Original subtitles

You looking for somebody, young lady?

I'd like to see Mr. Jasbo Williams.

Yes, ma 'am.

That's me.

Well,

I'm Amy Joy Dennis, and I just came out for you recently from down south.

No. Why, I never would have guessed.

Oh, you.

Well, anyway, I sing folk songs and Hoot Daddy and all like that, and I like a

job. Well, do you have any notices?

Notices? Yeah, I mean, where have you worked before?

Professionally. Oh, well, before I came to Hollywood, I used to sing in a little

hillbilly band back home, but fatal mistakes. I might as well have been a

gobbler at Thanksgiving for all the future that wasn't that.

I see.

Well, you see, we can't afford much for talent around here, except for

ourselves, of course.

It won't cost you anything to give me a chance, Mr. Williams.

Okay?

Okay, Amy Jo Jennings.

You want to take a run at a number?

to cast me off discourteously.

And I have loved you so

long. Delight... You got a great voice, baby.

McCollum Hawks.

But your green sleeves was my

delight.

Green sleeves. It's me, Amy Jo.

Your old flatty.

And I'm still burning.

I followed you out here to Hollywood, Amy Jo.

Now, you take it from an old flatty spinner, you ain't never gonna make it

the top, so why don't you come home and marry me?

Crawford, you get out of here. Oh, now, baby, look. Now, get them stars out of

your eyes. You ain't nothing but a queen -size flop.

There ain't no place for you. All right, Mom.

Get up. You ain't going to do nothing here.

That's just a disc jockey, a little radio station back home.

He's been pestering me for years to marry him, but I could never love anyone

awful. Him?

I understand.

Not even... You know, maybe you should quit this racket.

Maybe the thing for you is to get married and raise pretty babies like

You just don't want me to sing at your club because everything was such a mess

tonight. Okay.

Okay, you can come back.

Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night.

Anytime.

You're a nice kid.

I don't want to see you get your heart broke.

This can be a cold, cruel town.

I'll do better tomorrow night. You'll see, Mr. Williams.

Jazz ball.

Jazz ball.

Oh, I know what you're thinking. A lot of girls come out here thinking they can

de -dig the house, but... I'm determined to take it out.

Well, I don't think I'm that pulling for you, kid.

That's where I live, the second building?

Uh -huh.

Spending too much money, too, I'll bet.

Well... But thanks for everything, James. Well, I'll see you tomorrow

Okay. And if I'm good, I can stay?

No pain.

Whatever you say.

When you've been here a week, you're entitled to something.

Oh, you're an angel!

Oh, careless.

kid, but don't say I didn't want it. Let's go.

Sit down, Lyle.

What's the rush?

Look, Harry, I did you a favor and wasted last night meeting her.

She's a sweet, simple kid with no talent. Now, come on. I want you to

me.

Harry, you're out of your tree.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Mason, but they seem happy to want an

encore.

So I accommodated them before they could change their minds.

I'm sure the applause was wholehearted, Miss Chen. Oh, this is all so wonderful,

Mr. Mason. I just adore your business.

Well, now, what was it you wanted me to sign?

Now, this power of attorney and this receipt for a stock transfer to your

account.

Evidently, you haven't gotten very close contact with that business of yours.

Oh.

I'm not awful, but since I got out here, I've been so busy trying to start my

career that I almost plum forgot about it. about the Home Folks Remedies

Company. Well, as company president, that's all you can do as you want, since

you happen to control the stock.

Well, my daddy left it to me. You know, Mr. Mason, he started out peddling

freckle remover and cold cream and cough syrup door -to -door, and now look.

I'm impressed.

You've inherited quite a financial empire.

Isn't it simple?

Mr. Mason, how did my lawyers down in Tennessee know about you?

I went to law school with one of the partners, George Hutchinson.

Oh, Mr.

Hutchinson, the doll.

Well, now, where do I sign?

Right there and there.

Thank you, Mr. Mason. You're a doll, too.

Except, I think maybe in the future I ought to come to your office.

See, the folks around here might not quite understand if... Well, I want them

like me, you understand?

Take my career seriously, not just think that I...

Excuse me, Miss Jennings.

Remember me last night?

Oh, Mr.

Albright. Do I?

Oh, and Mr. Mason, have you met Mr.

