Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 1, Episode 37 - The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde - full transcript

Diana Reynolds arrives at Mason's office wearing a black eye concerned about her boss' grandson Bobby Carter. Marian Shaw, Diana's former roommate, also concerned with the grandson, is murdered at the Carter residence and Diana is charged.

Good evening, Miss Shaw.
It's a lovely evening, no?

Hi, honey.

Did you park my
car out in front?

Don't you honey me, you liar.

You just pack your
things and get out of here.

All right, Marian. If
this is a gag, I give up.

I'll show you what
kind of a gag it is.

Use my suitcase and
don't bother to bring it back.

Now just a minute.

You have a room at the
Bartlett's where you work.

Why don't you stay there?



Beacause I like to spend my
weekends off where I please.

But you're not
going to stay here.

I have as much
right here as you do.

Diana, I'll give you
exactly five seconds.

(GUN FIRING)

Miss Reynolds, what
is the meaning of this?

It was an accident, Mr. Kessler.

Wasn't it, Marian?

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

The mail just come, Miss Diana.

Oh, thank you, Carlos.

The gardener's here, too.

He's got estimates on the
fruit trees Mr. Bartlett wanted.

Thank you. Would you
tell him to wait, please?



I'll be right there. Yes, ma'am.

Tony, I've told
you not to do that.

It's your own fault, honey.

It's practically
a reflex action.

Why don't you admit you like it?

I wish Marian could see you now.

Why did you tell her
those stories about me?

A fella's got to
protect himself.

You told her stories about me.

Mine were true.

I don't want to
see her get hurt.

Oh, when are you gonna grow up?

Don't you know some
people are born to suffer?

It's Marian's role in life.

She'd be unhappy any other way.

Did my stepfather write when he
was going to get back from Chicago?

What have you got there,
a letter from the President?

Excuse me, Miss Diana,

but the gardener got to leave.

Thank you, Carlos.

I'll be right there.

(TONY READING)

"They live at 1417 Lincoln Road in
Fernwood in the San Fernando Valley.

"The kid's name is Bobby.

"He's four years old."

(SIGHING)

You work and you
plan for security

and then someone writes
an anonymous letter.

If that thing's true and
your darling new husband

has got a grandson,
where do I fit in?

The question is, is it true?

I know Matthew's son, Robert, married
some girl five months before he died.

Her maiden name was Norma,

Norma Carter.

Whoever wrote this
letter is no friend of hers.

Well, he's no
friend of ours, either.

Look, Mother, if
we destroyed it...

Oh, it's no good.
Diana will tell them.

Suppose you leave Diana to me.

You're the only thing
that matters to me, Tony.

I married Matthew Bartlett
so you'd have security

and I'm not letting
anybody destroy that.

(HENS CLUCKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Hello there, young fella.

Hello.

What's your name? Bobby Carter.

Is your mother home?

She's in the back.
We got chickens.

Will you tell her there's
someone here to see her?

(DOOR OPENING)

You wanted to see me?

Yes, I did. You Mrs. Carter?

My name's Phillips. I'm from the
Beekman Land Enterprises Company.

We're interested in new housing
development out here in the valley.

I see.

That's a fine looking
boy you've got there.

I can't make up my mind whether
he favors you or your husband there.

Just what is it you want?

Well, I was wondering
whether you'd be interested

in selling this
property. You see...

There's a big "For
Sale" sign right out front.

You must have
passed it on your way in.

And you were wondering if
I'd be interested in selling?

Get out.

Now, look here, Mrs. Carter...

I said, get out.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

What are you doing in here?

That's an interesting
question, Diana.

Perhaps you can explain this.

Leave that alone. That's mine.

And these happen to be mine.

What else have you stolen?

This is ridiculous. I
never saw those before.

You have no right to be in here.

I want you out of here in
five minutes. Are you crazy?

And you're not to
take anything with you.

We'll send everything
to your apartment

after the police have
searched this room.

I'm staying right here

until Mr. Bartlett
gets back tonight.

And believe me, when he
hears about that missing letter...

