"Lorraine, I know it's after 6, but would you mind staying a few more minutes and filing this?" "Oh, of course not, Mr. Durell." "Thank you." "I'll be in Larkin's office if you want me." "Be right with you, Durell." "You all finished for the day, Lorraine?" "Yes, sir." "Oh, my, my, my." "We're so formal." "Used to call me Philip, remember?" "What would you say I come over to your place tonight, hmm?" "No, thanks." "Why not?" "Your new boyfriend's in Europe, isn't he?" "Suppose I, uh, come over to your place at about 7:30?" "I told you, Philip." "I'm not going out with you anymore." "Oh, come on." "You don't really mean that." "What's the matter with me, huh?" "Will you please let me pass?" "I asked you a question." "And I gave you the answer several months ago." "Oh?" "You know, it takes time to really get to know you, Philip." "At first you're kind and considerate." "A girl could think that you really cared." "Oh, I cared." " Oh, no." " Oh, yes." "If you really cared, you could never have made those cruel accusations." "Why not, hmm?" "Why not?" "They were true." "Why shouldn't I make them, hmm?" "Did you suppose I wouldn't follow up on it, huh?" "It took me a long time, but I've got the complete report right here." "What would your precious Charles Patton III say, huh?" "And some other people that we know." "[YELLING] Why don't you leave me alone?" " Why do you keep after me like this?" " Because" "Because I want you." "And if I can't have you, nobody else will, do you understand?" "[FRENCH ACCENT] Mr. Larkin," "Mr. Durell is waiting for you in your office." "All right." "Just remember, Lorraine." "I meant every word of it." "Well, thank you very much, and do call again." "Good evening." " Oh, may I help you?" " Yes." "I'm here to pick up a package for the Larkin lmport-Export Company." " Larkin lmport?" " Mm-hm." "Now, are you sure you have the right place?" "Positive." "Well, it might be under the name of George Durell." "Durell." "Durell." " Uh, what was the merchandise?" " I don't know." "My instructions were to just pick up the package." "Well, I'm terribly sorry." "It's almost 9:00 and I must close." "Uh, would you like to use the telephone?" "Maybe you can contact this party who gave you your instructions." "Well, that's just it." "I don't exactly know who it was." "Well, I mean, I assumed that it was Mr. Durell." "Well, why don't you call him and find out?" "[PHONE RINGING]" "Hello." "LORRAINE [OVER PHONE]:" "May I speak to Mr. Durell?" "Who is this?" "This is Lorraine Stevens, his secretary." "Is that what they call them nowadays?" " What?" " You're not fooling me." "I know what you and my husband are up to." "What's the matter?" "Isn't it enough that you see him all day without hounding him at home?" "Really, Mrs. Durell" "You're all alike." "Cheap little trollops that can't let a man" "[DOOR OPENS]" "George," "I didn't mean it." "Honest." "Well, is anything wrong, miss?" "Bring a glass of water." "Hurry." "I don't know why I say things like that." "I just can't seem to help it." "George, I didn't mean it." "You know I didn't mean it, George." "I know, Claire." " George" " I know." "Thank you very much." "I'm all right now." "Good." "Is there anyone else you'd like to call?" "Well, I suppose I could call Mr. Larkin." "Well, then why don't you do that?" "[PHONE RINGING]" "I can't understand it." "Someone picked up the phone, but there's no one there." "You've been very kind." "I'm sorry to have kept you this late." "Oh, that's quite all right." " Good night." " Good night." "By any chance, did you take an order for the Larkin lmport-Export Company?" "Well, that's very strange." "Very strange indeed." "[DOORBELL RINGS]" "[DOORBELL RINGS]" "[DOORBELL RINGING]" "Hold your horses." "I'm coming." "Officer Norton, ma'am." "We're investigating a call." "What are you babbling about?" "Did you telephone police headquarters?" "No, I didn't telephone police headquarters or anywhere else." "I don't know what you want here." "Just a minute." "Where are you going?" "He's dead." "Better call Homicide, Tom." "[DOORBELL RINGS]" " Yes, sir?" " What's going on here?" " Who are you?" " My name is Joseph Harrison." "What's the trouble?" "Are you Philip Larkin's stepfather?" "I was." "His mother and I are divorced." "Then what are you doing here?" "I came to see Mrs. Harrison." "Is there anything wrong with