All language subtitles for Perry Mason S08E15 The Case of the Frustrated Folk Singer.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

You looking for
somebody, young lady?

I'd like to see
Mr. Jazbo Williams.

Yes, ma'am. That's me.

Oh!

Well, I'm Amy Jo Jennings

and I just came up here
recently from down South.

No!

Why, I never would have guessed.

Oh, you...!

Well, anyway, I sing folk songs

and Hootenanny and all
like that, and I'd like a job.

Well, do you have any notices?

Notices?

Yeah, I mean, where
have you worked before?

Professionally?

Oh.

Well, before I came to Hollywood

I used to sing with a little
hillbilly band back home.

But, fiddlesticks, I
might as well have been

a turkey gobbler
at Thanksgiving,

for all the future
there was in that.

Yeah, I see.

Well, you see, we can't afford
much for talent around here,

except for ourselves, of course.

Oh, it won't cost you anything

to give me a
chance, Mr. Williams.

Okay?

Okay, Amy Jo Jennings.

You want to take
a run at a number?

♪ Alas, my love ♪

♪ You do me wrong ♪

♪ To cast me off ♪

♪ Discourteously ♪

♪ And I have loved you so long ♪

♪ Delighting in... ♪

You got a great voice, baby...

for callin' hogs.

♪ ...company ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was all my joy ♪

♪ Greensleeves ♪

♪ Was my delight ♪

- ♪ Greensleeves... ♪
- It's me, Amy Jo.

Your old flame,
and I'm still burnin'.

I followed you out here
to Hollywood, Amy Jo.

Now, you take it from
an old platter spinner:

you ain't never gonna
make it to the top.

So why don't you come
home and marry me?

Lester Crawford,
you get out of here!

Aw, now, baby, look, now
get them stars out of your eyes.

You ain't nothing
but a queen-size flop!

This ain't no place for...

All right, mouth, out!

Amy Jo, come on home.

You ain't gonna do nothing here.

Oh...

Lester's a disc jockey at a
little radio station back home.

He's been pestering me
for years to marry him,

but I could never love
anyone as awful as him.

I understand, honey.

But, you know, maybe...
you should quit this racket.

Maybe the thing for
you is to get married

and raise pretty
babies, like you.

You just don't want
me to sing at your club

because everything
was such a mess tonight.

Okay, okay.

You can come back.

Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night. Anytime.

But you're a nice kid,

and I don't want to see
you get your heart broke.

This can be a cold, cruel town.

I'll do better tomorrow night.

You'll see, Mr. Williams.

- Jazbo.
- Jazbo.

Oh, I know what you're thinking.

A lot of girls come out here
thinking they can be big stars,

but... well... I'm
determined to stick it out.

Well...

don't think I'm not
pulling for you, kid.

That's where I live.
The second building.

Uh-huh.

You're spending too
much money, too, I'll bet.

Well... thanks for
everything, Jazbo.

I'll-I'll see you
tomorrow night?

Okay.

- And if I'm good, I can stay?
- No pay.

Whatever you say.

Jazbo... I get billing?

Well, you've been here a week.

You're entitled to something.

Oh, you're an angel!

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪♪

♪ Love, oh, love ♪

♪ Oh careless love ♪

♪ You see what love ♪

♪ Has done for me. ♪

Well, you insisted
on hearing the kid,

but don't say I didn't
warn you. Let's go.

Sit down, Lionel.
What's the rush?

Look, Harry, I did you a favor

and wasted last
night meeting her.

She's a sweet, simple
kid with no talent.

Now, come on... I want
you to introduce me.

Harry, you're out of your tree.

Oh, I'm sorry to keep
you waiting, Mr. Mason,

but they seemed
halfway to want an encore,

so I accommodated them before
they could change their minds.

I'm sure the applause was
wholehearted, Miss Jennings.

Oh, this is all so
wonderful, Mr. Mason.

I just adore show business.

Well, now, what was it
you wanted me to sign?

This power of attorney

and this receipt for a stock
transfer to your account.

Evidently you haven't
kept in very close contact

with that business of yours.

Oh...

Aren't I awful?

Since I got out here,
I've been so busy

trying to start my career that
I almost plumb forgot about

the Home Folks Remedies Company.

Well, as company president, I
suppose you can do as you want.

Since you happen
to control the stock.

Well, my daddy left it to me.

You know, Mr. Mason, he
started out peddling freckle remover

and cold cream and cough
syrup door to door, and now look.

I'm impressed.

You've inherited quite
a financial empire.

Isn't it sinful?

Mr. Mason, how did my lawyers

down in Tennessee
know about you?

I went to law school
with one of the partners.

George Hutchinson.

Oh, Mr. Hutchinson's a doll.

Well, now, where do I sign?

