Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 34 - The Case of the Gilded Lily - full transcript

(EXHALES)

Well!

(WHISPERING) Hey,
Enid, are you awake?

Enid?

(GASPS) Enid!

Enid!

Operator... Operator,
this is an emergency!

How is she, Doctor?

Your roommate is a very
lucky girl, Miss Bowers. Oh.

Who's the man? Man?

Isn't that why Miss Griffin
tried to commit suicide?



Oh, no, it was an accident.

No, honest, Doctor.
Enid's been...

Well, she's been having
trouble sleeping lately,

and I guess maybe
she got desperate

and took too many pills.

Oh, they won't have to put
this in the papers, will they?

I'll have to file a report,

but I don't think the
papers will pick it up.

Oh, thanks, Doctor. Can
she go to work tomorrow?

I don't see why not.

If you run into any
difficulty, give me a ring.

Thanks, Doctor.

Good night. Good night.

How could he do it, Sheila?



Just because our
boss got married,

that doesn't mean it's
the end of the world.

It is for me.

Enid, Mr. Charles Stewart
Brent is your employer,

not your boyfriend.

You work for the man.
You don't own him.

He was so kind
and so considerate,

and after his first wife died,

we got

to be so close.

You saw that yourself.

Oh, Enid, get down from
the clouds and face facts.

Kindness and consideration

aren't exactly symptoms
of passion, you know,

and you better remember that

before he gets back
to the office next week.

He was trapped, I know it,

and I'm n-not going to give up.

I'm... I'm going
to go on fighting.

Enid, honey, will
you listen to me?

I must have been
crazy to try what I did.

It would just make
things easier for her.

I-I won't do that again.

It's going to be a
long day, darling.

Good morning, Mr. Brent.

Congratulations.
She sure is pretty.

Thanks, George.

Perry!

Good to see you, Brent,
and congratulations.

Thanks. I'm anxious
to have you meet Anne.

As a matter of fact, we're having
a small party Tuesday night.

We'd love to have you and
Miss Street. You can count on us.

I won't hold you up. I know
you're busy. I'll see you.

Good morning, Sheila. Good
morning, Mr. Brent, and congratulations.

Thank you. Will
you tell Enid I'm in?

Yes, sir.

Oh, may I help you?

I'd like to see Mr. Brent.

May I have your name, please?

Arthur Binney.

Would you please
have a seat, Mr. Binney?

Mr. Brent's secretary is out at the
moment but she'll be back in a minute.

Morning, Enid.

Good morning.

Meet my new boss.

Beautiful, isn't she?

By the way, did you get my wire

about making arrangements
for the reception?

Yes. It's all taken care of.

Oh, and... There's
a Mr. Arthur Binney

waiting to see you.

Binney? Can't you handle him?

He said it was a personal matter,
something to do with Mrs. Brent.

All right, send him in.

Mr. Brent?

That's right.

I can't tell you how happy this
makes me. I've heard a lot about you.

I don't want to be
rude, Mr. Binney,

but I am a busy man.

Sure you are.

I'll come right to the point.

My partner and I are planning
a little business venture,

and we thought you might
like to buy some space.

Just how does this
concern my wife?

My partner and I were
planning a series of articles

on the wives of
prominent people.

We thought that Mrs. Brent
would make an interesting story,

particularly with mug
shots and fingerprints.

What do you mean?

We thought it would
make a nice 3-page spread.

Blackmail.

Oh, I wish you wouldn't
talk that way, Mr. Brent.

I'm just trying to sell a
little advertising space.

BRENT: A 3-page spread?
BINNEY: Mmm-hmm.

How much?

BINNEY: $10,000 a page.

That's not expensive,
considering our circulation.

Just what is my wife
supposed to have done?

Well, she had this
jewelry that was insured.

She made the
mistake of pawning it

and then reporting it stolen.

Police take a very dim
view of those kind of tactics.

I'm going to want some
time to look into this.

Sure. Take all
the time you want.

I don't want you to
think we're rushing you.

You can, uh, keep those
mug shots if you like.

We have others.

Just a minute.

How do I get in touch with you?

You don't.

I'll get in touch with you

in exactly a week.

