Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 15 - The Case of the Fan Dancer's Horse - full transcript

When Perry Mason finds some possessions that belong to a fan dancer, he places an ad that several people mistake for a missing horse. Not only does another dancer show up, but so does her husband...dead!

( suspenseful theme playing)

( noirish jazz theme playing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

MAN: Who's in there?!

Stop!

(gunfire) (neighs)

At this rate, we should
be back in town by 5.

I can hardly wait, Perry.

(horn honks)

Fasten your seat belt, Della.

The car behind us is trying
to break the sound barrier.



(car zooming, horn honking)

(horn honking)

Perry, he's gonna hit
that old car up ahead.

(tires screeching)

It's turning over!

(car crashing)

Is she all right, Perry?

Seems just shaken up.

WOMAN: Gracias, señor.

You're not hurt?

(speaks in Spanish)

You watch her, Della.

I better check to see if
the gas tank's leaking.

(vehicle approaches)



How do you feel?

(speaking in Spanish)

Someone is hurt?

I've been asking
the same question

but in the wrong language.

(speaks in Spanish)

(man speaking in Spanish)

(woman speaking in Spanish)

I will take her to a doctor.

In case she wants a witness.

You are an attorney?

I'm not looking for business.
I just want to be helpful.

Gracias, señor.

Oh, wait.

Her package!

You'd do fine
south of the border.

Aren't these ostrich feathers?

Somebody's wardrobe?

Somebody with the initials L.F.

Hm.

These and the feathers are...
somebody's complete wardrobe.

A fan dancer, maybe.

Probably in El
Centro or Calexico.

The old lady must have
been taking the fans to her.

Then why'd she
run off without them?

Still in shock.

We'll see that she
gets her fans somehow.

Wouldn't want Ms. L.F. to
catch pneumonia, would we?

(Della chuckles)

I came about Mr. Mason's ad.

Whom should I
say is calling, sir?

John Callender.

A Mr. John Callender
in the reception room

about the fan dancer.

All right.

Uh, go right through
Ms. Street's office, sir.

After you finish
that, call Jackson.

I want him to deliver
these papers and get the...

Mason!

Mr. Callender.

Uh, won't you sit down?
My secretary, Ms. Street.

Howdy. Hello.

May I ask how you
discovered my identity?

I used only a box number.

Well, I told the newspaper

the people who placed the
ad wanted it run another week.

I paid in cash, got a receipt.

Your name and address was on it.

That's going to a
lot of trouble, isn't it?

Well, I figured I'd be dealing
with a valley rancher like myself,

someone who was up in arms,

what with broken fence
and trampled crops.

I wanted to see what was
what and who was who.

I'm afraid you left
me, Mr. Callender,

back there with
the broken fence.

I'm willing to pay big.

I'm sure you are,

but it happens the
property I'm holding

belongs to a fan
dancer, not to a rancher.

Oh, um... I forgot.

"Box 9052.

"This will introduce
John Callender.

He's authorized to receive..."

"He's authorized to
receive from the finder

"the horse I lost
a few days ago,

"said horse being described
as a palomino quarter horse,

"15 hands high,

"white right hind
foot, blazed face,

"white mane and tail.

"Signed, Lois Fenton,
stage name, Cherie Chi Chi,

Cooker Apartments,
North Highland, Hollywood."

What I found scarcely
answers that description.

Mister, I raised that horse.

I ought to know its description!

Good afternoon, Mr. Callender.

(exhales)

I'll write you a check for $500.

That'll cover your
time and expenses.

It isn't a question of money.

Then you're deliberately
trying to hold me up,

expecting me to boost my offer.

Well, I'm not about to do it.

I'll give you till morning
to surrender that horse.

I'm in room 511 at
the Richmel Hotel.

You want to play
it hard with me?

You picked yourself
the wrong Patrick.

(door slams)

(door opens)

It's the bullet wound.

That's it, isn't it?

That's where the
description differs.

Where is the... bullet wound?

On the horse.

You're not even close.

(door closes)

That seems to be a horse
on Mr. John Callender.

Or on us.

Well, I never!

Never what, Gertie?

Young chap,

said his name was Sheldon,

Arthur Sheldon.

Here.

"Room 510, Richmel Hotel."

Five-ten.

Across the hall
from Mr. Callender.

He insisted that I make
you come out to talk to him

before you... And I quote.

"made a deal."

And then he saw
Mr. Callender start to leave.

(gasps) Such a fidgety person!

He handed me that
paper and... And flew out!

Didn't he say what he wanted?

A...

A horse.

