All language subtitles for Perry Mason s08e02 Paper Bullets

Another of the same, Mr. Marty?

Yeah, but make this one with a touch
more authority, huh?

That I'll do.

How come you got pictures of both the
candidates up there?

You see, it really isn't figuring out
who's in business by taking sides.

People for Foster, get that half of the
bar.

People for Caldwell, take that half of
the bar.

This will be where I should be, right in
the middle.

How long has that little chick been over
there?

Oh, a half hour?

Do you know her, Mr. Marty?

I know her face is sort of familiar.

But I've reached the age where all
teenagers look alike.

She better not be a teenager drinking
Jackfish.

David?

Whatever she's having and a double
bourbon for me. All right?

Hon.

Are you all right?

Now, why wouldn't I be?

I thought they might have beaten you up
or something.

I told you, collection day's tomorrow.

And you've got the money.

Now, where would I get $6 ,000?

And don't start telling me I should have
thought of that when I wrote the check.

It was the only way I could get out of
Vegas alive.

Couldn't we go away somewhere?

Find some place far, far off and get
married, isn't it?

I could get a job while you finish law
school.

What would Big Brother Jason do?

He wouldn't do anything.

Are you kidding?

Kid sister and no -good stepson of the
rival candidate for state senator

off together?

Running away won't work, sweetheart.

If Jason doesn't find us, the gamblers
will.

They've got connections everywhere.

If you don't mind, miss, I'd like to see
your ID card.

I've already shown it to the bartender.

Well, I'd like to see it just the same
way.

Susan Foster, age 22.

Jason Foster's sister?

Yes.

Let's see what your driver's license
says.

Well, it's more like it.

17, according to this.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to take you
two in.

Just a minute. Why me?

Buying drinks for a minor? I haven't
bought any drinks yet.

Besides, how was I to know she's a
minor?

That's right, officer.

How was he to know?

He didn't even know my name a few
minutes ago when he came in. I picked

Well, I guess that takes you off the
hook then.

We're too much faster. I'm still going
to have to take you in.

Thanks.

Why, of all the crummy yellow rats, who
asked your opinion?

I guess nobody, Mr. Marty.

See you tomorrow, David.

Would you mind getting a little closer
to your husband?

That's fine.

Hold it just a minute.

Let's get the lady who's masterminding
this campaign. Alma, get in here.

I thought this was supposed to be a
family thing. You are. I think it looks

like the idea.

Everybody smile.

Good. That's it.

Her name is Alma Wright. Wright Real
Estate Company.

Largest in the area, in case you don't
know.

Thanks for the plug.

Senator Cartwell charged in a speech
last night that you've sold out to Harry

Mardik and the others promoting the new
racetrack. Any comments? Senator

Cartwell is wrong. I haven't sold out to
Harry Mardik or anybody else. Does that

mean you will promote the track?

Depends on where they put it. Land
better used for housing, and I'm

Thank you, Mr. Foster. Pleasure.

Returns from the 2nd and 3rd Precinct.

Good. Good.

Mr. Foster?

Yes, sir. Can I talk to you for a moment
on a private life?

You're off the roar, aren't you? That's
right. Call the roar.

Don't tell me my wife's drawn another
parking ticket.

I'm afraid it's a bit more serious than
you thought.

Tell me something.

Did you ever hear of a place at the
north end of town called Reg Reef?

Am I supposed to?

Oh, your sister didn't tell you then?

My sister hasn't told me anything since
she was 14 years old.

Now, what is it about Reg Reef?

Well, I had to take her out of there
last night.

She was using a fake ID card to drink
with some joker that she picked up.

I think it's Danny.

We'll build her out.

I never booked her.

I mean, you know, you running for state
senator, I think it'd be better if I

just sent her on home.

You have any idea of the painful things
that could happen to a cop trying a

shakedown? Oh, Mr.

Paul, look, I'm one of your big
supporters.

What do you want?

Nothing, nothing, nothing. I just
thought it's something that you ought to

about. That's off the ruler.

Thanks.

Well, listen, don't thank me.

Harry Mardig's the one you better thank.

Harry Mardig?

