All language subtitles for Perry Mason s04e21 Difficult Detour

Pete, I just totaled our progress, and I
made a projection on the completion of

the access road.

Now, at 3 ,000 cubic yards per unit,
that's figuring the mean average units

day for the past two weeks. I think that
we should... Now, look, look, Chet.

Even if I understood this school book
talk of yours, which I don't have the

time, mean average units are not going
to tell me what I've got to know. Do we

finish the road bed on time?

We just about live or die on that one.

Well, Mr. Mallory, on your very first
contract with your own company...

I'm pleased to inform you that the
access road will be completed a day and

half ahead of schedule.

Now, now, wait a minute, Pete. There's
nothing wrong about that, is there? Back

on schedule again, considering all the
delays and the trouble we've had?

Wrong.

Chet, do you realize what this means to
me? Sure. Another week and there'll be

more money than we know what to do with.

Yeah, money.

Money and...

A lot more.

Chet?

Couldn't have done it without you.

Hello, Stu.

Pete? Chet? How's it going?

Good. Good.

Got enough money to last me another
week?

Chet here, he figures we'll make it on
deadline.

Wonderful. Remind me to give you a
lifetime pass to Bentonville Park.

The perfect vacation resort.

Well, you can forget about that pass.

Just you make that payment on deadline
and I'll be happy.

The minute you finish, I pay. Excuse me,
Mr. Benton. Company coming.

Gentlemen, I'm Sergeant Landro.

Is one of you Stuart Benton?

Well, that's me, officer. What can I do
for you?

Peter Mallory?

I'm Mallory.

What's the trouble?

This access road you're building from
the south side of the lake to the north

side, are you responsible for it?

Yes, I am. What about it?

Well, Mr. Mallory, it seems you've been
trespassing.

Trespassing? Mr.

Ames is the owner of the west sections
of land up to the high water mark on the

lake. He claims your road and your
equipment both are on his private

Well, there must be some mistake. Easy,
easy.

Officer, I'm sure Mr. Ames is mistaken.

I pray the judge will have to decide
that, sir.

Fenton, for you.

Mallory, for you.

These are court orders to stop all the
work.

Stop all the work?

You can't do this. I've got men up here.
I've got equipment.

Sorry, Mr. Mallory, but I'm afraid
you've also got trouble.

Reve -

Mallory Construction Company rushing a
project to completion, huh?

I've seen more life in a graveyard.

Benton told me what happened.

Thanks. You know, Harry, this could be
my graveyard.

It weren't for guys like you.

Your equipment's in good shape, though.

Playoff gave us a chance to do some
servicing.

You go to court tomorrow?

Yeah, we get rolling right after that.

Don't worry, we'll come in on time.

Oh, I'm not worried about that.

What about your crews, though? Are they
going to work without pay?

With this delay, just paying my crews is
going to take every cent I have to

finish the access road by deadline.

You expect me to carry the rental on my
stuff until then?

Well, Harry, I'm just asking for credit
for a week or so. What's the problem?

Well, I don't like courts, and I can't
afford charity.

Sorry, Pete.

I've got to have your check by tomorrow,
or I'm going to have to pick up the

equipment.

Oh, you give me the right price and
there'll be nothing but Galaxy Outboards

sold on my lake.

Exclusive concession for the right
price. How about it?

Well, look, I've got the same deal with
Southwest Gas, an exclusive concession

for the right price.

Oh, Artie Hellman himself told me to
call you.

Well, I'll have my wife send you the
literature, hmm?

Why don't you sit down, Pete?

Thank you.

Okay. I'll see you next week.

Bye.

I just talked to Harry Parker.

He wants that check by tomorrow or I
lose the gear.

Well, he can't do that.

Look, Stu, I need that advance payment
now, not next week.

Well, according to your contract, I
can't pay you till you've completed.

Oh, now, look, don't worry.

Now, tomorrow in court, the judge will
say Ames is wrong. That means he's

for any losses you've had.

Yes, but I'll have to sue. I can't wait
that long.

Well, who says wait?

