Original subtitles

Flight 411, now arriving at gate 2.

Passengers for flight 330, please board immediately at gate 5. Oh, that's it?

Long, long wait is just about over. We haven't waited that long, Todd.

Her plane's almost on time. It's going to take six months.

Six months? It has been almost a year I've been waiting for that silly aunt of

mine to return. How anybody can be so vague, so undecided, so down with my

brain? She's just our Aunt Nellie, and it can't have been easy on her losing

Uncle Herbert, you know.

Well, she could have asked for my letters, couldn't she?

She sat still in Paris or Rome or on the Riviera someplace. She sat still on it

to sign those papers.

Darling, I'm sure that in her usual faithful way, Nellie has been lingering

Herbert's resting place for devotional reasons, so... Don't you be catty about

it, either.

Me be catty?

Todd, dear, if you had your uncle's money and something happened to you on a

world cruise, do you think that I would simply rush straight back to the old

homestead? Oh, good life I wouldn't know. All right, all right, so I'm

I don't like going broke. I don't like the poorhouse.

Well, hello.

Well, well, well, the whole beach and tri.

Mr. Brody.

Well, how's the development game, Todd? Well, if you know.

What are you doing here, Brody? Same thing you are. Came to see Nellie.

Well, we'd rather plan a family affair.

Oh, I've known Nellie for years and years.

She's probably still in mourning, you know.

Well, condolences.

But the Horsey Undergroundie is not for sale.

I beg your pardon? It's true, Roger. We're just waiting for Nellie's return

make a formal announcement. We're going to subdivide the old homestead ourselves

to begin the family right where it belongs.

And they're a very close family, Mr. Grody.

Now, Todd, if I didn't write to you, it was because I... Nellie!

Roger Brody, what a pleasant surprise! Nellie, you look like a million dollars.

Pierre, you've heard me speak about Elaine and Todd and Jimmy, and this is

old friend, Roger Brody.

I want you all to meet Monsieur Pierre Dubois.

Isn't he handsome?

It is a pleasure to meet you.

Your husband?

Now, come on. Let's all go home to the Hacienda and have a drink and I'll tell

you all about it. Oh, Paris was marvelous.

Hurry up, honey. Come on, boy.

Oh, Victor, you're a mind reader.

Oh, yes. Thank you, Victor. I can use it.

Yeah, me too.

A couple of them.

I'm sure we all need a smash.

It was a bit of a surprise, if I may say so.

Bit of a surprise?

He's very attractive, of course, but he must be at least 15 years her junior.

Twelve, I looked at his passport.

He's a fortune hunter, that's what he is.

You want to bet?

I don't understand how Aunt Nellie could get mixed up with a guy like that.

No, no, no. Be calm, be calm. Everybody, just be calm.

It doesn't change anything.

Aunt Nellie will wrap this chap around her little finger just like he did Uncle

Herbert. It's not a deal, is it? Deal.

What Aunt Ellie chooses to do with her private life should have no effect upon

our plans.

Oh, Todd, how can you be so stupid to stand around and just watch your

aunt being built by that gigolo?

But I'm not going to be built. Don't you understand?

No, sir. I'm not going to get cheated out of my time and my investment.

Yes, thank you, Victor. I don't mind if I do. And suppose they decide to live

here. Just live in the Hacienda.

Yeah.

What'll happen to the subdivision plans then?

Their present choice of residence, I believe, is Monte Carlo.

There. Why, Nellie could never stand living on a farm.

I heard it in the car.

What do you think, sir?

Well, Monsieur DuBois is an excellent hidden diver.

Hey, you see?

You see, they just want to have fun.

And I am just the man who can show them how to do it.

Oh, I tell you, once they realize the full benefits of our development...

Thank you, Victor.

Yes, isn't it lovely?

That's my wedding present from Pierre.

It's been in his family for hundreds and hundreds of years. Now, let's all go

into dinner right away. I've been looking for you, Mrs. Wilson. Todd, I

wait to sit you down and talk business. Oh, Nellie, I knew it. I knew it right

down to this. Well, you see, the basis of the plan is... Because Pierre and I

want to buy a sailboat.

What? With red sails. You have seen the sails of a Greek fisherman, yes?

No. Oh, it's a lovely color. And Todd, you're so smart about buying things.

