Original subtitles

Now that we're near the end up here on stage, it's time to consider death.

Not on Earth, but up there.

Death in the bleak emptiness of infinite space, the final frontier.

If you were a pioneer out in the old frontier days, out in the old west,

be buried out on the lone prairie. If you were a sailor, you'd be buried at

But what do you do?

If you die up there, what's to be done with the dead in space?

I'll show you what I'd do.

First, I would get a coffin.

Not just any coffin.

One suitable for eternal flumber and infinity itself.

But what's a coffin without a body?

Yours will do nicely.

A coffin and a body.

Now all we need is some light.

And a little magic.

A final farewell.

A coffin and a body floating in space.

Surrounded by the dark mysteries of the universe.

Light years above the earth.

Until... Finally.

Okay. Is everybody here?

Yep. All right.

For the first performance in a new town.

It was a six.

With plenty of room for improvement. Paul?

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Spotlight should have been on you instead of the lady during the ring

It'll be there next time, I promise.

All right. What happened just before intermission? Why the stall? Oh, it's

new belts. They are really hard to buckle. Everybody had a problem.

Betty? I'm working on it, David.

All right. Thank you.

Anne, you were too far stage right during the finale. The spotlight almost

missed you.

I know. I'm sorry.

I couldn't find my mark.

I made it bigger. It won't happen again. I'm sorry.

Thanks. All right, well, that's all I have. Anybody else have anything?

Yeah, I do.

I almost killed myself getting back on stage for the ice -cutting trick.

Jake forgot to move the cabinet.

I didn't forget. It's tight back there. I couldn't put it where I usually do.

Oh, I see.

But you were just going to leave it there so we could all trip over it.

That's not very smart.

I'm aware of the problem and I'm working on it, okay?

All right, make sure it's solved by the evening performance, okay, Jake? Okay.

All right, if nobody else has anything, I'll see you all tonight in the green.

It was uncalled for, Kate.

If you had a beef, why didn't you just come to me?

You were busy, Jake.

Fixing your wife's all -important mark.

You made me look bad.

Hon, what are these files doing now?

Your wife's with Betty.

I think she's going to be there a while.

Don't.

Don't?

Let her know what you said in Portland.

Portland was a mistake.

We've been through this, Kate.

It's over.

No.

David.

I'm afraid that it isn't.

David is going to love it.

God, I'm good.

Yeah, but can he do the rest of them by tonight?

Pregnant? How the hell could you be pregnant?

How the hell do you think?

What are you going to do?

That depends.

On what? On what you're going to do.

I know how badly you want kids. I'm married, Kate.

You could always get a divorce.

I don't want a divorce.

Well, maybe Judy will.

Well, don't you dare tell her.

Don't you dare. You hear me?

You tell anybody about this, and I'll make you sorrier than you've ever been

your life. You got that?

You know what?

I think maybe the best thing for me to do right now would be to

take an extended leave of absence.

You know, so I can make other arrangements.

It's just the only problem.

I just can't afford it.

How much?

Why don't you and I give it some thought?

And we'll talk later.

After the show.

All right?

Oh, speaking of which.

I really, really, really want to do that coffin routine from now on.

Starting tonight.

It is okay with you, isn't it?

I'll tell Ann.

Thanks.

I mean, it is the very least you can do.

Don't you think?

Hey, Kate.

So what are you doing after the show tonight?

I've got plans.

Well, what about tomorrow night?

Oh, I don't know how to say this in a nice way.

So I won't.

I'm not interested.

Not even interested in helping you spend a thousand bucks?

Where did you get a thousand dollars?

Come to dinner with me. Maybe I'll tell you.

No, thanks.

Oh, come on.

Why not?

Because you're not my type. I'm not your type? No.

I got news for you.

Any man with a thousand bucks in his pocket is your type.

Paul, do you know how much money you're going to have left tomorrow?

Nothing.

Do you know why?

You're a loser.

David?

Hi. I got your message.

What's up?

Yeah, look, Anne, I'm... I'm going to let Kate do the coffin act.

What, you mean she gets to do the finale?

Yeah, in fact, I've decided to let her... Let her do the act from now on.

Why? Because I said so.

have to do is reach around with your right hand and pull.

See?

Betty, I can't find my wand. I wondered if you'd seen it anywhere. It's not back

here, sorry.

Oh, did the front of the house get a hold of you? No, what do they want? Your

guests are here.

Guests? Oh, damn, I forgot all about them. Have you seen Judy anywhere?

I haven't seen her. Would you find her, please? Tell her to meet me in the VIP

suite. Tell her Perry makes it here.

I think you'd better get them to their seats.

Curtains in 15 minutes.

I'm sure David will want to see them after the show.

How long you known him?

Three years.

He performed to the benefit I helped organize to raise money for those kids.

He wasn't famous then, but he certainly is now.

Oh, but he still does the benefit every year.

That's the only time we get to see him and Judy.

Perry.

Good to see you again.

Great to see you, David.

How are you, Della? Fine, David. Oh, David.

My associate, Ken Malansky.

Good to meet you. Likewise.

Perry's told me a lot about you.

Glad you all could make it.

I'm glad you gave Perry the comp tickets.

My pleasure.

Nice watch.

Oh.

Nice hands.

Perry, what's this I hear about the benefit falling short of its goal this

Ah, recessions tend to be hard on charity events.

Do you think you'd meet your goal if I donated all the proceeds from tonight's

performance?

I'm sure we would.

Then that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Thank you very much.

Judy and I have wanted to do this for a long time.

