Original subtitles

Okay.

Ms. McArdle? Ms. McArdle?

Where are you going?

Oh, I'm going to St.

Augustine's to light a candle for my Uncle Hugh who died this day.

Oh, I'm sorry. You just found out? Oh, no. He died this day 18 years ago.

Oh. Ms.

McArdle. He was a darling man.

Darling. Ms.

McArdle, some very important people are honoring me with a lunch in Atlanta and

my car won't start. I need a lift.

Oh. Well, I'm a Christian woman, so all right. But first you'll come with me to

St. Augustine.

Well, I'm late already.

Later, I'll light a candle for Uncle Hugh myself.

Oh, that's a darling idea.

Just darling. Good. I'll work on my speech on the way.

What's wrong?

The master of ceremonies.

Arthur Saxon.

Didn't you date him?

Date? Oh, he's such a jerk. Jerk.

Do you ever listen to Arthur on the radio? No. Oh, you're lucky.

The last time, the only time I ever had a date with him, do you know what he

said? What?

That I was lucky to be with him. Oh.

Jerk. Oh, now he thinks he's so great.

He's insensitive. He's totally egocentric.

Oh, on a scale of one to ten, I give myself about a twenty.

Well, Arthur?

Always thrilled, aren't you?

Hey, listen.

I have to get out of here. Uh, Julie March, Arthur Saxon. Arthur Saxon, Julie

March, the assistant district attorney.

How do you do?

Nice. I'll bet you're really cute in court.

Well, I like to think I'm effective.

Well, that's what I mean. That fire in your eyes, that's adorable.

You don't even like Ben. Why are you the master of ceremonies?

Because I'm Atlanta's number one celeb. Besides, who else are they going to ask?

So, where's the geezer?

Do you mean Ben?

Now, are you going to say nice things about Ben? Baby, I'm never nice.

This is not like Ben.

Look, gang, at 3 .30, I'm out of here. I'm starting this bash without the

geezer. You can't.

Honey, baby, watch me.

It's peculiar.

Very peculiar.

What's the case?

Mrs. McArdle.

Mrs. McArdle, where... Where are we? Oh, now, now. I'll tell you in a minute.

Ah, let's see. When I was saying... Ah, 20. Ah, 92.

Ah, well, there we are. Looper Willow. Ah, I should have taken exit 91.

That was my mistake. Not taken exit 91.

Get in the car. I'm driving very fast.

Looking at me like that.

Do you have a St. Christopher's medal?

Of course not.

Well, there you are. That's why we're having trouble.

Do you have a St.

Christopher's medal? Of course I do.

Didn't do much for you.

You folks need some help?

Oh, young man, we have a flat tire.

Do you suppose that you could change it for us? That's no problem.

You got a spare and a jack? In the trunk.

That's what my St. Christopher medal did for me.

It

wasn't

on.

Mrs. Mercado wasn't there either. Maybe I should go over there. Let's give him

another five minutes.

Ladies and gentlemen, he's not here yet. The geezers. probably gone fishing.

But that's okay because what we do have is this lovely associate who just

happens to be the former Miss Legs of the Universe, Michelle Thomas, who just

happens to be crazy about me.

I'm not crazy about you.

Working side by side with one of the most incisive legal minds in the country

has been a tremendous learning experience for me.

Then it's offended all kinds of people, from very wealthy to very poor, from

very intelligent to... Well, there was this one very sweet young man, Tommy

Jenks.

Sandra, fix your horse.

Hey, Tommy.

Tommy?

What's wrong?

Come along now.

Don't give us any trouble.

Tommy,

stop it.

Now, stop fighting right now.

Now, Tommy, you do what the policemen tell you to do, hear?

Yes, sir.

Ben's old friend, Sam Taylor, suffered a terrible personal tragedy when his

daughter, Sandra, was murdered.

I, um... I read the paper. I'm really sorry about Sandra.

Right, sir.

Things sure never gonna be the same around here without her.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Well, yeah.