Lionel Albright?

He's the movie star.

Hello, Mr. Albright. How do you do?

Harry Bronson is at my table, Miss Jennings. He would very much like to

you. Harry Bronson, the agent?

Yes, he's... Oh, you'll have to excuse me, Mr. Mason. I've got to go now.

Of course, but if I can help you again in London... Hey, now, don't you worry

about me for a second, Mr. Mason. Bye -bye.

There we are, Mr.

Bronson. I'm all fine down the dotted line.

Is there anything else?

Well, that's it for now, Amy Jo, but you'll be hearing from us very soon.

Oh, I just can't tell you how thrilled I am that you're going to be representing

me. It's a real pleasure for Harry Bronson to represent such a fine new

I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial association.

Thank you very much for coming in.

Thank you.

Bye now.

What's the matter?

That person out there.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

Bronson. What person?

Well, his name is Lester Crawford from back home. I just can't turn around

without his following me.

Oh, I'd be mortified if he came around here pestering me. Natalie,

there's someone named Crawford out there.

Will you get rid of him, please?

Immediately. Just do as I say.

Oh, I feel like a nuisance already.

Nonsense.

Just one of the many services we hope to give you.

Is he gone?

Take the other door there. It goes out the side way.

Well, goodbye, my dear. We'll keep in touch.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I take it my husband is in a drunken.

Good morning, Mrs. Bronson. Yes, he is. But I believe Mr. Sebring was just

waiting. Never mind, dear. Never mind.

Harry, don't start talking yet.

Oh.

Hi, Evelyn.

Well, what got you out of bed before noon, baby?

And to the office yet?

Al and I were just gonna... Harry, my diamond watch bracelet.

It's missing.

What do you mean it's missing?

Well, I lost it and someone stole it.

Who knows?

Who knows?

Just like that, huh?

Well, what do you expect me to do about it?

Well, you could have it replaced, darling.

Evelyn, you think I'm made of money?

That watch bracelet sent me back 5 ,000 bucks. 5 ,000 bucks!

Phil put in a claim to the insurance company.

What else are they for?

How many claims do you think I can put in?

Last month, you lost a diamond dinner ring.

Before that, you said somebody stole your main coat. Now, how can I go back

the insurance company? Forget it!

All right, Harry, I will. And I'll pick out another one.

And charge it.

You do that, Evelyn, and I'll cut off every charge account in this town.

All you know to do is spend, spend, spend.

You know I'm putting every dime I can spare into production right now.

Even the dough he owes me, Evie.

Well, that's your problem, Al.

I have my own.

Yeah?

Well, I've got problems, too. Plenty.

But right now, you're not going to be one of them.

Now, get out of here.

You don't have to keep needling me about what's coming to you.

You'll get your dough.

That road show is going to be booked solid through the summer, so hold your

horses. Harry, we are supposed to manage talent, not produce summer musicals.

You don't know anything about producing musicals. And you don't know anything

about a talent agency. That's why you backed my experience, right?

Who brought in the stars? I did, right? What stars?

What big name have you brought in aside from Lionel Albright?

Albright is box office.

He's starring in a musical road show. He's money in the bank. Money in the

You haven't even got enough cash to pay advances.

I'll get the cash.

Now stop bugging me.

I'm a terrible bobble making you drive me home every night.

Well, it's better than letting you pay for the bus.

You don't have to do it Friday night if you'll let me have the night off.

Yeah? What's the deal?

Well, Harry Bronson's throwing a party at the Crystal Room, and if I'm not

there, I'll just perish.

Well, we can't have that.

What is your date?

Oh, I'm stagging. It's just for agency clients and picture people.

You're moving up kind of fast, aren't you?

Is there anything wrong with that?

I'm not sure.

I mean, you're an unknown.

So why is a man like Bronson paying so much attention to you?

That's not going to lay down but good.

That's not the way I meant it, but it's a fair question.

All right, Mr. Smarty. I wasn't going to tell you until I was sure, but I just

may have a part in Mr. Brown's summer musical.

Now, do I get Friday night off or don't I?

Okay. All right, you can go.

If I can pick you up after the party.

What are you, big brother?

You don't have to babysit me.

I'll be waiting for you after the party.

Haley, you are unreal.

I can take care of myself.

