All language subtitles for Perry Mason s08e14 Ruinous Road

You looking for somebody, young lady?

I'd like to see Mr. Jasbo Williams.

Yes, ma 'am.

That's me.

Well,

I'm Amy Joy Dennis, and I just came out
for you recently from down south.

No. Why, I never would have guessed.

Oh, you.

Well, anyway, I sing folk songs and Hoot
Daddy and all like that, and I like a

job. Well, do you have any notices?

Notices? Yeah, I mean, where have you
worked before?

Professionally. Oh, well, before I came
to Hollywood, I used to sing in a little

hillbilly band back home, but fatal
mistakes. I might as well have been a

gobbler at Thanksgiving for all the
future that wasn't that.

I see.

Well, you see, we can't afford much for
talent around here, except for

ourselves, of course.

It won't cost you anything to give me a
chance, Mr. Williams.

Okay?

Okay, Amy Jo Jennings.

You want to take a run at a number?

to cast me off discourteously.

And I have loved you so

long. Delight... You got a great voice,
baby.

McCollum Hawks.

But your green sleeves was my

delight.

Green sleeves. It's me, Amy Jo.

Your old flatty.

And I'm still burning.

I followed you out here to Hollywood,
Amy Jo.

Now, you take it from an old flatty
spinner, you ain't never gonna make it

the top, so why don't you come home and
marry me?

Crawford, you get out of here. Oh, now,
baby, look. Now, get them stars out of

your eyes. You ain't nothing but a queen
-size flop.

There ain't no place for you. All right,
Mom.

Get up. You ain't going to do nothing
here.

That's just a disc jockey, a little
radio station back home.

He's been pestering me for years to
marry him, but I could never love anyone

awful. Him?

I understand.

Not even... You know, maybe you should
quit this racket.

Maybe the thing for you is to get
married and raise pretty babies like

You just don't want me to sing at your
club because everything was such a mess

tonight. Okay.

Okay, you can come back.

Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night.

Anytime.

You're a nice kid.

I don't want to see you get your heart
broke.

This can be a cold, cruel town.

I'll do better tomorrow night. You'll
see, Mr. Williams.

Jazz ball.

Jazz ball.

Oh, I know what you're thinking. A lot
of girls come out here thinking they can

de -dig the house, but... I'm determined
to take it out.

Well, I don't think I'm that pulling for
you, kid.

That's where I live, the second
building?

Uh -huh.

Spending too much money, too, I'll bet.

Well... But thanks for everything,
James. Well, I'll see you tomorrow

Okay. And if I'm good, I can stay?

No pain.

Whatever you say.

When you've been here a week, you're
entitled to something.

Oh, you're an angel!

Oh, careless.

kid, but don't say I didn't want it.
Let's go.

Sit down, Lyle.

What's the rush?

Look, Harry, I did you a favor and
wasted last night meeting her.

She's a sweet, simple kid with no
talent. Now, come on. I want you to

me.

Harry, you're out of your tree.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr.
Mason, but they seem happy to want an

encore.

So I accommodated them before they could
change their minds.

I'm sure the applause was wholehearted,
Miss Chen. Oh, this is all so wonderful,

Mr. Mason. I just adore your business.

Well, now, what was it you wanted me to
sign?

Now, this power of attorney and this
receipt for a stock transfer to your

account.

Evidently, you haven't gotten very close
contact with that business of yours.

Oh.

I'm not awful, but since I got out here,
I've been so busy trying to start my

career that I almost plum forgot about
it. about the Home Folks Remedies

Company. Well, as company president,
that's all you can do as you want, since

you happen to control the stock.

Well, my daddy left it to me. You know,
Mr. Mason, he started out peddling

freckle remover and cold cream and cough
syrup door -to -door, and now look.

I'm impressed.

You've inherited quite a financial
empire.

Isn't it simple?

Mr. Mason, how did my lawyers down in
Tennessee know about you?

I went to law school with one of the
partners, George Hutchinson.

Oh, Mr.

Hutchinson, the doll.

Well, now, where do I sign?

Right there and there.

Thank you, Mr. Mason. You're a doll,
too.

Except, I think maybe in the future I
ought to come to your office.

See, the folks around here might not
quite understand if... Well, I want them

like me, you understand?

Take my career seriously, not just think
that I...

Excuse me, Miss Jennings.

Remember me last night?

Oh, Mr.

Albright. Do I?

