Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 26 - The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife - full transcript

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Pretty well-done on
that side, Mrs. Shelby.

How about a drink of
water? Oh, I'd love it.

One water, coming up.

You know, you're the
handiest handyman I ever knew.

There you go. Thank you.

Frank.

I wanna make one point clear.

Your duties around
here do not include

the entertainment
of Mrs. Shelby.

I know what my duties
include, Mr. Shelby.



Then keep the
limitations in mind.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(BANGING ON DOOR)

All right, all right. I'm
coming, I'm coming.

Okay. Where's Scott Shelby?

Now, just a second.

Take it easy, little man.

Where is he?

You, uh, must be Mr. Parker.

Who are you?

Art Williams. I'm
Mr. Shelby's accountant.

Well, Shelby promised to
send me a check for $8,500

by 11:00 this morning.

It isn't Mr. Shelby's
fault, Mr. Parker.



I didn't finish the job yet.

I'm supposed to make out the checks and
take them out for signature this afternoon.

All right, Williams.

But you tell Shelby that if he doesn't
have a check in my hands by 6:00 tonight,

I'm gonna see him in person.

And I won't be interested
in just the money anymore.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Oh, yes, Frank?

I'm all set to transplant
these bushes, Mrs. Shelby.

Show me where you want them.

All right.

Frank? Yes.

Would you mind
telling me something?

Sure.

Why do you stay here?

I'm sure you could
get a much better job.

This place is fine.

Gives me a roof over my head,

three meals a day.

Gives me a little time off
to keep up with my writing.

Oh?

Oh, don't get me wrong.
I'm no Ernest Hemingway.

I'll probably never write The Great
American Novel or much of anything else.

Still, I... I'd like to read
some of your work.

Well, you're dignifying
it, Mrs. Shelby.

All I have at the moment are

a couple of notebooks full of my
impressions on people and things.

Well, what's your
impression of me?

I wish I had the right to
tell you that, Mrs. Shelby.

This, uh, this where
you want them?

(DOOR OPENS)

Well, did you have a nice
afternoon with the help?

I don't know which
would please you more,

if I denied it or admitted there
was something between us?

(PHONE RINGING)

Well, answer it.

(SIGHS)

Hello.

Oh, hello, Ellen.

I'll talk to her.

Ellen, where have you been?

We've been expecting
you since 5:00.

Well, I'm sorry, Scott.

Arthur and I won't
be able to make it.

Oh.

I'm sorry. I was
looking forward to it.

Well, I'm very sorry, Scott.

Tell Marion we'll
make it another time.

Yes, all right, Ellen.
I'll call you tomorrow.

There are several
things I want to talk about.

Yes, I will.

Goodbye.

She's not coming?

Disappointed?

Frankly, no.

I can understand that.

Now, I'll be free to keep
tabs on the situation,

so you and your handyman will
have to behave yourselves now.

That's where our record
shows that the date of the crime,

as proved, was
subsequent to the indictment.

Judgment must be reversed.

Corpus Juris Secundum,
Volume 24, Section 1710.

No, Section 1730.

Is that it? That's it.

I'll type this up right away.

You'll do nothing of the kind.

Do you know what
time it is? Yeah.

Nothing wrong with
your watch. It is late.

Now get your coat
and I'll take you home.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Yes?

Sorry to bust in
on you like this,

but there was no one out front.

Well, that's all right.

You're Perry Mason?

Yes.

Well, what do you know?

Well, I know you
have a telegram for me.

Huh?

I say, I know you
have a telegram for me.

Oh, yeah. Of course.

You'll have to sign for it.

I'll sign for it.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Mason.

Wait till I tell the
fellows about this.

There you are. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, ma'am.

Perry Mason.

Bad news?

"Need help desperately. Expect
to be arrested any moment.

"Please contact
me in care of Shelby,

"Glidden Cove on Pinewood Lake."

Signed, "Frank Lawton."

Lawton?

Oh, I remember. He was lieutenant
in your company during the war.

Isn't he the one that
wanted to be the writer?

That's the one.

Remember I told you what
happened to him on D-day?

Sounds like he's
still in trouble.

Della, trouble is Frank
Lawton's middle name.