Yeah, yeah, I was taking her in.

Until he came out and convinced me it
was the wrong thing to do.

See you, Mr. Foster.

Do you smell what I smell?

Harry Mardig and his racetrack group are
trying to box me in through Susan.

They got ID cards. I know these
teenagers use them.

Picking up a joker at a bar? That
doesn't sound like her.

Could be that this joker wasn't a
pickup.

Be with you in a second.

Hi.

Why aren't you in school?

What are you, the law school tune
officer now, Mom?

I called the school. They were a little
evasive about you.

Well, if you must know, the dean and I
had a little conference last week in

which it was decided the law wasn't
exactly my forte.

Where were you last night?

Last night?

Why, I was out having fun and games with
some of the boys.

Some of the boys, not Susan Foster.

That little teenage creep or whatever
you're doing with her.

That's what I came to find out.

Oh, good old Auntie Alma.

Who are you mothering, her or me?

If I'm mothering anybody, it's Jason
Foster.

Somebody helped Harry Marty get Susan
into trouble at Red's Reef last night.

Was that somebody you?

No.

I haven't seen Susan in weeks.

What sort of trouble did she get into?

Are you telling the truth?

Of course.

All right.

But if I find out different... You'll do
what?

But why can't we go out tonight, David?
Nobody knows about last night.

Well, just tell them that they'll have
to wait for their money.

Kill you?

Oh, they couldn't. They wouldn't do
that.

What's this I hear about the trouble you
got into at Red's Reef last night?

How would I know what you heard?

And what business is it of yours anyway?

I happen to be the head of this family.
That's what business it is.

Look, Susan, are you trying to fix it so
that I won't get elected?

I couldn't care less.

Look, Kipper, I've gone along with
Margaret. You have your own car, buy

clothes, a raise and your allowance, but
for the last couple of years, you've

given me nothing but trouble.

Why? Why?

I'll tell you why, because you
personally insist on treating me as

a 14 -year -old delinquent.

I'm treating you the way Mother and Dad
would treat you if they were alive.

You're treating me like a child, and I'm
not. You're under 18 years old, Susan.

In my book, that's a child. In the law's
book, it is too. Picking up men in

bars. How delinquent can you get?

Would you like to know who I picked up
in that bar?

David Cartwell.

You haven't seen him yet.

Why not?

Why not?

Are you listening when I gave you a
rundown on him? It's a wonder that

Cardwell hasn't booted him out a long
time ago.

Now you can have the pleasure of doing
that after David and I are married.

Are you figuring on marrying him, Susan?

That's right, brother dear.

I'm figuring on marrying him.

Oh, yes?

Well, you're going to stay in this room
and in this house until further notice.

Do you understand?

What are you going to do?

I'm going to have a talk with your
boyfriend, Susan.

That's what I'm going to do.

Well, how did it go, darling? Not good.

Sounded even worse than not good from
here.

You know, all that was missing was a
crack of a cat of nine tails on bare

Might have had him. Might have used him.

Margaret, she wants to marry David
Cardinal.

Yes. I'll talk to her. How many times
have you talked to her? 20 times? 30

times? And what good did it do?

But it'll do good eventually.

Oh, honey, look.

She's going through a very difficult
period.

She needs our patience, our
understanding, our help. Well, you've

chance with patience and understanding
and help. Now it's my turn.

I'd say your situation is rather
awkward, Jason.

If you're not concerned about Susan,
merely because of the coming election.

quit this campaign in 30 seconds if I
thought it'd do any good.

What about my idea of going into court
and getting myself appointed her legal

guardian?

Arranging proper guardianship is
something you should have done

after your parents died.

When Susan was a child. What about now?
She's still a minor.

Yes, but she's 17 and the court will
respect her opinion of the person to be

guardian.

I assume she'll object rather
strenuously to you.

But you're my lawyer. What do I do?

Oh, I have one suggestion.

If young Cartwell did help Harry Mardig
arrange for Susan to be arrested at

Red's Reef, then proof of that should
open her eyes.

Where do I get proof?

They'll have Paul Drake come in.

Paul's a private investigator, one of
the best in the business.