I needed motivation.

I don't know how to act.

Oh, Mr.

Bronson, it's so thrilling to even be a little tiny kid of all of this.

Feel like a dream come true?

Oh, if you only knew.

Well, you just heard Mary Bronson, my dear. This is the beginning of a whole

exciting life. Mr. Bronson, they want to take our picture.

Have some of those for my hometown paper and my friends and all.

Don't worry, honey. I'll take care of it.

Like to dance, my dear?

Hello, Mr.

Bronson. Oh, hello.

I'll tell you, the folks back home are just never going to believe it. Their

Amy Jo, star of a musical.

Why don't you divorce him?

And why don't you go out and get yourself a job, girl?

No, I, uh, I've done all I can. Okay.

I've had it.

All right.

I'll redeem your bracelet just as soon as I get a break.

But we could be together any minute if you would just... Now is not the time to

hit Harry for alimony.

As a matter of fact, right now... Right now he's worth more dead than alive,

huh?

Chris.

Joe and 7 -7.

Why don't you mind your own business?

Well, all I meant was that she's a nice kid.

I just wondered what... I know what I'm doing. That's all you need to know.

Okay.

Now,

just wait.

Just you sit here and wait.

Hey, buddy.

Isn't that Audrey Stemple, the singer?

Yeah, big deal.

Man, I hope she's not just coming to the party. I thought it'd be all over by

now. She ain't going to no party, friend.

She's going to fry an egg, she says.

Take just a minute, she says.

Slow -basted and gin.

What that thing needs is a St. Bernard with a keg around his neck.

Well... It's one way to stay awake, I guess.

Excuse me, Mrs. Bronson. Yes? Your husband isn't feeling very well. Oh, now

don't tell me he's pooping out in his own party.

It's his stomach again, that's all. But he would like to go home right away. Go

home? Well, darling, I can't leave home, I guess.

Tell him to drive himself.

He's afraid to.

Please, you understand, Mrs. Bronson. When Harry takes tranquilizers, you can

nurse me to yourself, I'm sure.

Mr. Sebring will help you.

Now, run along, darling.

Good girl.

I've got to go, I tell you. Please, Audrey.

And I said I want to see Harry.

And I said tomorrow morning.

That's all I know. He said see him tomorrow morning.

Do you know how many offers I've had for other parts?

If he thinks I'm going to sit around twiddling... Baby, it is all arranged.

You will get your advance. Harry said so.

Well, then why can't I see him tonight?

Because his wife's here. Because a million things. I don't know.

Look, be a good girl. Let me go and you go home. Huh, baby?

No.

You will get your advance tomorrow in cash.

Amy Jo, let's get out of this job. No!

Oh, I'm sorry. I kept you waiting and all jazzed over.

Well, this is my night.

Look, I've got to talk to you. And I've got to talk to you, because you don't

know what happened.

Listen, don't tell anybody yet, but I am going to play opposite Mr.

Lionel O 'Brien.

Really true.

And Mr. O 'Brien's in some musical.

Come here.

Could we have your autograph, please, Miss Temple?

Why, you sweet thing, you.

You hurtin' lady.

Yes, please.

Oh, my friend here works on a high school newspaper. I thought maybe I

her a story or something.

You are going to do a musical show this summer for Harry Bronson, aren't you?

Well, as a matter of fact... With Lionel Albright, maybe?

How'd you guess?

Of course, I don't usually do summer shows, but yes, Harry... Bronson has

persuaded me. No.

No, he's only doing one musical and... Oh, it's all the very secret, honey, so

far. But I've got that part.

I'm going to star in your... What?

You? Amy Jordan, I was... It's true. He promised me.

Well, even before I...

I wonder if she went home at all after the party last night.

Harry, just because she signed with Harry Bronson doesn't mean that she has

connections with... That's what worries me, Dylan.

Why would Harry Bronson sign an unknown who has no great talent but does have a

great deal of money?

Ordinarily. I suppose she wouldn't even be invited to this kind of party.

Exactly.

And I found that Bronson's in financial difficulties.

And now, Bronson being dead and Amy Jo missing.

Hello, Paul. Do you have something?

No, it didn't get in the papers. But the police found a woman's glove lying on

the floor next to Bronson's body.

A glove could belong to anybody.