What about a horse?

Well, he said it belonged
to the real Lois Fenton.

The real Lois Fenton?

And that you absolutely
mustn't return it

to Callender.

You don't suppose
there was something more

in the back of that wreck
than just those fans, do you?

Say, a small horse, maybe?

Call the American
Guild of Variety Artists.

See if you can find
out where Lois Fenton

or... Cherie Chi Chi
is dancing tonight.

( slow big band music playing)

Definitely not Mexican.

Wrong kind of eyes.

I can see you've
been studying them.

Waiter.

For the dancer.

(applause, music ends)

( slow big band music playing)

You're Perry Mason?

Ms. Street, my secretary.

Hello. Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Did you see
Mr. Callender this morning?

Oh, he saw me.

I asked him to pick
up the horse. Did he?

Thank you, Harry.

(snaps fingers)

Are you gonna return it or not?

I haven't seen your horse.

Is this some kind of a trick?

Are you sure the
drink's okay, Ms. Cherie?

I'll let you know, Harry.

It's simple enough.

I did not find a horse,
yours or anyone else's.

But you found something.

That ad.

You found something.

You found two fans.

Two ostrich-plume fans
with the initials L.F. on them

and a pair of
high-heeled slippers.

(chuckling)

(chuckles)

And all the time I
thought it was the horse.

Well, that'll be all, Harry.

Drink's fine.

Where are they? In my car.

They're my favorites.

Such beautiful balance.

I'll send Harry out with
you to pick them up.

And thank you very
much, Mr. Mason.

You haven't said a word
since she kissed you.

Didn't I say good night?

(chuckles)

I'll drop you home.

Then I plan to talk to
that impatient young man

who came to see us today.

Arthur Sheldon?

The Richmel Hotel. Isn't
that what Gertie said?

Right.

Who is it?

You'd better get in there, Lois.

I won't open until
I know who it is.

I've been waiting here
all day, hoping you'd call.

I... Well, I guess I was
beginning to wonder

if you were gonna sell
out to John Callender.

That why you camped
across the hall from him?

You told my receptionist that
there was a real Lois Fenton.

Apparently, there must
also be an imitation.

The real one is the only
one I'm concerned about.

She needs help. Will
you represent her?

What kind of help? She
and her brother need

the most important
criminal lawyer

in California: you, Mr. Mason.

I haven't got much
money, but I can...

I asked you, what kind of help?

Protection from Callender,

and Lois has got
to find that horse.

Why protection from Callender?

Callender was...

Is her husband.

She just left him, and she...

No, no, no, I'm sorry.

I'm not asking you to
handle a divorce case.

This is blackmail! Oh?

Callender's trying to force
Lois to go back to him.

He's threatening her
with some forged checks.

Claims they were
forged by Jasper Fenton.

That's Lois's brother.

One night last week, um,

someone rode into the
ranch and tried to steal them.

The watchman fired a shot.
He swears he hit the horse.

Lois's horse?

If Callender finds that
horse before we do,

he'll use it to claim that Lois
was involved in the robbery.

It'll give him another lever

to force her to
come back to him.

You wouldn't like that,
would you, Mr. Sheldon?

I'm not ashamed of
my feeling for Lois.

Callender has
mistreated her shamefully.

May I get a glass of water?

Oh, the, uh, water's...
right there behind you.

Forget it.

But, Mr. Mason!

Look...

if you want me to help you,
you'll have to do what I say.

Check out of here right now.

Bring the real Lois
Fenton with you to my office

tomorrow morning.

(ringing)

(sighs)

Hello.

Paul, this is Perry.

How fast can you put a
shadow in the Richmel Hotel?

If I'm lucky, maybe 15 minutes.

We'll compromise on ten.

He's to cover room
511, and here's a tip:

Room 510's being vacated by
a young fellow named Sheldon.

Move one of your agents in there

and have another
one trail Sheldon.

And, Paul, I have
one other job for you.

I want you to find a horse.

A horse?!

Perry, for the love of Pete!

A 7-year-old
palomino quarter horse.

Why don't you go to
bed like everyone else.

(sighs)

Okay. It's a 7-year-old
palomino quarter horse,

whatever that means.

The horse may
have a bullet wound.

Heard anything
from Imperial County

on a missing horse, Paul?

Got three men on the job
and a trailer standing by.

Oh! You were all wet about
Sheldon checking out right away.

What do you mean?
He didn't check out

for more than an hour
after you called last night.

My man was hiding
right in that mop closet,

hating every second

and waiting for
Sheldon to leave.

Callender's not gonna
like you waking him up.

