All language subtitles for Perry Mason S05E18 The Case of the Tarnished Trademark.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

And so that is
just like I told you.

All right, all right!
Now listen some more!

Already it is 30 years since I came
here from Copenhagen to start my shop.

I do not marry.

I put my heart in my
hands and shape the wood.

People like, and I make
the shop bigger and bigger,

and I put more and
more men to work.

Good men, all of you. The best.

Old friends, I know
what is in your heads.

You want to know why I stop you
from work to talk to you like this.

I think everybody that knows
Axel Norstaad knows my dream

that someday, here in our
little Danish part of the Valley,

we have our own
Children's Hospital.

And now, at last,

I find a way to make
this dream to be fulfilled.

Edie, you will help me?
You will tell them for me, yes?

Of course, Axel.

This is my new and good friend
Miss Morrow, from Beverly Hills.

When I tell Edie what I
want to do, she helps me.

What's happened is this:

Axel is selling his shop here

and with it his highly
honored trademark.

The proceeds will go
into a Hospital Fund,

and I'm happy to tell you

that the local church committee
and others have pledged

that they will match that
amount dollar for dollar.

Boys, boys, what does this mean?

You are afraid
you lose your jobs?

You think Axel Norstaad would
let this happen? Of course not.

Now I will show you
your new employer.

Mr. Martin Somers of Long Beach,

where he has big,
big furniture factory.

Mr. Somers, I
introduce you around.

Tell your boss I
just dropped in to...

Mr. Hadley.

We didn't expect
to see you here.

I'm sure you didn't.

Losing bidders are supposed
to go home and shut up.

Hello, Hadley.

Hello, Norstaad.

I gather it's all
signed and delivered.

Sorry I gave you
such a legitimate offer.

I don't know what you mean.

It's nothing, Axel.

Everybody wanted your trademark.

Mr. Hadley just needs a
consolation drink, that's all.

It isn't me that
needs the drink.

Miss Morrow, you may be
a very fine little promoter,

but your knowledge of
the furniture business...

You just say those
things to me, Hadley.

And maybe you better
say them outside.

Take it easy, Axel.

I'm the one he's throwing
the sour grapes at.

You bet your life I am.

The slide trombone of
the furniture business.

Well, Norstaad, according
to your bidding rules,

the highest bidder is
supposed to put down $50,000

before the contract is signed.

Have you seen one penny
of Somers' money yet?

I've got the check right here.

- That satisfy you?
- No.

I think Mr. Hadley is
being quite hysterical.

Axel, a deal is a deal,

and I see no justification for the
slightest delay in signing the contract.

Good. Let's do it right now.

Lisa, give to me the contracts.

There's no fool
like an old fool.

When first I see sketch
like this one month ago,

I say yes. This is what
Children's Hospital should look like.

And then I say, "Mr. Reed, it is like
you look into my mind and into my heart

and put on paper
what you see there."

Now it is all done with
blue paper and arithmetic.

Edie, you like it?

Yes, I like it very much indeed.

You don't know how happy I
am to hear that, Miss Morrow.

Why shouldn't you hear it?

Isn't Edie friend of yours?

I tell you a secret, Latham.

When you bring me sketch
and idea, this is very good.

But next thing you do
for me is even better.

When I say "Where
we will get the money?"

you say "I know beautiful lady who
knows all about how to raise money."

Axel, please, you're
getting carried away

Well, what I meant was,

well, you know how
important this is to me.

I think I told you,
Mr. Norstaad,

that I've been in South
America for a good many years,

and I've been out of
the construction game.

This is my chance
to get going again.

And if you both like the plan,

then maybe the Hospital
Committee and the others...

Of course they like it.
Of course you get job.

Just you watch how
Edie pushes this through.

Nowhere in the world
is another woman like...

Please, Axel.

Oh. Of course.

It gets late, and we should
take ourselves home.

Oh, Miss Morrow, you might
like to point out to the Committee

that the design for the
hospital conforms perfectly

to the topography of the land.

Oh, land.

Yeah, Edie, you pay over
deposit money already?

No, not yet.

But Maigret, he says...

Don't worry. I just
thought it was better

if Mr. Somers replaced
his $50,000 personal check

with a certified
one, that's all.

He said he'd have
it for me tomorrow,

and I'll see it goes
directly into escrow.

Good. Fine, fine.

Good night, Edie.

Good night, Axel.

Good night, Miss Morrow.
Much obliged for everything.

I mean it, darling. You've
handled everything just perfectly.