The police have arrested Tommy Jenks.

Yeah, I read about that.

Tommy's retired.

His father was one of my best friends.

Can you help, Ben? It would mean the world to me.

I knew Miss Sandra was dead because sometimes on the farm, horses, they get

dead.

They get all cold and they don't move. And just the way she was, it made me

scared to see Miss Sandra like that.

Come sit down.

That's why you ran away and hid?

Can I go home now?

No, not yet.

Oh, I forgot to feed the horses the roast this morning. Mr. Clint's going to

so mad. Tommy, listen.

Some people think you killed Sandra, and that means there's going to have to be

a trial.

Are you with me? Do you understand?

I didn't. I didn't.

clean up stalls either.

Tommy, Tommy, listen to me. Listen to me.

We can tell the judge that he's the man in charge of the trial

that you wish to plead diminished capacity.

That means that maybe you killed Sondra but you didn't know what you were doing

and you didn't mean to.

That's wrong.

I didn't kill Sandra.

But, Tommy, sometimes we have to... Oh, Lord.

Ben was convinced Tommy hadn't murdered Sandra, and he fought tooth and nail to

prove his innocence.

Sam, when you take a walk, you just go ahead and take one, don't you?

Two miles out, two miles back. That's supposed to keep me from getting another

heart attack.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

What's in there?

It's a grave.

Best horse I ever had is buried there.

Knight's legend. Do you remember?

Oh, that's right. He won the triple crown.

Yeah. Broke his leg winning the Peachtree Stakes about four years ago. I

put him down.

Oh.

Couldn't you patch him up?

Oh, maybe, maybe not. But I just couldn't see him going like that.

Doug, haul a bale of hay out to the paddock and break it up.

New mayor's out there.

Well, I'll do it, Mr. Clint.

Now, say it, Dunham.

After all, you're not gonna be around here much longer.

Well, I'm not going anyplace.

Hell, you're going to prison.

Cut it out, Clint.

No!

What the hell did you do that for?

I'm into him.

Tommy wasn't easy.

At one point, Ben had to send Tyler Hudson out to find him.

Oh, hey.

Where are you going?

You guys are teasing me.

No, we're not.

Yes, you are.

Oh. Did you hear that, Jed? Huh?

I think he just called me a liar.

Now, you get to understand it. Lyle here is my friend.

And I don't like it when people call him a liar.

I don't like it at all. You captured him.

Good work, gentlemen.

Now speak very softly and watch what you say.

And who are you?

I am Dr.

Tyler Hudson, criminal psychiatrist.

And you, gentlemen, have just captured a very dangerous man.

Come on. This half -wit? Hey, let's put it this way.

There were three of us escorting him to a violent ward.

Somebody said the wrong thing.

I'm the only one still walking.

Tommy?

Mr. Matlock sent me for you.

Come with me, okay?

Eventually, in court, Ben proved Tommy innocent with a very unusual tactic.

Mr. Donovan, have you ever seen this picture?

No.

Don't you think he looks a little bit like Night's Legend?

Yeah, I guess so.

I do.

I do. I had that picture blown up.

Look at that.

Look at that.

Isn't that nice?

I had it blown up in, uh, see, right under the tote horse. This race was run

March 19th of this year, three months ago.

Guess it gave you a picture of nice legend then, can't it?

No, no.

No, it could be a picture of nice legend's coat, though, couldn't it?

Well, that's impossible.

You heard Mr. Taylor?

Nice legend was destroyed before he could be used for breeding.

He was supposed to be.

But was he, Mr. Donovan?

Yes. I buried him myself. Where?

The edge of the south pasture where it's fenced off.

That whole area was dug up this weekend.

There's nothing buried there.

That horse is alive and well.

That's nice sledging.

This court will come to order.

Please be seated.

Mr. Matlock, how long do you intend to have this animal in my courtroom?

Your Honor, this is not a Bengal tiger or a python snake. This is just a brown

horse who likes people. See?