Right there... and there.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

You're a doll, too.

Except, uh, I think
maybe in the future

I ought to come to your office.

See, the folks around here
might not quite understand if...

well, I want them to
like me, you understand?

To take my career seriously,
and not just think that I...

Come in.

Excuse me, Miss Jennings.

Remember me? Last night?

Oh, Mr. Albright! Do I!

Oh, Mr. Mason, have you
met Mr. Lionel Albright?

He's the movie star.

Hello, Mr. Albright.

How do you do?

Harry Bronson is at
my table, Miss Jennings.

He would very much
like to meet you.

Harry-Harry Bronson, the agent?

Yes, he's, uh...

Oh, you'll have to
excuse me, Mr. Mason.

- I've got to go now.
- Of course.

But if I can help you
again in Los Angeles...

Oh, now don't you worry about
me for a second, Mr. Mason.

Bye-bye!

There we are, Mr. Bronson.

I'm all signed on
the dotted line.

Is there anything else?

Well, that's it for now, Amy Jo,

but you will be hearing
from us very soon.

Oh, I just can't tell
you how thrilled I am

that you're gonna
be representing me.

It's a real pleasure
for Harry Bronson

to represent such
a fine, new talent.

I look forward to a long and
mutually beneficial association.

Thank you very
much for coming in.

Oh, thank you.

'Bye now.

What's the matter?

That... that person out there.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Bronson.

What person?

Well, his name is Lester
Crawford, from back home.

I just can't turn around
without his following me.

Oh, I'd be mortified if he came
around here pestering you.

Natalie?

Natalie, there's someone
named Crawford out there.

Will you get rid of him, please?

Immediately. Just do as I say!

Oh, I feel like a
nuisance already.

Nonsense.

There you are, my dear.

Just one of the many
services we hope to give you.

Is he gone?

Take the other door there,
it goes out the side way.

Well, goodbye, my dear.
We'll keep in touch, hmm?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I take it my husband
is in his office.

Good morning, Mrs.
Bronson. Yes, he is.

But I believe Mr. Siebring
was just waiting

- until the girl...
- Never mind, dear, never mind.

Harry, don't start talking yet.

Oh... hi, Evelyn.

Well, what got you out
of bed before noon, baby?

And to the office, yet!

Al and I were just gonna...

Harry, my diamond watch
bracelet... it's missing.

What do you mean, it's missing?

Well, I lost it.

Or someone stole it.

Who knows?

Who knows? Just like that, huh?

Well, what do you
expect me to do about it?

Well, you could have
it replaced, darling.

Evelyn, you think
I'm made of money?

That watch bracelet
set me back $5,000.

Five thousand bucks!

So put in a claim to
the insurance company.

What else are they for?

How many claims do
you think I can put in?

Last month you "lost"
a diamond dinner ring.

Before that, you said
somebody stole your mink coat.

Now, how can I go back
to the insurance company?

- Forget it!
- All right, Harry, I will.

And I'll pick out another
one and charge it.

You do that, Evelyn,

and I'll cut off every
charge account in this town.

All you know to do is spend.

Spend! Spend!

You know I'm putting
every dime I can spare

into production right now.

Even the dough
he owes me, Evvie.

Well, that's your problem, Al.

I have my own.

Yeah?

Well, I've got
problems, too. Plenty!

But right now you're not
gonna be one of them.

Now, get out of here.

And you don't have
to keep needling me

about what's coming to you.

You'll get your dough.

That road show is going to be
booked solid through the summer.

So hold your horses!

Harry, we are supposed
to manage talent,

not produce summer musicals.

You don't know anything
about producing musicals.

And you don't know anything
about a talent agency.

That's why you
backed my experience.

Right?

Who brought in the stars?

I did, right?

What stars?

What big name have you brought
in, aside from Lionel Albright?

Albright is box office!

Starring in a musical road
show, he's money in the bank.

Money in the bank?

You haven't even got
enough cash to pay advances!

I'll get the cash.

Now stop bugging me!

I'm a terrible bother,

making you drive
me home every night.

Well, it's better than
letting you pay for the bus.

You don't have to
do it Friday night,

if you'll let me
have the night off.

Yeah, what's the deal?

Well, Harry Bronson is throwing
a party at the Crystal Room,

and if I'm not
there, I'll just perish.

Well, we can't have that.

Who's your date?

Oh, I'm stagging.

It's just for agency clients

and picture people.

You, uh, moving up
kind of fast, aren't you?

Well, is there anything
wrong with that?

I'm not sure.

I mean, you're an unknown.

So, why is a man like Bronson
paying so much attention to you?

Well, that's knocking
me down, but good.

Well, that's not
the way I meant it,

but, well, it's a fair question.

