Original subtitles

Bye.

Just toast this morning.

Yes, ma 'am.

Wheat toast.

I was watching the weather report this morning.

It's going to be a beautiful day, Ms. Draper.

Beautiful day.

Yes, it certainly is.

I'll just be a minute.

Of

course,

these days no line would be complete without something for the working woman.

Therefore, I created these.

Very nice.

I think we can do some business.

Thank you.

My things should do very well in your stores.

Looks like what I've heard is true.

What have you heard?

But you're back from the dead.

I prefer to think of it as having been on a creative sabbatical. Excuse me, Mr.

Sandatini, somebody's here to see you.

Take a closer look. I'll be right back.

Hello, Marco.

A buyer?

With any luck.

What can I do for you?

Let's talk.

In private.

A microphone was pointed at you, Marco. Recorded every word you said. Do you

want to hear the tape?

No. Good.

Because every time I hear it, I get very angry.

What are you going to do?

I am going to bury you two.

You're going to print this?

Next issue of Sweet 2000.

Editor's column.

You can't do that.

Why not?

Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tell everybody what a sorry piece of

scum you are.

I'll pay you.

Anything you want. I have connections you can't believe.

Keep those. I have copies.

Oh, by the way, Marco, your new line looks fabulous.

Too bad no one's going to want to touch it after I get through with you.

I have bad news.

The messages are on your desk.

Everyone's in the conference room. Here's your coffee.

And Tanya Sloan is inside waiting for you. She's what?

I'm sorry, Mr. A, but I couldn't stop her. Lacey.

She just came barging in saying that she absolutely had to talk to you and that

she'd do something horrible if any of us tried to make her leave.

So, Tanya, what is this horrible thing you're

threatening to do?

A scene from that play you boned in last year? That's not funny.

Interesting, that's exactly what the critics said. In fact, dear, shouldn't

be at an acting class or something?

For your information, I fly to Los Angeles tomorrow to meet with Kevin.

He wants me to co -star in his next picture.

So, go home and pack.

Not until I know if it's true. If what is true? I heard you're going to write

about me in your next column.

Should I, Tanya?

Have you been a naughty girl?

I have worked too hard to get where I am. I am not going to let you ruin me.

Tanya, two sayings come to mind.

You made your bed, now lie in it. And if you can't take the heat, get out of the

kitchen. And I do mean, get out.

Here's one for you, Diane.

What goes around, comes around.

Bimbo.

Who shot these?

Jim Webley.

Oh, they're very good.

Must be all that practice he got in Newark.

Okay, go with these three.

Okay? All right. Let's look at the layout. Come on.

All right.

This is cluttered, juvenile, unacceptable.

Do it over.

Diane, we go to press tomorrow.

Not with that layout, we don't.

Look, if I'm gone by the time you finish, bring that over to my apartment

tonight. And if it's still not right, your next assignment will be to clean

your desk.

Got it?

All right, Julia, what's next?

Uh, pages 95 through 97 are... Excuse me.

Mr. Eber, it's 12 .10 and you have a 12 .30 luncheon. All right.

Everybody back here at 2.

Thank you, Gerard.

Would you like a cocktail while you wait?

Just the usual.

Mineral water with a splash of lime juice. Very good.

Seltzer with lime, table four.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Your name?

Mason. Perry Mason.

It'll just be a moment, Mr. Mason.

They're busy.

That's good.

Means they haven't changed chefs since the last time we were here.

Lauren?

Stella Street, what a surprise.

I've been trying to reach you, Perry.

You remember Lauren Jeffries? Of course, nice to see you again.

What are you doing in New York? Perry's receiving an award from the American Bar

Association. Congratulations.

Stella deserves it just as much as I do. I can believe that. You know, I still

think... The woman behind the man story that we did on you was the best in the

whole period.

In fact, it's probably the best we've ever done, period.

Come on.

Listen, how is Metropolitan doing?

Oh, it's doing great.

The magazine practically runs itself.

Then you could join us for lunch.

Well, actually, I have plans. I just dropped in here to have a word with him.

But I really do want to see you. How long are you going to be in town?

Just till Friday.

Well, call my office this afternoon. We'll get your house ready. Oh,

I'd love it.

Mr. Mason, this way, please.

I'll be right with you, sir.

It's only common courtesy to return a phone call.

We have a deadline.

I was too busy.

May I sit down?

I am waiting for someone.

Then I'll keep you company.

Thank you, Gerard. Very interesting.

Diane Draper chatting with...

Should I know who Diane Draper is?

Only if you read the fashion magazine.

She runs a magazine. It's week 2000.

It's Metropolitan's biggest competition.

Very tough lady.

Is she and Lauren competitors?

More like a bitter rival.

Now, why in the hell would I want to waste my... column on you.

Because the way things are going, my magazine is going to overtake yours

a year and you are desperate.

You wish.

I know how you operate, Diane.

I know how it turns you on to hurt people.

All I do is sell magazines.

Oh, yes. By digging through people's garbage and then tearing them to pieces

that column of yours every month.

Look, all I do is tell it like it is. Not about me you don't.

What the hell is that? A threat?

A warning.

Have a nice day.

Newark.

What do you mean she said something about Newark? She said something about

getting a lot of practice there.

Did she say what she meant by that?

No. It was not in her mark. She didn't mean anything by it.

Is she in?

No. Even if she was, you wouldn't want to talk to her.

We publish tomorrow.

Kim, these are great.

I'll tell you what, as soon as Diane gets off the warpath, I'll pass them

all right?

You seen a column?

For next month?

No, she never writes until the very last minute.

Who's she going after this time?

Why do you ask?

I got a feeling it's going to be me.

Oh, man, not you, too.

I mean, every month it's the same thing.

People who are just positive that Diane is going to write something bad about

them come crawling out of the woodwork begging her not to. I mean, half the

she's never even heard of them.

Yeah, time's over.

Come on, the conference room.

Let's go.

Diane. Wait, wait, Kim, Kim, Kim.

Don't, all right? I'll talk to her.

And if you come by my place for dinner tonight, I'll tell you what she said.

Okay. Okay, it's 926 West 74th, apartment 319, say, 730.

Here are your messages.

Who'd you like to call back first?

Nobody. I'm going home and so are you.

All right.

See you in the morning. Good night, Lacey. Good night.

