All language subtitles for Perry Mason S05E28 The Case of the Ancient Romeo.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

What's in a name?

That which we call a rose by any
other name would smell as sweet.

So Romeo would were
he not Romeo called

retain that dear perfection
which he owes without that title.

Oh, Romeo, doff thy name,

and for that name which is
no part of thee take all myself.

Well, Franz?

Uh, Miss Adams, why don't you just
get your coat by the stage door there

and wait for me, hmm?

Well, What can I say?

The girl isn't bad, but
she is not great, either.

Never has a Juliet appeared with the
Franz Lachman Repertory Company

who was not trained
by me personally.

For 20 years, audiences of
half the countries of the world

have looked to the Lachman
Company for one thing... perfection.

The Lachman Company
does not compromise...

Franz, the Lachman Company is on its
last legs, and they're about to give out.

It's been coming on for
years and everybody else,

but you has been able to see it.

The Lachman Company will not open
Monday night, Franz, without cash...

Lots of it. You're broke.

A temporary condition.

Now just a minute. As your advance
man, I blame myself for this, Franz.

The idea of including
Jamaica and Bermuda

in our world tour was
mine, and I was wrong.

But this American tour
would put us back on our feet.

And you can't even open.

Your sets and your costumes are tied up in
warehouses by a half-a-dozen attachments.

All right, so the girl isn't great. She's
only played Juliet a couple of times

in a little tank town theatre,
but she is a professional actress.

And, Franz, this girl walked
in here with $1,000 in cash.

And a check for 10,000 more.

And look at the
signature on that.

Amos Martin. The hotel man?

And no strings. No partnership
No profit sharing. Nothing.

Except that this girl plays Juliet for
the two weeks of the Los Angeles run.

Franz, this is salvation
out of the blue.

We can borrow the money
somehow. A bank will surely...

A bank on a Friday afternoon
and we open on Monday?

Franz, it's either we take
this girl, or we've had it.

The Lachman Company,
whatever is left of it, will be history.

$1,000.

And a check for 10.

Call her back.

Uh, Miss Adams.

Miss Adams?

My dear,

You shall play Juliet in our
current engagement here.

Mr. Scharf, will you have the
company assembled here in an hour?

Miss Adams, we'll see you then.

Oh, yes, Mr. Lachman,
and thank you.

Oh, I still can't believe it.
Oh, thank you, Mr. Scharf.

Oh, come now, I should think you
would want to thank your friend Mr. Martin.

Yes, yes, I should.

A check for $10,000
and 2,000 in cash.

Yes, it displays a considerable
amount of, shall we say, friendship.

Well, Miss Adams,
it is customary

when someone brings new
money into an organization

that they receive
a finder's fee.

I should think $500
would be quite satisfactory.

Fee or no fee, what you're
looking for is not there.

I'm not interested in any
of the thousand dollars

you held out on Mr. Lachman.

I don't care about any of that.

I only want prove to Mr. Lachman
and everyone that I'm an actress.

All right.

Just don't you stub own
toes too badly, that's all.

Are you trying to warn me?

Franz Lachman's name still has
enough magic to draw the critics who count

and the Hollywood people.

If this a one-in-a-million
showcase for you,

it's just as important to every
member of the Lachman's company.

So?

With you playing Juliet
and Franz doing Romeo,

the rest of the company will be playing
musical chairs for leftover crumbs.

And they're not
going to like that

or you.

Well, good luck, Miss Adams.

Ladies and gentlemen of the
Lachman Repertory Company,

permit me to welcome you
most felicitously to Los Angeles.

As all you know this indeed
the high spot of our long tour.

Two weeks in the City of
Angels 'ere we venture forth

to continue our tour across the
length and breadth of the country.

Now, before I go into the
specifics of our engagement here,

I should like to introduce a
new member of our company.

The distinguished American
actress, Miss Claire Adams.

For the opening presentation

of our two weeks of
repertory, we shall perform,

as scheduled, Romeo and Juliet.

Miss Adams will play Juliet.

Uh, Ellen.

Yes, Franz.

Instead of Juliet, you will have yourself
fitted for a wig and play Lady Capulet.

Uh, Margit?

The Nurse.

Which you do so well, my dear.

Now, Steve, instead of Romeo...

Don't tell me, let me guess.

Since Miss Adams
is new to the cast,

she will need strength
and experience.

Experience that comes with age.

Mr. Franz Lachman
will portray Romeo.

During our engagement
here in Los Angeles,

we shall have particular need of your
services as company stage manager.

Playing the part of Paris will
give you time for your other duties.

Uh, Carl.

