All language subtitles for Perry Mason s08e26 Gambling Lady

Seven, please.

Sorry,

those are the executive offices.

It's all right. I have an appointment.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Yes, Mr. Dudley.

But Lily's not in her office right now.

Perhaps she may be in a conference with
Mr. Blair.

Or perhaps Mr.

Hill. Yes, of course, sir.

Excuse me, but when you find Mrs.
Cornwall, would you tell her, please?

One moment, please.

Won't you please sit down? Everyone
seems to be looking for Millie at the

moment, but... Well, there's going to be
an audit, and... She has a great deal

of work.

Millie's a very busy girl.

Millie... Aren't you afraid someone
might walk in?

Millie, there are times... This is it
for me. I... I must let you know how I

feel.

I do appreciate your feelings, Mr. Hill.
And of course, I'm dreadfully

flattered. Stand still.

I've wanted to do this for so long.

We're not going to do a lot, though.

Don't you think?

Oh, you wouldn't say that if you felt
anything for me.

Well, I've always been somewhat
attracted to you. I'll admit that.

It's just someone else who said it.

Of course not. I simply wouldn't want to
spoil our working relationship.

You'd better answer that, hadn't you?

Suppose it's Mr.

Dudley.

Quiet water is getting a little churned
up, huh?

It's a tidal wave.

And you, of course, were completely
swept away by it.

Well, there are waves.

And there are waves.

And little ripples.

Miss Dalbert, haven't you found her yet?
I was just calling.

I think Millie's gone back to her own
office, Mr. Dudley. At least according

Mr. Hill.

Uh,

it's a fine report, Mrs. Cornwall. Just
fine. Thank you. Oh, hello, sir. Just

leaving.

Well, I'm right here now, Mr. Dudley.

In my office, if you don't mind.

Shall I bring the breakdown on the
accounts payable?

No, no, no, not yet.

I just need you to help me pick out some
neck eyes.

Quick as you can, huh?

Oh, Millie, darling.

Shall I ask him to wait in your office?

Who? Your husband, naturally.

Who else?

Hi, hon. I was just dumping my sample
case in here.

Never mind, Herbie.

How much do you need now?

Well, it's not that I'm short. I just...

I just want the ten bucks you took out
of

my wallet this morning. That's all.

I told you I needed film for my new
camera, didn't I?

No.

And you didn't tell me yesterday when
you bought a fancy close -up lens and

charged it to my name either.

For photographing flowers, the man said.

Well, a girl has to have some sort of a
hobby when she has you for a husband.

Here.

If you must live on my salary.

Look, I've had it for today.

I thought maybe we could skip the
fighting.

Hey, maybe I could buy us a couple of
steaks and we could open a bottle of...

Don't bother cooking anything for me
tonight, Herbie. I have to work late.

Richard?

I'm sorry.

It's just that Mr. Dudley decided on a
midterm audit starting Monday, so that

means that... Can't you just, uh... Just
record that then.

Just like that.

And all weekend, too.

So why don't you go out and have supper
somewhere?

Maybe have a few drinks with boys.

And a man.

We'll work something out. Why don't you
come in and see me next week?

Excuse me, Mr. Dudley. Well, hello
there, Herbie. It's good to see you. I

if my wife spoke to you about my
merchandising idea. She said that she

sound you out. I'm in a hurry right now,
I'm afraid, Herbie.

Mind if we make it later on? Okay.

You just picked a bad time to come
around, Mr. Cornwall. That's all.

Well, I had a couple of minutes to
spare. I thought I'd drop in and explain

to...

Millie, why I wouldn't be home tonight?
I've got a big sales meeting coming up

and... So you're really knocking them
dead. That's wonderful.

What is it you're selling now?

Arch supports.

Miss Talbot, the world is full of bad
feet and I've got them all eating out of

the palm of my hand.

So then I told your manager while he was
over to pick up his toupee.

Oh, Herbie.

Herbie, listen to my story.

Sorry, Charlie.

What's the matter with you anyway?

So many of you didn't close all the
orders today. I'll cover for you. Don't

worry. It's not just that.

