( suspenseful music playing )
( noirish jazz theme playing )
( jazz theme playing )
( crowd chattering )
Sorry. Gotta
be announced.
I-I have an appointment
with Mr. Barker.
My name is--
I know.
Excuse me.
Boss.
Mrs. Sylvia Oxman
to see you, okay?
All right.
Mr. Barker will
see you.
Oh.
( door buzzes )
Seven thousand
five hundred dollars.
Do you want to
count it?
I take your word.
Please, may I have the IOU's?
For $ , ?
Heh-heh-heh.
Mrs. Oxman...
when a man has
a piece of merchandise...
only one buyer,
takes what's offered.
Two buyers,
he sells it
to the highest
bidder.
Has my husband
been in touch with you?
All negotiations
in this business
are confidential.
How much did he offer you?
( letter opener clangs on desk )
How much do you offer?
I had trouble in--
In raising this amount.
Your grandmother,
Mrs. Oxman...
how many million
has she got?
Oh, I don't want her
to know about this.
Mr. Barker...
if you sell those IOU's
to my husband,
he'll take
my child away.
Money, Mrs. Oxman.
Money.
Makes me
a very generous man.
Not much money.
Maybe , .
Mr. Barker.
Mr. Barker, look at me!
( low, slinky jazz theme
playing )
Don't sell my husband
those IOU's.
Are you threatening me?
I don't know what I’m doing.
I only know that something
terrible will happen
to me, to him,
even to you.
Because nothing must happen
to my child.
I'll be back.
( door buzzes )
( dramatic theme playing )
( door closes )
( dramatic theme playing )
Your granddaughter just left,
Mrs. Benson.
Her IOU's are for $ , .
Mr. Barker wants , .
No, ma'am.
Nothing's settled.
Has her husband,
Frank Oxman,
been there yet?
I haven't seen him.
But I know
Mr. Barker expects him.
Oh, very well.
I'll send you
another check tonight.
And thank you.
Does Frank
have $ , ?
He has those paintings.
Oh.
Grotesque things
that mean...
absolutely nothing.
Why don't you buy
the IOU's, mother?
Twenty-five thousand dollars
isn't so much.
No.
But this is a form
of blackmail.
And once begun, there's
no telling where it will end.
Mm. Of course.
We can't submit
to blackmail.
But refusing to submit
involves certain dangers.
We will make a list
of those dangers,
evaluate each one
calmly and objectively.
Well, shouldn't we
wait for Sylvia?
Oh. Do you think that
would do any good?
No. No, of course not.
Sylvia would only
confuse matters.
No, we'll let her
muddle about for a while.
The anxiety will perhaps
do her good eventually.
Uh, we'll settle
this matter ourselves.
We must first decide on
a proper course of action.
The intelligent thing
would be to engage a lawyer.
MATILDA:
I believe in
first things first.
I've looked you up, Mr. Mason.
I know all about you.
You will do
the same to me.
You will
find out
that I am
very rich.
You will try to charge me
an exorbitant fee.
I will not pay it.
But there will be
no haggling
over a proper
and reasonable fee,
plus expenses.
Now, with that settled,
you will do precisely
as I tell you.
You will do--
First things first,
Mrs. Benson.
We've settled that.
Mm, not yet.
I'll have to know
what this is all about
before I agree
to accept any fee.
I know what I want done.
Then I suggest
that...
you do it.
It's been a great
pleasure meeting you,
Mrs. Benson, Mr. Benson.
Oh, but of course.
Sit down, Mr. Mason.
I'll tell you
the story.
The place?
Gardena.
The web? The Clover Club
Poker Parlor.
The spider?
Daniel Barker.
Clear?
Clear.
The fly?
Sylvia Oxman...
my granddaughter.
Barker holds IOU's
amounting to $ ,
signed by her.
I want them back.
Gardena is
a very unusual place.
Although gambling is
illegal in California...
public poker parlors
are permitted in Gardena.