Man, he's expensive.

Susan's happiness is faked, Harry.

The sky's the limit.

Paul is a Jason Foster, one of my
favorite candidates for the state

I have only one vote, but it's at your
disposal.

Thank you.

Where did you get this photograph,
Edgerton?

Harry Mardig.

He expects you to publish it in the
Citrus Valley News?

No, he simply gave it to me as something
that might interest us.

Simply gave it to you, hmm?

Mm -hmm.

Or could it be, Edgerton, that you and
Mardig and his group are doing a bit of

conniving behind my back?

Whatever gave you that idea?

Your editorials in the news.

You seem to have softened considerably
on the racetrack issue.

Well, now, there are two sides to
everything, Randolph, and I have to

them. But it's for conniving.

I'm your brother.

A fact I've been aware of for 55 years.

Just as I've been aware you do almost
anything, short of fratricide, for a

dollar. That's not fair.

Oh, I realize it's your nose for money
that's made the estate prosper.

But don't let her lead you into trying
to cajole or trick me into anything.

There will be no deals with Mardig and
no racetrack as long as I'm representing

this district. I advise you to keep that
clearly in mind.

Here, return this to Mardig with my
compliments.

Senator, I have a question to ask you.

Get out of here, Lieutenant.

All right,

Jason. Ask away.

You remember my sister, Susan?

Of course.

A policeman picked her up in a north
side bar last night, drinking while

minor. I'm sorry to hear that.

That's not all.

Harry Mardick just happened to be there
at the time.

And he also just happened to talk the
policeman into letting Susan go.

Which makes me think that the whole
thing was planned.

How could you possibly think I had a
part in it?

Because your stepson just happened to be
there, too.

With Susan.

Have David come in here.

Oh, what is it, Dad?

Mr. Foster says you were with Susan last
night when she was arrested for

underage drinking.

Did Susan tell you that? Yes.

All right, I was with her.

But nothing happened.

The policeman let her go. And it happens
I did not get her that drink. She got

it before I met her.

You can ask her. You're the one being
asked, David.

Was Harry Marty with you?

Well, he was there, but not with us.

Did you conspire with him to have Susan
arrested?

No. Or with me?

Is that what he's saying?

Answer my question.

I did not conspire with you or anyone.

It just happened.

Does that satisfy you, Jason?

Senator, I wouldn't believe him on a
stack of Bibles.

How did Harry Mardick know that Susan
would be there unless you told him?

Maybe Susan told him.

She doesn't happen to like you very
much, Mr. Foster.

That'll punch you right in the face.

That'll do, Jason.

I think you owe us both an apology.

Maybe so, Senator.

But apology or not, let's get one thing
clear.

You're not going to marry my sister.

Now, you stay clear of her, or you wish
you were dead.

Don't get the wind up about that Susan
badge. It's just a kid I'm having a

little fun with.

I'm Jason Foster.

I'm worked by Mr. Bates. Well, how are
you, Mr. Foster?

Why, I'm at the old Cartwell estate, up
on Eucalyptus Drive.

Thank you.

Susan?

I suppose you thought taking my car keys
would keep me in. Where have you been?

Don't lie, because I have a pretty good
idea.

I've been at David's.

Where is what I asked?

If you must know what the little house
he has on his stepfather's estate... Was

this the first time you've been there?

Answer me. Answer me.

I've been there dozens of times.

What is it?

It's Jason.

He's on his way to David's house on the
Cartwell estate, and I'm afraid he's

going to do something terrible to him. I
mean something terrible.

The massive rise for Jason Foster.

All for dear.

Large or small, I like it. First
campaign parade I've seen in years. Noon

at the park. Now I'm going to touch some
old -fashioned hoopla and bring out the

folks.

Just as well saved our money.

Senator Cartwell's finished now. That
depends on who killed young Cartwell.

Well, you don't believe Susan could
have. No, she wouldn't have acted the

she did when she got home.

So it might be a good idea if we could
prove that she didn't.

Your man Drake handled that?

Of course.

Good. I'm due at the park. You and Alma
can break in.

Thanks for coming over.

