All language subtitles for Perry Mason S05E23 The Case of the Absent Artist.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

Logic.

Myer, you are a cretin.

In art, logic is the
assassin of intuition.

Do I make myself clear, Myer?

Yeah.

You stand convicted
by your own words.

Why must you
always intellectualize?

But, Glovatski, I was
agreeing with you.

Repudiate me, Myer!

Lash out with heavy blows.

A true artist must
first be an anarchist.

Like him? Otto Gervaert?

A yogi.

But, Glovatski, have you seen
his last painting, Day's Catch?

Everybody says
it's a masterpiece.

I repudiate him.

Fiona! Fiona!

Come quickly. Do
hurry, dear. Otto is back.

I heard him moving around down
there. He must have just got in.

Maybe it's a bat flying around.

The poor boy must be
starved. Come along, Fiona.

Otto, dear boy, welcome home.

Oh, dear. He's gone again.

This time he's not coming back.

Nonsense. Of
course he'll be back.

Why, this is his home.

What makes you
think he won't be back?

Because he's taken
Day's Catch with him.

Oh, dear, yes. And he
swore he'd never sell it.

But where would he go?

I don't know.

But I'll find him.

And when I do, maybe
I'll slit open his gullet.

Come on, men. Put
your backs into it.

The wicked old slave
master's watching us.

Save the funny
lines for the strip.

That's where it came from.

You know something, Gabe,
we're losing our identities.

We're all turning
into little Zingys.

Might be an improvement.

Quick, make a note
of that one, men.

What's the matter, Pete?
Are you tired of being a slave?

Me? Why, no, sir.

I love Zingy like he was my own.

You know that,
Gabe. Like he was me.

Sure, I know it, kid.

Can you raise $10,000?

10,000 bucks?

It's a cinch. Wait a
minute. I may have it on me.

Mmm, only four bucks,
if that's any good to you.

Get up the balance by
tonight, and Zingy is yours.

I'm getting out of
the comic strip field.

Ah. Look what a
real artist can do.

Why not me?

That bash tonight is
my farewell party, kid.

But only $10,000 for Zingy?

I know you'd be a good
father to the little stinker.

You think you can
come up with the loot?

Why, yeah. Yeah. Sure.

I'll get it even if I
have to rob a bank.

Good, Pete. See
you at the party.

Sure, it's an Otto Gervaert
canvas. Who else?

No mistaking the technique.

In my opinion, he's the next
big name in American art.

I don't know. It looks like
the work of two guys to me.

Rembrandt and Picasso maybe.

Oh, Monty, must you
always be a bookkeeper?

Surely you can see the artist is
dramatizing the basic need for survival

even in a world slowly
melting back into primeval ooze.

Mm-hmm. I wonder how
much Gabe laid out for it.

I'd hate to tell you.

I really paid through the
teeth for that little number.

You know how it is
when you like something.

But a Gervaert has got to
be an investment, hasn't it?

Well, new guests. Ask them.

Honestly, Pete, what's got into
you? I swear you've been drinking.

Brace yourself, baby. I'm gonna
make an honest woman out of you,

and I don't mean someday.

Listen to me, Pete. I've got
to talk to you about something

Sure. About diamonds.

Baby, tomorrow I'm gonna buy you
a diamond as big as a cannonball.

Am I intruding?

Hello, Mr. Phillips.

Greetings, wicked old slave
master. I brought the swag.

Then you've got
yourself a strip.

If I may have your
attention, please.

Quiet, please, boys and girls.

Announcement. This isn't
just another ordinary bash.

This is a farewell party.

Where you going, Pete boy?

Into orbit, Monty, old man.
Straight up like a rocket.

Pete isn't leaving. I am.

I'm renouncing the crass
world of commercialism.

After tomorrow, my
address will be Majorca.

Oh, how long will you be gone?

What's the idea, Gabe?

I'm retiring, that's all.

I made my pile.
Now I'm getting out.

I always wanted to find
out if I had any real talent.

Who knows? I might
be another Otto Gervaert.

- Gabe, who's gonna give the parties then?
- Yeah.

Pete, let's make it legal fast.

I've drawn up a paper...

Oh, wait a minute. I think
that's somebody I invited.

I'll be in the workroom.

Mr. Mason, Miss Street.

Hello, Pete.

I drew that up myself, Mason,

without the help of a lawyer.