(INTERCOM BUZZES)

Yes, Mr. Brent?

Enid, get me the Paul
Drake detective agency.

If he's not in, his telephone
answering service can locate him.

Yes, Mr. Brent.

Could that be a forgery?

It could be.

There's an easy way to
find out, ask Mrs. Brent.

Look, Mr. Drake, I'm in love with
my wife. I'm not looking for a divorce.

How much do you know
of your wife's background?

Well, actually, not much.

We only met two
weeks ago in Las Vegas.

It was like getting
caught up in a cyclone.

I'll check it out.

It would help if I had
samples of her fingerprints

to compare with
this police file.

I'm having a wedding reception
at my penthouse tomorrow night.

Maybe you could arrange
to be there. I'll be there.

I know I don't have to remind
you to keep this thing quiet.

Don't worry. Mr. Brent,
may I give you some advice?

Like what?

Blackmail, like cancer,
needs radical treatment.

If I were you, I'd see a lawyer.

I'll keep it in mind.

Goodbye. Thank you.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(LIGHT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Darling, I'd like to have
you meet Perry Mason.

How do you do?

How do you do, Mr. Mason?

I've always wanted to meet my
husband's most famous tenant.

"Infamous" might be a better
word. Have you met my secretary?

Yes. I envy you, Miss Street.

You must have a
most fascinating job.

Oh, it is. Just don't
ask me about the hours.

Mmm. Will you excuse
me a moment? Certainly.

Donald, I think you're putting too
much vermouth in these martinis.

The other Mrs. Brent
always preferred serving

her martinis a little
on the sweet side.

How delightfully old-fashioned. Will
you please make up a fresh batch?

I do hope you're
not annoyed with me.

No, I'm not annoyed, Mrs. Brent.

Besides, what
difference does it make?

I'm just your
husband's secretary.

That's no way to talk, Enid.

Why, Stewart does
nothing but rave about you.

You won't blame me
if I'm a little bit jealous.

Why don't we sit down
and have a little chat?

What about your other guests?

Oh, pooh on my other guests.

I'd much sooner get to know you.

Bored?

No, I'm just hungry.

What do you think
of our hostess?

Attractive. She has
a mind of her own.

Instinct?

Observation.

She just had a mild skirmish
with Brent's girl Friday.

I didn't know Paul
was a social butterfly.

Thank you.

Mrs. Brent, you're
missing an earring.

I know. I left it in
the music room.

How very observant of you.

Mr. Brent says that
I never miss a thing.

Maybe he's minding the silver.

(CHUCKLES)

Do I need glasses?

Maybe we both do.

By the way, Perry, are
you interested in music?

Why?

I'd like to show you the
wedding present I gave my wife.

Sounds interesting,
mind if Della joins us?

This way.

Nice?

Beautiful.

(ORGAN PLAYING)

Like the tone?

Very nice. But you didn't bring
me in here just so you could play.

That's right.

Look, Perry, a very
close friend of mine

is having trouble with one
of those scandal magazines.

Apparently, they've uncovered
some dirt, probably false,

but they threaten to publish it.

They promise to hold the press and
sell him the story, if he buys space.

My friend asked me for advice.
I promised I'd mention it to you.

I advise your friend
to go to the police.

What about the scandal?

Unfortunately, your friend should realize
that scandal, like murder, will out.

I can see that, but...

I'm terribly sorry, am I
intruding? Not at all, darling.

I think I left one of
my earrings in here.

Was that it?

Thank you.

Stewart, you should be ashamed of yourself,
monopolizing Mr. Mason and Miss Street.

I do want you to meet
all our other guests.

I'd be delighted.

STEWART: Is that
you, Drake? Yeah.

I'm in here.

Well? I'm afraid it's
no good, Mr. Brent.

Mrs. Brent's fingerprints on that matchbox
check out with the police bulletin.

As you can see by these photos,
I've listed 15 points of similarity.

In court, you only need 12.

Anything further on her record?

It came in this morning.

She was convicted in Tacoma six
years ago, under the name of Anne King.

She served a year in prison.

Thanks, Mr. Drake.
Just send me a bill.

Sorry, Mr. Brent.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

Brent speaking.

