"(theme music playing)" "(jazz guitar playing)" "(guitar, bass and drums playing)" "Hello, Mr. Courtland." "Afternoon, Perry;" "Miss Street." "Aren't you lucky to have such a beautiful day for your daughter's wedding?" "Perhaps." "Doesn't seem too happy about it." "Who was that with him?" "It's his secretary;" "her name's Markham." "Hi, Mr. Mason, Miss Street." "Oh!" "What are you doing here?" "Della, you remember David Gideon, don't you?" "Oh, yes, the eager young law student who was going to study in our office library." "Oh, I'm still going to, Miss Street." "Oh." "But right now, I'm a friend of the bride's sister Midge." "Mind if I sit with you?" "No;" "I see no reason why you shouldn't." "Isn't it rather odd to hear music like that in a church?" "Well, they're Eddie King's own men, and besides, more and more churches are allowing modern music." "Just listen to the radio on Sunday." "Well, Polly, little sister was right, as usual." "Dad's here... looking more like a pallbearer than a wedding guest, but he is definitely here." "I'm glad." "Well, he's the one that should be glad, having a nice guy in the family like Eddie King." "You sure you got that ring?" "Naturally, baby, right here on my pinky." "For gosh sakes, don't lose it." "I do and you'd get yourself a new boy, like Jack Costanzo." "(chuckles)" "Shall we join the cats in the main ballroom?" "Stop trying to sound like a bongo player." "Here, you're on this side." "(band plays mellow jazz version of the Wedding March)" "Oh, no, no, no!" "Polly!" "I'm sorry you took the time to write a brief, David." "In my opinion, this is a perfect case of caveat emptor." "Your theoretical client would have no reason to sue anyone but himself." "I think you'd better read the problem over again carefully." "Yes, Della?" "Eddie King is here." "He says he has to see you." "Have him come in." "Eddie." "Come in, Eddie." "Hi, Eddie." "Oh, hello, David." "Weren't you planning to reread that problem?" "Oh, yes." "Be seeing you." "Right." "(door opens) Mr. Mason," "(door closes) you probably disapprove of me as a husband for Polly as much as Mr. Courtland does, but I don't know where else to turn." "Sit down, Eddie." "Thank you." "Let me say now, I don't disapprove of you one bit." "I happen to like jazz-- everything from Jelly Roll Morton to you and Dave Brubeck." "Well, thank you." "Tell me, what do you mean when you say you don't know where else to turn?" "Well, because of what happened this morning." "I've got to see Polly-- to find out why she did what she did-- but I can't get in her house." "And when I phone her, she won't explain." "She just bursts into tears and hangs up on me." "I've got to know, Mr. Mason-- what went wrong;" "what I did." "And you want me to find out?" "Well, you're a friend of the family." "You've known Polly since she was a little girl." "If it's a question of a fee," "I'll pay anything you ask." "No, there wouldn't be a fee." "Hi." "I was just about to look you up, Polly." "I've got some great news." "Dad's taking us to a European jaunt" "France, Italy, the works." "What's in the glass, Midge?" "Soda water." "All right, it's a drink." "But haven't I got a right to one, after what we've been through today?" "Just what have you been through?" "I suppose I had that coming." "But I didn't ask you to run up that aisle, did I?" "I didn't do it for you." "You didn't?" "How do you think those two pictures and a story in one of the confidential magazines would affect Dad?" ""Noted reformer's subdeb daughter" ""registers at a Las Vegas motel with famous jazz artist Bongo White."" "We didn't stay there, Polly." "I told you that." "We only went there to freshen up." "And as for registering together, well, it was just a joke." "Do you think anyone's going to believe that?" "I wouldn't know!" "What do you know about this?" "Girls, gambling, gangsters-- and Miss Midge Courtland of the Bel Air Courtlands." "It was only a party at Jack Grabba's suite." "It didn't even once occur to you that Jack Grabba is reputed to be one of the heads of the gambling syndicate here in Southern California, and as such, is an enemy of Dad's?" "But what I want to know is:" "who took these pictures and how did George Sherwin get ahold of them?" "I don't know." "All he told me was that he was going to turn them over to a publisher if..." "I married Eddie." "But you told me this morning that he was only bluffing." "I thought he was, but then I saw him start to hand an envelope to some man with him in church." "I couldn't let him do that to Dad." "The scandal would kill him." "Well, wha-what