Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 3, Episode 26 - The Case of the Flighty Father - full transcript

Oh, Miss Trudy? The car's ready.

Here I am, David.

Let's go.

Who are you?

This is the third time
I've seen you out here.

What do you want?

I saw you at my
Mother's funeral too.

What were you doing there?

Who are you?

Trudy...

I'm your father.



Her father?

Yes, sir.

The man is Mr. Jay Holbrook.

I remember his name.

Of course, Mr. Evanson.

Every vulture in the family

breathing down poor
little Trudy's neck,

and now her own father.

Oh, you blockhead.

Take it easy, Uncle.

David works for Trudy, not you.

Thank you, Mr. Harper.

Besides, as one neck
breather to another,

I'd like to hear
the rest of this.



They had supper
together last night,

and now lunch again today.

Oh, no.

You can't blame her.

Trudy never saw the guy.

Didn't he run off before
she was even a year old?

What has he said to her, David?

Why is he here?

Well, I really haven't
eavesdropped.

There just hasn't
been the opportunity.

All right.

Let me know any
more that you can.

Of course, sir.

If, uh... If that's all
then, Mr. Evanson?

Thank you, sir.

Miss Smith, I want
you to call our lawyers.

I want to arrange a conference
with them immediately.

Here.

Poor child.

Yes, only $10 million
dollars, poor child.

Young man, if you
have entirely forgotten

her mother's tragic
illness and death...

Oh, my armband's just
as wide as yours is, Uncle.

It's just that I'm from the more

envious side of the
family, remember?

We all are, sir.

Even as president
of the company,

I've had only my salary
to live on, all these years.

That's all right, Uncle Shylock,

the family doesn't think
you're trying to lay your hands

on the whole pot,

like we think
Cousin Lawrence is.

With her father here, even
Lawrence King's influence

over Trudy may be
suddenly very unimportant.

I've heard a lot of nasty
stories about this Jay Holbrook.

What'll he try?

What's he really like?

How would I know?

Eighteen years ago I
was living in Europe.

I've never even met the man.

Think of all the
gardeners it must take.

Only three.

It's not in nearly as bad
taste as that National Park

of Grandmother's
up in Santa Barbara.

I guess the grounds were
twice as big when you lived here,

weren't they?

Mother sold four acres

to make room for a
new apartment house.

Didn't you even notice?

Oh?

Oh, yes, of course.

You're funny.

Some things you remember
and some you don't.

Trudy, you say your
grandmother died two years ago?

Yes.

I guess it must seem as though
everybody's gone, doesn't it?

I mean, of those
you used to know.

Granny used to say
awful things about you,

about why you left and...

Excuse me, Miss Trudy,

it's the telephone again.

Mr. Evanson has some
lawyers in his office

and your cousin
Wallace says that...

No, I don't want
to talk to anybody.

Please, leave us alone.

Mother never did want me
to listen to gossip about you.

She hated angry thoughts.

She said there are always
two sides to everything.

Trudy, I ran away because...

Well, there were just
too many acres, I guess.

Too many gardeners.

I know.

Mother never would go
outside that wall, would she?

I mean, leave this house,
leave Grandmother,

leave her family.

You see, in Freudian terms,
Mother was what they call...

There are always two
sides to everything.

Well, Mother stood up to
them in one thing anyway.

She never would have
you declared dead.

Did you know that?

Legally, I mean.

Like, after a person's
been missing seven years.

I'm glad to know that I'm
still legally alive, at least.

But I'm different from
Mother in one thing:

when I want
something, I fight for it.

Why don't you move
out of that hotel downtown

and come up here so that
we can really get acquainted?

Excuse me.

"No" I just told you.

It's Mr. Lawrence King.

He's come to see you.

Cousin Lawrence?

Of course.

You know, it's funny
my not remembering

about that apartment house.

The place where it is, I mean.

We had a lawn
out there for tennis.

Croquet.

Oh, yes, of course.

Croquet.

Well, well, so the
prodigal returns.

Hello, Cousin Lawrence.

"Sir."

Always call me
"sir", always, Trudy.

Even when I rolled him
home from jail one night,

roaring like a locomotive.

"Why you interfering
old goat, sir," he said...

Cousin Lawrence, I'm
not going to listen to you

if you're gonna get all excited
like everyone else is doing,

just as though my own
father could come back here

only to rob Mother's
grave or steal my money.

Trudy, please. He certainly
has a right to his memories.

After all, Cousin Lawrence
is about the only one left

to actually knew
me in those days.

The only one. That's right.

But I'm aware, Trudy,
that time changes people.