Keep your hands
off me. Let me go.

(DIANA GROANING)

I'm sorry, Paul.

I couldn't possibly
make it tonight.

I'm too tired.

(DOOR OPENING)
I'll tell you what, though.

If you want to set it up for
tomorrow night, it's a deal.

Fair enough?

Good.

I've always known you
could read my mind.

Let's say we call it a night.

You have a would-be
client waiting to see you.

Mmm-hmm.

Tell him I'll see
him in the morning.

It isn't a him, it's a her.

I'm not interested.

A very pretty her.

Blonde.

Still not interested.

Has a black eye.

Uh-huh.

And she practically just
stepped out of the bath.

I don't think she's
had time to dress.

(SIGHING)

Perhaps you better
bring her in, Della.

And then they threw me out.

I didn't have a
chance to do anything.

I didn't even have
money for car fare.

Well, how did you get here?

Truck driver gave me a lift.

I left my car at the
apartment this morning.

I couldn't get it started.

Do you suppose the
houseman... What was his name?

Carlos.

Do you suppose Carlos
might remember that letter?

There's no reason he should.

It was typed on plain paper.

There were over a dozen
pieces of mail this morning.

Then when you
come right down to it,

there's actually no proof
there was such a letter.

I should have known
you wouldn't believe me.

I didn't say that.

Della, would you get
the camera, please?

When was Mr. Bartlett
expected home?

About 8:00 tonight.

Della, make it a
real close shot.

I want that black eye to show.

You stand right there.

That's fine.

Take Miss Reynolds
to her apartment.

First thing in the morning

I want to see Matthew Bartlett.

Well, what do you intend
to do about this, Mr. Bartlett?

Naturally, I expect you
to hear your wife's side...

I don't have to. I know
Diana's telling the truth.

Thank you.

What kind of a fool do Helen
and Tony take me for, anyway?

Obviously, it doesn't come as a
surprise to you that you have a grandson.

I've know about
Bobby for five months.

Up to that time, I never
dreamed there might be a child.

I got my first hint
on January 25th,

when I received an
anonymous phone call.

Man or woman?

I couldn't tell.

But my caller
launched into a tirade

about my daughter-in-law,
Norma, being an unfit mother.

I pretended I wasn't
interested and hung up.

Then the letter was a follow-up?

There was no need for it.

I'd already hired a private
detective agency to investigate.

According to them,
my daughter-in-law

is doing a wonderful
job raising the boy.

Have you ever seen him?

Only once.

I drove by and watched
him playing in the yard.

I was ashamed to go in.

You see, my son, Robert,
walked out of here one day.

It was five years ago.

He said he never
wanted to see me again.

I told him what I
thought of his wife.

It wasn't much.

Five months later he
was killed in a plane crash.

That's when I started running.

I didn't stop running
till I got married.

Isn't it funny how you can
be so smart in business

and so stupid when
you deal in emotions?

I thought Tony would
be a substitute for my son.

You can see I'm a
great judge of character.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

That must be my wife and Tony.

I'm very anxious
to meet them both.

Listen, Mason, how
about representing me?

I want my grandchild.

What about his mother?

Well, she couldn't live
here. That'd never work out.

There are too many
things she'd have to forget.

And no woman could.

But I want that boy.

I don't care how much it costs.

Why not?

Well, for one thing, I
have an old-fashioned idea

that money can't buy everything.

For another, I already have
a client, Diana Reynolds.

Suppose I write her a check now.

$1,000.

Would $1,000 make Diana happy?

I'm afraid nothing can.

Are you Matthew Bartlett?

And who are you?

This is Lieutenant
Tragg of the police.

He's with Homicide.

Homicide?

What do you mean, nothing
can make Diana happy?

She was murdered last night.

I understand you
were her employer.

Hold this just a
minute for me, will you?

Yeah.

Did you ever see this before?

I'm sorry, just, uh...

Well, it looks familiar.

It should. It's
registered in your name.

I remember now.

I gave that gun to
Diana a month ago.

You see, she lives
here during the week

and on her days off she stays
in her apartment in Hollywood.

