"## [theme]" "## [jazz]" "I'm sorry, sir, Mr. Comstock is out." "Gloria, if anybody knows where he is, you do." "Yes, sir, Mr. Comstock is still out" "Don't you realize what's gonna happen if I don't see him right away?" "Please, Peter, wait." "I've got to go to Canaveral tonight." "Look, I want to talk to Comstock for one minute-- just 60 seconds." " And I'd settle for ten seconds." " Where's Comstock, eh?" "Your appointment was canceled, Mr. Lawson." "Mr. Comstock had to go out." "I don't believe you." "He's in there and I'm going to see him." "[Man] Look, there he is." "Just a minute!" "Get out of my way." "[Comstock] Don't leave me, Valerie." "Polly is lying to you, darling." " It's not only Polly." " They're all lying." "Darling, is gossip all you need to throw me away?" "Doesn't my love for you mean anything-- our marriage?" "What the devil are you doing here?" "Comstock, you owe me money." "Okay, I'm sorry we barged in like this, but" "Get out of here, Lawson-- out!" "Valerie, please think it over." "Give me a chance." "The Vaughans are taking me over to Catalina, Roy." "My attorney will be in touch with you." "Valerie, don't end my life." "I'm terribly embarrassed, Mrs. Comstock." "I tried to stop them." "That's all right, Miss Withers." "You're new here." "Anyway, what difference does it make?" "[Comstock] Come on in, Peter." "Look, I'm sorry." "I didn't" "Well, they're sending me to Canaveral tonight, and I thought" "Well, the loan is almost due-- $200,000, Laguna Mesa..." "Peter, your job is to put a man on the moon;" "my job is to take care of our property." "Now as soon as I pay off the loan, I'll call you in Canaveral, all right?" "Yeah." "Yes." "I'm" " I'm" "Your wife didn't mean it, did she, Mr. Comstock?" "A divorce?" "She-- she still might change her mind." "Oh, I'm sure she will." "Mr. Comstock, you go home now." "I'll lock up." "None of those letters need to be finished tonight" " and you certainly can't work" " No no no, Gloria." "No, that's not right." "I mean, what else is there now but work?" "## [slow jazz]" "It's almost midnight, Mr. Comstock." "Shh." "Just dance." "But-- but if we're going to get back to those letters..." "Oh, dear, you've put your glass on my steno pad." "Or did I?" "You're talking like a secretary." "I don't know how I'm talking, Mr. Comstock." "I'm not used to drinking and everything." "Look, Gloria-- Gloria, don't be alarmed." "You're helping me, just-- well, just being patient, that's all." "I'm sorry." "Oh, Mr. Comstock, I'm so awfully sorry for everyone who's unhappy in the world." "[door opens]" "Even you, Miss Withers." "Mrs. Comstock, you don't understand." " Valerie!" " [music stops]" "Wait!" "## [jazz]" "Mrs. Comstock, with the evidence you and your corroborating witnesses have presented to the court," "I see no reason why a divorce should not be granted." "As for the property settlement, you're to receive the house at Laguna Beach and other real estate-- all tangible property." "And in addition, a cash settlement of $350,000." "In view of this, I will not allot any alimony." "Mr. Comstock, it is the court's duty to keep the interests of both parties to a divorce in mind." "Now this settlement-- do you consider it fair, not only to your wife but to yourself?" "Your Honor, Mr. Comstock is aware that he is generously giving his wife most of his tangible assets." "But he will continue as president of the Comstock Construction Company, which has in the past been quite successful and should in the future continue to be so." "Very well." "The court grants an interlocutory decree of divorce." "Court is adjourned." "Valerie." "Leave her alone." "Haven't you hurt her enough?" "Operator, listen." "It's the Comstock Construc" "C-O-M-S-T-O-C-K Construction Company." "[Operator] I'm sorry, sir, but that number has been disconnected." "Well, it can't be." "A company that big can't go out of business and vanish in less than a month." "They've got to have a phone." "I'm sorry, sir, but there is no other listing in Los Angeles for Roy Comstock or the Comstock Construction Company." "Mind if I come aboard?" "Oh, hello." "Mr. Brent, isn't it?" "Yes, that's right." "I'm looking for your husband, Mrs. Comstock." " Well, he's not here." " Of course." "Nor do I care where he is." "Please, Mrs. Comstock, we borrowed some money on my land at Laguna Mesa that has to be paid back and" "I'm afraid I don't know anything about that." "Now if you'll excuse me?" "Goodbye, Mr. Brent." " Look, won't you help me try to find" " Eh eh!" "Now beat it, buster." " Now look, I" " Sure sure." "Now, listen, she just got over this divorce." "She's feeling a little rocky." "You want that Comstock, go see that Weatherby fellow maybe, huh?" "Weatherby, Weatherby." "Well, I'm worried about Roy too." "His divorce seems to have quite unraveled him." "Well, he'd better stitch himself back together." "Now the loan on my land is almost due, and