If you want those IOU's back,
you'll have to pay them off.
I would...willingly...
but he's holding them up
for sale to the highest bidder.
Who else is bidding?
Frank Oxman.
My granddaughter's husband.
They're separated.
They have a child. Peter.
Why does Mr. Oxman
want the IOU's?
To prove that Sylvia
is a compulsive gambler,
and, therefore,
an unfit mother.
And is that true?
Well, family's run out
of strength, Mr. Mason.
My oldest son, Robert's brother,
was a weak man.
He was also a snob.
He k*lled himself
when his wife ran away
with a Neapolitan fisherman.
Mr. Mason
is not interested
in the family
gossip, Robert.
Sylvia was my oldest son's
daughter,
born with thin blood.
She had no passion
for anything,
until she discovered
gambling.
Ten years ago
she met Frank Oxman,
fresh out of college,
and married him.
And he is Peter's father?
Yes.
And Peter
has broad shoulders...
a square jaw...
and the look of his
great-grandfather in his eyes.
He is the family strength
reborn, Mr. Mason.
It's a miracle.
And now Frank Oxman
wants custody of their child?
Yes. Not because
he loves him.
Unless he loves him
for being merchandised
to sell back to me
for some fantastic price.
In other words,
the problem is blackmail.
Exactly.
And I believe you can
prevent that, Mr. Mason.
I can only promise
to do my best.
Well, shall we, uh,
keep in touch
with you, Mr. Mason?
Mr. Mason will
keep in touch with me.
And now I believe our business
here is finished.
Yes, Mother.
Good day.
( door
closes )
Thus spake--
Zarathustra.
Della...
Mm-hm?
Get Paul in.
Give him
a check for $ .
Mm, what for?
Want him to go
to the nearest bank
and open up a new account.
( dramatic theme playing )
( chattering, chips clinking )
Raise .
( sighs )
Power, huh?
I'll see you.
It's all yours.
Well, now,
wait a minute.
I want to see
those cards.
You won,
didn't you?
Well, I've got a right
to see what I beat.
All right, whose deal is--
Oh, stop it.
I paid money to
see what he raised on.
I never
saw him before.
I gotta find out
what kind of a game he plays.
I agree
with you.
I called him, but
he won't show his cards.
Show them, mister.
The lady insists.
Bluffing. Ha!
( all laugh )
Where'd you ever learn
how to play poker?
Hm?
I'm, uh, out of money.
Can I cash a check?
How much?
Two hundred
dollars.
Cash it,
Mr. Manning.
We don't want to
lose him.
Step over to
the cashier's booth.
Uh-huh.
Hurry back,
young man.
You've got a lot
more learning to do.
Better deal me
out of this one.
Chicken, huh?
BARKER:
Well, well, well.
Ha-ha.
What do you know?
Mr. Frank Oxman.
He wants to
cash this?
That's what he said.
( chuckles )
Is Duncan
in his office?
Uh-uh. Haven't
seen him all night.
Mm-hm.
Okay, Manning...
bring Mr. Oxman in.
And, uh...
treat him nice.
Right.
Come right in,
gentlemen.
Which one of you
is Frank Oxman?
My name is Mason.
I'm with
this gentleman.
How do you figure
in this?
I'm his lawyer.
Mason?
Perry Mason?
Hm.
Okay, Manning,
you can go now.
( door closes )
Sit down,
gents.
I want no misunderstanding,
Mr. Barker.
You don't know
this man.
He offered you
a check
signed
"Frank Oxman."
That only means
he has
a bank account
under that name.
He didn't come here
to gamble.
Please remember that
in case
you're called to testify
on the witness stand.
So he is
Frank Oxman.
I haven't
said that.
Then he isn't
Frank Oxman.
I haven't
said that either.
( sighs )
I like you,
Mr. Mason.
You're a good lawyer.
You protect your client.
Maybe you could give me
a piece of advice.
