All language subtitles for Perry Mason S03E04 The Case of the Blushing Pearls.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Mitsou?

Who is it? Toma.

Oh, Toma, I am so
glad you are here.

What's wrong? Over the phone
you sounded scared to death.

I am, and I show you why.

You know, I almost always
paint for a while before I go to bed,

and tonight when I
took out my brushes,

I found this.

Rose pearls? Yes.

And I think I know
who they belong to.

Grove's stepmother.

Mrs. Nichols?

Yes.

Maybe she left
them here for you.

No. They are worth nearly

a quarter of a
million dollars, Toma.

Do you think
Grove could have...?

He wouldn't do
anything so foolish.

What am I to do?

Take them back.

But I can't.

Grove's family would never
believe I just found them here.

They'd think I stole them.

How did they get here, Mitsou?

I can't imagine.
That's what scares me.

Well, stop being
scared. I'll take them.

Oh, Toma, would you?

Sure. I'll fix it so they
get back tomorrow.

Nobody will ever...

Now, don't cry.

I... I can't help it.

It's all right, Mitsou.
Everything's all right.

I'm only crying because...

Well, that does it, Mr. Nichols.

Yes, I guess it does.

Operator, give me
police headquarters.

I want to advise you
again, Miss Kamuri,

as I did before the
witnesses were sworn,

that you have the right to
be represented by counsel

in every stage of
these proceedings.

I do not know any
lawyers, Your Honor.

Well, I'm sure that your
family must know one,

or you may obtain counsel
from the public defender's office.

Thank you, but I
will decide later.

Very well.

Since it appears that a public
offense has been committed,

it is ordered that Mitsou
Kamuri be admitted to bail

in the sum of
$5,000 pending trial

and be committed to the sheriff

of the county of Los Angeles
until she gives such bail.

Mitsou, you must
let me call Uncle Ito.

I don't want him to know.

But it will be in all
the newspapers.

Your Honor,

I would like to post
bail for Miss Kamuri.

What is your name, sir?

Hudson Nichols.

I have the money here.

The clerk of the
court will receive bail

and give you a
receipt, Mr. Nichols.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mitsou.

I'd like to speak to you a
moment, if you don't mind.

And I with you, Mr. Nichols.

Why, when you believe
I stole your pearls,

do you put up bail for me?

I have no desire to
persecute you, Mitsou.

And I'm not concerned whether
you stole the pearls or not.

The police have them now,

and you've spent
a night in jail.

What are you trying
to say, Mr. Nichols?

That I'm willing to
call it quits if you are.

Quits?

You must realize

that Grove is going to
take my place someday.

Grove will have his civic
and social obligations,

and so will his wife.

I understand, Mr. Nichols.

You would like him to marry
someone like Miss Carson.

Yes.

If I stop seeing Grove,

perhaps go back to Japan,

you will drop the
charges against me?

Mr. Nichols, I will
only call it quits

if Grove desires it that way.

I don't understand
this at all, Hudson.

First you have
the girl arrested,

and then you bail her out.

It just doesn't make sense.

Well, I don't see
any particular reason

for taking our pound of
flesh from her, Thelma.

Just how does one take a
pound of flesh from a thief?

Isn't it enough if
she loses Grove?

It isn't with me.

Thelma, may I talk to
Dad for a minute alone?

Of course.

I have dozens of
things I should be doing.

Now, what's all
this about Mitsou?

Well, just what have you heard?

That you had her arrested.

The police arrested her,
but who told you about it?

That greasy detective you hired.

Beals?

He called me about an hour ago.

Had something to sell me,

only I wasn't buying because
I knew exactly what it was:

the inside story of
how you framed Mitsou.

Let me show you
something, Grove.

Rose cultured pearls.

Exact duplicates of
Thelma's natural ones,

left in their place.

If Thelma hadn't been suspicious
and had them examined,

the theft might have gone
undetected for months.

So?

So if I wanted to frame
Mitsou, the way you put it,

would I risk having
these made up?

I think you would.

Well, I assure you I didn't.

Well, that's a switch, anyway.

Up to now, you've never
even bothered to deny it

when you've taken
something I've wanted.

It's always been, "It's for
your own good, Grove."

I can't deny that I was
disturbed by Mitsou, but...

The watercolor set
when I was 7 years old.