At least you'll admit
I'm a man of my word.

I promised to give you a week.

My partner wants to know if
you've decided to buy that space.

I have the money in cash.

Good.

Now, why don't you just drive
out Ventura Boulevard to Angeles?

There's a motel on the
corner called the Valley Motel.

You go in and register,
and I'll see you around 9:00.

How will you know
which unit I'm in?

That's simple.

You register under the
name of Thomas Walsh.

Better get a move on, sweetie.
He'll be here in half an hour.

Why can't I stay in here?

I told you a dozen times,
sweetie. We can't take the chance.

Now, be a good girl
and get a move on.

I'll call you as soon
as I get the cash.

Night.

Night, baby.

(MURMURING)

Last Time Out came in
eighth, 20 runs in the mud.

(TELEPHONE BUZZING)

Valley Motel.

Who? Mr. Reed? Yeah, he's in unit
four, wait a minute, I'll connect you.

Oh, good evening.
I'd like a room.

Well, I think we can fix you up all right,
if you don't mind sharing a bathroom.

Not if it's necessary. Yeah.

Mr. Walsh, well, we got
your reservation, yeah. Good.

How long it take you to drive
down from San Francisco?

About eight hours. Eight hours?

That's quite a trip. Now here's
a nice one here, unit eight.

This is a room that's spotless.

I just finished painting
it myself this afternoon.

And you wanna know something?
There's no smell from this paint.

The new paint they're
turning out now is marvelous.

And I always say, give your
customer a good, clean place to live in,

they'll come back
again and again.

That's very interesting.
Could I have the key?

Oh yes, we gotta show you over.

Never mind, that won't be
necessary. How much is it?

$5, check out time is 11:00 a.m.

Say, Mr. Walsh, do
you believe in hunches?

There's a hunch running here at
Santa Anita called Walsh's Pride.

I'm gonna put $2 on his nose.

No sense of humor.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

MITCHELL: Mr. Binney!

Mr. Binney!

Mr. Binney!

This yours?

What about the
briefcase? That's mine, too.

How do you explain
the initials "C.S.B."?

My name is Charles
Stewart Brent.

And yet you registered under
the name of Thomas Walsh.

How well did you know Arthur
Binney? Well enough to kill him.

Do you realize what
you're saying, Mr. Brent?

Exactly. If you care to,
I'll dictate a statement.

Well, I... I'd like
that very much.

Suppose you'll make
it at headquarters.

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

Lieutenant Tragg, there's a phone
call for you, a Mr. Hamilton Burger.

I'll be right back.

Will you let me
have a cigarette?

(MAN CHATTERING ON POLICE RADIO)

Thanks.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

All right, let's go.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe one word.

All I can tell you, Mrs. Brent, is
that I spoke with your husband myself

not more than an hour ago.

And he says he killed this man?

No. What possible
motive could Stewart have?

Your husband claims
Binney had proof

he was involved in a hit-and-run
accident eight months ago.

Binney was blackmailing
him? That's right.

No. No, it's not true.

Why, even if it were, why should Stewart
kill him? He could have bought him off.

That was Binney's idea.

But Stewart says he
wouldn't stand for it,

and the police didn't find
a penny in that motel room.

No. You can never
get me to believe that.

Whatever possessed Stewart
to make up such a story?

Isn't that obvious? He
must be shielding someone.

Have you any idea who
this someone could be? No.

Did you know Arthur Binney?

Of course not. Are you sure?

I resent that.

Your husband's in
serious trouble, Mrs. Brent.

He could very easily wind
up in the gas chamber.

He admits Binney
was blackmailing him.

But I'm sure Stewart's never
done anything wrong in his life.

Can you say as
much for yourself?

You know, I've got a feeling that Binney
was playing both sides of the street.

Just what does that mean?

I think he was blackmailing
both you and your husband.

Well, I can't speak
for my husband...

But he was blackmailing you?

Yes.

He knew I served a year for
defrauding an insurance company.

Were you guilty?

I could say no, but
it wouldn't be true.

I needed money
desperately at the time.

Oh, I know that's no excuse.

But I'd like to think
I paid for what I did.

How did Binney
find out about you?

I have no idea. He
threatened to go to Stewart.