Good night, Mr. Reed.

All right, all right.

Coming! Coming, coming!

For first time in 30 years, I let
myself sleep as much as I want...

- I know...
- and you have to come wake me up.

I know, Axel, but
something is wrong.

Lisa, you forget
Mr. Somers is boss now.

Call him in Long Beach...

No, no. No, Axel. He's the
one who's making it wrong.

This morning I got a notice
from him at the lumber yard.

He's canceling the regular
monthly order for the shop.

Oh.

Oh, that's too bad.

Axel, you didn't buy all these years
from Carl just because he's my brother.

You bought because he handles the
highest grade of S and F hardwood.

Sure, sure, but if Mr. Somers wants
to buy somewhere else, can I stop him?

You want me to tell you
why he cancelled out?

I'll tell you why. Because he wants to
buy cheap commercial grades of lumber.

Nothing but spruce and hemlock.

Carl, if Somers
did like you say,

he will cheapen trademark.
He would make it nothing.

Why would he want to kill
goose that lays the golden eggs?

That's crazy.

But Carl loses his
biggest account.

What can we do?

I will talk to you later.

And do not worry so much.

There will be bigger
things for all of us.

Hello.

Long distance? Chicago?

See here, Mr. Norstaad.

I've been your leading representative in
the Midwest for the past ten years now.

You can't do this to me.

Do? I do something?

You, Somers, who's
ever running things...

He's got a salesman in Chicago
trying to saturate the market.

Why, he's taking
orders at prices so low

the furniture bearing your
trademark could be sold retail

for less than I paid you.

Oh, no.

No, that's impossible.

Is it?

Well, I've seen signed duplicates
of the orders with my own eyes.

I call you back.

Parker.

I told you I wanted you to bring me
some pieces to show to salesmen.

These pieces ready
to show to anybody.

- I've told you I want production...
- But he's not in today.

If you'll call for
an appointment...

So now I need an
appointment, huh?

What's the matter? You
are hiding from somebody?

No, no, of course not.

Come on into my office
where we can talk, Norstaad.

Aha.

Ramsey from
Chicago, he calls me.

He tells me that you sell
furniture under my trademark

cheaper than I can make it.

I want to know how
can you do that?

That's my business, I'm afraid.

No, mine.

For 30 years I work
to build up trademark.

Just because we sign contract

does not mean that I
do not care what goes on.

The only thing that
concerns you, Norstaad,

is that I have a further
payment of $200,000

to meet in four months,

and after that a
continuing royalty

of 5% on any furniture I
sell under your trademark.

I will not let you cheat
people under my name.

That is my design on
top, but not underneath.

This is not my chair.

This is not a
piece of furniture.

This is toothpicks.

This is trash.

Parker! Parker!

All right.

If you want to play rough, I'll
show you I can play a lot rougher.

Now go on.

Get out of here.

Get out of here before I
bash in your thick skull!

All right. I go.

But don't think that you
bluff me for one minute.

Miss Morrow called
about the certified check.

Never mind that. Get me
Reed on the phone right away.

- Who?
- Latham Reed! And hurry it up.

Would you please tell Miss
Morrow that Axel Norstaad is here?

Sorry, but she isn't in.

Would you care to
leave a message?

No, I've got to talk to her.
I've got to see her right away.

Well, she just this moment left.

When she will be back?

Soon, I imagine.

Good. I will wait.

So I wait and wait
and wait and wait,

and still she doesn't
come or call or anything.

What makes you so sure she
didn't know you were there and why?

What kind of talk is that?

- Please, Carl.
- Please what?

Why do you need a
woman to do things for you?

To ask about things?

This is none of your business.

Well, you sure don't need help

from the lady who fixed up your
contract with Somers in the first place.

You be quiet!

Oh, stop it, Axel.

Both of you. Stop it.

So, what about you, Lisa?

You think I'm
becoming a mouse, too?

Huh?

All right! I show you!

I show everybody!

I'll get it, Della.

Mason speaking.

No, no, you just caught
me. We've been working late.

Mr. Mason, you'll be in your
office first thing in morning, yes?

Well, I'll be here, but I have a
calendar full of appointments.

Cancel them. I be
there at 9 sharp.

And then you fix Somers for me.

Do what?

Somers. Martin Somers.

I tell you all about it tomorrow,
but now I got many people to call.

You be there. Goodbye.

Hello, Axel.

Shall I call him back?

No. I guess not.

He'll be here first
thing in the morning.

Axel, you think I don't
know how it is with you?

