Matlock (1986–1995): Season 1, Episode 16 - The Nurse - full transcript
Kathy Dawson is a private nurse working for the St. Johns. One night while she was out, the man she was taking care of, Peter St. John, died. When it was determined to be murder, she is the prime suspect. Ben and a woman get into an elevator, at the courthouse, that malfunctions. Ben seems taken by this woman. Ben goes to his arraignment hearing with Kathy Warren and finds out the woman he was tuck with in the elevator is the new A.D.A., Julie March. Kathy Warren hires Ben to defend her, offering her $250,000 engagement ring as a fee. After Lacey St. John tells A.D.A. March that the ring was stolen from their home, Matlock realizes that something isn't right in the St. John house, and that someone is lying to him.
( upbeat jazz theme playing)
(Andy Griffith's "Hello!
Ma Baby" playing)
♪ I've got a little baby
But she's out of sight ♪
♪ I talk to her Across
the telephone ♪
♪ She connects me with my
honey Then it rings a bell ♪
♪ And this is what I
say To baby mine ♪
♪ Hello, my baby
Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
♪ Send me a kiss by wire ♪
♪ Baby, my heart's on fire ♪
♪ If you refuse me
Honey, you'll lose me ♪
♪ Then you'll be all alone ♪
♪ Oh, baby, telephone ♪
♪ And tell me I'm your own ♪
( suspenseful theme playing)
MAN (on TV): A brand-new car!
( audience applauds)
Susan, are you ready?
WOMAN (giggling): Yes.
MAN: Calm down,
Susan Susan Alexander...
Y-you? What...?
What a...?
(gasping)
Help!
Help me!
Call the paramedics.
I'll get the nurse.
Marcus, help Ruth.
Kathy!
Kathy! C...
What are you doing
leaving my brother alone?
We lost him.
No.
He's gone.
(sobbing)
(chatter on police radio)
What's happened?
My brother's dead.
They think he
had a heart attack.
Oh, no.
You were supposed
to be on duty tonight.
If you'd been here
when he needed you,
Peter would still be alive.
But he told me to go.
He said it was all right.
I will have your
things sent to you.
I loved him.
You get out of here.
Now.
Miss St. John?
There's something bothering me.
Just before your brother
rang, yelling for help,
I looked out the window.
I saw her coming into the house.
She was in the house...
( mysterious theme playing)
when my brother died?
Thank you, Marcus.
Just one more and I
think we'll be finished.
Hold the elevator, please!
Thank you.
Excuse me.
(clears throat)
(both grunt)
Oh. Agh.
Oh, are you...?
Are you all right?
I'm fine. Are you?
Uh-huh. Excuse me.
I think we'd better
call for help. Oh.
(alarm dinging)
Ah.
If anybody's here, I'm
sure they've heard that.
How long do you think
it'll take to get us out?
I don't know, but
how about, uh...?
(dinging stops) There.
Heh-heh-heh.
I'm not claustrophobic.
It's just that, uh,
today's the first
day on a new job
and I don't want to be late.
Well, I don't blame you.
(clears throat)
Um, you're not from
around here, are you?
No.
I didn't think I heard
grits in your voice.
(both laugh)
No.
Midwest?
Yes.
Iowa?
Nebraska. Ah.
Close.
Close, yes.
(elevator humming)
Well, there you go.
Smooth as a cow on ice.
(elevator dings)
Well, uh, nice,
heh, riding with you.
Ha-ha, yeah.
How can they say I killed Peter?
I loved him.
The state prison over in
Jackson is full of loving killers.
The night Peter died,
I was with somebody.
Who is this person?
Mr. Matlock, I know
about your $100,000 fee,
and I can afford it.
Nursing pays well, doesn't it?
Here's proof that
I didn't kill Peter.
It's an engagement
ring he gave me.
He told me it's worth at least
a quarter of a million dollars.
And why would I kill him if
we were getting married?
I'm trying to decide whether
or not to take your case.
To do that, I have to
know everything you know.
Who were you with
the night of the murder?
My husband.
When your fiancé was murdered,
you were with your husband?
We're getting divorced.
The only reason I left Peter
was because Eric called,
very angry, wanting to talk,
and Peter told me to.
Mr. Matlock, please.
I guess I can always
use another ring.
Case number A98304,
the State v. Kathy Dawson.
Ben Matlock for the
defense, Your Honor.
Where's the prosecutor?
WOMAN: Your Honor,
I apologize for being late,
but I was unavoidably detained.
Julie March, Assistant
District Attorney for the State.
Um,
hello.
Hello.
The radiator hose
on my car just...
I didn't know...
I didn't know that you
were... Yeah. How...?
How could we know? I
mean... Yeah, that's right.
Good luck.
Oh, thank you.
Um, good luck to you too.
JUDGE: Let's get on to
the plea and arraignment.
Uh,
Your Honor, the defendant
has been advised of her rights,
waives reading
of the indictment,
pleads not guilty, waives time.
Mm. Well,
first available slot is a
week from next Tuesday.
That time is acceptable
to the State, Your Honor.
Fine by me, Your Honor.
Defense also requests
that bail be waived
and the defendant be
released on her recognizance.
Your Honor, this
is a capital case.
The defendant has no priors
whatsoever, Your Honor,
not even a traffic ticket.
Your Honor, her
driving is not the issue.
My client is a lifelong
resident of this city,
gainfully employed.
And it is through her
employment as a nurse
that the State contends she
brutally murdered the decedent.
The prosecution's evidence
is purely circumstantial
and we have no reason
to believe my client
will leave the jurisdiction.
Which we seriously question.
JUDGE: Counsel,
you will direct your
arguments to the court
and not to one another.
This is not a free-for-all.
Bail is denied at this time.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you, Your Honor.
(gavel bangs)
I-I'm sorry.
I'll be all right.
JUDGE: Case number A96407,
the State v. Arnold Passer.
Excuse me, excuse me.
You're very good.
Why, thank you. So are you.
MAN: Shh.
(quietly): Well, come here.
Peter St. John was one of the
richest men in the new South,
worth maybe 100 million dollars.
Why do you suppose
somebody going to marry into that
would want to kill him?
Motive.
He was going to
marry her? Oh, please.
All right.
There is a $250,000
engagement ring.
Well, I'll grant you I
can't supply motive,
but I sure have everything else.
Oh, and it looks to me
like you've got yourself
one hell of a retainer.
♪ Hello, my baby
Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
♪ Send me a kiss by wire ♪
♪ Baby, my heart's on fi-ire ♪
♪ If you refuse
Baby, you'll lose me ♪
♪ Then you'll be all alone ♪
♪ So, baby, telephone ♪
♪ And tell me ♪
♪ I'm your o-own ♪
Good morning, everybody.
Good morning. Good morning.
How is everything
on the Russell matter?
Oh. I'm only one good precedent
away from winning an appeal.
