Original subtitles

Why do you keep torturing yourself?

I've compiled the information you wanted.

Well?

You're broke.

There's so many ways to be broke, Andrew.

You're broke in all of them.

Fini, kaput, hasta la vista.

I see.

$40 ,000 for a partnership in this company. If I hadn't had the accident,

I could still play, still record, if... If you hadn't gone through $100 ,000 in

six months, if you hadn't paid out $3 ,500 to the Bend Jewelry Company just

other day, what was it, something for your wife?

Well, that kind of extravagance is for need, too, whether it's for Nita or

anybody else.

You've just got to realize that your means of livelihood is gone.

I'm supposed to see the doctor at four o 'clock, the final consultation.

I talked to him 20 minutes ago.

No good?

David, there's always hope.

New discoveries, new techniques, why it's possible to take up to grow new

new tendons.

In fact, for you to face Andrew, you're a business manager for someone who has

nothing left to manage.

There is something.

Donna, your protege.

Your partner, Sturgis, tells me he has an offer from the inn at Tahoe for four

weeks at $62 .50 a week. Now, that's $25 ,000. It's out of the question.

Madonna will be a concert pianist.

David, you have $910 left in your bank account.

One thing you must remember, this will affect Anita as much as it affects you.

Hello?

Donna.

I know you're there, Donna.

I want to apologize.

Crippled old married man like me, more than 20 years older than you.

Enough years to have learned a little sense.

It will never be the same between us now, I know.

But I'm not ashamed, Donna.

The doctor said there's no hope for me. I'll never play again.

So you'll have to pray for both of us.

Donna.

You know that I love you.

There are the keys.

We are bankrupt, Anita.

I'm closing the company's office.

We'll sell whatever stock is left for the benefit of the creditors.

Eric, what have you been saying to Donna?

I told her what I told David.

She's a beautiful girl.

And she's got a pair of talented hands.

For the concert stage.

For saloons.

Ted Fielding heard her switch some classical stuff into rock and roll. He

offered her four weeks. At $6 ,250 a week, that's $25 ,000 on a 20 %

contract, which is what your husband signed her to.

That comes to five grand, Anita.

Five grand.

Donna hasn't made up her mind what she wants to do.

Don't worry about Donna.

Anita, you share Dave's contract as her manager.

I'll handle her.

All you have to do is sign a release.

That's all that's necessary.

No, Eric.

How are you going to carry on for yourself, Anita?

Where's your money coming from?

What do you mean?

Well, there's the insurance.

What insurance?

Well, the $150 ,000 policy.

David told me he'd taken it out.

We had it taken out. Yes.

Business insurance.

But it's not collectible.

It's not collectible?

Why not?

Hello, Anita.

Andy, is this true?

About the insurance?

Yes.

You mean I don't get my money?

No, because it was suicide, Anita.

The policy isn't two years old yet.

Our friend here would be an expert on the matter.

As a surviving partner in the business, half would go to him.

Collis, maybe you can convince her about Donna Ross.

She's our only asset now.

She has a contract with Anita and David for personal management.

It was the intent of the partnership to lump all our assets together.

Is that why you're trying to get Anita to sign over her rights to you? She's

going to sign them over.

Now, wait a minute, Sturgis.

You're not going to deal with a bewildered widow.

I'm going to protect her, just like I did David.

Aren't you too late starting to protect Anita?

Where was your protection on that two -year suicide clause in David's

Usually that clause is for only one year.

Well, let's just say I'm going to start right now.

Right, Anita?

Andy, I don't know.

Well, so it isn't just cut and dry.

Anita hasn't signed with you, has she, Carlos?

Oh, please, will you leave me alone, both of you?

I don't know what I want to do.

I don't know what to do about Donner, either.

Please, Andy.

Certainly.

Shall we leave, Sturgis?

Anita, will you have dinner with me tonight?

No, Eric.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, and I just want to be with him right now.

You and Eric will only have patience with me.

I'll call you later, Anita.

Thank you, Randy.

Goodbye, Anita.

Bye.

Mrs. Carpenter?

Yes? My name is Worthington.

You are the Mrs. Carpenter who thinks her husband committed suicide last

Thursday.