That still doesn't explain
why you gave her this gun.

Well, driving home one night

she was frightened by
a couple of hoodlums.

They almost forced
her off the road.

I suggested she carry
a gun to protect herself.

Just where do you
fit into this picture?

I... Diana Reynolds
was my client.

Well, then you certainly should
know what she looked like.

Maybe you'd both come
along and identify her.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Who found her, Lieutenant?

A telephone repairman was out
here this morning checking some lines.

Any footprints?

Yes, a few. We got them.

(HENS CLUCKING)

This isn't Diana Reynolds.

What did you say?

This is not my client.

That car over there is
registered to Diana Reynolds.

Her driver's license is
in the glove compartment

and this girl meets
the description.

Her name is Marian Shaw.

She shared an
apartment with Diana.

Excuse me, Lieutenant,

the woman who lives
here just came home.

She's been out shopping
all morning with her kid.

Where is she?

Seeing the boy gets his nap.

I told her to go ahead.
The boy was frightened.

Her name is Norma Carter.

Carter?

What's the matter,
Mr. Bartlett? You know her, too?

She's my daughter-in-law.

You better follow me.

It doesn't make any sense.

It doesn't make
any sense at all.

How well did you
know this Marian Shaw?

She was a very
good friend of mine.

I met her two years
ago in San Diego

and then I lost track of her.

About three months
ago I ran into her

in a department
store in Los Angeles.

Can you think of anyone who
might have had a motive to kill her?

Well, she did say she was
having trouble with her roommate.

This Diana Reynolds?

What did they
fight about? A man?

What's his name?

Tony Davis.

Tony?

Why, he's my stepson.

Well, thank you a lot,
Mrs. Carter, for your help.

We'll be in touch.

Goodbye.

Norma, could I see the boy?

No.

Please, Norma, show
me the kindness that,

well, I never showed you.

He's asleep.

I just want to look at him.

In there.

Don't wake him.

Then the building
superintendent,

a character named Otto Kessler,

let me into Diana
Reynolds' apartment.

Her bed had not been slept in.

She has to be around
somewhere, Paul.

If she's around, I'll find her.

Well, I just want you to find
her before the police find her.

Anything else?

Yes, I want you to check on a
woman named Norma Carter.

She's Bartlett's
daughter-in-law.

She told Tragg she
was at a drive-in theater

with her little boy
last night until 11:00.

MASON: Come in, Diana.

Miss Reynolds,
this is Mr. Drake.

How do you do?

How do you do, Miss Reynolds?

What about the
rest of this stuff?

You'd better check that out.

Come here and sit down, Diana.

Where have you been?

Union Station.

Doing what?

Just sitting.

I was there since
11:00 last night.

I couldn't think of
any other place to go.

Obviously you must have known
that Marian Shaw was murdered,

even before the police knew it.

Then you must have seen her body

at Norma Carter's
place last night.

I didn't know that was Norma Carter's
place. I've never been there before.

We'd better take this
from the beginning.

After we dropped you at
your apartment last night,

what did you do?

I read a while

and then about a quarter
of 9:00, the telephone rang.

Who was it? I don't know.

He said he was a traffic
officer out in the valley

and that my car was
involved in an accident

and they thought
Marian had stolen it.

I told him he was wrong.

Are you positive your
caller was a man?

I don't know.

The voice was muffled.

Well, I...

I took a bus out
there and I got off

and I looked around.

I didn't see anyone.

And I went to the house.

There wasn't anyone home.

I thought I heard a dog moaning,

you know, like it was
caught in a trap or something.

And I went to look

and I saw my car

and I saw Marian.

(SOBBING)

What did you do then?

I just started running.

I ran all the way down
to Parkwood Avenue.

Look here.

Why didn't you use your
car? It was right there.

I tried. I couldn't
get it started.

It wouldn't start.

Della, what's the name of
that motel in Santa Monica?

Sea Breeze Motel.

That's the one. I want
you to take Diana out there.

She's to register
under her own name.

I'll get my coat.