Diane, can I talk to you?

Tomorrow. I'm out of here.

You've written your column yet?

That's why they invented home computers, Julia.

It's just that people have been bugging me all day about who you're going after

this month.

What are you telling them?

That I don't know.

Good.

Then people will be surprised.

Yeah, what?

There's somebody here to see you.

Says her name is Lauren Jeffries.

Send her up.

You can go up. I'll pop in 4B.

Thank you.

You have to go out. We're going to go for a walk and then we'll get some

Hello.

Well, well, Snow White herself.

What a surprise.

We're going to have this out, Diane, once and for all.

Yeah, I love it. Paris, my favorite city on Earth.

City of light.

No, maybe I think it's the city of food.

Hello? Yes, this is she.

No, no, no, that's no problem.

I'll be right there. I'm not too far.

All right.

All right, bye -bye.

Yeah, but I'm sorry, but somebody was supposed to drop a layout off at Diane's

tonight, but she's not answering the phone at the door.

The security guard's worried something may have happened to her.

I'm really sorry. Just, um, I won't be long.

Why don't you look right here, all right?

Diane?

Diane, it's Julie. Are you there?

I'm trying to keep...

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Hurry.

She's dead.

We don't want any.

Laura and Jeffrey's called while we were at the bench.

She's been arrested.

Coroner puts the time of death between 8 p .m. and 9 p .m.

Not only did the security guard lock Miss Jeffries into the building at 7

but the person living in the apartment next to the victim heard shouting and

loud noises at around 8 .20. That was five minutes before the security guard

locked Miss Jeffries out of the building.

But no one actually saw anything.

We also found some of the victim's jewelry in the bottom drawer of Miss

Jeffrey's desk.

Detective Brennan, doesn't it seem a little strange to you that a woman who

makes half a million dollars a year would stoop to robbery?

Guess she was just in the mood. A floppy disk was stolen out of the victim's

computer that night, too. Did you find that in Miss Jeffrey's desk?

No.

But the victim's secretary found what we're assuming was on that disc in the

computer at the magazine the next morning.

Apparently, Miss Draper had transmitted it via modem sometime before she was

murdered.

It was her column for the next editor's page.

All about how Miss Jeffries had solicited bribes from fashion designers.

She would give them favorable press, and they would give her money.

Lauren Jeffrey stole that disc and killed Diane Draper in an attempt to

reputation.

It's as simple as that.

None of this is true.

But Diane was going to print it.

I have never taken a bribe in my life. No one has ever paid for editorial space

in my magazine.

Why did you go to see her that night?

For the same reason.

That I went to see her that day in the restaurant.

I was number one on her hit list.

She was determined to get me. I wanted to stop it.

Because she was becoming a nuisance?

She was calling people, trying to get dirt about me.

That wasn't all.

I knew that if Diane put her mind to it, she would eventually find some...

Some way to discredit me.

I don't believe it.

We all have our secrets.

Some we should know about?

Yes.

I have a daughter.

I was 16.

Back in Odessa, Texas in those days when a girl got pregnant, she stayed

pregnant. I wanted to give my baby up for adoption.

but my boyfriend Scott wouldn't hear of it.

So two weeks after she was born, I left her at Scott's. I got on a

bus to New York, and I never went back.

You left your baby? I had to.

I assumed that Scott's grandparents would take care of her.

I found out later that they made him do it.

Instead of going to college, he got a job at a rendering plant.

He worked there till he was 38, at which time he died of what amount of

alcoholism?

There's no reason for all of this to come out in court.

There's more.

My daughter managed to get out of Odessa. She came to New York and got a

Sweet 2000 as Diane Draper's assistant.

Her name is Julia Collier.

Does she know you're her mother?

Of course.

She went to work for Diane to spite me.

Did Diane know?

Oh, yes. She loved to rub my nose in the fact that my only daughter hated me

every chance she got.

But it isn't the kind of thing that she would have put in a column if that's

what you're getting at.

Why not?

Well, because it was common knowledge.

I mean, people in our business already knew.

If she put it in her column, it would have been an embarrassment, but that's

about all.

When you went to her apartment that night, did she tell you her column was

to be about you?

I couldn't get her to talk about anything, so I left.

You weren't the one who took that disc from her computer?

And I wasn't the one who killed her.

I swear.

Well? Well, what?

You still haven't told me if you've decided to take her case.

Dillon, there are thousands of very good attorneys in this city who would jump

at the chance to defend a woman who is not only innocent, but who can pay their

fee without blinking an eye.

But, uh...

You have something that they don't.

What is that?

Secretary, who will find it very hard to forgive you if you turn this case down.

Della. Perry, she needs you.

Della. Oh, Perry.

Call Ken.

I already have.

What's that?

Here you are.

Tanya Sloan. The actress?

Rumor has it she's going to co -star in a very big motion picture.

Ah, and that she had an argument with Diane Draper the day of the murder.

And they were going to talk about the column that Diane was writing. Because

only went after the rich and famous, right?

Miss Sloan certainly fits that profile.

Here you are. Kim Weatherly.

And Marco Sabatini.

Weatherly's the hottest fashion photographer in New York right now, and

Sabatini's a very successful clothes designer.

Kim was overheard expressing concern that Diane's next column was going to be

about him.

And Sabatini?

Diane's driver said she dropped in to see him at a showroom on her way to work

the morning of the murder.

But if her column was going to be about one of these three and not Lauren

Jeffries? How do you explain the column that was on the computer at the

magazine? I'd say the killer dictated the phony column to her and forced her

send it before he killed her.

Maybe he wrote the column himself and sent it after he killed her.

Check with the phone company. It wouldn't hurt to know the precise time

document was transmitted.

But why your client? Why did the killer frame her?

Lauren had a confrontation with Diane in a restaurant. Later that day, that

confrontation was common knowledge among the people in the fashion industry.

Plus the fact that she and Diane were long -standing business rivals.

It all made her the perfect patsy.

Well, I guess I'll start with Tanya Sloan. No.

Start with Sabatini.

Tanya is in L .A., but she'll be back Friday.

Yeah,

I'm looking for Mr. Sabatini.

He's not here.

He's not?

I took the day off.

How come I just saw him walk in here?

You didn't.

My name's Ken Molanski. I'm an attorney.

