Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 3, Episode 5 - The Case of the Startled Stallion - full transcript

Reverend, would you
help my husband, please?

Of course, Mrs. Brant.

There we are.

Safe and sound.

Just fold the chair up
and put it in the back seat.

Could I have your name
and address, please?

What for? To send
you your pictures.

I don't want any.

You don't? Well, what
about your husband?

He doesn't want any either.
Now get out of my way.

Good luck.



Exit John Brant, bridegroom.

Now, really. Now,
how did I do, huh?

At least you had sense
enough to keep your mouth shut.

Here's your money.

Thousand dollars?

Count it.

No. No, that would be impolite.

But there is one
thing, fair lady.

Uh, how do I get in touch?

I mean, in case
something comes up.

You don't.

That was the
agreement, remember?

Oh, I remember. I just hate to

lose track of you, Mrs. Brant.



You're a very attractive woman.

Get out.

Just like that?

Just like that.

All right.

Well, anyway, uh...

good luck, as the reverend said.

What was the time?

Sixty-one seconds.

Isn't that pretty fast, Terry?

I can move a lot
faster than that.

Idiot. They'll see us.

One minute, 59.2.

Phew.

I knew he could
move, but not that fast.

No wonder the old man's
so bent on getting that horse.

Wasn't that
marvelous? It sure was.

Two-and-a-half lengths
and still pulling ahead.

Champagne and
oats for you tonight,

Spindrift, old boy.

Well, that was
quite a race, sis.

It sure was, Jo Ann.

Stop jabbering,
get me off of here.

And take that haybag
out and shoot him.

Now, Mr. Brant.

Well, get him out of my sight.

I wanna talk to you, young lady.

And your brother.

That's Spindrift.

It is.

I've been looking
for a horse like...

He's... He's just
afraid of the chair.

He'll learn better.
As I was saying:

I've been looking for

a horse like that for 50 years.

And I hear you've entered
him in the American Classics

at Hollywood Park.
That's right, Mr. Brant.

And with the winnings,
we expect to...

I was talking to your sister.

Jo Ann...

I want Spindrift
racing under my colors.

We're very grateful
to you, Mr. Brant,

for all you've done for us and

for letting us use your track.

But he's not for sale.

Well, who's talking
about buying him?

I've got a conditional
contract of sale

on everything you inherited
from your father, remember?

Well, you're in default.

I can take every single
piece of property...

you've got right now.

Oh, you can't.

Oh, I can.

But I won't.

If you give me
title to Spindrift.

But he's the only way we have of
paying you the money we owe you.

That's my proposition.

Take it. Or I'll
take the colt...

along with everything else.

I'll fight you.

Huh. Clara...

over to the car.

I want you to
drive me into town.

Now? Yes, now.

I'm going to put that
lawyer of mine to work.

But, John, you can't do that.

Don't you say "can't" to me.

You're my secretary, and
you're my bookkeeper...

but you're not my wife.

You'd better leave
Spindrift here.

He's as good as mine right now.

Oh, no, he isn't, Mr. Brant.

I won't give him
up no matter what.

Huh. Well, what's holding you?

Peter. Lend a hand here.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, Della.

Never mind, Gertie,
he's just walking in.

I've been looking
all over for you.

I just stopped by to
see Paul. What's up?

There's a Jo Ann
Blanchard waiting to see you.

Says that you knew her father.

Uh, Blanchard Stock Farms?

Sure. Tom Blanchard.

Harness horses. Heh.

I remember her too.

Scrawny little
kid with pigtails.

Come in, Jo Ann.

Well...

I wouldn't have recognized you.

Here, sit down.

Thank you.

I probably shouldn't be
bothering you, Mr. Mason,

but you knew Dad, and...

Knew him? We were
very good friends.

Are you in some sort of trouble?

Over a colt Dad gave
me just before he died.

That would make the colt
a 3-year-old, wouldn't it?

Most marvelous 3-year-old

you've ever seen, Mr. Mason.

He's been under two
minutes for the mile six times.

Ha. And you call that trouble?

No, it's a man named John Brant.

He's trying to take Spindrift

away from me. Oh?

It's our finances, Mr. Mason.

Well, what's happened?

Cars happen. Clothes, travel.

Gambling debts.

You?

Terry's the family spender.

Part-time actor,
clerk, salesman.

Almost anything since
he's gotten out of school.

But a full-time spender.

Then it's your brother
who's in debt to Mr. Brant.

Yes, but when Mr. Brant
gave us the money,

I signed the papers too.