Attack is what you need to learn.

Charge in, hit them first, hit them
hard.

Yeah, sure.

Now, duster.

That's the word.

Now, first you throw that duster ball.

Uh -huh. And then you do it.

Oh, brother, that last game you
pitched... Look, Charlie, forget about

baseball, okay?

Now, Herbie, you listen to me.

Didn't that crack double was the
luckiest thing that ever happened to

Oh, sure, sure. A guy could be a big
horse out here for a few years, maybe.

But the real world is business.

And what's the most important thing
there?

Selling. Does a farmer make people want
things? Does he make the things he makes

people want? Does he sell the things
he's made that he's made the people

they can't do without?

It's good indeed, anyway.

I'll tell you what.

But not anymore.

I can't tell you the details yet, but
Herbie, I'm on my way.

Where? The point is you've got to make
your chance and then grab.

Grab hard, I tell you. And don't be
afraid of who yells.

Grab and you'll get.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like I had this great idea to get
Bolton's, this place where my wife

put in our line there.

I even talked to him about it.

Cushy, walky, arched supports and a high
-fashioned joint like bones?

Sure, Charlie, think of the commissions.

All you've got to do, my wife says, is
snow a few people.

Con, Charlie, break arms.

Well, Herbie, you quit laughing at
yourself.

Maybe it's not a crazy idea.

Oh, Herbie, people, listen to you,
because they should see your name right

on the sports page.

Well, now you've got a pitch, I tell
you.

Maybe you could, Charlie.

Charlie, I'm just not cut out for
business.

Oh, yes, you are. Yes, you are. We all
are.

You just haven't had your chance yet.

Well, you do, boy.

Grab, I tell you. Grab and run.

What happened to you today, anyway?

Oh, boy, well, you'll find out.

Hey, Charlie, let me...

There you go, Fred. Thank you.

Hey, Harvey.

Come on, I still got to check the office
yet.

Hey, isn't that, uh... Come on, let's
go. What are you waiting for?

What's up, you, pal? You'll take care of
everything.

What's wrong?

And you talked about grabbing a stand.

Grabbing and running.

Relax, kid. I was just sounding off. Big
salesman.

But you said you'd done it.

You acted funny. You were on your way,
you said.

Well, gas. That's all. Just gas.

Charlie, I've seen you mixing up sales
reports. I've seen you cheating other

guys. For business, that's all.

Herbie, when are you going to learn?

She said you'd done it. Done what?

Well, don't make a spitball out of me
for wanting to keep a secret.

Starting next week, I'm going to be
sales manager here. That's what I was

talking about.

That's all?

Oh.

Oh, buddy, if you knew the conniving,
the... Well, what's the matter?

Want to turn in your samples?

You can't stand to work under me?

Sure, Charlie. I mean, that's great.

Hey, of course it's great.

And for you, too.

I've got a lot of faith in you, Irby.

I'm going to take a special interest in
your case.

My case?

Then you didn't lose yours. That's yours
over there.

Well, of course that's my case.

Here, I'll give you a present.

Twenty -five bucks with a free sample.

Hey, well, take him. Take him. I don't
need him anymore.

I thought maybe, uh... Oh, Herbie.

I know how upset you are about your
wife. I know, and I understand, and...

get some rest, wife.

That's it.

My wife.

Hello.

Yep, we got a highbrow.

Yeah,

I got him.

So long, Charlie. I'll see you.

Harvey?

Harvey? Oh, hi.

Excuse me. I was... No, you're not.

Necessity is the mother of intervention.

What? You are just in time to intervene
between me and my tired feet.

Boy, what a day. And sweet revenge on
the guy who said he's never had tired

in his life.

Tired feet.

Herbie, if those things work, I'll
nominate you for heaven.

Oh, you mean the arch supports?

Well, that's a case full of samples,
isn't it?

Uh, no, the... Come on, Herbie, have a
drink.

You know, I heard a great baseball story
the other day. Wait a second. I've got

to find some glasses.

Look, Paul, never mind.

