Original subtitles

Thank you.

That is the state's case.

Therefore, Your Honors, I urge the court to deny this appeal.

Mr. Egan, isn't there anything you wish to add?

No, Your Honor.

take this under advisement.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks graduated number one in his class from the Air

Force Academy.

The youngest officer ever to assume command of a fighter squad. Imagine, if

will, that cold night last February.

Home for the evening after a long day at work, Amy Beth Sawyer, young, bright,

pretty, had just finished taking a shower.

Before getting ready for bed, she fixed herself a cup of coffee.

Suddenly, she thinks she hears someone at the door.

Who is it, she may have asked.

She moves toward the door and stops, alert, listening.

Who's there?

She steps cautiously toward the entryway.

Suddenly, the door opens. Before she can step back, before she can defend

herself, she is stabbed.

Brutal. Again and again.

Until, finally, Amy Beth Sawyer slumps to the floor.

Only a cruel, heartless person could take the life of a beautiful young

girl. Members of the jury, the evidence clearly shows that person to be

the defendant, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks.

You have heard how sheriff's deputies apprehended Lieutenant Colonel Parks.

still at the scene, and how the fingerprints on the murder weapon were

identified as those of Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks.

You have heard the testimony of Amy Beth's employer, Jason Sloan, who was a

witness to their clandestine relationship.

You have heard the testimony of Mr. Sloan's wife, Althea Sloan, who told us

Parks... repeated calls to Amy Beth at her office.

You have heard the testimony of Amy Beth's former boyfriend, Daryl Hurley,

went to Amy Beth's one night and discovered Lieutenant Colonel Parks

You have even heard the testimony of one of Lieutenant Colonel Parks' squadron

pilots, young Lieutenant Wilkins, who introduced Parks to Amy Beth.

These facts lead us to one inescapable conclusion.

Because Amy Beth Sawyer wanted to break off their illicit affair,

because Amy Beth Sawyer threatened to reveal that affair to

Park's wife,

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks did cruelly and viciously

stab... Amy Beth Sawyer to death.

We find the defendant, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks, guilty.

A first -degree murder for the killing of Amy Beth Sawyer.

Appeal denied.

Hey, Parks.

Here's what your wife sent for you to wear to the hearing tomorrow.

The van leaves at six sharp.

Thanks, Billy Ray.

Good luck, Colonel. I hope finding that new witness gets you a retrial.

Mason, what brings you two here?

As I recall, when you sat on the appellate bench, you upheld my

denied Park's appeal.

You should also recall that I reserved comment on the merits of your case.

I still do.

Well, I hope you haven't come all this way to help a desperate attorney. This

case is going down for a third and final time.

With this new witness, Mr. Egan might prevail.

I wouldn't be too positive, Mr. Mason, with or without a new witness.

I am never too positive, Mr. Preston.

Here's the man of the hour now.

Lester McCarron.

This is Perry Mason.

Perry. Dallas Street. And this is the colonel's wife, Shannon Parks.

Glad to meet you, Ms. Parks.

Thank you.

I don't understand, Mr. Mason. You were one of the judges that turned down my

husband's appeal.

The court ruled that the trial was fair, nothing more.

I voted with the court.

But I never said I concurred with the verdict of the jury.

Mr. Mason has been kind enough to come here and counsel us on the best way to

handle the retrial.

That is, once Mr. McCarron has given his testimony.

Well, I think we ought to be getting in now.

Mr. Mason, can I talk to you for a minute?

Yes.

Mr. Mason, I could use some advice about my testimony.

My best advice is to tell the truth as you know it.

I wish it were that simple.

It is.

It is.

Mr. McCarran?

Yes, Mr. McCarran? This was meant for you.

Mr. McCarron, is there a problem?

Oh, no.

At the trial, the coroner testified that Miss Sawyer died between 7 and 10 p .m.

And later it was established that the defendant left his office just after 8 p

.m. and was seen driving down the Old Woods Road on his way to the Sawyer

condominium.

Now, about a mile out of town, he stopped to help a stranded motorist with

engine problems.

That motorist was Lester McCarron.

And Mr. McCarron will establish that the defendant was with him making repairs

until well after 10 p .m.

If that is his testimony, it would appear to be highly exculpatory. Let's

him on the stand, Mr. Egan.

Mr. McCarron?

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

Sure. I mean, I do.

Mr.

McCarran, would you please tell the court where you were the night Amy Beth

Sawyer was murdered?

Well, uh... That's hard to say exactly.

Hard to say?

Were you or were you not stranded on the old woods road on the evening of this

murder?

I might have been, but I'm not sure now. Not sure?

It was over two years ago. How can I be sure it was the same night? I didn't

even know she'd been killed.

Mark, I mean, I thought we had a conversation on this. Mr. Parks, you're

order.

Mr. McCarran.

May I remind you that you are under oath?

Now, I ask you again.

Were you not with Colonel Parks on the Old Woods Road until after 10 p .m. on

the night of February 17th? I told you, I don't remember.

I'm sorry, but I just don't remember.

For God's sakes.

Mr. Parks, sit down.

You know we were together.

Now, come on, you know I was there. Mr. Parks, you will be seated now.

Kevin,

please. Don't you want to tell him I didn't kill the lady? I didn't kill her.

That's it.

Bailiff, please remove the defendant.

Mr. McCarran, you can step down.

Court is in recess for one hour, and I will seek counsel in my chambers.

Mr. McCarran, wait. Look, I'm sorry.

I've got to get to a phone.

I don't understand.

He was ready. He was eager to testify.

He looked absolutely frightened. Something must have changed his mind.

