All language subtitles for Perry Mason S09E21 1966 The Case Of The Twice-Told Twist

At least Mr. Dandrige is
getting a fair price for his place.

At his age, it must be hard to
lose at home by condemnation.

- It isn't easy at any age.
- Will we still be on time for the curtain?

- I hate to go in a theater late.
- No problem.

We'll get the papers signed
and be back here in ten minutes.

See, there's plenty of
time to reach the theater.

When you said
we'd only be gone...

Ten minutes.

Why, just ten minutes.

"Five tires, wheels and
hubcaps, generator, sun visors,

cigarette lighter, radio, rear
speaker, twin horns, battery,

front and rear floor
mats, convertible top,

clock, steering wheel,
side-view mirror."

That's it, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason, since it's your
property that's been stolen,

I assume you're
pressing charges.

Your Honor, in talking
with Sergeant Roddin,

I told him I would do just that.

But I wasn't aware at the time
that a juvenile was involved.

What's that got to
do with it, counselor?

Your Honor, there's more at stake
here than one boy and one offense.

There were 35,000 car clouts,
strippings, in Los Angeles last year.

We haven't been able to crack the
problem. This gives us our first chance.

But the only charge you're
making against this young man

is that he pawned a stolen article,
a camera belonging to Mr. Mason.

I'm aware of that, Your Honor,
but the camera was in the car.

Mr. Mason can testify to it.

And that's our break.

It's impossible to identify
stolen auto parts most of the time,

there are no serial numbers.

But Mr. Mason had the lens
serial number of the camera.

This boy attempted to pawn it.

What does the District
Attorney's office have to say.

Well, obviously, Your Honor,
we want Mr. Mason's co-operation,

and we were led to
believe we'd get it.

I'm afraid I have to pause

before I assist in stamping a felony
conviction on an 18-year-old boy,

simply because he tried
to pawn a stolen camera.

- Welfare, do you have anything?
- Yes, Your Honor.

It's right here in my report.

Well, let's see.

Classified as incorrigible
at the orphanage.

Placed in four foster homes,
one right after the other.

Finished high school
last June with honors.

Picked up twice for
violation of curfew. No record.

Your Honor, I agree.

You don't treat a kid
like an adult with a record

but they've got to learn
you pay for what you do.

Of course they do.

I think every man and every
offense has to be judged individually,

on its own merit.

Yes, I have a personal loss at stake
and the police have a case at stake,

but this young man also
has his whole future at stake.

Lennie, where did
you get that camera?

Sir, I was gambling, craps.

And this kid, he lost.

Well, he paid off
with the camera.

Your Honor, I'm sorry.

Sorry that you were gambling,

sorry that you tried
to pawn stolen goods,

or that you got caught?

All three I suppose, sir.

I have here a statement
from a Mr. William Sikes,

offering you employment

and I have the welfare department's
investigation and endorsement.

- Do you know Mr. Sikes?
- Yes, sir.

I'm William Sikes, Your Honor.

And if you'll let Lennie go,
and if he's willing to work hard,

I'll guarantee you that he'll be too
busy to get into any more trouble.

Let him go?

In a sense, that's
up to you, Mr. Mason.

I'm not going to press
charges, Your Honor.

Lennie, I'm going to
release you from custody.

But don't mistake
Mr. Mason's gesture

or my judgment as
license to tempt fate again.

Continue hanging out
with the kind of friends

who shoot craps and steal cameras
and you're going to be back again.

- There better not be a next time.
- I promise you, sir. There won't be.

My commendations to team one.

Remarkable performance,
well within our allotted time.

However I need not
admonish team two.

You yourselves know what would
be occurring at this very moment

if the men in blue, rather
than your friend and mentor,

had caught you in
the act, as they say.

And so I would
suggest to both teams

that considerable additional
time drill would not be amiss.

Right?

Now, I believe our
refreshments are served.

These are your compañeros?

But they are so young,
they're boys only.

Senor Huggins, why?

Senorita Reales, obviously you do
not understand our form of justice.

