Original subtitles

It's the poor that gets the vines.

It's the rich what gets the gravy.

Oh, ain't it?

Watch it. Watch it.

Sorry,

Limey. Barely two days on the hospital.

Sorry, I said.

First drinks on the house.

Much obliged.

Much obliged.

What are you stopping here for?

That's Nate over there. Back in a second.

Who's Nate?

What's this all about?

Nate's a private detective, and this is about $7 million, March.

I'm not going to get $7 million.

Nobody is at the rate you're handling things. Now, Otis, the lawyers are

their best to prove that the patent is ours.

Well, their best isn't good enough.

The opposition has a lawyer, too.

And I saw him operating with that jury today.

He made three of our witnesses sound like morons. Now, we can't take a chance

losing. We do, and a patent worth seven million goes down the drain.

We're listening to that crazy nephew. That place across the street, the bar

there. Wait a minute, Dan.

Nate sends the guys in there.

This is one time one of my pub crawls paid off.

I swear, when I spotted him in that joint the other night, the idea hit me

in the face.

There he was, raising the devil, looking like the devil. Still, I thought

with... The right haircut. He'd look like... All right, all right. Let's see

him. Look like who?

I don't know what's going on, but I have been around enough to know you don't

entrust a case to your lawyers, then go behind their backs and... For the state

like this, you do.

Now, if it bothers you, March, if you're so anxious to avoid trouble, then you

wait here.

Now listen, Uncle Otis.

My idea is that Sandra hasn't testified yet, right?

Big help she's going to be.

Well, she won't until after the weekend, right? So get to the point.

So the one sure way to win the case is to take care of the guys giving us a

time.

You are out of your mind, and so is that detective friend of yours who followed

him here. You must have been drunk when you spotted him.

Now, wait a minute.

I want you to talk to Nate. No.

The guy with him is from one of the studios.

He tells Nate it'll work. How many people have you talked to?

You're a fool, Dan.

They're both all right.

The guy with Nate says we have to do something about that scar, but there's

nothing to it.

Forget about all those clothes. Picture them the way the makeup guy will fix

you.

And in the right place, at the right time, with the right witnesses.

Yeah, watch it, mate, watch it. That arm was twice broke, you know. I'll get to

die out of the cost.

Sorry.

Oh.

Never you mind, Gov.

I'm sure he meant no harm, sir.

Sure you meant no harm to the likes of me.

Yeah, now!

Thank you, Mr. Grimes. Don't mind if I do.

Please, sir. Oh, dear, please.

Oh, it's only for a bit of disinfectant. Out of the way, this bloke is slicing

me up. Of course, of course. But not for the next 36 hours.

That's part of our agreement.

Right. Oh, the things a man does when he sells his soul.

There now, I've been thinking.

36 hours.

Suppose a Liverpool lady should be sailed by then.

You know I...

The persecutions of poor foreign seamen can be subjected to.

Don't worry, Mr. Grimes.

You're not going to miss your ship.

Not for any reason.

That's part of our agreement, too.

You're not to talk, you understand?

How is that so?

I suppose some innocent Samaritan should offer me a drink.

I'm not even to say no politely.

You do just exactly as we've told you. Nothing more, nothing less. Oh, I have

small children for the rocks of me for the way I look.

Now, I ask you, Gov, would you let your hair get colored like a silly woman?

You sit still, Mr. Grimes. We have much time left. Now, now, now, now, laddie.

Laddie, don't get upset.

I'm only wanting to do my best for you and the Gov, that's all.

But it would help if I knew a bit more what I'm up to.

Grimes, the less you know, the less chance there is of your hanging.

Blimey, what a sot.

What an horrible sot.

There you are. That's all there is to it.

Naturally, naturally, man's got to be dressed proper for his own funeral. Now,

told you, there's absolutely no danger to you.

Oh, sure, Gerv, sure.

Your nephew, he took the lid off the pudding, so to speak.

Made mention of the hangman he did.

And for anyone whose own dear father was stretched by the neck until he was

dead. Dan's a fool.

Oh, not that I paid me mind to the young idiot.

But it did set me a -thinking.

How would it look?

