Original subtitles

Listen, you're the manager of this dump. It's your place to see that those kids

keep their stuff where it belongs.

Oh, now, they're nice kids. I know them all. They don't mean any harm, Miss

Jordan. What do you have in the bag?

Oh, Mr. Skyler sent me down to buy some trick -or -treat stuff for the kids.

Well, I'm not giving anything to little monsters around here. You know, I'm

going to be awful sorry to see Mr. Skyler leave.

Maybe he's not the only one leaving.

Mr.

Skyler! Come in, Rudy.

Hey, it's a little early for that, isn't it? I always shave in the morning.

What's that got to do with drinking?

I prefer the aftershave lotion on the inside.

Did you get plenty of candy and bubble gum for the kids ready?

Lots of it, just like you told me, Mrs. Conway. Good. Pour yourself a drink.

Thank you. Hey, we're not going to be here tonight. Why'd you bother getting

that trick -or -treat junk? We're not leaving for the party till 10 o 'clock.

Now, plenty of kids will stop by before then.

What's that?

Costume you're going to wear tonight?

How about that?

You are a clown, you know, Phil.

Rudy, somebody wants you.

Oh, somebody always wants me.

Hey, why don't you ask me what I'm wearing to the party?

Why don't I?

Vera, what are you going to wear tonight?

Ta -da!

Cigarettes, candy, cigarettes.

This is the costume I'm wearing in the bit part I do for Charlie Norman's

picture. Boy, would the wardrobe department be furious if they found out

borrowed it for a party.

Right? There are things about the Royal Pacific Court that I'm going to miss.

You know, you wouldn't have to miss anything.

If the two of us went to Mexico.

Cigarette girls aren't supposed to sit down with their customers.

I know.

But you're a very special customer.

Mr. Skyler's bungalow's right around here. You a friend of his? I'm his

-in -law. I'm not his friend. Oh, I guess you dropped by to wish him bon

huh? Is he going somewhere?

Oh, he's leaving for Mexico next week.

Here it is.

Mr. Skyler.

Get company.

Frank, what are you doing in L .A.? I came to see you.

Um, this is my brother -in -law, Frank McManus. Vera Jordan.

How do you do?

Um... There isn't really a cigarette, coach. I'm not interested in the

occupation or profession that occupies Miss Jordan's time.

Real charmer, isn't he?

Look, Phil, I've got to run. I'll see you tonight.

How about a drinky?

There we are.

I forgot.

You don't drink.

And I hadn't forgotten that you do very little else.

The manager tells me that you're leaving for Mexico next week. That's right.

Well, I'm not surprised that you wouldn't bother keeping us posted on

plans.

I've had it, Phil.

You're no good and you never will be.

I warned you the last time that I wasn't taking any more trouble from you.

Talking for yourself or my sister? Both of us.

Being my wife's brother doesn't give you the right to sign my name to a check.

I thought I could pay you back before you found out.

So I didn't. So what?

Two handwriting experts are ready to testify in court that this signature is

forgery. You know, most people think that they have to work in order to

But, of course, that thought would never occur to you.

Relax, Frankie, relax.

My financial worries are over. For good.

I'm going to be rich.

Well, this forged check is for $3 ,000.

Do you have it?

No, but I can get it.

You'd better get it.

Because if I don't have this money by the time I leave Los Angeles tonight, I

going to prefer charges against you.

Criminal charges.

Is that clear, Mr. Schuyler?

Winter

presidents.

Yes, Mr. Schuyler.

Yes, Mr.

White is back from Europe, but he's not at home.

He's at the university.

She's listening. Be quiet, please.

Yes, I'll tell him, Mr. Skyler.

Grace, dear, I dislike constantly reminding you that this is the White

and that I am Mrs. Damien White, not Miss Winthrop.

I'm sorry, Mrs. White.

It won't happen again.

Mona, stop making it seamless about who gets what billing here at your house and

listen to the score.

I've got to have your decision today, now. I tell you, this is the greatest

musical Alex Chase ever wrote. Tailor -made for you, baby, believe me.

Song, Jim, that song.

That's the title song from Pearls and Jane?

Well, it's only a tape recording from a rehearsal run -through at the Santa

Barbara tryout, and Lucy's voice isn't much, but just listen to it, Mona.

And more than anything else, that one song is why I called and insisted you

an end to this crazy two -year honeymoon of yours.

Come back from Europe immediately and go to work again.

