Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 32 - The Case of the Substitute Face - full transcript

(TYPEWRITER CLICKING)

MAN: Really, Carl, I
don't understand you.

I don't understand you
at all. Well, what is it?

I wanted to get your dictation.

All right, get it
then leave us alone!

Yes, sir.

Now, Carl, put
yourself in my shoes.

All of a sudden, my
best bookkeeper quits,

just like that.

No, tell me the truth.
Have you got a better offer?

Oh, no, sir.



Well, in heaven's
name, what is it?

I... I just thought that I'd like to
take a little vacation with my family.

Well, the truth of the
matter is, I need a little rest.

Well, if your mind's made up I don't
suppose there's anything I can do about it.

No, sir.

Have a good time,
Houser. Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Thanks for everything, sir.

Oh, I heard about your
leaving, Mr. Houser.

I'm really sorry to see you go.

Thank you, Marta.

(SLOW DANCE MUSIC PLAYING)

All I can say is, I'm
for more contested wills

as long as they're
contested in British Columbia.



I'll bear that in mind the next
time I want you to act as a witness.

Do that.

Are you sorry I talked you into
coming back this way instead of flying?

Can you keep a secret?

You had the same idea.

Oh, here's the girl that has
the stateroom next to mine.

Laura, do you have a minute?

Certainly.

This is Mr. Perry Mason.
This is Laura Houser.

How do you do? I'm awfully
glad to meet you, Mr. Mason.

I've heard a lot about you.

Propaganda. Don't
you believe a word of it.

Oh, Mother, Dad.

This is my family.

This is Miss Della Street
and Mr. Perry Mason.

How do you do?
Mr. Mason. How do you do?

If you'll all excuse me now,
I must be running along.

I'm meeting Roy.
Have fun, honey.

I will, Daddy. Bye!

We were just going to
have an after-dinner drink.

Would you care to join us?
Oh, perhaps a little later?

We'll be looking for you. Good.

(SIGHS)

Good evening, Miss
Whiting. Good evening.

How's the patient? He's
doing very well, thank you.

Oh, uh, Mr. Mason,
I hate to impose

but my nephew collects
autographs, and...

Well, I wondered
if you... Of course.

What's his name? Alan Whiting.

"To Alan Whiting.

"My best wishes."

There you are.
Thank you very much.

Not at all. Good night.

Good night. Good night.

Poor man. He has a broken
neck. He isn't even supposed to talk.

Do you know he has
to answer her questions

by squeezing her hand once
for "yes" and twice for "no"?

I wonder how long
he'll be in that thing.

No telling. Probably
quite a long time.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

Now look at me. Look at me!

Would you believe it that the doctors
gave me only six months to live?

That was 18 years ago, when
I first moved to Los Angeles.

I can see why you're
so fond of it, Mr. Carter.

Fond of it?

Why, I'm a whole chamber of
commerce all rolled into one.

Have you had enough
moonlight? For the time being.

Oh, Mr. Mason, Miss Street,
this is Mr. Carter. How do you do?

How do you do? We're
neighbors, aboard ship, that is.

Oh, this is my
secretary, Daniel James.

I've read about you, Mason.
I'm in real estate myself.

Carter Realty, Los Angeles.

Glad to meet you.

Well, well. Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason, could I speak to you?

Well, of course, Mrs.
Houser. Here, sit down.

Thank you.

(SIGHING) I'll... I'll get
in touch with you later.

I don't want to upset anyone
who might be watching.

Well, at your convenience.

ANNA: This is Carl's
favorite picture of us.

DELLA: It's very nice.
Yes, it certainly is.

Now, Mrs. Houser, would you
like to tell me what's bothering you?

My husband has
stolen some money.

Quite a lot of it.

In fact, $100,000. Are you sure?

He must have! He couldn't
have won it on the sweepstakes,

the way he says.

Oh, it has happened.

I know, but it doesn't
make any sense.

There wasn't a word
about it in the papers.

That doesn't necessarily
mean he's stolen the money.

There's no other explanation.

He was an accountant for the State
National Savings and Loan in Los Angeles.

He would have had
plenty of opportunity.

How long was he employed
by State National? A year.

Ever since we came
out from Chicago.

And look here!

He bought that gun
before we went on this trip.

He said he might need it for
protection, carrying all that money on him.

You mean he's carrying it
in cash? In a money belt.

I want him to return the rest
of the money to State National,

if they'll promise
not to prosecute.