Have you checked at Hillbilly Haven?

Club doesn't open until 4 p .m. And Jasbo Williams, the proprietor, isn't

in the phone book. But I hear he has a small beach house out of Malibu.

Which, of course, takes on a lot of territory.

Fine then, Paul. Go over that beach with a fine tooth, Paul.

Mind if I use vacuum cleaners?

Might sell if you go in door to door. That's a good idea.

I'm looking for a girl who works at your place, Miss Annie Jo Jennings.

Well, Miss Jenny, she's here, Mr. Grant.

Just a hunch.

Well, I hope when you go to the races you don't pick your horses the same way.

No, I have a system of the horses.

This is her lawyer's hunch, not mine.

Her lawyer?

Mary Mason.

What does Mr. Mason want with me?

Well, after what happened last night, Miss Jennings is a little worried.

Particularly since you couldn't be reached at home.

What happened last night?

Haven't you read the morning papers?

Harry Bronson was murdered.

Murdered?

No.

When I saw him, he was... He was only asleep.

When was that?

Amy Jo went to a party he gave last night.

That's the last time she saw him.

Yes. Yes, at the party. That's when I saw him. He was... Well, he takes pills

something.

Are you missing the mate to this?

Yes, I...

I lost it last night.

I guess in the parking lot after the party.

Why?

What's the matter?

Well, I guess Perry Mason has better hunches than I do.

Perry?

I'm with Amy Jo and she's in this thing up to her neck.

Yeah.

Here's the address.

And then I ran out of the parking lot and I took a cab to Mr.

Bronson's house.

Who admitted you, Amy Jo?

Well, somebody had left the keys in the door.

Rather convenient, wasn't it?

It's the gospel truth, Mr. Mason.

Nobody was home except, well, Mr.

Bronson was in the library flat on his back on the couch.

I didn't even see him at first. He was so sound asleep.

Honestly,

I didn't dream he was dead.

There wasn't any blood or anything like that.

So you tried to wake him up?

I shook him a little, and I even poured some water on his face from the glass

that was there, but it didn't faze him.

Water would hardly faze a dead man.

Maybe he wasn't dead then.

He was sort of limp, not rigid and all like they say a corpse gets.

And then I heard something, and I thought maybe I'd better leave.

And then when I ran down the hall, I saw a car coming up from the side street,

and I knew he'd be all right.

How long were you there, Amy Jo?

Just long enough to try to get my check.

Well, I thought it would be in his wallet.

You searched his wallet?

Well, it just sort of fell out of his pocket.

But the check wasn't there.

And even before I saw him, I looked through some papers on the desk and the

drawer.

Well, after all, I felt I had a right to get my check back now, didn't I?

Your fingerprints will show up everywhere in that room, of course.

Well, good gracious, Mr. Mason, that doesn't mean I killed the poor man.

All right.

Now, tell me about the car you saw.

Well, I didn't really see what it looked like.

I just wanted to run, don't you understand?

I walked all over that neighborhood trying to find a cab.

And then Mr. Williams here came driving by, but he's just mad at me because I

have so much money.

Because I'm so plain dumb foolish.

Well, Mr. Mason, if you only knew how mortified I was.

Believe in that...

Ann was going to put me in some kind of a big story.

Oh, but what am I going to do?

I am Stan Paul, right away.

Yes. And if the check is on her hometown bank, maybe I can't stop payment,

but... If and when the check's deposited, that's what I want to know.

And who the person is who deposits it.

Exactly.

Meanwhile, I've got some other stuff to run down for Perry, so... And maybe that

person is the murderer.

Well, don't count on Amy Jo not getting some votes.

Bronson's death was a terrible shock to me, Mason.

I could hardly believe it when I saw the papers.

Mr. Albright, I assume you've been represented by Bronson and Sebring for

time. Well, by Harriet Bronson personally.

We've been friends for a long time.

A night at the party, did you know Miss Jennings gave Bronson $50 ,000?

No, not precisely.

I didn't know she had that kind of money.

But I knew that Bronson wasn't leveling with her.

He was using her some way to...

Not so loud.

My head might fall off.

Miss Dimple, this is Mr. Perry Mason, the attorney.

Hello. Where's your tomato juice?

Mr. Mason represents Amy Jo Jennings.

