Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 24 - The Case of the Deadly Double - full transcript

How are you, Tommy?

I'm in conference, Mr. Vance.

Oh, then I won't disturb you.

Hello, Dave.

Harry, I've been studying
this Anderson thing.

Personally, I don't
think it has any merit.

Are you suggesting we drop it?

I don't see why you're
pressing the matter.

Because I think it's a rare
opportunity. Well, I don't.

I've had other
dealings with Anderson.

I don't trust him
or his figures.



Well, I do.

Or maybe you think I've been
working with him under the table.

I didn't say that.

(INTERCOM BUZZES)

CORA: Mrs. Reed
and Mr. Crane are here.

One moment.

Harry, you stay here.

Have them come in.

Mom!

Mom!

Helen tells me you've instituted
suit for custody of Tommy.

That's right, Bob. She's
not fit to be his mother.

You've accused my
sister of that before.

You're not going to do it again.



This time I'll prove it.

You're lying, Reed.

And so help me,

if you do anything to try to
take Tommy away from Helen,

you'll not live to
appear in court.

Let's get out of here.

(WHISTLING)

(PIANO PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Hi, Georgie Porgie.
Hi, Georgie Porgie.

Good evening, Miss Martel.

Give me a double, Georgie.

Hi, Johnny. Hi, honey.

His service is lousy, as usual.

I want to talk to you, Joyce.

Talk. Well, well, well.

That'll be interesting
for a change.

Where's my drink?

You're not going to sit at
this bar and lush all night.

Of course not, baby.

As soon as Joyce
has a couple of drinks,

we'll have our little talk.

There's plenty
of it in the office.

Call me when Terry
Coogan gets here.

(GRUNTS)

That dame is poison.

Yeah, and for Johnny,
there ain't no antidote.

Where have you been?

Where have you been?

Cheers, Johnny.

(GLASS SHATTERS) Oh, Johnny.

Don't be so impatient.

What do you mean, impatient?
I haven't seen you in a week.

Has it been that long?

What's happening to you, Joyce?

All this double-talk.
Be yourself.

What's so funny?

That's it. That's it.

I haven't been myself.

But, Johnny, tonight, I
am going to be myself.

That's nice. What
about tomorrow night?

Oh, Mr. Crane, I'm
so glad you're here.

How is she, Doctor?

She'll be all right
in a few minutes.

Hiya, Sis.

Hi.

Did you take a little excursion
through nightmare alley?

I don't dare close
my eyes again,

not after that experience.

Do you want to talk about it?

(SIGHS)

It's all so senseless, Bob.

You know how nightmares are.

There's no beginning and no end.

Well...

I had a bad headache,
so I went to bed early.

I must've gone to sleep
right away because

suddenly, I was
standing in front of this

big, garish building.

And I had a dress on that,

well, if you saw me
in it, you'd disown me.

ROBERT: You
might've caught cold.

No, hardly.

See, uh,

my shoulders were
covered with mink.

But you're allergic to fur.

I know, I know. But
not in the dream.

And I did a whole lot
of things that I never do.

I never smoke and I never drink.

I can almost taste
the alcohol now.

And then...

And then I went
into the building

and I went into the apartment

and there, I saw David's body.

DOCTOR: Your former husband?

He was...

He was sprawled out on the floor

and there was a
bullet hole in his head

and there was a
gun lying near him.

(CRYING)

We won't talk about it anymore.

No more. Just lie back.

That's right.

Isn't there anything
that can be done

to alleviate these
attacks, Doctor?

Mrs. Reed's problem is
emotional, not physical.

I've suggested
psychiatric treatment

and made several appointments.

She won't keep them.

I don't need a
psychiatrist. I...

You make another appointment.

I'll see that she keeps it.

Good.

I'll call Dr. Maitland
in the morning.

Thank you.

Do you still have any of
the pills I prescribed for you?

Oh, I don't know.
I don't remember.