I work with Perry Mason. You might have heard of him.

He's representing the woman who's accused of killing Diane Draper.

I'd like to talk to Mr.

Sabatini. Well, when I see him...

I'll tell him.

Well, you must have a good memory.

Like an elephant.

Did Diane always write her column at home?

Not always, no.

But she did it often enough that sending it to the computer at the office was no

problem.

Well, yeah, she worked at home and modemed stuff in all the time.

In other words, anybody could have used this computer to modem something to the

office.

What are you getting at?

I think Lauren Jeffries was framed.

By whom?

Tanya Sloan, Marco Sabatini, or Kim Weatherly.

Do you know any of them?

Yes, I know all of them.

They all apparently thought Diane was going to write about them in her next

column.

Look, Mr. Mason, Kim was with me when this happened. From 7 .30 right up until

the time I came over and found the body, we were having dinner at my place.

And Diane kept her jewelry here?

As far as I know, yeah.

Well, thank you, Julia.

I've seen enough for now.

Been meaning to ask you something.

Let me guess. Does it have something to do with the fact that Lauren Jeffries is

my mother?

You didn't need me to let you in here. You could have gotten a key from the

police. She thinks you hate her.

I do.

Why?

Why?

Have you ever heard her side of what happened all those years ago, Julia?

No, I really don't want to hear it.

You should hear it.

Mr. Mason, she murdered Diane. It wouldn't hurt to hear her side of that

either.

After you.

I'm Marco Sabatini, right? Mr.

Sabatini took the day off. I just want to ask you a few questions.

You have the wrong person.

You're going to have to talk to me sooner or later.

Maybe never, Counselor.

Sayonara.

No, Dexter!

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Mason, hi.

I'm Peter Whelan, assistant district attorney.

I'll be prosecuting the Jeffries case.

And you must be Della Street.

Hi, I'm Peter Whelan.

Nice to meet you. Thank you.

I can't tell you what an honor this is, sir.

Mr. Mason, I think you're the greatest.

I've studied every single one of your cases.

Every case?

You're one of my idols.

I begged for this assignment.

I'm flattered.

I've never looked forward to anything so much in my life. Well, I'm looking

forward to trying this case, too.

No, no, Mr. Mason. I'm talking about beating you.

Your Honor, the defendant owns homes in London, Saint -Tropez, New York, and

Vail.

Now, he has bank accounts not only in those four cities, but in Bermuda and

Switzerland as well.

In other words, she could very easily flee this jurisdiction and take

in any number of countries with no significant decline in her lifestyle

whatsoever.

In fact, Your Honor, the risk of flight is so great here that the state requests

the bail be denied.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Whittem.

If what mattered most to my client was being affluent and enjoying...

A certain lifestyle, Your Honor, she would have retired to any one of those

geographical locations years ago.

What matters most to her is her magazine.

She created it, nurtured it, watched it grow and mature.

It's what has kept her here all these years.

And it's what will continue to keep her here long after these charges have

proven false.

I request that she be released on her own recognizance.

The charges murder, Mr. Mason, and O .R. release is out of the question.

However, the court is not entirely unmoved by your eloquence.

Bail is set at $250 ,000.

Let's see, gentlemen, how does the 27th sound?

That's fine, Your Honor.

Prosecution concurs.

Good. The court will adjourn for lunch. We will resume at 2 p .m.

God, I can't wait to get out of here.

Lauren?

Julie?

I think that maybe it's time we talked.

All right.

Dinner tonight?

All right.

Call me when you get home.

Can you believe that?

Wonderful. Let's get out of here before she changes her mind. I'll see you at

the hotel.

I knew you'd go with the, uh, her magazine is her life argument.

But, frankly, I couldn't think of a way to deprive you of it.

Well, I'm sure you'll do better next time, Mr. Whelan.

You bet I will.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I have something for you.

Preliminary list of the people I'm going to call as witnesses.

You can't be serious.

I'll see you here in court, Counselor.

What now?

I may have to remove myself from this case.

Why? The argument we overheard in that restaurant.

Waylon plans to call me as a witness.

you don't understand.

I want you to be my lawyer and that's that.

There's a very good chance I'll be called to testify against you. I don't

I'd be in the position of helping the prosecution convict you. How can you

convict me when I'm innocent?

Lauren, it's not as simple as that.

Look, if you're telling me they won't allow you to be my attorney, that's one

thing. But if you were asking me if I still want you to be my lawyer...

I think I've made myself more than clear.

Okay, got it, got it. Terrific. You guys all right?

Good,

good. Tanya, you got about 20 minutes, okay?

Good. All right, Gary, get Billy Ray down here. I want him here, not on the

phone.

Miss Sloan, very amazing.

Ah, you made it.

That's a lot of work for a commercial.

Well, commercials these days are sometimes bigger than films.

This one's for a new perfume called Purloin.

I gather you have a few questions you'd like to ask me. Shall we talk in here?

I understand you talked to Diane Draper the day she was

murdered. Yes, I did.

And that your conversation didn't last very long.

No, it didn't. May I ask what you talked about?

I heard that she was going to write about me in her column.

Your drug problem?

I do not have a drug problem.

Diane thought you did.

Yeah, well, she was wrong.

Besides, she couldn't prove anything.

Still, if there were speculation about it... It could have ruined me.

Look, I don't know why Diane had it in for me.

Maybe she was jealous.

Who knows?

Was she going to write about you in her column?

Mr. Mason.

At the time of the murder, I was at a play called Harley's House.

It stank.

But I told the writer I loved it because I was his guest and he still pulls some

weight in Hollywood.

Okay?

Okay.

Before today, I'd have thought it impossible for you to be in two places

once.

But I can't say that anymore, can I?

Marco's in? No, I haven't heard from him yet. Then who's that for? Somebody

who's waiting for him, an old friend from out of town.

A friend?

Mm -hmm.

Give me that.

Okay, pal, take a hike.

Until I talk to Sabatini. What for? You've already been through his death,

haven't you?

Now, what makes you think I'd do a thing like that? Get lost before I have you

holding him for trespassing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Andiamo!

On Wednesday?

Sounds wonderful.

I think we can do that.

Great. Thank you very much.

As you said, I'd probably have better luck finding Marco at that place he

usually hangs out at.

Damn, I forgot the name already.

Gabriela's?

