Original subtitles

Go, Blake, go!

That won't help. I'll still beat him.

What do you think?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir, but there's no spectators allowed in the area. Hey,

How are you? I thought I was going to have to run up and see you.

Oh, I had a speaking day close by. I thought I'd save you a trip.

Oh, good.

Oh, Marge Leonard. Perry Mason.

Nice to meet you, Miss Leonard.

It's Mrs.

That's Mr.

Out There and the best car on the track.

Well, you got any answers for me?

Oh, it's all right. That old friend.

That's right.

We've been beating him for years.

Pete, as lawyers have been telling their clients for a long, long time, you

should have let me read that partnership agreement before you signed it, not

after. Well, how bad am I hooked?

Well, that depends on your partner.

According to your agreement, you contribute driving services and such

services as may be required.

And share in the profits. If, as, and when there are any. You also share in

losses the partnership may incur.

No, no. That wasn't a deal Eratic and I discussed.

Well, if there were deliberate misrepresentation, perhaps we can do

Where's your partner? Can we talk to him?

Yeah, he's over by Papi Ryan's pit.

See you, Marge.

I know you designed the gear principle.

And you own the car, Patty.

But my shop built them for you.

And I know what I'm talking about.

That car is perfectly safe and you know it. I stake my life on it.

What about the lives of the other drivers in the race?

Your new design is such a radical departure.

Well, sure it is. That's why it's going to pass all those other buckets like

they're standing still. That's why I'm going to make a million bucks.

But so radical an innovation shouldn't be demonstrated in competition.

Not when it can't pass a technical checkout.

Technical checkout, my eyeball. I designed that gear system.

Anybody says it's not safe just doesn't know equipment.

Something wrong, Pappy?

You bet it is.

You and your partner sure played me for a sucker, didn't you?

How? You talked me into letting your shop do the engineering work on my gear

system. You took me for every cent I had, and then your partner has me rolled

off the track.

Is that true, Reddick?

Don't look at me.

The race marshal had the entry disqualified because of technical check

your recommendation!

It's a great double play by you two.

You take all my savings, you get rid of the only car in the race that can beat

yours at the same time.

That's not true, Pappy.

I win my races on the track, not off.

You used to have a pretty good name on the circuit, Mr. Stone.

How much did he pay you to sell out?

Now, look here. I resented his validation and... Pete, what are you

You wanted to show him what your car could do. Well, let's show him.

See that? Not a car on a truck can touch her. With Pete driving my rig in the

race, it'll be a different story.

With my car in there Saturday, Peter, no Pete, you're a lictor, you know it.

to Kristen. They'll get him out. Let's get to the ambulance. Peter, are you all

right? Bad cut on his head. We'll have to see.

Hey, it's satisfying now.

Hey, you've done enough now.

Can't you see he's hurt?

Both of you.

Both of you. You took my money and now you wrecked my car.

I just wanted to help.

I'm going to give you help. You're going to go to jail.

Come on.

You're going to go to jail. Do you hear me?

Both of you.

You're going to go to jail.

Marge, I'm sorry.

Sure.

Pappy Ryan filled me in. I don't care what Pappy Ryan told you. I couldn't

it.

You ought to know that.

All I know is that Blake is upstairs in some room with people trying to mend his

burned body.

Doctor said his chances are good.

Better than he had out there in the course with you.

Where she lives, Snappy dies.

Marjorie. Miss Blake, you and Blake, all these years, all the races, Grand Prix

in Europe, Aintree in England.

We were even going to have our own design and engineering company, Leonard

Kristen. We will. We still can.

What was it out there this morning, Pete?

Did you try to make it look like a breakdown and Blake just got in your way

mistake?

Is that it, Pete?

Because if it is, I want you to go upstairs and tell them that it was all a

mistake.

You tell them to bring Blake's body down here in one piece.

Something went wrong with that car.

Marjorie, I was tooling around the track doing 110 and the car was running

smooth as butter.

And then it just stopped.

It just stopped.

Pete, I don't know what's going on between you and Reddick.

I don't know what to believe, but that man up there, he's not to be used in any

schemes or games.

That man is special.

He's special to me, too.

Come on, Marge.

Cut it out.

That's not going to do any good.

