All language subtitles for Perry Mason 1x05.English

NORTON: It's time you learned
I will not change my mind.

FRAN: I've learned more than that.
You're a mean, selfish man.

Trying to make me and everybody
as miserable as you are.

Please, Fran, will you stop shrieking

long enough to hear
what I have to say?

I don't care what you say.
I don't care what you think.

Enough. I will not have a child
talk to me like that.

I'm not a child, Uncle Edward.

- I'm 23. I'm a grown woman.
- Then act like one.

Use your grown-up mentality
to understand--

Why don't you use yours?
It's not a complicated idea at all.

- Not even for you.
- Now, you listen to me, young--

Miss Fran. Miss Frances, wait.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

- Good morning, Graves.
- Mr. Crinston.

You couldn't have picked
a worse time to come, sir.

He said to come right away.
As a matter of fact,

I had to get an adjournment
on one of my cases.

I'm sorry, but he and Miss Celane,

they've been arguing
ever since breakfast.

- That'll put him in a good mood.
- Yes.

Well, he's alone now.

- I'll see what I can do, sir.
- Thank you, Graves.

- I can't take it any longer, Clara.
- It'll all come out right.

- Soon he'll lose his hold on you, and--
- Soon?

How long do you think I can wait?
I want it now, and I'll have it now.

It'll only make things worse.

Miss Fran, you have everything
to live for.

If he's bad,
let the badness be his own--

Oh, stop preaching, Clara.
I've had enough of that too.

Sorry, Mr. Crinston. Just as I told you,
he can't see you until tonight.

Tonight? But I have an appointment
with Judge Purley through 10:00.

Make it at 11, then.

[SIGHS]

- All right. All right, 11:00 it is.
- And Mr. Crinston.

- Need I remind you?
- Yes, I know, I know, 11:00 sharp.

Ah, easy, easy, Fran.
Don't let him throw you.

Maybe you have to take it,
Mr. Crinston, but I'm not his attorney.

[HORN HONKS]

- I wanna see Mr. Mason. Is he in?
- I'll get his secretary for you.

Don't bother.

Wait a minute, you can't go in there.
Come back.

Oh, I don't think
we should pursue it now, Paul.

No, it's up to Burger
and the police to--

What?

No, as I said--

I'll call you back, Paul.

- Thank you.
- Mr. Mason, I'm--

[DOOR OPENS]

This is all I could find, chief.

If it isn't in those, Della,
we'd better drop it.

This is my secretary, Della Street,
Miss, um...?

- Celane. Frances Celane.
- Hello.

Miss Street likes to maintain an air
of formality in the office.

Things like appointments.

I haven't time for appointments,
Mr. Mason.

I need help.
I'm being cheated out of a fortune.

Why don't you sit down?

That's fine.

Now, start from the beginning.

Well, I need a lawyer
who knows all about wills and trusts.

Well, probate's not my speciality.
I'm a trial lawyer.

- There are people--
- There'll be a trial. A big one.

High-priced on both sides,
name-calling, headlines.

- You're contesting a will?
- A trust.

It'll run over a million dollars.
I'm willing to pay a lot to break it.

- Who created the trust?
- My father, Carl Celane.

- He died two years ago.
- Oh, yes, I recall.

The property was left to my uncle,
Edward Norton, as absolute trustee.

Absolute trustee?

And I assume you don't
like supervision.

Not when it's unreasonable.

- What are the terms of the trust?
- It's a spendthrift trust.

Uncle Edward controls all the money.
My money.

He gives me as little or as much
as he wants when he wants it.

- He can go on doing that forever.
- Well, what do you want me to do?

- Fix it so I can get married.
- Well, why can't you?

Uncle Edward says I cannot.
Not till I'm 25, he says.

By then I should be "emotionally
stable enough to enter into marriage."

- That's quoting him, not me.
- How old are you now?

Twenty-three last June.

Why not wait a couple of years?
It sounds profitable.

- I said I wanna get married now.
- Why?

I suppose you've discussed this
with your uncle.

I'm through discussing anything
with him.

Look, I'm in a hurry. I wanna get this
settled. I wanna get it settled now.

Will you help me?

I'll have to check a few things first.
May take a day or so.

- Can you wait that long?
- Well, I guess so.

I live with my uncle, Edward Norton,
at Laurelwood.

Thank you.

- Well, goodbye, Miss Street.
- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

Forgive me if I acted badly.
I'm a little upset this morning.

Yes, I noticed.

- Gertie.
- Yes, Mr. Mason?