Good morning, Terry. Hi, Bella. Hi,
Paul.

Paul, this is Alma Rice.

Jason Foster's campaign man. I do. Mr.
Drake. How do you do?

How about trouble at Red Street?

You're still interested?

I talked to Roar. The policeman who
picked Susan up. He claims it was just a

routine bar check.

But he's quite scared about something.

And Harry Mardy?

I had pay dirt on him in sort of a
roundabout way.

A couple of weeks ago, a young cartwheel
wrote a check for $6 ,000 to cover a

gambling debt in Las Vegas. The check
was bad.

Where did you learn that?

Gossip around town. I checked it out at
the bank.

Anyway, I called a casino in Vegas and
found that his check had been sold to

Harry Mardy.

Could explain young cartwheel being in
cahoots with him.

How about the people who read it?

Well, I only bet so far the bartender.
He was off yesterday, but he'll be there

around 101 Purdy today.

Better talk to him. And look into the
cartwheel killing.

Any further suggestions, Miss Rice?

Real estate's my line, Mr. Mason.

Not murder.

You've got to use the picture, Edgerton.
Otherwise the senators are gone goose.

Randolph would never let me publish it.
You run the paper, don't you? Yes, but

he's half owner.

Well, stick in your half then.

There's too much involved for either of
us to back down now.

Of what?

What about a deal with Foster in return
for not publishing?

The only kind of deal you'd get from
Foster is a kick in the pants.

It has to be this way.

Now, I got the cop fixed good. And with
that picture as a springboard, we can

put out some dirt about her running
around with David. Maybe even throw

suspicion on her for the killing if we
have to.

Alma. Well, where's the champagne,
Edgerton?

Champagne? To toast to whichever one of
you two killed David.

of that now.

But we will something else.

I was going to ask you just what it was
you two were up to with Jason Foster.

But it looks like I don't have to.

Blackmail or smear? Which was it going
to be, Harry?

Take it easy, Hama.

Remember, you're in this too.

Oh, no, I'm not.

It was a simple business deal. My
funding for you and getting the option

racetrack land.

What about your agreeing to sell a
racetrack deal to Foster?

A simple business deal too?

I said I'd try to sell him on the idea.

I didn't say anything about using bad
checks to frame 17 -year -old girls or

peddling compromising pictures of the
event.

You got sharp ears now, huh? Maybe too
sharp. Let me ask you something.

One million fours involved if the deal
goes through.

What's your commission on that?

Zero. That's my cut, Harry.

Unless you agree to forget that this was
ever taken.

I've got other prints.

Use just one. I go to Jason with the
whole story.

Then what'll he do to you?

Toss me out of my ear.

Which is just about what I deserve for
getting mixed up with some like you.

Marduk is a dangerous wheel in this
area, Mr. Drake.

But you're right.

And it does make a difference.

He and the Codwell pulsed in it
together, just like you thought.

Pretending not to know each other until
Roar took the girl out.

Then they spoke.

What'd they say?

Well, now, come to think of it, only
Marduk spoke.

He said, see you tomorrow, David.

Now, that's when I knew.

This Rohwer, what's his reputation?

You mean, could he have been in with
Marduk, too?

I'll bet he was.

Now, word is that a C -note will buy
plenty from him.

I see.

Thanks very much.

Mr. Drake, now this may not mean
anything, but it struck me kind of

What's that?

I came in for my check around three
yesterday afternoon.

And there was young Cartwell, sitting in
that booth across there, having drinks

and a cozy chat with... With who?

Mrs. Foster.

What is it?

This is Paul Drake. I'm a private
investigator.

I'd like to talk to Senator Cartwell for
a moment about his stepson.

Senator Cartwell doesn't want you to be
disturbed.

Hey, buddy.

Oh, it's you again, huh?

That's right.

Now, look, the place has been officially
sealed up, so don't get any notions

about nosing around inside, huh?

I wouldn't think of it.

Maybe you can tell me a couple of
things.

I'm telling you nothing except stay out
of my hair.

Private investigator.

My name's Finley.

Rufus Finley. Good cut, great hauling
hereabouts.