Papers?

What papers did you sign?

He had us transfer
all the legal titles

to everything Dad
left us in his will

to a dummy for cash.

The dummy sold to him,

and then he sold it back to us

on a contract of
conditional sale.

Didn't you say the
horse was a gift to you

before your father's death?

Yes.

I have any appointments?

Not until this afternoon.

All right, I think we
can go out to the ranch

and tell Mr. Brant that
the horse is legally yours.

Let's go.

Clara. Oh!

Oh, you frightened me.

Uh, I'm... I'm sorry.

What happened in town today?

I had some errands to run,

so I left John at
the lawyer's office.

You mean, he's still
going through with it?

Did you think he wouldn't?

Well, in my book, it's about

the shabbiest trick
he's ever pulled.

Peter.

You may be John Brant's ward,

but that doesn't
give you the right

to mess around in my desk.

Oh, I was going to tote up

some of last month's
grain invoices.

I do the bookkeeping here.

I know. But you
weren't around, and...

And maybe it's a good thing.

I found some checks.

Canceled checks,
signed Clara Brant.

Can't say as I blame you.

He's skin-flinted me too.

Eight years of pocket
money and peanuts

for the honor of being
allowed to live here.

But even so, I can't stand by

and let you embezzle. Embezzle?

Is that what you
think I'm doing?

Well, isn't it?

Does that look
like embezzlement?

The weekend you were bringing

the horses back from Phoenix.

Why didn't you tell everybody?

John won't let me.

He's afraid people will laugh.

You know how touchy he is.

He'd kill me if he found
out I showed you this.

But it's bound to come out.

Don't worry. I'll see to that.

Clara, do you love him?

What's that got to do with it?

Nothing, I guess.

In fact, it serves him right.

Do you still want
those invoices?

If they're handy.

Here.

Be sure to bring them
back when you're through.

I will.

Oh, and, uh...

Clara...

congratulations.

Thanks.

Terry?

I've got to see you.
Something's come up.

No, I can't tell you
over the phone.

Yes, now.

It can't wait.

The usual place.

How can you say
it's all my fault?

That crazy business
with the checks.

That was part of the plan.

Like the charge accounts to show

we were living as man and wife.

You could have waited.

If he has another attack,
he could go anytime.

Only now we give him

a little nudge... is that it?

Oh, I hadn't figured on
anything quite like this.

You want me to do it?

No.

That would be even worse.

Uh, suppose we
meet again tomorrow.

That might be too late.

Tonight?

Why not?

Yeah.

Why not?

No time like the present.

I'll see what I can dream up.

Do more than dream, Terry.

Yeah.

You want me to go out first?

Mrs. Brant.

Well, hello.

Could I buy you a drink?
What are you doing here?

Look...

why don't we sit
down over there,

and I'll tell you
all about it, huh?

Oh. Come on.

What do you want?

Wasn't that Terry Blanchard
who just walked out of here?

You know, I got to
know Terry quite well

when he was trying
to break into TV.

He's a good-looking
boy, but, uh,

you know, no actor.

Are you going to tell
me what you want?

No. Now, I think you know.

Blackmail?

Tsk. Let's just say,

recompense for the
trouble I had finding you.

But you overlooked
one little thing.

You remember that
application for a marriage license

that we filled out, with
names and addresses...?

You went back to Las Vegas...

Yeah, and from
there I came here.

And I'm very impressed
with what I found.

Luxurious ranch, racehorses.

Semi-invalid old man.

You're barking
up the wrong tree.

I don't own the ranch, I'm
only the bookkeeper there.

I know, but a bookkeeper
with prospects.

There's no money in prospects.

Well, there's gotta be some.

Oh, say, um...

10,000?

Not a chance.

Well, I must have
some nuisance value.

Five thousand?

No?

You know, I hate to be
persistent, but, you see,

I've been given this
chance to buy into

this summer stock company

in Carmel as actor/manager.

I'd be out of your way for good.

That was our Las
Vegas agreement.

I know it was. But that
was before I heard about

the stock company.

Now... actually...

I think I might be
able to buy in for...

3,500.

What guarantee do I
have you'll stay away?

Now, do you imagine that,

if I made a success up there,

I would jeopardize it with

any further
hanky-panky down here?

I could catch a
plane out tonight.

All right.

But just remember, you're
in this as deep as I am.

So no more funny business.

Oh. Fair lady...

you have my promise.

I'll offer you the
checks on two banks.

Oh, that's quite all right.