He did a land-office business
in there till 3:00 this morning.

People coming and
going all the time.

Take it easy. He
had a rough night.

(doorknob rattles)

MASON: You were right, Paul.

He's had the roughest
kind of a night.

Keep an eye on the corridor.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(doorknob rattles)

Frank Faulkner, Harvey Julian,

Mr. Mason. HARVEY:
How are you doing?

FRANK: Oh, hi.

I'm gonna have to report this.

Perry, I've got a
license at stake.

(doorknob rattling)

Across the hall.

Five-eleven.

(light knocking)

(whispering): It's room service.

He's got a tray with
a pot of coffee on it.

(rattling)

He's trying the knob.

(door opens)

He's going in.

(footsteps fading)

We're boxed.

Within seconds the
desk will notify Homicide.

We can't run out of here now

without sticking our
necks in a noose,

and we can't stay
without being discovered.

On account of a house dick.

Yeah, they'll find out
we paid him 20 bucks

to let you hide
in the mop closet.

That ties us right in.

Madison-51190.

That's headquarters.

Here. Report your murder.
Just don't mention my name.

Lieutenant Tragg,
Homicide, please.

Not in? This is Paul Drake,
Drake Detective Agency.

I'm reporting a murder.

Room 511, Richmel Hotel.

Victim's a John Callender.

I have men covering the room,

and just now...

Report it, the law requires.

You've done that.

You don't have to
gossip with them.

Would somebody wise us up?

You were the one
who came on last night?

Check. Harvey came on at 5.

In case one of us
had to do a shadow job

on the guy in 511.

When did you get here?

Oh, 2:16, maybe
2:17 this morning.

We're fighting time. Just
give me the highlights.

Well, I settled down
in the broom closet

at 2:20, 2:21.

Sheldon came tearing out of 511

and ducked in here.

The elevator stopped at 2:23,

and you should have
seen the dish that got out.

She sort of drifted
down the hallway.

Like a dancer?

No, she was
carrying a violin case.

But she didn't look
like a violin player.

Anyway, she goes into 511.

I show her leaving ten
minutes later at 2:32,

still carrying the violin case.

What else?

Well, a character...

somewhere in his mid-20s,
but a character, you know?

He gets out of the elevator and
comes rushing down the hallway.

He pops in 511 and
pops right out again.

What do you mean,
right in and right out?

How long did he stay?

Ten seconds. I timed him.

And he was wearing an
overcoat, all buttoned up.

In midsummer?

Yes, sir, buttoned
up all the way.

(footsteps)

(quietly): The police.

It's Tragg. He just went in.

Well, I gotta check in with him.

You know how he feels about us.

I'm not through with Faulkner.

Well, I'll try and stall Tragg,

but if he finds out you're
anywhere in this hotel,

brother.

Oh, don't tell me.

Good morning,
lieutenant. Holcomb.

This one of your bodies?

Tried to reach you
as soon as I found it.

Check headquarters. Find
out what time Drake called.

And if he did.

It just happens we had
him under surveillance.

Does it also just happen

that you've got the
man who killed him

under surveillance too?

I'm only trying to
help, lieutenant.

Oh, yes, I must always
remind myself of that.

Are your men still here?

Yes. Where?

Room 510. Oh.

I want to see 'em.

(murmurs): Yeah, he called 'em.

Oh...

Well, that was very
thoughtful of you, Mr. Drake.

You did call.

You asked for me.

(chuckles)

I'm very complimented.

This a Perry Mason job?

I have other clients than Mason.

Oh, yes, but they never turn
up the bodies that you two do.

I've asked you a question,

for the record.

Well, uh, Mr. Mason
does have some interest

in the case, yes.

Where's Mason right
now, right this second?

What do you mean?

Is he in the hotel?

I honestly don't know.

Well, I'm gonna find
out, Drake. Do you hear?

If he's withholding
any information,

facts, evidence, anything,

I'm gonna throw the
book at him and you too.

Uh...

Allow me, lieutenant.

Pfft.

Step right in, lieutenant.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Wait for me.

(knocking on door)

(knocking on door)

It's Mason.

Ms. Fenton left these
in your wastebasket

at the Richmel Hotel.

When I knocked at your door,
you hid her in the bathroom.

Why?

How did you find me here?

You answer my
questions! I asked you why.

(sighs)

Don't misunderstand, Mr. Mason.

She'd just arrived.

She knew Callender
was forcing her brother

to keep her 2:00
appointment with him.

She hoped to stop it. Did she?

Oh, that's it. I don't know.