Right from the courtroom, we'll go
directly to the bank. We'll get a loan

your pending suit, hmm?

Well, can we do that?

Of course, and don't worry.

The judge will be fair and we'll win.

He's already got the new survey I had
Phil Edwards make out. I tell you,

no problem.

Well, I sure hope you know what you're
talking about.

Mettenville. The perfect vacation
resort.

Gentlemen, I've compared the surveys as
submitted by both sides.

The court finds for the plaintiff, Mr.
Raines, defendants are permanently

enjoined from entering upon or occupying
the property without the express

permission of the plaintiff.

But, Your Honor, the survey... Agrees as
to the boundary line.

What?

Mr. Mallory, you're a quip and
trespassed.

But what about Benton's land?

Mr. Benton is not involved. The fault is
clearly yours and yours alone.

Please, Your Honor.

Bailiff the next case, please.

But, Stu, what about the bank loan? What
are we going to do?

Your Honor, there must be some mistake.
Please, Your Honor.

Stu.

Stu, how about the loan?

Pete, Pete, I'll find out about this.
Call me later. I know, but the bank

Well, I don't have time to talk right
now. Now, about those escrow contracts.

Consolidated contacted me about a
sweetheart of a proposition.

Mr. Mallory?

I'm sorry.

I realize how financially embarrassing
the court's decision must be for you.

Embarrassing?

Mr. Ames, I'm just about wiped out.

You appear to me to be the innocent
bystander who's being hurt. What you

an attorney of your own.

There's just got to be a mistake
somewhere.

There's a man named Perry Mason.

He isn't my attorney.

But he's a friend and coming to my house
tonight. Now, if you would like me to

arrange an introduction, I'd be very
happy to. But where could we have been

mistaken? Where?

84 .7.

Front line J. Check.

That's it.

But it checks out, Pete. They're right.

There is no access strip. There never
was.

Only I don't understand.

Let's go out to the site. Again, Pete,
we measure twice.

Well, I can't. I can't believe it. How
could it happen?

Two other guys get in a fight, and I
left Ode in the bag. It happens. It

happens. It doesn't happen.

When Ames first served those papers, we
measured it, and we were right. It

looked like it was, Pete, but it
couldn't have been.

You measured, and I checked the map.
Remember?

Yeah, yeah. Look, Pete, why don't you go
home?

It's the wrong one. That's a different
map.

That's impossible. It's got to be the
same. Yeah, sure. It looks the same, all

right. Even the smudges.

Somebody went through a lot of trouble
to make it look the same. No, no, no.

You're wrong, Pete. You're wrong.

Yeah, they even copied the telephone
number up here in the right -hand corner

just the way I did.

Only they didn't know that I erased it
later.

But, Pete, why would anyone want to
change the map?

Where are you going?

Benville Park.

Sheila?

Chet.

Yeah, the worm has finally turned.

Pete knows.

He just exploded out of here.

What's the matter?

You followed up the original survey.

You're wrong, Pete. My survey's on
record at the County Hall of Records,

it's correct. Not the one you gave me,
was it? It had to be.

You did it deliberately.

You're crazy.

You filed the right one and handed me a
ringer.

Only who paid you to do it? Who?

What are you talking about? I'll tell
you who paid you to do it.

Hello?

I have to speak to Stu. Hurry.

It's Mallory. He's like a crazy man.
He's coming to your place now.

I'm sorry, but you had the wrong number.

Put this in the car for me, will you,
dear? I want to look over some papers.

When will you be back?

Hard to say.

Two, three days at most.

Pete. I want to talk to you.

Look, I've got to go out of town for a
few days. Stock issue business. I don't

have time to talk right now. I've got
the whole story, Stu. I thought you

want to hear it.

What story?

I just came from Edwards.

I knew I couldn't make a mistake and run
through that boundary line without a

push from somebody.

Now, look, Pete, before you say
anything... Quiet!

No more talk.

You've kidded me long enough with talk.

I'll make it good, boy. I'll give you
back every cent, I promise.

Pete, don't lose your temper. Pete!
Pete!

