Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 13 - The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink - full transcript

( suspenseful theme plays)

( noirish jazz theme playing)

( upbeat theme playing)

(indistinct conversations)

Ms. Street, Mr. Mason.

Hello, Morey.

How's it going, Morey? Fine.

I have your table all ready.

Dixie.

Excuse me.

(indistinct chatter)



I'm really starved, Morey.

So am I. Morey,
we'll have two...

I know, I know, two big steaks,

lyonnaise potatoes,
two salads, coffee.

The man's a mind reader.

I took the order for you, Dixie.

Oh, thanks, Morey.

( dramatic theme playing)

No!

(tires screech)

(screams)

Sorry about the
delay, Mr. Mason.

We had a little
trouble with your order.

Why? What happened?



The waitress never
gave it to the chef.

Why not?

I don't know. I can't find her.

Just walked out,
and today's payday.

I tell you, the help
situation today is murder.

If I had to do all over again,
I'd open up a hot dog stand.

(chuckles) Excuse me.

Mr. Allen, can I speak
to you for a minute?

Why, sure. Excuse me.

(indistinct)

Are you sure?

Absolutely, Mr. Allen.

Thanks.

Excuse me. Could I talk
to you folks a moment?

Of course, Morey.

If you're going to
give me that mink coat

because we had to
wait so long, I'll take it.

I... I... Look, I just had
some word about Dixie,

the waitress that disappeared.

She's been in an
accident. She was run over.

Run over?

Somebody saw her
running out of the alley.

Was she hurt badly?

I don't know. They've
taken her to the hospital.

There's something
else, Mr. Mason.

My parking attendant said
he thought he heard two shots

just before the accident.

Well, he'd know the difference

between gunshots and backfiring.

Mr. Mason, this... This
coat belongs to Dixie Dayton,

the waitress.

That coat?

Oh, it's not as
good as it looks.

There are a few moth holes.

But it's mink.

MASON: A waitress
with a mink coat.

How long have you
known this girl, Morey?

Only about ten days.
Just walked in for a job.

I could tell she had hard luck.

Maybe the coat's stolen.

No, I know it's not.
She's a good kid.

On... Down on her luck,
that's all. I tried to help her.

Now the cops are outside,

and they'll ask a
lot of questions.

Well, answer them.

But they'll ask
me about this coat.

You know, there
are cheap restaurants

where waitresses
mingle with the guests.

I turn this coat
over to the cops,

they'll give it
to the reporters,

and the reporters will
print it, and I'll be dead.

You got company.

I knew it.

When you need a cop,
you can never find one.

You know how long I worked
to build up this restaurant?

Morey, leave the coat here.

We'll talk about it
when you come back.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

(indistinct)

Go ahead.

That mink's a dream,
moth holes and all.

Looks like they've eaten
right through the label.

It's loose.

No, it isn't. It's
made that way.

DELLA: What's that?

Pawn ticket.

"Portland, Oregon."

"6-3-8-4-J."

Well, she got $18 for
whatever it was she pawned.

Why would anyone
hide a pawn ticket

in a place like that?

I've got a better
question, Della.

Why is Morey Allen so
concerned over a waitress

he says he's only
known for ten days?

A romance?

No.

If it were a romance,

she'd be eating the
food, not serving it.

Funny how everyone
gets so curious

when the police arrive.

Almost everyone.

He must have a date.

Oh, all those questions.
Those guys make you nervous.

Was the girl badly hurt?

They think she'll be in the
hospital a couple of days.

Here. She'll be
wanting her coat.

Uh, no, no. I wish
you'd keep that awhile.

Why?

Mr. Mason, would... Would
you represent me in this thing?

Represent you?

Why, Morey? What have you done?

Look, Mr. Mason,
maybe it'll be nothing.

Okay, then you do
nothing and send me a bill.

I just want to be
prepared, just in case.

In case of what?

I don't know. It'd
just let me feel

I've got somebody
like you to call on.

I'll give you a check.

Morey.

MOREY: Yeah?

What else do you know
about Dixie Dayton?

That is her name, isn't it?

Mr. Mason, you and
Ms. Street were here.

The girl rushed out.

Maybe something
scared her. I don't know.

Why would I hold out on you?

A man came in
here alone tonight.

You seated him right over there.

Do you remember?

The empty table there?

Yes.

Fat face, short,
stocky-type fella?

I remember him, but I
never saw him before. Why?

You may be in for more
than just some bad publicity.

I don't follow you, Mr. Mason.

One of your waitresses
runs away from a paycheck,

somebody shoots at her,

and she just happens
to own a mink coat.

Morey, I'd like to know
who that man was.

Excuse me.

Lieutenant Tragg, please.