Blake's going to be okay.

Hey, he'll be out racing in no time.

Racing in what?

There's not enough left of that car to swap for loaf of bread.

Don't worry about money.

Whatever I got, whatever I make from now on, it's yours.

No, Pete.

Oh, no, it's... No, it's no good. You've been helping us too many times. We just

can't go on borrowing. What borrow? Who said borrow?

Marge, Blake, and Pete.

That's the way it's always been.

That's the way it's gonna be.

What is this mysterious bomb shell you brought me over here for?

You'll see in one minute. I have to know now.

I have to file my pre -race story tonight to meet our publication

All right.

Here it is.

What happened to my car today was no accident.

It was sabotage. Can you prove that?

I will just as soon as I drop the house. But why? Now, who would want to

sabotage your car?

Harvey Redding.

Because he knew he was going to get beat. And you can quote me.

No, I can't, Ryan.

I can't even write about it.

I am not going to have car racing magazines sued for libel, slander,

Well, how are you going to get sued if the whole thing is my idea?

I get it.

Oh, boy.

You couldn't have been sued before when I first gave you the dope on my new gear

principle. But you didn't write about it then, either. It wasn't newsworthy

enough. You just don't want people to know about it, do you, Plant?

I'm sorry about the accident, Ryan.

If there were anything I could do... My gosh, the time.

I've got a deadline.

Get out of here.

Life's so unconscious.

How do you think I feel?

Like a rat jar, I hope.

Look, Pappy, I don't blame you for being sore.

But I tried to help, and that's the truth.

The car lost power.

Tell it to the DA.

I got enough trouble.

Will you be reasonable?

I am being reasonable.

If I wasn't, I'd break you in half.

You know how much I had riding on this rig?

You and Reddick still spoil it for me.

Well, you're not going to get away with it.

The car lost power.

I couldn't get it out of Blake's way.

Shit, I lost power.

Look at that gear train.

Seized up.

Well, it froze.

There was too much strain on it.

Yeah.

Or maybe defective work in the first place.

Or maybe a little pre -test help and a hydraulic press. Just enough to weaken

short of breaking.

You and Reddick really sabotaged me.

Get out of here, you phony, before I crack your skull open with this.

Well, now, why all the doom and gloom?

This.

The district attorney's office is investigating the accident to Ryan's

Why would they want to do a thing like that?

Because Pappy Ryan made a formal complaint of sabotage.

He can't prove a thing.

Then there is something to prove.

Now look, Riddick.

When I agreed to go along with you, it was for one reason only. To keep Pappy

Ryan's car out of the race. Nothing else. If anything should cloud the

reputation of this race, any stigma attached to my name.

Relax, Don. Relax.

As far as you or anybody else is concerned, it was fully designed.

If Gears couldn't stand the stress, you suspected it and disqualified him. Has

the test leader proved you were right?

Well, that had better be all of it.

I'm warning you, Rettig.

I'm proud of my name in this business. It's about all I have left.

I'd do just about anything to prevent it being taken away.

Anything except back out of our little arrangement, you mean.

You cross me and the good name of Stone will be as obsolete as a hand crank.

No, I haven't seen Pete Gristin since yesterday at the hospital.

After his accident.

Warrant for his arrest?

What's the charge, Hamilton?

I'll do that.

Della, see if you can locate Pete Gristin.

I'll get right on it. And Paul's on his way in.

Hi, Perry.

Hello, Paul.

Paul, the district attorney's office has a warrant out for Pete Grister and his

partner. I want to talk to Pete before he surrenders.

Well, from what I've seen and heard this morning, you two should have a lot to

talk about. You saw Ryan?

And Reddick and Stone and that idiot magazine reporter.

Well, Ryan threatened trouble.

I thought he'd calm down.

Calm down?

That guy yells at the top of his lungs when he says good morning. He's still

screaming. Thinks the whole world's out to get him.

What about Mr. Stone?

The most conservative way to describe him is worried sick. The accident, he

proclaims quite rationally, was an accident.

Perry, I've called Pete Griston's apartment, the garage, the track. I

locate him.

Well, try the hospital.

Well, was it an accident?

Here, see what you think.

I managed to sneak a few shots of Ryan's gear train before the police lab picked

it up.