How much is left?

Over $90,000. I've counted it.

In all fairness to your husband, I
think we ought to hear his story.

Oh, he won't listen to
you! He won't talk to you.

Maybe not.

But I'm not going to assume
he's guilty of embezzlement.

Suppose you let me
investigate the situation.

Come on, Della.

We'll send a wireless to the Drake
Detective Agency in Los Angeles right away.

And if Carl really
embezzled the money?

Then restitution has to be made.

You'll have to get the
money and hand it over to me.

Do you think you
can manage that?

I'll manage somehow.

I tell you, Mr. Drake,
this is all my fault.

I knew that fellow Houser was a
thief the moment I laid eyes on him.

He had that look.

Now, wait a minute, Mr. Dale.
You're jumping to conclusions.

All I said was that
a client of mine

is interested in Carl
Houser's credit rating.

Then why did you make such a
point of his quitting without notice?

You made the point of it.

I merely asked if he'd given
you the traditional two weeks.

And then you wanted to know when
was the last time we audited his accounts.

I can't help it if you thought
there was a connection.

You're not fooling me,
young fellow. Not one bit.

When I think of the
way I trusted that man,

how I let him sign checks...

All the time, he was
robbing me blind.

Well? Did you find
out how he did it?

We... We can't find
anything missing, Mr. Dale.

What? Everything
is in perfect order.

His books balanced to the penny.

Thank you, Mr. Dale.
Good day, sir.

Come out on deck.

(WIND HOWLING)

Oh, hello, Mason.

James and I were just going
in for a drink. Won't you join us?

I was about to take a turn on
deck. Just going back for a coat.

Oh, man. You don't want to go on
deck. You'll get washed overboard!

This is no night
for a man to be out.

No! It's not healthy.

Come on, this may be our last
chance before the boat docks.

I don't know that a
brandy will be healthier

but it'll certainly
be a lot drier.

(CHUCKLES) Pretty good.

Aah.

You went to Vancouver
on a case, I'll bet you.

That's right.

Funny, I didn't see anything
in the papers about it.

Who was the victim?

Sorry to disillusion
you, Mr. Carter.

But my practice isn't entirely
confined to murder cases.

Sometimes, I...

(SHIP BLOWING HORN)

(ON PA) Your attention,
please. This is Captain Walters.

A man's been reported overboard
and we're stopping to investigate.

All passengers will please
return to their staterooms

so that roll call can be made.

Do not go on deck.

Excuse me, gentlemen.
I'll see you later.

(SHIP CONTINUES BLOWING HORN)

ANNA: Who is it? Perry Mason.

Oh, just a second.

(OUT OF BREATH) What
is it? Have they stopped?

(AGITATEDLY) And what
are the searchlights for?

A man's been reported overboard.

(SCREAMS)

What's the matter?
Do you think that...

What happened to the picture
of you and your daughter?

I don't know. It was
here this afternoon.

I don't understand.
Carl wouldn't have...

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Who is it?

This is the captain,
Mrs. Houser.

I'd like to talk to you, please.

Come in.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

MASON: Captain.

You know our purser,
Mr. Buchanan, I think.

Mrs. Houser,

where did you and your husband
go when you left the dining room?

Why, what is it, Captain?
What's happened?

Where's my husband?

I'm afraid your husband's
been washed overboard.

Oh, no!

Oh, it can't be!

Oh, Carl!

Mrs. Houser,

you recognize this?

It's Carl's!

Why did he do it?

Mrs. Houser, I believe you
had on a black dress at dinner.

Will you let me see it,
please? Just a minute, Captain.

Aren't we in California
territorial waters?

I am still the law on
this ship, Mr. Mason.

I'm responsible for
my passengers' safety.

I believe one of
them's been murdered.

Oh, no! Yes.

Now will you let me
see the dress, please?

You have no right!

Oh, no!

Gentlemen.

Would you step in
here a moment, please?

I may require your
services as witnesses.

I have asked Mrs. Houser to
show me a certain dress, gentlemen.

Since she has refused I'm going to
have Mr. Buchanan search for the garment.

Mr. Mason, are you
going to let him do this?

Aren't you going
to stop him? I can't.

Now then, Mrs. Houser.

You say you did not go out
on deck with your husband?

Captain Walters, Mrs.
Houser happens to be my client.

I'm afraid I'll have to ask
you what you're getting at

before I allow her to
answer any more questions.

Very well, Mr. Mason, but
I... BUCHANAN: Captain?