(rings)

Homicide. Tragg.

Perry Mason, lieutenant.
Would you do me a favor?

I doubt it, but go ahead.

I'm in Morey Allen's place.

One of the girls who works here
was run over a little while ago.

Yeah, just got it off the wire.
She was sent to the hospital.

I think she should be
put in a private room

and nobody allowed to see her.

Why? Is she a client of yours?

MASON: No.

Well, then what's the pitch?

Before the accident,
there were some shots.

She could be in danger.
Might get herself killed.

In the hospital?

Look, it's just a hunch.
Just a feeling I have.

It won't hurt to
follow through on it.

Okay, I'll take care of it,
but it sounds fishy to me.

Anytime you go this far,
there's usually a reason.

Thanks, lieutenant.

And tell the hospital
to send me the bill.

(chuckles)

You know I will.

Paul Drake Detective Agency.

Yes, Mr. Mason,
Mr. Drake is still here.

I'll connect you.

OPERATOR (over intercom):
Mr. Mason is on the line.

Perry? You still in the office?

No, I'm at Morey's.

Looks like he's in
some kind of jam.

Do you have a man
in Portland, Oregon?

Yeah, Herb Mulligan.
He's a good investigator.

Trained him myself. What's up?

I want you to check
on a pawn ticket for me,

up in Portland.

The number of the
pledge is 6-3-8-4-J.

It's for $18.

"Globe Pawn Shop, 813
Circle Avenue, Portland."

Got it.

What was pawned, and by whom?

I'll put Herb on it first
thing in the morning.

Fine, Paul. Thanks.

( ominous theme playing)

Jenna.

Morning, Gertie.

Morning, Mr, Mason.

Morning, Jerry.

Morning, Della. Morning, chief.

Oh, Jackson left the
Williams memorandum

for your approval.

Fine, I'll get right on it.

Any mail?

Mm-hm. Morey Allen
sent a $1,000 retainer.

He also said he found
out the name of the man

you were so curious
about last night.

His name was Fayette.
George Fayette.

Then he did know
the name last night.

What makes you think so?

Anytime a client sends in a
$1,000 retainer voluntarily,

he knows he's in trouble.

(rhythmic knock on door)

That's Paul.

Uh, call Morey Allen. I
want to see him right away.

Right.

Hello, beautiful.

Morning, Paul.

Any news?

I just heard from Herb
Mulligan in Portland.

Seems we weren't the only ones

running down pawn
tickets this morning.

By the time Herb got
to the Globe Pawn Shop,

the cops had already been
there with a ticket of their own.

A second pawn ticket?

They found it in
Dixie Dayton's purse.

Uh, that's the waitress.

You mean, for another item?

Mm-hm. Only the
pawnbroker told the cops

that the same party
had pawned two items.

What were they?

The ticket the cops had was
for a diamond engagement ring.

The number you gave
me covered something

a little more
interesting: a gun.

Smith & Wesson
.38, a police special.

Cop's gun?

It's a little heavy
for a handbag.

What else?

Nothing.

Cops took the ring and the gun,

told the pawnbroker to clam
up about the whole thing.

Two pawn tickets.

One she hides in the
label of a mink coat.

The other ticket
stays in her purse,

where anybody might find it.

It's inconsistent.

She's a woman.

No, that's no excuse.

That second pawn ticket

caused some activity
down here this morning.

What kind of activity?

Morey Allen's place

looked like a policemen's
convention this morning.

You were there? Uh-huh.

Oh, the cops know that
Morey gave you a mink coat

and that Della wore it
out of the place last night.

Morey didn't tell them.

No, one of the
waitresses spilled it.

They were questioning
her when I got there.

Who is this girl?

Her name's Mae Nolan.

I thought you might
want to talk to her,

so I brought her back with
me. She's waiting in my office.

Good.

Della? Yes?

There's a girl by the
name of Mae Nolan

waiting in Paul's office.

"Girl," he says.

Will you bring her in, please?

Yes, sir.

Paul, have you ever
heard the name Fayette?

George Fayette?

No.

If I'm not too far wrong,

you can run across
him in police records.

Have you ever seen him?

He's about 5', 5 and a half,

sort of bald, regular features,

but kind of hard-looking.

I want everything you can
find on him, the whole package.

(clears throat)

This is Mr. Mason. Ms. Nolan.

MASON: How do you do?

Oh, you're no stranger
to me, Mr. Mason.

I've seen you many
times in Morey's place,

but I never waited on you.

I'm sure that's my loss.

Oh, well, you're
a smooth article.

Sit down, please.

Thanks.

Very nice place you have.

Mae, will you tell
Mr. Mason what you told me

on the way up here in the car?

I don't know.

Maybe I shouldn't
be here at all.