Unless, of course, we go skiing in the winter, my sweet.

Oh, darling.

Well, you help us decide. We'll all decide whether it's a red sail or a

sail. Now, come on. We're going to talk about it.

On your feet.

Miles and miles it goes on.

Of course. At the end of the grand day.

And it is all yours.

Ours.

Someone's. Land poor. That's our trouble. You see, it belonged to all of

Meachams once, but now it's Nellie who technically holds title to the land.

So... And your husband who holds ambitions in his head, eh? Oh, Todd's a

wonderful developer. He really is, Pierre.

I'm happy for you, madame.

What I mean is, if you understood some of these things, well, then you could

explain to Nellie and... You would ask a Frenchman to explain bulldozer to his

bride?

Well, perhaps if I explained... No, no, no, no. C 'est impossible.

If this is all hers, then it is hers to decide, eh?

Now, about the race.

Pierre, don't Frenchmen ever want to develop anything?

But like I say, pieces are hard, no?

Oh, smell the orange blossoms.

Yes, yes, they're all over.

Well, now, you see, the point is, this is the plan that Uncle Herbert really

wanted. Please, Todd, talk about Uncle Herbert.

Not with an orange blossom.

These 500 acres here, they get cut up into 1 ,500 lots. Now, that should gross

close to $8 million.

So... What a lovely shade of blue.

And do you know something?

This is the same shade of Pierre's little sports car.

Oh, we should have brought it out.

Yes. Well... I'm sorry.

Did you say we're going for $8 million?

Oh, that's for the first two years.

Of course, it improves Grady's conditions.

Never mind.

Never mind. It's Pierre you should be telling this to.

Oh, Nellie.

He's my husband now. He has to decide everything. He decides.

Oh, but this is a wonderful night.

Of course, it'll take about five years before the entire construction program

completed. But in the meantime... You should work on that serve every day. I

like it.

I should be working at my job every day. Why?

To play is more fun.

And my Nellie, she likes to pay the bills.

Now, come on. Let's go swimming. Wait a minute, Pierre. Look, if you think that

we're just trying to sponge off Aunt Nellie, you got it way wrong.

Todd's plan will just hand her... You too, I guess.

Just hand her... Ten million dollars over seven years. Why won't you just

to us? No, no, no, no. We are friends, Jimmy.

Hey, you know what Roger Brody says?

Roger Brody?

I have no head for business.

Have you been talking to Roger Brody?

Now, John, it is my house. It's mine.

The point is, Perry, if this guy Brody were to buy their property now, they'd

only get about two million dollars for it. That's all it's worth now.

But if they develop it, they could make at least three times that much.

I see what you mean, Paul.

Sounds as if the cloud of battle is looming over the estate.

The only trouble is the wacky widow controls the property and her new French

husband controls her.

Now, if somebody can't make her see the light, my friend Jimmy Meacham and the

rest of the family may be left out in the cold.

I wonder why they'd even be considering a sale right now.

Well, it's at least worth doing some checking on this Pierre Dubois, would

say?

Certainly. But why ask me?

So you won't be upset if you don't see me for a few days? A great sacrifice to

my business.

I told Jimmy that I wouldn't mind.

Flying to Paris.

Well, I hired a detective.

Detective?

What good is that going to do? I thought we could find out something about

Pierre. Of course, of course. Nellie is the one we have to be with.

Now, if Pierre could get involved somehow, Nellie might listen to reason.

Tom, don't be so stupid. Don't you think that Nellie knows what she's married?

Huh? I may be permitted to agree with your wife, Mr. Mitchell, to attack the

bridegrooms to make a tigress of the bride.

Of course. So he's younger than she is, so what?

So he's after her money, so he's a kind of a crook.

Precisely. I'm afraid your approach can only make matters worse.

Well, what else are we going to do?

Now, three weeks of double talk. Victor, don't you understand?

Please, please, it has already been done.

What's been done?

I am not one to sit idle while Rome is burning, Mr. Mitchell.

The moment I saw that child outside the gate so lonely, friendless, hungry.

What the devil are you talking about?

The solution to all of your problems.

The one thing irresistible to all Frenchmen.

The trap which any man might fall into.

You want from me, Monsieur Billing?