Since we don't have any of our own. Judy.

Where is Judy?

I don't know. You know, I don't believe I told her you'd be here.

Maybe we can all get together after the show.

Yeah.

Sure.

David, are you all right? Oh, I'm fine.

No, actually, that's a lie.

I've misplaced my wand, my lucky wand. It's like a rabbit's foot, and I use it

whenever I perform.

That's like the handkerchief that Perry puts in his inside pocket when he's

trying a case.

You have a lucky handkerchief?

Della is having a pipe dream.

Oh.

Well, anyway, I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm not going to be able

until I find the damn thing, so... If you'll excuse me. We'll catch up with

after the show. Come backstage. I'll leave work with security.

Good luck.

He was upset because he lost his lucky wand?

Well, it isn't just a wand. It's a coping mechanism.

It's his way of dealing with stage fright.

Where'd you learn so much about psychology?

From a man with his lucky handkerchief.

Big pipe dream.

Max!

What are you doing here?

What do you think I'm doing here, huh?

You finally got my message and you came to see the show. I wanted to see whether

it was true.

What was true?

That you've been stealing from me.

Stealing from you? Who told you that? Before it gets around, kid.

You were the best student I ever had, David. How could you... How could you do

this to me?

Max, I assure you, I built every act in this show from the ground up.

They may be based on principles you taught me, but I certainly didn't steal

you. Well, if you don't mind, I'd just as soon see for myself.

Go ahead.

Ten minutes to curtain up, people.

Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you.

I've, uh, been around.

Perry's here.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Nothing's wrong.

Now as we near the end up here on stage, it's time to consider death.

Not on Earth.

But up there, death in the bleak emptiness of infinite space, the final

frontier.

If you were a pioneer in the frontier days of the old west, you'd be buried

on the lone prairie.

If you were a sailor, you'd be buried at sea.

But what do you do if you die up there?

What's to be done with the dead in space?

I'll show you what I do.

First I would get a coffin not just any coffin one suitable for eternal slumber

in infinity itself But what's a coffin without a body

Yours will do nicely

A coffin and a body.

Now all we need is some light.

And a little magic.

A final farewell.

A coffin and a body floating in space.

Surrounded by the dark mysteries of the universe.

Like years above the earth.

Until finally...

Somebody call an ambulance.

Okay, all right. Well, what do we have here?

Accident, Lieutenant.

Please, Counselor, we'll see. This is the gentleman.

Sir, are you up to answering some questions?

I think so.

Mm -hmm.

Okay, by you, Counselor.

Depends on the question.

Well, for starters, what was supposed to happen when this coffin opened up?

Nothing. Nothing. It should have been empty, and Kate shouldn't have been

anywhere near it.

Well, where should Kate have been? In the wings, making her way out front for

her reappearance.

Well, why don't you just run the whole thing down to me?

You mean tell you how it's done? Tell me how it's done.

Sooner or later, David.

What the audience doesn't see when the coffin is wheeled out on stage is this.

One of my assistants gets in. I close the lid. She rolls through this flap

a secret compartment while my wife attaches a wire. You don't see her do

because her black outfit blends right into the black backdrop.

And then I create a few visual and verbal distractions while my assistant

out of the compartment and slips through the curtain.

And then as the coffin magically rises into the air, she makes her way to the

wings and ultimately reappears in the audience.

But we could see her in the coffin when it was going up.

What you saw was a projection and a precisely synchronized, pre -taped

movie, if you will, is...

projected onto the side of the coffin as it rises.

You remember that little wave of farewell she gave?

That's on tape, too.

So the question is, why didn't Mrs. Ford get out of the coffin and into the

compartment like she was supposed to?

Well, Mr.

Mason, because this plant wasn't open, that's why.

Bob, is this what you saw? Yes, sir.

You see, this wand was jamming it shut, and once Miss Ford got in the scarf and

she was trapped, there was no place else for her to go but down.

Now, the question is, does anybody have any idea who this belongs to?

It's mine.

I searched for it right up until Kurt.

And I grabbed a spare and I went out.

But you usually kept the wand in your dressing room.

I have no idea how it got into that coffin, I swear.

God, this is awful.

David, unless the D .A. can come up with some reason that you wanted Kate Ford

dead, I seriously doubt you'll be arrested, so take it easy.

Will they do an autopsy?

Yeah.

Standard procedure in cases of sudden or unusual death. Why?

She was pregnant.

She told me tonight before the show.

Perry, I slept with her once.

Just once. I'd had too much to drink.

Not that that's any excuse.

Who else might have been aware of all this?

I don't know.

She wanted money.

Did you give her money?

We were going to talk about it after the show.

Your knock on the door was deafening.

Mr. Katz, I'm afraid I'm going to have to place you under arrest now.

What's the charge?

First -degree murder.

Premeditation? We can prove premeditation.

It seems there were two people standing outside Mr. Katz's dressing room door

when Miss Ford hit him with the news she was pregnant.

One was your wife, sir? Judy.

And the other was the wardrobe lady?

Miss Betty Farmer.

And Miss Farmer's the one who told us everything.

What do you mean, everything?

Mr. Mason, not only was your client very upset when Miss Ford hit him with the

news, she was carrying his child.

He also threatened her.

I didn't threaten her.

According to Miss Farmer, you did exactly that.

And that, sir, is the stuff murder indictments are made of.

I have no comment.

What do you mean somebody was taping the show?

I recall seeing a young woman with a video camera six seats to my right.

But it's not allowed.