It softens things.

I wouldn't say that time
had affected you much, sir,

though I guess I may
look a little different?

You couldn't prove it by me.

Didn't she tell you?

I've been blind for
the past five years.

Well, where were we?

Uh, keep talking.

What did I interrupt?

I was about to tell
Trudy that... Yes.

Yes, I think I will move into
the house here for a while.

It was just like a wave
went over me, Mr. Mason.

Of sunlight.

Oh, not that he really
means anything to me yet,

but he's so kind and so gentle.

I would have thought you
might have had different reaction

to the return of the man who
apparently deserted your mother.

Oh, she'd explained it
to me so many times.

They just weren't
compatible, that's all.

You see, in psychological
terms Mother was...

Trudy, why did you come to me?

There must have been a
great many family lawyers

available to you.

I want somebody I
can trust, that's why.

Tell me, what kind of a
will did your mother leave?

Everything goes to me, I guess,

that hasn't already
been put in trust.

I get control of most all
of it by the time I'm 21.

Now, you say that
your parents' marriage

had never been legally erased.

Well, the fortune
was all your mother's,

so your father can't
claim any money directly.

Still, he might be able to claim
guardianship or control of you.

Mr. Mason, is it true
that a child can ask

for anyone she wants
as her guardian?

In California, yes, if
the child is over 14,

b ut it could be
contested, Trudy,

and under the circumstances,

I'd certainly think you
ought to wait a while...

My Father doesn't want anything,
he only came back to see me.

He's always blamed himself
for not making things work

in the past.

You see, in Freudian
terms, my Father...

I understand, Trudy.

You're just a girl who
never had a father.

Mr. Mason, please,
couldn't you help me?

Of course I'll help you, Trudy.

My guess is it
won't be long before

everyone in town
wants to help you.

Ten million dollars is a
powerful lot of money.

For any slick article
to get control of, that is.

Get his hands on.

Mr. Sample, I'm
employing your agency

to investigate
this man Holbrook,

not to make judgments.

Maybe I was just fishing.

There isn't an
awful lot to go on,

to follow a man
through 18 years.

A few photos, a
couple of old addresses.

I know.

I'm afraid we all made
the mistake years back

of trying to erase Holbrook
out of the family album.

Well, we'll do the
best we can, sir.

Only, suppose we
find out that he's been

mixed up in various
shady stunts.

You'll report to me and
you keep your mouth shut.

No bonus for finding something
you can use against him?

Sir, I had plenty on this man
once before and didn't use it.

All I want is the
truth, you understand?

Just get the facts.

Oh.

Excuse me, sir, sorry.

Seven o'clock:
dinner was served.

Ten minutes after 8, Miss
Trudy called for the car.

At 8:30 I delivered
them both to the theatre.

Eleven fifteen, drove home.

Next morning after breakfast,

Mr. Holbrook took a
walk about the grounds...

Fifty thousand dollars.

How much do you want?

How much?

I don't understand you.

Fifty thousand dollars, plus
a one-way ticket to Europe.

Wherever you wanna go.

Who is it, Father? Who's there?

It's all right, Trudy. Just me.

Listen, Mr. Holbrook,
this isn't just a bribe.

Trudy saw a lawyer.

The family is seeing 50.

This will be the biggest
legal tangle in history.

Think she can stand that?

Are you quite certain you can?

Wally, you get out of here.

Go on, leave him alone.

Leave him alone, will you?

He's my father.

He's my father.

Yes?

Yes, Mr. Sample?

Where?

San Francisco?

Yes, I'm in Holbrook's
apartment now.

The last place he moved to.

Well, what'd you
find out about him?

Everything checks so far,

at least in the few spots we're
sure he was various times.

He kept pretty much to himself.

Perfectly nice guy, I'm afraid.

Oh, there is something
you should know in a hurry.

What?

No, you must be mistaken.

I'm afraid not, Mr. King.

I thought I better
warn you before...

Look, I'll call you back.

Who are you?

Now, it's all right, friend,
the manager let me in.

Sample's the name.
All above board.

I'm representing
Mr. Lawrence King

of Los Angeles.

Cousin Lawrence.

Mean anything to you?

No.

Well, now, let's not be hasty.

There's no doubt about
this being you, is there?

Or this? Or this?

What have you been doing here?

Oh, I'm sorry if I messed
up your book a little,

but those clippings,
they're all Trudy, aren't they?

Pigtails, horse
shows, society stuff.

Hey, that's quite a collection
you made through the years.

I don't know what
you want here, sir,

but I know nothing absolutely
of anyone named Trudy

or Cousin Lawrence...