that?" "Come on in." "Lieutenant, this is, uh, Mr. Harrison." "Hello, Ethel." "What's happened?" "TRAGG:" "Your stepson, Philip, has just been murdered." "I'm terribly sorry, Ethel." " Who did it?" " That's what we're here to find out." "Excuse me, lieutenant, can I take Mrs. Harrison to her room?" "TRAGG:" "Yes, of course." "ETHEL:" "Come along, Mrs. Harrison." "Ethel." "When was the last time you visited here?" "About six months ago." "You, uh, recognise this gun?" "Yes, it's mine." "Well, anyone in the house could have used it." "Your wife said that you" "I beg your pardon." "Your ex-wife said that you were out of the state." "Yes, I was." "I've been under a doctor's care." "I've spent the last six months at the Double Jay Ranch outside Salt Lake City." "But you left there two weeks ago." "You seem to have been doing some checking." "Well, that's my job, Mr. Harrison." "Just what have you been doing these last two weeks?" "I've been at Lake Tahoe." " Just drove in tonight?" " That's right." "I, uh, wonder if you'd let us take an impression of your fingerprints." "Sanchez, get that to the crime lab as fast as you can." "There's no doubt about it, Mr. Burger." "They all match." "Those are Harrison's fingerprints on that gun case." "He claimed that he hadn't been in the house for six months." " Any other fingerprints on the case?" " Not a one." "The maid-- Uh, Sarah Winslow is her name." "claimed that she polished that yesterday afternoon." "How about the gun?" "Were there any prints on it?" "No, nothing identifiable." "How did Harrison get along with his stepson, Philip Larkin?" "He didn't." "I understand the boy was the reason for the divorce." "Where do you understand that from?" "I talked to the maid." "She's a well of information." "She claimed that Philip kept after his mother until she finally gave in." "If that isn't enough, the kid practically booted his stepfather out of the family business." "The, uh, business was originally built by Philip Larkin Sr." " The boy's father." " Yes." "When old Larkin died, he left the business to his widow, Ethel." "And about four years later she met Harrison." "When they were married, she let him take over the management." "Over young Larkin's protest, I presume." "The strenuous protests." "Harrison had an exporting outfit of his own." "He closed it, brought his staff over, and they apparently ran things pretty much to suit themselves." "And then when Mrs. Harrison divorced him, the party was over." "That's how it looks to me." "And then the first night he gets back, after being away for six months, the boy is murdered." "Well, it, uh, could just be a coincidence." "Oh, sure." "It could be a coincidence." "How does Harrison explain his prints on this case?" "Well, I thought maybe, ahh, you'd like to ask him that." "I think you're right, lieutenant." "Pick him up." "Then when I heard they had arrested Joseph and charged with him murder," "I thought I should consult an attorney." "Does Mr. Harrison know you've come to me?" "No." "I just don't understand your concern, Mrs. Harrison." "After all, the victim was your son." "It does sound illogical, doesn't it?" "Highly." "Do you think your husband killed Philip?" "He said he didn't." " Do you believe him?" " I have finished with not believing him." "What does that mean?" "I believe now that Joseph was tolerant and patient much beyond what I could have expected." "Will you represent him?" "I'll have to talk with him first." "I understand." "In the meantime, whether I represent him or not, your testimony can be most damaging." "But Joseph and I were married." "They couldn't make me testify against him." "That rule doesn't apply to a divorced wife." "Then you think that I--?" "Mrs. Harrison, I can't advise you." "If I do undertake this case, I'll be representing Mr. Harrison." "I see." "Uh, thank you." "Thank you for coming in." "Will you tell Joseph" "I believe in him?" "Yes, I will." "Thank you." "Goodbye, Miss Street." "Goodbye." "[DOOR OPENS]" "[DOOR CLOSES]" "Della, get ahold of Paul Drake." "I'll need everything possible on Philip Larkin." "All his background:" "girlfriends, gambling, everything." "I'd also like to know a little more about his mother." "Mrs. Harrison?" " Why?" " Oh..." "I don't know how much of her story to believe or how much she's left out." "She's still in love with a man she's divorced." "I