All language subtitles for Perry.Mason.209.The.Case.Of.The.Purple.Woman.(Dvdrip)

Yes, Mr. Kovac, there are more.

I've got the finest
collection of Van Hootens

in the United States.

You must feel like
Alexander the Great,

weeping because there are
no new worlds to conquer.

That's where you're
wrong, Mr. Kovac.

There will always
be new worlds. Cigar?

Thank you.

There must be, um,

a dozen Van Hootens that
have never been discovered.

Believe me, they
have been lost forever.

What about The Purple Woman?

It has been destroyed.

Well, I've got a
little surprise for you.

It's incredible.

Where did you
obtain this painting?

Let's just say it
became available.

I'd hate to tell you what
the little lady cost me.

I would advise you to
get your money back.

What do you mean?

You have been sold a forgery.

Are you out of your mind?

It's got to be the real thing.

Look at that color,
the brushwork.

It is incredible, but
not a Van Hooten.

And you can decide
that with one look?

With one look.

You have been
swindled by someone

who knows a great deal
more about art than you do.

Did you think I'd pay
you $86,000 for a fake?

Answer me, Girard.

Mr. Varner, you amuse me.

Here you are, a self-made
authority on modern art.

Your collection
is second to none.

Who would believe that
the great Rufus Varner

has been taken in by a fraud?

Well, uh... nobody has to know.

But you want your money back.

Naturally, I shall have
to inform the press

about what happened.

You wouldn't dare.

Why, your own
reputation would be ruined.

Would it?

When I told you The Purple
Woman had been found,

I advised you to consult
an expert, like Kovac.

But you couldn't be bothered.

Because I trusted you.

Oh, no. Because you
thought you knew it all.

New York, Paris, Rome...

The whole art world
is waiting to laugh

at your pretentiousness.

And you have the enormous vanity

of most ignorant men.

But I digress.

You're waiting for the
return of your money.

I'll have Miss Andrews
make out a check.

No.

Wait.

As you wish.

Just tell me one thing:

Who painted that painting?

I was under the impression
it was Van Hooten.

Mm. This is good
cognac, Mrs. Girard.

As good as I've had in years.

Thank you, Mr. Hubble.

That's right. You
should thank me.

After all, you and your
husband can afford the best

because of people like me.

What are you talking about?

Don't you own the building
at 1440 Broadhurst?

Yes, my grandfather
left it to me.

Mm-hmm. And I
suppose you don't know

that I've been working on
The Purple Woman there

for the past six months?

The Purple Woman?

You had no idea.

No.

You liar.

How dare you?

"How dare you?"

You know, I'd like to
paint you sometime.

Who knows, I might
do as much for you

as Goya did for
the Duchess of Alba.

Or vice versa.

If you'll excuse me, I
think that's my husband.

Oh, what a bore.

I've hardly had time
to get acquainted.

But that's the traditional
role of husbands.

They always intrude at the
most inopportune moment.

Good evening, Milo.

What are you doing here, Hubble?

You never seem to be in
when I call at the gallery.

Evelyn, would you
be good enough to...?

Of course.

It was nice seeing
you, Mrs. Girard.

Let's do it again sometime.

I don't recall
inviting you here.

Afraid I'll contaminate
the premises?

That was one of my reasons.

Well, Rufus Varner
bought The Purple Woman,

and I want to be paid off.

You promised me
a show of my own.

Did I?

Yes.

You told me if I could paint
the Van Hooten good enough

to fool Rufus Varner, I
could write my own ticket.

Oh, don't be naive.

Of course you can
imitate Van Hooten.

That doesn't mean
you're an artist.

You're a hack, Hubble.

You have all the creativity
of a house painter.

They said that about Van Gogh.

Then why don't you
compare yourself to da Vinci

while you're at it?

You stick by your agreement,

or I'll go to Varner
and spill everything.

I very much doubt that
Mr. Varner would admit

that he was victimized.

Then I'll go to the newspapers.

I believe you tried
that once before.

As I recall, you earned
quite a reputation for yourself

as a drunken crackpot.

But don't let me prevent
you from trying them again.

What did he want, Milo?

My dear Evelyn, have I ever
allowed my business affairs

to intrude on our marriage?

Then what makes you
think I intend to start now?

The way he talked...

Oh, yes.

Another member of
the "Hate Girard" society.

I believe you're the president.

Aren't you, my dear?

I've earned the office.

You really despise
me, don't you?

I don't think I'll
ever be happy again

as long as you live.