You have any idea
who this guy might be?

He, uh... Looks a little
like me, doesn't he?

The guy's in Los Angeles,

polishing a $10
million dollar apple,

pretending to be you.

I...

I never wanted there
to be any trouble.

Yeah, but now how about it?

You ready to come out of hiding?

It's true, I'm Jay Holbrook.

I'm her father.

But don't you know
where she went?

I... I see.

Well, will you please be sure
that she gets the message.

Not home?

No.

But, Perry, you said yourself

there would probably be
hundreds of people like this

making wild claims.

I understand that,
but Trudy doesn't.

Considering the
emotional wringer

she's been through lately...

Well, Paul? Hi, Perry.

This story's only been
in the street edition so far.

Apparently this
guy, whoever he is,

flew into town just
a few hours ago.

Of course, it'll be in all
the papers before long.

Della, do you have a
number on Lawrence King?

I think so.

I, uh, thought you didn't
want to talk to her family yet.

In case you wanted
to file a suit to change

Trudy's guardianship.

All we can do now is
take the bull by the horns.

Confirming Holbrooks' identity

will be up to Cousin
Lawrence, mostly.

Blind or not, he's the only
one who can really be sure.

Hello?

Mr. King's res...

What are you doing here?

Waiting for you, Miss Trudy.

It's nearly 11:15.

What of it?

I've been out driving.

Yes, I... I've been out
getting some fresh air.

It's none of your
business, is it?

Of course not, Miss Trudy.

Only the maid asked
me to tell you that

a Mr. Mason's office
has been calling.

It's quite important.

They'll be in
touch again shortly.

Thank you.

You can go now.

I won't need anything
more. Please.

I thought you might like
me to put your car away.

I did it myself.

Goodnight.

Pardon me.

"Donald J. Evanson."

I'm Donald J. Evanson.

The police sent for me.

You better not go in
there, Mr. Evanson.

This is horrible, it's horrible.

Uh, on the phone they
said there was a fight?

There apparently was a struggle,

your cousin was
hit over the head.

What with?

Well, we just got
here ourselves,

but I'm sure we'll find
the weapon, all right.

Good evening, Perry.

I was at the office
when you people called.

That's where I was all
day, all evening in fact.

I haven't seen
Lawrence in some time.

Oh, look here,

there's a man you ought
to go after right away.

He's been calling
himself Jay Holbrook...

We'll get to this in just
a moment, Mr. Evanson.

Well...

Please wait over here with
this officer if you don't mind.

Mason, uh...

What's your
connection with all this?

I think I'd better explain
that a little later, lieutenant.

Oh, all right.

Well, thanks for
reporting the case.

Goodnight.

Uh... When did it happen?

Do you know yet?

Doctor says maybe,
uh, 9:30, 10:00.

I couldn't seem to
calm the housekeeper

much on the telephone.

She says you tried to pump her.

There's no help
there, I'm afraid,

except for perhaps a few names.

She'd been out to the
movies, came back at 10:30,

was on her way to
bed, and you called...

Perry?

Can I see you a minute?

We'll attend to the detective
work here around here,

if you don't mind.

What are you doing out there?

That's my car, ieutenant.

What's wrong?
What are you doing?

Well, go on. Ask him.

Mr. Drake just
happened to notice

that sticker on your car.

You had your car greased
today, isn't that right, sir?

Well, what of it?

Well, they list the, uh,
mileage along with the date.

We couldn't help
overhearing your statement

that you hadn't been
out of your office,

but your speedometer shows

a difference of 42 miles
since the grease job grease job.

Well, I went out
for a while, yes.

You see...

All right.

Yes, I-I was out here, actually.

I came to talk to Lawrence...

What time?

Nine thirty, quarter to 10.

Oh, but I didn't
go in the house.

Just as I stopped,

someone came
running out of the house,

got into a car.

I was curious, so I followed

for a short distance.

You know who that person was?

I-I can't very well
shield her, can I?

It was Trudy.

Trudy Holbrook.

I telephoned Cousin Lawrence
the minute I saw that paper.

Then I went over
there, that's all.

Because when I
saw those pictures

of my father and
that other person...

Mr. Mason, where is he?

My father went
out earlier tonight

and he just never came back.

We'll worry about that when
I know what you did, Trudy.

Well, I already knew
Cousin Lawrence

had hired a detective.

Uh, David told me
that, he's the chauffeur.

I pay David and he
tells me things he sees.

That's very handy.

I know it's not very
nice, but in this family...

Cousin Lawrence admitted
that he was connected with this.