Nice horsey.

A few moments, Your Honor.

I'll hold you to that.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Donovan, perhaps you'd like to change your testimony.

That is Knight's legend, isn't it?

Yes.

And this is a photograph of Knight's legend's offspring, isn't it?

Yes.

You know where I got this picture?

In Sondra Taylor's briefcase.

I don't know where she got it. It doesn't matter. But I am sure the

saw this photograph, she saw the resemblance to Knight's legend.

She showed it to you, didn't she?

Why would she do that?

When she showed it to you, you knew it was only a matter of time before she put

it all together. And then it would truly all be over.

So that night...

When Tommy left the bunkhouse, you put on your work gloves, took Tommy's knife,

went up to Sandra's office, and killed her.

Working with Ben Matlock is an honor and a privilege.

I say that not only because it's true, but because he said he'd fire me if I

didn't.

Thank you all.

Thank you so much.

I believe the young man should be rewarded.

How does a five spot sound? That's fine.

But everything you got sounds better.

Everything. And the purse.

Now get back.

He's stealing my car. Is there anything we can do?

What can we do?

He's got your St.

Christopher's medal.

Hello.

And now I'd like to introduce you to the prettiest prosecutor in town. Don't let

the title scare you guys. She's all woman, all lips, and a terrific kisser.

Ms. Julie March.

I've never kissed him honest.

Why did you say that?

I'm here today to talk about Ben Matlock, who up until now has always

punctual and very cranky when other people are late. But aside from that,

and gentlemen, Ben Matlock is a man whose world is his courthouse and whose

courtroom happens to be wherever he finds the truth.

One case took him far from home.

You're not going to get away with this, Forrester. We printed a retraction, Mr.

Gabriel. You ruined my life. And you think that three crummy lines on page 56

are going to make everything okay? You want damages? Go back to court. Show Mr.

Gabriel the way out. No. You can't ruin a person and then just throw him out of

your office.

Things have a way of turning around, and you're going to get yours, Mr.

Forrester. You'll get yours.

This was my first time as a defense attorney, and Ben had his reservation.

You'll never guess.

I'm taking a leave from the DA's office, and I'm going home to Baltimore, and

I'm going to defend a client on a murder charge.

When did this all happen?

Well, I got a call today from an old friend from high school, Kenny Gabriel.

She was my very best friend, and her brother has been arrested on a murder

charge, but he didn't do it. He couldn't have done it because he was always a

real sweet kid, so I told her I would come.

Defending someone isn't any harder or easier than prosecuting someone. It's

different.

Hi. Oh, hi, Julie. How's it going?

Everything is moving right along.

Oh. Uh -huh.

No, Ben, you were right.

This is very different.

I'm used to having the police at my disposal for everything. You know,

and all I have to do is pick up a phone. Here I am trying to do three things at

once.

Well, I can't do it all either. That's why I have an investigator.

An investigator. Oh, Ben, that's just what I need. Is Conrad busy?

I can ask him. Oh, I'd appreciate that, Ben.

Now, you don't worry.

Look, I've got to go, Ben. Bye.

Even long distance, Ben's experience helped me with the case.

I'm sorry, but the Carrello place was jammed. I'm so sorry.

Julie.

You're prosecuting this case.

Then, Ben helped in a way I never expected.

Julie. Nice... See you again, Donald. You look great.

Oh, thank you.

Ben? Hi.

Conrad's busy, but I'm not. And I'm a pretty good investigator.

Oh, I... This is... I didn't... This is such a surprise.

Julie? Oh, I'm sorry. Ben Matlock. This is the prosecuting attorney, Donald

March. Pleased to meet you. Hi.

Uh, March. Are you related? Not anymore.

We used to be married.

Despite his discomfort, Ben came through.

Now, we need to find out who knew that Steve was going to be there that night.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Where will you be? At the courthouse. Oh, yes.

Forrester had a secretary named Catherine Ellery.

At the courthouse. Then you'll see... Don.

