A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–2002): Season 2, Episode 3 - The Next Witness - full transcript
Wolfe and Archie are subpoenaed to testify in the murder trial of businessman Leonard Ashe, accused of strangling a phone operator whom he had asked to spy on his wife. Wolfe resents having to give testimony against a man he believes to be innocent as well as being uncomfortable having to sit next to a heavily perfumed woman in court. He suddenly bolts out of the courtroom in order to find the evidence necessary to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case. His suspicions are confirmed when he discovers that one of the dead woman's co-workers is able to afford an original Van Gogh on her $80 a week salary.
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(mandelbaum)
We will prove beyond
a shadow of a doubt...
that he murdered her
in cold blood.
...rich, sophisticated
man sits before you...
we will further demonstrate
that leonard ashe...
...a respectable man
ma
don't...
don't let him
get away with it.
The people will
show that leonard ashe
engaged marie willis
to spy on his wife
from her vantage
point as an operator
at thebagby answerstelephone
messaging service.
(donovan)
Is it plausible
that my client would
kill a woman because she
refused to spy on his wife?
No.
...that when poor marie told
him that she could not go on
and had decided to tell
his wife of his espionage,
he murdered her
in cold blood.
My client's wife is
a beautiful, famous woman.
Leonard ashe would be
a fool not to be
madly in love with her.
It would be easy to portray this
murder as an act of passion,
but he didnotkill
marie when she told him "no."
He didn't raise his hand
in anger, he waited.
In fact, when he found the body,
hecalled the police!
...her back to him
at the switchboard,
probably answering a call...
he came up behind her...
the fact is that the state
has not one single shred of
physical evidence to indicate
that my client ever
touched marie willis!
Let aLone, grabbed her and
choked her to death!
And now, this rich,
sophisticated man
sits before you
arrogantly confident
that you won't convict him.
Is that the behavior of
a cold-blooded killer?
(Archie)
The ashe trial was
the biggest in memory,
and inspector cramer had
come to invite Wolfe
to the festivities.
An opportunity that
doesn't come
phooey.
Here's your subpoena
for the ashe trial.
Want me to
read it out loud?
You came all the way to
serve me this in person?
Way to
you came all the way to
serve you in person. In person?
I wanna make sure you
understand the fine print.
A sad commentary
on the pusillanimous
nature of your dreams.
And if you don't show up,
you'll be in contempt of court,
and a bench warrant will
be issued for your arrest.
And i'll send
the newest recruit
on the force to come down here
and lead you away in cuffs.
(laughing)
Maybe this'll get
you out in the sun.
Oh, here's one for you.
(laughing)
Is this a picture
of the deceased?
Yes.
What was your analysis
of the cause of death?
Strangulation.
The victim's windpipe was
crushed by an electrical wire,
which was yanked back and
held taut around her neck,
tight enough to slice through
the flesh of her neck.
How Long did the murderer
have to hold it?
Three to five minutes.
Ad to hold her
dying, choking, for that Long?
Yes.
Your witness,
mr. Donovan.
Were there any
fingerprints on the cord?
Of course not.
Any physical evidence of
any kind to connect my client
to the body
of the victim?
Not in my report.
Thank you.
Your honor, we would
like to move for dismissal.
The state has not met
the evidentiary
burden of proof
in a capital crime.
We can establish
a clear motive, your honor.
By his own admission,
he was there.
This man was insanely jealous
of his wife, and this girl...
(crowd gasping)
(gavel pounding)
I'll have order.
Well, i'm so happy
you could join us
today here for
the trial, mr. Wolfe.
Yes, i'm only here because
i've been subpoenaed, sir.
You are two
hours late.
But i suppose we all should
be grateful for small favors.
Would you care for us to repeat
all of the previous testimony?
That won't be
necessary, your honor.
I'm sure that we'll be able to
follow the course of the trial.
Fine, then you won't
mind if we continue?
I assure you, judge, that
i wish these proceedings to be
concluded with as much dispatch
as justice will allow.
That's very reassuring,
mr. Wolfe.
Your motion is denied,
you may step down.
Continue, mr. Mandelbaum.
(man)
The state calls
clyde bagby.
Archie...
why must i
submit to this?
To testify
is an occupational hazardns
if one hopes to collect
fees from clients.
I had no client.
Only because you turned
leonard ashe down when
he asked you for help.
That's the only reason,
otherwise, you'd have a clint.
Confound it.
(mandelbaum)
Could you describe it,
please?
Well, it's a telephone
answering service.
And the way the office
on 69th street is set up
is unusual,
is it not?
Yes, it's
an apartment.
On account of labor laws,
i can't have women working
in an office building
past 2:00 a.m.
And i give around-the-clock
service, so...
right there on 69th street,
we have four girls
living and working
in that apartment.
Ecialized service!
Living and working
in that apartment.
Mr. Bagby,
look at the gentleman
in the dark blue suit
sitting next to the officer.
Do you know him?
Sure, that's leonard ashe.
He arranged
for a 24-hour
service on his home phone,
paid a month in advance.
And two days later,
he made contact
with marie willis and
offered her $1,500 to do what?
She told me ashe asked
her to listen in
on any phone calls to his
apartment during the day,
and then she was supposed to
call him at night and report.
He gave her $500 and
promised another $1,000
if she went aLong.
Bagby...
information she was supposed
to report?
Yes.
She was supposed
to report on any,
uh, extra-marital activity
on the part of his wife.
And did she?
She told him she wanted
to sleep on it,
and then she
came to me.
She said she knew she
should've turned him down,
but she didn't wanna
make him sore.
Miss willis
initially agreed then?
Oh, yeah, till she
found out his wife
was her idol,
robina keane.
Marie studied acting
very seriously.
In any case, you can confirm
that, on the night of her death,
marie willis had an appointment
to meet with leonard ashe.
I tried to talk
her out of it.
I rode with
her in the taxi
to ashe's office,
but i couldn't budge her.
She wanted him to know that
she was gonna tell his wife.
You didn't go up to ashe's
office with miss willis?
I had to keep a dinner
date with a friend
at a restaurant
on 52nd street.
And not Long after i got home,
the police called to say that
they found miss willis
murdered on 69th street.
And they wanted me
to identify the body.
Leonard ashe was
already there.
He said a man phoned him with a
voice he didn't even recognize
and said maybe if he could
meet him at the office,
they could talk
some sense into marie.
Ashe said when
he got there,
the door to the office was
there just standing open.
When he saw her,
he leaned out a window
and yelled for the police.
(donovan)
Your honor, how does
the witness know this?
(mandelbaum)
These facts were established
by a police report...
which way is
center street?
We need a taxi, and
i need a word with you.
It's preposterous.
Yes, it is,
now let's go back inside.
No, i mean
mr. Mandelbaum's thesis.
And if ashe
is convicted,
i will not be
a party to it
you doubt ashe's guilt,
and you think your testimony
will help tag him,
so you're scooting.
Yes, something like that,
close enough.
Well, not for me, and don't
give me guff that your finely
honed sense of justice
is putting you to work.
No, it's not what i like...
it's what i don't like.
What?
Being called as a witness
is one thing.
Being used to
corroborate the testimony
which i can't support
is another,
but being forced to sit
on that confounded bench
with a smelly woman
pressed against me!
I do admit the woman
was smelly,
but i have a fine nose
for these sort of things,
and i can tell you, it was
trousseau's passion flower
and it cost
$80 an ounce.
Archie, it was smelly.
Now, what are you gonna
do at 69th street?
I don't know.
Good.
All right, now, since this
is, uh, the kind of errand
you usually send me on
and you're coming aLong
for the first time,
why don't you
take the lead?
Now, are we brush
peddlers or plumbers?
Culous.
I am mr. Wolfe and this is
my assistant, mr. Goodwin.
We have just come
from the courthouse
where leonard ashe
is being tried.
We, uh... have been sent
to check on subpoenas
that have been
served on witnesses.
Have you been served?
I, uh... no.
Well, where
is miss hart?
Where is miss velardi and
miss weltz, where are they?
They were present
on the 15th.
It had been weeks since
those names had appeared
in the papers,
but Wolfe's skull had
a filing system even better
than saul panzer's.
Aren't you Nero Wolfe,
the detective?
Yes, you are
alice hart.
Yes, what do you want?
Information.
We have no
information.
Who sent you here?
Autokinesis.
There is a cardinal flaw in
the assumption that leonard ashe
killed miss willis, and
it has made me curious.
And when i am curious,
there is only one cure,
the whole truth,
and i intend to find it.
Take my board,
will you, pearl?