Get hold of Paul Drake,
will you please?

Yes, sir.

Strong-willed little thing, wasn't she?

Yes, and like most headstrong people,
she's scared.

Of what?

Well, you know,

she's scared of losing security
or scared of losing someone she loves.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

- Yes, Gertie?
- Mr. Drake's on the wire.

Thanks. Hello, Paul.

What's going on, Perry?
Why'd you cut me off?

Sorry, I had an unexpected visitor.

I figured, but I didn't know
if it was blond or brunette.

What I wanted to tell you was
that Burger--

No, no, forget about that.
I've got another job for you.

Miss Frances Celane.

C-E-L-A-N-E.

Background, family history,
the works.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come.

Graves said you wanted to speak
to me, Mr. Norton.

I certainly did, Clara.

It's time we had a clear understanding
about your position here.

My position, sir?

Ten years ago, you were hired
as a housekeeper.

Yes, sir.

Not Miss Celane's personal maid
and confidante.

Somebody had to look after the child.
Mr. Celane was very pleased that I did.

Was he pleased with the way
you helped her defy him?

I certainly am not.

Miss Fran needs love
and understanding.

She needs discipline.

I'm warning you right now, Clara.

I will not have you
undermining my authority.

You give her one more word
of encouragement

and you'll have to leave.

Please, Mr. Norton, I love Miss Fran.
She's like my own.

I couldn't live without her.

You'll have to, if this insubordination
isn't stopped immediately.

- Do you understand?
- Yes, Mr. Norton.

I understand perfectly.

Well, it's pretty fast, Paul.
Where'd you get it?

Swiped it out of the morgue
at the Chronicle.

If I don't get it back, they'll shoot me.

Here she is at 12
with her mother and father.

- What about the mother?
- She died soon after that picture.

The kid was raised by Celane
and the housekeeper.

Oh, here's a funny one.

Five years ago, she disappeared
for a week and turned up in Miami.

The kid was a bellhop.

- Who was he?
- No name.

Blind item in Winchell's column.
"Just good friends."

I'm quoting Winchell.

Well, you get the idea.
She's a very expensive delinquent.

Maybe she's just taking her time
growing up.

Mm. So did "Two Gun" Crowley.

They caught this at the Assistance
League art show last year.

The boy's an artist she's been
running around with lately.

His name's Rodney Gleason.

MASON: You keep busy, Mr. Gleason.
- I'm not fashionable.

When you're not fashionable,
you have to keep busy or you starve.

Let's, um...

Let's get back to Miss Celane.

- What about Fran?
- You know her very well?

Oh, I see her once in a while.

She, um, wants to get married.

- That's not illegal, is it?
- No, it can be expensive.

For her.

- How long have you known her?
- Oh, about six months or so.

I met her at a League show
last winter.

She was with her uncle.

He picks up a picture
every now and then.

Seems like a good idea
to cultivate her.

You know, I like this painting.
It looks like Florida.

It is.

It's Biscayne Bay.

Well, business can't be so bad
if you can run down to Florida

- and do seascapes.
- Ha.

Don't kid yourself.
I did that five years ago in art school.

Scholarship?

- Nope. I worked my way through.
- As a bellhop?

You ran away with Fran
five years ago.

Her father caught up with you in Miami
a week later,

took her back to New York, moved
her out here to keep you two apart.

You're dreaming.

You know, I have a hunch
that during that week,

you two got married secretly.

You've tried to stay apart,
but it just wouldn't work.

Look, Mr. Mason, I don't like anybody
calling me a liar.

Even when you are?

I have another hunch
about something else--

All right. I think you'd better
get out of here.

Wait.

Close the door, please, Rod.

I shouldn't have held out on you,
Mr. Mason.

You won't be the first.

You're right about us.
We did get married.

But your father thought it was just
another one of your wild escapades.

Yes.

That's when he set up the trust, right
after he brought me back from Miami.

And your father is still calling the shots
through your Uncle Edward, hmm?

- I'm going to fight him for it.
- Oh, all you need is a little patience.

You'll be 25 in another 18 months.

Well, I can't wait, not that long.

You see, you don't quite
know everything.

Oh.

That was my second hunch.
I hope it's a boy.

I don't resent my niece
hiring legal counsel, Mr. Mason.

On the contrary, I'm delighted.

She refuses to take my word
for certain things.

Perhaps you, as a lawyer,
can make them clear to her.

Undoubtedly, you have read
the terms of the trust.

Yes. A spendthrift trust.