If I agree to go back to work and star in Alex's show, Charlie Neumann will

finance a Broadway run and a picture.

That show with that song in it, right?

We'll recast the show?

You'll take over the starring role one week in Boston?

Oh, then look out, Times Square.

Where with you starring in it, Pearls and Jade could run on Broadway for

Then the multi -million dollar movie musical starring Mona Winthrop in a

triumphant return to the screen.

Terry Janda, even without those ridiculous elevator shoes, you are the

and the best agent in all of Hollywood.

You'll... You'll do it, Mona? Do it? Of course I'll do it. Nothing would make me

happier.

Oh, Mr. White!

Hello, Grace.

Mona, that song.

Oh, Damien.

I didn't expect you home till just before the party tonight.

I have to get right back. I forgot to take some papers to the university this

morning.

Hello, Jerry.

How's the agency business?

Oh, booming, Professor.

Booming. Come to the studio with me, Mona.

Having Charlie hear you rave about Alex's score may keep his fingers from

trembling when he steers his pen across the bottom of the most expensive

contract he ever signed.

Charlie can wait.

Right now, I'm going to rush right over to Alex's.

I think the talented composer deserves to hear me rave much more than Charlie

Neumann.

Uh, Mona, I started to ask you about that... Later, darling.

Later. Bye, Professor.

Oh, Damien, don't be late for the party tonight, huh?

Oh, Mr. White, there's been a Mr.

Schuyler, Mr. Philip Schuyler, trying to reach you on the phone all morning.

Phil, that's a coincidence.

Okay, thank you, Grace.

Oh, Grace.

Yes, sir?

Uh, when I came into the house just now, I heard a song.

Mr. Janda, the agent, brought a tape recording over to play for Miss Wynne.

I'm sorry, Mrs. White.

Well, what did she say about the song, the one they were listening to? She

seemed quite excited about it.

Is there anything else, sir?

Did that Mr.

Skyler leave a number?

Oh, yes.

It's Olive 4 -1 -6 -5 -4. Thank you, Grace.

Phil, Damien White.

Fine, fine. We got back from Europe late last night.

Yes, I know you've been calling me, Phil, but look, there's something I've

to talk to you about.

Now, listen, Phil.

What are you talking about?

Unless you want to see me in jail, you'll have to get me $3 ,000 this

Damien.

$3 ,000?

Well,

Well, the barefooted Bernhardt.

Beauty and talent both.

A divine actress, superbly endowed by a beneficent deity.

Her husband's pretty talented, too.

Which means what?

Oh, you'll find out when she asks about the song.

Well, back to the well.

Baby, you're soaking wet.

Yes, I love it.

Come on, Frida's inside.

The score is divine, Alex, simply divine. It's such beautiful music. Then

do the show?

Of course. Hello, Frida. How's my favorite composer's favorite wife?

Oh, flat, where I should be sharp.

Here, dear, have a drink. Thank you.

To Pearls and Jade, who is a wonderful star, and to success.

To lots of money.

Here, here.

to a beautiful show with an even more beautiful title song, which you stole

my husband, you nasty stinker.

The second act of Shanghai Wife. Was it Hong Kong

Widow? Frida, you're disgusting when you drink.

I think she may really be angry, Alex.

You've got jam on your face.

And you've got booze on the brain. Another drink, you may fall off that

And what'll you fall off if your very best friend sues you for plagiarism?

What are you talking about? I stole nobody's song, not Damien's nobody's.

Jade is mine.

An original Alexander Chase song.

Yes, stolen from an original melody by Professor Damien White, composed over

years ago. Or didn't you think I'd recognize it with those upside -down

lyrics you added?

But this is ridiculous, Frida, baby. Tell her.

Tell her how wrong she is.

Mona, Alex says to tell you you're wrong.

You see, he lies, and I swear to it.

Damien was playing that tune on a piano at a party the night I met him. No

words, just melody.

My own private melody that you've heard me hum more than once, Alex.

Professors, soda jerks, gas station attendants. Everybody's a songwriter.

Mona, baby, I've written thousands of melodies and completely forgotten

of them. So I hear a song, so it's like one of mine. So what?

I forget it, that's all.

Like?

Pearls and Jade is like Damien's song.

Really, Alex, I do think that puny little beard of yours is just a set of

earmuffs temporarily out of place.

