Original subtitles

And that operative picked up subject again.

Let's see.

I'm not going too fast for you, am I, Della?

No, it's just fine, Paul. Go on.

After which, something departed from the hotel.

Della, are you eating a candy bar?

I most certainly am not.

Go on, Paul.

Give me the rest of it.

At 7 -12, second operative relieved first operative. At 7 -15, wait a

Why don't you just read the whole thing back to me?

Then west to Alvarado.

South on Alvarado is the 7th.

Subject was wearing a brown hat.

Subject went from gas station at 6 .47.

Pull, Drake.

Someday I'm going to.

It's all right, Ella.

I do yoga myself sometimes.

It's not yoga.

Besides, don't you worry one bit. I'll have these notes ready for Perry by the

time he gets back from lunch. Taking up judo, then? You know, I know a great

exercise for building up those back muscles.

Believe me, I'm not trying to build up anything.

You sure don't have to take anything off, beautiful.

If you only knew.

Trouble is, I have a lunch appointment with a watercress girl from back home

with Diane Adler, friend of mine at May's.

Watercress girl?

I don't know how she does it.

Skim milk? Carrots, maybe.

Of course, she's only 22 years old.

Paul, every time I see her, I start feeling self -conscious and envious.

Why? What do you mean? What's so special about her?

Aside from having a face that's absolutely beautiful.

She was voted the female with the most perfectly formed figure in all of the

Smoky Mountains.

Bella, wait a minute.

I, uh... I just remembered something.

I haven't had lunch myself yet.

There's a candy bar in the second drawer.

Right.

This

is

even better than the cream of chicken soup.

Diane, ever since I met you last month...

I wanted to ask you something.

Excuse me, would you care for something to drink now, lady? Oh, yes, I'd like

some tea.

Just lemon, no milk.

Do you suppose I could make me a chocolate milkshake?

Oh, thank you, Mr. E.

It was so lovely of you to ask me out. For heaven's sakes, Diane.

Don't keep calling me Miss Street. My name is Bella.

Oh, I'm sorry.

But you've been so kind to me since I came to Los Angeles.

Well, you probably know that my Aunt May said that you might need a little

looking after in the big city.

But enough of that.

Tell me, Diane.

How do you do it? Do what?

Eat all that food.

And still keep that lovely figure.

Oh.

Oh, well, I did have a little more than I usually.

Anyway, as I started to say, your Aunt May was so sweet to me when my mother

died. I did need help at first, especially finding a job because there

weren't any back home.

How is your job? You know you haven't even mentioned it.

Oh. Oh, haven't I?

Oh, well, it's, you know, fine.

Just fine.

But... Oh, but about your Aunt May mystery, what do you hear from her?

Care for any more, lady?

No, thank you.

That one with the caramel layers is my own favorite, ma 'am.

Oh, you mean between the whipped cream, those are actually layers of...

Oh, no, thank you. You simply couldn't have...

We better be going. I mean, back to work.

My glove.

I left my glove. Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Your friend's name is Mary, isn't it?

No, it's... No, it's not.

Diane? Deborah?

Dorothy, maybe?

Excuse me. Look, I'm not trying to be fresh. It's just that I'm sure that I

her from someplace or somewhere.

In fact, she just arrived from England.

That's it. See, I was just over there in the army.

At ease, General.

Bye -bye.

No harm in trying.

Hello, Jones and Jones.

I'm a friend of Diane Adler, and I just had lunch with her. When she comes back

to the office, would you please have her call?

She what?

When did she quit her job?

Two weeks ago.

Do you know what she could be doing now?

Thank you.

Well, you wouldn't think very much of my ethics, sir, if I come right out there.

Then what are you doing here?

Sir, I'm never going to get a job with a big outfit like yours if I betray my

clients known to prove. You see, I... Oh, excuse me. I think I dropped

something. Did you happen to see... Oh.

Oh, baby.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I tell you?

You see, Harrison Boring, that's the man who put me up this afternoon.

Well, he spoke to me at the beach one day a couple of weeks ago.

He noticed my figure.

Oh, but not the way you think.

I mean, he's always been a perfect gentleman.

And a couple of days later, we signed this contract.