Miss Finley, I'd advise you not to hang
around here.

The police take a dim view of
sightseers.

Notion hit me passing by that maybe I
ought to talk to the police.

Is it anything important?

See that smashed fender?

Lady did it, hightailing out of here in
one of them little foreign jobs around

11 .30 last night.

Paid me $75 to forget it.

Wouldn't forget it except for reading
about young Clark Wells killing in the

newspaper. Did the lady give you her
name?

No, but I recognized her.

Seen her with her husband when he was
making speeches.

Jason Foster's wife.

Jason, are you sure you should?

What do you mean, am I sure?

Is there any reason why I shouldn't talk
to her?

No. Very good.

Hi.

As soon as I know it, you think you
ought to get up, get something to eat?

I know it hurt.

Are you acting this way to me because
you think I killed David?

Are you thinking wrong?

I know I was angry when I left here.

But I started to cool off by the time I
got up to the cargo place. I got to

thinking.

It wouldn't do you or me any good if I
rousted him around.

It would only make you like me less and
more.

So I drove by the place, went on up to
the hills.

I sat there for the better part of an
hour, thinking of the best way to patch

things up between you and me. And that's
the truth so help me.

Mr. Mason's on the phone.

He says it's important he talk to us.

Where is he?

Camping headquarters.

Tell him we'll be right there.

It seems like you two are working
against me instead of for me with this

nonsense you brought in.

The police don't think it's nonsense,
Jason, when they learn about it.

Well, let's settle it right now.

Honey, the bartender at Red's Beef said
he saw you having drinks with David

Cartwell.

Oh, yeah.

He must have been taking me for someone
else.

And the other part.

Smashing a truck coming out of the
cartwheel gates.

Did you do that?

I never left the house last night.

Now you've all heard the senator's point
of view, and you've all heard mine.

Senators fighting to keep Citrus Valley
the way it's always been.

Groves, Cottonwood Arroyos.

Page brush hills with a few scattered
houses.

Well, I want you all to know that I'm
all for that.

I think it's a fine idea.

But it's a lost cause.

The forces of growth and progress are
too strong to fight.

So I say join them.

Now, the thing to do is to make good,
solid plans for fine housing,

parks, and a model shopping area.

And make sure that these plans are
followed.

That way, you'll still be proud of this
valley that you're living in.

Now, there's one thing more.

All during this campaign, I've
repeatedly said that your ballots are

bullets to shoot down the candidates
that you don't want elected.

It seems that...

A real bullet has gotten mixed into
this, and I want you to all know that

sorry that this has happened.

But don't be swayed by it.

The important things are the issues.

So fire those paper bullets at the
issues on election day.

I'm not trying to capitalize on David's
death.

Did you think I would, Senator?

Mr. Foster?

Lieutenant?

Speech all right? I'm afraid I didn't
hear much.

Mrs. Foster, I have here a warrant
charging you with the murder of David

Cardwell.

Margaret, I'm not trying to frighten
you, but the state's constructed an

impressive mass of evidence against you.

But I can't believe that you didn't see
him that night, before the collision

outside the gates.

I told you I never left the house.

Could it be, Margaret, that you're
trying to protect someone?

I'm not trying to protect anyone, Mr.
Mason.

All I know is that I didn't kill him.

I didn't kill him.

As for motive, Your Honor...

The staples show that when the defendant
realized that David Cartwell wasn't

keeping the bargain she made with him, a
bargain involving breaking off

relations with her 17 -year -old sister
-in -law, a bargain sealed with a

considerable sum of cash, she
substituted live bullets for the paper

which her husband had been urging the
voters to shoot, and she killed him.

May we proceed, Your Honor? Call your
first witness.

How, Susan?

The state called Senator Randolph
Cartwell.

Eight being the time you customarily
leave the house in the morning, Senator?

Yes, I like to get down to headquarters
early.

Would you tell the court what took place
on the morning in question?

As I neared the estate gates, I noticed
lights in the gatehouse and heard a

record player playing.

That seemed odd, so I stopped and went
in.

What did you find inside?

David, my stepson, sprawled out on the
living room floor.

Quite obviously dead.