All right, Mr. Smarty,

I wasn't going to tell
you until I was sure,

but, uh, I just may have a part

in Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Now, do I get Friday
night off or don't I?

Okay.

All right, you can go

if I can pick you
up after the party.

What are you, big brother?

You don't have to babysit me.

I'll be waiting for
you after the party.

Really, you are unreal.

I can take care of myself.

So, I told this director
I needed motivation,

not a lesson in how to act.

Oh, Mr. Bronson,
it's so thrilling

to be even a little
tiny bit of all this.

Feel like a dream come true?

Oh, if you only knew.

Well, you just trust
Harry Bronson, my dear.

This is the beginning of
a whole, new exciting life.

Mr. Bronson?

Uh, they want to
take our picture.

Oh, may I have some of those

for my hometown paper
and my friends and all?

Don't worry, honey,
I'll take care of it.

Like to dance, my dear?

Hello, Mr. Bronson.

Oh, hello.

Oh, I tell you, the
folks back home

are just never
going to believe it.

Their own Amy Jo,
star of a musical.

Why don't you divorce him?

And why don't you go out
and get yourself a job, Chris?

Now look, honey... No.

No, I, uh, I've done
all I can for you, Chris.

I've had it.

All right.

I'll redeem your bracelet,
just soon as I get a break.

But we could be together,
Eve, if you would just...

Now is not the time
to hit Harry for alimony.

As a matter of
fact, right now...

Right now he's worth
more dead than alive, huh?

Chris.

How could you say such a thing?

Well, Harry,

you've got little old Amy
Jo in seventh heaven.

What did you...

Why don't you mind
your own business?

But all I meant was that
she's a nice kid, Harry.

I just wondered what...

I know what I'm doing,

and that's all you need to know.

Okay, actor?

Now, just wait.

Just you sit there and wait.

Hey, buddy.

Isn't that that, uh, Audrey
Stemple, the singer?

Yeah, big deal.

Well, I hope she's not
just coming to the party.

I thought it would
be all over by now.

She ain't going
to no party, friend.

She's gonna fry
an egg, she says.

Take just a minute, she says.

Slow baste it in gin...

What that dame
needs is a Saint Bernard

with a keg around its neck.

Well, that's one way
to stay awake, I guess.

Yeah.

- Excuse me, Mrs. Bronson.
- Yes?

Your husband isn't
feeling very well.

Oh, now don't tell me he's
pooping out on his own party.

It's his stomach
again, that's all.

But he would like to
go home right away.

Go home?

Well, darling, I can't
leave all my guests.

Tell him to drive himself.

He's afraid to.

Please, you understand,
Mrs. Bronson.

When Harry takes
tranquilizers...

You can nursemaid
him yourself, I'm sure.

Mr. Siebring will help you.

Now run along, darling.

That's a good girl.

I've got to go, I tell you.

Please, Audrey...

And I said I want to see Harry.

And I said tomorrow
morning, huh?

That's all I know.

He said see him
tomorrow morning.

Al, do you know how many offers

I've had for other parts?

If he thinks I'm going
to sit around twiddling...

Baby, it is all arranged.

You'll get your
advance, Harry says so.

Well, then why can't
I see him tonight?

Oh, because his wife's here.

Because a million
things, I don't know.

Now look, be a good girl,

let me go, and you
go home, huh, baby?

No!

You will get your
advance tomorrow.

In cash.

Cash?

Amy Jo.

Jazbo Williams,

what in the world
are you doing here,

and dressed like that?

Come on, Amy Jo,
let's get out of this joint.

No.

Oh, I'm sorry I've kept
you waiting and all, Jazbo,

but this is my night.

Look, I got to talk to you.

And I've got to talk to you,

'cause you don't
know what happened.

Listen, don't tell anybody yet,

but I'm going to play
opposite Mr. Lionel Albright.

Really true!

In Mr. Bronson's summer musical.

Come here.

Wait a minute.

Could we have your
autograph please,

Miss Stemple?

Why, you sweet thing, you.

You certainly may.

Jazbo, please.

My friend here works on
a high school newspaper.

I thought maybe I could
get her a story or something.

You are going to do a
musical show this summer

for Harry Bronson, aren't you?

Well, as a matter of fact...

With Lionel Albright, maybe?

How'd you guess?

Of course I don't usually
do summer shows,

but yes.

Harry Bronson has
persuaded me... No.

No, he's only doing
one musical and...

Oh, it's all been very secret,

honey, so far.

But I've got that part.

I'm going to star
in... You're what?

You?

Amy Jo, now listen... It's true!

He promised me!

Well, even before I...

Well, I'm even
a partner, sort of.

Don't look at me
that way, Jazbo.

It's true!

Wait a minute.

What do you mean,
partner, honey?

I gave him my check just tonight

for $50,000.

Amy Jo!

Amy Jo!