Friar Laurence.

The assignment of other parts
will be posted on the bulletin board.

Steve, I want to see
you in my dressing room.

I don't mind not playing Romeo,
but he can't do this to you.

Darling, there's
nothing you can do.

No?

Distinguished American actress.

It's nice to seeing you, Steve.

I wish I could say the same.

This should enough to take
care of the immediate expenses.

$1,000 in cash.

You'll deposit
this check at once

to cover any additional
checks you may have to write.

Amos Martin?

An advance against our
receipts here in America.

A loan from a very old friend.

No one is to know.

Now, the delivery of
the sets all arranged for?

- Warehouse is just waiting for payment.
- The costumes?

Still in customs. Until
we pay bills, no costumes.

Get them. I'm tired of
your excuses, Mr. Brock.

I expect every detail of this production
to be perfect for Monday night.

- Remember that.
- You remember.

Does your word mean nothing?

You promised Ellen
more than a year ago

that she'd play Juliet for
the Los Angeles opening.

Why else do you
think I stayed on

while you dragged this moth-eaten
outfit around half the world?

How dare you?

How dare I what?
Speak the truth?

If your distinguished Miss Adams
were any kind of established actress

with even half a name,
she wouldn't be found dead

within 3 miles of
this two-bit outfit.

Am I to assume Ellen shares your
sentiments in regard to the company?

Oh, Franz, can't you see?

Can't you see what this Los Angeles
appearance could mean to Ellen?

She's ready. It's the moment
she's waited years for.

If the right people
could see her now...

The decision is made.
We will not discuss it.

Rehearsals will start immediately.
We'll continue through tonight.

You have work to do, Mr. Brock.
I suggest you start on it, now.

And in this rage,

with some great kinsmen's
bone as with a club

dash out my desperate brains?

Look, methinks I
see my cousin's ghost

seeking out Romeo

that did spit his body
upon a rapier's point.

Oh, stay, Tybalt, stay.

Romeo, I come.

This do I drink to thee.

Kelvin.

Kelvin, what was
in the vial just now?

In it? Why, nothing.

Have I not made it
clear a thousand times

that in the Lachman Company
we do not rehearse with empty cups

with empty vials
with empty anything?

How can I expect to get
reality and truth from Claire

when you expect her to
rehearse with empty air?

It won't happen again.

See that it doesn't.

Mr. Brock.

The rehearsal was called
for 10:00 this morning.

It is now past noon. This
is Monday, remember?

We open tonight.

Or perhaps you don't feel the
need for any more rehearsal?

You wouldn't have much of a performance
without lights, sets, or costumes.

And where are the
costumes, if I may ask?

They left the customs warehouse
in San Francisco early this morning.

They'll be here.

Sometime before the final curtain, I
trust. If that's not asking too much?

Well, we'll rehearse the duel scene.
That is, if you don't mind, Mr. Brock?

Oh stay not, be gone, live and hereafter
say a madman's mercy bade thee run away.

I defy thy conjurations and
apprehend thee for a felon here.

Wilt thou provoke me?
Then have at thee, boy.

Mr. Brock, I am aware that it's absurd
to expect a performance from you

insofar as your new
speeches are concerned.

Also, I'm sure you were a
magnificent fencer in college.

But this is the theatre,

so you will please play
the duel as I have directed it.

Maybe the numbers
will help you. En garde.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

6, 7, 8, and 9.

Oh, I am slain.

What a pity that Shakespeare
ordained that Romeo should kill Paris.

I'm sure that to at least
one member of the company

it would have been more
satisfactory the other way.

Eh, Mr. Brock?

LaVerne Moreau.
Remember her, Ellen?

In Canada a few years ago.

How long did Franz keep
LaVerne in the company?

A week? Ten days?

But then, she never played Juliet
in some small town little theatre

or was it in high school, dear?

I'm sorry if my joining
the company hurt anybody.

All you're concerned with,
dear, is whether Franz likes you.

Margit Bruner, shining
star of the theatre,

a name I once worshiped as
an ideal of what I wanted to be.

A broken-down has-been
with a nasty, dirty mind.

What's the matter, did Franz
love you when you played Juliet?

- Why, you...
- Margit, no.

Don't feel sorry for me.

I know why I stayed
with the company.

But you, Margit, you should
have left, with Carl, a long time ago.

We were protecting
our investment.

Carl's still waiting to get the money
back he lent to Franz years ago in England.

And you?

What do you mean
they can't be opened?

Do you realize we have a
performance in less than three hours?

Look, mister, this shipment
come in from out of the country.