He was shot twice
during the service.

The week he came home, his
wife was killed in an accident.

Looks like the jinx
is still operating.

Are we going to Pinewood Lake?

Not we, me.

Wanna bet?

(MARION MOANING)

(PHONE RINGING)

FRANK: Hello.

Hello.

Frank? Frank!

What do you want?

This is Mr. Shelby.
I'm down at the dock.

Bring my shotgun.

Hurry! Hurry!

Mr. Shelby?

(WATER SPLASHING)

Mr. Shelby?

SCOTT: No! Don't! Don't!

(GUN FIRING)

Mr. Shelby!

Mr. Shelby!

Mr. Shelby...

(ECHOING) Mr. Shelby!

Mr. Shelby!

Mr. Shelby!

MARION: Frank! Mr. Shelby!

What's the matter?

What happened? I don't know.

I heard a shot.

Frank, where's my husband?

Where's Scott?

(SOBBING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

DIX: All right, we'll
take over here.

Did you find him? Did
you find my husband?

Not yet, ma'am.

My men have searched
most of Glidden Cove,

but so far there's no trace.

I can't understand it. I
just can't understand it.

I think I'm beginning
to, Mrs. Shelby.

Mr. Lawton, how long did it
take you to get down to the dock?

I don't know.

A couple of minutes, I guess.

Maybe less. I'm not sure.

Uh-huh.

Mr. Lawton, you said that
Mr. Shelby called you from the dock.

That's right.

Well, if he used this phone,
it was a pretty neat trick.

All right, Tanner.
Stick with it.

The divers are
coming out to help.

OFFICER: Looking for someone?

Why, yes.

Where can I find Frank Lawton?

Is he expecting you? Yes.

Go on in. Ask for Sergeant Dix.

Go ahead.

MAN ON RADIO:
Nothing in this area.

Well, move out of the cove
and start searching the lake.

Yes, sir.

What's all the excitement for?

We're looking for
Mr. Shelby's body.

Now, is there another
shotgun in the house?

No.

This one's been fired
recently, very recently.

Who used it?

I didn't.

Okay.

You wait here.

Mr. Mason, I'm
Detective Sergeant Dix,

Sheriff's Criminal
Detail. How do you do?

This is my secretary,
Miss Street.

How do you do? How do you do?

I understand that you were
sent for by Frank Lawton.

Well, let's say I
received a telegram,

signed Frank Lawton.

This wire was filed
at 8:30 p.m. last night.

Looks like Frank was
anticipating trouble.

That statement has
implications, Sergeant.

It was intended to.

We have reason to believe
that Frank Lawton's employer,

Scott Shelby, was
murdered early this morning.

Now, he didn't like Shelby.

But I have the
feeling that Frank

is just a little stuck
on Mrs. Shelby.

I see.

Do you mind if I
talk with Frank?

Of course. Come ahead.

Perry.

What are you doing here?

I got a telegram
signed with your name.

You what? Yeah.

Here it is.

I didn't send this.

Well, we'll see about
that. I'll get the original.

Look, what's going
on around here?

What am I being accused
of? I'd like to know...

Take it easy, boy.

Sheriff, if you'll excuse
me, I'd like to lie down.

DIX: Of course, Mrs. Shelby.

I'll be outside.
Don't take too long.

FRANK: And every so often, when
Shelby had a little trouble sleeping,

he'd go down to the
dock and take a boat ride.

Claimed it relaxed him.

And you knew about
these nocturnal excursions?

I knew about them.

This Ellen Waring you mentioned,

do you feel there was something
between her and Scott Shelby?

It was supposed to be business.

But you don't think so?

What did Mrs. Shelby think?

I never asked her, Perry.

But you said that every
time Ellen Waring came here,

she was accompanied by
their accountant, Art Williams.

No, not every time.

And even Williams himself came out two
or three times alone to take some pictures.

He's quite a camera buff.

How did Williams
and Shelby get along?

How did Shelby and
anyone get along?

Do you know anyone else
who had trouble with Shelby?

Perry, everybody had
trouble with Shelby.

Oh, I know, he puts
up a big show here,

but this place is in
mortgage to the hilt.