You see, if an adult commits
even the smallest infraction,

he is likely to go to prison.

But a boy, a juvenile, especially
if he is clean-cut, well-mannered

and underprivileged,

well, that's an
entirely different story.

And now, senorita, can we
get down to our business?

How many pair of
bucket seats can you use?

How many can you deliver?

Almost any reasonable amount.

Delivery is no problem and Bill Sikes
is most efficient, as you well know.

The price locally
is $500 a pair.

I cannot pay you more
for delivery in Mexico.

Have you been asked to?

As you know, I am a
collector of Tehuantepec art.

The Mayan and the Aztec
are rather crude, common.

But your Tehuantepec pieces,

- marvelous.
- And rare.

But obtainable.

As were all the other pieces
you sent me from Bill Sikes.

I'm thinking of a figurine I admired
at an exhibition in Mexico City.

You cannot mean a
catalagado, a museum piece.

If I were to send such
a thing out of Mexico

and be detected by the
authorities, I would be put in prison.

If you were detected,

but there's no
reason for you to be.

Ah. A little stray lamb,

one who was lost
is returned to us.

Thanks to that lawyer
we hit, Perry Mason.

- He believes in rehabilitation.
- Isn't that nice?

But, laddybuck,
when Billy and I return

from our business consultation
with Senorita Reales,

you and I must have a
little man-to-man talk about

this penchant of yours for taking
and holding out serial-number items.

- But, sir, it wasn't my fault, I...
- Later.

Senorita?

Uh, Jody, you and I have
to have a little talk too, later.

- You dirty fink.
- I didn't fink.

I didn't tell the cops anything.

Oh, no, but you told Bill how
you won that camera from me.

- Maybe I should have, but I didn't.
- You're a liar.

- Get him, Jody. Get the fink.
- No, not now.

But some day, fink, I'm
gonna take care of you.

After 20 years on the
force you'd think I'd learn,

when the do-gooders
of the world beat you

you've gotta forget it.

- But it eats on me, Clay.
- So tomorrow's another day.

You know, I forget who said
it, probably a wise Irishman,

but it was good advice.

He said, "It is defeat that turns
bone to flint and gristle to muscle,

and makes men invincible.

You are never so near to victory
as when defeated in a good cause."

I'm gonna have that framed and
put over every detective's desk.

But first I think I'll have
you repeat it to Perry Mason.

Sorry.

I smell something
burning in the kitchen.

Hello, Sergeant Roddin.

- This is Miss Street.
- Miss Street.

- How do you do?
- Won't you join us?

Thank you.

You bugged out on me
this morning, counselor,

after you promised
me I could count on you.

Sergeant, Lennie Beale told you

nothing to link him
to a car-stripping ring.

You had no other evidence.

Seems to me that you'd learn
more by keeping an eye on him

if he is involved,

than by settling for a possible
conviction on pawning a stolen article.

I see.

Your interest was in doing what
was best for the police department.

You know what a felony
conviction would do to that boy?

For the rest of his life, he
wouldn't be able to vote,

to hold a civil-service job,
to live outside the country.

Nothing but a pardon
could erase that record.

Now, isn't it worthwhile to
try to save him from that?

Hi, Della, Perry.

- Hello, sergeant.
- Hi.

If you'll excuse us, I have
to speak to Perry a minute.

Pardon me.

Everything's set in Atlanta, you're
gonna have to find out a way...

I don't know how well
you know my boss,

but take my word for it, what he
did this morning wasn't easy for him.

Miss Street, you're
smart and you're pretty,

and you're loyal to
defend your boss.

He doesn't need me to defend
him, he can speak for himself.

I know. I heard
him this morning.

But talk is cheap.

Well, fixing his
car isn't cheap.

It'll cost $1,700, money he won't
get back from the insurance company

because they don't pay off if
he refuses to press charges.

- He didn't mention that.
- He wouldn't.

He doesn't put a price
tag on his conscience.

Robin.

Man, you look delectable.

I was all set to bawl
you out for being late

and I took one look at you and,
well, what's a guy gonna do?

