Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 3, Episode 2 - The Case of the Watery Witness - full transcript

Don't!

Don't!

Come back!

Help! Come back!

Help!

Come back.

Help!

Help. Come back. Help!

Help!

Help!

I got you. Take it easy.



You're all right now, friend.

Just not your day to
be murdered, that's all.

I'd better call you
a doctor, huh?

No, no, I'm all right.

I-I've got my breath now
and this is just a little cut.

Excuse me, I'll get a towel.

This is her, isn't it?

You know, the first time I
ever saw Lorna Thomas,

I was tossed out of
a Saturday matinee

for throwing popcorn.

Now I hear she's making
another comeback.

Gonna make a movie with
somebody named, uh, Tony Raeburn?

Look, young man, I... I
don't know how to thank you.

If you hadn't
happened by when...



You're Mr. Briggs, aren't you?

The boss around here.
Well, I manage the club, yes.

It used to be Miss
Thomas' lake home.

I'm Fred Bushmiller.
From Portland.

Oh. I thought you'd be
reporting to me by mail.

I didn't expect... I know.

I sure picked a time
to come in, didn't I?

Wow. That dame.

Mr. Bushmiller, whatever
you saw out there, please, I...

I just wish you'd...

Well, I mean, you did come here
to give me a report, didn't you?

The girl you wanted
me to find is Betty Clark.

She lives in Oregon City.

She's 24 now.

Clark?

She married a
fellow named Clark.

George Clark.

She's the one? You're sure?

As sure as you can be
about a thing like that.

The couple who adopted her
wrote the minister of their church.

I found the letter in
the minister's estate.

What did the letter say?

That she was Lorna
Thomas' daughter.

You sure get the lowdown
on her all at once, don't you?

"Lovely Lorna."

First that she's got a grown kid
that nobody knows anything about

and then wham,

she swats you over
the head with a gaff.

Now, look, I fell into the lake

and I hit my head against
the side of the boat.

I want you to forget
everything else.

There are some things,
Mr. Bushmiller, please,

that you shouldn't
try to understand.

Sure.

Thanks.

I guess a little bonus
might be in order...

for your services to date.

Whatever you say, Mr. Briggs.

Fine.

You wanted to see me?

All my life, Miss Thomas.

I told him we didn't
need the lawn mowed

or any magazine subscriptions.

Run along, Harriet, thank you.

Well, now,
Mr. Bushmiller, what is it?

I was resting. I'm
not feeling very well.

Neither is Mr. Briggs.

You saw what happened?

Would you like to have a drink?

Thank you.

You know, this sure
is a beautiful place

you've got here, Miss Thomas.

Nothing like this
in Portland at all.

I was wondering if...
If a guy could find a job

down here around Los Angeles.

Heh. I was going to speak
to Mr. Briggs about that,

but he's such a funny guy.

He just works for you,
doesn't he, Miss Thomas?

Business manager or something?

I mean, you're really the boss.

Dennis Briggs is a
sneaky, lying thief.

Is that why you
tried to kill him?

He was trying to kill me.

What sort of story
did he tell you?

Why, I can't even swim,

and he was trying to
pull me into the water.

Miss Thomas, I'm the guy who
saw you out there, remember?

But okay.

We can talk about
your daughter, if you like.

My what?

The girl you put out for
adoption February 17th, 1935.

Go on.

Maybe you didn't even
know she still was alive.

Heh. Maybe you didn't even
care, unless it affects something.

Like this picture you're making.

There's no way on Earth
it could ever be proved

that anyone's my daughter.

But one way or another,

you're determined to
blackmail me, aren't you?

I just thought we might
have interests in common.

I mean, I'm new around here.

I don't even have a
car to get around in yet,

or a place to stay.

You have now.

Drink your drink.

Hey, what are you doing in L.A.?

I've been waiting for you.

Yeah. Well, maybe later, huh?

I got to run. I'll go with you.

Clark, did you follow me
here from Oregon City?

That's Betty's real
mother up there, isn't it?

That Lorna Thomas woman.

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

I'm talking about a private
detective named Fred Bushmiller

coming to Oregon City and
sneaking around and snooping

and asking my wife a lot
of questions about her past.

Listen, Clark, I just
barely got here myself.

My job has nothing
to do with all that stuff.

Mine has.

I want to know whether my wife

is really Lorna
Thomas' daughter.

Oh, I see.

Well, she's an old-timer.

She got it all before taxes.

So there's plenty for everybody.