Her father realised she needed
supervision and protection.

She has been impetuous all her life.

I see.

And bright and early on the morning
of her 25 birthday,

she suddenly attains wisdom.

At 23 or 24, she's incapable
of managing her own affairs.

- But at 25...
- What are you getting at?

I'm talking about Fran's desire to marry
at her discretion instead of yours.

As trustee,
it is my considered opinion

that Fran lacks the emotional stability
necessary for a happy marriage.

At least, at this time.

- I think you're wrong.
- You're challenging my authority?

Not your authority.
Just your arbitrary use of it.

Under Section 710
of the California Civil Code,

- a court might very well find--
- I don't like being threatened.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come.

It's 3:00, sir. Mr. Jenkins
of the First National Bank is here.

You're using someone else's time,
Mr. Mason.

Show Mr. Jenkins in.

You may inform your client that you
have been signally unsuccessful.

Good day, sir.

- Did you talk to him?
- Yes, I did, without much success.

I hate him. I hate him!

[SOBBING]

MASON:
All right, let's have it, Paul.

Well, Norton's dough is mainly
in real estate.

The Celane money is held
by the First National Bank.

It's mostly blue-chip stocks
and bonds and cash.

What about Norton's reputation?

He's crotchety
and he's a perfectionist.

He's also fanatically honest.

They can be the worst kind.

He can't be riding herd alone
on all that money.

Someone has to be advising him.

Paul, I want you to find out everything
you can about him,

and all his associates.

Do they go to Las Vegas,
have any girlfriends--

- You kidding?
- Never mind.

- Check it.
PAUL: All right.

Crinston's late.

Oh, he phoned, sir,
right after dinner,

and explained that he'd be tied up
with Judge Purley.

That's beside the point.
It's 11:00 and Crinston is late.

Yes, sir.

[CAR APPROACHING]

ANNOUNCER [ON RADIO]:
A left to the head, a right to the body,

on the cheek, but Moreno shakes off
the punches, circles around,

trying to find an opening
for that deadly left.

We're six minutes late, judge.
The old man will be loaded for bear.

- My fault for keeping you, Arthur.
- You sure you won't come in?

No, thanks. I'd like to
hear the rest of this fight.

I'll make it as short as I can.

--with the left held high.
Moreno keeps scoring with that left--

Hi, Graves.

You must try to be more prompt,
Mr. Crinston.

One with the X is no sugar.

[PHONE RINGS]

Get that, will you, Frank?

- Laurelwood Precinct.
- This is Edward Norton.

- I want to report a crime.
- Just a second.

Old man Norton again.

Sergeant Wilbur speaking, Mr. Norton.
What can I do for you?

- My life has been threatened.
- Yeah, who by?

My niece. I want protection at once.

[PHONE CLICKS]

Hello. Hello. Hello?

What now?

He says his life has been threatened
by his niece.

Better get Williams
and go out there in a prowl car.

[CROWD SHOUTING ON RADIO]

ANNOUNCER: Time is 11: 15.
Now back to ringside.

In his corner, Moreno sits quietly
while his seconds work over him.

- And you get the--
- Thank you for waiting, judge.

--happy with anything less
than a clean knockout.

[BELL RINGS ON RADIO]

- There's the bell, Moreno--
- How's the fight going?

Pretty good. That boy Moreno
is a clever fighter.

NORTON: Crinston.
- Tries to slide along the ropes.

- Moreno's all over him.
- Yes?

- A hard left to the jaw.
- Yes, Mr. Norton?

How about the corporation papers?

- What?
- Trying to hang on.

- I'm sorry, judge, would you mind?
- Moreno pushes him away.

- There's that left--
- What did you say?

Where are the papers for Tamarack
and Southern Mining?

- Well, they're at my home.
- I want them.

I'm sending Graves to ride in with you
and get them.

- Four, five, six--
- All right.

Hope it isn't too much trouble.

--eight, nine and the winner is Moreno
by a knockout.

Quite a fight.

- Hope I didn't spoil it for you. Ha-ha.
- Oh, nonsense.

[DOOR OPENS]

Sorry to keep you
waiting, gentlemen.

- I hope this isn't out of your way.
- That's okay, Graves.

- We're all in the same boat.
- Yes.

Judge Purley, this is Donald Graves,
Mr. Norton's secretary.

- How are you?
- How do you do?

Here, why don't you let me put that
in the back for you, Mr. Crinston?

Wait. Stop the car.

PURLEY:
What's the matter?