He gets prospective
clients out here.

They look around a
little bit, they listen to him

and then they give
him all their money

and that's the last
they ever see of it.

He even owes me two months pay.

Then, why did you stay?

The job wasn't very tough.

It gave me a chance to write.

I want a straight answer, Frank.

Are you in love
with Marion Shelby?

Oh, I...

I imagine I could be.

Very easily, with a
little encouragement.

But there never was any.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Mr. Mason, are
you about finished?

For the moment. Why?

Would you come with me, please?

Is he under arrest?

Not yet, but I hope you'll
advise him to cooperate.

Or you'll place
him under arrest?

That's about the size of it.

Where's his motive?

Do you recognize this?
You had no right to go...

Now, you take it easy, mister.

Your friend here
is quite a writer.

I'd like to read you
some of his stuff.

Hmm-mmm.

"August 10th." That
was just two days ago.

"Sometimes I think I'll
never understand women.

"There's no logical reason
for Marion to put up with him.

"She's lovely and generous,

"qualities that to
him are laughable.

"When I realize how
many decent men are killed,

"I wonder why a man like
Shelby should be permitted to live."

That wasn't meant
to be read by anyone.

I know.

Does that answer your question
about motive, Mr. Mason?

(ELECTRIC RAZOR HUMMING)

I may be thick, Perry,
but I just don't get it.

Well, I simply don't believe

Frank Lawton
murdered Scott Shelby.

You say that because
Frank Lawton's your friend.

Yes.

I also say it because I
don't think Shelby is dead.

Oh, it's all too pat.

Shelby flimflammed
everyone he did business with.

He's being hounded by creditors,
yet he has plenty of money.

Do you think he staged this whole
bit to cover his disappearance?

Mmm-hmm.

Perry, I don't buy it.

Look, you know for a
fact he was on the dock

and all his boats
are still there.

He'd have to be a channel
swimmer to make it across that cove.

He could've had a confederate
waiting in a boat nearby.

Well...

Assume, for a
moment, you're right.

Any idea who this
confederate might be?

Well, Shelby was in business

with a woman named Ellen Waring.

Only his connection with her seems
to have been more than just business.

That doesn't mean much.

Ellen Waring was
supposed to be a guest

at the Shelby's last weekend.

She waited until the last
possible moment to cancel out.

Why?

You got me.

I think she was waiting
in a boat for Shelby

when he jumped off the dock.

You, uh, think that Mr. Shelby is
presently residing in Miss Waring's closet?

That's a possibility.

Perry, you're out of
your ever-loving mind.

That's also a possibility.
Come on. Let's go.

Ellen Waring lives
in apartment 3E.

Alone? Yeah.

Find her garage.

Why the garage?

Assuming Miss Waring was
the confederate in the boat

and assuming she was the
one who brought Shelby here,

she'd have had
to use her own car.

If we're lucky, we might
find something to prove that.

All I can say is, you're doing
an awful lot of assuming.

Paul, car seat.

Soaking wet.

You know, you could be right.

Let's take a look around.

It hasn't rained lately.

No, it hasn't.

Soaked.

While Perry was
phoning you, Sergeant,

I saw a man raise the
window in her apartment.

How do you now it was
Miss Waring's apartment?

It was the corner
one on this floor.

You know, this could
be a lot better, Mason.

I could've thought of it.

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

Yes? Miss Ellen Waring?

Yes.

I'm a police officer. I'd like to
ask you a few questions, please.

About what?

I'd rather not discuss it out
here in the hall. May we come in?

If it's about Scott Shelby,
I don't know anything.

You'd better let me
be the judge of that.

Miss Waring, I'm
Detective Sergeant Dix

of the sheriff's
office at Pinewood.

This is Mr. Perry Mason.

Mr. Paul Drake.

I heard the news on the radio
just about 20 minutes ago.

What happened, Sergeant?
The report wasn't very clear.

Mr. Shelby jumped, fell,
or was thrown off the dock.

They said something
about his being shot.

DIX: We don't know.

Miss Waring, I'll
come right to the point.

Who else, besides you,

spent the night in this
apartment last night?

What do you mean?

Who's in the bedroom?