Gabriela's, yeah, that's it. Thanks a lot. You're welcome.

Hi. I

suggested

we go to dinner from here so I could see where you live.

It's very nice.

Thank you.

Of course, I've known for a long time where you live. I just never... Look,

maybe this is a bad idea. I don't know.

You want to make excuses.

I want to tell you what happened. No, I know what happened.

You decided that you didn't want me. That's what happened.

You didn't want me, so you just left me.

I'm 16 years old.

I didn't know what I wanted.

Well, all I know, lady, is that you didn't want me.

You were better off without me.

How dare you even say that to me?

I mean, even kids whose mothers swore at them or hit them. I mean, I envied

them.

I mean, at least their mother hadn't taken one look at them and then just

away.

Your father was ready for you, Julie. I

just wasn't.

I went away from you because I didn't know how else I was going to survive.

I thought being with a father who was devoted to you would be enough.

I didn't know how horribly it was going to hurt you.

So, uh, what do you propose we do now? I mean, are we supposed to start over? Is

that it?

Said you found Sabatini.

Yeah, but look who he's with. How you doing, all right? Everybody all right?

I don't.

Mr. Mob himself.

What should we do now?

What you came to do?

I mean, I started the day chasing a dressmaker.

Perry, wait.

Excuse me, Marco Sabatini?

Who are you?

My name's Mason. I represent the woman accused of murdering Diane Draper.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Albert Nardone.

And I have heard of you.

And I of you.

I've heard you know more about criminal law than I do.

What kind of questions do you want to ask my cousin, Mr. Mason?

Your cousin?

Well, he's the son of my cousin, but it's family. That's the important thing.

I don't care what kind of questions he has.

If he wants to talk to me, he does it in front of my lawyer.

But since my lawyer's not here... Neither am I.

I'm afraid he's stubborn like his mother.

Mr. Mason, join me.

Rain check.

This is getting to be a bad habit, you know that?

I didn't get the license number.

No, I didn't get the color of the car.

Sabatini's bodyguard saw it.

Who knows?

He and Ardon split the minute the cops showed up.

I think that's why Sabatini was afraid to talk to us. There's no guns involved.

Well...

That's it. Let's go.

Go! Taxi!

Wait a second.

I thought I had a sticker like this on the bumper.

Triborough auto rental.

Sure?

Positive.

We're talking about several thousand cars.

Yeah, but the... The car we're looking for has a broken headlight.

Whoever was driving it may have stolen it.

That's true.

Not much of a lead, is it?

Better tell the police and head back to the hotel. I want you to get a good

night's sleep.

Oh, Ken.

It's a lead.

Lieutenant.

Thanks. I can take a cab.

Come on. I'll pay for a cab when you can ride in this nice limo for free.

Because I don't want to take a ride in a nice limo for free.

I got something right here. So you do.

So I wanted to talk to her. So what?

You also tried to call her that day, four times.

I repeat, so what?

So what was that important?

I just turned in some proof sheets. I want to know what you thought.

It had nothing to do with those pictures you used to take in Newark?

You lost me.

Before you became a fashion photographer, you paid the bills by

for a businessman in Newark.

A man who has since been jailed for the sale and distribution of pornography.

Who told you that?

It came from notes found in Diane Draper's office.

If she'd put that in her column, it would have been disastrous for you,

it?

People in this town tend to be very open -minded.

Not your present publishers.

Look, I don't even know why we're having this conversation.

I was with somebody the night Diane was killed.

I have an alibi.

It was with a friend.

Maybe you also have friends who would agree to do you a favor.

Here you go. I got him on the line.

Hello, Mr. Eason.

Hello.

You're going to have to excuse me.

When I went to pay for breakfast this morning, I discovered I was missing a

credit card.

Yeah, I'd like to report a missing card.

Yeah, you know, I don't know.

This business, the pleasure.

Well, actually, it's a little bit of both.

The magazine's doing the shoot, so I came over to supervise and...

I really like to watch Kim work.

Your dinner with your mother went well, I hear.

Yes. But we still have a long way to go.

But you're talking.

Yeah.

Would you excuse me for a minute, please?

I hear you work for Perry Mason.

That's right.

Ken Molanski.

Well, you, me, Tony over here, Mason, we all want the

same thing.

We do?

Yeah, we do.

Marco was my relative.

Not a close relative, but a relative nonetheless.

You want to know who killed him?

I want to know who killed him.

Well, if you want to know the truth, we sort of thought that you might have had

him killed.

It goes to show you how much you know.

Tell me something, Mr. Malansky.

What do you think?

Teal or the periwinkle?

Excuse me?

Which material?

For the dress.

Never mind. Never mind.

The teal.

Teal.

Two years ago, Marco came to me on his knees.

He just learned the hard way that he lacked the one thing it takes to be a

clothes designer.

Talent.

So I told him I'd give him enough money to get on his feet on one condition.

That he let me design the dresses.

He could have all the credit.

He agreed, and the rest is history.

You design dresses?

I love doing this.

I'm very good at it.

But in my profession, one has to maintain a certain image, so I keep it a

secret.

Oh, yeah.

But whoever killed Marco killed my partner, as well as my... cousin, and I

to find out who that was.

Markle killed Diane Draper?

No, no, no, no. He said he didn't, and I have to assume he knew better than to

lie to me.

And what were you two talking about last night?

Well, she knew something about him, something bad, and he was worried that

someone like Mason would say it gave him a motive for killing her, so he was

asking my advice.

What was it she knew about him?

He didn't tell me, and I didn't ask.

But I want to know who killed Marco, Mr. Malansky.

And since I am a little disappointed in Tony over here for letting this all

happen right under his nose, that Tony's going to make up for it by

helping you find the killer.

Isn't that right, Tony?

Yes, sir.

Oh, now, now, wait a second.

Take them both back to the hotel.

Hey, I don't work for you. You can't do this. Hey, hey.

All right, all right, I'll watch.

What is this?

It's a subpoena.

It ensures your presence at this hearing.

I may need you to testify.

Testify? What's to testify? I told you I had nothing to do with Diane's murder,

and I have no idea who did.

The writer you went to the play with said you went outside to have a

during the first intermission and didn't return until the third act.

So I had several cigarettes. Like I told you, the play stank.

Make yourself comfortable, Miss Sloan.

