All language subtitles for Perry Mason s06e10 Lurid Letter

I told him I already had a date with
Bobby Slater. What are you going to do

he finds out you really have it? Just
have to leave the country, that's all.

All right, girls, back to the salt mine.
Oh, Mrs. Warden, we thought you were

still inside.

Well, that's where I should be, and so
should you.

The bell's due to ring in 20 seconds.

Now that's what I call a photo thing.

Mangan, won't you join us?

Why, sure, Jane.

I mean, Mrs. Wardman.

I'd be glad to.

All right, now, how many of you have
finished David Copperfield?

None of you?

Well, why not?

Agnes?

Bobby?

Oh, well, uh...

Don't you know the answer, Mrs.

Wardman? No, I don't.

But I'd like to.

Well, maybe you'd like to tell me after
class.

Oh, well, wouldn't you much rather have
someone older stay?

Say, Pat Mangan, maybe?

Mrs. Wardman, the principal's office.
You're wanted right away.

Thank you, Elsie.

We'll continue this when I get back.

What a time to be called away.

Just when some of my most lovable
students were trying to light

under me. Mr. Rigsby wants you to go
right in.

All right.

What's he want, Doris? I really wouldn't
know, Mrs.

Wardman.

Mrs. Slater?

Mrs. Wardman?

Would you prefer that I handle this, Mr.
Rixby?

Well, frankly, I'd prefer nobody handled
it.

But as acting principal here, Jane, I've
been ordered by the Board of Education

to... well, to ask for your resignation.

My resignation?

You didn't know that the Board and I is
representative of the High School

Parents League...

Discussed your case last night? You mean
that note I sent in about Pat Mangan?

No, no note was mentioned, Mrs. Wardman.

But a letter was.

Sure, your copy, Mr. Rixby.

Judge Edward Daly, President Placer Hill
Board of Education.

Isn't it about time you caught on to
what a certain young widow had been

nights with the boys in her senior
English class?

Making passes and more, not only with
Kenneth Sterling before he died, but now

with... This is horrible.

You don't believe this, do you, Everett?

Well, it apparently doesn't much matter
what I believe, Jane.

An anonymous letter not even mentioning
my name?

Oh, we investigated, Mrs. Wardman.

There's no doubt the young widow is you.

After Kenneth Sterling's accident, we
were prepared to shrug off any gossip.

We thought we understood your
relationship with him.

But this we can't shrug off.

Of course, there's nothing to be gained
by the public washing of dirty linen, so

to speak.

So we're giving you this chance to
resign quietly, thus closing the matter.

Well, what do you say, Mrs. Wardman?

Well, what can I say?

I sure appreciate this, Mr. Mason.

Isn't very often a big city lawyer pays
a courtesy call on a rusty confreree?

Oh, hello, Jane.

This is Mr. Mason.

Taking the Beecham Cottage for a couple
of weeks of trout fishing.

It's Mrs. Wardman. How do you do, Mrs.
Wardman? Mr. Mason?

Just go on in, Jane.

Be within a shake of a lamb's tail.

Now, Judge Daly, about those secret
trout fools.

Hold on. That judge is strictly a
hangover from short -term as justice of

peace years ago.

Well, judge or not, I'm a first -class
fishing guide, and I'm coming out to

you. All right?

All right.

Well,

I guess you know why I'm here.

Yeah, a minute Slater called, though why
I don't know.

President of the Board of Education,
I've been delegated to handle this.

Judge Daly, you were Bill's friend,
executor of his estate.

My lawyer.

And you'd allow me to be convicted on
the basis of some disgusting charges in

anonymous letter?

Jane, you remember what I said right
after Bill died and you were debating

whether to stay here and teach or to go
on?

You said as a stranger people would be
suspicious of everything I did. But that

was over two years ago.

Doesn't matter.

This is an old -fashioned town, Jane.

Ingrown, living in its mining past.

You were a woman who somehow got hold of
Bill Wardman while he was a geologist

out in the Far East.

Brought him home to die.

Then tried to take his place.

In the eyes of some people, you're still
a stranger, I guess.

Well, stranger or not.

Did it ever occur to anybody, even for a
second, I might be innocent?

Yes, for a good deal more than a second.

But let me explain something, Jane.

The school board isn't saying you're
guilty.

No one's preferring any legal charges
against you.