Uh, the name is Earl Mauldin.

M-A... Yes.

I know.

Oh.

First thing I want you
to do is meet Spindrift.

I'd like to.

He must be a remarkable
horse, to be able to...

I've been trying to
reach you, Miss Jo Ann.

He's gone. Spindrift's
gone. Gone?

I tried to stop them, but
they just laughed at me.

Who was this?

Two fellas with a horse trailer.

And John Brant.

Who are you to be delivering
ultimatums around here?

You can call it
what you like, sir.

Either you give
the horse back or...

Or I'm walking out.

Well, I didn't
know that you were

that soft on the girl.

I like her. But
even if I didn't...

That's gratitude for you.

Where would you be
if I hadn't taken you in,

made you my ward?

Talking about gratitude,
I've repaid you five times over.

You think so?

Well, I've had it in mind
to give you Spindrift

and a lot of other
things someday.

So let's have no
more ultimatums, boy.

Not until I'm gone.

What I said still
goes, Mr. Brant.

You'd walk...

for that girl?

All right. Walk then.

Walk as far as you like.

And while you're
walking... Mr. Brant.

Well, who are you?

My name is Mason.

I'm Miss Blanchard's attorney.

Get out.

But I merely wanna talk
to you about Spindrift.

What's there to talk
about? I've got him. That's it.

Oh, I'd say there was
something to talk about, Mr. Brant,

since you've stolen the horse.

What do you mean?

I've got a conditional
contract of sale on that horse.

No, sir.

On everything in
Mr. Blanchard's will.

The horse was a gift to
his daughter before he died.

Mason, I've got the horse.

That's nine points of the law.

Peter.

Show him out.

No, sir.

Get out of here.

You're a lawyer.
Take me to court.

All right, Mr. Brant.

Terry?

I still think we should
go get Spindrift.

Oh, stop worrying.

Mason said he'd get him
in the morning, didn't he?

What if Mr. Brant hides him?

He'd never do that.

You won't help me, then?

How many times
do I have to say no?

It's a harebrained idea.

And furthermore, I don't
want you fooling around

Brant's ranch
tonight, is that clear?

I'm sorry, Terry.

This time something
positive has to be done.

I'll handle it. In my own way.

Like you handle everything else?

I'm talking about this now.

I'll take care of it.

No, I'll take care of it.

I can't depend on you, Terry,
and I'm not gonna take a cha...

Where are you going?

Out.

Spindrift?

Spindrift.

Oh, don't worry, boy.
We're going home.

All right.

Well. This the horse?

Yes, sir. Spindrift.

Ah, he doesn't look
vicious. He's not.

We figured the wheelchair
scared the horse, lieutenant.

Maybe bumped him in the stall.

So he kicked out.

You were the one who
found Mr. Brant's body?

Yes, sir. Uh, this morning
when I went to water Spindrift,

I unbolted the door and...

And found Mr. Brant lying there.

You unbolted the door? Yes, sir.

Were you looking for me?

Mrs. Brant?

I'm Lieutenant
Tragg from Homicide.

I'd like to ask you a few
questions, if you don't mind.

But I've already told this man

and the others
everything I know.

Now, Mrs. Brant, uh, how did
your husband get into the stall?

Did someone push him there?

What do you mean?

Well, I understand
that he, uh...

He was completely paralyzed.

Only his legs.

He could wheel himself around.

But he couldn't walk
or stand without help?

No.

But I don't quite see
what you're getting at.

Well, we believe that he died

soon after midnight.

Isn't it strange that
he'd pick that time

to go and see a horse?

Not strange at all.

John often wandered
around the ranch late at night.

And that particular
horse was the answer

to a dream he'd had for years.

Of owning a trotter capable
of winning the Hamiltonian.

That's a race.

Yes, I know.

Then you must know how he felt.

Like a boy with a new bicycle.

He couldn't stay away.

Only the horse killed him.

I want that horse put
out of the way, Peter.

He killed John,
and he'll kill again.

I won't be responsible for him.

I can't, Clara.

Will you take him, lieutenant?

Destroying horses is not
exactly in my field, Mrs. Brant.

Then I'll call the
vet. He'll do it.

Have you finished
with me, lieutenant?

Yes.

Seems a pity.

Let's have another
look at that stall.

Better send that
bolt to the lab.

I don't get it, lieutenant.

Look. Look here.

Bolt's here.

The body was here.

Now...

how could a cripple
in a wheelchair

reach over and lock himself in?

Around midnight, huh?