I'm not really a blabbermouth.

Some people go around

saying everything that
comes into their head.

Know what I mean?

Of course.

We're anxious to find
out as much as we can

about Dixie Dayton.

Well, I really don't have
any information, and...

Come on, now, Mae.

Wait, Paul.

If Ms. Nolan doesn't
want to tell us anything,

why, that's her business.

We already know quite
a bit about Dixie Dayton.

We know that she's a
very experienced waitress,

that she's probably worked
in some of the best restaurants

in this town.

You're kidding, aren't you?

This girl knows from nothing.

If she's had no experience,

why would Morey give her a job?

Boy, what a detective you are.

Well, as far as I know,

Morey Allen is
strictly business.

If those two never met
before she came to work,

I don't know human
nature, which I do.

Then they were friends?

Of long standing.

I'd like to have a friend
who gives me a mink coat.

You mean, Morey
gave Dixie a mink coat?

Yeah, the one you took out
of the restaurant last night.

I was there the day
he gave it to her.

He brought it in a shopping bag,

and when she saw the
coat, she started to cry.

Happy, huh?

No. He'd been keeping
it for her in that bag

and never even
thought to use mothballs.

Mae, is there anything
else you can tell us?

Look, it's none of my business.

I understand.

Well, thank you, Ms. Nolan.

You've been very, very helpful.

Oh,

not at all, Mr. Mason.

Oh, I'd appreciate it

if you wouldn't mention
I was here to Mr. Allen.

Oh, don't worry. We won't.

I wouldn't want him to
think I'm a blabbermouth,

which I'm not.

Bye.

Goodbye.

Oh, and, uh, by the way,

the next time you
eat at Morey's place,

I hope you'll ask for my table.

(giggles)

I think she's got you
spotted for a big tipper, Perry.

I'd rather know what Morey
Allen has me spotted for.

You mean he didn't tell you
about any of this last night?

Nope.

Well, I'll go check on Fayette.

All right. Go on.

(door opens)

Della?

Yes?

Della, tell Jackson that
memorandum will have to wait.

Yes, sir.

I'm going over to the
hospital to see Dixie Dayton.

( dramatic theme playing)

Well, hello, Perry.

Well, Lieutenant
Tragg. How are you?

Fair.

What brings you here?

A conference with your client?

Oh, Ms. Dayton isn't my
client. I told you that last night.

Oh, yes, I forgot.

Then this is just a
little, uh, friendly visit.

More or less.

You know, considering that
lawyers are supposed to be paid

for their time,

you're, um, giving this girl
here an awful lot of it free.

Well, I'm interested in her.

Oh, that's all?

Come on, where do
you fit in this thing?

Ms. Dayton works
for Morey Allen.

He's a friend of mine.

You represent him?

Yes.

What kind of trouble is he
in, that he needs a lawyer?

You know I never
discuss my client's affairs.

Yeah.

Last night I did you a favor.

Today I ask you a question,
you get cozy with me.

You must ask me a
favor again sometime.

I've told everything
I can tell you.

Everything, huh? Yes.

Even about the mink coat?

Which mink coat is that...?

Don't horse around
with me, Mr. Mason.

Now, listen...

I've been listening, and
I haven't heard anything.

I'll be around at your
office this afternoon

to pick up the coat.

And if I don't get
it, so help me,

I'll pin a rap on you for
withholding evidence.

Lieutenant, if you'll excuse
me, I have to see Ms. Dayton.

Well, that will be about
the neatest trick of the week.

What do you mean?

Ms. Dayton disappeared
sometime last night,

bandages and all.

(buzzes)

Yes?

Oh, hello, chief. Where are you?

I see.

Yes, Paul Drake called.
He's got some information.

Says it's important.

I'll go directly to
his office from here.

If Tragg drops in on
you, you call me there.

What about Morey?

I couldn't reach him. He
seems to have disappeared.

Call the cashier
at his restaurant.

Leave Paul Drake's night number

so Morey can
reach us at any time.

Do you think he's deliberately
trying to avoid seeing anyone?

On the contrary, Della.

Wherever he is, I
think he's got company.

DRAKE: That's all there is

on Mr. Fayette.

Arrested three years
ago for bookmaking,

released on $100 bail.
The case never came up.

Good connections, huh?

Solid.

Paul,

I have a feeling that...

That Morey's in this
thing up to his ears.

Worse than that, he
may be in over his head.

The fact is, you might want
to give him back his retainer.

Why?

Perry, do you remember
the Claremont case?

It was in the newspapers
about a year ago?

Claremont... was a cop.

That's right. A young detective.

Here's a picture of him.

We got it from the
newspaper files.

DRAKE: He was taken for a ride,

real mob-style.