Lisa, please. No more talk.

But all day long, you haven't
eaten enough for a sparrow.

And now it's late.

Oh.

Oh, that.

We'll go to your place.
I'll make you some supper.

Then you have a
good night's sleep.

Look.

What is it?

I don't understand.

What does that mean?

I'm going to find out.

Maigret!

Maigret!

Maigret! Maigret!

What's going on out here?

Why you knock my sign down?

Why you put up "Sold"?

Because it is sold
to another party.

A shoe company, Axel.

They wanted a
bigger area, but...

No. You cannot.

Now you listen to me.

I warned you I couldn't wait.

I'd be a fool to, particularly
after that check bounced.

Like I told the
church committee...

Wait, wait. Bounced?

What check bounced?

That personal check
for 50,000 from Somers.

I wanted to tell you about
it the day I talked to you,

but she didn't want me to.

She?

Your friend from Beverly Hills.

Axel, I know Miss Morrow's
done quite a good promotion job.

At least she sure did sweep
everybody around here off their feet.

If you got something
inside, say it.

Don't make up the words.

I tried to get hold
of her all day.

Best I could do was a lot of
messages she was tied up someplace.

Tied up, my foot.

My wife saw her car parked
at a bar down the highway

not more than two hours ago.

- Where?
- Outside a motel.

The Windmill Inn.

♪♪

Lars!

Lars! Come here quick!

Hurry, Lars!

What is it, Mr. Svenson?

Somebody complained
the radio in Number 3

had been on loud all night.

I went in to check,
and... Hurry, Lars!

♪♪

There.

Who is it?

Name is Somers.

Well, go on, call an ambulance.
I already phoned the doctor.

What for?

If your head was bashed in
like that, you'd be dead, too.

Mr. Somers had driven
up from Long Beach

and registered at
the Windmill Motel

in the Danish section of the
Valley around 7:00 last evening.

Police are believed to
be following several leads

in the peaceful, placid
little suburb of Los Angeles

Just a rehash of that 7
a.m. broadcast you heard.

Looks like Axel is one of the
leads the police are following.

That's why I thought we'd
better get out here, Della.

Why don't you go over and
order us some aebliskive?

Beg pardon?

Danish pastry.

I shouldn't be
upstairs too long,

then we may have a better idea of just
how much time we'll be spending here.

Hello. I'm Perry Mason.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

It's so good you're here.

Come in, come in.

Lisa, who comes?

Hello, Axel.

Oh, hello, Mr. Mason.

When I call you last night...

Uh, meet Lieutenant Anderson.

We've met.

You Mr. Norstaad's
lawyer, Perry?

No, no, not for this.
For something else.

This morning I
forget to call you

and tell you I do not need
appointment anymore.

But it is all right. You
send me bill anyway.

And now you turn
around and go back.

Goodbye.

Well, Axel, as long
as I'm already here...

No, no, no, you're
such a busy man.

We don't want to
keep you. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Perry.

All right, Axel.

Good luck, Andy.

What's the matter?
They stop serving?

Mm-mm. Floyd
Chapman's over there.

All right, let's have a
meeting of the Bar Association.

Perry. What on earth?
Hello, Miss Street.

- Hello.
- Well, Counselor.

What are you doing here?

I'm afraid I can't answer
that satisfactorily. Can you?

Don't see why not. Coffee?

Thank you, yes.

Right now I'm waiting
for Lt. Anderson.

I thought he ought to know about
a call I got yesterday afternoon

from this man Somers
who was murdered.

Mind letting me
know about that call?

I represent Axel Norstaad.

Norstaad?

Small world.

Somers wanted me to be ready
to file an injunction this morning

restraining a man named Norstaad

from any future acts of
violence and/or interference.

And also to put a private detective
on the trail of one Latham Reed.

I didn't take the case,
though. Too busy.

Who's Reed?

Some building contractor
that Somers said

may have made off with a
certified check for $50,000.

When, do you know?

Yesterday afternoon.

Oh, there's Anderson now.

If you'll excuse me.

Certainly nice to
have seen you both.

- Goodbye.
- Bye-bye.

No.

It cannot be that you have not
heard from her in all this time.

You must tell me where...

Have I interrupted you?

Please, Mr. Mason. Why do
you not leave like I tell you?

Well, it seemed obvious you didn't
want to talk in front of Lt. Anderson.

But I do not need you.

Axel, what happened between
you and Somers yesterday

that caused him instruct his attorney
to file an injunction against you?

Oh, that. That is nothing.