tell you, I have no idea how my fingerprints got on that gun case, Mr. Mason." "I have." " You were in that room that night." " No." "Look, Harrison, we'll get nowhere if you lie to me." "It's bad enough you've lied to the police and the district attorney." "There's no other explanation for those fingerprints." "And you had a key to the house." "Well, I didn't kill Philip." "But you were in that room." "And you did see the body." "Yes, when I went into the drawing room," "I saw Philip lying on the floor." "I felt his pulse and I knew he was dead." "The phone rang and I started to answer it." "But then I realised I'd better get out of there." "Then?" "Then I wiped my fingerprints off the phone, and that's when I saw the gun." "I was so frightened I must have left my fingerprints on the gun case." "Anyway, I got out the French door as fast as I could." "And you returned a couple of hours later." "Who do you think killed your stepson?" "Does that mean you think I didn't do it?" "His mother believes you're innocent." "I think she's right." "Thank you." "This, uh, authorisation to go through our books wasn't at all necessary, Mr. Mason." "We'll do everything we can to help Joe." " Thank you." " Mr. Harrison didn't kill Philip." "As I understand it, Mr. Durell, you've been handling the business since Philip died." "Yes, that's right." "Tell me, is everything all right?" "Well, I can't be sure until I audit the books." "Miss Collaro, you were Joseph Harrison's secretary?" "Yes, for 23 years." "When he left, I stayed on as Philip's secretary." "I thought Mr. Harrison" "CLAIRE:" "How long did you think you could pull the wool over my eyes?" " Excuse me." "CLAIRE:" "You're not fooling me." "Not when you have the unmitigated gall to telephone him in my home!" "Claire." "I'm sorry, Lorraine." "I can't tell you how sorry I am." "George, I'm sorry." "Please don't be angry." "DURELL:" "Excuse me, Mr. Mason." " I didn't mean it." "I didn't mean it." "It's too bad that had to happen." "But why does he put up with it?" "Guilt." "It keeps him chained to her." "Twenty-five years ago, he drove his car into a truck." "And that's when she was hurt?" "He'll pay for that the rest of his life." "Why don't you go home?" "Thanks, Miss Collaro, I think I will." "May I volunteer my services?" "IRENE:" "Lorraine, this is Mr. Mason." "Mr. Harrison's lawyer." "Miss, uh...?" "Stevens." "Miss Stevens, I thought perhaps I could give you a lift." "Well," "I live on Madera Drive." "Fine." "That's right on my way." "All right, I'll just get my things." "I give you my word, Mr. Mason." "There's never been anything between Mr. Durell and myself." "Then where did Mrs. Durell get those ideas?" "Maybe because I called him at his home the other night." "Well, I couldn't help it." "You see, somebody left this note on my desk asking me to pick up this package at the Alcorn jewellers." "That was on the night of the murder?" "That's right." "And when you got there," "I assume no one knew what you were talking about." " Well, yes." " Go on." "Well, the manager was very cooperative." "And he suggested that I phone someone to get more information." " So you called Mr. Durell?" " Mm-hm." "What time was that?" "Oh, I guess somewhere around 9:00." "Have you got the note?" "I threw it away." "I see." "Well, it's true." "Why should I want to make up such a ridiculous story as that?" "Someone must have been playing a practical joke on me." "Well, this practical joker certainly did you a favour." "If you were at the Alcorn jewellery shop at 9:00, you're virtually the only one in the case who has an alibi." "Good night, Miss Stevens." "It's a copy of the 16 mm film we found in Philip Larkin's bedroom closet." " How does it look?" " Oh, pretty as a picture." "Well." "Well, I'll be most anxious to hear what Mrs. Harrison has to say about this." " You've gotta find her, lieutenant." " I'm working on it." "Then I checked at the Alcorn jewellers." "Lorraine Stevens was there, all right." "Mr. Alcorn remembered her." "She apologised half a dozen times for keeping him past 9:00." "Point is, was she deliberately doing that to set up an alibi?" "She can stand one." "She was seeing a lot of Philip Larkin up to a month ago." "It was a pretty steady thing." " What made them break up?" " I don't know." " Find out, will you, Paul?" " Sure." "Perry." "You better talk to your