Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 29 - The Case of the Hesitant Hostess - full transcript

(LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

I'm warning you, Sanders.

I catch you hanging around
here again, I'll call the cops.

Evening, Mr. Archer.

Kind of slow tonight.

Yeah.

WOMAN: How about a light, baby?

What's the matter?
You look worried.

You should know about that, Kim.

Did you arrange for the money?

Pick it up at 5:00
tomorrow afternoon



at the apartment.

Then you have
nothing to worry about.

I can keep a secret.

I want you to know
one thing, Kim.

I'm not going to go on being...

You'll go on being
anything I want you to be,

Mr. Frederick Archer III.

Let's get that straight.

There's nothing more between us.

Nothing but money.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Don't turn on the light.

(DOOR CLOSING)



(BOTTLE CLATTERING)

Know where I am?

I'm at the Regis Towers.

It's a penthouse
on the very top floor.

And there's a man waiting in
the drawing room to take me out.

A strictly uptown man.

That's the way it's
going to be with me.

Strictly uptown.

Even champagne can't
hold back tomorrow, Kim.

Tomorrow I won't care.

Sure.

That's the way it's
going to be, Inez.

I've got the world by a string.

Only for some of us,
the string's got knots in it.

It's not so bad for you.

I got you a good job, didn't I?

Dance hostess?

Best way I know to
get a massage to music.

Know any other business

that you could travel as much?

Well, of course,

we do get overseas modeling
assignments now and then,

but there's always a catch.

You've always got to come
back to Danceland Ballroom.

You know, if it wasn't for
those trips, I'd quit tomorrow.

Too late to quit, baby.

You're as much a
part of the operation

as the bricks in this building.

What do you mean, "operation"?

When you find that out, you'll
have just invented security.

Security?

I don't understand.

When you do, baby,

you can quit
your job like I did.

Tomorrow night's my
last night at that joint.

From then on, Kim Lane's
walking nine feet tall.

(SLOW WALTZ PLAYING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come in.

Miss Rayburn? Larry Coles
said you wanted to see me.

Yes, I did.

I understand that you left word

that you wanted
to talk to Mr. Archer

if he should come in.

That's right.

Well, Inez, Mr. Archer
is only our landlord.

I run Danceland Ballroom.

Now, if there's something you
want to discuss about your work...

(CHUCKLING) Oh, no.
It's nothing about my work.

It's Kim Lane.

Well, what about Kim?

Well, she left the
apartment this morning.

She, uh, had a date
and didn't come back.

What does this have
to do with Mr. Archer?

Oh, well, Kim and Mr. Archer
were going together.

(SIGHS)

Inez, Mr. Archer is a
very happily married man.

Now, he's not going to have any
back-alley association with Kim.

Miss Rayburn,

as, uh, long as we are
on the subject of Kim,

she said she quit.

This was her last night?

Well?

Well, she'd been
drinking last night,

so I didn't pay too much attention
at first, although she did say,

"Once you get to
know this operation,

"you've invented security."

Oh.

Well, what else did
Kim have to say?

Oh, you know, just rambled.

Somehow I got the impression

she was talking about those
overseas modeling jobs we take.

Look, if you aren't happy with
your modeling assignments,

I can see that you
don't get any more.

Oh, no, I want to go.

Well, then, let's forget all
this talk about what Kim said

and get back on the floor.

Yes, ma'am.

(LIVELY JAZZ PLAYING)

Martha, I need help.

I was driving down Front Street,

and I stopped for a
red light when this fellow

pulled a gun and
held me up. Before I...

MARTHA: Just a moment.

(POUNDING ON DOOR)

(SNORES)

PURVIS: All right,
Sanders, get up.

Huh? Huh?

Come on, Sanders,
we haven't got all day.

(STAMMERING) What
do you fellas want?

I ain't done nothin',
Officer. Honest.

You ain't done nothin'.
These guys are all alike.

How did this get into
your trash can outside?

That is your
trash can, isn't it?

Yeah.

All right. Where'd
you hide the gun?