Algebra instead of Art
course in high school.

Business Administration instead
of Architecture after college.

And now Alice instead of Mitsou.

All for my own good,

so that I can sit
up nights like you

and worry about balances,
business and bankruptcy.

Well, this does it, Dad.

I wasn't sure how I felt
about Mitsou, but I know now.

I'm going to marry
her, if she'll have me,

and nothing you
can do will stop me.

Grove.

Would you believe me if I
swore I didn't frame Mitsou?

No, I don't think I would.

Didn't Beals tell you
I put up bail for her?

No, but that's typical,

to show yourself in
the best light possible.

What if I hired an
attorney for her?

What, some shyster who
would make sure she goes to jail?

I was thinking of Perry Mason.

Good thinking, Dad,
only I'm not buying.

I just can't understand
this sudden interest

in Japanese things, Perry.

Didn't you say you had to
buy an anniversary present

for your aunt? Yes, but...

What's wrong with
a string of pearls?

On a secretary's salary?

May I help you?

We'd like to see some
cultured pearls, please.

This way, please.

Mitsou, you must show
Mr. Mason better pearls than these.

I am Ito Kamuri, most
honored by the presence

of so distinguished a lawyer.

You once saved the life
of a countryman of mine,

Kentora Toyama.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Uh, this is Miss Street. She's
the pearl buyer, Mr. Kamuri.

How do you do? Mitsou.

You are not interested
in pearl, Mr. Mason?

Yes, as a matter of
fact, I'm very interested.

Then you must allow me
to show you my collection.

I have some that are quite rare.

I'd be glad to see them.

Come this way, please.

This is Mr. Nogata,

who has forgotten more about
pearls than I will ever know.

Mr. Nogata.

And these are cultured
pearls from Japan,

which he is sorting and grading.

Some are quite beautiful.

They certainly are.

But I show you my prizes.

Natural pearls.

These iridescent
ones are from Samoa.

And these, with
the faint yellow cast,

are from the Sulu seas.

And from the Gulf of
Mexico, black pearls.

Perhaps most valuable of all.

I thought the pink pearl
was the most valuable.

Ah, yes. Rose or
blushing pearls.

Unfortunately, I have
none at the moment.

These are $35?

Yes.

I'll take them.

A good choice. Thank you.

Miss Street, how can
one approach Mr. Mason?

About what?

I am in most serious trouble,

but perhaps he would not
bother with someone like me.

Oh, I'm sure he'd
help you if he could.

Would you like for me
to speak to him for you?

I would be most grateful.

And you have no idea who
put the pearls in your bungalow?

There are many people who
could have put them there.

I respect your not wanting
to mention names, Mitsou.

Don't you think this is
all pretty convenient?

A private detective on hand
when you find the pearls,

Mr. Nichols having you arrested

and then offering to
call the whole thing off

if you stop seeing his son.

Has he ever told you
why he objects to you?

He feels I am not
right for Grove,

and he has in
mind a girl who is.

Tell me, Mitsou, how did
you happen to meet Grove?

I attend university when I am
not working in my uncle's store.

I am an Art major and
Grove is in one of my classes.

Are you in love with him?

I am drawn to Grove,

but my heart has not
yet spoken, Mr. Mason.

I see.

Does your uncle
know about the pearls?

He must by now,

but he has said nothing to me.

I am worried about him.

He is like a samurai, very
proud of the family name.

A disgrace such
as this could kill him.

Did he ever mention making
up a set of rose cultured pearls

to match the
Nichols' natural ones?

No.

Mr. Mason, what am I to do?

Have you any money with you?

A few dollars.

Let me see.

Uh, that is a Japanese coin.

I know.

Della, when we get
back to the office,

make a notation that we received
a retainer from Miss Kamuri

in the sum of 5 yen.

Well, now you are
officially my client, Mitsou.

You didn't just happen

to take me to
Mr. Kamuri's store, did you?

No. I received a call about
Mitsou just before lunch,

while you were out. Oh?

From Hudson Nichols,
asking me to defend her.

But I wanted Mitsou to
have the chance to, uh,

make a pearl of mine.

I am so grateful.

So very grateful.

In the matter of Mitsou Kamuri,

besides catching
her with the goods,

the police say that
the only place in the city

where a matching
string of rose pearls

could have been made is in
the import store of her uncle,

Ito Kamuri.