Good night, my child.

Perhaps you'll think I'm
being disloyal, Mr. Mason,

but frankly, I don't
trust my husband,

and I can't afford to be sued.

I have reason to believe

that recently he
defrauded a collector

with a painting called
The Purple Woman.

In the first place,

you're not responsible for
the torts of your husband.

Torts?

Wrongful acts

for which civil action
may be brought.

But suppose they can prove
that I cooperated with him?

Did you? No.

No, but the collector
may think so.

The copy was painted
in a building which I own.

Even the artist, a man
named Aaron Hubble,

is under the impression that he
had my approval to work there.

I thought your husband
was so successful,

he needn't resort
to this kind of thing.

My husband is a very
peculiar man, Mr. Mason.

If there are two
ways to do something,

and one of them is illegitimate,

you can trust Milo
to pick that way.

If, by chance, you
were wondering

why I don't get a divorce...

No, I'd... I'd assumed
you had your reasons.

I come from a very
strait-laced family, Mr. Mason.

My father...

My father is a very
prominent churchman.

But that doesn't mean

that I have to condone
my husband's actions,

or suffer for them.

All right, Mrs. Girard,
I'll do what I can.

Thank you.

I have an associate,
a Mr. Paul Drake,

who may get in touch with you.

All right. Thank you
again for seeing me.

Goodbye, Miss Street. Goodbye.

What do you think?

Quite disillusioned.

Quite right.

Della. I know.

Get Paul on the phone? Mm-hmm.

How about this, Mr. Girard?

Is it true that Varner's paid
a big price for a new canvas?

My dear friend, why come to
me about the Varner collection?

Well, he won't see
any newspapermen,

and you are his
dealer. Not anymore.

Oh? I understood he
bought this picture from you.

Mr. Gordon, you
understand the relationship

between dealer and
client. Even a former client.

As a man of integrity,
I couldn't possibly...

Oh, I'm sorry, Milo.

Miss Andrews didn't
tell me you were busy.

Oh, don't go, darling.

Oh, Mr. Gordon, I don't
think you've met my wife.

Evelyn, this is Wayne
Gordon, best art critic in town.

Thank you for the kind
words. Even if they are true.

How do you do, Mrs. Girard?

I must apologize for
breaking in this way.

Nonsense, darling. You
know I'm always to happy to...

Yes, Doris? DORIS:
Mr. Brady's here.

Ask him to wait.
I'll be right out.

I'm sorry, Mr. Gordon, but you
will excuse me for a moment?

Oh, yes, of course. Evelyn,

will you entertain Mr. Gordon?

I shan't be long.

Why haven't I heard from you?

It isn't right.

Evelyn, I've got to
see you. Oh, please.

If Milo found us...

I'll call you. When?

Tonight. I promise.

Goodbye, Mr. Brady.

Goodbye, Mrs. Girard.
Goodbye, Mr. Gordon.

Oh, leaving already?

Well, since you
wouldn't talk to me,

I thought I'd try Varner again.

Good luck.

Well, that was an
amusing little charade.

"Mrs. Girard." "Mr. Gordon."

Oh, yes. I know all about Wayne.

Where did you get those?

Darling, you should
be more careful.

A child could pick that
lock on your vanity table.

I can't imagine how he
got a job on a newspaper.

Mmm.

Well, I-I did think
Wayne could do better.

I never answered
any of those letters.

That's the truth, Milo.

Mm.

I may have been
guilty of bad judgment,

but that's as far as it went.

Wh-what are you going to do?

I haven't quite decided yet.

A nice, juicy divorce
has a certain appeal.

I'd love to see
your father's face

when he reads the papers.

Or do you think the
very Reverend Dr. Bates

might even come
down for the trial?

Darling, careful.

You might hurt yourself.

I'll kill you.

So help me, I'll kill you.

Mr. Girard, I...

Oh, I-I'm sorry. I
thought I heard...

You heard me, Miss Andrews.

You must forgive my wife, Doris.

She's the emotional type.

As an intellectual, you
wouldn't understand that.

Doris, rub my neck.

I'm afraid I'm getting
one of my headaches.

Want me to do anything
for you before I go?

No.

What's wrong?

Paul has a theory
that Mrs. Girard

hasn't exactly
been honest with us.

Do you mean she made up that
story about The Purple Woman?

I don't know if that's
one of her inventions.

But this afternoon, her husband
retained Stauffer and Walton

to institute suit for divorce
on grounds of infidelity.

