Original subtitles

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( crowd chattering indistinctly )

(man on PA speaking indistinctly )

MAN ( on PA ): For Boston.

With service to Chicago and Hartford and Springfield.

( coin clinks )

(rings)

Basset residence.

No, I'm sorry,

Mrs. Basset just left the house.

What?

I'm Lucy, I'm the house cleaner.

Well, where did Mrs. Basset go?

Do you expect her back soon?

Well, search me.

She's on her way downtown on business.

To the company. You know.

Business? Her?

Uh, yes, sir.

It's some kind of meeting.

Could it be a share--? Mm, "sharecroppers" meeting?

( chuckles )

Share--

( ominous theme playing )

Hello? Hello?

(buzzes )

Domestic Tool & Die.

The what?

Look here, I want the Basset Tool & Die Company.

Our name has been changed for quite some time, sir.

Whom are you calling, please?

Dawson. Peter Dawson.

He's still general manager, isn't he?

Mr. Dawson is president of the company, sir,

but I'm afraid his line is busy.

President. Look here,

is there a shareholders' meeting going on there this afternoon?

I really wouldn't know that information,

but if you'll just give me your name, sir--

Hello? Hello?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Hello, Sybil. Don't you look nice.

Oh, thank you. Oh. I hope I'm not late.

I, uh-- I brought my husband's proxy.

You didn't tell me whether I'd actually need

to have a copy of it when we vote,

but anyway, I thought I'd better stop by the bank.

Here.

Everyone knows it's a blanket proxy,

that's all that's important.

Dora, will you can tell the others

the meeting will start.

Mrs. Basset is here now.

Peter, I am doing the right thing, aren't I?

Now, I thought we agreed yesterday,

no cold feet, remember?

Oh, I know.

If Richard could hear me say that

just once more he'd throw something at me.

"Mother, can't you ever make up

that molasses mind of yours?"

I think your son's a little too anxious about this.

Matter of fact, that's why I sent him

to San Francisco on company business.

To let you decide alone.

Oh, Peter, you've been so thoughtful about everything.

And patient.

You know, when I'm alone with you,

I know everything is going to be all right.

Two years is quite long enough for a woman

to keep shielding a husband who has deserted her.

Come in, gentleman, come in.

How do you do? SYBIL: How do you do?

Thank you.

And how are you?

Well, this shouldn't involve too much time,

I think, some time.

Good to see you.

And roughly, the plan is to sell the assets

of the present corporation to a new firm

which Mrs. Basset and I are establishing

and in which you will all participate,

but in which Hartley Basset will have no interest.

Now, since Mrs. Basset has decided to use

the proxy that her husband gave her,

in our bread-and-butter days

RECEPTIONIST: Wait, you can't go in there.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Basset!

Looks like I got here just in time, doesn't it?

( dramatic theme swells )

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, at least the house doesn't seem

to have changed very much.

Cleaning woman must have gone home.

Her name is Lucy.

Well, now, that's interesting.

You, uh, still have to hide the liquor

from that useless son of yours?

Oh, oh.

W-Would you like a drink, Hartley?

Yes. Yes.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so awfully sorry.

I suppose if I'd been away seven years,

you would not only have had me declared dead,

but probably buried me too.

But Hartley, I-I didn't know what to do.

It's quite a sensation,

walk in on your own funeral.

Was just about like that, you know.

To find my wife and my employees getting ready

to dispose of my assets, my company.

Where did you go? Where were you?

Under the circumstances,

I don't think I'm the one who needs to explain things.

Well, after you just--

Just disappeared, I-I didn't know what to do.

Aside from personal feelings,

I had nothing to fall back on.

The company was almost bankrupt.

Or perhaps you don't remember that sort of thing.

Go on.

If it hadn't been for-- For Peter Dawson,

I don't know what would have happened.

He made people stay on without any salary.

He borrowed money.

He worked day and night.

That's very touching.

I read in the papers there are

a lot of new government contracts

that are using our type of bearings.

Yes. Yes, suddenly last year

everything began to go right for us again.

Sybil, are you in love with Peter Dawson?

You have no right to ask a question like that of me.

( laughs )

And I can imagine my dear greedy stepson

has been egging matters along too, eh?

I don't know what you' re talking about

And, of course, by now you have investigated

the possibilities of divorcing me.