Drink, Mason?

No, thanks.

That's stupid, little wench.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason, but I hope she gets the limit.

Audrey, there have been no accusations against her yet, Miss Dimple.

Well... If I had just kept my big mouth shut, Harry would still be alive.

And you and I, Lionel, would be getting some fat paychecks this summer.

And I could use a few.

Well, anyway, I hope they find her.

I hope they throw the book at her. Shut up, Audrey. Drink this.

I won't shut up.

I'll scream.

Hello? Yes?

There's not enough pepper in this.

Just a moment, please.

Mr. Mason, for you.

Thank you.

Hello? Terry, one of the banks just called back, and that check has already

deposited. Who, when, and where?

First thing this morning, deposited to the agency account of Bronson and

by Harry Bronson's own secretary.

Thanks, Ella.

Any news?

Anything important?

Miss Temple would like some more pepper.

There's nothing improper about depositing Miss Jennings' check in the

account, Mr. Mason.

But I understood it was made out of bronze in production.

That's a subsidiary.

True, my partner handled that end of the business, but I'm a vice president.

Miss Graham here is authorized to make any and all deposits.

That's great.

How did you acquire the check so quickly, Mr. Sebring?

Well, there's nothing mysterious about that either, Mr. Mason.

Natalie and I drove Harry home last night.

And he gave me the check to take straight to the bank this morning.

Mr. Sebring, you know, of course, that Miss Jennings gave your partner the

under the assumption that she would be starred in his summer musical.

Natalie, do you know of any such agreement in writing with Miss Jennings?

No.

The only contract that we have with Miss Jennings is to represent her in all

phases of entertainment.

So there you are, Mr. Mason.

We really didn't ask Bronson any questions.

Money is money.

Not until it clears the home bank, Mr. Sebring.

We'll stop payment on that check immediately.

Mr. Drake?

Amy Jo?

Amy Jo, now I know you're in there. Now you

open the door.

Now you want me to go running up and down the beach yelling your name?

Amy Jo, you want everybody to know where you're hiding?

Lester, how did you find me?

Yeah, Tonya, that was pure easy.

I just followed you down here.

Nearly two weeks ago.

Sure.

That's the way a fellow's got to be, Amy Jo.

Well, at least for certain girls.

Well, I don't want to see you, Lester, please. Sure.

What are you doing here all alone, Amy Jo?

Where's that jazz ball character?

He went out to get us something to eat.

When?

Three hours ago.

Well,

Amy Jo, if you're hungry, I got a candy by here. You want

it?

Well, anyhow.

I sure wouldn't desert you. I don't care how much trouble you're in.

He didn't desert me.

Or let myself get caught by the cops.

Maybe.

Well, what's the difference?

But I sure do hate to think what he might be saying to them about you.

all. That's not true.

Jasper wouldn't.

Lester.

I didn't really do anything.

I didn't kill Harry Brownson.

Well, Amy Jo, now, whether you did or whether you didn't, I

guess you had motive enough, and I want you to know that I'm going to do

anything that I can to help.

I told you I didn't kill him. Well, Amy Jo, now, then what are you sitting here

for?

Don't you see what I mean? They're going to accuse you of this.

And your reputation?

You're going to spread your name all over them papers.

Amy Jo, your career.

It is going to go so slowly.

We've never even come out here.

Why has John been such a fool?

Oh, no, no, no, no, Amy Jo.

You ain't nothing but a woman.

I'm going to think real hard for you.

Yeah, I'm going to think really hard for you.

Lester!

Mind if I come in, Counselor?

Oh, hello, Andy.

I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier when you called. Which time?

Well, never mind.

When you're hiding a client, I understand how it is.

All right, Andy. If you'd like to take a ride now, I'll surrender Amy Jo

Jennings. Perry, why don't you ride with me instead?

We've already got her in jail.

She wants to see her lawyer.

Mr. Albright, you've stated that you knew that Mr. Bronson was having trouble

financing this musical. Now, when did you first have knowledge that the money

for the production had been raised?

At the party, before Bronson was murdered.

He told me we were all set to go into production.

In fact, that's what he was celebrating.

Well, did you know that the defendant was providing this financial backing

apparently on the basis of promises that she was going to have a part in the

production? Well, at the time, I could only surmise that's where he got the

money.