I ain't got no gun.

And I don't suppose you
were anywhere around

Front Street about
midnight last night.

No! You've got to believe
me, Officer! Please!

All right. Come on. We're
goin' downtown. No, no, no!

Now, wait a minute! Wait
a minute. Wait a minute.

Morning, Mr. Sanders.

My name is Perry Mason.
I'm going to represent you.

I didn't ask for a lawyer.

I know. I was in court this
morning when you were arraigned.

And who's gonna pay you?

All I got in the world is $23

and a beat-up old trailer.

Oh, I volunteered to defend you.

The court appointed me.

Why should a big-shot
lawyer like you waste his time

on a charity case?

Do you think it's
a waste of time?

What I think or feel
doesn't make any difference.

Anyway, who cares?

You know, you've been a
good many things, Sanders,

but never a quitter.

How would you know?

Oh, I've made a few inquiries.

I know a good deal about you.

I know that eight years ago,
your wife and two children

were killed in an
automobile accident.

It was all my fault.

If I hadn't fell
asleep at the wheel...

Because you'd been
driving 36 hours straight

to get here in time for a job.

You can't keep on blaming
yourself for an accident.

Now, shall we get
down to business?

Yeah.

All right.

Tell me exactly what
happened this morning.

About 9:00, the cops
started bangin' on my door,

wanted to know what Frederick Archer
III's wallet was doin' in my trash can.

Had you ever seen
this Mr. Archer before?

Never.

MASON: According to the
police report, Mr. Archer,

you were on Front Street
and stopped for a red light

at about 12:00 midnight
on Monday of last week,

when this man ran
out from the curb

and held a gun on you
and your lady companion.

I was the lady companion.

But you didn't bother
to report the robbery.

If it hadn't been for a druggist

who witnessed the whole thing
from his shop, why, you and...

I'm sorry. Uh, it's probably
my fault, Mr. Mason.

You see, I rent this
ballroom from Mr. Archer,

and we had some business
to discuss in his office.

However, I didn't
feel very well,

and I decided to go home.

That was when it happened.

I just didn't feel up
to talking to the police,

so Mr. Archer drove me
straight to my apartment.

Really, Mr. Mason,

I hate to see so
much made of this.

After all, no one was hurt.

No one but my
client, Albert Sanders.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Talk to them all? Mmm-hmm.

Rene, Dawn, Jovine. Oh, what
names, and what actresses.

They all had their
parts down so pat

they could have been reading
them from the same script.

They try to sell you
anything in particular?

Yes.

That they hadn't seen their
boss, Martha Rayburn, at all

the night of the robbery.

So it would seem she
was in that car with Archer.

So it would seem.

Thank you, Della.

Now... Morning, Paul.

How were the girls at the
Danceland Ballroom last night?

Well-rehearsed.

Yeah. The Drake Detective Agency

hasn't been letting any
grass grow under its feet.

I paid a visit to the State
College campus this morning.

Made a friend of a
third-string halfback.

Kid who, uh, doubles as
bouncer, down at the Ballroom.

Oh? What's his name?

Larry Coles.

I showed Larry a list of the
employees at the Ballroom.

Apparently, we
overlooked someone.

Who?

A hostess named Inez Kaylor.

She was fired last week.

So?

So, according to her landlady,

Inez said she was
fired the night of April 16,

which was the
night of the robbery,

and that she was fired by
Martha Rayburn, in person.

At the Ballroom?
Right after closing.

A little more than two
hours after the robbery.

You know, this Miss Kaylor

might make a very
interesting witness.

Think you can get
her to Sanders' trial?

Well, she moved to
Las Vegas, but we'll try.

I'll, uh, I'll send Ralph
Faulkner to talk to her.

He can be very convincing.

PAUL: Hiya, Faulkner.

Mr. Drake, this is Inez Kaylor.

How do you do,
Miss Kaylor? Fine.

I'm glad Ralph could
talk you into cooperating.

I could never
refuse a gentleman.

Nice going, Ralph.