More likely someone.

Before he came in, he got a note in what appeared to be a gold locket. Mark, we

can't just let him run out like this. He's Kevin's only hope.

She's right.

He is Kevin's only hope.

He's escaped.

He's on the stairwell.

Check the back entrance.

Oh,

hi, Mark.

Hi. Any luck?

Well, McCarron's agreed to have dinner tonight, but he's leaving first thing in

the morning.

Why do you want to talk to him?

I suspect the locket and the note he received on his way into the hearing had

something to do with his sudden change of mind.

I want to talk to him about that.

Yeah. Now the sheriff's suggesting McCarron and the hearing were just a

Kevin could try and make a break.

Mr. McCarran, please.

You came all this way just to testify. Look, I told you before.

There were some threatening phone calls after I decided to come back and

testify.

Why wasn't I told about this?

You figured they were just crank calls. Well, maybe they weren't.

And I have nothing against helping Colonel Parks, but I'm not going to put

wife's safety on the line to do it.

What makes you think she's in danger?

Does that note and locket you received have something to do with it? Who told

you about that?

I never said anything about that.

It was your wife's locket, wasn't it?

All right.

What did the note say, Mr. McCann?

It said enough for me to know to keep my mouth shut and stay out of this.

Besides... Park's escaped, right? That proves he's guilty, doesn't it? Have you

been able to reach your wife?

No, she hasn't been home.

arranged to protect you and your wife. I don't want your help.

Excuse me, Mr. McCarron. Yes? The hotel desk just called with a message for you

to call your wife.

They do? Thank God. Is there a phone here I can use? To the back.

Mr. McCarron?

What?

Came from the back.

Yeah, operator, connect me to the sheriff's department, please, and hurry.

Yeah, you know that fellow that escaped from the courthouse yesterday, the one

who was all over the TV last night? I believe I just passed him about 10 miles

outside of town on old Route 99.

Yes, sir.

What happened? What happened?

You broke jail and killed that witness. That's what happened.

I know how it must look to you.

Kevin is innocent.

It hasn't been easy to believe in him, yet I do.

I wish you would, too.

Look, Mr.

Mason, representing Colonel...

through this whole thing.

It's had a very disturbing impact on my life.

In fact, it's even made me question if I still want to continue working as an

attorney.

I must say, I'm not sure at this point that I'm qualified to handle this case

anymore.

I guess what I'm saying...

I'm profoundly grateful if you would take it over for me.

Will you consider it Mr. Manson?

So, I think whoever murdered Amy Beth Sawyer had to stop McCarran from

testifying.

Any promising suspects?

Well, we should concentrate on the original witnesses against Parks.

We need to find out more about Miss Sawyer's boyfriend, Daryl Hurley, and

employer, Jason Sloan, and his wife, Althea.

Add to that list Lieutenant Wilkins. He was one of Parks' squadron pilots.

I'll get on it right away.

Since all the possible suspects were at the hearing yesterday, it means there's

also an accomplice to contend with.

The man who helped Colonel Parks escape?

I think abducted would be more accurate.

Paul, you need to find that man.

Sergeant, this is a restricted crime scene, Mr. Maitland. I represent Colonel

Parks. In that case, Montreux Lutheran.

You remember Mr. Drake.

Mr. Drake, good to see you again.

Body was right around in there.

And then McCarran turned over.

All right, Sergeant.

What we have here, Mr. Mason, is Colonel Park's fingerprints were all over the

gun used to kill McCarran.

We found threads on a nail that match up with the tear in the coat.

Colonel Parks is wary.

You will, of course, be sent a copy of my report, but in the meantime, sir, is

that tight enough for you?

Evidence almost as damning as the Amy Beth Sawyer case.

You handled that investigation also, didn't you?

Yes, I did, Mr. Mason.

Now, did you find anything unusual on Mr. McCarran, such as a note?

We didn't find a note. We found just a usual end.

This? Eric, let me have that, please, sir.

Thank you, Eric.

My beautiful bride, Denise.

Someone sent this to him along with the note.

Mark Egan saw him receive both just before he entered the courtroom.

Again, Mr. Mason, we didn't find a note.

Now, I'll tell you what I think, sir.

I think Colonel Parks followed him here, and I think Colonel Parks killed him.

The reason why he killed him, McCarran refused to testify.

What about the threat against Mr. McCarran's wife?

We know about that, sir.

You checked with the desk to make sure, in fact, a message was sent by his wife?

Which would not change the basic fact that the preponderance of evidence

indicate Colonel Parks killed McCarran.

We will, of course, check on everything connected to this case to include the

accomplice who broke Colonel Parks out of our courthouse.

We believe Colonel Parks was kidnapped from your courthouse.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason, I'm inclined to think that you gentlemen

believe almost anything.

We do believe that Colonel Parks has been elaborately framed.

Now, as soon as the kidnapper is in custody, I have a few questions for him.

We must find him first, Mr. Mason.

And we will keep on trying.

You don't mind if I try, too?

Good day, Sergeant.

What else can you tell us about the man in the elevator?

Nothing.

I tried to get a look at him, but I passed out before I got a chance.

Doesn't give me much to go on.

What about when you woke up?

Maybe someone driving by?

I didn't see anyone.

You were out for a couple of minutes before you realized where you were. Did

hear something?

Maybe the sound of a truck?

I... Heard a car leaving, but it... Something wrong?

That's probably just another nightmare.

Nightmare?

Yeah, I, uh... I keep having this dream about a mig on my tail.

It's gonna be locked on, and I know he's gonna fire the missile. I can't do

anything about it.

It's probably nothing, but...