So there's no question of dismissal.

But here is some, well, awkward
evidence.

Enough evidence to justify a board
hearing.

Now, a hearing is going to mean
publicity, mudslinging, name -smearing.

Board's willing to let it rest, provided
you resign.

And if I resign, how will I ever prove
my innocence?

You are innocent, Jane. Of course I am.

There was some talk about you and this
boy Kenneth Sterling before he died.

Judge Daly, you knew Kenneth Sterling.

A sensitive, mixed -up rebel with no
family to turn to.

I was merely trying to help him.

And you didn't make any passes at him,
as the letter says?

No, I did not.

Or to Pat Mangan, whom the letter also
names?

That monster?

No, he says you did, Jane.

And so do some of the other boys.

Who are they?

Well, the board thinks it's best for
their families and for the community,

if their names are not brought into
this.

In fact, I'm the only one that's talked
to them.

And they told you that I... Yes, Jane.

They did.

Oh, Ms. Wardman.

I was told the town taxi parked here.

It's 30 minutes now and still no sign of
it.

Sometimes it disappears for hours.

I'm afraid I can't wait that long.

Is there any place I can rent a car?
Mine's late up until morning.

Well, I'd be happy to give you a lift.

I couldn't put you to all that trouble.

The Beecham Cottage is more than halfway
to the summit.

Well, it just so happens I have to go
out that way and pick up my son, Terry.

Come on, help me.

How are you, Janie?

That's a pretty dress you're wearing,
Janie.

How about taking us, huh?

How come you're not eating?

Is something wrong?

What makes you think that?

Well, you look sort of pale.

Like when you had the flu.

Well, I've got just the thing for pale
young widows. It's a double old

-fashioned. Compliments to the
management.

It's very nice of you, Gus, but no
thanks. I don't drink.

Well, that's not exactly what they're
saying around town.

Terry, you remember Mr. Weiler, don't
you?

Sure. He was assistant football coach at
your school last year.

Your mom's school?

That's funny. I heard she wasn't there
anymore.

I think you'd better leave, Gus.

Just kidding, Everett.

Thanks.

Now, the dashing U .S. Marines to the
rescue.

Only I... You didn't quite cut such a
dashing figure in my office today.

That's why I came in when I saw your car
outside.

To try and explain.

There's nothing to explain.

I understood.

Yeah. Understood that the she -dragon of
the parents' league had me completely

buffaloed.

What did you decide?

Nothing yet.

Well, when you do let me know first, so
I can take first stab at the dragon...

Oh, look, this is stupid. You can't get
mixed up in this thing.

The board could fire you, ruin your
whole career.

There's not much point in being a
principal without principals.

I don't want to cause any more trouble.

Everett, can we talk about this
tomorrow?

Sure.

So long, Terry.

Bye, Mr. Richby.

What's this all about, Mom?

Well, Terry, it's about a letter.

An unsigned letter received by the Board
of Education a day or so ago accusing

me of making what's called

improper advances toward some of the
boys in my senior

English class.

How silly can anybody get?

Trouble is, according to Judge Daly,
some of the boys say it's true.

How could they?

I'll bet it's that dirty Pat Mangan.

Yes, he's one of them.

What's Judge Daly say?

That I could resign without any thought
or insist upon a hearing.

But he feels that if I... Well, if we
win, the people will

still say that there's some truth in the
charges.

Well, his advice is to stop thinking
about fighting and

just move out of here.

Run away?

Well, after all, Terry, it's partly my
fault.

I was stupid enough to think I could
help Kenneth Sterling.

You know what happened to him.

But that was an accident. He skidded his
motorcycle off a cliff.

What would Dad do?

If he were here, he'd stay and fight?

Then let's stay and fight.

Well, Doctor?

Mild abrasions.

One or two small bruises and a pretty
fair bump on the head.

You should be stiff and sore in the
morning, Jane, but that should be about

Did you see the accident, Mr. Mason?

No, but I heard the crash. By the time I
got outside, the motorcycles were gone.

However, we've pretty good ideas as to
who they were.

Dr. Grant, you're a member of the Board
of Education, aren't you?

You told him, Jane?

Yes, he told me.

And I must say it's hard to find the
words to express my indignation and

amazement at what's been done to Mrs.
Wardman.

And that her attorney and her family
doctor could be so involved.