I'm in a bit of a hurry.

Millie's waiting for me.

Yeah, I hear you at the door. I'll see
you when I'm done.

What's your secret?

Oh, Mr. Cornwall. What happened? Was
anybody hurt? It was awful. I was nearly

overcome. Everyone had gone to dinner
and... I was left alone, and then I

smoke from Millie's office.

Millie, is she all right? I don't know.
I'm not sure. I don't even know where

she is.

Of course, we will know for sure until a
proper inventory is made.

That's a shambles, a complete holocaust.
I'm afraid leaving the books out on the

desk, I take full responsibility, sir.
And so you should. It was my negligence

if I'd only put them in the safe, Mr.
Dudley.

Oh, Herbie. Have you seen Millie? The
policeman brought me up here so I could

look for her.

Just a moment, Herbie. Start checking to
see what's missing as soon as the

firemen are finished. Round up Blair and
the others.

Where is she?

She's perfectly all right.

Yes, Millie wasn't even here when it
happened. He complained of a headache

dinner. I asked to be excused, so I sent
her home.

See what records have been destroyed and
check the cash. I want a complete

inventory made.

Mr. Dudley, you think there may be money
missing?

Money? Who can tell you? Look at the
records.

Deposit slips, cash receipts. Look,
everything.

Yeah I'm looking.

Have you had your dinner yet? I'm
starved.

Well, why don't you go out and eat?

You expect me to work all day and then
come home and feed you?

Why don't you go out with me? I've got a
couple of bucks to burn. Kind of a

windfall tonight. Something completely
unexpected.

Oh, sure.

You finally made a big deal.

Well, what are you working on now?

Advances on next year's commissions,
maybe?

Let's just say I stumbled onto something
hot.

Look, lover, I'm in no mood for chit
-chat, so if you don't mind, I'll get

Hello?

Hello?

No.

No. No.

We've got her vacate.

Looking for something? No.

I, uh... I just, um... Supper, you said
something about Supper.

Who was on the phone?

No one. It was just a wrong number,
that's all.

Male or female wrong number?

Herbie. Oh, love letters.

Maybe that's what you're looking for.
Maybe you're looking for some of my

idiotic old love letters.

Oh, Herbie, I'm not very nice to you, am
I?

We used to love each other so much.
Sure.

Sure.

I used to get so excited at baseball
games, remember?

You were a hero to me.

To all the girls.

Maybe I still could be.

Yes. That's what I mean.

Herbie, why are we so horrible to one
another?

If we could just get away someplace,
just you and I.

You think that's the answer?

Well, couldn't it be?

Herbie, I wouldn't ever look at another
man.

If you'd just be strong and... And grab
and run.

Is that what you'd like me to do, grab
and run?

You I love, Herbie. You and me and the
sample case.

Well, you did bring it, didn't you?

Darling, we've got to hurry. There's no
time.

Hurry! Haven't you got it?

I belted her.

Yeah, you said that.

Know what I think about a guy who hit a
woman?

You said that too.

Look, why don't you take it easy?

There's only one other kind of guy
worse, I guess.

There's a guy who let things grow into
such a mess that he has to turn in his

own wife.

Look, that's the third one you had in 20
minutes.

Look, will you just leave me be? I need
this.

Boy, are you hard to find.

Oh, Paul.

It's been half the night tracking you
down.

Well, look, I'm sorry.

Paul, there's something I've got to do.
Now, I'm waiting for somebody, so if

you'll excuse me.

Well, whatever you're planning, you can
do it better with it, can't you?

What's that?

The 50 bucks you dropped in my office.

The what?

Oh, I thought you might need it for the
weekend.

Of course, if you're so loaded with
money, you don't notice it when you lose

I'll notice that if you don't mind. Now,
look, Paul, thanks, aren't you? And

just sit quietly, please.

No, that didn't probably... Herbie,
Herbie, what is this? What's happened?

the policeman.

Please get out of here.

I called Charlie because he knows
somebody down at headquarters who

whole thing quietly.

Shut up, kid. And don't tell anything.