We say so at the beginning of every performance.

David, I'm sure that rule's broken many times.

Hey, you should be grateful.

That tape could come in very handy.

If we could find it.

Huh. Was the last night's show a sellout? They all are. Or were.

Well, since all the seats around us were reserved, it should be pretty easy to

track down the people that were sitting there.

An absolute, if I ever heard one.

I'll get right on it.

David, does everyone involved in this show know how the coffin trick works?

I don't hire anyone unless they sign a document prohibiting them from divulging

my secrets.

Then any one of them could have sabotaged that trick.

I guess so, yeah.

Our first order of business.

Who on the show might have wanted Kate Ford dead?

Wait a minute. The file.

File? What file?

The one I keep the design for the glass coffin in. I think someone may have

rummaged through it while I was in the shower yesterday.

Of course, you have no idea who.

I have no idea who.

Perry, I, uh... I haven't talked to Judy since I was arrested. Is it okay if I

call her?

Sure, right there.

She must be very angry with me.

Room 519, please.

Hello. Hi.

My name's Mason.

I'm David Katt's attorney. I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Sure.

Come on in.

Excuse the mess.

I just took some things to the laundromat.

How's David?

Oh, he's doing fine.

David tells me that he hired you and your husband about six months ago.

Yes, that's right.

Did you know Kate Ford very well?

No, I hardly knew her at all.

But you worked right alongside her for six months, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

Let's just say I didn't really want... to know her.

I, um, I don't think she was the world's nicest person, if you know what I mean.

Ann, I'm all out of stock.

Jake, this is David's lawyer, Mr. Mason, my husband, Jake Morrison.

How do you do? What do you want with Ann?

Just asking some general background questions.

I understand you're the one who wheels the coffin out on the stage each

performance. That's right.

Did you happen to notice anyone standing around by the coffin before you...

Wheeled it out last night?

Madhouse backstage during a performance. Nobody but nobody ever stands around.

Especially Jake.

Mr. Morrison, how did you get along with Kate?

I didn't. As far as I could tell, neither did anybody else.

She had a real problem with her attitude.

I'm told you used to have a somewhat similar problem.

Yeah, I got mad easy, that's all.

Broke a man's legs during a barroom brawl. Did time in prison for it.

I'd do it again, too.

Really?

Why? It was about my daughter, and it's none of your business.

You're right.

But... If it does become my

business, I'll be in touch.

You Terry Weidner?

Who are you?

My name's Ken Malansky.

I work with Perry Mason.

Perry Mason, the attorney?

Yeah.

I'm his secretary.

Mr. Weidner's not available. Is there anything I can do for you?

A beautiful young woman taped David Katz's show a couple nights ago.

So?

That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?

Why do you want to know?

Mr. Mason's interested in taking a look at that tape.

That's all.

I don't know if Mr. Whedon would want me to discuss this.

Look, I'll leave him a message along with your card, and when he gets back

wherever he is, he'll call you, okay?

Great.

Thanks. No problem.

Excuse me.

Yeah, I was supposed to have lunch with Terry Weidner, but I forgot the name of

the restaurant.

Well, she usually has something for you.

If you hurry, you can catch her. She just went out the front door.

I'm back.

I don't understand why you're so worried.

Harry Mason is a major league lawyer who only gets involved in murder cases.

That's why. The tape you made for me has nothing to do with anyone's murder.

What does it have to do with? I can't tell you.

I don't like being caught in the middle like this. Look, you're not in the

middle of anything, I can assure you. Now, you've done excellent work.

You've been very well paid. And should I require your services in the future, I

will be sure to contact you.

All of which is to say, goodbye.

Hey!

Excuse me.

Your car certainly stands out like, well, a bright red car, Miss Wiedner.

I suppose this piece of junk is your car.

Yeah, well, you didn't see me following you, did you?

And it wouldn't hurt to dress a lot less flamboyantly, either.

Look, would you stop patronizing me? I get enough of that for my client.

Like Max Lamar in there?

Checked him out while you were inside.

Piece of junk's got a phone in it.

He's a magician, David Katz's mentor. He's probably the one you made the

videotape of the show for, isn't he?

Maybe. Why do you want a tape of the show?

Why does Perry Mason want a tape of the show? Because it could help him prove

that David Katz is innocent.

Now you answer my question.

Lamar wouldn't tell me.

However, I have a proposition for you.

You see, believe it or not, business hasn't been going all that well for me

lately. Well, try firing that part -time secretary of yours.

She lies.

What I need is credibility.

And I figure the best way to get it is by working for somebody famous, like

boss, for instance.

Now, why should he hire you?

Because of what I can offer.

What's that?

A duplicate of that tape.

and a body floating in space. We're looking for something out of the

Is everything exactly as it should be?

So far.

That's all there is.

When I saw her fall, I dropped the camera.

You noticed nothing, David?

Nothing, I'm sorry.

Well, it was worth a try.

Why did Max Lamar want a tape of David's show?

I'm afraid that's privileged information, Mr. Mason.

Lamar wouldn't tell her. That too.

Terry, we really want to thank you. Here you go.

Oh, I don't want a check. I want a job.

We had a deal. You promised me. Now, wait a minute. I promised you'd be paid.

never promised you a job.

Well, let's just call it even.

Nothing.

For nothing.

She misunderstood.

David, take a look at this.

Who's Greta Eisman?

Kate Ford.

Greta Eisman's her real name. She changed it eight years ago.

You didn't know that?

No. She ever talk about her past?