Oh, I can see where the teeth are stripped.

That's Ryan's beef. They were torn clean. He claims they were weakened.

How does Stone explain it?

Same as Reddick. Bad design. Couldn't stand the stress.

No luck at the hospital, Perry.

Any other ideas?

Yeah. Try that supercilious crank.

What's his name from Car Racing Magazine?

Platt. I ran into him in Reddick's office. He's supposed to have an

with Gristin today.

Will do. Thanks.

I can't see that the condition of this gear is sufficient to indict... Pete and

Redding.

Dyke them on what charge?

Sabotage. Well, that means the lab report has Berger convinced he can make

stick.

And that means if Blake Leonard dies, someone's going to be charged with

Hi, kid. What's new?

Did you see Reddick? Nope. Waiting for him.

I may keep him a minute.

Take your time, baby.

You're the fair -haired boy.

Not anymore. I'm not driving Saturday.

Oh?

We heard you won't drive this heap for Reddick Saturday.

I wouldn't drive anything for him.

Where is he? In the office. In pretty bad mood, too.

Well, mine's worse.

He's got me mixed up in one of his deals, and if he doesn't come up with

straight answers, I'll break every bone in his body.

Help yourself.

I wouldn't be in Reddick's shoes right now for top money at Sebring.

Well, that's the way it is with married couples and partners.

A little fight every once in a while is normal.

I'll lay a 10 -0 -1 Pete Clarbism.

He's boiling.

Gee, Pete, he ain't breathing.

So I opened the door and stepped right in.

Right then I got hit on the back of the head.

Reddick must have been behind the door.

Did you see him?

No. Everything got black and full of sparks.

I tried to hit back. I remember that.

Did you connect?

I don't know, Perry.

The next thing I knew, Joe and Mitch were picking me up off the floor.

Mr. Griffin, will you please come in here?

Now, would you assume the position you were in when they found you?

Now, you say that you were struck from behind?

Yeah.

Well, then how did Reddick's body get in front of you?

I don't know.

Do you remember grabbing this?

No.

You should have remembered.

You killed him with it.

That assumption is premature, Lieutenant.

I don't think so, Perry.

Not unless he can explain the position of the body.

I can explain it. I told you he hit me from behind.

Yes, there's quite a bump there.

Doc said it was open and bleeding.

Yeah.

I was told that you had an accident this morning in your auto. Hurt your head.

The doc also said you could have started the bleeding again if you had ripped

off the plaster.

Now listen, Lieutenant.

Just a minute.

I'll listen.

First, you insist that Reddick struck you from behind with a wrench. Is that

right? I guess it was with a wrench. He was holding it.

Reddick couldn't have struck you with that wrench, Mr. Grissom.

The arm that was holding it is broken.

What are you getting at, Steve?

Reddick's arm is broken as though it were held up to protect his head.

Now, it could be that he was trying to protect himself from Gristin.

It could be that Gristin murdered him, then to cover it up, pull the plaster

his head, opening the wound, and then acted dazed when these two fellas came

It all could be.

Were there fingerprints on the weapon?

No, it was too greasy. They were smudged.

Who else was here tonight?

Papi Ryan.

But he left before Pete arrived.

I have a call out for him. He isn't home.

Perry, I'm going to have to take your client into custody.

Let's go.

You're going to ask me to drop the charges, right?

You're going to tell me he's got new troubles now, so why don't I have a

Sorry, mister.

No heart.

I want to ask you about Harvey Reddick.

I got no time to gab. I got a car to test.

Not my own.

But when your big chance goes down the drain, you still got to eat.

So long, mister.

I'll wait.

I'll be a while.

I'll wait.

You don't have to wait.

Climb in. We'll talk while we take a little run around the track.

Get this guy a helmet.

Coming?

Okay, you wanted to talk.

Now that you're out of the race, who do you pick to win?

Ben. On what?

On whether or not Reddick's car goes.

After what happened to him.

You saw Reddick last night?

Sure I saw him. What about it?

Was he alive when you left?

You had a lot of guts, mister.

That doesn't answer my question.

Yes, he was alive when I left.

Who can testify to that?

The mechanics.

Mitch and Joe, they saw me leave.