Yeah. He's the prosecutor.

Of course. Yeah.

Ben, are you asking me if I'm having dinner with Donald?

Oh, no, no, no, no.

No, it's just, you see, if I find out something, I'm going to tell you and I

wouldn't know you.

Excuse me, Mr. McBride, but what were you doing on the night Forrester was

murdered? I don't believe this.

The man hired me. He took me under his wing.

He turned me into one of the best reporters in this city. You think I

him?

Hi, Mr. Brady, Ben Matlock.

I don't talk to lawyers. My lawyers talk to lawyers. I just want to ask you a

couple of questions.

Sorry, it's lunchtime. I'm out of here.

Well, how about if I go with you? Have lunch with a lawyer?

No, I don't think so.

My stomach isn't what it used to be.

Mr. Brady, do you own your own home free and clear, or is there a large

mortgage? Well, it's mortgaged.

Your Honor, for the record, may I restate my objection to this entire line

questioning? Donald!

Will you let this woman finish what she's trying to say?

Mr. Matlock, you're out of order.

Well, how could she conduct her examination of this witness if he won't

complete a thought?

If you don't sit down, I'll hold you in contempt.

Your Honor!

Your Honor, may I have a moment, please?

Your Honor, with the court's permission, I think it would be in the best

interest of my client if my co -counsel, Mr. Matlock, would conclude the

examination of this witness.

Mr. March?

No objection.

Mr. Matlock? Yes, sir.

A moment, Your Honor.

You rattled this woman, and you did it on purpose because you want to win this

case. But if you try it on me, I'll put this table on top of you.

Mr. Matlock. Yes, sir.

Now, the questions my associate was asking about your house,

your car, the big checks you're writing, were meant to show that you'd be in

pretty desperate...

financial shape if the journal dropped your column, wouldn't you?

If they dropped me another newspaper, it'd pick me up. But you can't be

absolutely sure of that, can you? Well, no, but after all these years... Abe

Forrester had decided that your talent wasn't worth the

lawsuits you provoked and was about to drop your column, wasn't he? No.

Didn't he say he was? Well, I didn't mean that. He used to say it at meetings

just to sound tough.

You were in the building that night. Three floors up in my office at a

with Skip Howard and Danny Lloyd. Started at 8, ended at 9 .30. That's

With Skip Howard and Danny Lloyd. Right. But at some point during the meeting,

you left the room to get a folder or something.

Were you aware that Danny was taping that whole meeting?

Danny always had a tape recorder going. It's his way of keeping notes. Ah.

Danny also wore one of those wristwatches that beeps

every half hour, didn't he? Yeah.

Drives me crazy.

If you listen to that tape, you can hear Danny's watch beep right at 8

.30. And you know what?

Your voice is not on that tape.

for several minutes before 8 .30. You know what that means.

I have no idea.

8 .27.

At 8 .27, you went over to the mail chute for inter -office correspondence.

Put this memo in a cylinder, sent it down to the mail room, and that's when

clerk received it.

8 -27.

What do you think, Mr. Brady?

I refuse to answer any further questions until such time as my attorney can be

present.

That's a good idea.

In closing, I'd like to remind Ben, wherever he is, that actually I did

beat him once.

And if I ever get him back in that bowling alley, I'll beat him again.

Dumb.

Own dumb fault.

I should never have let you drive. I never asked to drive. If you wanted to

drive, you should say so.

Missing my luncheon. I'm missing a car.

You can always get another car. Where am I going to get another luncheon? Poor

uncle. Oh, you was waiting up there for his candle.

I would have let you drive. Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. McArdle. I don't even like

drive.

Let's not fight.

Don't fight.

Oh,

Mrs. McArdle, look, look,

look. See?

Telephone line. Oh.

That means people.

Mr. Matlock, what are you... Ambassador

East

Hotel. This is Ben Matlock.

Would you hold, please?

No, no, no. You put me on hold, I'll find you and I'll break every bone in

body. You got that?

