?

Well, it's a pump.

We had a cover to prevent it from being tampered with.

Sad to say, even way out here, we have vandals.

Gee, look at that watch. Can I see that?

That's top of the line. It does everything but tap down.

Does it have an alarm?

No, no, no, no, no. Watch alarms are for people who need reminding.

I never forget anything.

I was right there.

And what did the defendant say to the victim, Michelle?

He said, why? I don't understand why.

He had a very strange, almost crazy look in his eyes.

And by 11 o 'clock that night, just three and one half hours later, she was

found dead.

Nothing further.

Thank you.

Miss Young, where were you between 8 o 'clock and midnight the

night Kelly Manning was murdered?

Objection. The whereabouts of this witness is irrelevant.

The witness is not on trial.

Your Honor, if I might have a moment, my intent will become clear.

Very well.

Overruled. Please answer the question.

On the night of the murder, I was at home going over some paperwork with one

the partners at Golden West, Mr. Davidson.

We worked from 8 till almost 2 in the morning.

You were not at a concert at Hollywood Bowl that night?

No.

Would you please tell the court who is Chuck

Corvallis?

He's a man I date.

Huh?

He went with you to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl the night Kelly

Manning was killed, didn't he?

My associate found this parking stub from the Hollywood

Bowl for that night on your car.

Now, I can call...

Mr. Corbal is up here.

But if I do, it will show that one of you is committing perjury. You want

So, were you at home with your boss that night or at the concert?

At the concert.

Why did you lie, Michelle?

I lied because Steve Davidson said he'd fire me if I didn't give him an alibi.

You want to know who killed Kelly? Ask him. Ask Steve.

He's the reason I lied.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but yeah, I did. I told Terry to lie for me.

I'm sorry. I was wrong.

I realized I didn't have an alibi. I panicked. I was wrong.

See, I was in my car when, you know, Kelly was killed.

What happened was, at the sales presentation meeting that night, I

there's some important papers I've left at Sun Springs, so I had to go back

there. And you know how long that takes. I didn't get back till after midnight.

And there I was, I'm alone.

I didn't use the car phone. I didn't even stop for a cup of coffee.

I bet you smoked one of those Havana cigars on the way back.

Yeah, probably.

And you always use those long wooden safety matches to light them, don't you?

Yeah. Like... Let's see.

Yeah. Like... Like that?

Yeah. Yeah.

And like... Like that.

This was found at Kelly Manning's house after the murder.

Now, what would a burnt safety match be doing in her wastebasket?

I don't know. How should I know? You smoked a cigar at her house that night,

didn't you?

Objection. Calls for speculation.

We'll draw the question.

This match did make me think of you, so I did some checking.

Is that your signature on the bottom of this credit card receipt from Ed's gas

station? Just two blocks from her house and dated the very evening of the

murder?

So you killed her? No.

Okay.

I was at... her house that night. But that's it. I just went over there to

out why this guy was walking around saying that, you know, she was his dead

wife. And when you found out what she had done seven years ago, you murdered

in an attempt to protect Golden West Land Management. No, no way.

You were angry.

Well, yeah, of course I was angry.

You were very upset over what could happen to your company.

Yeah, of course I was upset.

And you expect the people in this courtroom to believe that Kelly Manning

alive when you walked out of her house?

Yes, I do. They must.

She got a phone call.

She asked me to leave.

I left.

Oh, come on.

That's the truth. I swear it. You've lied to this court so many times, I've

count. Mr. Matlock, you got no proof.

And you're never going to have any proof because I did not kill that woman. No

further questions.

Due to the lateness of the hour, this court will adjourn until 9 a .m.

I thought I had it.

Hang on, Ken. Ain't nothing easy.

It's not it, Tyler.

All right, here's another one.

That's not it either.

Hey, wait a second.

How about this?

I'm afraid not, Tyler.

You're sure none of those are the beeps you heard? Well, I'm positive. They're

either too low or too high or too... I'm really sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry, too. I

thought we were on to something.

Oh, excuse me. Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.

Nice things, huh?

Oh, yeah.

May

I

help you, sir?

Yes, I'm here for a friend.

Of course. And what size is your friend?

Oh, he's about...

Like that?

Of course.

Does he prefer a tailored look?

Oh, well, it's... Or would he like something

a little more lively?

Oh, I... Oh,

he... He gave me this picture.

Oh.

I don't think I'd have this in his size.

Oh, it's not for him.

He's a... It's for his girl.

He's got a girl.

Well, honey, I think that's wonderful.

Now, I'll just show you what's pictured here and some other things.

You tell me when you're moved.

Something like this.

Oh.

Oh, that's very nice.

This?

Oh, that's nice. It's airy.

Are we getting warmer?

Oh, I say, it's... Arlene, what do you think?

Terrific.

