All language subtitles for Perry Mason S08E17 The Case of the Golden Venom.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

Mrs. Forrest, is that you?

Hello, Joe. Did Tony Claus...

Yeah, Tony just called me.

I guess he's out getting
your house opened up.

And your car's
still in storage, too.

Say, we've sure been having

some weather around here.

I'll meet you over
at the garage, then.

Sure thing. Say, it sure
is nice to see you back.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Lucille.

Good evening, Kevin.

How was Europe?

I mean, I didn't know
you... Welcome home

is what I'm trying to say.

You sound like you never
expected to see me again.

Well, I certainly hoped I would,
but after a whole year away...

Look, how long are
you going to stay?

I'm going to Los Angeles
just for the night, but...

Oh, I'll be in town for
quite a while, I imagine.

Wonderful. That's
just wonderful.

You know, a whole lot of
your friends are going to be

awfully glad that
you're back again.

Why don't we have
dinner some night, or...

Don't miss the train,
Kevin. Goodnight.

I guess you own this garage
now, don't you, Mrs. Forrest?

Really, I haven't
the slightest idea.

Is there gas?

Now wait a minute, now. I
got your battery hooked up,

but haven't had a chance
to check the tires yet.

It's all right, Joe. Just
open the doors, please.

You know, they've been
working on your road out there.

Washed out from the storm
I started to tell you about.

You can get through all right.

Say, did you hear about Myrna
Dekker being married now?

And Mr. Lawrence,
he's gonna run for mayor.

Say, he was a friend
of Dick's too, wasn't he?

Oh, there's sorts of
things been happening.

I'm not interested in
the local gossip, Joe.

I didn't come back here to...

Sure, but why did you
come back, Mrs. Forrest?

I mean, so unexpected?

Gosh, anybody who can
afford to live in Europe...

Who told you to ask me that?

Nobody.

I'm just glad to see
you back, that's all.

I mean, everybody is gonna
be. It's just like Tony says,

he wished he had time to get
ready with a proper welcome.

♪♪

♪♪

Who is it?

Lucille.

Walter.

Why didn't you bark or
rattle your pills or something?

Well, for gosh sake, I'm sorry,

but I couldn't
believe it was you.

I just making a delivery
at the Dover ranch.

Got in the car, I heard
a blowout down here.

Stop making excuses
and roll up your sleeves.

Oh, boy. Same old Lucille.

Same old diplomat.

You're looking great.
Just great, believe me.

The lug wrench is
under the chains, there.

All right.

All right, I'll save you.

I'll bet you've been having
fun, haven't you, Lucille?

If anybody deserves to
have fun in life, it's you.

Night clubs...

I have sciatica,
got a new bridge,

and my hair has to be
dyed every two weeks now.

Well...

then what am I
being a Boy Scout for?

I'm sorry, Walter, but...

I know how I look.

And I haven't really...

Oh, I just lost my
head there for a minute.

Anyway, what's the
richest widow in town doing

waiting on a spare tire?

As executor of your
husband's estate,

I say let the hired
hands do the labor.

Tony Claus can pick up
your heap in the morning.

Come along, old woman.

I'm taking you home in style.

Thank you, Walter.

I'm glad you came by.

I wish I'd tried harder to
see you after the funeral,

but I knew how you felt.

Couldn't blame you
for wanting to slip away

as soon as possible.

I don't think I felt
very much, Walter.

Jed was 82 years old.

His death was a
blessing to him, really.

Yes, I know,

but coming so soon after Dick...

You know what I mean.

I know how long it took
me to get over it after Mary...

Anyway, nice to see you again,

and to know that
you're all right.

As soon as word gets
around that you're here,

there'll be one
party after another.

I was always all right, Walter.

Hmm?

I said, I was always all right.

Oh, I didn't mean anything more

than just when a
person gets upset.

That's what I finally realized.

It wasn't me, it was this town.

It was even you.

Now, Lucy...

Do you know why I've come back?

I'm going to do what the law

wouldn't never do for me.

I don't I quite
understand, Mrs. Forrest.

On the phone you said you
wanted to talk to me about a will,

but from the date of this copy,

I would assume the will's
already gone through probate.

Yes, it has. They appointed...

a friend of my husband's
to be executor and trustee,

if that's necessary,
but he says that

everything is in
my control, now.

The bulk of your
husband's property

went into a life estate for you?

Except for some charity, and
Tony Claus, the handyman,

was taken care of, naturally.

Then what sort of
advice do you want of me?

Mr. Mason...

I married Jed Forrest
only ten years ago.

It was a marriage
of convenience,

friendship for
both of us, I guess.

You see, I was his housekeeper.

I had two children to support.

My daughter, who's
married now, in Chicago,

and Richard.

Your son is the younger?

No.

What I wanted to
make clear to you...

I'm not greedy about money.

I've had to work
hard all my life

and I can do it again.

But if your husband
had no other family,

if no one contested this
will, I don't understand.