Looks like a very clear
outline of the proposed sale.

I didn't see any
need for red tape.

It's a simple arrangement
between Pete and me.

"Simple," he says, like raising
$10,000 in one afternoon.

I had to parlay so many deals,
only a lawyer could understand them.

So I got me one.
Now, where do I sign?

Pete, you oughta have a
drink to settle you down.

- We'll call you when it's time.
- Who needs to settle down?

I'm calm.

Just whistle, wicked
old slave master.

What do you want, Mason?
Some "whereases" and "to-wits"?

No, I wouldn't say so.

I presume the sale

will in no way affect the present
contract with the newspaper syndicate?

Pete may have to renegotiate
it. But Zingy is in 205 papers.

Any of the other syndicates
would love to have it.

May I see a copy
of the contract?

I'll get it for you tomorrow.

I understood you were
leaving for Majorca tomorrow.

Mason, are you just being
a lawyer about all this,

or don't you
approve of the deal?

No, it would seem
to be a very fine deal.

But I can't help wondering why
you'd sell a valuable property for,

what, a tenth of its value?

I didn't think he could
afford more than 10,000.

I suppose you have
proof of ownership?

Of the strip? I created it.

Look, Mason, this whole thing
is getting a little too involved.

Now, either make the deal or forget
it. I want Pete to have Zingy, but...

Why?

Well, he's a good cartoonist,

I like him,

and I feel sorry for him.

And so, you're practically
making him a present of the strip.

Why, Mr. Phillips?

Because it's a booby prize.

The poor slob ought
to get something.

Here's to beautiful
women and brick dust,

all those who can't love
and can scour knives.

Oh, Pete.

Well, I can't hope
to match that,

but I do hope you'll
both will be very happy.

- Leslie, Pete tells me that you and he...
- Excuse me.

- Yes sir, Mr. Mason, sir.
- Come here, Pete.

Do I sign now? It's okay?

I mean, it's a
good deal, isn't it?

Apparently you'll own the strip, all
right, but it's going to cost something.

- Sure, ten grand.
- No. More than that.

Pete, I think we oughta
find someplace to talk.

- No. Wait.
- What for?

What's going on?
Hey, what is all this?

Perhaps Miss Lawrence
would rather tell you.

No... I mean, Gabe...
Where's Gabe?

Tell me what, Leslie?

That I'm going to
Majorca with Gabe Phillips.

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry,
Pete. I wanted to tell you.

I tried to tell you tonight,
but you wouldn't listen to me.

Baby, it's a rib, isn't it?

It isn't a rib. I'm
going away with Gabe.

And, Pete, don't make a
scene. Now please let go of me.

Gabe, you told that
man. You told him.

Pete would have known
tomorrow, anyway.

What'd you have
to do it that way for?

Because you never
got around to it.

Look, honey,
there's no easy way.

You've got to let him have
it right between the eyes.

Forget it. Tomorrow
we'll be long gone.

Whether I can scrape
up all that money or not.

Darling, let's go tonight.
Right away. Please.

Even if we just drive
around till plane time.

I feel so bad about Pete. And
I don't want any more scenes

Okay.

I don't imagine those free-loaders
will miss us too much anyway.

Hello?

Yes.

No. He's busy right now.

No, I'm sorry. Gabe
can't come to the phone.

Yes, I'll be glad
to take a message.

Where? Port Harmony?

All right, Manders. One
you're entitled to, but that's all.

- I'm gonna beat you to a pulp!
- Oh, come on, Pete. Hold it.

- All right.
- Come on. Now that's enough.

I'll get even with
him, Mr. Mason.

You wait and see.
I'm gonna fix you good.

Sorry, Mason, but
that's the way it goes.

Somebody wins, somebody loses.

End of the folk show,
kids. Drinking time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Perry,

but I think you could have stopped
Pete from throwing that first punch.

As the man said, he
was entitled to one.

What happened?

Your boyfriend's a poor
loser. Didn't the phone ring?

- Yes. I told him you were busy.
- Well, who was it? What did they want?

I don't know. Someone
from Port Harmony.

Port Harmony? A man?

Yes. An Otto somebody.

Was it Otto Gervaert?
Is that who it was?

- I guess it was.
- Are you sure?

Yes. It was Otto Gervaert.

He said something about
meeting you in the usual place.

Anyway, I told him
you were leaving town.