Comstock hasn't built those houses yet-- not one." "So where is he, Mr. Weatherby?" "I don't know." "Well, where's the money he borrowed to build those houses?" "I don't know that either." "Look, you don't suppose Roy could have... just taken that money or something?" "No no, of course not." "He's had an emotional breakdown and..." "Well, never mind." "But that doesn't help you, does it?" "Because as an attorney, Mr. Brent, I'd better warn you that if Roy doesn't pay back that loan, then you'll have to do it." "Either that or forfeit your land." "But Mr. Comstock isn't my boss anymore." "We closed the office last month." "Sure sure, but you have seen him since then, haven't you?" "Oh, Peter, the poor man just looks terrible" "Well, now when am I gonna see him?" "Where is he?" "I" " I just don't know." "I told you." "Yeah, you told me." "Please, Peter, I didn't know that note on your land was almost due." "I'm sure that Mr. Comstock doesn't even realize it himself." "You mean you're sure he's not a crook, is that it?" "Crook?" "Peter, what a horrible thing to say." "You want me to say you're a crook too?" " Now where is he?" " I won't tell you." "Now look what you did." "Bartender?" "Mr. Comstock, I know you don't want to be bother" "Bartender, if you'll please?" "It's about Peter Brent-- that note on his land, remember?" "If you could maybe tell me what to do, and I'm sure that Mr. Weatherby will be glad to help you" "Gloria, Gloria, you are a do-gooding little idiot." "Mr. Comstock, I'm only trying to help" "I told you to stay away from me, didn't I?" "Well, do it." "Now I'm not worth helping." "Can't you understand that?" "Just leave me alone." "Hey, she gone?" "Yeah." "And you should have gone with her." "Yeah." ""The grave, it is a quiet and lonely place." "But therein, I think, few embrace."" "Hello, Comstock." "Oh, the boy scientist;" "the man in the moon." "So that's why Gloria showed up, huh?" "To bring you." "No, she didn't bring me;" "I followed her." "Now where's the money, the $200,000?" "Oh, now he's the mad boy scientist." "My friend, there is no $200,000." "Now don't look at me like that." "I am no thief;" "I am the victim of thieves." "Here, take what's left." "With all my worldly goods I thee endow." "[laughs]" "So then he passed out, still without making any sense." "He just kept laughing and crying and saying he was sorry." "Which is very little help towards saving your property." "Now let's see- you inherited 50 acres of beach land worth, conservatively, $500,000." "In order to develop this land, you gave half of it to Comstock." "Well, he was going to put up all these houses-- $40-- $50,000 homes." "That's what he told you." "But the facts are as follows-- in order to raise the money to build these houses, you and Comstock put up the entire 50 acres as collateral for a $200,000 loan." "And I suspect you did not borrow the money from a bank, but from a group of businessmen, all friends of Comstock." "Yes." "He said the interest rates would be lower than the bank." "Of course." "But I doubt if any actual money changed hands." "There probably never was any $200,000." "Mr. Mason, do you think this was just a swindle to get my land?" "That may not be too easy to prove." "I'll start an investigation of his financial standing." "But in the meantime, you'd better bring Comstock in here for a talk." "That bartender said he sleeps most all day." "Then bring him in tonight." "If he argues, tell him we're going to slap a warrant on him." "I'll bring him in." "Don't you worry, Mr. Mason." "I'll" " I'll bring him in." "Perry, that man Comstock must have some money." "I remember reading about his divorce." "What about it?" "He made his wife a huge property settlement." "Oh, he did?" "But a man can't hide his assets behind a divorced wife, can he?" "I mean, the courts would call it collusion, wouldn't they, and throw the settlement out?" "They might... if it were collusion." "And if one of the parties didn't somehow manage to... disappear." "Here-- my last $5;" "my last gift." "But it isn't your boat anymore, Mr. Comstock." "It belongs to your wife." "My last boat; my last wife!" "She said absolutely no one was to be allowed onboard." "If she ever finds out" "My last wallet then." "Take it-- take the whole thing," " only get out of my way." " Listen!" "Comstock!" " Hey, you" " Let go of me." "[boat engine starts]" "Comstock!" "Comstock!" " Wait." " Get off." "Get away from me." "Did you run out the back door of that bar?" "Peter, I can't help you." "You're coming with me to see a lawyer." " I'm coming no place anymore!" " Comstock" "Don't you understand?" "I'm all" "Ah!" "No." "No, Mr. Comstock." "He told me to give you the note anytime you came in, maybe like about an hour ago" " Operator?" " Holy" "Get me the police." "Hurry hurry!" "He's sure been acting crazy." "Listen, I want to report a suicide." "He's going to commit suicide." "You've