Oh, and Mr. Mason, have you met Mr.

Lionel Albright?

He's the movie star.

Hello, Mr. Albright. How do you do?

Harry Bronson is at my table, Miss
Jennings. He would very much like to

you. Harry Bronson, the agent?

Yes, he's... Oh, you'll have to excuse
me, Mr. Mason. I've got to go now.

Of course, but if I can help you again
in London... Hey, now, don't you worry

about me for a second, Mr. Mason. Bye
-bye.

There we are, Mr.

Bronson. I'm all fine down the dotted
line.

Is there anything else?

Well, that's it for now, Amy Jo, but
you'll be hearing from us very soon.

Oh, I just can't tell you how thrilled I
am that you're going to be representing

me. It's a real pleasure for Harry
Bronson to represent such a fine new

I look forward to a long and mutually
beneficial association.

Thank you very much for coming in.

Thank you.

Bye now.

What's the matter?

That person out there.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

Bronson. What person?

Well, his name is Lester Crawford from
back home. I just can't turn around

without his following me.

Oh, I'd be mortified if he came around
here pestering me. Natalie,

there's someone named Crawford out
there.

Will you get rid of him, please?

Immediately. Just do as I say.

Oh, I feel like a nuisance already.

Nonsense.

Just one of the many services we hope to
give you.

Is he gone?

Take the other door there. It goes out
the side way.

Well, goodbye, my dear. We'll keep in
touch.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I take it my husband is in a drunken.

Good morning, Mrs. Bronson. Yes, he is.
But I believe Mr. Sebring was just

waiting. Never mind, dear. Never mind.

Harry, don't start talking yet.

Oh.

Hi, Evelyn.

Well, what got you out of bed before
noon, baby?

And to the office yet?

Al and I were just gonna... Harry, my
diamond watch bracelet.

It's missing.

What do you mean it's missing?

Well, I lost it and someone stole it.

Who knows?

Who knows?

Just like that, huh?

Well, what do you expect me to do about
it?

Well, you could have it replaced,
darling.

Evelyn, you think I'm made of money?

That watch bracelet sent me back 5 ,000
bucks. 5 ,000 bucks!

Phil put in a claim to the insurance
company.

What else are they for?

How many claims do you think I can put
in?

Last month, you lost a diamond dinner
ring.

Before that, you said somebody stole
your main coat. Now, how can I go back

the insurance company? Forget it!

All right, Harry, I will. And I'll pick
out another one.

And charge it.

You do that, Evelyn, and I'll cut off
every charge account in this town.

All you know to do is spend, spend,
spend.

You know I'm putting every dime I can
spare into production right now.

Even the dough he owes me, Evie.

Well, that's your problem, Al.

I have my own.

Yeah?

Well, I've got problems, too. Plenty.

But right now, you're not going to be
one of them.

Now, get out of here.

You don't have to keep needling me about
what's coming to you.

You'll get your dough.

That road show is going to be booked
solid through the summer, so hold your

horses. Harry, we are supposed to manage
talent, not produce summer musicals.

You don't know anything about producing
musicals. And you don't know anything

about a talent agency. That's why you
backed my experience, right?

Who brought in the stars? I did, right?
What stars?

What big name have you brought in aside
from Lionel Albright?

Albright is box office.

He's starring in a musical road show.
He's money in the bank. Money in the

You haven't even got enough cash to pay
advances.

I'll get the cash.

Now stop bugging me.

I'm a terrible bobble making you drive
me home every night.

Well, it's better than letting you pay
for the bus.

You don't have to do it Friday night if
you'll let me have the night off.

Yeah? What's the deal?

Well, Harry Bronson's throwing a party
at the Crystal Room, and if I'm not

there, I'll just perish.

Well, we can't have that.

What is your date?

Oh, I'm stagging. It's just for agency
clients and picture people.

You're moving up kind of fast, aren't
you?

Is there anything wrong with that?

I'm not sure.

I mean, you're an unknown.

So why is a man like Bronson paying so
much attention to you?

That's not going to lay down but good.

That's not the way I meant it, but it's
a fair question.

All right, Mr. Smarty. I wasn't going to
tell you until I was sure, but I just

may have a part in Mr. Brown's summer
musical.

Now, do I get Friday night off or don't
I?

Okay. All right, you can go.

If I can pick you up after the party.

What are you, big brother?

You don't have to babysit me.

I'll be waiting for you after the party.