Look, a fine gentleman like that to approach the Pendergates with only $1

in his pocket's admittance fee.

Grimes, I'm going to give you $2 ,000. I was just saving it for a

surprise, that's all. Of course you were, Gav. Of course you were. I knew it

the time. God bless you, Gav. Bless you.

All right, that's enough.

Yes, you only got three hours to learn how to walk, huh?

Stand up straight.

Come on, suck your belly in. Straighter, get your head up.

Right you are.

Right you are.

Now, there's just one little detail I will have to know, gents.

What might I be calling these nibs?

Perry Mason.

Mr.

Mason?

mason's office no mr mason isn't here this evening he went right to his

apartment when he left court if you'll give me your message i can get it to him

well yes i'm sure that's where he went unless it's quite urgent

what did you say your name was please hello

Excuse me.

I'm Sandra Dunkel. Is there a message for me?

Mr. Perry Mason asked me to meet him here.

Mason? We have no guest by that name, madam.

Oh, well, he said to meet him here at H Sharp.

Excuse me a moment.

Your change, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Mason?

Perry Mason.

I thought he looked familiar.

Yes.

I heard him speak once, Harley.

He's a good speaker.

Good tipper, sir.

What for you?

Nothing, thank you.

I appreciate your phone call. I do need money right now. If there's any way that

I... What is it that you want me to do?

And you say that you were secretary to Mr. Kramer prior to his death last year?

Yes, sir.

I'd held that position for about two years.

She was the worst secretary my father ever had. Can you read her on shorthand?

Well, actually, I haven't been able to follow it.

Then let me explain it very simply.

Now, my client, Swanson Radio Corporation, maintains that the patent

should be turned over per agreement at the stipulated sum.

On the other hand, Kramer Engineering maintained that... If counsel wishes to

give a capsule version of the issues, I have no objection.

But I would prefer to state the defendant's position myself.

Go right ahead, Mr. Mason.

Let me put it this way.

Swanson Radio maintains they had no previous knowledge of the value of the

patent in question.

The defendant, Kramer Engineering, maintains that two days before his

Kramer discovered that...

Mr. Swanson had prior knowledge of A &T Industries' intention to purchase the

patent rights for $7 million.

Information Mr.

Kramer had no access to when he concluded the agreement with Swanson

Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now you see why your testimony is so important.

Now tell me, Miss Dunkel, did you spend much time with Mr. Kramer?

particularly while he was sick the last year. And did you ever hear him say

anything about selling the patent in question to Swanson Radio?

Only that he thought he'd made a good deal.

Yet we've heard testimony here this morning that Mr. Kramer had seen some

mysterious letter written by some mysterious person that purported to show

Mr. Swanson, before negotiating with Mr. Kramer, knew that he could get $7

million for the patent.

Now, did you ever see any such note?

No, sir.

Did you ever hear of any such note?

No, sir.

Yet didn't you tell the court earlier this morning that it was Mr. Kramer's

practice to dictate to you a summary of each day's activities?

Yes, sir, but he never dictated anything like that.

You seem very nervous, Miss Dunkel. Is there any particular reason?

Yes, sir.

The lawyer on the other side, Mr. Mason, he wanted me to answer that last

question differently.

What?

You don't mean that you discussed this with... Yes, I do.

Mr. Mason telephoned me last night.

He said that they needed my help.

Objection, Your Honor.

Aside from the fact that I've never spoken to this witness, her statement is

inadmissible. Sustained.

The jury will disregard the last question and answer.

Perhaps we'd better clarify this, Miss Dunkel.

Do you mean that someone telephoned you last night and said he was Mr. Mason?

Yes, sir.

He said to meet him at the Babson Arms Hotel and that he'd give me written

instructions.

Objection.

Just tell us what you actually did, Miss Dunkel. Well, I went to the Babson Arms

Hotel at the time that he said, and a man walked in, handed me an envelope,

it was him.

That's not true, Your Honor.

One moment, Mr. Mason.

Can you tell us what was in that envelope, Miss Duncan?

This.

It's some type questions and answers for me to give.

And if I said all that, it would sound like Mr. Swanson over there was a thief

and a swindler who had stole Mr.