I broke a chair, and I had a
few words with him, that is all.

Don't you feel that you could
be in trouble over Somers?

The way you talked about
him over the phone to me...

Of course not.

That is not the
trouble that worries me.

But you admit you are worried.

Don't make your
lawyer's talk with me!

Axel, have you been able
to locate Edie Morrow?

Who told you about her?

Lisa Pedersen.

Lisa is a snoop!

Listen to me.

This is not how Axel
talks about people.

And yelling at his friends.

That's all right, Axel.

If you'll just explain the
background of all this,

perhaps we could help
you find Miss Morrow.

If that's the thing
that concerns you.

Ja.

Ja, it is.

And just one thing you
must promise me, Mr. Mason.

If you do find where Edie is,

first tell me, not them.

Mr. Mason?

Perry, this is Mr. Hadley.

Sam Hadley, the furniture man.

Oh, yes. You were one of the bidders
on the Norstaad Shop and trademark.

- What can I do for you, Mr. Hadley?
- Plenty.

I was just talking to
Axel on the phone,

and he tells me that you're going to
resolve this mess that he's got into.

Are you assuming that
now Mr. Somers is dead,

Axel will sell his
trademark to you?

Why not? I would have had it...

I should have had it in the beginning if
it hadn't been for a lot of skullduggery.

In my hands, Mr. Mason,

there is no limit to what can
be done with the Norstaad line.

I'd expand his old shop,
use the real estate that it's on.

I've waited and worked all my
life for an opportunity like this.

All right, Mr. Hadley.

You can keep in
touch, if you like.

That's all I wanted to say.

I intend to keep in touch.

Well, it boils
down to this, Perry.

Somers was such
a slick manipulator

that few in the trade knew that
he was close to being bankrupt.

Apparently, he grabbed
at the Norstaad trademark

as a last, best
hope of survival.

If he was so hard-pressed,

what about the
$50,000 down payment?

Well, on the strength of
getting the Norstaad line,

Somers signed some long-term
contracts with various supply houses,

in return for which they loaned
him sizeable sums of money.

Still this wasn't enough to boost
the total up to 50 grand in time,

but this didn't faze
Martin Somers at all.

He simply stalled by writing
a personal check for 50 grand

which he knew would bounce,

until, of course, yesterday when
he apparently had the balance.

What about the
rest of the cash...

The $200,000 he was
supposed to pay in four months?

By then, he would have had
time to hit the national market

with cheap imitations
of the Norstaad line.

And, by factoring his invoices

and using the valuable
trademark as bank collateral,

chances are he could
have swung that, too.

And then would have gone
on exploiting the trademark

for another six months or so, after
which it would have been quite worthless.

Right. But what a killing he
would have made in the meantime.

What did you find out
about Latham Reed?

That, I'm afraid, is going to lift
your client right off his launching pad.

Reed is Edie
Morrow's ex-husband.

Yes, Gertie?

Put her on.

Hello, Lisa.

Axel what?

Where did he go?

I don't know.

I said to Axel, "Go
back into the apartment."

I said, "Eat something."

But then the phone
rang, and he answered,

and then he asked me to go
back into the shop and not to listen.

But he only spoke for a very
short time, and then he went out.

Who was it on the phone, Lisa?

He didn't want to
tell me, but I know.

I know it was her.

Miss Morrow? How do you know?

Because she called
early this morning.

Carl told me.

I made him tell.

Did your brother tell you what
she said on the earlier call?

Yes.

For Axel to call
her at a number.

At, uh, at MOuntain 3 3497.

Sorry, but the lodge is full up.

No checkouts today.

We're looking for a woman.

She was driving an expensive
convertible with a man asleep in the back.

They told us at Conley Corners

she stopped there about
8 a.m. asking for a room.

We do mostly vacation business.

The woman was around 40...

Very striking, silver haired.

Now, did she, uh, stop here?

I sent her down to Joe's Cabins, a
few hundred yards down the road.

I guess she found a
vacancy there, all right.

What makes you think so?

I've seen her car shuttling back
and forth to the junction once or twice.

Matter of fact, she went in that
direction not ten minutes ago.

Toward the stores.

Thank you.

I'll drive up to Joe's Cabins.

I'll take a look
at the junction.

Yeah, I-I'm Reed.

Latham Reed.

But you might as well know now,
Mr. Mason, I... I just can't remember.

What can't you
remember? Here, sit up.

Nothing.

From that moment yesterday afternoon
when Somers offered me a highball

and I said no, make
mine lemonade.