Diana, when you
get to the motel,

I don't want you
to leave your room.

You're to stay right
there. You understand?

Gertie wanted to announce
me but I told her not to bother.

Lately it seems I've done
nothing but introduce you.

This is Lieutenant Tragg,

of the police.

Hi. I didn't get your name.

Diana Reynolds. Yeah,
that's what I thought.

I had a hunch she'd try
to get in touch with you.

I've got a warrant
for her arrest.

Suspicion of murder.

I didn't kill her.

Then you have
nothing to worry about.

You'll have to go
with him, Diana.

It'll be all right.

All right, Sergeant.

(HENS CLUCKING)

Here, chickie, chickie.

Well, hi there, young fella.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

I bet your name is Bobby
Carter, isn't that right?

Well, come on.

Isn't that your name?

My mommy

don't want me to
talk to strange men.

Well, then it's all right
if I talk to you, isn't it?

Mmm-hmm.

I remember when I was a little
boy, we used to have some chickens.

Of course, they
weren't as nice as yours.

Every day, I remember, we
used to go looking for eggs.

And one day you
know what I found?

What do you think you're doing?

Well, hello there.

You run inside and play, honey.

Bye, Bobby.

Bye.

That's a very fine
boy you have there.

You must be very proud
of him, Mrs. Bartlett.

The name's Carter.

I'm sorry. I thought your
maiden name was Carter.

I still prefer to be
known as Mrs. Carter.

I told that to your client,
Mr. Matthew Bartlett.

I beg your pardon.

You know he came
out here to see me.

I wasn't good enough for
him when his son was alive.

Well, I want no part of him
or the Bartlett name now.

I'm afraid you're laboring
under a false impression.

I don't represent
your father-in-law.

Well, just who do you represent?

Diana Reynolds.

The girl who killed Marian?

Did it ever occur to you that

Diana might have been
the intended victim?

The two girls looked alike.

In the dark someone easily
could have made a mistake.

All I know is Marian's dead.

I tell you, Diana had
nothing to do with it.

Then why did she
hide from the police?

Because she was frightened.

Haven't you ever felt that way?

I never ran away from anything.

You were more
fortunate than most of us.

You don't have to do
that. I can do my own work.

I'm convinced you're
an independent spirit.

You don't have to
carry things to extremes.

Do you know anyone who
would want to hurt you?

Well, didn't you ever wonder why

Mr. Bartlett suddenly
appeared on the horizon?

I figured he just
found out about Bobby.

Have you any idea
how he found out?

Well, first he received
an anonymous phone call.

The caller said you
weren't a fit mother.

What?

That was followed
a couple of days ago

by an anonymous
letter to the same effect.

Now can you think of anyone
who might be responsible?

Why, no.

Well, if you do, would
you let me know?

Why? What difference
would it make to you?

Because my client,
Diana Reynolds

was lured out here last night
by an anonymous phone call, too.

I think the same
party was responsible.

Mrs. Bartlett claims

she and Tony were out
driving the night of the murder.

At 9:30 they were
somewhere near the beach.

That's vague enough.

I wonder which one
of them need the alibi?

Well, don't forget Mr. Bartlett.

He can stand one, too.
His plane got in at 7:00.

He has no motive.

Hasn't he?

Marian was a blonde just like
his daughter-in-law, Norma Carter.

In the dark he could
have made a mistake.

And, if he is so convinced

his wife and stepson
destroyed that anonymous letter

and then tried to frame
Diana with the jewelry,

why hasn't he said
anything to them?

He told me he wanted
to take care of them

in his own way
and in his own time.

Do you believe that?

Where was Norma Carter
at the time of the murder?

Well, she could have been at
that drive-in movie like she claims

but I wouldn't want
to stake my life on it.

When you come right down to it,

none of them have an alibi.

And neither has Perry's client.

Anything else?

Yeah, but you're
not gonna like it.

Do you remember Otto Kessler?

Yes, he was the superintendent
of Diana's apartment house.

He is also going to
be a witness for Burger.