got to stop him." "Mr. Comstock is going to commit suicide." " Oh." "Oh, it's you, Willy." " Hi." "I" " I know it's almost 5:00 A. M. I'm sorry." " I've been with the Coast Guard" " Did they find the boat?" "I think so." "It's down the coast just a couple of miles in a little cove, drifting around." "Roy was-- was he" "Nobody on it." "They wanted me to help the cops, though-- to do a little diving, maybe tomorrow morning." "I guess they figured he took the leap all right." "Oh, poor Roy." "I haven't been able to sleep a wink." "People keep telephoning." "Look, a guy kills himself, right?" "That's not your fault, is it?" "You don't want to forget how badly he treated you." "If there was ever a man who didn't know how to treat a beautiful woman" "I know, I know." "And thank you, Willy." "You've been a great comfort these past few months." "Well, now maybe... when they find his body and everything else is taken care of, you'll let me drive you someplace for a vacation." "You know what I mean?" "'Cause you deserve to have a little fun for a change." "And I know a couple of places where we could" "Yes, fine, Willy." "Thank you very much." "Now don't you cry, you hear?" "'Cause you're divorced from all that." "Don't worry, I'm not going to cry over a man I hated." "It's just the idea of suicide is so" "Well, good night, Willy." "Good night." " Hate me some more, honey." " Oh, Roy!" "Roy, Roy, you've got to get out of here, darling." "You've got to hurry." "A man can't travel without dry clothes, can he?" "When will I see you?" "Wait a week or so and then go to Mexico City." "You've transferred most of your funds by now, haven't you?" "I did everything you said, darling-- everything." "Good." "I'll have to spend a few days at La Casita." "Weatherby won't want to go straight down there." "Well, I've got to see him before I can leave the country." "Why, Roy?" "We have plenty of money." "Why can't you just-- [phone ringing]" "Yes, hello?" "Oh, Polly." "Yeah-- yes, I just heard." "Isn't it awful?" "No no, wait a minute." "Willy's just been here." "He's-- he's just leaving." "Just a little longer, honey." "Just a little longer." "Oh, please be careful." "Don't worry." "Nobody will see me." "I'm dead, remember?" "I took the leap." "Makes fishing for a needle in a haystack look easy, doesn't it?" "Well, I don't think the boat drifted much." "There was no wind last night." "He cut the engine himself." "I'd guess within a radius of a half a mile right here." "A suicide as determined as he was might have tied a weight around himself." "I wonder what Comstock used... if he really did." "Lieutenant?" "The water's like soup down there, but I found this in the sand." "Willy?" "Yeah, it looks like the one he used to wear." "Look at that." ""To Roy from Valerie, Christmas, 19--"" "Better get some more divers." "Really work the area over." "It could have come off pretty easy, I figure, with the band busted like that." "His body sure ought to be fairly close." "Yeah, with the band busted like that." "Yes, Andy, I can hear you." "What's happened?" "Find Comstock's body yet?" "No, but Perry, I'm going back downtown." "I want to talk to a Mr. Peter Brent." "My office says he's a client of yours." "How is he involved?" "Pier watchman says Brent was aboard this ship with Comstock last night." "[door opens]" "Andy, in my opinion, this so-called suicide" "Perry, I'm not interested in your opinion." "I'm telling you I'm looking for Brent and I can't find him." "So if you have any idea where he is, you'd sure better" "All right, Andy." "The moment I see Mr. Brent, I'll send him right down to headquarters." "[Della] Perry?" "What'd you say that for?" "Mr. Mason, I'm afraid I'll be in all kinds of trouble." "Take it easy, Peter." "What's happened to you?" "Well, I was resting down at a doctor's place at the beach." "I saw the newspaper story." "Were you with Comstock last night?" "Yeah, I caught up with him on the boat." "He talked like he was going to kill himself." "I tried to get him to come with me and he slugged me." "And when I came to, it was almost morning." "I was lying on an old pier somewhere way down in the fog." "I guess he must have dumped me there." "All right, Peter, tell the rest to Della." "She'll call my doctor and let the police know where you are." "Mr. Mason, I had a fight with Comstock." "What if the police say" "Comstock was quite alive when you last saw him, was he not?" "Sure, but" "Then I think we have more important things to worry about than Roy Comstock's possible death." "I'm sorry, Mason, I've got a plane to catch to San Francisco." "Your friend and former business associate has just committed suicide" " and you're leaving town?" " Yes, Mr. Mason, to attend a conference that was scheduled months ago." "Roy's death doesn't bring the world to a halt, I'm afraid." "I gather you also think his death doesn't change Peter Brent's liability on that