Good.
Charlene, I want you
to tell me something.
I will.
You left your wallet
on your desk again.
Take a good
objective look at me.
Why are you smiling like that?
Pretend you don't know me.
Tell me how old you think I am.
Be honest.
I know how old you are.
Well, I don't, and
I'd say... pretty old.
And in that suit, very old.
Here's Eric Dawson's address.
That's Kathy's husband.
He works at a garage
on Tenth Street.
She said she was with
him the night of the murder.
Mm-hm.
And I am to assume by
this vote of confidence
that the police can't find him?
Ben, I'm flattered.
I'll see y'all.
Excuse me. Ben Matlock?
The young man over there.
Good morning, Mr. Matlock.
What's this?
I'm sorry, but the
St. John family
reported a theft on
the night of the murder.
This is a search warrant
for certain described
personal property.
What property?
A lady's large diamond
engagement ring.
There you go.
Thank you.
There's a new
assistant DA in town.
Very efficient.
(doorbell rings)
Yes?
I'm Ben Matlock,
Kathy Dawson's lawyer.
We have nothing to say to you.
What is it, Lacey?
It's her lawyer.
May I look around the house?
Can he do that? Yes, he can.
Can you arrange to get
my mother's ring back?
The police are
holding it as evidence.
My mother gave that ring to me,
and your client stole
it out of my room
the day she murdered my brother.
Lacey... I want my ring back,
and I want your client to
pay for killing my brother.
Come in, Mr. Matlock.
Mr. Matlock, I'm Barbara Warren.
I believe you knew
my father Bob.
Oh, yes. A fine lawyer.
Thank you.
Uh, could I see
Mr. St. John's room?
Of course. It's upstairs.
So Peter St. John,
from near poverty to one of
the richest men in the country.
That's success.
Yes. He was quite talented,
and he handled it well.
I didn't actually know
him. I met him once.
Your father represented
him, didn't he?
Oh, yes. Nearly
from the first deal.
They were great friends, and
you know Peter didn't have many.
After your father died,
did the firm handle
his business?
Yes, of course.
Why do you ask?
Uh, I just heard that
some of the bigger clients
sought other representation.
I'm glad that Peter St.
John stayed with you.
Must be a
full-time job in itself.
Oh, yes it is.
That's why I'm here now,
to help Lacey kind
of sort out the estate.
Huh. What did you
think of Kathy Dawson?
She was capable,
very professional.
Of course, she left Peter alone
when we were doing business,
so it's very hard for me to say.
Did you get any
sense of a romance?
The whole time that I
was visiting with Peter,
he never gave an indication
that they had anything but
a professional relationship.
Hm.
That was Peter's room.
I'll be in the library
if you need anything.
Thank you. You're welcome.
Put that down at once. (gasps)
Oh. You must have cat's feet.
I thought I was by myself.
I'm Ben Matlock, Kathy's lawyer.
I'm Ruth Delaney,
the housekeeper.
It's my job to be unobtrusive,
unlike some people.
Hm. That's a pretty
lady. Who is she?
Mr. St. John's wife.
She died four years
ago Christmas.
How long did you,
uh, work for her?
Her family's
employed me for years.
When she married Mr. St.
John, I came with her
to help her run this house.
Pretty worldly woman.
Yes.
Kathy isn't at all.
That nurse is a little tramp.
Isn't that kind of hard?
Hard?
All she could think about
from the instant she walked
in the front door was money.
Mr. St. John was a great
man, and she killed him.
He just waltzed in here
as pretty as could be
yesterday morning and
quit. No notice, nothing.
He didn't say
where he was going?
Not a word. Just
took his pay and left.
Come on, you've got to
give me some kind of idea,
like he was leaving town.
Man, I was so teed off at
Eric for quitting like that,
I just kicked his
butt out of here
before he had a
chance to say anything.
Well, you know, that's an
understandable reaction, Mark.
Tell you what, if you
think of something,
give me a call.
Might be some money in it, huh?
You're a shrewd businessman.
What do you think?
( mysterious theme playing)
(exhales sharply)
Lacey's lying.
Peter gave me that ring.
She said it was in her
room and you took it.
It was in a safe in the library.
The bookcase opposite
from the fireplace opens up
and behind it is a safe.
Let me get this straight.
He sent you downstairs and
told you to bring the ring up to him.
First, he gave me
the combination,
and yes, he did.
Who else had this combination?
Nobody.
Only Peter.
So all of a sudden one day
he just gives you this
secret combination?
Peter insisted that I
have this particular ring,
so he sent me to
the safe to get it.
Kathy, a man as
rich as Peter St. John
could have a dozen
rings sent over to him
and just pick one.
I'm just asking
all the questions
the jury's gonna ask.
I didn't want that ring.
I wanted one of my own
that we picked out
together, but Peter insisted.
What else could I have done?
( suspenseful theme playing)
The registration in
the glove compartment
says this car belongs
to Eric Dawson.
Now, are you Eric or is this
grand theft auto in progress?
No, this is my car. What
the hell are you doing in it?
Then this is for you.
It's a subpoena
to your wife's trial.
Felon! Agh!
Oh, Julie, don't
do that to a person.
So it's Julie now.
Are we friends,
or are you just being charming
because I caught you in the act
and you're afraid I'll
make a citizen's arrest?
Kathy gave me the combination.
Peter St. John
sent her down here,
told her to open the safe,
bring the ring up to him.
Nobody else had the combination.
If it works,
I think she's telling
the truth about the ring.
All right.
Um, seven left, thirty right...
No, not so fast.
And twenty left.
Thirty.
There you go.
Want to look? Yes.
This looks like an inventory.
"Emerald earrings,
matching necklace,
matching ring."
Phew. Two million dollars?
Way over-priced.
A million five tops.
Are you some kind of expert?
I'd do a lot better
if I had my loop.
Good lord, these are cultured.
Hm.
Uh, let's see.
Um, "Ruby earrings,
diamond necklace, diamond br..."
Oh, here. That's interesting.
The diamond necklace is missing.
And here's the ring.
"Diamond solitaire, emerald cut,
a quarter of a million dollars."
And here is the ring box, empty.
Hm.
You know what I think?
LACEY: You think I lied.
You did, didn't you?
Yes.
I'm not particularly proud
of the fact, but yes, I lied.
Why?
Because I know
she killed my brother.
I want her convicted.
Show Mr. Matlock
and Miss March out.
Yes, ma'am.
Do I understand correctly
you are from the office
of the district attorney?
Yes.
This was sealed when
Mr. St. John gave it to me.
He said it was important
and confidential,
and I suppose the
state should have it now.
It's a handwritten will.
He left everything to Kathy.
About 150 million dollars.
( tense theme playing)
No further questions,
Your Honor.