Kramer's invention and then lied about it. That's enough, Miss Duncan.

We're quite capable of examining that paper ourselves.

Please, Your Honor.

May I only ask if there was anything else in the envelope that the witness

show us?

Well, Miss Dunkel?

Yes.

Yes, there was.

And I was going to keep it.

But I just couldn't sleep all night.

So this morning, I went to see Mr. Bates.

And I realized that I just couldn't go through with it.

I just couldn't commit perjury.

Not even for $10 ,000.

I remember you because it's not every day someone gives you a 75 -cent tip for

handing them a 25 -cent cigar.

I know you think you saw me, but I don't even smoke cigars. I beg your pardon,

sir. I saw you light it up.

And besides, the Reverend was standing right there.

Well, I thought I recognized you when I first saw you at the counter.

And then when the young lady called your name, I remember it.

But you hadn't seen me for two years, and at that time you were sitting in the

balcony of the Shrine Auditorium, and I was on stage at least a hundred feet

away. Well, I've seen your picture in the papers.

You saw one side of a man's face last night, and then his back in a dimly lit

hotel lobby. And you assume it was me.

I'm sure you saw someone, perhaps a man who vaguely resembled me, but... I am

sorry to say so, Mr. Mason.

But it was you.

And you met her.

And you handed her that envelope.

Seven million dollars!

The patent is theirs.

Mr. Parkinson, if your judgment... I knew it was wrong to let a criminal

handle a case like this.

You know, it's amazing how quickly your opinion changes.

A few days ago, after he'd finished with Swanson's treasurer, you stood right

here in this office and swore that Perry was a genius.

I don't believe Mr. Mason did it, Jess.

That's all it took. Just one shabby shyster trick that backfired and we

That's just enough.

I won't listen to any more of this.

Mr. Parkinson, how many times do I have to tell you Mr.

Mason was in his apartment that night? Someone even called here to make sure of

it. But can he prove it? Of course not.

Well, they couldn't prove that Miss Dunkle really talked to him either.

And the way Perry tore into those ridiculous typed instructions... Look,

lady, I'm like the jury.

I have no use for alibis, nor for lies, either.

Now, Mason can make them up until he's blue in the face, but... I've heard just

about enough out of you two, pal.

We're investigating this frame, and when the time comes for you to eat your

word... The Bar Association's investigating, too, but does that do me

Of course not.

Mason keeps talking about reversals, retrials.

Well, suborning perjury is the only...

I told you before we went to court that we were handicapped since we couldn't

find the letter proving Swanson had known about the offer to buy the patent.

Now, you said you'd find that letter, but you haven't. Are you trying to blame

me for losing a $7 million case?

No. And this case isn't lost. I've moved for a mistrial. I believe we'll have

another chance.

But without that letter, there's no guarantee we'll win.

Barbara can do as she pleases, but as far as I'm concerned, there'll be no

second chance for you.

I'll get somebody I can trust.

You've paid for the right to criticize my legal ability.

But I've no intention of listening to attacks on my integrity. I hope that's

clear. Well, all I can say is, if I wind up in the poorhouse, I'll have you to

thank. Coming, Barbara.

Barbara.

Look, he's angry and I can't blame him.

But he's wrong.

You know how sorry we all are. Sorry?

Well, losing a lawsuit for any reason is disappointing.

Yes,

of course.

Look, look, Barbara.

Don't you believe I told the truth?

Do you actually think I delivered that envelope?

Please, no, no.

I'm sorry, excuse me.

It's the poor what gets the grime.

It's the rich what gets the grimy.

Oh, I get a blooming shine.

Just keep your hips moving.

I can't stop. Come on, save me. Oh, come on, Dad.

No, no, I'm an old man. I've only got the strength of ten.

Ten martinis.

Who shot the piano player?

Hi, kids.

Don't stop, don't stop. Just passing through. Hi, you pretty thing. Hello,

Sure don't mind him. He just lives here. Nice party, Dan. Pretty girls.

Uncle Lotus, you remember Barbara, don't you?

From the time she was on her father's knee when he gave me a job 20 years ago.

Hello, honey.

Hello.

Barbara, I'm awfully glad to have a chance to tell you how sorry I am

Not another word. Some people win, some people lose, that's all.