client again." "Why?" "I understand Burger's uncovered a hunk of evidence that's guaranteed to put Harrison in the gas chamber." " Where'd you hear that?" " Well, take my word for it." "It comes from an unimpeachable source." " Any idea what this evidence is?" " Nope." "Well, I'll get right to work on this stuff." "I wonder what Burger has up his sleeve." "According to Paul, it's a lot more than his arm." "[DOORBELL BUZZES]" "Good afternoon, ma'am." "I'm from the gas company." " Yes?" " I'm sorry to bother you, but I'd like" "Excuse me, please, are you from the police?" "Police?" " Lady, I'm from the gas company." " Believe me, if you are looking for Ethel Harrison, you will not find her here." "I don't know what you're talking about." "This, uh, is 4B." " Oh, yes." " And you are, uh..." " Irene Collaro?" " I am." "All I wanna do is check the meter." "Oh, sir, you are very convincing." "It is not your fault that the man from the gas company was here just two days ago." "Excuse me." "MAN [OVER INTERCOM]:" "Mr. Burger, Mrs. Winslow's on her way in." "I thought that nice Lieutenant Tragg would be here." "Well, I'm sorry." "He had to leave." "Won't you sit down?" "You know, Sarah, we're relying on you." "Lieutenant Tragg and myself." "Well, I wouldn't wanna say anything to hurt Mr. Harrison." "Do you believe Mr. Harrison killed his stepson, Philip?" "Of course not." "Well, then the truth can't possibly hurt him, can it?" " No." " Well, there you are." "Now, Sarah, where is Mrs. Harrison?" "I told Lieutenant Tragg I didn't know." "Don't you think it's strange she disappears at this particular time?" "She knew what she was doing." "She had good advice." "Good advice." "I'm not so sure." "Didn't you also tell Lieutenant Tragg that she consulted Perry Mason?" "Yes." "And did Mr. Mason tell her to disappear?" "All I know is she went to see him." "When she came back, she said, "Sarah, pack my things."" "She didn't want anybody to know where she was going." "That means Mr. Mason told her to resort to flight." " Well, is that wrong?" " It depends on your point of view." "From where I sit, it means Mr. Mason is guilty of unethical conduct." "Excuse me." "Yes." "Yes, Mr. Burger." "I'll be sure and tell Mr. Mason the minute he gets in." "Tell Mr. Mason what?" "That was Mr. Burger again." "He's very insistent." "He wants to know where Mrs. Harrison is." "So do I." "She may know about that piece of evidence guaranteed to put Harrison in the gas chamber." "Has Paul had any luck in running her down?" "Nope." "Preliminary hearing starts tomorrow." "And if Mrs. Harrison isn't there?" "Then the preliminary hearing still starts tomorrow." "Well, can't say you're batting a thousand, Paul." "I'm sorry, Perry, I just can't seem to connect." "But I'll bet my bottom dollar that Mrs. Harrison is in Los Angeles somewhere." "You know, this whole case just doesn't make sense." "Why was Lorraine Stevens sent to the jewellery store?" "And who wrote the note that caused her to go there?" "How do we know there even was a note?" "That story of hers was a lulu." "Who'd send her on a wild-goose chase like that?" "The killer." "What'd be his reason?" "Wish I knew." "What else did you find out about Lorraine, Paul?" "Well, only that she got her job at Larkin lmports through Irene Collaro." "At least, uh, Miss Collaro recommended her to George Durell." "How long has Lorraine been working there?" "Since November." "That'd be about, uh, ten months." " And before that?" " Still checking it out." "And you still don't know what Mr. Burger has up his sleeve." "Well, there's one consolation." "Tomorrow night at this time, we'll all know." "Now, gentlemen, in this case of The People of the State of California v. Joseph Harrison, the defendant has been advised as to his constitutional rights." "This is the time, heretofore fixed pursuant to stipulation, for the preliminary hearing." "Are you ready?" "Ready on behalf of the people, Your Honour." "Ready for the defence, Your Honour." "All right, Mr. Burger, you may call your first witness." "BURGER:" "I call Dr. Hoxie." "Death was practically instantaneous, caused by the passage of a bullet through the rib cage, the peritoneum and left ventricle of the heart." "BURGER:" "And were you able to establish the time of death, doctor?" "Somewhere between 20 minutes to 9 and 9:00," " on Monday night, August 