That's none of your business.

Miss Waring,

my client, Frank Lawton,

is being held on
suspicion of murder.

Scott Shelby disappeared

under mysterious
circumstances last night.

Now, we have
information that you're...

Let me get this straight.

You think Scott
Shelby's in there.

Is that what you think?

My mother.

She came in from
San Diego last night.

But there was a man seen
in your window this morning,

not more than two
hours ago. Who was he?

A friend. Arthur Williams.

Where is Mr. Williams now?

Down the hall. He has
apartment 3A on this floor.

He came in around 7:30 and
we had some coffee together.

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

That's probably Arthur now.

Come in, dear.

These gentlemen came to ask me
some questions about Scott Shelby.

Something's happened to him.

What? Well, I
don't know exactly.

Miss Waring, when did
you use your car last?

Yesterday afternoon.

How did the seat get wet?

There's a blanket and a pair of men's
shoes in the garage, both soaked.

You were in my
garage? Yes, ma'am.

You've got your nerve.

How did they get wet?

Well, Arthur and I are going
for our marriage license today.

Isn't that right, darling?

Yes.

Yesterday, we decided to
have a picnic to celebrate.

Where did you go on this picnic?

Well, we...

To an estate in Oak Cliff

I'm trying to sell for
the owner, a Mr. Kleiner.

There's some shade
trees and a small lake,

a barbecue area for picnics.

Art tried some fishing.

He slipped on the bank
and that's how he got wet.

Now, is there anything
else you'd like to know?

May I use your
phone, Miss Waring?

Of course.

Pinewood 65098, collect.
This is Sergeant Dix.

I'm sorry, Miss Waring.

Oh, I suppose I can't
blame you, Mr. Mason.

But this really has
been an awful imposition.

It occurs to me

that you came here with the
intention of accusing me of murder.

No. Not murder.

Hello, Ted.

Oh, when?

There was nothing on it?

Yeah, that figures.

Yeah, yeah. I'll get
there as soon as I can.

Yeah.

Well, they found Shelby's body.

Oh, no.

(SOBBING) When?

About 20 minutes ago.

They fished it out of the lake

about a mile from the dock.

A good part of his head had been
blasted away by a shotgun charge.

Oh.

Do you have any more
theories, Mr. Mason?

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Well, this looks like
the place she described.

Easy. Thanks.

Well, I can see how he might
have slipped and gotten wet.

Everything matches.

BLACK: And the State will prove
beyond any reasonable doubt

that the defendant, Frank
Lawton, did willfully murder

Scott Shelby on the
night of August 12th.

We will prove that the motive

was his desire for
his employer's wife,

Marion Shelby.

We will show you a
notebook kept by the defendant

in which he recorded his
hatred for the deceased

and his desire to do
Mr. Shelby great bodily harm.

I call, as my first witness,

Detective Sergeant Phillip Dix.

BLACK: Where'd you find
that notebook, Sergeant?

In Mr. Lawton's room.

And did he identify the exhibit
as his own personal property?

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, Sergeant.

Now, getting back for a
moment to this shotgun,

exhibit two.

Did you examine
this weapon? I did.

And what did you discover
from your examination?

Since it belonged to the
deceased, Scott Shelby,

naturally, his
fingerprints were on it.

Naturally.

Were there any
other fingerprints?

Well, outside of
mine and the deputy's,

only the prints belonging to
the defendant, Frank Lawton.

What about the shells?

Were Mr. Shelby's
fingerprints on them?

No, sir. One barrel
was still loaded.

The other barrel
contained an empty shell.

It had been fired
recently, probably...

Objection.

If the district attorney
wishes to have this witness,

during his testimony,

give an opinion as to
whether that shotgun

had been fired recently
before his examination of it

I think the witness should first
qualify himself as an expert on firearms.

In the meantime, the
sergeant should tell us

only what he saw
and what he heard.

JUDGE: Objection
sustained. Proceed, Mr. Black.

I have no further questions.
You may cross-examine.

Thank you. Uh, may I?

Now, Sergeant,

you just testified

that the dead man's fingerprints
were not on those shells?

Yes, sir.

Were the defendant's
fingerprints on those shells?