Sarah?

Sarah? They're in
my purse, maybe.

This isn't Mrs. Reed's purse.

There are initials on it. J.M.

What's the matter, Helen?

That's the purse I
carried in my nightmare.

ROBERT: Mr. Mason,
I'll come right to the point.

My sister and I may require
the services of an attorney.

Now, then, will $2500
be a sufficient retainer?

It would, if I accept the case.

We aren't sure
that there is a case.

However, we have reason
to believe that David Reed,

my sister's former husband,
has been murdered.

On what do you base that belief?

On a nightmare.

A nightmare in which
my sister saw David Reed

lying with a bullet
hole in his head.

Well, this would indicate

that your sister's
nightmare has substance.

ROBERT: My sister's
nightmares have the bizarre faculty

of proving themselves
horribly real.

Suppose it was real?

Suppose it wasn't a bad dream.

In just what way
would it concern you?

I threatened to kill David Reed.

Why?

ROBERT: He accused
my sister of misconduct

and instituted a suit to
have their son, Tommy,

removed from her custody.

But you didn't kill him?

No.

Well, in that case, I
can't accept your retainer.

HELEN: Why not?

A conviction can't be obtained
on the basis of a nightmare.

Even if there is physical
evidence to support it?

What evidence?

My sister carried that
purse in her nightmare.

It doesn't belong to her.

How did this purse happen
to come into your possession?

I don't know.

I never saw that
before last night.

There must be some explanation.

In any event, it doesn't
prove that David Reed is dead.

One bullet fired.

Recently.

In her nightmare,

my sister saw that gun
lying near David Reed's body.

It happens to be my gun.

Miss Dunbar? Right there.

Thank you.

Miss Dunbar? My name is Mason.

I spoke to you about
an appointment.

Oh, yes, Mr. Mason.

I'm sorry, but Mr. Reed
hasn't come in as yet.

Would you care to wait?

Thank you. Oh, may I?

Certainly.

MASON: Mr. Reed?

Yes, it's a perfect likeness.

Has he come in yet?

Not yet, Mr. Vance.
Mr. Mason is waiting for him.

Well, if it concerns Reed
Industries, perhaps I can help.

No. I've been retained
by Mr. Robert Crane

and Mrs. Reed to
act as their attorney.

Oh, yes. Little Tommy's custody.

Unpleasant business.

Mr. Vance, I specialize
in criminal law.

Surely this matter won't
be tried in a criminal court?

No, but David
Reed's murder will.

Are you implying
my partner's dead?

If my information is correct.

Miss Dunbar informed you
that he called only two hours ago.

Obviously, she also
informed you about me.

Yet not more than
two minutes ago,

you acted as though you'd
never heard of me before.

What are you hiding, Mr. Vance?

(PHONE RINGING)

Reed Industries.

It's for you, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Yes?

Perry? Paul Drake just called.

He wants you to meet him at
622 South Barry, Brentwood.

Do you have it?

Thank you, Della.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

Just what was the
purpose of your visit?

I wanted to verify a nightmare.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Perry.

I called my office while
I was waiting for you.

Crane and his sister, Helen
Reed, are at Dr. Maitland's office.

Maitland, he's a
psychiatrist, isn't he?

Mmm-hmm. One of the best.

What about that? Her
name's Joyce Martel.

She lives in this
building, apartment 310.

Did you get a description?

Yeah, she's blonde,
beautiful, 5'5".

Lazy hips. Sounds
very interesting.

She is, if the store manager
where she bought this is any judge.

The only problem is
she may not be home.

I believe there
was a key in there.

That's a very expensive
bag, wouldn't you say, Paul?

45 bucks, including tax.

And I'm sure Miss Martel would
be very grateful to get it back.

We might even get
a reward. Come on.

Reed?

Mmm-hmm.

And Mrs. Reed just dreamed this?

Homicide won't need a
Joseph to interpret this dream.