Don't get greedy, friend.

You don't see, Bushmiller.

I'm only greedy about one thing:

my wife's peace of mind.

In California, Mr. Clark,

a child placed for
adoption through the court

ceases to have any
legal bonds whatever

with its natural parents.

I see.

At the same time, of course,
it assumes all the rights

of a natural child
of its foster parents.

But suppose the
child is now over 21?

And suppose the
child is the only relative

of the real parents?

That wouldn't have any
particular bearing, I'm afraid.

Now, suppose you give
me some more details.

Just how old is
this friend of yours?

Well, Betty's 24 now.

And the foster parents,
the couple who adopted her,

both died in an
automobile accident

when Betty was only 12.

She was raised in
a state orphanage.

I mean, she's had some
pretty tough breaks.

So she deserves any benefit

from whoever her
mother really is,

don't you think?

Is Betty your wife, Mr. Clark?

Yes, sir, she is.

And now you want to make
sure of your wife's parentage

and discover just what
her rights might be.

I guess that's the
idea, Mr. Mason.

Well, then,

if her adoption was all
in order in the first place,

just remember the files
of the state welfare board

are confidential.

They won't say yes or no

to who the mother was.

If you think you've
discovered it by accident

and the woman
chooses to deny it,

you just have no
legal claim whatsoever.

Never mind, I get the idea.

You think the only thing that
I'm after is somebody's money.

No, Mr. Clark.

I'm just telling you some facts.

And, you know,
sometimes it's best

to leave certain
questions unanswered.

Mr. Mason, have you got any idea

what it's like for a girl to
go through her whole life

wondering who
her mother really is,

and then suddenly
finding that it's somebody...

Somebody beautiful and
famous like the fairy princess?

Well, would you just sit there

if it turned out to
be somebody...

Somebody like Lorna Thomas?

The actress?

All right, Mr. Clark.

We'll look into it for you.

Thank you.

You know, that young man

showed quite a
bit of understanding

for his wife's feelings.

Mm.

Della, ask Paul Drake
to come in, will you?

Mm-hm.

And see if you can find
me some fan magazines.

I think Gertie has quite a
few of them under her desk.

Della... Mm?

From 1935.

Yes, sir.

I won't. I won't!

Please, George,
I just can't do it.

You've got to.
Right now. Tonight.

But if Mr. Mason investigates...

Betty, there's not a lawyer in
the world that can do a thing

until that woman
admits who you are.

Oh, I wish we could just
go back to Oregon City.

And forget the whole
thing. Just forget it?

But what will I say?
What'll you say?

What else have you been
saying ever since I've known you?

"Mother, mother, mother.
I wonder who she is.

"Hey, maybe it's that
flower woman over there.

Maybe it's the queen of France."

Over and over again.

Well, how could I help it?

Well, you can help it now.

You can face it.

You can look it in the eye.

I'm afraid.

Okay.

We'll just pack up and
go back home, then.

It's all done, and
that's the way

it'll be the rest of your life.

You'll never be able to ask
yourself another question.

Lorna, didn't you understand
one word I've told you?

Didn't that crook you call a
manager even get the idea?

It's nearly 10 p.m.

By 10 a.m., one of you
has got to produce $100,000.

Oh, darling, something
else has come up, that's all.

But the bank won't wait.

I've put up every bit of
cash I have, it's gone.

If the bank doesn't see the
rest of the advance money,

your share,

they'll cancel the
whole production on us.

So, what of it?

I never really liked that
script very much anyway.

Listen to me, Lorna.

We made an agreement, you and I.

Don't you dare muss me up!

I don't have to make any
picture unless I want to.

And the way you've
been acting lately,

I'm not at all sure I...

Excuse me, Miss Thomas.

No. Not now.

We're talking business.

What is it, Harriet?

Name's Clark. Mrs. Betty Clark.

Oh?

I... I didn't realize
you had company.

I... I'm sorry.

It's all right. This
gentleman is just leaving.

Lorna, I won't be
put off this way.

"Clark," did you say?

Really, I'm afraid I don't...

Oh, yes. "Clark."

You're the one
Fred told me about.

Claiming to be my daughter.

Lorna, this isn't the
ti... Good night, Tony.

I said, good night.

I-I shouldn't have come.

Miss Thomas, I'll
take care of Mrs. Clark.

I'll take care of this
little imposter myself.

No, please...

Whatever you say, I'll deny it.

Whoever you are and
whatever you want,

I don't know anything about you.

