Original subtitles

Thank you.

The child was placed here some 19 years ago. I don't see how she can be of any

concern to the orphanage now. Quite true, Mr. Renshaw.

But as I told you on the telephone, regulations.

Reuniting a child with a long -lost parent.

Certainly the regulations can be relaxed a bit.

There are other ways of tracing her, you know.

State records, for instance.

No, the family would like everything handled very discreetly.

Discreetly, of course.

There's a great deal of money involved.

Ah, yes, money.

It's usually that.

I took it on myself, Mr. Link, to suggest to her mother that a

would certainly help the fine work you're doing here.

We have accumulated a lot of files in all these years.

And I believe you stated the child was abandoned, therefore no identity.

Though, of course, there's usually some clue.

Her first name was Maureen.

I happen to know the approximate date she was left here. Or the month, at any

rate. That should narrow it down.

Suppose we go along to the file room and see.

Fine.

Well, that's quite an animal you have there.

It's a lion, isn't it?

Does it have a name?

I know.

It's a cat and it took your time.

You about through, Mr. Renshaw? Just another minute.

I'll have to lock this door while I go down to the gate for a moment. Some

stranger's talking to one of the children.

Maureen.

All right, Pop.

What do you want?

Now, honey, that's no way to talk.

Come and sit down.

Someone's meeting me.

Well, you can spare a minute, can't you? It's been two years since you've been

home.

Home? Well, no, I guess it wasn't very much, but I thought you might come out

see your old foster pop once in a while for old time's sake.

Look, there was a fellow over at the house asking about you yesterday.

His name's Renshaw.

What's he selling?

Nothing. He said he was your Uncle Bert.

I showed him your picture. My uncle?

Oh, he was a salesman.

Would you tell him where to find me?

I know. Well, don't. It's possible he could be your uncle, isn't it? Well, how

would I know?

And for that matter, how would he know?

Look, what do you want me to tell this fellow, huh?

Will you just tell him that I left home five years ago and haven't returned

since?

It's half true anyway.

Oh, look, Pop, he's a phony.

And even if he isn't, I don't need him.

You don't need anybody, do you?

Only the friends I choose.

Need any money?

I've never asked you for anything yet, have I?

No. This won't spoil your record.

I'll try to get out and see you sometime.

Your flight was announced a half an hour ago. What did

you do, take the train?

The pilot got fresh over Fresno, and I had to walk home.

Fresh over Fresno?

Well, aren't you going to punch him or something?

And have a shiner for tomorrow? Oh, no, I'm a lover, not a fighter.

What's tomorrow?

Well, I thought we'd drop in on my family, let them meet the girl I'm going

marry. Oh, no, Rich.

Have you told them I'm an orphan?

Well, no, but I didn't tell them you were a registered foreign agent, either.

Oh, they'll get used to it, darling.

Besides, that's not really important to anybody.

Except to an orphan.

Come on in out of the storm.

May I help you?

Oh, yeah.

Is Mr. Renshaw in, please? It's a personal matter.

Yes, right in the office.

You go right in. Oh, thank you.

Come in, Mr. Thomas.

Nice to see you.

I suppose you've talked to Maureen.

Of course you have. Or else you wouldn't be here, right? Well, she doesn't want

to see you, Mr. Renshaw.

Well, that's hardly the point.

But I do want to see her.

She doesn't think you're her uncle.

Oh?

Well, I've got $20 here that says she's wrong.

What do you think of that?

Well, when we got her from the orphanage, they didn't even know her

It's Renshaw.

She was my brother's child.

That should prove that I'm her uncle, shouldn't it?

Sounds reasonable enough to me, but... So, wait a minute. I got a little

something here for you. A little souvenir.

Why, that's me.

How in the world did you ever get that?

Professional secret.

Took it when you were in here yesterday.

Go ahead. Put it in your pocket.

Well, thanks.

How are you, Mr. Grove? Will you come on in? Sure.

I'm just putting through a call to New York.