Well, put this
back in the purse.

The tipster who called said it
was the third floor, Lieutenant.

All right. Ask the
manager for the key.

Say, why don't you
wait here, Lieutenant?

You know how these
anonymous phone tips are.

Probably nothing to it.

Grant, I see a bright future
for you in the department.

Wait a minute.

This is Mason's car.

PAUL: Nothing in
the kitchen, Perry.

It's as bare as Mother
Hubbard's cupboard.

What about the bathroom?
No. Not even toothpaste.

Just towels, all
monogrammed J.M.

Same as this.
Handkerchief, lingerie,

all with her monogram.

She must have an
inferiority complex.

Miss Martel certainly seems to
be trying to assert her personality.

Yet something's missing.

Well, if this is Joyce Martel,
there is nothing missing.

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

Well, come in, Lieutenant.

We were just about to phone you.

I'll bet.

What are you doing here?

Calling on Joyce Martel.

Sorry I asked.

I'm shocked, Mason.

A fashion plate like you in the
company of anyone improperly attired.

Well, I see what you mean,
black bag, brown jacket.

Well, some people
just have no taste.

Of course.

No private detective would
be carrying an evening bag

when dressed for the afternoon.

Not even an
ex-private detective.

Uh, wait a minute, Lieutenant.

Perry can explain everything.

Yes, I'm sure he can.

What's the idea of trying to remove
evidence from the scene of a crime?

We weren't. We brought
that bag up here with us.

My client found it and
turned it over to me.

Since when did you become
a lost-and-found department?

Well, now, Lieutenant Tragg,

you above all people should know

the duties of an attorney
are varied and many.

Who's your client?

I am not at liberty...

Liberty to divulge
that at the moment.

Probably.

But I'd appreciate a
look at the ballistic report.

Oh, of course. Just
drop into my office,

when you visit
your client's cell.

Thanks, I will.

Just as soon as I find
out who my client is.

Coming, Paul?

All right, let them out.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

Perry, we've got to
return this immediately.

Of course.

But the lab address
is on the back

and I'd certainly like to know

who's on the other
half of this picture.

Well, I'll get right on it.
But what about the gun?

The minute Tragg
checks the registration,

he'll know it belongs
to Bob Crane.

Yeah, he moves pretty fast.

But I'm hoping it'll
keep him occupied

long enough for us to find out

what Helen Reed has
up Joyce Martel's sleeve.

You just passed me.
Is there a connection?

So close, they could
share the same nightmare.

This is Joyce Martel.

Yeah.

And Joyce Martel is Helen Reed.

And God bless Miss Dunbar

and Mr. Vance and Sarah

and Mother and Daddy.

SARAH: All right,
young man, off to bed.

Good night, darling.

Amen.

Good night, good night.

Now, march right off to bed.

Will you read me
a story? We'll see.

Good night, Mommy.

Good night, Son.

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

Bet you're tickled
to death to see me.

I beg your pardon.

You left this in
my cab last night.

That isn't mine. Now wait, lady.

Take that thing away
from me, will you?

Well, that thing is mink.
Take it away, get out.

Hey, lady, open up. You
want to get me into trouble?

Come on. I got enough
headaches without you making more.

What's going on?

You got me, mister.
That dame in there,

I dropped her at the
Burgundy Club last night.

Later I picked her up in an
apartment on Barry and drove her here.

She left this stole in my hack.

Now she says it ain't hers.

I don't know what kind of
a racket she's trying to pull,

but I'm not falling for it.

Excuse me.

Mrs. Reed? This is Perry Mason.

This gentleman claims you left
your mink stole in his cab last night.

I've already told him that
it doesn't belong to me.

Well, I suppose
I could be wrong.

The lady looked
different last night, but I...

Now I know it's her for sure.

That other one
opened the door for us.

Okay. You can leave it.

Thanks, mister.

Please, Mr. Mason.

She can become very
ill. She is allergic to fur.