No. Ah, Dawson has proposed

a merger by marriage.

No, that's not true. Ha-ha.

Sybil, don't pretend to be

any stupider than you already are.

Peter hasn't said a word.

He's only been trying to protect your interests.

He's been stealing from me and so have you.

Stealing!

What about that $6,000 you took

when you went away? If anybody's been stealing--

Six thousand dollars? What are you talking about?

You know very well.

( sobs )

Oh, I hate you.

Why did you come back?

Why? Why?

You'll find out.

( sobbing )

Operator,

I want to put a call to San Francisco, please.

( sobs )

( rings )

( man and woman laughing and shouting)

Ah! Oh.

( both giggling )

Hello.

Oh, yes, operator, go ahead.

It's L.A. calling.

I think it's the office, must be Mr. Dawson.

Well, you just tell him you're busy.

( sobbing ): Hello, Richard?

Mother.

Hey, I'm glad you called.

I was going to wait until this evening.

( sighs )

Now, Mother. Wait a minute.

Now, just wait. Now, let me talk.

Only first, um...

We're getting the money, aren't we?

Money? What money?

I mean, they had the meeting,

they're going to switch all the stock?

I mean, we're going to be able to sell out now,

aren't we? To raise cash?

Richard, you-- You've got to come home, right away.

Not a chance.

I just got married.

And I know you must think it's awfully fast,

but when you meet Teddi.

When you see her...

Mother?

It's-- It's all right, Richard, I-I'm here.

I was just thinking that

it never rains, but it pours.

( sobs )

Mother, you really come out with the odd ones sometimes.

What?

Who?

He's--?

Quit calling him my father.

That guy's not my father.

Oh, yes. Yes, your stepfather, Richard,

I'm so sorry, but please, please come back.

I'll be there. Yes, only stop crying.

Stop it!

I'll be there.

( dramatic theme playing )

And I'll make it rain too.

I'll make it pour.

On him.

Dick, there's nothing that can really

spoil our wedding day, is there?

( buzzing ) Yes?

RECEPTIONIST ( on intercom ): Mr. Woodman is here from the factory.

Send him in. ( door opens )

What was it you wanted, Pete?

Sit down, Ken.

If it's about Hartley Basset--

I figured you'd have heard about that by now.

I Just wanted to prepare you

for what it'll probably do

to your program at the plant.

There are apt to be some changes.

Uh, right you are, Dawson.

Hello, Hartley.

I didn't know you were in the office.

I've been talking to your secretary.

Maybe you'd better go see her.

She seemed rather upset.

What's the matter with her?

I just fired her.

( door opens )

( door slams )

Don't rush off, Woodman.

Just testing some new models.

I was right in the middle. Oh.

Well, I don't want you to worry about your own job.

I certainly wouldn't dream of replacing you

as plant superintendent.

Thanks.

Besides, I still remember those bridge sessions

Sybil and I used to have with you and your wife.

We'll have to start them up again,

now I'm back.

My wife is dead.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Ken.

What happened?

Last year.

She died by her own hand, I'm afraid.

They wrote me a letter about it, from Manila.

Manila?

That's apparently where she went.

Where she ended up.

She left me some time before that.

Disappeared.

It was about the same time

that you disappeared, Mr. Basset.

( door shuts )

( door opens )

What's the big idea?

She's been with us for five years.

With me even longer.

You have no right.

Save the sympathy for yourself, Dawson.

You're fired too.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, technically,

he may have the right to discharge you as president.

On the other hand,

your old contract as general manager

will be in force for six months.

Mr. Mason, I know what a mess it is.

I need clarification and protection.

Not only for myself, but for all the others too.

That's the only reason I'm willing to stay around

for as much as five minutes.

It seems to me you've stayed around for too long.

Instead of starting a concern of your own,

you've continued to do all your work

for the benefit of the Bassets.

Why?

Mrs. Basset, I suppose.

She had a first marriage that wasn't very happy either,

a son by it who's never been very much comfort to her.

Anyway, I knew we could straighten things out

sooner or later with that proxy vote she still held.

I never really thought that Basset would come back,

but we would have made him fair payment for his shares.

My intention was always legal and honorable.

You believe that, don't you, Mason?

You believe that the only reason

I want to be protected now is so that--

So that she'll be protected too.