(clears throat)
Uh, ahem Mr. Scott,
you testify you saw my client
go into the house a few
minutes before Mr. St. John died.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
And you were in your
apartment by the kitchen
looking out the
window. Is that correct?
I saw someone come up the
driveway and enter the house.
It was pretty dark, wasn't it?
Uh, yes.
MATLOCK: You know, I went to
your place, turned on the television,
and I looked out the window.
You know what I saw?
Objection. Mr. Matlock
is not testifying here,
but if he would
like to be sworn,
I'll be happy to
cross-examine him.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Counsel will confine himself
to questioning the witness.
Mr. Scott, you saw
the outline of a woman
wearing a raincoat and a scarf
similar to the ones
owned by Miss Dawson,
so you assumed the outline you
saw was Miss Dawson, correct?
Objection. Vague and ambiguous,
argumentative, compound,
asked and answered.
If counsel will allow
me to continue,
maybe we can get to
the truth with this witness.
JUDGE: I admonish you both again
that you will direct your comments
to the court and
not to one another.
Objection sustained.
Rephrase the question.
You assumed it was
Miss Dawson, didn't you?
No, sir. I know it was.
But the person was covered
with a raincoat and a scarf.
Yes, but she also had the walk.
I've been paying attention
to the way women walk
since I was four years old.
Kathy had... Mr. Scott,
just answer yes or no.
Objection. No further questions.
Redirect?
No, thank you, Your Honor.
This court is adjourned till
9 a.m. tomorrow morning.
I suggest counsel cool
their tempers by that time
as the court is seriously
considering contempt citations
against both of you.
Good afternoon, counsel.
(gavel bangs)
Oh, Barbara?
Excuse me. Barbara!
Oh, good, good.
Have you got a minute?
Uh, I have a question
about this new will.
I'm sorry. I don't
think I can help you.
It came as big a surprise to
me as it did everyone else.
I think you can handle this one.
If Kathy is convicted,
who inherits the money?
Well, in this case,
the old will stands.
Now, let me guess.
Lacey gets a fortune
and then your firm
gets the prestige
of being executors
plus millions in fees.
One thing I learned
from my father:
Be damn sure about your facts
before you make an
accusation as serious as that.
( tense theme playing)
(elevator dings)
Mr. Matlock.
Well, I'll say again.
You're very good and very angry.
Thank you.
I tried very hard
for that first p...
MATLOCK: What's the
matter? JULIE: Oh, no.
My car.
There's no spare,
but that's okay.
There's no jack, either.
I suppose I could
call the Auto Club.
Yeah.
It'll take hours
before they get here.
Yeah.
Do you have a spare or a jack?
Yeah.
Well, what about it?
What about it?
What happened to
Southern hospitality,
(with Southern
accent): gallantry,
(normal voice): or did
that die at Appomattox?
Okay.
There you go.
Now, you ought to rotate
your tires more often.
Oh, I'll try to remember that.
Yeah, you see
that left front there?
The tread's almost gone.
Oh, I hadn't noticed. Yeah.
Can I buy you a drink?
Oh, I just... I
wonder if we should.
School night, right?
Heh. Well...
We go someplace
cozy for a nice drink
and then someplace to eat,
and one thing leads to another
and the next thing you know,
we're discussing the case.
So?
Well, it's just that
I believe she is
and you believe she isn't.
What? Innocent.
I know you do.
You're supposed to.
Well, I know, but I
know that you think
some of the circumstantials
point the other way.
Oh, I believe what
the evidence says.
And I believe her, see? I-I...
I believe that this man did
love her and did plan to marry
and that's why the
ring and the will.
No, I don't think so.
You don't think that happened.
No, of course not.
I mean, I think it can
happen with people, but...
Yeah.
I do too. I do too.
Though it probably
shouldn't about half the time.
Yeah. Yeah.
Right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, there you go.
I knew we'd wind up
talking about the case.
Right. Heh-heh.
Well... Thank you.
Uh-huh. Now, rotate.
Oh. Okay.
Goodbye. Ah-huh.
Put that one back... Whoop.
♪ Well, hello, my
baby Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
(humming)
♪ Send me a kiss by... ♪
How's it going, partner?
Hey, all right.
Charlene, think I
should get a new suit?
No.
You think I look
okay in this old thing?
Great.
How's the lady DA look?
Fine.
Why?
When your father starts going
through a second adolescence,
you can add two and two.
Oh, there's nothing going on.
Oh, Daddy, it's all right.
But there's nothing going on.
I mean, it's just professional.
I'm sure it is,
but you've been
singing "Hello, Ma Baby"
for three days now.
We interrupt this
high-level legal conference
to bring you some good news.
In fact, this falls under the
heading of superior news.
And not a second too soon.
I hope you're not toying
with an old man's hopes.
I ran a records check
on Kathy's husband,
and it's true.
He doesn't work at
that garage anymore.
He owns the garage.
He just bought it.
He paid cash for it.
Where did he get the money?
Maybe somebody paid him off.
I guess whoever killed Peter
St. John has some money.
A whole lot of money.
A whole lot.
Mr. Dawson, what
did you say to your wife
when you telephoned
her the night of the murder?
That I needed to talk to
her just one more time.
I thought if I could make
her understand how I felt,
she wouldn't go
through with the divorce.
And did she agree to see you?
Yes.
Tell the jury what happened.
She came over to our apartment.
Excuse me.
What time was that?
ERIC: A little after 8.
JULIE: Go on.
ERIC: Uh, she came in.
I asked to take her coat.
She said she wasn't staying.
She said, uh...
She said everything she
had to tell me in five minutes.
I tried to ask her
to change her mind,
to give me a second chance.
She just laughed at me.
She said, "I've
got a new life now.
I don't want anything
to do with the old one."
And then she left.
JULIE: Mr. Dawson,
how long was your
wife in your apartment?
Like I said, maybe ten minutes.
By 8:30, she was gone.
Did she say anything to you
about the deceased,
Mr. St. John?
Please answer the question.
I don't want to hurt her.
Mr. Dawson, answer the question.
ERIC: She said she was about to
get her hands on some real money
and that she never
wants to see me again.
No further questions.
Say Kathy told you
she was gonna get her hands
on a lot of money, did she?
Yeah.
You're a pretty fortunate
young man yourself, aren't you?
I don't understand.
A couple of weeks ago,
you worked in a
garage, didn't you?
Yeah. As a mechanic?
Yes.
You don't do that
anymore, do you?
No.
Now you own the
garage, don't you?
Don't look at the
assistant district attorney.
She can't help you
on this one. Don't you?
Yes.
How'd you pay for it?
Cash.
Tell the court how much cash.
A hundred and eighty-five
thousand dollars.
Tell the court where
you got $185,000.
Look, I love my wife and
I... I guess she's still my wife.
MATLOCK: Just
answer the question.
Kathy gave me the money.
Kathy gave you $185,000?
No.