After you left, I told Lois
to go back downstairs.

I'd come right
down and check out.

But when I got
downstairs, she'd gone.

Well, I-I didn't know
what to do then.

I went back upstairs and waited.

I know. Till 3 this morning.

You checked?

You were also seen leaving
Callender's room at 2:21.

I...

Well, I thought Lois might have
been discovered in the hotel.

You know, Callender.
Maybe she was in trouble.

I went across the hall
and knocked at his door.

Was he alive?

Why shouldn't he be?

Japanese sword in his chest.

Very bad for breathing.

You mean, somebody murdered him?

The police are checking.

They'll discover you had
the room across the hall.

They already know a girl
described as Lois Fenton

called on Callender at 2:23,

just two minutes
after you left him.

But you don't think
Lois killed him,

or that I did.

It's not a policy of
mine, Mr. Sheldon,

to encourage
criminals to disappear,

or to... suggest they escape.

(ringing)

Early this morning,
you rented a room.

I'd like to find out if
you rented another one

about the same time.

Who are you?

I happen to know
almost the exact time

the room was rented. It's
Arthur Sheldon, room five.

I rented that room
myself, mister,

at 3 yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon?

Anyway, what's it to you?

You got a badge entitles you?

I'm a lawyer. I'm trying to
find out something for a client.

Well, I don't stand
around checkin' on people.

I got better to do.

Could he have
had a visitor? A girl?

I didn't see her.

And you didn't rent a room
to a good-looking girl, 22, 23?

Look, I'm trying to help her.

Mr. Sheldon too.

Oh, yeah?

One thing could have happened.

You see, when I turn in, I
put a sign on the counter

that says what
rooms are to rent,

and the price is $3,

and anybody can
come in and register,

put their money in the slot,

go over to the board
and take the key

and go in and sleep.

But this morning,
did that happen?

No. Nobody registered.

But there was $3
under the counter, and...

key was missin'.

I wanna see that room.

Oh, the party
may still be in it.

All the better.

(grumbles)

(knocking)

(unlocking)

Young.

The old ones always
sleep all over the bed.

It's only the young
ones leave it like that.

Or someone with
a clear conscience.

Mmm.

Dark brown.

She was a dainty one.

I'll just straighten this up,

and nobody'll ever
know it's been slept in.

LANDLADY: Them
look like feathers.

Okay.

(register ringing)

Hello, Mr. Mason.

Oh, hiya, Marge.

Make it my usual, Helen.

Lieutenant Tragg's
got a man on me.

Is he watching you now?

Yes. Don't look outside.

As far as he knows,

this is just a casual
cup of coffee.

I've been frantic
trying to reach you.

Paul Drake's men
found the horse.

Thank you, Helen.

Where?

At a little ranch
down in Calexico.

They're bringing him in now.

You know, Paul said Tragg's
out to get you this time.

Both Faulkner and
the hotel detective

identified the woman who
called on Callender at 2:23

as Lois Fenton.

It's Tragg's theory

that she killed him and
that you're harboring her.

She hasn't called in?

Mm-mm.

If she does, tell her to meet
me at the Vine Record Shop

in a booth.

Meanwhile,

I might take the
pressure off her

if I throw Tragg a bone.

A bone?

I'm gonna lead him to
one of the two Lois Fentons.

(knocking on door) Come in.

(whispering):
Thirteen, 14, 15, 16...

I always like my friends to
see as much of me as possible.

But you're not here to
visit, are you, Mr. Mason?

Would you say that
I'm the... visiting type?

I think you could be.

Right now, I'm the
question-box type.

For example, why did you
visit Callender last night?

I took him the
fans and to report

that you hadn't
really found the horse.

Oh, he kept
insisting that you had

and that the fans were just a...

(chuckles)

A cover-up.

How was his health
when you left?

Oh, he was flexing
all sorts of muscles.

Can you prove that?
A maid saw me leaving.

What time? Just before 2.

You went back at
2:23? Back where?

To Callender's room.

A man named Meeker,
the house detective,

claims you did.

I left at 2.

Harry was waiting in the lobby.

Harry will swear
to that, of course.

(chuckles)

Now, what do you think?

(chuckles)

Tell me, uh...

why did you assume
the identity of Lois Fenton,

as a dancer, in the first place?

Oh, you are a question box,

aren't you?

Well, I have
nothing to hide. Heh.

As you can see.

One thing, we look alike.

She married John Callender,

so I asked her, could
I take over her act?

And she said okay.

So I copied her.

Her walk, her style,

even the clothes I
wear on the street.