Did you take care of that,
uh, favor for me, Tom?

Did you ever ask me for
anything you didn't get? Ha, ha.

- It's all set, starting tomorrow.
- Aw, thanks, Tom.

- You're sweet.
- Oh, Robin,

there's a kid waiting for
you in your dressing room.

Oh, if it's that Jody, you're
gonna have to throw him out...

No, no. It's the other one.

- The quiet kid.
- Oh, okay.

- Hi.
- Hi, Susie.

Susie, baby, I got an idea you're not
gonna be around here much longer.

Why, what did I do
wrong, Mr. Loman?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
You did everything just right.

You looked right, you
smiled right, you moved right.

So that's why I say you're gonna
be leaving for Broadway or pictures.

I've been thinking
about it all day, Robin.

Why did this Mason do it?

What was there in it for
him? What was his angle?

Lennie, everybody doesn't
have to have an angle.

Just figure he was
trying to give you a break.

Light me a cigarette, will you?

I think maybe they're
in my pocketbook.

The thing is, Robin...

The thing is, Robin,

he acted as if he wasn't worried
about what the cops thought,

or the judge.

But he was...

He was worried about me.

Lennie, what we say, it
doesn't go any further, right?

Because, well,
Bill's a funny guy.

You don't have to worry
about Bill. If he touches you...

This guy, Lennie, he
gave you a chance today.

And if you have any sense,

you'd take it and break with
Bill and Ben Huggins, now.

And go where? Do what?

Well, you could...

Hey, start with this Mr. Mason.

He's smart, a lawyer and all,
he could give you some advice,

maybe help you find a job.

It's too late.

No, for me, it's too late.

But not for you.

You're not much older
than I am, you know.

It's not like I was
a kid or something.

"Not much older," but I
love you for saying so.

Lennie, you know the
club manager, Tom Loman?

He's an awful nice
guy, a gentleman.

He'd do anything for me.

Well, three years ago, he
asked me if I'd marry him.

I should have done it.

But now I can't.

I couldn't let Tom in for
the trouble he'd get from Bill.

Hold on there.

- I don't like to be manhandled, Loman.
- Then stay out of here.

I've told you I don't want
you hanging around my place.

What's your problem?

You still making
calf eyes at my girl?

Why don't you act your age?

Robin, if I did,

you know, get clean,
maybe go to this lawyer,

I'm gonna be 18
pretty soon and...

What's a few years difference
when two people are...

Oh, Lennie, you
do like I told you.

You get out of this mess
and make a life for yourself?

You're beautiful.

Now, promise me.

You're gonna do what
I told you, don't wait.

There'll never be a
better time than now.

Bill, I tried to reach you this
afternoon but you were gone.

It's all fixed.

Tom said the job's
open in the parking lot.

- I told him it was for my cousin.
- Good.

That's good, baby.

Hold it, Lennie.

From now on, I'm not
gonna let you out of my sight.

We're gonna stick
together, close together.

I was under the impression I had made
it clear that I don't want company here.

- Not you, not them.
- All right. All right.

We were in the neighborhood and
I had an idea for you, a good idea.

You're thinking too much, Billy.

Lately you've had too many
ideas and that's my department.

All you have to do is what you're told.
- Okay, Ben. I'm sorry.

And believe me, from
now on you can be a hermit.

But just try to listen
to what I've got to say.

I've listened, Billy, and
it makes me uneasy.

A shoemaker should
stick to his last.

Cars are simple and safe.

We have a system.

I don't like taking chances
and houses are dangerous.

But this can't miss.

The boy at the parking
lot picks out the car.

He makes a duplicate
of the house key.

He gets the address
from the registration,

we go there and clean the place.

And what if the mark should
return home unexpectedly?

Well, he can't.

Our boy at the parking
lot has to bring him the car.

If he does, he calls
us at the location.

Plenty of time to get clear.

It's a piece of cake, Ben.

You say Robin arranged the
job as parking attendant for Tick.

- You told her why?
- Well, I had to.

Look, you can trust Robin.

- She's all right.
- But she's a woman, Billy.