Excuse me?

Just listen.

I want you to go into the West Ballroom.

Find Conrad... McMasters tell him that Ben Matlock is in a town called Looper

Willow, Georgia.

I'm going to have to put you on hold.

No!

He put me on hold.

All right, you two.

Turn around.

Real slow.

Oh, saints preserve us.

Hang it up.

I know how this must look.

Nobody here.

I'm real sorry about your door, but it was an emergency. We just had to use the

phone. You broke.

You entered.

Yes, ma 'am.

What are you going to do to us?

Same thing my family's been doing with trespassers for nigh onto a hundred

now. Oh, saints preserve us.

Benji's trying to call from a little town about 25 miles east of here. I'm

to go out there.

Jeez, wish I could get out of here that early.

Conrad's gone to look for Ben. Oh, great.

The geezer's wandered off. He's lost, you idiot.

And he's not a geezer.

Sheriff, these people just broke into Mrs. Burnett's place.

We didn't break in.

We jiggled the door handle a few times and they opened.

Yeah, well, that door jam's broke. So you did use force.

We just had to use the phone.

Sure, if they got no ID, no car, no money, no nothing.

Transients, huh?

We're not transients.

One of the good citizens of Looper Willow robbed us and stole her car.

I wouldn't let him drive.

I see.

Uh, just what brought you to Looper Willow in the first place? She did.

I didn't insist on driving. If he had wanted to drive, he should have said, I

want to drive.

that I have your attention, I would like to tell you how I met the beautiful Ben

Matlock. My day started as usual with my fabulous number one show. You all know

my show.

Come on, give it up. Yeah, you know my show.

You're all beautiful. I love you.

WBW Radio, 98 .6 FM, Atlantic.

a lot less crime.

Yeah, and a lot fewer people too, dork.

Whippersnapper, there ought to be a law against you.

Yeah, well, there is a law, mush brain. It's called freedom of speech and it's

in the Constitution.

You're out of here.

WBW radio, Arthur Saxon, talk to me.

Arthur.

Whilst we ponder that often burning question, what do you say to God when

sneezes? Think about it, Atlanta.

Unbelievably, someone hated me enough to murder my arch -rival Robbie Moore and

try to frame me for the evil deed.

Your car was seen coming out of the Moore's driveway just as time Moore

broadcasting. I haven't been anywhere in this car since 6 a .m.

Still warm.

Ben, a friend of mine's been arrested.

Well, what was he arrested for?

Murder. Somebody you've been going out with was arrested for murder?

Ben, will you just... Did he do it?

Oh, I can't imagine that he did.

He is such a gentle, kind, intelligent person.

Moving toward the recommendation from both sides, I hereby set bail for Mr.

Saxon at $150 ,000.

Your Honor.

Pam, I'm out of here.

Come back here, damn it!

Hold that man!

That's just sure the heart boiled over. Try that one more time and I'll let you

rot in jail.

What's with him?

Of course, I was always one step ahead of the old geezer. Mr. Gilbert, Ben

Matlock.

This is your fault.

If it weren't for you, that maniac would be in jail where he belongs.

This suit cost 800 bucks.

Grape jelly doesn't come out.

So, after I'd done all the legwork, old Ben finally got together long enough to

nail the killer in the courtroom.

You used to be a disc jockey at station

WBW, along with Arthur Saxon and Robbie Moore. Is that right?

Yes, I was.

But you were let go.

Fired, Mr. Matlock, yes.

Well, with...

Robbie Moore dead and Arthur Saxon out of the running, why,

maybe something will come up for you back at WPW. Objection. I fail to see

relevancy of any of it. Goes to motive, Your Honor.

The people have already established motive. For my client, yes, but not for

person who actually killed Robbie Moore.

Am I correct in assuming you know better than to make such an allegation without

proof? Uh, yes, ma 'am, I'm going for that now.

Proceed.

Thank you.

Uh, uh, when you were at WBW, did you ever, uh, send your car out to be

washed?