And if I ever see
your face again,

I'll tell the police
you're trespassing.

That was pretty
cruel, even for you.

Leave me alone.

Isn't there anything
in you for the girl?

Don't presume on
your years of service.

What else can I
presume on, your loyalty?

You'd throw me out
tomorrow if you didn't need me.

Your affection?

You just showed an
inexhaustible supply of it.

Enough to fill a thimble.

You just don't know your place.

Oh, excuse me, ma'am.

Have a pleasant evening.

Mr. Bushmiller said he
was going to the liquor store

and would be right back.

Good night, ma'am.

Ten-thirty. They're still up.

Anything you want
me to say, Perry?

No, no. This is
just a friendly visit.

I want to stall off any chance
of the client being stuck

with invasion of
privacy, that's all.

Besides, you're curious. Mm-hm.

Oh, excuse me, we were
looking for Miss Lorna Thomas.

Do... Do you know how to
tell when a person is dead?

Weren't you Miss
Thomas' manager?

Yes.

She was one of the great ones,

you know, one of
the really great ones.

Mr. Briggs, will you, uh,
come with me, please?

Please. E-excuse us, Perry.

I guess you were planning
to go out this evening,

Mr. Bushmiller.

Sure. With Miss Thomas.

I noticed that you drove
in right after the police.

Uh-huh.

Did I hear that doctor say
she died around 10:15?

I really don't know
if they've been able

to pin it down to
that exact time.

You, uh, live here?

Mr. Mason, I still haven't

got it quite straight
who you are.

Uh, Mr. Bushmiller, I
wonder if you'd mind

just stepping in there, please.

Please.

Sure, lieutenant.

Any way I can help.

Uh, excuse us, Perry.

Uh, protecting them from me
like a good shepherd, lieutenant?

Until I find out which of
them is the black sheep.

You'd care to tell me just
what you're doing here?

It's only a civil matter.

But I am curious as to what
your examining doctor says.

Oh, the doctor said
she was strangled, Perry.

And since that's not
exactly a civil matter,

good night, Miss Street.

Good night, lieutenant. Yes.

Morning, Della.
See if Paul's up in...

Well, hello.

This is Mrs. Betty Clark, Perry.

She's been waiting
since the building opened.

Where's your husband?

I... I don't know.

That's why I came here to you.

He... He hasn't
been home all night.

Come in, won't you?

And while you went in
to see Lorna Thomas,

George waited
outside in your car?

Yes.

What time did you leave?

Oh, about 10:00.

I'm not exactly sure.

I was terribly upset.

How long did it
take you and George

to drive back to your motel?

Oh, it's just a
couple of blocks.

All I really know is I kept
screaming at George.

For some awful reason,

everything she had told me
just made me angry with him.

Mr. Mason, I...

I'm afraid I said
some terrible things.

It wasn't George's fault.

He didn't make me go there.

Here, you better drink
some of your coffee.

Here, dear.

All right?

George didn't stop with
you at your motel at all?

He said he was going to
get some gas for the car

and then we'd leave town.

I-I waited a while and
then I went into the café

to get some coffee

and because I could see
the driveway from there.

And how long did
you stay in the café?

Oh, I waited and waited.

I guess it was about two
hours before I heard the radio.

I tried to reach your husband
myself last night by telephone.

Come in, Paul.

Hi, Perry. Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't know you were busy.

Ah, it's all right.

This is, uh, Mrs. Clark.

How do you do, Mrs. Clark?

You free, Paul? Mm-hm.

Just finished up downtown.

Good. We wanted you to
help find Mrs. Clark's husband.

Clark?

George Clark.

About 5'11", dark
hair, brown eyes.

I know where he is, Perry.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Clark,
but they've been grilling

your husband ever since Tragg's
men picked him up at 2 a.m.

At the present moment he's being
booked on suspicion of murder.

First degree.

I don't say I mightn't
have wanted to kill her.

You did go back to her house.

Of course. Why?

Well, to tell her off.

The way that dirty
dame treated Betty...

Is that the sort of thing
you said to the police?

Sorry, Mr. Mason.

What did you do when
you got to the house?

All the lights were on in all
those rooms off the terrace,

I looked in the study.

You mean, you
walked into the study.

Your fingerprints
were on the doorknob.

Yes, sir. I guess I walked in.

Also you apparently
picked up a jade statue

and a jewel box in that room.

Well, I'd never been in
a place like that before.

And it was only then that I
saw her lying on the floor.

She was dead.