Lieutenant.

Where did you find this jar?

It was lying a few feet from the victim's body.

Because of the presence of blood and tissue, it was believed to be the murder

weapon. In fact, Your Honor, this jar has been stipulated by counsel to be the

murder weapon.

And did you then have the jar examined for fingerprints?

Yes, sir.

And for purposes of probable cause only, what was discovered?

A fingerprint matching the defendant's right thumb was identified.

And what did you do next?

Search warrants for the defendant's office, home, and car were executed.

And what was found?

A gold necklace and bracelet belonging to the decedent were discovered in a

drawer in the defendant's office.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Mr. Whalen, may I?

Thank you.

Now, Lieutenant Brennan, did you find the defendant's fingerprints anywhere

on this candy jar?

We found prints from her left hand up near the top.

If a woman were to pick up a heavy jar like this to look at it, would you

her to use one hand or two?

Two. Like this.

Right hand on the base, left hand near the top.

Possibly.

Did you find the defendant's fingerprints anywhere else in Miss

apartment? They were all over the place.

Door jam, desk, chair.

And were they all over the victim's jewelry as well?

We didn't find any prints on the jewelry.

Not even the victim's?

The stuff had been wiped clean.

Don't you think it's strange, Lieutenant, that the defendant would

fingerprints from that jewelry?

Jewelry she then put into her own desk, and after doing that, not bother to

remove a single print of hers from the scene of the murder?

Objection.

Relevancy. Mr. Mason is commencing his argument.

Sustained. Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

You want to look through our files?

We believe one of your cars was recently involved in a hit -and -run accident

during which one of its headlights was broken.

What we'd really like to do is take a look at your damage reports.

Sorry, you can't see a thing without a court order.

Yeah, well, court orders take a lot of time, and we don't have a lot of time.

Corporate policy is very strict on such matters, okay?

You want to go through our files, you've got to have a court order or an okay

from the senior vice president. So call the senior vice president. Oh, in your

dreams. Look, if you don't help us out, the wrong person... Can I have a sec?

Let me introduce myself. My name is Tony Loomis.

I am a dear, dear friend of Minton Ardone.

I'll just go talk to the senior vice president on your behalf right now.

Yeah, please, have a seat.

Yeah, can I get you anything? You want diet cola?

Nah, we're fine. Yeah, no, I'm fine.

What did you say to him?

I just made sure he understood how important it was for us to find that

Where's Collier?

How long had you been a decedent, executive assistant?

About three and a half years.

And your job entailed what?

I made sure that whatever she wanted done, got done.

Would you say that it entailed working closely with her?

Yes, very closely. Ten hours a day, sometimes six days a week.

So you knew her well?

Yes, very well.

And as someone who knew her very well, how would you characterize the

relationship between her,

And the defendant, Lauren Jeffers.

Were they friends?

No.

Enemies?

Competitors.

Simply stated, there was bad blood between them, was there not?

Yes.

Didn't they have a violent argument which you witnessed last year?

Yes.

And isn't it true that to your knowledge, they didn't talk to each

over a year?

Until the defendant barged into a New York restaurant last week and verbally

attacked?

Ms. Draper?

That's true, yes.

What is your relationship to the defendant, Ms. Collier?

She's my mother.

And even you, Lauren Jeffrey's own daughter.

Can't deny the fact that the defendant was violently angry with Diane Draper,

can you?

No, I... Thank you. Nothing further. Thank you.

Don't cross -examine her.

Lauren, I can't let this stand.

Perry, please.

Mr. Mason.

A moment to confer with my client, Your Honor.

Perry, let it stand, please.

I don't want her embarrassed.

It's difficult already as it is.

Cross, Mr. Mason.

No questions, Your Honor.

Witness may step down.

Your Honor, for this next witness, the state calls Perry Mason.

I understand that you witnessed a confrontation.

Between the decedent and Miss Jeffries at the La Mistral restaurant last month.

I saw them discussing something. I'm not sure confrontation is the right word.

The discussion was loud, wasn't it?

I couldn't make out what they were saying, so... No, I wouldn't say it was

particularly loud.

Would you say they were more agitated?

Animated is the word I'd use.

Mr. Mason, could you see their expressions?

Yes. Well, would you say the women looked calm or angry?

I'd say they looked earnest.

You didn't answer my question. Your question was badly phrased. You're being

deliberately evasive, aren't you?

I'm answering your questions as best I can. You're playing semantic games with

me, Mr. Mason. I'm doing no such thing. And in doing so, you're depriving this

court of the truth. I am being a responsible witness. How can you behave

this, Counselor? A man of your reputation. My reputation has nothing to

with... Gentlemen, please, stop this at once.

We just had an argument, didn't we?

Yes.

One that was every bit as acrimonious as the one Miss Jeffries and the decedent

had in that restaurant. Isn't that correct, Mr. Mason?

What we had, Mr. Whalen, was just a difference of opinion between two

professionals.

Intense, perhaps, but I still like you, Mr. Whalen.

Just because two people have an argument doesn't mean they harbor ill feelings

toward each other.

Doesn't mean they're going to go to war.

No further questions.

You may step down, Mr. Mason.

That's it, they're jerking us around.

This guy's history and so is his boss.

Sit down, don't you ever get tired of talking like a two -bit hood? Hey, the

I talk gets results, and that's what life's about, college boy, getting

So just shut your face and let me handle this.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Gentlemen, this is Deborah Richards, senior vice president of Triborough Auto

Rental. Hi.

Gerald here told me you want to go through our damage reports. I'm afraid

out of the question.

Wait, listen, ma 'am. I'm sorry.

Corporate policy forbids it.

I'd like to help you, but I just can't. No, no, no.

Obviously, Tony.

Tony, Miss Richards, could we talk privately for a moment?

You have to excuse my friend. Sometimes he gets a little temperamental.

The garage is ten blocks up at 1420. I'll have someone meet you there.

Thanks. We really appreciate it.

You coming?

What'd you say to her?

Oh, I just told her how important it was that we find that car.

Results, Tony. That's what life's about.

make you stop pouting. I asked him to go down to the lot and take a look at the

cars that were returned to him damaged.

Here you go.

That's all you said?

That's all I said.

You don't always have to be a bully to get results, Tony. Get out of my face.