The window. Mr. Norton.
There's a man in his room. I saw him.

He came right up behind Mr. Norton.
Go back.

Do you hear me? Go back.

[SIREN WAILING]

And it is my contention

that although you have been legally
appointed trustee

of the estate of Carl Celane,

as specifically indicated in the terms
of his last will and testament,

your exercise of the aforesaid function
has been arbitrary and capricious.

I refer you to Section 710
of the California Civil Code,

which clearly states that--

Della?

Mm.

Hey, come on, girl. It's midnight.
Time you quit working.

Midnight?

Why don't we just stay
till tomorrow?

Union rules.
Now, come on, rise and shine.

- I just gave up.
- It's your own fault.

You shouldn't be fooling around
with wills and sulky heiresses anyway.

- Your speciality is murder.
FRAN: A murder is what you've got.

Mr. Norton decided that he
wanted some papers

that had been left in town,
and he called out--

You tell Crinston,

that housekeeper,
I'll be right with him.

I went out to the car--

You can move him out, Tragg.
We're through.

- What did you find?
- Never knew what hit him.

Ashtray got him over the left ear.

I'll have the full autopsy report
on your desk in the morning.

His briefcase started to fall
and I put it in the back seat.

And I was looking through the window
back at the house, you see.

And I saw this man
come up behind Mr. Norton.

- And he raised his arms--
- What'd he have in his hand?

I don't know exactly, but it seemed
to be a very heavy object of some kind.

- And I yelled--
TRAGG: What time was this?

- Shortly after 11.
- Eleven-seventeen, almost exactly.

I checked my watch at the radio
during the fight broadcast.

Could you recognise this man?

You afraid he can?

TRAGG:
I asked you a question, Mr. Graves.

Could you recognise the man?

He didn't do it. He couldn't have.

Fran, you're not
telling me everything.

Holding out on me before
was only annoying.

Now it can be fatal.

You know Rod didn't leave
before it happened.

Graves, Purley, Crinston,
all of them saw his car out at the gate.

Lying to me isn't gonna
help protect him, Fran.

It's only gonna make it harder.
Can't you see that?

But you might not defend us.

Try me.

Well, he came up tonight
to take my bags to the apartment.

For the first time, we were going
to live like husband and wife.

When he got here,
he was terribly upset.

He insisted on seeing Uncle Edward.
He wanted to have it out with him.

He actually said that?

- I tried to talk him out of it, but he--
- But what?

He wouldn't listen to me.

You wanted the truth and that's it.

If he did kill Uncle Edward,
he did it for me.

And if he has to die, I wanna die too.

All right, now.

Try and get some sleep.

I'll talk to you tomorrow.

ROD: I've been walking the streets
all this time, Mr. Mason.

Trying to figure out
who could've killed Norton.

[SIGHS]

There isn't anything that--

I can't think of a thing

until you tell me what happened
after you left Fran's room.

I went downstairs to talk to him,
but he was busy.

- How do you know he was busy?
- I heard him talking to somebody.

So I went out the back door
and waited in the garden.

How long were you out there?

I don't know, maybe four
or five minutes.

Then?

Somebody called out.
I heard a car start up out front.

And you went back in
the same door?

Yeah.

Straight to the study.
I didn't knock, I just walked in.

At first I thought he was sleeping.

That was before I took a closer look.

Then I just ran.

Then Graves actually did
see you in that room.

It must have been me.

Graves said he saw something
in your hand.

- Something like a bludgeon.
- That's a lie. Norton was dead.

- I never touched him.
- Then why did you run?

I don't know.

I guess I lost my head.

You think I killed him, don't you?

It's what the district attorney
thinks that matters.

From here, it looks like Burger's
gonna have himself a field day.

All right, Mr. Burger,
the men are ready in the study.

Thank you, Lieutenant Tragg.

You're sure this is
where you were

when you saw that man
in Mr. Norton's study.

- Yes, sir.
- All right, get in the car, please.

Be sure you take the exact position
you were in last night.

Would you gentlemen
step a little closer, please?

I want you to pay attention
to what you're gonna see

and what Mr. Graves says.

You were introduced to three
police officers, Mr. Graves.

- Yes, sir.
- They're up in the study.

They're gonna duplicate the actions
that you reported seeing last night.

I want you to identify each of the men
by name if you can.

- Do you understand?
- Yes, sir.

All right, lieutenant.

Go ahead, Mr. Graves.

Um...

- That's, uh-- That's Bailey.
- Keep watching the window.

That's, um...
What's his name, uh...?