Shot with his own gun and
thrown out on the highway.

MASON: I recall.

Before he was killed,

Claremont was seen
talking with a bookie

named Tom Sedgewick.

After the killing, this
Sedgewick disappeared.

He's wanted right now.

Here's a picture of him.

They never found
Claremont's killer, did they?

They never even found the gun...

that is, not until today.

Dixie Dayton's pawn ticket
was a pledge for that gun.

I should have known Tragg
wasn't just visiting that hospital.

So it's homicide.

A special kind of
homicide: a cop killing.

They won't stop
till they crack it.

They'll take this town
apart, brick by brick.

And if Dixie Dayton
pawned that gun,

she knows who killed Claremont.

Exactly.

It just doesn't
make sense, Paul.

Whoever killed Claremont
knows that gun is hot.

A lawyer doesn't live
who can get an acquittal

for anyone in
possession of that gun.

That's just the point.

They way this thing
stacks up, nobody can win.

Perry, take my advice.
Give Morey back his retainer.

Don't get yourself
involved in this.

That would be easy, Paul.

What if he had nothing to
do with Claremont's killing?

(phone rings)

Yes? Yes, he's here.

It's for you, Perry. It's Della.

Hello, Della.

Have you had any
word from Morey?

No, sir, but Lieutenant
Tragg is here.

He's been waiting for you.
Something about a mink coat.

Do you have the receipt
from the fur storage company

where you left the coat?

Yes.

Give it to Lieutenant Tragg.

( dramatic theme playing)

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Mr. Drake instructed me
to ring you if a call came in.

I have a Morey
Allen on the line.

I'll take the call.

Yes, sir. Just a moment, please.

Go ahead, Mr. Mason.

Hello?

Mr. Mason.

Morey, what kind
of a runaround...?

I gotta see you, Mr. Mason.

MASON: I've been
trying to reach you

all day.

Now, tomorrow
morning I want you...

Morning could be too
late. I must see you tonight.

What do you mean, too late?

MOREY: I can't
talk on the phone.

Please, Mr. Mason, I
need help right now.

If you're in danger,
call the police.

I can't.

MASON: Wh-where's Dixie?

She's with me.

Where are you?

Keymont Hotel, room 721.

Just a minute.

Keymont Hotel, room 7-2-1.

I'll be right over,

and don't let Dixie
out of your sight.

Don't worry, I've
got very little choice.

(ringing)

Hello.

Paul, this is Perry.

I know.

Who else would
call me at this hour?

I just heard from Morey Allen.
He's at the Keymont Hotel.

Dixie Dayton's with him.

Sounds like trouble,
Paul. I may need help.

It's room 7-2-1.

Okay, I'll be there
as fast as I can.

(sighs)

( dramatic theme plays)

May I help you?

Any mail or messages?

What room, sir?

The box is empty.

Uh, would you like your key?

I have it, thank you.

(door rattles)

Well, this is a
cozy, little trap.

Just like home, if you
happen to live in a dungeon.

I thought Morey Allen
was gonna meet you here.

And what about the girl?

Come over here.

Somebody was kind enough
to leave a message for us.

Well, how did you
come to find that?

This was on the floor.

Yes?

A woman's lips are smooth.

This lipstick has been
rubbed over a rough surface.

This lipstick led
you to the table?

Well, whoever wrote
that had to do it in a hurry

and upside down.

Did you ever try
sitting at a table

and writing upside down?

What's that prove?

Here, sit down.

Put this paper against
the bottom of the table.

Now write the word "help" on it.

I must've done this wrong.

No, no, wait a minute.

Bring it over here
in front of the mirror.

What the kids call
"looking glass writing."

Then that message is a fake.

More commonly known as a trap.

Now, move over, brother.
I'm in that trap with you.

What kind of trap?

"Two-six-two, V3, L15."

What's the V?

Victory. Value.

Vulnerable. Volume.

Volume. Book.

Bible.

No.

Volume three.

How 'bout these?

Volume one, two, three.

Phone directory.

Try page 262.

MASON: Two-six-two, V3.

All right.

Two-six-two, V3.

Two-sixty-two,
got it. What's next?

"L15."

L could be "line."

Yep.

"Granton, Herbert Sidney.
1024 Kalinda Avenue."

Herbert Sidney Granton.
Anyone we know?

No, I don't think so.

Wait a minute.

That name.

Sure, listen:

"George Fayette,
care of H.S. Granton,

1024 Kalinda Avenue."

We got it from police records.

It's the address Fayette gave

when he was picked
up for bookmaking.

I'll make book that
Herbert Sidney Granton

and George Fayette
are one in the same.

Maybe they want us to think
that they have Morey and Dixie

at that address.