Thinks? That's right.

He didn't, you understand.

He was murdered.

What's that?

What are you saying?

How do you know?

Oh, I know lots of things.

Save for, uh...

A thousand dollars?

Of course, my first duty is to the law, being a law -abiding citizen.

But then it's risky, if you understand me.

Where there's a murderer, there's a murderer.

And a murderer can get angry.

Naturally, I don't want to get hurt by anybody who thinks of that George

Worthington. If he'd kept his mouth shut, I wouldn't be in trouble.

All right, Worthington, I'm familiar with all the rationalizations people use

escape their responsibilities as citizens.

I agree with you 100%, Mr. Mason.

Well, Mr. Mason, what do you think of his story?

I don't know, Mrs. Carpenter.

We'll just have to see.

Now, let's try to remember some of this in detail.

Sure. You were on the highway.

Right.

What was the height of the cliff at that point?

I'd say about 100 feet.

That's where the car was perched?

Right there, right on the edge.

All right, go on.

Well...

I looked up from fixing the tire.

I saw the car, and there were two people there.

Two people.

One slumped over the wheel, and the other out of the car, the door opened

looking down at the bottom.

A man looking down or a woman?

Couldn't tell. Could have been either.

Anyway, I wasn't paying much attention at the time. Most of the person was

covered by the car.

Next time I looked up, the car was being pushed to the edge, then it toppled

over and started flying through the air until it hit the bottom.

Meanwhile... Up there, somebody looking down, then turning and running away.

You still couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman?

No.

Now, how about that $1 ,000?

Worthington, I want you to identify where you were, where the car was,

you go to the police.

Sure. Mr. Mason?

I'd like you to wait here, Mrs. Carpenter. I'm going to have an

trace your husband's activities last Thursday afternoon.

Della? Paul? Right.

Come on.

Well, if he was driving from town, as you say, he would have been heading in

this direction.

Unless, of course, he drove past and then doubled back.

Mason, we just got a call asking you to stop in at Lieutenant Pride Golf.

Last Thursday, a bookie joint on Figueroa was raided about 5 o 'clock.

And the vice squad man recognized Worthington.

Recognized him as being at the bookies at 5 o 'clock Thursday?

And a car with Carpenter in it went over the cliff miles away at 5 .15.

You lied, Worthington.

Sorry, Mr. Mason.

Who put you up to it?

Nobody. Nobody.

Why would I? Why'd you do it?

I was just trying to make a few bucks.

Just occurred to me. That's why I didn't come before today.

Only this morning I figured I could maybe...

A couple of dollars or two.

It just occurred to you that some insurance was involved, just

Yeah.

Illogical, huh? That's what I meant, Perry.

And since I don't think you put him up to it, I'm going to have a talk with

client.

All right, Worthington, you can go now.

And as I say, I'm grateful to you for sending him down anyway.

Fine.

What did Sergeant Ben's report?

He said the car might have been sitting there on the edge of the embankment.

So even if Worthington lied, he made us think in terms of murder.

As I understand it, he poured his time

and energy into working with his protege, Ms. Ross.

Yes.

So it would seem he...

Did have a purpose in life, a reason for going on.

However, the financial condition of this company has been pretty bad, hasn't it?

Is pretty bad.

But the life insurance named you as the beneficiary.

That's right.

Half.

The other half, Anita Carpenter.

If it weren't for the suicide clause.

Yes.

So... Hiring someone to bring up the question of murder would be an order.

What are you getting at? A man named Worthington. I don't know anybody by

name.

He was hired to establish the fact that David Carpenter did not commit suicide

but was murdered.

Why are you telling this to me?

Well, only you and Mrs. Carpenter stood to gain if David's death was established

as a murder.

And Mrs. Carpenter didn't hire Worthington.

I did.

You paid him to go to the police?

Yes. To the police.

When he went to Anita, he was just going after his own private fringe benefits.

He told a remarkable story.

Did he?

A very convincing story.

Except that he couldn't possibly have seen any part of what had happened.

So I heard.

I read the papers this morning.

How do you suppose then he knew just what to say?

Came so close to what actually happened.

You've just saved me $5 ,000, Mason.