Oh, McClintock.

And who is this third man,
Mr. Graves?

Why, that's, uh...

- That's Mr. Bailey again.
- Very good, Mr. Graves. Thank you.

- Thank you, gentlemen.
- Well, how did it go?

Almost as good
as an absolute eyewitness.

Wrap this up, will you?
See they all get home all right.

And, Tragg, make sure
none of this leaks out.

PAUL: And he nailed it down tight,
Perry. An exact-conditions eye test.

Graves identified both men
while he sat in the car in the driveway.

One hundred and forty-seven feet
away from the window.

Two witnesses saw him do it.

And the minute I try to throw doubt
on Graves' testimony,

testimony that he could have
recognised Gleason at that distance,

Burger will put both of those witnesses
on the stand.

You're so right.

Well, thanks, Paul.
See you at the preliminary hearing.

- Wouldn't you rather go fishing?
- Hmm.

Much.

- You wanted to see me, lieutenant?
- Oh, yeah, come on in, Drake.

I'm just indulging
in a little target practise.

Um... That's Perry Mason.

- Like to try it?
- Yeah, thanks.

Good for the eyes.

But there's really nothing wrong
with your eyes, is there?

- You keep them wide open.
- I try to.

That can be a mistake sometimes.

That investigator's licence of yours
means a lot to you, don't it?

- I'd sure hate to see you lose it.
- Any reason why I should?

Well, we ran an exact-conditions test
on Friday on the Norton case.

As far as I recall, no invitations
were sent out to the general public.

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

You own a Thunderbird,
licence number LTZ 413.

- That's right.
- What was that doing

near the Norton house on Friday?

- Look, Tragg--
- Now, strictly between us boys,

you were there, weren't you?

Mm-hm.

In case you never saw one of these
before, that's a subpoena.

What's the idea?

Oh, just something that Mr. Burger
and I thought up.

Nobody would ever accuse you
of being friendly to the DA's office,

so we figured it might
be more effective

if you appeared as a witness for the
state in the exact-conditions test.

After all, you did see the whole thing.

Now, wait a minute, Tragg.

You could testify that Mr. Graves'
eyesight was far above normal.

That would mean a lot,
coming from you.

Burger would never call me.

He might, and then again,
he might not,

but if I were you, I'd get me
some good legal advice.

Would you like to have me
recommend a good lawyer?

Give me the city desk.
Mike, this is Andy.

Rod Gleason was just bound over.
Looks like first degree.

Perry Mason is defending.

- You did great.
- Enjoy it?

Burger's footprints
are all over your back.

Well, you don't win any marbles
at a preliminary hearing.

Not what you said last week.
This one looks bad, Perry.

That's your most endearing quality,
Paul, your glorious, shining faith.

- I'd rather have your facts and figures.
- Well, I got those too.

- But nothing showed up that helps.
- So far.

Those financial reports,
when are you gonna have them?

I'll have them by tomorrow.
Everything seems in order.

At least as far as Norton's concerned.

Whatever else he might have been,
Norton was honest.

I know.

Fanatically.

We propose to prove to you,
ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

that the defendant,
Rodney Gleason,

first pleaded and then quarrelled
with Edward Norton.

And that at a moment
when a witness,

Donald Graves, was actually looking
through a window of the house,

this defendant clubbed Edward Norton
over the head,

causing his death almost instantly.

Further, that Arthur Crinston,

accompanied by the eyewitness
Donald Graves and by Judge Purley,

rushed to that study,
where they found the crumpled body

of Edward Norton.

Upon this evidence, we shall expect
a verdict of murder in the first degree.

MARKHAM: Does the defence
have an opening statement?

If the court please, the defence
will make no opening statement.

[CROWD MURMURING]

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Call Judge Brian C. Purley.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you swear the testimony you're
about to give in this court be the truth?

- I do.
- State your name.

- Brian C. Purley.
- Be seated.

Judge Purley, on the night of
October 23rd of this year,

you had occasion to visit the residence
of the deceased Edward Norton?

Well, not precisely.
I didn't go into the house.

I simply drove Mr. Crinston there
and waited in the car.

And what time did you arrive?

At approximately five minutes
after 11.

And at what time did you leave?

Precisely at 17 minutes after 11.

How do you happen to know
these times so exactly?

I checked them with my watch.

PURLEY: Just after Mr. Crinston
got into the car,

Mr. Norton called him
from the study window.

He asked Mr. Crinston
about some papers.

Mr. Crinston said
they were at his home.