Good morning, Mr. Girard.

Milo...

What's the...?

This is ridiculous, Mr. Mason.

How could anyone possibly
believe I murdered my husband?

I can think of two or
three reasons, offhand.

One, your husband
instituted suit for divorce,

and you didn't want it.

Two, the police have
several statements

concerning your
quarrels with him.

Three, they found
your fingerprints

on the murder weapon.

Do you think I'm guilty?

According to the police,
your husband was killed

between midnight
and 2 in the morning.

Now, where were
you at that time?

Home.

The servants say that
you left your home at 11:30

and didn't return until after 3.

Well, I, um, couldn't
sleep. I went for a drive.

What time did you go
to your husband's office?

I didn't go to my
husband's office.

Someone burned a number
of letters there last night.

Well...

Now, listen, Mrs. Girard.

The police are very efficient.

You'd be surprised

what they can do
with a handful of ashes.

Those letters were
addressed to you.

Well, I don't know
anything about them.

The only other person who
might have had a motive

to destroy those letters
was the man who wrote them.

No, he didn't have
anything to do with it.

I went to my husband's
office to plead with him.

I asked him to give
me the letters back.

When I walked in, I... I saw
him leaning over the desk.

By his side, there was
his favorite figurine.

I picked it up.

Why?

Oh, I don't know. I didn't
realize what I was doing.

Then I saw the blood.

I dropped it. I
started to leave.

And then I remembered
about the letters.

They were in the top
drawer of his desk.

I got them out...
and burned them.

And that's all I did, I swear.

Who's the man?

There's no reason
to involve him in this.

You don't seem to realize
you've been charged with murder.

That's all the more reason

not to involve
an innocent party.

I didn't kill my
husband, Mr. Mason.

You've got to believe that.

I was Milo Girard's
secretary for almost ten years.

He was my first employer.

I never wanted to
work for anybody else.

He knew more about art than
all his patrons put together.

I can think of several men
who might argue the point.

Does the name Hubble
mean anything to you?

Hubble? No.

According to Mrs. Girard,

Hubble had business
dealings with her husband.

That's ridiculous.

Mr. Girard handled
only top-flight names.

He wouldn't touch Aaron
Hubble with a ten-foot pole.

Oh, did I say his first
name was Aaron?

Now, look, Mr. Mason,

I came here... Excuse me.

Yes, Della?

Good.

Yes, right away.

Yes.

I'm sorry, Miss Andrews.
You were saying?

I don't like your attitude.

I was obliging enough
to come up here tonight,

and then to sit while
you question every...

Well... Well, well, well,
looks like Old Home Week.

Come in, Mr. Hubble.

Who painted that? Paul Daly.

He's a hack. Get rid of it.

I'm surprised you're
not in mourning, angel.

You'd look well in black.

Then you know Miss
Andrews? Know her?

Why, every time I
tried to see Girard,

she was guarding
his door like...

Like a tigress
defending her young.

Take care of yourself, dearie.

Oh, she's real crazy about me.

That's why she
rushed off like that.

She didn't want to
give herself away.

Hey, you, uh, wouldn't happen
to have a drink around, would ya?

Della... What would you like?

Anything, and forget the ice.

Well, actually, I
can't stand the stuff.

I just drink because
it's expected of me.

I understand you're a very
talented artist, Mr. Hubble.

Well, you're obviously a man
of great discernment, Mr. Mason.

You did some work for
Mr. Girard, didn't you?

I spent six months on
a job for that peasant.

No other artist in the
country could do what I did.

Here you are.

Thanks.

Uh, remind me to
paint you sometime.

You, uh, ever hear of
The Purple Woman?

That the name of a portrait?

It was supposed to
be by Van Hooten...

only it wasn't.

You mean, you
forged a Van Hooten?

That's right.

Why, I once forged a
Gauguin that was so good,

Girard kept it himself.

Is that such an achievement?

I mean, you could
probably fool me,

but that wouldn't
take very much.

Say, listen...

I fooled one of the biggest
collectors in the world,

Rufus Varner.

Did you tell that to Varner?

No. No, he wouldn't see me.

And then after
Girard was murdered,

I went to the district attorney.

What did Mr. Burger have to say?

He said I was a screwball wino

who was just looking
for cheap publicity.

Are you looking for publicity?

Well, why not?

I'm one of the
greatest talents alive.

If they knew I
fooled Rufus Varner,

they'd look at me
with new respect.

All I need is publicity. That'd
get me a one-man show.