Contract? Mm -hmm. It's a fashion idea.

Oh, but you mustn't breathe a word.

Mr. Boring says there are spies everywhere in fashion. And that's why I

tell you I quit my job, Miss Treat.

Well, anyway, Mr. Boring has his big manufacturer, and he's coming out with a

whole new line of clothes designed especially for the girl who's a teeny

plumpish. And I'm going to be the model.

They're going to build their whole campaign around me.

So that's the mystery.

You know, I didn't mean that.

Oh, Della, yes.

That's why I've been eating so much.

I have to gain 12 pounds. Oh, but still keep the same measurements here and

here. Oh, you know what I mean.

But if you don't think it hasn't been wonderful, I mean, all my life I've had

diet and diet.

This man is paying you $200 a week?

Uh -huh. Even before we get started.

Just to eat.

Isn't it fabulous?

Oh, Teller, these past two weeks have been the first real vacation in my life.

You see, Mr. Mason, my father drowned when I was 10 years old.

And then I had to leave high school when my mother got sick.

The money is to be paid to you for the duration of this contract, for two

Yes, yes.

How can I lose?

And maybe there'll be TV and magazine pictures.

Yes? Special delivery.

There. Every week.

Every week, right on time.

My 200 pretty little dollars.

Period. All the crazy things I've ever heard of.

It's a rather stringent contract, but it seems proper.

No, I mean, maybe it is a good idea for once not to have a model.

Always come above $200 for magazine, photography, or any source whatsoever.

used to divide 50 -50 with Mr. Boren.

We used to pay him 50 % of everything that she... He's also gambling, Della.

Paying her out of his own pocket for two years.

That's what it is.

And you know what I'm going to buy with it? Big steak, french fries, shortcake.

Maybe I am just meddling.

Oh, no.

No, no.

The manufacturer changed his mind.

No money.

Well, why didn't Harrison tell me about this this afternoon?

It's...

Mr. Mason, it was a pleasure. A pleasure indeed.

Please sit down.

I was almost certain you'd be in to see me, Mr.

Boring. Well, of course.

Since this letter you sent me yesterday, I'm a little afraid of letters from

lawyers. I mean, who isn't?

Since you failed to make payment this week, Mr. Adler, under the terms of her

contract, I felt she ought to clarify her position.

Oh, I'm black and sorry about that thing. You know, this time I thought I

had one going. The deal was practically ready to sign when this stupid

manufacturer... Furthermore, you should understand that Diane intends to sue for

recovery of any additional checks you may fail to send her for the next two

years. I should also mention the inconvenience caused by your inducing

become overweight.

Just a moment, Mr. Mason. I mean, you can't get blood out of a turnip.

I'd pay if I could.

Until a few weeks ago, you were employed by a man named Foster, who had some

vague sort of insurance offer.

And you don't see the connection between that and high fashion.

You're right. There isn't any.

You see, I'm basically a promoter, an idea man.

Look here, sir. Now, if you don't see the sound validity and new designs for

pleasingly plump, in fact, I'm on my way to a meeting right now. It may still

work out. I'd rather look at this, Mr. Boring, and the 50 % clause.

Was it your idea?

If Diane acquires a large sum of money during the next two years, if she should

marry a rich man, for example,

50 % of that money would be yours.

What?

Mr. Mason, you don't think that I'm the kind of a man that would... I mean, if

you think that I was trying to take advantage of Diane, I just thought it

sort of a contract arrangement for him.

There.

How's that?

Isn't that good faith? Doesn't that make you feel better?

Not when you still have your copy of the contract with Diane's signature on it.

It'll be here in the morning.

But right now, I do have to get to that meeting.

Actually, I have photostatic copies of that contract with which to sue you.

It'll be here.

It'll be here, I tell you. And, Mr. Mason, the very second that I have some

money, I'll make a settlement with that poor girl.

Don't you understand?

I'm sorry.

I mean, I really want to do what's right.

And if you'll just give me a little more time.

And thank you for your time, Mr. Mason. And don't worry, I'll keep in touch.

Don't worry, I'll...

Portrait

of a promoter in Tannington.

Harry, you're beautiful.