I haven't been in Europe

like I've told most people.

I've been in Chicago, working,

trying to save enough money

so that I wouldn't even have to
touch one penny of the estate.

My daughter hasn't
been well either,

and there have
been so many bills.

Tell me more about
your son, Mrs. Forrest.

Dick... died two years ago...

when he was 23.

What I want to know
from you is on page three.

Can they take Jed's
estate away from me

if I do something that the
will says I'm not supposed to?

You mean there are...

"conditions subsequent" in here?

Yes, yes, that's the phrase
that the lawyers used.

There's one in there.

Jed didn't want
to hurt me, he...

wanted to help me forget.

He didn't understand.

He couldn't believe that
anybody in Forrest Junction

would be a murderer.

A what?

The trustee has the power
to terminate your estate

if you should initiate
further investigation

into your son's death?

I don't care.

I don't care what they do to me.

Mrs. Forrest, I strongly doubt

that a clause so
contrary to public policy

would hold up in court.

But why do you
think that someone...

I don't think,
Mr. Mason, I know.

Dick went out on a hunting trip

with some of his local friends.

They found him
that evening, dead.

They called it an accident,

but I know that one of those men

killed him with Dick's own gun.

I know that's true,

and now you're going
to prove it for me!

Well?

Am I gonna win the
Guggenheim award?

Well, you print some
pretty good recipes.

Good story on the county
fair. Nice weather report.

I told you there was
nothing in there, didn't I?

I told you I was just looking.

Dick Forrest was a nice kid.

He couldn't have killed himself,

and there's no one around here

who would want to kill him.

What gave you that idea?

I didn't say anything
about killing.

Well... my secretary thinks

you're with some
insurance company,

looking for an escape clause.

Something about
some policy they forgot.

Just a routine
check, that's all.

Took his stepfather's
name, didn't he?

"Dick Forrest."

Yup, and they
liked each other, too.

No trouble anywhere.

And Kevin Lawrence was
an old buddy from way back.

Mr. Lawrence was out there with
a gun, too, that day, wasn't he?

And this Tony Claus...

No, uh, no, he wasn't there.

He just drove Dick out
to our camp that morning.

That's all.

Our camp?

That's right, you were
there, too, weren't you?

No, Mr. Drake, I was not.

I was on my way in
town, looking for a doctor.

Kevin's cooking, I guess.

When the boys had left
to go hunting that morning,

the old ulcers were acting up,

and they scare me
when they bleed.

Oh.

So that's it.

That evening, when
Dick didn't return,

Kevin phoned for help, and
the whole town went looking.

They found him where he'd
been crawling through a fence

with the safety off, I guess.

I see.

But you already
know that, don't you?

Huh?

Mr. Drake, yesterday,
someone made an inquiry

at the coroner's
office, and they found

that the county
sheriff's records

had been thoroughly checked.

Now, I don't know what
your company thinks

it's trying to find...
Don't ask me!

I just work for a living,
and do what I'm told.

By whom? Lucille Forrest?

It was she who put
you up to this, wasn't it?

- It was she who told you to start...
- Mr. Day.

I'm sorry to disappoint you,

but I've never even
met Mrs. Forrest.

But if it bothers you,
my hanging around

and padding the
expense account...

No. Sit there and read
all the recipes you want.

I don't care.

I just thought there might be
a story in what you are doing,

and I'd like to write
something besides the weather.

There was a girl
there, too, wasn't there?

What?

She was waiting in camp
for the boys to get back.

Girl named Mirna Dekker.

Yes.

Yes... Mirna was there.

Tony?

Hi, Mirna.

Well, hi, stranger darling.

You looking for Mrs. Forrest?

Well, I thought I better
come calling some time.

She's been home a week,
I guess, and Kevin says

it's just awful I haven't
come over, only...

Tony, how is she?

She's all right, I guess. Why?

Well, you know what I mean.

Not very often.

Look, why don't you
just go ring the bell?

She won't bite you.

Tony, why are you mad at me?

Now, who says I'm mad?

Look, I got a sick heifer
and three horses that I...

Even Kevin says it's just awful
we never see you anymore.

I thought newlyweds were
supposed to be left alone.

Well, not forever.

Besides, Kevin doesn't
like to dance very much,

and I've just never
known an older man

who can dance like you can.

Oh, you know what I
learned the other day?

You know, in the regular Watusi,

when you twist to move
your hips, you also...

Mirna, when are
you gonna grow up?

Oh, you are mad.

I knew it.

Just like she's going to be,
because she always thought

I was going to marry poor Dick.

When anybody in
town could have told her

it was really Ralph Day
you were in love with.

Oh, him.

That was just poetry.

Well, you know
what Ralph was like.

He could never
stop reading it to me.

Besides, a nightclub
and a restaurant

make a lot more money than a
broken-down country newspaper.

Do you want me to slap you?

Maybe I would,

if it weren't
quite so flattering

to think that...

