"( noirish jazz theme playing )" "WOMAN:" "Left." "( slow, tense theme playing )" "Once." "Three-one." "Right... twice." "Fifty-five." "Left." "Ten." "What's in there?" "Nothing." "What's going to be in there Sunday night?" "Over a hundred thousand dollars." "I hope." "One hundred and thirty thousand." "In cash." "What about the watchman?" "Oh." "Well, he starts his rounds on the hour." "Takes him 12 minutes." "He ends up right back where he started from." "His room at the front of the entrance." "That's why I go through the front gate at 5 after 11?" "That's right." "Now then, what are you gonna do?" "I take the money out, put it in my bag and close the safe." "And then get out." "You'll wait." "You'll wait in between the buildings until you see the watchman start his midnight rounds." "Right?" "Then what?" "Well, then we follow our plan." "You've already left on another buying trip." "I meet you in the cabin in the Sierras." "( upbeat theme playing )" "Yeah, going to use the company plane this trip, Howard?" "You know I love to fly, Mr. Taylor." "I'd hoped my son could take over some of this traveling for you." "Give you a chance to relax behind your desk." "Give him the experience he needs in the field." "Don't you worry, Mr. Taylor." "I'm sure he'll get it." "Yeah." "The only experience Andy's getting is how to shoot craps in Vegas... and how to be irritating and stubborn with me." "Well, I think he's just a little young, impetuous." "How long do you stay young and impetuous?" "Boy eight years out of college and married... ought to have some sense of responsibility." "The fights we've had lately..." "I've tried to be a good father." "WOMAN:" "Have you, Mr. Taylor?" "How do you expect Andy to assume responsibility... when all he ever hears from you is how untrustworthy he is?" "And what does he hear from you, Carol?" "How to be a patient, dutiful son and wait for the inheritance?" "I know you think I married Andy for your money." "Well, what did you marry him for?" "To reform him?" "To get him over the habit of signing my name to checks?" "To stop his gambling?" "Hasn't been a very successful marriage, has it?" "Perhaps with a little understanding" "Andrew wasn't ready for marriage, young lady." "You rushed him into it." "I understand that much." "What are you up here for now?" "Mr. Walters..." "Andy and I are leaving for dinner at the club." "I thought perhaps my father-in-law would join us." "Well..." "my wife's waiting." "She's driving me to the airfield." "I left that Fresno account for Andy to take care of on Monday." "He'll be there..." "if I have to pour him on the morning plane myself." "( chuckles )" "Well, everything else is under control, Mr. Taylor." "I'll be calling you the first part of the week." "Fine, Howard, fine." "Have a good trip." "Thank you." "It just seems as though we don't have a life together anymore." "It's a short trip this time." "I wish you wouldn't fly yourself." "I prefer it." "It isn't safe." "Well..." "look at all the insurance you stand to collect if anything happens." "Don't say things like that." "All right, Ruth." "Howard." "I'll call you." "( plane flying overhead )" "( grunts )" "Be careful." "Sure." "Go on now." "( dramatic theme playing )" "The plane is gassed and ready." "I'm leaving now." "WOMAN:" "All right, dear." "Nervous?" "Yes." "But I'll be all right Sunday night." "I'll be fine." "Oh, sure you will." "It'll go without a hitch, just like we rehearsed it." "I'll meet you Monday, 4:00, at the mountain cabin." "A new life, Janice." "Love me?" "Darling... you know I do." "Bye." "Bye, Howard." "See you Monday." "( line clicks dead )" "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "You won't." "But I will." "What a surprise he'll find up at that cabin." "Instead of Janice, his darling... me." "Instead of $130,000 dollars, a .32 slug." "Mayday." "Mayday, mayday." "This is 14536... 