Diane may have trouble losing those pounds, but she'll certainly never have

trouble with that stupid man.

Don't know that contract. It had nothing to do with fashions, and it never did.

I should have spotted it the other night. Every single word about Diane

weight or being used as a model is just red herring, just camouflage.

Well, what are you going to do? Tell him to meet me at the office of this man's

foster, Montrose Foster, and tell him to make it fast.

Yes, but... Harrison Borey, yes.

Yes, he used to work for me.

He was here for a couple of years, as a matter of fact.

What was his job, Mr. Foster?

Oh, we're engaged in a number of activities.

Some insurance. Yes, I understand.

But I want to know exactly what Boren was doing before he quit.

Mr. Mason, you're an attorney.

Perhaps if you told me who your client is, I'd be better able to... Did he

handle what you'd call cases?

Investigative work?

Well, yes. I suppose you might say that running down some of these old insurance

things might... You mean running down missing heirs, don't you?

I beg your pardon?

Isn't that your real business?

The missing heir racket?

I don't like your choice of words, Mr. Mason.

What has Harrison Boring done to you?

By the way, where is he now?

You mean you don't know?

If I did, I'd break his stupid neck.

What do you mean, walking in here and suggesting that I... The oldest sense

there is, I guess.

A wealthy person dies, leaving no close relatives.

But a kind investigator finds distant relatives who don't know of the death or

the deceased.

But for a certain percentage, say 50%, the kind investigator will tirelessly

help prove a relationship.

So you read one of our standard form contracts, but hey, the locating of

heirs is a very worthwhile service.

Unfortunately, there were some deceptive decorations on the contract I saw.

Mr. Mason, why don't we make a deal?

Swap what we know.

Over here, have a drink.

Now, this client of yours, who very well may be near to a fortune... No thanks,

Mr. Foster.

You've already told me all you know.

But Mason... Boring double -crossed you, didn't he?

He ran into an inheritance so large that he quit his job to take over on his

own.

Exorbitant. And you don't even know whose inheritance it is, do you?

Do you, Mr. Foster?

Wait! Wait, Mason.

Look, I'll help you if you'll just tell me.

Sorry I'm late, Sherry, but I had another report on Harrison Boring.

Jackpot.

That's right.

Warren even keeps a motel room out there so he can be close to the guy's house

he's been visiting on the QT.

George C. Winlock.

Who's he?

He's the guy with the house. The richest man in town.

Winlock had his money, Paul. Not too long.

He only came to Faroes about 12 years ago and he's made it all since then in

real estate.

Nothing on him before that? No record of it? Not that I can find.

He's married to some society name now, but that's all in the last 12 years,

He's our man, Paul. Let's go.

Sure.

Don't get me.

If Boring's real interested in Diane, let's just sign her up as a missing heir

to somebody's fortune. That sure can't be Wimlock, because Wimlock isn't dead.

At least not yet.

I can't hear you. What do you want?

Is Mr. Winlock in, please? Oh, he's playing golf. Look, mister, he never

Did you call the office or something? His office is closed for the day.

I'd like to wait if you don't mind.

My name is Mason. It's quite important.

Whatever you like.

Nothing, mother. I'll take care of it.

Mason, huh?

I've heard that someplace.

Come on in here.

Just crack some of the old boy's 16 -year -old... Mom, will you please turn

thing down?

Why? If you don't like it, shut your door.

Oh, really, darling?

I'm Mrs. Winlock, and my name is Barry Mason.

Oh, for goodness sake.

Well, surely not the famous Atelier.

How do you do?

Mother, I told him George was out playing golf. Oh?

Oh, of course. Of course, isn't that... Too bad.

Perhaps I could help you, Mr. Mason.

It's a personal matter I have to discuss with your husband, Mrs. Winlock.

Personal?

What can you say?

What has Georgie been up to?

Oh, no, no, I won't be teasing.

I do manage a great many details around here, Mr. Mason. So if you'll just

come... You looking for me?

Oh, Georgia.

Darling, we thought you were still at the club.

I've been home for the past hour trying to hear myself on the telephone over

that crazy...

Well, never mind.