No, sir.

In other words, there
were no fingerprints at all

on the shells, is that right?

Yes, sir.

And you maintain
that this is the weapon

used to kill Scott
Shelby, is that right?

I do.

Can you swear that it is?

Your Honor, Mr. Mason
is hoist by his own petard.

He's just had a
ruling from the court

that Mr. Dix is not qualified
to give an expert opinion.

I'm not asking for an
expert opinion, Your Honor.

I'm asking only that the
witness give a yes or no answer

as to whether he can swear
that this gun killed Scott Shelby.

I will allow the question.

Well, Sergeant?

I cannot swear that it is.

Then there might have
been some other shotgun?

Yes, sir.

No further questions.

You may step down, Sergeant.

Now, Mrs. Shelby, did the
defendant, Frank Lawton,

ever tell you how
he felt about you?

His conduct was always
beyond reproach, Mr. Black.

At all times?

At all times.

I would like to read an excerpt

from the defendant's notebook.

This is dated August 1st.

I quote,

"Perhaps if I had
something to offer,

"I could go to Marion
and ask her to marry me.

"But this is just
more wishful thinking.

"As long as her
husband is alive,

"I wouldn't stand a chance."

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Now, do you mean to
say that Frank Lawton

never told you
that he loved you?

I object, Your Honor.

Counsel is cross-examining
his own witness.

Sustained.

All right, Mrs. Shelby,

would you kindly tell the court

exactly what occurred on
the night of August 12th,

after you were asleep?

Well, I don't know if
I was exactly asleep.

I think, you might
say, I was half-awake.

Well, did you hear anything?

Yes. I overheard loud
voices from outside the house.

Were you able to distinguish
what either of the voices said?

No, sir.

Well, were your husband and
Mr. Lawton in an argument?

I object to that, Your Honor.

Counsel is trying
to lead the witness.

She has already testified that she
could not hear what was being said.

Sustained.

All right, Mrs. Shelby, after you
were awakened by the loud voices,

what did you do?

As I put on my
robe and slippers,

I heard a loud gunshot.

I ran out of the house
and down to the dock.

When you arrived at the dock,

what did you see and
what did you hear?

I saw Frank Lawton
leaning over the water

and calling, "Mr.
Shelby, Mr. Shelby."

And what did he
have in his hand?

A shotgun.

Thank you, Mrs. Shelby.

You may cross-examine.

Mrs. Shelby.

Mrs. Shelby, would you describe
yours as a happy marriage?

Basically, there was
very little affection

between my husband and myself.

Not at any time?

If there was, my husband's
flagrant affair with Ellen Waring

killed any trace of it.

I see.

Just one more
question, Mrs. Shelby.

Did the defendant, Frank Lawton,

ever make improper
advances toward you?

Never.

Thank you. That is all.

You may step down.

Thank you.

Now, Mrs. Williams, were
your dealings with Mr. Shelby

ever based on anything other
than a business relationship?

Absolutely not.

As a matter of fact, while
you were Mr. Shelby's partner,

you were in love with
another man, isn't that so?

Yes.

A man to whom you are now
married, Mr. Arthur Williams?

Yes.

Thank you, Mrs. Shelby.
You may cross-examine.

Would you care for some water?

Thank you.

Mrs. Williams,

you and your husband
applied for a marriage license

the morning after the death
of Scott Shelby, is that true?

We were planning
it for some time.

The evening before,

you were supposed to be
a guest at the Shelby home.

Yes.

You didn't go. Why not?

Well, my mother arrived
from San Diego, unexpectedly.

What did you do that afternoon?

We went on a picnic.

And where did that
picnic take place?

At the Kleiner
estate in Oak Cliff.

Mrs. Williams, I suggest

that you were not on
any picnic that afternoon.

I suggest that you were
some other place entirely.

That's not true.
Your Honor, I object.

These questions are wholly
immaterial to the issues here.

Your Honor, I have a right to
attack the credibility of this witness.

That's perfectly proper
cross-examination, Mr. Black.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Now, Mrs. Williams, what
time was this supposed picnic?

What time did you get there
and what time did you leave?

We arrived around 2:00 in the
afternoon and left around 5:30.