All right, all right. So there is a slight similarity. So how many notes are

there in the scale? So I'll pay him for it. Only no credit. Only my name alone

goes on pearls and jade.

Come on, it'll be reasonable. I need this show. Without the song, there's no

show.

I need this credit, a solo credit.

Perry Mason, please. This is Mona White. Mona Winthrop calling.

Damien's a professor, a well -known teacher. What does a song credit mean to

him? Nothing, but a great deal to me.

We're going up to Santa Barbara tomorrow to see the tryout, and I want to

surprise him. His wife, starring in a show with his name on it. Perry?

Perry, darling.

Mona, when did you get back?

You've already compared the songs.

No doubt about it. Songs?

What are you talking about?

I see.

Out and out plagiarism.

No legal question of it at all?

Mona, if you're using me as a legal shoehorn, I warn you there'll be a bill

the end of the month.

We can sue for how much?

As much as that, Perry?

Tonight's Halloween, not April Fool's Day.

Who is it you're bamboozling this time?

Perfect, Perry.

Perfect. Let's do that.

Goodbye for now.

What do you know? It's empty.

Rita, I think I'll have another one.

You'd better have one too, Alec.

Double.

The day after Pearls and Jade opens in New York, every studio in town will be

bidding sky high for the picture rights.

Well, how can you waste time having over the price, Charlie?

The last three musicals Alex wrote died before they ever got to New York. Nobody

was interested in buying the motion picture rights.

So why should Charles Neumann Productions be interested in this show?

Pearls and Jade isn't going to die. We'll all make a fortune and you know

Oh, come on, Charlie. Here, take your pen and let's get this over with, huh?

You're a good agent, Chan.

Too good not to know that a deal like this isn't going to run away.

Now, tonight, at the party, Mona's going to give it her beach house.

Tonight, I'll make an announcement and sign.

Phil, what's the matter with you? You keep staring at that whiskey glass like

was a crystal ball or something.

Maybe I'm looking into my soul, Vera.

Know what?

Bill Skyler is a louse.

Would you send a cab to the Royal Pacific Court?

1840 Hoghurst Street.

Thank you.

Hey, where are you going?

Malibu. Well, what about the party we're supposed to go to tonight?

I'll be back in plenty of time.

I wouldn't want to cross this bunch.

Give them something quick, Vera.

Vera, do me a favor. Stay here and dole out the candy until I get back.

My brother -in -law stops by while I'm gone. Give him this.

Phil, about the trip to Mexico.

You did get a ticket for me, didn't you?

Lots of fun, Vera, but a little old for tricks.

Poor treat.

Phil, boy, is going to Mexico alone.

And Jane.

Sorry, Grace, I'll get it.

Hello. Hi.

My car broke down. Would you be kind enough to let me use your telephone?

Oh, of course. Come on in.

There's a phone in there. Thank you. You're welcome.

How do you know that man's name is Phil Schuyler?

He's called here so many times, I recognized his voice immediately.

Mona,

darling, now you've ignored me all evening. What kind of way is that to

producer, hmm?

What's wrong, Miss Jordan? I don't know. Just hurry up and get that door

unlocked.

Wait. Wait here.

Rudy, what is it?

Rudy!

Mrs. Carter.

He's dead.

Perry! Perry Mason, what are you doing up and about at this ghastly hour?

Morning, sweetheart.

If I knew you were coming out so early, I would have waited for my swim.

Harry, I just talked to you on the telephone. What are you doing here?

You said you wanted to see me.

Well, uh, yes, I do, but I intended to meet you in your office.

I want to talk about the blackmail right now.

The what?

Mona, I was going to explain it all this morning.

It's something I should have told you years ago.

Damien, what's wrong?

Bill Schuyler, a man Damien went to see last night, threatened blackmail.

But, Mona, please don't be upset.

Phil's an old buddy of mine, but for some reason he's gone sour. He just

make any sense.

I'm sure with Perry's help, I'll be able to straighten him out.

I read the morning paper after I spoke to you, Damien.

Bill Scali was murdered last night.

I'm sorry, Mr. Johnson, but Miss Winthrop left orders that she was not to

disturbed. So I'm disobeying the orders.

Gracie, don't play games.

Charlie Neumann is stalling on those contracts.

If I'm going to get him to sign them, I'll need Mona at his office with me in

half an hour.

It'll take her longer than that to decide what mood to wear, let alone what

clothes to put on. I don't know, Mr.

Chet. Police department. Lieutenant Anderson, homicide.