Perhaps.
Mm.
If a lady's husband
wanted a divorce
and custody of
his child...
what better evidence
could he have
than IOU's made out
to a gambling joint?
Now, I'm asking you,
Mr. Mason, as a lawyer.
Could he have
any better evidence?
Not much better.
I could supply
that evidence.
On what terms?
Mm.
Something a little
better than grand.
( chuckles )
If this gentleman
were Mr. Oxman,
and I represented him
in a divorce action...
we might be interested
in securing such evidence.
But it wouldn't
be necessary
to pay any money
for it.
All I'd need to do
is serve you with a subpoena
ordering you
to bring...
any notes signed by
Sylvia Oxman into court.
Mm.
I've got a very bad
memory, Mr. Mason.
I don't think I could
remember those IOU's.
Mm?
Then it would
cost you $ , .
How come?
Uh, once you got on the stand
and testified that
you did not know of any IOU's
signed by Sylvia Oxman...
they would automatically
become uncollectable.
All you would get
out of the ,
would be a fee
for appearing as a witness.
Look, Mason...
let's cut out all
the legal tricks. I--
Excuse me,
Mr. Mason.
You're losing
your head, Danny.
You stay
out of this.
We're partners,
remember?
I'm Charles Duncan,
half owner of this business.
It's a good business:
profitable, peaceful
and legal.
I like it.
I don't want anything
to happen that might spoil it.
You're very wise,
Mr. Duncan.
Here's $ , , Mr. Duncan.
I'll take those IOU's.
You Oxman?
He never claimed to be Oxman.
DUNCAN:
Put your money away,
mister.
We're not turning those IOU's
over to anybody
except the person
who signed them:
Mrs. Sylvia Oxman.
It's the only way I know
to keep this deal clean.
All right.
Mrs. Oxman will be here.
What time do you
want to see her?
I leave early tonight.
Danny closes up.
I'll be here at :
in the morning.
MASON:
Mrs. Oxman will be here
at
in the morning.
Good night,
Mr. Duncan.
Good night,
Mr. Barker.
( door opens )
( door closes )
I warned you, Danny.
I warned you a dozen times.
This is the last time.
You try one more stunt
like that,
and I'll put you down
the nearest sewer headfirst.
( dramatic theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
Excellent, Mr. Mason.
My compliments.
You can be certain
that Sylvia will be there
at exactly
tomorrow morning.
I shall sleep
very much better tonight.
Yes. Good night,
and thank you very much.
You heard?
Hm?
Yes, I did.
It always pays
to get the best.
Hm.
Naturally.
Tell Sylvia
I want to see her.
She hasn't come home
yet, mother.
Oh. Well, then,
write a note.
And tell her
no matter what time
she comes in
to waken me,
because I must see her.
I wish we had told her
about Mr. Mason.
Will you please
write that note?
Yes, Mother.
( sighs )
( dramatic theme playing )
( doorbell
buzzes )
( buzzes )
May I come in?
Oh.
These are nice, Frank.
It's like you.
Pictures you love.
Grandmother hated.
I can't help it, can I,
if she didn't like them?
You've been
drinking.
Yes.
I've been drinking
and gambling, and...
gambling and losing, and...
signing IOU's
for $ , .
You know all about that,
don't you, Frank?
Yes.
Sylvia, I don't
want to be cruel...
but this is something
I must do.
If it takes
everything I own...
I'm going to
have my son.
No matter how
or who it hurts.
Have us both, Frank.
Mm.
Have us both.
And your grandmother too?
No.
To tell us when
to breathe, and...
how to think,
and why to live
as she thinks best?
We'll go away.
Just the three of us.
Hm.
We'll go away
from her.
We talked about that
from practically
the day we were
married.
We left three times,
remember?
And each time
she made you return,
and I followed...
because I loved you...
( gasps )
...and our son.
But I'm not following
anymore.
Do not take my son
away from me.
The courts will
do that for me.