You can just get that
happy little memory

right out of your mind.

Now quit pestering me, will you?

Tony Claus, if I didn't
know you better, I'd...

Mirna!

I'm so glad to see you.

Don't you look lovely!

Hello, Lucille.

Ah, marriage agrees with you.

You are happy,
aren't you, darling?

I wanted to come sooner, but...

well, I just didn't
know how to...

Now, now, I understand.

Every time I get
near this place,

I remember how I used
to call you mother, and...

- The past is the past, Mirna.
- Is it?

Of course. The only way that
we forget unpleasant things

is by doing
something about them.

Kevin said he saw
you the other night

at the railroad station.

No. I must have been a
fright, but I'm much better now.

It was so sweet of
you to come, dear,

but could you wait
until early this evening?

Oh, I should have telephoned.

No. No, it's just I'm expecting
a visitor any minute. A...

very important visitor,

so if you and Kevin would
be free later for cocktails?

Oh, yes, we'd love it.

I'm having a few
other old friends in.

Nothing fancy.

And if this man
doesn't take too long,

I just might get around
to a birthday cake.

A what?

Yes, it's Richard's
birthday, you know.

Oh, my.

What a pretty little car.

Oh, yes. Yes, I just love it.

Mm.

I need something like
that to have some fun in.

I just may buy one. Who knows.

Oh, Lucille, you are
happy again, aren't you?

Well, of course, darling.

About 5:30 then.

Okay. Make way for
the gentleman caller.

It's nothing like that.

Now, don't try to
fool me, Mother.

What?

Well, I know what makes
a woman pick roses.

Bye-bye.

Nothing, Mrs. Forrest.

Absolutely nothing.

But-but I don't understand.

Mr. Mason said that you
wouldn't even get in touch with me

until there was
something to report.

It's been four days.

Well, just let me explain.

Perry himself will be
up later this evening

to explain the
legal aspects, but...

Explain? What is
there to explain?

That you haven't found
out one single new thing

about my son's death?

That you've just
been reading lies?

Listening to lies?

Mrs. Forrest, this
is too small a town

for an investigation like
ours to remain secret.

Already, there's been talk,

and some of the people
involved don't appreciate the talk.

Well, isn't that just too bad.

Kevin Lawrence, for
instance, is running for mayor.

And if this old gossip
starts up again...

So that's it.

You're afraid of slander.

Well, you just tell Mr. Mason

that I'll pay for 100
lawsuits if necessary.

You just bring me proof
of murder, Mr. Drake,

and I'll take care
of Forrest Junction.

I'm afraid it's not that simple.

I found that the police

and the coroner's
investigations was very thorough.

It may take a week to turn
up even a shred of an error.

Well... I'll give
you a lead, then.

Ralph Day was the murderer.

What?!

He owns the newspaper.
You've met him.

Wait a minute.

Mr. Day wasn't even there.

Don't argue with me, please!

Now, I know how you must feel.

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

Of course not.

You've discovered
that no one ever thought

that Richard was
killed except me.

And you've known
mothers before, perhaps,

who just couldn't face...

Now, try to be patient.

Get out of here, Mr. Drake!

All I want you to
do is understand.

To think, I've wasted four days.

How I could have thought
anybody would have ever

helped me do
what I have to do...

Mrs. Forrest... Get
out! Get out! Get out!

And happy birthday.

Oh! You scared me.

I'm sorry. I was
looking for Mr. Day...

or actually someone I
thought might be with him.

Not here. But you can help
me look for a bottle, if you like.

Bottle?

About so big... for medicine.

Do you know Ralph used to
take it out on dates with me?

Ugh.

You're Mrs. Day?

No. No, I'm Mirna Lawrence.

- Perry Mason.
- Hi.

Oh, Ralph's over with
Kevin now at our nightclub.

Well, it's really like a
roadhouse, but, uh...

Say, do you smell smoke?

Yes, I do.

I noticed it when
I opened the door.

You'd think I was a
teenage lackey or something.

Can you imagine a man who
would send his wife just to...?

Stale smoke, that's all.

Somebody's been
burning newspapers

in that sink over there.

Eureka. We are saved!

Sweet little ulcer juice.
Ralph just forgot it.

He's always pooping
somebody's party.

Though, actually, I think
he just came out tonight

to borrow money from Kevin.

Well, I better close up now.

Certainly.

If you'd like to see
our place, Mr. Mason,

you can follow me.

Ralph's just got a
little tummy-ache,

so I'm sure he'd
like to see you.

Well, no, thanks, it was
really a man named Drake

I thought might be...

Forrest Junction Journal.

Oh, I'm sorry. There's no
one here but the sports editor,

if you'd like to speak to him.

Kevin!

What are you doing
checking up on me again?

Look, I know why you sent
me on this silly little errand.

And I was not dancing
too close with the salesman.

He was only showing me...!

Bully!

Hey, you know what?