Found this hanging in the
shower, sir. It's quite wet.

Is this your dress, Mrs. Houser?

Yes!

I also found this, sir. It
appears to be a money belt.

Is there money
in it? Oh, yes, sir.

CAPTAIN: All right, count it.

CAPTAIN: Gentlemen, will you please watch
him and see that the count is correct?

Mr. Carter? Yes?

Will you please make arrangements
to keep in touch with the authorities

when we dock in the morning?

I'm sure they'll want to question you.
You and your secretary, Mr. James.

Oh, really, Captain, I don't
want to get mixed up in this.

I'm so pressed for time,
and it seems impossible...

I... I think it could
be arranged, sir.

All right, then.
Eighty-nine, ninety...

$91,500, sir.

CARTER: Well, goodbye, Mason.

Don't forget. Carter Realty.

(LAUGHING)

Bye. Bye.

Laura, I talked to the police.

They'll let the others go ashore
before they take your mother in.

And you intend to
stay in Los Angeles?

All I know is I don't want
to go back to our apartment.

Not now.

Couldn't we get her a
room at the Graystone?

Is that all right with you?

Anything you say, Mr. Mason.

All right. You register under
the name of Laura Wilson.

I don't want the
press to bother you.

Della, will you take
care of it? Mmm-hmm.

I forgot something in my
stateroom. Excuse me.

Must be a terrible shock to have your
mother accused of your father's murder.

What's the matter with you?

Oh, nothing much.

I'd give a lot to know who
called the bridge last night

and reported a man overboard.

Miss Street,

I just wanted to stop
by and say goodbye.

And thanks again,
Mr. Mason. Not at all.

Bye. Bye.

How do you feel?

All right, I guess.
I had some rest.

Good.

Now, if I'm going to
help you, Mrs. Houser,

I'll have to know
exactly what happened.

Why did you go out on
deck with your husband?

Well, I...

He said he wanted
to be alone with me.

And then he took off his
money belt and gave it to me.

Then what happened?

Well, he... He seemed
so upset, and it worried me.

And I... I followed him.

Up to the boat deck? Yes.

That's where I got wet.

I tried to get him to
tell me what was wrong,

what was going on. And he...

He just got mad! And...

And he told me to go away.

And then...

Then what?

Then what?

Well, he...

He grabbed me

and kissed me hard.

And then he pushed me away

and told me to go
back to our stateroom!

You think your husband
committed suicide?

What else?
Everything pointed to it.

I guess he realized that they were
bound to find out about the money.

And I think he thought that would
make it easier for Laura and me.

Have you returned it?

No.

It so happens that State
National can find no funds missing.

But where did the
money come from?

That's what I'd like to know.

You know, you... you lived in
Chicago before you came out here.

What made you decide
to move to Los Angeles?

Well, it was the
strangest thing.

It was in the wintertime

and Carl had been
summoned to jury duty.

He felt very strongly
about things like that.

How do you mean?

Well, when he believed he
was right, he wouldn't stop.

I remember this particular case.

He believed that the
man was innocent.

And he held out until the
rest of the jury agreed with him.

Oh, I'm sorry if I'm digressing.

No, no, it's all right.

Well, anyway.

There was a terrible
blizzard at that time

and I guess that's
what made up his mind.

He said it was silly to
live in a climate like that

and so he brought
us all out here.

Anna...

Has it ever occurred to you
your husband might be alive?

Oh, that wouldn't
make any sense.

Why would he pretend
that he was dead?

No, there... there'd
be no reason for that.

Apparently, there was no reason

for someone substituting
a photograph of Carl

for the one of you
and Laura, yet they did.

Do you suppose... Do you
suppose Laura might have taken it?

Oh, I hadn't thought of that.

I'd better check with her.

Do you think you could
arrange for me to see her?

Of course.

I'll look in on you tomorrow.

Thanks.

What's the trouble?

I just phoned the Graystone. They claim
Laura Houser never arrived at the hotel.

Did you forget I told her to register
under the name of Laura Wilson?

No, I asked for her
under both names.

It just doesn't make sense.

No, it doesn't make sense.

A girl disappears right before her mother
goes to trial for the murder of her father.

Something's wrong somewhere.

That may be the
understatement of the year.

Paul, I want you to
find her. I don't care...

(INTERCOM BUZZING)

Yes, Gertie.

Just a minute. It's the
District Attorney's office.

Hamilton Burger.