So I phoned the police.

I was close by when the flash came,
which made me the first officer there.

The senator was outside, and when he
told me what happened, I went in.

Well, a young cart will have been shot,
and so I started looking for the gun.

Did you find it?

No.

But I found something else, though.

Partway underneath the couch, it was a
folded -up check.

Can you identify this?

Yes, that's the check I found.

It's made out to David Cardwell, and
it's for $6 ,000.

And signed by?

Miss Margaret Foster.

Then in the language of the layman,
Doctor, this bullet which you testify

removed from the body entered the heart
at a slightly upward angle? After

glancing off a rib in the chest cage.

In other words, the bullet's original
direction was at a right angle to the

body. I would say so.

Now, in your opinion, could the decedent
holding the weapon in two hands have

fired the fatal bullet himself?

Suicide? Well, how could that be when no
weapon was found?

Doctor, I'm quite aware that no weapon
was found.

But it could have been removed by
someone later.

Yes, there were powder burns on the
deceased's clothing.

And dermal nitrate tests of the hands of
the decedent?

Did they show the presence of gunpowder?

We didn't test the hands.

No? Thank you, that's all.

Now, I want you to look around the
courtroom and see if you can identify

woman who collided with you that night
and gave you $75 to forget the incident.

Why, that's an easy one.

Mrs. Foster?

After Mr. Finley informed you of his
encounter with the defendant outside the

Cartwell gates, what did you do,
Lieutenant?

Well, I obtained a search warrant and
went to the Foster's garage where I

a foreign -made car like the one Finley
told me about.

Did you examine this car?

On the right front fender, which was
damaged, I found traces of paint, which,

after laboratory tests, I found matched
the paint on Finley's truck.

In your examination of the car, did you
uncover anything else?

Yes. In the locked glove compartment, I
found a Luger pistol.

Was this the pistol, Lieutenant?

Well, yes. This is my identification tag
on it. What did you do with it?

Well, I checked its registration and
found that it belonged to a Jason

623 Cotton Drive. The same address as
the defendant.

I then checked it ballistically with the
extended bullet removed from the body.

With what determination?

That the bullet had been fired from the
gun.

What time of night did you go down to
the gatehouse, Mr. Marty?

Quarter past eleven or so.

Now, would you tell the court what you
did and saw and heard that night,

Well, I parked down the road a ways and
walked through the gates.

I didn't think that Senator Cartwell
would exactly approve of my having

with his stepson.

What was the nature of this business?

Collecting a little daddy owed me and
said he was ready to pay.

But when I got to the gatehouse, I saw a
car parked there.

What kind of car?

Small one. That's all I noticed because
of the racket that was going on inside

the gatehouse.

Racket? What sort of racket?

The radio was blaring out hillbilly
music and some woman was yelling at

giving him blue blazes.

We had a bargain. You gave me your word
that you wouldn't see Susan again. She

was yelling.

And he was yelling back at her that he'd
see Susan any time he pleased.

I didn't think it was a good time to be
collecting a debt, so I beat it. Thank

you.

Be a witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Mardig, the state has admitted to
asking a rather obvious question.

Were you able to identify the voice of
the woman you heard that night? With all

that hillbilly hootenanny going on, I
have no idea whose voice it was.

Now as to the little debt, you say, you
intended to collect from David Cartwell.

It was actually $6 ,000, was it not?

Thereabouts. The result of a bad check?

Written in Las Vegas, which you'd
acquired?

Mr. Mason, I make all kinds of
investments.

Investment? Or the trump card to force
David Cartwell into helping you

Jason Foster through his sister Susan?

I refuse to answer on the grounds that
it might tend to incriminate me.

Incriminate you in what, Mr. Marty?
Murder?

Could it be David Cartwell didn't have
the money to pay you and that you

invented your story of the small car and
the quarreling voices to cover the fact

that you killed him?

If I'd have done that, Mr. Mason, I'd
have gone whole hog and identified the

woman's voice as hers, Mrs. Foster.

You say, Mr. Cardwell, that you were on
your way to see your brother at 11, or

shortly thereafter that night.