The minute I walked you to headquarters,
the minute I said your name, I got

grabbed. Herbie, they said... Now, hold
it there.

Without robbery, homicide, your wife is
dead.

Millie Cornwall.

Oh, good heavens.

Step right in, Mr... Blair, Bert Blair.

I just met Mr. Blair.

What's your connection with the
deceased?

Bert's in the executive down at Bolton's
department store where Millie works.

Worked.

I came over to pick Millie up.

We had a little trouble at the office.

Did you speak to her on the telephone?

No, I tried, but there was no answer.

Lily took some money from the company.

She did what?

Lily?

Mr. Blair, have you ever seen this
before?

Oh, well, Herbie, this is your
briefcase, isn't it?

No, that's not mine. I have one just
like it.

Herbie, you're going to hang yourself.

Please, not one more word till I make
that call.

I was just on my way out.

What's the problem, Paul?

Perry, I've got a guy here in an awful
jam.

Remember Herbie Cornwall, salesman for
the art support company in our building,

the ex -ball player?

Vaguely.

Why? What's he done?

It looked like he murdered his wife.

No, no, it's just impossible to say
where the money came from until the

complete. There was $72 ,000 in that
sample case. I know, I know. Now, if

excuse me, Mr. Mason, but how could such
a large amount have come from this

office? As we explained to the police,
the store's cash receipts are normally

handled downstairs and from there
straight to the bank. Well, we're

down there. Additional computers, newer
type safe.

So for two weeks now, we've kept a
reserve here in this office in order to

care of... And the records on that cash
was burned?

Along with other company books, yes.

Very convenient fire.

Why? Just makes it a worse mess, that's
all.

We won't know the details of Millie's
theft until we've run a complete audit.

Millie's theft, you say?

Oh, I don't know whether she took it or
not, but the money is definitely

missing. Now, Millie was my only
assistant who had access to the safe.

She's bonded, of course.

Perhaps you can tell me why you were
going to Mrs.

Cornwall's home less than half an hour
before her body was discovered.

I never entered that house, Mr. Mason.

After ringing the bell a few times?

With no answer, I left.

Did your informant, whoever it is, tell
you that?

It was a private investigator, Mr.

Paul Drake, who was looking for Millie's
husband.

He also received no answer, and so he
left.

But he identified you as the man driving
up just as he was leaving.

Well, that corroborates what I've just
said.

That doesn't explain why you were there
in the first place.

As my chief assistant, Millie was needed
here because of an emergency created by

the fire, obviously.

A phone call would have served the
purpose.

But, of course, telephone calls are
never as personal.

Mr. Mason, I am not the member of this
organization who had a personal interest

in Millie.

But I'm a married man, Mr. Mason. In my
legal experience, I found that fact to

be little or no deterrent to the
behavior of some people.

Think what you will, my interest in
Millie was purely business.

In accounting, you know, she happened to
be quite brilliant.

And you're in the habit of inviting your
most brilliant employees out for

cocktails and supper. I make it a duty
to keep my finger on the pulse of my

organization. So the only subject under
discussion that night was the upcoming

audit of the books.

You mean a financial audit was planned
even before the fire happened?

That's why I had the whole staff working
late.

Who else knew about this?

Everyone.

Strange thing to do.

To you.

When you had prior knowledge that an
article was coming out.

But Herbie Cornwall wouldn't have known
that.

Now don't forget, he was in Millie's
office alone with the safe open late

afternoon.

He obviously had the money in his case
when he left.

Oh, I know what you're going to say.
It's exactly like the one Herbie has.

But if you'll notice the lock, the
handle...

And to say nothing at all of my initials
on it.

What I do notice is that it's brand new,
Mr. Blair.

Oh, no. No, no. I bought it a few weeks
ago. What about your old one?

It was stolen.

You know, my investigator tells me that
you and Millie... Lieutenant Anderson

believes it. Now, why pick on me, Mr.
Mason?

The woods were full of fish.

It would help if you didn't beat around
those woods.

All right.

Look, it was no secret that Millie's
marriage wasn't a happy one.