Hello?

How're you feeling, Perry?

PERRY: (ON PHONE) Fine.

I'm glad to hear it. Did you enjoy
your boat ride down from Canada?

Yes.

I envy you.

BURGER: You know, I've been
wanting to take a trip like that for ages.

All right, Hamilton.
What's on your mind?

You can't get me to believe
this is just a social call.

Well, as a matter of fact, there's
a little problem that's come up.

I have the captain and the purser of
the Westminster here in my office now.

You know, they have
a very tough schedule.

And they may not be able
to be here for the hearing.

Really?

I was wondering,
under the circumstances,

would you consent to
my taking a deposition?

Well, you know better than that.

The defendant's got the
right to face his accusers.

Yes, but that means if I want
them to testify, they can't sail.

They'll have to wait over and
rejoin their ship in Panama, by air.

Well, that's too bad.

But I refuse to waive my
client's constitutional rights.

All right, Mr. Mason.
They'll be here.

I'll just have the hearing
moved up on the calendar.

I'm afraid I upset Mr. Burger.

Paul, you've just got
to find Laura Houser.

I'll do my best,
Perry, but I need time.

I'll try and get time.

I think I know a way
we can stall. All right.

Thank you.

People v. Anna Houser.

Are the People ready?

Ready for the
People, Your Honor.

Is the defense ready?

If the Court please, may
we approach the Bench?

Your Honor, I believe the court
has no jurisdiction of this case.

The alleged crime was
committed on the high seas

on a vessel owned and
operated by a British company.

If a crime was committed
on the high seas

then the jurisdiction
would be in Great Britain.

If it please the Court,

Your Honor is aware from
our discussion in chambers

that I was prepared for
Mr. Mason's delaying tactics.

We have the ship's log,

which shows clearly that the Westminster
was in California territorial waters.

I refer you to the case of People v.
Stralla 14, California, Section 617.

I have examined
Mr. Burger's authorities

and I am satisfied the Court
does indeed have jurisdiction.

Very well, Your Honor.

Then the defense is ready.

Excuse me.

You may call your first witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I call Frank Buchanan
to the stand, please.

And then I discovered the dress.

Mr. James and Mr. Carter
were present at the time,

having been summoned
by Captain Walters.

Did you discover anything else at
this time, Mr. Buchanan? Yes, sir.

As I already told you,
I found a money belt.

That would be this money belt,
marked People's Exhibit "D"? Yes, sir.

And how much money
did this belt contain?

$91,500.

Thank you, sir.

Your witness.

Mr. Buchanan, I shan't
take up much of your time.

Now, when was the last time
you saw Mr. Houser alive?

At dinner that same evening.
He was seated at my table.

You spoke to him?

No, sir, but I gave
him a note in passing.

Oh, who was the note from?

One of the other passengers,
Miss Evelyn Whiting.

Miss... Miss Whiting
is a nurse, I believe?

Yes, sir. She tends a patient
by the name of Roger Cartman.

Was Miss Whiting in the dining room
at the time she gave you the note?

No, sir. I met her and her
patient as they were leaving the lift.

By the lift, you
mean the elevator?

Yes, sir. The one that goes
up to the ship's hospital.

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

JUDGE: You may step
down, Mr. Buchanan.

Della, get a hold of Paul right away. I
want a complete check on that Whiting girl.

Evelyn Whiting's address on the
passenger list was a complete phony.

But this is where the ambulance
brought her and that guy in the wheelchair.

I haven't been able to get a line on
her patient, Roger B. Cartman, either.

Here or Vancouver.

Nobody in the house? No.

Let's take a look.

MASON: Impressive-looking.

Yeah, these are people
with dough, all right.

The wheelchair's inside. You
can see it through the window.

Who owns this place? Some
character named Morgan Shreves.

Morgan Shreves? Wait a minute.

Wasn't there a Morgan Shreves

tried on a big tax-evasion
charge about a year ago?

Yeah. He was a big guy
on some gambling deal.

Bookies or... Wire
service. That was it.

It looked like they had
him cold, but he got off.

Happened someplace
back east. In Chicago.

That's right.

Paul, I want to get inside.
Wait a minute. That's illegal.

Well, I suppose it might
be called a misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor?

The last time I read up on the
subject, it was called a felony.

No, in order to constitute a felony,
there must be an unlawful entry

for the purpose of committing
certain unlawful acts.

As, for example, removing
something from the premises.

What did you have in mind?