I have?

Out, Georgie.

You see, Georgie and I were in the middle of a conversation when you came

Mason. I didn't want you to see him, of course, so I had him waiting there.

Hello, Mr. Mason. Did you hear what he said, Georgie?

He wanted to know how you could tell a story about the accident, which was so

near what actually happened.

When you were in a bookie joint on the other side of town, I heard.

You see, Mason, Georgie said all he had to do was go back to the police, say I

hired him, and told them exactly what to say, the inference being that since it

had actually happened the way he told it...

I was the murderer.

And for a little bit of money, he'd stick to what he told the police, which

would protect you.

That's right.

$5 ,000 worth.

But now the blackmail is no good, Georgie.

I just confessed to Mason that I hired you, but not that I told you what to

Who did tell you, Georgie?

You did.

You told me.

Did you, Mr. Sturgis?

No.

When I hired him, I told him only to make up a story.

I don't quite place it.

Beethoven, isn't it?

Who are you?

My name is Mason, Perry Mason.

You have a wonderful gift.

No wonder David Carpenter was enamored of you.

Enamored? Of your musical ability, Miss Ross.

What do you want, Mr. Mason?

I'm trying to find out whether David killed himself or whether he was killed.

How?

Mrs. Carpenter gave me your address.

I don't know how I can help you.

Did you, uh... Did you see David last Thursday?

No. Did you speak to him?

Yes. He telephoned.

What time?

In the afternoon.

One o 'clock, two o 'clock?

A little bit later, I think.

Perhaps about 3 .30.

Just before he left his office.

Did he say he was going home?

No.

Not that I remember.

Perhaps he was going for a drive and wanted you to join him.

No.

Perhaps he just wanted to talk to you.

He did come out this way.

The car went over the cliff in a manner indicating he'd come from this

direction, not from town.

Were you at home all afternoon last Thursday?

Yes.

Mr. Mason... If he had wanted to go for a drive, was there any reason

he wouldn't have taken his wife?

No, why should there be?

I don't understand what you're getting at.

The man finds out he'll never play the piano again.

He doesn't tell his wife, he tells another woman.

You miss Ross?

Mr. Mason, you're implying that David and I...

Mr. Carpenter and... You're very attractive.

You've been thrown into intimate contact with a man whose whole life, after a

tragic accident, could have been devoted to you.

David must have seen in you his hope for the future.

Had he made love to you?

Was he in love with you?

No.

No.

No.

Mrs. Carpenter now?

The door was open. Forgive me, Counselor.

The reason you're not getting any answers is because you're asking the

from the wrong point of view.

Who is it?

What do you want?

This is Lieutenant Tragg of Homicide.

The question should be, were you in love with David Carpenter?

Did he make all kinds of promises to you?

Did he promise to get a divorce and marry you?

And then did he renege on his promises and leave you high and dry?

Seems as though you aren't asking the right questions either, Lieutenant.

But whatever the right questions are, I've got a better chance of getting the

right answer down at headquarters.

Lieutenant, do you have a warrant?

Yes.

She couldn't have. She couldn't have done it.

I don't see how they could have arrested her.

Well, I don't know all the evidence against her, Mrs. Carpenter, but the

don't arrest people without reason.

Will you defend her, Mr. Mason?

How do you know she wants me to defend her?

Of course she does. I'll speak to her.

You understand, if I do represent her, it severs my responsibilities to you.

What does that mean?

My primary concern would be to exonerate her.

And that could be rough on innocent bystanders.

I've only loved two people on earth, Mr. Mason.

David, my husband.

I've lost him.

Donna, the daughter I never had.

I don't want to lose her.

Yes, Donna?

Mr. Andrew Collis is here.

Yes, please.

Would you bring him in, please?

Mr. Mason?

I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I just saw Donna.

Yes?

I told her you wanted Mr. Mason to represent her.

I think he will, won't you, Mr. Mason?

I'm afraid you're too late. He's already hired another lawyer.

Did she say who?

No, she just said she wanted someone she could afford to pay for herself.

She, uh, doesn't want any more charity.

California State Penal Code, Section 1362, Dealing in Competency as Evidence

when Witness...