And in an enterprise such as ours,
I dislike having to trust a female.

Well, trust me, Ben. It's
all set and it'll be okay.

Very well, Billy.

On your responsibility,
we shall proceed.

Good.

Lester,

will you remain for
a moment, please?

- Pardon me, uh, are you Mr. Mason?
- Miss Spring?

I believe you said you're
a friend of Lennie Beale.

I shouldn't even be here,
if anybody found out...

But you did call me
and you are here.

Now, why?

Because Lennie said
you gave him a break.

Only if he takes
advantage of it.

He's a good kid, Mr. Mason
and he'd like to do what you want,

but he's afraid.

I want you to be honest
with me, Miss Spring.

The police believe Lennie's
involved with a car-stripping ring.

The police are
right, aren't they?

Aren't they?

Knowing that you
still wanted him let go?

Well, I thought I saw
something worth saving.

I was willing to take a
chance on reaching him.

You did reach him, Mr. Mason.

Then there's only one
way for him to help himself,

that's to tell the police
everything he knows.

And go to jail for
10, maybe 15 years?

Well, I've stuck
my neck out this far.

I'm willing to go a little further
if you'll go along with me.

- How? MASON: I'll
ask the District Attorney

to give Lennie
immunity if he testifies.

If the District Attorney
agrees, I'll get back to you.

- It's the only way?
- That's the only way.

Yes, I heard how well
you co-operated, counselor,

with the police when they wanted
you to bring charges against that boy

that apparently
helped strip your car.

Now, you want me to
co-operate with you?

Didn't anyone
ever tell you, Perry,

about co-operation
being a two-way street?

And why should I believe this
girl, why do you believe her,

if you really do?

Do you really think that Lennie
Beale is gonna walk in voluntarily

and give evidence
against his friends?

I'm hopeful Robin will persuade
him to do just that, if you'll go along.

You know, present
enforcement isn't working.

Maybe this way, you can at
least make a dent in the statistics.

Well, you've got a point there.

All right.

If Lennie Beale turns
himself in voluntarily

and gives evidence
against this ring,

you can tell him he's
got his deal, full immunity.

- Hey, cut the light.
- Relax.

We work in comfort.

Now, Tick's in the parking lot
and if the people leave, he'll ring us.

One ring, then he'll hang
up and he'll ring again.

Well, let's go to it,
all of you. Come on.

Hey, Bill. SIKES: Hmm?

You want this?

Yeah, yeah, it's the kind of
thing Huggins gets a bang out of.

We'll make him a present.

Lennie!

Where do you think you're going?

- To bring the van up.
- Well, you just stick with me.

Cut the pictures
out of the frames.

Well, come on, you
guys, move. Move.

- Yeah.
- Clear out.

You gotta clear out of there.

- The marks leaving the place?
- No, no.

Huggins sent word.

Robin finked to the cops.

Well, she wouldn't.
She knows I'd kill her.

No, no, no, not Robin.

Cut out.

Take off, Lennie.

We gotta make it to the van.

Over there. Cut them off!

Halt!

Stop or I'll shoot!

Halt! Halt!

Try to cut them off.
They're heading for the van.

Look, you're on your own now, so
you just lay low until they clear out.

- Bill, I can make it, give me a hand.
- Look, you'll slow me down.

I've gotta settle with Robin.

Bill.

Bill!

Think the girl will be
able to talk Lennie into it?

Let's hope so.

You know, it's a
funny thing, Paul,

since that night at Angels
Flight, when my car was stripped,

I've had the feeling...

Do you remember the
story of Oliver Twist?

You see Lennie as Oliver?

If you stretched a point or
two, there are some parallels.

Well, if Robin comes through, there
will be a new ending for the old story.

Oliver Twist was written
more than a hundred years ago.

Let's hope human nature
has changed for the better.

Sir?

Perry.

- Lennie, what's happened?
- Let me go.

Mr. Mason, I can't talk to
you now. I gotta get to him.

I gotta get to Bill.

She's dead.

I found her.

You were the one that screamed?