And no one missed him?

I see.

All right, thank you, Charley.

The body was found
early this morning

by a Peter White, Brant's ward.

Apparently, it had been
in the stall since midnight.

But the horse did kill him.

Oh, there doesn't seem
to be any doubt about that.

However, there's
one interesting aspect.

Brant was secretly
married to his secretary.

He's over 70.

Della, there's been
many a bridegroom...

Yes, Gertie?

Miss Blanchard is here. She w...

Mr. Mason, I know I shouldn't

break in on you like this,

but they're gonna
kill Spindrift.

Who is? Clara.

Or Mrs. Brant, I should say.

I telephoned the
vet. He's ours too.

And he's going over
there at noontime,

but we don't have much...
Now, just a moment, Jo Ann.

Sit down.

Now, let's take
this a little slowly.

Mrs. Brant is going to
have the horse destroyed?

Peter White called me.

Clara thinks that the horse...

Now, just a minute.

Della, see if I can meet with
Judge Praeger in his chambers,

and ask Paul Drake to come down.

Now, what does Mrs. Brant think?

That he's a
maverick, a born killer.

But he isn't.

He did kill Brant.

I don't believe that, Mr. Mason.

He's the friendliest, most
wonderful horse I've ever had.

And he's as gentle as a lamb.

Last night he was just like...

You saw Spindrift
last night? What time?

I don't remember.

After midnight?

Mr. Brant was already
dead, wasn't he?

I just went over to
bring Spindrift home.

What time was this?

Just after 12.

I went into the stall and I
saw Mr. Brant lying there, and

I got terrified.
So I... I just left.

Did you tell anyone about it?

My brother.

And what did he say?

To keep it quiet.

I suppose I'd better
tell the police now.

I'll have to know a
little more about this

before I advise you what to do.

The thing I have to
do is save Spindrift.

Yes, I know. Della?

Judge Praeger can
see you in 15 minutes,

and Paul's on his way down.

Good.

I'm going to try to
obtain a court order,

restraining Mrs. Brant
from disposing of the horse.

I'm also gonna get a...

Excuse me.

Come in, Paul. Hi, Perry.

Miss Blanchard,
this is Paul Drake.

How do you do, Miss Blanchard?

Paul, do you know anything
of a man named John Brant?

Well, just what I
heard on the 9:00 news.

Don't tell me you're
defending the horse?

That's exactly what I'm doing.

I want a complete rundown

on everyone on the Brant ranch,

particularly Mrs. Brant, and why

she's so determined to destroy

a horse of such potential value.

That's a pretty big
order. Oh, that's not all.

I want to know what the police
are doing about Brant's death.

If Homicide is handling it.

That one I can answer now.

I was gonna have lunch
with Sergeant Grimes.

He called it off
because Tragg put him

and a half a dozen others
on Homicide on the case.

Then, there's a
possibility it was murder?

And I hope not, Jo Ann.

Clara...

what's all this about
getting rid of Spindrift?

Why shouldn't I?

But that's insane.

I realize you have to play
the brokenhearted widow,

but to kill him to do it...

Well...

Have you any idea
what that horse is worth?

We'll have enough.

Think what it'll do to Jo Ann.

She's raised him from a colt.

It's too late to
think about that.

What if the police decide
to examine Spindrift?

Why shouldn't they?

Because when they find
there's no trace of blood

on his shoes or hooves,
they'll know it was murder.

I don't like killing
this horse, Mrs. Brant.

I can easily get
another vet, you know.

I know.

Come on, boy.

Clara, please. Keep
out of this, Peter.

Terry, you talk to her.

Spindrift.

Mrs. Brant.

Yes, I'm Mrs. Brant.

I have something for you.

What's this?

I'll save you the trouble
of reading, Mrs. Brant.

It's a court order restraining
you from disposing of Spindrift

until his rightful owner
can be determined in court.

In court? Terry,
why didn't you tell me

your sister was
going to do this?

Oh, I-I didn't know.

Well, it's your
problem now, Terry.

The quicker you get that horse

out of my sight, Jo Ann,

the better I'll like it.

Oh, I've missed you, Spindrift.

I've missed you.

Miss Blanchard? Yes?

I'm Lieutenant Tragg. I
have a warrant for your arrest.

What for?

For the murder of John Brant.

Paul, he's here now, and
he'll see you if it's convenient.

Mm, I'll tell him.

He's on his way down.

Good.

I still don't understand it.

How could the police
even suspect that girl?

Mm.