I know, but... Besides, if I had all that money, I might not have the

to catch a rich husband.

Oh, don't you believe it. I'm rich, but am I getting anywhere?

Barbara, if there's ever anything I can do for you, let me know.

Dan, I'll give you the keys to the wine cellar. Some of these girls might prefer

champagne.

Be right back.

Well, that's my favorite uncle talking.

You idiot.

Get her out of here.

Where'd you ever meet her anyway? Of all the stupid... Take it easy.

She's not a sorehead like old Parkinson.

She's a...

She's a cute girl, that's all. And suppose Perry Mason put her up to it.

he even introduced you to her.

Mason? Of course.

He's having me followed, stupid.

And you're being watched, too.

And what will you bet that he's had Paul Drake sneak a man in out there right

now, dancing to my records, drinking my liquor? I know all those people, Uncle

Otis.

Now, what's the matter with you these days, anyway?

What's the matter with the district attorney's office?

A full month has passed and not one move yet to prosecute Mason.

Well, you know lawyers, they always protect each other. Of all the lawyers,

had to pick for a frame -up.

So maybe one jury is suckered for a while, but look, there's nothing that

wrong. It's all over.

We won.

All right.

Here, drink it all up.

And you know something?

I should have kicked you out of this house ten years ago.

But you can't kick me out now, can you?

parking problem here.

You're late.

I had to make a plane reservation. I'm flying up to San Francisco.

Why? I didn't tell you you could go to San Francisco.

Well, it's a personal matter.

I'll be back in the office on time tomorrow.

All right, all right. Let's get this work cleaned up. This blasted

reorganization needs about five heads instead of two.

Oh, uh, your secretary said this special delivery came just after you walked out

of the office.

It's a board meeting notice from the country club, isn't it?

Mr. Swanson, your secretary tells me you've been upset by several letters

have come in the mail recently.

My secretary talks too much. Now, come on, let's get to work on these figures.

Don't you think I should know about these letters? I mean, if there's

wrong?

Mr. Swanson, ever since you won that lawsuit, you've been as nervous as a

March, let me remind you of something.

You're just an appointed vice president.

You I can get rid of any time I like.

Of course you can, Mr. Swanson.

Liverpool lady.

Sailor missing.

What else?

Well, I don't get this yet.

The Liverpool lady had just returned from South America.

Three hours after it docked in San Francisco, March was up there nosing

And he had a friend with him. The only name I could get was Nate.

Maybe it's only business, but I doubt it.

Me too.

March and Nate asked questions about the crew, not the cargo.

The, uh...

Mate tell you that?

Yeah, after I slipped him 50 bucks. Anyway, March was very upset when he

out a certain sailor had already left the ship.

Some character named Grimes who told the captain he had to visit the bedside of

his dying maiden aunt.

Good story.

In Los Angeles yet. But how all this connects, who Nate is, who Grimes is, I

don't know.

For your information, Paul, the Liverpool lady was docked in Long Beach

repairs Pier 42 during most of last month.

You check the exact dates? After you call from San Francisco.

Well, Perry, this is the best lead we've had yet. I'll get some men out to find

this man Grimes and... Perry, she's here.

Barbara? To sign the tax papers.

Perry!

Only we better move fast.

Hold it, Paul.

Barbara, I've tried to get in touch with you several times.

I know, I've been busy.

Besides, we don't really have anything to say to each other anymore, do we?

I think so.

Look, I've forgotten all about that perjury thing. I know you didn't do it.

That's not what I mean.

Barbara, you've gone out five times in the past week with Dan Swanson.

Six.

What of it? It's my personal business.

Look, we're making headway in this case.

I don't want you playing at being private detective.

Now, did you have lunch today with Sandra Dunkel?

What are you doing, spying on me?

Sandra Dunkle was my father's secretary once.

Yes, and I know how bitter you were about all of those people at the time of

your father's death.

I know how bitter you still are about the Swansons.

Mr. Mason, what I do is my own affair. You have no right to interfere in it.

Maybe I'm just having fun for once. And maybe you're headed for danger.

Barbara, I told you to be patient.