- And then what?
- Then Mr. Norton asked him

to bring Mr. Graves back with us
to pick them up.

Presently, Mr. Graves came out
from the house and we started off.

I see.

Judge Purley, would you
examine this chart, please?

Would you indicate for us
the route followed by your car?

Yes, sir. We started from here
and followed the driveway to this point.

BURGER:
Judge Purley,

did I understand you to say
that when you went into the study,

you saw Edward Norton's body
at this point?

You did not.

I stated that I saw the body of a man

which was subsequently
identified as Edward Norton.

Oh?

- I thought you knew Mr. Norton.
- I didn't say that either.

On how many occasions
had you discussed business matters

with Mr. Norton over the telephone?

- I never talked to the man in my life.
- I see.

- No further questions.
MARKHAM: You may step down, sir.

- Call Sergeant Wilbur.
CLERK: Sergeant George Wilbur.

No, sir, I remember
exactly what he said.

He said, "My life has been threatened."
I asked, "Who by?"

He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once."

And what did you do then?

I ordered the prowl car out,

but when they got there,
it was too late.

Judge Purley had already
notified Homicide.

Your witness.

Sergeant, how many calls
do you normally take

in the course of an evening's duty?

- It varies.
- Well, on the average.

Ten, 12.

You pride yourself
on having an excellent memory?

I do.

Oh, yes, as a matter of fact,

you stated you remembered
Mr. Norton's exact words.

- I did.
- What were they?

He said, "My life
has been threatened."

I asked, "Who by?"

He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once."

And that was
the entire conversation?

It was. Yes, sir.

Did he by any chance say hello?

Not to me, he didn't. You see,
I didn't pick up the phone at first.

- Oh? Who did pick up the phone?
- Officer Delaney. Frank Delaney.

Suppose you tell us
exactly what happened

when Mr. Norton's call came in.

Well, when the phone rang,
I was busy,

so I asked Delaney
to answer the phone.

Then Officer Delaney
spoke with Mr. Norton first?

- Well, only a few words--
- That will be all, sergeant.

Your Honour, I move that the entire
testimony of this witness be stricken

and that the jury be instructed
to disregard it on the grounds

that no proper foundation
has been laid.

Do you have anything to say, Mr.
Burger, before I rule on the motion?

[CHUCKLING]

Of course, Your Honour.
The state was not aware

that this telephone conversation
consisted of two parts.

If the court will hold its ruling
in abeyance,

I'll be happy to make arrangements
to have this other police officer

brought here immediately.

Very well, you may step down.

But since the officer is not in court,
you'd better call your next witness.

Thank you, Your Honour.

- Call Arthur Crinston.
CLERK: Arthur Crinston to the stand.

[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]

CRINSTON: We returned immediately
to the house.

I re-entered the house
with Graves and Judge Purley,

and we discovered Mr. Norton's body
as was described.

- Judge Purley notified Homicide.
BURGER: Thank you, sir.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Crinston, you've stated that you
had a meeting

planned with Mr. Norton at 11:00.

Yes, I was about five minutes late.

What was the purpose
of that meeting?

He called me to discuss tax matters.

That was within the scope of
your duties as Mr. Norton's attorney?

It was.

I helped him in a great many
of his financial affairs.

But certainly you had no authority
to act for him

in the matter of buying
or selling securities.

Oh, but I did.
I had power of attorney.

And the tax matters?
You discussed them with Mr. Norton?

- No.
- Why not?

He was too distraught
to discuss anything.

He'd been having trouble
with his niece.

I see.

If the court please,

I may wish to recall Mr. Crinston
for further cross-examination.

- No further questions at this time.
- What's he trying to do?

Whatever it is, you can be sure
there's a good reason.

Della, where are the papers
Paul gave you

on those financial
and banking matters?

And when you turned around
in the seat, did you have a clear view

of the window of Norton's study
through the rear window of that car?

Yes, sir. A direct line.

So it was perfectly possible for you
to see Rodney Gleason in the study?

Absolutely.

- Your witness, Mr. Mason.
- No questions.

At this time.

[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]

If it please the court, I'm informed
that Officer Frank Delaney

is now in the courtroom.

I should like to call him to the stand
to lay a proper foundation

for Sergeant Wilbur's
previous testimony.

MARKHAM: Call Frank Delaney.
CLERK: Frank Delaney.

Now, Officer Delaney, I direct
your attention to October 23rd last,

and I ask if you were at the
Laurelwood Precinct at 11:15 p.m.