Miss weltz has
the day off,
but miss velardi
and i can see you.
We'll go to my room.
Well, well, well.
I'm no art critic, but is
that not a Vincent Van Gogh?
What's the flaw?
I'm the inquisitor,
miss Hart, not you!
Where did you
get that piece?
That's none of
your business.
It most certainly is not.
But i will tell you
that there will be
no limit to my
impertinence with you.
If you refuse to tell
me where you got it,
i'll put a man on it,
a competent man,
and he'll find out.
What does it matter
where i got the picture?
Probably nothing
about you matters.
But the fact is that
the picture is a treasure,
and this is an odd
address for it.
Do you own it?
Yes.
What is your salary?
$80 a week.
Hardly enough for
your extravagance.
An inheritance?
Alimony?
I have never married.
I'm not surprised.
I had some savings,
and i wanted it.
I wanted it.
If you save for 15 years,
you've a right to something.
Yes, you most
certainly do.
Where were you the night
marie willis was killed?
Out in jersey,
in a car with
bella velardi.
To get cooled off,
it was a hot niht.
We got back
after midnight.
In your car?
No.
Helen weltz lent us hers,
she has ajaguar.
(whis
jaguar, huh?
It's quite a pricey item,
what with taxes and extras.
$4,000 would not cover it,
he couldn't fit into one.
Has any client ever asked
you to listen in on calls
on his number?
Certainly not.
Yes, were you aware of
marie willis's regard
for robina keane?
We all knew, marie did
imitations of her.
When did she tell you of her
decision to tell robina keane
that her husband was
planning to spy on her?
I didn't say she had.
Did you know
the boyfriend?
Marie willis's boyfriend,
guy unger.
Not very well.
That's not
what i heard.
What have you heard?
You had dinner
with him twice.
Guy took us to the theater,
and then to dinner, so?
You mentioned before that
marie willis did an imitation
of robina keane.
It was her calling, she was
wasting her time in this dump.
I've had enough of you.
Bring on miss velardi.
Her room is next door.
Her room is next door.
I guess she doesn't wanna leave
us aLone with the van gogh, eh?
Look around.
(clearing throat)
Aha, well.
She donates dough to
the cause of equine genetics.
Meaning?
Does she lo
oh, she loses plenty,
she takes two house journals.
Open the drawers, open as
many drawers as you can.
I want her to see open
drawers when she comes in.
I wanna see how much impudence
these creatures will tolerate.
It's guy unger.
Try to get
more of these.
I was ready to meet
a yelp of indignation
but didn't have to.
It was a cinch
these phone operators
had something on
their minds.
Miss hart says you wanted
to ask me something?
Yes.
If i put three investigators
on the job of finding out
how much money
you lost last year
betting on horses, how Long
do you think it would take?
I don't know.
Why don't you just make
things very simple for me
and just tell me,
how much have you lost?
How do you know
i've lost anything?
Archie, resume
your search.
I'm sure she has records of
losses and gains somewhere.
Look, mr. Wolfe...
it's no secret that i like
to bet, but the amounts...
it's different.
I have friends who...
well, they don't want people
to know, so they give me money
to bet for them.
Sometimes it's $100,
sometimes it's $200.
I mean, i only
make $65 a week.
At night, in
the summer weather,
when one of you
is on duty,
are the windows open?
Are the shades up?
When it's hot, yeah.
On the night of
july 15th...
it was hot.
Were the windows
open that night?
I don't know.
I was out in jersey in
a car with alice hart.
To get cooled off, we didn't
get back until midnight.
Well, that settles that.
One woman could
conceivably lie,
but two,
using the same words?
If the windows were open
and the shades were up,
would anyone in her senses
have killed marie willis
so exposed to view?
What do you think?
I don't think so.
Then he or she must have drawn
the shades before proceeding.
How could leonard ashe
have managed that
without startling
marie willis?
I don't know,
he may have...
i don't know.
When was this taken?
You took that from my drawer,
what else did you take?
Get out of here
and stay out!
Come, Archie, there seems
to be a limit after all.
Wait!
Wait, mr. Wolfe, wait.
Uh, i didn't mean to flare up
about the photo like that.
It was taken two weeks ago,
two weeks ago last sunday.
The other woman
is Helen weltz,
and the man is guy unger.
We were having a day together
on the beach, that's all.
Guy and Helen
and ralph and me.
Ralph is my boyfriend
and guy, well...
when marie died, he kinda
took an interest in Helen.
Look, i told marie
she was asking for it,
talking to mr. Ashe
like she did.
I told her she was asking
for it and she might get it,
but she didn't listen,
she was so daddled
about robina keane, well,
she didn't listen to anybody.
Where is miss weltz?
This is her day off.
I know that!
Where is she?
She's probably at the place
she rented up in westchester,
near katonah, you want me
to phone and find out?
Yes, if you would.
We're taking
a taxi to katonah?
No, we're going to pete's
garage for the car.
(Archie)
I knew this was coming.
Yes, sir,
i was expecting it.
True genius at work.
That's right, because to go
to katonah, you need to drive.
To drive, you need a car,
to get a car, you have to
go to pete's garage.
And the garage is
so close to home,
you might as well
stay and have lunch.
Once inside, having
a delicious lunch,
with the door safely bolted,
we could then discuss
the insanity of
driving to katonah!
Fritz... yes.
If there are any callers, tell
them you have not heard from us.
Ah.
Oh...
no, i don't know.
No,
not at all!
I don't know
about dinner.
No, we can't be expected
until we arrive.
There were four calls:
Ficer
of the court, ur calls: From an of
one from the district
attorney's office,
and two from
inspector cramer.
Sure you don't
wanna go home?
Shut up.
Yes, sir.
In his own
comfortable chair,
surrounded by books,
Wolfe can usually keep
his genius under control,
but faced with a perfumed woman,
he ran away,
and now he was stuck.
He couldn't go back to court,
he couldn't go home,
so he was headed into
the wilds of westchester county
to talk to a woman
who might be
as smelly as
the one he had run from.
I turned off the rdriveway.
And there Helen weltz's
jaguarsat.
You're Archie Goodwin?
Tz.
You're Archie Goodwin? Helen wel
hello.
Nero Wolfe,
it's really you.
It's such
a pleasure.
Yes, thank you.
This is guy unger.
Come, come this way.
We're celebrating the last
gasp of autumn color.
What can i get
you to drink?
We have martinis
and martinis...
and martinis.
Or if you're cold,
i could get you a hot toddy.
No, thank you.
Oh, you sure?
Otherwise, you came
all this way for nothing.
I don't know anything.
I was out on a boat
that day with mr. Unger.
Ah, and when did
mr. Unger get here?
?? Why, he just arrived...
i'm just looking on,
that's all.
Let me explain
more fully.
When i spoke
to miss hart
and miss velardi,
i was insufferable.
They should have flouted me,
but they were afraid to,
and i assume
that you know why.
I also assume that after
i called, you phoned mr. Unger,
and he was concerned enough
to get here before i arrived.
Forget it.
Miss weltz called me yesterday
to invite me out this afternoon.
(laughing)
Behave yourself, guy.
Do you know what he said when i
told him Nero Wolfe was coming?
No.
He said, "he may
be famous for brains,
but i'm going to make
him prove it."
Something lit.
I don't pretend to have
brains, i'm just scared.
Scared of what,
miss weltz?
Why, scared of you.
Who wouldn't be scared,
if they knew Nero Wolfe
was coming
to pump them?
You have the alternative
of snubbing me,
yet you suffer me, why?
I didn't wanna miss the chance
to touch the great Nero Wolfe,
now you have touched me,
yet you still
i can't expect
to prove mr. Ashe innocent.
The best i can hope for
is to establish
reasonable doubt...
can you give it to me?
(laughing)
I'm sorry,
you're funny.
The way they kept after us
and after us at
the district attorney's office,
and you come in and expect
to drag it out
of me in 20 minutes.
You've had
enough, Helen.
Take it easy.
The most i expect,
miss weltz, is
support for my belief that
you people share knowledge
of something that you
don't want revealed.
And you have
given me that.
I haven't told
you anything.
Nonsense, you're on
the edge of hysteria.
I am not!
Take it easy, Helen.
What makes you
doubt his guilt?
Divination,
contrariety.
So you're shooting
this on spec.
Do you regard
me as a suspect?
Yes.
Look, me and marie weren't
engaged or anything like that.
We were just
having fun.
A week before the murder,
i took her udson
on my boat, but there
was nothing to it.
What do you do,
mr. Unger?
Oh, for god's sake.
The papers were vague.
Broker,
i believe it was?