Mr. Mason, the board didn't just act on
the basis of an anonymous letter.

A witness was heard, the Mangan boy.

Don't call him a boy. He's old enough to
be in the army.

The town bully and a notorious liar.

Now, now, Jane, I admit his reputation
is not too good, but there were others

too. Who else testified?

They told their story to Judge Daly, who
quite properly withheld their names.

Why do you say quite properly?

There's no point of shaming the families
if we can possibly dispose of this

quietly, as the board hopes to do.

But it's all right to go on shaming Mrs.
Wardman and her son.

Is that the board's idea of justice?

Mr. Mason, we're not a court of law.

We're responsible for our young people.
If we feel they're in jeopardy, right or

wrong, we must do as we think best.

As Mrs.

Wardman's family doctor, do you honestly
believe that your young people could be

in jeopardy?

Miss Mason, the board asked me that same
question.

As a doctor, I was forced to tell them
that persons who were suddenly cut off

from the love and emotional outlets they
were accustomed to sometimes do lose

their judgment and self -control.

Did you tell them I'd lost control?

Of course not, Jane.

Did you tell them that she hadn't lost
control?

I've entered no opinion.

That was very courageous of you, doctor.

Good morning. Good morning. How are you
feeling?

Oh, a few minor aches and pains. Nothing
too serious.

I thought it best if I kept Terry home
from school today.

Mrs. Wardman, this is Paul Drake, the
private detective I told you about last

night. Mrs. Wardman. Mr. Drake.

He's here to help you.

That is, if you want help.

I honestly don't know what I want, Mr.
Mason.

I'm sure it's a hard decision.

Almost no one on your side except a
vacationing lawyer whom you barely know.

But there's something odd here.

The whole town stirs up and so rapidly.

Mrs. Wardman, the boy who died.

Kenneth Sterling?

I guess it's standard procedure for me
to wonder about violent fatalities.

But I understand that you were the
closest thing to a family the boy had.

Could his death possibly have anything
to do with this?

No, I don't think so.

It happened in the next county near
Cactus City about a month ago.

Kenneth was in one of his states of
revolt against life in general and the

school in particular that night.

How do you know that?

Well, I received one of my midnight
phone calls from him and I talked to him

a while and... Well, I thought I'd
calmed him down, but... Later

that night, apparently he was going so
fast that his...

Motorcycles skidded off the road and
into a ravine.

Paul, there are two avenues of approach
here.

One is to force an open hearing before
the Board of Education.

The other is to unmask the writer of
that letter.

Well, how can you do that?

Possibly through the letter itself. We
have the photostat Mr. Rixby showed you

yesterday.

It looks as if it were written on an
Imperial Super Quiet.

The stationery store will give me a list
of all the people in town who bought

one. Then there's a certain amount of
pressure that can be put on Pat Mangan

because of last night's episode and the
note you sent to the board about him.

Her note to the board? I hadn't heard
about that.

I was just reporting on something that
happened at a school dance.

I had a little trouble with Pat Mangan,
so I reported it to Mr. Rixby, of

course.

There were some things that Pat said
that made me wonder if someone wasn't

selling liquor to those boys.

Someone like Gus Weiler maybe at the
Summit Inn.

That in itself could be useful.

But before we can do a thing, Jane, I
must be empowered to represent you.

I think it might be easier if I just
packed up and left.

Mom?

Yes? You said Dad would have fought,
didn't you?

Yes, Terry.

Well, aren't we wardens too?

All right, Mr. Mason.

You're empowered to represent me.

This is from a standard motorcycle tire
tread ferry.

Think you can identify which of the
boys' bikes was here?

Well, maybe.

A couple of breaks in this one.

What's going on?

Who are you guys?

Mr. Wyler?

I could be. Why?

You know Pat Mangan and his group pretty
well, don't you?

I ride their motorcycles out here
sometimes, but I hardly know them.

Lenny, I just heard a rumor that you've
been selling them a bottle of liquor

every now and then.

Yeah. Are you Pat Mangan?

What do you want?

We're running a check on super quiet
typewriters. I understand you own one.

Well, I wondered if I could see it,
please. My company's interested. Get out

here, buddy. We don't want any.

Look, you don't understand.

I saw you out there.

Well, whatever you know isn't allowed
for it. Do it someplace else, huh? Now,

wait a minute. This is my part. Get off.