Della, put in a call for Hartley Basset.

Buy off Dawson's contract?

The answer is a flat and final "no."

He doesn't get another penny.

Then I may advise my client to sue.

Listen here, Mr. Mason,

before I've finished with Dawson,

he'll really need your services.

There are two sides to this story, you know.

Just what do you mean?

I mean your client is a thief, of course.

I'd be careful of any accusation, Mr. Basset,

unless you're prepared to back it up in court.

Hold on a moment.

Colemar, how much longer do you think it will take us

to go over these books?

Another four or five hours.

I tell you what, Mr. Mason.

If you'd come here later this evening,

I'll be glad to talk this over with you.

Yes, four, five hours.

Say, 10:00 tonight.

( dramatic theme playing )

(woman screams )

( footsteps retreating )

DICK: Teddi?

Teddi. Say something.

What's the trouble?

I don't know.

Her forehead's bleeding.

I was just stepping out of the elevator

I-I heard her scream.

Know who she is?

She's my wife.

Teddi. Teddi, please. Oh, baby.

( Teddi groans )

Teddi, say something.

Dick? Oh, Dick.

Honey, what happened?

Someone knocked me down.

What are you doing here anyway?

Mother told me you came down.

I-I was looking for you.

I was afraid you'd try to see your stepfather alone.

I didn't want you to fight with him

Someone in here knocked you down?

Well, the minute I walked through the door,

the lights went out and--

And he hit me.

He came rushing past me.

"He?"

Yes.

Even in the dark I could see him.

I'd know him anyplace.

It--

It was the man that came out of there.

He's dead. He's been shot.

( ominous theme playing ) ( laughing )

It's Hartley Basset, isn't it?

Eh, sure.

You see, Honey?

I told you there was nothing to worry about.

Somebody beat me to it.

Looks like he put up a little fight.

What is that?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Something he grabbed, I guess.

Looks like hair from a wig.

A toupee.

He-- Yes, he-- He had it in his hand.

This little-- This little piece of hair.

Oh, yes, and-- And they didn't see a gun,

but he'd been shot. He'd been shot twice.

Hair?

Oh, Peter, please come over right away

and tell me what to do.

Sybil, of course, don't worry,

I'll take care of everything,

but I just walked in the door this minute.

I'm sorry, even though I--

I think this is what I've been dreading

all along.

You know, Peter,

I almost wish I'd been the one to kill him.

Sybil, everything's going to be all right.

I'll be there, of course.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I went for a walk, Mr. Mason.

Quite a long walk. All alone.

I didn't get back to the apartment

until just after 11:00.

That's when Sybil telephoned.

So for the time of the murder

you have no alibi.

Is that what you wanted to tell me?

Well, mostly about the toupee.

The fact that I wear one.

That one thing in itself can't be too incriminating.

No, but Mr. Mason,

sometime yesterday afternoon or last night

somebody stole my extra one.

They only found a small part of one in Basset's hand.

But that's enough.

That's all they need.

You see, there are ways of identifying a toupee.

You're absolutely correct, sir.

You must be Peter Dawson.

You see, in the ordinary--

Good morning, Perry.

You see, in the ordinary toupee,

there may be 40 to 60,000 individual hairs,

but of course nobody's hair is a solid color.

You take Mr. Dawson's case for instance.

I believe there are six different shades.

Isn't that right, sir?

Uh, look here, lieutenant.

I need hardly remind you that there's a young lady

who claims to have seen a man running out

of the murder room last night,

and who claims, moreover,

that she's able to recognize him.

Richard Hart's bride. Teddi.

I was just about to suggest to Mr. Dawson

that he come along with me and face her.

Yes, if she's telling the truth,

she'll clear me. Oh, by all means.

If you'll be good enough, Perry, to tell us where she is.

What do you mean?

Well, you told the first officers

to arrive last night that she'd gone

to the Ladies' Lounge to lie down.

That's right.

Her husband assisted those officers

in searching the building for some trace of the man

she claimed to have seen.

So?

So when Homicide arrived and went back

to question the girl, she disappeared.

We've found no trace of her since.

Even Richard, her husband, can't seem to help us.

And now you've jumped to a conclusion.

Naturally.

You wasted no time in getting

that girl into hiding, counselor,

so that your client wouldn't have to face her.