And now my name's
Lois Fenton too.

What happened when
she left her husband?

Didn't she want
her identity back,

or her act?

Mr. Callender offered me money,

a lot of money,

if I'd help him
get a horse back.

He said the finder
might get mixed up

and bring it to me
instead of to his wife.

That's why I wrote that
letter he showed you.

You realize, of course,

there's going to be a lot
of notoriety about all this.

Oh, I'm terrified, Mr. Mason.

I photograph well...

real well.

(chuckles)

(upbeat big band music
playing over record player)

Excuse me, has
my wife arrived yet?

She has dark-brown hair...
A young lady's been waiting

in one of our demonstration
booths for quite a while, sir.

Oh, fine, thank you. I see her.

I'll, uh,

try this record, if I may.

Of course.

(upbeat big band
music continues playing)

(music ends)

Ms. Fenton?
(orchestral music playing)

Mr. Mason, I...
Sit down, please.

You were in Arthur
Sheldon's room

when I went to
the hotel last night?

(music stops) Yes.

Tell me exactly what
you did when you left.

I...

Well, I...

I had a sudden...
crazy impulse. I...

I went across the hall and
into my husband's room.

I told him if he
tried to make trouble

for my brother, Jasper,
I'd get back at him.

And what did he do?

He laughed at me.

I went to the door and...

I was so afraid
of him, Mr. Mason.

I started to run and...

Well, the elevator
looked so far away, I...

(orchestral music playing)

I ran down the stairs.

All right.

Now, I want an
answer to something,

the absolute truth.

Did you return to the hotel?

No.

You did not call on
your husband again

at 23 minutes past 2?

Oh, no!

All right.

Now I want to know
about that... That horse.

Starlight?

Well... when I decided
to leave my husband,

I threw all my personal
things in the back of my car,

and I drove to Brawley.

I took an engagement
at the Valley Club.

Jasper rode Starlight
into Brawley for me,

and we put him in a stable.

And while you were
working, he was stolen.

Well, anyone could have
walked in and let him out.

Did, uh...?

Did you have any
trouble with this other girl,

this Cherie Chi Chi,

when she heard you
were dancing again?

When I married John,

I gave her a letter
authorizing her

to use my name and bookings

until I wanted it again.

We both signed it.

As witness, my husband
kept the only copy.

He said that would protect me.

But she knew I
didn't have a copy

and that he wouldn't
lift a finger to help me.

He wanted me to flop!

Well, I can't let you go back
to wherever you're staying.

We can't afford to make it
seem like you're running away.

You have to be somewhere
that's logically right for...

(knocks)

Your horse.

There's a motel
right down the road

from the Etondale
Stables. I'll get my car.

Is Starlight all right?

Outside of a scratch
and a bullet in his saddle,

he's in a better spot
than we are, Ms. Fenton.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Feed him oat, hay
and a little grain, please.

Not too much grain.

I don't want him to get too hot.

Just enough to keep
him on his mettle.

Saddle in the trailer?

Yup. Okay.

Take good care of the horse.
Put the saddle in my car.

Don't worry.

By now, Tragg will certainly
know we found Starlight.

He'll trace him right here.

You think they'll arrest me?

I'm certain of it.

What shall I do?

Tell me the truth.

But I have!

What about that $3 room

in the boarding house
on East Lagmore?

Don't get
embarrassed. Just talk.

Arthur said...

Well, he said I mustn't
tell anybody about that.

Not even you.

Sheldon left the hotel and
went to that boarding house.

But he'd registered
there earlier that day,

long before I asked
him to leave the Richmel.

Now, why?

Well...

Well, Arthur got the room
for my brother, Jasper.

Hotels are full.

We intended that
Jasper stay there,

but he never showed up,

so Arthur stayed there himself.

Why did you go there?

When Arthur...

When he arrived at
the boarding house,

he found something in his room,

something terrible.

He called me.

About what?

One of my fans...
soaked in blood.

Well, I took that other room,

and I tried to
wash out the stains.

Then I threw the fan away.

Where?

Somewhere it'll never be found.

(scoffs)

No such place.

Uh, just put it in
the car, please.

Did Arthur explain how the blood

got on the fan?

No. Or how it got into his room?

No.

Do you know what
happens to little girls

who lie to their lawyers?

In murder cases, they wind
up in death row at San Quentin.

Or if they happen to
be nice-looking like you,

they might have
a fifty-fifty chance

of making the women's
prison at Tehachapi,

cooped up in a
cell with no makeup,

the drab routine day... Stop!

I'm trying to get the truth!

You have it!