note?" "Well, as I tried to explain to the young man, any failure of one partner doesn't relieve the other of debts incurred by that partnership." "It's too bad, but" "Yes, if Brent doesn't pay off that loan tomorrow, there will be a foreclosure on his land." "Now if you'll excuse me?" "Here's a T.R.O. on that foreclosure." "Shall I just leave it on your desk?" "T.R.O.?" "How did you get a temporary restraining order?" "On what grounds?" "That Brent was fraudulently induced." "Next, of course, I'll want proof that actual money changed hands in this transaction." "Have you asked for a hearing for a temporary injunction?" "That's the usual procedure." "Mason, I'll only be gone a few days." "I have to look at some real estate up there." "But maybe I can cut the conference a little short." "What I mean is I'm sure we can straighten this whole matter out then between us." "Yes, Mr. Weatherby, I'm sure we can." "Did Comstock have any interests other than his business?" "Did he play any games or have any hobbies?" "Well, he went hunting sometimes." "Oh?" "Where did he go?" "Who did he go with?" "Down near El Centro, I think." "The man's name was-- I've forgotten." "His first name was Clarence, I think." "Where did he supposedly get the money on the Brent loan?" "Have you any right to ask me all these questions?" "I don't think you do." "And besides, I don't know anymore." "On money or real estate like Peter's." "Why don't you ask someone like the Vaughans?" "We had absolutely nothing to do with it." "What right have you got to come into this office and make an accusation like that?" "Take it easy, Polly." "All our business dealings with Roy Comstock were in the past-- over a year ago, Mr. Mason." "It's true, we were friends." "We went duck hunting together." "But what broke up the friendship?" "That's what I'm driving at." "Well, the way he treated his wife." "Or do you think, Mr. Mason, we could stand by and" "Polly." "I think he's driving at something else." "All right, Mr. Mason, it's true" " Roy Comstock did get me involved in a business deal." "But when I found out it was on the shady side, I pulled out." "And that's all." "You may have tried to pull out, but you haven't entirely succeeded." "A lawsuit is being filed against you for a margin call you still haven't paid yet, isn't that right?" "Oh, Mr. Mason." "It may be true that I felt like murdering Roy Comstock every once in a while, but I had no more business deals with him." "As far as this Peter Brent thing goes, I knew nothing about it." "All right, Mr. Vaughan." "Speaking of murder, do you really believe Comstock is dead?" "I don't see what he'd have to gain by it, but maybe I believe he is." "About as much as you do." "Yes yes, I know they've been searching the cove for nearly four days now, but Willy says the water isn't clear." "There are rocks and kelp and seaweed." "In most cases, the police might have given up by now on finding the body." "Well, what difference does it make?" "Anyway, it's a perfectly horrible subject." "I don't understand why you keep talking about it." "I'm not the only one who's pushing the search." "Apparently they have their own reasons to" "And I don't understand why you keep coming back here, Mr. Mason." "I've told you everything I can possibly remember about Roy." "I'm sorry if it upsets you, Mrs. Comstock." "Well, it's-- it's not as if I really cared about him anymore." "But really, under the circumstances" "Look, Mr. Mason, you say that your only interest is in seeing the Peter Brent doesn't lose his land." "Well, I think it would be a shame too." "But surely I've told you ten times, it's that man Mr. Weatherby you should be talking to." "Oh, Weatherby's called me a couple of times from San Francisco." "He sounds more and more reasonable each time too." "It's that "too" I don't like, Mr. Mason." "Maybe you feel by constant pressure, you can stop some sort of a swindle from going through." "But I don't even know there was one." "I simply don't know anything about my ex-husband's business affairs." " And as for his suicide-- - [knock on door]" "Excuse me." "Hello." "I'm looking for Mr. Mason." "Oh, Paul." "Come in." "This is" "Excuse me, Perry, but I'm in sort of a hurry." "I had to pick you up early." "I hope you don't mind, Mrs. Comstock." "Of course not, if it's important enough." "It sure is." "You forgot we have a date for a duck dinner." "Oh, he'll be back." "Won't you, Mr. Mason?" "Yes." "Yes, I suppose I will." "Duck dinner?" "The place he used to go hunting, remember?" "Down near El Centro?" " Comstock?" " Mm-hmm." "We finally located a rancher in the area whose first name is Clarence." "He's in Europe now." "But he has a little shack there, a guest place that ties in with Vaughan's information." "He calls it La Casita." "And my contact in San Diego says a man has been staying there out of sight for the past four days." "Grocery store left an order