Okay, honey, but
I've gotta go out now.

- Now? Why?
- Unfinished business.

I'll pick you up in plenty
of time to catch the plane.

Gabe. Gabe.

Nice car.

Philistine.

- But a foreign car.
- I repudiate them all.

Come in.

Shh. I think it's Otto.

It is Otto. You see,
you were wrong, dear.

He did come back.

There's some man with
him. Someone just came in.

I think I'll go have a pizza.

Myer, I despair of you.

A man who covets an automobile
has the soul of a hitchhiker.

- Didn't you hear that?
- I hear only greed.

- I see only your envy -
But it sounded like a shot.

I'm sure it was. Two shots.

Does this concern
us? Does it, Myer?

Even if someone
realized the utter futility

and repudiated life itself?

Della, have you got
hold of Pete Manders yet?

No. If he is home, he's just
not answering the phone.

See if you can find
Leslie Lawrence's number.

Found it and
tried it. No answer.

Maybe she and Gabe Phillips
have already left for Majorca.

I hope so.

Pete may have cooled off. On the
other hand, he might be looking for...

Try Gabe's number.

All right.

Something happen, Perry?

I've been talking to the
newspaper syndicate.

Hello? I'd like to s...

Pete? Is this you?

Tell Pete I'm on my way.

This is Della Street in Mr. Mason's
office. What are you doing there?

Don't worry, Miss
Street. Phillips isn't here.

I'm just cleaning out my desk.

Pete, Mr. Mason's
on his way over.

I know, but you just be a
good boy and wait there.

Morning, Pete.

I guess it isn't a
good morning, is it?

But you didn't help
matters much last night.

What should I have done,
Mr. Mason? Stiff upper lip?

Good luck, old man?
Blessings on you both?

I'd have broken his rotten
skull if you hadn't stopped me.

Pete, you're too hotheaded
for your own good.

Maybe I should've signed the paper
first. Is that what you'd have recommended?

No. In fact, that's the
reason I came to see you...

Just in case you
decided to be practical.

He can take his
lousy comic strip and...

It's not his comic strip.

I contacted the newspaper syndicate
in New York this morning, Pete.

Phillips lied.

He didn't actually create the
strip, so he doesn't entirely own it.

Then who does?

They pay royalties to a
man named Otto Gervaert.

That guy he bought
the painting from.

But then why did Gabe try
to get the 10,000 out of me?

To help finance his
trip to Majorca, I guess.

He admitted he was shorter
of funds than he'd figured.

That does it. I tell
you, I'm going to...

If I ever find that guy...

Pete, settle down.

He's gone, isn't he? Bag and
baggage, if you excuse the expression.

- Hello, Mr. Mason.
- How do you do?

We haven't met. I saw
you at the party last night.

I'm Charles Montrose. I do
Gabe's tax returns and other things.

- He pulled out, didn't he, Pete?
- I don't know where he is.

That crazy painting
he just bought's gone,

and I'll bet everything
else is, too, if it's paid for.

Look at these. He left
everything for me to clean up.

Bills. What am I
supposed to pay them with?

Must be three or four
thousand dollars' worth.

And you can bet he didn't leave
a dime in his checking account.

Why don't you sell everything he
left behind and put it in your pocket?

This stuff, and
that stuff in there?

He made a down payment, nothing
more. I'll just have to send it back.

Doesn't he own
anything outright?

Nothing. Wait a minute. His car.

He paid cash for that, and he
couldn't take that with him on the plane.

I'll lay you ten to one he
sold it before he left town.

If he did...

You see, Mr. Mason, I'm not
the only person that loves Gabe.

Pete, I think now is
the time to be practical.

The syndicate needs someone
to handle the comic strip.

- I don't want any part of it!
- It has no connection with Phillips.

If you can get a contract with
the syndicate or the creator

or whoever has control, I think
you'd be very foolish not to do it.

What's the matter?

Monty, what's wrong?

No... I suppose he's...

Rigor mortis has begun.

That means he's probably been dead for
hours, maybe even since late last night.

No. Don't look
at me. I didn't...

Didn't what, Pete?

Where did you go
after you left the party?

Home. I went home.

You live alone?

Yes, all... alone.

- Miss Leslie Lawrence?
- Yes. What is it?

My name's Paul Drake.
I'm working for Perry Mason.

- I understand you two met last night.
- Oh, just briefly.