Why are you so sure?
I'll have those notes by
: tomorrow morning.
I'm drunk,
Frank.
And when I'm drunk,
I'm not responsible
for my actions.
It's why I drink.
Grandmother says I'm not
responsible, drunk or sober.
Grandmoth--
I've lost you, Frank.
And you were half my life.
If I lose my son too,
that's the other half gone.
Then I have no life
left at all.
Sylvia.
( door opens )
I'm doing
what's best.
You hate me.
And you'll teach my son
to hate me too.
No, Sylvia.
I don't hate--
( ominous theme playing )
Who do you
wanna see?
I have
a : appointment
with Mr. Duncan
and Mr. Barker.
Just a minute.
Take over.
Follow me.
Perry Mason, I didn't know
you were a poker player.
You and I have had
a few good hands together.
Did you have anything
to do with this one?
I don't know.
Who's playing?
Well, a fellow named, uh,
Daniel Barker was one of them.
But I'm afraid he's out of
the game for good.
Hm. Do you
suspect someone?
They were telling me
about some missing IOU's.
You say Mrs. Oxman's
lawyer
promised that she'd
be here at : a.m.
to pick 'em up?
That's right.
Oh, what about it?
It's five after .
She isn't here yet.
It's a long ride
from Pasadena.
She your client?
Indirectly.
Like to ask her a few
questions-- Oh, routine.
( phone rings )
Lieutenant Tragg.
Get out an all-points.
Yes. Have a warrant issued
and, uh, notify
the district attorney.
No, no. Never mind.
I'll take care of that
myself.
Well, Mr. Mason...
I think your client's
been here and gone.
What makes you
think so?
Well, the b*llet
that k*lled Barker...
came from a g*n
licensed to
Mrs. Sylvia Oxman.
Now, isn't that
a coincidence?
And before you ask
any more questions,
will you excuse me?
( dramatic theme playing )
( rings )
Yes, hello?
Oh, good morning, Mr. Mason.
I'm so glad you called.
I wasn't able to give
your message to Sylvia.
MASON ( on phone ):
Why not?
Well, she didn't
come home all night.
I've been telephoning
her friends
since :
this morning,
and none of them
have seen her.
We must find her.
MATILDA:
Why?
Dan Barker was k*lled
early this morning.
The police have reason
to believe that Sylvia did it.
Oh, sheer insanity.
My granddaughter isn't capable
of k*lling anyone.
Does she own a g*n?
Yes. She keeps it
in the glove compartment
of her car.
Frank gave it to her
several years ago
for protection, when
she was driving back and forth
from those gambling
parlors at night.
The b*llet that
k*lled Barker
came from Sylvia's g*n.
But she couldn't.
Frank knew about that g*n.
And I can tell you
something else, Mr. Mason.
He saw Barker last night.
How do you know?
Well, I have sources
of information, Mr. Mason.
Private sources.
Name them.
Well, I'd rather not.
Look, Mrs. Benson...
Sylvia's in serious trouble.
If we're to help her,
we can't have any secrets
from each other.
Well, his name is Manning.
All right, Mrs. Benson.
The police are likely to be
at your house at any moment.
Don't lie to them,
but, for the present,
tell them as little
as possible.
Should Sylvia telephone...
tell her to go directly
to my office
and wait there for me.
That's right.
Goodbye.
( ominous theme playing )
Getting ready to
start up again?
Why not?
The business
didn't die.
You are very realistic.
That's how
I see it.
You strike me as a man
who sees plenty.
Plenty to see
from where I stand.
My name's Mason.
I know.
Mine's Manning.
Mr. Manning.
Frank Oxman here
last night?
There were two.
What time did
the second one arrive?
When the first one
was going out.
Thanks. Where's
Mr. Duncan?
In his office.
Go right in if you want.
Everything is still
wide open.
Thanks again.
( jazzy theme playing )
( knocking
on door )
Come in.