Did your client ever tell you

she once tried to
kill her roommate

and that Kessler saw her
with a gun in her hand?

Funny, Diana
didn't mention that.

All right, Paul. Keep
checking everything out.

Where are you going?

Over to see my client. I wonder
what else she forgot to tell me.

I swear that's the truth.

Mr. Kessler made a mistake.
It was Marian who had the gun.

It went off in the fight.
That's all there was to it.

I hope we can convince
the court of that.

Now, is there anything
else you should tell me?

I can't think of a thing.

Anything at all, no matter
how unimportant it seems?

How did Marian and
Tony Davis meet?

Well,

that started when

Marian went out to be
interviewed by Mr. Bartlett for a job.

Did you recommend her?

No. It was the other way around.

Marian didn't want the
job. She recommended me.

But while she was
out there she met Tony

and he asked her for a date.

Let me get this straight.

You mean the job was
first offered to Marian?

I told him I didn't have
any secretarial experience.

Then why did he hire you?

Did he ask you if you
knew Bobby Carter?

Well, that's funny
because he did.

As a matter of fact,

he was always asking
questions about Bobby.

Such as?

What does he look like,

how often he came
over to the apartment.

How often did Bobby
come to your apartment?

At least a dozen times.

Then you knew Norma Carter?

No. Marian would drive
out and pick him up.

Mrs. Carter would let him
spend the day with her.

How long had this been going on?

Ever since Marian
bumped into Mrs. Carter.

About three months ago.

Does that mean anything?

It explains how you got the job.

Bartlett was pumping you.

He wanted to find out just as much
as he could about his grandchild.

Now do you see his motivation?

Oh.

I don't blame him. I
mean, Bobby's a doll.

Marian used to say
that he was the only man

she ever wrote
about in her diary.

Marian kept a diary?

Yes.

She made quite a mystery of it.

I ran across it one
day. I never told her.

She kept it hidden in the
typewriter case, under the machine.

All right, now listen, Diana.

Preliminary hearing starts
the day after tomorrow.

I know.

I want you to wear
something simple.

Do you have a tailored suit?

The matron picked one
out for me. It's dark blue.

No, that won't do.

Suppose you authorized my
secretary to pick out something for you.

From your apartment.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Hi, beautiful.

Where's Perry?

He had to leave.

I thought he wanted to see me.

How would you like
to take me to dinner?

It would be a pleasure.

Of course, we'll have to
make a detour on the way.

What kind of a detour?

I have to pick up a
dress for Diana Reynolds.

At her apartment?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, the cops have
taken the place over.

I know.

Of course, it may take me a little
while to find something suitable.

Just what do I do
in the meantime?

Oh, I thought you'd find
something to keep yourself busy.

Incidentally, Marian
Shaw kept a diary.

After you.

I'll fill you in on the way.

Say, how long does it take
to pick out a dress, anyway?

It isn't easy, Officer.

And you know how
important it is for a defendant

to make a good
impression in court.

Yeah, but she's been in
there 15 minutes already.

How about this
one? Uh, too jazzy.

I might have known it.

Oh, I don't see why
this is such a problem.

Look, Miss Street, we
haven't got all night, you know.

Dr. Rose, as medical
examiner for the coroner's office,

did you perform an autopsy
on the decedent, Marian Shaw?

I did, sir.

Would you please tell
this court your findings.

Well, there were multiple and
perforating wounds of the body

which might have
been caused by bullets.

One entered the region of the
right clavicle and came out the spine.

The other went through
the heart and right lung.

Did you make an attempt to
determine the time of death?

I have.

In my opinion, death occurred
at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Thank you, Doctor.
Cross-examine.

(CLEARING THROAT)

Now, Doctor, you've testified
that time of death was 9:30 p.m.

Is that correct?
That's right, sir.

How did you arrive
at that conclusion?

By the development
of rigor mortis,

postmortem lividity
and body temperature.

Was there anything else?

Well, when the victim
fell, she broke her watch.

It was stopped at
25 minutes after 9:00.

Well, that is hardly a
scientific test, is it, Doctor?