I'm sorry, Mr. Drake,
but I'm very busy.

Packing for your trip?

Really, Mr. Drake.

I'm sorry, Miss Lawrence,
but it's been called.

Gabe Phillips was
murdered last night.

The Lawrence girl
says she took the call

while Phillips was
wrestling with your client.

That'd be around 10:30.

How long after that did
Phillips leave the apartment?

Right away. She
said he turned white

at the name of Otto
Gervaert and just rushed out.

Pete swore he saw Phillips
drive off, so that much checks out.

He could have waited for Phillips
to get back from Port Harmony.

A round trip takes four
hours, Paul. It'd be a long wait.

All right. So he went
home, brooded half the night,

came back and shot Phillips
as he got out of the car.

That's the way it
looks to the police.

I take it he doesn't have
much in the way of an alibi.

None at all.

So, what do you expect
to find in Port Harmony?

Blackmailer perhaps.

Well, this is where the guy
in the bar thinks he lives.

Well, let's see if
Mr. Gervaert is at home.

I wonder if you could tell us
where to find Otto Gervaert.

Are you from the police?

No. I'm a lawyer. My
name is Perry Mason.

Oh, dear. Well, I'm
Miss Daphne Whilom.

How do you do, Miss
Whilom? And this is Mr. Drake.

How do you do? Why did
you think we were the police?

Well, I can't imagine.

I really don't
know why I said it.

Otto isn't here.

Do you know where we
can find him, Miss Whilom?

Oh, dear me, no.

He might be out on the
desert or up in the hills.

He never tells
anyone where he goes,

like all great painters.

Do you know his work?

I've seen one of his
canvasses. When did he leave?

Well, I couldn't say.

I have more to do
than to try to track down

the goings and
comings of my tenants.

It was last night, wasn't it, right
about the time he had a visitor?

Well, how did you know?

I think you'd better tell us
what happened, Miss Whilom.

Well, some man came to see
him. I think he was from Hollywood.

Did you see this man?

Oh, no. But I
heard them talking.

My apartment is right
above Otto's studio.

Oh, they were
quarreling just violently.

I don't know what it was
about, but it was just terrible.

And then...

Then what?

Oh, dear, I suppose
I must tell someone.

I heard two shots fired.

Two shots? You're
positive there were two?

Oh, yes. I heard them plainly.

And then the man ran away.

I've been trying to get up nerve all
morning to look into Otto's studio.

Would you care to?

I think you'd better call the
police, Miss Whilom, right away.

Call the police. Yes.

Aren't you going to take a look?

Not until the police get here.

Phillips was shot in the
stomach, Paul. Just once.

So the other shot missed.

I wonder if it did.

You think Otto
Gervaert's still in there?

If he is, I want the
local police to find him.

I don't see anything
that looks like a body.

Blood.

Somebody sure got
themselves hurt here last night.

I don't mean just a nose bleed.

Care to enlighten the
small-town cops, Mr. Mason?

A man named Gabe
Phillips in Hollywood

received a telephone call
from Gervaert last night.

Phillips left to come up here.

I'd say he got
here, wouldn't you?

Well, there's no
proof that he did.

But Gervaert's landlady said that
he'd been quarreling with some man,

and then later she
heard two shots.

Well, from the looks of that,

one of 'em was shot,
the other ran away.

There's no proof of that either.

Phillips was found dead in his
garage this morning, in Hollywood.

That's a long ways to
go with a bullet in you.

Well, at least we know
which one to look for.

I'll check with the L.A.
police. In the meantime,

I'll put out a pickup
for Otto Gervaert.

Perry.

- Perry Mason, Miss Fiona Cregan.
- Hello.

Miss Cregan is a
friend of Gervaert's.

I was his girl.

She saw a man running out of
the house right after the shots.

Did you see him well
enough to identify him?

I think so,

if I ever saw him again.

He wore a loud sort of jacket.

Yeah, I think I could.

She gave me a description.
It was Phillips, all right.

Save your breath, Counselor.

I know the police in Port Harmony think
Phillips was shot by some local artist,

but personally, I'm not convinced
Phillips even left Hollywood last night.

Wait a minute, Andy.

Let me introduce
Miss Fiona Cregan.

She saw Phillips in
Port Harmony last night.

Saw him leave Otto Gervaert's
studio after the shots were fired.