And at that time, Reddick was on the telephone calling the telegraph company.

You can check that.

I will.

I want the track cleared.

That's too bad.

Forgive me for intruding, Mrs. Leonard.

The nurse said you wouldn't come out. My husband can't be disturbed, Mr. Mason.

I won't disturb your husband.

All right, come in.

What do you want?

Was Dan Platt here last night?

Yes, for a while.

What time did he leave?

I don't know. The nurse said he wanted to see Blake and I wouldn't let him in.

What's so important about the time he left?

Harvey Reddick is dead, Mrs. Leonard.

You mean murdered, Mr. Mason. I read the newspapers.

If Reddick were still alive, I'd kill him myself for what he did.

Where were you around 7 o 'clock last night?

Right here with my husband.

Ryan's story checks out. Reddick did send a cable to Rome. The telegraph

has it marked 651.

Mechanics? Say that Ryan left at 640. They remember because he made a crack

about them working overtime.

What was the message, Paul?

Received report, but deal is off.

Gear principle unsafe.

Advise against further use. We'll explain later. Signed, Reddick.

Received report.

Reddick received the cable earlier from Rome at 515.

Tested prototype.

Your gear principle a sensation.

If we win Grand Prix or a deal final, this one signed Panieri.

Paul, by any chance... We were in luck.

The same clerk who received the message also took the answer. Says it was the

same voice.

Paul, having the words is a good start.

Now we need the translation.

Make yourselves comfortable.

Will you care for some sherry?

Thank you.

I won't be a minute.

Money. Lots and lots of money.

Don't be too sure.

Huh? When we called, he answered the phone.

When we rang, he answered the door. Now he's getting the sherry.

Money or front.

Now, Professor, would you tell the audience what's written inside the

watch band?

$1 .49.

Right you are, Professor.

A terrible business.

Reddick's being killed.

Awful publicity for us.

I'm sure it must upset you.

Your association with auto racing must bring you into contact with many people

in the sport.

Oh, yes.

Our family has been awarding the Stone Trophy for many years.

I know most of them very well indeed.

Who's Pignari?

Enzo Pignari.

A top Italian driver and sports car builder.

Why do you ask?

Any idea why he would contact Redding?

Perhaps Redding did some work for him.

I don't know.

Thank you, Tom.

Stone Residence.

This is Mr. Stone speaking.

Yes, just a moment, please.

For you.

Thank you.

Yes, Dilla. One of your operatives checked in. He found out who loaned

Reddick the $50 ,000.

Yes. He owns a bar on the east side of town and is a gambler and a bookmaker.

His name is Marty Webb.

I know him.

Well, your man contacted Webb.

He claims the note has Pete Drifton's signature.

I'll tell Perry.

This bill is a one blank in Berger's case.

Why didn't you tell me your signature was on that note?

I didn't know about it till last night.

I signed so many things, Perry.

I was supposed to do the driving and Reddick was going to handle the

He'd come out to the track with a whole briefcase full of stuff for me to sign

and just shove it in front of me.

You said you knew about your signature last night.

How?

Webb. Marty Webb. The guy who made the loan to Reddick. He was outside the

garage last night when I went to see Reddick.

Why was he there?

I guess to make sure I was going to drive Saturday.

And that's when he told me about the deal.

And you told him you weren't driving.

Yeah. Boy, he blew a gasket.

That's when he showed me the note with my signature on it. He said he'd break

both of us, Reddick and me, if I didn't drive Saturday and win.

That was another thing I was going to discuss with my partner if I'd had the

chance. Can you imagine what Hamilton Berger will do with that information?

But he doesn't know.

You're the only one I've told.

And there was no record of it when you and the D .A. and the police searched

Reddick's office and apartment.

Berger will still find out.

Well, how?

From Webb.

Ah, so you're Perry Mason, eh?

Now, Marty Webb.

And my friend Paul Drake.

I know a private dick when I see one.

Even when he's gotten flush enough to run the town's biggest agency.

No offense, buddy.

What can I do for you, Mason? I'd like to talk with you about a loan you made

Harvey Reddick.

I already got hit, but I didn't have nothing to do with it.

Killing ain't one of my rackets.

How'd you overlook it?