I think she once told me she was from Kansas, Wichita, I think. No, she was

right here in Colorado, a little town called Hastings.

Why would she lie like that?

Oh, it could very well have something to do with her murder.

Ken, a fact -finding mission.

Hastings, Colorado.

Hastings, Colorado.

David tells me you moved out, but you won't see him.

I don't know what to say.

Well, we had quite a talk.

David told me...

I know you

can't have children.

I also know from your involvement in the benefit each year how much you love

them.

Hearing that Kate was pregnant must have been a horrible blow.

I couldn't believe it, Perry.

That woman pregnant with David's child.

Just like that.

He and I had been trying for years.

It seems so... unfair.

The police questioned you after her death. You didn't tell them what you'd

overheard. Why not?

I don't know.

It could be construed that you were trying to hide the fact that you had a

motive for killing Kate.

I never thought of that.

Killing myself, yes, but Kate...

I was trying to protect David.

I still love him.

Judy, talk to him.

Give him a chance to explain. He made a mistake, a big one.

He misses you.

When will Mr. Eisman be back?

All right.

Thanks anyway.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

My name's Kevin Lansky. I'm an attorney.

I'm working on a murder case down in Denver. How can I help you?

Well, I'm looking for information on Greta Eisman.

Greta Eisman from Hastings?

Yeah, she moved away about eight years ago.

Sorry, you've got the wrong town.

All right, great.

Thanks.

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting all of you yet. I'm Perry Mason, David's

attorney.

I'd like you to watch a tape that was made the night Kate Ford was killed.

As members of the cast and crew, you might see something in it that will jog

your memory and shed some light on what happened that night.

Can everyone see?

Yeah, sure.

Ms. Morrison, would you like to move closer?

Oh, no, thank you. I'm fine. I have 20 -20 vision. I'm okay.

Now as we near the end up here on stage, it's time to consider death.

Not on Earth.

First I would get a coffin.

Not just any coffin.

One suitable for eternal slumber in infinity itself.

But what's a coffin without a body?

Yours will do nicely.

Now all we need... is some light and a little magic

a

final farewell a coffin and a body floating in space surrounded by the

dark mysteries of the universe light years above the earth till finally

Did you notice anything that might be of significance? Anything at all?

Well, thank you anyway.

I appreciate your coming down. That's all.

That was very clever.

What was?

Well, we watched the tape while you watched us.

If you'll excuse me. The expression, I don't miss a trick.

Then perhaps you'll tell me who killed Kate Ford.

I guess it was your client.

I'm sorry, but if you had heard what I heard, you'd think so too.

Not that I blame him at all.

I understand your younger sister used to be with the show.

Anita was one of David's assistants.

Why?

I hear Kate was instrumental in getting her fired.

And that you were very angry with her and David about that.

But not angry enough to kill her.

If that's what you're getting at.

Maybe you didn't mean to kill her.

Maybe you just wanted to make sure that she or David never

performed again.

and whatever's on tap.

You got it.

Where are you from?

Denver.

Passing through?

No, actually, I'm looking for information on Greta Eisman.

Who?

Greta Eisman.

Born here, moved away about eight years ago.

Never heard of her, and I've lived here all my life.

Well, I figure she's related to the Henry Eisman that owns that sawmill on

way into town.

Only Eisman in the book.

Can't seem to get in touch with him, though.

Mr. Eisenman doesn't have any relatives.

He used to have a daughter.

He did?

Got herself into trouble.

Ah, don't pay any attention to him. Been drunk for five years straight.

Half the time he doesn't know where he is. Come on, Casey, drink up and quit

bothering the customers.

Maybe I better tell you about this outside.

Come on.

Oh, Ben. Harvey.

Get him out of here, will you?

We got him. Oh, come on.

Come on, man.

Just leave those boys alone.

Just said Eisman had a daughter.

Stick around long enough, he'll tell you about the time little green men took

him for a ride in their spaceship.

Went to one of the moons of Jupiter.

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

Didn't you have Terry Wiedner make a tape of David's show the night Kate Ford

was murdered?

No. Of course not.

I understand much, if not most, of what David knows about magic came from you.

Well, that is to be expected.

the best?

Or you were the best.

These days, most people would say David is the best. That does not mean it is

true. But David's popularity has certainly grown, hasn't it?

It now overshadows yours, doesn't it?

Isn't that why you went through his files and had Terry make that tape?

Not to see if he was stealing from you, but to see if you could steal from him.

That's outrageous.

Mr. Lamar, when you saw the plans to that coffin, Did you memorize them?

Or did you put them to immediate use?

Are you suggesting that I had something to do with that poor girl's death?

Let's say David wouldn't be a threat to you anymore if he were in prison.

And you?

You'd have your revenge.

Get out.

Or you'll make me disappear?

Just leave.

Please give Mr. Torrance my regards.

Tomorrow morning you pack up and move on.

Yeah?

It doesn't concern you, lady.

give this place a bad name.

How'd you find me?

After I stormed out of Mr. Mason's office, I listened in at the door.

You what?

I listened in at the door.

And when I heard where you were going, I rented the dullest car they had, got

the dullest clothes I could find, drove straight here, rented a room right down

the hall, and beat you by 15 minutes.

Well, I suppose I should be grateful.

So, why do you think everybody in town has a thing about Greta Eisman?

I said I was grateful, not that I needed a partner.

I know where those Gooney brothers took that old drunk.

Where?

Give me some incentive and I might tell you.

All right, you're in.

Not good enough.

This time I want to hear it from Perry Mason himself.