Well, the district attorney's
set for a hearing, and

I'm afraid it's gone far beyond
the suspecting stage, Della.

Now, Spindrift makes
an excellent motive.

Mr. Burger will contend
that Jo Ann killed Brant

while trying to take the horse,

and pushed wheelchair
and body into the stall

to make it look
like an accident.

But we and her brother
are the only ones that knew

she was over there.

Oh, don't sell
Lieutenant Tragg short.

He knows, or he
wouldn't have acted.

And I'm sure he has other...

Hi, beautiful. Hi, Paul.

Perry, I have the dope
on the Brant dame.

Complete dossier. Let's have it.

Some of this I dug up,
some my people brought in.

Born Clara Tinsley,
Galesburg, Illinois.

Went to high school there.

Came to Hollywood, did modeling,

bit parts in movies.

Then, married a
retired Idaho rancher,

one John Hammon, age 67.

The old boy died
four years later,

apparently on the up-and-up,

but relatives
contested the will,

and Clara had to
settle for 75 grand.

Two years later,
employed by John Brant.

Three months ago,

married Brant in Las Vegas.

Same pattern.

Yeah, but with variations.

One is, that for the
past couple of years,

she's been friendly...
Extremely friendly

with one Terry Blanchard.

Uh... Uh, Jo Ann's brother?

Mm-hm. Something else.

Ever hear of a man
named Earl Mauldin?

Name doesn't register.

Well, a pal in the
Bankers Protective Agency

gave me a rundown on
Clara's accounts in two banks.

One under the name of Clara
Hammon, the other Clara Brant.

Anyway... on the
day of Brant's death,

this Earl Mauldin cashed
checks on both accounts,

for a total take of $3,500.

Two checks?

Mm-hm. There wasn't
enough in either account

to cover that much.

Sounds like an
emergency of some sort.

Otherwise, it seems to me,

she would've shifted the money
and just made out one check.

Do you know who this Mauldin is?

Yeah, he's a broken-down actor.

I located the rooming
house where he'd been living,

but he checked out.

Told the landlady
he'd bought into

a summer playhouse in Carmel.

I called, and he's there.

All right.

Have your people find out
what they can about him,

but I want you to work on
that Las Vegas marriage.

Why was it kept secret?
Who were the witnesses?

Where did the Brants stay?
Everything you can dig up.

And, Paul...

you'll have to work fast.

The preliminary hearing
starts tomorrow. All right.

Uh, doctor, as chief pathologist
for the coroner's office,

how many cases have you
examined where death was caused

by a fracture of the skull?

A large number.

I should say considerably
more than a hundred, Mr. Burger.

Testifying then as
an expert, doctor,

you say that the decedent
in this case was not killed

by the flying hooves
of a frightened horse?

Now, that's correct.

Death resulted from
a series of blows

struck by a smooth,
circular object,

uh, such as an iron bar.

This iron bar, possibly?

Objection, Your Honor.

Unless that bar, which I
assume to be a jack handle,

is properly introduced
in evidence, why...

It will be, Mr. Mason.

However, I'll
rephrase the question.

Doctor, in your opinion,
could the fatal blows

have been
administered by a person

using this as the weapon?

Yes. Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Now, I show you this
bolt, previously identified

as having come
from the horse's stall,

and marked for the
people Exhibit C,

and I ask if you
subjected it to exhaustive

fingerprint examination in
the police crime laboratory?

Yes, sir. What did you find?

Prints left by two persons.

One proved to be a Peter White.

And the others?

The defendant, Miss Blanchard.

This moulage is a cast
of a tire print we found

in the soft earth
near the stable.

Well, what did you do after
you made this moulage?

We examined a number of
cars, and finally found the tire

that made the print.

Where did you find the tire?

On the left front wheel of
Miss Blanchard's station wagon.

I see. Now, did you
find anything else

when you searched
the defendant's car?

Yes.

A bloodstained jack handle

wedged under the front seat.

I don't know where it

could have come from, Mr. Mason.

Now, lieutenant...

is this the jack handle

that you found under the
seat in the defendant's car?

Yes, sir. It has my
identification mark

on it right there. Thank you.

If it please the
court, I should like

this jack handle entered
as People's Exhibit G.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.
Very well, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, lieutenant, you testified
that there were bloodstains

on the jack handle.

How were you able to determine
that the stains were blood?

The jack handle was
tested in the laboratory.

And what were the
results of those tests?

Human blood, type O.

Were tests also run
on the decedent?

Human blood, type O.