Like I told you, it's still under
bond. You wanted it that way.

Well, that means only a customs
agent can break those seals.

Well, where is this
customs agent?

There was some fellow in uniform
here about an hour ago, Steve.

But he asked for Franz and I told
him he couldn't be disturbed just yet.

You stupid fool. Can
you reach the man?

Well I don't know at this hour.

And there's also the matter
of the shipping charges.

Haven't you paid them?

He paid them all
right on Friday.

Only your company
check was no good.

Now we'll need cash.

You wrote a check
that was no good?

I only found out about
it late this afternoon.

There was some sort of
mix-up at the bank, that's all.

Mix-up. That's a
new name for it.

Now, what kind
of a crack is that?

I'll have it straightened
out in the morning.

Is that so?

Well, give the man
the cash he wants.

I haven't that much left.

Carl, will you take this
man out to the box office

and see that they
give him the cash?

This way.

If you're trying to accuse me
of something, Franz, don't hint.

Just come out and say it.

There should have been
more than enough money.

What happened to that
$10,000 check of Amos Martin's?

I deposited it on Friday.

I guess it wasn't early
enough to cover, that's all.

You guess?

The real question, Mr. Brock,

is how many checks did you
write against it and to whom?

Just what are you implying?

This bill, for example, from
Johannesburg. Authorized by you.

On what authority?

I can explain that.

You better be able to.

Did you really think I was unaware
of what you've been trying to do?

Well, you won't
get away with it.

Oh, I won't stop
you... not alone, that is.

But the police, I am sure,
will be more than interested.

Happily met, my
lady and my wife.

That may be sir,
when I may be a wife.

That maybe must be
love, on Thursday next.

"What must be shall be."

What must be shall be.

That's a certain text.

Come you to make
confession to this friar?

To answer that, I
should confess...

Perry, is it me or is this new
Juliet so frightened and nervous

she can't remember her lines.

Let's just say that she's
not Katharine Cornell.

Did we have to come?

Steve Brock, the man playing
Paris, is the brother of old Navy friend.

He sent us the tickets.

Said he wanted
to consult with me

after the show on
something important.

God shield I should
disturb devotion.

Juliet, on Thursday
early will I rouse you.

Till then, adieu, and
keep this holy kiss.

And finding him, the
searches of the towns

suspecting that we both...

Margit, where is Franz?

Tomb scene starts
in a few minutes.

Kelvin was whispering
to him a few minutes ago.

Seemed very excited
about something.

Now, Franz is telephoning.

Thank you.

And the police must be here

at exactly 11:30.

I don't want the
performance disrupted.

Yes, at the stage door.

I will meet them
and explain further.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Franz.

You heard the call?

Yes.

Just as well.

These trunks and
other matters, Mr. Brock.

I warn you, you've only
started answering questions.

No longer just to
me, to the police.

What's this all about?

Well, don't ask us.
You're the one, buster.

What have you been doing
with the company's dough?

What?

The old man is
really out to nail you.

Steve, your cue, you're on.

Clothed in a dead man's...

Oh, stay not, be gone,
live and hereafter say

a madman's mercy
made thee run away.

I defy thy conjurations and
apprehend thee for a felon here.

Thou provoke me?
Then have at thee, boy.

The numbers, eh, Franz?

1, 2, 3.

Careful, Franz, you may
forget your own direction.

Steve, in the name of heaven.

Perry, I don't care what
Shakespeare wrote.

Right now, my money's
on your friend Steve.

Curtains. Kill the lights.

Backstage.

Steve!

I won't do it, Steve.
Don't ask me, please.

But what else can we
do? It's either that or...

- Mr. Mason? Ellen, did you...
- She didn't talk,

but I think we'd better, Steve.

The police are looking for you.
Why did you run out of that theatre?

Not because I killed Franz.

On stage you certainly looked
as though you were trying to.

Yes, I know. I... I didn't mean
that Franz should fall, Mr. Mason.

I just wanted to give him a
bad time for a few minutes.

When his sword hit
my face, I lost my head.

And when he fell, I suddenly
realized what I'd done.

I just couldn't discuss it with
myself. I couldn't face anyone.

You didn't know that
Lachman had been stabbed?

No, I went back to
the hotel and changed.

Came here and heard about
the stabbing on the radio.

Then I called Ellen
a little while ago.

What happened to your sword?

I don't know,
threw it aside. Why?

It's missing, Steve. You
didn't take it with you?

No... believe me, I did
not kill Franz Lachman.

I believe you didn't kill Lachman.
I'll do my best to help you.

But only on the condition

that you turn yourself in.