Well, I'm not going to waste any time, either.

Perhaps Mr. Dawson should come along with me

instead of you.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Drake, I've told you all I know, believe me.

Are you sure you don't know where--

Oh, hi, Perry.

Paul.

I see you've already found him.

Mr. Mason, please,

I've got to get back to Mother.

I just came down to the office

for a few minutes

and I've told him everything I know.

Now, please. All right.

We don't want to bother you.

I can check with you later.

He says he doesn't even have a snapshot of his wife.

That's very interesting.

He's only known her a week,

so maybe it's true.

Mr. Drake? Yes.

I was told you were looking for me.

I'm Arthur Colemar, the company controller.

Oh, yes, Mr. Colemar.

It was for Mr. Mason.

How do you do, Mr. Colemar.

Uh, thanks, Paul.

You'd better get going.

Don't let that get lost.

I won't.

I'd like to ask you a few questions, Mr. Colemar.

Mm-hm. You're Mr. Dawson's attorney.

Sure.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

I understand you, uh,

worked rather late last night.

Mr. Basset wanted me handy

while he went over the books.

What time was it when you left here?

Nine forty-seven.

The police figure I was the last one out.

Before it happened, that is.

How can you be so precise about the time?

Well, you see, Mr. Mason,

I don't drive a car.

I was trying to catch a bus.

The 9:50.

I ran all the way to the boulevard,

but I missed it and had to wait 20 minutes.

When you left the office, was Mr. Basset here alone?

Sitting right in there waiting for you.

I, uh, called him here late yesterday afternoon.

Were you here with him at that time?

Correct.

Then you heard him refer

to Peter Dawson as a thief.

You heard him say that when he was finished with Dawson,

Dawson would really need a lawyer.

I could hardly believe my ears.

What was he talking about?

Why don't you ask Mr. Dawson that?

What makes you think he knows?

Well, earlier in the evening,

just as I was going out for a bite to eat,

Mr. Dawson came barging in here

to demand an answer to that very question.

What time was that?

About 8, I'd say.

Was he still here when you came back from supper?

I don't know. I didn't see him.

My accounting offices are on the floor below

and I went directly there on returning.

Worked alone a while,

adding up some figures and so on.

Then I brought them up here to show them to Mr. Basset

and to tell him good night.

I didn't see anyone else here at that time.

Tell me, Mr. Colemar, are conscious of the fact

that Mr. Dawson wears a toupee?

Well...yes and no.

We never spoke about it.

I don't know him that well.

But I did sort of guess once,

when I saw another of the men kidding with him

and trying to give Mr. Dawson's hair a pull.

What man was that?

Mr. Ken Woodman,

our plant superintendent.

( dramatic theme playing )

( knocking on door )

Mr. Woodman, I'm--

Counsel for the Defense.

That's no reason for me to let my lunch get cold.

I understood you lived alone.

Those things are as my wife left them

two years ago.

That's a long time to sustain an illusion.

Your wife died in Manila, didn't she?

May I sit down?

If it'll help you come to the point.

Did you ever connect your wife's disappearance

with that of Hartley Basset?

Is that all you came to ask?

Except for where you were last night

before 10:00.

Two questions, one answer:

I'm not on the witness stand yet.

All right, we'll take it from there then.

On the witness stand.

That girl, Teddi.

What about her?

You actually believe

that cock-and-bull story of hers?

About the man running out of Basset's office?

She had a fortune to gain

by the death of Hartley Basset

at that time, being married to his heir.

Another day or two

and Basset would have chopped

his family off without a penny.

You're saying the girl killed him?

Well, if she didn't, her husband did

and she was an accomplice.

Otherwise, why has she disappeared?

Mr. Woodman, you have just asked the key question,

about the key witness.

Perry, still no lead on Teddi.

And now they've found the gun.

They're finding all sorts of things.

What gun was it?

Well, supposedly it was purchased for the office,

but it was registered to Peter Dawson.

And they found the box of shells in his apartment.

Paul, you've just got to locate Teddi.

She gets more important every minute.

Grab a plane. San Francisco?

San Francisco.

( dramatic theme playing )

All I know is she sang and played piano.

Called herself Teddi Lansing.

Where was she from?

Oh, they come and go.