I think somebody gave you a call about us.

Yeah, you're the guy who wants to see the cars. We've got a schedule for shop

work. That's us.

Here they are.

Wow. All these cars, huh?

Yep.

These and several more floors.

She said something like, I'm going to have it out with you for once and for

Diane. Then they went inside.

After you got back from walking your dog, what happened?

Well, I was in the living room reading when I heard Diane yelling at someone

next door.

I couldn't make out exactly what she was saying, but she sounded furious.

Then I heard a thump.

A thump.

And then a bump.

A bump.

And after that, nothing.

Hmm.

Any idea what time that was?

8 .20. I remember looking at the clock.

8 .20.

8 .20. According to the security guard's testimony, that was a good five minutes

before the defendant was seen leaving the building.

Thank you.

Is that all?

That's all.

Miss Wilson, are you married?

My husband died six years ago.

Oh, I'm sorry. Any children?

Just my daughter, Shannon.

And she's how old? Fifteen.

Was she home that night?

No, she was out with friends.

On a school night?

I told her to be home by ten o 'clock, and she was.

I notice you're not wearing a watch. Ever wear one?

No. I have very sensitive skin.

Watch bands give me a rash.

I'm sorry.

Do you watch a lot of TV?

Oh, I hardly watch any. My daughter does, but I'd rather read.

So when you're home by yourself, as you were that night, the only way for you to

know what time it is is to look at a clock.

Well, yes.

Thank you. I have no more questions. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Witness may step down.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The state rests its case, Your Honor.

Very well.

Is the defense ready to proceed?

Yes, it is.

Defense calls Shannon Wilson to the stand.

Miss Wilson.

What time did you get home the night Diane Draper was murdered?

10 o 'clock.

Are you sure it was 10?

Yeah, I just asked my mom.

The thing is, when I asked the security guard who keeps a record of everyone who

enters and leaves the building, he said you got home at 10 .30.

He did?

Wow, he must have made a mistake.

Shannon, isn't it true?

That before you went out that night, you set all the clocks in your mother's

apartment back so you could spend an extra half hour with your boyfriend?

Isn't that true?

And isn't it true that

you reset all the clocks before your mother got up the next morning so she'd

never know what you'd done?

I wouldn't do something like that to my mother.

Shannon, this lady could be your mother.

And this lady is on trial for murder.

Now, it's very, very important that you tell the truth.

All right, I set the clocks back a half an hour.

I'm sorry.

So...

When you got home that night, it was really 10 .30, not 10 o 'clock.

Which means when your mother heard those sounds coming from next door, it was

really 8 .50, not 8 .20. Which means the murder occurred some 25 minutes after

the defendant was seen leaving the building.

Thank you, Shannon.

Nothing further.

Mr. Whelan?

No questions.

Witness may step down.

Here you go, my man.

He's on his way. He's on his way. You'll see.

Hey, you want some? How about this?

Yeah, make that food.

Grazie. Here you go. Thanks a lot.

I still can't believe we went through 793 cars and still couldn't find the one

we were looking for. That's because the guy who whacked Mark with this hasn't

turned it in yet, that's all.

Well, you know, educated guess.

The guy figured people asked fuel questions if he turned it in after he

headlight fixed. I mean, that's what I would... Yeah, I guess that's what I do

too. Wait right here.

Just out of curiosity, how'd you end up working for a guy like Albert Nardone?

I was born in the Bronx.

Went to grammar school at St. John Vianney, went to high school at St.

Helena's.

Got to know some people who knew some people.

How'd you wind up being a yuppie lawyer?

Born in Providence, St. Wenceslas Grammar School, Casimir Pulaski High

college and law school in Denver.

Denver? Did my graduate work in Brooklyn.

The Knights of St. Paul.

Went and learned to shoot pool.

I learned to shoot pool at the National Polish Alliance Center.

Polish Center?

You any good?

No, I just play for fun.

Ah, you up your lawyer hustle. I love it. Better play you sometime and see how

good you are. Yeah, sure, sometime.

Yo, Rocket, you got here quick, just like I asked. I like that. Hey.

Tell them what we're looking for.

You mean the car?

Of course I mean the car.

All right, according to what the mechanic at Triborough said about this

fleet, it's a 91 Ford Taurus, brown.

Yeah. Broken right headlight, possible dent in the hood, possible dent in the

right front fender. Yeah.

Got that?

Got it.

So get going. Come on. Get out of here.

What the hell was that about? You'll see. Come on.

Come on.

Yeah, all right, all right.

Come to order. All rise.

Department 79 is now in session.

The Honorable Rene Trayball presiding.

Be seated.

Mr. Mason, I believe that you were about to call your next witness.

Your Honor, may we approach?

Your Honor, a witness has come forward whose testimony is extremely relevant to

this case.

The state moves to reopen his case in chief so that she may be called without

delay.

Now, in anticipation of defense counsel's objections...

I can cite at least three cases where similar motions were... I have no

objections, Mr. Whelan.

You don't? No, I don't. Oh. In fact, you can put her on the stand right now.

Really? Really.

I just ask that when you're through, I be granted a recess so I can prepare a

competent cross -examination.

Mr. Whelan?

Great.

Very well.

Granted.

Mrs. Cooper, how are you?

Good. How's the neighborhood?

Nice.

I understand the window of your kitchen affords you an unobstructed view

of the entrance to the garage of the decedent's apartment building. Is that

correct? That's right, uh -huh.

Please tell the court what you saw the night Diane Draper was murdered.

Well, when I went in the kitchen around a quarter to nine to get a snack.

I noticed someone standing outside on the sidewalk by the garage like they

waiting for someone. I didn't think anything of it, of course.

But on my way out of the kitchen, I saw that a car had just come out of the

garage, and as the door started coming down after it, this lady all of a sudden

ducks underneath it and goes inside.

You saw her enter the apartment building via the garage?

That's right, uh -huh.

What makes you so sure it was a quarter till night?

I was watching TV. My favorite sitcoms are on that night.

I got up during the commercial, so it must have been about a quarter to.

The person you saw that night here in this courtroom today?

Uh -huh.

That's her over there.

Let the record show that the witness pointed without hesitation to the

defendant, Lauren Jeffries.

Ms. Cooper, I'm glad your health is good.

I'm glad your neighborhood is nice.