Back again,
Mr. Mason?
I take it
you don't expect
business to be
interrupted.
Place under
new management already?
Why do you ask?
You can't continue
the gambling
until you've settled with
your dead partner's estate.
Sit down,
Mr. Mason.
Thank you.
The partnership was dissolved
on the death of one partner.
We had an agreement.
Provides that
the business goes on...
and that life-insurance policies
on each partner's life
pays off the estates.
Most of your income
is in cash, is it not?
That's right.
How is the cash collected?
We charge a rental on the chairs
and use of the tables:
cents a half hour
for a $ -limit game,
up to $ a half hour
for a $ -limit game.
How many tables
do you operate?
Thirty-five.
The legal limit.
What are your hours?
Ten in the morning till
in the morning. About .
Then, conservatively
speaking...
your average daily income
is approximately $ , .
And that, Dan Barker
was endangering.
You trying to pin
a motive on me?
If you are,
you may as well know
I've already told
all of this to the police.
Taking no chances,
now, are you?
I run a gambling parlor,
Mr. Mason.
But I'm not a gambler.
I only make sure bets.
There's no such thing
as a sure bet,
unless the deal
is fixed.
Nice seeing you.
I trust we'll see
each other again, Mr. Duncan.
It'll be a pleasure,
Mr. Mason.
( ominous theme playing )
You look very handsome
in that chair, Manning.
It fits.
Now, you're
a little too big.
Might have to
cut you down to size.
Like maybe you did Barker?
You're kind of running
over the mouth, aren't you?
I could.
I could tell that lawyer...
or even the DA...
maybe enough
about you and Barker
to give 'em a whole new slant
on his k*lling.
Maybe even how
you were doing a...
A little extra reaching
in all that cash take
Mr. Mason was
talking about.
You've got big ears.
You don't appreciate me,
Duncan.
To you I'm just a...
floorman.
But I'm a brain, Duncan.
A big brain.
You're also a big talker.
( tense theme playing )
Don't let me catch you
in that chair again.
( door opens )
( door closes )
Hi, Perry.
Any action
around here?
No, not since we arrived.
Nobody in or out.
But I checked with
some of the neighbors.
It seems Sylvia came
to see Frank Oxman
around :
this morning.
When did she leave?
No information on that.
Paul, I want you
to find out what you can
about Arthur Manning
and Charles Duncan.
Bank accounts,
everything.
All right.
I'm going in to see Oxman.
Apartment . Want me
to go in with you?
No, you better
get started.
I don't think
we'll have much time.
Call the office when
you have something.
Will do.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
( car
starting )
( buzzing )
Mr. Oxman?
Yes?
My name is Perry Mason.
May I talk to you?
What about?
Your wife, Sylvia...
and some IOU's
she signed.
Come in, Mr. Mason.
Won't you sit down?
I'm afraid we don't have
that much time, Mr. Oxman.
You saw Dan Barker
last night.
You talked with him
about your wife's IOU's.
Did he tell you they were
still available for purchase?
Indirectly, yes.
Indirectly?
Well, he wouldn't admit
they even existed.
He said he'd
heard rumors
and offered to
track down those rumors
for a minimum fee
of $ , .
Did you offer
to buy them?
Well, I didn't have
that much money available.
He said to
come back at .
He didn't give you
much time
to get the money together,
did he?
There must be a reason
for all these questions,
Mr. Mason.
There is.
Dan Barker was m*rder*d
this morning.
m*rder*d?
Between and : .
Can you explain...
where you were during
that period of time?
I haven't been
out of this house.
Not since your wife
called on you about : ?
Who told you
about my wife?
That isn't
important.
Sylvia.
I'm Sylvia Oxman.
I heard what you said.
I can assure you that
Frank and I have been
right here
since : this morning.
Can you prove that,
Mrs. Oxman?
I can.
I brought her here,
Mr. Mason.
( doorbell
buzzes )
Is there somebody--
Well, hello, Perry.