I have an idea, Paul.

There's a payphone
out in the hall.

Call this hotel.
Ask for Mr. Fayette.

All right. What's the number?

Four.

Keymont Hotel?

This is
Cross-Continental Airlines,

reservation desk.

Do you have a Mr. George
Fayette registered in room...?

Hey, Joe, did you write
down that room number?

I can't read it.

Is there any message?

I have to report a
flight cancellation.

Oh, I'll ring him.

Uh, Mr. Fayette doesn't
answer. Any message?

No, I'll... I'll
have to call back.

You've been very helpful.

Glad to be of service.

Incidentally, that's room 815.

Thank you, sir.

Room 815.

Nice going, Paul.

Well, Fayette's not in his room.

Either that or he's a
real heavy sleeper.

We'll take the
chance he's not in.

Let's go up to 815
and have a look around.

Fayette?

Yes.

Well, he's shot. Just
once, as far as I can see.

That's all it takes.

Perry, let's call the cops.

This is what Tragg is paid for.

Now, wait, Paul.

If Tragg knows we've been
here, he'll have to know why.

I can't tell him that.

But I have to. I'm not a lawyer.

I don't have your
professional immunity.

It's your duty to
answer questions.

You don't have to run
around giving out information.

If you wanna make a fool of
yourself representing this guy...

(heavy footsteps) Shh.

Funny thing. You don't
see a fella for several weeks,

and then all of a sudden,
you run into him twice

in one day.

This is Sergeant
Jaffrey of vice squad.

MASON: Vice squad?

One of his officers
was killed a while back.

This thing may
be tied in with it.

Claremont case?

What do you know
about Claremont?

MASON: Only what I've been told.

Who told you?

That's confidential.

TRAGG: Cut the stalling, Mason.

What are you doing in this room?

I don't think that's important.

We decide what's important.

Where do you stand in this?

Don't look at him.
Answer my question.

Perry, you've always played
it right down the middle,

and I'm not ready to
believe that you'd cover up

for a cop killer.

TRAGG: I'm gonna
tell you where we stand,

and I expect you
to lay it on the line.

Everything.

I'd like to know what
they're doing in here

with a man that's been shot.

Here's the way it stacks up.

The man who lives next
door in 813 heard an argument

and what he thought was a shot.

He phoned the police.

A patrol car answered the call.

They found him and
then notified Homicide.

When I got here, the clerk
was spilling the news to Jaffrey

that you were in room 721.

So you left everything
alone, nice and quiet,

to see if we'd find
our way up here.

That's the picture, Mason.

It's simple, lieutenant.

I had reason to believe
that Fayette was in this room.

We came in here to talk to
him. Found him... just as he is.

He's not gonna level
with us, lieutenant.

Where's Morey Allen?

I don't know.

Listen, Tragg, I'll answer
any questions I can,

but do we have to do it here?

Why? You playing
for time, counselor?

A man's dead.

The least we can do is
show him a little respect.

Okay, Jaffrey, phone
down to the clerk.

See if he has a room we can use.

What's the matter with 721?

( dramatic theme playing)

I've told you, a
client phoned me

and asked me to come here.

Who is the client?

I can't tell you that.

Mason tell you the name of
the client who phoned him?

I want an answer. Yes or no?

Yes.

Who was it?

A year ago, a cop was killed.
A cop, do you understand?

He was knocked off

because he got too close
to a bunch of cheap crooks

who thought they had
this town sewed up.

Now, somebody in this case
knows who gave it to Claremont,

and I mean to
find out who it is.

You get in my way,
and I'll lean on you.

Now, who was it
that called Mason?

I'm afraid I can't
tell you that.

Why, you... Hold it, Jaffrey.

You won't get anywhere that way.

Yes, he will.

He'll get to face a charge
of intimidating a witness.

Don't scare me, Mr. Mason.

You have a license to
operate as a private detective.

You know as well as I do
that we can take it away...

if you withhold
evidence. I know.

Personally, I don't
care if you go on

earning a living as
a private cop or not.

You're gonna make
that decision. Right now.

All right, Tragg.

You've got all the cards.

I had a call from Morey Allen.

He was with Dixie Dayton.

Here? Yes.

How'd you get up to room 815?

We found a message.

Where?

Under the tabletop.

It was written there
with this lipstick.

You'll find the
answer to this jumble

in the phone directory.
"Herbert Sidney Granton."

Alias, George Fayette.

He was registered here
under the name of Fayette.

Where'd you come off
to move this evidence?

As a lawyer, you're
supposed to know better.

Were we supposed
to know in advance

that a crime had been committed?

JAFFREY: Who says you didn't?

Morey Allen called you,

told you he'd killed
George Fayette,

then asked you to come over
here and help him cover up.