Dear, this is Perry Mason to see you. The lawyer.

If I had any idea... All right, all right. Thank you, dear.

What's on your mind, Mr. Mason? I'm rather busy today.

As I can imagine.

I only hope I'm here in time.

What's that supposed to mean?

Mr. Winlock, I represent a young girl named Diane Adler.

Adler?

Adler. The name means nothing to you?

I meet a great many people, Mr. Mason.

Not to mention the stream of functionaries my wife has running in and

And how about the name Harrison Boring?

Boring?

That's an odd one.

No, I can't say that I've ever... All right.

Thought I was playing a long shot.

Now I know it's a sure thing.

What is?

For heaven's sake.

Let me tell you about Diane Adler.

She's an innocent young girl.

Gullible.

Mixed up.

She had no advantages or family environment.

You see, she lost her father about 12 years ago.

Now her mother is dead.

Well, what's that got to do with me?

Her father was drowned in a fishing accident at Lake Superior.

Some of the bodies were recovered, but not his.

Too bad, Mason, but I really don't see... Where were you 12 years ago, Mr.

Winlock? To be explicit, who were you?

I don't know who you're driving at.

Of course, I only have enough information to formulate a guess.

A guess that...

You might have lived through that accident, changed your name, all the

But I suppose Harrison Boring has proof that you're Diane's father, isn't that

right? Look, I just told you I never even heard of anyone by the name of... I

have evidence that you've been meeting with Boring secretly at the Shady Glen

Motel.

Mason, even if this girl, this client of yours, did have a missing father

somewhere, I'm not sure I understand what sort of... Claim you think she'd

on him? Well, putting aside the moral obligation between human beings, Diane

the sole heir of a dead mother's estate.

It was a four -room house with taxes and mortgage overdue, incidentally.

But it does mean Diane has the legal ability to disassociate her father from

mother's share of his earnings since his disappearance.

Answer your question?

Legally, I mean.

Thanks so much. I told you I'm very busy, ma 'am. One more thing.

Boring cheated Diane into signing a contract entitling him to part of her

But then he tore up the contract.

Only one explanation seems logical.

Boring realized he could receive more money from you directly by blackmail.

much is he asking to keep your secret?

How much money does Boring want?

Mason, please.

I need a little time.

Please, leave me alone now.

I have an investigator who'll keep an eye on Boring.

I also reserve a suite for this evening at the Fair Oaks Inn.

It's close. We can talk there privately.

I want to do the right thing.

But I've got to have time, that's all.

I wanted Boring's motel kept under surveillance until... I know, but he's

cagey, I'm afraid.

While I was registering for a room, I spotted him outside sneaking a look at

car registration.

So you left altogether?

But don't worry, we're covered.

There's an investigator already there who's only too glad to have the job.

Dillard, the clumsy guy I met at the beach, remember?

You said you thought Dillard was working for the steps on Marvin Palmer.

He was. The Palmer fired him an hour ago. So I had him.

Donna? Fired him without pay.

Dillard's madder than a white hand, but at least he'll keep in touch with me

until one of my boys take over.

Diane, what are you doing here?

Oh, well, I was out by the bus stop, you see, and, uh, I mean, well, I couldn't

find the place I was looking for, so I had to find somebody to help me.

Uh, but then this tree... I found her, Perry.

She was on her way to see Harrison Boring.

Why?

And how did you know he was in Farrell's?

Oh. Oh, well, I found these matches he loaned me. But what did you want to see

him about?

Oh, Mr. Mason, you understand, don't you?

To stop all this trouble I've been causing.

I mean, if all we want is to get that other copy of my contract back.

Oh, just because I've been a stupid little idiot gaining all that weight.

Why should all of you be involved?

Did you tell her we were coming here?

No, Gertie did.

After a man named Foster visited Diane.

Foster? Yes, this Mr. Foster came to see me late this afternoon.

And he started asking questions that I couldn't understand.

So after he left, I called your office.

And I thought I was bluffing Foster.

You're not angry with me, are you, Mr. Mason?

Answer that, will you, please, Paul? Probably Mr. Winlock.

Of course I'm not angry, Dan.

You really should be here.

There's something you could be told.