Now, if you hadn't
seen that watch,

would you have
attempted to pinpoint the

time of death to virtually
the exact minute?

Well, uh, no.

Now, Dr. Rose,

could your estimate of the time of
death be off, say, as much as an hour?

Yes.

Two hours?

Possibly.

Thank you, Doctor. That's all.

Well, I was sweeping
the carpet on the third floor

when I heard this shot,

so I immediately
opened the door.

And what did you see when
you went into the girls' apartment?

Well, Miss Shaw was crying

and Miss Reynolds

was holding a gun.

Mr. Kessler, is this the gun
Miss Reynolds was holding?

I object, Your Honor.

Mr. Kessler is hardly
an expert on guns.

Sustained.

Very well.

Here's something
you can testify to.

Mr. Kessler, is this the bullet
that you dug out of the wall

of the girls' apartment
the following day?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Kessler.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Kessler,

you testified you saw the
defendant with the gun in her hand?

Yes, sir.

Did you actually
see her fire the shot?

No, sir.

You pried the bullet out of
the wall the following day?

Yes, sir.

When did you turn the
bullet over to the police?

Maybe a week later.

And why did you
keep the bullet so long?

Did you intend to
incriminate the defendant?

It never once entered my mind.

Then what was your reason?

I really can't tell you.

I just kept it, that's all.

Thank you,
Mr. Kessler. That's all.

You may stand down.
Call your next witness.

BURGER: I call Anthony
Davis to the stand, please.

You were in love with the
deceased, weren't you, Mr. Davis?

Yes, sir, and Marian
was in love with me.

We were engaged to be married.

That's not true.

And did you ever
tell the defendant

of your intention of
marrying Miss Shaw?

Yes, sir. One night
when we were alone.

What was the reaction
of the defendant?

Diana got very mad.

She said one way or another
she'd get even with Marian.

I see.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Now, you testified
that the defendant

used to throw herself at you.

Is that correct, Mr. Davis?

Yes, sir.

How did you defend yourself

against these
unprovoked attacks?

I just made sure that we
were never alone together.

But by your own admission

you were alone
with the defendant

when you told her you planned
to marry Miss Marian Shaw.

Well, yes.

That was on the 20th of May?

Yes.

Is that the time you
gave her the black eye?

(STUTTERING) I never hit her.
I never hit a woman in my life.

Except in self-defense

or do you mean that even
then you'd turn the other cheek?

Oh, when a woman starts
to scratch my eyes out

I'm not gonna just stand still.

That's quite understandable.

Now, why did the
defendant try to scratch you?

Well, we wanted her
to leave the house.

You see, Diana had stolen
some things of my mother's.

Oh.

And when Miss Reynolds
wouldn't leave peaceably,

you then decided to put her out?

There wasn't much
else I could do.

Of course.

Now, Mr. Davis,

weren't you afraid to tackle
a big girl like Miss Reynolds?

After all, you only outweighed
her about 50 pounds.

Why didn't you go to the police?

I just wanted to get
her out of the house.

And naturally, when she
struggled, you had to defend yourself.

That's right. And just
how did you do that?

I don't remember exactly.

You're positive you did
not give her a black eye?

Well, I would have
remembered if I had.

You don't remember
exactly what did happen,

but you do remember
exactly what didn't happen,

is that it?

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Davis.

That's all.

All right, Mr. Davis,
you may step down.

Why didn't you
ask about the letter?

I was afraid to. He'd
deny there ever was one.

When I call him a liar, I
want to be able to prove it.

Uh, since it's nearing
the hour of adjournment,

has counsel any
objection if we recess?

No, Your Honor. No, Your Honor.

Very well.

Court stands adjourned
until 10:00 tomorrow morning.

I know I've done you a
terrible injustice, Norma,

and I can't expect
you to forgive me,

but I appeal to you as a mother.

Well, that's a new approach.

You never thought of
me as a mother before.

I admit I've handled this badly.

I insulted and humiliated you.

I realize you can
never forget that.

But think of Bobby, think
what I could do for him.

Why, he would have everything.

Except his mother.