Haley, you are unreal.

I can take care of myself.

I needed motivation.

I don't know how to act.

Oh, Mr.

Bronson, it's so thrilling to even be a
little tiny kid of all of this.

Feel like a dream come true?

Oh, if you only knew.

Well, you just heard Mary Bronson, my
dear. This is the beginning of a whole

exciting life. Mr. Bronson, they want to
take our picture.

Have some of those for my hometown paper
and my friends and all.

Don't worry, honey. I'll take care of
it.

Like to dance, my dear?

Hello, Mr.

Bronson. Oh, hello.

I'll tell you, the folks back home are
just never going to believe it. Their

Amy Jo, star of a musical.

Why don't you divorce him?

And why don't you go out and get
yourself a job, girl?

No, I, uh, I've done all I can. Okay.

I've had it.

All right.

I'll redeem your bracelet just as soon
as I get a break.

But we could be together any minute if
you would just... Now is not the time to

hit Harry for alimony.

As a matter of fact, right now... Right
now he's worth more dead than alive,

huh?

Chris.

Joe and 7 -7.

Why don't you mind your own business?

Well, all I meant was that she's a nice
kid.

I just wondered what... I know what I'm
doing. That's all you need to know.

Okay.

Now,

just wait.

Just you sit here and wait.

Hey, buddy.

Isn't that Audrey Stemple, the singer?

Yeah, big deal.

Man, I hope she's not just coming to the
party. I thought it'd be all over by

now. She ain't going to no party,
friend.

She's going to fry an egg, she says.

Take just a minute, she says.

Slow -basted and gin.

What that thing needs is a St. Bernard
with a keg around his neck.

Well... It's one way to stay awake, I
guess.

Excuse me, Mrs. Bronson. Yes? Your
husband isn't feeling very well. Oh, now

don't tell me he's pooping out in his
own party.

It's his stomach again, that's all. But
he would like to go home right away. Go

home? Well, darling, I can't leave home,
I guess.

Tell him to drive himself.

He's afraid to.

Please, you understand, Mrs. Bronson.
When Harry takes tranquilizers, you can

nurse me to yourself, I'm sure.

Mr. Sebring will help you.

Now, run along, darling.

Good girl.

I've got to go, I tell you. Please,
Audrey.

And I said I want to see Harry.

And I said tomorrow morning.

That's all I know. He said see him
tomorrow morning.

Do you know how many offers I've had for
other parts?

If he thinks I'm going to sit around
twiddling... Baby, it is all arranged.

You will get your advance. Harry said
so.

Well, then why can't I see him tonight?

Because his wife's here. Because a
million things. I don't know.

Look, be a good girl. Let me go and you
go home. Huh, baby?

No.

You will get your advance tomorrow in
cash.

Amy Jo, let's get out of this job. No!

Oh, I'm sorry. I kept you waiting and
all jazzed over.

Well, this is my night.

Look, I've got to talk to you. And I've
got to talk to you, because you don't

know what happened.

Listen, don't tell anybody yet, but I am
going to play opposite Mr.

Lionel O 'Brien.

Really true.

And Mr. O 'Brien's in some musical.

Come here.

Could we have your autograph, please,
Miss Temple?

Why, you sweet thing, you.

You hurtin' lady.

Yes, please.

Oh, my friend here works on a high
school newspaper. I thought maybe I

her a story or something.

You are going to do a musical show this
summer for Harry Bronson, aren't you?

Well, as a matter of fact... With Lionel
Albright, maybe?

How'd you guess?

Of course, I don't usually do summer
shows, but yes, Harry... Bronson has

persuaded me. No.

No, he's only doing one musical and...
Oh, it's all the very secret, honey, so

far. But I've got that part.

I'm going to star in your... What?

You? Amy Jordan, I was... It's true. He
promised me.

Well, even before I...

I wonder if she went home at all after
the party last night.

Harry, just because she signed with
Harry Bronson doesn't mean that she has

connections with... That's what worries
me, Dylan.

Why would Harry Bronson sign an unknown
who has no great talent but does have a

great deal of money?

Ordinarily. I suppose she wouldn't even
be invited to this kind of party.

Exactly.

And I found that Bronson's in financial
difficulties.

And now, Bronson being dead and Amy Jo
missing.

Hello, Paul. Do you have something?

No, it didn't get in the papers. But the
police found a woman's glove lying on

the floor next to Bronson's body.