Somebody broke into David's dressing room down at the theater tonight.

Oh, yeah?

They know who it was?

As you know, David has all his employees sign an agreement stating they can be

sued. If they divulge any of his secrets.

Apparently, the thief took only the one you had signed.

No kidding.

You're on Max Lamar's payroll, aren't you? Or at least you were on the night

Kate Ford was murdered.

No. That's where you got the roll of bills you kept flashing that night.

Why you were at Lamar's house earlier today.

Why you were at the theater tonight, stealing that agreement.

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

No?

Lamar was paying you to pass on David's secrets.

You were afraid that would come out during the trial.

You destroyed your agreement with David so he couldn't sue you.

Prove it.

Oh, I will, Mr. Torrance.

I will.

And much more.

What do you mean?

Sit down.

It's a well -known fact that you made frequent passes at Cape Ford.

Passes that were rejected, always rejected.

So? So a man can only take so much rejection, right, Mr. Torrance?

Wait a minute here.

Max Lamar wanted to avenge himself on David.

You wanted to avenge yourself on Kate.

You knew how the coffin trick worked. It was perfect.

A perfect arrangement, wasn't it?

I didn't kill her, I swear it.

I was mad at her, okay?

But I didn't kill her.

You gotta believe me.

Do something for me, Mr. Torrance.

You name it, you got it.

How would you like to be a witness for the defense?

When I saw that you weren't going to see where they took Casey, I decided I must

go.

All right.

So you're good.

So how come you're a PI?

How come you're a lawyer?

Come on, male lawyers are a dime a dozen. Female PIs aren't. Well, maybe we

should be.

Why's that?

Let's face it.

PIs spend 99 .9 % of their time looking for people and or things, right?

I'll buy that.

Well, women are better at finding things than men are.

That I don't buy.

Come on.

I can still hear my father calling out, Honey, have you seen my wallet? Or where

did I put my keys? Or where's the remote control?

Does that sound familiar?

Where is this place?

It's up ahead on the left.

Solid. You get the idea. I think so.

Morning, Della.

Do you realize we're due in court in 45 minutes?

We're on our way.

Oh, Perry.

Della, I want you to check with every optometrist in town. See if someone

connected with David's show ordered a pair of contact lenses on the day of his

final performance.

Every optometrist.

Do you realize how many there are in a city this size?

257.

Hey, Casey!

All right.

Watch out.

All right, don't even say it. Just open the door.

Casey? Come on, Casey.

Casey, come on. Get on. Come on, Casey.

Drugs to skunk.

Looks like somebody wanted to make sure he stayed that way.

around here that looks like coffee? I don't see anything around here that

like food unless you count these cockroaches.

Well, looks like we're going to be here for a while. I'm going to stash the

truck. Good idea.

Stand out like a sore thumb.

I will prove that David Katz, with malice aforethought, killed Kate Ford.

I will prove that, although he is a married man, he not only had an affair

the victim, he impregnated her.

I will prove that when she told him her sordid secret, he threatened

her life.

And I will prove that...

As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he caused Kate Ford to die a

horrible death, hoping it would be construed as nothing more than a tragic

accident.

I will prove to you, ladies and gentlemen, that while David Katz may be

famous illusionist, he is also a cold -blooded murderer.

An illusionist is one who performs illusions.

I'm glad Mr. Willard brought that up.

Because this case turns on illusions.

And you'd be well advised to keep that in mind.

What's an illusion?

Something which appears to be one thing but is actually something else.

In fact, Mr.

Willard is something of an illusionist.

He's going to attempt to show that my client is guilty when, in fact, my

is innocent.

He's going to try to make you believe one thing when just the opposite is

Ladies and gentlemen, anyone can perform an illusion.

The fact that a woman is dead is no illusion.

But the idea that David Katz is somehow responsible for that death is wrong and

is an illusion.

I'm going to prove that to you.

Continue, Mr. Mason.

Well, Your Honor, Kate Ford was killed during a very elaborate theatrical

production choreographed to conceal as much as reveal.

Because of time and space, it is critical to the defense and to

evidence to the jury that our witnesses testify at the actual scene of this

crime. I ask the court to reconvene in the theater where Kate Ford was

Mr. Willard.

Sounded ridiculous to me, Your Honor.

But I'll try this case wherever this court wishes to send me.

Well, this is the most unusual venue request I've ever experienced. But you

I believe in a fair and speedy trial for both the defendant and the prosecution.

So I'll grant this motion.

And we'll reconvene at the Paramount Theater at 11 o 'clock.

Try walking in faster. I am walking in faster.

This is just not working.

The miracle he didn't die.

By the way he smells, I'm not so sure he isn't.

And look, he's coming too.

Come on, Kiki.

Wake up.

You okay?

Who are you?

My name's Ken Malansky. We met at the Gold Coin Saloon. You were telling me

about Greta Heisman, remember?

I might have had a drink, though.

Here you go.

Looks like coffee. It is coffee. What do you want in it?

A double shot of bourbon would be nice.

Milk. You need protein.

Who died and made you two, God?

We just want to know about Greta Eisman. You were telling me she got into some

kind of trouble.

She ran over a lady with a car and killed her.

Hit and run.

Was she caught?

Her daddy owns a big sawmill.

When he says jump, people in Hastings ask how high.

And when he says don't say nothing, people don't say nothing.

He made sure she was never prosecuted?

Oh, police never even asked her any questions. She left town a couple of

later and never came back.

And people are still protecting her? Her daddy still owns a sawmill.