Saw Phillips?

Let's go take a
look at the body.

You don't mind, do
you, Miss Cregan?

Yes, that's the
man I saw last night.

You're positive?

I ought to know. I was his girl.

You were Phillips' girl, too?

No. Otto Gervaert's.

But this man is Gabe Phillips.

Maybe that's what he
called himself in Hollywood.

Up in Port Harmony, he
was known as Otto Gervaert.

Andy, I'd say it
changes everything.

That girl must have guessed it
when she saw Phillips last night.

Mmm. Well, with
his hair cut short,

and Gervaert never used
to wear anything but jeans.

He used to disappear
for weeks at a time.

Andy, a double identity
isn't that easy to hide.

There must've been
others who guessed.

If the murder did
take place up there,

it must have been someone
in Port Harmony who...

Perry, I'd say this
changes nothing.

Oh, but you're right about it being
someone who was up in Port Harmony.

I thought we had plenty of
evidence against your client before.

But now? Here.

Take a look at this.

A gasoline receipt from a service
station in Port Harmony, dated yesterday.

The attendant says
signed late last night.

Pete Manders.

Raise your right hand.

Take a good look
at that girl, Pete.

Did you see her on
the night of the murder?

How could I? I told you, I
never got near that old house.

You also told me you
went home after the party.

Now, Miss Cregan, how long
had you known the deceased?

Ever since I came to
Port Harmony. Six years.

And you had a very
close friendship with him?

I was his girl,
when he was there.

But you did know
about this masquerade,

this other existence
of his in Hollywood

where he was known
as Gabe Phillips?

I only knew he'd
met another woman.

Now, Miss Cregan, would
you please tell the court

what you saw the
night of the murder.

Well, I was walking
down the street,

and I saw Otto come
running out of this house,

and he was staggering.

I thought he was drunk.

You're sure it was
Otto Gervaert?

Oh, yes. He was
wearing different clothes.

He had his hair cut short.

Of course, at that time, I knew
nothing about Gabe Phillips,

but I recognized it
was really Otto, all right.

- Did you speak to him?
- No.

No? Why not?

I mean, why didn't
you approach him?

Well, he'd left me. I never
wanted to see him again.

Oh. Well, thank
you, Miss Cregan.

Cross-examine, Mr. Mason?

Miss Cregan, approximately
what time was it

when you saw the decedent
run out of the house?

After midnight, I guess.

Maybe later.

You were alone?

Yes. I'd been out
to have a pizza.

When I saw Otto, I
walked off the other way.

I take it you were jealous of
this other woman in his life?

Perhaps.

- And you were angry with Otto?
- I suppose so.

Did you ever get so angry with him
that you made a threat against his life?

I don't remember.

From the amount of blood and the statements
from the landlady about those shots,

I figured somebody had
been murdered in that studio.

And how did you proceed
then, Sergeant Buck?

On the assumption
that this artist Gervaert

had shot Gabe Phillips
and then ran away.

And it was not until
later that you discovered

that Otto Gervaert was
in fact Gabe Phillips?

Your Honor, the
proper identification

would be that Gabe Phillips
was in fact Otto Gervaert.

Of course.

Go on, Sergeant.

Well, anyway, when it turned out
the murder took place in Port Harmony,

the L.A. police turned
over their evidence to us.

My name is Charles Montrose,
and I'm a tax accountant.

And the deceased
was one of your clients?

Yes, I took care of his taxes

from the time he started making
big money with the comic strip, Zingy.

I now show you a revolver
which has been identified

as the weapon which
killed Gabe Phillips.

Objection.

Your Honor, the murdered
man's name was Otto Gervaert.

The defense counsel is
quite right, Your Honor.

But since the witness
on the stand now

knew the deceased
only as Gabe Phillips,

I think it would be less confusing
to refer to him by that name.

I think I understand the reason
for your objection, Mr. Mason,

but in the interest of clarity, I'm
going to overrule you for the moment.

Thank you, Your Honor.
Do you recognize the gun?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

It belonged to Gabe Phillips.

He kept it in a
drawer in his desk.

Was that generally known?

All the cartoonists who
worked there knew about it.

Was the defendant, Pete
Manders, one of those cartoonists?

He was.

Now, how long had you been aware

of Gabe Phillips' intended
departure for Majorca?

A couple of days. I made out
a check for the plane tickets.