Experts have tried to find the truth about your father's patent.

If you'll just give us time.

Just? Leave me alone.

Barry Mason's office.

It's for you, Paul.

Drake speaking.

Yeah, Joe.

Bank? What about it?

What?

Joe, you just got yourself a raise.

All of a sudden, Mr. Otis Swanson decided raising money.

He's liquidated stocks, bonds, and drawn cash out of his private bank accounts.

All together, $200 ,000.

Perry. Man, that's interesting.

Interesting?

You want to bet that two and two adds up to blackmail?

Paul, I'm worried about her.

About Barbara?

Why don't you start worrying about your own neck for a change?

With the two of you to help, I'm well taken care of.

There's just no one to take care of her.

Tell him, pour a little water on his head, will you, while I go out and try

save his stubborn neck.

Paul, I want you to stay with her.

But if we work fast enough and if the D .A. will cooperate... I want you to stay

with Barbara.

It's the time, over, over.

It's the poor what gets the blind.

It's the rich what gets the divy. Oh, ain't it a blooming sign?

Mrs. Watson.

Stay there, you.

Oh,

please.

Please help me.

And in the course of that struggle, Your Honor, a shot was fired and Otis

Swanson met his death.

The state will demonstrate that this girl, Barbara Kramer, had every reason

hate Otis Swanson.

For she believed that Swanson had not only ruined her father's life, but had

stolen his life work as well.

The state will show that there is every reason to believe that this same Barbara

Kramer It's the girl who fired that fatal shot and who should therefore

trial in superior court for murder.

The defendant was quite hysterical when I arrived, Mr. Berger. She was quite

disheveled, as I said. She had blood on her hands and on her skirt.

And blood also found on this handkerchief identified as belonging to

She was wiping her hands on that handkerchief when I walked in.

Lieutenant, I show you now this .45 caliber revolver identified by

the murder weapon. I ask you what further tests you had it subjected to.

Well, there was blood all over the gun, Mr. Berger. It was identified as the

victim's blood. We tested it for fingerprints.

None were identifiable.

By the way, when you found the weapon, Lieutenant, did you notice anything

particular about its condition?

Yes, we did.

The gun was new. There were traces of cosmoline on the working parts and on

barrel. And in the course of your investigation, did you find any other

of cosmoline?

Yes, we did.

Chemical tests proved that spots on the defendant's skirt...

were cosmoline stains.

When I first saw him, I didn't know he was dead.

I was kneeling by the body and the gun was right there on the floor. ...having

been found at the scene of the crime.

It's too bad, incidentally, Mr. Mason, that this letter wasn't available at a

recent civil suit.

Would you tell us, Lieutenant, exactly where you found this letter?

When I arrived on the scene of the crime, Mr. Berger, I removed that letter

Barbara Kramer's purse.

You found no money anywhere.

Other than a normal amount of cash in the victim's pocket.

No, sir, I didn't, but we conducted a thorough search.

You were aware that Mr. Swanson had taken home nearly $200 ,000 in cash that

same day.

Yes, sir, I was.

Didn't that money, coupled with the existence of this extremely valuable

suggest to you the possibility of a blackmail killing?

Blackmail, Mr. Mason, not killing.

Why, differentiate.

Couldn't a blackmailer have gone into that room and... Killed Otis Swanson,

the blackmail letter, taken the money.

Hardly, Mr. Mason.

Your client herself stated that she saw the blackmail letter and the money right

there on the desk.

No, Mr. Berger, I did not blackmail anybody. I didn't even know about any

letter. That's all right, Miss Dunkel. Thank you.

I just thought you should have a chance to clear yourself.

Counselor.

Miss Dunkel, you once stated in another court that I personally handed you some

typed instructions in the Babson Arms Hotel.

Just a moment.

Mr. Berger, aren't you going to object to this unrelated matter?

On the contrary, Your Honor, I feel that everyone should have a chance to clear

himself, including the defendant.

Thank you, Mr. Berger.

Yes, I remember what I testified before, and I thought I was telling the truth.

Did you not hear Mr. Paul Drake describe the man he saw through the window of

the Swanson house?

Yes. A man who bore a striking resemblance to me?