Sit down, Miss Kaylor, please.

And how long is this gonna take?

Well, I should have you on a flight
back to Las Vegas tomorrow afternoon.

Miss Kaylor, are you
familiar with this case?

Yes, but, uh, just what
am I supposed to tell them?

Just the truth, and
as I understand it,

Martha Rayburn fired
you the night of April 16.

Indeed, she did.

Then she was at the Ballroom?

Well, she didn't relieve me of
my duties by mental telepathy.

But Miss Rayburn swears she
wasn't at the Ballroom that night.

Oh, my, how that woman can lie.

Does Martha know I'm here?

No, we... we thought it
would be nicer to surprise her.

I'll tell Mr. Mason you're here.

PROSECUTOR: Now, Miss Rayburn,

you got a good look
at the man who held up

you and Mr. Archer
at the point of the gun?

I most certainly did.

There was a streetlight
shining directly on his face.

And do you see the
man in court here?

Yes, I do. He's sitting over
there next to Mr. Mason.

You're referring to the
defendant, uh, Albert Sanders?

I am.

Thank you.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Miss Rayburn, exactly what
did you do after the robbery?

(SIGHS)

I'll ask you once
again, Miss Rayburn.

Are you absolutely positive you
did not go to the Danceland Ballroom

on the night in question?

Yes, I'm absolutely positive.

Mr. Drake, will you please
bring in Miss Inez Kaylor?

Inez?

You know Miss Kaylor?

Well, yes. She
used to work for me.

When was her
employment terminated?

Well, I don't exactly know.

Perhaps Miss Kaylor
will be more specific.

(INAUDIBLE)

If it please the court,

I want the witness to
look at Miss Inez Kaylor

for purposes of identification.

However, it seems
it will take some time

to bring Miss Kaylor into court.

Therefore, I should like to
continue my cross-examination

of Miss Rayburn
on Monday morning.

JUDGE: Very well, as the
hour of adjournment is near,

this court will recess until
10:00 on Monday morning.

The witness may stand down.

(BANGS GAVEL)

Paul, why didn't you
post a man with Inez?

Perry, she wanted to put
Martha Rayburn on the griddle.

I had no idea
she'd fade like that.

Well, find her, Paul,
by Monday morning.

I'll find her.

Della, I'll meet
you at the office.

(BOYS CHATTERING)

Get him, Lenny! Hurry up!

BOY 2: He's gone home.
Come on, Bobby, come on.

BOY 3: Hurry up!
BOY 1: Throw it!

BOY 1: Lenny, what's
wrong? Throw it!

MASON: I don't know. It
just doesn't make sense.

Inez Kaylor just
couldn't up and vanish.

Someone had to pull a string.

And you think that someone
was Martha Rayburn?

Well...

(INTERCOM BUZZING)

Yes, Gertie?

Lieutenant Tragg's here.

Who else would it be
but Tragg? Send him in.

Send him in, Gertie.

Listen, will you check on Paul

and see what luck he's having?

Thank you, Della.

My pleasure, Lieutenant.

Well, how are you, Tragg?

Well, I'm glad to see
you in a good humor.

Now, sit down. Let
me make you unhappy.

This afternoon,
some boys playing ball

came upon what was
once a very pretty girl.

Inez Kaylor?

No, it so happens her
name was Kim Lane.

Kim Lane.

She used to be a hostess
at the Danceland Ballroom.

Your, uh, client used
to hang around there.

Are you trying to say

Albert Sanders
murdered this girl?

That's what the evidence says.

Miss Lane's purse was
missing. So was her jewelry.

We went back to his
trailer, and guess what?

We found Miss Lane's
purse and her jewelry

under the chassis.

But there's... But there's
always a bright side.

At least it's nothing for
you to be concerned with.

You're only losing
a... a robbery case,

but some legal eagle's
going to lose Sanders

on a charge of murder.

You mean the District
Attorney's office

is going to drop the
armed-robbery case?

You know better than that.