Pat, what's going on out here?

Oh, you're asking questions about Pat
the typewriter. Is that it, mister?

That's right.

Well, he traded it in about two months
ago as part payment on a new motorcycle.

You stay out of my way, buddy.

Next time I catch you, I ain't gonna be
so lucky.

In the house, Pat.

Nice kid. Kid? I don't feel any arms on
that moose.

You can take it.

Paul?

I think there's a way we might force a
few hands around here.

That Pat Mangan out there?

Yes, that's Pat.

And what would you do if he suddenly
attacked a stranger walking across the

school grounds?

He's a bully and a sadist. I don't know
about attacking a stranger.

I'm willing to gamble that he's going
to.

I'm also willing to gamble that you're
going to call the police.

Well, in matters like that, I'm really
supposed to report first... To the

You'd call Judge Daly?

I guess that would put him on the spot,
wouldn't it?

I guess he'd have to call in the police.

Exactly.

Well, look who's here.

This is the wise guy I was telling you
about.

This time, good buddy, you're going to
get the full treatment.

From you alone or with the help of your
friend?

I don't need no help.

No, Mr. Mason, there's been no call from
Judge Daly yet, and it doesn't seem

like there's going to be one.

Now, as far as that accident business
last night is concerned, I'm afraid I

haven't gotten much further with those
motorcycle tracks than Mr. Drake here.

Sheriff, what about the possibility that
Gus Weiler or someone else has been

selling the boys liquor?

Well, that's pretty hard to believe
about old Gus, although the boys do kick

their heels now and again.

But this county's always been pretty
clean.

That's not like Cactus County, where
young Sterling got liquored up the night

died. Sterling was drunk that night?

Well, the autopsy report did show some
alcohol in the bloodstream.

But I'm afraid there's more than a dozen
places in Cactus City that sell minors.

Paul, you'd better do a little checking
in Cactus City.

Hello, Judge.

Business?

Heard Mr.

Mason was here.

Thought I'd have a little talk with him.
Alone, maybe.

Well, I do have an errand to run. You're
welcome to use the office.

However, I would like a word with you
sometime, Judge.

If I can find the time.

Good idea if you were starting that
little ruckus on the school ground.

I figured it right.

You'd like to get this Jane Wardman
business out in the open, wouldn't you?

In court, maybe.

Yes, in lieu of a formal hearing before
the Board of Education.

I've already vetoed that. It's too
inflammatory.

As for complaining to the authorities
about the ruckus on the school grounds,

I've vetoed that, too.

My opinion, Mr.

Drake's public benefactor.

I'm only a small puddle lawyer.

But you're going to find it hard to
force my hand, Mr. Mason.

I've done and I'll do what I think's
best for both Jane and the town.

Sheriff just stepped out. Oh, hello,
Sergeant.

For me?

Who?

Going over to Jane Wardman's house.

What are you doing here?

Mrs. Fordman, we've come here to give
you an ultimatum.

If the board won't act, we will.

All of us here have children in the high
school. And for their protection, we're

giving you this one last chance to
resign.

And if I don't resign?

We have voted and decided.

We'll take our children out of school
and keep them out.

The mothers here and every other mother
in town. And don't think we won't.

You'd do that just to get rid of me?

Well, we're hoping we won't have to.

Don't be a fool, Jane.

Resign and get out before something
worse happens to you. By worse, do you

riding her out of town on a rail?

Or perhaps you were thinking of tar and
feathers.

I beg your pardon.

Well, aren't you taking the law into
your own hands?

Condemning her without a trial?

Judge Daly, are these the people you've
been trying so hard to protect?

You've just been a witness to their
behavior.

Breaking and entering, attempted
intimidation, slander.

I warn you, Mrs. Wardman is going to
have a field day in court with you

Unless... All right, Mr. Mason.

You've borscht my hand.

All right, folks.

Take your seats. The meeting's about to
begin.

I just heard from our cactus city
correspondent.

He's had no luck at all on where young
Sterling got his liquor that night. Too

many places there sell it.

And the accident?

Well, if you thought it was anything
more, I'm afraid you're going to be

disappointed. Oh.

The reason the boy spun off the road
wasn't liquor. He had a heart failure.

This board is now in session on business
we'd hoped would never have to be

discussed.