She gave me a necklace,
a diamond necklace.
She said it was mine
as long as I didn't make
any problem with the divorce.
She said she didn't
care about giving it to me
'cause there was plenty
more where that came from.
Eric's lying.
I never gave him anything.
I never took anything
out of the safe but the ring.
So somebody else had
the combination to the safe.
Lacey, or Barbara,
or the housekeeper.
And whoever took that
necklace and gave it to Eric
killed Mr. St. John.
( tense theme playing)
That can wait, Clarissa.
I want you to help Marcus
with the silver, please.
Uh, I just wanted you to know
we'll be upstairs
about another half hour.
Wouldn't it be simpler
if you just moved in?
TYLER (on intercom):
Ben, where are you?
Oh.
Right here, Tyler, helping
out in the laundry room.
Whenever you feel
like doing a little work,
Charlene and I are waiting.
Ben?
I'll be right with you.
All set, Tyler?
I'm ready.
Ready, Charlene?
All set.
All right. Now, give me a
few seconds to get there,
then let her rip.
Now, just once, I'd like to
see him play the decedent.
TYLER: Oh, help me!
Help, I'm dying! Somebody!
Does anybody here me?
Tyler, that's enough.
Tyler! TYLER: Quick.
I need some help.
Twenty-three seconds.
What about you?
Well, what do you think?
It was chilling. Chilling.
I never heard death
screams like that.
No, I mean, what
did you find out?
A lot.
Like what?
I absolutely know she did it.
( playful theme playing)
Miss St. John, I'd like to start
with a few questions
about your background,
and I'd like to assure the court
that these are most relevant.
Your father died when
you were quite young,
isn't that true? That's right.
And your mother raised
both you and your brother.
Yes. She worked as a caterer.
That's a fancy
word for it, isn't it?
Actually, she was a maid.
And let me hasten to add
there's nothing wrong
with honest work.
A woman alone with
two small children.
She worked very hard.
But still you were ashamed
of her, weren't you?
No, never.
But years later,
when your brother
started making big money,
your life changed, didn't it?
Peter was the
perfect big brother.
Yes, he was extremely generous.
And so was his wife,
the former Evelyn Rutledge.
Thanks to her, you
and your brother
became part of
Atlanta's society.
Not just part of society, but as
they say, the crème de la crème.
Objection. I don't
understand what this has to do
with her brother's murder.
I believe I can show relevancy
in a moment, Your Honor.
Overruled.
Continue.
Now, your brother's
wife died four years ago.
She was not only his
wife, but his hostess.
When she died, you
became the hostess.
That's a strong
position for a wife.
Maybe even
stronger for a sister.
What would have
happened to your position
if he had married Kathy Dawson,
practically a servant
in your house?
That wouldn't have concerned me.
He wouldn't have asked
you to stop being the hostess?
No more parties, pictures
in the society page?
He wouldn't have
asked you to move out?
Objection. Calls
for speculation.
Everything that meant something
to you just slipping away?
Objection.
Sustained.
You had a bad fall off a horse
a couple of months
ago, didn't you? Yes.
And you had to wear a
back brace for a while.
I confess I saw it in
your laundry room.
Only when I overdo
or when I get tired.
How'd your doctor
treat the pain?
Pain pills.
Any injections?
Sometimes.
Did you ever hear of Monocane?
I really don't know.
An empty bottle of Monocane
was found in Kathy's room.
Now, the painkiller Monocane
was not prescribed
for your brother,
but he received a fatal
overdose by injection.
What was Kathy doing with a
bottle of Monocane in her room?
Then I got to thinking
about the back brace and...
You stole that bottle of
Monocane from your doctor,
didn't you? No.
Then used it to
kill your brother.
No, I did not.
Objection, Your Honor.
This entire line of questioning
is totally speculative.
Sustained.
Well, let's go on to
something quite factual.
Would you say this is an
accurate representation
of the second floor of
your brother's house?
Yes.
And this is your
brother's room here? Yes.
Down the hall, around the
corner in a separate wing
is your room. Correct.
It's quite private,
isn't it? Yes.
In fact, when I had my
associate Tyler Hudson,
lie down in your brother's bed
and holler he was
being murdered,
I couldn't hear
him in your room.
My brother did not
have to holler for me.
He had an intercom
installed in his bedroom
after his accident,
and he could contact anyone
in the household with it.
Now, let me get this straight.
You didn't actually hear
you brother yell for help
the night he was being killed?
No. He called for
me on the intercom.
Oh, the same way he calls
the housekeeper and the butler?
Yes.
MATLOCK: So then you ran
from your room in
the separate wing,
around the corner,
met the housekeeper,
and the two of you ran on
down to your brother's room?
Yes.
You know, when, uh,
my associate called for help,
calling into the intercom,
you know what I heard on
the intercom in your room?
Nothing.
I'm not kidding. I heard
absolutely nothing.
I don't believe you.
So I checked the intercom
in your brother's room.
You know what I found?
He had disconnected
the button to your room.
Did you know he'd done that?
That's not true.
He told you he was gonna
marry Kathy, didn't he?
No. And you were furious.
You were no longer going
to be first in your brother's life.
He never loved her. He, um...
He couldn't have. Hm.
He was an invalid,
unable to get out of bed.
That's the only way he had
to break it off with you,
was to disconnect that
wire. And that's what he did.
He cut the wire between
you and you never knew.
(sobbing): No, he loved me.
It wasn't just the money.
You were losing that,
but you were losing position
and you were losing him.
You were going to
be alone, and it hurt.
It hurt so much
that you'd rather see him dead
than to be left alone.
( somber theme playing)
There you go.
Thank you.
They say waiting for a
baby to come is suspenseful.
Waiting for a jury to come
in is suspenseful, isn't it?
Well, no matter
how this turns out,
I think you put on
an excellent case.
And you put on an
excellent defense.
There you go.
(both chuckle)
If the jury finds for
Kathy, I hope that...
And I'm not talking
about the money. But I...
I hope that she
can live a full life.
Well, she's a nice girl.
Mm.
You know, when I was in college,
there was this boy.
I don't know why I
got thinking about him,
but I guess it's
this case and love.
Hm.
But his name was Garrett Steele.
Mm. And he was tall
and he had dark brown
hair and blue eyes.
Gray-blue.
The color of the
ocean on a cloudy day.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, yeah.
Good-looking, huh?
Oh, well, I thought he was.
I-I liked him so much
I was almost
afraid to look at him.
Ah. Heh-heh.
Years later...
He's a doctor now.
I found out that
he liked me too,
and I never knew that.
Oh, oh, oh, missed...
Mm-hm. Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Of course, that happened to me.
I guess it's happened
to everybody.
There was this one
girl, Betty Ann Snow.
She had hazel eyes.
TYLER: The jury's in, Ben.