I plan to do just the opposite.

I plan to leave something there.

What? My fingerprints.

That is still a misdemeanor

and you can go to jail for it.

I know that.

Come on, give me
a hand, cellmate.

(INTERCOM BUZZING)

Yes? RECEPTIONIST: Sorry
to disturb you, Mr. Burger,

but there's someone on the phone who
claims to have some important information.

He won't give his name.

Give it to Murphy.

He won't speak
to anyone but you.

All right. Try
to trace the call.

He's on line one.

Burger speaking.

MAN: I got a little tip
for you, Mr. Burger.

I happen to know that nurse,
Evelyn Whiting, and her patient

were in the ship's hospital the
night Carl Houser was murdered.

What's that?

You heard me.

I understand they saw
everything that went on.

Go on.

When the ship docked,
they took an ambulance

to 455 Alder Lane
in the Palisades.

Are you positive about that?

That's where Perry
Mason found them.

You mean, Mason
bribed them to disappear?

Mason's been there, and
they're gone. Isn't that enough?

Well, how can you
prove Mason was there?

Look for fingerprints.

Perry, I sure hope you
know what you're doing.

Look, Paul, we've got
to get the police started

looking for Evelyn
Whiting and her patient.

Yeah, but when the police find our
fingerprints on that Shreves' house...

That should convince them
your tip was on the up and up.

If the police can't find
Evelyn Whiting, no one can.

What about Laura Houser?

I'd just as soon the police knew
nothing about her disappearance.

I want you to find her.

Have you heard
from my daughter yet?

Not yet, but I'm
sure she's all right.

BAILIFF: Everyone rise.

BAILIFF: Please be
seated and come to order.

Your Honor, may we
approach the Bench?

You may.

Your Honor, I would like to
serve notice on the prosecution

that unless the body of
Carl Houser is produced

there is no corpus delicti,
and consequently, no case.

If it please the Court,

I'm astonished that Mr. Mason
doesn't know that corpus delicti refers

not to the body of the victim
but the body of the crime.

Nevertheless, there must
be evidence of actual death

or actual violence in order
to support a charge of murder.

And I intend to produce such evidence
with my next witness, Your Honor.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I call Laura Houser!

Your Honor, I should like
to know the meaning of this!

Miss Houser is the
daughter of the defendant!

BURGER: Which is exactly why
she's being held as a material witness.

Your Honor, this is outrageous,

arresting this girl when it
was completely unnecessary,

concealing the fact from me!

Just a moment, Mr. Mason.
You're out of order.

Didn't you really
know where she was?

I most certainly did not.

We only picked her up an hour
ago ourselves at International Airport

getting off a plane
from San Francisco.

I repeat, Mr. Burger.
You may proceed.

Now, Miss Houser, where
were you on the Westminster

at approximately 9:00 on the
night of the sixth of this month?

I was out on the "A" deck.

That's the one below the
one they call the boat deck?

Yes, sir.

Why were you there?

I wanted to think.

Was that because your mother
and father were constantly quarreling?

Your Honor, I object.

The District Attorney
is leading the witness.

May I remind Counsel that
Miss Houser is a hostile witness?

I withdraw the objection.

Continue, Mr. Burger.

It's a fact, isn't
it, Miss Houser?

Your mother and father
were constantly quarreling?

Yes. What were
they quarreling about?

Money.

I see.

And when you were out on "A"
deck alone did you see anyone else?

No. Did you hear anything?

Yes.

I... I think it was a gunshot.

Where'd it come from?

From the boat deck above me.

Did you investigate this shot?

Well, I... I went to
the rail and looked up.

What exactly did you see?

It's very difficult to tell. I was
looking up into the rain and the wind.

To the best of your
knowledge, what did you see?

I saw a man hanging over
the rail of the boat deck.

Was there anyone with him? Yes.

Was that your
mother? I don't know!

I could see only her
arms and part of her back.

Well, was she wearing
a black, strapless dress?

It was dark.

Was there anything distinctive
about her arms or hair, anything?

There were two
bracelets on her left arm.

Miss Houser, had you seen
your mother earlier in the evening?

Of course. Was she
wearing bracelets then?

Yes. How many?

Two.

When you were out on "A"
deck, looking up over the rail

what did you see next?

I saw the man

sort of rise,

go over the rail

and fall past me into the sea.

As a matter of fact, didn't you see
the woman lift or push him overboard?

I don't know!

After this happened,
what did you do?