He admitted that he hired
the detective who located

and brought this man here.

What time was this,
that you talked to him?

I went over about
9:30, I suppose.

You stayed 15
minutes, a half an hour?

Not quite that long.

Did you have a fight with
your Cousin Lawrence?

Mr. Mason,

he's an old man, and he's blind.

Then why did you come
running out of of the house?

I... I don't know.

I... I don't remember.

Trudy, did he tell you why
he brought this man here?

Did your cousin Lawrence
tell you that this man

is your real father? No.

Then did he tell you
the man you'd invited

into your house was nothing
but a fraud, a pretender?

That's not true!

It's not true.

All right, now.

What really happened?

He tried to tell me that my
father stole money years ago.

I screamed at him,
I said awful things.

Cousin Lawrence lost his temper,

he grabbed me.

Go on.

He shook me, just as
though I were a baby.

I hit him, I finally
broke loose,

I ran away as fast as I could.

Oh...

I feel so ashamed.

That poor old man.

I can still hear him
shouting after me.

But he was all
right when you left?

Of course.

He just stood there roaring
that I ought to be spanked.

He groped around
trying to find me.

Mr. Mason, the police
will believe me, won't they?

I don't know, Trudy.

All we can do is wait and see.

Morning, Della, will
you please tell Paul...

Perry, this is Mr. Jay Holbrook,

he was waiting
outside when I came in.

Will you come in?

Won't you sit down?

Where have you been all night?

Several places.

Waiting to see
you mostly, since...

Since I heard what happened.

You didn't return home?

To Trudy's house, that is?

The police watching
there all night, I...

I thought it would be better
if I remained a free agent,

so to speak.

Why?

Until you could
tell me what to do.

All right.

You'd better start
at the beginning.

I saw the newspaper
yesterday evening.

The photos of myself
and someone else.

I haven't the slightest
idea who he is, I...

My first reaction was outrage.

Anger.

Did you think Cousin Lawrence

might have had
something to do with it?

No, why would I?

It's logical that
vultures would gather.

The detective agency
who located this other man

is headed by a Mr. Sample.

He's considered very reliable.

Well I'm sure there'll be
many reliable claims made.

My own investigator says
there are no fingerprints

of Jay Holbrook on record.

Perhaps he hasn't been
looking in the right place.

Lawrence King told Trudy that
once you had stolen some money.

Look here, Mr. Mason.

My wife and I were
terribly unhappy.

I... I was just too proud
to admit it was all over.

Drank too much and got
into a number of escapades.

But when I woke up one
day in a Mexican hotel

and found I got there with money
from one of the company tills,

five thousand dollars,

well, that's when I
decided to face matters.

I wrote to say goodbye, and
I've been gone ever since.

But I sent that money
back, of course.

There's no
official record of it.

I didn't even know I'd taken it.

No, I'm not a fugitive.

Mr. Holbrook, you say you
wanted me to tell you what to do.

What to do to help
Trudy, that's all I mean.

I think you can help her
most by staying away from her.

By going straight to the police.

By telling them all you know.

All right.

You could use the
back exit if you like.

Thank you.

Good day. Good day.

What is it, Della?

You have another visitor.

Who?

Mr. Jay Holbrook.

Uh, Mr. Mason, Mr. Holbrook.

Sit down, won't you?

I guess you want to
know what I'm doing here,

and I guess the
name bothers you.

I'm sorry about that.

It feels a little
awkward on me too

after all these years.

Of course, whoever
the real Jay Holbrook is,

the police will
probably consider him

a strong suspect for murder.

On the other hand, anyone
flying under false colors

might have had even greater
reason to kill Lawrence King.

You don't have to intimidate
me with logic, Mr. Mason.

I know the spot I'm in.

But I'm only here
for one purpose.

To ask about Trudy?

To offer her your help, perhaps?

I don't really have a right
to do that, do you think?

Besides, what help could I give?

Mr. Holbrook, may I ask you
a question about fingerprints?

You know, this whole
business of identity

would be all so simple

if only there were a
record of your prints.

There is now.

Oh?

Well, I was afraid when I heard
about Cousin Lawrence's death

last night and my first
thought was to get out of here,

get back to San Francisco.

I... I was stopped
by the police.

I'm afraid I couldn't
tell them much,

and now they won't let me leave.

I had in mind 20 years ago.

In those days,
California driver's licenses

carried a thumb
print, didn't they?

I didn't have a license.

There was a little matter
of reckless driving, and I...

I'd come here from
another state, of course.

Massachusetts.