All right.

But that taxi driver
can testify that

Mrs. Reed was
wearing this fur last night

in the vicinity of
David Reed's murder.

Oh, no.

No, that was only a nightmare.

It was only a nightmare.

Mrs. Reed, your husband's
murder was very likely a nightmare.

But it was no figment
of your imagination.

He is dead.

He was found in the apartment you
occupied under the name of Joyce Martel.

What apartment?

I don't have any
other apartment.

That thing doesn't belong to me.

I couldn't wear it.

I couldn't wear that.

(GASPS)

Miss Street said it was urgent.

It certainly is, Mr. Crane.

You'll likely be arrested for David
Reed's murder before the night's out.

Then it is true.

I should've known.

Did you know that David Reed was
murdered in Joyce Martel's apartment?

That's impossible.

There is no Joyce Martel.

There never has been.

Don't you lie to me, Mr. Crane.

Now, that name is
familiar to you, isn't it?

Well, yes.

Joyce Martel is the name

of an imaginary playmate of
Helen's when we were children.

Go on.

About 25 years ago, in
one of her nightmares,

Helen said she saw Joyce Martel

try to kill me with
a bread knife.

I used to tease her about Joyce,

until I found the bread
knife in my pillow.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

That must be Paul.

I thought I'd save
myself a few steps.

Oh, I see you found
out who your client is.

Apparently we both
did, Lieutenant Tragg.

Where is, uh, Joyce Martel?

I don't know
anyone by that name.

Didn't Mr. Mason introduce you?

He had her purse
with your gun in it.

Incidentally, I can save
you a trip to my office.

The bullet that killed David
Reed was fired by Crane's gun

between 9:00 and
11:00 last night.

That doesn't prove Mr. Crane
fired it or that he was even there.

"Dear Mr. Crane,

"Mr. Reed has requested

"that you meet him at Miss
Joyce Martel's apartment,

"622 South Barry,
9:00 this evening.

"Cora Dunbar."

TRAGG: I found that
in one of your suits.

The desk clerk at your hotel
said you picked it up about 10:00.

But I didn't read this.

I picked it up

and just as I was picking it up,

I was paged.

And then, when I learned
of my sister's illness,

I put it in my pocket.

I never read it.

All right, Crane.

MASON: Mr. Crane.

Please remember
you're not required

to answer any of
Lieutenant Tragg's questions.

As a matter of fact, don't even
discuss the weather with him.

He can be very persuasive.

Mason, sometimes I wonder

which side of the law you're on.

That's easy, Tragg.

My client's side.

MASON: What
kind of a place is it?

PAUL: It's a
nightspot on the strip.

The Burgundy Club. That's
Johnny Hale, the owner.

Hale?

Didn't I refuse to represent him

in some matter, a
shooting or something?

His third one.

You weren't interested
because of the unethical aspects.

What about their relationship?

Cozy, from the
looks of this picture.

I didn't have time to check it,

but it shouldn't
be too difficult.

Well, I think I'll drop
around to the Burgundy Club.

This, uh, this Hale, does
he have a private office?

Yeah. It's just to the right
as you go through the bar.

Good.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

HALE: Come in.

Well, Mason, what
brings you here?

Business.

Last time we met, you
didn't want any part of mine.

I still don't. I want
some information.

You came to the wrong place.

We only serve
entertainment, food and drinks.

This was in her bedroom.

Just 15 feet away from where
David Reed's body was found.

This part was missing.

Do the police know this?

Not yet.

Now look, Mason,

you don't frighten
me one little bit.

I've handled guys
like you before.

So? So,

you want to play rough,
you've got yourself a partner.

Only stay away
from Joyce Martel.

Afraid she'll lead me to you?

You don't get it, do you?

You think I'm worried
about my own skin?

I can take care of myself.

But you are concerned
about Joyce?

I don't know why I
should try to convince you.

But, yes, I'm crazy about her.