Steve, if you didn't
do it, it's wrong to run.

All right, Mr. Mason,
call the police.

You know we're always glad
to cooperate with you, Perry.

Anything we can do to
help a struggling attorney.

Of course, you know better
than to remove any evidence.

Thank you for warning me, Andy.

Mr. MacRae, just as the curtain
was coming down last night,

someone called out to kill the lights.
Do you remember who that was?

I don't think I do.

I wish I could help
Steve. He's a nice guy,

but I don't see
what I can tell you.

Mr. Mason, there's still no sign
of the murder weapon, is there?

No. Why do you ask?

Well, it's... it's strange,
not a sign of Steve's sword.

You're sure it was Steve's
sword that killed him?

I never said that.

Didn't you?

Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Bruner.

Mr. Mason?

I realize that Mr. Lachman
was a friend of long standing

and that discussing
his death may...

Don't apologize, Mr. Mason.

The only regret I
have over Franz' death

is that he borrowed my life's
savings and never paid me back.

Mrs. Bruner, theatrical gossip has it
that possibly Franz Lachman's death

represents a greater loss
to you than to your husband?

No need for delicacy, Mr. Mason.

You're asking if there was
some sort of special relationship

between Franz and me.

The answer is no.

There never was, Mrs. Bruner?

- Why...
- Please, Carl.

No, Mr. Mason.

There have been many Juliets
down the years since I played the part.

I no more resented the
last than I did the first.

The last, Claire Adams?

Anything you want to know
about that one, ask Phil Scharf.

He brought her to Franz.

Oh, come now, Mr. Mason.
The theatre's no nursery school,

and actors aren't noted for
behaving exactly like monks, no, sir.

I wasn't asking you to characterize
or assassinate an entire profession.

I inquired only about
Franz Lachman.

Okay, so he was big enough
to like playing with girls

without getting called a
sissy. Answer your question?

And occasionally that resulted in
some rather inopportune casting?

You lawyers.

Oh, sure, it happens.

Margit Bruner?

Whatever she may have been
to Franz, she was a great actress.

Ellen Carson's
also a great actress,

and she never gave the
Franz so much as the right time.

What of Claire Adams?

Her? Strictly a
minor league actress.

But you can take my word for it,

Franz got nowhere with that one.

Oh?

Isn't that why she got the part?

You kidding? She bought her
way into the company for 12 grand.

Just a moment.

I understood from Steve that
money was given to Mr. Lachman

by a personal friend,
a Mr. Amos Martin?

Personal friend?

Franz never met Amos Martin.
He never set eyes on him.

Martin gave the
dough to Claire Adams

to buy herself a
part in the show.

Years... Years I have
knocked around in this racket.

A dancer, a singer, bit parts,
cigarette girl in nightspots.

Anything to hold on,

to be ready for that
big break when it came.

And this was it,

the break I'd dreamed about.

If it... If it meant other
people losing out,

I just couldn't help that.

Can you understand
that, Mr. Mason?

I might never get
another chance.

There was nothing personal
between you and Mr. Lachman?

No... no, of course not.

And Amos Martin?

No.

I met Mr. Martin in Las
Vegas many years ago.

Just a casual acquaintance?

I didn't say that.

- More than casual?
- Please, Mr. Mason...

He gave you $12,000

to help you buy yourself a
break in show business. Why?

I...

Oh.

I just can't tell you
anything more, Mr. Mason.

I couldn't reach Amos Martin.

According to his office, he's been
at his ranch for the past ten days.

It's about a hundred
miles north of here.

And he can't be reached
there because he's fishing.

What about Claire Adams?

Well, that could be something.

Several years ago, Martin was involved
with a Las Vegas dancer named Claire.

There were rumors
in the gossip columns.

And about that time, Mrs.
Martin sued him for divorce.

Then, all of a sudden,
the girl drops out of sight,

and at the same time, Mrs.
Martin drops the divorce suit.

The 12 grand could
be a delayed payoff.

All right, keep working on it.

And, Paul, the shipment of
costumes from South Africa...

You're not the only one
interested in that shipment.

- The police?
- No, not that I know of.

But I understand some of the
customs boys have been around

asking questions
about those costumes.

Uh, Mr. Mason, there's
something you've got to know.

The police already
know. I had to tell them.

And I felt that if you
knew it, it might help Steve.

The thing is there was someone
else in the theatre last night backstage.

He said he was a special
friend of Miss Adams

and he wanted to
watch her performance.

But he didn't want to make her more
nervous by knowing he was there.

He gave me a hundred dollars.