I was.

What, if anything,
occurred at that time?

Well, a phone call came in.
A complaint.

- Who answered that call?
- I answered it.

Did the caller say hello?

[CROWD LAUGHING]

No, sir. He said,
"This is Edward Norton.

I wanna report a crime."

Those were his exact words?

- Yes, sir.
- What did you do then?

Then I turned the phone
over to the sergeant.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

When you turned the phone over
to the sergeant,

did you say anything to him first?

- To the sergeant?
- To the sergeant.

Well, I guess so.

Don't guess.
Did you say something to him?

Yeah, sure. I said--

I said something about it
being old man Norton again.

Then you told him it was Norton.

Well, why not? After all,
it was Norton.

Isn't possible that Sergeant Wilbur
was led to believe

it was Norton on the wire
only because you told him so?

I object, Your Honour.

Counsel is asking for a conclusion
of the witness.

Sustained.

No further questions.

If it please the court, since a proper
foundation has now been laid

for the previous testimony
of Sergeant Wilbur,

I trust Mr. Mason will have no further
objection to it remaining in the record.

No objection.

- Call Clara Mayfield.
CLERK: Clara Mayfield to the stand.

You may step down, sir.

BURGER: So you were in the
downstairs hall at approximately 11:15.

About that time, yes, sir.

Did you see anyone
leaving Mr. Norton's study?

I saw Mr. Crinston leave.

- Anyone else?
- And Mr. Graves.

What happened after that?

Um...

- Nothing.
- Nothing?

Exactly what did you do
after Mr. Crinston and Mr. Graves left?

- I went back to the pantry.
- Did you see anybody else?

Did you?

- Yes, sir.
- Who?

- Rod.
- Who?

Mr. Gleason.

Where was he?

He was just coming in
from the garden.

Did he see you?

No, I was by the pantry door
at the foot of the stairs.

And what did Mr. Gleason do?

- He went into Mr. Norton's study.
- Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Miss Mayfield,

after you saw Mr. Gleason
go into the study, what did you do?

I went to the pantry
to make myself a cup of tea.

- You weren't worried?
- Worried, sir?

Well, you knew there was trouble,
did you not?

You knew that Rod Gleason
hated Mr. Norton.

You knew that Rod Gleason
was not supposed to be in that house.

Yet when you saw him at the door
to the study,

you simply ignored it and went
and made yourself a cup of tea?

There was nothing
I could have done, sir.

Whatever was going to happen,

it would be in more divine hands
than mine.

[CROWD MURMURING]

Would you say the murder weapon
was held in divine hands?

BURGER:
Objection.

Your Honour, Mr. Mason
is baiting the witness.

Sustained.

Please confine yourself
to your cross-examination, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honour.

Now, Miss Mayfield,

does the figure 67,585
mean something to you?

No, sir.

- It does not?
- No, sir.

Now, Miss Mayfield,

how long have you known
Frances Celane?

More than ten years.

You took care of her
after her mother died?

- With her father's permission.
- Of course.

Then I assume you became
very attached to the little girl?

Yes, sir.

You devoted your life to her,
you grew to love her?

As though she were my own child.

Then what were your feelings when
Mr. Norton called you into his study

just before he was killed

and threatened to discharge you

unless you stayed away
from Frances Celane?

How did you feel?

I knew the Lord would show me
the way.

[CROWD MURMURING]

No further questions.

If the court please,
I should like at this time

to recall Arthur Crinston to the stand
for further cross-examination.

MARKHAM:
You may step down, Miss Mayfield.

Della, give me some
blank filing cards.

Paul, when I go back up
to the witness stand,

I want you to get Judge Purley

and tell him you wanna talk to him
out in the corridor.

- What about?
- About anything.

Just get him out in the corridor.
Have him stand close to the door

so he can hear every word
of my cross-examination.

- Now, move.
- Right, Perry.

You've already been sworn,
Mr. Crinston.

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Mr. Crinston, does the figure
67,585 mean something to you?

- Not especially.
- It should.

That's the value in dollars
of the securities

you've sold for Edward Norton
during the past five months.

I've been doing that for years,
for much larger sums.

You were in conference with
Mr. Norton on the night of the murder?

I was.

Isn't it a fact that that conference
was in the nature of a quarrel?

Certainly not.

Isn't it a fact that the proceeds

from the securities
you sold for Edward Norton

were used to cover your personal
losses in the stock market?

That's a lie.

Is it not a fact that on the day
of his death,

Edward Norton received
from his bank

a list showing the sale
of those securities?