Trudy's grandmother
was an old battle ax

who scared my wife into
insisting on a chauffeur.

Reckless driving
and, uh, theft too?

Who told you about that?

All right.

I suppose Mr. Evanson knows,

and certainly
Cousin Lawrence did,

cause he's the one who
could have preferred charges

if I'd tried to come
back from Mexico,

but it was only a
question of $5,000.

Mason...

I see no reason going into this.

I want your word to get
Trudy out of here, that's all.

What do you mean?

I haven't seen her
and I'm not going to.

I want the girl looking
forward, not back.

I want Trudy to get away
from every bit of that family,

just as soon as
she possibly can.

Excuse me, Perry.
Could I see you a minute?

Uh, Mr. Holbrook,
would you excuse me?

Uh, just sit down.

So that's him, huh?

Well, well, well.

Perry, which one is it?

I don't know.

Trudy got so carried away
with the first man she saw...

Uh, Perry.

I'm afraid she's
gonna need them both.

As a matter of fact,

she's gonna need all
the help she can get.

Tragg's on his way to
Trudy's house right now.

All they were waiting for
was to find a murder weapon.

They found it.

A poker.

With all the marks on it.

Victim's hair, Trudy's prints.

I'm afraid they got her.

She's had her 18th
birthday, hasn't she.

That's right, Della.

They can ask the death penalty.

There was intracerebral
hemorrhaging

from the blows on the head.

Apparently death occurred
a moment or two later.

I see.

Doctor, could these
blows have been struck

by a person physically slighter,
shorter, than the deceased?

With a weapon the
size of a poker, yes.

Could the blows have
been struck by a woman?

Absolutely.

And you say that death occurred

not later than 10:00
p.m., is that correct?

It is.

Thank you, doctor.

You and the detective Mr. Sample

arrived from San Francisco
late in the afternoon.

Then after dinner, you
went by taxi to the deceased

Lawrence's King's house,
about 8:00, is that correct?

Well, that's what I stated, yes.

Would you tell us please what
happened at Mr. King's house.

Did, uh, Mr. Sample
remain with you?

No.

Mr. King took a lot of
money from a wall safe,

and since he couldn't
see, he asked Mr. Sample

to select $1000 for himself.

Then Mr. Sample left.

How long did you
stay there, sir?

Half an hour.

Then I went
downtown to my hotel.

You were with Lawrence
King then until 8:30.

Did he seem upset or disturbed?

No, sir.

I think that'll be all
for the time being.

Thank you, sir.

Your witness.

When you were
sworn in to testify,

you gave your name
as Robert Smith.

Now, how long have
you been Mr. Smith?

It's a legally recognized name,

I've used it for three years.

How many other names
have you used in the past?

Several others.

One of which was the
name Jay Holbrook?

Yes, sir.

Can you prove that you
really are Jay Holbrook?

Objection, Your Honor, that
question is argumentative.

While the matter of the
identity of Jay Holbrook

will certainly have to be
settled in a court of law,

defense counsel is well
aware that bringing up

that particular
controversy at this time

can prolong this
hearing for days.

I only produced
this hostile witness

to establish the location

and the attitude
of Lawrence King

one hour before his death.

What was the purpose of
your question, Mr. Mason?

I can rephrase the
question, Your Honor.

Who was the only
member of the family

who could have proved
whether you or someone else

seated in this courtroom
is actually Jay Holbrook?

Well, the deceased.

He knew.

Thank you, that'll be all.

Mr. Harper, can you
tell us anything else

that relates to the emotional
nature of your cousin?

Anything about her
temper, perhaps.

Well, uh...

I got this from her.

You're referring to a scar
approximately one inch

long over your right eye.

How did you acquire
that scar, Mr. Harper?

Last year I was playing
tennis with Trudy.

We had an argument
about the set point,

He was cheating. Always.
She suddenly blew up.

I don't think she even knew

she was going to hit me,

she just flew out of control.

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

Your witness.

Uh, Mr. Harper, could
you please tell this court

the approximate evaluation
of the defendant's inheritance?

I thought everybody knew that.

Trudy will be worth almost
$10 million dollars, I guess.

And following the
death of her mother,

who is Trudy's
closest blood relative?

Exclusive of her
father, that is.

I guess Cousin Lawrence.

Mr. King was
generally considered...

I see.

Now, suppose both
Mr. King and Trudy

were somehow out of the way,

could you tell us who might
next inherit that $10 million?

This is a large family.

Mr. D.J. Evanson over there

is just as close
a cousin as I am!

Thank you, Mr. Harper.

That'll be all.

