Original subtitles

Dave, let me go in. Make it official.

I'll handle it. She's my sister. That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want you

using your badge.

With me, it's impersonal. Now, we've had a complaint. I've had a complaint, and

this isn't the first time.

And if Oliver as much as says good morning to her again, he's in for

Dave!

How's the girl, Lieutenant? Is she gonna live?

Did your sister make any kind of a statement, Sergeant? Listen, did any of

boyfriends ever try to rough her up before?

Did you know your sister was going around playing patty cake with a married

Why, you foul -minded!

Come on, will you let go? Come on, David!

Mr. Mason will call you first thing in the morning.

Right. Thank you.

Perry, I'd like to talk to you about the Bakersfield case. Will it hold till

after lunch, Paul? Judge Marino's waiting. Sure, it will.

Perry. Steve Drummond's here.

Did he say what he wants? Oh, excuse me.

Yes, Gertie?

Oh, tell them the papers went to court this morning.

Right. You seem very upset about something. I told you to wait in the

I forgot to ask you about the suggested instructions to the jury that you're

preparing for submittal to Judge Washington. Excuse me.

Not now. I'll get to that this evening. What about Steve? Well, I'll see him

now.

That's the one course I didn't get in law school.

How to avoid ulcers.

Perry, I can't help Dave Wolf.

I've been assigned to investigate.

Well, Steve, why don't you ask to be relieved?

That would make it a lot easier for me. Let's see now. Dave's been with the

force nine years, six with homicide.

If I were to ask out, then who would they stick with the assignment?

So, it's your job to hang your best friend. When it comes to my job, I'm not

supposed to have any friends. Oh, of course not. Perry, will you defend him?

Steve, I don't see how I can possibly take on something else at the present

time. Perry, I've made it a rule never to ask any favors or to give any.

But Dave Wolfe's gonna need the best defense he can get.

And I'm gonna see that he gets it.

As the bullet -torn body of Joe Oliver was moved to the ambulance, Sergeant

Wolfe said he had it coming.

Somebody just saved me the trouble. I'll eat him alive, Perry.

And have the rest of the force for dessert.

Well, it's certainly obvious that Sergeant Wolfe isn't making it any

himself. Then talk to him, Perry. Tell him to keep his mouth shut.

Do you believe Dave killed that man?

Well, this is what I know.

Dave was overprotective as far as his sister was concerned. He raised the roof

when she insisted upon her own apartment.

Now, when I dropped him off, he was boiling mad because Oliver had made a

at her.

What kind of officer was he before this happened?

Decorated twice. Straight, dependable, hot -tempered, but fair.

He just suddenly fell apart.

That's right.

Now you take the way he fired that gun.

All men are trained to fire in series of three shots.

That's drilled in until it's instinct.

He unloaded all six chambers at once, point blank, at an unarmed man. Not to

stop, but to kill. Wrong, Perry. Wrong on all counts.

But you think he did it. It's my job to prove he did.

I'm asking you to prove I'm wrong.

Why is everybody so concerned about Oliver?

He beat up my sister. Did you see her?

Why does he get all the sympathy? She's the one in the hospital, but nobody

wants to talk about that. Nobody wants to listen to that.

Dave, every word you say is being used against you.

The newspapers are vehement. The public is paying attention.

Naturally. I'm a cop. Didn't you know this is Get a Cop Week?

You're a what?

A cop.

Then use your head and start acting like one.

Well, what's that supposed to mean?

You haven't used your head since you rushed into that room and got hit from

behind. The greenest rookie on the force knows better than to enter a room that

way. Well, Susan was screaming.

All right, that's past.

Now start putting nine years of training and experience to work.

What is it you want to know?

Do you want me to enter a plea of justifiable homicide?

Justifiable homicide?

Or involuntary manslaughter?

A police officer in the line of duty killing a man who was beating a woman? I

didn't kill him. How many times do I have to say it? I never fired that gun.

Then who did?

I don't know, I told you. If you want me to help you, you're going to have to do

better than that.

Very slowly, Dave. Start reconstructing.

I want you to remember every movement, every word, every sound and smell from

the time you entered that building until you were arrested.

Make it the best job of police reporting you've ever done.

How soon can I see my sister?

We checked with the hospital an hour ago. Susan's still unconscious.

You know what really gets me?

There were four people at home in their apartments and not one of them lifted a

finger to help her.