I'm sure all of you and Mr. Mason, too,
will see why in a moment.

We're dealing with something... Well,
something that people mostly discuss

behind closed doors.

The doors are closed, Judge. Get on with
it.

Who was that?

Ed Temple?

Now, one more interruption, Ed, and I'm
going to have to ask you to leave.

And that goes for everyone here.

All right.

Now, first, the letter that started all
this.

But it couldn't be ignored, did I?

I think you'll all see. May I see that
letter?

Well, I suppose.

This is a photostat.

Yes, I know.

Seems the original disappeared from
Doris' files.

When, Miss Wilson?

When did it disappear?

I don't know. It was just gone when I
looked for it tonight.

Unless a photostat is properly
introduced, it isn't admissible as

So, I must object.

Mr. Mason, we'd better get something
straight right off.

It won't do you any good to object here.

The board is conducting this hearing the
way it thinks best.

That's right, Judge.

Judge Edward Daly, president of the
Placer Hill Board of Education.

Isn't it about time you caught on to
what a certain young widow has been

nights with the boys in her senior
English class?

Making passes and more.

Not only with Kenneth Sterling before he
died, but now with Pat Mangan and some

of the others.

Ask them, Judge.

Just ask them and they'll tell you.

Would you rather it be you testifying,
Cornelia, or our young people?

I know my duty, Judge Daly.

Then repeat what you told the board in
private.

This is most distasteful.

At the senior dance, held here in this
gymnasium, at which both Mrs. Wardman

I were among the chaperones, I saw her
slip out quietly with Pat Mangan.

And, um... Just go on, Cornelia.

She came back about 15 minutes later,
alone, with her... Her lipstick smeared.

Her dress disarranged.

And smelling of liquor.

Yes, it was at the same dance that I saw
them.

Pat Mangan and Mrs. Wardman.

On a bench back at the science hall.

What were they doing, Doris?

They were... Well, I guess you could
call it necking.

You told this to the board, Miss Wilson?

Yes, I did.

Very shocking thing.

So shocking, I'm surprised you didn't
mention it to someone before the meeting

of the board.

But I did. I told Everett, Mr.

Rigsby, the acting principal about it.

Yes, Doris did tell me. The day after
the dance.

Why didn't you inform the board?

I'm sure Doris must have mistaken one of
the girls for Mrs. Wardman.

And I might add, I still believe that.

Well, maybe you'll change your mind, Mr.
Rixby, when you hear the next witness.

Pat Mangan?

Now, Pat, we want you to tell us exactly
what you told the board and no more.

You understand, Pat?

Yeah, I understand.

The incident at the last senior dance.

Well, about halfway through, Janie gave
me the eye.

By Janie, you mean Mrs. Wortman?

Yeah.

So we went outside and had a couple of
drinks from a bottle I had.

And then we necked a little.

And then, when she went back, me, I cut
out.

Had you ever done a similar thing with
her before?

Sure, lots of times, like I told you.

That simply is not true.

He was drinking, so I told him to go
home. It's just not true.

That'll be enough, Jane.

Well, Mr. Mason, I hope you've heard
enough.

I know the good people out there have.

That'll be all, Pat.

Judge Daly, I'd like to question Pat
Mangan.

Well, if you find that necessary, we'll
resume this hearing tomorrow.

Pat said that Gus Weiler was behind this
whole thing?

Anonymous letter and all?

That's right, Mrs. Wardman.

Pat had it in for you, too, so he was
only too happy to go along.

Did he say anything about young
Sterling?

I don't know how you figured it, but
yep.

Pat said Sterling might have gotten a
jug from Weiler the night he died.

At what time?

Fairly late.

Pat Sterling and some of the others had
been drinking earlier.

Sterling said he was going to go out and
get some more.

Pat figures he went on from there toward
Cactus City.

Jane. When can we find Wyler alone at
the inn?

Well, he usually clears everybody out
around midnight on weekdays.

It's almost 11, Paul.

Suppose we stop by there at about 12
.15.

Okay.

Mr. Wyler?

Maybe he's in one of the back rooms.

No, Paul, I think not.

Weiler.

That's right, gentlemen.

Gus Weiler. And quite dead.

I was about to call the sheriff, but I
heard your car outside.

Hadn't you better call him now?

Slant, angle, and alignment.

They're all different.