A glove could belong to anybody.

Have you checked at Hillbilly Haven?

Club doesn't open until 4 p .m. And
Jasbo Williams, the proprietor, isn't

in the phone book. But I hear he has a
small beach house out of Malibu.

Which, of course, takes on a lot of
territory.

Fine then, Paul. Go over that beach with
a fine tooth, Paul.

Mind if I use vacuum cleaners?

Might sell if you go in door to door.
That's a good idea.

I'm looking for a girl who works at your
place, Miss Annie Jo Jennings.

Well, Miss Jenny, she's here, Mr. Grant.

Just a hunch.

Well, I hope when you go to the races
you don't pick your horses the same way.

No, I have a system of the horses.

This is her lawyer's hunch, not mine.

Her lawyer?

Mary Mason.

What does Mr. Mason want with me?

Well, after what happened last night,
Miss Jennings is a little worried.

Particularly since you couldn't be
reached at home.

What happened last night?

Haven't you read the morning papers?

Harry Bronson was murdered.

Murdered?

No.

When I saw him, he was... He was only
asleep.

When was that?

Amy Jo went to a party he gave last
night.

That's the last time she saw him.

Yes. Yes, at the party. That's when I
saw him. He was... Well, he takes pills

something.

Are you missing the mate to this?

Yes, I...

I lost it last night.

I guess in the parking lot after the
party.

Why?

What's the matter?

Well, I guess Perry Mason has better
hunches than I do.

Perry?

I'm with Amy Jo and she's in this thing
up to her neck.

Yeah.

Here's the address.

And then I ran out of the parking lot
and I took a cab to Mr.

Bronson's house.

Who admitted you, Amy Jo?

Well, somebody had left the keys in the
door.

Rather convenient, wasn't it?

It's the gospel truth, Mr. Mason.

Nobody was home except, well, Mr.

Bronson was in the library flat on his
back on the couch.

I didn't even see him at first. He was
so sound asleep.

Honestly,

I didn't dream he was dead.

There wasn't any blood or anything like
that.

So you tried to wake him up?

I shook him a little, and I even poured
some water on his face from the glass

that was there, but it didn't faze him.

Water would hardly faze a dead man.

Maybe he wasn't dead then.

He was sort of limp, not rigid and all
like they say a corpse gets.

And then I heard something, and I
thought maybe I'd better leave.

And then when I ran down the hall, I saw
a car coming up from the side street,

and I knew he'd be all right.

How long were you there, Amy Jo?

Just long enough to try to get my check.

Well, I thought it would be in his
wallet.

You searched his wallet?

Well, it just sort of fell out of his
pocket.

But the check wasn't there.

And even before I saw him, I looked
through some papers on the desk and the

drawer.

Well, after all, I felt I had a right to
get my check back now, didn't I?

Your fingerprints will show up
everywhere in that room, of course.

Well, good gracious, Mr. Mason, that
doesn't mean I killed the poor man.

All right.

Now, tell me about the car you saw.

Well, I didn't really see what it looked
like.

I just wanted to run, don't you
understand?

I walked all over that neighborhood
trying to find a cab.

And then Mr. Williams here came driving
by, but he's just mad at me because I

have so much money.

Because I'm so plain dumb foolish.

Well, Mr. Mason, if you only knew how
mortified I was.

Believe in that...

Ann was going to put me in some kind of
a big story.

Oh, but what am I going to do?

I am Stan Paul, right away.

Yes. And if the check is on her hometown
bank, maybe I can't stop payment,

but... If and when the check's
deposited, that's what I want to know.

And who the person is who deposits it.

Exactly.

Meanwhile, I've got some other stuff to
run down for Perry, so... And maybe that

person is the murderer.

Well, don't count on Amy Jo not getting
some votes.

Bronson's death was a terrible shock to
me, Mason.

I could hardly believe it when I saw the
papers.

Mr. Albright, I assume you've been
represented by Bronson and Sebring for

time. Well, by Harriet Bronson
personally.

We've been friends for a long time.

A night at the party, did you know Miss
Jennings gave Bronson $50 ,000?

No, not precisely.

I didn't know she had that kind of
money.

But I knew that Bronson wasn't leveling
with her.

He was using her some way to...

Not so loud.

My head might fall off.

Miss Dimple, this is Mr. Perry Mason,
the attorney.

Hello. Where's your tomato juice?

Mr. Mason represents Amy Jo Jennings.