Miss Trudy left her house
at about 9:30, I should say.

Was she upset?

Well, I did notice that
she'd shifted all the way

into third gear by the time

she reached the
end of the driveway.

Made her tires squeal a bit.

I see.

And what did you do then?

I went back into the study
where she'd been talking

on the telephone.

I believe you said
that phone converation

was with the deceased,
is that correct?

Yes, I happened to
notice because I overheard

the word "newspaper,"

and then she spoke his name.

She said, "Cousin Lawrence,"

I'm positive.

Thank you, sir, I
believe that'll be all.

Cross-examine, counsellor.

Why did the word "newspaper"
attract your attention?

Well, it only reminded
me that I hadn't read

the newspapers or the magazines
to Mr. King for several days.

In my off hours sometimes
Mr. King enjoyed my reading

and telling him
about the little things

that he could no
longer see for himself.

He paid me, of course.

I see. Then there

was nothing specific
about that telephone

conversation that
called your attention to it,

is that correct?

On the contrary, sir.

It was a very specific newspaper
that she waved in her hand

while she talked.

It was the one with the two
pictures of her two fathers.

Yes, and when she left,

she threw it down so angrily
that it became quite rumpled.

That'll be all, thank you.

Yes, there were
multiple fingerprints,

both her hands.

She'd, uh, seized
the poker here,

and then again here.

Many of these prints
were smeared, of course,

but they were definitely
those of the defendant.

I see. Now, lieutenant,

we heard the doctor testify
that the hair and blood

of the deceased matched those
found on this murder weapon.

Would you tell
this court, please,

where the murder
weapon was found?

Yes, it was hidden
under the seat

of the defendant's sports car,

the one she drove that night.

Thank you, lieutenant,

I think that'll be all.

Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, if you
were attacked,

would you grab a
weapon to defend yourself?

Yes, I suppose so.

Well, if you were a young girl

and someone much older
and stronger came after you

trying to grab
you, to strike you,

would you try to stop him?

I don't mean by striking back,

but perhaps by, uh,
seizing something

with which to warn
or threaten him?

No, I don't think I'd do that.

I just wouldn't count
on the sight of a poker

bothering a blind man.

Of course.

Mr. King was blind.

But there are certain
things in a room which have

their own distinctive
sounds of danger.

Uh, with the
court's permission...

This set of fire tools
is similar to the set

found in Mr. King's studio.

Now, lieutenant,

if you were blind,

and I told you I had
a poker in my hand,

would you believe me and
stay away or wouldn't you?

Well, if you made
all that noise.

Of course, my fingerprints

would be on the poker,
whether I'd struck you or not.

Isn't that correct?

I guess so.

But then my blood and
hair would have to be

on the poker some way.

Now, uh, concerning your finding

the murder weapon
in Miss Holbrook's car.

The chauffeur stated
that, uh, Miss Holbrook

returned to the
house at about 11:15.

A moment ago you
stated the house had been

placed under surveillance,

is that correct?

Well, we waited a
while before going

in with a search
warrant, that's all.

We wanted to make
sure that we got the man

who'd been calling
himself, um, Holbrook.

You're referring to the man
who was living in the house?

The, uh, man Miss Holbrook
considers her father?

That's right.

Well, what time did the
police start to watch the house?

Oh, about quarter of 12, maybe.

Um, they noticed
you there, for instance.

Then, lieutenant, wasn't
there plenty of time

before a quarter of 12
for any number of people

to have paid a quick visit

to Miss Holbrook's
house or garage?

Oh, yes, if they had
any reason, I suppose,

but we, uh, saw nothing to
indicate any other visitors.

Wouldn't the desire to place
an incriminating murder weapon

in Miss Holbrook's car
have been reason enough?

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained.

I'll withdraw the question.

Thank you,
lieutenant, that'll be all.

Your Honor,

I have some new testimony

which I'd been hoping
to reserve for the jury trial,

but since counsel
has from time to time

sought to confuse us about
the identity of Jay Holbrook,

probably trying to cast doubts

on his client's
motives for murder,

I feel that we should
clarify the matter at this time

by introducing
this new testimony.

I therefore have a
question on redirect.

Ask your question, Mr. Burger.

Lieutenant, when you
searched the murder room,

did you find anything
w hich in your opinion

might have fallen from
Lawrence King's desk,

or from his wall safe,

which we heard he
had opened earlier?

I found a little scrap of paper

on the floor under
the wall safe, yes.

Was there writing on
this piece of paper?

Yes, sir, a telephone number.

A rural number, little
town out in the desert.

Underneath was a name:
"Constable Gus Nickels."