Oh? And I think Della should be the one to tell you.

About Mr. Winlock, you mean?

Who's Mr. Winlock?

Please remember, we're your friends, Diane.

Why don't you slip out the back way, Dillon?

What?

I can't hear you.

It's Dillard, Perry, but I can't hear what he's saying.

Dillard, say it again, will you? I still can't hear you.

But I can't talk any louder, Mr. Drake.

There's cops all over this place.

I said cops.

I'd say there's been a regular parade around here.

No, look.

I've got to get out of here fast.

I'd say there's no point in watching Boring anymore. Didn't you hear me?

I'm all I can see. Boring's dead.

So... I guess I don't write so good in the dark, but I got it all down right

here. Who was in this parade you mentioned?

Well, a whole string of people come to see Harrison Boring this evening.

Then no sooner the last one's gone than a manager comes running over. Then four

minutes later, a squad car.

That's when I started trying to get a hold of you, Mr. Drake.

I mean, I figured maybe you guys might be more interested in seeing this than

the police.

Yeah, I'd say we might.

I don't know what your interest is in this, Mr. Mason. I don't know who you're

trying to nab or anything, but please, the notebook. Who was there?

Well, first this young creep, Marvin Palmer. I don't know what he's up to.

he has me tailing a dame, then he switches me over to watching this

Borey. Go on. Who's next?

Well, a few minutes later, a woman comes. Big car, dressed nice, kind of

-aged lady I never saw before. Stayed seven minutes.

But no sooner she's gone, a guy slips in. He must have been watching, I guess,

on foot. Had pulled down, I'd have trouble spotting him.

Was he the last visitor?

No siree.

And, Mr. Drake, I guess now you hire me, all right. Get this.

Entered 8 .05, left 8 .21, running just two and a half minutes before the cops

and the manager and everybody.

And guess who it was, Mr. Drake? That same broad you were tailing down at the

beach, that Diane Adler.

Pretty good work, girl.

All right, yes, yes, I was there.

Why did you lie to us? Because I didn't kill him.

Honest, I didn't.

Please, please believe me. He was dead when you walked into the room, I

And you stayed there 16 minutes with his dead body? What?

Oh, no.

No, I was only there for a few minutes. Four or five, maybe. Diane, there's

evidence to the contrary.

I don't care. It's a lie.

Look, he wasn't dead.

He was perfectly alive.

And you naturally talked to him about the contract?

Yes. Yes, that's what happened. And he gave it to me.

Oh, I thought he'd argue or threaten me even. But when I told him what I thought

about him, why, he laughed and he threatened my face and... Diane, stop

making up this story.

But it's true, Mr. Mason.

And then I walked here to the center to get your bus. Oh, I was really going to

leave Fair Oaks. And then Della saw me. And I did lie to him, of course, but...

And you're still lying, every word.

Perry.

Mr. Mason, it's a difficult decision to reach.

Decision? Oh, yes, I know what you must think of me.

I know what I thought of myself sometimes.

But my first marriage, well, it just wasn't very successful.

You've got to understand, when I realized people thought I was dead and I

chance to change my name... Mr. Winlock, I know of only one marriage.

Your present situation certainly isn't legal.

My present life doesn't know the full truth.

That's one of the difficulties.

But she took me on faith.

She was willing just to tell all our friends that we'd elope to Las Vegas one

weekend.

But there wasn't really any ceremony.

It was a great sacrifice for her.

Position is very important to her, what people would think.

Well, that eliminates bigamy. Don't be so impatient. I'm trying to explain it

all. I must be impatient.

There's very little time.

Mr. Mason.

I know that I can never make up to Diane for what I did.

But I'm quite willing to discuss the financial settlement.

Willing to give her a quarter, a third of my money perhaps, whatever you think

proper.

But I must insist that this be kept absolutely secret between us.

Diane.

So you're my...

could smell whiskey a half a mile away.

Only when I touched him,

I felt the blood.

So I ran, and I ran, and I ran, and I ran down the road, and I telephoned the

motel, and I said that they should go and look in cabin 10.

What do you want?

Never mind.

You're her, all right.

Just a minute. I'm Miss Adler's attorney.