14536." "Can you hear me?" "Can you hear me?" "MAN ( over radio ):" "This is Merced Airport." "This is Merced Airport." "We receive your transmission, 14536.Over." "I hear you, Merced." "This is Walters." "Howard Walters, Los Angeles." "All oil pressure lost." "Impossible to set her down." "Over." "Walters, state your position." "Please state your position." "Where are you bound for?" "Over." "Fresno to Portland." "Losing altitude." "Dropping fast." "I'm on fire!" "On fire!" "I'm gonna crash!" "I'm crashing!" "Tell my wife-- Tell my wife" "( bangs on radio )" "( suspenseful theme playing )" "( grunting )" "Oh, clumsy, blundering fool." "Ouch." "( panting )" "( grunting )" "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "( groans )" "( stamps feet )" "( fire crackling )" "( man whispers indistinctly )" "WALTERS ( whispering ):" "Janice." "Hundred and thirty thousand." "Janice." "Janice." "Yeah." "( wind gusting outside )" "Oh!" "You better lay quiet, mister." "Your leg's busted." "( groans )" "How long have I been here?" "Almost two days." "Two days." "Oh, I've got to get out of here." "Help me get up." "You ain't goin' no place, mister." "You're just lucky I found you and brung you home, and took care of your busted leg." "Who are you?" "Zack Davis." "What's your handle?" "Not a solitary thing in your belongings to tell me, stranger." "Have you got a car?" "Car?" "Yeah." "Mister, there ain't no way in or out of this place excepting' on a shank's pony." "We're smack in the middle of no place." "( sighs )" "We got no roads, no neighbors, no nothin'." "Where'd you find me?" "This side of the ridge." "I was out prospectin' with Daisy." "She's my burro." "I reckon you traveled a far piece with that busted leg." "Look." "Help me get to a phone." "There ain't no phone for miles." "And you can't move till that leg sets." "Well, how long will that be?" "It don't matter how long." "You'll be here till spring, anyhow." "Spring?" "No, I can't!" "Well, it don't matter." "We'll be snowed in all winter." "I Hope you like cribbage, mister." "Sure helps pass the time." "( dramatic theme playing )" "Oh." "( sighs )" "MASON:" "And it's now seven weeks since your husband disappeared?" "CAROL:" "Yes, Mr. Mason." "I wanted to notify the police immediately... but my father-in-law wouldn't let me." "Why?" "Well... you see, the Sunday that Andy disappeared, a hundred and thirty thousand dollars was stolen from the office safe." "And your father-in-law thought that Andy might have stolen the money?" "Yes." "Oh, I know there were many things that Andy did before we were married that weren't right, but he never stole." "Haven't you heard from him in all this time?" "No." "That's why I'm so worried." "All the other times he would" "Other times?" "( sighs )" "Twice before he went away." "After arguments with his father." "But he'd call me, and I'd talk to him, and he'd come back." "I see." "Now, uh... just how did you want me to help you, Mrs. Taylor?" "Mr. Mason, I'm so worried." "I think something might have happened to Andy." "An accident" "You want me to make inquiries?" "Perhaps call in a private investigator?" "Oh, yes." "Please." "You understand that in finding him, it may uncover the fact that he did steal the money?" "Yes." "I understand." "Do you have any family, Mrs. Taylor?" "Just a cousin." "Roger Porter." "Della, see if you can set up a" "An appointment with Mr. Wade Taylor." "Make it this afternoon if possible." "Mm." "Here?" "No." "I think I'd like to see him in his own surroundings." "A privilege, Mr. Mason." "Mr. Taylor." "I'd like to talk to you about your son." "So Carol went to you." "At least she didn't go to the police." "Did she tell you about the money?" "Yes." "And what does you want you to do, find him before the money's all gone?" "No." "She's concerned over his welfare." "Not hearing from him, she thinks maybe he might have been hurt or something might have happened to him." "Forgive me, Mason." "I have no such fears." "Have you heard from him?" "No." "Would you tell me why you suspect him of stealing?" "I don't suspect." "I know." "He took $130,000 out of that safe in the outer office." "No question about it?" "Only three people knew the combination." "My general manager, Howard Walters." "My son, Andrew." "And myself." "I see." "What about this Walters?" "He couldn't have taken the money, Mason." "He was out of town when it happened." "As a matter of fact, he telephoned me the evening of the robbery, from Fresno." "And that leaves only Andrew and yourself?" "And I didn't rob myself." "Why didn't you report the robbery?" "And put my son in jail?" "Insurance companies aren't noted for sentiment." "Then you are taking the loss?" "My loss is my son." "I thought there was some hope for him." "I know now..." "there isn't." "Yes." "I will, thank you." "Oh, Mr. Taylor." "They found the plane." "The snows melting, uh, gave the search party a chance to get up there." "What about Walters?" "Uh" " Apparently, he never bailed out." "They found his body badly charred." "Thanks, Roger." "Oh, Roger Porter, Perry Mason." "How do you do?" "Hello." "You're Carol