And I showed him a place
on the backstage stairs

where he could watch without
getting in anybody's way.

How long was he there?

I'm not sure.

But when all the excitement
happened, two men ran out.

One was Steve, and I think
the other one was this fellow.

Where do you think you're going?

We came to see Mr. Amos Martin.

Mr. Martin is not seeing
anybody. Now, get out of here.

You know, Paul, it's too bad we
didn't bring Claire Adams along.

Mr. Martin might have
been more hospitable.

Who the devil
are... Perry Mason.

Are you representing
Claire Adams?

Do you think Claire
needs a lawyer, Mr. Martin?

I told you to get
off this property.

There is the matter of a
check, Mr. Martin, for $10,000

drawn by you in favor of the
Lachman Repertory Company.

It might save you a great deal of
trouble if I knew why it was drawn.

I've been here at my
ranch for the last ten days.

The Los Angeles Police
did call me long distance.

Somebody named Scharf
discussed me with them.

I shall tell the police
what I have to, Mason.

I will tell you nothing.

Just how long does it take your
private plane to make Los Angeles?

Half an hour? Twenty minutes?

Whelan.

Look, Mason, for the
last time, I told you.

I know, we're just leaving.

Thank you for the hospitality.

Sure hit home about that plane.

I noticed a wind direction sock
fastened to the top of a tree.

I thought you had.

I don't image it was put
there just for the birds.

Paul, Steve mention something
about a mix-up at the bank.

I'd like to find out about
it before the police do.

Paul, you know it's
against the rules.

But, Helen, I'm such
an old customer.

Not old, Paul.

Long time, but
certainly not old.

Well, as far as I know,

the Amos Martin check
was perfectly all right.

But there'd been a silly mistake.
It was drawn on the wrong bank.

The wrong bank? You
mean he had no account?

Not in City Trust, the bank
the check was written on.

His account had been closed for over
a year, so they returned the check to us.

And you still have
it at the bank?

Oh, no, we mailed
it back yesterday.

Where did you mail it?

To Mr. Brock, in
care of the theatre.

Yes, there is a
letter here for Steve.

From the bank?

I'm not sure,

but I think I saw the
bank's return address.

Came early this morning.

Mr. MacRae, the
contents of that envelope

can be very important to Steve.

I haven't the authority
to give you the letter.

Please, please, don't ask me.

Give it to him, Kelvin.

He's his lawyer.
He'll take it to Steve.

Well, if I can just find it.

I know I put it here somewhere.

Oh, here it is.

- Thank you.
- I'll just take that, Perry.

Seems we started from opposite
directions to reach the same place.

This is addressed
to Steve Brock, Andy.

So it is and is therefore
evidence in this case.

You wouldn't be thinking of
withholding evidence, Perry?

All I want to know right now is that
envelope contains what I think it does.

Then I'll be perfectly content to
wait until we're in court to see it again.

Well, that seems
only reasonable.

There's has to be
a check in there.

Uh, incidentally, I
have news for you.

Steve Brock's missing
sword has been found.

Where?

In a trash barrel at the end of
the alley outside the stage door.

Just beyond the point where Steve
Brock rushed past you and Della

right after the murder.

When we found it, there were
still blood stains on the sword.

Playing Juliet in the Los Angeles
opening was very important to me.

It was the combination
of years of work.

The defendant, Steve
Brock, as I understand it,

was more than a little
concerned about your career.

Were you in love with
each other, Miss Carson?

Possibly engaged to be married?

Yes.

Some months prior to this time,
the defendant received an offer

of a lucrative motion
picture acting contract.

Did he tell you why he
turned that contract down?

He wanted to stay with
me, to work with me,

to help prepare
me for Los Angeles.

And was that the only
reason as far as you know

that he was so anxious to stay with the
company until the Los Angeles opened?

As far as I knew, yes.

How did he react, Miss Carson,

when he found out that
not you but Miss Adams

would play Juliet in the
Los Angeles opening?

He... We were both disappointed.

A dream was shattered,
years of work wasted,

a lucrative contract
thrown away,

and the defendant was
merely disappointed?

Cross-examine, Mr. Mason.

Uh, Miss Carson, at
the time of the murder,

where were you standing?

Downstage left, in the wings.

Could you see across the stage
to the wings on the other side

to the circular
staircase offstage right?

Yes, I could.

Did you see a man,
dressed in street clothes,

standing on those stairs,
watching the performance?

Yes, I did.

Is that man in the
courtroom now?

Can you point him out?

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

No.

I didn't get a good
look at his face.

Steve was positively
livid with anger.

I remember him saying to
Ellen, "Franz can't do this to you."