Oh, is that so?

Well, you might like to know we just caught one of your investigators and

a notebook he threw away.

Well, there's more to this case than the times people went into motel rooms.

Would you ask the gentleman in the other room to step in here, please?

Hey, pull on your leg. There's nobody in here.

Well, read this if you like, lawyer.

That's all.

Come on.

That's right.

It's right here.

That's practically murder.

You heard the doctor testify that the deceased Harrison Boring was killed with

blow from a blunt instrument.

You also heard him say that there were scratches and bruises on the face.

indicating that there might have been a struggle prior to that fatal blow.

Yes, sir, I heard all that. But did you hear anything on the night of the

murder? To substantiate this, from your vantage point in the cabin across the

way, did you hear any struggling?

Any fighting?

No, I told you I didn't hear anything except people's radios all the time.

Besides, a couple of hundred feet across there, like your diagram shows.

You think I got radar?

Just because you've been declared an unfriendly witness, Mr. Dillard.

There's no necessity for you continuing to prove it.

Now, you heard the police testify that someone had hurriedly searched Mr.

Boring's cabin and his luggage, and that they had found liquor spilled all over

it. You heard an expert identify fingerprints of the defendant taken from

desk and from the bureau drawer, and one bloody fingerprint of hers was found on

the wallet in Mr. Boring's coat pocket.

So it seems obvious... That's the pocket where I found the contract. ...around

in that cabin quite a good deal, wouldn't you say so?

Sure. And still you couldn't see any of that movement through the window?

No, the curtains were too thick. You couldn't see anything or anybody in

Fine.

That's all I wanted to find out. That everything that you saw or heard that

night is recorded in this notebook, Exhibit A, is that correct?

Yes, sir, that's correct.

But the police found this notebook in a highway trash can, Mr. Dillard. Did you

put it there?

Yes, sir.

Why?

Well, to get rid of it.

I saw a patrol car making a U -turn. I was afraid maybe they spotted my license

number. You're sure that Mr.

Mason or possibly Mr. Paul Drake didn't suggest that?

No, no, that's not true at all. Mr. Mason told me he couldn't order me to

destroy evidence like that. I was gonna burn it.

Well, they certainly suggested that you get out of town in a hurry.

I remind you, Mr. Dillard, you were clocked going out the highway 90 miles

hour. But that wasn't my idea, don't you understand?

I figured maybe if I disappeared for a while... You mean you were willing to

take all this risk on yourself?

The risk of removing evidence and of removing yourself, a material witness in

murder case?

Well, yes, sir.

I didn't want to get that client in the soup. After all, I was still trying to

earn myself maybe a good job, that's all.

Well, I certainly think that Mr. Mason should thank you for keeping his

reputation clear.

And I'm sure that your fine work will get you a top job in the Paul Drake

Detective Agency.

Now, if you'll read for me, please, this last entry in your notebook.

Miss Diane Adler.

Entered cabin 10 at 8 .05, left at 8 .21.

8 .23 and a half, the manager arrived.

8 .27 and a half, the police arrived.

Your witness.

Mr. Dillard, concerning the first entries in your notebook, the earlier

to Boring's cabin, prosecution has been rather vague about identifying them.

Your Honor, we've already explained to counsel and to the court. We're not

presenting our full case at this time.

Just those few facts necessary to have Miss Adler bound over.

I'm inclined to go along with that approach, Mr. Mason.

This is only a hearing.

Of course I understand.

I'm quite willing to postpone, for the moment at least, my interrogation of the

visitors who have been identified.

But I have a question about the person who immediately preceded Miss Adler in

Boring's cabin.

Quite pertinent.

Proceed.

Mr. Dillard, this man wearing dark hat...

walked to the cabin, entered at 7 .47, left at 8 .02.

You say you didn't recognize him then?

No, sir.

It was too dark over there.

Now, since that night, have you seen someone who perhaps reminded you of that

person?

No, sir.

I'm sorry, sir.

Well, I told Miss Adler that Harrison Boring was trying to cut her out of

something big.

What did you mean by that, sir? Well, I told her she better get after him

because he was cheating her.

And if I knew Harrison, she'd better catch him quick.