We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(crowd murmuring)
Having been found not guilty,
the defendant is
ordered released.
Court is adjourned.
( mellow theme playing)
Thank you.
You were wonderful.
Not too bad, I guess.
Congratulations.
Uh, hold the elevator.
Thanks.
(clears throat)
Want to have that dinner?
I'll buy.
(chuckles)
( upbeat jazz theme playing)
(Andy Griffith's "Hello!
Ma Baby" playing)
♪ I've got a little baby
But she's out of sight ♪
♪ I talk to her Across
the telephone ♪
♪ She connects me with my
honey Then it rings a bell ♪
♪ And this is what I
say To baby mine ♪
♪ Hello, my baby
Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
♪ Send me a kiss by wire ♪
♪ Baby, my heart's on fire ♪
♪ If you refuse me
Honey, you'll lose me ♪
♪ Then you'll be all alone ♪
♪ Oh, baby, telephone ♪
♪ And tell me I'm your own ♪
( suspenseful theme playing)
MAN (on TV): A brand-new car!
( audience applauds)
Susan, are you ready?
WOMAN (giggling): Yes.
MAN: Calm down,
Susan Susan Alexander...
Y-you? What...?
What a...?
(gasping)
Help!
Help me!
Call the paramedics.
I'll get the nurse.
Marcus, help Ruth.
Kathy!
Kathy! C...
What are you doing
leaving my brother alone?
We lost him.
No.
He's gone.
(sobbing)
(chatter on police radio)
What's happened?
My brother's dead.
They think he
had a heart attack.
Oh, no.
You were supposed
to be on duty tonight.
If you'd been here
when he needed you,
Peter would still be alive.
But he told me to go.
He said it was all right.
I will have your
things sent to you.
I loved him.
You get out of here.
Now.
Miss St. John?
There's something bothering me.
Just before your brother
rang, yelling for help,
I looked out the window.
I saw her coming into the house.
She was in the house...
( mysterious theme playing)
when my brother died?
Thank you, Marcus.
Just one more and I
think we'll be finished.
Hold the elevator, please!
Thank you.
Excuse me.
(clears throat)
(both grunt)
Oh. Agh.
Oh, are you...?
Are you all right?
I'm fine. Are you?
Uh-huh. Excuse me.
I think we'd better
call for help. Oh.
(alarm dinging)
Ah.
If anybody's here, I'm
sure they've heard that.
How long do you think
it'll take to get us out?
I don't know, but
how about, uh...?
(dinging stops) There.
Heh-heh-heh.
I'm not claustrophobic.
It's just that, uh,
today's the first
day on a new job
and I don't want to be late.
Well, I don't blame you.
(clears throat)
Um, you're not from
around here, are you?
No.
I didn't think I heard
grits in your voice.
(both laugh)
No.
Midwest?
Yes.
Iowa?
Nebraska. Ah.
Close.
Close, yes.
(elevator humming)
Well, there you go.
Smooth as a cow on ice.
(elevator dings)
Well, uh, nice,
heh, riding with you.
Ha-ha, yeah.
How can they say I killed Peter?
I loved him.
The state prison over in
Jackson is full of loving killers.
The night Peter died,
I was with somebody.
Who is this person?
Mr. Matlock, I know
about your $100,000 fee,
and I can afford it.
Nursing pays well, doesn't it?
Here's proof that
I didn't kill Peter.
It's an engagement
ring he gave me.
He told me it's worth at least
a quarter of a million dollars.
And why would I kill him if
we were getting married?
I'm trying to decide whether
or not to take your case.
To do that, I have to
know everything you know.
Who were you with
the night of the murder?
My husband.
When your fiancé was murdered,
you were with your husband?
We're getting divorced.
The only reason I left Peter
was because Eric called,
very angry, wanting to talk,
and Peter told me to.
Mr. Matlock, please.
I guess I can always
use another ring.
Case number A98304,
the State v. Kathy Dawson.
Ben Matlock for the
defense, Your Honor.
Where's the prosecutor?
WOMAN: Your Honor,
I apologize for being late,
but I was unavoidably detained.
Julie March, Assistant
District Attorney for the State.
Um,
hello.
Hello.
The radiator hose
on my car just...
I didn't know...
I didn't know that you
were... Yeah. How...?
How could we know? I
mean... Yeah, that's right.
Good luck.
Oh, thank you.
Um, good luck to you too.
JUDGE: Let's get on to
the plea and arraignment.
Uh,
Your Honor, the defendant
has been advised of her rights,
waives reading
of the indictment,
pleads not guilty, waives time.
Mm. Well,
first available slot is a
week from next Tuesday.
That time is acceptable
to the State, Your Honor.
Fine by me, Your Honor.
Defense also requests
that bail be waived
and the defendant be
released on her recognizance.
Your Honor, this
is a capital case.
The defendant has no priors
whatsoever, Your Honor,
not even a traffic ticket.
Your Honor, her
driving is not the issue.
My client is a lifelong
resident of this city,
gainfully employed.
And it is through her
employment as a nurse
that the State contends she
brutally murdered the decedent.
The prosecution's evidence
is purely circumstantial
and we have no reason
to believe my client
will leave the jurisdiction.
Which we seriously question.
JUDGE: Counsel,
you will direct your
arguments to the court
and not to one another.
This is not a free-for-all.
Bail is denied at this time.
Thank you, counsel.
Thank you, Your Honor.
(gavel bangs)
I-I'm sorry.
I'll be all right.
JUDGE: Case number A96407,
the State v. Arnold Passer.
Excuse me, excuse me.
You're very good.
Why, thank you. So are you.
MAN: Shh.
(quietly): Well, come here.
Peter St. John was one of the
richest men in the new South,
worth maybe 100 million dollars.
Why do you suppose
somebody going to marry into that
would want to kill him?
Motive.
He was going to
marry her? Oh, please.
All right.
There is a $250,000
engagement ring.
Well, I'll grant you I
can't supply motive,
but I sure have everything else.
Oh, and it looks to me
like you've got yourself
one hell of a retainer.
♪ Hello, my baby
Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
♪ Send me a kiss by wire ♪
♪ Baby, my heart's on fi-ire ♪
♪ If you refuse
Baby, you'll lose me ♪
♪ Then you'll be all alone ♪
♪ So, baby, telephone ♪
♪ And tell me ♪
♪ I'm your o-own ♪
Good morning, everybody.
Good morning. Good morning.
How is everything
on the Russell matter?
Oh. I'm only one good precedent
away from winning an appeal.
Good.
Charlene, I want you
to tell me something.
I will.
You left your wallet
on your desk again.
Take a good
objective look at me.
Why are you smiling like that?
Pretend you don't know me.
Tell me how old you think I am.
Be honest.
I know how old you are.
Well, I don't, and
I'd say... pretty old.
And in that suit, very old.
Here's Eric Dawson's address.
That's Kathy's husband.