I couldn't afford
it, so I paid him.

In cash?

No, I gave him a pair
of diamond earrings.

They were worth $2,500.

And you didn't go out to
the Valley Motel last night?

You have my word,
Mr. Mason, for what it's worth.

Mrs. Brent, I just got the news.

I went down to police headquarters,
and they wouldn't let me see him.

Mr. Mason, you've
just got to do something.

Mr. Mason will do
everything he can.

That's a promise, Mrs. Brent.

I'll see there's no trouble the
next time you want to see Mr. Brent.

That dirty swine!
He deserved killing!

No one deserves killing,
Brent. Let's stop that right now.

But he was
blackmailing my wife, too!

That shouldn't be a
complete shock to you.

You must have thought
she killed him. No!

Then what else could
have made you confess?

What did you find in Binney's
room that seemed to indict your wife?

That night I went to the motel
room, Binney hit me from behind.

Then how did you
know it was Binney?

I just assumed
it was, that's all.

Anyway, when I regained consciousness,
I went into the bathroom to wash up,

and that's when I saw my gun.

It was wrapped in
a little hand towel.

Go on.

Then I walked into the adjoining
room and saw Binney, dead.

Near the body was one of
my wife's diamond earrings.

You remember, the kind
she misplaced at the party.

What did you do
with the earring?

I wrapped it in the towel and hid
it in Lieutenant Tragg's police car

when they were taking
me to headquarters.

Where did you hide it?

In the back of the rear seat.

Can you prove you drew the
payoff money out of the bank?

Well, Enid Griffin,
my secretary, can.

She made the withdrawal for me.

I just hope you've been
telling me the truth, Mr. Brent.

We've got an awfully
tough row to hoe.

It's the darnedest thing, Perry,

but all I can find out
about this guy Binney

is that he came down here from
Tacoma about three weeks ago.

What about his background?

He seems to have made a career
out of these scandal magazines,

but he's never
published a single copy.

Obviously, he was
always bought off.

What about partners? According to
my information, he always worked solo.

Yet he definitely told
Brent he had a partner.

I know, but I can't help it.

Sorry to bother you, Perry,
but Enid Griffin's here.

Well, I'll be moving along.

Keep digging, Paul.

All right, Della. Better
have her come in.

Right. Will you
come in, Miss Griffin?

Thank you.

Won't you sit down?

It doesn't look good, does it?

Well, it doesn't look that bad.

You're just trying to
make me feel better.

Mr. Brent did not kill Binney.

I don't think he did, either.

You've got a 50%
chance at being right.

Did you withdraw $30,000 from
Mr. Brent's personal account on May 17th?

Yes, I did, and I brought
the bankbook to prove it.

Now, what are you going
to do about the towel?

What towel?

The one Mr. Brent
hid in the police car.

Who told you about that?

He did. I went back to the jail
after I saw you, and they let me in.

You've got to get it
before the police do.

That's impossible, Miss Griffin.

First of all, if such a towel
exists, it must be evidence

and consequently should be turned
over to the authorities. Secondly...

I don't want to hear any
of your legal mumbo jumbo.

All I know is Mr. Brent
can go to the gas chamber.

Don't give me your
legal technicalities.

Those technicalities are
designed for the protection of us all.

Are you going to get that stuff
out of Lieutenant Tragg's car or not?

(DOOR SLAMS)

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

Happy birthday, Lieutenant.

What did you say?
Happy birthday.

Well, ain't it? Where'd
you get that idea?

That girl. What girl?

The blonde. She was here about an
hour ago, and she said she was your niece.

Go on. It'll kind of
spoil the surprise.

I'll take my chances.
What did she want?

She had a birthday gift for you,
and she wanted to put it in your car.

Did you let her? No, sir. I told
her it was against regulations.

She seemed a little upset.

Well, I shouldn't wonder.

Let's see if my hunch is right.

(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)

Let's try the back.

Here. Give me a hand.

And that's the spot where
the cops found the body.

Oh, the police took a
bullet out over there.

How long had
Mr. Binney lived here?

Well, let's see. He checked
in, I think it was the 8th.

He said he was from Tacoma. He
was supposed to be a lingerie salesman.

