Original subtitles

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.