Drink, Mason?

No, thanks.

That's stupid, little wench.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason, but I hope she
gets the limit.

Audrey, there have been no accusations
against her yet, Miss Dimple.

Well... If I had just kept my big mouth
shut, Harry would still be alive.

And you and I, Lionel, would be getting
some fat paychecks this summer.

And I could use a few.

Well, anyway, I hope they find her.

I hope they throw the book at her. Shut
up, Audrey. Drink this.

I won't shut up.

I'll scream.

Hello? Yes?

There's not enough pepper in this.

Just a moment, please.

Mr. Mason, for you.

Thank you.

Hello? Terry, one of the banks just
called back, and that check has already

deposited. Who, when, and where?

First thing this morning, deposited to
the agency account of Bronson and

by Harry Bronson's own secretary.

Thanks, Ella.

Any news?

Anything important?

Miss Temple would like some more pepper.

There's nothing improper about
depositing Miss Jennings' check in the

account, Mr. Mason.

But I understood it was made out of
bronze in production.

That's a subsidiary.

True, my partner handled that end of the
business, but I'm a vice president.

Miss Graham here is authorized to make
any and all deposits.

That's great.

How did you acquire the check so
quickly, Mr. Sebring?

Well, there's nothing mysterious about
that either, Mr. Mason.

Natalie and I drove Harry home last
night.

And he gave me the check to take
straight to the bank this morning.

Mr. Sebring, you know, of course, that
Miss Jennings gave your partner the

under the assumption that she would be
starred in his summer musical.

Natalie, do you know of any such
agreement in writing with Miss Jennings?

No.

The only contract that we have with Miss
Jennings is to represent her in all

phases of entertainment.

So there you are, Mr. Mason.

We really didn't ask Bronson any
questions.

Money is money.

Not until it clears the home bank, Mr.
Sebring.

We'll stop payment on that check
immediately.

Mr. Drake?

Amy Jo?

Amy Jo, now I know you're in there. Now
you

open the door.

Now you want me to go running up and
down the beach yelling your name?

Amy Jo, you want everybody to know where
you're hiding?

Lester, how did you find me?

Yeah, Tonya, that was pure easy.

I just followed you down here.

Nearly two weeks ago.

Sure.

That's the way a fellow's got to be, Amy
Jo.

Well, at least for certain girls.

Well, I don't want to see you, Lester,
please. Sure.

What are you doing here all alone, Amy
Jo?

Where's that jazz ball character?

He went out to get us something to eat.

When?

Three hours ago.

Well,

Amy Jo, if you're hungry, I got a candy
by here. You want

it?

Well, anyhow.

I sure wouldn't desert you. I don't care
how much trouble you're in.

He didn't desert me.

Or let myself get caught by the cops.

Maybe.

Well, what's the difference?

But I sure do hate to think what he
might be saying to them about you.

all. That's not true.

Jasper wouldn't.

Lester.

I didn't really do anything.

I didn't kill Harry Brownson.

Well, Amy Jo, now, whether you did or
whether you didn't, I

guess you had motive enough, and I want
you to know that I'm going to do

anything that I can to help.

I told you I didn't kill him. Well, Amy
Jo, now, then what are you sitting here

for?

Don't you see what I mean? They're going
to accuse you of this.

And your reputation?

You're going to spread your name all
over them papers.

Amy Jo, your career.

It is going to go so slowly.

We've never even come out here.

Why has John been such a fool?

Oh, no, no, no, no, Amy Jo.

You ain't nothing but a woman.

I'm going to think real hard for you.

Yeah, I'm going to think really hard for
you.

Lester!

Mind if I come in, Counselor?

Oh, hello, Andy.

I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier when you
called. Which time?

Well, never mind.

When you're hiding a client, I
understand how it is.

All right, Andy. If you'd like to take a
ride now, I'll surrender Amy Jo

Jennings. Perry, why don't you ride with
me instead?

We've already got her in jail.

She wants to see her lawyer.

Mr. Albright, you've stated that you
knew that Mr. Bronson was having trouble

financing this musical. Now, when did
you first have knowledge that the money

for the production had been raised?

At the party, before Bronson was
murdered.

He told me we were all set to go into
production.

In fact, that's what he was celebrating.

Well, did you know that the defendant
was providing this financial backing

apparently on the basis of promises that
she was going to have a part in the

production? Well, at the time, I could
only surmise that's where he got the

money.