Every time I have the dream, it's in F -4s, and this time it sounded like A

-7s.

A -7s?

Oh, I'm sorry. A -7's a plane we use for fighter training.

Tell me something, Colonel. Do these training flights ever pass over the area

where you were found?

Oh, yes, sir. We use that grid area quite often for low -level runs.

Paul, find out if there are any planes in that area.

One of the pilots might have seen something.

You might check with Base Ops.

Captain O'Malley's still there. That's the best place to start.

First thing in the morning.

In your trial, Colonel,

the prosecution claimed you were having an affair with Ms. Sawyer.

You want me to tell you the whole thing's untrue?

Hmm? Well, it is. Believe me.

I didn't even meet Amy Beth until Lieutenant Wilkins introduced me to her

party. And I only saw her two times after that.

You testified she called you about a problem she couldn't discuss over the

phone. Yes, sir, she did.

She was very upset.

I told her that I would talk to her after I got off work, but... She never

me about the problem.

I got the feeling that she was feeling me out, you know, to see if I was an

individual she could trust.

And she called you again?

Yes, sir.

That's when we met at her condo, and then her boyfriend showed up banging on

door, Darryl Hurley.

Of course, when he saw me there, he got pretty steamed, and I thought it was in

everybody's best interest that I get out of there.

Why did you agree to meet with Amy Beth?

She had something of a reputation, didn't she?

Come on, Mr. Mason. Because everybody in town thought she was a tramp?

Well, that appears to be the general perception.

Listen, I don't know what you've heard, but Amy Beth was a person of integrity.

Had she and Lieutenant Wilkins been seeing a lot of each other?

I didn't pay attention to Lieutenant Wilkins' private life. It was none of my

business.

And you never found out what it was she wanted to talk about?

No, sir.

I did get the feeling that it was connected with something or someone on

base, but like I said before, she was always very cautious about the whole

thing.

Well, we'll have to find out how cautious, won't we?

Morning, Lieutenant.

Morning. We're trying to find out if Captain O'Malley is on duty today.

He's been reassigned. Try flight pep and debris from Hangar 33.

Hangar 33 is down at the end of the field. I'll try to meet up with you

ladies. All right. I'm going to speak to the lieutenant, if that's all right.

Sure. That's fine. Thank you. You're welcome.

Paul Drake.

Lieutenant Peter Graham. Nice to meet you, sir. Nice to meet you, too.

Back from the training mission?

Yeah. No getting around that, is there?

If you find a way, you let me know.

Well, that kind of comes with the territory, though, doesn't it? Yes, sir.

Let me ask a question.

Is it possible you were flying at this time yesterday morning?

As a matter of fact, it was. Why?

Well, is it likely that you would have seen anything on a highway north of town

that runs up into the mountains?

Sir, we crossed that highway doing better than 325 miles.

Now, of course, a camera can pick something up.

A camera? What, you take pictures?

Well, they don't let us shoot any live animals. It sort of makes the name

if you know what I mean.

So we shoot video instead.

Any chance I could see the tape from yesterday morning?

I don't know about that. You'd have to talk to Captain O'Malley. Hangar 33.

All right. Well, thank you very much, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir. Appreciate it.

So, anyway, when I found out that there might be a tape, I thought I'd like to

see it. Well,

we can run the tapes in a few minutes.

I'm having them queued up now.

I still have to check with the legal office to get you cleared for a look

All right. Well, I appreciate it, Captain.

Colonel Park was more than an officer and a gentleman.

My friend, earning respect as a woman in the Air Force isn't always in the

court, Mr. Drayton.

Colonel Parks helped me over some of the rough times.

And you don't think he's guilty either?

Judging by the man, no.

Illicit affairs, murder, not Colonel Parks.

I mean, it just doesn't, it just doesn't apply.

Well, one thing for sure.

What's that?

He knew a good officer when he saw one.

Here's your roster schedule, ma 'am.

Thank you, Lieutenant Wilkins.

Lieutenant Wilkins, didn't he testify at Colonel Parks' trial?

That's right.

I'll be right back.

Lieutenant Wilkins!

Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?

Who are you?

Paul Drake. I work for Colonel Parks' defense attorney.

Well, I've got nothing against Colonel Parks, but I've said all I have to say.

Is that why we're walking so fast? I'm out of breath here.

I've got an appointment in town.

Say, listen, you know, I heard your testimony at the first trial. I've got

nothing to add.

Tell me something.

Did you and Amy Beth Sawyer go out a lot, or did you just get lucky that

Sir, I'm not going to honor that with a response.

You did get lucky.

I have a doctor's appointment.

See you again, okay?

Morning. Can I help you, gents?

Yes, I have an appointment with Mr. Sloan. My name's Mason.

Sure thing, Mr. Mason. I'm Ellis Milbourne, his brother -in -law. Mason,

Park's new lawyer, aren't you?

That's right.

You should be finished with this presentation. I'll send him right over.

It may take a minute.

We're planning not only the shopping mall, but also housing, restaurant, and

entertainment facilities.

It's going to be the largest multipurpose development in the history

city.

Mason's over there. Okay, now, Ellis Milbourne here has a schedule of terms

proposals. If any of you folks are interested in any more information about

Milbourne Center, he'll be happy to work with you. Thanks very much.

Morning, morning, morning.

That's his information right here. Spec sheets, floor plans.

This is some of the big chains that are interested. This appears to be a very

ambitious project, Mr. Sloan.

Oh, it's prime, really prime.

How can I help you, Mr. Mason?

I understand Amy Beth Sawyer was working as your... Executive assistant.

Yeah, she was a crackerjack in the office.