Mr. Blanchard, I realize
that your relationship

to the defendant
makes you reluctant

to answer my questions,

but I must remind you, sir,

that you've sworn here
to tell the whole truth.

Didn't your sister, on
the night in question,

ask you to go with her
to the decedent's ranch

to help her bring
back her horse?

I...

I-I don't remember.

At one time you did remember?

I have an affidavit
here from Mrs. Brant

stating that you told her
that your sister asked you...

Objection, Your Honor.

Mrs. Brant's alleged statement,
even if it were admissible,

is pure hearsay.

Well, I'm not trying

to get the statement
admitted, counselor.

I'm just trying to refresh
the witness' memory.

Didn't you tell Mrs. Brant that

such a conversation took place?

Yes.

Yes, I... I guess...

Well, then, will
you please give us

the gist of that conversation.

Well, my sister did suggest

going over to get the horse...

but I refused.

Well, what did she say then?

Well, that's about all.

Your Honor...

it's obvious that this
man is a hostile witness.

I ask permission to
treat him in that fashion.

You may ask your leading
question, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Blanchard,
didn't your sister say

that something positive
would have to be done?

Well, she... She...

Just answer me yes or no. Yes.

And didn't she further say
that she'd have to do it herself

because she
couldn't count on you?

Yes, but... That's all.

Thank you, Mr. Blanchard.

Your witness.

Mr. Blanchard, from
your prior conversation,

was it made clear to you
what your sister referred to

when she said she
couldn't count on you?

Oh, I guess she
meant I haven't been

the most...

considerate brother.

I see.

Now, Mr. Blanchard...
did you not say

you would handle
the problem yourself,

in your own way?

Yes.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Well, I wouldn't
exactly call it a quarrel,

but she defied John to take
the horse away from her.

And then later that
day, or rather that night,

did anything unusual
happen at the ranch?

Yes. Shortly after midnight,

I heard a car's engine.

I was sure John and
Peter were both in bed,

so I went to the window.

And what did you see?

I saw Miss Blanchard's
car leave the stable

and go down our private
road toward the gate.

Would you recognize the driver?

Yes. It was Miss Blanchard.

I thought at first she
was just making sure

her horse was all right,

but now I know better.

And there's no doubt at
all in your mind that it was

Miss Blanchard's car, and
that it was Miss Blanchard,

the defendant, who was driving?

No, sir. No doubt at all.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Mr. Mason.

Mrs. Brant, how far is
your room from the stable?

Well, I don't know
exactly. Maybe 200 feet.

And after midnight, from a
distance of some 200 feet,

you could see who
was driving that car?

Yes.

Mrs. Brant, don't you
realize it's impossible

to identify anyone in the
dark at a distance of 20 feet,

let alone 200 feet?

Yes. But I don't think
you realize something.

There was a full
moon that night.

I'll be happy to lend you
my almanac, counselor.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Now, Mrs. Brant...

Your Honor. Your Honor!

I can't keep still any longer.

I killed John Brant.

I killed him!

Pop, sit down, please.

I killed him! Now, sit
down, Pop. Please, sit.

Your Honor, in view of this
unexpected development,

the prosecution
moves for a recess

until tomorrow morning.

Does the defense object?

Uh, no, Your Honor.
Defense has no objection.

The bailiff will take this man

into custody for questioning.

Court is adjourned until
10:00 tomorrow morning.

Congratulations, Mr. Mason.

On what, Mr. Burger?

On that piece of
razzle-dazzle...

That's the most flagrant
stunt I've seen pulled in years.

What stunt?

That phony confession.

I didn't know you
were that desperate.

I had nothing to do with it.

I don't believe you.

Is the confession so
outlandish, Hamilton?

Couldn't Pop
Abbott have done it?

You know what we
go through downtown

before we indict, Perry.

We've got the guilty one.

You sure Paul was at
the airport when he called?

Mm-hm. He said he
was going to take a cab.

Then why isn't he here?

Perry, what about Pop
Abbott's confession?

You think he did
that to help Jo Ann?

If he was just trying
to confuse things,

I think by now Tragg
and Burger have found

a dozen holes in his story.

Come in, Paul.

I'm out of breath, but I'm here.

And the news isn't very good.

No?

I talked with the minister
and both witnesses.

They say the marriage
was strictly on the level,

and the descriptions
tally exactly.

The only unusual thing was

that the Brants refused to buy

a wedding picture
a photographer took

right outside the chapel.

Of course, that isn't
necessarily out of line

in a secret marriage.