Did he ever have any
visitors? Only that blonde.

Hmm?

What blonde was that?

Well, the same one I saw him
drive in with a couple of times.

Would you recognize
her if you saw her again?

I might, but to tell you the truth, I
didn't pay too much attention to her.

Was she here on the
night of the murder?

Well, I honestly couldn't say.

You were the one who
discovered my client near the body?

That's right. What brought you
down here? Did you hear the shot?

No. I tell ya, I wondered why
Mr. Binney hadn't answered the phone.

I hadn't seen him go out.

Do you know who called him?

Some dame, uh, pardon me.

It was the same one who
calls him practically every day.

But she never left
a name? No, sir.

Well, thank you, uh,
very much, Mr. Mitchell.

Well, thank you. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Where you going?

Over to see Mrs. Brent.
I'm worried about her.

What's so funny?

Oh, nothing, nothing.
Oh, now look, Sheila.

(DOOR BELL BUZZES)

Oh, Mr. Mason. Good
evening, Enid. May I come in?

Of course. Come on in.

I don't know if you know
my roommate, Sheila Bowers.

I believe we met once in Mr. Brent's
office. How are you, Sheila?

Oh, fine, thank you. You'll
have to pardon my appearance.

I should apologize
for disturbing you.

Oh, that's perfectly all
right. Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Ahem, well if you will excuse me,
I'll change my clothes. Excuse me.

I know I should apologize for the way
I behaved in the office the other day.

It was perfectly understandable.
You were under a strain.

How's Mr. Brent?

All right.

You don't think anything really
will happen to him, do you?

Well, it will

unless we can find someone who
had a better motive to kill Binney.

What do you think of Mrs. Brent?

What do I think of her?
As a person, I mean.

Well, I think Mr. Brent was very
lucky to have found someone like her.

I think she's a wonderful,
charming woman.

Do you think she might
have killed Binney?

Absolutely not.

And you don't feel she
married Mr. Brent for his money?

No.

But you do know her
past is a trifle shady.

No.

Didn't you overhear Binney and
Mr. Brent talking on the intercom?

That's what Mr. Brent told me.

Well, I figured there
was nothing to it.

All you have to do is look at Mrs.
Brent to see what a nice person she is.

Thank you very much, Enid.

You've been very helpful.

I don't see how.

Say goodbye to Sheila for me.

There's a phone
call for you. Who?

She wouldn't say, but she claims
she has information on the Brent case.

Line 2.

Hello? WOMAN: Mr. Mason?

Yes. Who is this?

I don't think names
really matter, do they?

What can I do for you?

Nothing. I just thought maybe
I could do something for you.

You go to trial
tomorrow, don't you?

Yes.

Well, before you do,

you ought to check the police
files on Mr. Brent's private secretary.

Did you know that she tried to
commit suicide because of him?

No, I didn't. When was this?

The day after he got married.

You, uh, might find
there's a connection.

We will show you, ladies and
gentlemen of the jury, a statement,

which the defendant
voluntarily made and signed

in which he confesses to
the murder of Arthur Binney.

And we will prove to you that the
defendant, Charles Stewart Brent,

is indeed guilty of this crime of
murder and in the first degree.

Mr. Mason?

The defense reserves its opening statement
until the prosecution rests, your honor.

Very well, gentlemen. You
may proceed, Mr. Burger.

I call Miss Enid Griffin
to the stand, please.

BAILIFF: Miss
Enid Griffin, please.

Yes, this is
Mr. Brent's briefcase.

If it please the court, I should
like this marked for exhibit.

Miss Griffin,

were you in your office on May 15th
when Arthur Binney first visited Mr. Brent?

Yes. Would you describe
their discussion, please?

I object, your honor.

This is calling for the
rankest form of hearsay.

If it please the court,
this is not hearsay at all.

Miss Griffin knows about that
conversation from her personal knowledge,

as I shall surely prove.

You may proceed, Mr. Burger.

Miss Griffin,

do you have an interoffice
communication system

between your office and that
of your employer, Mr. Brent?

Yes.

And on the occasion of Arthur
Binney's first visit to Mr. Brent,

was the key to the intercom turned up so
that you could overhear the conversation?