Hey, lady.

Oh, please.

My husband.

He beat me.

The reason I got away was because
somebody drove up.

Oh, please.

You've got to help me.

All right, lady. Take it easy. Take it
easy. Here we go.

Don't come any closer.

He's dead.

That's a great technique.

Florentine, isn't it?

She has a wonderful touch.

Miriam promised one for my...

apartment, and I promised her $2 ,500
for her favorite charity. You did? When

was that? Just before you moved to San
Francisco.

You know, I haven't seen too much of
your daughter, either.

Mr. Mason?

Yes?

I need your help.

I think I just killed a man.

All right, Sergeant.

Thank you very much.

Stuart Benton was killed by a blow on
the back of the head with a blunt

instrument. Blunt instrument?

I just hit him in the face with my hand,
that's all.

Did he fall?

No. Did he strike his head when he fell?
No, I don't think so. He just fell in

the middle of the room. As far as I can
remember, he wasn't even knocked out.

Did you ransack the room before he left?
No, I didn't do that. I left just after

I hit him. I didn't touch a thing.

Why did you hit him, Mr. Mallory?

He just stood there.

Not a hair out of place.

And no good foreflesh, looking like he'd
just step out of a fashion plate.

After all he had done to me, how could I
help it?

Mr. Mason, I don't like to hurt people.

But something just boiled up inside of
me. I just had to shove my fist in his

face just once.

All right, Mr. Mallory.

I believe you.

But before I promise anything, I want to
speak to Mr. Ames. Will you wait here,

please?

Well?

Well?

Mallory is involved in the murder.

He wants me to represent him.

I thought I should talk to you first.

I assume you consider I'm involved in
some way?

The victim was Stuart Benton.

Evidently, he was killed between 9 .30
and 10 o 'clock this evening.

I see.

Mallory, Benton, my land, and my
daughters, yes, there would be an

You're a good friend, Jim, but you
understand if I do represent Mallory, my

first duty would be to him.

Freehand, as far as I'm concerned, I
like Pete Mallory.

Go on, go on, help the man.

We're beating the bushes for Mallory.
How nice we have him in a hotel instead.

We? Am I breaking the law again?

Not even bending it, Paul.

He's registered under his own name, but
we do need a couple of hours before he

surrenders himself.

What else have you found out?

Well, the murder weapon was one of those
steel markers they stick signs in the

ground with.

What time did Mrs.

Benton and the sheriff discover the
body?

9 .50.

Mallory told Perry he left at 9 .40.
That's ten minutes difference.

And he denies ransacking the place.

It was ransacked, all right. They're
looking for a missing briefcase.

Paul, Benton was packed for a trip.

Did they know where he was going?

Nope. Mrs. Benton doesn't know either.
They asked her.

See if you can find out fast.

Check back through the office.

Will do.

Thank you, Harry.

A moment, please, Mrs. Benton. May I
talk to you? I don't feel like talking

anyone now.

This is important.

Come on, mister. You heard what the lady
said. She doesn't want to talk to

anybody. Go ahead, Mrs. Benton.

He called you Harry.

Could that be Harry Parker?

Look, mister, I never did like
reporters. They're always prying. I've

nothing to say to you.

Della, you know where Mr. Ames lives?

Yes, I've been there.

Well, I'd like a copy, if I can get it,
of the sales contract between Miriam

Ames and Benton for the north side
parcel. Tell Mr. Ames it's important, or

otherwise I wouldn't ask for it.

Also, while you're talking to Mr. Ames,
just casually... Mata Hari,

something sent.

Casually find out why, after being away
for a good year or so, he suddenly

returned from San Francisco. In time to
get a restraining order on Pete Mowbray

on that access road.

All right.

Pick me up here when you're finished. By
that time, I'll have finished talking

to a gentleman named Parker.

As I understand it, the sheriff's
department is all through here.

Oh, look here, friend. I told you I
didn't want to talk... I'm not your

I'm not a reporter.

I'm an attorney representing someone
involved in a murder.

Sorry.