You're right, Mr. Drake. The anonymous
letter wasn't written on Gus Weiler's

typewriter. Nor on any of the other
typewriters we took samples from.

Pat Mangan's ex -machine, Doris
Wilson's, Mr. Slater's, Judge Daly's. In

all the typewriters on the stationary
store list.

Well, isn't it possible, since Gus
obviously didn't write that letter, that

death has nothing to do with me?

No, I'm afraid not, Mrs. Wardman. Why do
you say that?

Folded in his wallet was the original of
the letter.

We thought his typewriter was surely
proven to be Mr. Anonymous, like Pat

said.

Of course, Gus could have typed it on
someone else's machine.

But if he didn't, if he wasn't the one,
that still leaves you with a dangerous

enemy, Jane.

Now, I know we've been over this before,
but are you sure that Ken Sterling gave

you no clues to where he might have been
calling from that night?

Yes, I'm quite sure.

Well, outside of us, who else have you
told about the call?

Well, Doris Wilson, we talked about the
accident the next day.

Anyone else?

No, no one else. I didn't feel it was
anyone else's business.

I don't get connection, Mr. Mason.

Maybe I can show you tomorrow, Sheriff.

In fact, with your cooperation.

This meeting will come to order.

I imagine you've heard about Gus Weiler.

But maybe you haven't heard that the
original of the anonymous letter was

on his person.

Well, this being the case, if there's a
possibility that the board has been

making mistakes and hurting people
wrongly, then frankly, we'd like to let

proper authorities take over from here.

But Mr. Mason insists that Mrs.
Wardman's hearing be resumed and resumed

Well, the way I feel...

Like I told you, Judge, I have no
objections to going on with this.

All right, Sheriff.

All right, Mr. Mason.

Your move.

Well, uh, first I'd like to question Pat
Mangan.

I'm sorry, Judge.

His mother and I decided it'd be better
if he got out of town for a while.

The Sheriff wants him, we'll have him
brought back, but not otherwise.

All right.

Then let's call Bobby Slater.

Oh, Bobby.

You were one of the boys Judge Daly
talked with privately, weren't you,

Did you tell him the truth about Pat
Mangan and Mrs. Wardman at the senior

dance?

The, uh, the truth?

Yes, the things Pat told you and the
other boys after the dance.

What did he tell you?

That Mrs.

Wardman hauled him outside because he
was making trouble.

And then she spotted his bottle.

Well, he got scared she'd start
investigating, you know.

By the next day, he was bragging,
though.

Laughing because he spilled liquor on
her and roughed her up a bit, you know.

Claimed that she'd made a pass at him.

Did you mention all this to Judge Daly?

No. But you did tell him that Mrs.
Wardman had made passes at you, too.

that right?

Yes. Now, that was a lie, wasn't it?

Yes, it was a lie.

Bobby! I'm sorry, Mom, but Pat said he'd
beat me up if I didn't lie.

That'll be all, Bobby.

Now, Dr. Grant, in a conversation you
had with your fellow members on the

I believe you said that people cut off
from love sometimes lose their judgment.

Now, could that possibly apply to you?

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

Didn't you once tell Mrs. Wardman that
you loved her, ask her to marry you, and

weren't you then refused?

Yes. Didn't you get so angry at that
refusal that you conspired with Gus

to humiliate her, to drive her out of
town?

How could I have conspired with Gus
Weiler?

Well, weren't you his business partner
in the summit inn? Mr. Mason,

if you're so interested in Gus Weiler's
business affairs, I suggest you ask

Judge Daly that. He was Weiler's
landlord.

Well, there's no secret about me owning
the property out there.

No, I had nothing to do with Wyler
either. I just rented him a building,

was all.

As for him selling liquor to miners,
that's why I went out to see Gus last

night. And to find out if the rumors
you've been telling the sheriff about

were true.

However, had you been his partner, and
supposing that those rumors were true,

you certainly would have quarreled with
him.

You might even have struck the fatal
blow that killed him.

You might even have planted the
anonymous letter about Mrs. Warden. Take

letter. Why would I write anything like
that about Jane Wardman?

To get her out of town, perhaps?

For fear that her investigation into the
liquor situation might have led her

into realizing that the phone call she
received from Ken Sterling the night he

died did not come from Cactus City, but
from the Summit Inn.

I never heard of such a call.

Now, I have here the phone company
record of that call to her number.