3rd." " Thank you, doctor." "Your witness." "No questions." "BURGER:" "Call Sarah Winslow to the stand." "BURGER:" "Then you were with Mrs. Harrison eight years before her marriage to the defendant?" "Yes, sir, I remember the first time he came to dinner." "That was before he and the missus decided to get married." "Was Philip Larkin present at that time?" "He certainly was." "BURGER:" "What was his reaction to the announcement of his mother's approaching marriage to Joseph Harrison?" "Well, I can't say he exactly liked the idea." "He said Mr. Harrison was after his mother's money." "He called him a con man, whatever that means." "Well, after the marriage, did the relationship between the victim and the defendant improve?" "Well, if you mean did Philip try to make friends with Mr. Harrison, the answer's no." "Towards the end, they weren't even talking to one another." "It was terrible for Mrs. Harrison." "I felt awful sorry for her." "Yes, I understand that." "Now, Sarah, I wanna show you something." "And I ask you if you recognise this." "Yes, sir." "It's Mr. Harrison's." "BURGER:" "Do you remember when the last time you polished this was?" "SARAH:" "Yes, sir, on the day it happened." "So this gun case was actually freshly polished the day of the murder?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you, Sarah." "Your witness." "Mrs. Winslow, do you consider yourself a good friend of the defendant?" "Mr. Burger said the truth couldn't hurt anybody if they're innocent." "Mr. Burger is absolutely right." "Now, you heard the doctor testify that Philip Larkin was shot between 8:40 and 9:00." "Do you mind telling us where you were at that time?" "Well, sir, I was in the kitchen, cleaning up." " And you did not hear a gunshot?" " No, sir." "That house was really built right, and the kitchen's in the west wing." "You can't hear anything that goes on at the other end." "But there is a telephone in the kitchen." "Didn't you hear it ringing around 9:00?" "That's not the same phone as in the living room." " Philip had his own private number." " I see." "Now, there's a pair of French doors in that room." "Yes, sir." "They lead out to the patio." "Do you know who opened them on the night of the murder?" "Sir, I guess Philip did himself." "But the police found your fingerprints on the doorknob." "Well, I guess I just tried to air out the room." "You know how it is in hot weather." "You do these things automatically." "Have you any idea at what time you automatically aired out this room?" "No, sir." "Thank you, Mrs. Winslow." "That's all." "JUDGE:" "The witness may step down." "The gun is registered to Joseph Harrison and we found the defendant's fingerprints on the gun case." "Did you ask the defendant to explain the fingerprints on the gun case?" "Well, he said he couldn't explain them, that he hadn't been in the house for six months." "We heard testimony here that this case was polished the day of the murder." "Yes, sir." "Well, if Mr. Harrison's fingerprints were on there from six months ago, wouldn't the polishing have removed them?" "I'm sure it would." "Thank you, lieutenant." "Your witness." " Uh, may I?" "BURGER:" "Of course." "Thank you." "Lieutenant, uh, did you say that, uh, this was a German Mauser?" "Yes, I did." "How old a gun is it?" "Well, it dates back to the First World War." "Something puzzles me, lieutenant." "I noted that the prosecution carefully refrained from asking you about any fingerprints on this gun." "Now, what fingerprints did you find on it?" "Well, nothing identifiable." "But you did say that Mr. Harrison left his fingerprints on the gun case?" "TRAGG:" "Yes, sir." "MASON:" "Any other fingerprints on the gun case?" "No, there weren't." "Now, you heard Sarah Winslow testify that she polished this case that very day." "Yet you didn't find her fingerprints on it?" "No, we didn't." "That's rather strange, lieutenant." "How do you account for that?" "I object, Your Honour." "Calls for a conclusion of the witness." "I withdraw the question, Your Honour." "Thank you, lieutenant." "That's all." "BURGER:" "Now, Miss Stevens, you've been employed by the Larkin lmport-Export Corporation for how long?" "Approximately ten months." "And how long had you known the deceased, Philip Larkin?" "Since I started working there." "Were you ever invited to his home?" "Yes, sir." "How often?" "Well, I