All right, Mr. Hubble,
keep in touch.

You may get all the
publicity you want.

Now let's come to
the point, Mr. Mason.

I only agreed to see you

because your secretary
said it was of vital importance.

Do you consider murder of
"vital importance," Mr. Varner?

Whose murder? Milo Girard's.

It's of no importance to me.

The police may think otherwise.

Are you trying to intimidate me?

I'm just stating one of
the basic facts of life.

When a man is
murdered, sooner or later,

the police get
around to investigating

all his acquaintances.

Friendly or otherwise.

Are you insinuating that I
was one of Girard's enemies?

I'm just curious as to
how well you knew him.

I bought a few paintings
from him, that's all.

Suppose one of
them was a forgery?

Do you know who
you're talking to?

Do you honestly think that
anyone could sell me a forgery?

Milo Girard did.

Get out.

Mr. Varner...

an innocent woman
may go to her death

because of your vanity.

Now, won't you go with me
to see the district attorney?

Mason, I've dealt with
men like you before.

Better too.

Take my advice.

Don't try to involve
me in this mess.

That a threat?

Let's just say that...

I'm giving you the
benefit of my experience.

I'll bear that in mind.

From what I can remember,

Varner started collecting
about 15, 20 years ago.

I mean, collecting
on a big scale.

I think he made his
money in South America.

Gold mines, I believe. No, tin.

Oh. You obviously know
more about the man than I do.

But I know considerably
less about art.

Now, would you be willing
to testify for the defense?

So that's why you
got me up here.

That's why.

What can you tell me
about Van Hooten?

Aside from what I've read here.

Well, I see you've got his
letters to his sister, Marte.

I guess you know it all then.

In one of his letters,

he mentioned a painting
called The Purple Woman.

Oh, yes.

That was painted in
Ireland in 1890 or '91.

Van Hooten gave the painting

to the girl he
used for his model.

For some unknown reason,
she wasn't happy with the portrait

and kept it in the cellar.

Then around
1895, I think it was,

the place burned to the ground.

Suppose that painting
would show up today.

Apparently, we've
heard the same rumor.

A couple of weeks ago,

someone told me
Girard had sold Varner

a forged Van Hooten.

Do you recall who
this "someone" is?

Well, I tried to
run the thing down,

but got nowhere.

Now, uh, if I should
run across the painting,

whom would you nominate
to establish its authenticity

or lack of it?

Well, there's Brocklyn in
Amsterdam, Haversham in London.

Then, of course, there's
Kovac. He's the greatest of all.

Incidentally, he's right
here in Los Angeles.

I understand he's leaving for
Paris at the end of the week.

Well, thank you again
for your help, Mr. Gordon.

Not at all. If there's
anything I can do

in the future to help,
don't fail to call on me.

Goodbye, Mr. Gordon. Goodbye.

I think he'll be a good witness.

There's our wandering boy now.

Come in, Paul.

Hi, beautiful. Hello, Perry.

Well, you look like
you hit the jackpot.

I did. I have just
seen Laslo Kovac.

Do you know who he is?

World's greatest
expert on Van Hooten.

And just how did you know that?

You're not the only
detective around here.

Well, here's something
you didn't know.

When Kovac arrived
in Los Angeles,

Varner invited him
to visit his collection.

Did he see The Purple Woman?

He did. He said it was
a phony from way back.

He even volunteered to
testify if you want him to.

Oh, that's wonderful, Paul.

Now we won't have
to use Wayne Gordon.

Now we won't have to use who?

Wayne Gordon, the art
critic on the Chronicle.

Uh-huh. That's not all he is.

He is also Evelyn
Girard's boyfriend.

You sure of that? I am.

Well, I certainly hope
the district attorney's office

doesn't find out about that.

They don't have to.
They're way ahead of us.

Where do you think I
picked up this information?

And... And then, just
before I left for the evening,

Mr. Girard asked
me to call his wife.

He wanted me to tell her
he wouldn't be home to dinner

because he was gonna be
working late at the gallery.

So Mrs. Girard was aware

that her husband was at the
gallery the night of the murder?

I object, Your Honor.

The witness cannot testify
to what anyone else knew.

She can only testify to
what she herself knew

and to what she did. Sustained.

Then let me put it this way:

Did Mr. Girard ask you
to instruct anyone else

that he was gonna be
at the gallery that night?

No. As a matter of fact, he
asked me not to tell anyone.

He wanted to make
sure he wasn't disturbed.