I did know that Bronson was in no
position to risk Amy Jo in a starring

I understand, but when did you learn
that she was to have no part at all?

Bronson's party that night.

The night of the murder?

Yes. Then you say that you had learned
that even after Bronson had accepted the

check from the defendant, He still
planned to have Audrey Stemple play that

part, just as he had intended all along.

Yes. I warned her he was making a
mistake pulling a stunt like that. I

him he was headed for trouble.

Well, did you mean that Miss Jennings
might simply withdraw her financial

support? Or were you suggesting that the
shock of finding out that she had been

used, cheated, might cause her to...
Objection, Your Honor.

Sustain.

I'd never seen this girl before until
she came up with that man.

He asked me if I was going to do Harry
Bronson's show.

Well, for some impulsive reason, I
admitted it.

Even though Harry asked me to keep it a
secret for a while.

Now, what was the defendant's reaction
when you said that you were going to

start with Mr. Albright?

Well, you'd think she was being
murdered.

Like poor Harry was.

And what did Miss Jennings do?

She ran out of the bar.

And what did you do, Miss Temple?

I had my taxi drive me home.

The next morning, of course, I was very
upset I had even spoken to that couple.

If I had kept my mouth shut, poor Harry
would never have been murdered.

Objection, Your Honor. If this witness
is going to persist in objection

sustained, the witness will confine
herself to direct answers to counsel's

questions. Proceed, Mr. Berger.

I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Anderson, it's been
established that the victim died from a

blow in the back of the head
administered by some blunt instrument

this ashtray. Now, you have, of course,
seen the ashtray before?

Yes, sir. And you also heard testimony
to the effect that the indented fracture

in the back of the victim's skull
exactly matched the curve of this

did. Now, what other laboratory
investigation was this ashtray subjected

Fingerprint analysis.

We found clear prints of the defendant
on the sides.

There. I see.

Lieutenant, would you tell us, please,
where you found this lady's glove?

On the floor in Mr. Bronson's library,
near the couch on which the body lay.

where did you find the mate to this
glove, Lieutenant?

In Mr. Williams' beach house, where the
defendant had been staying until she was

taken into custody.

Now, what other evidence did you uncover
to place the defendant at the Bronson

home? Her fingerprints were found on
some desk drawers, which apparently had

been ransacked.

Also on an empty water glass on a table
near the body. I see.

And now, Lieutenant, finally, would you
identify this wallet for us?

Yes, sir. It belonged to the deceased.

The morning after the murder, the police
recovered it from some bushes along the

main front drive of the Bronson estate.

Thank you, Lieutenant. That'll be all.
Mr. Mason?

Lieutenant, were fingerprints found in
the wallet you just examined?

No. It's been stated that the victim lay
face up on the couch. That he had been

struck on the back of the head.

Therefore, there was no blood or visible
sign of injury. Now, is that correct?

Well, he was a little messed up. There
were some signs of a struggle, but...

doctor stated that his autopsy indicated
traces of a tranquilizing agent in Mr.

Bronson's stomach.

You are familiar with that report, of
course. I also heard the doctor state he

did not think the amount was sufficient
to induce any heavy sleep.

Now, Lieutenant, please confine
yourself. I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Well, you do know what I'm driving at,
don't you, Lieutenant?

If Mr. Bronson had been heavily, soundly
asleep, then wouldn't you say that a

visitor to the room might have become
worried about him? Might have picked up

glass to put water on his face?

Perhaps even have moved that ashtray
aside?

And you, Mr. Mason.

I'll withdraw that question, Your Honor.

That's all, Lieutenant.

After the party...

I left our car at the hotel.

Mr. Thompson drove me home.

We had just parked and switched off the
lights when we saw a woman running off

down the street.

Did you recognize that woman, Mrs.
Bronson? Of course.

It was Miss Jennings.

Didn't you attempt to follow her?

No.

Well, at the time, it seemed more
amusing than alarming.

Mrs. Bronson, I show you this diagram of
your area.

Now, the police have testified that they
found your husband's wallet.

In this shrubbery by the drive.

Did the woman you saw fleeing pass
anywhere near that shrubbery?

Well, that's exactly where I saw her
first.

It's exactly the way she said. I saw
exactly the same thing as Mr. Bronson.

All right, but will you tell us in your
own words exactly what you saw when you

went into the house and entered the
library?