I did know that Bronson was in no position to risk Amy Jo in a starring

I understand, but when did you learn that she was to have no part at all?

Bronson's party that night.

The night of the murder?

Yes. Then you say that you had learned that even after Bronson had accepted the

check from the defendant, He still planned to have Audrey Stemple play that

part, just as he had intended all along.

Yes. I warned her he was making a mistake pulling a stunt like that. I

him he was headed for trouble.

Well, did you mean that Miss Jennings might simply withdraw her financial

support? Or were you suggesting that the shock of finding out that she had been

used, cheated, might cause her to... Objection, Your Honor.

Sustain.

I'd never seen this girl before until she came up with that man.

He asked me if I was going to do Harry Bronson's show.

Well, for some impulsive reason, I admitted it.

Even though Harry asked me to keep it a secret for a while.

Now, what was the defendant's reaction when you said that you were going to

start with Mr. Albright?

Well, you'd think she was being murdered.

Like poor Harry was.

And what did Miss Jennings do?

She ran out of the bar.

And what did you do, Miss Temple?

I had my taxi drive me home.

The next morning, of course, I was very upset I had even spoken to that couple.

If I had kept my mouth shut, poor Harry would never have been murdered.

Objection, Your Honor. If this witness is going to persist in objection

sustained, the witness will confine herself to direct answers to counsel's

questions. Proceed, Mr. Berger.

I have no further questions, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Anderson, it's been established that the victim died from a

blow in the back of the head administered by some blunt instrument

this ashtray. Now, you have, of course, seen the ashtray before?

Yes, sir. And you also heard testimony to the effect that the indented fracture

in the back of the victim's skull exactly matched the curve of this

did. Now, what other laboratory investigation was this ashtray subjected

Fingerprint analysis.

We found clear prints of the defendant on the sides.

There. I see.

Lieutenant, would you tell us, please, where you found this lady's glove?

On the floor in Mr. Bronson's library, near the couch on which the body lay.

where did you find the mate to this glove, Lieutenant?

In Mr. Williams' beach house, where the defendant had been staying until she was

taken into custody.

Now, what other evidence did you uncover to place the defendant at the Bronson

home? Her fingerprints were found on some desk drawers, which apparently had

been ransacked.

Also on an empty water glass on a table near the body. I see.

And now, Lieutenant, finally, would you identify this wallet for us?

Yes, sir. It belonged to the deceased.

The morning after the murder, the police recovered it from some bushes along the

main front drive of the Bronson estate.

Thank you, Lieutenant. That'll be all. Mr. Mason?

Lieutenant, were fingerprints found in the wallet you just examined?

No. It's been stated that the victim lay face up on the couch. That he had been

struck on the back of the head.

Therefore, there was no blood or visible sign of injury. Now, is that correct?

Well, he was a little messed up. There were some signs of a struggle, but...

doctor stated that his autopsy indicated traces of a tranquilizing agent in Mr.

Bronson's stomach.

You are familiar with that report, of course. I also heard the doctor state he

did not think the amount was sufficient to induce any heavy sleep.

Now, Lieutenant, please confine yourself. I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Well, you do know what I'm driving at, don't you, Lieutenant?

If Mr. Bronson had been heavily, soundly asleep, then wouldn't you say that a

visitor to the room might have become worried about him? Might have picked up

glass to put water on his face?

Perhaps even have moved that ashtray aside?

And you, Mr. Mason.

I'll withdraw that question, Your Honor.

That's all, Lieutenant.

After the party...

I left our car at the hotel.

Mr. Thompson drove me home.

We had just parked and switched off the lights when we saw a woman running off

down the street.

Did you recognize that woman, Mrs. Bronson? Of course.

It was Miss Jennings.

Didn't you attempt to follow her?

No.

Well, at the time, it seemed more amusing than alarming.

Mrs. Bronson, I show you this diagram of your area.

Now, the police have testified that they found your husband's wallet.

In this shrubbery by the drive.

Did the woman you saw fleeing pass anywhere near that shrubbery?

Well, that's exactly where I saw her first.

It's exactly the way she said. I saw exactly the same thing as Mr. Bronson.

All right, but will you tell us in your own words exactly what you saw when you

went into the house and entered the library?