can we do, Polly?" "First, I'm going to find out what George Sherwin wants." "I've been trying to call him all afternoon." "Well, it certainly can't be money." "After all, he's a successful composer." "And what about Eddie?" "Ooh, I can't think what to do." "Uh, I can't tell him about this." "That was one of George Sherwin's conditions." "Uh, what is it, Miss Markham?" "Polly, your father would like to see you." "He's in the living room with Mr. Mason." "Mr. Mason?" "You leave those alone." "I'm sorry." "I thought Polly had left them behind." "They're mine." "I did oppose the marriage, Perry." "Polly's too fine a person to waste herself on some honky- tonk piano player." "But I was not the cause of her running like that." "Come in, Polly." "Hello, Mr. Mason." "Hello, Polly." "Polly, Eddie King came to see me." "He's a very unhappy man." "I know." "Well, don't you think you owe him some sort of explanation?" "I tried, but, uh..." "MASON:" "Polly, are you in some kind of trouble?" "Is that what's wrong?" "POLLY:" "Oh, no, it isn't that." "Then what was it, Polly-- my opposition?" "Um, no, it was, um... everything." "You know, all those warnings about marrying jazz musicians-- no home unless you call, uh, you call third- rate hotel bedrooms and, and smoky nightclubs home;" "and crazy, mixed-up people for friends." "It never quite got through to me until, uh," "I saw Eddie's combo at the church and they were playing the Wedding March." "Suddenly, I couldn't go through with it." "Please tell Eddie I'm sorry sorrier than I've ever been about anything in my life." "Polly..." "Polly!" "Her explanation sounds perfectly reasonable-- just what I've been saying." "I happen to know that Eddie King nets close to $100,000 a year from recordings and play dates." "He hardly ever appears in smoky nightclubs and never stays in third-rate hotels." "As a matter of fact, he has a very comfortable home with a swimming pool in the San Fernando Valley." "And what Polly said, she just made up?" "It would appear so." "* The nights *" "* Are cold *" "* For love *" "* Is old *" "* Love was grand when love was new *" "* Birds were singing, the skies were blue *" "* Now it won't appeal to you *" "* The thrill is gone *" "* This is the end *" "* So why pretend?" "*" "* And let *" "* It linger... on *" "* The thrill is... *" "* Gone. *" "(song ends)" "Well, Mr. Leader, how say you?" "Jonny, you make that last note just hang there like an iridescent bubble." "You say the wildest things, baby." "JONNY:" "(chuckles) Excuse me." ""Iridescent"-- that's a big word, Bongo." "Eddie's got a big education." "Oh, you guys leave Eddie alone." "How about a run-through on "The Man I Love"?" "(phone rings) Okay." "Well, don't if you don't feel like it, Eddie." "It's a wonder you're here at all, after this morning." "It's better than talking to a blank wall." "Mr. King, telephone." "Who is it?" "A Mr. Mason." "Thanks." "Eddie King, Mr. Mason." "Did you talk to her?" "Who at the wedding?" "No, I didn't notice her looking at anybody but me." "Yeah, I know George Sherwin." "He's a composer." "No, I'll take care of this myself." "Thanks." "Bongo..." "Bongo, can I see you for a minute?" "(piano playing jaunty tune)" "(music stops)" "Now, will you please stop and listen to me?" "Enid, my dear, you're being a bit of a bore." "Would you rather listen to me or one of Jack Grabba's gorillas?" "Grabba doesn't bother me, darling." "He is when I tell him he can't smear Templeton Courtland because you've decided to use the pictures for yourself." "Cookie... well, you can't tell him that." "Do you think I'm so stupid I don't know what you're up to?" "I saw the copies of Midge's pictures." "And I know that's the reason Polly didn't go through with the wedding." "So, whom do you think you're fooling?" "Certainly not you, Enid, dear." "Okay, tell me." "Now, how much did you say that Grabba agreed to pay for something that would smear Courtland?" "You know just as well as I do: $25,000." "And how much do you think we'd split if I married Polly Courtland?" "(scoffing):" "Married her?" "Well, it could happen." "After all, she'd do practically anything to protect her father." "Let's say, uh... quarter of a million for each of us?" "And even if the marriage didn't come off-- $25,000-- why, it would be peanuts." "Now do you see why you're not telling Grabba anything?" "(knocking on door)" "Who's that?" "I don't know, but you better leave." "I'll call you tomorrow, darling." "Why the devil can't you pick up your telephone?" "It happens there's somebody" "I don't want to