To whom were
those tickets issued?

One was made out
in Gabe Phillips' name.

And the other one?

Miss Leslie Lawrence.

Thank you, Mr. Montrose.

Do you wish to
cross-examine, Mr. Mason?

Mr. Montrose, were
you aware that your client

was actually Otto Gervaert, a
painter living in Port Harmony?

No, sir.

You could've knocked me over
when I read about it in the paper.

You had no intimation of
it from his financial affairs?

That's right. Nobody
knew about it.

But you prepared Gervaert's
tax forms in Hollywood.

What about his tax
returns in Port Harmony?

I'm going to have to
object here, Your Honor.

It's already been agreed
that the witness on the stand

knew the deceased
only as Gabe Phillips.

If it please the court, I think
we're dealing here with the question

of who was actually
murdered, Gervaert or Phillips.

A corpse by any
name is just as dead.

I don't think we need
any levity, Mr. Clark.

Both of you gentlemen
will approach the bench.

You first, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor, the murder occurred
in the residence of Otto Gervaert.

It happened in the
domicile of Otto Gervaert.

It's a reasonable assumption,
therefore, that the murderer

committed the crime against a
man known to him only by that name.

In other words, that the
murderer was someone

among his Port
Harmony associates.

The purpose of this hearing,
Your Honor, is to present evidence

that Pete Manders killed
Gabe Phillips and nobody else.

Now, what defense counselor
could possibly want by...

What I want is the
opportunity to cross-examine

Gervaert's associates
in the art colony.

It is not what
defense counsel wants

that should control the
prosecution, Your Honor,

but what is required for an
orderly presentation of the case.

I think we'll proceed on the
basis of the State's presentation,

with no further
quibbling over the name.

That understood?

Yes, I fell in love
with Gabe Phillips.

It proved to be rather an
awkward situation, because,

well, I'd been going
around with Mr. Manders.

In fact, he was telling
people we were engaged.

When did the defendant discover
how you really felt about him?

Oh, that night at the party.

Gabe and I were leaving
the next day for Majorca.

We were planning
to be married there.

And that was when the
defendant became so upset?

Yes, that's right. It
was then that Pete...

I mean, Mr. Manders hit Mr. Phillips
and made all those threats.

This is a receipt of
13½ gallons of gasoline.

I filled it out the
night of the murder.

Close to midnight, I guess.

Do you see the man who bought
gas from you here in the courtroom?

Yes, sir. That's
him, the defendant.

Uh, they were having
this terrible quarrel.

Their voices came up the
flue from Otto's fireplace.

Then you did
recognize the voices?

Yes. Otto's. I'd
know that anywhere.

But the other man? No,
I didn't know his voice.

Can you tell us
anything specifically

about which you heard them
quarrelling, Miss Whilom?

Well, I only heard
snatches, of course,

but this other man seemed
to be very angry with Otto.

About what?

Well, I couldn't make it out.

- Otto said something about Leslie.
- Leslie?

I heard him say "Leslie,"
and then came the shots.

Thank you, Miss Whilom.

Cross-examine, Mr. Mason.

Miss Whilom, how long had
you known Otto Gervaert?

Ever since he came to Port
Harmony, about six years ago.

Was he a successful
painter at that time?

Oh, no. He hadn't
been discovered.

But I recognized
his talents instantly.

In my house, Otto Gervaert became
the greatest painter in America.

I sat at his feet.

And yet, Miss
Whilom, you heard Otto

having a violent quarrel
with an unknown man,

a quarrel followed by two shots,

and you didn't go
downstairs to investigate?

Well, I was frightened.
I was all alone.

Of course you were
frightened, Miss Whilom.

But he was your friend.

Now, do you want us
to believe that you were

so frightened you did
absolutely nothing?

Well, not right away.

A moment or two later,
then. You still did nothing?

Well, the studio was
empty. He was gone.

Then you did go
downstairs to investigate.

He wasn't there. No one was.

And knowing he
might've been wounded,

possibly even dying,

you weren't concerned
enough to look further?

To call someone to
help you look further?

The hall was empty.

Not a soul downstairs.

What about the street?

There was no one
in the street, either.

- No one else's car.
- No one else's car?

What about Otto's
car, Miss Whilom?

Was his car still in the street
when you ran outside for help?

Yes, he was in his car.

But nothing could've
been done for him.

He was already dead.