She's nothing but
trouble but she's mine.

And it's going to stay that way.

I mean it.

If you so much as go near her,

you'll answer to me personally.

I think you do mean it.

Frankly, I don't
care what you think.

Where did you
leave your allergy?

At home with Helen Reed.

(CHUCKLES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Mr. Mason, I simply cannot
violate the confidence of a patient.

Dr. Maitland, I
appreciate your reluctance.

But Helen Reed's
legal difficulties

must take precedence over
any psychiatric consideration.

I see.

Very well.

Have you met Joyce Martel?

Yes.

At first, I gathered
that Joyce Martel

was only an assumed
identity for Helen Reed.

Oh, no, Mr. Mason.

It is not an assumed identity.

Joyce Martel is a distinct
and separate personality

who happens to be sharing
the same body with Helen Reed.

Kind of Jekyll and Hyde?

Well, it's a bit simplified
for psychiatric purposes,

but it will do.

To a degree, Helen
Reed and Joyce Martel

are the living
counterparts of that story,

with one exception.

And that is?

Joyce Martel knows
of this dual personality.

But Helen Reed was quite
unaware of Joyce's existence

until quite recently when
I started treating her.

How do these two women differ?

Oh, in dozens of ways.

Helen Reed is allergic to fur.

She comes in contact with it,

she will wheeze and her
eyes will begin to water.

Fur, on the other hand,

doesn't bother
Joyce Martel at all.

Helen Reed doesn't
smoke or drink.

Joyce does both to excess.

As to their moral outlook,

Helen Reed is a virtuous woman,

something which amuses
Joyce Martel considerably.

Dr. Maitland, in your
professional opinion,

would Helen Reed commit murder?

No.

But Joyce Martel could.

Miss Ellis, this is the
gun that killed David Reed.

It's a .32 Colt revolver.

Have you ever seen
this weapon before?

I'm not sure.

Didn't you identify
it in my office?

Yes, sir.

Well, where did you say
that you'd seen it before?

In Mrs. Reed's apartment
on the night of the murder.

Shortly after
Mr. Reed had called,

I tried to contact Mr. Crane.

I failed to reach him.

I left a message with
his hotel desk clerk.

Do you know why Mr. Reed
wanted to reach the defendant?

Yes.

He told me he had learned
about his wife's indiscretion

and he intended
proving it to her brother.

Do you know how he learned this?

Well, he had
detectives watching her.

Do you remember what Mr. Reed
said when he read their report?

Yes. He said,

"I'll show that Bob Crane
what kind of a sister he has.

"I'll take Tommy away from her.

"I just hope he tries to stop me

"because I'll blast Helen
in every paper in town."

Thank you. Your
witness, Mr. Mason.

Miss Dunbar.

What is your official
position with Reed Industries?

I was Mr. Reed's
private secretary.

And unofficially?

I don't know what you mean.

What is your relationship with
Mr. Reed's junior partner, Harry Vance?

Well, I know him.

That's as far as it goes?

Yes.

Didn't Mr. Vance purchase
a plane ticket to Mexico City

for you on April 14th?

He did not. I
paid for that ticket.

How did it happen that
he gave his personal check

to the travel bureau
for that ticket?

Well, I was going to
reimburse him later.

Did you ever inform Mr. Vance

of decisions Mr. Reed had
wished to keep in confidence?

No. They had no
secrets from one another.

Wasn't that your fault?

Didn't you tell
Mr. Vance that Mr. Reed

had decided not to buy the
L.K. Anderson Company?

That's a lie. Mr. Reed
had told Har...

I mean, Mr. Vance that himself.

That will be all, Miss Dunbar.

Mr. Reed and I were
discussing a business matter

when Mrs. Reed and
Bob Crane entered.

Did you leave the room?

No, Mr. Reed asked me to stay.

What happened then?

Crane was highly incensed.

He threatened to kill Reed if he continued
his suit to regain Tommy's custody.