talk to at the moment." "What's up?" "Eddie King." "I only beat him here by making like a hot-rodder." "Jonny thinks you ought to clear out." "If he's heard about those pictures you sneaked of me and Midge... he's gonna clobber you good, baby." "He hasn't heard about them unless you told him." "I wish I had the nerve." "You were paid plenty to keep your mouth shut." "I can always kick it back, baby." "Oh, sure." "And I can always have those pictures published." "Contributing to the delinquency of a minor." "Crossing a state line." "A trial, prison, no jobs when you get out." "No, no, Bongo." "No, I'd keep that money if I were you." "(knocking on door)" "Come in, Eddie, the door's open." "How'd you get here, Bongo?" "I drove... at Jonny's urgent request." "She seemed to think you were bugged at George for something." "Could be I am." "Sherwin, I want to ask you something and I want a straight answer." "Okay, ask." "Did you say anything to Polly this morning when she was coming down the aisle?" "I didn't say anything." "I don't believe you." "Ask Polly." "I'm asking you!" "No comment." "We'll see about that." "Still no comment?" "Bongo..." "Cool it, Eddie." "You're gonna get nowhere blowing your top around here." "You know what this is all about?" "Of course not." "Then keep out." "What did you say to her?" "Now, look, supposing I bring Polly to the club tonight." "Then you can ask her if I said anything." "She'd come there with you?" "I think so." "Okay." "If she doesn't show, I'll be back." "Come on, Bongo." "You can make your report to Jonny." "No casualties, at least so far." "(fast-tempo jazz playing)" "* Someday he'll come along *" "* The man I love *" "* And he'll be big and strong *" "* The man I love *" "* And when he comes my way *" "* I'll do my best *" "* To make him stay *" "* He'll look at me and smile *" "* I'll understand *" "* And in a little while *" "* He'll take my hand *" "* And though it seems absurd *" "* I know we both won't stay *" "* Away *" "* Maybe I shall meet him Sunday *" "* Maybe Monday *" "* Maybe not *" "* Still, I'm sure to meet him one day *" "* Maybe... *" "* Tuesday *" "* Will be my... *" "* Good news day *" "* *" "* He'll build a little home *" "* Just meant for two *" "* From which I'll never roam *" "* Who would, would you?" "*" "* And so, all else above *" "* I'm waiting for *" "* The man... *" "* I... *" "* Love!" "*" "(song ends)" "(applause)" "Polly, I have to talk to you." "Not here." "Now." "I have to know what this is all about." "Why you ran away." "Was it because of George Sherwin?" "Was it?" "Yes, Eddie, it was." "But why?" "What's he got to do with you?" "Polly, you don't even like the guy." "I can't believe that you do!" "I just can't." "All I can tell you is just that, maybe, someday I can explain." "But all I want right now is just for you to just please leave me alone, just please, please leave me alone." "* *" "(engine starts)" "(engine starts, car drives away)" "Both parties were apparently drinking straight whiskey, which a woman wouldn't likely do." "I didn't notice any traces of lipstick on those glasses, nor on the butt in the ashtray." "Yeah, it seems to add up to a man." "It's too bad the recorder wasn't in use." "Then we'd know for sure." "Well, anyway, I want the bottle and glasses dusted for fingerprints, Sergeant." "And, uh, lab tests run on the cigarette butt." "Yes, sir." "Well, anything that I should know?" "There seems to be only one bullet wound, Lieutenant." "What is that on the rug there?" "A damp spot." "Glass and... what looks like a woman's face powder." "Perry, have you heard about George Sherwin?" "Paul Drake and I were just talking about it." "Oh, hello, Mr. Drake." "I'm glad you're here." "Hi, Mr. Courtland." "Polly was at Sherwin's apartment last night." "You sure about that?" "You know how distraught she was yesterday?" "Last night, I heard her accept an invitation to go nightclubbing with Sherwin and..." "So you followed her." "No." "I waited up worrying until she came home with Midge, who'd gone with her." "And then, about half an hour later," "Polly left the house again, so I drove to Sherwin's apartment building." "How did you know Polly was there?" "I didn't, until I saw her car parked there." "So I parked, and I..." "I sat there wondering what to do." "After all, she... she is of age." "So, finally, I went up to the building entrance and rang the bell to Sherwin's upstairs apartment." "Have you talked this over with Polly?" "No." "She was asleep when I left this morning, but when I heard about Sherwin on the car radio," "I