Yes, but cheating her of what?

I don't know.

I was just guessing, but those are the exact words I use, and she can't tell

any different.

All right, then. What was the effect of your words on Miss Adler?

Well, she seemed to already know he was cheating her.

But it sure made her mad, all right, because the minute I left, she took off

fair robes just like that.

Thank you, Mr. Foster.

That'll be all.

Mr. Foster.

You say you deliberately upset and angered the defendant so that she might

you to Harrison Boring? That's right. Why were you so eager to find him?

Like I told you, he owed me money.

Not because he was cutting you out of something?

Absolutely not.

Is it possible that you won't admit it because you hoped to take over where

Boring left off?

No, sir.

When Boring left, my employee owed me $352.

If I could have caught him, I would have broken his neck.

But I didn't. Like I testified, I tailed the girl and...

I lost her.

Diane Adler went by bus to Fair Oaks.

You mean you couldn't follow a bus?

Well, I lost her in Fair Oaks. You know, at a drugstore, and I didn't see her

come out.

But I wasn't anywhere near that motel that night.

Are you willing to furnish proof of that?

Of course I am. I wasn't anywhere near it.

Good.

Would you mind putting on this hat?

Your Honor.

Just a moment, Mr. Berger. I don't think this would do any harm.

Of course I don't mind.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

I just can't tell.

Well, what time will Mr. Mason be back from the courtroom?

But I must speak to him the minute he gets back.

Yes, I... Oh.

Yes, I can wait.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Mrs. Winlock, what is it? Mr. Mason, I... I want to know if you're

put on the defense for that girl this afternoon.

Well, that's not a matter I can discuss.

Oh, Mr. Mason, the district attorney's office has been asking questions.

Privately, of course.

I think they may realize that I'm the other woman who was at Boring's cabin

earlier that night.

Just after my son... After Marvin was there.

Yes, I've thought of that possibility, Mrs. Winlock.

But perhaps if you'd tell me why you visited Boring.

I'd be quite willing to give a perfectly logical explanation for that, Mr.

Mason, from the witness stand.

If I testified for, it depends.

If you what?

Oh, listen to me, please.

The girl, Diane, her story's going to be that she thought Boring was drunk.

Isn't that right?

That when she came into the cabin, he was already lying there in the dark.

And she didn't realize that he wasn't just drunk, but died?

Once again, I can't discuss it.

Mr. Mason, if I testified that I thought exactly the same thing, that I saw him

lying there and smelled all that liquor, and if my son, if Marvin, should say

exactly the same thing about his disappear on the witness stand, wouldn't

save Diane from further prosecution?

In return for what, Mrs. Winlock?

Oh, Mr. Mason, she can have all of George's money that you want, but the

truth... The truth about Diane, about our marriage and all that.

It just mustn't come out. Not ever.

Don't you understand?

Of course, Mrs. Winlock. I will definitely be in touch with you.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Della, find Paul.

He has a job to do before we finish lunch.

This way, Perry. I'm Parking Alley.

So what about the times they were prescribed to?

My boys are double -checking every one that's possible.

Two and a half minutes from the time Diane left until the motel manager...

Sorry, Perry, it's right. The motel clock is right every one of those times.

It's right.

Let me do this alone.

Thanks for getting here so quickly, Mr. Reynolds.

Drinks don't give me much choice.

I'll come directly to the point.

You were the man in the dark hat, weren't you? The man who was in the

after the woman and just a few minutes before Diane's visit.

What gives you a crazy idea like that?

Mrs. Winlock has offered to commit perjury.

She wouldn't do that unless she were positive you were that man.

She offered to?

Now, could we have the truth?

All of it?

Yes, I was there.

But Boring had already blackmailed me, Mason. I'd already given him $10 ,000 in

advance in cash.

After talking with you, I realized there was only one thing to do. I went to see

Boring, and I scared the daylights out of him.

I told him I was perfectly willing to expose myself to the whole world, expose

him as a blackmailer, and put him in prison for what he'd done.

You stayed there for only a few minutes, Mr. Winrock?

The gun in my hand helped to convince him, and I might have used it, Mason, if

he hadn't given in.