used to visit there on an average of two or three times a week." "That was before Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were divorced." "As a matter of fact, the defendant was fond of you himself, wasn't he?" "I mean in a fatherly sort of way." "Well, I think so." "He tried to break up your relationship with Philip Larkin, didn't he?" "Yes." "Did he tell you why?" "Well, he didn't think that it would be a good marriage." "BURGER:" "Isn't it true the defendant had heated arguments with Philip about your going together?" "Isn't it also true that the defendant even threatened Philip Larkin in his efforts to stop him from seeing you?" "Well, Miss Stevens, isn't that true?" " Well, I know they had arguments." "BURGER:" "Thank you." "Cross-examine." "I have no questions of this witness." "JUDGE:" "You may step down." "Now, Your Honour, I would like the courtroom darkened and a screen set up so that I may introduce this film into evidence." "What film?" "The defence knows nothing about a film." "What is the film, Mr. Burger?" "It's a segment of home movies, Your Honour, taken on the lawn of the Harrison home approximately six months ago, three days before Mrs. Harrison instituted divorce proceedings in Nevada." "Your Honour, I object." "No proper foundation has been laid for the presentation of this film." "Your Honour, the prosecution would be most happy to lay the proper foundation." "By a curious coincidence, we've been unable to subpoena the only witness able to do so." "I refer to Mrs. Ethel Harrison, former wife of the defendant, who has been missing since the day after the murder." "Under the circumstances, I think we will run these films." "Then I will rule whether to admit them in evidence." " Thank you, Your Honour." " If it please the court," "I would like to reserve the privilege of voir dire examination for the purpose of determining whether these films are relevant." "The privilege is granted." "We will now proceed with the showing of the film, and I will direct the clerk to assist in preparing the courtroom." "[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE ON FILM]" "[ALL MURMURING]" "[JUDGE POUNDS GAVEL]" "Since the hour is late, we will adjourn court until 10:00 tomorrow morning, at which time defence counsel can produce witnesses on his voir dire examination." "After which, I will rule on the admissibility of this evidence." "The court stands adjourned." "Mr. Harrison." "Sit down." "They certainly put the spurs to us this morning with those home movies." "Why didn't you tell me?" "They were made over six months ago." "I forgot they even existed." "How could you forget a thing like that?" "Well, I had several other things on my mind." "My wife asked me for a divorce that same night." "Was the fight between you and Philip the principal reason?" " It didn't help." " What was the fight about?" "That had nothing to do with Philip's murder." "Suppose you let me be the judge." "I give you my word, Mr. Mason." "You've done that before." "Now, why did you hit your stepson?" "Because he had a dirty mind and a mouth to match." "You're still telling me nothing." "I swear it had nothing to do with this." "The whole thing was ridiculous." "Well, he accused me of marrying his mother for her money." "He must've accused you of that a hundred times before and you never hit him." "No, this had to be something else." "Any idea where your wife is hiding?" "She won't tell you about this, either." "I know Ethel." "You know, there was a fourth party at that scene." " What?" " The person who took the pictures." "Who was it?" "You're a mighty stubborn man." "Yes, I guess you're right." "Who are you protecting?" "This little bit of gallantry may cost you your life." "Think it over." "[PHONE BUZZES]" "Yes, Gertie." "Just a minute." "Perry, it's a tipster." "Get on the extension in your office." "All right, Gertie, put him on." " Hello?" " Mr. Mason?" "Never mind who this is." "Why don't you investigate Ethel Harrison?" "She's the one who's responsible for all of Joe Harrison's troubles." "Of course I know what I'm saying." "Ask her why she keeps writing to George Durell." "Obviously you must have some ideas on the subject." "Because she's in love with him, that's why." "Can't you understand?" "This poses a problem." "I can't very well investigate her if I don't know where she is." "Hold on a