Incidentally, Mrs. Carpenter was in this morning while you were in court.

Oh?

She's been after Donna to ask you to represent her.

And she's convinced Donna that while her attorney is terribly earnest, he's

terribly young and inexperienced and in terribly over his head.

I think the parting was mutually agreeable.

They've come to a party? Donna discharged him.

And he said, how could he possibly represent a client who was holding

back? Poor Donna.

She must be very embarrassed.

Probably doesn't know how to ask you to be her attorney now.

What are you doing?

I just remembered the title to a beautiful Beethoven overture.

I'd like to make a telephone call, please, to my attorney.

Mr. Mace.

I know we all have problems.

The most important thing is just having someone to talk to. A friend.

A person who has insight that helps.

That's what they do at the Psychic Counseling Center. They help people. You

call, they listen, and they use all of their experience and talent to help you.

The fact that they're psychic may help them to see the solutions more clearly.

Give it a try.

Call now.

Call toll -free.

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Death was caused by severe crushing internal injuries.

Would these injuries have been sustained as the result of a car falling over a

100 -foot cliff?

Yes, sir, exactly.

Now, doctor, I ask you to examine this photograph of the decedent's head.

It shows the severe lacerations, the head injury, and the tiny slivers of

Would you please explain?

Well, the decedent was struck on the head by an instrument that was

in some way with glass.

At first, it was believed to be from the windshield.

but then we found it was not.

I show you this flashlight and ask if you can identify it.

Yes, sir, it is marked.

Could the head injury have been administered with this?

Yes, sir, it could.

The lens glass matched the slivers found in the head wound.

I ask this photograph be marked as state's exhibit number one and this

flashlight as state's exhibit number two.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Now, doctor, did your autopsy reveal when this blow was struck?

That is, in relation to death.

Well, it was struck prior to death. It caused unconsciousness.

That would eliminate the possibility of suicide, would it not, Doctor? Yes, sir.

It would have been impossible for Decedent to inflict that flashlight

himself and then have driven the car over the cliff.

Thank you.

Now, the fragments of glass found in the Decedent's hair and scalp were found to

match the fragments of glass from this flashlight.

And you then had laboratory tests made of the blood and hair found on the

flashlight. Yes, the blood is the same type as the decedent.

And the hair is the same type in appearance and structure as the

Now, did you have this flashlight tested for fingerprints?

The only clear and identifiable prints were those of the deceased and of the

defendant.

Did you have a fingerprint examination made of the interior of the decedent's

car? Yes, sir. We found several of the defendant's prints.

What else did you find in the decedent's car, Lieutenant?

Well, in a waste container, yes, sir.

Cleansing tissue smeared with lipstick.

Now, I show you this lipstick, and I ask if you can identify it.

Yes, sir.

This was found in the defendant's handbag at the time of the arrest.

Did you have a comparison test made between this lipstick and this lipstick

smeared tissue?

Yes. We tested the make, the composition, and the color.

They were the same, all right.

I ask these items be placed in evidence as follows. Lipstick A and tissue B as

states exhibits 7 and 8.

Now, where do you live, Mr. Gracie?

11205 Sunset Canyon Lane.

Do you know the defendant, Donna Ross?

Oh, yes. She lives down the road from me.

And did you know the deceased, David Carpenter?

The pianist fellow?

Sure. And his wife, too. They used to come to visit Miss Ross.

Did you ever see Mr.

Carpenter visit Miss Ross alone?

Oh, yes. Most of the time, he was teaching her.

Now, Mr. Gracie, would you describe what you saw on the afternoon of Thursday,

August the 5th?

Well, Mr. Carpenter, he came to see Miss Ross.

Go on, Mr. Gracie.

Well, from my house, usually, I hear the piano practicing from Miss Ross'

cottage. It's really wonderful.

Even the exercises and scales.

Did you hear this piano on the afternoon of Thursday, August the 5th?

No, sir.

And what did you do, Mr. Gracie?

Well, after a little while, I went down to say hello.

Go on.

There's nothing to go on about.

Before I got there, I saw Mr.

Carpenter's car driving off, and Miss Ross crying, looking after him.