Don't get funny.

The loan, Mr. Webb.

Yeah, I give him 50 Gs.

And what interest?

20 %?

No interest.

I figured to come out on the race Saturday.

He guaranteed me Pete Griskin was going to win it.

How could he guarantee that?

By forcing every other car with a chance to win out of the race?

You said it. I didn't.

From what I understand, though, he did a pretty good job of that.

Reddick also said it.

Remember the note Pete Griston told us about in Reddick's office file?

You mean concerning his arrangement with Mr. Webb.

Now, wait a minute. Don't try to tie me in with anything Reddick pulled.

Sure, I wanted Pete to win.

Why?

My bets. What else?

I laid a pretty healthy bundle, and the odds were right.

Did Mr. Reddick give you any explanation of why he needed the $50 ,000?

Yeah, he said he had the deal of his life in the palm of his hand, but he

50 jays to sew up a couple of guys.

What couple of guys?

How do you know there was anyone else involved?

Because one of them come to see me.

Who?

I said all I'm gonna. I'd like to know the name of the man who came to see you,

Mr. Webb.

You said so.

Then go find him and quit bugging me.

I got my own problems. Yes, you have.

One problem being a logical explanation of your presence outside Reddick's

garage the night he was killed.

And then there's the note in his office file in Reddick's handwriting describing

his arrangement with you.

So? So, when the district attorney finds it and realizes its significance, he'll

have a pretty strong basis for a charge of fraud against you.

You really scare me, Counselor. I'm all upset.

We baited the hook again.

Question is, who's going to bite?

I told the district attorney's office you were going in here again, but how

could you have missed anything before the way Steve Drum's men go over a

Well, primarily due to Paul's talent as a con man, Stone, Ryan, Platt, and Mr.

Webb have reason to believe there's something in Reddick's office file that

incriminates them individually.

If one of them shows up, what have we proven?

Which of them had access to Reddick's office at the rear door, we hope.

That's if one of our fish does take the bait.

I'll be right across the street. If I spot anyone, I'll ring the office phone

twice.

I'll only be a second, buddy. I got to call my wife. If I don't, she gets mad.

Will you get... Look, this is urgent.

My wife, you know, she talks, talks, talks, talks, talks.

Who is this?

Are we ready? It's personal file.

Give it back to me.

Please.

Mrs. Leonard, you're putting yourself in an indefensible position.

I can take care of myself.

Don't worry about me.

Thanks for the telephone call.

Well, it was this drunk, and he was talking to... Well, never mind.

I think we're entitled to an explanation, Mrs. Leonard.

First, what's in there?

This will prove why Harvey Reddick deliberately caused that accident that

killed my husband.

And what were you planning to do with it?

Leave it here so it could be found by the police.

Why did you have to break in here? Why not just give it to the police?

Because I...

I would have to explain to them where I got it and how and when. You got it by

letting yourself in the rear door you did just now.

And on the night Harvey Reddick was murdered.

Before he was murdered, I was opening the file and I heard Reddick coming in

through the shop and I ran.

With your husband gravely injured and in the hospital apparently put there by

Reddick, you had motive and opportunity.

I didn't kill Harvey Reddick, Mr. Mason.

I'm not the district attorney, Mrs. Leonard.

What I think is not important.

But I am Pete Gristin's attorney.

I want to know how you managed to open that back door.

Well, everybody knew how to open that back door.

Everybody? Well, everyone who knew Reddick.

That's how he opened it, with a nail file. It was a running joke.

Didn't turn out to be too funny to Reddick.

I'm not going to say anything else. Now, if you want to call the police, call

them and get it over with.

Mrs. Leonard, you may go.

And I hope you have a license for that gun.

Good night, Mrs. Leonard.

Now, let's see what's in here.

Here we are, Perry.

A copy of the note to Marty Webb for $50 ,000, signed by Harvey Reddick and Pete

Kristen. Here's some correspondence from Rome, from Paneri.

All the tests are proving satisfactory.

We are elated with your new gear design. If it proves out in competition, we

will make a fortune together in European sales alone.

Reddick's design?

I thought you said it was Ryan's. So I was led to believe.

Dan Platt of Racing Car Magazine has been here for the past two days and has

been very interested in the new principle.