Would you tell Mr. Demian what I'd like to see him, please?

Rita.

I want a man to go away or invite him in for a drink.

If I wasn't here, you probably would.

I wonder.

No.

You've got to test men with beards.

The fact that this is private property doesn't seem to bother you.

No, it doesn't.

Bothers me.

That song, pretty tune.

Yeah, sure is.

Of course, the tape is bad. You know those three in the morning jam sessions,

everybody well lubricated with booze. Why did you record that song?

The question isn't so much where, is it?

When is what you want to know?

Look, you... Alex!

When? Over two years ago, Mr. Chase.

Alex! The police!

They've taken Damien away!

Police? Damien?

What are they talking about?

Strange murder weapon, wouldn't you say, Perry?

We found your name and telephone number on that pad by the telephone, Mr. White.

Now, you claim you followed Phil Skyler home last night, but stayed only a few

minutes to talk to him.

Now, tell me, when you were here, where was this heater?

Well, I'm not sure. I think it was there by the door.

And how was Mr. Skyler dressed?

He was wearing a bathrobe.

Was the water in the bathtub running?

I don't recall whether it was or not.

Murderer plugged the heater in here, opened the door, tossed the heater in

bathtub while Skyler was taking a bath, and electrocuted him.

Now, Mr. White, you're sure that Skyler wasn't taking that bath while you were

here?

I said he wasn't.

Miss Jordan, is this the man you saw leaving this bungalow shortly before the

manager discovered that Phil Skyler was dead?

Yes, him.

Andy, Mr. White told you he was here.

Mr. White, do you drive a blue foreign sports car?

A what?

A blue foreign sports car. Is that what you... No, I don't.

Look, I don't see how I can help any further, so do you have any objections

my leaving now?

No, but I would object to your leaving the city, Mr. White.

Damien, I think we'd better.

Say, he's the one who killed Mr. Schuyler. How come the police let him

Perry.

Perry, I just left a cabbie who picked up Phil Schuyler, drove him to Malibu,

waited for him, then dropped him back here at the Royal Pacific.

Good work, Paul. And that's not all.

I got a tip that the police had a pickup out for a hot witness in this case,

some bearded beatnik named Leonard Buckman.

Well, they just canceled the bulletin.

Meaning they found Mr. Buckman. Mm -hmm. But it's where they found him that

makes it interesting.

All right, where?

At the beach in front of Alexander Chase's place.

Were you acquainted with Phil Schuyler?

No.

And now that he's dead, I never will have an opportunity to become acquainted

with him.

Will I?

Mr. Chase, in between policemen, I only had the chance to speak briefly with

Damien. He claims he gave Phil Schuyler $3 ,000 yesterday afternoon.

Why do you say claims instead of saying Damien gave Skyler the $3 ,000?

Money wasn't found in Skyler's bungalow.

Mr. Mason, I gave Damien $3 ,000

yesterday afternoon.

Why? Because he asked me to.

What reasons had he for wanting the money?

None.

I didn't ask him.

Did anyone see you turn that money over to him?

I did.

And that's not all I saw in here, is it, Alex?

Freda, shut up. You're drinking too much. And talking too much?

It's the truth, Mr. Mason. I saw the bearded buckman, the man you were asking

about before, outside our house, and... Freda! And I heard him playing a tape

recording of a wonderful song.

Alex's wonderful song.

Pearls and Jay, that's the name of it, isn't it, Alex?

Mr. Mason, about the $3 ,000.

Oh, yes, Mr. Mason, the $3 ,000.

What my dear husband is trying to say is that he may have trouble remembering he

gave his best friend Damien that money in the middle of a plagiarism suit.

Sue Alex for plagiarism?

Darling Alex?

Now, wherever would he dream up such nonsense?

Or was it freedom? Perry, you know how that woman Perry felt. Now, stop it,

Mona. You called me, remember?

Harry, you know me better than that. You can't really believe I ever intended to

hurt dear old Alex.

I guess by now Damien has told you that Alex wasn't the person being hurt.

I've told Mona all about it, but how did you find out?

Let's just say I guessed.

Alex didn't write Pearls and Jade, and neither did you. That song was written

Phil Schuyler.

Now about the foreign blue sports car.

You follow your husband out to that bungalow court last night?

Yes, that was my car.

I just didn't understand what was going on, so I followed him there and waited

outside. And then I followed him home.