Then she ran to her car, got in, and drove off after Mr. Carpenter.

Thank you, Mr. Gracie.

Cross -examine.

Mr. Gracie, did you observe anyone else visiting Miss Ross on the afternoon of

Thursday, August 5th? Oh, no, sir.

Could someone have paid her a visit without your being aware of it?

Yes, I don't keep that strict a lookout.

Now, did you recognize Mr. David Carpenter as his car was driving away?

Recognize him?

Oh, I guess so.

Well, your words were that you...

You saw Mr. Carpenter's car driving off, but you did not say Mr. Carpenter was

driving it.

Well, you know, I don't recollect seeing him, just the car disappearing.

Thank you, Mr. Gracie.

That'll be all.

How long did your husband tutor the defendant, Mrs. Carpenter?

For more than three years, since her parents died.

Now, was there ever any hint or suggestion that this teacher -pupil

changed during the last six months?

No. Now, Mrs. Carpenter is a hostile witness. You still must answer to the

of your ability.

That's what I've been doing.

Then did your husband ever speak of Miss Ross in a romantic way?

Now, perhaps suggest that she'd grown into a very lovely woman.

That would be a hint or a suggestion.

No.

Were there many occasions when they were alone in Miss Ross's cottage?

Only while she practiced.

Nights? No. Never? No, no, never. Not alone.

Perhaps they kept secrets from you, Mrs. Carpenter.

I show you this diamond bracelet.

Do you recognize it?

No. You never saw it before?

No. It was purchased by your husband just three days prior to his death.

Oh, yes, now I remember.

He said he was going to get me one for my birthday.

Your birthday is April of next year, Mrs. Carpenter.

I mean my anniversary.

Six months ago?

Now come, Mrs. Carpenter, did your husband tell you he intended to give

you? Yes, yes, of course he did.

Then why was it found in the cottage of the defendant, Miss Donna Ross?

Your Honor, I ask this bracelet be placed in evidence as State's Exhibit

17.

Mr. Mason?

Uh, no objection, Your Honor. And I would like a transcript of this

testimony for future study. I have no more questions.

Mr. Mason?

No questions.

Call Andrew Collis.

Now, Mr. Collis, what was the state of Mr.

Carpenter's finances on the first of this year?

His bank balance was close to $80 ,000.

As his business manager, would you please tell the jury what happened to

this balance to shrink to $900?

Well, several things happened. What, Mr. Collins?

Well, there was a car.

Oh, what car?

Miss Ross's new car. He bought it for her.

Anything else?

The cottage.

Oh, what about the cottage?

He bought that outright for her.

He put that in her name?

Yes.

I see. Anything else?

Well, there was the $500 a month allowance.

I see.

Now, what about that bracelet? Did he say for whom he bought that?

No. Well, didn't you ask him?

Yes, I asked him if he'd bought it for Anita.

His wife. And what did he say?

He didn't say he'd bought it for her.

Thank you.

Cross -examine.

Mr. Collins.

When did the subject of the bracelet come up?

That afternoon, Thursday, in his office.

And the time?

Around 3 .30.

What else did you discuss at that time?

His finances and Donna.

And whether he would allow her to accept a commercial engagement at Lake Tahoe?

Yes.

And what was your position in that discussion?

That the money would be most welcome.

His position?

That she should continue with her concert training.

Mr. Collins, when did you become David Carpenter's business manager?

More than ten years ago.

Was he married at that time? No.

Did you know Mrs. Carpenter before they were married?

Yes.

Now, isn't it true that without the possibility of Donna Ross taking up the

financial slack, you would be without a job?

Well, Mr. Collins?

Well, I guess you might say I would be.

There was nothing left to manage.

Now, Mr. Collins, did you speak with David Carpenter's doctor about 3 o

the afternoon of Thursday, August 5th? Yes, I did.

And he told you that a consultation of doctors confirmed the diagnosis that

David would never play the concert piano again?

Yes.

Now, did you give that information to David Carpenter?

Yes.

After you left David Carpenter's office that afternoon, where did you go?

I had some account work to do. I went back to my own office.

Can your secretary corroborate that?

I don't have any secretary. I don't see what that... I suggest, Mr. Collis...

that you did not go to your office that afternoon.