He works at a garage
on Tenth Street.
She said she was with
him the night of the murder.
Mm-hm.
And I am to assume by
this vote of confidence
that the police can't find him?
Ben, I'm flattered.
I'll see y'all.
Excuse me. Ben Matlock?
The young man over there.
Good morning, Mr. Matlock.
What's this?
I'm sorry, but the
St. John family
reported a theft on
the night of the murder.
This is a search warrant
for certain described
personal property.
What property?
A lady's large diamond
engagement ring.
There you go.
Thank you.
There's a new
assistant DA in town.
Very efficient.
(doorbell rings)
Yes?
I'm Ben Matlock,
Kathy Dawson's lawyer.
We have nothing to say to you.
What is it, Lacey?
It's her lawyer.
May I look around the house?
Can he do that? Yes, he can.
Can you arrange to get
my mother's ring back?
The police are
holding it as evidence.
My mother gave that ring to me,
and your client stole
it out of my room
the day she murdered my brother.
Lacey... I want my ring back,
and I want your client to
pay for killing my brother.
Come in, Mr. Matlock.
Mr. Matlock, I'm Barbara Warren.
I believe you knew
my father Bob.
Oh, yes. A fine lawyer.
Thank you.
Uh, could I see
Mr. St. John's room?
Of course. It's upstairs.
So Peter St. John,
from near poverty to one of
the richest men in the country.
That's success.
Yes. He was quite talented,
and he handled it well.
I didn't actually know
him. I met him once.
Your father represented
him, didn't he?
Oh, yes. Nearly
from the first deal.
They were great friends, and
you know Peter didn't have many.
After your father died,
did the firm handle
his business?
Yes, of course.
Why do you ask?
Uh, I just heard that
some of the bigger clients
sought other representation.
I'm glad that Peter St.
John stayed with you.
Must be a
full-time job in itself.
Oh, yes it is.
That's why I'm here now,
to help Lacey kind
of sort out the estate.
Huh. What did you
think of Kathy Dawson?
She was capable,
very professional.
Of course, she left Peter alone
when we were doing business,
so it's very hard for me to say.
Did you get any
sense of a romance?
The whole time that I
was visiting with Peter,
he never gave an indication
that they had anything but
a professional relationship.
Hm.
That was Peter's room.
I'll be in the library
if you need anything.
Thank you. You're welcome.
Put that down at once. (gasps)
Oh. You must have cat's feet.
I thought I was by myself.
I'm Ben Matlock, Kathy's lawyer.
I'm Ruth Delaney,
the housekeeper.
It's my job to be unobtrusive,
unlike some people.
Hm. That's a pretty
lady. Who is she?
Mr. St. John's wife.
She died four years
ago Christmas.
How long did you,
uh, work for her?
Her family's
employed me for years.
When she married Mr. St.
John, I came with her
to help her run this house.
Pretty worldly woman.
Yes.
Kathy isn't at all.
That nurse is a little tramp.
Isn't that kind of hard?
Hard?
All she could think about
from the instant she walked
in the front door was money.
Mr. St. John was a great
man, and she killed him.
He just waltzed in here
as pretty as could be
yesterday morning and
quit. No notice, nothing.
He didn't say
where he was going?
Not a word. Just
took his pay and left.
Come on, you've got to
give me some kind of idea,
like he was leaving town.
Man, I was so teed off at
Eric for quitting like that,
I just kicked his
butt out of here
before he had a
chance to say anything.
Well, you know, that's an
understandable reaction, Mark.
Tell you what, if you
think of something,
give me a call.
Might be some money in it, huh?
You're a shrewd businessman.
What do you think?
( mysterious theme playing)
(exhales sharply)
Lacey's lying.
Peter gave me that ring.
She said it was in her
room and you took it.
It was in a safe in the library.
The bookcase opposite
from the fireplace opens up
and behind it is a safe.
Let me get this straight.
He sent you downstairs and
told you to bring the ring up to him.
First, he gave me
the combination,
and yes, he did.
Who else had this combination?
Nobody.
Only Peter.
So all of a sudden one day
he just gives you this
secret combination?
Peter insisted that I
have this particular ring,
so he sent me to
the safe to get it.
Kathy, a man as
rich as Peter St. John
could have a dozen
rings sent over to him
and just pick one.
I'm just asking
all the questions
the jury's gonna ask.
I didn't want that ring.
I wanted one of my own
that we picked out
together, but Peter insisted.
What else could I have done?
( suspenseful theme playing)
The registration in
the glove compartment
says this car belongs
to Eric Dawson.
Now, are you Eric or is this
grand theft auto in progress?
No, this is my car. What
the hell are you doing in it?
Then this is for you.
It's a subpoena
to your wife's trial.
Felon! Agh!
Oh, Julie, don't
do that to a person.
So it's Julie now.
Are we friends,
or are you just being charming
because I caught you in the act
and you're afraid I'll
make a citizen's arrest?
Kathy gave me the combination.
Peter St. John
sent her down here,
told her to open the safe,
bring the ring up to him.
Nobody else had the combination.
If it works,
I think she's telling
the truth about the ring.
All right.
Um, seven left, thirty right...
No, not so fast.
And twenty left.
Thirty.
There you go.
Want to look? Yes.
This looks like an inventory.
"Emerald earrings,
matching necklace,
matching ring."
Phew. Two million dollars?
Way over-priced.
A million five tops.
Are you some kind of expert?
I'd do a lot better
if I had my loop.
Good lord, these are cultured.
Hm.
Uh, let's see.
Um, "Ruby earrings,
diamond necklace, diamond br..."
Oh, here. That's interesting.
The diamond necklace is missing.
And here's the ring.
"Diamond solitaire, emerald cut,
a quarter of a million dollars."
And here is the ring box, empty.
Hm.
You know what I think?
LACEY: You think I lied.
You did, didn't you?
Yes.
I'm not particularly proud
of the fact, but yes, I lied.
Why?
Because I know
she killed my brother.
I want her convicted.
Show Mr. Matlock
and Miss March out.
Yes, ma'am.
Do I understand correctly
you are from the office
of the district attorney?
Yes.
This was sealed when
Mr. St. John gave it to me.
He said it was important
and confidential,
and I suppose the
state should have it now.
It's a handwritten will.
He left everything to Kathy.
About 150 million dollars.
( tense theme playing)
No further questions,
Your Honor.
(clears throat)
Uh, ahem Mr. Scott,
you testify you saw my client
go into the house a few
minutes before Mr. St. John died.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
And you were in your
apartment by the kitchen
looking out the
window. Is that correct?
I saw someone come up the
driveway and enter the house.
It was pretty dark, wasn't it?
Uh, yes.
MATLOCK: You know, I went to
your place, turned on the television,
and I looked out the window.
You know what I saw?