Your Honor, I call Gus
Nickels to the stand, please.

Excuse me.

Now, I wasn't really
constable in those days.

I only pinch-hit when my
friend Harry went fishing.

I see.

Now, Mr. Nickels,
will you tell us please

what occurred on the
night of March 22, 1943?

Well, this bird coming
through our town hit a light pole.

Trouble was, he'd been drinking.

Yes, all I want
you to do is tell us

what official action you took.

Well, I fingerprinted the
bird and threw him in a cell.

He didn't even have
a driver's license,

but his name was Jay Holbrook.

And what happened
the next day, Mr. Nickels?

Well, bright and
early the next morning,

this other guy comes to
town looking for the bird.

Nice fellow.
Mr. Lawrence King it was.

By then I'd figured out

Holbrook was somebody.

Anyhow, he simmered
down and they paid the bills,

so I let him loose.

Now, Mr. Nickles, what did
you do with the fingerprints

that you took in 1943?

Well, I kept them.

I kept the card.

And where is that
fingerprint card right now?

I guess it's over
there on your table.

You see, I brought it in to
show to Lieutenant Tragg,

we compared it with the
prints you have in this case.

And did you find any prints

that matched the prints
on this card, Mr. Nickels?

Sure we did: his.

That's the bird I
locked up right there.

He's Jay Holbrook, all right.

No, no, no!

He isn't, he isn't.

Now, how long did you then
follow the defendant's car,

Mr. Evanson?

About 10 minutes, I'd say.

You see, I wanted to stop her,

but she speeded up again,

and I didn't want
to drive that fast.

In other words, she got
away from you, is that it?

You might put it that way, yes.

Anyway, I turned around
and drove back to my office.

Thank you, Mr. Evanson,
I think that'll be all.

Your witness.

Uh, Mr. Evanson, why
did you follow Trudy?

Well, at first, I wasn't
entirely certain it was she.

Why not?

Didn't you recognize her?

Didn't you recognize her car?

Well, she has several,
a whole garage full.

It's just that I didn't expect
her to be there, that's all.

Oh, but I recognized her

the minute she got
to a lighted street.

It was Trudy, all right.

Uh, why didn't you
expect her to be there?

I'd talked to David a
little earlier on the phone,

and he told me that
Trudy was at home.

Mr. Evanson, 20 years
ago, what was the attitude

of Lawrence King toward the
man whom Trudy's mother married?

Jay Holbrook?

Cousin Lawrence hated him.

I was in Europe,
but I knew that much.

What was the
reason for that hatred?

Lawrence fancied
himself the elder brother

of everybody in the family.

He was chairman of the
board in those days, you know.

He wanted to control the
family fortunes, is that it?

To be blunt about it, yes.

Your Honor, I object.

These questions are
irrelevant and immaterial,

and no proper
foundation has been laid

for them with this witness.

I'm inclined to allow a
little latitude, Mr. Burger,

since you introduced the
matter of Holbrook's behaviour

back in the 1940's yourself.

Proceed, counsellor.

Yes, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Evanson,

did your Cousin Lawrence
ever mention to you that he had

rescued Jay Holbrook
from a small-town jail?

Did he ever tell you that
Holbrook had once stolen $5,000?

Well, some time later, yes,

he told me that he'd had
to hush those things up.

Why?

If Lawrence hated him, if
he wanted to get rid of him,

why didn't he prosecute?

Because Holbrook was
gone by then, I suppose.

He ran away.

Exactly.

He took matters into his
own hands and disappeared.

So it was never necessary
for your Cousin Lawrence

to use the threat of
prosecution against him.

But do you think
your cousin Lawrence

would have just thrown
that material away?

I-I... I don't quite
understand the question, sir.

Isn't it reasonable to
assume he kept a record

of Holbrook's other escapades?

The ones that could be
used as evidence against him?

Yes, I suppose so.

Well, where is that record?

I don't know.

Your Honor, I would like
to ask that the court reporter

read back that
portion of the testimony

pertaining to the police
evidence as to the contents

of Lawrence King's wall safe.

Very well.

Uh, "Question:

"was there money?

"Answer: about
three thousand dollars

"in a roll of large bills.

"Question: How did the door
to that safe work, by the way?

"Answer: it opened with a key

"which we found
in Mr. King's desk.

"Question: What else did
you find inside the safe?

"Answer: a couple
of insurance policies.

"Question: and that's all?

Answer: that's all."

Thank you.

Mr. Evanson, do you have any
idea where else we might look?

No.

Why would I?