Taylor's cousin, aren't you?" "Uh, that's right." "I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Walters." "When was the crash?" "Seven weeks ago." "In the High Sierras." "Around the time of the theft?" "Well, the next day, I believe." "A good man." "You were about to tell me where to start the search for your son." "Why not just wait, Mason?" "He'll come home with his tail between his legs as soon as the money's all gone." "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "( door closes )" "Thorough check on the last seven weeks." "Former girlfriends, associates, gambling, nightspots." "Here, Las Vegas and in Reno." "With special emphasis on whether or not he's been flashing a roll?" "Mm-hm." "And about that plane crash" "I have a preliminary report on that one." "Uh, a small private plane reported an oil leak to the Merced Airport at 2:12 p.m.," "Monday, January 26th." "Crashed, burned and snowbound." "A search party reached the plane this morning." "The body is being sent to Los Angeles at the wife's request." "Paul, before you do anything else," "I want you to drop in on Lieutenant Tragg." "Just drop in at headquarters?" "Uh, with a suggestion." "I wanna make sure an autopsy is performed on that body." "One that covers all possible causes of death." "( slow, mysterious theme playing )" "( sighs )" "I can't understand it." "What could've happened?" "Howard faked the whole thing, why didn't he bail out?" "I don't know, and I don't care." "Roger, it's been seven weeks." "How much longer do we have to wait?" "We played it safe." "We got the money stashed away." "We don't wanna get careless now." "Oh, darling." "Just think... $130,000... split two ways." "One way, baby." "One way?" "Share and share alike, remember?" "In everything." "( ominous theme playing )" "( sighs )" "WALTERS:" "Hello, Janice." "Well, don't I get a welcome-home kiss?" "( dramatic theme playing )" "I called a half-a-dozen times." "No one answered." "( grunts ) Mm, Howard, I" "I had just given up all hope." "Why didn't you let me know?" "Oh, I couldn't." "I bailed out all right, but I broke my leg when I landed." "Then I got snowed in." "Everybody thinks you're dead." "Well, isn't that how we planned it?" "Where's the money?" "In a safety-deposit box." "Oh." "Good girl." "No one suspects?" "No." "No, it... went off just perfectly." "Well, fine." "We'll take the money out tomorrow, get away just the way we planned... only, uh, seven weeks later." "( sighs )" "Say, have you got anything to eat in this place?" "Howard, you can't stay here." "Why not?" "Well, a girl from the office is coming to spend the night here." "Don't you have any place to stay?" "Yeah." "Yeah, I checked in at the Valley Vista Motel in North Hollywood." "Under the name of Henry Morrison." "Seems like I, uh" "I really surprised you." "( scoffs )" "Uh, you did." "The search party reached the plane." "Well?" "It burned up, didn't it?" "Not completely." "They recovered a body." "So what?" "I thought it was you." "It wasn't." "If I can't stay here... you come with me." "Howard." "We mustn't take any chances." "And if my girlfriend came in here and found you here, sh" "All right." "All right, I can wait another day." "I'll call you later... and set up the arrangements for tomorrow morning." "Howard." "Yeah?" "Who was in that plane?" "We thought the body found in the plane was Howard Walters, of course." "We even asked his wife and his employer," "Mr. Taylor, to come to the identification." "And then the body was definitely identified, not as Walters, but as Andrew Taylor." "And Wade Taylor made the identification of his son?" "That's right." "He told us to look for a false tooth, some special dentistry, and the evidence of a mastoid operation, which we found." "What about the autopsy?" "The body wasn't completely consumed by flames." "Andrew Taylor died of a .32-caliber bullet through his heart." "Which made it murder." "How'd you know, Perry?" "I didn't." "How did you guess?" "More of a hunch, lieutenant." "What's your interest in this case?" "I don't know if I have an interest at all now." "May be finished." "( rings )" "Hello." "Hello?" "Mrs. Taylor?" "Yes?" "Uh" "Who is this?" "I'm sorry, but the line isn't clear." "If you would like evidence that your husband did not steal that money from his father's safe, you can find it at the Valley Vista Motel in North Hollywood." "Bungalow 1." "What do you know about this?" "Uh" "Who is it?" "( line clicks dead )" "Hello?" "Hello?" "She'll probably leave right