They just took Ralph
Day to the hospital.

If you're looking for the nurse,
she should be back in a minute.

- Your name's Drake, isn't it?
- Yeah.

- I'm Tony Claus.
- Oh, sure.

Mr. Forrest heard about
Ralph Day being sick.

She asked me to check on him.

Doctor?

I'm Paul Drake.

I have an appointment with
Mr. Day later on this evening.

- Oh, yes. Hello, Tony.
- Hi.

I'm sorry to say Ralph is dead.

Holy mother...

We just couldn't
stop the bleeding.

His ulcers again?

Three of us worked for an hour,

but none of the
coagulants... I don't know.

Autopsy?

Yes, I did ask for an
autopsy, Mr. Mason.

I asked for it first
thing this morning.

I didn't realize you
were related to Mr. Day.

No, I'm not.

I mean, I couldn't
ask for one officially.

But I checked up.
They're doing it, all right.

The doctors are curious, too.

So I gather.

But Mr. Lawrence,
why are you concerned?

Ralph Day had dinner here
in my restaurant last night.

Do you think I want
people going around saying

I feed my customers
ground glass or something?

No, obviously not.

But why did you ask
to see me this morning?

Well, thanks for
coming by, by the way.

It's, uh... it's about
Lucille Forrest.

I heard you were in town.
I know you're her lawyer.

What about Mrs. Forrest?

Look, tell her to keep quiet.

You mean, keep quiet
about the death of her son?

Look, Mr. Mason, I like
Lucille, no matter how she acts.

I feel sorry for her.

May I ask why?

Not just because of her
tragedies, everybody has them,

but she's a little bit off on
this one subject, you know?

You don't believe her
son was murdered?

No, of course not. Nobody does.

But that wouldn't make any
difference if she goes around

telling anybody else what she
told me yesterday afternoon.

What did she say?

Well, it was questions
more than telling,

but I got the idea right away.

She thinks that Ralph
Day murdered Dick.

And now if there is something
funny about Ralph Day's death?

You see what I mean?

Just tell her to keep
her mouth shut...

for her own sake.

Yes, I think I understand
you, Mr. Lawrence.

Though, of course, as you say,

Ralph Day did eat his
dinner here last night.

That's right.

And you know what he
had for dinner mostly?

Mushrooms, nice, mild mushrooms.

And do you know
where they came from?

Tony Claus.

Look, Mr. Drake,

I been growing these
things for 25 years.

I know my business.

And you picked some
of these last night

to give to Kevin Lawrence?

That's right. I picked
'em right out of...

- What's the matter?
- Well, nothing. I just...

I didn't realize I'd
picked so many, is all.

Yeah, you see, Kevin came
down, found me at the barn,

said that he and his wife and
some others were up at the house

having a hello drink
with Mrs. Forrest.

He said that Ralph
Day was coming over

to his place for dinner,

and they'd been talking
over a new recipe for mush...

You don't mind
if I take a couple?

Well, you go ahead,
but all you got to do is

ask Kevin's cook if they're
toadstools or something.

I guess that's what
you're thinking.

Take it easy.

All we're trying to do is
stop a rumor before it starts.

Lucille made a few cracks
at me, too, I'm afraid.

I tried to get her
off that kick of hers,

about her son, I mean.

I don't know. Maybe she
does know something.

Mr. Claus, do you ever hear of
the Fresno Livestock Auction?

Oh, yeah. I buy a lot of
stuff for the ranch up there,

machinery and all. Why?

Well, Perry noticed
a piece of newspaper,

an item in it about the
auction caught his eye,

but the date was partly burned,
and I thought maybe you'd know

what time of year
it takes place.

Well, it's in the fall.

About four weeks ago.

The year wasn't burned.

The paper was two years old.

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

But I can help you,
though. All you got to do is...

Mean something to you?

I was just thinking.

If it's the local paper
you're talking about,

that's a weekly.
You could check.

As I remember, the
auction two years ago ended

the day before Dick died.

I don't know, Mr. Mason.

I... I can't remember.

You told Paul
Drake, Mrs. Forrest.

You also said something to
Kevin Lawrence and Tony Claus.

Maybe I've said all sorts
of things I shouldn't say...

to all sorts of people.

And now men tramping
all around the house.

Mrs. Forrest, the
autopsy on Ralph Day

has undoubtedly
been finished for hours.

But the coroner's office
will not issue a statement.

And I know they've been
rushing all sorts of samples

to laboratories in Los Angeles.

They left here to go
to dinner together.

You know that, don't you?

Ralph and Kevin and
his wife, little Mirna.

Who else was here, Mrs. Forrest?

What?

Oh, yes. The ones I said
and Walter Coffee, of course.

He's an old, old friend.

That's the druggist?

But he was once a
deputy, wasn't he?

In charge of the
local sheriff's office?

Yes, that's right.

And he was the person in charge

of investigating
your son's death?