Yes. I should like to present you to some members of Madame's family.

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Meacham, Mr. James Meacham, this is Marie.

Madame,

Monsieur, it's a great pleasure.

Say, you're French.

Oui, monsieur.

I'm so lovely.

Oh, please, Madame, no.

A most excellent addition to our menage, wouldn't you say?

And I am so pleased the uniform fits.

Oh, that's very kind of you, Monsieur Billing.

But this is my first such employment.

I hope you'll be very patient with me.

I think you may count on that, Marie.

Now. Have you sent these canopies out to the terrace? And after that, can we go

back to the kitchen?

Yes. Who let you off?

Thank you.

Thank you.

If Mary could have seen that.

In due time, sir. In due time.

Victor,

I could have told you, P. I was much too smart to be lured into that. How do you

know?

I'm not.

Because you're a genius.

Now, if it only doesn't take too much time.

I believe this type of dynamite has a very short fuse, sir.

But I told the croupier that I didn't put any money on the black. But of

you know, you simply can't question a croupier in Monte Carlo. Todd knows

Thank you, dear.

And then this lovely English gentleman, older, spoke up. His wife was with him.

She was wearing, darling, one of those green knit things. It was Italian, of

course, but it was so out of place.

But let me tell you, don't you love those knit suits?

Oh, there's a shop in Charlotte, and where I simply go wild.

See, I must talk to you. But if anyone should see us... To play this game, one

must live dangerously. But it's so nice to be here.

There is no other way.

Meet me tonight.

Tonight? In the summer house.

Summer house?

What is he doing here again?

But, Victor, maybe there isn't time. But didn't you hear him?

Mr. Mitchell, our moment has come.

Victor?

What the hell are you doing with the tape recorder? Tonight is the ninth. Ten

'clock. Look, I think this is some kind of a cheat.

Thank you, Pauline. Please, Mr. Meacham. I do feel sorry for your Aunt Nellie,

but isn't it better that she be hurt a little now rather than... All three will

be calling from Paris this evening. We'll have some better way of handling

this. Sir, you're standing on the microphone cord.

Besides, I'm not just thinking of Nellie. I'm also thinking of her.

How a sweet, innocent kid could get mixed up with a professional heel like

Frenchman. Well...

Look,

I may just have to go to town tonight and...

Wait, you said that you hadn't even been to Disneyland yet, and I thought, well,

I may just be going that way tonight. Oh, no, no, monsieur, I'm busy right

Madame said she wants this very quickly, and she said she's in a hurry to go

out, and she said that... Oh, well, if Nellie's going out, then there's no

reason that you can't go.

Oh, no, no, monsieur, no, I cannot.

I have other things to do. I left off, and when things...

No, thank you very much. We're here, but, uh, no.

I'm sorry, sir, but I didn't invent human nature.

Look at the bright side, sir.

We've all froze.

Well, why can't you reach that number?

Look, operator, I... Wait a minute.

Hold on, New York.

Try this number.

It's also in Los Angeles.

Yes, Paul. How's Paris?

What are you doing up?

Shack of the morning in your part of the world, isn't it?

Well, if you're sure Jimmy's at the Hacienda, I suppose I could stop by on

way home, but... Yes, I understand.

But what have you found, Paul? What's the urgency?

I just dug up a bombshell, Perry.

The Frenchman's a bigamist.

Sure, I'm sure.

I'm looking at a picture of his other wife right now.

You take your hand off me! But you will not listen to me.

Now, I put a note in your purse. I've listened long enough, you are nothing

promises and lies, lies, lies, lies, lies. I have asked you for time, Mary,

time. Oh, yes? So that you can run away again. You're getting money from that,

Mr. Fordy. I heard you and I am talking. Why do you... So when you will get the

money, you will run away again and stay with another woman. No, Jerry, no.

I will tell, madame. I didn't tell her in the first place. We are going to be

rich, Marie.

You and I...

I'm sorry. Are you all right? Oh, excuse me, mister. It was my fault.

Is something wrong?

Oh, no, no.

It's just my night, darling.

I'm too much in a hurry, that's all.

Could you tell me where I might find Mr. Jimmy Meach?

Oh, yes, yes. In the house.

If you go by the side.

Now, if you please, mister.