I didn't know, Mr... Mason.

Now, suppose we have a little talk, Mr.
Parker.

Sure.

Anything I can do? You just helped Mrs.
Benton to her car. Where was she going?

She went to the Blue Arrow Motel.

Can't blame her for not wanting to stick
around here, can you?

Does she plan to continue with the park
project?

It's funny you ask. I just made her an
offer to take it off her hands.

That's strange.

You didn't seem to believe very much in
the park project the other day when you

pulled all your equipment away from Pete
Mallory, now did you, Mr. Parker?

Hello. Hello, I'd like to see Mr. Ames,
please.

Well, he isn't here right now, I'm
afraid.

May I help you? I'm his daughter, Miriam
Ames.

Oh, yes, perhaps you could.

I'm Della Street, Perry Mason's
secretary.

Oh, Mr. Mason's representing Pete.

Mr. Mallory, isn't he?

Yes, that's right.

Well, what did you want to ask my
father, Miss Street?

Actually, I think it's something of
yours that Mr. Mason wants.

Your copy of the contract covering the
sale of the Northside property of the

Bentonville Park Estates.

Well, of course...

If it would help, Mr. Mallory, it's
right here in the study. Won't you come

Mr.

Mason was here last night.

He talked about being impressed.

Very impressed with one of your
paintings.

Oh, nonsense.

But he didn't mention your being here,
Miss Ames.

I got in this morning.

Here it is.

Thank you.

Does your father plan on living here for
a little while?

Miss Street, I assume your questions
reflect Mr. Mason's interests.

My father came down here from San
Francisco because he received a phone

anonymous phone call, telling him that
somebody was building a public road

across his own private property.

That's all I know.

Come in.

Mr. Stark? Chet Stark?

Yeah.

Paul Drake.

Private detective?

That's right. Mind if I come in?

Well, pretty complicated.

I imagine it takes a long time to learn
a thing like this.

Not something, say, a private detective
could pick up without training?

No, not very well. Look, Mr. Drake, is
there a...

Something you want? Something I can, uh,
help you with?

Mr. Stark, as I'm not horny into your
racket, would you mind telling me what

engineer is doing making like a private
detective?

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

No?

Three people.

The reservations agent at the airport,
the desk clerk at the El Mirador Hotel

Juarez, and the leading divorce attorney
in Juarez each told me what I wanted to

know. Plus, one other thing.

That I was the second person to ask. The
first person asking questions was you.

So?

So, we both went to a lot of trouble to
find out that Stuart Benton was going to

stay at the El Mirador Hotel in Juarez
while he obtained a Mexican divorce from

his wife, Sheila.

All right, we were both curious, so
there's nothing wrong with that, is

I get paid to be curious.

And I made my investigation the day
after the murder of Stuart Benton. You

your investigation the day before. And a
lot of people, including the police,

are going to want to know why.

I'm afraid that's my business.

Yours and Sheila Benton's?

How did you know?

I didn't know, Mr. Stark. I just had a
hunch.

I know how upset you must be, Mrs.
Benton.

But if you can help us, it might mean
you'd be saving a man's life.

Will you just leave me alone?

I'll find out, as will the police, if
there was something between you and

I'll also find out the rest of what
happened last night.

The rest of what happened?

Pete Mallory will swear that one of the
reasons he struck your husband was

because your husband was almost
aggravatingly immaculate within seconds

you've described as a knock -down, drag
-out fight.

And for some special reason of your own,
you wanted that deputy sheriff with

you.

Why?

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

You do know your husband was flying to
Mexico to get a divorce.

But you didn't want that, did you?

Oh, no.

Mr. Mason, please.

You've got it all wrong. It's not what
you think.

If you won't tell me the truth, what can
I think?

Only that you were afraid of being cut
off without a cent.

And that you, or that you and Stark,
took advantage of Mallory's fight with

husband by killing him. No!

We only wanted to stop Stu's cheating,
his pushing people around, his double

-dealing.

Oh, look, you...

You didn't really know what he was like.