Have you handled
any transactions
forbagby answers,
incorporated?
What makes you ask that?
?
Mr. Unger, do you suppose that
i would have made this excursion
to a place called katonah
completely at random?
What do you say you and
i take a little walk?
I'd like to speak
with you privately.
I do not like
conversing on my feet.
Archie.
Uh... let's go rake
some leaves, miss weltz.
Well, sir, you wished
to speak to me?
Suppose i offer you
some cash?
Suppose i
offer you $5,000?
$5,000 is
a handsome sum, sir.
What would you expect
in exchange?
And they said
you were smart.
You know, this is far enough,
unless he uses a megaphone.
I gotta stay in
plain sight, see.
I admit he would be a maniac
if he tried to jump Wolfe,
but, you know, when people
are involved in a murder,
they do strange things.
(laughing)
He's not involved
in a murder.
Yeah, but he will be, after
Wolfe gets through with him.
(crying)
Hey, hey... that's
no way to do it.
Come on, open up
the valve, let it out.
That's it, that's it,
let it out.
Now, listen, you know,
if he thinks i upset you,
he might fly off the handle,
come down here,
and try to rescue you
or something, and...
well, it'd give me
an excuse to plug him.
All right, come on.
Come on, come on,
there you are.
My god, wouldn't it be wonderful
if you just put your arms
around me and told me,
"it's all right, my darling.
I'll take care of everything,
leave it to me."
Oh...
it's all right, my darling,
i'll take care of everything.
Leave it to me.
Now what?
(sighing)
Why didn't i
get me a man?
I could've had a dozen, no,
i had to do it all by myself.
And now here i am with
ajaguarand no man.
How do you set
fire to a car?
Well, you, uh, pour gasoline
all over it, you light a match,
toss it, and
jump back real fast.
You gotta be careful what you
tell the insurance company,
is it just a bluff?
Is he trying to scare
something out of me?
No, no, not just.
If he happens to scare
something out of you, fine.
But he'll get it
out of you,
even if he gets it
out the hard way.
He will get it,
and you might get hurt.
I'm already hurt.
Quit stalling.
Well, i never undertake
a job unless the client
can specify
an objective.
What do you say
i sweeten the pot?
What do you say
to $10,000?
Where can i find Nero Wolfe
around 9:00 in the city?
I like money and, uh,
i require a lot of it
to live as
i see fit.
On account of unger?
Yes.
Helen!
Uh, why don't we
head back here?
Call Wolfe's house
when you're ready.
Past midnight, 3 a.m.,
it doesn't matter.
Are you gonna
tell him?
A man named Fritz
will answer.
Tell him you're the queen of
hearts, he'll know what to do.
If you tell him,
i'm gonna deny it.
You got that?
Queen of hearts.
Now laugh.
(laughing)
We're finished.
(clearing throat)
(Wolfe)
I intend to appear in
court tomorrow morning.
(Archie)
Tomorrow... with what,
for god's sake?
Well, we can't go home.
Inspector cramer will
have a man posted there.
Is saul panzer's apartment
conveniently located?
Saul only has
one bedroom.
We should go to
lily rowan's penthouse.
We'll manage at saul's.
Perhaps we could stop at
dixie's on the way into town.
By 8:00, Wolfe had put
away three orders
of chili con carne
at a little dump in harlem,
where a guy named dixie
knew how to make it.
Chili is one of
the great peasant foods.
It is one of the few
contributions
america has to
world cuisine.
Eaten with corn bread,
sweet onion, sour cream,
it contains all five of
the elements deemed essential
by the sages of the orient:
Sweet, sour, salty,
pungent, and bitter.
It begins...
i spent the time phoning
saul and Fritz and invested
an extra dime in Lon Cohen.
Cohen.
When he heard my voice,
he said:
Where you calling
from, the slammer?
No, no, i'm calling
to see if our absence
has been noticed.
Oh, yeah, the whole
town is in an uproar.
A raging mob has torn
the courthouse down.
Listen, we're running
a fairly good picture of Wolfe.
But you, the picture of you,
you look old.
You're not
gonna like it.
Listen, what do you say
you come down to the studio...
oh, yeah, yeah,
sure, glad to.
No, see,
the thing is this.
I need to settle a bet.
Is there a warrant
out for us?
Oh, yes, yeah, judge corbett
signed it right after lunch.
Yeah, he wasn't kidding.
Uh, come on, look,
i tell you what.
I send a guy to you,
takes five minutes...
much obliged,
but if i told
and you'd have to take
your own picture.
No, no, wait,
wait, would...
(dial tone)
(Wolfe)
The best of french cuisine,
the good meat,
chopped, not ground.
Excuse me.
But, but key to
dixie's success
are the onions and the tomatoes,
which he owes to his grandmother
who grows them on the south
side of the vacant lot
behind his house
in full sun.
There is a warrant, in
case you're interested,
and i did not call
jimmy donovan,
leonard ashe's attorney.
Why not?
Why not?
What could i say?
That Nero Wolfe had
something urgent for him
and leave
a telephone number?
He's a sworn officer
of the court.
He'd have to serve
the warrant on you,
not to mention
the one on me.
You're enjoying this.
Like hell i am.
I am a fugitive from justice,
hardly enjoying this, no.
Phone saul, and... ask him if
he has heard from miss weltz.
And then phone and see if
you can arrange a meeting
for us to see
mrs. Leonard ashe.
Oh!
Oh, yeah, great,
oh, i see.
I get the easy ones, you know,
i bet she's sitting there
right now hoping a couple of
strange detectives drop in.
That's what i think
she's hoping right now.
Are we still pretending
to be from the court?
Should i say that
we are judge Wolfe
and judge
Goodwin calling?
Is that what i should
say to her right now
when i make the call?
No, we are ourselves.
I'm dead tired.
I'm empty,
completely empty.
Would you care
for tea?
No, thank you.
Muriel, just for me,
thank you.
Your man said on the phone
that i would regret it
for the rest of my life
if i didn't see you.
Will i?
Thank you.
I'll be as brief
as possible.
Good.
I have information which may
not exculpate your husband,
but should raise a reasonable
doubt in the mind of the jury.
However, it would take
a proLonged investigation
to get it in the form
of admissible evidence.
I do so hate to
inform you of this,
but the trial has already
been started, mr. Wolfe.
I have in mind
a shortcut.
Ke it, i must have
i have in mind
a talk with your husband. Ta
ahh, and how, pray tell,
will you manage to do that?
You, madam.
I?
You... you have
a wide acquaintance,
great personal charm.
It would not
be too difficult
for you to get permission
to have a talk
with your husband
tomorrow morning.
With you.
I see.
But what do you
wish to say?
Is it about me?
I can tell you nothing
without compromising my plan.
I see.
Well, i suppose i have
nothing to lose.
Nothing more to lose.
But if
i do this...
should i not tell
mr. Donovan?
You must not.
Orbid it,
he would prevent it. T only f
this, madam,
is for you aLone.
For me aLone?
Yes, for me aLone.
My god, it would be such
a relief to do something.
Of course, i have made
the assumption that you...
do not want your husband to
be convicted of murder.
You do not have
to say that.
My husband is not a fool,
but he acted like one.
And i love
him very much.
Where can i
reach you?
Archie.
(clearing throat)
I gave her saul's number.
She went with us to the foyer,
but she wasn't there.
Her mind was so glad
to have a job
that it had
left us entirely.
(knocking)
Come in, come in,
come in.
Saul.
Archie.
After circling
saul's block three times,
we decided that cramer
had not had enough genius
to post a man there,
and we went inside.
A good room,
satisfactory.
I congratulate you.
Have, uh...
have you heard
from Fritz?
Has he called with
news of that woman?
The queen of hearts,
no, sir.
Uh... will you
have some beer?
Indeed, indeed, i will,
if you please.
In the next three hours,
saul served Wolfe
seven bottles of beer, sturgeon,
p?t? Pickled mushrooms,
tunisian meLon, and three
different kinds of cheese.
This is
extraordinary.
Mm, i couldn't have any more,
i can't eat another bite.
Vermont cheddar.
Gonzola.
Mont gor
naturally, the first time
Wolfe ate under his roof,
saul wanted to give
him good grub.
Okay, but three kinds
of cheese was piling it on.
Go.
Should we call
it a draw?
(phone ringing)
This is jackson
4-3-1-0-9.
Uh, yes, i recognize
the voice, where are you?
In a booth at grand central,
i couldn't get rid of him.
Okay, look, i will meet
you at the upper-level
information booth
in five minutes.
Will you be there?
Of course i will.
Hurry!
Helen weltz gave me
quite an earful.