I called the phone
operator from the "A" deck

to report a man overboard.

Then I went to the boat deck,

but there wasn't anybody there.

And then you went back
to your stateroom? Yes, sir.

You were the woman who turned in
the "man overboard" alert, weren't you?

Yes.

And didn't you tell the operator

that you'd seen a man
pushed overboard?

I guess I did.

That's all.

Laura, where did you go
when you left the Westminster?

I took a cab to
the Union Station

and bought a ticket
to San Francisco.

I just wanted to get away.

Because you did not
want to be a witness?

Yes.

Now suppose I were to tell
you that your father is still alive.

I don't understand.

You do understand there's been
no concrete proof of his death.

JUDGE: Just a moment, Counselor.

Mr. Burger, have you any
objection to this line of inquiry?

No, Your Honor.

I would never want it said
that the district attorney's office

would seek to obscure the truth by
taking advantage of technicalities.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Laura, let's try
to examine the reasons

behind your behavior.

First off, you were
distressed because your

father and mother had
quarreled during the trip?

That's right.

On the night of the storm,
your father left the dining room

and your mother
followed him? Yes.

So you decided to go
out on the "A" deck? Yes.

Since the decks were otherwise
deserted because of the bad weather

you assumed that the couple on the
deck above you had to be your parents?

That's true.

All right, let's go
one step further.

As you stood on the below deck

you saw a figure hurtle
past you into the water? Yes!

What, then, was the
first thing you did?

I ran to the nearest
phone on the "A" deck.

You told the operator that
you saw a man go overboard?

Yes!

At that time, did you know
it was your father? Yes!

So why didn't you say, "I
saw my father go overboard"?

I don't know!

Is it possible

that you weren't
certain at that moment

that the man who went
overboard was your father?

What do you mean?

Laura, I'm only trying
to clarify in your mind

the true sequence of events.

I was so sure it was Father.
I saw his body go past me.

But did you reach the
conclusion it was your father

simultaneously with the
event, or, in fact, after it?

It must have been afterwards.

All right now, Laura, when
did you arrive at the conclusion

that the woman involved
was your mother?

When I saw her on the
deck above with my father.

Which, of course, presumes
that the man was your father.

Now suppose you
had later learned

that the man who went overboard
was, let us say, a Mr. Smith.

Would you have still believed that the
woman responsible was your mother?

Let me put it this way.

After you heard the report
that your father was missing,

wasn't it then you concluded that
the woman involved was your mother

because you had last
seen them quarreling,

or thought you had
seen them quarreling?

I guess I did! In other words,

it's quite possible that
all your conclusions

have been just a fabric
of your imagination?

Yes! What have I done?

(SOBBING)

You made a very
human mistake, Laura.

You put two and two
together. It just came out five.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Your Honor, I have no further
questions for this witness.

The witness is excused.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

If Your Honor please,

I know the Court has been
perplexed at my lack of objection

to Mr. Mason's
cross-examination.

I would like to state at
this time that my purpose

was simply to give
Mr. Mason enough rope.

JUDGE: Would you please
explain that to the Court?

As I understand Mr. Mason's
theory, it is, in effect, that Miss Houser

did not see her
father fall overboard

because her father
is, or may be, still alive.

And, is that your
theory, Mr. Mason?

It is, Your Honor.

We've seen no
evidence to contradict it.

Well, if it please the Court

the prosecution will be ready
at 10:00 tomorrow morning

to furnish definite proof
of the corpus delicti.

I have been advised
that Carl Houser's body

has been discovered
and taken to the morgue.

Oh, no!

I got the dope on
the postmortem.

Carl Houser's body was found
floating about a mile offshore.

He died from a gunshot
wound and not from drowning.

It was a .38-caliber bullet

but it was not from the pistol
they found onboard ship.

Anything else on that
house on Alder Lane?

No. Nothing except Morgan
Shreves owned it outright.

Oh...

Carl Houser was
on the Chicago jury

that acquitted
Shreves of tax evasion.

Perry, that's where
Houser got the $100,000.

Maybe Shreves bribed him.

How... How was that
nurse, Evelyn Whiting,

how was she
involved with Shreves?

It could have been Shreves in the
wheelchair under the name Roger B. Cartman.

Sure.

Suppose the nurse and
Shreves got Houser up on deck,

shot him, and pushed
his body overboard.

What do you think,
Perry? Could be.

But you're overlooking
one thing, Paul.