Yes. He wouldn't
believe me either

Did you serve
refreshments last night?

Just cocktails and...

Ralph had a little
sherry, I believe.

And what did you talk about?

Mr. Mason, I didn't
go around accusing,

if that's what you mean.

To Kevin, yes, I said something
to Kevin privately, but...

Then why did you have those
particular people together?

Don't you understand?

Nothing is straight anymore.

Ralph is dead now.

Ralph killed my son,

and Ralph is dead now,
and I cried all night long.

Did I do it?

I didn't mean for Ralph
to be dead like this.

Maybe I didn't really
want anyone else to die.

Mrs. Forrest, uh, excuse me.

It's all right, Ben.
Mr. Mason, this is...

We've already met. Is
there word yet, Sergeant?

Well, no go on the mushrooms
we stole from Tony's cellar,

if that's what you mean,

but would you tell me
about this, Mrs. Forrest?

Now you'll all really
say I'm crazy, won't you?

It's a country sort of remedy.

It does help sometime.

You see, Mr. Mason,
I have sciatica.

I made Walter get that for me.
I'd read about it in a magazine.

What is it?

Sounds silly even to say it.

It's rattlesnake venom.

What?!

Yeah, I was kind
of surprised, too,

when I found it in the
icebox, but not anymore.

You see, the laboratories
say this is the stuff

that killed Ralph Day;

made him bleed to death.

Oh, no...

No...

No... No, no.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Forrest,

but the same man who
brought the coroner's report

also brought a
warrant for your arrest.

Mr. Drake, I told
the sheriff's office

- we'd only be here about an hour.
- I know.

I appreciate your using
your influence to get me in.

No, no, anything
to help Lucille,

but you don't sound
like you found very much.

If you're going to telephone
Mr. Mason before they go into court.

That's the trouble.
I found too much.

For instance, that
burned piece of newspaper

that Perry noticed there.

I figured it was an issue
that might have been torn out

of the files and destroyed
so I wouldn't see something.

But the issue's in the
files where it belongs,

and there isn't one single
item in it that even relates

to Dick Forrest or
anything we're looking for.

Well, I guess Ralph
could have printed

a special paper easy enough.

Maybe the one
in the files there.

No, I thought of that.

The library loaned me
their copy, same date.

It's the real issue, all
right, word for word.

So what was the burned
one? Just a spare?

Listen, Drake,
there's a whole stack

of old newspapers out there.

Maybe he used it
to wrap something in

or to burn something in.

Yes, but the coincidence!

A paper from the day
before Dick's death.

I'll tell you a
worse coincidence.

They've got Lucille in
Los Angeles by now.

In about an hour, some
prosecutor's going to be saying

that she murdered Ralph Day.

All right, I'll go.

What are you so itchy
about, Mr. Coffee?

I just want to be sure
you get your report

to Mason before, that's all.

Because I've got a
message for him, too.

Like what? If you haven't got
any more answers than I have.

Tell him to lay off all this
ancient history about Richard.

Forget about what
happened two years ago.

If he brings it up in
court, he'll be sorry.

The venom of the snake
is a hemolytic poison

which destroys
the red blood cells.

It also contains an
antifibrin component

which prevents the
blood from clotting,

thus the hemorrhaging
couldn't be stopped.

And how did you say this venom
entered the bloodstream, Doctor?

Through breaks, lesions
in the digestive tract.

In this particular
case, duodenal ulcers;

a bleeding stomach.

Now, most people, of course,

could swallow the stuff
without any ill effect.

But in Ralph Day's case,
after drinking that sherry...

Doctor, would you
tell me one other thing?

Would you, as a physician,
ever prescribe rattlesnake venom

to alleviate the
pain of sciatica?

No, I really don't think so.

But it is true that nonspecific
proteins will give some relief

from that sort of pain.

And rattlesnake venom does
contain nonspecific proteins,

so it's understandable how

that sort of folk
remedy could originate.

Doctor, could you
tell us, by any chance,

what rattlesnake
venom tastes like?

It has no taste.

It's both tasteless
and odorless.

And what does it look like?

It's a clear, golden
sort of color.

Could you give us
an example, Doctor?

I'd say about the same
color as dry sherry wine.

My question, Doctor, was
simply if rattlesnake venom is

the only poisonous
substance that causes

the fatal results you've
described if ingested.

There might be others.

Isn't phallin also
a hemolytic poison

which attacks
the red blood cells,

destroys them and causes
extensive internal hemorrhaging?

Yes.

And isn't phallin a substance

present in certain
poisonous mushrooms?

- Yes, it is.
- Thank you, Doctor.

Just one more question,
Doctor, or possibly two.

Would you mind telling
us what you did yesterday?

I spent the day with two
biologists from UCLA,

also a police toxicologist.

We checked on types of
mushrooms in the area.

And what were the results,
briefly, of your day's work?