To Maureen's mother.

Well, it seems I dropped in at the right time.

She'll be very happy to know that you and I bumped into each other. Because I

found out where Maureen is.

Really? Hello?

Yes, I'm calling Mrs. Arturo Fernaldi.

Yes, thank you.

Her second husband was Italian.

Died several years ago.

She's still an Italian citizen, though.

Spend most of the time just traveling with a woman companion.

Now the woman drowned in a boating accident of some sort and Mrs. Rinaldi's

alone. I suppose I told you about that.

No, no, you didn't. Hello.

Mrs. Rinaldi?

James Grove.

Oh, how sweet of you to call, Mr. Grove.

Where are you?

In Los Angeles.

I have some news for you about Maureen.

Good news, Mr. Grove?

Oh, wait.

Let me sit down before you tell me.

It's all right. I'm quite all right.

You were saying, Mr. Grove?

I've succeeded in locating your daughter.

Oh, my dear, that's wonderful.

I think I'm going to cry.

They found my little girl.

I can't talk.

Just a moment.

Get all the details for me, will you, George?

And tell that wonderful young man that I'll be on the first plane to Los

Angeles. This is a friend of Mrs. Fernali. We met on the plane.

She's rather excited.

I think she took it very well.

Yes, I'll take care of everything at this end.

Good night, sir.

Well, you might have let me talk to her.

Why? Why? Because she's my sister -in -law. That's why.

She probably doesn't even know I'm still alive.

I didn't realize you had such strong family feelings, Mr. Renshaw.

After all these years, too.

Excuse me.

Just a minute, Mr. Grove.

There's something else you better realize, too.

I'm the only one who happens to know where to find Maureen.

You tell Angela to get in touch with me.

I don't think your help will be needed in the future, Mr. Renshaw.

Maureen?

Maureen, this is your Uncle Bert.

I didn't even know I have an uncle.

You may not see him again for another 20 years. Goodbye, Mr. Renshaw.

Now, just a minute, Mr. Grove. I said goodbye, Mr.

Renshaw.

It's a swindle, Mr. Mason. It's an out -and -out swindle. That's all it is.

Grove is trying to pass off that girl as Angela's daughter. I don't know where

he dug her up, but I do know he hasn't got any real evidence to go on.

Just pieces of incomplete records, maybe. But he isn't going to get away

it. I imagine Mr. Grove will make the same charge against you.

So let's see what there is in the way of evidence.

Well, to begin with, Maureen was left at the Bolden Hall Orphanage when she was

a year and a half old.

Two years later, she was placed in a foster home in Orangedale. The foster

family's name is Thomas.

As I understand it, she was abandoned with no identity other than a first

Well, yeah, that's true, but... Were you familiar with the circumstances?

Well, certainly.

My brother divorced Angela and got custody of the child.

He was awarded custody?

Why not the mother? Because she was an alcoholic.

Isn't that nice?

I'm only telling you the way it was.

Then Ed went into the Navy, so he left her on the orphanage steps.

I must have been a beautiful baby, huh?

Look, Ed didn't consult with me about it. I was a bachelor, and if I'd have

known, I'd have done something about it myself.

Anyway, after Ed subsunk, I did send money every year or so to the orphanage

get you a few extras.

Did you do this anonymously?

Well, yeah, I thought it best at the time. Then there is still no positive

that this particular Maureen is your niece.

How do you feel about it, Miss Thomas?

Oh, very wanted.

Look, I have an appointment in 40 minutes with my future in -laws, if they

me. Wait a minute. You can't just walk out on Angela like this.

Why not?

She did it to me.

But that was 20 years ago. She's straightened herself out now.

How do you know that, Mr. Renshaw?

Well, Grove told me she married this Italian, a big industrialist. He left

plenty, I guess.

A villa in Rome, a place in a Riviera, Paris every spring.

Oh, she's got plenty of money, all right.

I mean, why would Grove pull in this phony on us?