What about the
license application?

Mm, took some doing,
but I got a Photostat of it.

Wait a minute.

What's that?

Photostat of a
notice of default...

with John Brant's
signature on it.

They're just alike.

Not quite.

Look at the default notice.

The lines are frail and spidery,
as an old man would write.

Now, look at the license.

The lines are bold and heavy.

Maybe another man.

Or a woman...

who was well-acquainted
with Brant's signature.

Notice anything
odd about this, Paul?

No.

He's taking off his gloves.

What's so odd about that?

Well, look at the ungloved hand.

Certainly isn't the
hand of an old man.

You don't think
it's Mr. Brant's?

No.

I think it's someone very
adept at the art of makeup.

All of great Neptune's
ocean wash this blood

Clean from my hand?

No, this my hand will rather

The multitudinous
seas incarnadine,

Making the green one red.

Hark! more knocking.

Get on your night robe,
lest occasion call us,

And show us to be watchers.

Be not lost So poorly
in your thoughts.

To know my deed, 'twere
better not know myself.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking!

I would thou couldst.

Well. That was
excellent, my dear.

Thanks.

Excellent. Listen.

Take a ten-minute
break, everybody.

Next week's show?

Yes. I think a streamlined
version of Macbeth

should be very effective.

Uh, why don't we go
in my dressing room.

We can talk there, huh?

Although, I'm afraid

you're, uh... wasting

a trip from Los
Angeles, Mr. Mason.

You see, all I know
about the Brant case

is what I've read in the papers.

Poor Clara.

You know, my heart
really bleeds for her.

That's as it should be.

Apparently, she bled
for you, Mr. Mauldin.

Uh, I don't know what

you're talking about, Mr. Mason.

The $3,500 she gave you on
the day of John Brant's death.

Uh, why don't you sit down?

Now, that, uh, $3,500
was simply a loan.

A loan, or a payment
for services rendered

on a certain night in Las Vegas?

In Las Vegas?

Where you took part in the
fraudulent marriage ceremony

posing as John Brant.

Well, that's absurd. I never...

Do you, um...

recognize this
license application?

No.

The signature,
John Brant, is forged.

Well, not by me, it wasn't.

And, uh...

this isn't a photograph of you

coming out of the chapel?

No.

Think carefully, Mr. Mauldin.

The truth may be your only hope

to escape a charge
of accessory to murder.

Murder?

Wait a minute. Are
you saying that Clara...?

I'm saying that if you're
not part of a murder plot,

you'd better clear yourself.

And quickly.

Oh, no.

Now, no soap, Mr. Mason.

I assure you this
isn't a picture of me,

and I'm not an accessory

to anything worse

than tinkering with
Shakespeare's dialogue.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I'm sure that if I were,

you'd have the police with you.

Perhaps you're right.

That's quite a collection

of photographs you have there.

Oh, uh, actor" vanity.

Although, these are some of

my finest performances. Uh,

Marlowe, Shaw,

O'Neill, Shakespeare.

And, uh, this one?

An actor's vanity, you said.

You had to keep a record of
an outstanding impersonation.

Hence this photograph
of John Brant

that you must've used

as a model for your makeup.

Shall I call the police
now, Mr. Mauldin?

Your Honor, yesterday afternoon,

Mr. Timothy Abbott confessed

to the murder for which
Miss Blanchard here

stands accused.

After a careful investigation,

the district attorney's office
has reached the opinion

that Mr. Abbott was
moved by considerations

more emotional than logical

when he made his
so-called confession.

And although we intend
to continue investigating

every aspect of that
so-called confession,

nevertheless, we intend
to proceed with this hearing.

Very well.

Mr. Mason was in the process
of cross-examining a witness.

Have you finished your
examination, Mr. Mason?

If it please the court, I
would like to continue

my cross-examination
of Mrs. Brant.

Then call Mrs. Clara
Brant to the stand, please.

Ms. Clara Brant, will you

take the stand, please?

You are still under
oath, Mrs. Brant.

Now, Mrs. Brant...

you told us of your
life at the ranch

and your growing
regard for Mr. Brant,

but haven't you
left out the name

of a very important person?

The name of Terrance Blanchard?

What was your
relationship with him?

We were friendly.

Now, how do you define
friendly, Mrs. Brant?

Isn't it true that you were
having an affair with him?

That's not true.

I'd be crazy to do
a thing like that,

when I'd just married John.

Marriage? You were
never married to John Brant.

Of course I was. We
went to Las Vegas...