That's exactly how
someone wanted it to look.

Perry, where is Morey
Allen and Dixie Dayton?

I don't know.

You're a liar, Mason.

I've had about enough
out of you, sergeant.

Mason, this is more
than a homicide.

It goes back to a cop killing.

I don't have to tell
you what that is.

You're no little old man

whose candy store's
just been held up,

and you're afraid to talk.

We've made a connection between
Dixie Dayton and Tom Sedgewick.

He looks like the man
who killed Claremont.

What makes you so sure
you've got the right people?

Well, if we haven't,
we'll find out.

Right now they're
suspects, and I want them.

I want them by noon today.

What happens if I
can't produce them?

I think you can.

As a lawyer, you're also
an officer of the court.

You have a
responsibility, Mason.

And if you duck it
or obstruct the police,

you're going to have to
face the consequences.

Meaning what?

If you fail to surrender Dixie
Dayton and Morey Allen,

I'm going to ask
the district attorney

to start disbarment
proceedings against you.

Let's go, Jaffrey.

( dramatic theme playing)

Della. Oh, hi, Paul.

Where's Perry?

As far as I know,
he's at home asleep.

He called in and said you two...

Will you get him on the phone?

What's the matter?

The cops just picked up
Morey Allen and Dixie Dayton.

( tense theme playing)

So I'm asking you to
represent Dixie Dayton, too,

Mr. Mason.

All right, let's start
with Dixie Dayton.

Now, what is she to you?

Well, Dixie's sort of a...

Well, she's engaged
to my half-brother,

Tom Sedgewick.

Where is he?

Hiding out. Dixie
knows, but she won't tell.

Believe me, we both tried
to get him to quit the racket,

but he was paying off.
He thought he was safe.

Where'd he get the payoff money?

George Fayette, he
was the go-between

for somebody higher.

About a year
ago, a rookie cop...

Claremont?

Yeah, he wanted to use
Tom to get to the top man.

Then Claremont was
killed, and Tom left town.

He and Dixie went
up to Portland.

Do you think he
killed Claremont?

No, of course not.

Then how do you explain that
the gun that killed Claremont

was taken to Portland
by Dixie and Sedgewick?

What?

Take it easy, Morey.

Sit down.

Then Tom really did kill him.

I'm in a real mess.

Why did Dixie and your brother

come back to town?

On account of Tom has
TB. He has to live down here.

But Fayette told him
if he ever came back,

it's curtains.

Then the night that I
went to your restaurant,

Fayette came in.

Is that why Dixie ran out?

Yeah, she thought
they'd torture her

to find out where Tom was.

Why did she leave the hospital?

Some woman phoned her,

said she knew who
killed Claremont,

asked Dixie to check
in to the Keymont Hotel

and come to room 815.

Dixie ran out of the
hospital and called me,

asked me to go with her.

And you agreed to that?

Well, it was a long shot,

but it just might
have been true.

I felt sorry for
Dixie, Mr. Mason.

How long could the
poor kid keep running?

So I got hold of
a gun just in case.

And you checked in to room 721?

Yeah. Pretty soon I discovered

we were being cased
from the outside.

I got panicky and called you.

How did you get out?

Just as I hung up, two
hard characters came in.

One of them pulled a gun.

The other one took my
gun away and left the room.

Did the police tell you

that it was your gun
that killed Fayette?

Did you or Dixie leave any
message for me in room 721?

No, I just called
you, that's all.

Morey...

did you kill George Fayette?

No, I swear it.

You've gotta believe
me, Mr. Mason.

Who is ever gonna
believe Morey Allen?

What if he's telling the truth?

What if he is?

The important thing is it
doesn't sound like the truth.

It sounds more like a
story cooked up by a lawyer.

An idiot lawyer at that.

You could take chance.

Put 'em both on the
stand and let 'em spill it.

And send them to
the death house?

This is first-degree
murder, Paul.

Well, if you can't
put them on the stand

and you can't let them
not testify, what do you do?

Start digging for information.

Paul, I wanna know how
that night clerk found out...

How he knew we were in room 721.

I want to know everything
about Frank Hoxie.

Okay.

I'll need any kind
of information

I can use for a
line of questioning.

If we can't catch the breaks,
we'll have to make our own.

Right, Perry.

What do you want
me to do, Perry?

You, Della?

Why,

you just stick around,
help me worry.

( dramatic theme playing)

People against Morey Allen
and Dixie Dayton, defendants.

Your Honor, I would like to
make a few preliminary remarks.

Your Honor, I'm
proceeding jointly

against Morey Allen
and Dixie Dayton

on a charge of murder
in the first degree.

The murder of George Fayette.