What does your contact
at headquarters say?

Have they located Evelyn Whiting
or the man in the wheelchair?

No, not as far as I know.

Looks like we left our fingerprints
in that house for nothing.

Your honor, I've been
informed of the existence

of two other eyewitnesses
to this murder.

My men have a
lead on one of them

and I expect to have
this eyewitness testify.

However, the other one has
completely disappeared without a trace.

And I have substantial evidence

to the effect that Mr. Mason
is personally responsible.

Your Honor, as a
practicing attorney, I...

Just a moment, Mr. Mason.

Are you prepared to substantiate
these charges, Mr. Burger?

At this point, Your Honor,
I can't offer all the proof

I hope to produce
at a later date,

when criminal
action will be taken

against counsel
for the defendant.

However, I can certainly
produce enough evidence

to support my motion
for a 48-hour continuance.

I demand such
evidence be produced,

and I think after
the district attorney

has called his witnesses
in support of the motion

I should be allowed the same
privilege against the motion.

Of course, the
Court will at this time

entertain proof in support of
a motion by the prosecution.

In fact, such proof must be advanced
in order to justify a continuance.

Proceed.

I call Christopher Walsh.

BURGER: Your name
is Christopher Walsh.

You are now and have
been for some years

a criminologist with the
police force of this city

and, in particular, a
specialist on fingerprints?

Yes, sir. I'm so accredited.

Night before last, acting on a certain
anonymous phone tip received by my office,

did you visit a suburban
home at 455 Alder Lane?

I checked the house for fingerprints
and made photographs of them.

Have you got those
photographs with you? I have.

Would you please tell this
Court whose fingerprints they are?

Well, they are a woman's fingerprints.
They belong to Evelyn Whiting.

Then there were
prints on the wheelchair

which we assume to be those
of Roger B. Cartman, her patient.

And then there were prints of the
owner of the house, Morgan Shreves.

And then, finally, we found the
fingerprints of Perry Mason and Paul Drake,

a detective who
often works for him.

May I have those prints, please?

If the Court please, I would like
these fingerprints submitted in evidence.

Since there doesn't
seem to be an objection

the photographs will
be received in evidence.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Walsh,

how many men have
you fingerprinted?

Oh, I don't know.
Up in the thousands.

Can you remember the
first man you fingerprinted?

Oh, I can't remember
that far back.

Who was the last
man you fingerprinted?

Carl Houser. At the
morgue last night.

Do you, uh, have
Mr. Houser's fingerprints?

Yes, sir.

Here you are.

They're all marked.

Now, whose prints are these?

Evelyn Whiting, the nurse.

And these?

Roger B. Cartman, her patient.

And these?

Those are the fingerprints of
Carl Houser taken from the corpse.

Now just a moment.

You're making your
identification not from the prints

but from your writing on the
bottom of the photographs.

Of course, that's just to
keep the pictures straight.

You can't identify
prints from a glance.

You need a magnifying
glass, and a little time.

Oh, I see.

I... I don't suppose you
could do that in Court...

Well, of course, I could.

You could?

Well, let's see.

Would you be...

Would you be kind enough

to identify these
for us, please?

These, uh, these three.

It will take a little time.

There's no hurry.

These two prints are the same.

I think they're Roger B.
Cartman's, but I'm not sure.

I'd have to check the
data in my notebook.

Go right ahead.

These two are both prints
of the right index finger

of the man we assume
is Roger B. Cartman.

I see.

Mr. Walsh, do you happen
to have a pencil? Yes, sir.

Well, would you put a cross
on those two photographs

so there would be no mistake?

Thank you.

Now...

Now, Mr. Walsh, would you
kindly explain to the Court

how you happened to
identify as a fingerprint

of Roger B. Cartman one
belonging to Carl Houser?

Wait a minute!

Mr. Mason, do I
understand that you contend

this witness has
confused the photographs?

Not at all, Your Honor. I
merely contend that Carl Houser,

whom the defendant is charged
with killing on the night of the sixth,

left his fingerprints on the
wheelchair and elsewhere

in that house on Alder Lane, 24
hours after his alleged murder at sea.

Your Honor, I can't help
suspecting trickery here someplace.

May I ask the Court for a brief recess
to consider this new development?

Under the circumstances, I'm
certain there would be no objection

to a brief continuance,
Mr. Mason.

I'll agree on one
condition, Your Honor.

For two days, I have had men
searching for Evelyn Whiting

to subpoena her.