Yes. Perhaps you could tell us a little more about him.

Oh, no, I never saw such a person.

Did Mr. Swanson say anything to you about this man when you visited his

that evening a few hours before his death?

No. But you did visit with Mr. Swanson. Now, why?

Why did you go to his house, Miss Dunkel?

I didn't visit with him.

He was too busy to talk. He was all upset.

I was only there one minute.

I called his office about a quarter to seven, but the phone just rang twice,

then it disconnected.

So I went on out to his house.

I asked why you went to see him, Miss Dunkle.

Because his nephew, Dan, had set it up for me to meet his uncle that night

a job.

When I knew I was going to be late, I... That's why I called.

You've been seeing quite a lot of Dan Swanson lately, isn't that correct?

No. Well, he's dated me a couple of times, but that doesn't mean anything.

What have you been doing, having me followed or something?

Yes, Miss Dunkle, I have.

That's all. Thank you.

All right, Mr. Swanson, it's not necessary for you to demonstrate any

that you're an unfriendly witness.

I'll repeat my last question. I want a straight answer.

Where were you at the time your uncle was murdered?

I guess I was asleep in the rumpus room. It's a separate place out back by the

pool. And was there anyone with you at the time that you fell asleep?

Barbara, the defendant.

Mm -hmm.

Would you tell us, please, what you remember about the evening up to that

Well, when Barbara came, we were going to call some couples and have a little

party. But, uh... But what?

Well, I guess I had too much. That's all. I fell asleep.

Had you been drinking before you came home, Mr. Swanson?

Yes, that's all I was.

And did you continue afterwards? Did you have more to drink after Miss Kramer

arrived? A couple, I guess.

And who made those drinks, Mr. Swanson?

Look, I don't think that really matters.

I'll decide what matters here, Mr. Swanson. Now, listen to my question

carefully. Who prepared the drink or drinks which actually put you to sleep?

Well, she... She made it a little strong, I guess.

Thank you.

Now, I show you these keys, Mr. Swanson.

Lieutenant Drum testified that he found them in the defendant's purse after the

murder. Among them is a key to your uncle's house.

To whom do these keys belong?

Those are my keys.

And where were they before you passed out?

They were in my pocket.

My appointment was for 9 .30, and that's when I got to the Swanson house. He was

already dead.

May I ask what your appointment was about, Mr. Parkinson?

He was trying to get me to work for him.

To work for him? I thought you were bitter enemies.

We were.

But we'd all been together once.

Old John Kramer, Swanson, March, and myself.

And business is business.

I'll work for anybody, for the devil himself, if he pays me enough.

Would you mind telling us what happened when you arrived at the Swanson house?

I noticed a car parked on the street.

I figured the driveway might be full, so I parked my own car on the street.

And did you happen to recognize that other car?

Yes, it belonged to Paul Drake.

I thought I recognized it, so I checked the registration card.

I say, what happened then?

While I was doing that, I heard yelling, help, murder, that sort of thing.

And then I saw a man.

He looked like a bum.

He didn't see me. He ran down the driveway toward the other street.

And what did you do then, Mr. Parkinson?

I did what anybody would have done. I ran up to the house to see what was the

matter. And there was poor Barbara in hysterics and this man, Drake.

Your Honor.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry to interrupt this testimony.

But may I ask the court's indulgence for a moment or two?

All right.

I'm glad you called, Paul.

I'd like you to check Swanson's office telephone.

See if anyone reported trouble on the line the night of the murder. Yeah, but

it's liable to take 30 or 40 seconds. Hey, hurry it up in there, will you?

I'm having trouble on this line. I was only reaching for me better, that's all.

Now, look, you spilled it.

Blimey, it's a whole nation of inhospitality.

Oh, no, sir, no, sir. I wouldn't presume to say there was any similarity between

your lordship and meself.

Now, thank you, Mr. Grimes, but I asked if you had ever impersonated me.

Now, how could I do that?

Had I ever heard of Perry Mason?

Oh, not that it's not a distinguished sounding name, mind you. Mr. Grimes,

you've been cautioned of your rights here, but I think you'd do well to let

court protect those rights for you.

You just tell the truth.