Well, as Evelyn said, Harry was lying
there on the couch, face up, dead.

The desk drawers had been gone through,
like the lieutenant said.

There was a glove on the floor.

Naturally, I didn't touch anything,
except, of course, the telephone to call

police. Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Thompson, you were a frequent
visitor at the Bronson home, were you

I was there occasionally.

Did your visits usually coincide with
Harry Bronson's absence?

Of course not.

He was away from home a lot, that's all.

I noticed neither you nor Mrs. Bronson
stated how quickly you entered the house

after seeing a woman run off down the
street.

It was the defendant, you mean.

Well, I suppose it was a minute or two.

There really didn't seem to be any cause
for alarm. That is, until we found the

key in the front door.

A minute or two.

Could it have been three?

Perhaps. Four, four, five, ten?

Now, see... Well, we're quite oblivious
of the passage of time, Mr. Thompson.

Look, I resent the... Why do you resent
it?

You've identified yourself as a family
friend.

Surely there's nothing wrong with
parking in a secluded spot with an old

friend's wife?

Your Honor!

I beg the court's indulgence, but I
would like to ask one question.

Do you happen to know how much life
insurance Harry Bronson carried?

No, the thought never entered my mind.

Well, Mr. Williams, you just heard the
judge tell you that you must answer

questions. Now, where did you finally
find Miss Jennings that night?

She was on the street, a couple of
blocks from the Bronson house, looking

taxi. And what was her appearance, her
manner?

Upset, I guess.

Wouldn't hysterical be a more accurate
word, Mr. Williams?

No. No, I said before, she was crying.

That's all.

Oh, I see. You took her down to your
beach house and hid her there just

she was crying.

I wasn't trying to hide her. She was in
a state of shock, you might say. I was

afraid she would... I got this spare
room.

Mr. Williams, we all understand what
she'd been through that night.

Isn't it true that you hid her at your
beach house because you were afraid of

what she might do in her hysterical
condition?

Harry gave Natalie, your secretary, his
keys so she could open the front door

and let us in the sideway.

And when you and the secretary left, the
keys were still in the door lock?

I suppose so. I didn't really notice.

I think that'll be all, Mr. Sebring.
First examiner.

Mr. Sebring.

Why did you and Bronson want to enter
the house through the side door instead

the front?

Well, we just wanted to be alone for a
minute, that's all.

Discuss some personal things.

Money matters without Natalie there.

Money matters.

The fact that your agency was going
broke.

Going broke because Bronson had never
put in his share of the company

he promised.

Mr. Mason, if you're still trying to
imply that I had no right to deposit

check to Miss Jennings... Your Honor...

I see no reason for counsel to pry into
the business affairs of this witness.

Your Honor, this matter involves a fraud
perpetrated against my client.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am curious, Mr. Seabrain.

Why did you form a partnership with a
man like Harry Brunson in the first

Well, Harry had some big clients and I
didn't.

At least he had Lionel Albright.

Only instead of using him in something
to bring him quick cash, Harry had to go

gambling on his own with some of the
musicals.

In other words, Bronson had no intention
of your sharing the profits he made.

That's a general idea.

So when you saw a $50 ,000 check, you
saw a chance to avenge yourself.

No.

Temptation was too great. You saw a
chance to... No, that's not true.

I didn't steal that check and I didn't
kill Harry.

Mr. Mason, I didn't hit Mr. Bronson over
the head with that ashtray or anything

else. But unfortunately, your
fingerprints... Well, I was trying to

check.

There were some papers on the desk.
Maybe that's when I moved the ashtray.

Well, yes, maybe it is. I remember now.
I wish you'd remembered to stay put in

Jasbo's shack on the beach.

But I told you, Jasbo hadn't come back.
He'd already been caught, like you said,

and they made him tell where I was. So
you decided you just had to go out and

get a hamburger.

But I was hungry.

Oh, I know you told me not to leave
there, but I wasn't going to run away or

anything. At least I don't think I was,
but I was also confused, and Lester said

that... Lester?

Mr. Crawford? Well, it was his idea that
I could leave the beach house without

being... Well, you have some long
-distance investigators.

But they want to hurry, I know. And
don't forget the nice guy. Don't worry.

Nice guy?

Cross your fingers, Amy June.

But I did not pry into private affairs.

I'm a secretary.

I've done only what I've been told to
do.

I'm not asking you about the check, Miss
Graham.