That was on the
afternoon of August 12th,

the same day Scott
Shelby was murdered? Yes.

Can you establish the fact that
you were at the Kleiner estate

between 2:00 and 5:30

on the afternoon of August 12th?

I most certainly can.

My husband is an
amateur photographer

and he has some photographs
that were taken there that same day.

Arthur, will you show
Mr. Mason the pictures you took?

You Honor, I would like to
put Mr. Williams on the stand

to identify these photographs

and introduce
them into evidence.

Do you have any
objection to interrupting

your cross-examination
at this time, Mr. Mason?

None at all, Your Honor.

But it's getting
close to lunchtime.

May I suggest a recess
before Mr. Williams goes on?

Any objection, Mr. Black?
Not at all, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason needs
time to catch his breath.

I'd be very happy
to give it to him.

This court is
adjourned till 2:00 p.m.

Don't worry, Frank.

Looks like you were kind of
hoist by your own petard again.

Could be. Paul, you're a pretty
good photographer, aren't you?

Huh? Come on, Della.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Now, Mr. Williams,
what is your profession?

I'm an accountant.

And did you do an audit
of the Scott Shelby firm,

that is Shelby and Waring?

I did.

Is that where you met Ellen
Waring, whom you later married?

Yes, sir.

Now, on the day before you
announced your marriage,

did you and Miss Waring
picnic on the Kleiner estate?

Yes, sir.

Are these the photographs
that you made at that time?

Yes.

Can you prove that
these were made

on the afternoon of August 12th?

Yes, I can.

As you can see by this receipt,

I took the film to the
Brighton Camera Shop

to be developed promptly at
10:00 the following morning.

Why do you say
promptly at 10:00?

Well, it was the first
opportunity I had.

When we got back from
the picnic, it was after 6:00

and the camera shop was closed.

It didn't open again until
10:00 the next morning.

I should like to
have this receipt

and these photographs
entered in evidence.

You may cross-examine.

Now, Mr. Williams,

about your audit
of Mr. Shelby's firm.

I object, Your Honor.

I put Mr. Williams on the stand

to introduce those photographs.

That may have been the district
attorney's purpose, Your Honor.

Nevertheless, when
he asked Mr. Williams

about his profession,
he opened the door.

I should be permitted to
pursue this on cross-examination.

Overruled. The witness
will answer the question.

Yes, I did an audit for
Shelby and Miss Waring.

Did the books balance?

Well, I don't know
exactly what you mean.

I mean, was Mr. Shelby's
personal account

exactly as it should be?

No. There was a
slight discrepancy.

Oh? How much?

$120,000.

Well, I'm glad you're
so affluent, Mr. Williams,

that you can dismiss $120,000
as a slight discrepancy.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Now, Mr. Williams,

I have here a Photostat of Scott
Shelby's personal bank account.

Would you be good enough to read
the amount of the last withdrawal?

WILLIAMS: $121,714.

Mr. Black, you'll note the
withdrawal was made in cash.

Now, uh, would you tell us
the date of that withdrawal?

August 11th.

Or the day before
Mr. Shelby was murdered.

Really, Your Honor.

This whole line of
questioning is irrelevant.

It is not germane to the
murder of Scott Shelby.

Now I maintain it is, sir.

I maintain that it supplies
the motive for the crime.

Scott Shelby had on
his person over $120,000

24 hours before he was murdered.

Now, where is that money now?

Have you any idea?

Yes, Your Honor, I have.

You may proceed.

Thank you.

Now, Mr. Williams,
your wife testified

that you were an
amateur photographer.

That's right.

Isn't it true that most
amateur photographers

prefer to develop and
print their own pictures?

I generally do.

But on the morning
of August 13th,

you went to a photo shop
to have your film processed?

I wanted the pictures in a hurry

and I didn't know when I could
find time to develop the roll.

See, that sounds reasonable.

Now, this is a
receipt for your film,

is marked 10:00
a.m., August 13th

and it is initialed
J.B. Who's J.B.?

The proprietor of the
Brighton Camera Shop.

Was it his idea to sign
this receipt in this way

or did you request it?

Well, I... I don't remember.