at the end of the road three days ago." "A man called from here using the rancher's name." "There's another order tonight." "It's pretty quiet right now." "Well, don't count on it staying that way." "[Mason] There's only one door, Paul." "Perry, I don't want to worry you, but let me go in first, just in case something comes flying out, like a bullet." "Just don't make a real suicide out of him." " All right, get 'em up!" " Stand where you are, Drake!" " Well, Tragg." " Story of my life." "Why are you two birds always where you're not supposed to be?" "Don't tell me you've been living here for the past few days." "No, of course not." "I came here for the same reason you did." "[Man over radio] Lieutenant, the jeep's coming back again." "It's him all right." "All right, Sergeant." "I won't need you." "All right, douse that lamp." "Get over there." "If you want to play cop, I'll let you." "I'm the police." "Stand still." "Stand there!" "Hold it, Comstock!" "Hold it, Comstock." "Hold it." " Good evening, Mr. Weatherby." " [Drake] Weatherby?" "What's the matter, Perry?" "You surprised?" "Didn't Andy bother to tell you?" "We found Comstock's body late this afternoon, right where it was supposed to be;" "right where your client dumped it in the ocean." "[Man] There was considerable deterioration, of course, from the days of exposure to salt water as well as the tidal movement of the body against the rocks and sand at the bottom of the sea." "Yes, of course, Doctor." "But would you tell us now, please, what your autopsy revealed as to the cause of Roy Comstock's death?" "An epidural hemorrhage in the left posterior fossa." "That doesn't sound much like a definition of death by drowning." "Scarcely." "It's the result of a linear skull fracture." "In other words, Roy Comstock was killed by a blow on the head." "Oh, yes, I'd stake my reputation on that." "Comstock was quite dead before his body was ever submerged." "Thank you, Doctor." "That'll be all." "Cross-examine." "Doctor, you weren't quite so positive about the exact time of Mr. Comstock's death, as I recall." "Didn't you admit to a possible error of six or eight hours," " one way or the other?" " Yes, I did." "And I suppose the error could have been as much as... 12 or even 24 hours?" "That's remotely possible." "But on the matter of how he died?" "Mr. Mason, I'll say it again and so will every doctor on the staff:" "he did not drown;" "he was killed by a brutal blow on the head." "Lieutenant Anderson, we heard the handwriting experts testify that in their opinion," "Roy Comstock surely wrote this suicide note." "I want you to read it to us, please." ""Gloria, since you're the only person left who cares, to you I'll say I'm sorry for what I'm about to do." "But there is peace at the bottom of the sea." "So don't cry when I fall that much farther." "The heaviest weight I can find will hold me there forever and the world need no longer swear at your boss" "Roy Comstock."" "Thank you, Lieutenant." "I now call your attention to this frayed piece of rope, people's exhibit 4, from which the medical examiner stated that he recovered bits of skin." "Would you tell us the circumstances under which this rope was recovered?" "The Coast Guardsman who first found the body-- it was drifting free almost up to the surface-- found this rope still tied around the waist of the deceased." "The body would have risen much sooner, of course, if it hadn't been held down by a weight." "So far we've been unable to find the weight that was used." "If we're to follow Mr. Comstock's note, you should look for "the heaviest weight I can find," unquote." "Thank you, Lieutenant, that'll be all." "Mr. Mason?" "Mr. Mason?" "Excuse me a moment, Your Honor." "I do have some questions of this witness." " Oh, I'm sorry." " What?" "Lieutenant, since you haven't found the heavy weight yet," "I take it you have no evidence as to what it might have been?" "Well, there are a number of handy things aboard a boat like that-- metal bars in the bilge which couldn't be accurately inventoried." "The same for skin-diving belts some guests left aboard." "But there should be a spare anchor which so far hasn't been located and" "Or it could have been a sack of cement, tire chains, or any other heavy object brought from shore, brought by anyone, Lieutenant, and at any time." "Isn't that correct?" "I suppose anything is possible, but" "That's all, thank you." "Oh, one thing more-- that suicide note you read?" "At the time it was found, were its contents released to the radio correspondents?" "Well no, sir." "It wasn't released until the following morning in the newspapers." "Now you say that you didn't examine the suicide note before the young lady came in, but did anyone else examine it?" "Just him." "He made a grab for it." "Who made a grab for it?" "Mr. Brent there, the defendant." "He came in right after Mr. Comstock left." "I told him Mr. Comstock