Yes. Where'd you get the key?

I kept a spare in the glove compartment.

Just like all the other people who worked at the station?

A lot of people did that, I believe, yeah.

A witness testified...

that she saw Arthur Saxon's car racing away from Robbie

Moore's house right after the murder had been committed. She didn't see who was

driving.

But you knew about the key, and you knew where Arthur parked his car.

So I submit it was you who was driving the car that morning.

I was at home, sleeping.

No, I don't think so.

Now, I don't think so.

But if everybody cared and saw it all shotgun, there'd be a lot less crime.

Know who that was?

I have no idea.

That's one of the voices on the relief tape we've heard so much about.

The one the prosecution says that Arthur was playing when he was not on the air.

So?

All right. What about this?

Well, Mo, when we're jarring with our friends at WCPG, midnight to six is just

spit in the wind.

That's me. On WCPG, that's hardly a secret.

No, no.

The secret is that you are also our shotgun

-carrying Mr. Clements.

That's ridiculous. I am not.

You're a very, very talented woman.

And I have a confession to make.

I'm a fan.

Where are you from originally?

Arkansas. That's it.

That's it.

Listening to you all this time, and I just now figured it out.

It's the R sound.

People from Arkansas often add a little R sound to their words.

Arkansas, Sardoff shotgun.

It's a beautiful accent, but it's unmistakable.

And there your voice is on Arthur's relief tape.

Why would I call Arthur's show?

Well, you called him late Monday, knowing it would be taped.

and played on Tuesday morning.

So on Tuesday morning, you got in Arthur's car, drove over to Robbie

house, turned on the radio, and waited till you heard your voice,

knowing that Arthur would not be on the air live and therefore would not have an

alibi.

And you went in the house with the gun you had taken from Arthur's party.

and shot your old nemesis to death.

Didn't surprise me she was guilty. Once that old boy got a ticker talking, it

was into the old jail she was walking.

Chef, I'm entitled to one phone call.

Uh -huh.

Knock yourself out.

Lieutenant Bob Brooks, please.

Bob Brooks, Atlanta PD.

He'll vouch for me. Ask him anything you want.

Hello.

Oh, he's not?

Well, thanks anyway.

He's at a roast for Ben Matlock.

I'm Ben Matlock. Sure.

One call.

Uh, Deputy Twilliger found your car.

Freight has been pretty well totaled.

Totaled? My car?

Oh, it was such a darling car.

Deputy found your purse, though, along with your wallet.

Also found a gun in the glove compartment.

Looks like your story about being robbed at gunpoint checks out.

So we can leave?

As soon as you ID the suspect, Deputy Twilliger's bringing him in.

Oh, that's probably them right now.

Hi,

Conrad.

There was one very nice moment during the whole miserable experience.

Had nothing to do with Ben Matlock, of course.

Late one night in his law office.

Arthur, you can't kiss me here. All right, I'll kiss you here.

Arthur, no.

You're making me very nervous. That's when?

The cleaning crew comes on Wednesday night.

What time?

Ten o 'clock.

You've got 23 minutes.

Yes, ma 'am.

Yes, ma 'am. That sounds fair to me, Mrs. Burnett.

Now, bye -bye.

Okay, Mr. Murdoch.

Matlock. Since your story checks out, and since Mrs. Burnett has agreed not to

press charges so long as she's adequately compensated for the damage

her door, you're all free to go.

Oh, that's fine. How was...

Twenty dollars sound.

Try a hundred.

A hundred?

A hundred bucks if she files criminal and civil charges.

She knows her rights too, Mr. Murdoch.

Pay him, Conrad.

Me? Well, the man took all my money.

Ninety -three dollars, that's all I got.

Close enough.

My car is wrecked. And so is Conrad's.

And now none of us have any money.

How are we supposed to get to Atlanta?

This is good!

Thank you so much. You're a darling person.

Darling.

Get your tie.

Ladies and gentlemen, a funny thing happened to me on the way to this