Has the manager
called the police?

Tom Loman's not here. He's gone.

You stay put and don't
let anybody touch anything.

And you call the police.

Get Della on the phone, Paul.
She can find Sikes' address.

- We may have to stop Lennie in time.
- In time for what?

In time to prevent
another murder.

Sikes' apartment
is on the fifth floor.

Sikes.

He's alive.

We'll need an ambulance.

So you say that Benjamin Huggins
was the mastermind of this ring

and that he's the one that taught
you how to steal from cars, huh?

And that he disposed
of the parts in Mexico

through a senorita, what's
her name, Donna Reales?

That's right?

Why is it, Lennie, that all
the other boys told Sgt. Roddin

in auto theft that they
worked for Bill Sikes?

- And he's dead.
- That's right.

And we're charging
this boy with his murder.

But I didn't kill him.

I'll admit I meant to.

When I saw Robin
dead, I took her gun,

the one Bill gave
her, it was in her hand.

I meant to use it.

When I got to Bill's
place, I was too late.

Somebody had
already stabbed him.

That's when I passed out.

Oh, come on, now, Lennie,
that's not what happened.

What happened is
you pulled a gun on him,

he took it away from you,

and then you stabbed
him with his own knife

because you thought he killed Robin.
Now, isn't that what really happened?

No, no. Honest, I didn't kill
him. Please, I didn't kill him.

No, I didn't, Mr. Mason.
I didn't know Bill Sikes,

and I don't know this
boy, Lennie Beale.

And that's why I've
asked you to come.

My name and
reputation are in jeopardy.

Your client has forced
me to defend myself

against absurd and
scurrilous charges.

For the first time in my life,

I have seen the inside
of a police station.

Now, why has he
done this, Mr. Mason?

Obviously, he didn't pick your
name at random, Mr. Huggins.

He does know you.

Heh. Every waiter I've tipped
and every down-and-outer

I've given money to,

and every tradesman I've
honored with my business know me,

doesn't necessarily
mean I know them.

Do you have any idea why
Lennie should wanna harm you?

No.

And the police asked me that.

Enjoy your wine, Mr. Mason.

You'll find it has what
Hemingway called "great authority."

I have it imported from Spain.

Very good.

But most Spanish
wine has great authority.

Now you were telling me...

You're a man of rare judgment,
cultured tastes, Mr. Mason.

What do you think of this?

Why it's Tehuantepec, isn't it?

It appears to be a man,
no eyes, no ears, no mouth,

a man without three senses.

Now, since obviously I can't
help you and you can't help me,

I'll he on my way, Mr. Huggins.

Wait a minute,
Mr. Mason, I have it.

This figurine gave me the clue.

I remember this man, Sikes.

He delivered some
packages to me from Mexico,

this figurine was among them.

As I remember, he was a bold,

insensitive, brash young man,
and there was a boy with him.

- Lennie Beale?
- I don't know.

I've never seen your
client, Mr. Mason.

If it was Lennie,

I can only assume
that you failed to tip him

and in a fit of revenge he
made all those accusations.

What are men like you
and me to do, Mr. Mason?

Just what?

How can society protect itself
against the criminal element,

the purse-snatchers, and
muggers, and petty thieves?

I can think of only
one way, Mr. Huggins.

Men like you and me

can learn to recognize
them when we see them.

Good night.

I've had practically the whole office
looking for a lead on Ben Huggins

and so far we haven't been able to
turn up anything that might help us.

- What about the other boys?
- With Lennie's help,

Sgt. Roddin picked up
all of them except one.

- The one in the parking lot?
- Tick Gleason.

And each of the
innocent darlings

claim they never heard of
anyone named Ben Huggins.

And apparently they've convinced
the police that Lennie did kill Bill Sikes.

And Sikes killed Robin?

I don't buy it.

Lennie claims Huggins was
dealing with a Mexican woman.

Senorita Donna Reales.

Paul, could you leave
for Mexico tonight?

Find Senorita Reales?

She's the only hope we have of
proving that Lennie told the truth,

that Huggins is indeed
our 20th century Fagin.