Amy Jo, come back here!

Miss Jennings' phone
still doesn't answer.

I wonder if she went home
at all after the party last night.

Perry, just because she
signed with Harry Bronson

doesn't mean that she
has any connections with...

That's what worries me, Della.

Why would Harry
Bronson sign an unknown

who has no great talent,

but does have a
great deal of money?

Ordinarily, I suppose she
wouldn't even be invited

to this kind of party.

Exactly.

And I found that Bronson's
in financial difficulties.

And now, Bronson being dead

and Amy Jo missing...

Hello, Paul. Do you
have something?

Well, this didn't
get in the papers,

but the police found
a woman's glove lying

on the floor next
to Bronson's body.

A glove could belong to anybody.

Have you checked
at Hillbilly Haven?

Club isn't open until 4:00 p.m.,

and Jazbo Williams,
the proprietor,

isn't listed in the phone book,

but I hear he has a small
beach house out in Malibu.

Which, of course,
takes in a lot of territory.

Find him, Paul.

Go over that beach
with a fine-toothed comb.

You mind if I use
vacuum cleaners?

Might sell a few,
going door to door.

I think it's a good idea.

Mr. Williams?

- That's right.
- Paul Drake.

I'm looking for a girl

who works at your place,
a Miss Amy Jo Jennings.

Well, what makes you
think she's here, Mr. Drake?

Just a hunch.

Well, I hope when
you go to the races,

you don't pick
horses the same way.

No, I have a system
with the horses.

This is her lawyer's
hunch, not mine.

- Her lawyer?
- Perry Mason.

What does Mr. Mason
want with me?

Well, after what
happened last night,

Miss Jennings,
he's a little worried.

Particularly since you
couldn't be reached at home.

What happened last night?

Haven't you read
the morning papers?

Harry Bronson was murdered.

Murdered.

Oh, no.

Why, when I saw him, he was...

he was only asleep.

When was that?

Amy Jo went to a
party he gave last night.

That's the last
time she saw him.

Yes.

Yes, at the party.

That's where I
saw him. He was...

Well, he takes
pills or something.

Are you missing
the mate to this?

Yes, I lost it last night.

I guess in the parking
lot, after the party.

Why?

What's the matter?

Well, I guess Perry Mason
has better hunches than I do.

Perry, I'm with Amy Jo,

and she's in this
thing up to her neck.

Yeah.

Here's the address.

And then I ran out
of the parking lot,

and I took a cab to
Mr. Bronson's house.

Who admitted you, Amy Jo?

Well, somebody had
left the keys in the door.

Rather convenient, wasn't it?

It's the gospel
truth, Mr. Mason.

Nobody was home except,

well, Mr. Bronson
was in the library,

flat on his back on the couch.

I didn't even see him at
first, he was so sound asleep.

Honestly, I didn't
dream he was dead.

There wasn't any blood
or anything like that.

So, you tried to wake him up?

Well, I shook him a little.

I even poured some
water on his face

from a glass that was
there, but it didn't faze him.

Water would hardly
faze a dead man.

But maybe he wasn't dead then.

He was sort of
limp, not rigid and all

like they say a corpse gets.

And then I heard something

and thought maybe
I'd better leave.

And then when I
ran down the hall,

I saw a car coming
up from the side street,

and I knew he'd be all right.

How long were you there, Amy Jo?

Just long enough to
try to get my check.

Well, I thought it
would be in his wallet.

You searched his wallet?

Well, it just sort of
fell out of his pocket.

But the check wasn't there.

And even before I saw him,
I'd looked through some papers

on the desk and the
desk drawer and...

Well, after all, I
felt I had a right

to get my check
back, now didn't I?

Your fingerprints will show up

everywhere in that
room, of course.

Well, good gracious, Mr. Mason,

that doesn't mean I
killed the poor man!

All right.

Now tell me about
the car you saw.

Well, I didn't really
see what it looked like.

I just wanted to run,
don't you understand?!

I walked all over
that neighborhood

trying to find a cab.

And then Mr. Williams
here came driving by,

but he's just mad at me
'cause I have so much money

and 'cause I'm so
plain dumb foolish.

Oh, Mr. Mason, if you only
knew how mortified I was.

Believing that awful
man was gonna put me in

some kind of a big starry...

Oh, but what am I gonna do?!

I understand, Paul. Right away.

Yes, and if the check is
on her hometown bank,

maybe I can stop payment, but...

If and when the
check's deposited,

that's what I want to know.

And who the person
is who deposits it.

Exactly.

Meanwhile, I've
got some other stuff

to run down for Perry, so...

And maybe that
person is the murderer.

Well, don't count on Amy
Jo not getting some votes.

Bronson's death was a
terrible shock to me, Mason.