came directly to you." "Perry... what I want is for you and Mr. Drake to use every legal means possible to keep Polly's name out of this, because I know she did not do this." "How do you know, Mr. Courtland?" "Because I know who did kill him." "I saw him." "I saw him, in the rear-vision mirror, enter the building as I was driving away." "Who was that?" "Eddie King." "It's too bad you didn't show me these pictures yesterday." "The penalties for blackmail and extortion are extremely severe." "I'm quite sure I could have taken care of George Sherwin-- and without killing him." "But I didn't kill him, Mr. Mason." "I told you, he was alive when I left the apartment." "And that was around 2:30." "Could there have been someone else in the apartment while you were there?" "Well, he couldn't have talked to me the way he did if there had been." "He was very crude and direct." "And then he tried to kiss you." "That's when I ran." "I just wish I had known it was Dad ringing the bell." "I wouldn't have had to have gone out the back way." "Or you wouldn't have been noticed by the man you say was smoking a cigarette in the alley." "Was it, uh, light enough for him to see your face?" "I don't know." "But he could see that I was limping." "Limping?" "I broke the heel of my shoe on the stairs." "But I picked it up, though." "MARKHAM:" "Excuse me." "There's someone outside to see Mr. Mason." "A Paul Drake." "Ask him to come in, please." "I'll bet you anything that creep was listening." "MASON:" "Paul Drake, this is Polly and Midge Courtland." "How do you do?" "Hi." "Perry, Tragg and his men have some warm stuff." "Shoot." "First, it's definitely homicide." "Sherwin's own pistol with the prints wiped clean." "Second, Tragg believes that both a man and a woman were in the apartment, but not necessarily together." "Third, he has an eyewitness who saw a woman with a limp run out the back way." "And here's the warm part." "The woman uses Charmaine face powder and smokes Vionnette cigarettes imported from France." "Polly." "Yes, uh, the face powder's mine, and the cigarettes." "But how did the police find out?" "Well, they found two cigarette butts." "One they believe the man smoked was in an ashtray, and the Vionnette was on the floor, under a table." "You aren't missing a compact, are you, Polly?" "It must have fallen from my purse when I left the apartment." "We'd better get moving, Paul." "(upbeat jazz playing)" "Man, I never thought one way or another about that kitten being a minor." "Not even when you registered with her at the motel?" "Like she told you, baby, all we did was wash up there." "Where did George Sherwin get these photographs?" "He was one of the gang." "Probably took 'em for laughs." "Some laughs." "Yeah." "Hey, you don't think I killed him?" "Well, if, as you say, he was holding these over your head, you had a good motive." "I know somebody that has a better motive." "Who?" "WHITE:" "Jack Grabba." "The gambler?" "The photos were for him originally." "Get Courtland off his back." "Only Sherwin decided to go into business for himself." "Maybe Grabba didn't dig that." "Maybe." "Paul, I'll take Grabba." "You check with Jonny Baker." "That will be a pleasure." "Hey, easy, baby." "That's my girl." "I'll try to remember that." "Be seeing you." "(upbeat jazz continues)" "That's Grabba over there, Mr. Mason." "(phone ringing) He's been expecting you." "Thank you." "MAN:" "This way, Mr. Mason." "How are you?" "Mr. Grabba." "You know something?" "You're the first non-pro who's ever been in this joint." "I am?" "Yeah." "I'm a longtime fan." "I figure you'd be a mighty handy friend to have if I ever got in bad trouble." "It's quite possible you could be in bad trouble right now, Mr. Grabba." "Yeah?" "Well, now, that's the first I heard of it." "(phone ringing)" "Have you, uh, ever heard of a George Sherwin?" "The two-bit song-plugger that got himself knocked off last night?" "I wouldn't know him from Lawrence Welk." "(laughs)" "Jack, Tampa wants ten grand at four to one on Blackstone in the seventh at Tropico." "Tell 'em three-to-one's as high as we'll go." "(phone ringing) Now, if you tip me what it's all about, Mr. Mason, maybe I can help." "Have you ever seen these?" "No... but this second one was taken in my suite at the Las Vegas Carlton." "That's me standing behind the doll with the dice." "You don't know who she is?" "No." "Something special about her?" "Yes." "That's Templeton Courtland's 17-year-old daughter." "Brother." "(phone ringing)" "Has he seen these?" "Not yet." "Sherwin supposedly took them for you so you