Next morning, it was
time to meet leonard ashe.
I've brought
a visitor, darling.
I don't wanna see
anybody but you.
Mr. Wolfe.
Mr. Ashe, i need
your attention.
But isn't this
irregular?
Please, just sit down.
After listening to
the proceedings yesterday,
it occurred to me that
a telephone answering
service would provide
a singular opportunity
for scoundrelism,
like doctors, lawyers,
and servants, they have access
to privileged information.
Of course, that's exactly
why i thought of using them.
It further occurred to
me that the opportunities
to practice blackmail
on their clients
would be limitless.
Blackmail?
You mean
a criminal operation?
I left the courtroom
specifically
to view the offices
at 69th street.
And concluded that
possible
for one operatoratit would be im
to eavesdrop
on her lines
without the others
becoming aware of it.
Therefore, ifbagby answers,
inc. Were to engage in
a blackmail operation,
it must be done collusively
or not at all.
My lord... well,
that would explain
why she didn't turn
me down outright.
How does this
affect my case?
But i still
don't understand
how you mean to get it
before the jury.
Please!
Don't interrupt again.
I have much to say,
and there is little time
before court convenes.
(man)
All rise.
The honorable judge
corbett is presiding.
Be seated.
Nero Wolfe.
Is Nero Wolfe present?
(whispering)
Can you proceed?
(crowd murmuring)
(gavel banging)
Mr. Wolfe, how kind
of you to join us.
Are you gonna
stay this time?
I will stay here until
i've completed my testimony.
You knew you were
to testify yesterday.
Why did you
leave then?
I was impelled by a motive
that i thought imperative.
If you want me to expound
upon it now, i shall do so.
But i would prefer to plead
the contempt charges later,
if the court
would permit.
I will still be here.
Indeed you will,
you're under arrest.
No, sir, i am not.
You're not
under arrest?
No, sir, i am
not under arrest.
I have come here
voluntarily.
Well, you are now.
Officer, this man
is under arrest.
But i will allow you to answer
the contempt charges later.
Bailiff?
(man)
Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth,
so help you god?
I do so affirm.
Proceed,
mr. Mandelbaum.
Well, mr. Wolfe, now that i
finally have you on the stand,
i may have to keep
you until tomorrow.
You have always been doggedly
thorough, mr. Mandelbaum.
Have you ever met
the defendant in this case?
Mr. Leonard ashe?
Yes.
Under what circumstances
did you meet mr. Ashe?
He said he wished
to hire me
to learn the identity
of the phone operator
who was assigned
to his phone
and to propose to her
that she spy on his wife.
Did he say why he wished
to make this arrangement?
No, but i surmised...
objection, your honor,
conclusion of the witness
as to the intention
of the defendant.
Just answer the question,
mr. Wolfe, yes or no.
Did leonard ashe suggest
any inducement
to marie willis to
participate in his scheme?
No, he did not name an actual
sum, but he indicated...
your honor!
Not what he indicated,
what he said.
Strike all of his answer,
except for the word "no."
Your answer's no,
mr. Wolfe, yes or no?
No.
Did leonard ashe say
anything else to you?
Mr. Wolfe?
I would like to be sure
i understand the question.
Do you mean, what
aid that day,
or on a later occasion?
That day, of course.
What other occasion?
Are you asking me?
In your deposition,
you swore you hadn't met
leonard ashe before
or after july 13th.
That was true then.
We met again.
When?
In this building at half
past eight this morning.
You met and spoke with
the defendant in this building
at half past eight
this morning today?
His wife arranged
to see him,
and she allowed me
to accompany her.
Was mr. Donovan,
the defense counsel, present?
No, sir.
Your honor, i would like to
state for the record
that i knew
nothing of this.
Don't you know that it's
a misdemeanor for a witness
for the state to speak
with a defendant charged
with a feLony?
We didn't discuss
my testimony.
Matters which i thought
would be of interest to him.
What exactly did
you say, mr. Wolfe?
The fat son of a gun
had put it over.
Having asked him directly,
mandelbaum couldn't possibly
keep Wolfe's theories
from the jury,
unless jimmy donovan was a sap.
Do you wish to withdraw
the question, mr. Mandelbaum?
Oh, no, no, no.
I'm absolutely fascinated, you
didn't discuss your testimony.
What did you discuss?
I told him that i'd
left this courtroom
to make the investigation
which the police should have
undertaken had they not
been so enamored of
the idea that
ashe was guilty.
You are not answering
the question of
your contempt charges.
Did you say anything
relevant to this case?
I detailed to him my suspicion
thatbagby answers...
had been used as
a blackmailing operation.
Surely, this is just
surmise, mr. Wolfe.
Not at all.
I told mr. Ashe that
when i left the court
and visited there,
the operators
atbagby answers
tolerated my rudeness
beyond reason.
I learned that their
personal expenditures
far exceeded
their salaries.
An associate of bagby's
offered me $5,000 for services
which he would
not specify.
When i declined his bribe,
he offered me ten.
And most significant...
i told mr. Ashe that
last night
Helen weltz phoned me.
How Long did you
spend with mr. Ashe?
A half an hour.
Half an hour!
I can say a lot
in half an hour.
No doubt.
The court's and the jury's time
can't be spent on irrelevancies.
Did you make any
suggestions to mr. Ashe
regarding his defense?
No.
Then why did you seek
the interview, mr. Wolfe?
Were you seeking
employment?
Your honor,
surely this is
cross-examination,
and i object to it.
The objection
is sustained.
Mr. Mandelbaum, you know
the rules of evidence.
Please examine
him upon the merits.
Your honor, l...
i have no more questions.
Mr. Wolfe... why did
you seek an interview
this morning
with mr. Ashe?
It occurred to me that
if i saw mr. Ashe,
the fact would probably
be disclosed in the course
of my examination
by mr. Mandelbaum.
And if so, he would
almost certainly ask me
what had been said.
If he did not,
then you would,
mr. Donovan.
And i would be able to
make my case to the jury.
Therefore, i sought an
interview with mr. Ashe.
Objection,
your honor!
(gavel pounding)
I'll have order.
Continue, mr. Donovan.
Mr. Wolfe, would you
please tell the jury...
what you told mr. Ashe?
I told him that Helen weltz
came to see me last night
had been used as a blackmailing
operation for years.
All of the switchboard
operators had been party to it,
including marie willis.
Their dean, alice hart,
collected the information.
She gand unger,
who used the personal
secrets she had culled
to blackmail
their clients.
Guard, that's alice hart
right there!
No one is to
leave this room.
Officer, detain these people
as material witnesses.
(gavel pounding)
Continue, mr. Wolfe.
Your honor, is it necessary
for me to go on repeating
the phrase, "i told him,
i told him"?
Not if you confine yourself
strictly to what you said
to mr. Ashe
this morning.
I shall do so.
As i was saying,
guy unger and clyde bagby
gave the girls cash.
In three years,
miss weltz received
over $15,000.
This is fascinating,
but earlier you alleged
you could establish a reasonable
doubt of mr. Ashe's guilt.
Yes, your honor, yes.
According to miss weltz,
marie willis had been ordered
by both unger and bagby
to accept ashe's proposal
to spy on his wife,
and she had refused.
She announced that
she would quit
and tell mrs. Ashe everything,
making her an intolerable peril
to the whole operation.
I believe this establishes
a clear motive for all of them
and provides reasonable doubt
of mr. Ashe's guilt.
Did you go on to
speculate as to
a probable replacement
for mr. Ashe?
Yes, the conditions of
the murder, the closed windows,
the position
of the victim,
made it likely that
the perpetrator was a coworker.
I considered the most
promising candidate
to be mr. Bagby.
He has the most to lose.
And all the others had
established alibis:
At the beach,
on day trips, in cars.
By his own testimony,
mr. Bagby dined not
six blocks
from the office.
That's a lie!
I went home!
,
he called mr. Ashe
and enticed him
to the office
to find the body.
I leave the timetable
to the police.
They are extremely
efficient with timetables.
And now, your honor,
i would like to plead
to the charge of
contempt, if i may.
You may not.
You know quite well you've
made that charge frivolous.
It is dismissed.
Yes, your honor,
no
you may step down,
mr. Wolfe.
Alice Hart, Bella Velardi,
Guy Unger, and Clyde Bagby
will come forward.
The rest of you will keep
your seats and preserve order.
Mr. Donovan, i can't
thank you enough.
(crowd cheering)
Mr. Wolfe!
Actresses always act,
but i admit that
was probably unrehearsed,
and i thoroughly approved,
wsince it indicated that,
and i the ashe familyoved,
would prove to
be properly grateful.