Now, here's my plan. I'm not interested in any of your plans, Mr. Renshaw. I

think it would be wiser to let Mr. Mason handle this for me.

So that's the way it is, huh?

Okay, try it and good luck.

But I happen to know something nobody else does.

And make no mistake, you'll all be coming back to Uncle Bert before this

thing is over.

Don't look at me that way, Mr. Mason.

Maybe I could use somebody important in my background.

Well, now what's the first move?

So you by any chance Maureen's young man she's been talking about?

I must be.

I'm her Uncle Bert. Bert Renshaw.

Oh, I didn't know Maureen had an uncle.

Well, in that case, I think we'd better get acquainted.

Suppose I give you a call one of these days.

Fine, do that. Here, you can reach me at this number.

Richard Campion, eh? Right.

Yeah, I'll be calling you. Good.

So, there I was on a roller coaster 20 ,000 feet over the continental divide

with my seatbelt fastened and nothing but one of those ridiculous paper sacks.

Oh, you were queasy, Richard.

Yes, Mother, I was queasy all right.

The stewardess can vouch for that.

He was as green as a Martian.

Well, do you suppose that Martians are really green?

Well, if they are, I know exactly how they feel.

Yes, well, I must say that, well, planes have always frightened me.

Yes.

I should think your parents would worry about you constantly.

Oh, I do the worrying about her now. All those handsome pilots.

My father's dead.

I'm so sorry.

Sir, he was a submarine commander. He was sunk by an enemy.

Well, fine tradition, the Navy.

Well, my mother's lived in Europe ever since.

Uh, why don't we all have another drink, huh?

Her name is Mrs.

Arturo Fernaldi.

Hello?

Oh, uh, yes. Just a minute, please.

Maureen?

It's not the Prince of Monaco, but take it anyway.

Don't be surprised if it's all true.

Hello?

Hello, Maureen.

This is your Uncle Bert.

Surprised to hear from me so soon?

How did you know I was here?

Oh, I get around, Miss Thomas.

Angela arrived today.

I've been over to see her.

Did you have a nice family reunion?

Well, I...

Wouldn't want to say how nice it was, but I sure learned a lot.

Oh, yes, it was very enlightening.

Am I her daughter?

Well, now, suppose you come over here and I'll tell you. Huh?

I think we can do business.

All right?

Here's the address.

Well, of course I'll come alone.

But it'll take me at least an hour.

Mr. Renshaw?

Oh, Miss Thomas.

Mr. Mason, what are you doing out here?

Waiting for you.

Well, must be very important.

Am I really Angela's daughter?

At the moment, there's no proof either way.

I've made an appointment for you to meet her tonight. That is, if you want to.

Well, if she's really my mother, why shouldn't I want to?

Was Bert Renshaw your uncle?

I have no idea.

Why do you say was?

He was murdered last night.

Murdered? Why?

Well, in my office, didn't he say, in effect, that he was the only one who

identify Angela's daughter?

You mean now we'll never know?

I'd say your chance at the money is just as good as Maureen Franklin's.

Talk to me about money, Mr. Mason.

I've been making my own living since I was 16 years old with no help from any

mother or anyone else.

I just think I need someone right now.

Why now?

Because I went over to meet Richard's parents last night.

Do you want to know something funny?

I suddenly realized I'm just a status seeker after all.

I really want a mother.

I hope you get one.

You know, Mr. Mason, I'm rather glad California has jurisdiction in this

parentage matter.

Why, Mr. Grove?

Well, if my firm knew you were representing the competition, they'd

send out the first team.

It's a great opportunity for me to be here.

I was under the impression that Mrs.

Fernaldi was your client.

Well, my firm was retained to locate her daughter.

Having done that, it seems I have to verify it.

Can you do that, Mr. Grove?

My mother will be... Oh, I mean Mrs.

Fernaldi will be out in a moment.

Thank you.

Miss Franklin, this is Mr. Mason.

How do you do? How do you do?