Let me show you another receipt

from the Brighton
Camera Shop, Mr. Williams.

This is for a roll of film

taken to their store
by my secretary

a little more than an hour ago.

Do you see any notation
of time on that receipt?

No.

Then, apparently,

marking their receipts
with the exact time

is not one of their standard
operating procedures.

Well, I guess I asked
the owner to do it.

Why?

Well, I'm an accountant
by profession.

I like to have all my
records properly detailed.

I see.

What time of the day

did you make these
photographs, Mr. Williams?

I don't remember exactly.

It was between 2:00
and 5:30 in the afternoon.

Mr. Williams, will you
examine these photographs,

any one of them?

Now, is the
barbecue in that one?

Yes. Does it show a shadow?

Yes.

If the court will excuse
me for a moment.

Mr. Williams,

in what direction

is the shadow of the
barbecue pointing?

West.

But that would indicate that
the sun is in the east, wouldn't it?

It would have to be
to cast that shadow.

I guess so.

And if the sun is in the east,

it follows it is
morning, isn't it true?

I guess so.

Your Honor, I should like
to introduce into evidence

this photograph
taken at the lake

on the Kleiner
estate at exactly 1:55.

I should further like to direct
the attention of the court

to the fact that the afternoon
shadow cast by the barbecue

is pointing directly east

while the shadow in the
photograph taken by Mr. Williams

is pointing west.

JUDGE: Mark it exhibit number 8.

Now, I'm going to ask you
once again, Mr. Williams.

What time of the day did
you take those photographs?

I'm not sure.

You're not sure because
you were at the Kleiner estate

for your picnic not on
the afternoon you stated,

but on the following
morning before 10:00.

You took those photographs
on the morning of August 13th.

Then you rushed to the
Brighton Camera Shop

to have them developed.

Isn't that so, Mr. Williams?

Yes.

Louder.

Yes. Why?

What were you doing on
the afternoon of the murder

that you felt it essential
to have an alibi?

Well, uh, we were, uh...

We're waiting, Mr. Williams.

Well, I...

I met with Scott
Shelby that afternoon.

He wanted to disappear.

And you were going to help
him in his disappearance?

Yes. I had a boat
and was going to wait

a short distance from the
dock for him at 11:00 that night.

How much were you to be
paid for this invaluable aid?

$10,000.

So then you figured,
why settle for only $10,000

when you could've
had more than $120,000

and no one would've
been the wiser.

No.

You mean, that thought
never crossed your mind?

Well, I didn't kill him.

I won't go to the gas
chamber for anybody.

I was in the boat,

but she did it. I saw her.

MASON: Whom did
you see? Mrs. Shelby?

Yes. It was her.

He's a liar.

How can you believe
a man like that?

She gave me $10,000.

She was supposed
to pay me more later.

I've got the money at home.
I never even touched it.

Can you prove that Mrs.
Shelby gave you the money?

Yes, and I can prove
why she paid me.

I never go anywhere
without my camera

and on that night at
the boat, I had it with me.

It was loaded
with infrared film,

with an infrared
flashbulb attachment.

I didn't trust Shelby and I
wanted to protect myself.

When I heard the
gunshot, I took the picture.

My wife has it now.

Is that the picture?

Your Honor.

Bailiff, bring that
woman to the bench.

Well, I don't know.

I may have had Marion
pegged all wrong, Perry.

I still don't understand why
she wanted to frame me.

Well, actually, it
was all Shelby's idea.

Even to getting my name
out of your notebook.

Marion just saw an opportunity
and took advantage of it.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Yeah?

Hi.

MASON: Well, how
are you, Sergeant?

Fine.

I see you're going to move.

Do you blame me? No.

We found the rest of the
money and the murder gun.

They were on a
plank under the dock.

Oh, I've got
something for you, too.

Exhibit A.

Thanks.

I think I'm going
to leave the writing

to Hemingway and
Steinbeck from now on.

If you ever get a telegram
or a letter from me,

you can be sure it's a phony.

Then how am I
gonna hear from you?

If I'm in trouble, I'll
send you a smoke signal.

Come on, Frank.
Let's get out of here.

Here you are, Sergeant.