away." "You'd better start out." "Okay." "Fifteen thousand?" "( ringing )" "Hello?" "JANICE:" "Mrs. Walters." "Your husband is in town, at the Valley Vista Motel." "Bungalow 1." "( gasps ) What's that?" "Howard?" "He wants to see you." "Howard?" "Is Howard--?" "( line clicks dead )" "( pushing cradle )" "Hello?" "He" "( doorbell rings )" "( exhales )" "( doorbell rings )" "Good evening." "Mrs. Walters?" "What is it?" "Who are you?" "This is Miss Street." "My name is Mason." "Wait a minute." "What do you want?" "I'm an attorney." "Now, if it's more convenient for you to talk at another time-- Why, yes, it would be." "I represent a member of the Taylor family." "I just wanted to find out if you'd heard from your husband recently." "Why, no." "Not since the plane crash." "Must have been a relief to you to discover that..." "Andrew Taylor had been impersonating your husband?" "Impersonating Howard?" "Yes, it was a relief." "Of course I" " I feel sorry for Andy." "Really, Mr. Mason, I apologize for being rude" "Not at all." "Haven't you been worried, not hearing from your husband?" "Oh, yes." "Yes, terribly worried." "And don't you think it odd that none of the stolen money was found in the wreckage?" "Are you implying my husband had something to do with the stolen money, Mr. Mason?" "If you haven't heard from him." "He frequently goes on long trips." "Without keeping in touch?" "Sometimes." "Now, look here, I don't have to answer your questions." "I beg your pardon." "We're, uh, sorry to have disturbed you." "Come on, Della." "( dramatic theme playing )" "( car starts )" "She didn't go in." "And the police, Perry." "Uh-huh." "( car approaches )" "( car door closes )" "Sorry." "You'll have to stand back." "My name is Mason." "Okay, Mason." "I'll see the reporters spell the name right." "What happened?" "It'll be in the morning papers." "Hastings?" "Uh" " Oh." "Well, hello, lieutenant." "Well, I was kind of expecting you, Perry." "Then you know more than I do." "I wasn't expecting to be here." "Murder?" "Uh-huh." "Who is it?" "The one we were looking for:" "Walters." "When did it happen?" "Well, we can't be sure." "About an hour ago, the manager here thought he heard a backfire." "And it could've been then." "Uh, we'll have the whole story in a few minutes." "Oh?" "Yes, we have the killer." "She came back for her gun, we caught her." "Who's "her"?" "Andrew Taylor's wife:" "Carol Taylor." "( dramatic theme playing )" "And that's my story, ma'am." "I was with Mr. Walters all the time he was up in the mountains... so I feel like I know you personal-like." "What do you know about me personal-like?" "Oh, this and that." "You weren't his wife, but he was in love with you." "Crazy about you." "I can't believe Howard talked to you like that." "Well, he didn't." "Not directly." "But when we first met up, he was out of his head." "Delirious." "Of course, I didn't connect up anything he was saying till he... mentioned $130,000." "What about $130,000?" "Seems like you're holdin' it for him." "Am I?" "'Course, now you can get to keep it." "Can I?" "Mr. Walters ain't in no condition to ask for his share." "Isn't he?" "No." "Why not?" "'Cause he's dead, Miss Janice." "You know that." "And that nice-lookin', apple-cheeked young feller in there knows it too." "I mean the one you was with this evening at the Valley Vista Motel... a little before the cops came." "Roger." "What do you want?" "Well, I'm a stranger in town." "I heard so much about Los Angeles from Howard," "I had to see it for myself." "I ain't lying' when I tell you it's left me flat busted." "That means you want money?" "That's right." "Well, why do you think we should give you money?" "If you don't know why, there's no use my telling you." "I'm in the wrong place." "All right." "You're in the wrong place." "Yes, ma'am." "Uh, just a second." "Where you going?" "To the right place, I reckon." "Where?" "Police station." "Oh, what makes you think we were at the motel tonight?" "Saw you, that's why." "Oh, that means you were there." "That's right." "So you could have killed Howard Walters." "Sure." "I guess I could have." "I didn't though." "How much money do you want?" "Would $500 be too much?" "Well, Walters knew the combination of the safe." "The police figure he gave you the combination just before he left on his trip." "That you stole the money." "Walters picked up Andy by plane in Fresno, and then with Andy already dead, he deliberately crashed the plane." "It just doesn't make sense." "They believe