Thought it tasted
funny - for lemonade.

Used to be an alcoholic.

For three years I
didn't touch a drop.

Didn't even smell a cork.

I'll kill that Somers.

Someone already has killed him.

Yeah.

Edie told me.

First good news I've had
since she brought me to.

Where did she find you?

Mmm.

You'll have to ask her that when
she comes back with more coffee.

You took a certified check
yesterday, isn't that right?

A check for $50,000?

A check that Somers
asked you to deliver

and endorse over
to a hospital fund?

How should I know?

When she found me,
she said that I had $7,000

in $500 bills.

Now...

Now what?

I couldn't spot her, Perry.
No sign of Axel, either.

Think maybe she arranged to duck
out and meet him somewhere else?

She just went down to
get me some more coffee.

Millie's Barbecue.

Maybe that's around
on the other road.

I was beginning to
think you wouldn't come.

Edie, always I come
when you need me.

Axel, I've so much
to explain to you.

No, no. Not now.

I... I only wanted to help
you, but I did everything wrong.

I should have told
you in the beginning.

I don't want to hear.
Come, get into the car.

I have money. Come.

- What?
- And no one will catch us.

And whatever has
happened, I don't want to know.

Come.

Axel.

So.

Who tells you where to find us?

Never mind that.
Axel, as your attorney...

You stay out of this.

Well, they can't have her.

Somers he was no good.

Take it easy, Mr. Norstaad.

It's not the lady I'm
arresting for murder.

It's you.

Now, Mr. Pedersen,
we've heard testimony

that on the afternoon
of Somers' murder,

Axel Norstaad got so angry

that he smashed a chair
and threatened Martin Somers.

Did the defendant say anything
to you about this occurrence?

No, but I could tell
he was awfully upset.

Would you tell us
what he said or did?

Yes.

I was sure that Axel had seen
Mr. Somers in Long Beach,

so I wanted to hear
how he'd made out.

And how were you able to
tell that he was awfully upset?

Axel loves animals. He's always
feeding stray cats and dogs at the shop.

Well, this favorite cat
was meowing to come in.

Axel picked up a coffee cup
from the desk and threw it.

Mr. Pedersen, why
were you so anxious

to learn the results of Axel's
meeting with Mr. Somers?

Well, like I said,

the Cabinet Shop had
been my best account,

and now Somers was
cutting me off from it.

Did this come at a particularly
inopportune time for you?

Yes, I'd fixed up my lumberyard.

Fixed it up? In what way?

New sheds, boosted my inventory
of hardwoods, and... things like that.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Now, when Mr. Somers called
you the afternoon of the murder

and you went to see him, Mr. Reed,
was anything said about the defendant?

S-Somers called him a wild man.

He... He said he'd going to tame
him if it was the last thing he did.

What explanation, if any, did he give
for calling you in and telling you this?

Said he wanted my help.

What kind of help?

Through my former wife Edie...

Edith Morrow.

He had an idea that...

she could wrap him around her...
The old guy around her little finger.

- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.

Your witness.

Mr. Reed,

was Axel Norstaad
aware of the fact

that you and Miss Morrow
were previously man and wife?

No.

Was it your idea or hers
to keep this from him?

Mine.

I'd been an alcoholic.

I was afraid if he found out too much
about my past, it would ruin my chances.

What chances?

Of getting the full
contract on the hospital.

Would you tell us the
background of that contract?

Well, there wasn't
a contract yet.

You see, I...

I met Mr. Norstaad and drew
some preliminary sketches.

Then you referred
him to Miss Morrow?

I said that I knew a woman that
was talented in business, that's all.

He went to her himself.

Talented in business.

Did you tell him that she
was successful, wealthy?

Not exactly, but...

Not exactly?

Then did you tell him that her car
had only been one quarter paid for?

That the extravagant apartment in
which she entertained his committees

had only been rented
the day after they met?

That her fur coat was borrowed?

Stop that!

I object. I object.

Mr. Reed,

you've admitted that you tried to
conceal the facts of your past life.

Did Mr. Somers know those facts?

Yes, he did.

I won't ask you to
incriminate yourself, Mr. Reed,

but when you were
first interviewed

by me and then by the police,

you had several thousand
dollars in your pocket.

I just can't explain that.

Do you recall cashing a
certified check the previous day?

No, I can't recall anything.

Now, Mr. Maigret, what time
was it when you told Axel Norstaad

that you had just seen Miss Edie Morrow
outside a motel called the Windmill Inn?