Well, as Evelyn said, Harry was lying there on the couch, face up, dead.

The desk drawers had been gone through, like the lieutenant said.

There was a glove on the floor.

Naturally, I didn't touch anything, except, of course, the telephone to call

police. Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Thompson, you were a frequent visitor at the Bronson home, were you

I was there occasionally.

Did your visits usually coincide with Harry Bronson's absence?

Of course not.

He was away from home a lot, that's all.

I noticed neither you nor Mrs. Bronson stated how quickly you entered the house

after seeing a woman run off down the street.

It was the defendant, you mean.

Well, I suppose it was a minute or two.

There really didn't seem to be any cause for alarm. That is, until we found the

key in the front door.

A minute or two.

Could it have been three?

Perhaps. Four, four, five, ten?

Now, see... Well, we're quite oblivious of the passage of time, Mr. Thompson.

Look, I resent the... Why do you resent it?

You've identified yourself as a family friend.

Surely there's nothing wrong with parking in a secluded spot with an old

friend's wife?

Your Honor!

I beg the court's indulgence, but I would like to ask one question.

Do you happen to know how much life insurance Harry Bronson carried?

No, the thought never entered my mind.

Well, Mr. Williams, you just heard the judge tell you that you must answer

questions. Now, where did you finally find Miss Jennings that night?

She was on the street, a couple of blocks from the Bronson house, looking

taxi. And what was her appearance, her manner?

Upset, I guess.

Wouldn't hysterical be a more accurate word, Mr. Williams?

No. No, I said before, she was crying.

That's all.

Oh, I see. You took her down to your beach house and hid her there just

she was crying.

I wasn't trying to hide her. She was in a state of shock, you might say. I was

afraid she would... I got this spare room.

Mr. Williams, we all understand what she'd been through that night.

Isn't it true that you hid her at your beach house because you were afraid of

what she might do in her hysterical condition?

Harry gave Natalie, your secretary, his keys so she could open the front door

and let us in the sideway.

And when you and the secretary left, the keys were still in the door lock?

I suppose so. I didn't really notice.

I think that'll be all, Mr. Sebring. First examiner.

Mr. Sebring.

Why did you and Bronson want to enter the house through the side door instead

the front?

Well, we just wanted to be alone for a minute, that's all.

Discuss some personal things.

Money matters without Natalie there.

Money matters.

The fact that your agency was going broke.

Going broke because Bronson had never put in his share of the company

he promised.

Mr. Mason, if you're still trying to imply that I had no right to deposit

check to Miss Jennings... Your Honor...

I see no reason for counsel to pry into the business affairs of this witness.

Your Honor, this matter involves a fraud perpetrated against my client.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am curious, Mr. Seabrain.

Why did you form a partnership with a man like Harry Brunson in the first

Well, Harry had some big clients and I didn't.

At least he had Lionel Albright.

Only instead of using him in something to bring him quick cash, Harry had to go

gambling on his own with some of the musicals.

In other words, Bronson had no intention of your sharing the profits he made.

That's a general idea.

So when you saw a $50 ,000 check, you saw a chance to avenge yourself.

No.

Temptation was too great. You saw a chance to... No, that's not true.

I didn't steal that check and I didn't kill Harry.

Mr. Mason, I didn't hit Mr. Bronson over the head with that ashtray or anything

else. But unfortunately, your fingerprints... Well, I was trying to

check.

There were some papers on the desk. Maybe that's when I moved the ashtray.

Well, yes, maybe it is. I remember now. I wish you'd remembered to stay put in

Jasbo's shack on the beach.

But I told you, Jasbo hadn't come back. He'd already been caught, like you said,

and they made him tell where I was. So you decided you just had to go out and

get a hamburger.

But I was hungry.

Oh, I know you told me not to leave there, but I wasn't going to run away or

anything. At least I don't think I was, but I was also confused, and Lester said

that... Lester?

Mr. Crawford? Well, it was his idea that I could leave the beach house without

being... Well, you have some long -distance investigators.

But they want to hurry, I know. And don't forget the nice guy. Don't worry.

Nice guy?

Cross your fingers, Amy June.

But I did not pry into private affairs.

I'm a secretary.

I've done only what I've been told to do.

I'm not asking you about the check, Miss Graham.