I simply want to know when you first
heard the name Amy Jo Jennings.

When she signed her contract with us, I
suppose.

You handled no messages concerning the
girl before that? Well, I did hear Mr.

Bronson ask Lionel Albright to go hear
the girl singing a few days before that.

And I remember Mr.

Albright said he couldn't be bothered.

But then, of course, Mr. Bronson
insisted.

Then where did Bronson learn the girl's
name?

It might have been after that loud young
man came visiting the first time.

Loud young man?

A disc jockey Mr. Bronson met a few
years ago.

His name is Lester Crawford.

All right.

Yes, I did drop in to say howdy to Mr.
Bronson. Well, that's all.

And tell him who Amy Jo Jennings really
was.

Tell him how much money she had.

Mr. Crawford, I find that you left your
last employment with the radio station

in Tennessee rather hurriedly.

Well, no, actually, I didn't see... I'm
also informed there is a slight

discrepancy in the advertising accounts
which the station would still like to

talk to you about. A discrepancy of
exactly $10 ,000.

Isn't that true?

No, that is not true.

Remember, you're under oath.

You wouldn't want to add perjury to your
other troubles, would you?

I... I was going to pay the station
back.

Oh. With whose money?

Amy Jo has certainly said no to you a
thousand times.

Yes, but, uh... Was Harry Bronson going
to give it to him? He said he might.

As payment for giving him a ripe plum
named Amy Jo, just ready for picking?

Now, look, now, that ain't no way to
talk about it. Mr. Crawford, the day

the murder, why did you want Amy Jo
caught running?

Why were you so anxious to have her look
guilty?

Now, look, I, uh... Oh, listen, Amy Jo,
I didn't, uh... Don't talk to her, or

she'll tell you that she didn't throw
that wallet of Bronson's into the

shrubbery. Now, who did? You?

Maybe I did.

He owed me that money. He promised to
pay me $10 ,000 as soon as she paid him.

Were you in the house that night?

Of course I was. Don't you understand?

I killed him.

Go on, Mr. Crawford.

He said he wouldn't pay.

He got real nasty like.

Told me to get out.

That's when I hit him.

Only he didn't get up.

And I carried him to the couch.

That's when I heard Amy Jo coming in.

I hid there until after she left.

Then I picked up the wallet and went off
the side.

Only there was this car pulling in
there, so I went off across the back way

through the woods.

But the wallet, Mr. Crawford.

Well, there wasn't but $50 in it.

I read in the papers the next morning
that they were looking for Amy Jo, so it

was a terrible thing to do.

But I went back in.

past the wall at the back, right near
the front where Amy George passed when

went out.

Forgive me, Amy Jo, but I didn't want to
go to the gas chamber.

Don't you see?

Let's continue, Mr. Crawford.

Did you hit Bronson with an ashtray?

I don't know.

He might have fell against him.

I don't know.

And the, uh, car.

on the side road.

Amy Jo also mentioned hearing it.

Of course, we've already established
that the couple parked in front were

oblivious of time.

Perhaps even the sound of the other car.

But I didn't want the guy to see me.

The guy? What guy?

Well, sure, the guy in the car, you see.
But now, if he saw me... Did you see

him, Mr. Albright?

What?

Did you go inside and find Bronson still
unconscious from Lester's blow and

realize that here was your chance to
even the score with your agent?

Mr. Albright, you're considered to be
quite a nice guy.

Now, why did you stay with Harry
Bronson's agency?

Why were you willing to waste your
talent on a speculative summer musical

which even Audrey Stemple insisted she
be paid some sort of advance?

I'm not a nice guy.

Amy Joy, I thought that guy running
through the woods would be blamed for

Not you.

But did I open my mouth about it?

No.

But once I was even lesser with my sky.

And Harry knew it.

And all of these years he's been using
me.

Bleeding me.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I saw my chance.

I killed him.

Wake up in the morning to the alarms
ting -a -ling.

Hop out of the hay, face the day with a
zing.

How do you like the act so far?

Life can be an endless dream if you use
home folks' freckle cream.

Well?

Well, what do you think?

Well, uh, uh, I think Jasbo has a...

Great future.

Doing singing commercials.

Singing commercials?

Me? Oh, jazz boy, you just love it down
south.

You love working for home folks,
remedies, and after all you said, I

belong here, so... Stop fighting it,
son. Who cares about the future?

You're going to marry the boss someday,
aren't you?