I suggest that instead you went to see Anita Carpenter and told her about

David's hand.

I didn't see her until later that night, where David's body was found.

Are you in love with Anita Carpenter, Mr. Collis?

What?

I said, are you in love with Anita Carpenter? Haven't you been in love with

for years?

Objection, Your Honor. The question is incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial.

And it's improper. It's not related to direct examination.

I'll withdraw the question.

I'm finished with the witness.

The court is recessed until 1 .30 this afternoon.

And I would remind the jury that it is their duty not to converse with or to be

addressed by any other person on any subject of this trial.

Do you ever feel like your life is spinning out of hand?

And now I think you understand why you should have told me what happened

you and David instead of letting me guess.

Yes. Well, I'd like not to do any more guessing.

It's almost all been told in the courtroom.

The gifts?

I didn't want them.

What about the bracelet?

He left it on the mantel without telling me.

I didn't even know he'd left it there until the police found it later.

The flashlight, the fingerprints?

I've used his car so many times. And the flashlight, too.

And the tissue with the lipstick smeared on it?

He kissed me.

He made advances to you and you rejected him.

I didn't know how to handle it, Mr. Mason.

I idolized him.

He was always David Carpenter.

A wonderful man.

What do you do when suddenly you find that someone's thinking of you in a

In a way... You became frightened.

And so lost.

So suddenly all muddled up.

I didn't know what to say to him.

He was such a sensitive man.

I couldn't hurt him.

And then I think he understood that I didn't think of him that way.

I didn't love him that way.

Why the devil have you been holding all this back, keeping it secret?

Because I didn't want to hurt Mrs. Carpenter.

You didn't want what?

I didn't want to hurt Mrs.

Carpenter.

Then on the day you received this bona fide offer from the Inn at Lake Tahoe,

you told the defendant about it.

That's right.

All right, go on, Mr. Sturgis.

Well, she didn't throw me out of her house.

What do you mean?

Well, she knew what the score was with David's bank account, and she

contemplated the idea of sacrificing her art for the almighty bug without too

much strength.

She knew that David Carpenter's funds were low.

Sure she did. It was no secret.

Now, did you also tell your partner, Mr. Carpenter, about this offer?

Several times.

And his position?

Negative. Odd for odd's sake.

Then there was a definite point of difference between Mr. Carpenter and

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Cross -examine.

Mr. Sturgis, did you also discuss the Lake Tahoe offer with Mrs. Carpenter?

I may have.

Did you?

Yes.

What was her feeling in the matter?

She really didn't know.

Didn't she tell you she believed that Miss Ross should keep on with her

studies?

Yes, I guess she did say that.

What was your response to that?

Objection, Your Honor. The question is incompetent, immaterial, and irrelevant,

and improper.

It goes into matters not part of direct examination.

Mr. Mason, you are going rather far afield.

I intend to connect up all these matters, Your Honor.

On your assurance that you will connect them up, I will overrule the objection.

Oh, I'll be blunt, Mr. Sturgis.

Did you threaten Mrs. Carpenter in any way when she told you that she was

against Miss Ross accepting the Lake Tahoe offer?

No.

What do you mean, threaten?

Do you know a man by the name of George Worthington?

Yes. Did you hire Mr. Worthington to make a statement to the police?

Yes.

Will you please tell this jury exactly what you said to him?

I... Well, it was after David died I told Worthington to make up a story to

the facts so it would look like murder.

Why did you want it to look like murder?

Your Honor!

Never mind, Counselor. I want to hear this now.

Well, Mr. Sturgis, why did you want it to look like murder, not suicide?

Well, there was an insurance policy. It would pay off for murder or accident.

But not suicide.

She shared in it, too. Anita.

Mrs. Carpenter.

Yes. Let's get back to Mrs. Carpenter.

Didn't you threaten her by saying you would accuse her of telling George

Worthington exactly how the murder or accident took place?

And what you wanted for your silence was the managerial contract for Donna Roth?

No. That's not true. You did not want the managerial contract.

That's true, but I did not. You did not stand to gain through David Carpenter's

death.