I don't remember.

Well, let me refresh your memory.
Did you visit my office on Tuesday?

Yes.

And did I show you
at that time a statement

dictated by your employer, Mr. Brent,
in which he said the key was turned up?

Yes.

And did you admit
to me that it was true

and that you did overhear
that conversation?

Yes.

Well, all right, then. I ask you
again, what did Mr. Binney say?

He said that he wanted
$30,000 from Mr. Brent.

He said if he didn't get it,
he would expose Mrs. Brent.

Expose Mrs. Brent how?

In a magazine.

He knew she had
served a prison sentence.

Thank you. Your witness.

Miss Griffin,

on May 17th, did you
make a withdrawal

of $30,000 from
Mr. Brent's personal account

at the State National
savings and loan?

I did.

At the time Mr. Brent
got this money,

was it your understanding he intended
to pay the blackmailer or kill him?

I object. It calls for a
conclusion not based on facts.

Objection sustained.

You'll refrain from this type
of questioning, counselor.

I'm sorry, your honor. I
have no further questions.

The witness may...

If it please the court, I have one
question for this witness on redirect.

Miss Griffin,

we've heard you testify
that you withdrew $30,000

for Mr. Brent from
his bank account

on the day of the murder.

But to your own
personal knowledge,

do you know whether he took that
money with him to the Valley Motel?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, as far as you know, he
may have hidden it someplace.

Well, then, why would
he take it out of the bank?

In order to give
himself an alibi.

I have no further question
for this witness, your honor.

You may step down, Miss Griffin.

I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.

Lieutenant,

does this appear to you to be an accurate
diagram of the two motel units in question?

Yes, sir.

This is unit 8, and this is unit 9,
where the dead body was found?

That's right.

Now, Lieutenant, did you
conduct any investigation

with regard to the course
taken by the fatal bullet?

Yes, I did, with the help of
Dr. Cortley of the crime lab.

What was the nature
of the investigation?

Well, first we determined,
by various tests,

that the killer was approximately
10 feet away from the victim.

Then we determined the
direction by a shot track.

I see. Would you step over to
the chart, please, Lieutenant?

And would you explain to the court what
you mean when you say "a shot track"?

You stretch a string along
the calculated path of the bullet.

We knew the angle at which
the bullet entered the wall

after passing through
the victim's body.

And would you point out for
the jury, please, on this diagram,

where you believe the killer
stood when the fatal shot was fired?

Right there.

You think he shot through
the connecting door from unit 8?

Yes, sir.

And unit 8 is the one that
was rented by the defendant

under the fictitious
name of Thomas Walsh.

That's right.

Would you resume the
stand, please, Lieutenant?

Now I ask if you
recognize this towel.

Yes, I do.

And this earring?

Yes, that was
wrapped in the towel.

Easy does it.

I see. I would like
these marked for exhibit.

Please hand these to the clerk.

How'd they find it?

Now, Lieutenant,

would you describe for us how
you discovered this property?

Yes. It was hidden under
the back seat of my car.

Did you try to
trace its ownership?

Normally I use my
notebook. Please do.

The, uh...

It was purchased by the defendant,
Stewart Brent, from Dorf and Cole.

And did Stewart
Brent, the defendant,

ever ride in the
back seat of your car?

Yes, sir. We drove him to
headquarters on the night of the murder.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Your witness.

Uh, may I? Thank you.

And now, Lieutenant,

I believe earrings customarily
come in pairs. Is that correct?

Yes, sir. Did you find
the mate to this one?

No. No, sir. I assume you
searched the motel room thoroughly?

We certainly did. Did you
thoroughly search the defendant, too?

Well, a preliminary search.

And you didn't find
the towel or the earring?

Well, I found them in my car.

How long after the
crime? Oh, about 48 hours.

And during those
intervening 48 hours,

isn't it possible
that someone else

might have planted that
evidence in your car?

Yes, sir. It's
possible, not probable.

Now, Lieutenant,

let's turn our
attention to the gun.

Isn't this rather
a noisy weapon?

It does make a noise.

Yet strangely enough,

no one in the motel
heard the report.

A silencer of some kind
might have been used on it.

Did you find any such
silencer in either motel room?