Just what do you really figure of this, Perry?

Lieutenant, I merely called the police. I came here to deliver a message to Mr.

Meacham. And that's it. You see, I've been expecting an important long

call. I was in bed reading, waiting for it.

I guess something's wrong with the phones.

Mr. Mason and I discovered that the receiver in Pierre's bedroom was off the

hook. Uh -huh.

But just what was the message you came to deliver, Perry?

My ass, Jimmy.

It's his business, not mine. Aren't you his lawyer?

What do I need a lawyer for? I didn't hit that guy over the head and shove him

in the pool. And neither did I, Andy.

So if you don't mind, I'm going home to bed.

Oh, Perry, you're sure you're not involved here?

Absolutely not.

Good night, Jimmy.

Where did you move my car?

Which one's that, Mr. Isaacs? The gray convertible. I parked it over there.

I didn't see any gray convertible.

Oh, it's definitely the same girl.

That's how I described her to the police.

Okay, but I ask you, Mr. Mason, does Marie look like a thief?

Well, my car was stolen, and Marie is still missing. She's a sweet, innocent

girl. She's all alone in a strange country. She'd no more commit a crime

would. All right, take it easy.

It's true, though, Perry. Marie does come from a nice family in Lyon.

Seems this guy, Pierre, swept her off her feet, married her, and then deserted

her the very next day for greener pastures. Long green.

The poor kid must have... Excuse me, Perry, but they found it in an alley in

Glendale. His car?

What about Marie?

No. She just dumped it there?

Smashed it into a telephone pole.

Poor kid.

Now, Perry, don't jump to any conclusions.

The sergeant also said they found part of a diamond necklace in the car.

It was the one that was stolen from your Aunt Millie, Mr. Meacham.

Oh, the poor, sweet, innocent kid.

She needs help. Don't you understand?

Glendale, sure, sure.

She's got a friend there, a girl married to a soldier. Maria's a friend here?

Why didn't you tell the police?

I forgot, I guess.

And exactly how did you know about it in the first place?

I followed her one night.

How do you know, son?

Because she just went in the house.

She? You know the lady?

Yes, I know, but she's making me a sandwich.

What's her name?

I don't know. But tomorrow she'll make you a sandwich.

Good idea.

I want to know what you know about the murder of Pierre Dubois.

About what?

Oh, I apologize for your beautiful car, Mr. Mason.

I'm too soon, Zoe.

But I didn't know it was your car.

I thought it was only a family car, one of Pierre's. And it was permissible to

steal one of them, I suppose.

Oh, no, no, no. I would not have kept it.

But when I was married, Karen away with my car.

Oh, it was just a little car, but he didn't only smash it. He also sold it

went away with the money, too.

How do you know?

From a private detective.

All right. But why were you in such a hurry last night, running away from the

house?

Because... There was such a shouting up there in that house. I was afraid

someone has found out the necklace is gone.

And then they would come chasing after me. But I didn't know anything about the

murder, Mr. Mason. Please, please believe me.

Well, I'm severely tempted.

But you do admit you stole the necklace.

Oh, no, no. The necklace is mine. For my grandmother.

It's all I had in the world except for my little blue car.

Pierre went away with them both.

Then why didn't you go to the police?

Because I was ashamed.

Because I didn't want my mother and father to know I was so foolish to marry

such a... And then when I found Pierre, he said he would give me the necklace

back.

Mr. Mason, why do you have to ask questions?

Can't you just help me?

Yeah, Mr. Mason, how about it? Can't you just help?

Yeah, Perry.

How about it?

remotest idea who she was, Mr. Mason, not when I hired her, never.

You just noticed Marie outside the gates one day. Yes, yes, that was the first

day. She was looking in through the fence.

Oh, but that's perfectly natural. Hundreds of people stopped by, curious

such a grand old estate as this. And among those hundreds, you just happened

notice Marie.

It seemed natural at the time.

You said first day.

Was there a second or third day?

Well, you might say a day and a half.

I was in the village that afternoon, rather keeping my eyes open.

Before Marie, of course. No, no, no. I was shopping, looking for bargains.

Well, I did happen to notice her once more. She was crossing the street.

There was the most hideous screech of brakes.

And she was also noticed by other people.

It was Pierre.