Perhaps the man or woman who shot Oliver was trying to help Susan.

Maybe they had a better reason to kill Joe Oliver.

So far, Dave, the only one I know who had a reason was you.

Hi, Susan.

They're pretty.

This is a friend of mine, Perry Mason.

Hello, Susan.

Where's Dave?

He'll be here as soon as he can.

Tell him I'm sorry.

I should have told him about the phone calls.

Phone calls?

I didn't want him to worry.

I should have told him. What phone calls, Susan?

Monk said he was dangerous.

Warned me for my own good.

Well, that's all right, Susan.

He won't bother you anymore.

Where is he?

He's, uh, dead.

Hemp Fisher's dead?

No, Susan.

Joe Oliver's dead.

No. No, not Joe Oliver.

Who was it, then?

I can't tell.

I swore to Hemp.

I wouldn't.

Dave lied to you, to me.

Who's Ham Fisher?

I don't know yet, but if Susan's rational, if I understand her, he's the

that gave her that beating, and that pretty well explains why Dave made up

story.

I don't follow.

Dave went up to that apartment, steaming mad, determined to get Oliver.

It was Oliver's bad luck to be on the scene.

Dave saw red, fired, and then he realized he killed the wrong man, and

friend, is what the newspapers call a trigger -happy cop.

and the D .A. calls second -degree murder.

We have at least three stories now, Paul.

Steve Drums, Susan Wolfs, and Dave's.

Make that four stories. There's also ham fishes.

The police have him on the griddle, and his lawyer's down there screaming cover

-up and broadsiding the papers with a story about how the cops protect their

own.

Della, would you please call homicide?

Ask them if they'll let me see Aunt Fisher.

Will do.

Now, Dave is sticking to his story. He saw no one else. He was hit. And when he

came to, Oliver was dead.

Perry, suppose Susan's telling the truth.

Then your client was Trigger Ampy and knocked off the wrong man.

Well, Aunt Fisher might save us a lot of trouble.

By admitting he beat up a girl, struck an officer, and killed a bystander? Uh

-uh. And besides, if Oliver wasn't attacking Susan...

What was he doing there, and why was he killed?

I wonder what version we'll get from the witnesses at the apartment house.

The police are still stymied.

The witnesses are all but mute.

The girl was screaming, they heard shots, and Oliver was dead.

Did they say why they just sat there doing nothing while that girl screamed

help? They all have the same answer.

They didn't want to get involved.

Perry, the police just released Hampton Fisher on bail.

Look, I'll tell you the same thing I told him downtown.

I was like 20 miles away from the chick's pad last night.

And you, of course, have the witnesses to prove it.

Me and Monk Coleman were riding around the strip catching a few combos.

Do I look like the kind of guy that would con you, friend?

You're not going to pin this on me to get that cop off the hook.

Mr. Fisher.

I'm going to presume that you're telling us the truth and that you told the

police the truth.

But that means Susan Wolfe is lying.

Now, why would you do that?

It beats me.

Maybe she's trying to protect some guy. Maybe she has it in for me. I can't

figure the kooky chick out.

You do know Susan Wolfe, don't you?

Like I know ten dozen other birds, but not well enough to slap around.

How well do you have to know him for that?

Has Susan ever been here?

Yeah, a few times.

That and maybe the last couple of weeks, though.

The manager told her to cool it the last time she was in.

Why? Did she give him reason to ask her to leave?

She made the scene with some creep from that apartment joint she lives in.

The creep made trouble when one of the boys in the band asked her to dance.

I mean, the creep was green jealous.

I don't know why.

I mean, you dance the Watusi.

Nobody touches nobody, right?

Do you know this creep?

Who objected to her dancing?

I don't know his name. I've seen him around.

How about the man he had the argument with?

He's in the lot polishing the car, Monk Coleman.

He's your friend?

Alibi.

Thank you, Mr. Fisher.

If you don't mind, I'll talk to Mr. Coleman.

Say, I'm not the kind of guy that jumps to conclusions, but I get the feeling

you don't like me.

You know, I'm not the kind of guy that passes out compliments.

But you really got me figured.

Well, there was an argument, all right, but I don't get the idea I was teed off

with Susan.

It was like a character she was with.

Ron, what's his name?

It wasn't the first time I tangled with him or the first time he embarrassed

Susan. You had met him before then.

Yes, sir. I used to have a place in the same building where he and Susan have

apartments. Oh, I'm sorry. It's all right.