He's promised to do an article about it.

I don't understand how Reddick can sell Ryan's design.

It's called piracy, Della. Good old -fashioned piracy.

Perry, what do you make of the deal with Marty Webb?

Reddick needed a large sum of money and was so eager to get it, he agreed to

Webb's terms. He had to win that race.

But I don't understand why he needed it so badly. His cash position wasn't good,

but the partnership certainly wasn't bankrupt.

Good evening, everybody.

Hi, Lieutenant.

Hello, Paul.

Lieutenant Drum, what a pleasant surprise.

Thank you, Della. And now may I present our police stakeout?

He tells me there's been an awful lot of traffic going through here. Oh, by the

way, Perry, I spoke to Mrs. Leonard before I sent her downtown.

Now, I know that you wouldn't intentionally withhold information, even

incriminated your client.

Steve, if there ever was doubt as to his innocence, that... The doubt is now

gone.

You do, of course, know about the back door. Locked from the inside.

I've been told that everyone who knew Reddick knew about the back door.

Including Marge Leonard, who you picked up last night.

Why, and well, who else, for example, knew about it except the lady you

mentioned? Oh, Dan Platt, Oliver Stone, Pappy Ryan, and your client.

All those people are going to be at that racetrack inquiry this afternoon,

aren't they?

They'll be there.

That racetrack accident seemed to set off a chain of events leading up to

Reddick's murder.

I think I'd better be there myself. I have some questions I'd like to ask.

This will all become part of the record for the track commission.

I appreciate your attendance here this afternoon.

And I can assure you that my first and only concern is... What are you doing

here? This isn't an open inquiry.

Don't con me, mister. I got your wire, so I'm here.

I sent you no telegram.

Now listen, wise guy.

Sit down, Mr. Webb.

How do I know what's going on here? Be patient. You'll find out.

Mr. Mason, I believe you started to ask me... Perhaps Mr. Platt would be able to

answer. Although, Mr. Platt, I realize you're actually an outsider, not really

involved in sports.

Who says I'm an outsider? I'm as much a part of racing as any of these people.

No offense, Mr. Platt. I meant... I meant, well, you weren't personally

involved.

As a writer, you knew Mr. Reddick, but not on a personal basis.

You didn't, for instance, know about the rear entrance to Reddick's office.

Sure I did. Did you use that door to visit Reddick? Sure I... But I...

Didn't visit him very often.

Why should I?

Perhaps to talk with him about how well his new equipment was working out in

Italy. I don't know about any equipment in Italy.

That's strange.

There was a letter from Pignari saying that you had seen it and that you would

write about it. Well, you know how it is with a writer.

Everyone has a story to tell him. So you make them feel good when you say you'll

write it up.

In other words...

You're a phony.

What? Phony, Mr. Platt.

You tell people you'll write about them or their products just so they'll fawn

over you and give you special attention.

That's not so. I write up a lot of things.

Would you have written about something as revolutionary as a new gear design?

Of course.

Then why didn't you?

Well, I was waiting until... Until what, Mr. Platt? Until you had spent all your

payoff money from Reddick?

Money paid to you to bury the story?

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm talking about the fact that you

stumbled onto a unique gear modification in Italy which Reddick claimed is his

own design, but which was actually pirated from Mr. Ryan.

You knew it and you didn't open your mouth.

You can't prove anything.

I think we already have, unless you have another way to account for certain

personal financial transactions since your return from Italy.

All right.

Yes.

I received money from Reddick not to write the article, but it was offered to

by Reddick.

You can't prove I demanded it. You can't prove blackmail. I wonder if Mr.

Reddick could.

Were he alive?

It was your pressure on Reddick that was the prime mover for much of what

happened, Mr. Platt. And, of course, Reddick's attempts to force Pete Gristin

into driving against his will only added to Gristin's motives for killing him.

Oh, Pete wasn't the only one with a motive.

Someone else was involved with Reddick.

Perhaps that person found it necessary to cover up the fact.

Mr. Webb, who else was in on that deal?

Now, listen, I ain't under oath.

I don't have to answer questions, and I won't without my lawyer.

This is an informal gathering. You're under no compulsion.

However, in court tomorrow, we'll do it properly for you.