He very nearly ran her down.

And then he jumped out and tried to get her into his car.

Didn't you think that rather unusual?

I only thought how crude.

And then after a few words, he drove off.

The girl still stood there, looking rather shaken, so naturally I went over

comfort her.

Naturally? It was then, sir, not until then, that my miserable, steaming

mind took over.

You see, I discovered he was French.

Victor, didn't it occur to you that she might have known Pierre in the past?

That you might have witnessed their first meeting in this country?

It only occurred to me, sir, that a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

I could only think what a lovely accident his next sight of that girl

cause.

In my vile imagination, I could only think what madame might say when she...

Excuse me, sir.

Victor, your tape recorder, where is it? Oh, but didn't you know, sir?

The police have it.

There's a good deal of blood on it, I believe.

He was struck over the head, you know.

How thoughtful.

Hello, Victor. Is Nellie in? Roger!

Oh, Roger, is that you?

Oh, Roger, I've been such a fool.

And now poor, poor Pia.

And now that poor little girl they're looking for. Well, now, what actually

happened? I mean, what was it that took me? He was drowned.

He got drunk.

And he fell in the pool.

And that's what killed him.

away so I buy him a piece.

So they're both right?

Yeah. First bit over the head.

Unconscious or unconscious, he was rolled into the water and held under

of these things.

How do you know that?

Because that's not the skimmer that did it.

The one we took down to the lab had bits of his hair and jacket tangled up in

the webbing.

But first, he was hit with a flowerpot.

Flowerpot? Metal holder on it had fingerprints.

Same fingerprints we found on the handle of the skimmer pole.

And you found the prints elsewhere?

Your car.

Oh, but don't worry.

I've already talked to Paul Drake about bringing Marie in.

Since you're not involved...

Look,

I'm in a hurry. The girl's going straight to trial.

Lisa Medicare.

Bah, bah, bah.

Are the private detective Marie hired once, aren't you?

I can speak to that distinction.

You tried to find her husband for a year, but she failed, didn't you?

Monsieur, how do you think she was finally able to locate that man in the

States? She's always picked him in a society, isn't she?

Then I consider that too, I tell you.

Why? Did Marie pay you enough to keep after him?

Well, you know, all the prince men think of other things besides money.

Or did someone else pay you more?

Do not find Pierre.

If you are not their fellow professional, and member of the same

so to speak.

Just let me in, that's all I ask.

Now, you reported to Maria that Pierre had sold the blue car.

That was my last thought.

After that, I lost from three tack of him. Here's other wife, Nellie, says he

didn't sell the blue car.

Women ain't cost much. This Nellie was lying.

And I have just seen the blue car in the storage garage in Nice.

So you're the liar, not Nellie.

Now, before we discuss your honor and reputation with another old union

the prefect of police, can't we just start over?

You, uh, join the heavy, mister?

Yeah, but, uh, leave anything out.

I don't want to hear it all.

All about Pierre Dubois.

Let me see.

Well, I cried and I cried and I tried to tell Nellie what Pierre was like, but

she wouldn't listen.

She would never listen.

Mrs. Maysham, please, could we get back to the night of the murder?

Oh, but that was the night of the murder.

I'd been begging Nellie to listen to Todd instead of Pierre.

But for her own good, of course.

Of course.

Now, exactly where and at what time on that evening did your conversation with

her take place?

Well, it was in her dressing room about 8 o 'clock, I guess.

Nellie was changing. She had to go into town that evening, she said, to visit

with some friends.

Mrs. Meacham, I show you now this necklace, People's Exhibit 3.

Did you see this necklace that night?

Oh, I certainly did. It was lying there on Nellie's dressing table.

She's always been like that. Doors open and jewelry's left anywhere.

Did anybody else come in at that time?

Yes, for a moment.

The defendant, Marie, was. She brought nearly a glass of milk and a sandwich.

And did the defendant see this necklace?

Of course she did. She ran out afterwards like... Mrs. Mason, please.

deal here in conclusions or opinions.

Can you tell us anything positive to indicate that the defendant actually saw

this necklace?

Well, I saw Marie look in the direction of the necklace.

I heard her gasp, and I saw her drop

the glass of milk.

No. Marie wasn't upset or nervous.

She just said she didn't want to go out with me, that's all.