I really miss her.

Is that why you provided her with the condominium she was living in when she

murdered?

Well, now, it's not exactly the way you make it sound. See, her rent was being

raised where she was, so I helped her out. We kept that condo for out -of

investors. This was just a temporary arrangement.

I take it Mrs.

Sloan approved?

It was her idea.

How long did Miss Sawyer live there?

Five, maybe six months.

Once she was in there, I couldn't just kick her out.

Besides, her old boyfriend, Daryl Hurley, kept begging her to come back

him. I made all kinds of trouble trying to get her back.

You obviously took a personal interest in Miss Sawyer's well -being.

Anything wrong with that, Mr. Mason?

Of course you had a key to the condo. Of course I had a key to the condo. I

owned it. Why do you ask?

There were no signs of forced entry.

Whoever murdered Miss Sawyer either was let in or had a key.

Miss Sawyer was murdered and Parks was convicted. Now, what are you doing,

Mason? Trying to set the record straight.

Where were you the night she was killed, Mr. Sloan?

Right.

I was going over some accounts at my office.

Alone? Yes, alone.

But that big war hero killed her, and everyone in town knows it.

Everyone but me.

Good day, Mr. Mason.

These are the ones that would have the highway in them, Mr. Drake.

Call me Paul.

Well, then maybe you should call me Terry.

Right there You

need

to find this car Well, it would sure put me closer to the guy driving it.

I Have a couple of days leave saved up. I'd like to help you

I appreciate that, but without the plate numbers, the legwork alone might take

days. Well, why don't we go after the same way you got the picture?

What do you mean?

Go up in an A7?

No, of course not.

Oh, great.

I got about, let's see, 15 minutes.

What was that? Did you see it?

No. What was it?

Something through the trees.

Can we make another pass?

You got it.

Where was it exactly?

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Right there. See it?

Nice going, Paul. That's it.

I'll put it down right at that clearing.

Nice and easy.

Well, it certainly would have hurt us coming in.

It's locked.

I'd be tempted to break in, but it might float as evidence.

What are you supposed to be doing here all by itself?

Got me.

Stashed, I guess.

Didn't leave on foot.

Look, a second set of tire tracks.

You do do this for a living.

Well, we can't all be pilots.

Camping equipment.

Varex Motel.

The cardboard box in the front seat.

You make out the name on it?

Daryl Hurley.

Daryl Hurley.

Who's he?

It's a man we need to see.

Come on, I want to get back to Perry.

Perry, yeah, we're fine. They just want to do a couple routine checks back at

the hospital.

You must be Perry Mason.

I'm Terry O'Malley.

Hello, Captain.

Looks like you saved his life.

Well, I'm afraid it was the other way around, Mr. Mason.

Perry, we found the car.

I also got a fairly good look at the guy who was shooting at us.

Had a full beard, plaid shirt.

Kind of a hunter -looking guy.

Drake, we just got a report on that license plate number you gave us.

It was stolen.

Figures.

We still have that videotape of the car.

What videotape? There was video taken from a fighter plane showing a second

in the area where they found Colonel Parks.

Captain, this is a criminal investigation. I expect to have that

this afternoon.

Yes, Sergeant.

What else can you tell me about that car, Drake?

There was a cardboard box in the front seat with the name of Daryl Hurley.

Daryl Hurley.

Any objections to my being there when you question him, Sergeant?

You are, of course, going to do that.

And perhaps you would like for me to provide you with a car, too, Mr. Mason?

Oh, thank you.

But that won't be necessary.

No, I don't own a green Ram Charger.

And I don't know anybody who does. What's this all about, anyway?

It's about the man who abducted Colonel Parks from the... the courthouse and who

tried to kill my associate, Paul Drake.

Now, Daryl, this is Perry Mason. Mr. Mason is handling Colonel Parks'

Well, I was sitting in the courtroom when Parks broke loose.

And you can ask any of my men. I've been here working straight since seven this

morning. Now, Daryl, I understand that there was a cardboard box on the front

seat of the car with your name on it.

Is anything to that?

It's going to take more than that to hang me.

I have a warehouse full of boxes with my name on them. They're all over this

city.

Thank you very much, Daryl.

Have a nice day.

Mr. Mason.

Looks like business is booming, Mr. Hurley.

There are a lot of big contracts in this area now. I'm doing all right.

Pity we can't say the same for Amy Beth.

Must have been quite a blow to you when she broke off your relationship.

Amy Beth is the best thing that ever happened to me.

We were made for each other.

She just needed a little time to straighten out her head enough to know

Messing with those flyboys at that airbase.

That's what got her killed.

I assume you're referring to Colonel Parks.

Well, I heard she'd gone for somebody up there. I didn't know who until I went

to her condo that night.

Found her there with Parks.

So you testified.

How did you know she was involved with it?

I don't need to put my finger in a light socket to know there's juice in it. He

was there. I saw him. That was enough for me. Is that why you became so angry?

So angry the colonel decided to leave before you could start a fight? What

difference does it make now?

She's dead, isn't she?

The time that Parks is going to get for this, he might as well be dead, too.

You're just making trouble for everybody. Not everybody, Mr. Hurley.

Not everybody.

Right. Good.

Good. Thanks.

I got the base legal office working on releasing that videotape. Any luck

inside? He's staying here, all right, under the name of Frank Johnson.

Clerk gave me a fairly good description of him, too.

All right. Well, I guess we better call Sergeant Brock, huh? All in good time.

All in good time. As long as we're here.

Why don't we pay our Mr. Johnson a little visit?

Well, I don't see his car anywhere.

Oh, the better.