Objection. Mr. Matlock
is not testifying here,
but if he would
like to be sworn,
I'll be happy to
cross-examine him.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Counsel will confine himself
to questioning the witness.
Mr. Scott, you saw
the outline of a woman
wearing a raincoat and a scarf
similar to the ones
owned by Miss Dawson,
so you assumed the outline you
saw was Miss Dawson, correct?
Objection. Vague and ambiguous,
argumentative, compound,
asked and answered.
If counsel will allow
me to continue,
maybe we can get to
the truth with this witness.
JUDGE: I admonish you both again
that you will direct your comments
to the court and
not to one another.
Objection sustained.
Rephrase the question.
You assumed it was
Miss Dawson, didn't you?
No, sir. I know it was.
But the person was covered
with a raincoat and a scarf.
Yes, but she also had the walk.
I've been paying attention
to the way women walk
since I was four years old.
Kathy had... Mr. Scott,
just answer yes or no.
Objection. No further questions.
Redirect?
No, thank you, Your Honor.
This court is adjourned till
9 a.m. tomorrow morning.
I suggest counsel cool
their tempers by that time
as the court is seriously
considering contempt citations
against both of you.
Good afternoon, counsel.
(gavel bangs)
Oh, Barbara?
Excuse me. Barbara!
Oh, good, good.
Have you got a minute?
Uh, I have a question
about this new will.
I'm sorry. I don't
think I can help you.
It came as big a surprise to
me as it did everyone else.
I think you can handle this one.
If Kathy is convicted,
who inherits the money?
Well, in this case,
the old will stands.
Now, let me guess.
Lacey gets a fortune
and then your firm
gets the prestige
of being executors
plus millions in fees.
One thing I learned
from my father:
Be damn sure about your facts
before you make an
accusation as serious as that.
( tense theme playing)
(elevator dings)
Mr. Matlock.
Well, I'll say again.
You're very good and very angry.
Thank you.
I tried very hard
for that first p...
MATLOCK: What's the
matter? JULIE: Oh, no.
My car.
There's no spare,
but that's okay.
There's no jack, either.
I suppose I could
call the Auto Club.
Yeah.
It'll take hours
before they get here.
Yeah.
Do you have a spare or a jack?
Yeah.
Well, what about it?
What about it?
What happened to
Southern hospitality,
(with Southern
accent): gallantry,
(normal voice): or did
that die at Appomattox?
Okay.
There you go.
Now, you ought to rotate
your tires more often.
Oh, I'll try to remember that.
Yeah, you see
that left front there?
The tread's almost gone.
Oh, I hadn't noticed. Yeah.
Can I buy you a drink?
Oh, I just... I
wonder if we should.
School night, right?
Heh. Well...
We go someplace
cozy for a nice drink
and then someplace to eat,
and one thing leads to another
and the next thing you know,
we're discussing the case.
So?
Well, it's just that
I believe she is
and you believe she isn't.
What? Innocent.
I know you do.
You're supposed to.
Well, I know, but I
know that you think
some of the circumstantials
point the other way.
Oh, I believe what
the evidence says.
And I believe her, see? I-I...
I believe that this man did
love her and did plan to marry
and that's why the
ring and the will.
No, I don't think so.
You don't think that happened.
No, of course not.
I mean, I think it can
happen with people, but...
Yeah.
I do too. I do too.
Though it probably
shouldn't about half the time.
Yeah. Yeah.
Right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, there you go.
I knew we'd wind up
talking about the case.
Right. Heh-heh.
Well... Thank you.
Uh-huh. Now, rotate.
Oh. Okay.
Goodbye. Ah-huh.
Put that one back... Whoop.
♪ Well, hello, my
baby Hello, my honey ♪
♪ Hello, my ragtime gal ♪
(humming)
♪ Send me a kiss by... ♪
How's it going, partner?
Hey, all right.
Charlene, think I
should get a new suit?
No.
You think I look
okay in this old thing?
Great.
How's the lady DA look?
Fine.
Why?
When your father starts going
through a second adolescence,
you can add two and two.
Oh, there's nothing going on.
Oh, Daddy, it's all right.
But there's nothing going on.
I mean, it's just professional.
I'm sure it is,
but you've been
singing "Hello, Ma Baby"
for three days now.
We interrupt this
high-level legal conference
to bring you some good news.
In fact, this falls under the
heading of superior news.
And not a second too soon.
I hope you're not toying
with an old man's hopes.
I ran a records check
on Kathy's husband,
and it's true.
He doesn't work at
that garage anymore.
He owns the garage.
He just bought it.
He paid cash for it.
Where did he get the money?
Maybe somebody paid him off.
I guess whoever killed Peter
St. John has some money.
A whole lot of money.
A whole lot.
Mr. Dawson, what
did you say to your wife
when you telephoned
her the night of the murder?
That I needed to talk to
her just one more time.
I thought if I could make
her understand how I felt,
she wouldn't go
through with the divorce.
And did she agree to see you?
Yes.
Tell the jury what happened.
She came over to our apartment.
Excuse me.
What time was that?
ERIC: A little after 8.
JULIE: Go on.
ERIC: Uh, she came in.
I asked to take her coat.
She said she wasn't staying.
She said, uh...
She said everything she
had to tell me in five minutes.
I tried to ask her
to change her mind,
to give me a second chance.
She just laughed at me.
She said, "I've
got a new life now.
I don't want anything
to do with the old one."
And then she left.
JULIE: Mr. Dawson,
how long was your
wife in your apartment?
Like I said, maybe ten minutes.
By 8:30, she was gone.
Did she say anything to you
about the deceased,
Mr. St. John?
Please answer the question.
I don't want to hurt her.
Mr. Dawson, answer the question.
ERIC: She said she was about to
get her hands on some real money
and that she never
wants to see me again.
No further questions.
Say Kathy told you
she was gonna get her hands
on a lot of money, did she?
Yeah.
You're a pretty fortunate
young man yourself, aren't you?
I don't understand.
A couple of weeks ago,
you worked in a
garage, didn't you?
Yeah. As a mechanic?
Yes.
You don't do that
anymore, do you?
No.
Now you own the
garage, don't you?
Don't look at the
assistant district attorney.
She can't help you
on this one. Don't you?
Yes.
How'd you pay for it?
Cash.
Tell the court how much cash.
A hundred and eighty-five
thousand dollars.
Tell the court where
you got $185,000.
Look, I love my wife and
I... I guess she's still my wife.
MATLOCK: Just
answer the question.
Kathy gave me the money.
Kathy gave you $185,000?
No.
She gave me a necklace,
a diamond necklace.
She said it was mine
as long as I didn't make
any problem with the divorce.
She said she didn't
care about giving it to me
'cause there was plenty
more where that came from.
Eric's lying.
I never gave him anything.
I never took anything
out of the safe but the ring.
So somebody else had
the combination to the safe.