That in itself isn't conclusive.

No. But add all the elements up,

including the fingerprints.

What fingerprints?

When the police dusted the case

in which the real
pearls were kept,

Mitsou's fingerprints
were on it.

All right, Paul, I want you
to run a complete check

on everyone connected
with the Nichols family.

Yes, Gertie?

Just a minute.

Grove Nichols
in the outer office.

Send him in.

Send him in, Gertie.

Mr. Mason?

Uh, come in, Mr. Nichols.

This is my secretary,
Miss Street.

How do you do? Mr. Paul Drake.

Hi. Won't you sit down?

No, thanks. I just want
a minute of your time.

Mitsou says you're
acting as her lawyer.

Is that true? Yes.

She also says all you'd
take from her is 5 yen.

That's right.

Does that mean somebody
else is paying your fee?

No, it does not.

Heh. You know,
that 5-yen business

just about had me
believing in my father again.

I don't quite understand.

He said he was gonna
ask you to represent Mitsou.

He did.

He offered me a retainer
of $5,000. I didn't accept it.

I don't get this at all.

If Dad's telling the
truth, Mitsou must have...

Must have what, Mr. Nichols?

Must have stolen the pearls?

That's what I'm
going to find out.

Thanks for your
time, Mr. Mason. Bye.

What is it you
want, Mr. Nichols?

The truth.

I have to know what to
believe about my father.

But I cannot help you there.

I think you can.

My father's detective, Beals,

says the substitute string of
pearls had to come from here.

Yes?

So who did you make it up for?

Maybe you can answer that, Toma?

I know nothing about this.

No matching string of
pearls was made here?

Yes, Mr. Nichols,
such a string was made.

Who for? I am sorry.

It was private and
confidential transaction.

You mean you won't tell me

because it's a matter
of business ethics, huh?

I don't believe it.

I am sorry.

You made them up
for Mitsou, didn't you?

Why did you let him
think that, Mr. Kamuri?

Mitsou never... Toma!

Only once did I ever
touch the pearls, Mr. Mason.

A week or so ago when I
was in the house with Grove.

They were on
Thelma's dressing table,

and I... I couldn't
resist trying them on.

I suppose I must have
touched the case too,

if my fingerprints are on it.

Did anyone see you?

Not that I know of.

Though I seem to remember
Alice passing by the door.

Alice?

Alice Carson.

The girl Mr. Nichols
would like Grove to marry.

She came in after dinner.

That's very interesting.

Tomorrow, I'll...

Grove.

Want to see something
funny, Mr. Mason?

A real laugh.

Cost me $300, but it's worth it.

What is it, Grove?

You and Toma.

Did he help you
steal the pearls,

or did you do it on your
own? She didn't steal them.

You'd better check with
her Uncle Ito, Mr. Mason.

Uncle Ito?

Please, Mr. Mason, let him go.

Beals must have
sold this to Grove,

but what could your
uncle have told him?

I don't know.

I will, of course, speak to him.

Please now, I would
like to be alone.

Just a minute there.

Oh, it's you, Miss Kamuri.

Working a little
late, aren't you?

Yes, a little.

Well, don't forget to
lock up when you leave.

Uncle Ito?

Morning, Della.

See the morning papers?

Kamuri's suicide? Mm-hm.

Well, they certainly
played it up big.

But it isn't every day the
city has a case of hara-kiri.

See if you can get Mitsou
on the phone, will you?

I can't. I tried all over. She's
apparently disappeared.

And, uh, we had another
visitor already this morning.

Oh? Who? Tragg.

What'd he want?

Oh, he just happened to
drop by looking for Mitsou.

Thought you might
know where she was.

Let's get Paul in
on this. Mm-hm.

And, Della, you'd
better go with him.

I have a feeling
Mitsou might need you.

Mitsou called me
when she found him.

And I called the police.

Then after they had talked
to us both, I drove her home.

It was a great shock
to her, Mr. Mason.

She loved her uncle.

Yet apparently her
uncle told Grove Nichols

that she had stolen the pearls.

If Grove says that,
he's not telling the truth.

I was there, Mr. Mason.

What did Mr. Kamuri
tell him, then?

Just that he'd made a string
of matching cultured pearls

in confidence.

For Mitsou?

No, not for Mitsou.