Mr. Burger just likes
to keep everything

buttoned up tight.

Wait a minute.

You said Burger. I
thought Walsh was on this.

Oh, no, no.

Mr. Burger's going to try the
rest of the case personally.

Mr. Burger.

MASON: Well, that's
the situation, Sanders.

This afternoon the grand jury will
be asked to indict you for murder.

(SIGHING)

And what about this robbery rap?

The District Attorney is
going ahead with that, too.

He wants to make sure he
isn't gonna lose me, don't he?

Did you ever talk
with this Kim Lane?

I wouldn't know her if
she slapped me in the face.

No more than I knew that
Archer fellow, or Martha Rayburn.

But you were seen hanging around
that ballroom almost every night.

There was the music to
listen to, happy people to see.

Was that so bad?

No, not if you'd
told me the rest of it.

Rest of what?

About that girl's
purse and her ring.

I get up that
morning, go outside,

spot this purse and
wallet in the trash.

The wallet's empty.

Why didn't you tell me
you took that purse?

Wasn't I in enough
trouble without that?

Wasn't very smart.

If I was smart, I wouldn't
be sittin' in that courtroom

havin' them all look
at me like I was dirt!

Now get a hold of yourself.

But smart or no smart,

I'm full and runnin'
over with justice,

and I'm gettin' rid of you,

this trial and this jail!

And if anybody tries to stop me,
they're gonna get a broken neck!

It's all right.
He'll be all right.

(SNIFFLING)

Always in the gutter.

Why?

(DOORBELL BUZZING)

It's Paul Drake, Inez.
I'd like to talk to you.

Honey, Mr. Mason pays
me to be awfully persistent,

so why don't we
get this over with?

Hello, Mr. Drake.

Hi, Larry, how're
things at the ballroom?

Still bouncing 'em every
night, but I don't mind.

Keeps me in shape
for football season.

By the way, thanks for
bringing Inez back from Vegas.

Of all the girls,
she's my favorite.

(SOFTLY) Well, my goodness.

What about Kim Lane?

(SCOFFS)

See you around, honey.

Bye, Larry.

You and Larry getting
pretty chummy, huh?

Uh-oh, there must be a law.

No. But he's only a college kid.

And did you have some
reason for coming up here?

Uh, besides wanting
to change the world.

Yeah. What happened
at the courthouse?

Well, I wouldn't know.

I wasn't there very long.

Oh, I'm painfully aware of that.

The point is, why did you leave?

Let's, uh, call it
a change of heart.

You have a change of heart,

and an innocent
man pays for it, huh?

Oh, honey, send him my regrets.

He'll appreciate that.

Right up to the time they
drop the cyanide pellets.

You don't seem very
shook up about it.

Why don't you just
quietly drop dead?

Inez,

anybody check your whereabouts

the night Kim Lane was murdered?

What kind of a crack is that?

All I know is you're doing the greatest
silent act since they invented talkies.

Why?

You told me that
Martha Rayburn lied

when she said she wasn't at her
Ballroom the night of the robbery.

Now, why won't
you tell the court?

Oh, get out.

Did, uh, Fred Archer
and Martha suggest

you might bleed a little if
you cooperated with us?

Didn't I say get out of here?

All right, honey, if that's
the way you want to play it.

And this is? A subpoena.

If you won't appear voluntarily,
we'll do it the hard way.

Look, Paul, I won't
do Mason any good.

If I show, I... I'll
blast his client.

Mr. Mason just wants to
give you the opportunity

to commit perjury on the stand.

Because Faulkner
and I will testify

you told us an
entirely different story.

You know, you should do
something about your personality.

You give a girl a headache.

Must be some headache.

Well, I won't have it long.

You know, we have
something in common.

You say I'll be responsible
for Sanders' death,

and I say you've just
become responsible for mine.

(DOOR BANGING SHUT)

Honey, you should
have used a gun.

They just haven't
figured out a way

to remove a bullet
with a stomach pump.

Come on, Inez, open up!

Inez!