His sweet talking women and his
hoodwinking businessmen. He was a con

man. If he was a con man, then
Bentonville Park wasn't a legitimate

It could have been.

But it wasn't.

What did you hope to gain by having him
arrested on a false charge?

To keep him here.

For once, finally, somebody was mad
enough to keep yelling until the truth

out.

You mean Pete Mallory? Well, he was our
only chance. Nobody ever fought back

before. But if Stu left town, Pete would
have a chance to cool off. You see, it

had to be last night because of the
blackmail.

Blackmail? Well, that briefcase, the one
the police couldn't find.

Stu always kept it locked up, but last
night he had it with him to take on the

trip.

Your husband kept blackmail evidence?

Against whom?

Well, I don't know, but it was the only
way he had of keeping people in line, to

keep them from... Excuse me, I'm
Sergeant Landro, Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Sergeant, you'll be interested in
this.

I'm interested in Peter Mallory.

You Perry Mason?

Yes.

Where is Pete Mallory?

Perhaps you won't want to see Mallory
when you've... If it concerns Benton

a blackmailer, sir, well, you already
know about that.

We found that briefcase you was talking
about.

You found?

It was in a locker at the bus terminal.

Key to that locker we picked up in Pete
Mallory's room.

Now, will you turn him in?

There's a warrant says he's wanted for
first -degree murder.

I should like this coat, the steel
marker, and the briefcase entered in

and marked for the people exhibits A, B,
and C.

No objection.

So ordered.

Now, Sergeant, would you tell us,
please, the circumstances leading up to

discovery of that briefcase?

While searching the defendant's room, we
found the key to a public locker.

In the locker, we found the briefcase.

And then it, too, was subjected to
laboratory analysis?

Yes, sir.

Laboratory tests showed that it had been
spattered with blood that was of the

same type as that of the decedent.

Now, Sergeant, tell me this. Was there
anything inside that briefcase

to Mr. Mallory, the defendant?

Yes, sir.

There were some papers and notes and
what was apparently Stuart Benton's

handwriting mentioning Peter Mallory by
name.

Your Honor, since this is a preliminary
hearing, I'm going to ask Sergeant

Landreau to describe merely the general
nature of those notes about Mr. Mallory.

Well, it was information that could
conceivably, uh, well, hurt his

if it was passed on to someone sensitive
about the use of violence or concerned

about Pete Mallory's temper.

I think that'll take care of the
situation. Thank you, Sergeant.

Your witness.

Sergeant Landro.

If the defendant had a fight with the
decedent and had bloodied his nose, let

say, isn't it possible that blood from
the fight was what you found on the

defendant's clothes?

It's possible.

Now, concerning the contents of that
briefcase...

Were there other names on those notes of
Benton's? Well, aside from Peter

Mallory, the only other person even
remotely connected with this case whose

was mentioned was Harry Parker.

Thank you, Sergeant. That'll be all.

Mr. Parker, on June 7th, you withdrew
$50 ,000 from your account. On June 8th,

Benton deposited $50 ,000.

Now, you were seen together during that
period.

Of course.

It was a loan.

A loan?

Yes.

No record of it on the company books.

Now, isn't it true that you are a silent
partner, that you were blackmailed into

becoming a silent partner?

As a silent partner, buying into
Bentonville Park meant protecting your

investment after Benton's death.

It was a sound business deal, was it
not?

Yes, it was.

Mr. Parker, you were the other end of
the squeeze play against Mallory, were

not? What I did was absolutely
legitimate.

No further questions.

I was working late at my office when
Mallory came charging in.

It was about a quarter to nine.

Continue, Mr. Edwards.

Well, Mallory kept insisting that he had
been swindled, that somebody had

switched the survey charts on him.

He, uh... He asked... No, I guess he
told me it was Benton and threatened me

I didn't agree with him.

So you agreed with him?

Well, I would have agreed to anything at
that moment.

Go ahead.

He...

He pushed me and rushed out of my office
saying he was going to get his hands on

Benton. That's all, Mr. Edwards. Thank
you. Your witness.

Mr. Edwards, do you frighten easily?