He did not say.

I wonder if I might have
a look in the backroom.

I am only the bookkeeper here.

He was lying there, his
hands still clasping the sword.

He wasn't wearing this?

No. He had a suit on.

I suppose the police
took away the red rug.

There was no red rug, Mr. Mason.

How long was Mitsou
here before she called you?

Only a few moments.

She ran out to summon
Connors, but he had gone.

So then she called me.

Connors? Our watchman.

He spoke to her as
she was coming in.

You know where he lives?

In a, uh, rooming
house on First Street.

Now I'd like to see your
pearl records, please.

Yes.

Mr. Kamuri kept this himself.

It is in Japanese,
but I can translate.

A string of rose pearls,

made up perhaps
a week or so ago.

Mr. Mason, a page
has been torn out.

Look, another page
has been torn out.

One is for Tuesday of last week.

But the other is nearly
two months back.

You think the cops'll
be sore, Mr. Mason?

Why should they be?

A suicide.

No reason for you to
volunteer information.

But if they do come
around, Mr. Connors,

don't let them mix you up.

Hm, well, how could they?

Spoke to her a couple
of minutes before 12,

and then she
went into the store.

Can't mix that up.

Good.

Mason.

Beals is my name.

Edgar Beals.

You the one who's
been following me?

Following people is
my business, Mr. Mason.

And selling information.

You want to buy some?

What sort of information?

About a Japanese doll.

The price tag is 5 grand.

Blackmail?

Just a simple
business transaction.

I don't do business in
the hallway, Mr. Beals.

If you have information for
me, either bring it to my office

or I'll take you into court
and get it out of you.

Think it over.

Mitsou gave this one to me.

She must have painted
dozens just like it.

Said it reminded her
of the cliffs over the sea

where she was born in Japan.

I guess that's why
she rented this place.

'Cause she wanted
to be near the cliffs.

Oh, are they close by?

Oh, yes, about a mile beyond.

When was the last
time you saw Mitsou?

About 2:00 this morning.

Oh, she came in
with that friend of hers,

that jalopy,

and then she left
around daylight.

And you have no
idea where she went?

No. I was in bed.

Do you suppose
she went to the cliffs?

Well, you can never tell
what a girl like that will do.

Maybe that she go
and jump in the ocean.

Alice.

Alice.

The lieutenant would like
to talk to you for a moment.

Oh. All right.

Alice, this is Lieutenant Tragg.

How do you do, Miss
Carson? How do you do?

According the officer
who investigated the theft

of the pearls, you saw
Miss Kamuri take them.

Well, Thelma, I certainly
saw no such thing.

Well, that's what
the report says.

I only told the officer
what you told me, Alice.

Oh, well, I merely saw Mitsou
take the pearls from the case

and then hold them up to
her throat as anybody might.

What did she do with
the pearls after that?

Well, I suppose she put
them back in the case.

I don't know. I didn't
see because I left.

This was in Mrs.
Nichols' bedroom?

Uh, yes.

Mitsou was sitting
at the dressing table.

You know, as a matter of fact,
I tried on those pearls myself.

Well, I... I guess that's all.

Mrs. Nichols. Yes, Mary?

There's a Mr. Mason
here to see you.

I hope I'm not interrupting
anything, lieutenant.

No, no. I was just leaving.

By the way, you represent
Mitsou Kamuri, don't you?

I understand you
wanted to see her.

Oh, nothing special.

I just want to tie up some
loose ends on her uncle's suicide.

Any luck?

No. I haven't been
able to locate her.

How about you?

Mind calling me if you do?

I'll be glad to tell her
you're looking for her.

Oh. Thank you very
much for your cooperation.

I'm Thelma Nichols,

and this is Alice Carson.

And this... Grove and
I have already met.

Is this a business
call, Mr. Mason?

Yes, it is, Miss Carson.

Well, then me for the pool.

Grove, I wonder if you
would mind telling me exactly

what Mitsou's uncle
said about her last night.

Aren't you fighting a
lost cause, Mr. Mason?

Well, we're all terribly
sorry for Mitsou.

But doesn't Mr. Kamuri's suicide
mean they were both involved

in the theft?

Not to me, Mrs. Nichols.

Excuse me.

Don't you think you should
have given Mitsou a chance

to explain?

Maybe, but I was
half out of my mind.