Are you just about finished in here? Yeah

Let's take a look around while we're here.

You look in the bathroom and I'll check out the closet.

Nothing in the bathroom except for this brush.

From the look of all this hair, he must be going bald.

Well, the clerk did say that he was a big, hairy mountain man type.

But what he needs with a blue button -down Oxford shirt, I don't know.

If he's living in the hills, why check in here?

And why would he rent a tent just to carry it around?

And he's got two cars? Come on, that doesn't make any sense.

Well, in any case, we're getting out of here while we still can.

Do you have Mr. Mason Park's new lawyer?

Mrs. Sloan.

Mr. Mason.

I'll lock up, Ellis.

We'll finish the leases in the morning. See you tomorrow, Mr. Mason.

My husband told me about your talk.

I can't understand why you're digging into this again. We've all been through

much already.

A man's life depends on it, Mrs. Sloan.

I know.

Amy Beth Sawyer.

She worked here.

Did you think she was effective?

No.

But my husband did.

Amy Beth had a way with men, as you've probably already heard.

But I was the one in the office with her day after day.

And it was your idea to let her move into your company condominium.

Jason couldn't do enough with a little tart.

You didn't object?

I most certainly did.

Until I realized it wasn't worth the fight.

She wasn't interested in Jason.

It was the colonel.

She was on the phone constantly to the airbase.

You're sure of that?

Mr. Mason, if you were trying to make a case that I was jealous enough of Amy

Beth to murder her, forget it.

The money in the family is mine.

All mine.

Jason knows he'll lose it if he strays very far.

The night she was killed, where were you?

At home, having a late supper with my husband.

He'll confirm that.

I don't think so.

He told me he was working here at the office.

Alone. Good day, Mr. Sloan.

Perry, I can't make anything out of this Johnson guy.

Everything about him is phony, including his name.

Backwoods mountain type is losing his hair is about all I can come up with.

Short of, I don't know, tracking down this laundry tag.

Uh, Paul, hold it a second.

I'll have it ready shortly.

Have you called Sergeant Brock with any of this?

I left a message for him, but he was out.

What else?

Just a one -sided conversation with Lieutenant Wilkins.

Before he ran out on me, he said he had a doctor's appointment in town. Do you

want me to stay on this guy?

No. Keep after this elusive Mr.

Johnson.

Tell him, what have you come up with on the Sloans and the Milburn project?

Jason Sloan was just a general contractor working for Althea's father

married her.

Seems he hasn't managed her money very well.

He's lost almost all of her land except for a 300 -acre tract south of the

airbase. But the site of the Milbourne Center is north of town.

I know.

But from what I can gather, Jason Sloan worked out a land swap with the

government for that 50 -acre parcel.

Now we need specifics.

Also, call the air base. See if the wing commander can see me first thing in the

morning.

Do you know when you'll be back?

I'm not sure.

Mr.

Mason, thank you for seeing me, General.

We didn't give you much notice. Sorry to keep you waiting.

I feel responsible for what's happened to Colonel Parks.

Because you requested his transfer here to Kirby as senior pilot instructor?

Yes. He was a skilled pilot. I believed him to be an officer of great integrity.

Then you must find it hard to believe he murdered Miss Sawyer and Mr. McCarran.

I don't believe that.

Now, how can I help you, Mr. Mason?

What can you tell me about the land trade made with Jason Sloan?

It won't be a trade, officially.

We needed to expand our dependent housing.

When Sloan suggested the old Millbourne factory site, it seemed the perfect

solution.

Sloan offered to donate their land if we would sell them ours.

Doesn't that seem odd to you?

Not with what he wants to do.

The old factory site is right in line with our flight path. Any commercial

development down there would be doomed from the start.

But what does that have to do with Colonel Parks?

We're pursuing a number of different leads.

I'd like to talk to Lieutenant Wilkins while I'm here, if you have no

objections.

Wilkins, I certainly have no objections.

That's our tag, all right.

Trying to find a customer with just that?

You're asking a lot, mister.

You sure?

I've got long hair, full beard. Maybe somebody else here has seen him.

There's not anybody else here. I'm it, and I've been it for better than five

years, and I don't have any customer look like that. Sorry.

Roger, red eye zero one. You are cleared for takeoff. Winds are 12 knots at one

niner zero degrees.

Engine and instruments good.

Temperature's looking good. I'm ready for takeoff.

Roger, red eye zero one.

Okay, Wilkie, make this a good one. We got us a VIP watching.

We having fun now. Who's out there?

And this is our flight simulator control room, Mr. Mason. Lieutenant Wilkins is

flying the simulator now.

It's Peterson and some guy named Mason?

Roger.

Red -Eye -01, you are trailing smoke. I repeat, you are trailing smoke.

Red -Eye -01, do you copy?

Kirby Tower on guard. Confirm smoke.

Red -Eye -01, smoke confirmed.

You are on fire. I repeat, you are on fire.

Not now.

Please, not now.

Come on, Wilkie, talk to me.

Red Eyes, Zero One, engine and temperature redlining.

Do you copy?

I repeat, you are on fire. What are your intentions?

Get up, get up.

What's he doing in there?

I don't know, Captain.

Come on, we'll be eluded.

Red eyes, zero, one, eject. I repeat, eject.

Wilkin Lieutenant Wilkins, my name is

Mason

I'm Colonel Park's attorney.

Sir?

Are you feeling all right?

You seem to be having some difficulty in there.

I'm fine.

I just got confused about fire take -off procedures, sir.

Perhaps you wouldn't mind answering a few questions regarding your testimony

Colonel Park's trial.