This one wandered in here one night,

ran through a number, and I hired her on the spot.

There's something funny, though.

What's funny?

She kept promising to have her picture taken

so I could hang it out front.

She never got around to doing it.

Yeah, I know. She's real camera-shy.

How long was she here?

Just short of a month.

Some young guy started hanging around,

a few days later she was gone.

No notice, no nothing.

She quit so sudden,

as a matter of fact, she forgot some of her stuff.

May I take a look?

Sure. I went through it myself,

to see if I could find some kind of address to ship it to,

but wasn't anything here.

What'd I tell you?

PAUL: "Flo's Beauty Salon. Fresno."

Look, Miss--?

Hi. Just call me Flo.

Flo, you've already had me

cooling my heels out here for a half-hour.

Now, do you or don't you remember a customer

answering to the description of this "Teddi Lansing"?

Like I said: I'll have to think about it.

( bell dings )

You see, it was this way, sweetie.

I made a phone call.

What for?

Oh, you'll find out any minute.

There, you see?

Mr. Drake, meet Wilbur Fenwick.

Mr. Fenwick.

Drake, what about this girl you're looking for?

Do you think you know her?

What I think is she's my wife.

( dramatic theme playing )

DICK: Well, I just can't believe it.

Dick.

Six months ago in Fresno,

Wilbur Fenwick met and married this girl,

known to him as Nikki.

In his case too it was a whirlwind courtship.

Where upon she promptly proceeded

to take him for every dollar he had.

and Fenwick had quite a few.

You're taking his word for it.

No, not entirely.

I double-checked, and came up with certain facts

that just can't be explained away.

Fact Number One:

She left in a hurry without saying goodbye to anyone.

Fact Number Two:

There's no evidence that she even bothered

to get a divorce from Fenwick before marrying you.

Well, of course she got a divorce.

Mr. Mason, you've just got to find her.

I couldn't agree with you more,

but let's keep it quiet for the time being, shall we?

Oh, it's all right with me.

Well, at least we now know

why Teddi took off so fast the other night.

The surplus husband. Sure.

As soon as she realized

she was involved in a murder,

she figured the police would start prying into her past.

She would have decorated the newspapers

from coast to coast.

For everyone, including Wilbur Fenwick, to see.

All of which adds up to the fact

that she'll hardly reappear of her own volition,

certainly not soon enough to help Peter Dawson.

( door opens )

Listen.

I'd swear I was being followed.

Of course you were.

And are and will continue to be.

Who? Why?

The police think you'll find out through me were she is.

They think that sooner or later

you'll lead them right to her.

And maybe you will at that.

Well?

What do you think?

They could be twins.

Look, mind telling me what all this means?

Miss Grant, you'll receive a full explanation,

along with detailed instructions

before you leave town.

And where am I going?

One of my favorite vacation spots.

Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Oh, you'll need some expense money.

Ah.

Look, Mr. Mason, I know you're on the level,

but your reputation, well,

you do skirt the law at times.

You will be doing nothing illegal.

( sighs )

Okay.

When do I leave?

If you call back within the hour,

I'll have made all the arrangements.

Yes, sir.

Now, would you mind telling me

what all this means?

It means the preliminary hearing

starts tomorrow morning.

Teddi was lying on the floor,

unconscious.

I picked her up and carried her over to the couch

and that's when he showed up.

Who? Mr. Perry Mason.

Really?

All right, Mr. Hart, go on.

Teddi opened her eyes

and explained about the man who had hit her.

Your Honor,

due to reasons which will become self-evident,

Mrs. Teddi Hart has not been available for subpoena.

Under res gestae,

the rules against hearsay evidence

therefore become inoperative,

and the state wishes to invokes its right

to bring out what Mrs. Teddi Hart said

by means of the testimony of this witness.

Mr. Mason?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may proceed.

Mr. Hart, what did your wife

say to you and to Mr. Mason

about the man who had hit her?

She said that the lights went off,

and he rushed in from the outer office.

And he hit her.

Well, that's all she could remember.

Did you ask her if she would recognize her assailant?

Yes.

She said that she'd know him anywhere.

I see. Now would you tell this court,

please, the circumstances of your wife's disappearance?

Well, we called the police.

A squad car came first.