No. No, sir.

Thank you,
Lieutenant. That's all.

You may step down, Lieutenant.

I call Dr. Otto Cortley.

BAILIFF: Dr. Otto Cortley.

Dr. Cortley, would
you please tell the jury

what textbooks you've
been responsible for editing?

Burke's Criminal
Investigation, 23rd edition,

Spiro's Forensic Medicine,

Damby's Detection of Murder.

I'm also a consultant
of the police crime lab.

If the court please, we are all
aware of Dr. Cortley's reputation

and stipulate his admission as expert
witness, subject to cross-examination.

Dr. Cortley, I show you now this
towel and ask if you recognize it.

I do. It was brought to me May 20th by
Lieutenant Tragg, for a detailed analysis.

Would you tell the jury, please,
the result of that detailed analysis?

The laundry mark in the
upper right-hand corner

will indicate that the towel is
the property of the Valley Motel.

The towel's been used for
normal cleansing purposes,

as you can tell from
the traces of lipstick.

If the court please, this is
wholly irrelevant and immaterial.

Mr. Burger?

My next question will establish
the relevancy, your honor.

Proceed.

What else did you find, Doctor?

There is a bullet
hole in the towel,

which along with the presence
of nitrite and smokeless powder,

indicates that the towel has
also been used as a silencer.

Thank you, Doctor.
Cross-examine.

Dr. Cortley,

you said you found traces of nitrite
and smokeless powder on this towel?

I did. And you also
found traces of lipstick?

Yes, sir. Can you tell
us what kind of lipstick?

I can. It's a shade
called "Hibiscus Red."

It's made by Duval Freres.

Did you find anything
else on this towel?

Well, there were some minute hair
particles that adhered to the surface.

Did you make a classification to
determine whether they were human hairs?

Yes, sir, they were human hairs.

Did you subject these hairs to
a microscopic analysis? I did.

What did they tell you about
the person who used this?

Well, from the structure
and size of the hair,

I should say that the woman that
used this towel was in her early 30s.

She's a habitual user
of peroxide ammonia,

and the hair endings indicate that
she was originally a light brunette.

Let me ask you this, Doctor.

Did you personally view
the scene of the crime?

I did.

And you watched
as Lieutenant Tragg

made a shot track to determine
from where the shot came?

Yes, sir. It was
remarkably well done.

I'm sure it was,

but in all these things, isn't
there a chance of error? Yes.

Could it be off,
say, four or five feet?

It could.

May I have that diagram
of the motel, please?

Thank you, Doctor.

Thank you.

Now, Doctor, let us
take a hypothetical case.

Suppose there was a blonde
hiding in a bathroom of a motel room

very much like this one

and that a body were
found right over here.

Is it possible that this
hypothetical blonde

could have fired the shot
from the bathroom like so,

so that the bullet would
still wind up in here,

as revealed by a shot track?

It is possible, Mr. Mason.

That's all I ask.
Thank you, Dr. Cortley.

Mr. Burger?

Oh, I'm sorry, your
honor. No redirect.

You may step down, Doctor.

Since it is almost 5:00, if
counsel has no objection,

I would like to suggest
that we adjourn.

I have no objection, your honor.

Nor have I, your honor.

Very well. This court stands
adjourned till 10:00 tomorrow morning.

What the devil is keeping Paul?

He should have been here an
hour ago. PAUL: Speak of the devil.

Well, what did you find out?

Your informant was right.

Enid Griffin did try to commit suicide
the day after Brent was married.

There was nothing
about it in the papers.

Did you get the
pictures? Mmm-hmm.

Very blonde and very pretty.

That is Mrs. Brent.

Enid Griffin.

Sheila Bowers.

Have copies made of these and
send them to your man in Seattle.

See if any of these women
served time eight years ago.

Well, we know
that Anne Brent did.

I know, but don't tell your man
that. Let him find out for himself.

Take this set over to
Mitchell at the Valley Motel.

He'll probably testify tomorrow. I'd like
him to look these girls over carefully.

He's already seen them in court.

Yes, but he wasn't
concentrating on them.

When dealing with
someone impressionable,

it's surprising how much more they
remember by looking at a photograph.