Oh, and Miss Thomas.

Oh. So you're an alumnus of Bolton Hall, too? Yeah, a refugee.

Oh, isn't this nice? We're all here.

And you must be Mr. Mason.

Yes, you fit the voice.

Mr. Mason telephoned me today, and I was quite taken by his voice.

So often when one meets the person, well, they don't really match, if you

what I mean.

Oh, you must be Maureen.

One of them.

Let me look at you.

Oh, you're quite lovely.

But, uh... What is it, Mrs. Rinaldi? I just don't know. I mean, one would

think that a mother would know her own child by sheer instinct.

But, of course, I was a very bad mother.

Oh, no.

I'm afraid it's dreadfully, unhappily true.

I abandoned you, my dear.

Oh, was it you?

How does one tell?

Mr. Mason, please help me. What am I going to do?

I'm afraid there's nothing for you to do, Mrs. Rinaldi.

If the records and the evidence available aren't conclusive, the court

to decide.

Would you excuse us, please, Mr. Mason?

Yes.

I'm afraid it's all terribly confusing, isn't it?

I mean, you don't even know what to call me.

Mr. Mason, I have a considerable head start on you.

I'll try to catch up, Mr. Grove.

Well, I suppose you've heard of Burt Renshaw's murder.

Yes.

Well, I'm not suggesting your client isn't sincere in believing she's Mrs.

Fernaldi's daughter.

However, if the test should show against her, or more likely if the court

decides against her, and I'm confident it will, there could be an implication

attempted fraud.

And you think Renshaw was murdered because he knew of the fraud?

I think that's what the police are bound to suspect, and it could put your

client in an uncomfortable position.

Now, I'm sure she had nothing to do with the murder, or I wouldn't make the

suggestion. Are you as sure of your client, Miss Franklin?

Well, that's pretty far -fetched, isn't it?

Why?

Until one or the other is proven to be Mrs. Rinaldi's daughter, they're

interchangeable, aren't they?

Della? Oh, Harriet.

Hello, Miss Comet. Hello.

Paul would like you to meet him at this address as soon as possible.

All right, I'll get right over there.

And here's the latest edition. I thought you might find it interesting.

Thomas, I'll be gone for about an hour.

I'd like you to stay here.

Why?

Convenience.

You could use this picture on a passport.

Where could they have gotten that picture, Maureen?

I don't even remember having it taken.

Maybe nobody will recognize me.

I wouldn't count on that.

Good work, Paul. These files aren't usually available without a court order.

Well, I told the assistant director I knew Burt Renshaw got in on a little

grease. He suddenly became agreeable.

Where's Maureen's file?

Which one?

There have been half a dozen Maureens in this place.

Well, from the facts that Burt Renshaw gave us, you can eliminate most of them,

can't you?

Well, only two really fit, but that doesn't help much. Here, look at the

information on this tab.

Does not match the record inside.

Somebody did a real sloppy job of filing.

Maybe some of the pages could have been switched.

But this is obviously a file on Maureen Thomas.

Found on orphanage doorstep, August 8th and so forth.

What's wrong with that, Paul?

That was a month that Renshaw said that his brother abandoned the baby.

I'm afraid you're backing a loser.

I checked Ed Renshaw's service record.

In August of that year, he was on submarine patrol in the Coral Sea. He'd

there for a month.

What about this file?

Well, I traced this Marine from the orphanage to three different foster

each one of which gave her a different last name.

What name is she using now?

Maureen Franklin.

Well, hello, Andy.

Harry. Paul.

Have you seen this, Counselor?

Yes. Do you know this girl?

But that's no longer the question.

She was identified by an airline as Maureen Thomas, one of their hostesses.

All I want to know now is, can you tell me where this girl is?

Let's go into my office, Andy.

Paul, I'll talk to you later. Good luck.

Lieutenant Anderson would like to ask you some questions. In connection with

murder of Bert Renshaw.

All right.

Not here.

Downtown.