I could hardly believe it
when I saw the papers.

Mr. Albright, I assume you've
been represented by Bronson

and Siebring for some time.

Well, by Harry
Bronson personally.

We've been friends
for a long time.

The night of the party,

did you know Miss Jennings
gave Bronson $50,000?

No, not precisely.

I didn't know she had
that kind of money.

But I knew that Bronson
wasn't leveling with her.

He was using her
some way to... Audrey!

Not so loud. My
head might fall off.

Miss Stemple, this is
Mr. Perry Mason, the attorney.

Hello.

Where's your tomato juice?

Mr. Mason represents
Amy Jo Jennings.

Drink, Mason?

No, thanks.

That stupid little wench.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason, but
I hope she gets the limit.

Audrey...

There have been no accusations
against her yet, Miss Stemple.

Well, if I'd have just
kept my big mouth shut,

Harry would still be alive

and you and I, Lionel, would
be getting some fat paychecks

this summer, and
could I use a few.

Well, anyway, I
hope they find her.

I hope they throw
the book at her!

Shut up, Audrey, and drink this!

I won't shut up!

I'll scream my head off until...

Hello? Yes?

There's not enough
pepper in this.

Just a moment, please.
Mr. Mason, for you.

Thank you. Hello?

Perry, one of the
banks just called back,

and that check has
already been deposited.

Who, when and where?

First thing this morning.

Deposited to the agency
account of Bronson and Siebring

by Harry Bronson's
own secretary.

Thanks, Della.

Any news? Anything important?

Miss Stemple would
like some more pepper.

There was nothing improper about
depositing Miss Jenning's check

in the agency
account, Mr. Mason.

But I understood it was made
out to Bronson Productions.

That's a subsidiary.

True, my partner handled
that end of the business,

but I'm a vice president.

And Miss Graham
here is authorized

to make any and all deposits.

That's correct.

How did you acquire the
check so quickly, Mr. Siebring?

Well, there's nothing mysterious

about that either, Mr. Mason.

Natalie and I drove
Harry home last night.

And he gave me the check

to take straight to
the bank this morning.

Mr. Siebring, you
know, of course,

that Miss Jennings gave
your partner the check under

the assumption that she would
be starred in his summer musical.

Natalie, do you know

of any such agreement in
writing with Miss Jennings?

No. The only contract that
we have with Miss Jennings is

to represent her in all
phases of entertainment.

So there you are, Mr. Mason.

We really didn't ask
Bronson any questions.

Money is money.

Not until it clears the
home bank, Mr. Siebring.

We'll stop payment on
that check immediately.

Jazbo?

Mr. Drake?

Amy Jo? It's me, Lester.

Amy Jo, now I
know you're in there.

Now you open the door.

Now you want me to go
running up and down the beach

yelling your name?

Amy Jo, you want everybody
to know where you're hiding?

Lester, how did you find me?

Shucks, honey,
that was pure easy.

I just followed you down
here nearly two weeks ago.

Oh, you snoop!

Sure, that's the way a
fella's gotta be, Amy Jo.

Well, at least
for certain girls.

Well, I don't want
to see you, Lester.

Please, just... Sure.

What are you doing
here all alone, Amy Jo?

Where's that Jazbo
character, huh?

He-He went out to get
us something to eat.

When?

Three hours ago.

Hmm.

Well, Amy Jo...

if you're hungry, I
got a candy bar here.

You want it?

Well, anyhow, I sure
wouldn't desert you.

I don't care how
much trouble you're in.

He didn't desert me!

Or let myself get caught
by the cops, maybe.

Well, what's the difference?

Bu I sure do hate to think

what he might be saying
to them about you, that's all.

That is not true!

Jazbo wouldn't!

Oh, Lester... I didn't
really do anything.

I didn't kill Harry Bronson.

Well, Amy Jo, now whether
you did or whether you didn't,

I guess you had motive enough,

and I want you to know

that I'm gonna do
anything that I can to help.

I told you I didn't kill him!

Well, Amy Jo, now then
what are you sittin' here for?

Don't you see what I mean?

They gonna accuse you of this.

And your reputation...

they're gonna spread your
name all over them papers.

Amy Jo, your career,
it is gonna go kerflooey.

Oh, I wish I'd never
even come out here.

Oh, Lester, I've
been such a fool.

Oh, now, now, now Amy Jo...

you ain't nothing but a woman.

I'm gonna think
real hard for you.

Yeah, I'm gonna
think real hard for you.

Oh, Lester!

Mind if I come in, counselor?

Oh, hello, Andy.

I'm sorry I wasn't here
earlier when you called.

Which time? Well, never mind.

When you're hiding a
client, I understand how it is.

All right, Andy, if you'd
like to take a ride now,

I'll surrender Amy Jo Jennings.