Such as?

Just ask him if any of these three
blondes visited Binney at the motel.

As a matter of fact, don't let
him commit himself right off.

Let him sleep on it.

I'll be perfectly satisfied if he's made up
his mind by the time he takes the stand.

Right.

Mr. Mitchell, you're the night
manager of the Valley Motel on Ventura?

That's right.

Would you tell us, please, what
happened on the evening of May 17th?

Around 9:30...

Is that the part you want, or do you want
me to tell you about what happened all day?

No, no. That's right.
Just start at 9:30.

Like I was saying, at about
9:30, some lady called Mr. Binney.

I rang his room, but
there was no answer.

I thought it seemed kind of funny,
because I didn't see him go out.

So I went around
to his room to check.

And when you looked in
unit 9, what did you see?

I saw him standing
over near the body.

By him, you mean Stewart
Brent, the defendant?

Yes, sir.

Now, Mr. Mitchell,

the defense has made
much of a hypothetical blonde.

Did you see any
such woman in unit 9?

No, sir. Was she in unit 8?

Well, if she was, I
certainly didn't see her.

And would you have seen her if she
had been in the adjoining bathroom?

I sure would.

That's all, Mr. Mitchell.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Mitchell,

when you first saw the defendant
in unit 9, was he holding the gun?

Yes, sir. And what did you do?

I ran to call the cops. Uh,
excuse me, I mean, the police.

But you said the defendant had a
gun in his hand. Did he try to stop you?

No, sir.

Now, getting back to
the deceased, Mr. Binney,

how long had he been a
guest at the Valley Motel?

Close now to three weeks.

Did Mr. Binney
have any visitors?

Only one.

You mean this person
only appeared once?

It was just that
same dame, uh...

(CLEARS THROAT) Same blonde.

She was the only one that
used to come to see him.

MASON: How often did
she visit the deceased?

Two or three times a week.

I could see her from my office
when she drove up in her car.

Mr. Mitchell, does the name
Shirley Carroll mean anything to you?

Shirley Carroll... No.

Then let me ask you this,

is Mr. Binney's blonde
visitor present in this court?

She sure is. She's
sitting right over there.

That's a lie! I
didn't kill Binney!

Why should I? We were partners.

He was alive when I
left the motel that night!

I didn't do it! I swear it!

I swear I didn't do it!

I swear!

MITCHELL: I want
to look up here.

Good evening. I'd
like a room, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, you're, uh...
You're Mrs. Brent.

I'd still like a room,
preferably unit 9.

Look, lady, I don't
know what your game is.

It's button, button,
who's got the button,

and I don't need
any partners to play.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Arthur Binney was my partner.

Are you crazy? That blonde
was his partner, Sheila Bowers.

She was just my
contact with Binney.

Who do you think
planned this whole thing?

I served time with her.

You mean you were going
to clip your own husband?

Well, I figured $30,000 wasn't bad for
a marriage that couldn't last very long.

Incidentally, what
happened to that money?

How should I know?

Who should know better?

How come you missed
that diamond earring?

I gave Binney the pair of
them to make the plot look good.

You tell me. You
seem to know it all.

Well, I imagine you were so nervous
when you took them out of Binney's pocket,

you dropped one of them and were
afraid to take the time to look for it?

You're a liar.

Don't misunderstand me.

I feel that you are entitled
to some part of that money.

Binney told me what
a great help you were.

Shall we say $1,000?
Shall we say nuts?

I wouldn't do that.

You don't want any more
trouble, do you, Mitchell?

I think we've had enough
excitement for one night. Excuse me.

All right, Mason,
so you were right.

But, uh, what was the tip-off?

Well, if my client
was telling the truth,

it meant that someone else entered
unit 8 while Brent was unconscious.

Now, who was in the best
position to manage that?

Mitchell, he had a passkey.

Mmm-hmm.

While Binney was putting the
money in his grip, Mitchell entered,

took the gun off Brent's
bed, shot Binney from

the bathroom, using
the towel as a silencer.

Darling, you were wonderful.

Tell me again.

All right, Mr., uh...
Come on, Tragg.

I think Mr. Brent's got
the situation well in hand.

Let's wait in the car.