I lent a sympathetic ear.

But no more than that. Millie Cornwall
was packing to leave the night she was

murdered.

Let's assume she wasn't planning to go
alone.

So what?

Or Herbie would have done anything for
her.

Even steal.

But that doesn't mean that she wouldn't
have double -crossed him. Two -timed

him. Or wouldn't have double -crossed
you or two -timed you or any other man.

Look, I had nothing to do with it.

Hello?

Oh, yes. Just a minute. It's for you.

Thank you.

Hello. Perry, I'm down at police
headquarters.

Hi, Paul. I asked you to check.

I know.

But they've already turned up an airline
reservation for a weekend flight to San

Francisco. Millie Cornwall made the
reservation, and it's for two people,

one, but two people, huh?

Well, if you can find out who that other
person was.

Perry, Andy doesn't care who that extra
ticket's for.

It's Herbie they're charging with first
-degree murder.

Do you mean did Herbie earn enough to
support himself and his wife?

Yes.

Well, maybe not.

But the parent company had big hopes for
him, just like I did.

His name as a ballplayer was still
important to people.

It got his foot in the door.

You were instructed by this court, Mr.
Parks, as an unfriendly witness to give

me simple, direct answers to my
questions.

Now, was the defendant successful in
business or was he not?

He wasn't doing so good, I guess. And
did he habitually quarrel with his wife

about that lack of success in business
or did he not?

But that's the same question, really.

Now, see, she married him just when he
was in the chips, just about to be sold

to the majors, big sports hero and all
that stuff.

Now, it wasn't his fault that they'd
lose money so fast.

Yes, that's enough on that subject, Mr.
Parsley. Recognize this case.

The town's full of cases like that. In
fact, I got one just like it myself.

Do you know who owns this case or one
exactly like it?

I guess I'll have to say Herbie
Cornwall.

Yes, I saw him twice that evening.

Tell us about the first time.

Well, it was late in the afternoon,
actually.

But we were going to work late that
night, too.

He was there perhaps an hour before we
all left on a dinner break.

Now, do you know who the defendant came
to the office to see?

His wife. He went into her office and
stayed maybe ten minutes.

And do you recognize this case?

I can't be positive, but it certainly
looked like the one Mr. Cornwall was

carrying. Well, tell me this. Was Mr.
Cornwall carrying it when he came in and

when he left?

Yes, but when he came back two or three
hours later, after the fire.

He didn't have it. Do you know then why
he came back at that time? He was

looking for his wife, he said.

But she wasn't there.

And would you describe his appearance,
please?

He was as white as a sheet.

Angry.

Shaking, almost.

He was looking for Millie.

That's all he'd tell me.

It was late that afternoon.

There were some reports to be done.

I started to go into Millie's office but
stopped myself in time.

What do you mean by that?

They were having a disagreement of some
kind. Millie and her husband. It had

something to do with money.

Were you able to see if the safe in that
office was open or closed at that time?

It was still unlocked.

Well, then anyone could have come in and
taken the money, couldn't they?

Oh, no, no.

Not without Millie or I having seen.

Well, Millie could have taken it and her
husband could have carried it out of

the office.

Objection, Your Honor.

Question is leading and suggestive.

Sustained. No further questions.

Mr. Hill, this disagreement you
overheard about money, could that have

money she had spent on camera equipment?

Camera equipment?

Well, surely you were aware that Millie
Cornwall had recently taken a great

interest in photography.

Oh, well, I wouldn't know anything about
that. You do know it's an expensive

hobby, don't you?

So the money that caused the
disagreements you overheard... Oh, I see

mean now. The money.

No, no, Mr. Mason. No, I don't know
precisely what money they spoke of.

you, Mr. Hill, for clearing up the
prosecutor's innuendo. You say it was

shortly after her husband left that you
took Mrs.

Cornwall to dinner?

Yes.

But I think I'd better explain the
circumstances first.

Millie complained of a headache, you
see.

But she was still willing to go to
cocktails and dinner with you?