Yes, I have had it.

We're going to the police.

Mr. Mason!

Will you sign this for
boarding the horse?

( suspenseful theme playing)

Why is it every time a man's
been victimized by a woman,

every other woman he knows
starts beaming with delight?

Could be that mentally,

they're putting him
on their sucker list.

Well, like it or not, Lois
Fenton is still our client.

How much evidence
has the D.A. got, Paul?

Open and shut.

Witnesses identify
her as the woman

who went into Callender's
room at 23 minutes past 2:00,

and she had motive to burn.

She was protecting
her brother, Jasper.

He's admitted to the
police that he stole her horse

and made the burglary
attempt at Callender's ranch.

And the police have the
saddle with the bullet in it.

Could Jasper have
killed Callender?

Perry, he was only
in there ten seconds.

How long's it take to
stick a sword into a man?

Well, more than that

just to find and
pick up a weapon.

It's known he didn't
bring it in with him.

How's it known?

Because Callender
brought it from the ranch.

The bellboy who checked
him in remembered he had it

when he arrived.

Did Tragg find Cherie Chi Chi?

(scoffs)

Find her? They arrested her.

I don't know what
she told Tragg,

but I do know the person
the witnesses identified

was Lois Fenton and
not Cherie Chi Chi.

She was released.

It's gonna be a rough one, Paul.

Yeah, particularly since
Lois Fenton's got to be guilty.

Well, I'm glad you're not
going to be on the jury.

Will counsel stipulate
that the jury is present

and the defendant's in court?

So stipulated, Your Honor.
So stipulated, Your Honor.

Uh, Mr. Mason, at the
close of the morning session,

the district attorney had
concluded his opening statement.

Does the defense wish to
make its opening at this time?

No, Your Honor. We will
reserve our opening statement

until we start putting
on our defense.

Very well.

The district attorney
will call his first witness.

"Dr. Jackson Lambert."

Now, doctor, did you find
any foreign substances

in the body of John Callender,

that is, near the wound,

or within the wall
of the chests?

I did.

What did you find?

A feather,
sufficient in quantity

to be recognized as
portions of an ostrich plume.

BURGER: Now, Mr. Meeker,

you were acting in your capacity

as house detective
at the Richmel Hotel?

Yes, sir, and at 20 minutes
after 2 in the morning,

this young woman appeared
in the lobby of the hotel.

When you say "this young
woman," who do you mean exactly?

The young woman
sitting over there.

BURGER: You're
pointing at the defendant,

Ms. Lois Fenton. Is that right?

MEEKER: Yes, sir, that's right.

Are you absolutely
positive the woman you saw

in the hotel lobby
was this defendant?

Yes, sir, I am.

You identified her
at the police station?

Well, she was in a shadow
box with six other women.

And you identified her?

Yes, sir.

You're positive there
could be no mistake?

Positive.

(spectators murmuring)

You have stated you
next saw the defendant

when she walked
into the shadow box

at police headquarters.

Who was present
with you at that time?

Sergeant Holcomb,

another detective,
and Sam Meeker.

And, oh, yes,
another police officer

who keeps the records.

Would you describe the
shadow box for us, please?

Well, it's a stage
all lit up, real bright.

There's a curtain of material
that hangs down the front,

and you can see through it.

You can sit in a dark room
and see inside the box,

but the people inside
the box can't see you.

There are lines on the back,

so you can tell how
tall the people are.

And you saw the
defendant in that box?

Yes, sir.

You heard her voice?

Well, not the first time I
saw her in the shadow box.

You mean there was
more than one occasion?

Yes, sir.

Why was she returned
to the shadow box?

Some question in
Sergeant Holcomb's mind

about the way she acted.

I object.

The objection is sustained.

But Sergeant Holcomb
himself told me...

Makes no difference.
That is merely heresay.

Well, did you yourself
notice something?

Well, when she first
entered the shadow box,

she didn't talk very clear.

She was sulky and
kind of noncooperative

and kept her head down.

The sergeant didn't
like her appearance,

and there was an argument
between him and another officer,

and so he had her brought
back the second time.

How long an interval passed

between the first
and second time?

Oh, 20 minutes. Maybe longer.

It has now reached
the hour of 5,

the hour of the
evening adjournment.

I'm going to remand
the defendant.

The jury will be in the
custody of the sheriff.

Court is adjourned until
10:00 tomorrow morning.

I'd like to talk to my client
for a moment, if you please.

What about this
shadow box business?

Were you put in there twice?

Yes, but... But they're wrong

when they say I was
sulky and noncooperative.