That's exactly when I was going to see myself, Your Eminence.

True, I did get dressed up a bit like his nibs with a fancy bit of hair on top

and all that.

And you went to the Babson Arms Hotel and handed the young lady an envelope?

Oh, but I meant you no harm, Mr. Mason.

There was nothing personal in it.

No, only money, I suppose.

How much?

Two thousand dollars.

That's the truth. No more, no less.

Who gave you that money?

Mr.

Otis Swanson, it was.

He did it all.

I'll be defied, knowing it was all so dishonest.

You knew it, all right. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come back to blackmail

Do I?

Oh, no, no, your lordship.

It was you who wrote him letters asking for $200 ,000.

It ain't so, it ain't. Ten, ten, that's all I would ask.

Ten? What do you mean?

Now, look here.

Could I write anybody letters?

My ship's been at sea, ain't it? All I knew of the world was from old

newspapers. I asked what you meant by $10 ,000.

I read that trial.

$10 ,000 is what you were going to pay her, weren't it?

You, in a manner of speaking, that is.

All I figured was that if perjury was worth so much, then maybe more

forgetfulness might be worth the same thing.

It's not blackmail, Your Honor, it's not. I wouldn't have thought of it for a

second if I hadn't had a bit of bad luck with the dice.

So when the Liverpool lady docked in San Francisco, you hurried down here,

called Mr.

Swanson on the phone?

No, no, no, no, I didn't call him.

Considering the confidential nature of our dealings, I thought it would be more

private just to go and see him.

When I did, when I looked in that window and saw what I saw, oh,

it was horrible.

Just plain bloody horrible.

Why did you go running down that drive yelling murder, police, and then

disappear? Why didn't you get help?

I got over the shakes.

I mean, I mean, look at the awful embarrassment of the position I'm in

You gave the entire police force and Mr. Drake a devil of a time finding you.

Didn't you realize you'd be needed as a material witness?

Oh, Mr. Mason, your lordship, sir, I could kill myself for being such a fool

your side.

And me, me sees, that's what I am.

And me, me sees.

How could I know of such money as $200 ,000?

How can I know to drop any letters?

Of course not, Mr. Grimes.

And there were other letters which you certainly couldn't know about.

So now just tell me, at whom were you pointing? Ask him, you said.

Oh, bless you, Governor.

I am trying to help you.

It's, uh, it's him I meant.

Perhaps I neglected to mention he hired me, too.

Young Mr. Swanson.

A .M.

I'd like to see Mr. Dan Swanson return to the stand, Mr. Berger.

May it please the court. First, I'd like to ask a few more questions of Mr.

William March.

I don't know. I worked till 8 o 'clock, maybe 8 .30.

I often work late.

You were working in your own office, I suppose.

Naturally. Why, you took a few telephone calls.

I may have.

I guess I did.

But if the phone rang in another office, Swanson's office, for instance, it

would have rung three times, and then the answering service would have picked

up. Isn't that correct?

Yes. And if the girl judged the call important, she would have put it through

Mr. Swanson at home to his unlisted number.

That's the usual procedure.

Your offices are next to each other?

I wouldn't have noticed his phone, if that's what you're driving at.

No, all that concerns me now is that Miss Dunkel testified earlier.

that she called Mr. Swanson's office.

The telephone rang twice and then apparently disconnected.

Well, now, really, Mr. Mason.

Unless it had rung twice and then someone took it off the hook, of course.

That would have given the same effect, wouldn't it?

Well, I guess so.

Look here, I may have taken his phone off.

Well, the point is, yes.

I just didn't want to say here that I'd been in his office that evening, that's

all.

I didn't want to be bothered with his calls.

You didn't want to be bothered.

Wasn't it that you didn't want Mr. Swanson to be bothered?

And not by calls, by one particular call.

A call you were afraid would be rung through to Mr. Swanson by the answering

service if you let the phone ring three times. What call? Perhaps from the man

you'd hurried up to San Francisco to see.

The man who'd already left his ship. The man you were afraid would get to Mr.

Swanson before you could.

The man that you knew had been mailing Swanson blackmail letters. That's

preposterous. You deny you went to San Francisco? No. Mr. March, who else was

blackmailing Otis Swanson?