Mr. Mason, I swear.
What time was this?

Oh, I don't know.

It was about a quarter
after 10, a little later.

Then what did you do?

I ran, Mr. Mason. I ran
just as fast as I could.

Was all this running
and soul-searching

because you thought your wife
might have killed Lorna Thomas?

Oh, no, she
didn't. She couldn't.

I just didn't want her to
get mixed up any more

in case I got into
trouble, don't you see?

All right.

What else?

Nothing. Nothing?

According to my information,

a piece of jewelry figures in
the indictment against you.

Ah. Well, they showed
me this broken bracelet,

but I've never seen it before.

Where'd they find it?

They said they found it
on the front seat of my car,

stuffed halfway
down the cushions.

That all of it, George?

That's all.

When I first came
to your office,

it was to ask you to help Betty.

Yes?

Would you help me too?

Yes.

Bracelet?

Bracelet.

Well, let me think.

I'd hoped you might remember

just what jewelry
she was wearing.

After all, you were
one of the last people

to see Miss Thomas alive.

Was she wearing any?

I know she usually does... Did.

But, yes, I think she
did have on a bracelet.

Does that help you any?

I understand you
had a fight with her.

Yes, I told the police about it.

Lorna was dragging her
feet about putting up her share

of the production money.

I was getting madder and madder.

This movie was going
to be one of the first

you'd made in a
long time, I take it.

Don't try to be
diplomatic, Mr. Mason.

I'm quite broke, desperate,
if that's what you mean.

Even this place is rented.

Just an old has-been.

A tired name.

Uh, do you mind if I see
your paper, Miss Street?

I really don't know
what's going on,

not since last night when they
came here asking questions.

Mr. Raeburn, how could
you consider yourself broke

if you managed to put
up nearly $100,000?

Borrowed, my dear man.

Mason, you didn't tell
me your client was in jail.

"Husband of rumored daughter..."

Is it true, Mr. Raeburn?
Could she have had that child?

In 1935 she seemed to be
going around a good deal

with some Irish South American.

She may have married
Raphael for all I know.

All the girls took aim,
but none of them ever

got near any of the
millions they figured he had.

But maybe Lorna did.

What happened to
Raphael O'Connor?

He was a revolutionary
at the wrong time.

Executed, as I recall.

Thank you, Mr. Raeburn. Mm-hm.

Uh, mind if I keep this? Oh...

Not at all.

Do you mind telling
me why it startled you?

Did you expect someone else
to be charged with the murder?

Me.

"One brooch,
platinum scrollwork,

"the broken bracelet,
necklace with pendant emerald,

the diamond tiara."

This was all missing?

Right out of the police
department's typewriter.

How'd they compile
the list? Harriet Snow.

The housekeeper, companion,
or whatever she was.

Anyway, these are
items she now remembers

should have been
in the jewel box

that was on the study table.

It belonged in the wall safe.

Here's a list from the
magazine pictures.

Some of the same items.

Apparently the jewelry
has quite a history.

Yes, Gertie?

Mr. Dennis Briggs to see you.

Send him in, Gertie.

Paul, let's get information

on all the people
involved in this.

Harriet Snow, the
servant, uh, companion,

Mr. Briggs,
Mr. Raeburn, the director,

and Fred Bushmiller.
Okay, Perry.

Hello, Mr. Briggs.

Mr. Mason, I only have a moment.

There are reporters
waiting for me.

For some reason the police
department just doesn't seem

to know how to
say the right thing,

and that is about
a person like Lorna.

Won't you sit down?

You, uh, knew more about
her than anyone else, of course.

I don't think anyone
really knew Lorna.

A check for $5,000.

What for, Mr. Briggs?

Well, I don't think that
George Clark has much money.

Neither do I.

I wish you'd accept that
as part of your defense fee.

Just what is your
interest in the Clarks?

None. Absolutely none.

I believe his wife has been
put through a good deal

of emotional strain, and...

for her sake, I'd like to
make sure justice is done.

Tell me, have you
always gone around

tidying up after Miss Thomas?

You're assuming
things, Mr. Mason.

Perhaps you could tell me
why Lorna hired an investigator

to find Betty Clark
in the first place.

She didn't hire him.

I did.

Let me ask you something else:

apparently, Miss Thomas
had had her jewelry box out.

I suppose she
was trying to decide

what to wear for the evening.

Now, let's not attach too
much importance there.

They say her jewelry's
missing. All right.

Lorna may have loaned
it or just put it away.