Your Honor, the
defendant Lennie Beale,

is in this court today on trial
for his life by his own choice.

It was a simple choice.

It was offered to him not
once, but several times.

A simple choice
between right and wrong.

When he was
released from custody

on a charge of
pawning a stolen article,

he was first offered
that simple choice.

He chose instead to return to
the criminal ring that spawned him.

He was given a second
chance by my office,

when I offered him immunity to
testify, he rejected that chance.

Again he made another choice.

This time to engage
in a felony burglary,

and he carried a policeman's
bullet away from that encounter.

Then came his third chance,

faced with the murder
of a girl he loved,

he had to make that simple
choice again and he chose,

not due process of law,

but the remorseless, inexorable
code of the underworld.

And that's why he's
here today, Your Honor,

quite properly being tried
as an adult, not as a juvenile.

He has demonstrated that
he is not a delinquent child

but a hardened criminal.

A hardened criminal,
who was seeking revenge

for the murder of that girl,

deliberately and
with premeditation

went to the apartment of William
Sikes and killed him with his own knife.

Like I was telling you when you
took me to lunch, Mr. Burger...

Let's get right to the
point, Miss Sawyer.

Just tell the court, please,
what the defendant said to you

when you saw him
the night of the murder.

Well, uh, he was like,
running out of the place.

He nearly knocked me down.

And I said, uh, "What's
your hurry, Lennie boy?"

And he said, "Bill did it.

He killed Robin
and I'll kill him."

Yes, Mr. Burger,
this was the knife

we found in the body of
the decedent, William Sikes.

Were there fingerprints
on it, lieutenant?

There were several,
most belonged to him.

You see, we found
this was his knife.

But there were other prints.

There were at least
three identifiable ones,

his right thumb, right index
finger and the third finger.

Who made those
prints, lieutenant?

The defendant, Mr. Burger.

Leonard Beale.

The kid didn't mean any harm.

He just had a big crush on
her and Robin went along with it.

Of course, Bill Sikes didn't
see anything funny in it.

The night before,

before he was killed, I saw him
drag Lennie out of her dressing room.

Was there ever in your presence

any violence connected with Lennie
Beale's attachment for Miss Spring?

Well, one night this Jody
character was hanging around,

he had a thing for Robin too.

And, well, she bawled him
out and Jody cussed at her,

and Lennie went for
him with a stage brace.

- Really?
- I had to hold him till

Jody could beat it.

Take the witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Loman, you've
told the District Attorney

that the defendant was
in love with Miss Spring.

- That's right.
- And Bill Sikes was in love with her.

Yes, sir.

And that Jody Laird
was in love with her.

Well, in a way.

How about you, Mr. Loman?

- Were you in love with her also?
- Yes.

Yes, I was, and I'm
not ashamed to admit it.

And if she had been
insulted in your presence,

- would you have, uh, defended her?
- Why, sure.

Mr. Loman, previous
testimony established

that you weren't present
at the Femmes-a-Go-Go

at the time the body
was discovered.

Now, can you tell us
exactly where you were?

Well, no, I'm sorry.

I travel around a lot
at night catching acts.

You weren't by any chance on
your way to Bill Sikes' apartment?

No. And I'll tell you
something, Mr. Mason,

if I'd found Robin, I'd
have known it was Sikes,

and I would've done the
same thing that youngster did.

That Sikes was a germ.

But you're not gonna
get me all riled up

and make me say
something I'll regret.

Of course not, Mr. Loman.

Who was the man you worked
for, son, the leader of this ring?

- Bill Sikes.
- I see.

Now, Jody, I think you told us

that the boy who was planted in
the parking lot at Femmes-a-Go-Go

had instructions to warn you
by telephone, if necessary.

Yes, sir. And like
I said, he did call.

But it wasn't what we expected.

The people weren't
leaving the club, going home.

What was the occasion
for the call then?

Well, Mr...

That is Tick said that Robin
had tipped off the police.

Did Mr. Sikes take
this warning seriously?