I see. Now, Miss Andrews,
you testified earlier that

the defendant only
visited her husband's office

on five occasions that
you can remember,

and that on four of those
occasions, everything seemed

to be very amicable. DORIS: Yes.

Would you now tell this court

in what respect
the fifth occasion

differed from the others?

She tried to kill him.

Would you tell us what
you mean by that statement?

Exactly what I said.

She tried to stab him
with a pair of scissors.

He discovered a
number of love letters

some man had written her.

Thank you, Miss Andrews.

Cross-examine, counselor.

Now, Miss Andrews,

what are your feelings
toward the defendant?

Do you like her, or
do you dislike her?

If you want me to say
I don't like her, I don't.

I don't like her,
and I don't trust her.

But you found your employer
to be completely trustworthy?

Yes, I did.

Mr. Girard had to
travel a great deal

in the course of business,
is that not correct?

Yes.

And you accompanied
him sometimes?

Well, yes, whenever he felt

he'd need a
secretary on the trip.

Is it true that you
went to San Francisco

with Mr. Girard on
January 4th of this year?

Yes.

Did you see the
defendant on that trip?

No.

Are you sure, Miss Andrews?

Yes, I'm... I'm positive.

You're, of course, familiar
with Mr. Girard's handwriting?

Yes, of course.

I show you now what purports
to be a registration card

of the Gateview
Hotel in Palo Alto,

showing a registration for
Mr. Milo Girard and wife.

Now, is this
Mr. Girard's handwriting?

I can't tell.

I noticed that room
867 is the room assigned

to Mr. Girard and wife.

Do you recall what
your room number was?

No, I don't remember.

Then let me refresh your memory.

Don't bother.

I was in love with Milo Girard.

And he loved me.

I have no further questions.

The witness may step down.

I call Wayne Gordon
to the stand please.

Did the defendant ever tell you

that she was in love with you?

Yes, sir.

And you were in love
with her? Yes, I was.

And I still am.

Did you ever ask the
defendant to marry you?

Is there anything
wrong with that?

Not a thing, Mr. Gordon,
but it did present a problem.

The defendant was
married at the time.

Or did you ask her to
divorce her husband?

Yes, I did.

What was her reply to that?

She told me she
didn't believe in divorce.

That didn't prevent
her from seeing you.

Yes, it did.

Didn't you meet her
on the 19th of this month

at her husband's office?

That was wholly accidental.

Was it wholly accidental

that she phoned you at
your office the week before?

As a matter of fact, she
phoned you three times

before she was
able to reach you.

Isn't that so, Mr. Gordon? Yes.

What was the
purpose of these calls?

Well, she wanted some advice.

She thought her husband
had involved her in a fraud.

I suggested she see a lawyer.

Any particular
lawyer? Perry Mason.

And how did Mr. Mason
advise the defendant?

I object, Your Honor.

The question not
only calls for hearsay,

it also calls for a
privileged communication.

The objection is sustained.

No further questions.

Your witness.

Mr. Gordon, you testified

that you advised the
defendant to consult an attorney.

Yes, sir. Why?

Well, Mrs. Girard was afraid

of being involved in a lawsuit

over a painting called
The Purple Woman.

And what exactly is
The Purple Woman?

I object, Your Honor.

Not only is the question

incompetent, irrelevant
and immaterial,

but counsel is fully aware

I covered none of that
in direct examination.

If it please the court,

the district attorney
asked this witness on direct

why Mrs. Girard wanted advice.

He replied that she
thought her husband

had involved her in a fraud,

and I maintain I have a
right to inquire into this fraud

and determine all
its ramifications.

I'm inclined to agree
with you, Mr. Mason.

The objection is overruled.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Gordon,

what did the defendant tell
you about this so-called fraud?

She told me that Mr. Girard
had swindled some collector

with a forged painting
called The Purple Woman.

Did she tell you the name of
the artist who painted the forgery?

Yes, sir. She told me his
name was Aaron Hubble.

Did she tell you the
name of the collector

who bought the painting?

No.

Thank you,
Mr. Gordon. That'll be all.

You may step down.

Well, gentlemen, the court
is going to take judicial notice

of the time of day and
suggest we recess for lunch.

Court's adjourned
until 2:00 this afternoon.

Who gets the ham
on rye and the milk?

Our growing boy.

And the bacon and tomato? I do.

Well, I guess by the
process of elimination,

the next one must be mine.

Thank you, Martha.
You're welcome, Mr. Mason.

Good afternoon, counselor.

You're pretty cute.