Ellen answered there was
nothing Steve could do about it.

Steve paused for a moment,
and then said just one word, "No?"

Thank you, Mrs. Bruner.

Yours, Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Bruner, where
were you standing

at the time of the murder?

I was holding a
book on the scene.

Among other things, our Juliet
needing occasional prompting in her lines.

I was standing all the way down
stage right, just inside the proscenium.

And did you see this gentleman
standing on the stairs backstage?

Yes, I saw him. And
before you ask, Mr. Mason,

no, I didn't recognize him.

A few days before the opening,
Thursday evening, I believe it was,

Franz himself rather bluntly
summed up our position.

The company was flat broke.

We couldn't open.
Couldn't continue our tour.

Were you the only one to whom
this information was imparted

or was anybody else the time of
your conversation with the decedent?

Yes, there was one
other person. Steve Brock.

Well, now I understood you
were the company manager.

Why was Mr. Brock there?

Ever since South Africa, when it looked
as though the tour was about to fold,

Steve just... well, just
moved in and took over.

I didn't mind.

He said getting the company to Los
Angeles was terribly important to him.

He got us here.

Thank you, Mr. Bruner.
Your witness.

Mr. Bruner, where were you
standing at the time of the murder?

Yes, yes, I saw the man, Mr. Mason,
but whether you like it or not,

I'm afraid that it was impossible to see
him clearly enough for any identification.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Bruner, just a moment.
I have some redirect.

I appreciate your irritation
with defense counsel's

repetitive fishing trips to
that backstage staircase

and to the mysterious
Mr. X of his,

so let's put the ghost
to rest once and for all

before the prosecution's patience
is mistaken for foolishness.

Mr. Bruner, It's apparent
from previous testimony

that this Mr. X is the one
who actually left the theatre

and passed Mr. Mason and Miss Street
in the alley before the defendant did.

Now, I ask you, sir.

From where he was
standing on that staircase,

could that man have descended,

moved to stage center,
killed Franz Lachman,

and still have gotten out of the
theatre ahead of the defendant?

No, sir, it would have
been physically impossible.

He would not have had time.

The person Claire Adams said
gave her the dough was the same man

who signed the
check... Amos Martin.

Thank you, Mr. Scharf.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Scharf, at the moment
Franz Lachman fell on the stage,

a voice cried out "Curtain."

While another
cried "Kill the lights."

Now where either of
those voices yours?

Yes. I hollered "Curtain."

Did you also order
the stage lights put out?

No. No, that wasn't me.

But the electrician swears

that the order came from
somebody downstage right,

where you were.

So it might have been the
fella standing on the stairs.

It sure wasn't me.

I knew Mr. Martin about...

Oh, about five years
ago, in Las Vegas,

we were friends. Good friends.

And when we broke up,
we made an agreement.

So it came as no surprise to you
when a messenger delivered $12,000

for him as a sort of investment
in the theatrical company,

merely to showcase
your acting talents?

Well, no, I... I
thought it made sense.

Miss Adams of all the people
in the Lachman Company,

was there anyone
who knew about you

and Amos Martin in Las Vegas?

Yes.

Steve Brock.

Well, he was in Las
Vegas around the same time

that I... I knew Amos Martin.

I did not phone Miss Adams.

I did not write that check.

I knew nothing of the
Lachman Company

and I couldn't have
cared less if I had known.

Obviously somebody who knew

of my relationship with Miss
Adams forged that check.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Martin, were you inside the
theatre the night of the murder?

Were you watching the performance
from the stairs backstage?

No.

These are flight plans signed by
your personal pilot, Henry Whelan.

The Monday night in question,

he flew you from your ranch to
Glendale Airport, arriving at 7:40.

You flew back to
your ranch at 11:57.

I ask you again, Mr. Martin.
Where were you that evening?

I was at my ranch until 6:45.
That, Mr. Mason, was evening.

Later that night, I did
fly into town on business.

I had some papers to sign at
my office in the Stevens Building.

My pilot, Henry Whelan, dropped
me off there and later picked me up.

If you don't believe
me, Mr. Mason, ask him.

That, Mr. Martin, is
what I intend to do.

On Friday morning,
you went to a bank,

presented a passbook
and signed withdrawal slip,

and withdrew $2,500 in cash.

Was that your money?

Why, no, sir. I was
doing a friend a favor.

Later that same morning, a
phony check and $2,000 in cash

was delivered to Claire Adams.

You heard Mr. Martin
testify that was not his money.

Suppose you tell us whose
$2,500 you withdrew from the bank.

Steve Brock's.