First finding out
about Dad lying,

and then finding out about her.

Heh. I suppose you think

I'm a first-class
heel, don't you?

Quite frankly, I do. Even worse.

Worse?

That was Dad, Grove.

He'll be home sometime tomorrow.

He's out of town?

Yes. He went to San
Francisco last night.

Where can I reach him
if the need should arise?

Oh, he has an office there
and a small apartment.

Information'll give
you both numbers.

Mr. Mason, what do
you mean by "worse"?

How do you suppose she feels?

A stranger in a strange land,

fond of two people.

Called a thief by one,

the other one suddenly dead.

You mean she might...?

I don't know.

But if I were you, I'd be far
more concerned than the police

in trying to find her.

Mrs. Nichols.

Mitsou!

Don't the heights of
these cliffs frighten you?

There are many
things that frighten me

here in your country.

Oh, that I can understand,
in your circumstances.

Miss Street, you're not
thinking that I was trying to jump?

Well, uh, no,

but I... I feel better away
from the edge of the cliffs.

And... And, besides,
Mr. Mason wants to see you.

Come on, we have the car.

Mitsou, what did you do
between the time I left you

last evening and midnight,

when the watchman
let you in the store?

Well, I rode into town

and walk around a while.

Did you meet anyone you
knew while you were walking?

No. But why are you asking
these things, Mr. Mason?

You're of the samurai
class, aren't you, Mitsou?

Yes.

Then you must know all
about the ritual of hara-kiri.

Yes.

Your uncle was very proud

of being a samurai, wasn't he?

Yes. Very proud.

Yet there was no
ceremonial robe.

No.

And no red rug.

No, there wasn't.

And the wound?

Are you saying he did
not kill himself, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Gertie?

That man? Mm-hm.

All right, Della.

Send him in, Gertie.
He knows the way.

Sorry to barge
in like this, Perry.

How do you do, Miss Kamuri?

Still tying up the loose
ends of a suicide, lieutenant?

Well, as a matter of fact,

it's the loose ends
of a homicide now.

Oh? That's the reason I've been

looking for Miss Kamuri.

Don't tell me you suspect
her of killing her uncle.

Oh, well, you know me.
I'm apt to suspect anybody.

Mitsou, what time did you enter
your uncle's store last night?

A few minutes before 12.

Who saw you enter?

The night watchman, Mr. Connors.

We got hold of Connors,
right after you talked to him.

We also got hold of a
couple of other witnesses.

One followed Miss
Kamuri to her uncle's store

and saw her enter at, uh, 10:55.

Edgar Beals?

The other one
went into the store

and heard Miss Kamuri
quarrelling violently

with her uncle.

He left before
the quarrel ended,

but he was able to set the time.

Almost exactly 11:00.

I'm sorry,
Mr. Mason. It is true.

I'm sorry too, Miss Kamuri.

But I'm afraid you'll
have to come with me.

Well, they'll have a
field day with the pearls,

both to damage your character

and to provide a
background motive for murder.

They'll maintain that you killed
your uncle to protect yourself,

and they'll use Grove
to substantiate it.

They'll prove that
you were in the store

at approximately the
time your uncle was killed.

And further, they'll
produce your uncle's will.

His will?

You don't know about that?

No.

He left everything
to you and Toma.

Mitsou, did you kill him?

No.

I...

I did quarrel with
him that night.

I was angry and hurt.

I accuse him of lying about me.

What did he say?

Nothing.

Was that an admission of guilt?

That's what I thought at first.

But then later,
when the anger died,

I knew he had somehow
found me wanting

and had closed the door
of his personality to me...

and retired into silence.

And then you went back?

To apologize.

To beg forgiveness

because I was ashamed.

Only he was dead.

Why didn't you tell me this?

I... I thought I was to
blame for his suicide.

And when... When I
learned it was murder,

I was frightened.

Well, as I said, I
didn't go to the scene,

as I was busy on
another matter elsewhere.

Early the next morning
I examined photographs

of the body.

And what did you notice?

Well, hara-kiri is committed
in a kneeling position...

Just a moment, lieutenant.

Have you had previous
experience with hara-kiri?

Yes. I have studied it.

Being a homicide detective,

I've studied all
forms of homicide

and everything pertaining to
homicide, including hara-kiri.

I see.