You could visit him
whenever you like.

I know how much you love him and I
realize the sacrifice you'd be making.

I hope you'll accept this in
the spirit in which it's offered.

$100,000.

I guess you mean it.

You can have Bobby

because you can
do a lot for him.

But I wouldn't take
one cent from you.

Please, let me do
something, Norma.

Maybe I haven't
handled things right,

but let me make it up to
you. If only for Bobby's sake.

Won't you let me
do this for him?

Perry, I just heard
from my contact again.

He double-checked.
Burger's got the diary.

Positive? Uh-huh.

I hear it won't do
your client much good.

What else?

Well, I don't know if this
means anything or not.

Little Bobby Carter is going
to live with Matthew Bartlett.

You mean his mother's
going to give him up?

That's right.

Well, one thing's sure.

Whoever wrote that anonymous
letter should be very happy now.

It's just what...

Now, Lieutenant, I show you this
plaster cast and ask if you recognize it.

Yes, sir.

It's a plaster cast of footprints
we discovered near the body.

And do you recognize
these shoes?

Yes. The defendant
was wearing them

when we arrested her
in Mr. Mason's office.

Would you explain, please,

the relation between
these shoes and the cast?

Well, we, uh, tried
them in the plaster cast

and they fit perfectly
as you can see.

So they do.

Now, Lieutenant, do
you recognize this item?

Yes, sir.

It's a diary we found in
Miss Shaw's apartment. I see.

It was concealed
in a typewriter case.

If it please the court,

I would like these three
items entered in evidence

and the diary marked
for identification.

All right, Your Honor.

However, I will stipulate that the
diary may be received in evidence

only for the purpose of showing
that Marian Shaw kept a diary

and that this is it.

And for the purposes

of stipulating on the
question of handwriting.

Now, Lieutenant,

will you please read the
name on the inside cover?

It's "Marian Shaw."

Now, hold it a minute. I want you to
read the entry dated May 7th of this year.

If the court please,
this is pure hearsay.

The district attorney knows
full well the question is improper.

If the court please, I think
this should be permitted.

This will allow us to hear
in the dead girl's own words,

what she feels
about the defendant.

Furthermore, Mr. Mason
stipulated that...

Your Honor, I
made a stipulation,

but I did not waive
my right to object

whenever I feel that the
evidence is inadmissible.

I'm going to allow
Mr. Burger a little latitude here.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The witness may read from the
entry of, uh, what was the date again?

May 7th. Oh, yes.
Go ahead, Lieutenant.

"I had another fight
with Diana today.

"Tony told me that she persists
in throwing herself at him.

"It's obvious I can't trust her.

"I've got to watch her
every minute of the day."

Thank you,
Lieutenant. That's all.

You may cross-examine.

If the court please,
before I cross-examine,

I think I should be
allowed the opportunity

of examining this entire diary.

I'll object to that, Your Honor.

I examined this witness on
only one entry from this diary

and Mr. Mason may cross-examine
him only on that same entry.

Your Honor, I intend to direct
the attention of the witness

to certain other
passages in the diary.

It well may be that this
quotation was out of context.

If it please the court,

defense counsel is
obviously stalling for time.

This diary covers several years

and it would needlessly
delay this hearing

if Mr. Mason tries to
read the whole diary,

let alone introducing
other entries

to prove that I may be
quoting out of context.

Nevertheless, Your Honor, I
maintain I am within my rights.

Since there's another important matter
coming up, I'm going to recess now.

That will give Mr. Mason an
opportunity to look at the diary

without removing it from
the custody of the clerk.

But, I'll expect you to
continue, without delay,

at 2:00 this afternoon.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Oh, Lieutenant,
you may step down.

Court stands
adjourned till 2:00.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

NORMA: Won't you
come in? Thank you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

I have to leave very shortly.

I have to get these
things over to Bobby.

He's staying with
his grandfather.

This won't take very long.

Were you in court this morning

when Marian's diary
was introduced?

Yes. I heard Lieutenant
Tragg read the entry of May 7th.