Thank you, sir. Your witness.

Mr. MacRae, during
the performance,

you accosted Franz Lachman
and insisted you had to talk to him.

What was that about?

I... I don't remember.

I assume you do remember that your trip
to the bank was the first of two trips?

You went back on the
day after the murder

and you rented a
safe deposit box.

Why, Mr. MacRae?

It was a personal matter.

You are under oath in a
court of law, Mr. MacRae.

Now, why did you rent
that safe deposit box?

All right, Mr. Mason, I confess.

But please, believe me,
I took only one of them.

One of them, Mr. Mason.

One of what?

The jewels, they were real.

The fake jewelry on the
costumes. It had be cut off.

The costumes shipped
from South Africa.

Somebody had used them to
smuggle precious gems into this country.

Yes, but I told Franz.

I told him about the jewels
during the performance

and he called the police.

But he was killed.

I was afraid to tell anyone.

Afraid to give back the one
jewel I took. Afraid I'd be killed, too.

One moment, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger, would you
approach the bench, please?

Now, gentlemen, the introduction
into the proceedings of this new element,

this matter of
possible smuggling,

would appear to me to justify
a continuance at this time.

Mr. Mason, apparently you were
aware of this aspect of the case,

but you, Mr. Burger.

Your Honor, not only has our office
been aware of this aspect of the case,

but has been working with the United
States Customs Office on the matter.

Although it will
unquestionably play a large part

in the Superior Court trial,

we did not deem it a necessary
part of this preliminary hearing.

Now, if learned counsel
will stand aside for a moment,

I think a few questions
can put this matter

in its proper perspective.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Go ahead, Mr. Burger.

Mr. MacRae, who shipped
those costume from Cape Town?

Steve.

And to whom were they consigned?

Why, to Steve.

Now, who normally completed the packing
of costumes before they were shipped?

Usually I did.

But who packed
them in Cape Town?

I started.

He came to me, said it was late.

I was tired, and he said
he'd finish the job for me.

Who was the man who was the
last person to handle those costumes?

Who shipped them himself
and consigned to himself?

Who is that man?

Steve.

Steve Brock.

Andy, may I speak with
Steve for a moment?

All right.

What are we doing
here, Mr. Mason?

I convinced the judge that demonstrating
the exact positions of the principals

at the time of the murder
was of sufficient importance

to convene the afternoon session
of the hearing here at the theatre.

Now, we don't have much
time. I need a couple of answers.

One, packing those costumes
and shipping them to yourself, why?

Have you seen our costumes?

No, I wasn't about to let Ellen open in
Los Angeles in those moth-eaten rags.

So I had a whole new
set of costumes designed

and custom-fitted for
her in Johannesburg.

Franz didn't know, and I
didn't want him finding out.

The $2,500 Kelvin got for you?

Well, 2,000 was for a trip to
New York for Ellen and me.

A honeymoon trip.

The other 500?

The 500 was to pay for those
costumes I had made in Johannesburg.

It's a lot of money,
I know, Mr. Mason,

but not because of
smuggled gems, I swear.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the court has ruled

that we may conduct
this demonstration.

It is part of a preliminary
hearing, and His Honor feels

that in the interests of justice we
may take certain procedural liberties

which would hardly be
permitted in a jury trial.

Though I may interpose questions

to any of you at any time, let me
remind you, you are all still under oath.

Now, if you will be good enough,
each of you stand in the exact position

you occupied just
before the lights went out.

Now, Mr. Brock, will you
please pick up your sword.

Now, you just knocked the
sword from Franz Lachman's hand.

He lies there sprawled
on the stage floor.

Exactly where were
you at that time?

Just about here, center stage.

I... I couldn't believe
what happened.

I just stared at him...

The audience was stunned.

There was a moment of silence.

Then you, Mr. Scharf, shouted...

Curtain.

Someone else
shouted "Kill the lights."

The electrician pulled
the master switch.

There was darkness. Confusion.

Exactly what did
you do, Mr. Brock?

Well, I was boxed
in by the set here,

so I turned and ran this way.

Now wait a minute.
There was someone here.

I bumped into someone.

I'm sure of it because that's
where I dropped the sword.

All right, drop it.

Go on.

Then I turned and
ran for the door.

Uh, then I bumped into
something else here.

A stage-brace or something.

I fumbled around for
something to cover me.

When I saw a light at door.
Somebody was leaving.

So I picked up a cloak and
went to door and out to the alley

Where I passed you, Mr. Mason.

That leaves three
unanswered questions.

1, who was the man who
shouted to kill the lights?

2, whom did Steve bump into?