Axel stormed up to my
house about 9:00, I'd say.

Maybe a few minutes later.

And when he left your house, did
he go in the direction of the motel?

Yes, sir. He... well, he
left my place running.

Running?

Tell me this, how far is your
place from the Windmill Inn?

It's about three
blocks, that's all.

Well, Axel came roaring
into my barroom at the motel.

When he got his breath back, he
says he's looking for this Edie Morrow.

Says he's going to find her if
he has to tear the place apart.

Well, I finally got
it across to him

that she'd walked out some time
before with a man named Somers.

What did the defendant say then?

He demanded to know
where they'd gone.

All I could tell him was that
Somers was staying at the motel.

So Axel rushed off again.

Now, we've heard the
testimony of the autopsy surgeon

to the effect that Martin Somers met
his death sometime between 9 and 9:30.

What time was it that the defendant
rushed out of your barroom?

Mm, 9:10, 9:15 maybe.

Thank you. Cross-examine.

No questions.

Miss Pedersen, you were
employed by the defendant

as his confidential secretary?

No, sir. I was the
entire office force...

Stenographer,
bookkeeper, everything.

From the time when I
was still a young woman.

Now, referring you to the morning
after the homicidal death of Mr. Somers.

On that morning, when you
arrived at the Norstaad office,

the defendant already there,

and you saw him lighting
something in the stove, is that correct?

The stove?

The old-fashioned
pot-bellied stove

in which wood scraps were burned
to keep the office warm in the winter.

Only it wasn't winter,
and it wasn't cold.

And nevertheless, you saw
Mr. Norstaad that morning

lighting a match to something
in that stove, didn't you?

Yes.

They made me tell it, Axel.

No further questions.

Now, Miss Pedersen,

since you've described
yourself as the whole office force,

perhaps you can
tell us about the bids.

Bids?

Oh, you mean for
Axel's real estate?

His shop and trademark.

Yes. How many
bidders were there?

I think there were
about 15 bids.

They were all in writing,
by... by registered mail.

Now, who looked at those bids?

Prior to the granting
of the contract, that is.

Mostly just Axel.

Mostly?

Did anyone else see them?

They were always
locked in my desk.

Did Axel tell you to show
them to anyone else?

Yes.

To Miss Morrow.

When my men went to
look at Norstaad's shop,

there was still smoke
coming out of the chimney.

Naturally, they checked further.

I see.

I show you now
this police exhibit

and ask you if you can
identify it for us, Lieutenant.

It's a scorched bit of
material we found in the stove.

Was this material subjected
to laboratory analysis,

and if so, what
were the results?

We found a bloodstain on it... blood
of the same type as that of the victim.

Were you able to discover

where this material with the victim's
bloodstain on it came from, Lieutenant?

Uh, Norstaad, the defendant,

had two pair of pants to the suit he
was wearing the night Somers was killed.

One pair is now missing.

And this material is
identical to that of the suit.

It's been established that Mr. Somers
was located in bungalow number 3.

Where were you, sir?

Here, two doors down.

What time did you check out?

I'm a salesman, see?
And I like to travel at night.

So it was about 20 past 9
when I put the bags in the car.

That's when I saw him.

Saw whom?

Him.

Let the record show that the witness
pointed to the defendant, Axel Norstaad.

What was he doing
when you saw him?

He was running like a
scared rabbit out of the cabin.

How can you be so
sure of your identification

of a figure you saw
running away into the night?

Well, I ought to be able
to identify Axel Norstaad.

I've been selling him a line
of paint specialties for years.

This is how it was, Mr. Mason.

First I went to
see the bartender.

Then I went into the office of
the motel, and I saw the register.

And Somers is room 3.

I knock on the door.
There is no answer.

But the door is open, and
the radio is playing, so I go in.

"Somers", I say,

"if you try to make trouble
for Edie like you do for me..."

And then I see him on the floor.

I bend down to look.

And it was while you
were bending over him

that you got the blood
on your trouser leg.

Yes.

And when I saw that...

also how it would look if
someone come in and find me there,

then I... How do you say it? I
lose my head and run away.

Do you believe me, Mr. Mason?

No.

But you're getting
closer to the truth.

Since I am grown man, I
do not lie, big or little lie.

That was before
you met Edie Morrow.

- How many times...
- Axel!

You heard everything in court.

Now, do you still think
you should hide the truth

just because it might
implicate that woman?

Of course I do.
She is good woman.

I do not kill, so how
you think I can possibly...