So I talked to Victor in the garden for 10 or 15 minutes, and then I went to my

room. But didn't you see anyone else after that?

Oh, I...

I passed Aunt Nellie as she was leaving the house. But that's all. I didn't see

anyone else. I didn't hear anyone else until Mr. Mason got there.

Very well, sir. That'll be all.

Class examined.

Mr. Meacham, your sister -in -law testified that she left the house

after your Aunt Nellie.

Now, didn't you hear her when she left?

I had the television on.

There was a hockey game.

Therefore, you wouldn't have heard a number of people come in or out of the

house, the garden, or the swimming pool.

No, no, I didn't hear anything.

But you said you were waiting for the telephone to ring.

Well, there's a bell in my room. I would have heard that.

But it didn't ring, of course, because the phones are inoperable if the

extension is left open. And you stated that the receiver in Pierre's bedroom

off the hook.

You saw that yourself.

Pierre must have heard me talking to Paul Drake earlier and been afraid to

him.

If you couldn't hear a splash in the swimming pool, you could hardly know who

removed that receiver. Now, could you?

No, I guess I couldn't.

For five years I worked with Uncle Herbert planning the development of

Grande. Well, if he hadn't developed Parkinson's disease and a bad heart and

worse memory, it would have gone through.

You mean he forgot about it, Mr. Mason?

Well, he didn't put his part down in writing anyway. He didn't put it in his

will. He didn't do anything.

He left poor Aunt Nellie there to make all the decisions. Oh, not that I blame

her. She had troubles enough over there when he got sick.

And it's a very complicated deal. I explained all that to Pierre. You mean

explained this whole matter to Pierre Dubois the night of his death?

Yes, yes. I went there late that afternoon. Oh, around 6 .30. And I laid

entire project, dollar by dollar. I explained about my own investment.

I explained about how much money they would make. Ten million dollars without

any gambling.

But Pierre, of course, he just stalled again. Said, well, he'd talk it over

Nellie. Maybe he'd let me know the next day.

And what time did you leave the decedent that evening?

Oh, well, it's still early.

Seven o 'clock?

Thank you, that'll be all. At this time, I'd like to call Mrs.

Nellie Dubois. Mr. Berger, I have a few questions, if you don't mind.

Excuse me, sir.

Mr. Meacham, would this scheme of yours require that Mr. and Mrs. Dubois tie up

all their money for a long period of time?

No, no, it wouldn't.

One who would have realized $200 ,000 the first year, four or five the second.

And after that, well, it was just clover and daisies.

You see, in amortizing... The autopsy report mentioned alcohol in the

bloodstream. Did you get Pierre drunk that night?

No, I just... Well, I spiked just a pair of teeth a little bit. You see, I was

getting desperate. Now, I would have done anything to get that guy to sit

relax, and listen.

I only wondered how you had time for everything and still managed to leave

house at 7 o 'clock.

Oh, well, I wasn't too sure about the time. It might have been later.

Was it dark when you left?

May have been, yes.

The sun set at a quarter to eight that evening, Mr. Meacham.

That's all.

Thank you.

I didn't know whom to believe.

If only Herbert had explained things, but he didn't. I remember once in Jolly

Pants. I only asked you what happened that night, Mrs. Dubois.

Well, I'm telling you.

Can't you listen?

Pierre was so sweet, and he did understand business.

And when he said that Todd and the others in the family were just trying to

feather their own nest... Oh, Elaine, darling, was I wrong? Was it horrible of

me? Mrs. Dubois, you were asked to explain the events of that evening.

I'm coming to that, Your Honor, sir.

Because I told Elaine that night in my dressing room that I was going to see

friends. But I really went to see Roger Brody. Yes.

I went to his house.

Because Pierre asked me to. Pierre asked me to tell Mr.

Brody that the deal had to go through that night.

I didn't know what the deal was. I didn't know.

But Roger was so sweet.

And reassuring, and he told me I was doing the right thing.

So I waited there while he went out to get some things, some papers. And when

came back, he drove me home, and the police were there.

Just a minute, Mrs. Dubois, please.

Did you just say you had no idea what the deal was between your husband and

Brody? Well, I knew he was going to sell him land.

I had to know that because I had to find some things.