that when Walters returned... you met him at the motel and killed him, in order to keep the $130,000 for yourself." "It isn't true." "I don't have anybody's money!" "Why would they say I stole that money if I" "They found $15,000 in your home." "In my home?" "But I didn't steal any money." "Mr. Mason, I-- I'd never conspire to steal or-- Or murder." "What were you doing in that bungalow?" "I" "I just went to talk to Mr. Walters." "I found him dead." "How did you know where he was?" "I received a telephone call." "From whom?" "( exhales )" "Man's voice?" "Woman's?" "A" " A woman's." "I-I'm not sure." "It was muffled-like, fuzzy." "What did the voice say?" "It said if I wanted evidence to prove that Andy didn't steal his father's money, I" "I should go to the Valley Vista Motel," "Bungalow 1." "If Walters was dead, how did you get in?" "The door was open." "How many times were you in Walters' bungalow tonight?" "Once." "Just once!" "( sobbing )" "Had you figured out that Walters killed Andy?" "Mr. Mason... if you had told me the police believe that I shot Mr. Walters because he killed Andy," "I'd say it makes sense, even if it isn't true." "Yes, Mr. Mason, I figured it out." "And if you don't want to represent me, I" "Mrs. Taylor." "It'll be a privilege to represent you." "( dramatic theme playing )" "( dramatic theme playing )" "And, uh, death was instantaneous." "The bullet passing through the heart and lodging in the spine." "And I show you now this bullet and ask you if you can identify it." "Yes, sir." "It has my mark." "That is the lethal bullet." "Thank you, doctor." "Your witness." "( bullet clatters on table )" "Uh, doctor, did you perform an autopsy on the decedent?" "Yes, sir." "Did you find evidence of a recently broken leg?" "Yes, I did." "Thank you, doctor." "That'll be all." "You may stand down, doctor." "MAN:" "Well, I got a call from Unit 9-- that's in back of the court" "so I went over and I knocked on the door." "So I was outside when I heard something like a shot." "Well, at that time, I thought it was a car backfiring outside of Bungalow number 1." "And what time was that?" "Well, it was about a quarter to 8." "And what did you do then?" "Well...not getting any answer to my knock," "I went out toward the street to see what had happened, and that's when I saw this woman coming out from behind the bungalows." "She was running pretty scared." "BURGER:" "I see." "Thank you, sir." "Your witness." "( clears throat )" "( door opens, closes )" "Now, this, uh-- This woman you saw, did you recognize her?" "MAN:" "No, sir." "And was that the only noise you heard that evening that sounded like a shot or a backfire?" "Uh, yes, sir." "Now, excepting the time you went to Unit 9 at a quarter of 8, were you in your office at all times between 7:30 and 9:00?" "Oh, yes, sir." "And from your office or from Unit 9, could you have seen anyone who might have called at Bungalow 1?" "Well, no, I couldn't swear to who called there." "But I could've heard anything that sounded like a shot plain enough." "MASON:" "Thank you." "That'll be all." "ROGER:" "My job at Taylor Maid is head bookkeeper." "I take care of expense accounts and vouchers, and the bookkeeping on payrolls, and so on." "BURGER:" "I see." "Now, could you tell us, in that capacity, the whereabouts of Mr. Andrew Taylor at 11 a.m." "on the morning of January 26th?" "That's the day of the airplane crash." "Yes, sir." "Andy" "Andrew Taylor was in Fresno." "He called the office collect from there." "Did anyone else call the office from Fresno that same morning?" "Yes, sir." "Mr. Howard Walters." "May I show you these...paper ribbons and ask if you can... identify them for us?" "Yes." "It's a currency package marker, printed to our order at Taylor Maid." "To enclose $5,000 in cash for a bank deposit." "And where do you keep these packages of money?" "In the safe in our executive offices." "Until they're deposited." "I see." "Thank you, Mr. Porter." "Your witness." "Uh, Mr. Porter... as I understand it, both Howard Walters and Andrew Taylor were in Fresno Monday morning, January 26th?" "That's right." "Uh, thank you." "That'll be all." "JUDGE:" "You may stand down, Mr. Porter." "Uh, $130,000 was taken out of the safe sometime near midnight, the evening of Sunday, January 25th." "And who knew the combination to that safe, Mr. Taylor?" "Myself." "Andrew." "And Howard Walters." "Now, it's been established that Howard Walters was out of town that night, is that correct?" "That's right." "He phoned me at home" "Sunday evening from Fresno." "Your witness." "Mr. Taylor... the fact that only three people knew the combination of the safe doesn't rule out one of the three telling a fourth party, does it?" "No, sir." "Then Howard Walters could've told a fourth party, could he not?" "Yes, sir." "As a matter of fact, has it not occurred to you that someone could've robbed the safe Sunday evening while Mr. Walters was establishing an alibi for himself in Fresno?