Get back to your calling me yesterday, Damien.

What about the song?

Harry, it was just a silly, stupid mistake.

A lonely college prof trying to impress the beautiful musical comedy star he had

a crush on.

You know, I told Phil about it ages ago, and he laughed then. It was one of

hundreds of melodies he wrote and forgot.

I should have explained it to Mona long ago.

And when I heard the melody had words and was part of Alex's show, I called

Phil. I told him he was welcome to the credit and the money from the song.

But he didn't want to talk about it then.

He was just desperate to get hold of some money fast.

That $3 ,000.

Did he say why he wanted it?

Yes. Some personal problem with his brother -in -law.

It had nothing to do with the song, just a temporary loan. I gather he was less

casual when he came out here to the house later.

He was a different man.

It was hard.

Nasty. He was threatening to make all kinds of trouble.

And then when he asked me for $50 ,000, I thought he was out of his mind. He

left before I could even talk to him about it.

So you followed him to his place?

Yes. I couldn't let it stand just like that.

It was my fault, one way or another.

He told me he wasn't interested in potential earnings from the song. It

might not be a hit.

Now, Alex and I could work it out whatever way we wanted, but Phil

$50 ,000 right then and there.

What did you say to that?

I turned him down.

I told him to go ahead and do or say whatever he wanted.

Excuse me.

Mr. White, I want you to come to police headquarters.

I'm booking you for the murder of Phil Schuyler.

Lieutenant, I doubt that you have sufficient evidence to... I have more

than I need.

Not only were Damien White's fingerprints on the heater that was used

electrocute Phil Schuyler, I have an eyewitness to testify that Damien White

the one and only person who could have killed him.

In the matter now pending before this court, Your Honor, of the state versus

Damien White, we shall confine ourselves to the primary factors of motive and

opportunity.

We will prove that the deceased Phil Schuyler received money from Damien

and was demanding still more money.

And we will prove that Damien White and only Damien White could have murdered

Philip Schuyler.

Now, Mr. McManus, did Phil Schuyler...

tell you how he planned to get the $3 ,000 to repay you for the money he'd

from your account by forging your name to a check for that amount?

Well, no, not directly.

Although when I told him it was either pay up or face charges, he said he'd

no trouble getting the money.

And while I was there, he placed a call.

To whom did he place that call?

To the defendant, Damien White.

Yes, I gave Damien $3 ,000 early that afternoon, but it was a loan, a

loan, that's all.

And while you were making this temporary loan to the defendant of $3 ,000, did

he happen to mention the allegedly plagiarized melody and its disputed

authorship? Oh, I believe he did casually say something about not

it, that he would... Go on, Mr. Chase. The defendant said he would what?

Damien said he would...

Take care of the matter. You witness.

Mr. Chase, you had a succession of unsuccessful musical comedies. Your

had been seriously depleted, your reputation considerably shaken in the

industry. That is true, is it not?

You make it sound like I was not only bankrupt artistically and financially,

virtually dead and buried.

Nonsense.

Then... You weren't at all concerned about who would get credit for the music

that song or just how that credit might conceivably affect the terms under which

the show would be sold?

Oh, I might have been somewhat concerned, but not after Mona's party

was told.

And what were you told?

That, well, that he was just stolen on a contract, the deal would go through,

Pearls and Jade would still be presented on Broadway and still be made into a

top movie musical.

And who gave you those assurances?

The only man who could, Mr. Mason, the producer, Charlie Neumann.

The new Alex Chase musical was booked down the Pacific coast.

Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles.

Strictly a shoestring tryout tour.

The show bombed.

By the time we hit Santa Barbara, there were more people on stage than in the

audience. So you closed the show in Santa Barbara, Mr. Kirkland? As the

director, that's what I suggested to Mr. Chase.

I didn't think there was anything worth salvaging.

But he was pretty desperate, he said.

and insisted on a fast rewrite and another tryout.

Well, was Mr. Chase able to improve the show?

And how.

The only really good thing in the presentation was a dance number in the

act. A real catchy melody.

What was this catchy melody?

A piece called Pearls and Jade.

Well, Alex added lyrics to it.

And with a few changes in rhythm and orchestration, it became our new running

love song, new first act production number, and our finale.

Now, Mr. Kirkwood, you reopened the show in Santa Barbara for a second tryout,

is that correct? The show was a smash.

Rave reviews.

Standing room only for each performance. And all thanks to that one new title

song, Pearls and Jade.