Well, what else? Right
away we heard the sirens.

And Bill said he'd kill her.

Who besides yourself heard that?

We all did.

Does "all" include the
defendant Lennie Beale?

Yes, sir.

He was right there
when Bill said it.

Well, you're a bonus, friend. I
didn't count on finding you here.

- I haven't done anything!
- Fine.

You come back and
tell that to the police.

I'm not leaving here. I don't have
to. You can't touch me in Mexico.

You are gonna have
accommodations in the local brig

till I get you extradited.

It's not as plush as you've been
enjoying with Senorita Reales.

She's been good to me.
She's not gonna let you.

Let him go, senor.

And you will put both
hands on the wall.

Well, you saved me the trouble
of finding you, Senorita Reales.

- You know me? PAUL:
You're the reason I'm here,

to bring you back with me,
both of you, to testify in court.

You are in my country
and you have no right.

Tick's a native American.
I can have him extradited.

And you?

- Well, I have a bargain for you.
- What bargain?

You come back, and testify that
you did business with Ben Huggins,

- and that Huggins ran the operation.
- I am guilty of nothing, senor.

I bought and paid in good faith.

That's where we
come to my bargain.

Those little doodads, the
Mexican national cultural treasure,

that you used to
pay in good faith,

suppose the Patrimonio
Nacional were told about them?

But if you were to
come back and testify,

who would there be to tell them?

I have here a series of recent
photographs, Senorita Reales.

I wonder if you can
identify this one?

It was taken inside, where we
display and store our automobile parts.

And you obtain these
parts where, how?

From...

Excuse me.

Will you go on please, senorita?

You were about to tell us where
you obtained the auto parts.

From Benjamin Huggins.

Could you describe your
business arrangement

with Mr. Huggins?

Well, I would order the parts
I needed from Senor Huggins.

He would send Bill Sikes
to deliver them in Mexico,

and then I would
pay him the money.

Then I suppose you were,
well, closer to Mr. Sikes

- than you were to Mr. Huggins.
- Sí, senor.

But you always understood
that you were doing business

not with Mr. Sikes
but with Mr. Huggins.

That he was the
real boss, as we say.

Sí, that is true.

So the facade is
torn away at last.

Mr. Benjamin Huggins, civic
leader, connoisseur of art.

And now we see you
for what you really are,

a corrupter of youth, inducting
young boys into a life of crime,

destroying their lives while
you in safety and with impunity,

enjoy the profits.

Your Honor,
reluctantly, I must object.

And I sustain the objection.

Didn't you indoctrinate
your trained young thieves

to believe that anyone, anyone
who betrayed them to the law,

must be punished by death?

I abhor violence, Mr. Mason.

- Just give me an answer.
- I did not.

I have sworn to tell
the truth and I have.

You also gave the
police a sworn statement

that Lennie Beale
had lied about you.

The court has made note of
that. Get on with it, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Huggins,

you were convinced, were
you not that the girl, Robin,

with my help, had
betrayed you to the law?

- Objection.
- Withdraw the question.

Mr. Huggins, according
to Jody Laird's testimony,

Bill Sikes received a telephone
call at the burglary site,

warning him that Robin
had tipped off the law,

when actually a neighbor

who knew the family
was away for the evening

phoned his
suspicions to the police.

Now is it not a fact
that you were the one

who told Tick Gleason to
make that telephone call?

Before you answer, I warn you
that we have Tick Gleason here,

waiting to testify.

On the night of the murder,

I neither saw nor
spoke to Tick Gleason.

Yes, Mr. Huggins
told you the truth, sir.

I didn't see or talk to him.

Then who told you
to call Bill Sikes?

Senorita Reales.

She came to the Femmes-a-Go-Go
and told you to make that call?

Yes, sir.

After you spoke to Bill
Sikes, what did you do?

Well, there were
about four cars lined up.

- I had to park them.
- What happened then?

Well, I went over to
Senorita Reales' car.

I asked her to take me
with her back to Mexico.

I knew the whole thing
had blown up. I was scared.

And she agreed?