I see.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Vance, when did you
learn of your partner's death?

VANCE: The following day.

Mr. Vance, I must remind
you that you're under oath.

Well, uh...

Mr. Reed had an
appointment to meet Crane

at Joyce Martel's apartment.

He asked me to be
there as a witness.

When did you arrive at
Joyce Martel's apartment?

10:00.

Did you see the defendant there?

No.

Whom did you see?

David Reed.

Was he alive at that time?

No.

Why didn't you report
that to the police?

I didn't want to get involved.

But I called them later
from a phone booth.

Isn't it true

that you were negotiating with
the L.K. Anderson Company

and Mr. Reed was
against the deal?

That's not true. Mr. Reed
approved. He even signed the check.

And you realize that at
the report of his death,

the bank would stop
payment on that check?

Yes.

Isn't that why you bought Cora
Dunbar that ticket to Mexico City,

so she wouldn't
testify to that effect?

Yes.

No further questions.

I had to protect
myself, didn't I?

(GAVEL BANGING)

JUDGE: That will do. The
witness may step down.

I call John Davis Hale
to the stand, please.

CLERK: John Davis
Hale to the stand.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly swear the testimony you're
about to give in the cause now pending

in this court to be the
truth, the whole truth? I do.

State your name.
John Davis Hale.

Be seated.

Mr. Hale,

you're the sole proprietor of the
Burgundy Club. Is that correct?

I am.

Do you know Mrs. Helen
Reed, the defendant's sister?

Yes.

How long have you known her?

About two years.

And under what
circumstances did you meet her?

She came into my club one night.

I introduced myself.

And how well did
you get to know her?

Your Honor,

I object to this entire
line of questioning.

Mrs. Reed is not on trial here

nor does her
relationship with Mr. Hale

have any bearing on this matter.

If it please the court, it
has a definite bearing.

It goes to Mr. Crane's
motive for the murder.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

How friendly were you
with the defendant's sister?

HALE: Very friendly.

Would you say that if her husband
knew of your conduct with her,

he would have had
suitable grounds

for regaining
custody of the child?

Your Honor, the witness
is no legal authority.

He may or may not know
what are suitable grounds.

The witness will
ignore the question.

But you did visit Mrs. Reed

at her apartment
on Waverly Place?

I did.

How often?

It would depend.

Well, once a week, twice a
week, three times a week?

I don't know exactly.

But you did spend a
great deal of time with her?

Yes.

Cross-examine.

The prosecution keeps
referring to my client's sister

as Mrs. Helen Reed.

Did you actually know
her under that name?

No, I didn't.

Had you any idea
she was married?

None at all.

She was Joyce Martel to me.

Thank you, Mr. Hale.
That will be all.

Your Honor, it's a
well-established fact

that Helen Reed was using the
name Joyce Martel as an alias,

to cover her
relationship with Mr. Hale.

That is not true.

I can produce a dozen
witnesses to prove it is true.

And if it please the court, I can
have them all here tomorrow morning.

Very well.

Court stands
adjourned until 10:00.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Now Mr. Johnson, as manager
of the Crest Apartments,

did you personally rent
apartment number 310?

I did, sir.

Would you tell us, please,
the name used by the tenant?

Well, she told me her
name was Joyce Martel.

That's how the lease was signed.

And do you see her here today?

Yes, sir.

Would you point
her out to us, please?

Let the records show that the
witness pointed to Mrs. Helen Reed.

You may cross-examine.

No questions.

JUDGE: You may step down.

That concludes the case
for the State, Your Honor.

JUDGE: Will you call your
first witness, Mr. Mason?

I call Dr. Daniel Maitland.

CLERK: Dr. Daniel
Maitland to the stand.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly swear the testimony you're
about to give in the cause now pending

in this court to be the
truth, the whole truth? I do.

State your name.
Daniel Maitland.

Be seated, please. Thank you.