could, uh, ruin Courtland politically." "Eliminate him as a menace to your gambling operations." "You were supposed to pay $25,000 for the negatives." "(phone ringing, men chattering)" "I'll pay $25,000." "I'm not selling anything, Mr. Grabba." "$25,000, provided you personally burn the negatives and any prints that have been made." "Burn them?" "I'm a gambler, Mr. Mason." "A low type, according to people like Courtland." "But I ain't so low that I'd hit a man through his daughter." "You made no offer to Sherwin?" "No." "But a while back, somebody did ask what I'd pay to get Courtland out of the gambling picture, and I said 25 grand." "But I figured I was bidding on evidence of graft or political shenanigans on the part of the old man." "Who was that somebody else, Mr. Grabba?" "There's a code in this business, Mr. Mason, just like in the law." "I'll have to pass that question." "But, uh, how about my offer?" "You'll, uh, burn these and the negatives?" "Unfortunately, I don't have the negatives." "But if I did, I could assure you, I'd burn them." "How did you happen to be out here last night, Mr. Boyson?" "Cigarette break." "Nighttimes, I get a little sleepy once I've done the cleanup, so I take myself out for a breather now and then." "This woman you saw-- would you know her again?" "'Course." "Passed her only a few feet away." "Man, these are awful." "What did you say they're called?" "Shh!" "(quietly):" "Uh, Vionnettes." "They're, uh, from France." "(quietly):" "The French can keep them." "Now, I just waltz around down there?" "That's right." "Go slow and blow lots of smoke." "Yeah, well, what if the police see us?" "Well, you're not doing anything wrong, you're just acting it out." "I sure hope they know that." "And I hope you're right about this being a help to Eddie and Polly." "Take my word for it, it'll help." "Now, right about here is where Polly broke her heel." "You put the rest of the shoe in your closet, didn't you?" "It's lucky her size fits me." "All right, keep blowing smoke." "Go under there and look for the heel." "Now, be sure he gets a good look at you before you run." "I'll go upstairs and wait out front." "Good luck." "Thank you." "Who is it?" "Oh, there you are." "Looking for something, lady?" "Maybe I..." "That's her." "There she goes again." "Same woman." "You're sure?" "I'm positive." "* The nights *" "* Are cold *" "* For love *" "* Is old *" "* Love was grand when love was new *" "* Birds were singing, skies were blue *" "* Now it won't appeal to you *" "* The thrill is gone *" "* This is the end *" "* So why pretend *" "* And let it linger on?" "*" "* The thrill *" "* Is... *" "* Gone!" "*" "(song ends)" "(applause)" "(band playing upbeat, mellow jazz tune)" "Have you found Eddie yet, Mr. Mason?" "No." "I hoped he'd be here." "Uh, won't you join us?" "Thank you." "This is my secretary, Miss Street." "Jonny Baker." "Hello." "How do you do?" "Oh, you do real well, Mr. Mason." "She could be in show business." "Thank you." "Well, I've got one piece of good news." "At least I think it's good." "My landlady just called to tell me the police have searched my apartment." "You told Paul Drake that you had an ironclad alibi for last night;" "otherwise, we wouldn't have allowed you to involve yourself in such a manner." "However, you wouldn't tell him what that alibi was." "(sighs)" "Well, if you must know, I..." "I was out late with Bongo White." "We just sat around, played some platters, had a few drinks, that's all." "It was almost daylight when I got home." "And what time did you get to Bongo's?" "Around quarter past 2:00, I guess." "Bongo will know." "Perry." "Eddie?" "Eddie, over here." "Mr. Mason." "Eddie." "Miss Street." "Hello." "Hi." "Eddie, where have you been all day?" "I holed up in a motel last night." "I was too tired to drive out to the Valley." "Eddie, before you go any further, do you know about George Sherwin?" "Yes." "Do you know you were seen going into his apartment last night?" "Sure-- at 7:00, 7:30." "Bongo was there with me." "No, I mean later." "About 2:30 in the morning." "Someone saw me then?" "Yes, they did." "Mind if I, uh, interrupt, Perry?" "I have a few questions I'd like to ask this young lady." "That cigarette you're smoking, Miss Baker-- uh, what brand is that?" "You're from the police?" "Yes, Lieutenant Tragg, Homicide." "(sniffs)" "That's a Vionnette, isn't it?" "And you're partial to, uh," "Charmaine Cosmetics, aren't you?" "That's what I've got on." "And, uh, what you have in your apartment, along with a certain shoe, the heel of which was found on the