I expect to show that the
motivation for this crime

stems from an attempt

to cover up another crime,

the murder of a police officer.

Mr. District Attorney,
you must be aware

that the defendants
are called upon to face

only one accusation.

Your Honor, I believe when
you've heard the evidence,

you'll realize
that we're justified

in introducing proof
of another crime.

Very well, Mr. Burger.
Put on your first witness.

State your name,
address and occupation.

Frank Hoxie, Keymont
Hotel, night clerk.

Mr. Hoxie, are you
acquainted with the defendants?

Yes, sir, I am.

When and where
did you meet them?

At the Keymont Hotel, on
the second of this month.

I'd just taken over the desk.

I'd say about 9:30 p.m.,

they came in and
asked for a room.

Morey Allen told
me he and his wife

had come into
town just for the day

and had decided to stay over.

He registered for them
as Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Martin.

You assigned them a room?

Yes, sir.

Room 721.

They had no luggage, so I
asked for the room rent in advance.

(crowd laughing)

Was there any other conversation
between you and the defendants?

He asked me if anyone

had checked in to
815 that evening.

And what did you tell him?

I said yes.

Can you tell us who it was
that checked into room 815?

Yes, sir.

Mr. George Fayette.

The man whose body was
subsequently discovered there?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Hoxie, before the second
day of this present month,

had you ever seen
either of the defendants?

No, sir.

I think that's all for now.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Hoxie, how long
have you been employed

as night clerk at
the Keymont Hotel?

Three years.

Does that mean that you
worked at the hotel desk regularly

every night for three years?

Yes. Uh, except for the time

I was sent to Mexico
City on business.

What business?

I had to collect some money
that was owed to the hotel.

How long were you gone?

HOXIE: About a month.

MASON: When did you
leave? Do you remember?

About a year ago.

I left on a night plane
on the 17th of September.

How do you place
the date so accurately?

HOXIE: If you worked
at the Keymont Hotel,

you wouldn't have
trouble remembering

when you got a free
trip to Mexico City.

(laughter)

Then you left on
the night of the 17th?

Yes, the manager
called me in his office

and explained what I
was supposed to do.

He gave me money, told
me to get to the airport

and catch the 1:30 plane
the morning of the 18th.

Frank, have you
ever tried to get a job

with any other hotel?

I object, Your Honor. Does
the witness have to give

all the details
of his past life?

Can't Mr. Mason confine
himself to relevant questions?

I'm not going to limit
counsel's cross-examination.

Objection overruled.

Strike that last
question, please.

Mr. Hoxie...

have you ever been
convicted of a felony?

BURGER: Your Honor, the
defense attorney is needlessly trying

to smear the reputation
of this witness.

It serves no purpose.

The question is permissible.

Counsel has the right to
try to impeach this witness

if he can.

I will overrule the objection.

I repeat,

have you ever been
convicted of a felony?

Yes. I did five years.

Armed robbery. San Quentin.

But that was ten years ago.
I've been straight since then.

No arrests or convictions?

I was picked up
once on suspicion,

but only on account
of my record.

And after that?

I finally got a break.

A law officer
sympathized with me.

He told me he had a friend
who managed the Keymont Hotel,

who'd get me a job,

and they wouldn't
worry about my...

My background.

This law officer who helped
you, he's kept in touch with you?

Yes, sir.

He checks up on
you periodically?

Yes.

Now, Frank,

you've testified that you're...

You have a very clear memory

on the circumstances
of your trip to Mexico.

Yes, sir, I have a
very good memory.

Would you say that you had...

a good memory for faces?

Very good.

I show you this photograph.

Now I ask you...

have you ever seen
this man before?

Yes.

Will you tell this court
where you saw this man

and under what circumstances?

The night I left for Mexico.

He went up to see
a guest at the hotel.

Who was this guest
he went to see?

He was a regular tenant.
What was his name?

George Fayette,

the man who was murdered.

If it please the court,
I place in evidence

a photograph of officer
Robert Claremont,

who was murdered
in this city a year ago.

Your Honor, Frank
Hoxie's testimony

has brought to light certain
facts which may lead us

to a quick
conclusion of this trial.

I ask the court's indulgence,

and I request a
one-hour adjournment

in order to assemble new
and important evidence.

JUDGE: Very well, counselor.

Court will recess for one hour.

Defendants are
remanded to custody.

(crowd murmuring)

Paul,

go down to the hall of records.

Dig up everything you
can on the Keymont Hotel.

If it's a corporation,
who's behind it?

A hunch?

I've got to find out
why a third-rate hotel

would send a clerk to Mexico
for a month to collect a bill.

Where will you be?

In the office. Call me
as soon as you get it.

Right, Perry.

Excuse me.