I'm afraid, Mr. Berger, that I pressed
the issue. I thought it might have been

caused by her dieting. She was always on
some sort of a diet.

So I thought a little drink and some
food might make her feel better.

It didn't seem to help, so I finally let
her go home.

Why, you sound to me, Mr. Dudley, as if
you take a very personal interest in

your employees.

I pride myself that I do.

And perhaps you can tell us from your
own personal knowledge what Millie

Cornwall's attitude toward her husband
was.

Well, she complained about her husband's
not making anywhere near enough.

That it was really she who supported him
and talked about leaving.

And what time did she finally leave you?

Billy left me for home just after 8 o
'clock.

Well, the coroner has already testified
that the approximate time of death was

in the vicinity of 9 .30.

Lieutenant, did you find anything in
that apartment to explain what Mrs.

Cornwall might have been doing during
the hour and a half interval we have now

established? Well, there was a packed
suitcase in the bedroom. What did it

contain? Oh, a couple of dresses,
lingerie, some costume jewelry.

Did you recognize this, Lieutenant?

Yes, it's one of the items we found in
Mrs. Cornwall's suitcase.

Would you describe its contents to the
court, please? Well, inside are two

-trip airline tickets for a flight to
San Francisco.

Now, did the police make any attempt to
discover the purpose of this proposed

flight to San Francisco?

Well, we started a thorough
investigation in that city, yes. With

Well, it was found that Mrs. Cornwall,
or a woman answering her description,

rented an apartment in San Francisco
using a fictitious name just ten days

Do you recognize this case, Lieutenant?

Yes, it's the case the defendant had in
his possession when he was taken into

custody. That's my mark there.

And would you tell us, please, what that
case contained at the time you arrested

the defendant?

$72 ,000 in cash.

And now would you describe for us,
please, the conditions that you found

the Cornwall's apartment when you
finally gained entrance to it? Well, the

living room was a mess. Obviously, there
had been a struggle.

The anonymous neighbor who had summoned
us earlier had complained of hearing

loud voices and a scream.

From the coroner's testimony, we know
that the decedent had been struck about

the head and then strangled until dead.
He'd been in the place earlier that

evening.

The second time it was about 9 .30, just
after she was killed.

Objection. Oh, would you mind rephrasing
your answer for us, please, sir?

Restricting yourself to only those
things you're sure of?

Well, look, who knows anything for sure?
You see, I'm on my feet all night, and

those hours go by like years.

All right, all right. It could have been
a quarter after nine. It could have

been a quarter to ten, somewhere in
there.

Now, will you describe the voice and the
appearance of the defendant when he

came into your bar that second time? You
see, when Mr. Cornwall called his

friend, his friend there, to get the
cops, I actually didn't hear anything,

see.

It was more his looks that told it. Told
what?

Well, that he was nervous and
aggravated. You know, like he always was

had a beef with his missus.

Didn't he say anything to you at all?

Just that he belted his wife.

And he said it was the first time he'd
ever done it in his life.

Yeah, he said he belted her pretty good.

He said he couldn't help himself. He
said... That's the end of Millie.

of the defeating Millie Cohen while
coming into your bar earlier that same

evening.

Can you describe the man who was with
her? Oh, I just said that.

It was him sitting right over there.

I didn't know his name at the time, but
it was her boss, all right. His

appearance, what was he wearing?

Search me.

Well, did he carry a hat, for instance?

Well, I don't know.

A coat?

I just said I don't know you. Then you
can't tell us whether or not Mr. Dudley

had a dispatch case or a briefcase.

A sample case, perhaps?

One just like the defendant's? Correct
it.

Hurt me.

Well, I can most certainly swear that I
did not have any such things.

If you're trying to suggest that I might
have stolen from my own company... Mr.

Dudley, I only ask that you be returned
to the stand so we can find out where

that money did come from. From our safe,
obviously.

As soon as the audit is complete.

And when will that be?

Another day or two, perhaps?

We're trying to reconstruct the burned
books as best we can. If the police

laboratories loaned you additional
technicians, is it possible... Now, just

moment.