Paul Drake and Mr. Coleman. Hi. They just call me Monk.

What about the first time you and this Ron had an argument, Monk?

When I was living over there, he made a big thing over protecting her from

crummy musicians.

It sounded off one time when a couple was having dinner in her apartment.

I let it go.

Another time he brought the manager.

Joe Oliver?

Yes, sir.

This Ron brought him over to my apartment and broke up the party because

was there.

Well, I lost my temper and I flattened him. When was the last time you dropped

by Susan's apartment?

Now look, Mr. Mason.

I know what you're getting at, but you're wrong.

Last night, I was with Ham. We were just driving around.

You're willing to swear in court that you and Ham Fisher spent the whole night

together? If they call me, I'll tell the truth, sir.

Mr. Mason, Susan's a sweet kid.

Decent.

I'm just as sick about her being beat up as you are.

Did she hurt bad?

Very bad.

I wish I could help.

You have helped, Monk.

You've helped a lot.

That Ron character was so jealous, he objected to somebody dancing with Susan.

Why was he sitting on his hands when somebody beat the devil out of her?

You're making me nervous, Ron.

I've got to talk to that lieutenant today.

Last night, all he asked me was my name and what I did and if I saw anything

like that.

What did he ask you? I mean, when he talked to you this morning. Oh, come on.

told you three times already.

What was I doing?

What did I hear? Did I leave the apartment?

Was I alone?

Did I know anybody who'd want to kill Joe?

Well, see, I was studying.

I heard the screams.

I was alone. I didn't leave my apartment.

And I know lots of people that are glad that Joe Oliver's dead.

Well, don't tell me. Tell the police.

They're going to have to sooner or later, hon.

Don't. Call me, hon. You call everybody, hon. Me, Joe Oliver, the pool man,

those funky musicians that live here. Now, listen, you want to stay here, you

talk nice.

I'm sorry.

All right.

You're not worried, are you? Why should I be worried?

What happens on the 10th?

When Joe Oliver's not around to pay your rent.

Now, you shut up, you and your dirty mind. I pay my rent like everybody else.

Sure. Well, if the police are looking for someone that wanted to see Joe

dead, you're safe.

What about beating up Susan?

I wouldn't put it past you. I thought you'd flip the second time your meal

ticket made a pass at her.

Well, you just be sure to tell the police that.

Or are you going into hiding, hon?

I didn't do anything.

No, that's right. You didn't, did you?

And that's what's been eaten on your male ego.

You were so crazy for her.

But while she was screaming for help, what were you doing?

Hiding your head in a pillow?

A big slob friend of yours.

He was beating her.

Well, I'm glad he's dead.

Joe wasn't a slob, and he didn't hit her. He was probably afraid she'd tell

wife that he made a pass at her. She did tell her brother, and so he beat her.

And heaven help me.

I didn't budge.

The bloodstains start there at the doorway and go on out to the balcony.

So at the time he was shot, he could have been somewhere inside, then

back.

Steve, where was Dave Wolfe when he was knocked down?

If he was knocked down. All right, if.

Says he was right there. Sergeant Bryce, will you show him?

Forget the question of whether or not Oliver beat Susan.

We know when he was shot, he was facing the gun, so the killer was somewhere

inside.

All six shots struck Oliver, so apparently the killer was fairly close

remarkably good shot.

Dave is one of the best marksmen on the force.

So the killer had to leave by the back.

Unless he remained here and swore that he was knocked out.

You're presuming Dave's guilty. I'm presuming he's innocent.

The witnesses must know more than they're telling.

I haven't talked to Ron Peters and Mrs. Oliver yet.

But the rest are no help.

Will you close the door when you're through, Mr. Mason?

Right.

Paul, I want you to take pictures of all that can be seen from every back

window. And a composite of this balcony all the way around.

All right.

Post a guard here, Bryce.

Let me know when Peters gets in.

Yes, sir.

Hey there, what are you doing?

Taking a picture.

Well, I don't want my picture in any newspaper.

When my book is published, you can come out and take my picture.

Not until... It's not for a newspaper.

Well, put that thing away.

Quite a lot of excitement around here last night, wasn't there?

Yes. Too bad.

Nice girl.

I had some good talks with her sitting around the pool.

Do you mind if I sit down? No, I'll get you a glass.

Mr.

Jefferson.

And you were apparently so fond of Susan that... Why didn't I do something?