Perry, why don't you
ride with me instead?

We've already got her in jail.

She wants to see her lawyer.

Mr. Albright, you've stated that
you knew that Mr. Bronson was

having trouble
financing this musical.

Now, when did you
first have knowledge

that the money for the
production had been raised?

At the party before
Bronson was murdered.

He told me we were all
set to go into production.

In fact, that's what
he was celebrating.

Well, did you know that
the defendant was providing

this financial backing,

apparently on the
basis of promises

that she was going to have
a part in the production?

Well, at the time, I
could only surmise

that's where he got the money.

I did know that Bronson
was in no position

to risk Amy Jo
in a starring role.

I understand, but
when did you learn that

she was to have no part at all?

At Bronson's party that night.

- The night of his murder?
- Yes.

Then, you say that you
had learned that even after

Bronson had accepted the
check from the defendant,

he still planned to have
Audrey Stemple play that part,

just as he had
intended all along?

Yes, I warned Harry
he was making a mistake

pulling a stunt like that.

I warned him that he
was headed for trouble.

Well, did you mean that Miss
Jennings might simply withdraw

her financial support or were
you suggesting that the shock

of finding out that she
had been used, cheated

might cause her...

- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.

I'd never seen this girl before
until she came up with that man.

He asked me if I was going
to do Harry Bronson's show,

and well, for some
impulsive reason, I admitted it,

even though Harry asked
me to keep it secret for a while.

Now, what was the defendant's
reaction when you said

that you were gonna
star with Mr. Albright?

Well, you'd think she
was being murdered

like poor Harry was.

And what did Miss Jennings do?

She ran out of the bar.

And what did you
do, Miss Stemple?

I had my taxi drive me home.

The next morning, of
course, I was very upset

I had even spoken
to that couple.

If I had kept my mouth shut,

poor Harry would never
have been murdered.

Objection, Your Honor.

If this witness is
gonna persist in...

Objection sustained.

The witness will confine
herself to direct answers

to counsel's questions.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

I have no further
questions, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Anderson, it has been
established that the victim died

from a severe blow
on the back of the head,

administered by
some blunt instrument

similar to this ashtray.

Now you have, of course,
seen the ashtray before?

Yes, sir.

And you also heard testimony

to the effect that
the indented fracture

in the back of the victim's
skull exactly matched

the curve of this ashtray?

- I did.
- Now, what other laboratory investigation

was this ashtray subjected to?

Fingerprint analysis.

We found clear prints of the
defendant on the sides, there.

I see.

Lieutenant, would
you tell us, please,

where you found
this lady's glove?

On the floor in
Mr. Bronson's library,

near the couch on
which the body lay.

And where did you find the
mate to this glove, Lieutenant?

In Mr. Williams' beach
house, where the defendant

had been staying until
she was taken into custody.

Now, what other
evidence did you uncover

to place the defendant
at the Bronson home?

Her fingerprints were
found on some desk drawers

which apparently
had been ransacked.

Also on an empty water
glass on a table near the body.

I see.

And now, Lieutenant, finally,

would you identify
this wallet for us?

Yes, sir.

It belonged to the deceased.

The morning after the
murder, the police recovered it

from some bushes
along the main front drive

of the Bronson estate.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
That will be all.

Mr. Mason?

Lieutenant,

were fingerprints found on
the wallet you just examined?

- No.
- It has been stated

that the victim lay
face-up on the couch,

that he had been struck
on the back of the head,

therefore there was no
blood nor visible sign of injury.

Now, is that correct?

Well, he was a little mussed up.

There were some
signs of a struggle, but...

Now the doctor stated
that his autopsy indicated

traces of a tranquilizing
agent in Mr. Bronson's stomach.

You're familiar with
that report, of course.

I also heard the doctor
state he did not think

the amount was sufficient
to induce any heavy sleep.

Now, Lieutenant,
please confine yourself.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

But you do know what I'm
driving at, don't you, Lieutenant?

If Mr. Bronson had been
heavily, soundly asleep,

then wouldn't you say
that a visitor to the room

might become worried about him,

might have picked up a
glass to put water on his face?

Perhaps even move
that ash tray aside so...

And you, Mr. Mason, please.

I'll, um,

I'll withdraw that
question, Your Honor.

That's all, Lieutenant.

After the party, I left
our car at the hotel.

Mr. Thompson drove me home.

We had just parked
and switched off the lights

when we saw a woman
running off down the street.

Did you recognize that
woman, Mrs. Bronson?

Of course.

It was Miss Jennings.

Didn't you attempt
to follow her?

No.

At the time it seemed
more amusing than alarming.

Mrs. Bronson,

I show you this
diagram of your area.

Now, the police have testified

that they found
your husband's wallet

in this shrubbery by the drive.