Your Honor, at this hearing, the
prosecution is not concerned whether the

defendant actually stole the money or
whether his wife stole it.

Our only contention here is that that
money caused a fight between a man and

wife, and during that fight, the man
murdered his wife.

Defense is only asking one question,
Your Honor.

Why can't we hear the results of a
simple audit right here, right now?

What's your answer to that, Mr. Dudley?

Well, simply that even with more help to
get even preliminary figures might take

more than half the night.

That's good enough for my curiosity.

Mr. Mason, I'll grant you one more
question. We request recess until 10 a

tomorrow. Your Honor.

Granted. Court adjourned.

Go over that last column again.

There's no mistakes, sir.

Maybe she made some changes in the
books.

Maybe she set fire to them. No, sir,
it's my handwriting. I know it is.

No sign of forgery on any of the sheets
we checked.

Thanks.

All right, somebody say something.

If you've found an answer, let's have
it.

There's absolutely nothing wrong.

Not one penny missing.

I don't believe that.

If she didn't get the money here, where
did she get it? That's our problem, Mr.

Blair. I think we'll be able to handle
it.

Well, that's it, everyone. Thank you.

I'm sorry that you had to lose all this
sleep for nothing.

Barry, as far as your client's
concerned, I'm afraid that's what it is.

With all the physical evidence against
him, I have no choice except to have him

bound over for trial.

I don't think it's going to make any
difference if it turns out later that he

got the money by robbing a bank or if
she got it by winning it at the

or even if she ran off with another man.

Oh, I know, Hamilton.

Sorry I kept you up so late.

Well, I guess I'm just as concerned and
as puzzled as you are.

Hello?

Mr. Mason, it's for you.

Oh, thank you.

Maybe I'll be brighter in the morning,
Hamilton.

Yes, Paul.

No, no.

But... The what?

Acme Photoshop.

When was it developed?

You mean they mailed the film back to
her?

Yes, yes, right away.

Mr. Dudley, is there another phone I
could use in there? Yes, yes, help

yourself.

Yes, I know it's Slade, but would you
see if you can locate Bill Jensen?

That's right, the federal judge.

I'll apologize then.

But I need him now. I've got to get into
a mailbox.

I didn't open the mailbox.

I didn't actually get it open. I only
asked you to tell the court what it was

you expected to find in Millie
Cornwall's mailbox.

Well, that film, naturally.

The developed film from the camera shop.

Mr. Hill, it's disturbed me that a
person like Millie Cornwall should have

such a sudden interest in a hobby like
photography.

It must have disturbed you a great deal
more.

No! I'm warning you, Mr. Hill, the
penalty for perjury... I mean, no.

No, it didn't disturb me at the time.

I just never did catch on to what she
was doing.

And what was that? She took photographs
of pages of our final books.

Ones that I personally made entries in.
Mr. Hill, the district attorney has

already suggested you do best to throw
yourself on the court's mercy.

Now, did you start that fire in the
office?

Yes. I went out to dinner, and then I
sneaked back into the office up the back

way. Yes, I started that fire. Why?

Well, to burn the books. Of course.

Unfortunately, I was so upset I didn't
do a very good job of it. You were

The first thing that morning, I had
replaced certain pages in our books with

other pages which I'd been preparing,
but not showing the same entries.

You were embezzling, in other words. No!

No, I did not embezzle. I only prepared
to embezzle.

Then why didn't you complete your
scheme?

It was a period when there was excess
cash in the safe, as we've explained.

I was preparing to remove $72 ,000 of
that cash without

it being discovered.

Well, apparently Millie knew all along
what I was planning.

The cupboard was bare.

What do you mean by that? When I sneaked
back into the office, I opened the safe

to take out the money, which I'd set
aside.

I found a note there. It said, for
Millie, she said,

thanks for the windfall.

I've taken some lovely pictures of the
book, as they used to be.

So I know you won't ever say anything
nasty about me, not ever to anyone.

So she took the money, but you'd already
prepared the books.

Prepared the books so they'd balance.

Now, why did you start the fire?