Mr. Briggs,

I think justice may
best be served

if I don't accept this check.

I see.

I only wanted to
help, Mr. Mason.

He seems to have
devoted his whole life

to Lorna Thomas' greatness.

You're quite perceptive, Della.

I want you to tell Paul

to get a complete
rundown on her estate,

her properties, her
will and her jewelry,

despite Mr. Briggs'
denial that it was stolen.

From what vantage point did
you see this man, Miss Snow?

From my window.

I'd been upstairs
maybe ten or 15 minutes.

It's when I opened my
windows to get some fresh air

that I looked down and saw him.

And, uh, what did
you see him doing?

Well, he ran across the
terrace and off through the trees

toward the street.

And what did you do then?

I went downstairs and...
And found Miss Thomas dead.

I see.

Can you now identify
for us this man you saw?

Yes, that's him.

The defendant, George Clark.

Thank you, Miss Snow.

Your witness.

Miss Snow, how long were
you employed by Miss Thomas?

Almost 20 years.

And you lived at the house?

Yes.

I believe you said you saw
this man run across the terrace

and through the trees
toward the street. Yes.

Is there any other
way to get to the street?

Why, yes, through the house.

Did you hear or see
anybody else at this time,

or prior to this time?

No.

I was in my room.

Did you hear a commotion?
A noise? A blow?

No.

But I wouldn't have
heard it anyway,

not from my room with
the windows closed.

Miss Snow, when
you went downstairs

and found Miss Thomas,

did you see her jewelry
anywhere in the room?

No.

Now, you testified that
you were in your room

possibly ten or 15
minutes, during which time

Miss Thomas must
have been killed,

before you opened your
window and saw Mr. Clark

on the terrace below?

Yes.

Then there was time, certainly,

for the killer to have made
his way through the house

to the street while
George Clark was

going around the house
to the terrace in the rear?

Well, there was time, I guess.

As a matter of fact,

you could have killed her
during that time, could you not?

If I had wanted to kill her,

I could have picked
any time I wanted to.

Do you recognize this
bracelet, Mr. Raeburn?

Yes.

It was one of her
favorite pieces.

I see.

Now, on the night of the murder,

what time was your
meeting with Miss Thomas?

It started at 9:30, went
on to about a quarter of 10,

when the girl showed up.

What girl?

Mrs. Betty Clark.

Well, what was she
there for? Did she say?

I'm not at all sure.

It was something about

whether or not she was
Lorna Thomas' daughter.

What did Miss
Thomas say to this?

Well, I don't
remember exact words,

but she denied it vehemently.

I see.

Mr. Raeburn, thank
you. Cross-examine.

Mr. Raeburn, you testified
that you had a meeting

with Lorna Thomas on
the night of the murder.

It wasn't a meeting,
it... It was an argument.

She was reneging
on a business deal.

That meant ruin
for you, did it not?

Yes.

When you left Miss
Thomas that night,

where did you go?

Back to my house
across the lake.

What time was that?

A little before 10.

Is there anybody
who can corroborate

your crossing the lake
at that precise time?

No.

Thank you,
Mr. Raeburn, that'll be all.

Now, lieutenant,

I show you this bracelet
marked as an exhibit for the state

and I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, sir. It has my
identifying mark.

Would you explain where
it was found, please?

Yes, sir.

In George Clark's... The
defendant's... automobile.

Between the cushion and
back of the driver's seat.

And when did this happen?

Uh, the night of the murder.

Or rather, the early morning
hours immediately afterward.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, is that bracelet
the only piece of jewelry

you found in the
defendant's car?

Yes.

Or anywhere among the
defendant's belongings?

Yes.

May I ask you
for your evaluation

of the worth of that
bracelet, lieutenant?

Your Honor, I object to that.

This witness is
hardly qualified...

I'm not asking for
an expert appraisal,

just the roughest
kind of a guess.

Say within $10,000.

I don't understand your
purpose, Mr. Mason.

I think both Mr. Burger
and the witness

know the answer
to that, Your Honor.

Answer the question, lieutenant.

Well, I would say the
bracelet is worth somewhere

between, uh...

50 and $75.

In other words, lieutenant,

the stones in that bracelet
are not precious stones.

No, sir. They're paste.
Practically worthless.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That will be all.

Lieutenant, a couple
of questions on re-direct,

if it please the court.

Whether the bracelet
was worth $75 or $75,000,

what happened to it?

It was stolen.

And where was it found?