And 3, who picked up his sword?

Miss Adams,

this morning you testified
that the $12,000 you received

was delivered by messenger.

We found the messenger.

He is prepared to swear that when he
entered the foyer of your apartment house,

the clerk sent him right up,
told him you were expecting him.

What... Well, that is...

You were expecting him

because you'd received a call
earlier that the money was coming,

isn't that so?

Yes.

Now, that call came from a
man who knew of your ambitions,

also knew of your relationship
with Amos Martin in Las Vegas.

There was no reason for you to doubt
that Amos Martin's check was legitimate.

Later, when you
learned it was a forgery,

this man knew he could trust you

because you'd be afraid to
reveal his identity as the forger.

No doubt he contacted you after the
murder, to make sure you'd keep quiet.

Now tell us who was that man?

No.

No... please...

Miss Adams, that man
is not the murderer,

but he is the man who
stood on those stairs.

That man was present,
not to watch you,

but as a member of
the smuggling ring.

He was here to pick
up the smuggled jewels.

What?

Was that man Amos
Martin's pilot, Henry Whelan?

Yes.

Your Honor, with your permission,
may we proceed without Mr. Whelan?

Go ahead, Mr. Mason.

Uh, Mr. Drake, would
you climb the stairs?

Mr. MacRae, is that where you
sent the man to stand and watch?

Uh, yes, yes, up there.

Miss Carson, is that where
you saw the man standing?

Yes, just about there.

- Mr. Bruner?
- I think so, yes.

Mr. Scharf?

Yes, right there.

Mrs. Bruner?

He was standing almost exactly
where Mr. Drake is standing.

And you, Mrs. Bruner?

Were you standing exactly
where you are standing now?

Certainly.

Mrs. Bruner, what, in stage
language, is a tormentor?

Why, it's a...

It's a fixed curtain
or wing on each side

of the stage behind
the proscenium arch.

A tormentor, Mrs.
Bruner, that was in place

during the entire third act.

Paul.

Tell me again, Mrs. Bruner,

tell me exactly where
the man was standing?

I didn't see him.

I must have been mistaken.

No, not mistaken
about seeing him.

Mistaken only about
where you were standing.

Not here, Mrs. Bruner.

But over here in
front of Phil Scharf.

Now, was it you
Steve bumped into?

Was it you who picked
up the sword he dropped?

No.

Mrs. Bruner, I submit that you put
real jewels in place of costume jewelry

on the theatrical costumes.

Through, MacRae,
Franz learned the truth

and called the police.

You had to act. Had
to act before they came.

When Steve lost his
head, you saw your chance.

Your husband wasn't on
the other side of the stage.

He was right there, beside you.

Yes.

Yes, but please...

So it was your husband Carl
who shouted to put the lights out.

It was your husband Carl
who picked up Steve's sword.

And it was Carl who...

Stop it. Stop it!

Yes, I killed Franz.

I was a partner for 20 years.

Only for 20 years, he fed
my hatred with his scorn.

The smuggling was a
way to be free of him.

How could I let him
live when he found out.

Yes, I killed him.

I'd do it again!

A thousand times, do you hear?

I'd kill him again
a thousand times!

The smugglers provided the 2,000 in
cash to get the costumes out of hock.

But, they still needed the forged
check, and Claire to reopen the show,

and create an excuse
to get at the costumes.

When Scharf
pocketed half that cash,

the checks you had to write,
Steve, couldn't past the bank

because they were holding
the forged Martin check.

So the whole plan started
blowing up in their faces.

And when the bank sent

that check back to you,
Steve, at the theater.

The Bruners grabbed it in hopes

of covering anything that
might lead to the smuggling.

But what was
Claire frightened of?

Why didn't she tell the truth
about Whelan right away?

She honestly thought the 12,000
was a belated thank-you from Martin

because she had stepped out of the picture
to save him from a messy divorce action.

It wasn't until after the murder that
Whelan told her used that involvement,

anonymously, to blackmail
Martin five years ago.

He threatened to
lie and involve her

in that blackmail unless
she kept quiet about it.

And of course, Whelan knew
that Martin would think twice

before causing any
trouble, even about forgery.

Whelan and the Bruners.

Blackmail, smuggling,
and murder.

Will all great Neptune's ocean
wash this blood clean from my hand?

Huh?

Didn't you read Margit
Bruner's confession?

It was Margit Steve bumped into.
Margit who picked up the sword,

put it in her husband's hand,
and sent him out to commit murder.

Oh, you mean, like
that lady in Hamlet.

Macbeth, Paul, Macbeth.

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