Everyone in the
family tried to destroy

memories of Holbrook,
not keep them.

We wanted his wife
and Trudy to forget him.

Yet the other day, when
a man came to see Trudy

and said he was her father,

Lawrence King somehow had
enough facts to send a detective

straight to San Francisco to
locate a second Jay Holbrook.

Now, didn't that seem
rather strange to you?

I don't know.

I had nothing to do with it.

Your Honor, may I beg
the court's indulgence.

There is only one person
who can clarify this.

The one person who has
had the most to do with it:

Jay Holbrook himself.

Now, if he could be called...

Your Honor, it seems to me...

Sit down.

Sit down, do you hear me?

Bailiff.

Bring that man forward here.

Mr. Prosecutor, under
the circumstances...?

Under the circumstances,
Your Honor,

I would have no objection
to Mr. Mason continuing.

You may step down, sir.

You will take the stand.

Just a moment, please.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly promise to swear

the testimony
you're about to give

will be the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth?

I do. State your name.

Jay Holbrook.

Be seated.

Mr. Holbrook,

do you recall telling me
that you once woke up

in a Mexican hotel
and discovered you had

$5,000 which you recognized

as belonging to
your family company?

I do.

How could you tell it
was company money?

There were bands
around it. Wrappers.

Then you do not recall
stealing that money?

I do not.

Mr. Holbrook, were
you ever arrested

in a small desert town
by Constable Nickels?

I was not.

Where were you then in
fact on that March 22, 1943?

I was with my wife.

Trudy had been sick.

I only remember it because...

it's the last time that my
wife seemed to need me.

Did it ever occur to you
that your cousin Lawrence

might be preparing
to get rid of you?

To get rid of you by
creating escapades

which you could not disprove?

No.

You had no idea that he
might have found an impostor?

A man who could imitate you,

who'd get caught
in country jails,

caught taking money from tills?

No.

Mr. Holbrook, hasn't it struck
you even now, 17 years later,

how much that man over there

knows about you?

Knows about your past?

Doesn't it occur to you that
he must be that same imposter?

That your Cousin Lawrence
must have sent for him again

so that you could be
gotten rid of once and for all?

Only, what do you
suppose went wrong?

Did that imposter strike back?

Did he kill your cousin Lawrence

to get evidence of what
they had done together?

No. No, I didn't kill him.

Maybe I'm what you say I am,

but those notes
were there when I left.

King's bundle of
notes was still there.

I didn't kill him, I tell you.

I didn't, I didn't!

Take that man in custody.

Bring him over here.

Do I understand, sir,

that you would
testify to material

that might have been
taken from the murder room?

From the safe.

I saw it open,

he had a whole
bunch of notes in there.

Yes, sir, I'll tell
anything I know,

but I didn't kill
him. Why would I?

There was no reason to.

That's enough.

Mr. Burger, it seems to me

a recess is called for
while you investigate

these new facts.

A moment, Your Honor.

I assume an immediate search
will be made for the material

apparently missing from
Lawrence King's safe.

It certainly will.

Then Your Honor, may I suggest

that one other person
in this courtroom

be detained while that
search is being made?

We certainly don't want

anyone given the opportunity
to destroy such evidence.

Who is the person
you refer to, Mr. Mason?

The person who knew
where everyone was

on the night of the murder.

Who knew when and why Trudy
went to Lawrence King's house,

and what car she was driving.

And who, perhaps, saw a
chance for millions in blackmail.

The person to whom
those notes in the safe

would have been
a motive for murder.

Where are those
notes now, David?

Well, I'll...

I'll help in any way I can.

I've always tried to
cooperate with everyone.

If I can assist in any way

to locate...

Where are they, David?

But he didn't
have to kill him...

Why did he kill Cousin Lawrence?

David followed you
over there, Trudy.

He knew most of what
was happening by then,

and what was at stake.

He'd followed the
other two men earlier.

He kept watching,
watching everything.

At any rate, he was
there outside the room

when you had your
fight with Lawrence King.

When you left, David
tried to get into the safe,

but Mr. King caught him at it.

They fought, David killed him,

Using the poker
so you'd be blamed.

David then took the
papers from the safe

and raced back home
before you got there.

Oh, how terrible.

He must have been insane.

Not far from it.

Men do strange things sometimes.

The best of us aren't
always proud of our lives.

Oh, now, stop that.

You stop it.

Listen to her.

She'll make something
out of me yet.

Of course.

A father.

Anyway, everybody
can't be perfect

like Mr. Mason is.

Goodbye, sir, and thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Perfect, hm?

That's what I keep telling you.