Now, why did it take you so long to come forward?

Because I didn't realize what I saw that night was important until I saw her

picture in the paper a couple of days ago.

You're absolutely certain the defendant is the person you saw into the garage

that night?

Absolutely, uh -huh.

Your Honor, at this time, I'd like to conduct the brief experiment we

in chambers.

Again, I object.

Again, you're overruled.

In view of the situation, I believe that Mr. Mason is more than entitled to a

little leeway.

Bayliss, proceed, Mr. Mason. Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Ms. Cooper, would you say the distance from where you are sitting to

back of the courtroom is greater or less?

than the distance from your kitchen window to the sidewalk outside the

Less than, definitely.

And would you say there is more light at the back of the courtroom than there

was on the sidewalk that night, or less light?

More. Once again, Ms. Cooper, would you point to the person you saw duck into

the garage of the decedent's apartment building the night of the murder?

The second one from the right, that's her.

The second from the right.

Let the record show that the witness did not point to the defendant, but

I do think I know why you thought you were pointing to her, Mrs. Cooper.

Now, Mrs. Cooper, I handed you a newspaper when you took the stand. Will

please open it to the front page?

Now, that's the newspaper article and picture you mentioned.

You saw a couple of days ago, was it not?

Yes. The person you just pointed to is wearing the exact same thing Miss

Jeffries was wearing in that photo.

That's why you assumed she was Lauren Jeffries, is it not?

From what you saw in that paper?

Yes, I guess so.

Thank you, Miss Jeffries.

Now, are you absolutely certain it was Lauren Jeffries you saw enter the garage

that night?

No, I guess not.

Thank you, Ms. Cooper. No further questions.

This place does the best work in the city.

Got cars booked for repairs clear into next month.

The one you're looking for?

Yeah, I think this is it.

You've got to be it.

Nice work.

Here, give me that.

Rocket. You're a genius, huh?

Hey, Tony. Go buy yourself a slide rule or something. Come on.

Get out of here.

I'll call you. He's fantastic.

It's great to have a friend in the auto industry.

He's in the car business?

My buddy can strip a car fast and you can write up some legal paper.

Is the rental agreement in there?

Yeah. Here it is.

Is there a name on it?

Yep.

JFK, make it fast.

Hi, Kim. My name's Kevin Lansky. I work with Perry Mason. This is my friend Tony

Loomis. Can we talk to you for a second? Hey.

Forget about JFK. Hey, come on. I gotta get there. Where are you going so fast?

I'm on assignment.

Not anymore. We found the car you used to kill Marco Sabatini. What are you

talking about?

This is a copy of the rental agreement. Your credit card, your signature.

I didn't sign this. I lost my credit card weeks ago. I don't know what you're

talking about. My boss will want to talk to you anyway. Come on. This is where

you and I part company.

What the hell are you doing? What's going on? Hey, Cam, you see what I got

Come on, Tony. You can't do this. Get out. You can't do this.

Get out. Come on, man. Don't allow that.

No, Tony.

Hey, taxi.

What can I do for you? I'm here to see Mr. Nardone.

And your name? It's not important.

What's important to me?

I'll tell you what's important. I'm here to consult with Mr. Nardone on some new

fabrics.

Evidently, he doesn't like his periwinkle.

Well, I don't know.

You don't know? Look, I'm on a tight schedule.

You'll just have to tell Mr. Nardone. I'll see him sometime next week.

Hey, hey, okay, okay. Just wait a minute.

The dart.

Hey, hey!

Come back here!

He's coming with me.

I'm sorry, Mr. Ardoin.

All right, all right, all right. Don't worry about it, all right? Mr. Malansky,

as far as you're concerned, he took a cab to the airport. He was never seen

again. I said he's coming with me. Why can't you us? What's the difference?

gonna get what he deserves. We don't know what he deserves, Tony. He killed

cousin. You don't know that for sure. Just like we don't know for sure he

Diane Draper, and nobody will know anything for sure if you kill him.

Escort Mr. Malansky back to town.

Will you, please?

Yeah.

I'm not leaving here without him. You're pushing your luck, college boy.

Let him go. Let him go. Tony.

You better know what you're doing.

Because I can always settle the score with him.

And you, later.

Let him go.

You had reason to believe the decedent knew about your involvement in

pornography, did you not?

Yes. You were worried she was going to expose you in her next column, is that

not correct?

Yes. Which is why you went to her apartment that night. I never went to

apartment that night.

You tried to talk her out of writing about you, and when that failed, you

her. I couldn't have killed her. I was with someone that night.

Julia Collier? Yes.

Call her up here. Ask her.

You were at her place?

Yes. When did you get there?

7 .30.

And when did you leave?

When she did, around 10.

You were in her apartment the whole time from 7 .30 till 10?

Yes. Did you have dinner while you were there?

Yes.

What did you eat, do you recall?

We had Chinese.

Where did the Chinese food come from?

You went out and picked it up, did you not?

You were gone from Ms. Collier's apartment from 8 .30 to 9 .15. Is that

It wasn't that long. The building where Diane Draper lived is only eight blocks

from Julia Collier's and only three blocks from the Chinese takeout. Is that

correct? Wait a minute.

You had 45 minutes.

It would have been no problem at all for you to walk from Julia's to Diane's to

the takeout and back again.

Is that not correct? I didn't do that, I swear.

Of course you didn't.

Mr. Whalen.

No questions, Your Honor.

Witnesses excused.

Court will reconvene at 10 tomorrow morning.

All right.

Congratulations.

Looks like he's really been here for a while.

They are now.

Considering what just happened here, I can finally go back to Los Angeles.

afraid it's not over yet.

Keep the subpoena.

The judge said that you could leave.

Come on, Perry.

So we can't actually prove that Kim Weatherly did it. Let's face it, we

have to.

After today's testimony, there's certainly a reasonable doubt that Warren

Diane Draper.

All right, you tell me.

What is the judge going to do?

I don't want to move for a dismissal until we have this case nailed down.

Well, I've been through Kim's file a thousand times. We don't have any more

him. Maybe the answer isn't Kim.

Kim isn't the killer?

The killer typed a column which implicated Lauren, sent it to the

the magazine, stole, and probably destroyed the disc which contained the

original column.

Now, is that correct?

So?

Remember the Cold War?