Now, you knew that she was going to
investigate.

She wrote a note to this board about the
boys probably getting liquor from Gus

Weiler. I never saw such a note, Mr.
Mason.

Never.

Who did Jane give the note to?

Doris Wilson.

I destroyed it.

Why, Doris?

Why did you do it?

I cared.

A great deal for Gus.

I didn't want him to get into any
trouble.

Well, Miss Wilson, after destroying the
note, did you help Gus Weiler with the

anonymous letter and persuade Pat and
the others to accuse Mrs. Wardman?

No, no, I don't know anything about that
part.

I thought the boys were telling the
truth.

Then why did you change typewriters the
day before yesterday?

Change typewriters?

This was written by me on your
typewriter yesterday.

This was written by you three days ago,
according to the date.

Two different typewriters, Miss Wilson.

A fact I can prove.

Just as I can prove that it was this
earlier typewriter of yours that was

to type the anonymous letter accusing
Mrs. Wardman.

I thought there was something funny
yesterday.

A looser action and the space bar
jumped.

I asked Mr. Rixby if he'd been using my
typewriter again. He said no. Now, just

a minute, Doris.

It's no good trying to implicate me.

Is she trying to implicate you, Mr.
Rixby?

Well, who else could she mean?

Of course.

Who else knew of Jane Wardman's trouble
with Pat Mangan?

Who else knew that she was going to
write a note to the school board?

Who else would have gone to Gus Weiler
and gotten him to join in a plot to

discredit Mrs. Wardman?

You're inventing all this. Am I
inventing this?

A record of the withdrawal of $11 ,600
from your bank account.

The exact sum, incidentally, that Gus
Weiler paid to the people who put in his

bar and cafe fixtures.

How did Ken Sterling really die, Mr.
Rixby?

What? Didn't it happen here instead of
Cactus City? In fact, right at the

Inn? And weren't you there at the time?

Knowing that the discovery of the boy's
body would result in investigations that

would ruin your reputation, cost you
your job, lose you your life savings,

didn't you then get Weiler to help
arrange the so -called road accident

Cactus City?

No. No!

I warn you, Mr. Rigsby, the midnight
call the boy made from the end to Jane

Wardman proves that he couldn't have
done his drinking at Cactus City. It's

far away.

Well, you knew about that call.

And ever since, you've been afraid that
Jane might discover where it came from,

might discover its meaning.

And then last night, you heard that Pat
Mangan had confessed all he knew to Mr.

Drake. Pat Mangan?

No. How could I have known about any
confession of Pat's last night? From

Wardman?

You didn't tell me about that.

Did you, Jane?

I'm sorry, Everett, but I did tell you.

When you called last night after Mr.
Mason and Mr. Drake left the house.

We didn't go out to the inn until an
hour or so later.

There was plenty of time for you to get
there before us.

Plenty of time to kill Gus Weiler.

Kenneth.

Kenneth Sterling was a troublemaker at
school.

He always was.

One night about a month ago, I went out
there to talk to Gus.

Just about business, that's all.

The boy was there, and he was drunk.

When he saw me, the principal, he was
like a red flag to a bull.

He attacked me.

I didn't hit him hard. I only tried to
defend myself.

Struggled a little till I could throw
him out the door.

But then later, Gus and I found him out
there, lying by his motorcycle,

dead.

But last night, Mr. Rigsby,

Last night, why did you kill Gus Weiler?

It was my reputation.

My whole life, I could have lost.

Don't you see? Don't you understand?

I had to do something.

Then last night, Gus Weiler said he
wouldn't stand by me anymore.

He said he didn't strike the boy.

He didn't move the body and the
motorcycle from one county to another.

He didn't start something that got
bigger and bigger until it wouldn't be

stopped.

Until it couldn't be stopped.

Mrs. Wardman.

Yes, Mrs. Slater.

Well, I've been selected to speak for
the mothers and fathers here.

And the Board of Education, Cornelia.

And the Board of Education, too.

To, um... Well, to tell you how sorry
and ashamed we are for the

way we've acted.

And to ask you to stay on here.

If not for your sake, for ours.

Oh, brother, after all this, what I know
how to answer these people.

Mrs. Slater.

Why do you think I've been fighting this
thing?

Placer Hill is Terry's and my home.

And we hope it always will be our home.