On what evidence?

The background was trimmed off before the papers ran it. You can see for

yourself that this picture definitely places her in the camera shop.

Being in a place of business is hardly incriminating.

On the night of the murder?

He was already dead. Maureen.

The lieutenant forgot to warn you that anything you say may be used against

Okay, so you set it for me.

Now you can tell me where you got this picture from.

Remember Renshaw's clerk?

Margaret McDonald?

She's not hysterical anymore.

Shall we go, Miss Thomas?

Now, let's see, Miss McDonald, you say that you were employed by the late Bert

Renshaw for how long?

21 years.

Then it's fair to assume that you knew something about your employer's private

life? A little.

Including the circumstances of his brother's child?

Well, I didn't know his brother or his brother's wife, but I helped take care

the baby after Ed was shipped out to the South Pacific 19 years ago.

After he was shipped out? Well, then how could the brother have put the baby in

the orphanage? He couldn't.

It was Bert Renshaw who did that.

When was this?

Well, that's the trouble. I don't remember the date.

Well, because he didn't tell me until after he'd done it.

And was that the last contact Bert Renshaw had with his niece?

Well, until he went out to look for her just recently.

Went to find her with what results, Miss McDonald?

Well, he found a girl named Maureen.

Now, Miss McDonald, I show you this photograph of the defendant. I ask if

there's anything about this photograph that you recognize.

Oh, yes, that was taken with Bert's secret camera.

Would you explain to us, please, what you mean by secret camera?

Well, Bert set it up as a promotional gimmick.

Every customer that stepped on the mat in front of the cashier's desk took his

own picture with a camera that was concealed in the wall.

Is there any way of telling when this particular picture was taken?

Yes, I changed the film after closing time the evening of the murder.

So this picture would have to have been taken sometime later during that night.

And on that evening, did the decedent Bert Renshaw stay in the shop after

closing hours?

Yes, he said he had to wait for somebody.

I had a girlfriend with me. She's sitting right over there. And she heard

say all the things I did.

Did he tell you who he was waiting for?

No.

But he did say, I've discovered she's an imposter and a phony.

You better go on home.

Then he was waiting for a woman who was an imposter and a phony.

Well, that's all he told me.

So I said goodnight and left.

Thank you, Miss McDonald. That'll be all.

You may cross -examine, Mr. Mason.

Miss McDonald, 19 years ago, did you register any objection to the placing of

the defendant in an orphanage? Your Honor, I'll register an objection right

Counsel knows perfectly well that the defendant has not been identified as

Maureen Renshaw.

Objection sustained.

Miss McDonald, did you object to the Renshaw baby being abandoned?

Well, it was too late for objections. He did it without even telling me.

Even though I had offered to raise the baby myself, if... If what, Miss

McDonald? Well, Mr.

Renshaw and I vaguely discussed the matter of marriage.

I see.

Now, leaving her on the orphanage doorstep wasn't Bert Renshaw's last

with the baby, was it?

Oh, yes.

Until he went out to look for her several days ago.

But isn't it true that Bert Renshaw made occasional anonymous contributions to

the orphanage to be sent on for the care and support of the child?

No.

I mean, yes, the money was sent to the orphanage.

But I sent it.

Well, I took it out of the cash register.

Well, he could afford it.

It was the only decent thing he ever did, even though he didn't know he was

doing it.

When our Maureen, the defendant there, first came to us, we got the regular

amount for child support. And then, after a while, the orphanage started

us more. Oh,

$300 or so extra every year, maybe.

How long did these extra payments continue, Mr. Thomas?

Up to the present, I guess. How many years has it been since Maureen left

home? About five years, I guess.

The orphanage was unaware of that?

Well, no, I guess we just sort of pretended that... So there's a good deal

money which Maureen never received, is that right?

Well, you see, my wife was very sick the last few years, and I had so many

expenses, so I just kept on using it, I guess.