What made you stop at the gatehouse?

There was a taxi parked outside the
gates, and, well, I wondered who was

visiting David.

I'm a little ashamed of what I did. I
went to one of the windows and looked

And saw?

That Susan Foster was the visitor.

I went on in to the main house,
discussed some campaign matters with

had a drink, as I remember, and drove
home.

Mr. Mason?

When you left the estate, Mr. Cartwell,
Was the taxi still

parked outside the gates?

No, it was gone.

And the small car Harry Mardig testified
he saw by the gatehouse?

Was it parked there? There was no car of
any sort parked by the gatehouse when I

left. Thank you.

You may stand down, Mr. Cogwell. The
state calls Susan Foster.

Do you tell me to tell the truth, the
whole truth, and that's for the truth?

I do. State your name.

Susan Foster.

Be seated.

Your Honor, Miss Foster may prove a
hostile witness.

Hostile?

You?

I'll tell you who I'm hostile to.

My brother, Jason!

Just got a call from the senator.

Suggested I withdraw from the race.

After that, people think that Margaret
and I really did kill you in Cardwell.

Jason, Susan would like to talk with
you.

Get you a letter. Of course. Where is
she?

Right here, Jason.

No kidding.

Jason!

I'm so sorry.

I've been so mixed up.

That's crazy, I guess.

How could I ever believe that you'd let
Margaret suffer for something you did? I

just don't know.

Susan, I want you to tell Jason what you
just told me.

Well, first, I lied about ever having
been at David's before.

That night was the first time, and he
only... let me stay a minute. I think it

was because he had somebody there with
him.

Now tell your brother why you went
there.

David said they might beat him up and
even kill him.

And then he owed money to him, so I... I
took your pistol to him.

Susan, that's the pistol there? Not
Jason?

That doesn't mean you're accusing her,
Mr. Mason.

Margaret, I'm accusing no one, with the
possible exception of you, for

conceiving the truth from me.

But with Jason telling Susan that he was
going to David's place, my going after

him, finding his pistol there, well, it
all made it worse for him. And

recognizing the pistol as Jason's, you
took it?

Yes.

Did you go there merely because Susan
begged you to go there?

No, mostly because I...

I wanted to find out why David hadn't
kept his part of the bargain I made with

him. Never to see her again.

The other half of the bargain being your
check for $6 ,000 to take care of the

bad check he'd written in Las Vegas.

When you met him at Red's Reef, did he
tell you Harry Mardig had his bad check?

No.

But I don't understand what difference
that would make. He admitted in court he

had it.

I'd hope that David had told you how
Mardig found out about the check.

Well, there's one good thing about
Susan's outburst.

It caused the judge to recess.

And that gives us the weekend.

For what, Mr. Mason?

Oh, maybe a little gambling in Las
Vegas.

Nineteen is the number, red in the odd
payoff.

How do you like that? I'm at twenty
bucks already.

Mr. Mason, say, don't tell me you've run
out of money.

I've come later.

Right now, it's a check we got from my
home.

Yeah, on the cart, well.

Yeah, I wrote about it.

It's too bad.

How did Harry Marty learn about the
check?

I have no idea.

He just walked in here one day and
offered me 50 cents on the dollar. I was

to take it.

I got enough bad checks around here to
paper the place.

Was someone with him when he wrote the
check?

Yeah, a dame.

One of these women, perhaps?

Yeah, listen.

Susan, in telling your story, you said
you were pretty sure that David had

someone with him that night.

Now, what made you say that?

What?

The way he made me leave after I'd given
him the pistol, for one thing.

And there were two glasses there, both
half -filled and with eyes still in

The fingerprints on both glasses were
smeared. They were of no use for

of identification.

Where were these glasses, Lieutenant?

Well, one was on the table. The other
was overturned on a rug, was it not?

Yes. Which one had traces of lipstick on
it? The one on the rug.

Did you attempt to match these traces
with the lipstick used by the defendant?

Yes. They did not match, did they? No.
Did you attempt to match the traces with

another lipstick? You can knock off the
cat and mouse game, Mr. Mason. It's my

lipstick on the glass, which I threw
whiskey, ice, and all right in David

Cartwell's face.