And Pierre said it was a marvelous offer.

And he said the deal couldn't wait another single day.

Yes, I understand your husband wanted a deal completed right away.

But do you know how much Mr. Brody was going to pay you and your husband for

Hacienda Grande?

Well, I know there was going to be more than enough for a yacht.

And to live on forever.

And a house on the Riviera.

Todd, I... I thought I was doing the right thing.

You know how Pierre had his heart set on those red sails.

Two million dollars exactly.

That was the price and mostly in cash, I gather.

Just tell us the rest of the words you heard, if you please.

But not really, sir.

I heard you seen Pierre Dubois whispering to the telephone out in the

That is a separate number out there, of course. He said, yes, two million

dollars, and again, yes, you are an honest man, Roger.

And then he hung up. Best evidence of this, of course, must come from Mr.

himself. But you can tell us, if you would, at what time you did this

piece of eavesdropping.

I planted my ill -fated tape recorder in the summer house, as I remarked

earlier, Your Honor.

About 9 .40, I went out to check and start the motor running when I saw

moving toward the garages.

I decided to investigate quietly, of course, and when I got there, I found

decedent on the telephone.

And why did you do that?

Well, I placed my faith in science.

I had no idea someone would find my little recorder and smash it, spoil the

tape.

So, a moment or so later, when I saw Marie slipping out of the house, moving

toward the summer house, I went up to my room.

I saw nothing else.

I went straight to bed.

The broken piece, the single pendant which matches the necklace, we found on

floor of Mr. Mason's car the next morning.

There was also an envelope which we found under the seat.

An envelope? Was it by any chance this envelope, Lieutenant?

Yes, it was addressed with only the one word, Marie.

Your Honor, the state intends to call experts shortly to prove that the

here is that of the decedent Pierre Dubois.

At the moment, however, I should like this witness to describe the contents of

this envelope for us.

Well, inside I found a note in the same handwriting.

Would you read it, please, Lieutenant?

Marie, my love, please take this little gift.

It's all I can pay you.

Take it and go quietly as you said you would.

The note is signed, Pierre.

And what else does the envelope contain, Lieutenant?

This.

Five thousand dollars in cash.

and it was worth much, much more.

So you took the $5 ,000 and also stole the necklace?

Yes.

I mean, no.

Well, yes, I took the necklace, but that money, I didn't even know about that. I

mean, Pierre said something about putting a note in my purse, but I didn't

look. I went out of that house so fast.

Oh, Mr. Mason, please, please, please.

Perry, if you put on a defense,

If you proved that the necklace really belonged to Marie... And helped Berger

prove that Marie was holding out for a price?

That for $5 ,000 she'd kept quiet and then killed her husband in a rage when

discovered how much more she could have been paid? No, well, that's not true.

I mean, how can anybody say anything so horrible, awful?

Oh, Mr. Drake, you will save me.

Well, wait till I unfasten my seatbelt. My mother and father, did you talk to

them? Oh, please, maybe they didn't hear about me yet.

I received a message from your office, Paul. And the items from the bank.

But it was Pierre himself who paid the French detective, wasn't it? Yep. That

was a year ago.

Pierre didn't want to be found. He'd already met a rich American lady in L

But it seems the French like to hedge their bets.

You mean Pierre was mixed up with someone else, then?

No. I mean the detective was.

So this is the other one who paid him.

And really paid.

Who? What are you talking about?

Marie, why do you have to ask questions?

Can't we just save him?

It's me.

Say who?

I know, monsieur, I know.

Now look, I may have heard the name somewhere. We'll save time and money if

don't necessitate my asking for a recess to fly the man from Paris.

But I didn't do anything wrong.

But you did hire that detective, didn't you?

Well, I paid him, that's all, for...

Certain information.

Roger! I was concerned for Nellie.

Widow, all alone over there.

I mean, what happened was I had this friend in Paris and I asked him to look

for her.

Only then he bumped into this detective who was also watching.

Watching Pierre, that is.

I think we understand.

Your friend put you in touch with the detective.

Now, let's proceed from there, shall we?

Well, then, I learned from this detective I know what Pierre was. No

Working as a chauffeur in the next villa to Nellie and Herbert.

And then suddenly introducing himself to her as a sportsman later on. Did you

relay this information to the family here in Los Angeles?