It's about the only thing keeping this town alive.

What was the name of the woman she killed?

You remember?

I don't even remember your name, and you just told me a couple of minutes ago.

It was in the paper, I bet.

Hastings does have a newspaper, doesn't it? Mm -hmm.

It's a weekly register call.

I know. I sleep on it all the time.

Oh, what happened? Where are we going? We're going to go outside. You need to

air out. No, I don't. And we need to get out.

Uh -huh.

Yo,

Casey!

Hey, Casey!

Doesn't look like he's in there.

I'm going to go to the newspaper office.

Well, I figured that. I mean, what are we going to do about them following us?

Watch this.

You okay?

Nice driving.

Are you okay?

No.

I'm sober.

Look, here's a hundred bucks. Hide them somewhere in town. Meet me at the

newspaper office.

I'm out of here.

When the secret compartment was examined, this wand was found.

It was jammed up against the flap between the compartment and the coffin

a way that the...

Clap couldn't open.

You mean the victim was supposed to roll into the secret compartment before the

coffin was lifted into the air, only because of this wand she couldn't? That

correct.

Could this wand have gotten jammed in there by accident?

Objection. Well... Lack of foundation.

Improper opinion.

Withdraw the question.

Lieutenant, were you able to disengage the wand?

Easily? Objection. Relevancy.

Overruled. You may answer, Lieutenant.

No.

Somebody or something had jammed it up against that flat.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Thank you.

Lieutenant, didn't your investigation disclose...

That it was well known among the performers and stage crew that Mr. Katz

this wand in his dressing room?

Yes, almost everyone knew that, Mr. Mason.

And before the performance, that glass coffin was kept on the stage

to any performers or stagehands?

Apparently so.

And you were not able to find anyone who saw Mr.

Katz jam this wand into the flap of that coffin, were you?

No, Mr. Mason. Thank you, Lieutenant. That's all.

So you could hear them talking even though the door was shut?

Yes. Their voices were quite loud.

They were both very upset.

What exactly did the defendant say to Miss Ford?

I can't remember his exact words, but I think he said something like...

Um... If you tell anybody about this, I'm going to make you very sorry.

That's all?

It wasn't just what he said. It was how he said it.

His... His voice was... It was just so full of hate, it scared

me.

So he told Miss Ford...

He would make her very sorry.

And six hours later, she was dead.

Thank you.

Miss Farmer, after David Katz fired your sister last year, you had a

confrontation with him, did you not?

I may have.

In fact, you said something like, I'm going to pay you back for this, did you

not? Oh, I don't remember.

Several people were present when you said that, were they not?

If I said that, it was because I was angry.

You were angry with him and you threatened him, did you not?

It wasn't a threat.

Oh? Why not?

Because I didn't actually mean it.

How do you know David Katz actually meant what he said to Kate Ford that

I suppose I don't.

In point of fact, you left before their conversation ended that night, did you

not?

Yes.

I have nothing further.

This court will reconvene at two o 'clock.

Hey,

did you see some guy run back here? No, sure haven't.

Nothing here.

How many performances were there on the day in which Kate Ford was killed?

Two, a matinee and an evening performance.

So the glass coffin illusion was performed earlier that day as well as

night? Yes.

Who got into the coffin for the matinee?

Miss Ford?

No, I did.

In fact, up until that evening, I always did the coffin trick. I could get out

of the compartment the fastest.

Why did you decide to let Miss Ford do it that night?

I didn't. David did.

He asked me to come to his dressing room after the matinee, and he told me that

he had decided to let Kate do the finale that night.

Did he say why?

No. Had anything like this ever happened before?

No, never.

You mean, for the first and only time, David Katz arranged it.

So that Kate Ford got into that coffin that night instead of you?

Yes.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason, wish to cross?

I reserve the right to recall the witness and request a ten -minute recess

confer with my client, Your Honor.

Very well. Ten minutes.

Judy's not being here has me really upset, Perry. I'm sorry.

I meant to tell you, but I forgot.

It just slipped my mind, Perry. You've got to believe me. David, even if it

hadn't flipped your mind, we have no rebuttal. The prosecution just

premeditation. But Kate forced me to make the switch.

But I have no way of proving it.

the editor, Gordon Cosgrove.

Tim Malinsky.

You must be that guy from Denver. What guy from Denver? The one old man Eisman

says nobody's supposed to give the time of day to.

Is he in town?

I bought this paper about two years ago. First thing they tell you is don't

cross the old man.

Gordon Cosgrove, Terry Wiedner.

Pleasure. Hi.

On the other hand, it doesn't pay to ignore a good story. That's why I'm in

newspaper business.

His daughter was just murdered.

You had a daughter?

She changed her name to Kate Ford and moved away about eight years ago after

being involved in a hit -and -run accident that left the woman dead.

No kidding.

That accident may have something to do with her murder. I figure you might have

something in your files.

They're back here.

Help yourself.

The filing system here isn't exactly state -of -the -art.

It's more like state -of -the -dump.

Do you have any coffee?

Mr. Katz, would you please tell the court why you had Kate Ford do the

illusion instead of Ann Morrison?

Kate told me she wanted to do it. Why would she do that?

It was the only time during the show any of the women would get to have a

featured role.

And why did you give in to her?

If I hadn't, she would have told my wife about our relationship.

So, she blackmailed you into letting her do the coffin routine?

Yes.

When did she do this blackmail at the beginning or end of your conversation?

As she was leaving. Which would explain why Ms. Farmer failed to overhear it.