Well, you didn't think I was going to
let her get away with it, did you? Be at

the mercy forever of a creature like
that?

He could have come in Monday morning and
just laughed at me. So you went after

her, is that it?

No.

No, I didn't kill her. I never got in. I
couldn't find her.

Your Honor, why should I incriminate
myself like this unless I'm innocent of

murder?

Ask him. He was the one who had the date
for this weekend with her.

Ask Blair.

All right.

Yes, maybe I did plan to go to San
Francisco with her.

But I didn't kill her.

Honestly. And I didn't know anything
about that money. You didn't?

And whose briefcase was the money found?

Well, I... Well, you see, answer the
question, Mr. Blair.

Whose briefcase?

Now, just a minute.

Will you just listen to me? The day
before, I called Millie and told her I

didn't think I could go on the weekend
with her.

There was too much work I needed to
catch up on.

And she talked me into it.

She did.

She even promised to help me. She said
she'd...

Packed my briefcase for me. You mean she
was going to make you carry the money

for her?

Yes, I guess so.

The first time I knew anything was wrong
was when I was at my place, packing a

bag. I wanted to get something out of
the briefcase.

I noticed it wasn't even locked.

There was nothing in it but arch
supports.

Then you're the person who telephoned
Millie.

Now, regarding what? Well, it was
obvious that Herbie and I had mixed up

briefcases.

When I called, I was laughing about it.
Did Millie think it was funny, too?

No, she didn't.

When she heard me, she got upset and
hung up on me. Why didn't you report any

this? Well, it's not because I'm a
murderer.

I... I just didn't want my boss to find
out about it, that's all.

You mean Mr. Dudley?

Yeah. Why didn't you want him to find
out?

I'm sorry, sir.

Because he was...

dating Millie, too.

And I didn't want him to find out.

Mr. Dudley, did you find out?

Did you go over to Millie's house and...
No, that's a lie. I didn't do it.

Of course you didn't.

Did he, Charlie?

Herbie phoned me from the bar, yes.

He knew I've got friends in the police
department.

And then Herbie waited in that bar for
you to bring one of those friends by.

So Herbie could turn in the money and
his wife as nicely as possible.

But you didn't go straight to the
police, did you?

First you stopped to see Millie.

Well, no.

No, why would I do that?

Charlie, no one else knew what had
happened.

Knew that Herbie had fought with his
wife because she was a thief and a two

-timer.

Oh, yes. Somebody else did know.

Mr. Hill. He knew.

He knew about everything in the office,
at least. He could have... Would Mr.

Hill have killed her without getting his
money back?

You... You found out I was with her in
San Francisco the weekend before, didn't

you? No, Charlie.

No.

But I did wonder why you were so
friendly and...

Patient with a man who was obviously no
salesman.

I did wonder why... Skip everything!

I had to see her before you talked to
the cop.

Don't you understand, Harvey?

If she mentioned my name, you might have
killed me.

But she just laughed at me, too.

She was no good.

Well, she's going out to San Francisco.

It's no good, I tell you.

I shut my eyes to everything.

I mean, I knew Charlie was a heel who
cheated everybody else. I'll bet he's

cheating on his own confession. If you
want my guess, old Charlie was trying to

talk Millie into getting the money back
from you, and then the two of them would

have...

That's just an opinion, and I want the
facts.

Like, how on earth you, Perry, figured
out all that business about the film and

then sent Paul to the right camera store
where she had had it developed?

There was no camera store, beautiful.

I opened the mailbox as soon as I got
home. There was nothing inside.

But if Millie took the pictures... I
doubt if Millie ever took a picture in

life. Right, Herbie?

The camera was just a chunk so that her
note in the safe would be believed by

Mr. Hill.

So Perry added up two and two and came
up with a stunt of his own.

Well, of all of them. But now, wait a
minute, this street.

You must have known about that stunt.

Didn't Mr. Mason telephone you to get a
federal court order?

When?

Well, it was pretty late at night,
Della.

Maybe I got the wrong number.

Maybe you weren't even home.

We'll never know.