And we carried her into the Ladies' Lounge

so that she could lie down,

see, she was still woozy, and a couple of other

officers and I checked the rest of the building

as quickly as we could.

Soon after that the other squad cars arrived.

Excuse me a moment.

Do you know where Mr. Mason was during this period?

Well, the last time I saw him,

he was on the phone,

trying to get Mr. Dawson.

And how long was it after that

that you returned to that part of the building

and found that your wife was missing?

About five minutes,

but you're wrong if you think Mr. Mason sent Teddi away.

Wait just a moment.

The witness will refrain

from volunteering information or conclusions.

All of the answer of the witness

after the words "five minutes"

will be stricken from the record.

Proceed.

I have no further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Hart.

Your witness.

MASON: No questions.

BURGER: And where were this

torn piece of toupee found, lieutenant?

I saw it clutched

in the left hand of the decedent.

Was there any other indication that Mr. Basset

had struggled or grappled, perhaps, with the murderer?

TRAGG: Well, a lamp had been knocked over.

The wastebasket had been spilled

halfway across the floor.

The carpet had been twisted

and kicked up in a couple of places

near the decedent's feet.

I see.

I show you now this .38 caliber automatic pistol,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, it has my mark on it.

And was this weapon checked ballistically?

Yes, sir.

This gun fired

the two bullets which were removed

from the decedent's body.

It's been checked out as the murder weapon.

Thank you, lieutenant.

If it please the court, I should like this automatic

and this piece of torn toupee

enter in evidence as People's Exhibit D and E.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Oh, and lieutenant, where was this gun found?

In a culvert.

Four blocks from the scene of the crime.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I think that'll be all for now.

Your witness.

Lieutenant, I take it you made a search for this gun

in the defendant's apartment?

Certainly.

Yet you found it not in his apartment,

but in a culvert where anyone might have thrown it?

TRAGG: Was found in a culvert, yes.

Lieutenant, isn't it true

that the police rate culverts among their favorite

hunting grounds for missing weapons?

Oh, that's only because criminals

seem to find culverts so handy.

This particular culvert is in a public park.

About a third of the walking distance

from Mr. Dawson's office to his apartment, I'd say.

Thank you for adding that information

and in view of it, don't you therefore think

it possible that the murder weapon

was deliberately discarded in that culvert,

so discovery of it would be certain?

So that Mr. Dawson would be implicated?

Objection, Your Honor.

Those questions are argumentative.

Sustained.

Thank you, lieutenant. That'll be all, then.

I'd say.

BURGER: I call Mr. Stanley Roderick.

BAILIFF: Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly promise to swear

the testimony you're about to give will be

the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

RODERICK: This headblock was made by us

to conform exactly to the shape

of Mr. Dawson's head,

in order to create his particular hairpiece.

I see.

Now, Mr. Roderick, is there another way

to positively identify a hairpiece

other than the method you described to us?

That is, other than matching the hair shades?

Oh, yes, indeed.

Under a microscope, each person's hairline

is as different and distinctive as a fingerprint.

It's like a shoreline,

with infinite and varied juttings and inlets.

I'm sure it is. Mr. Roderick, would you please

tell us what these marks on the headblock are for?

Well, this is the outline of the tuft of hair

that was found in the, uh, dead man's hand.

And would you please demonstrate for us

how the tuft of hair fits between this markings?

Oh, yes. It fits...right in here.

And it's your conclusion, then, Mr. Roderick,

that this tuft of hair could only have come

from Peter Dawson's toupee?

RODERICK: Oh, absolutely.

BURGER: Thank you, very much.

If it please the court,

I should like this headblock entered in evidence

as People's Exhibit F.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Your witness.

Mr. Roderick.

You think it plausible that someone grabbing

at a man's head could tear out

a small segment of his toupee

without ripping or removing the entire thing?

Oh, entirely plausible,

if it were properly attached with spirit gum.

If you'd like a test, Mr. Mason, grab away.

( crowd chuckles )

Mr. Colemar, I show you this item marked People's Exhibit G,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. Yes. This is a Photostat of a page from a company ledger.

For the month in which, uh,

Hartley Basset disappeared.

Do you know who requested that this Photostat be made?

Ah, Mr. Basset.

On the day he returned.

Did he by any chance told you why?

No, he didn't say why.

I caught your attention to this item,

it's a debit of $6,000.