I simply want to know when you first heard the name Amy Jo Jennings.

When she signed her contract with us, I suppose.

You handled no messages concerning the girl before that? Well, I did hear Mr.

Bronson ask Lionel Albright to go hear the girl singing a few days before that.

And I remember Mr.

Albright said he couldn't be bothered.

But then, of course, Mr. Bronson insisted.

Then where did Bronson learn the girl's name?

It might have been after that loud young man came visiting the first time.

Loud young man?

A disc jockey Mr. Bronson met a few years ago.

His name is Lester Crawford.

All right.

Yes, I did drop in to say howdy to Mr. Bronson. Well, that's all.

And tell him who Amy Jo Jennings really was.

Tell him how much money she had.

Mr. Crawford, I find that you left your last employment with the radio station

in Tennessee rather hurriedly.

Well, no, actually, I didn't see... I'm also informed there is a slight

discrepancy in the advertising accounts which the station would still like to

talk to you about. A discrepancy of exactly $10 ,000.

Isn't that true?

No, that is not true.

Remember, you're under oath.

You wouldn't want to add perjury to your other troubles, would you?

I... I was going to pay the station back.

Oh. With whose money?

Amy Jo has certainly said no to you a thousand times.

Yes, but, uh... Was Harry Bronson going to give it to him? He said he might.

As payment for giving him a ripe plum named Amy Jo, just ready for picking?

Now, look, now, that ain't no way to talk about it. Mr. Crawford, the day

the murder, why did you want Amy Jo caught running?

Why were you so anxious to have her look guilty?

Now, look, I, uh... Oh, listen, Amy Jo, I didn't, uh... Don't talk to her, or

she'll tell you that she didn't throw that wallet of Bronson's into the

shrubbery. Now, who did? You?

Maybe I did.

He owed me that money. He promised to pay me $10 ,000 as soon as she paid him.

Were you in the house that night?

Of course I was. Don't you understand?

I killed him.

Go on, Mr. Crawford.

He said he wouldn't pay.

He got real nasty like.

Told me to get out.

That's when I hit him.

Only he didn't get up.

And I carried him to the couch.

That's when I heard Amy Jo coming in.

I hid there until after she left.

Then I picked up the wallet and went off the side.

Only there was this car pulling in there, so I went off across the back way

through the woods.

But the wallet, Mr. Crawford.

Well, there wasn't but $50 in it.

I read in the papers the next morning that they were looking for Amy Jo, so it

was a terrible thing to do.

But I went back in.

past the wall at the back, right near the front where Amy George passed when

went out.

Forgive me, Amy Jo, but I didn't want to go to the gas chamber.

Don't you see?

Let's continue, Mr. Crawford.

Did you hit Bronson with an ashtray?

I don't know.

He might have fell against him.

I don't know.

And the, uh, car.

on the side road.

Amy Jo also mentioned hearing it.

Of course, we've already established that the couple parked in front were

oblivious of time.

Perhaps even the sound of the other car.

But I didn't want the guy to see me.

The guy? What guy?

Well, sure, the guy in the car, you see. But now, if he saw me... Did you see

him, Mr. Albright?

What?

Did you go inside and find Bronson still unconscious from Lester's blow and

realize that here was your chance to even the score with your agent?

Mr. Albright, you're considered to be quite a nice guy.

Now, why did you stay with Harry Bronson's agency?

Why were you willing to waste your talent on a speculative summer musical

which even Audrey Stemple insisted she be paid some sort of advance?

I'm not a nice guy.

Amy Joy, I thought that guy running through the woods would be blamed for

Not you.

But did I open my mouth about it?

No.

But once I was even lesser with my sky.

And Harry knew it.

And all of these years he's been using me.

Bleeding me.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I saw my chance.

I killed him.

Wake up in the morning to the alarms ting -a -ling.

Hop out of the hay, face the day with a zing.

How do you like the act so far?

Life can be an endless dream if you use home folks' freckle cream.

Well?

Well, what do you think?

Well, uh, uh, I think Jasbo has a...

Great future.

Doing singing commercials.

Singing commercials?

Me? Oh, jazz boy, you just love it down south.

You love working for home folks, remedies, and after all you said, I

belong here, so... Stop fighting it, son. Who cares about the future?

You're going to marry the boss someday, aren't you?