I feel bad about that.

But at my age, you sleep pretty soundly.

When I did awaken, I was on my way out when I heard my phone ring.

And by the time I had answered it, I heard the shots and the police were

You know, it's hard to understand how a man like Joe Oliver could beat that girl

as he did.

When you get a little older, study a little psychology.

You won't be surprised by human behavior.

Joe Oliver had problems built over what he did to his wife.

Built because he was carrying on behind her back.

The pressure of debts, five vacancies.

Mr. Jefferson, or should I call you Professor?

Just Mr. Professor is all behind me.

Well, Mr. Jefferson, you mentioned Joe Oliver's guilt at what he had done to

wife. What did he do to her?

Five years ago, Joe put me in this wheelchair with his drunken driving.

I've been alone ever since.

Were you alone last night?

Mr. Mason, you said yourself you didn't think Joe was beating that girl.

And you said you couldn't get out of bed when you heard her scream, that you

couldn't even reach the telephone.

That sounds to me as if you were alone.

Now, if your husband wasn't here, and he wasn't in Susan Wolfe's apartment,

where was he?

I don't know.

You don't know, Mrs. Oliver, or you won't say?

He never told me where he was going.

Mrs. Oliver, your husband was killed for one of two reasons.

Either he was mistaken for the girl's assailant, or... Somebody wanted him

Is that what you think?

Doesn't matter what I think.

It might matter to Dave Wolf.

I can't tell you everybody who didn't like Joe.

He had a terrible temper.

He was always cracking down on people like the pool man and his creditors and

tenants who didn't pay their rent. Do you remember a tenant named Monk

Nice young fellow, musician.

Nice young fellow, huh?

He might have been, but he sure kept it a secret.

One of these noisy parties.

And Joe caught him and some of his musician friends one night full of

At least one of them was.

What did your husband do? Report it to the police?

No.

He didn't get involved with the police. He threw him out.

And I mean threw him.

And he changed the locks so he couldn't get to his clothes until he paid up his

rent.

May I get it, William?

Perry, I just talked to my office. Della's been trying to reach her.

Police call several times.

I felt a blow at the back of my neck.

It's fuzzy from here on, but I seem to remember sounds.

A man's voice, then shots being fired.

And the sound of something hitting the floor next to me.

The gun, probably.

Only it seemed heavier then.

And then the sound of a door slamming.

The only report we have.

Not one of the witnesses will admit to hearing anything but the screams.

Of course, Dave's had a chance to think about it for two weeks.

But if the door is slammed shut, it does support our theory.

Well, it had to be the back door.

Because Oliver staggered out the front door when he fell.

Young lady, you get an A -plus in deduction.

Thank you, Professor.

Speaking of Professor, I have a laugh for you. And maybe even a little more.

Remember Craig Jefferson, the, uh... Mr. Chips of the apartment building?

The one who had the racing form in his newspaper?

That's the one.

Well, he's been on my mind for a couple of weeks. Something kept nagging at me,

so on a hunch I made a check on him.

And he bets his social security on the ponies.

Better than that.

He makes book.

He has three phones in his apartment and does a thriving business.

That's why he stuck by his phone.

That's why he didn't want to get involved.

Paul, I think we'd better... Pay him a visit?

I already have with the following results.

One, Oliver owed him $2 ,000.

Two,

Linda Blakely had a battle royal with Oliver the day before he was killed.

Three,

Ron Peters had been working around the apartment house to pay part of his rent,

but Oliver fired him when he caught him in Linda's apartment.

Not a bad payoff for one visit.

What else do you plan?

Well, I've got a hunch we ought to go see this Ron Peters, even though Drum

nothing out of him.

And maybe Linda Blakely would be worth a visit.

Another day, another commercial.

Grind them out.

What can I do for you?

I'm looking for an actress, Linda Blakely. Oh, yeah, she's doing a bit in

Say, what's a clean -cut American boy like you doing with a Linda Blakely?

Believe it or not, it's business. I don't even know her. Which one is she?

there, the cookie in the apron.

Do you mind if I talk to her? Right after this shot. Thanks, Richard.

All ready?

Roll them.

Some darn fool loused up the meringue.

Props! Get with it or we'll be here midnight.

If Ron Peters told you that, he's a liar.

A couple of times between jobs when I was on unemployment, Joe laid out the

for me.

He was a good guy that way.

I didn't say Ron told me.