service stairway of George Sherwin's apartment building." "Now, would you care to tell me how it got there?" "Now, just a moment, Lieutenant." "If you're planning to arrest Miss Baker, you must warn her that anything she says may be used against her." "Oh, Perry, I'm not planning to arrest Miss Baker." "The warrant that I have here is not for her at all." "Who is it for?" "TRAGG:" "Eddie King." "Polly swears she didn't kill Sherwin, and I believe her." "So don't get any romantic ideas about sacrificing yourself to save her." "You've mixed things up enough as it is." "I want to go over things once more." "What made you jump to the conclusion that Polly had killed him?" "Um, time element, for one thing, and Polly's broken compact." "Now, let's have again just what you did-- in the exact order." "Well, first, I wiped off the gun with my handkerchief and put it back by the body." "And, uh, next, I cleaned up the mess that had been left by the compact." "And I snubbed out one of my cigarettes in the ashtray, left it in place of Polly's Vionnette." "And next?" "I got out a whiskey bottle and filled two glasses to, uh, make it look like a man had been drinking with Sherwin." "Then I left and went to a motel." "Did you see anything at all in the apartment that might indicate that another person had been there?" "No, and there couldn't have been." "Otherwise, Sherwin wouldn't have been sitting at his piano, playing into his recorder." "That's the way he composed, and the, and the recorder was still..." "Oh, no." "What do you mean, "Oh, no"?" "I really must have been in a daze not to remember, Mr. Mason." "I shut off the recorder and took the spool of tape with me." "What did you do with it?" "I put it in the glove compartment of my car, and the police have got the car." "Do you suppose they've played the tape back?" "That's something we better find out." "You are the night engineer at the apartment building occupied by the late George Sherwin, Mr. Boyson?" "Well, more like night janitor, but, uh, yes, I work there." "Would you tell this court, please, what you saw and heard there at about 2:30 in the morning, the night George Sherwin died?" "Well, first I saw a girl coming out the back way." "She'd lost her heel, and she was limping." "Want me to point her out?" "No." "Please, just continue." "Well, I finished the cigarette I was smoking, and then drifted round to the front." "Then, about five minutes later," "I saw a man coming out." "Did you recognize this man?" "How else could I have told the police his name?" "Picture on a record album given me by one of the tenants" "Eddie King." "BURGER:" "Thank you, Mr. Boyson." "That'll be all." "What kind of gun oil did the police chemists find had been used on this murder weapon, Lieutenant?" "A brand known as Rust Off." "I show you now this handkerchief, also entered in evidence, and identified as belonging to the defendant." "I ask if you had chemical tests conducted on it, too." "Yes, we did." "There were oil stains on the cloth." "Same type as on the pistol" " Rust Off." "I see." "Now, Lieutenant, I ask you what kind of tests you conducted on the cigarette stub that you say you found in an ashtray near the decedent's body." "Saliva tests, which are quite similar to blood tests." "We found the saliva on the cigarette typed out AB." "That is the decedent's type?" "No, the defendant's, Eddie King." "That will be all, Lieutenant." "Thank you very much." "MASON:" "I believe your testimony," "Lieutenant, concerned a cigarette butt found in a particular ashtray." "Now, was it the only one found in the decedent's apartment?" "No." "Under a table near the body, we found another cigarette butt." "MASON:" "Of the same brand?" "No, this, uh, proved to be, uh, one of an imported brand called, uh, Vionnette." "What steps did you take in regard to the second cigarette butt?" "Well, we found it had been left in the apartment by a young lady." "A Miss, um..." "Jonny Baker." "MASON:" "How did you discover that?" "Well, thanks to your Paul Drake for getting her to go out and look for her heel the next day, so the janitor would be sure to remember her." "In a typical attempt to throw dust in the prosecution's eyes, Your Honor." "Uh, not so, Your Honor." "We were merely testing the recollection of a witness." "Whew." "There's a fine line of demarcation here between testing a witness's recollection and throwing dust, Mr. Mason." "Uh, but go on." "Uh, were you able to, uh, ascertain when the Vionnette cigarette butt was left in the decedent's apartment?" "Yes." "Uh, shortly before Miss Baker