Well, no, no. What Nellie did was her business.

And you obviously must have known when Nellie and Pierre were married.

Well, uh, yes.

Yes, I knew about that.

Roger, and you brought me roses.

Please go on, Mr. Brody.

I wanted that property.

I knew I couldn't match what Todd could do for the estate, but I could scrape up

a fair price at today's market. So the minute they got to Los Angeles, I

approached them both and made them my offer, $2 million.

Approached them both?

Well, Pierre was the one who understood business, of course.

You mean the business about the other wife?

The French detective also told you that, didn't he?

I didn't threaten Pierre. I didn't coerce him. I mean, after all, I

tell the family about the other wife, or Nellie would have flown right into

their arms.

And then, of course, the girl herself showed up.

And it became easier for me.

I can imagine.

Pierre grew panicky. He wanted as much cash as possible.

So when Nellie came to me that night, I flew to my banker's house.

or I'd already made arrangements for a cash respect the first $200 ,000, and

then I tore to my lawyer's house for the escrow papers, and then I came back to

pick Nellie up. Just a moment, Mr. Brody.

You omitted your telephone call to Pierre at the garage. I've already

in direct examination that he called me at my banker's home.

Pretty late it was, too. Something about the other phone's not working. You can

verify that.

You've testified to everything but $5 ,000.

I don't know anything about that. I didn't give Pierre one penny before he

And I didn't kill him. You can now smell him. Never mind.

I know you didn't.

Your Honor, I would like to recall Mr. Todd Meacham.

All right, yes.

I gave Pierre $5 ,000. What of it?

And where did you obtain the money, Mr. Meacham?

From Victor.

My little short of cash.

Victor has previously loaned you money, hasn't he?

Yes, he owns part of my company. That's why he was so concerned, too.

Will you tell us why you gave Pierre the money?

Because he asked for it.

He was afraid that if he wrote a check, Aunt Nellie would spot it in the bank

balance. But what of it? He needed the cash to pay the girl, that's all.

And I told you before, I was desperate. I would have done anything to stop him

from making a deal with Brody.

And you never once questioned it?

Questioned what, Mr. Mason? My investment plans were astound?

Questioned the fact that your Aunt Nellie could balance the bank book. Or

fact that she keeps the accounts in the first place.

Yet my investigator reports that her balance is always in order.

Book properly kept.

Uncle Herbert was a stickler for his books, too. That doesn't mean anything.

It's a matter of habit. But your Uncle Herbert developed Parkinson's disease

with tremors in his hand.

Now, did he keep his own records?

Or was she forced to do it for him?

Mr. Meacham, isn't it obvious to you that your aunt must have well understood

the difference between two and ten million dollars?

What if she was always so flighty, so vague? Did it ever occur to you that she

had no choice but to do as Pierre told her?

That she might have pretended to be flighty?

Vague?

But why? Why?

Isn't it possible that Pierre knew something about her that she wanted kept

secret? What?

Mrs. Dubois, how did Herbert Meacham die?

Did you help him?

Did you kill him?

Peter Dubois, would you really have cared if Pierre had had another wife?

it have made any difference?

Or was it that the truth had to be kept from the family?

That they must not discover your foolishness was really a hideous

You were the one who took the phone from the hook in the master bedroom, weren't

you?

And it was you who gave yourself the careful alibi.

But you could have easily left Roger Brody's house, returned home.

Yes,

I killed him. I had to.

Because he saw me kill Herbert.

in such a hurry. Here, sit down.

You never did tell me how your

fingerprint got on that pool thing.

Well, I dropped the tree with sandwiches.

And you see, the napkin went into the pool, so I had to fish it out.

But there were ham sandwiches, and I didn't want Victor to find out.

So there was grease on my fingers, and so who cares?

I mean, you know, it's all over now.

And your poor Aunt Maggie did everything bad.

Bonjour, Jimmy.

Mr. Mason, I had no idea that you were in Paris.

Oh, Marie needed help explaining things to her family.

Which I think we accomplished very nicely.

And now everyone's happy.

Yeah.

Where's Paul Drake?

Back in the smog and away from temptation.

Why?

Oh, well, I came here because... Marie hasn't even seen

Disneyland yet.