Even got a nibble from a top movie producer who saw the show and flipped.

Mr. Kirkwood, who was that producer?

Charles Neumann.

Late in the afternoon, I received a telephone call at the studio from Phil

Schuyler. He sort of vaguely hinted that there might be some question about who

wrote the melody for the title song of Pearls and Jade.

Then he intimated that for a small insurance payment, as he called it, I

save a lot of money and avoid legal entanglements in buying the show.

What was your answer to that?

I told him if he had documented proof, I'd be willing to talk with him.

He stammered a while and then hung up.

Just a crank.

Now, Mr. Norman, did you subsequently see this Phil Schuyler?

Yes, at Mona's party.

Damien was having an argument with some man out on the patio.

I found out the following morning from the pictures in the paper that that man

was Skyler. Now, this argument, Mr. Norman, did that appear to be a violent

argument? Violent?

Well, there were no blows.

Thank you, Mr. Norman. That'll be all.

Your witness.

Mr. Norman,

if you had never seen Phil Skyler, how could you possibly know that the man who

called you was, in fact, Phil Schuyler.

Why, he said he was.

Financing a Broadway show is quite costly, isn't it? All in all, your

with Alex Chase and Mona Winthrop must have involved a considerable sum of

money.

Yes, I'd say well over a million dollars is a considerable sum.

You received a call offering you insurance, as you put it, in the face of

million dollars.

Now, would you have this court believe that you summarily dismissed it as a

crank call?

I just wasn't sure the call was on the level, that's all.

Oh, sure. If I could have gotten the rights for even $50 ,000 to the title

it would have made a big difference.

Exactly how big?

I'd have picked up the book and score for Peanuts, made a separate deal with

Mona. I could have wrapped up the whole thing for less than half what Janda was

asking. To save over half a million dollars, you must have done much more

merely reassure Alex Chase.

Before going to Mona's party...

You went to see Phil Schuyler, did you not?

Now look here, Mason, don't start throwing accusations at me.

You said it yourself.

I could have saved a half a million dollars if I made that deal with

so why would I want to kill him?

Answer my question.

You did see Phil Schuyler, did you not?

No, that is absolutely not, N -O -T, not true.

I told the district attorney the whole thing.

I sat in my car across the street, waiting until I saw his visitor leave.

Then I saw Miss Jordan.

She was working one of my pictures.

She came home just about the time the visitor was leaving at about 8 o 'clock.

I started, yes, to get out of the car, but I thought it best not to be seen.

So I left without seeing Skyler.

This visitor, who was it?

Alex and Mona's agent, Jerry Jander.

When I got back to my office after seeing Charlie Neumann, Leonard Buckman

waiting to see me.

He had some crazy story that Phil Schuyler and not Alex Chase wrote the

for the song Pearls in Jade.

Did you place any credence in the story that Leonard Buckman told you?

No, not then.

I figured he was just some sort of a crank who knew about the trouble between

Mona and Alex and was trying to get in on the act.

I gave him $20 and told him to beat it, not to bother me.

A couple of hours later, around 7, I received a call at home from Phil

himself. He confirmed what Buckman had said and asked me to come to his place

right away.

Did the decedent try to extort money from you, Mr. Janet?

Well, not directly, no, though he was certainly fishing for an offer.

I offered him $5 ,000 for a quit claim on the music to the song.

And what was his reaction to that?

Well, he laughed at my offer.

Said that if I would give him $5 ,000 to be quiet, there was somebody else who

would probably give him $50 ,000.

Somebody else?

Mr. Jander, did Phil Schuyler say who he intended to get the money from?

Did he say who he was so sure would give him $50 ,000?

Yes, the defendant, Damien White.

Hamilton Berger is certainly efficient.

Motive and opportunity, he laid it out like a road map.

Well, he sure loaded with opportunity.

He's got an eyewitness who locks White, your client and only your client, right

into the murder.

As far as motive is concerned, we all know what type of person Damien is.

Just wait till Berger sums it up.

A successful Broadway play, a spectacular movie, the stage -struck

name in lights.

Oh, boy.

Perry, if this were a full trial, you could put the stage -struck professor on

the stand and let him tell what really happened.

Would you as a jury believe that Damien's fingerprints were on that

because he tripped over a cord and then had to set the heater upright, or... Or

that he got his fingerprints on it when he tossed it into the bathtub to

electrocute Phil Schuyler. I see what you mean. Which leads us right back to

motive and Damien.