left that night, which, in turn, was shortly before the defendant arrived." "MASON:" "How do you know that, Lieutenant?" "Because Miss Baker proved to our complete satisfaction-- and, uh, to yours, too, I'm sure-- that she was at another apartment, several miles away, at the time of the murder." "Now, I have here a copy of a report on the impounding of the defendant's car following his arrest." "Did you examine that car personally?" "Yes, I did." "I didn't find anything of any importance." "You didn't look in the glove compartment?" "Yeah, I looked." "And found...?" "Oh, some old, uh, road maps, cleaning rag... oh, yes, and a spool of tape from a recorder." "MASON:" "And, uh, you played that tape back on one of your police recorders?" "TRAGG:" "Yes, I put it on one of our recorders." "Now, you heard what very well might be crucial evidence in this case, yet you failed to mention it in your report?" "Well, there was nothing to mention." "Tape was blank." "Jonny had me zoom up there to warn Sherwin that Eddie was coming." "She was afraid, in the mood he was in, he might get in some kind of bad trouble." "Go on, Mr. White." "He came in while I was there." "He wanted to know if Sherwin had anything to do with his girl leaving the church." "Sherwin assured him he hadn't, and he and Eddie sparred around a little bit, but nothing happened, and Eddie and I took off." "Was there any display of violence by Eddie King?" "No." "No violence at all." "There most certainly was violence on the part of Eddie King." "He practically tried to choke Mr. Sherwin." "And when Mr. White pulled him away, he threatened to come back later and finish the job." "Thank you, Miss Markham." "Your witness." "Miss Markham..." "I still don't quite understand what you were doing in George Sherwin's apartment, aside from eavesdropping." "He'd sent for me." "We'd been friends years ago, and he knew that I worked for Mr. Courtland." "He had something he thought Mr. Courtland might like to buy." "He wanted me to act as intermediary." "Didn't he tell you what the item was?" "I got the idea they were some pictures" "Mr. Courtland might like to destroy." "That sounds like blackmail." "How is it you didn't report that to Mr. Courtland?" "But I did." "I told him all about it." "Now, Miss Baker, you told the police that you stopped by George Sherwin's apartment the night of the murder, about 2:00 a.m., to check on a song that he was composing for you?" "That's right." "You also said in the same statement that when you observed Eddie King arriving in front of the building, that you left by the back way, and that you broke a heel in the process." "Am I correct?" "That's right." "Now, Miss Baker, there's a point here that confuses me." "When Mr. White corroborated your alibi, he said that you arrived at his apartment at 2:15 a.m." "But the night janitor at George Sherwin's apartment says he saw you run out of there at 2:20 or 2:25." "Now, how do you account for this discrepancy?" "Well, I-I..." "May I remind you, Miss Baker, you're under oath here." "Well, I..." "I was never up in George Sherwin's apartment at all." "You mean that Mr. Mason persuaded you to lie to the police?" "Oh, no." "He just had me test the janitor, but... (sighs) well, I-I just thought it would help if I went all the way and said I was up there." "Help?" "!" "Help whom?" "!" "Well, whoever the woman is that was up there." "I-I don't know who she is." "Your Honor, this testimony could change the state's case completely." "Therefore, I request an adjournment until tomorrow morning." "Mr. Mason?" "No objection, Your Honor." "I have no questions of this witness." "JUDGE:" "Request granted, Mr. Burger." "Court will recess until tomorrow morning." "In the meantime, Mr. Mason," "I'd like to see you in my chambers." "MASON:" "Yes, I finally convinced the judge that Jonny had lied on her own, but in doing so, I had to tell him about Midge's pictures and Sherwin's blackmail scheme." "And by now, unless I miss my guess," "Hamilton Burger has figured out that you're the other woman and is preparing to put you on the stand first thing in the morning." "I think we should all leave town tonight." "MASON:" "That recording tape puzzles me, Paul." "There should have been something on it, even if it was only the start of one of Sherwin's compositions." "Uh, there's something that puzzles me, too, Mr. Mason." "I do use Vionnette cigarettes, but I've been thinking over and over again what happened that night at George Sherwin's apartment." "I-I..." "I know now, for sure, that I did not smoke." "(jazz