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "That'll be all." "Uh, just a moment, Mr. Taylor." "One question on a redirect, please." "Uh, Mr. Taylor, you just testified that Howard Walters could've given a fourth party the combination of that safe." "Couldn't that fourth party have been the defendant?" "I thought of it, yes." "Uh, that's all, Mr. Taylor." "Thank you." "And now, lieutenant, would you tell this court, please, what happened at approximately 15 minutes before 9:00 on the evening of March 16th." "Well, a call sent me to the Valley Vista Motel," "Bungalow 1." "And what did you find when you got there?" "When I got there," "Mrs. Andrew Taylor, the defendant, had been taken into custody." "Did you have a conversation with Mrs. Taylor at that time?" "Yes, sir." "I asked the defendant what she was doing there... and she answered by repeating over and over again," ""That's my gun." "That's my gun."" "I show you now this .32-caliber gun, and ask if you recognize it." "Yes, sir." "That has my identifying mark on it." "It's the gun found in the murder room, and has been checked out by, uh," "Ballistics as the murder weapon." "Uh, did you also check the registration of this gun?" "Yes, sir." "It's registered in the name of Carol Taylor, the defendant." "And when you subsequently searched the defendant's home, what did you find there?" "Well, the search of the defendant's home turned up three packages of money, $5,000 in each, and each package wrapped in one of these." "We found them buried under a planter box." "Thank you, lieutenant." "That'll be all." "Your witness." "Lieutenant, who reported the murder?" "It was a phone tip." "Anonymous." "We couldn't even identify if it was a man or a woman." "And by the time you reached the motel, a prowl car had arrived?" "Yes, sir." "Just in time for our officer to catch the defendant going out the window again." "Again?" "Had they caught the defendant going out the window once before?" "Oh, no." "No, no, no, no." "It's just a figure of speech." "Just a figure of speech." "Now, lieutenant..." "you were aware of the autopsy report on the decedent's broken leg?" "Yes." "Then after instituting some research, you must have found out where Mr. Walters spent the seven weeks between the time his plane crashed on January 26th, and his reappearance on March 16th?" "Yes, sir." "In the cabin of a prospector by the name of Zachary Davis." "Did you speak with this Zachary Davis?" "Heh." "Still looking for him." "I see." "Now, when you examined the body of Andrew Taylor, you found a bullet to be the cause of death." "May I ask if that bullet was fired from the murder weapon introduced in evidence during this hearing?" "Yes, sir." "It was." "And as I understand it... what transpired could have gone like this:" "Walters met the unsuspecting young Taylor in Fresno, offered him a lift in the company plane, shot the boy with his own gun, caused the plane to crash, while he, Walters, bailed out." "Yes, sir." "It could've happened like that." "Then Walters brought that gun back to Los Angeles, where he himself was killed with it?" "Yeah." "Could've been like that." "Thank you, lieutenant." "That'll be all." "I couldn't really identify the voice on the phone... except that it was a woman." "And what did this woman's voice say to you?" "She said that Howard was in town." "And then she told me where Howard was staying." "And what time was this?" "Time?" "No, I don't know." "About 20 after 8." "Thank you, Ms. Walters." "Your witness." "Now, you say this voice on the telephone was unidentifiable, Mrs. Walters?" "Yes." "Then it could have been almost anyone?" "Almost any woman." "Now, when you drove to the motel and saw the police there, you didn't go in." "You hadn't seen your husband for almost two months, you knew he was there, and still you didn't go in." "You drove away." "Why?" "Uh, I was afraid." "Isn't it true, Mrs. Walters, that seeing the police at the motel was no surprise to you?" "Isn't it true that you had visited with your husband earlier?" "That