Well, none of us
believe that the particular

poisonous mushroom, the
one containing phallin, that is,

can be found anywhere in
the area of Forrest Junction.

Really? That'll be all, Doctor.

That's right. I stopped off to
the grocery store that morning

and pick up an
order for Mrs. Forrest.

Thank you, Mr. Claus.

And now would
you tell us, please,

what was in that
box of groceries?

Well, I don't know. I
just picked up the box

and took it on home and
dumped it in the kitchen for her.

I didn't pay any attention.

Why don't you stop
evading me, Mr. Claus,

at least until you find out what
questions I'm gonna ask you?

In that box of groceries,
were there any bottles?

Yes. There was one bottle of
scotch, one bottle of bourbon,

another of dry sherry.

Thank you, Mr. Claus.

Well, we arrived
about 5:00, I guess.

Mirna and I, that is.

Walter was there. He was
already there talking to Lucille.

And Ralph came in about
15 minutes later, I guess.

Now, did anyone else come
in while you were there?

No, that's all there
was. Just the five of us.

Now, you said that you
were drinking cocktails.

Do you remember exactly
what each of you had to drink?

I had a couple of
bourbon highballs,

Walter the same, I guess,

and Lucille was sipping
some scotch, I believe.

And what about your wife?

Um, she asked
for a Sloe Gin Fizz.

Really?

All right, that brings us to
the deceased, Ralph Day.

Now, what did he drink?

Ralph always kidded himself

that a little sherry
wouldn't hurt him,

so he had, mm, two small
wine glasses of it, I guess.

Very well. Now, Mr. Lawrence,
will you tell us this?

Who mixed and served
all of those drinks?

Lucille Forrest.

She made all the drinks
and served all of them.

That'll be all, sir, thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Lawrence, you state

that no one was in the
house except the five of you.

That's right.

Could you possibly be sure?

Didn't you go out to the
barn to see Tony Claus

to get some mushrooms?

Now wait a second, Mr. Mason,

I didn't go out to get
those mushrooms

until we'd all said our
good-byes to Lucille.

Mirna drove Ralph
back to our place,

and that's when I went
out to get the mushrooms,

after the party was all over.

And why did Ralph
Day want to have dinner

at your place that night?

Oh, yes, yes. He, uh, he asked
to borrow some money, $800.

There were some bills
on the newspaper...

Did you lend it to him?

No. Ralph was always worried.

He was always asking to
borrow, sweating his taxes.

Mr. Lawrence, my
investigators tell me that Mr. Day

somehow managed to pay is
bills, keep his head just above water.

In spite of the fact that a
small-town newspaper is

notoriously risky business,

and that he had almost
no money in the bank.

Well, that's true, but Ralph
was worried all the time.

He had ulcers.

Perhaps someone
helped him pay his bills?

What?

Is it possible my investigators

might find that you really have
loaned money to Ralph Day?

Perhaps given it to him

- or paid it for...
- Now, wait a second, Mr. Mason.

That's not true.

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

Neither do I know what
you're talking about, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor, this is
the most improper,

- irrelevant...
- Strike that last question and answer.

Mr. Mason,

unless you rephrase
what it is you're driving at...

I'll go on to something
else, Your Honor.

Mr. Lawrence, you made
a casual reference earlier,

to having briefly
met the defendant

in a railroad station
more than a week ago.

Right after she
got back to town.

Yes, that's right. I was
on my way to Los Angeles.

I had a business meeting
there early the next morning.

But after your
return the next day,

we find that you turned
in a stolen car report

to the sheriff's office.
Now, will you explain that?

Well, when I
drive to the station,

I always just leave my car in
the street behind the garage,

uh, with the keys in it.

Then the garage man, Joe...

That's Joe sitting over there...

Always parks it inside
when there's a space for it.

Before closing time.

That night, he found
the car two blocks away.

Then the car was
returned to you?

There was no
damage, nothing wrong?

No, but, uh...

Then why did you
report it as a stolen car?

I don't quite understand.

That has nothing to
do with this, Mr. Mason.

Recently there's
been a lot of vandalism

by the youngsters in our town.

Joyriding in other
people's cars.

Well, I just hoped I'd be able

to scare some of
the kids, that's all.

I'm running for office in
this town on the platform...

Why on earth create
an issue out of it?

I'm trying to understand
you, Mr. Lawrence.

And why on earth ask

all these ridiculous
questions, Mr. Mason?

I'm trying to understand you.

You could object in a
better manner, Mr. Burger,

but I'll sustain
you, regardless.

Mr. Mason.

I'll withdraw the
question, Your Honor.

That's all.

I have one more
question, Your Honor,

under redirect, if I may.

Mr. Lawrence, returning
for a moment to the subject

of those drinks you had
that night at the defendant's.

Was there any incident,
an accident, perhaps,

that happened during
that part of the evening

which you have
not told us about?

Uh, yes, there was.

Ralph was very
nervous that night.

He dropped his
glass, his empty glass.