Well, it sounds like Ron.

He was sorry, Joe, because Joe made a pass at Susan Wolf one night in the

garage. And another...

Another time in her apartment.

And that's why you had a battle with Joe Oliver, right?

Joe did. It was his own business.

Did you have a fight with Joe Oliver?

It was over in a minute.

He didn't stay mad.

What happened?

Did his wife get you two to kiss and make up?

Come on, Mr. Drake. You're a big boy now.

Flo Oliver's enjoying poor health.

She needs that wheelchair like I need a... a closing notice.

Joe was lonesome.

And he was a good egg.

And if that violates some kind of a purity code, well, that's tough.

Miss Blakely, would you mind telling me why you didn't do anything when Susan

Wolfe was screaming for help?

I stay out of other people's troubles.

I've got enough of my own.

Susan Wolfe's neighbors sat through at least ten minutes of anguished cries for

help that night.

Her life was in the balance.

Yet no one made a move to help her.

Today in this courtroom, David Wolfe's life hangs in the balance.

Now his is no urgent plea for help.

It's a plea for judgment based on what you see and hear and

perceive as this trial unfolds. The prosecution has said it will produce

witnesses who saw the defendant standing over the body with a murder weapon in

his hand less than a minute after the shooting occurred.

But you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, must ask yourselves, what happened

that minute?

The prosecution has said it will produce witnesses who saw what happened after

Susan Wolf's screams ceased.

But you must ask yourselves, what happened during those awful ten minutes

her agony was ignored by those very witnesses?

Susan Wolf called for help, and no one answered.

You, the jury.

must be aware of this conspiracy of silence.

David Wolfe asks not for help, but for justice.

Is the prosecution ready to call its first witness?

The prosecution is ready, Your Honor.

You may proceed, Mr. Blair.

Yes, sir.

He said if Oliver so much as says good morning to her again, he's in for

trouble.

Now, since you tried to restrain the defendant, Lieutenant, I assume that you

didn't just sit there.

Would you please tell us what you did and what you saw?

Well, I was in my car. When I heard the shots, I ran in. The defendant was

standing on the balcony directly over the body, and there was a gun in his

You witness?

Lieutenant, how long a time would you estimate elapsed between the last shot?

and the appearance of the defendant on the balcony?

Well, I'd say, well, less than a minute.

What did you do during that time?

Well, I heard the shots, got out of the car, and ran to the apartment courtyard.

It's conceivable, then, that someone escaping from the scene could have

an equal amount of ground during that time.

I saw no one escaping.

You had no trouble remembering what the defendant said to you before he went

into court.

Now, can you recall what he said to you when you next saw him?

He said, I didn't do it, Steve.

I don't know what happened, but I didn't do it.

Susan's phone was out of order, so she asked if she could use mine.

She called the police department and asked for her brother. And did you hear

what she said to her brother?

No, I went to the mailbox then.

When I came back, I heard her say, Dave, I don't want you to come out here until

you've cooled off.

I know you and your temper.

Take the witness, Mr. Mason.

Which phone did Susan use, Mr. Jefferson?

I said mine.

But you have three phones.

Specifically, which one?

Objection. Immaterial. Irrelevant.

I withdraw the question.

Mr. Jefferson, in previous testimony, you told the court that you were on good

terms with the decedent.

Now, is that absolutely correct?

Well, we got along.

Tell me, Mr. Jefferson, did you ever threaten Mr. Oliver with a pistol?

Yes, I did that.

But it was really just a jest, a joke.

So you weren't really serious about the $2 ,000 Mr. Oliver owed you.

You didn't demand payment.

Yes, I did. He owed it to me.

But he refused to pay.

And the gun didn't scare him?

Well, he was a big man.

He took it away from me. Did you ever see that gun again?

Yes, I did.

Speak up. Now, I, um... I want the jury to hear this.

Monk Coleman gave a party and I was invited.

They were kidding me because I like serious music.

Who else was at that party, Mr. Jefferson?

Oh, there was Hampton Fisher and Susan Wolfe and Linda Blakely and

another girl.

From Milwaukee, I think. Now, tell us about the gun.

Joe Oliver came in and waved it at us and said to break it up.

Then he told Ron he was going to change the locks.

Oh, Ron Peters was at that party.

Ron was the one who told him what was going on. He brought him over.

Mr. Jefferson, why was Oliver so angry?

They were hopped up on goofballs.