Yes, that's the amount that turned up missing

after Mr. Basset's, um, departure.

And what explanation was given for it?

Well, we assumed that

Mr. Basset had

skipped off with it.

"Assumed"? What kind of an investigation

was held at the time? None.

Why was that?

Well, Mr. Dawson asked the matter

be hushed up as much as possible.

Really? Thank you, Mr. Colemar.

Your witness.

Mr. Colemar.

How could a substantial sum like $6,000 turn up missing?

Well, our affairs were

a little precarious in those days.

We were concerned that an attachment

would be made on our bank account,

so our employees were paid in cash.

To that end, currency was accumulated in the vault.

Who had access to the vault?

Besides Peter Dawson, there was myself,

and Mrs. Basset, of course.

and Ken Woodman, who was then doubling

as our purchasing agent.

Thank you, that will be all.

( dramatic theme playing )

You've barely got time to catch your plane.

After I left, I heard Dawson starting to get angry

and then Basset yelled at him,

"You're fired too."

Mr. Woodman, later that same day,

did you overhear another angry conversation

between Mr. Dawson and Mr. Basset?

Yes, I did.

BURGER: And what did Mr. Dawson say on that occasion?

He said,

"Hartley, some day I'm going to kill you."

( crowd murmuring )

( gavel banging )

JUDGE: Cross-examine?

Ah, Mr. Woodman,

when you were in Mr. Basset's office,

was the subject of your wife brought up?

Yes. Yes, he-- He mentioned something

about our-- Starting our bridge sessions again.

He and his wife, me and my wife.

I explained that... Agnes was dead.

And you also explained

that her death had occurred in Manila?

And that she died by her own hand?

Yes.

Did you explain that the last time you saw your wife

was during December, two years ago?

I-I don't exactly remember everything I told him.

You felt that he already knew these things?

Mr. Woodman, isn't it true

that after you were notified of the death of your wife,

you took a leave of absence?

Sure. I went fishing

at Sawtooth Lake region in Idaho.

I have here the Photostat of an airline's passenger list

for the day your leave of absence began.

It shows a Kenneth L. Woodman booked for Manila.

All right, so I flew to Manila.

To go fishing?

What were you fishing for?

Proof of why your wife left you?

Wasn't Basset the reason?

I got proof that Basset was the one.

I swore I'd find him and kill him.

Well, I couldn't find him.

A man changes after a while.

Killing isn't always the answer to everything.

I have no further questions.

I call Mrs. Sybil Basset to the stand.

JUDGE: Uh, just a moment.

As we have arrived the hour of noon adjournment,

the court feels it would be better to declare

the usual recess at this time

until 2:30 this afternoon. ( gavel bangs )

Mr. Mason, please.

Richard, where did he go?

Mrs. Basset,

it might not be proper for me to tell you.

But why not?

Because a very great deal might depend on what happens

where he is.

( suspenseful theme swells )

( knocking on door )

Come in.

Darling. Dick.

You're sure you weren't followed?

Are you Richard Hart?

What's the big idea?

This is Sergeant Brice, from the Los Angeles police.

He's up here to get Mrs. Teddi Hart

to return to Los Angeles with him immediately.

Well, my name is Lorna Grant.

And I suppose he isn't Richard Hart?

What if I am?

You've got it all wrong.

This isn't my wife Teddi.

BRICE: These initials happen to be "T" as in Teddi,

"H" as in Hart.

Sorry, but the little game is up.

Let's go.

Mrs. Basset, at 7:58 p.m.

on the day of the return and the death

of Hartley Basset,

did you receive a note from your husband

by special messenger?

Come now, Mrs. Basset.

If it's necessary to refresh your memory,

here is the receipt that you yourself signed

at the time of delivery of that note.

Yes. Yes, I did received a note from him.

Can you produce that note in court?

No.

Why not?

I-I threw it away.

If it please the court, I should like at this time

permission to enter this Photostat in evidence.

Mr. Mason?

You represent this to be what, Mr. Burger?

Our investigators found impressions on a memo pad

on Hartley Basset's desk

of a message that had apparently been written

on the top sheet of that pad with a ballpoint pen.

The impressions were developed to the point of legibility

in the police lab and the Photostat

was made of the results.

No objection.

Mrs. Basset.