We discovered we could tell what the Russians were up to because they accused

of doing whatever it was they were doing.

You think the killer wrote a column accusing Lauren of taking bribes because

was taking bribes? He or she, yes.

It's an interesting theory.

You know, this may sound silly, but... I heard that Diane had a very big fight

with Pietro Arnatti. And she swore she'd never advertise or wear his line again.

Is that right, Lauren?

Far as I know. Look at these photos.

When she was murdered, she was wearing an Arnatti scarf.

Was she wearing that scarf when you went to see her that night?

I really don't remember.

Well, try.

I'm sorry. I don't remember.

It's late.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

Thank you very much. Good night, Lauren.

Perry?

Something's wrong.

Very wrong.

Remain seated. Come to order.

Department 79 is now in session. The Honorable Renee Trayball presiding.

Mr. Mason.

Defense recalls Julia Collier to the stand.

What are you doing?

I think you know.

Barry, no.

She's my daughter. After 25 years, we're finally together.

Please don't do this.

You... You knew Pietro Arnati, did you not?

Yes.

You also knew Marco Sabatini.

Yes. Would you tell the court, please, who he was?

He was a clothing designer based here in New York.

Mr. Sabatini was recently killed in a hit -and -run car accident, was he not?

Yes. Miss Collier, my associate, Mr. Malansky, is showing you bank records,

which we will mark Defense Exhibit D.

Those records show your deposits for the past year. Do you recognize them?

Yes, these are my records.

Now, he's also showing you bank records which we will mark Defense Exhibit E.

Those records contain all of the withdrawals from the account of Marco

for the past year.

Now, would you explain why it is that in four separate instances when Mr.

Sabatini withdrew certain sums from his account, you deposited the exact same

sums to your account?

I don't know. Coincidence?

Four times in the past year, clothes designed by Mr. Sabatini received

favorable coverage in the magazine you worked for. So? So, wasn't Mr. Sabatini

paying you in exchange for rave reviews?

I wasn't the one taking bribes, Mr. Mason.

Who was?

Diane thought it was my mother.

You mean according to Diane's column written the night of the murder?

Yes.

We discovered...

that Mr.

Weatherly is unable to fully account for his whereabouts on the night of the

murder, which means your whereabouts that night are not fully verified.

Well, I was at home waiting for Kim to return.

Do you always send the people you invite for dinner out to get their own

Chinese? Well, no, but by the time I got home that night, I was too tired to

cook. I mean, Kim was very understanding.

You invited Kim over so he could give you some semblance of an alibi, did you

not?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm talking about the phone call Marco Sabatini made to you after Diane left

showroom that morning. You now have a copy of his phone records in front of

He told you Diane had found out about the bribes you'd been taking.

He told you she planned to expose the two of you in her column.

So you invited Kim over, sent him out for Chinese food, then left the

shortly after he did and went over to Diane. No, I did not. You went through

garage and went up to her apartment.

You tried to talk her out of exposing you.

When she refused, you simply killed her.

No. No.

Then you sat down at her computer and transmitted a column that you had

That you.

had written, which accused Lauren Jeffries of crimes you had committed.

You transmitted that column to the computer at the magazine so she'd be

for the murder. No.

Then you left, taking with you the computer disk containing Diane's column

jewelry, jewelry you later planted at your mother's office to further

her. You also removed other evidence that proved you'd been taking bribes.

Nothing that you're saying is true, all right?

Nothing. Oh, it is true, Miss Collier.

It is true.

So is the fact that you stole Kim Weatherly's credit card when he returned

your apartment that night. No!

You stole his card and used it a few days later to rent a car.

A car you then used to kill the one person who was still a threat to you.

That person was Marco Sabatini.

You know, you can't prove any of this.

None of it. Oh, but I can, Miss Collier.

I can prove all of it.

Mr. Willinger, please stand.

I can call this young man as a witness.

He waited on you at the agency where you rented the car.

Now, Mr. Johanson, would you please stand?

Mr. Malansky.

Mr. Johanson is the mechanic who waited on you at the repair shop where you took

the car to get fixed after the hit and run.

We can call him as a witness, or we can enter that scarf

into evidence as Defense Exhibit F.

That scarf was found near Diane when you and the others found her dead.

Was she wearing it when she was killed?

No, Ms. Collier, she was not.

You were wearing it.

When you killed her, you got blood all over it.

Blood all over it.

You threw it near her, hoping people would think it was hers.

Now, you did that, did you not?

No, I did not do that. I mean, yes, the scarf is mine. But Diane borrowed it

from me. No.

It's a Pietro Arnotti scarf.

A scarf she would never wear.

Oh, well, you...

You must be very happy now, hmm?

This time you'll be rid of me for good, won't you?

Your mother suspected you all along.

Diane told her about you and Marco.

But she said nothing to me, nothing.

She always tried to protect you.

Always.

Yet you were willing to shut her away for life.

Why?

Because I hate her.

I hated her when I was five.

I hated her when I was 25.

And I hate her now.

In view of these developments, Your Honor, I move that the...

Case against my client will be dismissed.

Prosecution concurs.

So moved.

Case dismissed.

Bailiff, see to it that Ms. Collier is properly attended to.

This court is now adjourned.

All rise.

Starving was merely just an act.

Mr.

Mason.

I look forward to the next time.

Well, for what it's worth, this time wasn't easy.

Wasn't? How old are you, Mr. Whalen?

I'm 29. Why?

I wish I'd been as competent as you when I was your age.

Thank you.

Can I buy you dinner tonight?

Give me your rain check, will you?

No, I have a better idea.

The next time we oppose each other and you win, I'll buy you dinner.

Thank you.

Hey.

Hey, Mr. Mallette.

Your boy does nice work.

Oh, thanks. I'll pass that along. Mr. Malansky, you saved me from making a big

mistake. I owe you.

Oh, no, you don't.

Yes, I do.

There's got to be something Miss Nardone could do for you.

Oh, Ken.

How very thoughtful of you.

It's...

Thanks to our original, huh?

What's wrong?

Oh, Ken, it's so sweet of you, and it's a gorgeous dress,

but it's just not my style.

Oh, sure it is.

No, Ken, I won't have you spending a lot of money for something that I'll never

wear.

I want you to return it.

Return it?

Well that's no problem, is it?

Viacom.