(CAR ENGINE STARTING)

Well, hello, Lieutenant.

Did you find any
trace of the girl?

Haven't looked. Haven't looked?

I thought you told me she
was loaded with sleeping pills.

Here, taste.

Sweet.

Yeah. My guess is, she
took an old prescription bottle,

put some sugar pills inside,
and played a big death scene.

Oh, and, Mason, don't
try to use this as an excuse

to delay the trial on Monday.

I'm not speaking for
myself, you understand,

but the prosecution might think
that you staged the whole thing.

Perry, I checked her belongings,

and all I could find were
some drug-store cosmetics

and these two evening dresses.

Paul, I want Archer
and Martha Rayburn

watched every second
until we find Inez.

All right.

Hello, Gertie? Let
me speak to Della.

Della, I want you to get us two
tickets on the 4:30 flight to Las Vegas.

I'll meet you at the airport.

No, no time now.
I'll explain later.

Paul, somehow I've got to get inside
Inez Kaylor's Las Vegas apartment.

This, uh, Kim Lane

was buying a mink
coat on time, wasn't she?

Yeah.

Inez was wearing it
after Kim disappeared.

So?

Well, these conditional
sales contracts provide

that if the property is
moved to another state,

the seller has the
right to repossess.

And you want to
buy out the contract

on Kim Lane's mink coat?

With the right to repossess

is the right to
enter the premises

and reclaim the property.

Mr. Mason, you've just gotten
yourself into the finance business.

No trace of it.

That coat must be worth
quite a lot of money.

Mink coats don't come
cheap, Mr. Wickett.

Do you suppose Inez could
be wearing it, Mr. Mason?

It's quite possible,
Miss Street.

At what time does Miss
Kaylor usually come in?

In this town, that's
anyone's guess.

Then I'll wait.

No need for you to be
inconvenienced, Mr. Wickett.

You've been quite helpful.

Uh...

Very helpful.

You check the bedroom. Mmm-hmm.

Did you find anything?

Miss Kaylor is a
clotheshorse, all right.

Only, a funny thing, most of the
labels are from foreign countries.

I didn't know dance
hostesses traveled so much.

Nor I.

Did you find anything?

Just the usual things.

Check the mail?

No. I was just getting to it.

Here.

Most of it has been forwarded

from Inez Kaylor's
Los Angeles address.

Some of it's
addressed to Kim Lane.

They lived together. I guess
their landlady forwards it all to Inez.

Mmm-hmm.

Bills, circulars...

A few letters.

Hmm.

Look at this, Perry.

Universal Model Agency.

MASON: "Miss Kim Lane.

"This is a confirmation
of position open.

"Report 20th of this month."

Report where?

There's no address
but Los Angeles.

Well, I guess Kim knew
what the address was.

(DOORKNOB RATTLING)

Well, you might as well come in.

Thanks.

Well, I suppose we owe
each other an explanation.

What would make
you suppose that?

For one thing, you
don't belong here.

And you?

At least I have a key.

Well.

Let's call the police, shall we?

You're probably bluffing,
but I can't take the chance.

Face the door over there.

Hurry up. I haven't much time.

He took some of
the mail, didn't he?

Mmm-hmm, just one piece.

I wonder...

The card to Kim Lane.

Universal Model Agency.

In Los Angeles.

Why all this trouble
over a postcard?

When we know the answer to that,

we may find
ourselves a murderer.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

WOMAN: Hello?

Yeah.

Oh, well, Jean may
still be out of the country

on that Central American job.

Well, just a minute.
Let me check the files.

Oh. You're the girl
that called yesterday?

Yes.

The boss is busy. Just sit down.

Yeah, she's still
out of the country.

Got another one for you, though.

Okay.

She'll meet you in Mexico City.

Hello, Marge.

Oh. And how are things
in Rio this time of the year?

Didn't you notice my tan?

You look absolutely stunning.

Anything else coming up for me?

We'll let you know.

Okay.

The boss will call you
when he wants you.

I'm going down
the hall for a minute.

Thank you.