Sale of those securities
was authorised by Mr. Norton.

Isn't it true that on the night
of his death,

Edward Norton informed you

that unless you made
immediate restitution,

he intended to notify the police?

Absolutely not.

And when you admitted
you could not make restitution,

he called the police and said:

"This is Edward Norton.
I want to report a crime"?

- No, sir.
- And is it not true

that when Mr. Norton said those
words, you, in a sudden frenzy,

struck him with a heavy object,
causing his death?

BURGER:
Objection.

- There's absolutely no grounds for--
MARKHAM: Overruled.

Answer the question, Mr. Crinston.

I did nothing of the kind.

And is it not true, Mr. Crinston,
that then you realised

the police were on the other end
of an open wire,

and to cover up Mr. Norton's statement
about a crime,

you picked up the phone,
pretended to be Norton and said:

"My niece has threatened my life"?

There's not an ounce of truth
in anything you've said.

That's all, Mr. Crinston.

Do you wish to re-examine,
Mr. Burger?

No, Your Honour.

I wanna say we've heard a lot
of theories from Mr. Mason,

but no evidence.
This witness has denied every single--

The prosecution will make its
argument to the jury at the proper time.

You may step down, sir.

Your Honour,

I would like at this time to recall
Donald Graves to the stand.

CLERK:
Donald Graves to the stand.

Mr. Graves, I presume
the district attorney expects me

to question your ability
to recognise a person

from a distance of 147 feet.

However, I'm not interested
in your vision.

I'm interested in the sound
of your voice.

With the court's permission, I should
like you to read these cards aloud.

One after the other.

- Why?
- Never mind why, just read them.

Objection.

Your Honour, once again,
Mr. Mason

is demonstrating his characteristic
courtroom pyrotechnics

and making a mockery
of this whole--

Just a minute, Mr. Burger.

I assume you can show a connection
in what you're trying to do, Mr. Mason.

I believe I can, Your Honour.

Very well, I'll reserve my ruling
for the present.

- You may continue.
- Thank you, Your Honour.

Now, Mr. Graves, we're waiting.

This, uh-- Ahem.
This is ridiculous. I resent it.

You probably have the right
to resent it, but go ahead and do it.

"The quick, brown fox
jumped over the lazy dog."

"The early bird catches the worm."

- Louder, please, Mr. Graves.
- Ahem.

"A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush."

"In a democracy,
all men are created equal."

Now, what was that?
I can't hear you, Mr. Graves.

"In a democracy,
all men are created equal."

"As the twig is bent,
so grows the tree."

Louder, please.

"A stitch in time saves nine."

- Next card.
- "Crinston--"

Go on, Mr. Graves.

"Crinston, I want Graves
to go with you."

Read it again, Mr. Graves.
Louder, Mr. Graves.

Go on!

"Crinston, I want Graves
to go with you."

Thank you, Mr. Graves.

Judge Purley,
will you come in, please?

Your Honour, I would like
to recall Judge Purley to the stand.

CLERK:
Judge Brian Purley to the stand.

MARKHAM:
You may step down, sir.

Judge Purley,

I ask now that you go back to the night
of the murder,

to the moment when Edward Norton
called down to Crinston

from his study window.

Is it not true that the voice
that came from that window

was the same voice that you just
heard in this courtroom?

Well, it, uh...

It could have been.

No.

No, I'll make it
much stronger than that.

It was Donald Graves' voice.

But I didn't kill him. I didn't.

Mr. Crinston killed him.
All I did was call down to the car.

Tell him, Mr. Crinston.
Please, tell him.

Your Honour, the defence rests.

Graves was the one
who surprised me.

He'd been with Mr. Norton for years.

I can't see why he cooperated
with Mr. Crinston.

Unless he was fed up

and Mr. Crinston offered him a share
of his profits in the stock market.

- That was exactly his motive.
- That's exactly what I thought.

DELLA:
Now, just a minute here.

You know, Clara,

any more of these completely
analytical deductions on your part,

and I shall be forced
to declare you the winner.

In other words, Mr. Mason
will be giving you my job.

[CLARA CHUCKLES]

You don't need to worry,
Miss Street.

Looking after this one
is all the job I can handle.

Now, you stop fussing over me.

The doctor said
you must keep warm.

Well, he didn't mean for me
to roast to death.

I can't do anything with her,
Mr. Mason.

You know what I'm afraid of?
I may have to raise another sulky girl.

Oh, no, I'm holding out
for a sulky boy.