No, no, I...

I do not know so much.

Got it, Perry.

You find that man at the bank?

Yep. The certified check
was issued, all right,

but so far it hasn't
been cashed.

Now that the weekend's over,
other checks are starting to come in.

With that 50,000
earmarked by the bank,

there's just not enough money in
Somers' accounts to cover them.

But I don't understand.

Somers never intended that the
certified check be cashed, Della.

He had it drawn up in case
anyone made inquiries at the bank.

But he intended to return it after the
weekend to cover his other checks.

He was just stalling for time.

How do you explain the $7,000
found in Latham Reed's pockets?

Planted on him by
Somers, of course.

Somers just wanted the poor
guy to think he'd cashed the check,

just as he wanted
everyone to think it.

Why, that stinker.

Item 2: The State's
dug up an airlines clerk

who says that the
day before the murder,

two tickets to Copenhagen were
reserved by the Somers office

in the name of Edie Morrow.

Burger may be holding that back,
though, at least until the jury trial.

In other words, they
don't know that I know.

Paul...

you finally deserve some supper.

Good. But wait a minute.

I haven't served up the
piece-de-resistance yet,

as we hungry men say.

Well?

About those bids.

On the day the
bidding officially closed,

Somers had already
turned out the first pilot

models of the Norstaad
line at his factory.

Now, Miss Morrow,

Why did you find it necessary

to talk to Mr. Somers at
the motel in the evening?

Well, I'd been looking
in every bar I could find,

and I was still unable to
locate Latham... Mr. Reed.

And inasmuch as
Mr. Somers had threatened

to put a private detective on
his trail, I just had to beg for time.

Well, did you discuss
Axel Norstaad with Somers?

Yes, briefly.

You were well
aware, were you not,

that Martin Somers had
instructed his attorney

to file an injunction against
the defendant the next morning?

Yes.

And you were afraid of what Mr. Norstaad
would do when he found out about this?

I wanted Mr. Somers to wait
at least until I could find Latham

until I found out what had
happened to the $50,000

so I could go to Axel
and explain everything

and tell him how much
at fault I was and...

All right.

And what did Mr. Somers say?

Did he agree to
give you more time?

He said it all depended.

Depended on what?

On whether or not the defendant
stayed away from him, let him alone?

I suppose so.

Please, don't make any
suppositions. Answer me yes or no.

- Yes!
- Thank you.

Your witness.

Miss Morrow,

did it ever occur to you
that Somers might have lied

about giving Reed that
certified check for delivery?

Yes.

But he was very positive.

So positive that he flew into a rage
and threatened you with his cane?

No, no. It was
nothing like that.

He seemed to be very sure of
getting me to do what he wanted.

Does that explain the
tickets to Copenhagen

reserved in your name at a
Los Angeles airlines office?

Or did you reserve
those tickets yourself...

How did he find out about that?

Intending to leave town as soon as you
or Latham Reed had $50,000 in hand?

No, no, the tickets
were Mr. Somers' idea,

and it was just
an idea, that's all.

It was... a gift he planned.

What sort of gift? What
were the tickets for?

He said he wanted to
get Axel out of his hair.

He suggested I persuade him
to go away on a long trip with me.

A honeymoon.

What was your answer?

Well, how on earth could
I promise to marry a man

who's never said one
word but "furniture" to me?

Who never in any
way has told me that...

That he feels as I do?

Is this court to
understand, Mr. Hadley,

that you had a meeting with
Mr. Somers the day of his death?

Yes. It was at his factory,

that same evening, about
6:30, before he left Long Beach.

How did this meeting come about?

Well, I had heard a rumor that he was
going to close down the cabinet shop,

so I went right over to see him.

I figured that the least he owed me
was a chance at Axel's real estate.

I also wanted to know if he was
going to fire all those fine craftsmen.

- I wanted to hire some of them.
- What did Mr. Somers say to that?

Told me to help myself, that they'd
all be looking for a job next morning.

I told him that Axel
would blow his top.

I think that'll be
all, sir. Thank you.

Cross-examine.

Just where at the Somers factory
did this conversation take place?

Well, it was in the parking
lot that I ran into him, actually.

You share a common parking
lot with Somers' factory?

No, no, of course not.

Then how did you know you'd
be able to reach him there?

I called him at his office.
They said he'd be leaving.

- You called from where?
- From my home.

- Really, I don't see...
- You went home and then you decided?

No, no, I'd gone
home for an early bite

because I knew I had to come
back to the office that evening.