Don't you come in here and start asking me a whole lot of questions about

something that happened a long time ago.

I have nothing to add to the record.

It's bad enough I had to testify against my own squadron commander.

I'll see you at the hearing tomorrow.

Sir?

Good morning, counsel.

In the matter of people versus Kevin Parks.

People ready?

Yes, Your Honor.

Defense ready?

We are, Your Honor.

Mr. Ruck, you may call your first witness.

The people call Sergeant Clifford Brock.

Sergeant Brock, when you investigated Lester McCarron's death, did you find

anything of significance at the scene of the shooting?

Yes, we found threads on a nail in the back door leading to the restaurant.

Are these the threads to which you are referring?

Those are the threads.

Let the record show that Sergeant Brock has indicated the threads that are

marked People's Exhibit 12.

Did you find the garment from which these threads came?

The threads were an obvious match to a tear in the suit coat which was found on

the front seat next to the defendant at the time of his arrest.

Would this jacket marked People's Exhibit 14 be the coat that you found?

That is the coat.

I show you now People's Exhibit 15 and ask if you recognize it.

That is a .38 revolver which was also found in the car next to the defendant

the time of his arrest.

It has been stipulated by defense that People's Exhibit 15 was indeed the

weapon. It has been further stipulated by defense.

that the defendant's fingerprints were found on this revolver.

Sergeant, was a paraffin test performed?

Yes, it was. The paraffin test was performed by me on the hands of the

defendant, and it indicated he had recently fired a weapon.

Thank you, Sergeant Brock.

No further questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Reston. Mr. Mason.

Now, Sergeant, isn't it true that...

None of Colonel Park's fingerprints were found at the scene of the crime?

That is correct, Mr. Mason.

That means not on the back door of the restaurant, not on its doorknob,

not on its door handle, not anywhere.

That is also correct, Mr. Mason.

So it's possible, is it not, for another person to have placed this revolver...

in Colonel Park's hand while he was unconscious, and then to have caused it

fire, leaving traces of gunpowder on his hand.

Objection. Assumes facts not in evidence and calls for speculation.

Retained.

Sergeant, you're an experienced investigator.

Did you find the absence of fingerprints at the restaurant unusual?

Well, Mr. Mason, it has been known to happen, and besides, we did find those

threads, sir.

Oh, yes, threads.

With the court's indulgence, defense would like to engage in a brief

demonstration.

What sort of demonstration, Mr. Mason?

A demonstration relating to threads, those just mentioned by the sergeant.

right, Mr. Mason, the court has no objections.

Mr. Reston?

No objection, Your Honor.

Now, Sergeant, that door frame has been marked Defense Exhibit D

for identification.

Please examine it and tell us if you recognize it.

I recognize it, Mr. Mason. It is a backdoor frame from Langley's

I sure hope Mr.

Langley knows about this, sir. He does, Sergeant.

I hope you appreciate the trouble he went to in getting that door frame to

court. All right, Sergeant, that nail.

The nail where you found the suit threads.

Has it been moved or adjusted in any way?

No, Mr. Mason, same place.

You're sure?

I'm positive, Mr. Mason. Thank you.

Colonel Parks, would you please stand over there near the sergeant?

Now, Colonel, would you please stand within the doorframe?

Sergeant, wouldn't you agree that his shoulder would be at

least four inches lower than the nail in that doorframe?

How about four inches, Mr. Mason, or more?

Thank you, Colonel.

One more thing, Sergeant.

Please sit down.

Now, defense requested that you bring a locket to this

court.

The locket that was recovered from the body of Lester McCarron after his death.

Is that this locket?

That is the locket, Mr. Mason.

Thank you, Sergeant. No further questions.

I ask that this locket be marked Defense Exhibit E for identification.

It shall be so marked.

Mr. Redson?

I have no questions at this time, Your Honor.

You may step down.

Your Honor, the defense has a witness who has traveled a great distance to get

here today. We request that she be permitted to testify.

Out of order.

Who is the witness, Mr. Mason?

The decedent's widow, Your Honor.

Denise McCarron.

Mrs. McCarron, I've shown you this locket, defense exhibit E.

Now I ask you if you recognize it.

Yes. My husband gave it to me when we were married.

I always wear it.

Do you know how it came to be in your husband's pocket at the time of his

No, I don't.

On the evening before Lester was to testify, I was shopping.

On my way out of the market, I was knocked down and some man tore it off my

neck.

Where were you when your husband was testifying?

I'd received a message that my sister had been in an automobile accident at

Channing.

the hospital there.

How was your sister?

She was fine.

There hadn't been any accident.

Just a ruse to get you out of town.

Objection, Your Honor.

Where is Mr. Mason going with all this?

Mr. Mason?

Defense is attempting to show a connection between those events and Mr.

McCarran's death.

I'll allow it for the moment.

Mrs. McCarron, before your husband was to testify, hadn't the two of you been

receiving threats?

There were some phone calls.

They made me edgy.

Very edgy.

But Lester thought they were just crank calls.

At least at first.

Weren't they, in fact?

Part of a systematic campaign to terrorize your husband?

A campaign climaxed by the delivery of your locket to him with the suggestion

that your life would be in danger were he to testify?

Mr. Mason, I just don't... Objection.

Argumentative. Calls for complete speculation by the witness.

I'm going to sustain the objection.

Mrs. McCarran.

I'm sure the whole court offers you its sympathy.

I thank you for coming here under very trying circumstances.

I've no further questions.

No questions.

I have the reports from the phone company that you wanted.

Were you able to come up with any more on Sloan's land deal?

Only the original environmental survey that was filed with the county land

office. But, Perry, this report was supposedly done by just one engineer.