Lacey, or Barbara,
or the housekeeper.
And whoever took that
necklace and gave it to Eric
killed Mr. St. John.
( tense theme playing)
That can wait, Clarissa.
I want you to help Marcus
with the silver, please.
Uh, I just wanted you to know
we'll be upstairs
about another half hour.
Wouldn't it be simpler
if you just moved in?
TYLER (on intercom):
Ben, where are you?
Oh.
Right here, Tyler, helping
out in the laundry room.
Whenever you feel
like doing a little work,
Charlene and I are waiting.
Ben?
I'll be right with you.
All set, Tyler?
I'm ready.
Ready, Charlene?
All set.
All right. Now, give me a
few seconds to get there,
then let her rip.
Now, just once, I'd like to
see him play the decedent.
TYLER: Oh, help me!
Help, I'm dying! Somebody!
Does anybody here me?
Tyler, that's enough.
Tyler! TYLER: Quick.
I need some help.
Twenty-three seconds.
What about you?
Well, what do you think?
It was chilling. Chilling.
I never heard death
screams like that.
No, I mean, what
did you find out?
A lot.
Like what?
I absolutely know she did it.
( playful theme playing)
Miss St. John, I'd like to start
with a few questions
about your background,
and I'd like to assure the court
that these are most relevant.
Your father died when
you were quite young,
isn't that true? That's right.
And your mother raised
both you and your brother.
Yes. She worked as a caterer.
That's a fancy
word for it, isn't it?
Actually, she was a maid.
And let me hasten to add
there's nothing wrong
with honest work.
A woman alone with
two small children.
She worked very hard.
But still you were ashamed
of her, weren't you?
No, never.
But years later,
when your brother
started making big money,
your life changed, didn't it?
Peter was the
perfect big brother.
Yes, he was extremely generous.
And so was his wife,
the former Evelyn Rutledge.
Thanks to her, you
and your brother
became part of
Atlanta's society.
Not just part of society, but as
they say, the crème de la crème.
Objection. I don't
understand what this has to do
with her brother's murder.
I believe I can show relevancy
in a moment, Your Honor.
Overruled.
Continue.
Now, your brother's
wife died four years ago.
She was not only his
wife, but his hostess.
When she died, you
became the hostess.
That's a strong
position for a wife.
Maybe even
stronger for a sister.
What would have
happened to your position
if he had married Kathy Dawson,
practically a servant
in your house?
That wouldn't have concerned me.
He wouldn't have asked
you to stop being the hostess?
No more parties, pictures
in the society page?
He wouldn't have
asked you to move out?
Objection. Calls
for speculation.
Everything that meant something
to you just slipping away?
Objection.
Sustained.
You had a bad fall off a horse
a couple of months
ago, didn't you? Yes.
And you had to wear a
back brace for a while.
I confess I saw it in
your laundry room.
Only when I overdo
or when I get tired.
How'd your doctor
treat the pain?
Pain pills.
Any injections?
Sometimes.
Did you ever hear of Monocane?
I really don't know.
An empty bottle of Monocane
was found in Kathy's room.
Now, the painkiller Monocane
was not prescribed
for your brother,
but he received a fatal
overdose by injection.
What was Kathy doing with a
bottle of Monocane in her room?
Then I got to thinking
about the back brace and...
You stole that bottle of
Monocane from your doctor,
didn't you? No.
Then used it to
kill your brother.
No, I did not.
Objection, Your Honor.
This entire line of questioning
is totally speculative.
Sustained.
Well, let's go on to
something quite factual.
Would you say this is an
accurate representation
of the second floor of
your brother's house?
Yes.
And this is your
brother's room here? Yes.
Down the hall, around the
corner in a separate wing
is your room. Correct.
It's quite private,
isn't it? Yes.
In fact, when I had my
associate Tyler Hudson,
lie down in your brother's bed
and holler he was
being murdered,
I couldn't hear
him in your room.
My brother did not
have to holler for me.
He had an intercom
installed in his bedroom
after his accident,
and he could contact anyone
in the household with it.
Now, let me get this straight.
You didn't actually hear
you brother yell for help
the night he was being killed?
No. He called for
me on the intercom.
Oh, the same way he calls
the housekeeper and the butler?
Yes.
MATLOCK: So then you ran
from your room in
the separate wing,
around the corner,
met the housekeeper,
and the two of you ran on
down to your brother's room?
Yes.
You know, when, uh,
my associate called for help,
calling into the intercom,
you know what I heard on
the intercom in your room?
Nothing.
I'm not kidding. I heard
absolutely nothing.
I don't believe you.
So I checked the intercom
in your brother's room.
You know what I found?
He had disconnected
the button to your room.
Did you know he'd done that?
That's not true.
He told you he was gonna
marry Kathy, didn't he?
No. And you were furious.
You were no longer going
to be first in your brother's life.
He never loved her. He, um...
He couldn't have. Hm.
He was an invalid,
unable to get out of bed.
That's the only way he had
to break it off with you,
was to disconnect that
wire. And that's what he did.
He cut the wire between
you and you never knew.
(sobbing): No, he loved me.
It wasn't just the money.
You were losing that,
but you were losing position
and you were losing him.
You were going to
be alone, and it hurt.
It hurt so much
that you'd rather see him dead
than to be left alone.
( somber theme playing)
There you go.
Thank you.
They say waiting for a
baby to come is suspenseful.
Waiting for a jury to come
in is suspenseful, isn't it?
Well, no matter
how this turns out,
I think you put on
an excellent case.
And you put on an
excellent defense.
There you go.
(both chuckle)
If the jury finds for
Kathy, I hope that...
And I'm not talking
about the money. But I...
I hope that she
can live a full life.
Well, she's a nice girl.
Mm.
You know, when I was in college,
there was this boy.
I don't know why I
got thinking about him,
but I guess it's
this case and love.
Hm.
But his name was Garrett Steele.
Mm. And he was tall
and he had dark brown
hair and blue eyes.
Gray-blue.
The color of the
ocean on a cloudy day.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, yeah.
Good-looking, huh?
Oh, well, I thought he was.
I-I liked him so much
I was almost
afraid to look at him.
Ah. Heh-heh.
Years later...
He's a doctor now.
I found out that
he liked me too,
and I never knew that.
Oh, oh, oh, missed...
Mm-hm. Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Of course, that happened to me.
I guess it's happened
to everybody.
There was this one
girl, Betty Ann Snow.
She had hazel eyes.
TYLER: The jury's in, Ben.
We, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
(crowd murmuring)
Having been found not guilty,
the defendant is
ordered released.
Court is adjourned.
( mellow theme playing)
Thank you.
You were wonderful.
Not too bad, I guess.
Congratulations.
Uh, hold the elevator.
Thanks.
(clears throat)
Want to have that dinner?
I'll buy.
(chuckles)
( upbeat jazz theme playing)