In the defendant's car.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Mr. Briggs, how long were you

business manager
for Lorna Thomas?

More than 25 years.

I see. Now, would you
tell the court, please,

what happened
approximately three months ago

on the 27th of May?

Yes, sir.

I hired a private detective
in Portland, Oregon.

What for?

I knew Miss Thomas
had been married

and had had a child, a daughter.

I wanted the daughter traced,

if possible, and her
identity discovered.

Could you explain to the court,

please, why you wanted
this accomplished?

Well, it was my hope
that Miss Thomas

would provide for her
after all those years,

give her the advantages

her daughter should
have had all along.

I see.

Thank you, Mr. Briggs,
that will be all.

Cross-examine.

In what condition is the
estate of Miss Thomas

at the present time, Mr. Briggs?

It's still being evaluated.

Good? Bad? Indifferent?

Good. Very good, I'd say.

Thank you,
Mr. Briggs. That'll be all.

You may stand down.

My investigation in Portland

led to a daughter
by Miss Thomas.

Her adopted parents died
in an accident 12 years ago.

What happened to
the daughter then?

She went into an orphanage.

Well, when she was
old enough to work,

she went to work for a lumber
company in Oregon City.

In 1957 she married
George Clark of that city.

Now, let's be perfectly clear
about this, Mr. Bushmiller.

Can you identify
the George Clark

to whom you keep referring?

Him, the defendant.

And his wife Betty.

Now, did you have an
encounter with Mr. Clark

on the day of the murder?

I did. Yes.

Can you remember anything
that was said at that time?

I asked him if he'd
followed me here

all the way from Oregon City.

And he said yes.

He said, uh...

"That's Betty's real
mother in there, isn't it?"

Oh, yes, and he
said something about:

"She's one of the
old-timers, isn't she?

Made it all before taxes."

He's lying. He said that.

"Made it all before
taxes." That's interesting.

Did he say anything
else, Mr. Bushmiller?

He said, "I'm gonna
get some of that."

And before he started trying
to manhandle me, he said,

"That dame owes my wife plenty.

So don't get in my road,
because I'm gonna collect."

That'll be all, Mr. Bushmiller.
Thank you. Your witness.

Mr. Bushmiller, when you
arrived in Los Angeles...

Is something wrong, counselor?

Your Honor, I'm just trying
to estimate how much time

my cross-examination
of this witness will take,

and, uh, it may
take some little while.

Then since it is within
ten minutes of 12:00,

we'll recess until after lunch.

Court adjourned until 2 p.m.

I got him, Perry.

He's isn't much, but I got him.

Mr. Smith, you know,
was a diamond cutter

before he got these,
uh, nervous disorders.

Now he makes evaluations for
some of the best fences in town.

Don't you, Smitty? Y-yes, sir.

Well, I suppose he
could testify if necessary.

Well, he's not so
good on faces, Perry,

but he can remember a brooch
like it belonged to an elephant.

Y-yeah.

You can identify these
pieces, Mr. Smith?

Uh, oh, the pictures? Yeah.
Sure. Yeah, yeah. Pictures.

I checked on the dates.

The stuff was peddled to
him the day after the murder.

Mr. Smith, you were shown
all of Miss Thomas' jewelry

and you saw that all of
it was nothing but paste,

is that right?

Yeah. Yeah, t-that's right.

Junk. Glass. Paste.

You mean, you already
had it figured out?

And here I've been
breaking my neck?

I need confirmation,
Paul. And identification.

W-well, that's just it.

What's "just it"?

Well, this... This fellow who
wanted to sell me this stuff...

What about him? You can
remember him, can't you?

Well, I... I ain't exactly sure.

Smitty, ten minutes
ago you were positive.

Blue eyes, you said.
Young man. Sandy hair.

Look, I'm sticking my
neck out far enough like it is.

I don't know for sure
what the guy looks like.

All I know for sure is
I can identify the ice.

Like the man said:

for stones I'm an
elephant, but for faces?

Oh, faces...

Faces to me is like cockroaches.

I don't know the
difference one from another.

Paul, if, uh, this gentleman
won't identify the person

who showed him that jewelry,

we just have to work it
the other way around.

No, I didn't know what Lorna
Thomas was going to wear.

I didn't see her all evening.

Then you don't recall
having seen any of the jewelry

she was so well known for?

Uh, perhaps you
saw the jewel box

she had taken out of
the wall safe in the study.

No. How could I?

I was back in my
own room dressing,

then I went to the liquor store.