Who was they?

Ham. Fisher and the girl from Milwaukee.

Well, uh, Susan said that Mr. Oliver had made a pass at her in the garage.

And the week before, he tried to get fresh with her in her apartment.

Well, she told her brother about it.

And the next day he came out, and I heard him say to Mr. Oliver, if this

bothers you, I'll take it off and beat your brains in.

Crossing them.

Mr. Peters.

You have such an excellent memory.

Could you tell me what you said and did during that ten minutes when Susan Wolfe

was screaming?

Objection? Withdraw the question.

Now, Mr. Peters, your apartment abuts the apartment where the

decedent was killed.

Were you in your apartment at the time the shots were fired?

Yes. And what did you hear?

Screams. Anything else?

Well, I had the music up pretty loud. And when furniture was smashed, you

couldn't hear it?

Yes. Yes, you could, or yes, you couldn't? Yes, I heard it.

Did you hear the shots fired?

Yes. Did you hear a door slam?

Look, if you're trying to make me feel like a louse, okay, you've succeeded.

I'd give anything in the world to live that night over again. Anything.

But I didn't budge from my apartment.

Because I was...

Afraid. And the sound of something hitting the floor next to me. The gun,

probably. Only it seemed heavier then.

And then the sound of the door slamming.

And then a crash.

Must have been Oliver hitting the balcony rail.

And I got up. I was dizzy. And I nearly fell on the candlestick.

That's the end of the tape.

Paul, I want pictures of the interior of every one of the apartments before

court tomorrow.

All right. Tell them.

I sense a little break in the wall of silence.

I'm taking you at your word, Ron.

You said in court that you'd give anything to live that night over again.

that's impossible.

But you can redeem it.

You said you were afraid.

And although I don't know why, you're apparently still afraid.

Now you have a chance to overcome that fear.

I show you Defense Exhibit B.

A series of photographs of the interiors of the occupied apartments which you

manage. Now, can you identify this item?

It's a candlestick.

Can you identify whose apartment it's in?

No, I'm not sure. You see, those candlesticks are in all the apartments.

Do you see any difference between the candlestick in the first picture and

in the others?

There are three in this.

That's odd.

Well, the others have two, except that there's only one in this first picture.

Mrs. Oliver, will you note on the back of the picture with the three

candlesticks that it has been attested to as a photograph of Susan Wolfe's

apartment? The picture with the one candlestick is attested to as from Miss

Linda Blakely's apartment.

Well, on the last inventory, and that was just before Joe was killed.

There were two candlesticks to each apartment. That's how they're furnished.

Thank you.

Now, Mrs. Oliver, I was very pleased to see you walk to the stand. I thought you

were confined to a wheelchair.

Well, I never told Joe when I started to walk again.

Why? I thought that that was the only thing that kept him from leaving me, but

there's no point in that anymore.

But you as much as told me, he...

Left you alone constantly.

I meant leaving.

Leaving for good.

Then on the night in question, you were able to walk? Did you leave your

apartment?

Yes, I walked from out to the front.

Why? A girl screaming was driving me out of my mind. I knew Joe was up there

with her.

And I had to stop him.

Then when I heard that it was from the wrong apartment,

Then I knew that Joe wasn't there. Wrong apartment.

You mean you didn't think your husband was in Susan Wolfe's apartment?

No. Where did you think he was?

He was the same place he was every night.

With her.

Miss Blakely, I ask you to again tell the jury what happened to that second

candlestick missing from your room.

I don't remember.

Miss Blakely...

The candlestick has been identified by the inventory number. It is now in Susan

Wolfe's apartment.

Does that refresh your memory?

Maybe she borrowed it.

Miss Blakely, did you hear Susan Wolfe's screams?

Sure we heard her. Who didn't?

But you didn't even pick up a phone.

I was, uh, busy.

What about your friend?

What friend?

You just testified that we heard her.

We. That's two of you.

You want me to have the court reporter read it back?

All right, so Joe was with me. Look, I know what you're trying to do. You're

trying to make me look like I'm a tramp or something.

Well, there was nothing wrong.

He just came by to fix the sink.

Order.

Now, there'll be none of that.

Miss Blakely.

We've already heard testimony that you fought with Mr. Oliver earlier that day.

Now, isn't it true that you were angry about his second attempt to make a pass?

He didn't care about Susan.

It was just his way, that's all.