No, you're twisting. Wasn't it you who told George Worthington exactly how that

car went over the cliff?

No, no.

Your Honor, I ask the court's indulgence. I know this is unusual

I would now like to cross -examine Anita Carpenter.

Mr. Chamberlain?

Your Honor, counsel was offered opportunity to cross -examine Mrs.

the proper time.

I don't see why procedure should be violated in this way.

Is this part of the connecting -up process, too, Mr. Mason?

It is, Your Honor.

Then I will permit you to continue.

Mrs. Carpenter, at the stand, please.

You may step down.

are still under oath.

I'm going to ask you, Mrs. Carpenter, if the sum and substance of my charges

against Eric Sturgis is correct. He was trying to blackmail you, was he not?

Yes. Now about Andrew Collins.

He also wanted to manage Miss Ross, did he not?

Well, yes, but I don't understand.

You see, he never tried to force me into anything.

But he wouldn't. He's in love with you, isn't he?

Sorry, Mr. Mason, I don't know.

He never said a word to me about that, but then, of course, he wouldn't. Of

course.

Mrs. Carpenter, do you recall a conversation in my office when you asked

defend Miss Ross?

Yes. I told you the time might come when, in defending her, someone else

get hurt?

You did.

Where were you on the afternoon of the murder, Mrs. Carpenter?

I was at home.

No, Mrs. Carpenter, you were not at home.

Mr. Collis went to your home that afternoon to tell you about the doctor's

consultation.

He didn't find you until later at the scene of the murder.

I can't seem to recall.

Might have stepped out for a moment.

Much more than a moment, Mrs. Carpenter.

You went to the defendant's home, did you not? You wanted to speak to her?

To Donna?

No, I didn't speak to her.

I didn't say you spoke to her.

I said you went there to see her. You drove there.

Did you overhear your husband making love to her?

No.

I suspected.

I didn't know until I found out here in court.

And when he drove away, you went after him?

I don't see how you can say such a thing, Mr. Mason.

What you found out here in court was that... Miss Ross also followed him in

car.

You must know by now that she saw you stop your husband's car on the cliff

The reason she made no spirit of defense was... I haven't said anything, Anita.

I haven't said anything.

No, Donna, no. Of course you haven't.

So it's up to you now, Mrs. Carpenter.

Sturgis told George Worthington to...

go to the police, but you were the one who told Worthington exactly what to say

so his story would be more convincing.

Yes, that's true.

It's all true.

I did follow David when he left Donna's cottage.

And when I stopped him, he said that he wanted a divorce.

That he was in love with Donna even though she wasn't in love with him.

That his life was finished and he didn't want to live with me anymore.

I got angry.

I got so angry and so jealous that... The flashlight was right there and I

grabbed it and I hit him and I hit him.

And then the blood came and he slumped over the steering wheel.

But he got out of the car.

His hand must have hit the brake release because... The car started to roll

forward.

I was out of the car. How could I stop it?

I tried. I tried to reach the brake, but I couldn't hold the car. It kept

rolling forward faster and faster.

How about poor Fred Wilson?

325500.

She was after me all the time I was in custody.

She kept saying, Donna, let Mr.

Mason defend you.

She took a calculated risk, Donna.

What do you mean?

Well, she knew if you were found guilty, she'd have to give herself up. So she

figured that she'd take the chance that Perry could get you off and perhaps not

get on to the fact that she'd committed the crime.

Oh.

What's going to happen to her now, Mr. Mason?

Well, it's not premeditated murder, but she'll still have to stand trial.

After that, it's up to the judge.

Now, what's going to happen to you?

Fidelity seems to be the theme in what's happened.

So this is for you.

Fidelio?

When did you record it?

This morning.

It's only until I can afford to pay you with money.

Oh, no, I'll accept this.

So you're going ahead with your plans for concert work?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

You'll keep in touch with us?

Yes. Bye, darling.

Bye. Good luck.

Thank you.

Well, I wonder if she'll remember. What, Paul?

To send us tickets to her first concert?

Della, remind her to send us four tickets.

Four? There are only three of us.

Well, you should be able to find a blonde music lover.

Where are you going, city boy?

35 at L, Plymouth, Minnesota.