What's the trouble, lieutenant?

Don't play innocent.

You know Burger
wouldn't let you insinuate

that that painting has
anything to do with this case.

But let me tell you
one thing, counselor.

It may be that you
sealed your own tomb.

It seems that Mr. Hubble, uh,

has long ears.

What's that supposed to mean?

Oh, no, just because
you spoiled my meal

is no reason for
me to spoil yours.

You just go ahead and
have a good lunch, folks.

Now, Mr. Hubble, you visited
the deceased at his home

the day before the murder?

Yes. For what purpose?

I wanted to discuss
a painting with him.

Girard had exploited me.

I painted The Purple
Woman, and that's something...

Mr. Hubble, please answer just
the questions that I put to you.

Now, you visited the
deceased at his home

the day before the
murder, is that correct?

Yes.

And who admitted you to
the house on that occasion?

Mrs. Girard. I talked to
her about the painting, but...

Your Honor, would you
please instruct this witness

to answer only those
questions I put to him?

But you want the truth.

Mr. Hubble, you
will confine yourself

only to the questions
asked by the district attorney.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Hubble,
was Mrs. Girard present

during your discussion
with Mr. Girard?

No, she came back as I left.

I'm afraid I was
guilty of bad manners.

What do you mean?

Well, I was curious to hear

how Girard would
explain me away,

so I waited in the entry hall,

and, uh, did a little
eavesdropping.

And what did you overhear?

When Mrs. Girard
wanted to know who I was,

he described me as a member
of the "Hate Girard" society.

He said she was the president.

And what was the
defendant's response to that?

Oh, she said she
earned the office,

and that she'd
never be happy again

as long as he lived.

She'd never be happy
again as long as he lived?

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Hubble.
That's all. Your witness.

Mr. Hubble...

you testified that
Mr. Girard characterized you

as a member of the
"Hate Girard" society.

That's right.

How do you feel
about Mrs. Girard?

I've got nothing against her.

You testified that
Mr. Girard was alone

when you came to the
Girards' home that night.

Yes.

At that time, didn't
you call her a liar?

I did.

But I thought she knew I
painted The Purple Woman.

And just what is
The Purple Woman?

Your Honor, I must object.

Mr. Mason has tried
to introduce this subject

every time I examine a witness.

I asked Mr. Hubble
absolutely nothing

about this so-called
Purple Woman on direct.

Counsel has no right to
pursue the subject on cross.

If it please the court,

Mr. Burger asked the witness

why he had called on
the deceased that night.

The witness's answer
was entirely responsive.

He said he had come
to discuss a painting.

I submit I have the
right to pursue this matter

since the district attorney
himself opened the door.

It seems to me, Mr. Burger,

that since the door was
opened, even that much,

the defense has a
perfect right to walk right in.

You may proceed, Mr. Mason.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Hubble, just
what is The Purple Woman?

Uh, it's the name of a picture

Carl Van Hooten was supposed
to have painted around 1890.

Girard had a rough
sketch in color.

He asked me if I could
paint it in Van Hooten's style.

Where did you work
on this painting?

Oh, Girard fixed
up a place for me

in an empty building
his wife owned.

He used to visit me there
and discuss my work.

I felt she had to know
about the painting,

and she must have known
he sold it to Rufus Varner.

Your Honor, may we
approach the bench?

Yes.

Your Honor, this is
patently ridiculous.

I have absolute confidence
in the integrity of this witness

and every subject on
which I interrogated him.

However, he seems
to have a fixation

about a certain painting.

And defense counsel has
adroitly insinuated evidence

on this point in an effort

to destroy the
credibility of the witness.

Your Honor, I... If you please.

Simply because the
man nurses delusions

about a certain painting,

doesn't make the rest of
his testimony worthless.

Why not produce the painting?

Then let a
psychiatrist determine

whether this man
with his delusion

is a trustworthy
witness in other matters.

If it please the court,

he can certainly relate a
conversation that he overheard.

He can certainly describe
things he saw happen.

If you hadn't dragged
that painting into this case,

there'd be no impression
this was an irrational witness.

Well, gentlemen, it
comes down to this:

The court ought to take
a look at this painting,

and we ought to have
an expert in to appraise it.

Very well, Your Honor.

If the, uh, district
attorney would like me

to suggest the
name of an expert...

Oh, I think I'll be able to
find an expert, Mr. Mason.

And then I was
invited by Mr. Varner

to see his collection.

Of course, I was
happy to accept.