I wasn't.

Frank Faulkner
testified you were.

But he's working for
the district attorney.

No, he isn't.

Faulkner's employed
by Paul Drake.

Burger just had him
subpoenaed to identify you.

But I wasn't sulky.

While you were there,

did you see any
sign of this other girl?

Well, I... Oh, I think I did...

But you never believe me.

If that were true, I
wouldn't be defending you.

( ominous theme playing)

(door opens)

I told Perry you had an
urgent message for him, Frank.

Mr. Mason,

I don't want you to think,

with my appearance
in court today

and being a witness
for the prosecution,

that I'd sold you out.

I appreciate your
position, Faulkner.

Well, maybe I can make it up.

You know where
Cherie Chi Chi is?

Oh, I'd like to get
her on the stand.

Well, what good
would that do, Perry?

If I can find her, you'll see.

Well, the police have her.
She's in custody, and willingly.

Anyone see you come in here?

No, I made sure
I wasn't spotted.

Like I said, I felt I
owed you something.

As far as I'm
concerned, Faulker,

you're completely paid up.

Your Honor, before we
proceed with the trial of this case,

there's a matter I wish to call
to the attention of the court.

It concerns a witness.

A potential witness for
the defense: Irene Kilby.

Stage name: Cherie Chi Chi.

I fail to see the necessity
of making such a statement

at this time, and in front
of the jury, Mr. Mason.

The reason I'm making
this statement, Your Honor,

is that I've just discovered
why we've been unable

to find this witness.

She's being held
incommunicado by the police.

I resent that, Your Honor.

The law specifically
gives the prosecution

the power to hold
material witnesses.

This is a material
witness for the prosecution.

What is she a witness to?

(chuckles)

To certain things
she'll disclose

when she takes the stand.

May I ask the district attorney

if he will promise to put
this witness on the stand?

I don't have to
promise any such thing.

Your Honor, it's apparent
this woman is not a witness.

Now, wait a minute.

What do you propose
to prove by her?

Maybe I'll stipulate it.

I propose to prove she's
the one whom the witnesses

have identified as
being the defendant:

the woman who was
in the Richmel Hotel

at 20 minutes past 2:00
in the morning of the 17th.

All right, you asked for it.

I'll bring her into court.

Thank you.

Your Honor, I think
if I have 15 minutes,

I can satisfy counsel's request.

Meanwhile, I can save
some time while we're waiting

by putting on another witness.

Jasper Fenton.

Will you take the stand
and be sworn, Mr. Fenton?

You've already admitted

that you entered the
deceased's room at 2:44.

Now, when you found him dead,

you ran out without notifying
anybody. Is that right?

Well, um, the next
day, I went to the police.

Of your own accord,

and gave them a
written statement.

Is that right?

Yes, sir.

And at this time,
you did not know

that your sister was
accused of the crime, did you?

That question is
leading and suggestive.

It goes to the motivation

and the interest of the
witness, if the court please.

The question is leading,

but I think I'll
overrule the objection.

I think the jury is
entitled to the facts.

You may answer.

No.

At that time, I did not know
my sister was involved.

Get your hand off
my arm. I can walk.

(indistinct murmuring)

Your Honor, the witness,
Irene Kilby, is now in court,

brought here at the suggestion,

in fact, the demand,
of Perry Mason.

Would you step
forward, Ms. Kilby?

(spectators murmuring)

Will the defendant please stand.

JUDGE: Ms. Fenton,
over there, please.

The two of you together.

Any objection, Mr. Mason?

None, Your Honor.

This is indeed a
strange situation.

There's no great
facial resemblance,

but as far as figures
are concerned,

these two women
are almost identical.

If the court please, it
is my understanding

that the district attorney is
going to put this young woman

on the witness stand.

BURGER: I produced her.

That's sufficient.

Either you call this
witness to the stand,

or you can explain to
the grievance committee

why you were holding her
where I couldn't find her,

claiming she was
a material witness.

Very well.
Mr. Fenton, step down.

Ms. Kilby, take the stand.

Now, then, directing
your attention

to the afternoon
of September 17th,

uh, you were in your apartment?

I was.

What happened to you there?

BURGER: Objection!

Incompetent, irrelevant
and immaterial,

and not proper
cross-examination.

It would seem to be highly
incompetent, counselor.

Your Honor,

this witness was arrested,

placed in the shadow box
and identified absolutely

by the witnesses Sam
Meeker and Frank Faulkner

as the woman they had
seen in the Richmel Hotel

at 20 minutes past 2 on the
morning of September 17th.