(THUDDING)

You the girl sent for me?

Uh, yes.

Drop the coat.

Yeah, you look all right.

Are you alone in town?

Yes.

Except for my husband, that is.

Your husband?

Lady, did you read the ad?

It said "unattached models."

Well, I'm...

I'm terribly sorry to
have bothered you, Mr...

Mr... Mr...

And you and Mr. Archer were on
Front Street and stopped for a signal

when this man came
towards you with a gun.

That's correct.

And the thief took nothing
but Mr. Archer's wallet.

That's right.

And at no time

did you go to Danceland
Ballroom that evening.

No, I had not.

Your Honor, I object.

These questions have already
been asked and already answered.

Mr. Mason is just
going over and over

the same points in this case.

JUDGE: Mr. Mason, the
questions have been repetitious.

And they've contributed
no new evidence.

Objection sustained.

Very well, Your Honor.

Your Honor, may I
have a moment, please?

Any lead to Inez Kaylor?

No, the phone number the
modeling agency had for her

was the Danceland Ballroom.

In fact, that was the number
listed for most of the models.

And the man who runs the agency

was the same character
we met in Las Vegas.

The one who pulled a gun on me?

Mmm-hmm.

Get his name?

No. Paul's checking on it.

Perry.

Hmm?

That purse Martha Rayburn has.

One of the models at the
agency has one just like it.

As a matter of fact,

I've seen one
just like it myself.

Here.

Miss Rayburn, what
sort of a relationship

do you enjoy with
your hostesses?

It's strictly business.

I don't believe in getting
friendly with my girls.

It destroys efficiency.

And what are your policies as far
as gifts and bonuses are concerned?

I'm against them.

Any girl who works for me
can make a very good living,

if she's willing to work hard.

I don't expect any
gifts from them,

so I don't see why they
should expect any from me.

I see.

Now I should like
to ask you something

about the purse you're carrying.

BURGER: Your Honor, really,

Mr. Mason is insulting
the intelligence of this court

in his efforts to
prolong this trial!

If it please the court,
I believe I can prove

the pertinence
of such an inquiry.

Very well.

MASON: That is a rather
unusual purse, Miss Rayburn.

I had it made for me.

Would you say that such a purse

could be purchased in one of
the department stores in this city?

No.

Perhaps one of the
smaller specialty shops?

It was designed
specifically for me.

It could only be made
upon my placing the order.

Miss Rayburn, did you
read the newspaper accounts

of the murder of one of
your hostesses, Kim Lane?

Yes, I did.

Did you also see the
accompanying newspaper photos

which included
the personal effects

believed to have
belonged to Miss Lane?

Yes, I did.

Did you see her purse, perhaps?

Well, did you?

Yes.

Wasn't that purse identical
with the one you now hold?

Well, Miss Rayburn?

Yes, it was. I gave it to her.

Most of my hostesses
carry similar handbags.

But just a few seconds
ago, you said that you felt that

your help would be
spoiled by such gifts.

That it was against
your policy to give them.

Well, really, I don't
consider a handbag a gift.

I'm afraid the
distinction escapes me.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Well, who does
this one belong to?

Kim Lane.

How on earth did you get it?

Don't ask questions.

And I've got to get it back to my
contact at headquarters in an hour.

All right. You'll get it back.

Well, what would you say, Della?

It's a little bulky,

but outside of that, I
couldn't say a thing.

It's a little too
bulky, isn't it?

Oh, I don't know.

You know the amount of
junk some women carry.

Let me see that.

Give me that
nail file, will you?

Mmm-hmm.

Paul, did you get the name of the man
who was running that model agency?

Yeah, uh, Joseph Gibbs.

I'd like him called as a witness
for the session tomorrow.

All right.

What about Martha Rayburn?

I want to recall her, too.

Della... Mmm-hmm?

Wait a minute.

Yes. There's the
manufacturer's tag.

I would like you to do
some shopping for me

before court tomorrow.

Here you are, Paul.