just came by to leave a note for somebody." "So he reached across the bar to take a look." "I was fixing a drink at the time, but I grabbed it back soon as I could." "Did you see the defendant unfold the note," " examine it?" " Sure." "Then in effect, you actually saw him read it." "Well, I thought about it later and he must have, because he ran out of there like he saw a ghost." "I simply stated to you, Mr. Mason, that I had my doubts about Roy Comstock's really being dead." "I knew from past experience just how tricky he could be, and that's all." "But Mr. Vaughan, you told the prosecutor that you talked with Roy Comstock on the telephone that same evening before he disappeared." "Yes." "He knew I'd been trying to reach him about a money matter." "Yes, I know." "And he said he couldn't help you." "But did he also tell you his plans for suicide?" "Not his plans, no." "He simple told me that I would never ever be troubled with him again." "I guess it was that overly tragic voice that made me wonder later on." "But that's all." "Roy told me that if he disappeared, no matter how," "I should go down to that hunting cabin, La Casita, and wait there until he showed up." "And that's exactly what you did until you were apprehended by the police?" "Yes, sir." "I stayed right there in that cabin the whole time." "With a few phone calls, I was able to make people think" "I was still in San Francisco." "Mr. Weatherby, did Roy Comstock tell you why he wanted to see you at that cabin?" "I-- well, I wanted to see him too." "I had certain funds which I was going to transfer to him" "$20,000." "I was going to give it to Roy in return for certain documents." "Documents relating to what?" "Certain matters in my past." "But wasn't it true that Mr. Comstock had been putting pressure on you to engage in certain business deals with him, perhaps?" "Yes, he had." "Like the land deal that is so upsetting to the defendant Peter Brent, for instance?" "[Weatherby] Mr. Burger, on instructions of my attorney," "I refuse to answer that on grounds of self-incrimination." "Your Honor, this witness is already in custody pending the investigation of bunco charges against him." "Then what's the point of your questioning, Mr. Burger, if the man can't answer more specifically about his dealings with the deceased?" "Mr. Weatherby has agreed to answer one highly relevant question, Your Honor." "Mr. Weatherby, of your own knowledge, had Roy Comstock ever engaged in any illegal acts himself?" "Yes, many times." "That's the way he made all his money." "To put it bluntly, Roy was a con man, a swindler." "And of your own knowledge, did he ever intend to commit suicide?" "Well, I thought he was unhappy." "For a while, I was fooled." "But I was wrong obviously." "Thank you, Mr. Weatherby." "Cross-examine." "Mr. Weatherby, why were you so anxious to meet Comstock?" "Because I was afraid he was going to leave the country." "He'd agreed to give me those records back before he left." "Did you know that his recently divorced wife has also been transferring her funds out of the country?" "I did not." "Oh, come now, Mr. Weatherby." "I know nothing about Mrs. Comstock, except that Roy was very unhappy because of her." "Or I thought so." "But hasn't she also conspired in fraud, just as you apparently have?" "I won't answer that." "I've only met the lady once or twice." "But wasn't her entire divorce just an act, a swindle?" "How should I know?" "Ask Valerie, not me." "As I have told you perhaps 300 times in the past two days, Mr. Burger," "I hated Roy Comstock." "Our divorce was long overdue." "I think you've interviewed at least 50 witnesses to that fact yourself." "And you had no knowledge of any plan of his to stage a phony suicide?" "I hadn't seen him since our divorce." "How would I know anything about his plans?" "Well, is it your opinion that he actually intended to kill himself?" "Mr. Burger, what earthly difference does it make?" "Well, none I suppose, really." "You see, the state contends that the defendant took advantage of a suicide note written by the deceased in order to cover up a murder, whether or not" "I would suggest you let the witness answer the questions, Mr. Burger." "I just did." "What difference does any of it make?" "Cross-examine." "What difference does any of what make, Mrs. Comstock?" "Oh, uh, what he just asked me." "And what did he just ask you?" "You say you no longer had any interest whatsoever in Roy Comstock." "No." "You mean yes, you had no interest or concern about him?" "Didn't I say that?" "Of course you did." "So why did you leave the courtroom during the medical testimony?" "Well, I" "I wanted to make a telephone call-- an appointment with my hairdresser." "Discussions about death or descriptions of an autopsy don't ordinarily bother you?" "Well, I" " I might have left anyway, but" "Then why didn't you say so?" "Or mention the fact that you also drank three