No. Come now, Mr. Edwards.

Isn't it true that many things frighten
you?

During World War II, you were restricted
to non -combat duty because of

uncontrollable fear.

In 1954, you obtained a divorce charging
extreme cruelty and specifying that you

were... Afraid of your what?

Your Honor, Mr. Mason is embarrassing
this witness with questions that are not

even germane to this hearing.

On the contrary, Your Honor.

The prosecution has stated it wishes to
illustrate the mood and temper of the

defendant on the night of the murder. I
simply wish to illustrate that this

witness was not competent to judge that
mood and temper.

You've made your point, Mr. Mason.
Please continue.

Now, Mr. Edwards.

If the defendant had reason to believe
he'd been swindled, why did he come to

you?

Isn't it true that you were involved by
virtue of having prepared a false

survey?

My charts were correct.

Perhaps those that you filed were
correct.

But weren't you paid to give the
defendant a false survey?

No, that isn't true. No, no.

Then did you falsify a survey because of
fear?

No.

Well... I...

No. No?

What are the questions?

Step down, please.

I call Mrs. Stewart Benton.

All right, Mrs. Benton.

Mallory had arrived, giving you a chance
to break away.

Where did you go?

I went to get the deputy like I told
you, and when we got back there, Stewart

was dead.

Mallory was gone, and the briefcase was
missing.

Thank you, Miss Benton. That'll be all.
Your witness.

Mrs. Benton, you knew your husband was
leaving you.

Isn't it possible you used the
defendant's arrival to your own

killing your husband before you went to
get the deputy sheriff?

No! No, I didn't kill my husband! That's
a lie!

You're right. That's a lie! A defense
attorney seems to be accusing everyone

this crime.

That's quite enough confusion.

This witness is obviously unable to
continue her testimony.

This court's adjourned until 1 .30 this
afternoon.

May we have a moment?

You told me you weren't being
blackmailed.

Sorry, Mr. Mason. It never dawned on me
that somebody would make something of

it. Believe me.

What was in that briefcase that
concerned you?

Happened a long time ago.

San Diego.

I hit a man.

Too hard.

They arrested me.

Spent a couple of nights in jail.

Benton had the records.

I suppose he could have embarrassed me,
but he didn't need to pressure me into

doing that project.

I wanted to do it.

I guess I made it rather rough for you.

Tell you what, Pete.

I won't let it worry me if it doesn't
worry you. Good enough?

Good enough, Mr. Mason.

All right, bailiff.

Thank you.

Barry, do you think what was in the
briefcase will be damaging?

I'm more interested in what wasn't in
the briefcase.

What was? Oh, of course, you have some
good contacts with the phone company.

Yeah, I know a couple of dollars down
there.

Check out those two telephone numbers
for me, will you?

I know I would have profited personally,
Mr. Mason, but it was a matter of

putting an end to the defrauding of the
people my husband had business with.

What you're admitting, then, is that you
actually conspired against your husband

in an effort to take over the project.

If a wife must remain blindly loyal to a
despicable philanderer who cheated and

stole and who'd go on cheating and
stealing and even blackmail... Then yes,

Mason, I am guilty of a conspiracy.

Now then, on the night of the murder,
you left the trailer, altered your

appearance to simulate having been
beaten by your husband, and went hunting

a deputy sheriff. How long were you
gone?

About 20 minutes.

So you don't actually know of your own
knowledge what time Mallory left during

that 20 -minute period, or whether or
not someone else came in and killed your

husband.

No.

One more question.

Who else knew of the briefcase?

No one.

You're under oath, Mrs. Benton.

Did Chet Stark know of the briefcase and
its contents?

Yes. Are you and Mrs. Stewart Benton in
love?

Yes.

It was our hope to get married if Sheila
was ever free.

Is that why you both conspired against
her husband?

He had it coming to him. He had what
coming, Mr. Stark?

Getting arrested or getting killed?

That's not what I mean.

What do you mean?

You mean you're concerned with what you
had coming along with Mrs. Benton?

A share in the park?