Given in? He handed me back the $10 ,000 and promised to get out of town for

good. And then you left.

Had Boring been drinking?

In his cabin, there was a smell of whiskey.

He was alive when you left?

I asked you a question.

When you left that cabin, was Harrison Boring alive?

Good heavens, Mason, haven't I done enough to Diane?

What do you want me to do, send her to the gas chamber?

So it's possible, from this diagram, that someone could have visited cabin

number 10 without your seeing.

No, sir, Mr. Mason, I'm sorry, but they just couldn't. What about other means of

access to the cabin?

There's a side window here, for instance.

If it please the court.

We've already proved that that window can't be opened, that there's no back

to cabin 10, that on that night it was impossible even to approach cabin 10

without being observed by Mr. Dillard here from across the way.

Yes, I think we've been over that ground satisfactorily, Mr. Mason. Very well,

Your Honor.

But one or two more questions to clarify the notes in your notebook.

Now, Miss Diane Adler at 8 .05.

Left cabin at 8 .21.

Now, that's written clearly enough.

But what's this number here?

Enter 747. Is that the one you mean?

Oh, it's a seven.

Well, I was writing in the dark, Mr. Mason. But my watch does have a luminous

dial, so... Yes, of course.

And that's left at what time?

802. You mean the man wearing the dark hat.

Oh, yes.

The man in the dark hat.

You're... Quite sure there's no mistake about these times?

Well, like I said, I may be a little clumsy, but at least I can read a watch.

Your Honor, it's obvious that Mr. Mason can't read a watch.

Certainly he's wasting the court's time.

May it please the court, we're trying to confirm certain new evidence we've

uncovered. Go on, Mr. Mason.

You'll be glad to know, Mr. Dillard, that the man in the hat also looked at

watch, and your figures agree.

You mean you found him?

We are further prepared to introduce testimony showing that when this man

the cabin, Harrison Boring was still alive.

He will also state that there was no smell of liquor in the room, that the

whiskey bottle visible was sealed.

Who is it, Mr. Mason? Who?

Why put him on the stand when it's you who committed murder?

Mr.

Dillard, Paul Drake is a very good detective, but Boring still managed to

him. Is that what happened? Did Boring see you watching him?

Doesn't it prove I don't know what you're talking about?

16 minutes you said Diane was in there. In very clear writing.

Why? Because you wrote those times after the fact?

Doesn't it prove stubborn?

Wrote them to cover up what you'd done? Wrote them in a notebook which you could

have destroyed if you'd really wanted to?

I won't answer that. I won't tell. Would a frightened girl think of pouring

whiskey on a man she just fought with?

Doesn't it prove he was drinking it?

No, he was.

What else was he doing?

See, I didn't mean to do it. His head struck this thing when I hit him, see.

All right, all right, he spotted me.

But by that time, I had enough on him.

See, he had this money, see.

But when that guy left, boring comes right over to my cabin.

He says, what gives? Well, naturally, I says, what gives right back? Let's have

some of that money.

Well, he laughed at me. He said he didn't have it anymore.

But I didn't want to rough him up, but...

You see, then I carried him back to his place, and I poured that

whiskey on him, see?

I'm sorry, Jim.

I'm sorry.

So the one thing wrong in Diller's notebook was the time he showed Diane as

arriving at the cabin.

Exactly.

With nerves of steel, a person couldn't spend 16 minutes searching a dark room

with even a drunken occupant present.

But of course, when your wife decided to protect the family name and reputation

by committing perjury, I fully understood. Oh, wait a minute. It was

useless son of hers you were trying to protect.

Oh, Mason, we all make so many mistakes.

Marvin has been snooping around for some time, I guess.

He was getting as close to nailing me as boring himself.

And what's a mother to do?

The wrong thing, maybe. I don't know. I'm sure no judge.

The way I... I ruined poor Diane's life.

Well, we're not hiding the truth anymore now.

My wife is kicking Marvin out on his own.

So you see, the fake can be king.

Just like people.

Wait a minute.

How long has that thing been on?

Diane.

Your father's taking us out for a steak dinner, Diane.

Might be willing to try a little cottage cheese.