And you saw The Purple
Woman at that time?

Yes.

Did you make any comment
about it to Mr. Varner?

I told him that he
had purchased a fake.

A fake?

Well, it was obvious to me
that he had been swindled.

Would you mind stepping
down and explaining to the court

on what you base that decision?

I'll be happy to.

Now...

if you will take a look at here,

for instance...

Go on, Mr. Kovac.

One moment, please.

I cannot understand this.

Well, what is it, Mr. Kovac?

You will have to forgive me,

but I may have made
a terrible mistake.

You mean, the picture
might be genuine?

I cannot say for certain.

You're not prepared
to say that it's a fake?

It well may be a
genuine Van Hooten.

You liar!

Bring that man forward.

Can you show just cause
why you should not be

held in contempt of court?
I'm not gonna stand here

and let them barter
away my talent.

I fine you $25.

You might as well
make it $25,000.

In that case, I sentence you
to 24 hours in the county jail,

sentence to begin immediately

upon the expiration
of this hearing.

Bailiff.

The witness may
resume the stand.

Mr. Burger.

I have no further questions,
Your Honor. Your witness.

Mr. Kovac,

when Mr. Varner first
showed you that painting,

you told him it was a fraud.

Yes, at that time it
seemed so, but now...

Now, what?

Well, I own an unpublished
letter Van Hooten wrote

to his sister
describing this painting.

He mentioned that the model
was a young French peasant girl

who had a slight
cast on her left eye.

Van Hooten thought

it gave the portrait
an interesting quality.

Now, if you would observe...

Didn't you check that point

when you saw the painting
in Mr. Varner's home?

Yes.

But at that time,

it seemed that the eyes
were somewhat different.

Could it be that the painting

has subsequently been retouched?

Never occurred to me.

Your Honor, I
submit there is reason

to doubt the
authenticity of this work.

Therefore I ask

that this painting be
examined scientifically.

Frankly, by now, there is
doubt in the court's mind.

How long will it take

for the scientific tests
you have in mind?

Oh, infrared and
x-ray examinations

can be arranged
in a matter of hours.

Forgive me if I
speak out of turn.

But I'd welcome such tests.

You will make the necessary
arrangements, Mr. Burger.

Court is adjourned until
10:00 tomorrow morning.

Oh, come in.

Well?

It's a genuine Van Hooten.

Are they sure?

As sure as they can be.

The canvas is at
least 60 years old,

and the pigments are the
same as those Van Hooten used.

Come on, Paul, I want
to check out a hunch.

All right.

See if you can find
the light switch, Paul.

I got it.

What's the trouble?

Oh, there's no trouble.

I always shake like this

when I'm guilty of
breaking and entering.

Well, we used a key.

That makes a difference?

It does when it's been
turned over to you

by the surviving spouse.

What are we looking for anyway?

The Purple Woman.

But Varner said that he
bought The Purple Woman.

Varner bought a forgery.

But I'm convinced that
Girard owned the original.

Did Hubble tell you that?

Well, indirectly.

Hubble testified that...

That he copied the
painting from a color sketch.

Now, the painting
disappeared in the 1890s.

How did Girard
know the right colors?

They must have
come from the original.

Well, what are you waiting for?

I'm thinking.

I'm trying to put
myself in Girard's place.

Now, if I wanted to
hide a valuable painting,

I certainly wouldn't
put it in the gallery vault.

It's the first place
anybody would look for it.

You know what I'd do?

I'd put it right behind
another painting

of exactly the same size.

One that no one
in his right mind

would even consider buying.

Well?

No, not this one.

You're right, Paul.

There's another
canvas underneath.

In other words, Mr. Varner,

the deceased, Milo
Girard, acted as your agent

in obtaining most of the
pictures in your collection.

That's right.

I'll show you now this check
dated May 4th of this year,

made out to the Girard galleries

and signed by you.
That is your signature?

Yes.

The amount on the face
of this check is $86,000.

Is that what you paid
for The Purple Woman?

It is.

And how many Van Hootens
do you own, Mr. Varner?

Forty-two.

I have the largest collection
in the United States.

Thank you, sir. Your witness.

Now, Mr. Varner, you testified

that you own a Van Hooten
called The Purple Woman.

That's right.

Is it genuine and not a forgery?

Do you think anyone
could fool me with a forgery?

I think Mr. Girard did.

That's a lie!

Will the court allow me?

Certainly.

Put it here.

What's the meaning
of this, Mr. Mason?

May I ask the
court's indulgence?