Lieutenant, can I
see you for a minute?

Go ahead.

Yeah, I guess so.

( dramatic theme playing)

Well, this is it, Paul.

One more thing.

Be sure and have that
handwriting expert in court.

Right, Perry.

Oh, Jaffrey.

I'd like to talk to you, Mason.

I haven't got much time.

I'm due back in
court in a few minutes.

Huh. How come
the office is empty?

One of my stenographers
is getting married.

They're giving her a luncheon.

Well, what can I do for you?

A little while ago,
back there in court,

it sounded to me like, uh,

maybe you had this
Claremont case on ice.

Well, I'm glad
you were listening.

Do you know who killed him?

Why?

Well, it's kind of a
personal thing with me.

See, Bob Claremont
was one of my boys.

It would mean a good deal to
me if I could bring in his killer.

Promotion?

Oh, no, I don't care about that.

Then...

why don't you make
it easy on yourself.

How?

Give up.

What are you talkin' about?

You killed Claremont,
and you killed Fayette,

or you had him killed.

Mason, are you out of your mind?

Claremont was an
honest cop doing his job.

He got a lead on you
through Tom Sedgewick.

He went to the Keymont
Hotel to find you, remember?

Are y...?

Are you trying to frame me

to take the heat
off your client?

You were in Fayette's room
the night Claremont went there.

I was nowhere near that hotel.

You're lying, Jaffrey!

Your protégé, Frank Hoxie,

testified that Claremont
was at the hotel.

Eventually he's gonna tell
us that you were there too.

Hoxie. A con like Hoxie'll
say anything under pressure.

You had him sent on
a phony trip to Mexico,

for a month.

You had him kept there till
the case died out of the papers.

You never give up, do you?

That was a pretty
smart insurance policy

you had figured out,

planting a dead policeman's gun
on Sedgewick, an innocent man.

Save it, Mason. You're nowhere.

You were safe as long as
Sedgewick was a fugitive,

but he came back.

Now, why was Fayette killed?

Because he got panicky
when Dixie Dayton got away?

I never saw George
Fayette in my life.

I never even knew he existed
until the night he was killed.

What's that?

A copy of the receipt you
signed when you took the records

of Fayette's arrest
for bookmaking

out of the police
department's files.

Look, I'm a cop.

I take hundreds of records
out of the file every day,

and I sign receipts for
them. It's part of my job.

Mason, you're wasting my time.

Mr. Wilson.

Is it part of your job to
own the Keymont Hotel?

A copy of the incorporation
papers with your signature.

You can change
your name, Jaffrey,

but not your handwriting.

(door closes)

Put it away, Jaffrey.

You're through. You've
got no place to hide.

Let me worry about that.

You put a lot of
pieces together, Mason.

But you aren't going
anywhere with it.

How do you expect to stop me?

Easy.

I'm going to arrest you

for trying to bribe me
into perjuring myself.

Think you can make it stick?

I won't have to.

You're gonna resist me,

and I'll have to shoot
you in the line of duty.

All they gotta do
is half-believe me

and I'm home.

Hold it, Jaffrey!

Okay, lieutenant!

Wasn't one cop
enough, you miserable...

Are you all right, Tragg?

Yeah.

Just sick to my stomach
at the sight of him.

You work hard at your
job, try to take some pride

in what you're
doing, and then a...

A fink like this comes along

and makes a rotten
thing out of his badge!

Here. I better call
an ambulance.

Yeah, call an ambulance.

Don't, uh, hurry.

( dramatic theme playing)

(tranquil piano music playing)

It's too bad Tragg
couldn't come with us.

Oh, he has a job to do.

It'll take days just to get
Sedgewick's statement.

And Jaffrey had a
lot of rackets going.

Yeah, he was a
tough one, all right.

And careless.

That night at the Keymont
Hotel when we showed them

the lipstick
message, he slipped.

How did he give himself away?

He wasn't curious.

He knew it was there
because he'd put it there,

so he didn't bother to
walk across the room

and look at it again
for our benefit.

Come to think of it, he didn't.

After that came
something more basic.

You know, Paul, the last thing
a police officer will let you do

is take his gun away from him.

He'd rather be
killed fighting it out.

But he would turn his
gun over to another officer

who outranked him.

And Jaffrey was
Claremont's superior.

Well, enjoy your dinner, folks?

Wonderful, Morey.
It was fine, Morey.

How about a little dessert?

I might just find room for
a piece of pie and coffee.

Ice cream for me,
Morey, chocolate.

Right. How about you, Mr. Mason?

Oh, anything, and coffee.

Anything?

Well, anything but
a moth-eaten mink.

(all laugh)

( dramatic theme playing)

( noirish jazz theme playing)