How many times
have I got to say it?

It does seem to me

you're being unnecessarily
insistent, counselor.

I'm quite concerned

with this one particular
point, Your Honor.

Very well. You may
continue, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor.

Mr. Bushmiller, have you
at any time since the murder

seen any of Miss
Thomas' jewelry?

No.

I told you before.

Have you at any time shown
any of her jewelry to anyone else?

Of course not.

Your Honor, I'll object to that.

It's improper cross-examination.

It assumes facts
not in evidence.

It's incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.

Your Honor, it has
been established

that most of Miss
Thomas' so-called jewelry

is still missing.

Now, this ties in strongly
with certain new developments,

and since prosecution
has already

introduced this one bracelet,

it seems to me the door is
open to further pursue the subject.

But not on
cross-examination, Your Honor.

I am inclined to allow
the defense attorney

great latitude on
cross-examination.

Since he seems to
have some definite point

in regard to that jewelry, I
will overrule the objection.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Bushmiller,

isn't it possible that you
could have gone into the study

and taken the
jewelry from that box?

No.

It is not possible?

What time did you
leave the house

to go to the liquor store?

I don't know exactly.

Then perhaps we can
find someone to establish

what time you left the house.

No.

Why not?

No one was there.

You mean, no one
now alive saw you.

Perhaps Lorna
Thomas was in the study

putting on her jewelry.

No.

Then where was she?

The wall safe was open,
the jewel box was on the desk.

She was dead.

You testified you'd had an
encounter with George Clark

earlier in the day.

That's right.

Now, let's suppose you
did find Miss Thomas dead

and saw the jewel
box open and tempting.

She was dead when I saw her.

And let us suppose
that you stole the jewelry

and started through the
house toward the front

at the very time George Clark

was going around
the house to the rear.

And then you saw George's
car and you thought:

"What a wonderful
opportunity to throw suspicion

on someone who
had assaulted you."

Now, you did put that
bracelet in the defendant's car,

did you not?

Yes. All right.

But I didn't kill her.

You didn't?

I took the jewelry,
yes, I admit that,

and I started out the front.

And I put the bracelet
in George Clark's car.

Next day I went to see
a man... Him, that man.

About selling the stuff

and discovered all
the jewels were...

They were junk...

I threw in the lake.

But I didn't kill her.

Were you trying
to blackmail her?

No.

Well, everybody seemed to know

all about that daughter
business anyway.

Miss Thomas hadn't
paid me anything yet.

I hadn't asked her.

We just talked about
what I'd seen in the boat.

Something happen in the boat?

Yes. I saw them fighting.

When Miss Thomas
tried to murder Mr. Briggs.

Your Honor, I would
like to recall Mr. Briggs

to the stand.

Mr. District Attorney?

Your Honor, I certainly
have no objection

to Mr. Briggs
retaking the stand.

You may stand down.

He's lying.

There are some people
who just can't understand.

She was my dearest friend.

Then she didn't try to kill you?

No.

Now, Mr. Briggs, you previously
testified Miss Thomas' estate

to be in very good shape.

What about that
jewelry being false?

Well, I think there's been

entirely too much
importance attached to...

Yes, Mr. Briggs,

you have kept trying to
cover things up, haven't you?

Now, I am prepared to
introduce, if necessary,

a letter indicating
that the insurance

on Miss Thomas' jewelry
lapsed five years ago.

Why was that?

Well, yes, the jewelry
was originally insured.

Of course. It... It had to be.

But through the
years, I'm afraid that...

Well, we had to very
carefully replace each piece

with an imitation.

Finally it was no longer
necessary to insure just paste.

I'm also prepared to introduce
certain data on real estate

supposedly owned
by Lorna Thomas.

In brief, it suggests that aside
from a small lake club area,

there isn't a single
piece of her property left

with anything
like a clear title.

Yes, that's true.

She didn't even own
her big house anymore.

You handled her
finances. What happened?

I didn't steal from
her, Mr. Mason.

I didn't even draw a
salary the last five years.

There wasn't anything left,
but I had to keep her up there.

A person in the public
heart like Lorna...

Don't you understand?

All right, Mr. Briggs.

Let's go back to the day
when you and Miss Thomas

went for a visit to
Mr. Raeburn across the lake.

You returned to the club
landing in a boat, is that correct?

She did not try to
kill me, Mr. Mason.

Then did you try to kill her?

Is it possible that
Mr. Bushmiller

was trying to blackmail the
wrong person, Mr. Briggs?