I would like her to testify on
the motion before the court.

And I gather from
Mr. Burger's remarks

and the fact that Mr. Walsh
identified her fingerprints,

that the district attorney's office
has Miss Whiting in custody.

Is this true?

As a matter of fact, it is, Your
Honor. We do have her in custody.

Do you have any objection to
Counsel examining her on the motion?

None whatever.

Much as I resent Mr. Mason's
tactics, I still would welcome anything

that will throw some
light on this matter.

Get Miss Whiting.

Miss Whiting, you're
acquainted, I believe

with one Morgan Shreves?

Yes.

Am I correct in assuming

that you have a romantic
attachment with Mr. Shreves?

No, you are not correct at all.

Would I be correct in assuming

that you have an attachment for
someone who is working for Mr. Shreves?

Yes.

What sort of a relationship
is this? We're married.

I see.

Now, Miss Whiting, a
little more than a year ago

Morgan Shreves stood trial in
Chicago for income tax evasion.

He was acquitted, I
believe, by bribing a juror.

A juror named Carl Houser.

From your own personal knowledge,
can you tell us if this is true?

Remember, Miss
Whiting, you're under oath.

Yes, it's true.

And isn't it also true that
when Morgan Shreves learned

the authorities were
investigating the bribery,

he enlisted the aid of
you and your husband?

Yes.

And, of course, he
knew that Carl Houser

would be a key witness
for the government?

That's right.

Accordingly, you, your
husband, and Mr. Shreves

flew to Vancouver,
British Columbia,

where you boarded the
Westminster. Is that correct?

Yes.

Now, Miss Whiting,
on the night of the sixth,

did you send a
note to Carl Houser

asking him to meet you on
the boat deck after dinner?

No! You did not?

What night did you say that was?

The night of the sixth.
Oh, I'd forgotten about that.

Then you did send
Mr. Houser a note? Yes.

You did meet Mr. Houser
on the boat deck? Yes.

Whereupon, you promptly shot
him and pushed his body overboard?

That's not true!

Miss Whiting, we've already
heard Miss Houser testify

that she heard a shot and saw
her father pushed overboard.

But you proved it might not have
been her father! I read that in the paper.

But we definitely know she
saw something or someone.

Now, if it wasn't Carl Houser,
who was it? It was a dummy!

A dummy? Yes!

Oh, come now, Miss Whiting. Would
you have us believe that you went through

this very involved plan just
to push a dummy overboard?

Yes. Carl and I
had this all planned.

It was supposed to look
like he'd committed suicide.

How did you hope to get
away with this deception?

He got in my wheelchair
and posed as my patient.

He posed as Roger
B. Cartman? Yes.

But who was the man I saw in
your wheelchair aboard ship?

Was it Morgan Shreves? Yes!

Then you maintain

Carl Houser was still alive when the
Westminster docked in Los Angeles harbor?

Yes, yes, I took him off
the ship in the wheelchair.

But your suicide plan went wrong

and Anna Houser was
charged with murder.

You realized then that Carl
Houser would never let his wife suffer

so you shot him, took
his body offshore... No, no!

I swear I had no part in that.

Did I, Morgan?

Oh, Morgan, please!
You've got to tell him the truth!

Don't let him do this to me!

Darling, please!

It's all right,
Evelyn. Don't worry.

You want Morgan
Shreves? Well, here he is!

Rain.

I don't know why, but rain
always gives me an appetite.

Everything gives
you an appetite.

Della, you shouldn't have. No,
but I'll bet you're awfully glad I did.

You know what gets me, Perry?

The other night, you said I
was overlooking something.

For the life of me, I can't
figure out what it was.

I told you about the substitution
of pictures in Houser's stateroom.

Yeah.

Well, obviously, Houser
had to be responsible.

No one else had a
reason. What was his?

He certainly wouldn't
have substituted the picture

if he thought he was
going to be murdered.

Ergo, he planned to disappear and
wanted a remembrance of his family.

Case of the substitute face.

Why didn't I think of that?

Why didn't I? I was
on the boat with him.

I'll bet he used
mental telepathy.

Miss Street,
please. I'm serious.

I can see how you figured out
that Carter and his secretary, James,

were a couple of fakers.

I can even see how you figured out that
one of them had to be Morgan Shreves.

But when James turned out to
be Shreves, that really floored me.

And just in case you're
interested, Della... Mmm-hmm.

It floored me, too.

(COUGHING)