The defense is quite willing to
accept the witness as an expert.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now, back to the photograph.

Well, as I was saying,
hara-kiri is committed

in a kneeling position,

and as the body tumbles forward,

it dislodges the hands
from the sword handle.

Yet the decedent's right
hand still clutched the handle.

And what did you do
when you noticed that?

Well, I alerted the crime
lab and the coroner's office,

and they, uh...

Well, I imagine they'll tell
the court what they found.

Yes, I'm sure they will.

Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Now, Mrs. Nichols, I
show you this object

and ask you if you
can identify it for us.

Yes. It's my pearl case.

And what about these?

These are the
cultured pearls that, uh,

someone substituted for mine.

If it please the court, I
should like this pearl case

and these pearls
entered in evidence

as People's Exhibits C and D.

Uh, no objection, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

Now, Mrs. Nichols,

when you found that your
valuable rose pearls were gone

and that a comparatively
inexpensive set

of cultured pearls had been left
in their place, what did you do?

I told my husband.

About 10:00 that
night, Beals telephoned.

Said he had located the pearls

in Miss Kamuri's bungalow.

I drove out there
and we went in.

What did you find?

The pearls, in
Miss Kamuri's hand.

And then?

Beals telephoned the police.

Thank you, sir. Cross-examine.

Mr. Nichols, in
regard to Edgar Beals,

the private investigator,
what led you to employ him?

A few days before we
discovered the substitution,

Alice... I mean Miss Carson.

Mentioned that she had
seen Mitsou take the pearls

out of the case in
Mrs. Nichols' bedroom.

After the pearls were gone,

we decided it
would be a good idea

to hire someone to watch her.

To watch her or to plant
the pearls in her bungalow,

Mr. Nichols?

I'll object to that question.
That's completely improper.

It's argumentative, it has
no relation to anything...

Your Honor, I'll
withdraw the question.

Now, sir, I don't believe
you quite understood

my original question.

What I wanted to know was
how you happened to select

Mr. Beals from the various
investigators available?

Had he worked for you before?

No.

Then why did you hire him?

Surely you
remember, Mr. Nichols.

I... I didn't hire him.

Then who did?

My wife.

No further questions.

And when Grove Nichols

accused the deceased of
having made up a duplicate set

of pearls for the defendant,
what was his reply?

Answer the question, please.

He said nothing.

He did not deny it?

No, he did not, but...

Thank you, Mr. Sakai.

Your witness.

I've only one question.

Now, earlier you testified

that when the pearls
were first found

in Miss Kamuri's cottage,

you volunteered to return them.

I now ask you why.

Must I answer?

Unless it incriminates you.

It does in a way,

but I will answer.

I offered to take the
pearls back for Mitsou

because I love her.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Now, Sergeant Taylor,

after you found the
defendant's fingerprints

on the pearl case, as
well as Mrs. Nichols',

what did you do?

I didn't actually
identify the fingerprints

until late that night,

and before I could do
anything, Edgar Beals called me.

Well, what did you do as
a result of that phone call?

I went out to the
defendant's bungalow.

She had the
missing pearls there,

so I took her into custody.

And what did you
do with the pearls?

I impounded them.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I ask you now if you
can identify these.

Yes. Those are the pearls
I took from the defendant.

There's my
identifying tag there.

Thank you, sergeant.

If it please the court,

I should like these
natural rose pearls,

valued at almost $200,000,

entered into evidence
and marked for the...

Your Honor.

Uh, shouldn't
Mr. Burger be sworn in?

Sworn in, Mr. Mason?

I believe it's customary
to be under oath

when giving testimony.

What testimony was I giving?

Uh, considerable.

But even though you
were sworn in, Mr. Burger,

the defense wouldn't recognize
you as an expert on pearls.

You mean you don't think
these are the genuine pearls.

Let us just say, Your Honor,

we'd like to have them
authenticated by an expert.

Well, as a matter
of fact, Your Honor,

that presents no great problem.

Among the state's
witnesses here today

is one of the leading experts
on pearls in the entire world.

Fine. Let's hear him.

Mr. Itsubi Nogata.

Now, Mr. Nogata, I hand
you this string of pearls

entered in evidence
as People's Exhibit D.

I hand you also this
second string of pearls,

identified as having been in
the possession of the defendant.