A share in $100 ,000 worth of insurance
on Stuart Benton's life?

What?

No, no, no!

You're twisting it all up!

Mr. Ames, there were two important phone
calls made on the night of the murder.

One at 8 .45 to a number in San
Francisco.

One at 9 o 'clock.

from that number in San Francisco to
you.

Yes.

Mr. Ames, the person Stuart Benton
called, the person who then called you

from San Francisco, was that person your
daughter, Miriam Ames?

Yes. Mr. Ames, isn't it a fact that your
daughter Miriam

and Stuart Benton were involved in a
whirlwind relationship?

A relationship that suddenly terminated?

Miriam wrote to me in San Francisco
about it.

Stuart Benton came to town, alone,
apparently an attractive man.

Yes, at first it was just business, his
wanting to buy her property, but then

Miriam became interested in him, very
much interested in him. They went out

together a great deal.

Her calls and letters implied she had
every reason to believe he was seriously

interested in herbs. She had no reason
to suspect Stuart Benton was anything

what he claimed.

So she went ahead and signed the land
deal without letting me or an attorney

even see the papers.

And then?

His wife showed up in town.

He had fooled her, swindled her, shamed
her in her own eyes, but he didn't stop

there, did he?

She...

She'd written him some rather naive
letters.

Because of her seeming indiscretion with
a married man, he then tried to

blackmail her.

Yes.

That's why he called her the night of
the murder, using those letters to try

extort money from her.

And that's why, uh, frightened, she then
called you.

Yes, yes.

Did you then leave your home, Mr. Ames?

go to see Benton, kill him, and then
remove from that briefcase any reference

to your daughter?

No.

So help me, no.

But somebody removed those letters.

According to Sergeant Landreau, they
were not in the briefcase, were they?

I never touched that briefcase.

I never set eyes on it.

Besides yourself, Mr. Ames, who knew
Miriam and liked her well enough to have

removed those letters? Who?

Pete Mallory.

I see.

This is important, Mr. Ames.

Just how did your daughter meet Stuart
Benton?

He came to the house.

Alone?

No. He was brought there by the
engineer, Phil Edwards.

We used to see a good deal of each
other.

My wife and Miriam were friends.

In its way, it was a rather chivalrous
thing you did.

Mr. Edwards, you did remove the
blackmail evidence concerning Miriam

Ben's briefcase.

Yes. There was also blackmail evidence
concerning you in that briefcase.

Evidence he used to force you to
introduce him to Miriam Ames. Evidence

to force you to switch surveys on Pete
Mallory.

After you removed the evidence, you
checked the briefcase in the terminal

and planted the key in Mallory's room?

Yes.

And you were outside when Mallory hit
Benton?

And when Mallory left, you went inside?

Benton was half unconscious.

The briefcase was on the floor.

It wasn't enough just to get rid of the
evidence.

Mallory knew.

I had to discredit him.

And Benton could always talk.

That could mean losing my license.

Going to jail.

Don't you see, Mr. Mason?

I was frightened.

They were very well working for other
people.

I wondered, what ever prompted you to
gamble all the money you'd saved and go

into business for yourself?

Well, it meant more money.

More, it proved that I was a real
somebody.

Someone who could... You know, Jim...

Permitting that access road to cross
your property would get Pete out of a

hole. But it would also allow you to
have a substantial interest in a

venture. What?

Me buy into... No, no, no, not buy, just
exchange.

Just need that one small strip of land
for participation in the entire resort.

But buying into... Oh, Dad.

Uh... into Bentonville Park, huh?

Why not? I've never turned away from a
good business proposition.

Suppose we, uh, suppose we talk about
it, eh?

Suppose we do. Tell me now.

Is it absolutely necessary to make bad
jokes while you're operating?

Absolutely.

Hang with the gang of the 4077.

Max, coming up next on the Hallmark
Channel.

What began with innocence would become
forbidden love.

One of the most watched stories in
television history.

Witness the event that shocked a nation.

The Thorn Birds.

Tomorrow at 1 on the Hallmark Channel.