Now, Miss Whilom,

will you please
explain to this court

how a dead man drove his
car all the way to Hollywood,

120 miles away?

I just can't picture Miss Whilom driving
a dead body all the way to Hollywood.

Well, somebody did.
The question is why?

I think it has to do
with the dual identities.

Somebody in Port Harmony wanted
the corpse to be Phillips, not Gervaert.

Then the murderer must be
somebody here in Port Harmony.

No, not necessarily.

One of Phillips' Hollywood
friends could have

faked that phone call
to lure him up here.

Then, if he'd been
murdered as Gervaert,

there'd be nothing to connect
him with the Hollywood crowd.

What about those
tax records, Paul?

Phillips had copies in his
apartment, and I got photostats.

Also a bank statement.
They're all here.

Now see what you can find
on Gervaert's private papers.

That's not so easy. In Hollywood,
Phillips had a real efficient operation.

By the looks of Gervaert's studio,
up here he kept house like a slob.

Well, you can try.

I also want you to check with
the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Yes, Your Honor, I'm ready
to answer questions now.

All right, Mr. Mason, proceed.

Let's pick up where we left
off yesterday, Miss Whilom.

Now, would you
please tell this court,

who transported the
decedent's body to Hollywood?

I did, Mr. Mason.

You have a driver's license?

No.

Miss Whilom, isn't it true
that you've never driven a car?

No, that's not true. I
drove my father's car.

When? How many years ago?

All right, Miss Whilom.

We'll go on to your reason
for wanting the body moved.

You did it to protect
someone, didn't you?

No.

I just didn't want any
scandal here in Port Harmony.

When you saw the
decedent's body,

you were afraid Miss Cregan
had killed him, isn't that right?

No!

She'd been jilted by Gervaert.

She was angry and jealous.

So you had his body taken
to the apartment in Hollywood

where he was known
as Gabe Phillips,

hoping no connection would be
made with his other identity here.

Isn't that true, Miss Whilom?

Well, isn't it?

Your Honor, I will call
Alexander Glovatski to the stand.

Raise your right hand.

Here's some papers
you'll find interesting

and a list of everything in his
studio, which just proves one thing.

- What's that, Paul?
- Gervaert was a slob.

Alexander Glovatski.

Be seated.

Mr. Glovatski, did
you transport the body

of the deceased to the garage
of his Hollywood apartment?

Indubitably.

Upon whose request?

Daphne's.

You refer to the previous
witness, Daphne Whilom?

The same.

Thank you. No further questions.

Mr. Glovatski, you're
aware that the prosecutor

has just used you to
impeach his own witness?

I am aware of the
truth of what I say.

Do you know that tampering
with evidence is a felony?

These are words for lawyers.

And what is a jail for?

The world is a jail.

But you were aware of what
you were doing, were you not?

I did it.

You must have had a very compelling reason
to agree to the committing of such an act.

What was it? Money?
Did Miss Whilom pay you?

I have no use for money.

Don't you?

You're a sculptor, I
believe, Mr. Glovatski.

Have you ever sold
any of your works?

I am an artist, not a peddler.

Then how do you live?

Mr. Glovatski, why were you
willing to transport a dead body?

Because Gervaert
had betrayed his talent.

He sold his birthright
to the money changers.

I eradicated his presence
from the temple of the arts.

Do you expect
this court to belie...

No, of course you don't.

That's all for now.

Well, our newspaper
syndicate paid Gabe Phillips

about $100,000 a year to
manage and draw the comic strip.

Of course, we paid
a royalty of 40,000

to the man Phillips said had
created the character of Zingy.

To Otto Gervaert, that is.

Can you tell us how much the
defendant, Pete Manders, received?

As Phillips' senior artist, his salary was
approximately $10,000 a year, I believe.

In the event of death or
disabling injury to Gabe Phillips,

had your syndicate
made any plans

to have some other man continue
drawing and managing the strip?

We'd taken that precaution,
yes. In fact, we'd discussed it

with both Phillips and Manders.

Manders was to take over in
the event of any such contingency.

And what sort of salary would
the defendant then have received?

We planned to raise
Pete to at least 60,000.

From ten to sixty.

Thank you. No further questions.

Mr. Newburgh, you say Phillips

received 100,000
and Gervaert 40 more.

That would be a total of $140,000 a
year that you paid to the same man?