And I ask you to tell this court

which of these
two strings of pearls

is natural and which cultured.

Your Honor, I object.

Mr. Nogata cannot so testify.

But, Mr. Mason,
you've already stipulated

to Mr. Nogata being an expert.

Even experts, Your Honor,
cannot with only the naked eye

distinguish between
natural and cultured pearls

of that fine quality.

An x-ray examination
is necessary.

Is that true, Mr. Nogata?

Yes. The pictures
will show quite clearly.

While the technician

is developing his
plates, Mr. Nogata,

would you be good
enough to explain to us

why it is necessary to use x-ray

to differentiate between
the various types of pearls?

Fine cultured pearls and
natural pearls are identical,

except for one thing.

Cultured pearls are
formed around a round bead,

which has been put
in the oyster's shell.

Natural pearls are formed
around bits of sand or shell,

quite irregular in shape.

Only by x-ray can
we discover which.

I see.

This is the first set of
pearls, and this is the second.

Thank you.

May I, Your Honor?

Go right ahead, Mr. Burger.

Now, this is the
cultured string of pearls,

People's Exhibit D.

Yes.

Note the round beads

in the center. JUDGE: Mm-hm.

Again, with the
court's permission,

this is the natural
string of pearls,

formed about bits of sand

and found in the
defendant's possession.

These appear to be cultured
pearls too, Mr. Burger.

So they do, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason...

I'm just as surprised
as you are, Mr. Burger.

Come in, Paul.

Hi.

Hey, that was quite a
bombshell you set off.

I got an early
edition on the plane,

and they had a
play-by-play account.

How was your trip? Got
everything you wanted.

Names, telephone
records, financial reports.

Good. By the way,

how did you tumble to both
sets being cultured pearls?

The two pages torn
from the Kamuri ledger

seemed to indicate that
two sets had been made.

Not much help, though,

unless we discover what
happened to the original pearls.

My guess is whoever tore
out the pages would know that.

The ledger was
written in Japanese,

so only someone who
could read Japanese

would have known which
two pages to tear out.

Toma?

No, no. He would
have told us long ago...

if only to help Mitsou.

You know, there's an old saying:

"He who plays with fire

sometimes throws
light on situation."

How would you two like to
help me commit a little arson?

Hm?

You sure that's his window?

That's the one.

All right, Della. Do your stuff.

Here's one, Perry.

Got a match?

You're not going
through with this, are you?

A match. It could
land us both in jail.

Which would you
rather do? Go to jail

or have an innocent
girl convicted of murder?

Now, come on, give me a match.

Mr. Nogata, I'm Della Street,
Perry Mason's secretary.

You've probably
seen me in court.

Ah, yes.

Uh, I'd like to speak
to you for a moment.

Come in, please. Thank you.

Excuse appearance.
Will put on kimono.

What do you wish
to see me about?

Oh, it's about
Mitsou, Mr. Nogata.

She would like to see you.

Tonight? Uh, no.

In the morning, before court.

Why does she wish to see me?

Oh, I believe it's
about her uncle's store.

Uh, something about
you staying on there.

But Toma has
already spoken to me.

Oh, well, I don't believe
she knows about that.

Mr. Nogata, the
house, it's on fire!

Quick, let's get out of
here before we're trapped.

You run, Miss Street.
Out of building. I will follow.

I think I'd better take
those, Mr. Nogata.

And these are the
natural pearls, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

I had them authenticated
this morning.

And exactly when did you
steal them from the deceased,

Mr. Nogata?

The morning after
Mr. Kamuri died.

He had destroyed the records,

so I did not think
anyone would know.

But I did not kill him.

You must believe that.

Mr. Burger?

Well, I don't know quite
what to believe, Your Honor.

Your Honor, may I ask the
witness one or two questions?

Go right ahead, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger.

Uh, you helped Mr. Kamuri
make up two matching strings

of cultured pearls, did you not?

One quite recently,
one two months ago.

For whom were they made?

He did not tell me.

Uh, Mr. Nogata,

on the day the most recent
string of pearls was made up,

did you see anyone in the store

that now see here
today in this court?

Yes.

I saw that young lady there.

Miss Carson?

Yes. Miss Carson.

It was a terrible
thing to do, I know.

And I'm ashamed.

But I felt Grove
slipping away from me

and becoming more and
more interested in Mitsou.