Did the woman you saw fleeing

pass anywhere
near that shrubbery?

That's exactly
where I saw her first.

It's exactly the way she said.

I saw exactly the same
thing as Mrs. Bronson.

All right, but will you
tell us in your own words

exactly what you saw
when you went into the house

and entered the library.

Well, as Evelyn said,

Harry was lying there on
the couch, face up, dead.

The desk drawers
had been gone through,

like the Lieutenant said.

There was a glove on the floor.

Naturally, I didn't
touch anything

except, of course, the
telephone to call the police.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Thompson,

you were a frequent
visitor at the Bronson home,

were you not?

I was there occasionally.

Did your visits usually coincide

with Harry Bronson's absence?

Of course not.

He was away from
home a lot, that's all.

I notice neither you
nor Mrs. Bronson

stated just how quickly
you entered the house

after seeing a woman
run off down the street.

The defendant, you mean?

Well, I suppose it
was a minute or two.

There really didn't seem
to be any cause for alarm.

That is, until we found
the key in the front door.

A minute or two?

Could it have been three?

Perhaps.

Or four, five, ten?

- Now, see here...
- Or were you quite oblivious

of the passage of
time, Mr. Thompson?

Look, I resent...
Why do you resent it?

You've identified
yourself as a family friend.

Surely there's nothing wrong

with parking in a secluded
spot with an old friend's wife.

Your Honor!

I beg the Court's indulgence,

but I would like to
ask one question.

Do you happen to know
how much life insurance

Harry Bronson carried?

No, the thought never
entered my mind.

Well, Mr. Williams,

you just heard
the judge tell you

that you must answer
these questions.

Now, where did you
finally find Miss Jennings

that night?

She was on the street,

a couple of blocks
from the Bronson house,

looking for a taxi.

And what was her appearance?

Her manner?

Upset, I guess.

Wouldn't hysterical be a more
accurate word, Mr. Williams?

No.

No, I said before, she
was crying, that's all.

Oh, I see, you took her
down to your beach house

and hid her there just
because she was crying.

I wasn't trying to hide her.

She was in a state of
shock, you might say.

I was afraid she would...

I got this spare room.

Mr. Williams, we all understand

what she'd been
through that night.

Isn't it true that you hid
her at your beach house

because you were afraid
of what she might do

in her hysterical condition?

Harry gave Natalie,
his secretary, his keys,

so she could open the front
door and let us in the side way.

And when you and
the secretary left,

the keys were still
in the door lock?

I suppose so; I
didn't really notice.

I think that'll be
all, Mr. Siebring.

Cross-examine?

Mr. Siebring, why
did you and Bronson

want to enter the house
through the side door

instead of the front?

Well, uh,

we just wanted to be
alone for a minute, that's all.

Discuss some personal things,

money matters,
without Natalie there.

Money matters?

The fact that your
agency was going broke?

Going broke because Bronson
had never put in his share

of the company
financing he'd promised?

Mr. Mason, if you're
still trying to imply

that I had no right to deposit
that check of Miss Jennings'...

Your Honor, I see
no reason for counsel

to pry into the business
affairs of this witness.

Your Honor, this
matter involves a fraud

- perpetrated against my client.
- Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am curious, Mr. Siebring,
why did you form a partnership

with a man like Harry
Bronson in the first place?

Well, Harry had some
big clients and I didn't.

At least, he had
Lionel Albright.

Only instead of using him

on something that
would bring in quick cash,

Harry had to go gambling on
his own with summer musicals.

In other words,
Bronson had no intention

of your sharing in
the profits he'd made.

That's the general idea.

So when you saw a $50,000 check,

you saw a chance
to avenge yourself.

No.

Temptation was too great?

- You saw a chance to...
- No, that's not true.

I didn't steal that check,
and I didn't kill Harry.

Oh, Mr. Mason, I
didn't hit Mr. Bronson

over the head with that
ash tray or anything else.

But unfortunately,
your fingerprints...

Well, when I was
trying to find my check.

There were some
papers on the desk.

Maybe that's when I
moved the ash tray.

Well, yes, maybe it
is; I remember now.

I just wish you'd
remembered to stay put

in Jazbo's shack on the beach.

But I told you.

Jazbo hadn't come back.

He'd already been
caught like you said,

and they'd made
him tell where I was.

So, you decided you just had
to go out and get a hamburger.

But I was hungry.

Oh, I know you'd told
me not to leave there,

and I wasn't going to
run away or anything.

At least, I don't think I was,
but I was all so confused.

- And Lester said...
- Lester?

Lester Crawford.

It was his idea I could leave
the beach house without being...

Paul, you have some
long distance investigating...

- To do in a hurry, I know.
- And don't forgot the nice guys.

Don't worry.

Nice guys?