I ask you now if this is not, in fact, a true copy

of the note sent to you by special messenger

from your husband?

Yes.

Would you please read it to the court.

"My-- My Dear, Devoted Wife,

"Suggest you change your plans for Peter Dawson.

"I didn't take that $6,000, he did,

"and maybe more too.

"I'll be home when I'm through checking the books.

Light a lamp in the window. Hartley."

And now one final question.

Between the time you received this note

and when your husband died,

some two hours later,

did you or did you not inform Peter Dawson

of the contents of this note?

( whispers ): Yes.

BURGER: Louder, please.

Yes.

That's all. Thank you.

Take the witness.

No questions.

( door opens )

( whispers indistinctly )

( crowd murmurs )

Mr. Burger.

I beg the court's indulgence, Your Honor.

To what end?

Your Honor, unrefuted testimony has established

the fact that Mrs. Teddi Hart

said she could identify the man

who ran from the murder scene.

I've just learned that this key witness,

Mrs. Teddi Hart, has been located.

( crowd murmuring )

Bailiff.

Enforce quiet or clear the courtroom.

Furthermore, Your Honor,

she has been located under circumstances

which strongly suggest the possibility

of grave misconduct on the part of Defense counsel.

JUDGE: Eh, Mr. Burger,

do you have a specific request to make

at the court at this time?

I have indeed, Your Honor.

The plane bringing Mrs. Teddi Hart from Carmel

is due to land here in half an hour.

I ask a recess until this witness

can be brought to court to testify.

Request granted.

Uh, court to reconvene at 3:30.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger.

I want to see both of you in my chambers.

I must say, I can't help but admire him for it.

Who? Mason.

Sticking his neck out like that for a client.

Yes.

How about a cup of coffee?

No, thanks.

Now, Hamilton,

what is the basis for your allegations of misconduct?

Well, Judge, I suspected right from the beginning

that Mr. Mason was responsible

for the disappearance of Teddi Hart.

Now I'm convinced of it.

We had Dick Hart under surveillance all along.

This morning, after he testified,

he slipped out of the courtroom

and met Paul Drake,

who drove him to the airport.

Followed by one of your men?

Exactly.

And the trail of the lonely bridegroom ended at Carmel.

In the motel room of a girl registered as Lorna Grant,

but fitted exactly the description of Teddi Hart

and who, by curious coincidence,

had the initials "T.H." on her luggage.

Well, Perry?

In the interest of my client,

I had to take a desperate chance.

If I lose, I'll assume sole responsibility.

I'm afraid you've lost already, Perry.

No, the girl being returned from Carmel

is actually Lorna Grant, not Teddi Hart.

You set that up deliberately?

But why?

What possible excuse could you have for such a thing?

There was no other course open to me.

The murderer had to believe that Teddi Hart

would shortly be brought into the courtroom

to point an accusing finger at him.

But the murderer happens to be Peter Dawson.

I think I've made a pretty airtight case against him,

even without Teddi Hart.

JUDGE: Well, supposing someone else

were guilty, and supposing that this someone

now believes that the girl being flown

from Carmel actually is Teddi Hart.

Exactly.

And it isn't likely that this someone

will lose any time in getting away from here.

As far away as possible.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme swells )

Will someone please fill me in on Colemar's confession?

Della can give you a first-hand account.

Well, when Basset skipped out,

it was really Arthur Colemar who took that $6,000.

He thought Basset wouldn't show up again,

so who'd be the wiser?

Yes, but when Basset did come back,

it was Dawson he blamed, not Colemar.

Until that night.

Then he went over some ledgers,

and found other discrepancies.

Basset finally realized it was Colemar

who had been doing the embezzling.

He accused him and Colemar begged for a little time.

But then he used that time

in planning to frame Dawson into a murder.

That's right,

with the bit of toupee and all the rest of it.

There was only one problem, though,

he almost didn't get away.

In walked Teddi.

In walked who?

Well, lieutenant.

We weren't speaking of the devil,

but come right in.

All right, Perry, all right.

I just thought you'd like to know

something about Teddi Hart, that's all.

Sending her picture out over the wires

finally paid off.

You mean, they found her?

In Vermont.

And guess what she was doing?

ALL: Getting married again.

( dramatic theme swells )

( noirish jazz theme playing )