It was on my way. Really,
Your Honor, I don't see...

May it please the court, I
ask permission at this time

to recall a witness.

Yes, Axel told me to put
in calls long distance...

One for you and
one for Mr. Hadley.

The call to Mr. Hadley,
what time was that?

Right after you hung up.

About 8? 8:30?

Was the call completed?

No.

The phone rang and
rang, but no answer.

All right.

So I drove up to the Valley.

It was there at the motel
that I spoke to Somers.

I lied to the
police, Your Honor,

and then I didn't know
how to stop the lie.

But I did not kill
Somers. I swear it.

Mr. Burger, in view of
Mr. Hadley's admission,

I'll leave the matter of perjury
charges against him up to your office.

Is it your desire to recall
Mr. Hadley at this time, Counselor?

There is one point I believe this witness
might be able to clarify, Your Honor.

All right, proceed.

Now, Miss Pedersen, let's
explore Mr. Hadley's suggestion

that there was collusion
in the handling of the bids.

Now, you testified, did you not,

that the bids were
kept locked in your desk,

that only Axel and Edith Morrow
knew what the figures were?

Yes. Yes, I think so.

Then let me ask you this.

Why had your brother Carl
expanded his lumberyard,

building new sheds and so on,

when his principal client was about
to sell out to a purchaser yet unknown?

Well, uh, Carl is
sometimes a fool.

Miss Pedersen, isn't it possible

that your brother Carl knew who
the highest bidder was going to be?

Knew and expected
Mr. Somers to reward him

with lumber contracts far exceeding
anything he'd ever dreamed of?

I don't understand.

We all know what kind
of a man Somers was.

Isn't it possible that he
promised those lumber contracts

in return for private information
about the other bidders?

No. No, no, no. Carl, he would
never get mixed up in anything like that.

Isn't it even possible that your brother
Carl advanced money to Somers?

He didn't pay him one penny.

Then did you? To
help your brother?

You were the person in
whose desk the bids were kept.

You, the person who knew
everything that was going on.

All right.

I told Carl that I would fix it with
Mr. Somers about the bids, yes.

Because Axel was so stupid to sell our
shop was no reason for everyone to suffer.

That big, stupid...

It was my shop!

My office!

Who do you think everyone
was looking to for running things?

Me.

Lisa Pedersen.

But I paid Mr...
Mr. Somers nothing.

Who else did you
tell about those bids?

Who else could have had
private dealings with Somers?

I don't understand.
I don't remember.

Lisa, do you recall correspondence
with a certain shoe company in Chicago?

A company interested in
obtaining a large building site?

A company who had written

concerning the property
occupied by Axel's cabinet shop?

Oh, that.

I... I threw that in
the wastebasket.

Yet that company still
expected to obtain the property,

just as they'd already
obtained the land next to it,

the land once slated
for Axel's Hospital?

Now think hard, Lisa.

Who else did you
tell about the bids?

It must have been a man
who dealt with Somers,

since he obviously knew
what Somers had planned.

It must have been a man

who, on the night of the murder,
told Axel where to find Somers.

Now, it must have been...

Yes.

Yes, I told him.

Somers was a crook.

And out-and-out crook.

Oh, yes, I knew it. And what
he was up to... everything.

I paid him to tell me.

In return I was to have an option on the
property he never intended to use anyway.

Yes, I could make a
killing on my own land,

but they had to have
the other property, too.

I'd promised I could deliver.

Oh, I made a killing, all right.

When I tried to get
Somers' option in writing,

he wanted more money to cover
all those checks that he was kiting,

or else he'd block my sale,
block it so I couldn't deliver.

He wanted more money, then more.

We got into a fight, and...

That's... that's how
I made my killing.

Axel, for heaven's
sake hurry up!

The plane won't wait, Axel.

I forgot I need another shirt.

Here, I'll do that.

It's so nice of both of you
to come and see us off.

Ja, we send you a
postcard from Copenhagen.

And, Mr. Mason,
you won't forget...

The hospital. Don't worry.
We'll get that land back.

And raise the money.
Mr. Hadley's already helping.

Ja. I forget my neckties.

Here. Edie, you just get him
outside. We'll bring the suitcases.

Ja, we go.

There is no fool
like an old fool.

Ah. Such a pity.

Hm?

That a man like that should have
to wait all those years to get married.

Don't you agree?

You've been my legal
secretary long enough

to know that that's
a leading question.

Here. You take that one.

Uh...

Subtitled By J.R. Media
Services, Inc. Burbank, CA