And I just couldn't bear that.

You see, I had always
dreamed about marrying Grove,

ever since I was a little girl.

When did you decide to
take action against Mitsou?

The night I saw her
trying on the pearls.

I went to Mr. Kamuri
and I paid him $5,000

to make up a matching set.

And then I took Thelma's pearls

and then I put the
others in their place.

And then you planted
what you thought

were the natural pearls
in Mitsou's bungalow.

No. I hired
Mr. Beals to do that.

And by persuading Mrs. Nichols

to employ him, you then
arranged for him to find the pearls.

Weren't you taking quite a
chance in going to Mr. Kamuri?

Well, I gave him a false name.

You see, I didn't think
that this would become

a police matter.

But when it did I was
in too far to back out.

Were you in far enough
to kill him, Miss Carson?

Oh, no!

Where were you that night?

I was playing cards
with Thelma all evening.

Mr. Nichols was
in San Francisco.

How did you know that?

Because Thelma talked
to him on the telephone.

It was a few minutes past 11,

and he was, uh, in his apartment

getting ready for bed.

Now, I want you to think
this over very carefully

before you answer, Miss Carson.

Did Mrs. Nichols telephone
her husband, or did he call her?

He called her.

Thank you.

If it please the court,

I would like at this time
to recall Hudson Nichols.

Mr. Burger?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Nichols, please.

You may stand down.

I must caution you that
you're still under oath,

Mr. Nichols.

Now, Mr. Nichols,

I have here a Photostat
of a letter sent to you

some two months ago by
the Pacific Exchange Bank.

Did you, uh,
receive that letter?

Yes.

Apparently, the bank
was threatening foreclosure

on your San Francisco plant

because of an overdue
note for $200,000.

Yes, but I paid it off.

Yes, I know.

I also have here a Photostat
of a check for $180,000

signed by Ito Kamuri
and made out to you.

Now, it's dated...

That was for the
pearls, Mr. Mason.

I sold them to him.

And then you had a matching
set of cultured pearls made up?

Yes. Why did you do that?

Because of Thelma.

Those were her pearls, and
I was afraid if she found out...

Well, I wasn't sure
what she might do.

Then everything would
have been all right

if Miss Carson
hadn't upset things

by having a second
matching set made?

You might put it that way.

How do you suppose
Mr. Kamuri put it

when he found
Mitsou was in trouble?

I don't know what you mean.

I think you do, Mr. Nichols.

I think you talked to Mr. Kamuri
on the night he was killed.

I think you went to his
store shortly after 11...

But I couldn't have. I was
in San Francisco at the time.

I telephoned Thelma
from my apartment there.

Yes. You telephoned
her, Mr. Nichols,

but not from San Francisco.

Your phone call was
made from the Kamuri store

immediately after
you killed Mr. Kamuri

and just before you caught

the 12:25 plane
to San Francisco.

If you check with the
phone record, Mr. Mason,

you'll find that at 11:00...

I have checked them.

And a telephone call was made.

But not by you, Mr. Nichols.

That telephone call was
made by your secretary

in San Francisco,
at your request.

If Your Honor please,

I would like permission
to call a Miss Carmody

from outside the courtroom,

for the purpose of
identification by this witness.

Very well.

Mr. Bailiff,

will you call Miss Carmody
into the courtroom?

Miss Carmody, would
you come forward, please?

Never mind, Mr. Mason.

That night, Kamuri sent for me.

I knew what he had in his mind.

I was willing to do
anything financially.

The sale of the
pearls had fixed me up.

But it wasn't money he wanted.

He wanted me to make a
clean breast of the whole thing.

I had to kill him.

He would have ruined me.

It is a civilization which is
older and gentler than here.

The quiet enjoyments
are very important.

That's right.

I think we hurry and
rush things too much.

Oh, I agree with that.

But sometimes it pays
to rush things a little,

wouldn't you say, Toma?

Well, I'm for it.

One very good thing
that came out of this:

Toma and Mitsou
getting together.

I know now that, uh,
Grove was only courting me

to defy his father.

You know, Perry,

I'm surprised they
haven't come for you.

Who? Police.

I was sure Burger would
have done something

about that arson business.

Oh, he did do something.

This arrived in
the morning mail.

Heh! What is it?

A citation for burning
trash without a permit.