you drove away because you had either killed him or had knowledge of his death?" "No." "No." "No, I wouldn't." "No?" "That's all, thank you." "Gentlemen... if you have no objections," "I'll call a somewhat early recess this afternoon." "I have no objections, Your Honor." "No objection, Your Honor." "Very well." "Court is adjourned till 10:00 tomorrow morning." "Perry." "I checked out Della's message on Unit 9." "A Milton Smith moved in the same night Walters did." "Good, Paul." "Let's go." "( dramatic theme playing )" "( mysterious theme playing )" "Can I help you folks?" "May we come in, Mr. Smith?" "Or should I say Davis?" "Come in." "Why, you're the lawyer fellow, Mason." "I expect you know that Howard Walters spent some time at my cabin in the Sierras." "Is that it?" "Is that what you want?" "How much did he tell you about the money he'd stolen?" "He didn't tell me anything, Mr. Mason." "What about the woman?" "His accomplice?" "I don't know anything about any woman." "( knocking ) MAN:" "Open up." "Police." "Well, surprise." "I didn't expect you here." "I expected you, lieutenant." "Mr. Zachary Davis?" "Yes, sir?" "You'll have to come with me, Mr. Davis." "The district attorney's office wants you for questioning." "Aren't you forgetting something, lieutenant?" "What?" "Money." "What money?" "I'd guess most of the money stolen from the Taylor Maid offices." "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "Well, the first few days, he was delirious." "He kept talkin' about this woman he was supposed to meet at the cabin." "She was supposed to bring the money with her." "Did he mention the name of this woman?" "Yes, sir." "Carol." "Just Carol?" "Uh, Carol Taylor." "They planned to kill her husband and make it seem like it was Walters died in the plane." "It isn't true." "Now, why did you follow Howard Walters to Los Angeles, Mr. Davis?" "Well, I'm gettin' a little old, Mr. Prosecutor." "I guess I've seen so many others stake a claim and get rich... while mine always petered out." "I guess I figured this was one claim I couldn't lose on." "Mm, go on." "Well, I was keeping tabs on Walters." "And a little before 8 on the night of the murder," "I spotted this woman, her... bringing along a suitcase to Walter's bungalow." "What happened then?" "Uh, then I went back to my room." "Well, in a little while, I heard this shot." "Well, it sounded like a shot to me anyway, but" "But I wasn't gonna meddle in anybody's business." "But then I got to thinki" about that suitcase... and Walters, and the woman and all, so I went to Walters' bungalow, and there was no answer." "So I went in." "Well, he was dead all right, and the suitcase was there... so I took it." "Would you please point to the woman that you saw enter Howard Walters' room at the Valley Vista Motel?" "Her." "BURGER:" "Let the record show that the witness is pointing at the defendant, Carol Taylor." "Thank you, Mr. Davis." "You may cross-examine, Mr. Mason." "( clears throat )" "( clears throat )" "Mr. Davis... haven't you made a mistake in this story of yours?" "Mistake?" "Haven't you substituted the name of Carol Taylor for that of Janice Atkins." "ZACK:" "I don't know any Janice Atkins." "MASON:" "But you paid her a visit yesterday afternoon." "You must be mistaken." "No, I have the report of a private detective." "Well...he must be mistaken." "According to his report... you entered her apartment house empty-handed... you came out 35 minutes later carrying a valise." "No, sir." "The detective further reported that while you were in Miss Atkins' apartment, you were joined by..." "Roger Porter." "No, sir." "Weren't you blackmailing them, Mr. Davis?" "I told you how I found that money." "It is possible, Mr. Davis, that by perjuring yourself, you are also involving yourself as an accessory after the fact." "Your Honor..." "I protest." "Counsel's intimidating this witness." "There seem to be some discrepancies here," "Mr. Prosecutor." "Mr. Mason." "Do you, in fact, have proof that the witness called on this person named Janice Atkins?" "Yes, Your Honor." "If counsel has no objection, I'd like Mr. Davis to step down while I call Miss Janice Atkins to the stand." "No objection, Your Honor." "Miss Atkins will come forward." "You may step down, Mr. Davis." "Raise your right hand." "Do you solemnly swear the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" "I do." "State your name." "Janice Atkins." "Be seated, please." "Miss Atkins... do you know the previous witness," "Mr. Zachary