I ran across a couple of
entries much more interesting.

For example, the
entry dated July...

July 27th, four years ago.

Since we weren't allowed to
remove the diary from the courtroom,

Miss Street took down the entries in
short hand. Would you care to hear them?

"July 27th. The day
I made the decision.

"I know Norma will do
everything she can for him.

"Once I get on my feet again

"I want to forget all
about Saint Catherine's."

Really, Mr. Mason, if your purpose
is to confuse me, you've succeeded.

Now, Della, would
you read the entry

dated July 27th of
the following year?

"July 27th. Last
year at this time

"I was in a hospital
in Mexico City.

"Norma remembered the
day. She sent me a sweet note.

"She says everything's fine.

"Maybe I did the right thing."

That's all very interesting,

but I've already explained
those entries to Mr. Burger.

In all fairness to Mr. Burger,

he doesn't know about the
anonymous letter sent to Mr. Bartlett.

So he didn't realize that the
him referred to in the diary

was a baby.

I don't think I follow you.

Yes, you do.

Bobby isn't your
child, he's Marian's.

He was born at Saint
Catherine's Hospital,

in Mexico City.

Are you trying to say I wasn't
married to Robert Bartlett?

I'll be happy to show you
my marriage certificate.

I wasn't trying
to say that at all.

Of course you were
married to young Bartlett.

But Bobby isn't your
child or your husband's.

He is Marian's.

And since she wasn't married,

she agreed to let you take
him and raise him as your own.

Well, why would I agree to that?

Because you had
a long-range plan.

You were literally going
to sell Bobby to Mr. Bartlett

after you had convinced him
that Bobby was his grandson.

Well, that's very funny.

Next you'll be accusing
me of killing Marian.

I am.

You didn't even know
Marian was in Los Angeles

until you ran into her
about three months ago.

By that time your plan
was well underway.

You finally had to kill her

because you knew
she would interfere.

I don't want to seem rude,
but I really have to leave.

Here, allow me.

Thank you.

There's just one thing you're
forgetting in all this, Mr. Mason.

I wish you'd show me what.

Well, that anonymous phone call to my
father-in-law that started the whole thing.

Oh, you were
responsible for that.

Now, why would I call
myself an unfit mother?

That was just good psychology.

First of all, you alerted him

to the fact that he
had a grandson,

and then thinking you
were an unfit mother,

he'd pay any amount to
get Bobby away from you.

And I suppose I wrote
that anonymous letter, too?

Yes. It's easy enough to check.

All we have to do is compare the
typing on the letter with your typewriter.

Can you spare a
cigarette, Mr. Mason?

(SIREN WAILING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Can we talk to her?

How do you feel, Mrs. Carter?

How much time have I got left?

That's what I figured.

Do you have anything
you want to tell us?

Yes.

Mr. Mason was right.

I killed Marian.

I called her and asked her
to come out there that night.

Why did you do it?

I didn't want
anybody to find out.

Find out what?

I killed her, that's all.

Well, there's our
dying declaration.

We better pick up Tony Davis.

I'm going to charge
him with perjury.

She did try to make
up for things, didn't she?

That's it, that's it.

Hello, Mason, Miss Street.

DELLA: Hello.

Look at him, he'll be
an expert in no time.

I tell you, blood
will tell every time.

The spitting
image of his father.

I'd know my grandson anyplace.

Mr. Bartlett, there's
something you should know.

Something I ought to know?

Well,

I think you'll need someone
to help take care of Bobby.

After all, he's just a child.

You're right. I'd
spoil him pretty bad.

We do need a woman around here.

Do you think Diana
would be interested?

Well, she's very fond of him.

It's a deal, if she'll have us.

Come on, Bobby.
Let's go call her.

Oh, you coming?

Right behind you.

So, you're going to go on
letting Mr. Bartlett believe

that Bobby's his grandson?

Well, let's put it
this way, Della.

Mr. Bartlett has a
new lease on life,

Bobby has a home and
all the love he'll ever need.

Can you give me one good reason

we should destroy all that?

I can't even give you a bad one.