Dr. Maitland,

you are a duly qualified
and practicing physician

and surgeon in this state?

I am.

Have you specialized in any
particular branch of your profession?

If it please the court,

since Dr. Maitland's
reputation is so well-known,

we will stipulate to his qualifications
as an expert in psychiatry,

subject to the right
of cross-examination.

Thank you, Counselor.

Dr. Maitland, do you
know Mrs. Helen Reed?

Yes, she's a patient of mine.

In your opinion,
what is her condition?

She's a true schizophrenic.

Would you explain that, Doctor?

Certainly. Schizophrenia is a
disassociation of psychic function,

commonly referred to
as dual or split personality.

Thank you, Doctor.

Your witness.

No questions at this time.

You may step down.

Your Honor, may we
approach the bench?

JUDGE: Certainly.

With the court's permission,

I should like to have
the courtroom cleared

before I call my next witness.

Will Counsel state his reason?

Well, the method necessary
to produce this witness

must be performed before the least
possible people in order to get results.

It will, in effect, require
psychological surgery.

If the court please,
the prosecution

would like to know the
name of this witness.

Joyce Martel.

The prosecution has
no objection, Your Honor.

Permission granted.

The bailiff will clear the
courtroom, except for witnesses.

All right, folks.

The judge has asked that
you leave the courtroom.

Please clear the courtroom.

CLERK: Thank you.

MASON: Mrs. Reed,

you have sat in this courtroom
and heard the prosecution

virtually accuse you
of being an accessory

in the murder of
your former husband.

You have heard the
district attorney hint

that in an effort to
shield your brother,

you removed his gun from the
apartment where David Reed was killed.

Now, with your help,

I'd like to try a
little experiment.

Will you take this, please?

I can understand
your reluctance.

You're allergic to
fur, are you not?

Yes, I am.

Nevertheless, will you
please hold on to it?

(SNEEZES)

(COUGHS)

That's enough, isn't it?

Very well. We'll
go a step further.

(COUGHS)

Now, David Reed's body
was found in the apartment

you occupied under the
name of Joyce Martel.

Now, with your cooperation,

I'd like to have Dr. Maitland
produce Joyce Martel.

Dr. Maitland?

I never thought Mason would
put Helen Reed on the stand.

He's out of his mind.

Yes. But he's calling
for Joyce Martel.

But the law doesn't
recognize dual personalities.

He's left himself wide open.

How are you, Mrs. Reed?

I'm all right, I guess.

I imagine all this must be a
little bit frightening for you.

Well, it is a little
difficult, you know,

to be accused of
things that you never did.

That's quite all right. You're
coming along splendidly.

Now,

I want you to relax.

Now there's absolutely
nothing to be afraid of.

We've done this before.

Now just relax.

That's the way. Good.

Now you'll find you're
getting a little bit drowsy.

Your eyelids are getting
heavier and heavier.

It's hard to keep
your eyes open.

That's quite all right.
You can close them.

When you open them
again, you'll feel fine.

How do you feel, Helen?

Fine.

Do you know where you are?

Yes. I'm in the courtroom.

That's very good.

Miss Martel?

Joyce?

Miss Martel?

I want to speak to
you. Open your eyes.

BURGER: If Your Honor please.

Yes, Mr. Burger.

I'm fully aware of
Dr. Maitland's reputation,

but we have absolutely no proof

that Mrs. Reed isn't
over-cooperating.

You think she's faking?

BURGER: Well, she
certainly could be.

I'm not impressed with
Mr. Mason's pyrotechnics.

I don't know why he found it
necessary to empty a courtroom

just to prove that Mrs.
Reed is oversensitive to fur.

Many women are.

And while she may
be under hypnosis,

we have absolutely
no guarantee of that.

(LAUGHING)

Oh, thanks a lot, Doc.

Oh.

Oh, you know how I
hate being cooped up.

I thought you'd never
get me out of there.