Davis?" "No." "Did he call on you yesterday afternoon at your apartment?" "No." "Now, you're under oath... and the allegation has been made that the witness did call on you." "That one Roger Porter joined you." "And that the witness departed with a valise filled with money." "Maybe he saw somebody else in my apartment house." "May I, Your Honor?" "All right, counselor." "Now, the witness, Zachary Davis, stated that he got that valise from Howard Walters." "But Howard Walters did not live at your apartment house." "All I know is he didn't get any valise or" "Or any money from me." "MASON:" "Now, didn't Mr. Davis blackmail you for that money?" "JANICE:" "No." "Uh, did you call the defendant on the phone and tell her she could get evidence of the innocence of her husband at the Valley Vista Motel?" "No." "And when she went to that motel, did you, or your accomplice, Roger Porter, plant $15,000 of the stolen money in the defendant's home?" "No." "Fifteen thousand was found in the defendant's home," "$100,000 was found in the valise." "Leaving an undiscovered 15,000." "I don't know anything about it." "I must warn you, Miss Atkins, that a search warrant will be issued." "That your apartment will be searched before you have an opportunity to return to it and remove any incriminating evidence." "I caution you as I cautioned Mr. Davis." "That by perjuring yourself now, even if you're not guilty of murder, you may be indicted as an accessory after the fact." "Or did you really kill Howard Walters, the man with whom you conspired, to rob and murder?" "No, I didn't." "You didn't kill him?" "No." "But you did steal $130,000 from the Taylor Maid safe?" "Mm, yes, but I didn't conspire to kill Andy Taylor." "I didn't know that was part of Howard's plan." "And you did plant $15,000 in the defendant's home, to make it appear she was guilty?" "Yes." "Yes, but I didn't kill Howard." "He did." "Roger did." "( whispers ):" "No." "Don't do that to me, Janice." "( people murmuring )" "Order!" "Order in the court." "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "If Your Honor please, I think we may get to the bottom of this case if I'm allowed to finish my cross-examination of Zachary Davis." "Mr. Davis." "Well, you c" " Can't blame a fella for trying to keep his skirts clean." "So, okay, it was Janice Atkins and Roger Porter all the time." "What about the defendant, Carol Taylor?" "She had nothing to do with it." "Uh, would you explain to this court why you perjured yourself?" "Well, l-like I said, just to keep my skirts clean." "How dirty are they?" "Well, I, uh..." "I admit I tried to move in on all that money." "The, uh, first try for 500, well... that was just to test out if I could make a strike there at all." "I'd say your skirts are dirtier than that, Mr. Davis." "But not as dirty as theirs, though." "They killed Walters, didn't they?" "MASON:" "No." "ZACK:" "Then who did?" "His wife?" "MASON:" "No." "ZACK:" "The young man's father?" "Old man Taylor himself?" "MASON:" "No." "You figure me." "It had to be you, Mr. Davis." "How's that?" "From the evidence." "The sound of the shot that killed Walters." "You said you heard it in your room." "That's right." "But you weren't in your room." "Sure I was." "When the motel manager knocked on your door, you didn't answer." "At the time he heard the shot." "There's some mistake there." "Yours, Mr. Davis." "You called the manager to your room to keep him away from Bungalow 1." "That was your mistake." "In not getting an answer when he knocked on your door, he put the lie to your alibi." "( sighs )" "Well, I" "That's real tricky." "Real complicated and tricky." "Uh, I guess murder's like that." "No, sir." "Murder is usually very simple." "( slow, dramatic theme playing )" "It's the getting away with it that's real complicated and tricky." "Mr. Mason, I want to thank you for supporting my daughter-in-law... and for being patient with my obstinate stupidity." "We all need to learn a little tolerance at one time or another." "It's unfortunate that sometimes the learning comes... after a man's death." "Yes." "I haven't had your bill yet, Mr. Mason... so, uh, I've left the amount here blank." "You fill it out any way you want to." "Well, thank you." "Thank you, Mr. Mason." "That's a-- ( door opens )" "That's a great idea." "Uh, why don't you just, uh..." "( door closes ) ...fill my check out like that." "Uh, blank." "Just sign it." "( chuckles )" "All right, Paul." "( noirish jazz theme playing )" "( noirish jazz theme playing )"