second." "The address on the letter is 142 North Delgado," "Los Angeles 29, Apartment 4B." "[DOORBELL BUZZES]" "Good evening." "Why, Mr. Mason." "Good evening." "Could you spare me a few minutes?" " Oh, well, it's rather late" " This won't take long." "Thank you." "And what can I do for you, Mr. Mason?" "I'd like to see Ethel Harrison." "What makes you think she is here?" "An anonymous phone call tonight," "I suspect from Mrs. Durell." "It seems that Mrs. Harrison wrote a letter to Mr. Durell." "Gave this as her return address." "I'm sure the letter was perfectly innocent." "It was, Mr. Mason." "I just wanted Mr. Durell to relay some information to Joseph." "I'll need you in court tomorrow." "Oh, no, Ethel, you mustn't go." "Can't you see what he's after?" "All I'm after is Joseph Harrison's acquittal." "I told you before, Mr. Mason, my testimony would only harm him." "He'd be no worse off than he is now." "Did you hear about the home movies the state introduced?" "What was that argument about?" "Ethel, do not tell him." "It wouldn't help Joseph and it would only hurt an innocent person." "How would you know?" "Of course." "You were the one who took those pictures." " Well, no" " You're right, Mr. Mason." "Then what was that argument about?" "It has no bearing on the death of my son." "[KNOCKING ON DOOR]" " Who is it?" "TRAGG:" "It's the police." "Open up." "Mrs. Harrison, you can't stay in hiding forever." " Good evening, Mrs. Harrison." " Good evening, lieutenant." "Well, it's obvious my informant knew what she was talking about." "And it's obvious she didn't think she could depend on me." "I'm afraid you'll have to come with me." "I will not testify against Joseph." "Well, you'll have to discuss that with the district attorney." "Excuse me." "You won't change your mind?" "Will you tell me what happened after Philip Larkin fell against that hedge?" "I'm afraid you're making a great mistake, Miss Collaro." "Good night." " Good night, Tragg." " Good night, counsellor." "Do you mind if I use your telephone?" "If it please the court, the prosecution is now prepared to put on the stand a witness who will lay a proper foundation to the matter of the home movies and who will further clarify certain other matters in evidence." "Mr. Mason, have you any objection to make?" "Uh, no, Your Honour." "No objection." "BURGER:" "I call Irene Collaro to the stand, please." "Miss Collaro, you were formerly employed by the defendant, Joseph Harrison," " as private secretary?" " I was." "For how long?" "Twenty-three years." "During that long period, did you have many occasions to visit at his home?" "Oh, yes." "Coming now to that occasion about six months ago, when on a certain afternoon, home movies were made." "Do you know anything about that?" "Yes, sir." "I took those pictures." "You were interrupted by Philip Larkin, who burst in and engaged in a heated argument with Joseph Harrison?" "Yes." "BURGER:" "What was that argument about?" "Well, uh," "Philip said" "Go on, Miss Collaro." "Tell us what Philip said." "He" "He accused Mr. Harrison of being Lorraine's father." "BURGER:" "Whereupon Mr. Harrison struck Philip?" "IRENE:" "Yes." "BURGER:" "And how long after that did Mrs. Harrison sue him for divorce?" "Oh, I believe in one or two days." "Thank you, Miss Collaro." "Thank you very much." "Your witness." "[CLEARS THROAT]" "Miss Collaro, I'm sure the court has noticed your charming accent." "Now, you testified that you worked for Mr. Harrison for 23 years." "Was this your first job in the United States?" "Yes." "You see, Mr. Harrison was in the process of setting up offices in various foreign cities:" "London, Paris, Rome." "And, um, they came to the firm I was working for in Paris, and a business arrangement was established." "In all those years, did you at any time get the slightest hint that Mr. Harrison was indeed the father of Lorraine Stevens?" "IRENE:" "No." "MASON:" "No hint at all?" "No letter?" "No telephone call?" " No slip of the tongue?" " No, no." "But in the past ten months, he had become fond of Lorraine and he deplored her attachment to Philip Larkin?" "Yes." "Did you approve of the relationship between Philip and Lorraine?" "I was in no position to say anything." "Miss Collaro, I have no desire to entrap you." "I feel it only fair to tell you that I have here notarised reports from some of the best