Johnny. Hi, Johnny.
Did you miss me?

I'll see you later.

Thank you, Doctor.

Miss Martel, my
name is Perry Mason.

Yes, I know.

You're her brother's lawyer.

I'm going to need your
cooperation, Miss Martel.

That's not such a
bad idea, Mr. Mason.

And the name is Joyce.

I was referring to the
murder of David Reed.

Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Not interested.

That's Helen Reed's
husband, not mine.

Miss Martel, the law does
not recognize dual personality.

You and Helen Reed will be
considered the same person.

Now, let's get this
straight, mister.

We may be sharing the same body,

but we are definitely
not the same woman.

Nevertheless, on occasion,
you did pose as Helen Reed

and it was you who took that gun
from Robert Crane's apartment.

Sure, it was.

Crane thought I
was his sister, Helen.

I took some other things, too.

You know, Helen told Bob once

that she saw a picture of
herself with a man in a nightclub.

The man was Johnny.

I tore Johnny off the picture

and left it in
Helen's apartment.

She couldn't figure
out who it was.

It nearly drove her nuts.

Now, Helen told Crane
later that it was all a dream

and I wanted Crane
to think that she did it.

Your Honor.

The prosecution has so
far refrained from objecting

only out of deference
to this court's decision

to allow the defense
counsel unusual latitude.

JUDGE: Because of
the unusual aspects,

the court has permitted
this irregular procedure.

Nevertheless, Counsel
will use discretion

in availing himself
this opportunity.

Your Honor, the court must be
aware of the extreme prejudice

the witness bears
against Helen Reed,

actually, against herself.

In view of this
unique situation,

I must ask for the
court's further indulgence.

Just what does Counsel
intend to establish?

The fact that Joyce Martel

was the occupant of Helen
Reed's body at the time of the crime.

That she was present
when it was committed

and that she knows
who the murderer is.

Very well. Counsel may proceed.

Are you in love
with Johnny Hale?

You bet I am.

He wasn't in my apartment that
night, though. He didn't kill Reed.

And you say you hate Helen Reed?

Now, that's the
funniest line of the year.

Would you like to see her dead?

With any luck,
could you arrange it?

Well, for your information, Helen
Reed feels the same way about you.

She'd like to get rid of
Joyce Martel once and for all.

And I know how she can do it.

We'll have Dr. Maitland
bring Helen Reed back.

We'll have Helen Reed tell how she
saw you in the room with the dead body,

how she saw you
pick up that gun and...

Let her alone!

JUDGE: Let that man
approach the bench.

Did you think I
was gonna sit there

and let you put her
in a gas chamber?

Johnny, don't!

It's all right, baby. I
knew you'd never talk,

but I don't trust
that other dame.

Johnny.

I won't let you
take the rap for me.

Yeah. Yeah, I did it.

I thought she was
playing around with Reed.

I didn't know he
was her husband.

So when I found him
in her apartment, I...

Well, I flipped.

She's the only one who
ever meant anything to me.

Can you beat it?

She ain't even for real.

Paul,

see that Mr. Crane
gets this, will you?

Perry.

I know I shouldn't ask
embarrassing questions,

but why did Johnny Hale confess?

I'll let you in on
a secret, Paul.

That wasn't a confession,
that was an extraction.

Come again.

All along, I felt that Johnny
had the strongest motive

and that he was really
in love with Joyce Martel.

So I decided to bluff.

I felt that if it looked to Johnny
as though Joyce were in danger,

he'd leap to her defense.

But Joyce was in no
danger from Helen Reed.

Helen Reed knew
nothing about her.

Fortunately, Johnny
never met Dr. Freud.

So he was unaware
of that little quirk.

Well, what do you suppose
will happen to Mrs. Reed now?

Well, her doctor holds
out great hope for a cure.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

What?

Well, if she remains
Helen Reed all the time,

she'd still be allergic to fur.

You do know what
that means to a woman?