Very well.

Now, Mr. Varner,

I'll ask you once more.

Do you own Van
Hooten's Purple Woman?

Just use your eyes, Mr. Mason.

There it is, right there.

Then would you
please tell the court...

what this is?

It's a cheap fake.
That's what it is.

You can determine
that just like that?

I'm an expert, Mr. Mason.

No one can fool you? - No.

And what was your reaction

when Mr. Kovac told you
you had been swindled?

I told him he was crazy.

Why did you call on Girard
the following morning?

Well, I just thought the
story would amuse him.

He was a very
good friend of mine.

He was a good friend of yours?

Yes, we were very close.

Less than a week later,
he told Wayne Gordon

that he was no
longer your dealer.

Well, he was, uh... joking.

It was no joke, Mr. Varner.

I submit that
Girard swindled you.

You wanted revenge.

So on the night of May 19th,

you went to the gallery,
and there you killed him.

No! And after you killed him,

you exchanged the fraudulent
Purple Woman for the genuine.

No, no! That's not true!

How else did you obtain
the genuine painting?

I bought it from Girard.

You bought it?

Yes.

I was afraid that he'd
tell someone the story

or Kovac would.

I had to protect myself.

They all would
have laughed at me.

So you paid Girard twice?

Yes.

And how do you explain
our finding this forgery

in Girard's office?

Girard insisted on its return.

I swear that's the truth.

I don't know what
he wanted it for.

It was worthless.

Yes, you're right.

It was worthless.
Completely worthless.

Tell me, Mr. Varner,

how did it feel to be
taken in by a fifth-rate hack,

a man who had no
more creative ability

than a three-year-old child?

That's a lie! I'm
a great artist!

Let that man come forward.

We will have order here.

You let me down, Mr. Mason.

Apparently, you haven't
learned your lesson.

Yesterday, I sentenced
you to 24 hours in jail.

I warned you there...

Your Honor, please,
you must listen to me.

Silence! Your Honor...

may I say a word on
Mr. Hubble's behalf?

Very well.

Mr. Hubble is a very
disappointed man.

He feels he has a great talent.

Unfortunately, no
expert agrees with him.

On one occasion, he painted
a Gauguin for the deceased.

That's right!

Girard thought it was so
good, he had it in his office,

right next to a Renoir.

But you testified you were
never in that office, Mr. Hubble.

You said Miss Andrews
wouldn't let you in.

Now, how did you know
where the painting was hung?

You must have seen it there

on the night you killed him.

No.

I-I was there
several times when...

When I was painting
The Purple Woman.

I brought it over to show
him how it was progressing.

Why did you testify
that you did your work

in an old house
owned by Mrs. Girard,

that Girard would visit you
there to discuss your work?

Shall we have the reporter
read back your testimony

on that point?

Never mind.

You're right. I killed him.

He was a scoundrel and a cheat.

He promised, Your Honor.

He promised if I could fool
Varner with a Van Hooten,

he'd give me a one-man show,
where the world could learn

what Aaron Hubble
could do on his own.

I'm a genius, Your Honor.

Oh, I say this in all modesty
because it's the truth.

But Girard betrayed me.

And you betrayed me too.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hubble.

Bailiff.

No.

No, why should you be sorry?

What a fool I am.

You just got me a million
dollars' worth of publicity.

I'm gonna have my
one-man show yet.

The bailiff will take
this man into custody.

Mr. Burger, you will
take the necessary steps

for prosecution.

This hearing is adjourned.

Well, Mr. Hubble finally
got what he wanted.

His picture's in
every paper in town.

Doing it the hard way.

What put you onto him, anyway?

When Varner admitted
paying for the painting twice.

And when you
exonerated Varner...

I had to look elsewhere.

Well, what about Doris Andrews?

You saw Doris on
the stand, Della.

Paul, she was still
in love with Girard.

Well, that left
poor Aaron Hubble.

And you, uh, baited
him into that outburst

by calling him
a fifth-rate hack.

Well, I felt vanity
was his Achilles' heel,

just as it was Varner's.

That's incredible.

Perry, I want to
congratulate you.

That was a fine job
you did in court today.

Well, Mr. Burger, you
seem almost pleased.

I am.

Della, there was an article
in The Law Journal recently.

Let me quote you
the last paragraph.

"A well-tried criminal case
is a credit to all involved.

"There is no
winning or no losing

in the true
administration of justice."

The article was
signed Hamilton Burger.

Come on, sit down, Hamilton.