cups of coffee in a lunch counter?" "Why didn't you answer my question more honestly?" "I" " I really wanted to phone my hairdresser." "And your husband's death meant nothing to you?" " Of course not." " It didn't even surprise you." "I" " I just got through saying over and over at least 200 times" "Your Honor, there's no excuse for counsel badgering this witness." "May it please the court, I'm concerned about the competency of the witness." "I'll have you know I am perfectly competent." "What is the basis of your concern, counselor?" "With a few more questions, I believe I can clarify that, Your Honor." "Very well." "Mrs. Comstock, did you go to a drug store this morning before court?" "Say what is this?" "Are you following me or something?" "Didn't you pester me enough the past week?" "Answer the question, Mrs. Comstock." "What question?" "Did you have a prescription filled at that drug store-- a prescription for a drug, 50 tablets?" "Oh, that?" "Well, it's not exactly a drug." "It's-- it's perfectly harmless." "Is it?" "How many of those tablets have you taken by now?" "Aside from the five you took with your coffee, that is." "Would you mind opening your purse and show us how many?" "I most certainly will not." "Then would you mind reading this aloud?" "Are you able to read it aloud?" "Of all the..." ""California pros-- code of civil procedure..." "Title 2: a person not capable of perc-- perception and communication is not complete as a witness."" "Is not competent as a witness, Mrs. Comstock." "Now I'll ask you again:" "How many tranquilizers have you taken today?" "How much help did you think you'd need to be able to sit there and calmly pretend you knew nothing of your husband's activities?" "I didn't." "I don't know anything." "To be able to sit there and calmly say that you hated him?" "Be quiet." "Stop it." "And why did you buy a special stick of makeup at that drug store?" "Why have you used it so freely under your eyes?" "Is it to hide the fact that you've been crying?" "To hide the fact that you can't stop yourself from crying?" "No no no!" "Leave me alone!" "Your Honor, this witness is not on trial." "Mr. Burger, it might be a good idea to have Mrs. Comstock stand down until she's in a better condition to testify." "If Mr. Mason would agree, you might well go on to your next witness." "But not until I'm through cross-examining Mrs. Comstock, Your Honor." "I expected to cross-examine her for the rest of the afternoon." "I may ask her each question 100 times, if necessary, until she tells the truth." "I will ask her over and over about her husband, about her husband, about her husband." "Please no!" "I can't stand it!" "I can't stand it anymore!" "I can't stand it anymore." "[Judge] The court is recessed until Monday morning." "Well, Perry, I'll give you one thing anyway:" "you managed to break her down." "That's something Tragg and I couldn't do in three solid days of grilling." "You had her pretty well softened up for me." "And when Paul spotted those tranquilizers" "All right." "Perry, the point is, so what?" "So she loves her husband." "About Weatherby-- sure he's out on bail by now?" "Yes, he went straight to his office half an hour ago." "I thought about that maneuver too." "But listen, Perry, even if Mrs. Comstock was in cahoots with her husband, on the divorce, on the suicide, on everything, it doesn't change my case against your client." "That poor woman must have suffered a terrible shock when she discovered that her husband really was dead." "Perry, look-- the killing took place onboard the boat;" "Peter Brent was onboard the boat;" "he fought with Comstock." "Now unfortunately, I suppose, from your standpoint, no matter how many crooks we uncover," "I've still got to go on that evidence." "Maybe she's not a crook, Hamilton." "Maybe she's just a woman." "What do you mean by that?" "Suppose she not only expected her husband to be alive after the suicide, but actually knew that he was alive." "Wouldn't that have doubled the shock;" "doubled the need for tranquilizers?" "[phone ringing]" " Well..." " Yes?" "Yes?" "Oh, they did?" "You tell Tragg that we'll be leaving right away." "Tragg got word to Mrs. Comstock about Weatherby getting out on bail." "Five minutes later, they left for town." " Let's go." " Wait a minute, Hamilton." "Paul is going to find some things we might need." "What kind of things?" "For one, an anchor." " You wait out here, Willy." " Listen, there must be some" "Do what I tell you." "[Weatherby] Valerie, I did my best not to incriminate you." "[Valerie] Oh, you're a magnificent liar, all right." "You told them you stayed at La Casita all those days." "That's true." "I didn't leave" "Bill Vaughan saw you in Los Angeles just two days after Roy disappeared." "Well, explain it." "Oh, Valerie, you don't need to use that tone of voice." "I was getting worried about Roy not showing up, that's all." "The jeep was