White isn't the only one.

Neumann could be more deeply involved, and he's admitted. And Jandis stood to

lose a big, fat whopping commission.

And let's not forget the composer with the taking ways, Alex Chase.

He could be up to his neck in hockey.

Alex Chase?

How's that, Paul?

Well, it's only a possibility.

But I found out this afternoon that Chase couldn't find a backer for his

musical. So he must have backed it himself.

He probably lost everything he had in the world.

Our Mr. Chase.

Composer and bankrupt angel.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?

Della, that's it.

That's what?

Satan and the angel.

I want to know more about that angel.

Now, wait a minute.

I've gone a lot of places to get a lot of things. And this time you're going to

outdo yourself tomorrow in court.

How? Well, first the angel and then Satan.

As a matter of fact, let's make it two Satans.

So when I caught a rehearsal of the new second tryout in Santa Barbara, I

couldn't believe it.

I went to see Phil.

I told him that a tune that he had written had suddenly acquired a set of

and had become the title song in a new musical play by Alexander Chase.

And when Phil Schuyler found that they were using his music without his

knowledge, what did he do?

Well, I told Phil he should get in touch with Alexander Chase right away, demand

credit and royalties for the song. Phil said that he would, but first he had to

have a talk with the person responsible for stealing his music. Well, who could

that be if it wasn't Alexander Chase?

Well, Phil wouldn't tell me what the guy's name was.

But he admitted it was someone else, not Alexander Chase, who had stolen the

music.

Some college professor friend of his.

Some college professor friend of his?

Your witness.

Mr. Buckman, instead of calling Charles Neumann and saying you were Phil

Schuyler, why didn't you call Mr. Chase? I didn't call Neumann. And I maintain

that you did.

There are two possible explanations for your visit to Mr. Chase the morning

after the murder.

In either case, blackmail had to have been involved.

You either didn't know that Phil Schuyler was dead, or you had previous

knowledge that Phil Schuyler had been murdered, and you... I didn't know Phil

had been murdered. If I had, I would have gone to the police.

But you did go to Alexander Chase to blackmail him. And it was you, not Phil

Schuyler, who called Charles Neumann.

All right, all right, I admit that.

But I never got around to blackmailing Mr. Chase.

When you impersonated Phil Schuyler and called Charles Neumann, he said he would

speak with you further if you had documentation of the true authorship of

and Jay.

But you didn't have such documentation, did you?

Well, no.

Yet the following morning, you were playing a two -year -old tape recording

that same music for Alex Chase.

Now, we can prove that that tape recording belonged to Phil Schuyler. All

all right. So I stole the lousy tape.

Phil had no right to brush me off. No right, you hear?

I was the one who spotted the tune. I was the one who gave him the idea for

whole squeeze play. Phil Schuyler outwitted you, didn't he? In your

called Janda and asked him to come right over.

And then what did he say to you, Mr. Buckman?

Did he offer to cut you in?

No. No. Blow, he said. Beat it. You bother me.

Well, I bothered him all right. I bothered him real good.

I hung around till he took off. Then I went in and swiped the tape.

If he wouldn't cut me in, I was going to cut myself in.

I gave Mr.

McManus, his brother -in -law, the envelope that Phil had left for him.

went back to my own place and started getting ready for the masquerade party

that Phil and I were supposed to go to.

Now, while you were in your own bungalow, Miss Jordan, did you see

or leave Phil Schuyler's bungalow? Yes, I did.

About ten minutes before I called the manager and he found Phil dead, I saw

defendant, Damien White, leave Phil's place.

And in that ten minutes, Miss Jordan, Between the time you saw Damien White

leave the bungalow and the time the decedent's body was found, did you see

anyone else at all enter or leave that bungalow?

No, I didn't. Thank you. But I wasn't watching all the time.

Yes, but you told... Well, who was watching all the time? Well, the

Rudy.

Thank you, Miss Jordan.

Walter, it was Halloween, you know, and the kids and everything, well, they were

around and... Well, anyhow...

And right after dinner, I discovered the electric sign out in front ain't

working. So I got up on a ladder to fix it. Well, the way I'm standing up there,

see, I'm facing the court.

All the bungalows open out into that middle court, you see. And there's no

to get in or out of the bungalows without going through that court.

And so there I am.

I mean, I can hardly help keeping my eye on things, you might say.