And none of the pages in the second half matched the typeface or the papers in

the first half.

Did you speak with the engineer?

He moved back east.

He was offered a better job.

Dillon, did he take the job?

Yes. About the time I submitted this report.

All right.

I'll take these.

You'll find that engineer.

Yes, sir.

You forgot the salute.

for the Sergeant Brock.

Sergeant Paul Drake.

I got your man, John.

He's at a liquor store at the corner of Sheridan and Colfax.

All right.

You want to call Sergeant Brock?

He's got a red black shirt.

Sergeant,

we have him trapped inside.

All right, then we got a possible hostage situation. I want everybody to

careful.

Lieutenant Wilkins.

I understand the Air Force is a family tradition.

My father and grandfather were both Air Force officers, sir.

And as an officer and gentleman, you're bound by a code that goes beyond the

oath you took in this courtroom.

Yes, sir, I am.

You knew Amy Beth Sawyer, did you not?

No.

As I testified at Colonel Park's previous trial, I really barely knew

Barely knew her.

Tell me, does telephone number 555 -4927

sound familiar to you?

I don't think so.

Lieutenant, isn't it true that there were more than 30 calls from the

phone in your quarters to Ms. Sawyer's condominium during the month prior to

death?

I wouldn't know that.

Lieutenant Wilkins.

You called Miss Sawyer frequently, and you were very close friends.

Now, isn't that true?

Yes.

All right, Lieutenant. What is the drug meclizine used for?

I wouldn't know that.

Oh, please, Lieutenant, I...

I don't ask these questions lightly.

Now, you take meclizine, do you not?

Yes. And you take it for what condition?

Recurrent vestibular neuronitis.

In layman's terms, an inner ear problem that causes extreme dizziness.

A condition that could end a pilot's career.

Isn't that so?

Yes.

And in the course of your secret affair with Miss Sawyer, she discovered your

condition.

Isn't that so?

Yeah.

Yeah, she, uh... She wanted me to talk to

Colonel Parks about it, but I knew that he would just have to report that.

And I try to keep her under control with drugs.

Ms. Sawyer knew about your condition.

It was a threat to your Air Force career.

You had to be sure that she would remain silent.

Isn't that so?

No.

No, it's not. I wouldn't and I couldn't.

I love Beth.

I believe that's probably true, Lieutenant.

No further questions.

May this witness be excused?

Yes, Your Honor, I have no questions.

You may step down.

You didn't show up for lunch. I figured something might have happened.

Well, we have Johnson trapped inside.

All right, Eric, take a couple of men and go in and search the place. Hey, Mr.

Drake.

I sure don't see a mountain man. Well, I don't see him either.

Sergeant, none of these folks recall seeing a fellow like this guy described.

Now, wait a minute. I saw the guy. Go with... Now, you saw him in there, too.

No, I didn't. I was just taking your word for it. Hey, Sarge, the place is

empty.

You know, if I thought it would do any good, I'd file charges against you.

Mr. Drake?

Captain O'Malley said she wanted you to meet her at the off -the -alley cafe for

breakfast. Said something about knowing who Mr. Johnson is.

Oh, yes, right. Thank you very much.

Uh, no, I didn't call you.

I just got in.

Well, now that's what I thought.

Then it's a setup.

Well, then you better call Sergeant Brock.

No, I think I've cried wolf one too many times as far as he's concerned.

You can't go out there by yourself. yourself.

Well, I think I have to.

Well, then I'm going to call him, Paul.

Well, maybe he'll believe you.

See you later.

Is defense ready to call its next witness, Mr. Mason?

It was our hope to, Your Honor, but defense may have to request a short

as our next witness has not yet arrived.

Well, if it's Chester Lackberry you're waiting for, you needn't bother, because

he's right here.

Your Honor, defense calls Chester Lackberry.

Mr. Lackberry, prior to moving out of the state, you were the engineer.

responsible for testing certain lands before they were traded or sold.

Is that correct?

You got it. 29 years. Never missed a day of work.

And why, after 29 years, did you decide to leave your post?

Somebody up and offered me a better job, that's why. In Albany, New York, for

about twice the pay, too.

Didn't it surprise you, Mr. Lackberry, to be offered a new position with a

substantial increase in salary?

As far away as Albany?

Well, I admit, it came out of the blue at me.

Do you recall, sir, what you were working on when this piece of good

happened to strike you?

Oh, well, let's see. That would have to be the soil survey on Milburn's old

land.

Something about a fancy kind of land swap with the Air Force base.

I'm right, ain't I?

Mr. Lackberry, I show you Defense Exhibit F.

Do you recognize it?

Oh, shoot.

I started going in 78, won't come back for love or money.

Yeah, Mr. Hayden.

Is that the report you submitted to the airport?

Well, yes and no.

What do you mean, yes and no?

Well, the first part's mine, all right.

Typed it myself in my old portable.

The second part?

Well, I know that I didn't type that.

How do you know that, Mr. Lackberry?

Because it's plump jackass wrong, that's why.

It says here Milburn's old land is... It's safe to build on.

And you believe the land is not safe?

Of course it isn't.

Old Milburn had a big chemical factory out there dumped straight into the

ground. Land's toxic as a witch's wash.

You can't build on that land. Not now, not ever.

Thank you, Mr. Lackberry.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Mr. Reston?

I have no questions, Your Honor, but for the record, the people have a

continuing objection to this entire line of testimony.

Defense calls Mr. Jason Sloan.

Okay.

Somebody get an ambulance?

And aren't you personally negotiating the contract between your company

and the Air Force for the building of the Milburn Center?