there." "I drove up to town the following night to see if he left a message for me anyplace-- here or at my apartment." "That's all there was to it." "You drove up here to kill him." "What?" "I couldn't say anything to anyone until I could see you," " make you tell it yourself." " Valerie, what on earth" "You met Roy and killed him." "And the next night, you put his body in the ocean" " in the same spot" " How many of those pills have you taken?" " Of all the insane" " You knew he was alive." "You were the only one but me who knew he was really alive, who would stand to gain by" "Roy wasn't alive!" "He died that first night." "And you can't get away with" "I saw my husband at 5:00 A. M., after he swam ashore that night." "You what?" "You saw Roy Comstock after" "Just before Roy was going to meet you, Mr. Weatherby." "Now stop lying, because you're going to tell me and you're going to tell the whole world what really happened!" "Please listen to me." "We're in enough trouble as it is." "Willy, come in here." "I don't care about the money or the swindles or jail or anything." "Roy was the only thing who mattered to me." "All right, stand still, both of you." "That's not going to do you any good." "Willy, beat him up." "You'd better drop that gun, Mr. Weatherby." "Get away from me." "Beat the truth out of him!" "Make him tell it." "You killed Roy, you lying" "Stop." "Now hold it!" "Give me the gun." "Leave me alone!" "Will you get out of here and leave me alone?" "Take it easy, Mrs. Comstock." "He wasn't going to give you a confession." "And we certainly couldn't let Willy shoot him." "What?" "You were going to pull that trigger, weren't you?" "Pretty brave man walking straight towards his gun." "I guess you figured it was your only hope-- kill him in self-defense and then blame Comstock's murder on him." "What?" "What's this guy trying to prove?" "Willy?" "Must have given you quite a scare to realize that Mrs. Comstock had actually seen her husband alive and that she was going to insist that the whole world know about it." "He's crazy." "Who else could have put that body back where it was supposed to be?" "Mr. Weatherby, would you have risked rowing a body out to sea that next night?" "I don't even know how to swim." "No, Willy, only someone like yourself, who had actually been diving for the body, would have known where and how and what time he could have" "That's not true." "You can't prove that." "Can't we?" "What did you use for a weight, Willy?" "Did you use something off the boat or something off the pier where they kept the extra gear?" "There were several things missing, Mr. Burger." "Never mind, Andy." "How about it, Willy?" "Because nothing will make us believe that anyone but you could have known what weight to use, what weight was available to make it look like Comstock really jumped off that boat." "Well, they haven't found it, have they?" "Maybe they never will find it." "Maybe it was tire chains, like anybody might use." "I've got some bad news for you, Willy-- a man named Paul Drake just phoned my office to report that he's coming in with an anchor." "Is that what you used, Willy?" "The missing spare anchor off the boat?" "I've been framed!" "You guys framed me." "I couldn't help it if the guy died, could I?" "I just barely hit him." "Let go of me." "All right, so you found the anchor." "So what?" "That wasn't really murder." "'Cause I didn't mean to kill him, Mrs. Comstock." "Really, I didn't mean to kill him." "Honest, I didn't mean to kill him." "[sobbing]" "Yes, of course, Mr. Brent." "The District Attorney's office is just as interested in the innocent as in the guilty." "You know, I feel sort of sorry for that guy Willy." "I mean, what did he plan to do-- marry Mrs. Comstock, get all the money?" "I think Willy may have had ambitious dreams." "[Drake] But he didn't plan on killing the guy." "He suckered for the suicide just like everybody else." "But then he spotted Comstock on the highway past the house." "Comstock did get rough first." "I'll believe Willy on that." "Sure." "He told Willy to keep his mouth shut or he'd kill him." "Willy talked back and Comstock made the big mistake of trying it." "And then after Willy had hit him on the head and Comstock was dead, apparently he decided that the thing to do was to wait till the next night and take him out to that spot in the ocean." "At least now I know I'm not the only stupid man in town." "[Della] But you're going to get the land back, Peter." "It was a swindle." "Mr. Weatherby finally admitted that." "Now you'll have enough money to pay me for that anchor I bought." "Bought?" "I thought the divers found that anchor under the water." "Oh, no, that was just something Perry was going to use as a bluff, that's all-- a bluff to scare Willy." "That's right, Della." "And, Paul, why not send the bill to Hamilton?" "He's the one who used the anchor." "Why not send him the anchor?"