The thought may have occurred
to you, "that's nice,"
but the real reason Wolfe
walked out was because he hated
to sit against a perfumed
woman in a wooden bench.
Captioning made possible by
a&e television networks
captioned by
soundwriters?
a&e television networks
(mandelbaum)
We will prove beyond
a shadow of a doubt...
that he murdered her
in cold blood.
...rich, sophisticated
man sits before you...
we will further demonstrate
that leonard ashe...
...a respectable man
ma
don't...
don't let him
get away with it.
The people will
show that leonard ashe
engaged marie willis
to spy on his wife
from her vantage
point as an operator
at thebagby answerstelephone
messaging service.
(donovan)
Is it plausible
that my client would
kill a woman because she
refused to spy on his wife?
No.
...that when poor marie told
him that she could not go on
and had decided to tell
his wife of his espionage,
he murdered her
in cold blood.
My client's wife is
a beautiful, famous woman.
Leonard ashe would be
a fool not to be
madly in love with her.
It would be easy to portray this
murder as an act of passion,
but he didnotkill
marie when she told him "no."
He didn't raise his hand
in anger, he waited.
In fact, when he found the body,
hecalled the police!
...her back to him
at the switchboard,
probably answering a call...
he came up behind her...
the fact is that the state
has not one single shred of
physical evidence to indicate
that my client ever
touched marie willis!
Let aLone, grabbed her and
choked her to death!
And now, this rich,
sophisticated man
sits before you
arrogantly confident
that you won't convict him.
Is that the behavior of
a cold-blooded killer?
(Archie)
The ashe trial was
the biggest in memory,
and inspector cramer had
come to invite Wolfe
to the festivities.
An opportunity that
doesn't come
phooey.
Here's your subpoena
for the ashe trial.
Want me to
read it out loud?
You came all the way to
serve me this in person?
Way to
you came all the way to
serve you in person. In person?
I wanna make sure you
understand the fine print.
A sad commentary
on the pusillanimous
nature of your dreams.
And if you don't show up,
you'll be in contempt of court,
and a bench warrant will
be issued for your arrest.
And i'll send
the newest recruit
on the force to come down here
and lead you away in cuffs.
(laughing)
Maybe this'll get
you out in the sun.
Oh, here's one for you.
(laughing)
Is this a picture
of the deceased?
Yes.
What was your analysis
of the cause of death?
Strangulation.
The victim's windpipe was
crushed by an electrical wire,
which was yanked back and
held taut around her neck,
tight enough to slice through
the flesh of her neck.
How Long did the murderer
have to hold it?
Three to five minutes.
Ad to hold her
dying, choking, for that Long?
Yes.
Your witness,
mr. Donovan.
Were there any
fingerprints on the cord?
Of course not.
Any physical evidence of
any kind to connect my client
to the body
of the victim?
Not in my report.
Thank you.
Your honor, we would
like to move for dismissal.
The state has not met
the evidentiary
burden of proof
in a capital crime.
We can establish
a clear motive, your honor.
By his own admission,
he was there.
This man was insanely jealous
of his wife, and this girl...
(crowd gasping)
(gavel pounding)
I'll have order.
Well, i'm so happy
you could join us
today here for
the trial, mr. Wolfe.
Yes, i'm only here because
i've been subpoenaed, sir.
You are two
hours late.
But i suppose we all should
be grateful for small favors.
Would you care for us to repeat
all of the previous testimony?
That won't be
necessary, your honor.
I'm sure that we'll be able to
follow the course of the trial.
Fine, then you won't
mind if we continue?
I assure you, judge, that
i wish these proceedings to be
concluded with as much dispatch
as justice will allow.
That's very reassuring,
mr. Wolfe.
Your motion is denied,
you may step down.
Continue, mr. Mandelbaum.
(man)
The state calls
clyde bagby.
Archie...
why must i
submit to this?
To testify
is an occupational hazardns
if one hopes to collect
fees from clients.
I had no client.
Only because you turned
leonard ashe down when
he asked you for help.
That's the only reason,
otherwise, you'd have a clint.
Confound it.
(mandelbaum)
Could you describe it,
please?
Well, it's a telephone
answering service.
And the way the office
on 69th street is set up
is unusual,
is it not?
Yes, it's
an apartment.
On account of labor laws,
i can't have women working
in an office building
past 2:00 a.m.
And i give around-the-clock
service, so...
right there on 69th street,
we have four girls
living and working
in that apartment.
Ecialized service!
Living and working
in that apartment.
Mr. Bagby,
look at the gentleman
in the dark blue suit
sitting next to the officer.
Do you know him?
Sure, that's leonard ashe.
He arranged
for a 24-hour
service on his home phone,
paid a month in advance.
And two days later,
he made contact
with marie willis and
offered her $1,500 to do what?
She told me ashe asked
her to listen in
on any phone calls to his
apartment during the day,
and then she was supposed to
call him at night and report.
He gave her $500 and
promised another $1,000
if she went aLong.
Bagby...
information she was supposed
to report?
Yes.
She was supposed
to report on any,
uh, extra-marital activity
on the part of his wife.
And did she?
She told him she wanted
to sleep on it,
and then she
came to me.
She said she knew she
should've turned him down,
but she didn't wanna
make him sore.
Miss willis
initially agreed then?
Oh, yeah, till she
found out his wife
was her idol,
robina keane.
Marie studied acting
very seriously.
In any case, you can confirm
that, on the night of her death,
marie willis had an appointment
to meet with leonard ashe.
I tried to talk
her out of it.
I rode with
her in the taxi
to ashe's office,
but i couldn't budge her.
She wanted him to know that
she was gonna tell his wife.
You didn't go up to ashe's
office with miss willis?
I had to keep a dinner
date with a friend
at a restaurant
on 52nd street.
And not Long after i got home,
the police called to say that
they found miss willis
murdered on 69th street.
And they wanted me
to identify the body.
Leonard ashe was
already there.
He said a man phoned him with a
voice he didn't even recognize
and said maybe if he could
meet him at the office,
they could talk
some sense into marie.
Ashe said when
he got there,
the door to the office was
there just standing open.
When he saw her,
he leaned out a window
and yelled for the police.
(donovan)
Your honor, how does
the witness know this?
(mandelbaum)
These facts were established
by a police report...
which way is
center street?
We need a taxi, and
i need a word with you.
It's preposterous.
Yes, it is,
now let's go back inside.
No, i mean
mr. Mandelbaum's thesis.
And if ashe
is convicted,
i will not be
a party to it
you doubt ashe's guilt,
and you think your testimony
will help tag him,
so you're scooting.
Yes, something like that,
close enough.
Well, not for me, and don't
give me guff that your finely
honed sense of justice
is putting you to work.
No, it's not what i like...
it's what i don't like.
What?
Being called as a witness
is one thing.
Being used to
corroborate the testimony
which i can't support
is another,
but being forced to sit
on that confounded bench
with a smelly woman
pressed against me!
I do admit the woman
was smelly,
but i have a fine nose
for these sort of things,
and i can tell you, it was
trousseau's passion flower
and it cost
$80 an ounce.
Archie, it was smelly.
Now, what are you gonna
do at 69th street?
I don't know.
Good.
All right, now, since this
is, uh, the kind of errand
you usually send me on
and you're coming aLong
for the first time,
why don't you
take the lead?
Now, are we brush
peddlers or plumbers?
Culous.
I am mr. Wolfe and this is
my assistant, mr. Goodwin.
We have just come
from the courthouse
where leonard ashe
is being tried.
We, uh... have been sent
to check on subpoenas
that have been
served on witnesses.
Have you been served?
I, uh... no.
Well, where
is miss hart?
Where is miss velardi and
miss weltz, where are they?
They were present
on the 15th.
It had been weeks since
those names had appeared
in the papers,
but Wolfe's skull had
a filing system even better
than saul panzer's.
Aren't you Nero Wolfe,
the detective?
Yes, you are
alice hart.
Yes, what do you want?
Information.
We have no
information.
Who sent you here?
Autokinesis.
There is a cardinal flaw in
the assumption that leonard ashe
killed miss willis, and
it has made me curious.
And when i am curious,
there is only one cure,
the whole truth,
and i intend to find it.
Take my board,
will you, pearl?
Miss weltz has
the day off,
but miss velardi
and i can see you.
We'll go to my room.
Well, well, well.
I'm no art critic, but is
that not a Vincent Van Gogh?
What's the flaw?
I'm the inquisitor,
miss Hart, not you!
Where did you
get that piece?
That's none of
your business.