The orphanage records show that you received half of the money contributed

indirectly by Bert Renshaw for the support of a girl named Maureen.

Oh, yeah, sure, that's...

That's how he knew where to find his niece.

Your Honor, for the second time, the defendant has not been established as

Renshaw's niece.

I'll withdraw the question so the witness's answer may be stricken from

record. A clerk is so instructive.

Let me put it this way, Mr. Thomas.

Isn't it true that Burt Renshaw discovered you had been misappropriating

intended for your foster daughter?

Well... Yes, but I explained the circumstances to him and I promised to

all back.

Did you actually pay him back any of that money, Mr. Thomas?

Oh, no. You see, he was killed and... That's all, thank you.

He was stabbed with that pair of scissors.

They were kept on his desk for photo trimming.

Tell me this, Lieutenant. Was blood found anywhere other than in the murder

room? Yes. An examination of the defendant's possessions revealed a

dried blood on it.

The same type blood as the dead man's.

Thank you, Lieutenant. Mr. Mason?

No question.

Very well, Lieutenant Anderson, you may step down, sir.

I call Mr. James Grove to the stand for him.

I almost tripped over him.

That's when I got my handbag right next to him. Did you swear to tell the truth?

But he was already dead.

And nothing but the truth?

He was.

Right now, it's more important for you to prove that you're Angela's daughter.

Mr. Mason, can you remember back when you were four years old?

The best place to begin my search was with Mrs. Fernaldi's brother -in -law.

decedent, that is.

I was still under the impression Mr. Renshaw had raised Maureen.

However, Mr. Renshaw was extremely evasive, so I undertook to follow him.

took me to Bolton Hall Orphanage. How did you then proceed, Mr. Grove?

I obtained the necessary authorization to examine the files.

From that and other background information I had, I became satisfied

Fernaldi's daughter was a girl who was now known as Maureen Franklin.

Of course, since then, we've taken blood tests.

They were inconclusive. They didn't eliminate either girl. However, Mrs.

Fernaldi was able to recall one additional fact that a certain

Miss Franklin's has now verified.

Indeed.

Well, since Mrs.

Fernaldi is present today in this courtroom, her own testimony will, of

be best evidence on that subject.

But, Mr. Grove, I have one additional question of you, sir.

Is your law firm acting as executor of a trust fund established several years

ago by Mrs.

Fernaldi's late husband? That is correct, sir.

It's a trust fund set up in favor of the daughter in the event she could be

located. And was still living, of course.

And when the identity of Maureen Renshaw is finally and fully established, what

amount of money will that young lady receive? When she's 21, on her next

birthday, she will receive approximately $200 ,000.

That time, long ago, was a time of great sorrow in my life.

My husband divorced me.

Not without some justification.

And won the custody of my baby.

Due to the state of my health, the recollections of that period are quite

disconnected.

Yes, I understand.

And yet there was one thing you were able to remember which was of assistance

Mr. Grove in his search for your baby?

Well, so he indicated.

But I can't imagine what it was.

Unless, of course, he meant the only picture that I have of her.

Where is that picture now, Mrs. Bernalde?

I'm afraid it's not very helpful.

She was less than one year old at the time.

Besides, the toy sort of tends to hide the baby.

Oh, I've compared it to both Maureens.

I'm afraid it's quite useless.

Yes, but would you describe the toy the baby is holding?

That was her polka dot pony.

It was a little stuffed animal I bought for her in a toy store.

The last time I ever saw my child.

She was clutching that silly little pony.

When I was placed in my first foster home, the orphanage sent along a little

with my toys in it.

There weren't many, but I do recall one of them was a small stuffed animal, like

a horse, maybe.

Do you know what happened to these playthings of yours, Miss Franklin?

Yes, when I left my first foster home, the box was left behind.

My next parents were always going to get it for me, but I guess they really

wanted me to play with the new toys.

When I told Mr. Grove about it, he got the box and took it up to his office.

I see.

Is this the box you referred to?

Yes, that's the one. I can remember.