Yes, that's correct.

Are you arranged for the rights to purchase 50 acres of government -owned

north of town?

by donating 300 acres to the old Milburn factory site. Yes.

A site Mr.

Lackberry has just testified was toxic as a witch's wash.

I never saw that report in my life. Never saw it?

Never saw it, Mr. Sloan?

In spite of the fact that the Milburn project represents your company's

undertaking?

A project that, should it fail, would drive you certainly into bankruptcy?

Althea.

Mrs. Sloan and her brother, Ellis Milburn, handled all the paperwork.

And... Amy Beth Sawyer.

Wouldn't her job have given her access to all your company's transactions?

Yes, I guess so. That would have been part of her work.

So she would have had access to Mr. Lackberry's report detailing the soil

conditions at the old Milburn factory site, wouldn't she?

Yes, I guess she would.

You also knew that if officials at the Air Force Base learned

of any problems with the land, they would cancel the deal at once.

Objection. Calls for speculation from the witness.

We'll draw the question. At the time of her murder,

Miss Sawyer was living in a condominium owned by your company, isn't that

correct? Yes, but... A condominium to which you always had a key?

Of course I had a key, but that doesn't mean anything... Mr. Sloan, if Miss

Sawyer had told Colonel Parks about that report, you would have been ruined.

You had motive, means, opportunity.

I didn't kill Amy Beth.

Why should we believe you?

Because I loved her.

I never laid a hand on that girl, but heaven help me, I loved her.

No further questions.

Your Honor, may I have a moment to confer with Mr. Drake?

Very well.

Uh, Mr. Reston.

Your Honor, at the request of defense counsel, I will forego my cross

-examination of this witness for the moment, so that counsel may continue.

You may step down, Mr. Sloan.

I, uh... I now call Althea Sloan to the stand.

Lee.

The assets of your husband's company really came from land and money you

inherited from your father. Isn't that correct, Mrs. Sloan?

Yes.

And your husband hasn't had much success managing those assets, has he?

It's not his fault.

He worked hard.

Things just never seem to come together.

And the Milbourne Center.

Would be the last chance for either of you to see your inheritance restored,

wouldn't it?

The old factory site was all we had left.

But you knew, you both knew, there had once been a toxic chemical plant on that

land, did you not?

So long ago.

That's why you arranged to have Chester Lackberry offered...

a higher -paying job elsewhere, and why you arranged to have his survey report

altered.

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

The typeface appearing on the altered portion of Mr. Blackberry's report

matches that of the typewriter in your office.

There must be thousands like it, Mr. Mason.

Besides, anybody could have used my typewriter.

Who, Mrs. Sloan?

Why?

Who else had so much to lose?

I wouldn't know.

Maybe, uh, Amy Beth changed the report.

Amy Beth?

Come now, Mrs. Sloan, come now.

She had nothing to gain by altering this report.

Now, at the first trial, you

testified you'd taken calls for Miss Sawyer from Colonel Parks on the day of

murder. That you had, in fact, stayed on the line to overhear their

conversation.

I overheard him ask her about a problem that she did not wish to discuss on the

telephone. It's all in the transcript.

Yes, I have it here.

All of it.

You also overheard them arrange to meet at the condominium that night.

I did?

You must have thought that the problem they were discussing was the engineer's

report. The one that you had deliberately changed.

I don't remember what I thought.

Isn't it true that to protect what remained of the Milbourne legacy,

you arranged to have Amy Beth Sawyer murdered and Colonel Parks

framed for that murder?

No, that is not true.

Who is Frank Johnson, Mr. Sloan?

I don't know.

Then you don't care to know that just over an hour ago, the man who calls

himself Frank Johnson had a serious accident and was taken to the county

hospital? Oh, my God.

Was he... Hurt?

Are you asking if your brother, Ellis Milbourne, was hurt?

Please.

Is Ellis all right?

He is in serious condition, but the doctors believe the

prognosis is fair.

Now, Mrs. Sloan, it was your brother disguised as Frank Johnson who killed

Amy Beth Sawyer, wasn't it?

It was your brother who killed Lester McCarron, wasn't it?

It was your brother who framed Colonel Parks.

There was no other way.

My father had worked so hard.

He'd left us so much.

Jason lost it.

Lost everything.

Except that useless piece of land where the factory once stood.

It was Ellis' idea.

Jason didn't have to know anything about it.

But Amy Beth knew.

She knew too much.

It was our way out.

Ellis blamed Jason. Andy blamed me. So I went along with it.

It was Ellis' idea.

Defense moves to drop all charges against this defendant.

I will at the appropriate time move to set aside the conviction in the other

case and exonerate this defendant fully.

The prosecution concurs.

So ordered.

The bailiff is instructed to take Mrs. Sloan into custody.

Court is now adjourned.

Mason, there'll be no problem with Colonel Park's reinstatement. We're just

going for a little reorientation ride. Come on, Kevin.

Look, I'm not one for speeches, but I would like to say that... He thanks you,

and I do too, more than you can ever know.

Thank you all very, very much.

You're welcome.

Well, it gave me a chance to meet the captain, take a helicopter ride.

Well, if you give me a chance, I'll teach you to fly.

Let's not get carried away.

Oh, that reminds me, Paul. We have a plane to catch. I take it you are not

with us.

Actually, Terry has offered to drive me home.

Oh, that's a long drive. It is, isn't it?

So don't expect to call for a few days.

Bye.

You know, Perry, that's not a bad idea.

Taking a long, leisurely drive home.

I'll even drive if you will trust me not to get lost.

I have a better idea.

You mean you would take the train?

No.

I want to...