Now, Miss Rayburn,

I ask that you
examine this purse.

Now, what if I told you that that
purse belonged to Kim Lane?

Your Honor, I want to know
where Mr. Mason got that purse.

Your Honor, I would be
glad to explain everything

to the District
Attorney's satisfaction

after my examination
of Martha Rayburn.

I object.

Your Honor, not only has
Mr. Mason no right to that purse,

but it's completely
irrelevant to this case.

I'm inclined to sustain
the objection, Mr. Mason,

unless you are in a
position to assure this court,

that there is some
factor in this situation

which you intend to develop,

and which will establish
a definite connection

between the purse and
the issues in this case.

I assure the court, I will show
a connection with the purse.

Very well.

I'll overrule the objection
and admit the evidence,

subject, of course, to
the right of the prosecution

to bring a motion to strike

in the event that the evidence
has no such connection.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Lieutenant, find out where
Mason got that purse.

MASON: Now, Miss
Rayburn, will you describe

the inside of that handbag
for the court, please?

Well, it's... it's
roomy and well-made.

It has a separate
compartment for everything.

What about the mirror?

Oh, yes, there's a mirror
attached to the outside flap.

MASON: And behind the mirror?

Well, I don't know
what you mean.

There's a small setscrew.

I took the liberty
of loosening it.

Would you remove
the mirror, please?

Thank you.

There seems to be traces
of some kind of powder here.

Would you know what that is?

I have no idea.

It doesn't smell,

so I don't suppose it
would be face powder.

But it does have a
taste, Miss Rayburn.

A taste of heroin.

MAN IN COURTROOM: Heroin?

Your Honor, I would suggest

that the police
confirm this analysis

and that the District
Attorney's office investigate

both Martha Rayburn
and Fred Archer

on charges of
smuggling narcotics.

That's not true!

Order! Order in this court!

You have made some very
grave charges, Mr. Mason.

Charges, Your Honor,
which Miss Rayburn

will corroborate for this court.

I will?

Miss Rayburn,
sitting in the next room

is a Mr. Joseph
Gibbs waiting to testify.

Among the questions
I shall ask him

is his connection with you.

If he refuses to cooperate,

I shall ask that his
records be subpoenaed

and brought into this court.

I shall also ask that every one
of your hostesses be subpoenaed

along with their handbags.

The traffic in
narcotics has enraged

every decent-thinking man
and woman in this country.

Now, Miss Rayburn,

a jury of your peers

might give you up to life
in a federal penitentiary.

Would you prefer that
or the gas chamber?

What do you mean?

I mean you're headed
for the gas chamber

by placing yourself in that car with
Fred Archer as an accomplice to murder.

The murder of Kim Lane,

and perhaps the murder
of Inez Kaylor, as well.

Inez isn't dead. She's staying
in a downtown hotel room.

But Kim Lane is dead.

Now, why did you
and Archer kill her?

I didn't have
anything to do with it.

Were you in that
car with Fred Archer

the night of the robbery?

No, I wasn't.

I... I only said
that to help him.

Why did Archer need help?

Because, the druggist
reported that he saw

a woman in the car,
during the robbery.

And that woman was Kim Lane?

Yes.

Was she alive at the time?

Was Kim Lane alive at
the time of the robbery?

No, she was dead.

She was Archer's girlfriend,

and she threatened to go to
his family unless he paid her off.

And he refused to pay?

Oh, no, no, he...
he paid off, all right.

In fact, I cashed one of
the checks for him myself.

He took the money to Miss Lane,

to... to an apartment he had
rented under an assumed name.

After he'd given her the money,

he told her she
had to clear out.

While she was getting
her things together,

he went out to get
some cigarettes,

and when he came back
about 20 minutes later,

she was dead.

And the robbery occurred

while he was on his way
to dispose of her body?

Yes.

No further questions.

Mr. Burger?

Your Honor, in view
of these developments,

I should like to ask
for a continuance.

Your Honor, in the interest
of overall justice in this case,

I should like to call
one more witness.

Proceed.