Miss Blakely, when he saw you that night, he told you that was the end of

didn't he?

He didn't mean it.

That we'll never know.

But you can tell us one thing.

Susan Scream sent him out of that apartment, didn't they?

And he carried one of your candlesticks to use as a weapon, didn't he?

And you knew where he was going, didn't you?

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Now, Ron, when Joe Oliver went to Susan's aid, he had to pass your

You testified you were awake and listening.

Did you see him go by?

No.

See, I was... I turned the music up and went into the kitchen.

And later, after I heard the shots...

I heard running footsteps, so I looked out. What did you see?

I saw a man down below getting into a car, under a streetlight, getting into a

station wagon.

Can you identify that person?

Yes, sir.

It was Monk Coleman, right over there.

I don't care what he said.

I wasn't there.

The witness described you as wearing a navy blue jacket with a white collar.

Do you own such a jacket?

Yes, sir.

So do four other guys. It's our band jacket.

Mr. Coleman, after you attended that party with Susan Wolf, did you call her

the telephone?

Yes, sir. To threaten her? No.

Well, what happened was that Ham... Ham Fisher found out that Susan's brother

was a cop.

I called her a couple of times just to tell her to keep quiet.

Well, she told her brother all of us would be in a jam. To your knowledge,

Ham Fisher ever talk to her?

I wouldn't know about that.

But you would know what perjury was, wouldn't you?

Honest.

Ham dropped me off on the strip that night. And he picked me up an hour or so

later. And that's all I know.

Okay, okay.

So I gave her a going over. In case the jury is unaware of what a going over

entails.

I'm going to read a few items from Susan Wolfe's medical report.

Severe contusions.

Internal injuries?

Fractures of the upper arm?

I won't go on with it.

Only... What kind of animal are you?

I'm not the kind of guy who looks for trouble.

I just wanted to talk to her, to ask her to keep her mouth shut about me being

hopped up on goofballs at the party.

And she starts arguing, yelling.

I just wanted her to shut up.

I lost my temper.

And then her brother came in and you slugged him.

And then the only man who came to her aid arrived.

And you killed him.

Don't try to hang that on me.

Okay, I wrapped the kid up.

And when her brother came in waving that gun around, I cooled him.

But then I cut out.

Do you have a band jacket?

Yeah, same as the others, except mine's got a crest on it.

But I don't remember wearing it that night.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

The man I saw running away was wearing that kind of a coat.

Now, you've told us that you heard him running.

After the shots were fired, and you saw him from your rear window, is that

right? Yes. Of course, I'm not sure that it was Hamp Fisher that I saw, but

whoever it was, he was standing under a streetlight, and he was getting into a

car.

All right. I think you're mistaken.

This photograph was taken looking down on the street from your kitchen window.

The protruding wall here and the tree over here totally obscured the area near

that streetlight.

I saw him.

I swear, I saw him. Of course you saw him.

But not from your kitchen window.

Here's where you were standing when you saw him.

Behind Susan Wolfe's apartment.

Right after you killed Joe Oliver and rushed out the back door.

I couldn't stand the screaming.

I looked all around for something to use as a weapon, but I couldn't find

anything.

So I went in there anyway.

There was Susan's brother laying on the floor, and his gun was beside him, and

Joe Oliver was bending over, and she was bleeding, and I thought that he did it.

I picked up the gun, and I fired until there weren't any bullets left.

that I went outside and I saw this man running away and I realized that I might

have made a mistake.

All right, I'm guilty.

I'm guilty.

But what about the rest of you?

You're all guiltier than I am because you did nothing.

Nothing.

Either because you were too scared or you were too busy or you didn't care.

Well, I cared.

I cared.

That's more than any of the rest of you can say.

I cared.

I cared.

Well, I don't mean to criticize, but you did cut that signal rather close.

Perry, I leave it up to you. Did I run that light? There they are.

Hi, Steve.

Hello. Hi.

Well, we're on our way to Hawaii.

My sister's working the flight, so is her brother. I get a free pass.

I said I wouldn't leave without thanking you personally.

Well, thank you.

I think we'd better roll, sis.

Thank you very much. Bye.

Have a good trip.

Oh, speaking as a friend, you cut that signal pretty close, about three blocks

from here. Watch it. I will see you. That's right.

Don't say a word. Not one word.

Very.

What's the penalty for committing mayhem on backseat drivers?

Don't worry, Paul.

No jury in the world would convict you.