Cross your fingers, Amy Jo.

But I did not pry
into private affairs.

I'm a secretary.

I've done only what
I've been told to do.

I am not asking about
the check, Miss Graham.

I simply wanted to know
when you first heard

the name Amy Jo Jennings?

When she signed her
contract with us, I suppose.

You handled no messages
concerning the girl before that?

Well, I did hear Mr. Bronson
ask Lionel Albright

to go hear the girl's singing
a few days before that.

And I remember Mr. Albright
said he couldn't be bothered,

but then, of course,
Mr. Bronson insisted.

And where did Bronson
learn the girl's name?

It might have been
after that loud young man

came visiting the first time.

Loud young man?

A disc jockey Mr. Bronson
met a few years ago.

His name is Lester Crawford.

All right, yes.

I did drop in to say howdy
to Bronson, but that's all.

And tell him who Amy
Jo Jennings really was?

Tell him how much money she had?

Mr. Crawford, I find that
you left your last employment

with a radio station in
Tennessee rather hurriedly.

Well, no, actually,

I didn't see eye to eye with...

I am also informed there
is a slight discrepancy

in advertising accounts

which the station would
still like to talk to you about.

A discrepancy of
exactly $10,000.

Isn't that true?

No, that is not true.

Remember, you're under oath.

You wouldn't want to add
perjury to your other troubles,

- would you?
- I, uh...

I was going to pay
the station back.

How? With whose money?

Amy Jo certainly had said
no to you a thousand times.

Yes, but, uh...

Was Harry Bronson
going to give it to you?

He said he might.

As payment for giving him
a ripe plum named Amy Jo

just ready for picking?

Now, look now, that
ain't no way to talk about...

Mr. Crawford, the
day after the murder,

why did you want
Amy Jo caught running?

Why were you so anxious
to have her look guilty?

Now look, I, uh...

Listen, Amy Jo, I didn't...

Don't talk to her,
or she'll tell you that

she didn't throw that wallet of
Bronson's into the shrubbery.

Now, who did? You?

Maybe I did.

He owed me the money.

He'd promised to pay me $10,000

as soon as she paid him.

Were you in the
house that night?

Of course I was!
Don't you understand?

I killed him.

Go on, Mr. Crawford.

He said he wouldn't pay.

He got real nasty like.

He told me to get out.

That's when I hit him.

Only he didn't get up.

I carried him to the couch.

That's when I heard
Amy Jo coming in.

I hid there until
after she left.

Then I picked up the
wallet and went out the side.

Only there was this
car pulling in there,

so I took off across
the back way,

through the woods.

But the wallet, Mr. Crawford.

Well, there
wasn't but $50 in it.

I read in the papers
the next morning,

that they were
looking for Amy Jo.

So, it was a
terrible thing to do,

but I went back
and tossed the wallet

right near the front
where Amy Jo had passed

when she went out.

Forgive me, Amy Jo,

but I just didn't want to
go to the gas chamber.

Don't you see?

Let's continue, Mr. Crawford.

Did you hit Bronson
with an ash tray?

I don't know.

He might have fell against it.

I don't know.

And the, uh, car
on the side road.

Amy Jo also
mentioned hearing it.

Of course, we've
already established

that the couple parked in front
were quite oblivious of time,

perhaps even to the
sound of the other car.

I didn't want the guy to see me.

The guy? What guy?

Well, sure, the guy in the car.

Now, if he saw me...

Did you see him, Mr. Albright?

What?

Did you go inside and find
Bronson still unconscious

from Lester's blow,

and realize that
here was your chance

to even the score
with your agent?

Mr. Albright,

you're considered
to be quite a nice guy.

Why did you stay with
Harry Bronson's agency?

Why were you willing
to waste your talent

on a speculative summer musical,

for which even Audrey
Stemple insisted

she be paid some
sort of advance?

I'm not a nice guy.

Amy Jo, I...

I thought that guy
running through the woods

would be blamed for it, not you,

but did I open my
mouth about it?

No.

Well, once I was
even less of a nice guy,

and Harry knew it.

And all of these years,

he's been using me, bleeding me.

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I saw my chance.

I killed him.

♪ Wake up in the morning
to the alarm's ting-a-ling ♪

♪ Hop out of the hay,
face the day with zing ♪

How do you like the act so far?

♪ Life can be an endless dream ♪

♪ If you use Home
Folks' Freckle Cream ♪

Well?

Well, what do you think?

Well, uh, uh,

I think Jazbo has a great future

doing singing commercials.

Singing commercials? Me?

Oh, Jazbo, you'll just
love it down south, Jazbo!

You'd like working for
Home Folks Remedies,

after all, you said I don't
belong out here so...

Stop fighting it, son.

Who cares about the future?

Going to marry the boss
someday, aren't you?