It most certainly is not.
But i will tell you
that there will be
no limit to my
impertinence with you.
If you refuse to tell
me where you got it,
i'll put a man on it,
a competent man,
and he'll find out.
What does it matter
where i got the picture?
Probably nothing
about you matters.
But the fact is that
the picture is a treasure,
and this is an odd
address for it.
Do you own it?
Yes.
What is your salary?
$80 a week.
Hardly enough for
your extravagance.
An inheritance?
Alimony?
I have never married.
I'm not surprised.
I had some savings,
and i wanted it.
I wanted it.
If you save for 15 years,
you've a right to something.
Yes, you most
certainly do.
Where were you the night
marie willis was killed?
Out in jersey,
in a car with
bella velardi.
To get cooled off,
it was a hot niht.
We got back
after midnight.
In your car?
No.
Helen weltz lent us hers,
she has ajaguar.
(whis
jaguar, huh?
It's quite a pricey item,
what with taxes and extras.
$4,000 would not cover it,
he couldn't fit into one.
Has any client ever asked
you to listen in on calls
on his number?
Certainly not.
Yes, were you aware of
marie willis's regard
for robina keane?
We all knew, marie did
imitations of her.
When did she tell you of her
decision to tell robina keane
that her husband was
planning to spy on her?
I didn't say she had.
Did you know
the boyfriend?
Marie willis's boyfriend,
guy unger.
Not very well.
That's not
what i heard.
What have you heard?
You had dinner
with him twice.
Guy took us to the theater,
and then to dinner, so?
You mentioned before that
marie willis did an imitation
of robina keane.
It was her calling, she was
wasting her time in this dump.
I've had enough of you.
Bring on miss velardi.
Her room is next door.
Her room is next door.
I guess she doesn't wanna leave
us aLone with the van gogh, eh?
Look around.
(clearing throat)
Aha, well.
She donates dough to
the cause of equine genetics.
Meaning?
Does she lo
oh, she loses plenty,
she takes two house journals.
Open the drawers, open as
many drawers as you can.
I want her to see open
drawers when she comes in.
I wanna see how much impudence
these creatures will tolerate.
It's guy unger.
Try to get
more of these.
I was ready to meet
a yelp of indignation
but didn't have to.
It was a cinch
these phone operators
had something on
their minds.
Miss hart says you wanted
to ask me something?
Yes.
If i put three investigators
on the job of finding out
how much money
you lost last year
betting on horses, how Long
do you think it would take?
I don't know.
Why don't you just make
things very simple for me
and just tell me,
how much have you lost?
How do you know
i've lost anything?
Archie, resume
your search.
I'm sure she has records of
losses and gains somewhere.
Look, mr. Wolfe...
it's no secret that i like
to bet, but the amounts...
it's different.
I have friends who...
well, they don't want people
to know, so they give me money
to bet for them.
Sometimes it's $100,
sometimes it's $200.
I mean, i only
make $65 a week.
At night, in
the summer weather,
when one of you
is on duty,
are the windows open?
Are the shades up?
When it's hot, yeah.
On the night of
july 15th...
it was hot.
Were the windows
open that night?
I don't know.
I was out in jersey in
a car with alice hart.
To get cooled off, we didn't
get back until midnight.
Well, that settles that.
One woman could
conceivably lie,
but two,
using the same words?
If the windows were open
and the shades were up,
would anyone in her senses
have killed marie willis
so exposed to view?
What do you think?
I don't think so.
Then he or she must have drawn
the shades before proceeding.
How could leonard ashe
have managed that
without startling
marie willis?
I don't know,
he may have...
i don't know.
When was this taken?
You took that from my drawer,
what else did you take?
Get out of here
and stay out!
Come, Archie, there seems
to be a limit after all.
Wait!
Wait, mr. Wolfe, wait.
Uh, i didn't mean to flare up
about the photo like that.
It was taken two weeks ago,
two weeks ago last sunday.
The other woman
is Helen weltz,
and the man is guy unger.
We were having a day together
on the beach, that's all.
Guy and Helen
and ralph and me.
Ralph is my boyfriend
and guy, well...
when marie died, he kinda
took an interest in Helen.
Look, i told marie
she was asking for it,
talking to mr. Ashe
like she did.
I told her she was asking
for it and she might get it,
but she didn't listen,
she was so daddled
about robina keane, well,
she didn't listen to anybody.
Where is miss weltz?
This is her day off.
I know that!
Where is she?
She's probably at the place
she rented up in westchester,
near katonah, you want me
to phone and find out?
Yes, if you would.
We're taking
a taxi to katonah?
No, we're going to pete's
garage for the car.
(Archie)
I knew this was coming.
Yes, sir,
i was expecting it.
True genius at work.
That's right, because to go
to katonah, you need to drive.
To drive, you need a car,
to get a car, you have to
go to pete's garage.
And the garage is
so close to home,
you might as well
stay and have lunch.
Once inside, having
a delicious lunch,
with the door safely bolted,
we could then discuss
the insanity of
driving to katonah!
Fritz... yes.
If there are any callers, tell
them you have not heard from us.
Ah.
Oh...
no, i don't know.
No,
not at all!
I don't know
about dinner.
No, we can't be expected
until we arrive.
There were four calls:
Ficer
of the court, ur calls: From an of
one from the district
attorney's office,
and two from
inspector cramer.
Sure you don't
wanna go home?
Shut up.
Yes, sir.
In his own
comfortable chair,
surrounded by books,
Wolfe can usually keep
his genius under control,
but faced with a perfumed woman,
he ran away,
and now he was stuck.
He couldn't go back to court,
he couldn't go home,
so he was headed into
the wilds of westchester county
to talk to a woman
who might be
as smelly as
the one he had run from.
I turned off the rdriveway.
And there Helen weltz's
jaguarsat.
You're Archie Goodwin?
Tz.
You're Archie Goodwin? Helen wel
hello.
Nero Wolfe,
it's really you.
It's such
a pleasure.
Yes, thank you.
This is guy unger.
Come, come this way.
We're celebrating the last
gasp of autumn color.
What can i get
you to drink?
We have martinis
and martinis...
and martinis.
Or if you're cold,
i could get you a hot toddy.
No, thank you.
Oh, you sure?
Otherwise, you came
all this way for nothing.
I don't know anything.
I was out on a boat
that day with mr. Unger.
Ah, and when did
mr. Unger get here?
?? Why, he just arrived...
i'm just looking on,
that's all.
Let me explain
more fully.
When i spoke
to miss hart
and miss velardi,
i was insufferable.
They should have flouted me,
but they were afraid to,
and i assume
that you know why.
I also assume that after
i called, you phoned mr. Unger,
and he was concerned enough
to get here before i arrived.
Forget it.
Miss weltz called me yesterday
to invite me out this afternoon.
(laughing)
Behave yourself, guy.
Do you know what he said when i
told him Nero Wolfe was coming?
No.
He said, "he may
be famous for brains,
but i'm going to make
him prove it."
Something lit.
I don't pretend to have
brains, i'm just scared.
Scared of what,
miss weltz?
Why, scared of you.
Who wouldn't be scared,
if they knew Nero Wolfe
was coming
to pump them?
You have the alternative
of snubbing me,
yet you suffer me, why?
I didn't wanna miss the chance
to touch the great Nero Wolfe,
now you have touched me,
yet you still
i can't expect
to prove mr. Ashe innocent.
The best i can hope for
is to establish
reasonable doubt...
can you give it to me?
(laughing)
I'm sorry,
you're funny.
The way they kept after us
and after us at
the district attorney's office,
and you come in and expect
to drag it out
of me in 20 minutes.
You've had
enough, Helen.
Take it easy.
The most i expect,
miss weltz, is
support for my belief that
you people share knowledge
of something that you
don't want revealed.
And you have
given me that.
I haven't told
you anything.
Nonsense, you're on
the edge of hysteria.
I am not!
Take it easy, Helen.
What makes you
doubt his guilt?
Divination,
contrariety.
So you're shooting
this on spec.
Do you regard
me as a suspect?
Yes.
Look, me and marie weren't
engaged or anything like that.
We were just
having fun.
A week before the murder,
i took her udson
on my boat, but there
was nothing to it.
What do you do,
mr. Unger?
Oh, for god's sake.
The papers were vague.
Broker,
i believe it was?
Have you handled
any transactions
forbagby answers,
incorporated?
What makes you ask that?
?
Mr. Unger, do you suppose that
i would have made this excursion
to a place called katonah
completely at random?
What do you say you and
i take a little walk?
I'd like to speak
with you privately.
I do not like
conversing on my feet.