Listen, I'm going to go get some other stuff. I mean, just stuff.

And I'll think about all this and probably come back.

Whoops, let me turn that off.

Never a dull moment.

Uh, this residential development out at Sun Springs that we've

talked so much about, it's pretty hot out there most of the year, isn't it?

sun shines on Sun Springs an average of 330 days a year. It's in our brochure.

It's pretty dry, too.

Yeah, it's great for people with allergies. How about water?

Water? Yeah, you got water out there?

Why do you think we call it Sun Springs?

Or maybe it's because you hope people will believe there is an underground

spring, so all they have to do is get a pump.

But your little irrigation system doesn't run by a pump, does it? It comes

of a tank, a tank that you have to keep hidden away because it has to constantly

be filled.

Because, in truth, there isn't an aquifer within 30 miles of Sun Springs,

there? Well, the water will be piped in.

At a cost so excessive that these poor people... You snuckered into buying lots

out there will go broke just trying to fill their bathtubs.

I've never snuckered anyone.

People have been taken in like this forever.

And Lord knows plenty of useless swamplands have been sold to the

And here Mr. King and his associates have been selling desert. I'm talking

rocks, and no water, and no hope for water.

Did you think suddenly they'd come a big rain because you're good looking?

That's stupid.

What you plan to do is get your money as fast as possible and get out of here to

another state, another country.

Unfortunately, a lot of people get away with garbage like this, but every once

in a while, somebody gets caught.

The system works.

It took the death of Kelly Manning or Ann Wilson, same person, Ken Wilson's

wife.

Your scam has been uncovered. It's over.

There was no scam.

Kelly Manning owned 50 % rather than the usual 33 and a third

percent of Sun Springs. So if anything happened to her, you stood the game

a bit monetarily, didn't you?

Yes, but what does that prove?

Isn't that why first Steve Davidson and then you went over there that night?

No. You knew my client was distraught, almost out of control.

You knew he broke into her house, and probably his fingerprints were all over

the place.

Didn't you kill Kelly Manning so that your scam would never be uncovered?

And Ken Wilson being an ex -con was the perfect tactic?

Objection. Mr. Matlock is not only badgering the witness, he is engaging in

rampant speculation.

Sustained. This line of questioning, if you can even call it that, is

unacceptable, Counselor. Yes, sir.

Uh, how about this?

Ms. Manning's next -door neighbor, Estelle Metzger, testified that at

approximately 11 p .m., she heard Ms. Manning scream, entered her house, heard

two strange beeps, heard someone go out the back door, discovered Ms. Manning's

dead body.

Where were you at approximately 11 p .m.? At home.

Where was your car?

In the garage. Are you certain?

Absolutely.

At 10 .42 that night, a

call was placed from your car to Ms. Manning's house.

Your Honor, by previous stipulation with the people, I offer what purports to

be... Mr. King's cellular car telephone bill, including the night of the murder,

and asked that it be marked defendant's exhibit F.

It shall be marked. Okay.

That is your number and your bill, isn't it?

Well, it appears to be.

Yeah, and 5558725 is or was Kelly Manning's phone number, wasn't it? Yes.

So, you were not at home that night. You were in your car. In fact, it was you.

who called while Mr. Davidson was there.

Yes. Why did you call her that night?

I don't remember.

Let me see if I can fill in the gaps.

You drove over to her house, saw Steve Davidson's car there, called her, told

her to get rid of him, said you needed to talk with her alone, but actually you

intended to kill her, which you did. That is not true.

What's that?

Ms. Metzger, is that the sound you heard?

That's it. That's it. Those are the beeps I heard that night. Those are the

beeps. Thank you, Ms. Metzger.

Those beeps seem to be coming from your pocket. Could we see what's making them?

It's my pager.

Oh.

Mmm.

I heard one of these the other day at a place.

Do you have a service?

that beeps you whenever someone calls you or leaves a message, as my associate

just did.

Yes, that's right.

So, if what Ms. Metzger said is true and the beeps she

heard came from this, then that must mean you are the

murderer.

Now, as you said, a lot of people carry those beepers.

It's... Simply a coincidence.

Ordinarily, I'd agree with that.

Except for this one last detail.

This is a copy of the records your answering service provided me with.

And do you know what happened at approximately 11 p .m. the night of the

That's right.

They paged you on your beeper.

how'd I know that you weren't home when they paged you?

Because you responded to that page by calling your answering service

at 11 .05 from the phone in your car.

Mr. King, I have to tell you the truth.

I don't believe that's a coincidence.

We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. You're dismissed.

And this court is adjourned.

I can't thank you enough.

Second time's a charm, son.

Let's go home.

Forty -something.

The party's almost over. The plane just got here. Did you get her something hot?

Bernice?

Oh, thank you, Lester, dear.

Chester Taft got her her digital watch.

Moving on at home.