I haven't seen it yet, though. Opened, I mean.

Your Honor, it's our intention to call the foster parents, Mr. and Mrs.

and to recall Mr.

Grove to show properly how this box was stored and handled.

But with the court's indulgence, I would like at this time first to open the box

in front of Miss Franklin.

Mr. Mason?

I think I have no objection, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Booker.

Is that your toy, Miss Franklin?

Oh, yes, it must be.

Oh, yes, I'm sure it's mine.

It's her.

She's the one.

That's my baby.

Everybody believes that girl because she's had a chance to talk.

Well, why don't you put me on the stand and let me sell my side of it?

What would you say?

Well, I don't know exactly.

But I think that's my polka dot pony.

Why do you think that?

Well, you see, when I was just a little girl, I had a nickname.

Buttons.

I hadn't thought of it for years, but I remembered last night.

Well, I mean, those big dots do look like buttons, don't they?

Yes, they do, Maureen.

Oh, well, they...

They'd just think I had made it all up anyway, wouldn't they?

Not necessarily.

But there are other reasons why I'm not going to put you on the stand.

Mrs. Rinaldi, did this polka dot pony have a name?

A name?

Oh, dear, I'm afraid I've quite forgotten.

Does buttons ring a bell for you?

No, no, I don't think so.

Well, can you swear that this is the same toy that you bought 20 years ago?

I'm almost certain it is, but... Oh, dear.

I thought this was all settled.

Mr. Mason, which of the girls do you think is my daughter?

Don't you have any more recollections that might help answer that question?

I've thought and thought, racked my brains till I'm simply exhausted, but

are some blank spaces in my memory of that period.

Must I tell why?

Well, I was young and frightened and my husband and... Well, I just wasn't able

to cope with everything.

And the ugly truth is, Mr. Mason, that I was frequently quite drunk.

Was that the cause of your divorce, Mrs. Finaldi?

No, excessive drinking is not a cause, it's a result.

At least that's what my doctor in Switzerland told me.

But the...

The result of the results was that, well, I couldn't properly take care of

baby.

One day I accidentally burned her, and that's when Edward took her away.

A serious burn, Mrs. Rinaldi? I don't think so, but, oh, she was so tiny, and

I cried because I thought I might have marked her for life.

You mean left to scar?

Oh, I hope not, but...

Well, that would help, wouldn't it?

Assuming your child does have such a scar, Mrs. Fernaldi, where would that

be located?

Oh, it would be on her left shoulder.

Just about here.

No more questions, thank you.

The witness may step down.

Your Honor, the state feels that there's no useful purpose served in prolonging

this hearing any further.

Certainly there can be no doubt remaining that the circumstantial

against this defendant is conclusive.

And her motive is equally clear.

Bert Renshaw was murdered because he knew which of these two claimants is the

imposter. Well, Your Honor, now that question has been answered right here in

this courtroom.

And despite Mr.

Mason's insinuations that the evidence of the polka dot pony was planted, the

state will not even bother to recall Miss Franklin to the stand.

The fact that she has the exact identifying scar described by this

obvious to everyone.

All right, Mr. Berger, you've made your point.

Mr. Mason, have you any other witnesses to call in cross -examination?

Yes, Your Honor.

With the court's permission, I should like to recall Miss Margaret McDonald.

Referring to your previous testimony, Miss McDonald, did the decedent ever

discover that you had taken money from his cash register for the child support?

Well, no.

Not until he started to look for her, I mean.

Now, we have heard that he demanded the return of the money from Mr. Thomas. How

did he respond to your confession?

He struck me.

I see.

Now, Miss McDonald, The previous witness has acknowledged a faulty memory due to

great lapses of time.

If possible, I would like you to substantiate her recollection.

Well, I never even saw the parents, so... I mean about the baby, Miss

Oh.

Well, let me see.

You know, babies, all babies acquire scars and bruises of some sort.

I don't remember.

But I suppose there might have been something on her shoulder.