Did that include keeping your eye on Phil Schuyler's bungalow? Oh, yes, sir.

Now, Miss Jordan there, she went in.

And then Mr. Schuyler's brother -in -law, him too, he went in. And then he

out. And so did she.

And then Mr. Schuyler came home.

And after Mr. Schuyler came home, how many other people entered or left that

bungalow? Only one.

One person went in and come out.

And nobody, absolutely nobody, went in or out after that.

Until I found the dead body.

And who was that one and only person, Mr. Malstead?

Him. Mr. Damien White.

Mr. Mason?

Rudy, you're positive that no one went into that bungalow after the defendant

left? Yes, sir. Positive.

Did you ever look at something and not see it?

I don't understand.

How long have you been living in that bungalow, Court Rudy?

20 years, maybe a little longer.

This is a photograph of your bungalow, a photograph of the room in which you've

spent 20 years.

Now, the design on the wallpaper, tell me, does the pattern run vertically, up

and down, or does it go from side to side?

This way, side to side.

Now, the...

Roses between the stripes in that wallpaper.

Do they go between every stripe or between every other stripe?

Between every stripe.

Take a look, Rudy.

I was wrong.

Both times.

We see, but we do not see.

Your Honor, I must protest these circus sideshow tactics.

What kind of a stunt is this?

Just a moment, Mr. Berger.

I believe I understand where defense counsel is heading.

The court is interested in pursuing this particular point.

So unless you have a specific objection, we will continue.

Oh, by all means, Your Honor. Let's have some dancing girls in a snake's armor,

too. That will do, Mr. Berger.

You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor.

Now, Rudy...

The children trick -or -treating, were they still making rounds when you

unlocked the door and found the body?

Oh, sure. They were coming all the time, from 5 o 'clock on.

Even after Damien White left the bungalow? Oh, yes.

They'd come back, you know.

Oh, no. Now, Mr. Mason, not those children.

Well, I knew them. I know them all.

Suppose we find out just how well you do know them, Rudy.

All right, children.

Would you stand in the line here, please?

Rudy, who is Satan number one?

Brucie Hillman.

That's the Carver boy, Gene. Gene Carver.

The little gypsy that's easy.

Michelle Struhl.

That's not fair, Rudy. You helped me buy my costume at the corner drugstore.

Satan number two, Rudy.

His costume came from that same drugstore. Do you recognize him?

Oh, sure. The boy who likes to dig holes.

Don Carmichael.

56 years old, Mr. Mason.

Hudson's the name. Joe Hudson.

How tall are you, Mr. Hudson?

Five -four.

Just the same height as Mr. Janda without his elevator shoes.

All right, children.

Thank you.

Hey, Mr. Janda, Mr. Chase's last flop, it wasn't his money that financed that

show. It was yours, was it not?

I lent him the money. All I had, everything. You borrowed heavily, hoping

Pearls and Jade would solve everything.

But without that contract for Neumann, you were going to be ruined, weren't

Yes.

Yes, that Skyler pressuring Damien, pressuring me.

You followed Damien and Mona to Skyler's, picked up a costume at the

from a clerk who was prepared to identify you.

You then waited until Damien left.

Then you took off your shoes and joined the children, going from bungalow to

bungalow.

And watched for your opportunity to murder Phil Schuyler.

He was in the tub.

I wasn't sure just how I was going to do it until I saw the electric

heater.

Mona.

Mona, you were the only really big star I had and you hadn't worked in two

years. Two years!

Two.

You've got to understand.

Here was my chance to get my money back, to make even more money, to be on top

of the heap again.

But it was all falling apart because of Skyler, because he had written that

melody.

But he was the only one who could prove that.

Skyler himself.

I had to stop him before he got to Neumann and killed the deal. I had to.

The costume.

It wasn't Satan.

It was a fool's costume.

From the religious vigil of all Hallows' Eve to murder.

Halloween's come a long way.

Darkness and worms and shrouds and sepulchres.

Paul, you're reciting poetry.

Am I?

But strength alone is like a fallen angel.

Trees are torn and darkness and worms and shrouds and sepulchre. Hey, what do

you know?

Keats.

Speaking of fallen angels.

You mean the kind that go bankrupt backing flop shows?

Yes. You know, I thought Janda's eyes would pop right out of his head when he

saw that little old man in the costume.

Yeah, some trick.

Considering the results, wouldn't you say it was more of a treat?