That's not true!
You can't prove that!

I don't understand.

This woman was
arrested as Lois Fenton.

She was identified
by the witnesses.

A few minutes after
that identification,

the police arrested
the real Lois Fenton,

so Sergeant Holcomb
asked the witnesses

to see the girl again
under better circumstances.

He then sent Lois Fenton
into the shadow box,

knowing the witnesses
would re-identify her.

Later, he put the
defendant, Lois Fenton,

back into the shadow
box for the second time,

but at that time,
there was no one else

on the other side of the screen.

This was a deliberate
ruse to prevent me

from learning the truth.

That's not so!

(indistinct murmuring)

Holcomb! Come here!

How did you know?

The witnesses
said you were sulky

the first time they saw you.

You told me you weren't.

Assuming that you were telling
the truth, and they were, too,

then it must have been
somebody else, not you,

that they identified
the first time.

The court would like
to know whether or not

this witness, Irene Kilby,
was put in the shadow box

at the time the
witness Sam Meeker

and the witness Frank Faulkner

were there to make
an identification.

Well, of course, Your
Honor, she can't tell you.

She doesn't know who was
on the other side of the screen.

Well, the police know.

Yes, Your Honor.

If I can have a brief recess,

I'll endeavor to find
out the true facts.

The court will take a
recess for ten minutes.

(indistinct chattering)

Ms. Kilby,

if I could prove that when you
went to see John Callender,

he was already dead,

would you change your testimony

about being in the hotel
at 2:23 that morning?

Mr. Court Reporter,
read me that question.

"Would you change your testimony

about being in the hotel
at 2:23 that morning?"

Do you understand
that question, Ms. Kilby?

I...

Yes.

JUDGE: Can you answer it?

Yes.

You mean, that's your answer?

Yes.

All right, then,
let's get at the truth.

You did not go to
call on John Callender

at around 2:00, did you?

No.

But you did learn that a
maid had seen Lois Fenton

leave Callender's room at 2,

and that he was
then still alive.

So you decided to claim
you were the woman

seen leaving Callender's room.

MASON: Isn't that right?

Yes.

At 2:23, Ms. Kilby
arrived at Callender's room

after calling from the lobby.

Testimony shows that at 2:21,

Arthur Sheldon left
Callender's room

and crossed the hall to his own,

his manner suggesting

he knew John Callender
was already dead.

Are you now claiming
that Arthur Sheldon

killed John Callender?

I'm not claiming a thing.

I'm trying to get the defendant
in this case acquitted.

As far as the murder
case is concerned,

you are quite at
liberty to solve it.

That is the end of
my cross-examination

of this witness.

Any redirect examination?

No further questions,
Your Honor.

JUDGE: Very well.

This witness has admitted
making false testimony,

and I now order her into custody

to await such action
as may be taken.

Mr. Burger, on the basis
of Ms. Kilby's testimony,

it appears your case against
the defendant has collapsed.

Unless you can produce
evidence to refute that testimony,

I shall have to order the jury
to return a verdict of acquittal

for the defendant, Lois Fenton.

( dramatic theme playing)

You know, Paul, the
trouble with lawyers...

Now, sometimes we
become too skeptical.

All along, Lois Fenton was
telling the absolute truth.

Until I realized that,

why, things just
weren't very clear to me.

Well, did Sheldon
kill Callender?

No, Callender was killed
while he was showing the fan

to a certain person.

He wanted to prove that I
hadn't found the horse, just a fan.

And once he found the horse,

he meant to send this
certain person to jail

for forging checks.

Then it was Jasper.
Jasper Fenton.

Well, we know that Sheldon
rented a room for him,

and Jasper had a 2:00
appointment with Callender.

Then, when Callender
showed it to him,

Jasper picked up the sword

and pushed it
through the open fan

that Callender
held in front of him.

Well, why did he
go back at 2:44?

In the excitement, he left
the fan in Callender's room.

Later, he realized it
would incriminate his sister.

The only decent thing he
did was to go back and get it.

What about Arthur Sheldon?

And Sheldon skipped out

so the police would
blame him instead of Lois.

And as for Cherie Chi
Chi, she spent ten minutes

in a dead man's
room looking for this.

The agreement.

It was in the handle
of the Japanese sword.

That's why Callender
brought it with him.

(big band music plays)

(applause)

For you, Mr. Mason.

"Just so you'll remember
a grateful client, Lois.

The real Cherie Chi Chi."

Well, you won't be
needing me again.

From now on, you'll
be well-covered.

(laughs)

( noirish jazz theme playing)