Mr. Katz, did you cause Kate Ford to fall to her

death by sabotaging that coffin?

No, absolutely not.

David, do you still love your wife?

I could never love anyone else.

That's all.

Care to cross, Mr. Willard?

Um, just one or two questions, Your Honor.

To your knowledge, no one ever heard Kate Ford ask to be put into the coffin,

did they?

No, apparently not.

So, uh, all we have is your word.

Yes.

Is that your favorite wand, Mr. Katz?

Your, uh, lucky wand?

Yes, it is.

You claim to have misplaced your, uh, lucky wand and that you did not sabotage

this coffin in order to cause Kate Ford's death. Is that right?

That's correct.

So... all we have is your word.

Yes.

When you married your current wife,

Did you vow to love, honor, and cherish her?

Yes, I did.

Forsaking all others?

Yes.

You gave her your word, too, didn't you? Yes, I did, and I broke it.

And I only hope that she can forgive me. Well, that's a very nice touch, Mr.

Katz. You're a very able performer.

Objection. Mr.

Willard's not asking questions.

He's apparently commencing his final argument.

Sustained? You did know that Kate Ford was pregnant, didn't you?

With your child.

She said she was.

Did you believe her?

I knew it was possible.

And you were afraid that public knowledge of your affair would ruin your

marriage and might even affect your career, weren't you?

Yes, I was. So you sabotaged that coffin.

You put Kate Ford into it and you nearly made it appear as an accident.

Didn't you? No, I did not.

I've sworn to tell the truth, and I am telling the truth.

Nothing further.

Redirect, Mr. Mason?

One last question.

I've asked it before, but I'll rephrase it.

Mr. Katz, did you kill Kate Ford?

No, sir.

I did not.

Mr. Willard?

Nothing, Your Honor. Witness may step down.

Next witness, Mr. Mason.

Defense calls Paul Torrance to the stand.

How long have you been with David's company, Mr. Torrance?

Two years.

In what capacity?

As lighting director.

And what is a lighting director?

Well, basically, I make sure what people are supposed to see is lit and what

people aren't supposed to see isn't.

Did you know Kate Ford?

Sure.

How well did she get along with the other members of the company?

I wouldn't say she got along well with anybody.

She didn't have a lot of friends?

As far as I know, she didn't have any.

Objection.

Whether the victim was or wasn't popular with her peers has no bearing on this

case. Mr. Willard would have this court believe that my client is the only

person who had a motive for killing Kate Ford.

I'm attempting to show otherwise, Your Honor.

I'll allow this line of questioning.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

What was Miss Ford like?

Selfish, vindictive, mean, stuck up.

All of those things, yet you asked her out.

She was also great -looking.

Uh -huh.

As lighting director, do you stay in one spot during a performance, or do you

move around?

I move around.

Where are you during the glass coffin illusion?

Up on the cap walk.

That one right up there.

I was doing the projector.

So when the coffin is lifted into the air, above the stage, you're

not that far from it. Is that correct?

Right.

Why didn't you do anything when you heard her scream?

Heard who scream?

Miss Ford. She didn't scream.

But she was trapped.

Are you saying she didn't cry out or pound on the sides of the coffin?

That she just lay there waiting to fall to her death?

Look, all I know is I didn't hear or see anything.

Mr. Torrance, doesn't make much sense, does it?

Thank you, that's all.

Mr. Willard?

No questions.

The witness may step down. This court is adjourned till 9 a .m. tomorrow

morning.

Harry? Here's the information on the contact lenses.

Hmm.

How many optometrists did I say there were?

257.

Oh, you did a great job.

There were 258.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. I found it.

Oh, wow.

It's not an accident. It means life.

Once you get the truck, I'll meet you out front, okay?

Oh, no way. No way. I am not driving back to Denver in a truck with a broken

window. Dead of winter. Are you kidding? I'm getting my rental.

Wait a second, but I love my truck.

It's a beautiful truck, Ken, but I'm getting my rental.

Can I get a copy of this? Sure.

You found what you wanted? Yeah, that was great. Thanks a lot.

Harvey, he's over here.

Hold it right there.

You really don't want to do that.

We sure don't, son.

Let me guess.

You're a father, right?

My daughter is dead.

The man who killed her is about to be punished.

That's all that matters.

The man on trial is innocent.

I'm trying to find out who did kill her. Don't you want to know the truth?

I want my daughter to rest in peace.

No, you don't.

You just don't want people to know what she did here.

That's all you care about.

Take care of this for me, will you, boys?

Move it out, pal.

Now.

He's driving.

I know.

Oh, really? That was great timing. I know.

Mason.

Perry, I just got back. I have all your messages.

Judy, we've been worried to death.

Where the hell have you been?

I spent the day with the children, and tonight I just spent the time driving

around till I could figure things out.

David's beside himself.

You know, it's a good thing you weren't needed in court today.

Now, I know you and David have your differences, but you have to be in court

the morning.

You have to be.

Perry, I'll be there. I promise I'll be there.

I'm sorry, Judy. It's...

It's just that we all love you.

I know.

Thank you, Perry.

Good night.

Evidently, Kate, or Greta back then, just hit that woman and kept driving

on down the road without even slowing down.

But none of the witnesses could identify her as the driver.

Oh, they could.

But they just didn't want to.

Says here the victim was from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

She and her daughter were on their way to visit friends in Gunnison.

Well, this tells us who killed Kate Ford.

Now the question is, can you prove it?

Let's try this.

And a little magic.