After all the manipulating
I've had to do.

The begging and borrowing
to keep up appearances.

When I came back from the East,

I found out that she'd
obligated herself for this picture.

It was impossible.

And in the boat she
accused you of stealing?

She didn't really mean that.

It was as though she were
trying to make excuses for herself,

keep the fiction alive
that nothing was changed.

What happened in
the boat, Mr. Briggs?

Well, I... I just couldn't
stand it any more.

All those years and
she was calling me a liar,

a cheat, a thief, and...

Well, I got to my feet
and I started toward her.

I just wanted to shake
some sense into her,

and, uh, I...

I lost my footing and I tripped.

Then suddenly she became afraid

and lashed out at
you with the boat gaff?

After all those years,

how could she ever
think I'd really hurt her?

Your Honor, the
testimony of this witness

with respect to the financial
condition of the deceased

is certainly
subject to scrutiny.

What's on your mind, Mr. Mason?

I'd like to recall Mr. Raeburn
to the stand for a moment.

Mr. Raeburn, please.

You may stand down.

We had a financial meeting
at my place across the lake.

Yes.

Was anything said
about Miss Thomas

not having the money
you thought she had?

By Dennis Briggs, of course.

He kept trying to paint a
picture of dreadful gloom.

Even told Lorna she'd
have to get rid of old Harriet.

Did you believe Mr. Briggs?

Then? Of course not.

But even later, that
night at her house,

I still thought she
had the money.

What was Miss Thomas' reaction?

To Briggs?

She called him a few
short names, I'm afraid.

That's when they were
leaving together in the boat.

Mr. Raeburn, how long
have you known Mr. Briggs?

A great many years.

Have you ever known
him to raise his voice

in heat or anger
against Miss Thomas?

No.

Not that he wasn't
justified so many times,

but he never did.

Now, Mr. Raeburn,

in reconstructing the scene
in which Mrs. Betty Clark

saw her mother
for the first time,

it's been established that you
were sent away by Miss Thomas.

Yes. That's true.

She practically put me out.

And you did leave?

Yes.

That's odd.

Your Honor, may I
ask the court reporter

to read back some of
this morning's testimony?

Mr. Burger's, uh, direct
examination of this witness.

The part immediately
following his, uh,

testimony on the bracelet.

"Question, Mr. Burger:

"Now, on the
night of the murder,

"what time did you have a
meeting with Miss Thomas?

"Answer, Mr. Raeburn:

"It started about 9:30 and
went on to about a quarter to 10

"when the girl showed up.

"Question,
Mr. Burger: What girl?

"Answer, Mr. Raeburn:
Mrs. Betty Clark.

"Question, Mr. Burger:

"And what was she
there for? Did she say?

"Answer, Mr. Raeburn:
I'm not at all sure.

"There was some question
about whether or not

"she was Lorna Thomas' daughter.

"Question, Mr. Burger:

"And what did Miss
Thomas say to this?

"Answer, Mr. Raeburn:

"I don't remember
the exact words,

but she denied it vehemently."

Thank you.

So apparently, Mr. Raeburn,
you did not leave the house.

You remained.

Yes.

For a while.

To eavesdrop.

For more than that, Mr. Raeburn.

A motion picture company
carries insurance, does it not?

In case something
happens to a star?

In case something
happens to a partner?

So that of all the people
around Lorna Thomas,

you're really the only one who
stood to gain a single penny

by her death.

"A single penny"?

You insist upon being
diplomatic, Mr. Mason.

I faced...

I faced starvation.

I've never known anyone
so cruel or so selfish, so...

So completely uncaring
for anyone else in the world.

Yes.

I killed her.

You know, I think I would have
picked Briggs over Tony Raeburn

as Lorna's murderer. Hm.

I'll confess to you,

I did for quite a while.

Did you read Raeburn's
confession? Mm-hm.

He insisted he hadn't
planned on killing her.

That he was just eavesdropping
on Lorna and Betty.

Then he went into the study.

He was so angry, he was
going to take anything of Lorna's

he could find that
would convert to cash,

and of course he knew her
well-known jewelry was there.

And then Lorna came in.

Can you imagine how
she must have laughed

when she showed
him it was only paste?

No wonder he strangled her.

He left the jewelry there,

Bushmiller came
in and picked it up.

The rest we know.

Well, I hadn't thought so, but
maybe we do know the rest.

At least we know the
world keeps turning.

Hm?