Archie.
Uh... let's go rake
some leaves, miss weltz.
Well, sir, you wished
to speak to me?
Suppose i offer you
some cash?
Suppose i
offer you $5,000?
$5,000 is
a handsome sum, sir.
What would you expect
in exchange?
And they said
you were smart.
You know, this is far enough,
unless he uses a megaphone.
I gotta stay in
plain sight, see.
I admit he would be a maniac
if he tried to jump Wolfe,
but, you know, when people
are involved in a murder,
they do strange things.
(laughing)
He's not involved
in a murder.
Yeah, but he will be, after
Wolfe gets through with him.
(crying)
Hey, hey... that's
no way to do it.
Come on, open up
the valve, let it out.
That's it, that's it,
let it out.
Now, listen, you know,
if he thinks i upset you,
he might fly off the handle,
come down here,
and try to rescue you
or something, and...
well, it'd give me
an excuse to plug him.
All right, come on.
Come on, come on,
there you are.
My god, wouldn't it be wonderful
if you just put your arms
around me and told me,
"it's all right, my darling.
I'll take care of everything,
leave it to me."
Oh...
it's all right, my darling,
i'll take care of everything.
Leave it to me.
Now what?
(sighing)
Why didn't i
get me a man?
I could've had a dozen, no,
i had to do it all by myself.
And now here i am with
ajaguarand no man.
How do you set
fire to a car?
Well, you, uh, pour gasoline
all over it, you light a match,
toss it, and
jump back real fast.
You gotta be careful what you
tell the insurance company,
is it just a bluff?
Is he trying to scare
something out of me?
No, no, not just.
If he happens to scare
something out of you, fine.
But he'll get it
out of you,
even if he gets it
out the hard way.
He will get it,
and you might get hurt.
I'm already hurt.
Quit stalling.
Well, i never undertake
a job unless the client
can specify
an objective.
What do you say
i sweeten the pot?
What do you say
to $10,000?
Where can i find Nero Wolfe
around 9:00 in the city?
I like money and, uh,
i require a lot of it
to live as
i see fit.
On account of unger?
Yes.
Helen!
Uh, why don't we
head back here?
Call Wolfe's house
when you're ready.
Past midnight, 3 a.m.,
it doesn't matter.
Are you gonna
tell him?
A man named Fritz
will answer.
Tell him you're the queen of
hearts, he'll know what to do.
If you tell him,
i'm gonna deny it.
You got that?
Queen of hearts.
Now laugh.
(laughing)
We're finished.
(clearing throat)
(Wolfe)
I intend to appear in
court tomorrow morning.
(Archie)
Tomorrow... with what,
for god's sake?
Well, we can't go home.
Inspector cramer will
have a man posted there.
Is saul panzer's apartment
conveniently located?
Saul only has
one bedroom.
We should go to
lily rowan's penthouse.
We'll manage at saul's.
Perhaps we could stop at
dixie's on the way into town.
By 8:00, Wolfe had put
away three orders
of chili con carne
at a little dump in harlem,
where a guy named dixie
knew how to make it.
Chili is one of
the great peasant foods.
It is one of the few
contributions
america has to
world cuisine.
Eaten with corn bread,
sweet onion, sour cream,
it contains all five of
the elements deemed essential
by the sages of the orient:
Sweet, sour, salty,
pungent, and bitter.
It begins...
i spent the time phoning
saul and Fritz and invested
an extra dime in Lon Cohen.
Cohen.
When he heard my voice,
he said:
Where you calling
from, the slammer?
No, no, i'm calling
to see if our absence
has been noticed.
Oh, yeah, the whole
town is in an uproar.
A raging mob has torn
the courthouse down.
Listen, we're running
a fairly good picture of Wolfe.
But you, the picture of you,
you look old.
You're not
gonna like it.
Listen, what do you say
you come down to the studio...
oh, yeah, yeah,
sure, glad to.
No, see,
the thing is this.
I need to settle a bet.
Is there a warrant
out for us?
Oh, yes, yeah, judge corbett
signed it right after lunch.
Yeah, he wasn't kidding.
Uh, come on, look,
i tell you what.
I send a guy to you,
takes five minutes...
much obliged,
but if i told
and you'd have to take
your own picture.
No, no, wait,
wait, would...
(dial tone)
(Wolfe)
The best of french cuisine,
the good meat,
chopped, not ground.
Excuse me.
But, but key to
dixie's success
are the onions and the tomatoes,
which he owes to his grandmother
who grows them on the south
side of the vacant lot
behind his house
in full sun.
There is a warrant, in
case you're interested,
and i did not call
jimmy donovan,
leonard ashe's attorney.
Why not?
Why not?
What could i say?
That Nero Wolfe had
something urgent for him
and leave
a telephone number?
He's a sworn officer
of the court.
He'd have to serve
the warrant on you,
not to mention
the one on me.
You're enjoying this.
Like hell i am.
I am a fugitive from justice,
hardly enjoying this, no.
Phone saul, and... ask him if
he has heard from miss weltz.
And then phone and see if
you can arrange a meeting
for us to see
mrs. Leonard ashe.
Oh!
Oh, yeah, great,
oh, i see.
I get the easy ones, you know,
i bet she's sitting there
right now hoping a couple of
strange detectives drop in.
That's what i think
she's hoping right now.
Are we still pretending
to be from the court?
Should i say that
we are judge Wolfe
and judge
Goodwin calling?
Is that what i should
say to her right now
when i make the call?
No, we are ourselves.
I'm dead tired.
I'm empty,
completely empty.
Would you care
for tea?
No, thank you.
Muriel, just for me,
thank you.
Your man said on the phone
that i would regret it
for the rest of my life
if i didn't see you.
Will i?
Thank you.
I'll be as brief
as possible.
Good.
I have information which may
not exculpate your husband,
but should raise a reasonable
doubt in the mind of the jury.
However, it would take
a proLonged investigation
to get it in the form
of admissible evidence.
I do so hate to
inform you of this,
but the trial has already
been started, mr. Wolfe.
I have in mind
a shortcut.
Ke it, i must have
i have in mind
a talk with your husband. Ta
ahh, and how, pray tell,
will you manage to do that?
You, madam.
I?
You... you have
a wide acquaintance,
great personal charm.
It would not
be too difficult
for you to get permission
to have a talk
with your husband
tomorrow morning.
With you.
I see.
But what do you
wish to say?
Is it about me?
I can tell you nothing
without compromising my plan.
I see.
Well, i suppose i have
nothing to lose.
Nothing more to lose.
But if
i do this...
should i not tell
mr. Donovan?
You must not.
Orbid it,
he would prevent it. T only f
this, madam,
is for you aLone.
For me aLone?
Yes, for me aLone.
My god, it would be such
a relief to do something.
Of course, i have made
the assumption that you...
do not want your husband to
be convicted of murder.
You do not have
to say that.
My husband is not a fool,
but he acted like one.
And i love
him very much.
Where can i
reach you?
Archie.
(clearing throat)
I gave her saul's number.
She went with us to the foyer,
but she wasn't there.
Her mind was so glad
to have a job
that it had
left us entirely.
(knocking)
Come in, come in,
come in.
Saul.
Archie.
After circling
saul's block three times,
we decided that cramer
had not had enough genius
to post a man there,
and we went inside.
A good room,
satisfactory.
I congratulate you.
Have, uh...
have you heard
from Fritz?
Has he called with
news of that woman?
The queen of hearts,
no, sir.
Uh... will you
have some beer?
Indeed, indeed, i will,
if you please.
In the next three hours,
saul served Wolfe
seven bottles of beer, sturgeon,
p?t? Pickled mushrooms,
tunisian meLon, and three
different kinds of cheese.
This is
extraordinary.
Mm, i couldn't have any more,
i can't eat another bite.
Vermont cheddar.
Gonzola.
Mont gor
naturally, the first time
Wolfe ate under his roof,
saul wanted to give
him good grub.
Okay, but three kinds
of cheese was piling it on.
Go.
Should we call
it a draw?
(phone ringing)
This is jackson
4-3-1-0-9.
Uh, yes, i recognize
the voice, where are you?
In a booth at grand central,
i couldn't get rid of him.
Okay, look, i will meet
you at the upper-level
information booth
in five minutes.
Will you be there?
Of course i will.
Hurry!
Helen weltz gave me
quite an earful.
Next morning, it was
time to meet leonard ashe.
I've brought
a visitor, darling.
I don't wanna see
anybody but you.
Mr. Wolfe.
Mr. Ashe, i need
your attention.
But isn't this
irregular?
Please, just sit down.