Bailiff, will you ask Mr. Drake
to bring in Joseph Gibbs?

That's all I know about it.

I had a business
connection to Miss Rayburn,

but that's as far as it went.

Tell us about this, uh,
business connection.

Well, she had these hostesses.

I'd send them to
different countries

on modeling assignments.

They'd get a load of snow,
and then bring it back in.

Snow?

Heroin.

MASON: Were these hostesses
aware of their real function

when they were sent on
these foreign assignments?

No.

What was their regular procedure

when they returned
to this country?

Well, they'd report to the
Universal Model Agency.

Go on.

If there wasn't anybody around,

we'd take pictures of them.

While they were in
front of the camera,

I'd switch the
little compartment

under the mirror in their bags.

What would you do if a stranger
happened to be in the office?

Well, we'd work the
switch another time.

So should they have discovered
what they were being used for,

they were in an excellent
position to try blackmail.

But they never found out.

What about Kim Lane?

What about her?

Wasn't she blackmailing you?

No.

Then where did that
money come from?

Well, you... you heard
what Miss Rayburn said.

She got $5,000 from Archer.

With the court's permission,

I should like to ask
the stenographer

to read Miss Rayburn's
testimony about the blackmail.

Permission is granted.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Where would you
like for me to begin?

Mmm, toward the
end of the examination.

STENOGRAPHER: "Was
she Archer's girlfriend?"

That's about it.

"Yes, she threatened
to tell his family

"if he didn't pay off."

Question: "And
he refused to pay?"

Answer: "No, he paid, all right.

"I cashed one of
his checks myself.

"He took the money to Miss Lane,

"to an apartment he had
rented under an assumed name."

That's enough, thank you.

Now, Mr. Gibbs,

did it say anywhere there

that Miss Lane received
$5,000 from Mr. Archer?

I... I guess it didn't.

But you knew the exact amount.

Well, uh, Kim must have told me.

Kim Lane could only have
told you that in one place.

In Fred Archer's apartment.

In Fred Archer's apartment,
where you killed her.

Killed her for $5,000.

I... I demand to see a lawyer.

That's all, Your Honor.

The District Attorney is ordered
to take the necessary steps

against the parties involved,

and the defendant is
ordered released from custody.

This court is adjourned.

(GAVEL POUNDING)

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

See you shortly.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Excuse me, Lieutenant.

I never actually said it
was Kim Lane's handbag.

What did you say?

If you look at the
record, you'll see I said,

"Suppose I told you
it was her handbag?"

Can I help it if Miss Rayburn jumped
to an unwarranted assumption?

Yeah, but what about the heroin?

You know what that was?

Flour.

There's something
that bothers me.

Who did hold up
Fred Archer that night?

I don't know. He'll probably
turn up. They usually do.

It's just sheer coincidence
that whoever did hold him up

just happened to drop Archer's
wallet and Kim Lane's purse

in Sanders' trash can.

Sounds logical.

You know what I like
about this case? Mmm?

You managed to kill
two birds with one stone.

You solved a
murder and a robbery.

Not a bad day's work.

Well, thank you.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Be our wandering boy.

Hi, beautiful. Am I intruding?

No more than usual.

You know, one of these days,
you're going to give me a complex.

Oh, Perry, it's all arranged.

Sanders starts work Monday
at the Concord Record Shop.

Good. Record shop?

Yeah, he likes music.

This way, he can listen to
it all day and still get paid.

Oh, incidentally, the
police found Inez Kaylor.

Is she all right?

Mmm-hmm, and a lot wiser.

She's going to business college.

Business college? Mmm-hmm.

Want some coffee?

No, thanks. I've got to run. I'm,
uh, supposed to pick up Inez at 9:00.

Well, she wants me to
recommend a good business college.

Just what do you know
about business colleges?

Are you kidding?

I used to teach at
one of the finest.

MASON: Mmm-hmm.
Paul was a track coach.

They figured any girl he couldn't
catch in three laps around the desk

was, uh, ready for
the business world.