Well, if you put
it that way, yes.

But we certainly had no idea
that Phillips was Gervaert, too.

Your Honor, I would like to
recall a previous witness...

- Now, just a moment...
- to clarify an earlier point

and a possible new motive
for murder, Your Honor.

But I already said I
handled Phillips' taxes.

As well as the returns
for Otto Gervaert?

Certainly not. I never even
knew there was such a creature.

But you did make out tax
returns for Gabe Phillips

on a gross income
of over a $100,000.

There were a great many
deductions, of course.

Business expenses and so on.

No matter how much he earned, the way Gabe
spent money, he never ended up with much.

Would you say it was more advantageous
for a man to take his deductions

from a $100,000 income
or a $40,000 income?

I don't understand.

Don't you?

I thought everyone was aware that the
higher the income, the greater the tax.

Oh, well, yes, but...

So wouldn't it be obvious that if Otto
Gervaert had any deductible expenses,

he'd save money by writing them
off on Gabe Phillips' income tax?

No. No, that's not possible.

Mr. Montrose, Phillips had quite a
number of employees, did he not?

A certain of the artists on
Zingy worked for the syndicate.

Yes, there were a few
whom Gabe paid direct...

Some full, some part time.

I show you this photostat of
Phillips' tax return for last year...

The separate schedule here...
And ask you to read this list of names.

I don't see...

Just read the names,
please, Mr. Montrose.

Gabe gave money to Pete Manders,

Joseph Sullivan, Jeremy Stark

and Alexander Glovatski.

$500.

Just 500 paltry dollars.

For what, Mr. Glovatski?

Like the man said,
this Phillips hired artists.

But you're a sculptor,
not a cartoonist.

There is a difference, I
grant that, but only that.

And you just said you
never heard of Gabe Phillips.

Very well. I repudiate myself.

Mr. Glovatski,
you are under oath,

and I'm quite sure you
understand what that means.

Now, who paid you that money?
Otto Gervaert or Gabe Phillips?

It was Gervaert. A donation
to keep sculpture alive.

You mean a donation to
keep blackmail alive, don't you?

Now, you knew about
his double identity.

Isn't that why you were so anxious that
his body not be found in Port Harmony?

Yes. Say any name you want.

You also took other
payments from him.

You were the one person in town
who knew Otto Gervaert's secret.

You were the one person

whose only source of income

would've ended with
his leaving for Majorca.

No! No, that's not true!

You must believe. Only
three payments I took.

One for 50, one for $28.

It wasn't my idea... the 500.

Otto himself said the
government would pay.

His own money was being saved.

But as Phillips, he
could pay anything.

I saw him myself making
notes with his taxes.

He said his tax man
would arrange it all.

The man who handled
all of his accounts.

His tax man would
take care of everything.

All right! Yes! I arranged it!

And Gervaert's tax returns,
Mr. Montrose. You arranged those also?

Of course I did. I set
up the whole thing.

But please, Your Honor, I
couldn't incriminate myself.

I couldn't admit to tax fraud.

But you can admit to
murder, isn't that right?

Unless, of course, you can explain
where the bulk of Gervaert's money went.

Or is that the question he asked you
when he suddenly decided to go to Majorca?

Now, what happened to all that money
he expected to live on, Mr. Montrose?

I can't tell you any
more than I could tell him.

I begged him for time.
I needed time, but he...

Yes, you're... you're right.

I killed the two-headed monster.

All right, Perry. Who was really
murdered, Phillips or Gervaert?

- Both of them.
- Both of them?

That was the key to the whole
business. Outside of a harmless sculptor,

Monty was the only man who
knew all about the dual existence.

And the two separate incomes.

When Phillips suddenly wanted the
savings from those two separate incomes

for his retirement to Majorca,

well, Monty either had
to produce or else kill him.

But he killed him
as Otto Gervaert.

He thought that a dead
artist from Port Harmony

could never be connected to a man
supposedly on his way to Majorca.

So he faked that phone call to lure
Phillips up here, and you know the rest.

Hey, that explains why Monty was so
shook up when he found Gabe in the garage.

I was wondering when you
were going to remember that.

Sure. Monty acted exactly as
though he'd just seen a ghost.

Hey, you know something?

I might be coming back
to Port Harmony someday.

Pete, old sport, haven't
you had trouble enough?

Uh, just leave
art to the experts.

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