Lucille thought nothing of it.

She tidied up quickly,

but the glass
broke on the floor.

Now referring to these
bits of glass, Sergeant,

which we've
introduced in evidence

as people's exhibit three,

what sort of testing did
you have them subject it to?

Oh, chemical
analysis, fingerprint.

And with what results?

We found the fingerprints
of the decedent, Ralph Day,

and those of the
defendant, Mrs. Forrest.

Sergeant, did your analysis

of the sherry wine
reveal anything else?

Yes, it contained definite
traces of rattlesnake venom.

Don't give up hope, everybody.

I think I've got something.

Hold it, Paul, he's adding.

And it makes no sense.

Nobody in that town
in the past two years

has become suddenly
richer or suddenly poorer.

Well, then I've got to
complicate it even more for you.

I just got a report
from San Francisco,

and Ralph Day, the man
who was always trying

to borrow money from people,

had $10,000 in a savings
and loan company up there.

Why, the miser.

Here's some more of
that real estate dope.

But, Perry, this stuff
doesn't change the fact

that nobody had a reason

for killing Ralph
Day except Lucille.

And even if her
motive was imaginary,

Burger seems to
be making it stick.

So what good you do think you...

All right, Paul, what
we need now is a plow.

Plow? Good idea.
What are we digging for?

Nothing. I just want
you to buy one for me.

But I've already
admitted to the prosecutor

that I was the one
that supplied Lucille

with the rattlesnake venom.

I put her in touch
with a herpetologist,

a fellow who has a
snake farm, that's all.

Then I picked it up for her.

That's the day after she
came back to town here.

Was that the first time

she'd used this unusual
remedy for sciatic pain?

No, the first time was
about a year and a half ago.

She thought that it helped her.

So I got her to
check with a doctor.

So other people
knew about it, then?

Mr. Mason, I'm sure
that Lucille's friends

knew all about that
rattlesnake venom.

Now, two years ago,

you were connected
with the sheriff's office,

is that right?

Yeah, a man in a small town,

he's got to wear several hats.

And two years ago you
were personally in charge

of the investigation into
the death of Richard Forrest?

Yes.

But since we're not
here to look into ancient...

The prosecutor has
already opened the door

to this "ancient
history", Mr. Coffee,

by suggesting that the defendant
might have looked upon Ralph Day

as the murderer of her son.

Well, maybe so,

but I'll be blamed
if I can see...

Why are you so afraid of
going through that door?

Is it because you don't
believe Richard was murdered?

No, I don't. I never did.

There wasn't one
piece of evidence,

not a single person
with a motive.

Motive?

Of course, no one
hated Richard Forrest.

And from your
personal knowledge,

do you know of one
person in Forrest Junction

with a motive for
murdering Ralph Day?

No, I don't.

That's what makes it
so blame disgusting for...

But suppose I
showed you a motive?

- Suppose I...
- Your Honor, this really...

May it please the court,

defense is prepared to
introduce evidence that Ralph Day,

who tried to borrow money
on the night of his death,

has at least $10,000 in one
out-of-town bank account.

I think I'd like to
hear what else

you have to ask this
witness, Mr. Mason.

Go on please.

Perhaps he has more money
that we don't know of yet.

Would that surprise
you, Mr. Coffee?

Well, just the
$10,000 surprises me.

I know the newspaper
didn't make much,

and I'm sure that Ralph
didn't inherit or anything.

And then, he's tried to
borrow from me several times.

As a matter of fact... Why?

Can you think why a man

would insistently
want his friends

to think he didn't have money?

You bet I can.
To keep it secret.

To keep something secret.

Something wrong, obviously.

Like the fact that he was
a blackmailer, Mr. Coffee?

Your Honor, I
really must insist...

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,
you'll simply have

to confine yourself
to proper questioning.

Very well, Your Honor.

From your official investigation
of the death of Richard Forrest,

Mr. Coffee, can you swear
that Richard was not murdered?

No.

No, I can't.

Now you said Ralph Day
tried to borrow money from you.

When was that?

Well, the last time was
right at Lucille's party.

That's what I started to say.

I asked Ralph what for,

and he said he might
have to sell the newspaper.

Can you remember
his exact words?

I'd just stood up,

because Mirna'd
come with a refill,

and then I went to
the couch by Ralph.

Now, wait a minute.

Who brought you a refill?

Who brought you a drink?

Mirna, Mirna Lawrence.

Yes, I fixed him a
drink, but just Walter.

Really, I don't know why
Kevin didn't remember

when he was up here.

So Lucille Forrest wasn't

the only person
who mixed drinks,

who went to the kitchen?

Well, I only went out that once.

Furthermore, I
would like to point out

there's nothing so unusual
about a Sloe Gin Fizz.

It's what I always
used to drink there,

and Lucille still had
all the stuff you put in it,

only she left out a little gin.

Well, I didn't want
to say anything.