Corresponding to Miss Franklin's scar?

Yes. Thank you.

That'll be all.

A witness must check out.

Your Honor, at this time, I should like to recall Mr. James Grove.

Very well.

Mr. Grove?

You're still under oath, Mr. Grove.

Mr. Grove, when you were assigned the task of locating the missing heir, were

you shown the baby picture that we've seen here?

Oh, certainly.

We compared notes on everything we knew of the child.

Then one of the questions I later asked Maureen Franklin was if she remembered

any of her toys.

That's when she told me about the box that had been left behind at her first

home. Mrs. Rinaldi and I went over there to get that box.

The people there had a vague recollection of it. They were afraid it

been thrown away.

But we finally located it in an old woodshed. It had the name Maureen on it.

Now, I'm not ignoring the possibility that such evidence as the polka dot pony

could have been planted, Mr. Mason.

However, it does seem far -fetched that Maureen Franklin could quite so rapidly

acquire a scar to fit Mrs. Fernaldi's recollection.

Mr. Groves, suppose it were the other way around. Suppose Mrs. Fernaldi

a recollection to fit an existing scar on Maureen Franklin's shoulder.

What? Oh, this is ridiculous. You're just trying to confuse the matter of

identification. No, Mr. Groves.

I'm trying to establish identification.

Which of the two Maureens is the daughter is no longer the point. The

should be, who is the mother?

What? In other words, do you know that that woman is really Mrs. Arturo

Fernaldi? I...

Well, she had the necessary identification, the papers and passport.

But suppose it wasn't a traveling companion, but Mrs. Fernaldi herself who

drowned in Europe some months ago.

Wouldn't all the necessary papers and information have been available to this

other woman?

A woman who'd been her nurse and friend for years?

Well, how should I know? I believe she was Mrs. Fernaldi. She is Mrs. Fernaldi.

And so did everyone else believe her, except Bert Renshaw.

Mrs. Fernaldi.

You were the imposter he was waiting for that night, were you not?

No, what are you talking about?

Now, Renshaw wouldn't have recognized either girl after almost 20 years, but

certainly would have known his own sister -in -law.

Was that why you killed him?

Because he knew that you weren't Angela Fernaldi?

It was an accident. I didn't mean to do it.

I meant no harm. I wouldn't even have come here if I'd known that Mr. Grove

would find a living relative.

But that Mr. Renshaw demanded payment.

Every penny I could ever find.

I didn't have any money.

Angela had spent every cent of it.

All there was left was that trust fund they'd set up for her daughter. And for

me, nothing.

Me, her constant companion, waiting on her for 15 years, catering to her

every whim.

Well, I was entitled to something, wasn't I?

Really, I meant no harm.

I just wanted to be taken care of.

For Angela's daughter to take care of me.

That's so terrible.

When you were suddenly arrested, the woman decided by herself to establish

and Franklin as her daughter by making her story fit the evidence.

Mr. Grove was completely unaware of what she'd done.

But how did you know that the real Angela had died in Europe?

We didn't.

My contacts in Europe did find out, however, that Angela Fernaldi always

traveled around with a nurse, a companion, and neither of them could

located. And just on that, you guessed that... If Bert Renshaw knew the person

he was going to meet was an imposter, and Maureen wasn't that imposter, then

could it have been?

The woman answered that question herself in court.

And Maureen Franklin didn't have anything to do with all that?

No.

Now, I think the trust fund is probably rightfully yours.

But I believe the court will have a hard time deciding between the two of you.

So perhaps you ought to agree to divide it.

Oh, I think so, too.

I mean, I'd be happier about that.

Only, well, at best, it leaves each of us with just the memory of half a

doesn't it?

My dear, a substitute is never very satisfactory.

And I'm afraid Mr. Campion and I are really out of touch with your

But Richard's put up with us all these years.

Well, I'm afraid I said that rather badly.

No, Mrs. Campion.

I think you said that.

rather well.