John Brant never
went to Las Vegas.

I submit that you went through
a fake marriage ceremony there

with a man that you'd hired
to impersonate John Brant.

Well, that's ridiculous.

Ooh, I have the
marriage certificate,

and there's a minister and
witnesses who'll testify that...

That...

No.

Do you know who that is?

Earl Mauldin.

The man you hired
for the impersonation?

Only, he'd promised
to stay away.

But that was before
John Brant's death.

That was before
you, Clara Hammon,

made him an accessory to murder.

But I didn't kill John.

I didn't kill him! You
must believe that.

I didn't kill him.

Now, let me get this straight.

Clara Hammond paid you
$1,000 to impersonate Brant,

and then paid you $3,500 more

to keep quiet about it?

Is that correct?

That's right.

And Clara Hammond
hired you in the first place

because of your acquaintance
with Terrance Blanchard,

the brother of the defendant?

Yes.

So at least three of you
are in on this plot together.

Well, I guess you
could put it that way,

if you're talking about that
marriage business, you know.

But I wasn't in on any
plot to kill the old man.

Why did you come back here?

Oh. Because Mr. Mason
there told me that, uh,

if I didn't come back,
I'd be in more trouble

than I was already in.

I see. Thank you.

You've been very
resourceful, Mr. Mason.

Although I do think your
tactics are more suitable

to a county fair, perhaps,
than to a courtroom.

The court was fully informed
of counsel's intentions

this morning,
Mr. Burger, and approved.

I'm aware of that, Your Honor.

However, none of
this has any bearing on

the evidence
against the defendant.

And the prosecution
intends to proceed.

Your witness.

Mr. Mauldin... do you
remember the adage

of the goose that laid the
golden eggs? Oh, yeah.

Only in this case,
it was necessary

to kill the gander
first, wasn't it?

Uh. I don't... I don't
think I follow you.

Wasn't it to your advantage
to have John Brant dead?

Once Clara Hammon
received her inheritance,

you'd be in a position to demand
a handsome sum for your silence,

instead of a paltry $3,500.

Yeah, um, I see.

No, uh, that never
occurred to me.

Not even on the day
you were paid the 3,500?

The day you were so close
to the scene of the crime?

No.

No, because I left
right after seeing Clara.

You see, that was
part of the deal.

For me to fly to Carmel.

But you didn't fly to Carmel

until 6:30 the next morning.

Now, what did you do
on the night of the murder?

Uh. Well, after I cashed

the two checks...

I celebrated.

Where?

Some places up
on the Sunset Strip.

And after you
finished celebrating?

Then I went to my
boarding house...

and... And I checked out.

And what time was this?

Around midnight.

Oh, no, Mr. Mauldin.
It was after 2.

Your landlady was
definite about the time

because she resented
being awakened at that hour.

So it was after 2:00.

And then, in the rented
car you'd been using all day,

you drove to the airport?

Yes.

And you checked
the car in at 3:55?

I...

In case you're still
confused about time,

I have the check-in
slip right here.

Well, if it says 3:55...

must be 3:55.

Actually, I'm more interested
in the car than the time.

Now, at the airport,
when the rental agency

checked the car,

they found something missing.

A jack handle, Mr. Mauldin.

This jack handle.

The jack handle you hid
in Miss Blanchard's car.

Oh, no, I didn't... The
jack handle you used

to crush the skull of John
Brant... No! No, I didn't!

Take it!

Take it.

See if you can recall the
impact of metal on bone.

Go on, take it.

I can't!

I can't.

Not again.

You see... I did it.

I killed him.

And here's a little
something to remember us by.

Thank you.

And here is a communication

from Peter White,
who, as you know,

has been declared sole
heir to John Brant's estate.

Enclosed is your mortgages,
marked "paid in full."

That's just like Peter, but...

Well, I'll have to
talk to him about this.

I imagine that's exactly
what he's hoping you'll do.

Now, about your brother.

He can't escape
serving time, Jo Ann...

but I have a feeling

he'll be a better man
when he comes out,

if that's any consolation.

It is. I know you're right.

I can't tell you how
grateful I am, Mr. Mason.

Spindrift is too.

But he knows he can't
pay you for your service.

Oh, that's all right.

But it isn't all right.

Spindrift has a service
of his own to perform.

There's the title
to his first foal.

Well...

And for all of
you, for Saturday.

Uh... what's for Saturday?

Three box seats
for the big race.

From Spindrift.

Better he should tell
us if he's gonna win.