Yes, she told me to get my
things and meet her at the hotel.

Sí, I did deliver such
a message, senor,

only because Ben
Huggins told me to.

One thing bothers me, senorita.

Why were you so easily persuaded

when Tick Gleason asked you
to take him to Mexico with you?

Could it have been because
he was the one person

who could testify that you'd been at
the Femmes-a-Go-Go that evening?

But I've already
told you, senor.

I was only there because Ben
Huggins sent me to deliver the message.

I did so and I left.

What were you doing during the time
Tick Gleason went to a phone booth,

called Bill Sikes,
parked the four cars,

- and then returned to you.
- I waited.

Senor Mason, I have not
told you the whole truth.

No, you haven't,
senorita. Now, why?

- Are you afraid to tell the truth?
- Sí.

Of whom are you afraid?

No matter. I cannot keep
this inside any longer.

I went to the club
and I saw this Robin.

Why?

Ben Huggins.

He told me I must.

And for the same reason that
I was forced to return to testify,

I was forced to do as he asked.

What did he force you to do?

We were out for the afternoon,

when we returned to his
place, this boy Lester is there.

He tells Senor Huggins about the
girl and Huggins is like a madman.

He says, first, I
must tell Tick to call,

and then, I must tell lies to this
Robin so that she would come outside.

So he could talk to her.

I assume then, that you
knew Robin Spring quite well.

No, I did not know her.

Then why, senorita, did
you give her this gun?

- I swear, I did not.
- No?

Then why does it
bear your family crest,

the same crest visible in this
photograph which was taken

of the sign in
front of your shop?

What happened in that
dressing room, senorita?

Nothing, senor. She did not know
me and did not want to come outside.

She didn't know
you, but you knew her.

No, senor, I have
already told you, I did not.

Senorita, you're straying again.

I think we'd better
get back to the truth.

Now, when Robin Spring's
body was found by the defendant,

before anyone else discovered
it, this pistol was in her hand.

The telephone was off the hook.

Now, can you explain how
those things happened?

No, senor.

She seemed to have known that
I had come from Senor Huggins.

She did not know me, and
did not want to leave with me.

So I left.

I'm sure you did,
senorita, but that was later.

First you saw Bill Sikes'
picture on her makeup table.

You realized Robin was not
just an informer, she was a rival.

And when she threatened
you with this pistol,

there was no longer
any room for doubt.

I would not have hurt her.

I did not intend.

I turned my back to run out,

and she picked up the
telephone to warn Bill.

Then I saw the
long scissors, and I...

And then you went to
Bill Sikes' apartment.

He didn't know
you'd seen the gun.

He didn't know that Robin
was dead. He had no suspicion.

He had put his
knife on the table.

He turned his back

and I picked it up.

I was so good to him,
senor, I did everything for him,

but she destroyed it.

What could I do?

All right, Perry,
what's the secret?

And why this celebration,

and why have you been
walking around with that

"I know something you
don't know" expression?

Well, it's been three months
since Lennie left here on his trip.

Yeah, that's another
secret operation.

Perry, I don't think a vacation
is what Lennie needed.

I think he needed to go to work.

Now, Paul, what Lennie
needs is more education.

I think the boy needed
to get away from it all,

to relax out in the fresh air.

That's the very reason that Lennie's
trip has been his secret and mine.

All of you were so intent on
telling him exactly what to do.

Well, we were only trying to help.
- Of course.

And realizing that,
Lennie took Della's advice,

and yours, Paul,
and yours, Clay.

- Well, where is he? Tell us, already.
- Now, just a moment.

I have a feeling Perry has
reached the dramatic moment.

We're going to find
out what this is all about.

Well, boot camp. That's where
you've been for three months.

And those chevrons
mean you're an honor man.

Lennie, you're an admiral already.
- Ha, ha.

Well, practically.

Between a Navy Admiral
and a Marine PFC,

there's a little
difference in pay.

As I told you, Lennie
made his own decision

and received job
training and hard work,

and plenty of outdoor life.

- Right?
- Heh, right.