We'd been, well, seeing each other
weekends for about a year.

Then he started going out with Susan.

So we had a showdown, and he promised to
stop seeing her.

That was the night of his death?

No, about a month or so ago.

Then I heard about the trouble at Red's
Reef. It sounded as though David had had

a part in it. So we had another
showdown.

Only this time he lied. He said he
hadn't been with her that night.

And then you found out he'd lied?

Yes.

So we had still another showdown.

Overheard by Harry Marty?

Yes. Now, in regard to your weekends,
one took place in Las Vegas, did it not?

When David wrote his bad check for $6
,000.

I warn you, Miss Rice, I have a witness
who can identify you as having been with

him.

All right.

I was there.

And afterward, you told Harry Marty
about the check.

No, I told Edgerton about it. I didn't
want to go to the senator, but I felt

that somebody in the family ought to
know what kind of a mess David had

himself into.

And so the third showdown with David,
Miss Rice, ended with your shooting him.

It ended with my letting him have it
with a highball glass.

And that wasn't so much on account of
Susan as it was a bon voyage present for

his year in Europe.

Year in Europe?

Yes. He told me he was getting enough
money from somewhere to join the Riviera

jet set.

Getting or already had, Miss Rice?

Getting.

Later that night.

Not for me, Mr. Mason.

In fact, we had a bitter quarrel that
day.

The upshot of which was that I
disinherited him.

Told him to clear out.

Edgerton, the $20 ,000 estate check for
emergency campaign expenses you brought

me that night, and which I refused to
countersign, was that the money David

expecting?

You told Harry Marding about David's bad
check?

Yes. Hoping to use it to force David's
help in getting Susan Foster in trouble,

thus smearing Jason Foster.

It was Harry's idea.

But you went along with it.

You see, I have power of attorney for
the estate's land holdings.

It was through Elmer Rice that I'd given
Harry an option on some property for

the new racetrack. The property your
brother has an interest in?

Yes, but he is opposed to the racetrack,
is he not?

Yes, but I thought if I presented it as
a fait accompli after the election, he'd

come around.

A million four hundred thousand dollars
in cash and a quarter interest in the

track.

It was the deal of a lifetime.

But when David pieced things together,
he threatened to upset your golden apple

cart, didn't he?

David didn't know anything about that. I
believe he did. And when your brother

refused to sign the check you said was
for emergency campaign expenses, money

actually designed to buy David's silence
and send him to Europe until the

racetrack sale was a fait accompli.

When that happened, there was only one
way left to keep him quiet.

Kill him.

No, no, I didn't kill him.

Harry Marnick did.

Or Anna there.

Or Mrs. Foster's sheep.

Yes, of course.

Mrs. Foster.

The small car I saw parked by the
gatehouse when I left.

But you testified, Mr. Cartwell, that
you saw no car when you left.

Oh, but I did. I remember now. But it
was Alma Rice's car, not Mrs.

Foster's. And the time was 11 .20, not
11 .30.

11 .20 when Alma drove off, leaving the
way clear for you to enter the gatehouse

and kill David.

Tell them, Randolph.

I was with you for more than a half hour
that night.

With you from 11 to 11 .30.

Tell them.

I might have gone along about the
racetrack, as you said, Edgerton.

But this is murder.

Cold -blooded murder.

He was with me five minutes at the most,
Mr. Mason.

Five minutes at the most.

Oh, Randolph.

You're going to deal the life?

11th Street, St.

Godwell. One thousand...

Fosker, 1 ,764.

25th Precinct, Cartwell, 1 ,932.

Fosker, 2 ,756.

Barry, the one thing I don't get is what
exactly was Harry Martin's pitch.

Well, two Susan needs to get either for
Jason Foster to accept the racetrack or

cause him to lose the election.

Thus leaving Senator Cartwell with
Edgerton's fait accompli.

I just received a phone call from
Senator Cargwell.

Conceding defeat.

Hooray!

And I'd like to say this.

This victory is as much yours as it is
mine, and I won't forget it.

Good man's worth fighting for, Dylan.