Who else?

Who else besides poor, simple, bumbling Mr. Grimes who wanted his $10 ,000?

But who, by barging in, was upsetting the apple cart for someone else who was

playing for much higher stakes?

He was receiving blackmail letters.

Anonymous. That's all I know.

It... Had to be someone who understood the business, didn't it? Someone who'd

been close to John Kramer.

I don't know what you're talking about.

No?

Perhaps you'd rather have me subpoena a gentleman you know as Nate. Now, he may

know what I'm talking about.

All right, all right, yes.

Yes, I was the one.

It all started when Otis Swanson received a letter from a relative who

for A &T Industries.

It tipped him that they were prepared to pay seven million for Kramer's patent.

Swanson rushed to see Kramer to negotiate and close the deal.

And John Kramer, of course, did not know of the forthcoming offer.

Not till I told him, no.

What did Kramer do?

Well, he was furious.

He promised me an executive position if I could get a photostatic copy of the

letter. It took me a couple of days to get it. By that time, John Kramer was

dead. So you remained...

silent during a lengthy lawsuit and went along with the arrangement to frame me.

I want to know, Mr. March, why you stood by Swanson.

Well, Swanson didn't know I had a copy of the incriminating letter. That was

only way I had to prevent him from replacing me someday.

But he was going to do that anyway, wasn't he? Bringing in Jess Parkinson?

Yes.

So I decided all I could do was charge Swanson a big price and then get out.

So you went to his house and you fought with him.

Oh, the company.

Everything just got too big for me.

Even Swanson himself.

When he saw who it was there to deliver the photostat to collect the money, he

turned purple. He didn't even speak to me. He just knocked me down and then he

pulled a gun on me. And you grabbed the gun?

No, no, that's not true.

I didn't even try to take the gun away from him. So he took the photostat and

didn't give it the money.

He just said that he would settle with me in his own way later.

He said I'd be killed if I ever even opened my mouth.

He literally drove me out of his house.

Thank you, Mr. March.

But if you left there, leaving Swanson alive, leaving both the money and the

letter, then who would have killed him and taken one but not the other?

Everyone around him knew of the importance of that letter.

The danger of leaving such evidence.

Everyone, that is, except for one man.

It's a lock.

Bloody lock.

After you came back, you killed Swanson, took the money, but couldn't get out

the gate because Paul Drake's car was there and Mr. Parkinson arrived.

So you went back to the house, singing, and looked in.

Made sure you were seen looking in to give yourself an alibi.

No lies.

A pack of bleeding lies.

Spare us any more play acting, Mr. Grimes?

Well, it's me you're pointing the finger at.

Well, old Grimes ain't the only play actor.

What one of you ain't play acting and posing in a pen all your own? Look at

yourselves.

Sniveling drunken nephew who pretends to be a man.

A viper at the bosom who plays the good and dear friend.

And a blackmailer without the guts and gall to carry it off.

Ain't it the bleeding truth, Governor?

Oh, not a man among them.

A whole company of liars and cheats.

It's a shame, Gov.

You and me.

Only men are the lot.

And you turn on me.

You.

Oh, it's you what's the name, he says.

You.

You what's the name, he says.

Well, Perry, you can relax. We shipped your nemeses off to San Quentin today.

At least I think it was Grimes.

It would be funny if you were Grimes and I just shipped Perry Mason off to San

Quentin.

You know, I can still hear him in the courtroom laughing at everyone.

Which one of you ain't posing and play acting?

You know, there's a lot of truth in that.

Uh -huh. A lawyer's weakness.

Empathizing with a criminal despite himself.

Well, I wouldn't fret about old Grime.

He'd be a lot better off than sailing around in that rust bucket.

Yes, but I'm not sure he'd agree to that.

Gentlemen, being in a ship is being in jail with a chance of drowning.

A man in jail has more room, better food, and, uh, commonly, better company.

Now, who said that?

I said that.

Yes, but Samuel Johnson said it 200 years before you did.

Great minds frequently trod the same path.

It's the sign the whole world over.

It's the poor what gets the blind.

It's the rich what gets the grimy.

Oh, ain't it a blooming shine?