playing)" "(music grows louder)" "(bright jazz tune playing)" "(music stops)" "(knocking on door on tape)" "SHERWIN (on tape):" "That'll be Polly." "Which is your cue to leave." "Take the back stairs, darling, if you don't mind, huh?" "I'll talk to you soon." "I promise, everything will be just the way it was before." "Ta-ta, darling." "That's enough." "Concert's over." "Turn that gimmick off." "(switch clicks)" "Now, the lever marked "erase"-- turn it." "Unless you want a hole in your head." "Don't mess with me, baby." "I said turn it!" "The missing tape?" "Yep." "And with the tune we've been looking for." "Before you set off your fireworks-- as you call them, Mr. Burger" "I've granted the defense permission to recall a witness who Mr. Mason says can throw an entirely new light on the matter before us." "Miss Jonny Baker to the stand." "I remind you that you're still under oath, Miss Baker." "Yes, sir." "All right, Mr. Mason." "Now, Miss Baker, you originally told me that you were with Bongo White in his apartment at the time of George Sherwin's death, did you not?" "I was in Bongo's apartment." "But was Bongo there with you?" "Now, before you answer, I should tell you that two quite valuable film negatives taken from George Sherwin's apartment the night of his murder have been found in Bongo White's apartment." "Just a moment." "If two negatives are to be placed in evidence," "I should be given a chance to examine them." "The court is hoping it won't be necessary to place the negatives in evidence, Mr. Burger." "Proceed, Mr. Mason." "Do you still maintain Bongo White was with you in his apartment between 2:00 and 3:00 that night?" "(sighs) Yes." "Oh, he's probably told you he was asleep part of the time, but he was there." "What brand of cigarettes do you customarily smoke," "Miss Baker?" "(chuckles softly)" "Different kinds." "I have here a drugstore delivery order placed by you the day before George Sherwin was killed." "Two cartons of Vionnette cigarettes." "Didn't you find it ironic, Miss Baker, when, at my request, you smoked a Vionnette cigarette on the service stairway of George Sherwin's apartment building the afternoon of his murder, knowing that that very stairway was the way you fled" "from his apartment after you'd killed him?" "Oh, Mr. Mason!" "I didn't kill him!" "Didn't you kill him and then take two film negatives and a reel from his tape recorder and hide them in Bongo White's room, where Bongo had fallen sleep waiting for you?" "No!" "Somebody else must have hid them." "SHERWIN (on tape):" "Oh, no, Polly, it's now." "Here, now." "We're going to be married anyway, so come on." "Kiss me." "K..." "(loud smack)" "Aah!" "Polly!" "(door opening) Polly, come back here!" "Polly!" "(door shuts)" "SHERWIN:" "Jonny." "JONNY:" "So you think you're going to marry her." "How?" "Is that what those negatives are for-- to twist her arm with?" "To hurt more people?" "SHERWIN:" "Jonny, I thought you'd gone." "JONNY:" "All these years of pillow talk, sweet talk, marriage talk." "Next week, next month... next year." "SHERWIN:" "Put... put that thing down, Jonny." "It might go off." "Here, give it to me." "JONNY:" "Stay away." "Stay away, I tell you!" "(gun fires)" "(thud on tape)" "(sobbing)" "I'm not sorry." "Well, eight years." "Well, that's just too long to wait for any man." "I now pronounce you man and wife." "(jazz band playing recessional)" "Mr. Mason, I don't know how to thank you for all you've done." "You've thanked me in the best possible way, Polly." "Good luck to you." "And to you, Eddie." "Thanks, Mr. Mason." "Well, now that everything's ended happily," "I have a question." "And I hope I can answer it." "Why didn't Jonny or Bongo erase that recorded tape while it was still in Bongo's apartment?" "Bongo didn't know it was there, and I imagine Jonny was afraid of being caught in the act." "It would've been curtains for her." "Yeah, that figures." "Once we started using her, she knew she was being watched night and day." "Perry, how did you persuade the judge to let you use the tape in court?" "Well, when I played the tape in his chambers, he pointed out it was inadmissible as evidence." "In turn, I pointed out that if Jonny had to be tried, the two negatives would be admissible as evidence." "Thus causing Templeton Courtland a good deal of unwarranted grief." "So, the obvious thing was to use the tape to force a confession out of Jonny." "But how did you actually get the judge to let you do that, Mr. Mason?" "I didn't." "He suggested the idea himself." "After you." "(Della chuckling)" "(theme music plays)"