A final farewell.

A coffin and a body floating in space, surrounded by the dark mysteries of the

universe, like years above the earth.

Your Honor, as part of the demonstration discussed in chambers, my client will

reenact the glass coffin illusion.

Simultaneously, we will play what has been marked Defense Exhibit M, a

videotape. The prosecution has stipulated to be an actual tape of the

performance the night Kate Ford was killed.

As I indicated in chambers, Your Honor, the state has continuing relevancy and

foundation objections to this entire demonstration.

Your objections are noted and overruled.

Your Honor, in case we need someone to clarify these proceedings,

Defense recalls Mr.

David Katz.

Mr. Katz, you're still under oath.

Yes, Your Honor.

All right, places, everyone.

With Kate Ford dead, you're missing an assistant, are you not?

That's correct.

Ms. Farmer, would you be kind enough to stand in for Kate Ford?

Good. Now we have six women.

Go ahead, Mr. Katz.

All right, Jake, let's take it from your entrance.

Okay. First, I would get a coffin.

Not just any coffin, one suitable for eternal slumber in infinity itself.

But what's a coffin without a body?

Yours will do nicely.

A coffin and a body. Now all we need is some light and

a little magic.

A final farewell.

A coffin and a body floating in space surrounded by the dark mysteries of the

universe. Light years above the earth until

final.

I've checked.

Lights, Mr. Torrance. Mr. Mason, that is something we did not discuss in

chambers. I'm sorry to cause a commotion, Your Honor, but I assure you

entirely germane to this demonstration.

Then get on with it. So skilled is my client at making an audience look where

wants it to look that I doubt anyone in this room noticed that Mr. Molanski had

stopped the tape.

We stopped it because we'd like you.

the jury to compare the number of assistants you see on stage right now

number you see on the tape one two three four five and one

backstage having slipped out of the coffin through the secret compartment

it began to rise five women on stage now look at the tape one two three

four

Only four women on stage. Where's the other one, Mr. Katz? I don't know. There

should be five women on stage.

Were all six women always on stage at the same time during your show?

No, in point of fact, this illusion was the only time they were all on stage

together. Because it was the finale?

Yes. Who's missing? Can you tell?

Not from this distance.

You mean if they were close up, you could tell them apart?

Sure. But in costume, they look exactly alike, don't they?

To an audience, they are mirror images of each other. Yes, but not to me.

How do you tell them apart?

By their eyes.

The shape, the color.

Sandy's eyes are hazel.

Jeanette's are gray. I know Anne's are blue.

What about Kate Ford?

Do you remember the color of her eyes?

Brown. She had brown eyes.

Your Honor, at this time, I'd like to recall Ann Morrison to the

stand.

You recently bought a pair of contact lenses, did you not?

Yes.

You picked them up on the same day you ordered them, rush job?

No prescription involved?

You wanted them for cosmetic reasons?

Yes.

To change the color of your eyes, is that correct?

Yes.

What color did you want your eyes to be?

Brown. Same as Kate Ford's.

Mrs. Morrison, how did your mother die?

She was, um...

Went over by car.

Who was driving that car?

I don't know. The police never caught anybody. It was hit and run.

But you found out who it was, didn't you?

Mr. Morrison, would you please step forward?

Please sit there, Mr. Morrison.

Jake Morris Jake Morrison Is your father is he

not Not your husband your father he's your father

Wasn't your father Jake Morrison serving a sentence for assault at the time of

the accident?

Didn't that fact cause you to spend several years drifting in and out of

homes? Didn't you and your father grow to hate the woman who destroyed your

lives? And wasn't that woman Kate Ford?

Don't look at your father, look at me.

Didn't you... find Kate Ford was working for David Katz?

Didn't you pose as man and wife so Kate wouldn't know who you were when you

finally got a job on David's show?

Then you waited, didn't you?

You waited.

Kate Ford had gotten away with it when she killed your mother.

You wanted to get away with it when you killed Kate Ford, isn't that so?

No.

When you heard Kate would do the coffin routine that night, you knew you had

your chance.

You and your father.

Your father killed Kate with his bare hands.

With his bare hands.

He broke her neck.

Then placed her body in the secret compartment.

and waited for his cue.

When it came, he wheeled the coffin on stage as usual.

David, fooled by the brown contact lenses you were wearing, put you into

coffin thinking you were Kate. He closed the lid.

You rolled into the secret compartment, then shoved Kate's body into the coffin.

The wand you'd stolen from David's dressing room.

You used to jam the flap. You slipped out of the compartment, through the

curtain, waited until all eyes were on the rising coffin.

Then you slipped back on stage.

Ann Morrison.

You thought everyone would assume that you were Kate Ford.

You thought no one would ever suspect you of being an accomplice to murder.

An accomplice to her murder. Leave her alone.

She's been through enough.

Another one who murdered Kate.

Mr. Mason, you could move to dismiss.

We move to dismiss, Your Honor.

Mr. Willard.

The state has no objection.

This case is dismissed.

And the jury is excused.

Bayliss, please take these two people into custody.

I'm glad you came.

So am I.

Well, I still don't know how you did it.

We magicians never reveal our secrets.

Anyway, I'm very grateful.

And I.

Yes?

Oh, we'll be right there.

Judy?

In our long talk, David told me that your future included adopting two kids.

Judy, you were way ahead of us.

You already had them picked out.

Kevin, Sarah, you know Judy.

I want you to meet someone who is going to love you just as much as she does.

Kevin, Sarah, this is David.

Viacom.