And then Walter, he
waved his glass at me

as I was easing into
the kitchen, sort of...

All right, Mrs.
Lawrence, all right.

But now let me
go back two years.

The day of the death
of Richard Forrest,

you waited for the men to
return to their hunting camp,

- isn't that right?
- Yes.

I drove up in the morning,

but Kevin said he
had to get a deer.

So I waited, that's all.

Did you see or
talk to Dick Forrest

before he went hunting?

Well, not much.

What do you mean?

Dick wouldn't talk
to me, that's all.

He was sort of pale
and grim looking.

There was no personal trouble
between you? No lovers' quarrel?

What?

Of course not.

As a matter of fact, the
reason I drove up there

was to explain to Kevin

why I'd been out with
someone else the night before.

Who?

Him.

His name is Joseph Sullivan,

and he's a wonderful dancer.

Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor.

I'll return to the present case,

to the murder of Ralph Day.

Oh, I think that's a
very good idea, too,

because I want to state
very clearly that I did not

pour any rattlesnake
poison into anybody's drink.

But hasn't it occurred
to you, Mrs. Lawrence,

that whoever was
responsible for Ralph's death

didn't even need to be

within a quarter mile of
that kitchen or that party?

What?

It's occurred to you,
hasn't it, Mr. Claus?

The police testified
there wasn't any venom

in the sherry bottle.

Won't we find that you
bought another bottle?

Wouldn't it have been quite easy

to put venom in
one sherry bottle,

put it in the icebox,
then later that evening,

replace it with the first
uncontaminated bottle?

No, I didn't do that. I...

Mr. Claus, you've
been on that ranch

for nearly 25 years
now, haven't you?

Yes, old Jed Forrest was
almost like a father to me.

He let you run things.

When he became older,

even do his buying
and selling for him,

even after a housekeeper

- and her children moved...
- I've done a good job.

And he rewarded you generously
by remembering you in his will.

How much did he leave you?

- Wasn't it $50,000 dollars?
- That's right.

Where's the $50,000
now, Mr. Claus?

I bought some
real estate up north.

I'm in quite a
lot of real estate.

Yes, I find that's quite true.

It puzzled me for a while

until we checked
on dates of purchase.

So far, we can't
find one piece of land

which you've bought after
you inherited that money.

Now, where did you get
the money before that?

I'm not going to answer
any more questions. I'm not...

Was it at places like
the Fresno auction?

What?

We have only telephoned answers

from farm equipment salesmen,

but I warn you, Mr. Claus,
some of these men

are quite willing to admit they
used to give you kickbacks.

Full price to Mr. Forrest
on the record,

cash into your pocket.

That's got nothing
to do with Ralph Day.

It had a great deal to do
with Richard Forrest, didn't it?

What happened,
did he find you out?

Accuse you of
cheating his father?

I won't answer.

You dropped him off at the
hunting camp that morning.

He was upset.

A short time later, Ralph Day
left the camp to drive home.

Did Ralph see you along
the road, see your car,

- see what you were doing?
- All right!

All right, I killed Dick!

He was trying to get his
father to run me off the place.

I a lot more right there

than him or his mother.

I asked you about
Ralph Day, Mr. Claus.

Oh, yeah, good old Ralph.

He saw me.

For two years, I've
been paying him off,

one way or another.

My inheritance,
every penny of it.

And then when Lucille
got back to the ranch,

he said to me, "You're
still running things.

You could start stealing
from the ranch again."

He wanted another $50,000.

Do you know he even
printed up a phony edition

of that paper of his
with a phony story in it?

He said he was gonna
let you guys find it

if I didn't come through.

That's why I had to kill him.

Like I had to kill Dick.

Like I had to kill
the both of them!

How on earth did you
guess, Mr. Mason?

Ms. Forrest, if you
didn't kill Ralph,

and no one else had had
recent difficulty with him,

then his death must
have been triggered

by your return to
Forrest Junction.

I still don't understand.

Well, what else happened
at the same time?

The estate went
back to Mrs. Forrest.

And you've admitted
you didn't even

pay attention to
how much you own.

So, you triggered Ralph's greed,

he triggered Tony's anger.

Q.E.D.

You know, Tony's now admitted

that he even tried to kill you.

Tried to smash
you up in your car

before you even got home
from the railroad station.

Poor Tony.

We were the interlopers.

He thought the ranch
really belonged to him,

- didn't he?
- Now, don't get

to feeling sorry for the killer.

Feel sorry for me,

who's been so
stupid all this time.

Not to realize that
a woman's intuition

- is worth...
- Walter,
stop it.

I almost wish that I
hadn't been so right

about what happened to Richard.

It scares me when think...

Now, don't think
you're right all the time.

Come along, old
woman, we got to go.

Now, wait a minute, both of you.

We thought you might enjoy

having dinner with
us before you...

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason,

we have a date
with a specialist.

You don't think I'm
going to enjoy a girl

until she's nicer
to her sciatica?