detective agencies in New York and Paris." "Now I'm going to ask you certain questions." "I have reason to believe you know the answers of your own personal knowledge." "I object, Your Honour." "I think this is improper cross-examination." "Mr. Mason?" "Defence claims its privilege of voir dire examination, Your Honour." "Also, on its own merits, defence is trying to show a mental attitude and bias of the witness." "Objection overruled." "You may continue, Mr. Mason." "Thank you, Your Honour." "Now, Miss Collaro, we know that as a child, Lorraine Stevens was boarded with an elderly couple in Brookline, Massachusetts." "We know that for 19 years, they received a cheque of $70 a month." "The signature on all those cheques was Irene Collaro." "We know that Lorraine Stevens came to the West Coast, that she went to work." "Went to work just by coincidence where Irene Collaro was working." "Now, Miss Collaro, on the afternoon you took those home movies," "Philip Larkin kept pointing at the camera." "Pointing at you, Miss Collaro." "Why?" "Why was he pointing at you, Miss Collaro?" "We know Philip had accused Mr. Harrison of being Lorraine's father, was he accusing you of being her mother?" "Yes." "MASON:" "Irene Collaro," "I ask you now, are you the mother of Lorraine Stevens?" "Yes, I am Lorraine's mother." "All of her life, I've denied her." "And then she came here." "But she is a fine young lady." "She's courageous and loyal." "And decent." "MASON:" "And you wanted to protect her from Philip Larkin?" "IRENE:" "Yes." "You've been protecting people all your life, haven't you, Miss Collaro?" "Protecting Lorraine from society, and her father from his responsibilities." "Now I interrupt this for a moment to observe that the prosecutor has allowed this cross-examination to go on unchecked." "Have you any objection to make, Mr. Burger?" "Your Honour, the district attorney's office functions to determine the truth and to prosecute the guilty." "I have no objections whatever to what Mr. Mason is uncovering with this witness." "You may proceed, Mr. Mason." "Thank you, Your Honour." "Miss Collaro, is Joseph Harrison the father of Lorraine Stevens?" "Now, in your testimony a few minutes ago, you made an unusual statement." "Do you know what it was?" "With the court's permission, may I ask the court reporter to read back some of Miss Collaro's testimony?" "JUDGE:" "Granted." "MASON:" "Thank you, Your Honour." "The early part of my questions, please." ""Question, Mr. Mason:" "Was this your first job in the United States?" "Answer, Miss Collaro:" "Yes." "You see, Mr. Harrison was in the process of setting up offices in various foreign cities:" "London, Paris, Rome." "And they came to the firm I was working for in Paris--"" "Thank you, that's enough." ""They came to the firm I was working for."" "Who came, Miss Collaro?" "Who?" "Who, even now, is willing to see Joseph Harrison pay for a crime he didn't commit?" "Who, Miss Collaro?" "Who?" "DURELL:" "That's enough." "You're absolutely right, Mr. Mason." "All her life, Irene has protected someone." "I killed Philip Larkin, Your Honour." "I felt I should do my share of protecting." "I wanted to protect the daughter I couldn't call my own." "MASON:" "Your Honour," "I have no further questions of this witness." "Look what just came in." "A cheque from Joseph Harrison." "Once a detective, always a detective." "I guess so." "Here." "Yipe!" "You know, I still can't figure Durell's reason for framing Harrison." "Oh, he didn't really intend to frame him, Paul." "He only used Harrison's gun to confuse the case." "Durell thought that when the police checked on Harrison, they'd find that he was a thousand miles away." " Right?" " Right." " Right." " Thank you." "Durell had no way of knowing that Harrison was coming back to Los Angeles." "Oh." "Then Durell was the one who called the police." "Of course." "He wanted the body discovered as close to 9:00 as possible so that Lorraine could have an alibi." "He was the one that wrote the note that sent Lorraine on the wild-goose chase to the jewellers." "She is a regular Miss Know-lt-All." "Is there anything you don't know?" "Yes." "Which one of you gentlemen is going to take me to lunch." " Oh, may I?" " Thank you." "PAUL:" "Uh, what about me?" "Sorry, you're not my type." "You'll have to buy your own lunch." "[CHUCKLES]" "MASON:" "Come on."