After listening to
the proceedings yesterday,
it occurred to me that
a telephone answering
service would provide
a singular opportunity
for scoundrelism,
like doctors, lawyers,
and servants, they have access
to privileged information.
Of course, that's exactly
why i thought of using them.
It further occurred to
me that the opportunities
to practice blackmail
on their clients
would be limitless.
Blackmail?
You mean
a criminal operation?
I left the courtroom
specifically
to view the offices
at 69th street.
And concluded that
possible
for one operatoratit would be im
to eavesdrop
on her lines
without the others
becoming aware of it.
Therefore, ifbagby answers,
inc. Were to engage in
a blackmail operation,
it must be done collusively
or not at all.
My lord... well,
that would explain
why she didn't turn
me down outright.
How does this
affect my case?
But i still
don't understand
how you mean to get it
before the jury.
Please!
Don't interrupt again.
I have much to say,
and there is little time
before court convenes.
(man)
All rise.
The honorable judge
corbett is presiding.
Be seated.
Nero Wolfe.
Is Nero Wolfe present?
(whispering)
Can you proceed?
(crowd murmuring)
(gavel banging)
Mr. Wolfe, how kind
of you to join us.
Are you gonna
stay this time?
I will stay here until
i've completed my testimony.
You knew you were
to testify yesterday.
Why did you
leave then?
I was impelled by a motive
that i thought imperative.
If you want me to expound
upon it now, i shall do so.
But i would prefer to plead
the contempt charges later,
if the court
would permit.
I will still be here.
Indeed you will,
you're under arrest.
No, sir, i am not.
You're not
under arrest?
No, sir, i am
not under arrest.
I have come here
voluntarily.
Well, you are now.
Officer, this man
is under arrest.
But i will allow you to answer
the contempt charges later.
Bailiff?
(man)
Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth,
so help you god?
I do so affirm.
Proceed,
mr. Mandelbaum.
Well, mr. Wolfe, now that i
finally have you on the stand,
i may have to keep
you until tomorrow.
You have always been doggedly
thorough, mr. Mandelbaum.
Have you ever met
the defendant in this case?
Mr. Leonard ashe?
Yes.
Under what circumstances
did you meet mr. Ashe?
He said he wished
to hire me
to learn the identity
of the phone operator
who was assigned
to his phone
and to propose to her
that she spy on his wife.
Did he say why he wished
to make this arrangement?
No, but i surmised...
objection, your honor,
conclusion of the witness
as to the intention
of the defendant.
Just answer the question,
mr. Wolfe, yes or no.
Did leonard ashe suggest
any inducement
to marie willis to
participate in his scheme?
No, he did not name an actual
sum, but he indicated...
your honor!
Not what he indicated,
what he said.
Strike all of his answer,
except for the word "no."
Your answer's no,
mr. Wolfe, yes or no?
No.
Did leonard ashe say
anything else to you?
Mr. Wolfe?
I would like to be sure
i understand the question.
Do you mean, what
aid that day,
or on a later occasion?
That day, of course.
What other occasion?
Are you asking me?
In your deposition,
you swore you hadn't met
leonard ashe before
or after july 13th.
That was true then.
We met again.
When?
In this building at half
past eight this morning.
You met and spoke with
the defendant in this building
at half past eight
this morning today?
His wife arranged
to see him,
and she allowed me
to accompany her.
Was mr. Donovan,
the defense counsel, present?
No, sir.
Your honor, i would like to
state for the record
that i knew
nothing of this.
Don't you know that it's
a misdemeanor for a witness
for the state to speak
with a defendant charged
with a feLony?
We didn't discuss
my testimony.
Matters which i thought
would be of interest to him.
What exactly did
you say, mr. Wolfe?
The fat son of a gun
had put it over.
Having asked him directly,
mandelbaum couldn't possibly
keep Wolfe's theories
from the jury,
unless jimmy donovan was a sap.
Do you wish to withdraw
the question, mr. Mandelbaum?
Oh, no, no, no.
I'm absolutely fascinated, you
didn't discuss your testimony.
What did you discuss?
I told him that i'd
left this courtroom
to make the investigation
which the police should have
undertaken had they not
been so enamored of
the idea that
ashe was guilty.
You are not answering
the question of
your contempt charges.
Did you say anything
relevant to this case?
I detailed to him my suspicion
thatbagby answers...
had been used as
a blackmailing operation.
Surely, this is just
surmise, mr. Wolfe.
Not at all.
I told mr. Ashe that
when i left the court
and visited there,
the operators
atbagby answers
tolerated my rudeness
beyond reason.
I learned that their
personal expenditures
far exceeded
their salaries.
An associate of bagby's
offered me $5,000 for services
which he would
not specify.
When i declined his bribe,
he offered me ten.
And most significant...
i told mr. Ashe that
last night
Helen weltz phoned me.
How Long did you
spend with mr. Ashe?
A half an hour.
Half an hour!
I can say a lot
in half an hour.
No doubt.
The court's and the jury's time
can't be spent on irrelevancies.
Did you make any
suggestions to mr. Ashe
regarding his defense?
No.
Then why did you seek
the interview, mr. Wolfe?
Were you seeking
employment?
Your honor,
surely this is
cross-examination,
and i object to it.
The objection
is sustained.
Mr. Mandelbaum, you know
the rules of evidence.
Please examine
him upon the merits.
Your honor, l...
i have no more questions.
Mr. Wolfe... why did
you seek an interview
this morning
with mr. Ashe?
It occurred to me that
if i saw mr. Ashe,
the fact would probably
be disclosed in the course
of my examination
by mr. Mandelbaum.
And if so, he would
almost certainly ask me
what had been said.
If he did not,
then you would,
mr. Donovan.
And i would be able to
make my case to the jury.
Therefore, i sought an
interview with mr. Ashe.
Objection,
your honor!
(gavel pounding)
I'll have order.
Continue, mr. Donovan.
Mr. Wolfe, would you
please tell the jury...
what you told mr. Ashe?
I told him that Helen weltz
came to see me last night
had been used as a blackmailing
operation for years.
All of the switchboard
operators had been party to it,
including marie willis.
Their dean, alice hart,
collected the information.
She gand unger,
who used the personal
secrets she had culled
to blackmail
their clients.
Guard, that's alice hart
right there!
No one is to
leave this room.
Officer, detain these people
as material witnesses.
(gavel pounding)
Continue, mr. Wolfe.
Your honor, is it necessary
for me to go on repeating
the phrase, "i told him,
i told him"?
Not if you confine yourself
strictly to what you said
to mr. Ashe
this morning.
I shall do so.
As i was saying,
guy unger and clyde bagby
gave the girls cash.
In three years,
miss weltz received
over $15,000.
This is fascinating,
but earlier you alleged
you could establish a reasonable
doubt of mr. Ashe's guilt.
Yes, your honor, yes.
According to miss weltz,
marie willis had been ordered
by both unger and bagby
to accept ashe's proposal
to spy on his wife,
and she had refused.
She announced that
she would quit
and tell mrs. Ashe everything,
making her an intolerable peril
to the whole operation.
I believe this establishes
a clear motive for all of them
and provides reasonable doubt
of mr. Ashe's guilt.
Did you go on to
speculate as to
a probable replacement
for mr. Ashe?
Yes, the conditions of
the murder, the closed windows,
the position
of the victim,
made it likely that
the perpetrator was a coworker.
I considered the most
promising candidate
to be mr. Bagby.
He has the most to lose.
And all the others had
established alibis:
At the beach,
on day trips, in cars.
By his own testimony,
mr. Bagby dined not
six blocks
from the office.
That's a lie!
I went home!
,
he called mr. Ashe
and enticed him
to the office
to find the body.
I leave the timetable
to the police.
They are extremely
efficient with timetables.
And now, your honor,
i would like to plead
to the charge of
contempt, if i may.
You may not.
You know quite well you've
made that charge frivolous.
It is dismissed.
Yes, your honor,
no
you may step down,
mr. Wolfe.
Alice Hart, Bella Velardi,
Guy Unger, and Clyde Bagby
will come forward.
The rest of you will keep
your seats and preserve order.
Mr. Donovan, i can't
thank you enough.
(crowd cheering)
Mr. Wolfe!
Actresses always act,
but i admit that
was probably unrehearsed,
and i thoroughly approved,
wsince it indicated that,
and i the ashe familyoved,
would prove to
be properly grateful.
The thought may have occurred
to you, "that's nice,"
but the real reason Wolfe
walked out was because he hated
to sit against a perfumed
woman in a wooden bench.
Captioning made possible by
a&e television networks
captioned by
soundwriters?