Bring your lawyer, by all means.

I assure you we'll put you under oath.

Okay, okay.

He's the guy.

He got me out here with this telegram.

Must see a race marshal's tent this day, 2 p .m. Signed, Oliver Stone.

He's lying.

I sent no such telegram.

And I wasn't part of any deal.

One thing at a time. What about the deal, Mr. Webb?

After Reddick was knocked off, I wanted to call it off.

How?

Hadn't you made your bets on the future book at long odds?

Then there was no way you could cancel even if Reddick's car didn't run.

But if there weren't any race at all... So you contacted Mr.

Stone and told him to cancel.

Yeah, I called him.

Then he come around to see me. Blowing his stock about the race had to go on.

All about the good name of Stone and family tradition.

I thought you were in a...

That's why you disqualified my car. No.

No, I wouldn't. I have my reputation to think of. Your reputation is very dear

to you, isn't it?

Your involvement with Reddick could have had you permanently barred from racing,

couldn't it, Mr. Stone? Oh, please.

You must keep this quiet.

I needed the money from Reddick to keep my home, to continue sponsoring the

race. I couldn't bear to have anyone find out. You waited for that gear to

apart, didn't you? You knew it would.

You disqualified my car.

On proper grounds.

The tactical men didn't think the gear principle looked safe.

And you saw what happened on the track.

It fell apart.

You all saw it.

I didn't know anything more.

Just that the gear was unsafe.

That's a lie.

You just made it look that way to cover your own tracks.

No. Reddy could tell you.

He would have told you. But he can't tell us a thing now, can he?

Mr. Mason.

What are you saying? I tell you, I thought the gear was unsafe.

Liar. You and Reddick both said that to protect yourselves.

But, Mr. Ryan, Reddick built it for you.

Built it and stole it. Don't you see, Mason? Reddick was afraid that if I

that car, the word would get out about my gear principle.

But after the accident, when he knew I was on to him, he got scared. That's why

he was covering up as fast as Stone was.

How? Well, that's why he sent the cable to Paneri.

Calling the deal off.

How did you know it was in the cable, Mr. Ryan?

Only Mr. Berger, the telegraph company, and I were given that information.

Well, I overheard Reddick on the phone. You said you left as he was placing the

call.

Well, yes, yes, I did, but... Mr. Ryan, it's very easy to send a wire and sign

someone else's name.

In fact, that's how Mr. Webb came to be here.

He received a telegram in Mr. Stone's name.

Now, Mr. Ryan, you knew what was in that cable because you sent it.

Joe, didn't Mr.

Ryan arrive before Reddick?

Didn't you let him in?

Didn't you let him wait in the office?

Yeah, I did.

Mr. Ryan, you received the first cable.

That's why the telegraph operator said the same voice received and sent the

messages.

You knew what was going on as soon as you heard Panieri's message.

You became enraged.

And when Reddick came in, you turned on him and you killed him.

Yes, that makes sense.

You left the garage then, making sure these men, Joe and Mitch, knew what time

you left. You came around to the rear and let yourself in, and then you sent a

cable to Pinieri in Italy, making it look as though Reddick were still alive.

There's one point I don't understand, Mr. Ryan.

Why did you tell Pinieri the deal was off?

Why did you tell him the gear principle was unsafe?

Because I didn't want him to have it.

It was mine. He had no right.

He had no right. You had no right to kill.

Blake, this is really something.

Why don't you get in? Try it. Sure, if you can pull those long legs in there.

Here you are.

Sure like to drive one of these one day.

You'd be great at it.

He's known as the terror of the freeways.

I am undoubtedly the world's safest driver.

You ought to wear one of those helmets more often.

It makes you look so dashing.

Say, listen, Perry, I don't know when I'm going to be able to pay you. It took

all the money I could scrape up to get the car ready.

You just win our first race next week, partner.

You do that, Pete. And we'll put half the purse in the Pay Perry fund.

There's no rush about that.

As attorney for the new Leonard Griston combine, I want to be sure this company

is solvent right from the start.

Well, I didn't know I was going to have a passenger on my first spin.

Company. He'll probably drive it for you. I just might do that.

That's him, Daredevil Drake. But I remembered I have an appointment.