Well, I hate to tag
you around like this,
but you're always
such a great help
when we have to
find somebody.
You Sylvia Oxman?
( quietly ):
Yes.
I have a warrant
for your arrest...
charging you with the m*rder
of Daniel Barker.
But I didn't have
anything to do with it.
I just explained
to Mr. Mason--
I'm afraid you'll also
have to tell it to Mr. Burger.
He's the district
attorney.
He's very curious
about a g*n you own.
MASON:
You might inform
Mr. Burger
that Mrs. Oxman
has been right here
since : this morning.
These two gentlemen are
prepared to swear to that.
We have half a dozen
who'll swear that
she was at
the Clover Club.
And not one is related
to Mr. Burger.
Would you please
get your coat?
( dramatic theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
Now, would you explain
this diagram
to the court, please,
lieutenant?
Sure.
Well, this is the,
uh, Clover Club.
And here's the entrance
to the parking lot.
Here's the storm drain
where we, uh,
found the g*n.
Would you indicate the streets
and avenues, please?
Yes, sir.
Uh, this is Copley Avenue.
And the storm drain's
on the corner
of Copley and st street.
A car leaving the parking lot
and traveling toward Pasadena
would come
along st,
turn here
at this corner,
and then continue on down
past th,
th, and so on.
I see. Thank you,
lieutenant.
That'll be all.
Your witness.
No questions.
I was changing to
the day shift.
Going on duty
at : .
Parked my car in the lot
and walked around
to the front entrance.
Now, I ask you,
Mr. Manning,
did you see any cars
in the parking lot?
Yes, sir. There were
three or four.
Did you recognize
any of those cars?
Yes, sir.
I noticed a ' Ford
convertible
belonging to Mrs. Oxman.
You'd seen it
before?
Sure. Lots of times.
All right, Mr. Manning,
you went into the club.
What did you do next?
Well, the...
club wasn't open
to the public yet.
So I went to my locker,
passing the corridor.
I saw Mrs. Oxman running
from Mr. Barker's office.
I called to her,
but she didn't answer.
She went out
the side door
to the parking lot.
And you're sure
it was Mrs. Sylvia Oxman?
Sure.
I've seen her
often enough.
BURGER:
I see.
Now, Mr. Manning, I want you
to recall a meeting
that took place
in Mr. Barker's office
the evening
preceding the m*rder.
Yes, sir.
Who was
in the room?
Mrs. Oxman.
She wanted to
buy back her IOU's.
And what happened?
Well, uh...
Mr. Barker said it would
cost her $ , .
What did Mrs. Oxman
say to that?
She said she didn't
have that much money.
I see. Thank you,
Mr. Manning.
Cross-examine.
Mr. Manning...
you said you saw
Mrs. Oxman's car
at the parking lot.
Yes.
Were her keys
in the lock?
Well, uh,
anyone parking on the lot
has to leave their--
Has to leave his keys
in the car.
Did you ever open the...
glove compartment
in Mrs. Oxman's car?
No.
Then you wouldn't
have known
the defendant kept
a g*n in there.
Of course not.
What are you trying to say?
That I took her g*n
and k*lled Mr. Barker?
Look-- What would
that do for me? I make--
You knew about
those IOU's,
didn't you,
Mr. Manning?
Sure, I did.
I told you.
And you knew
that Mr. Barker
thought they were
worth $ , ?
Yes, but--
And you knew
where they were kept?
Sure. In the desk.
But there was only
one key to that desk...
and Mr. Barker had it.
Nobody else could
get into that desk.
Well, with
Mr. Barker dead...
getting the key
was no problem, was it?
Thank you. That's all.
When I drove
onto the parking lot,
I saw Mrs. Oxman
come running out
of the side entrance
of the club.
She was in an awful hurry.
I called her, but
she didn't look back.
She got into
her car...
a Ford
convertible.
She just tore
out of that lot.
All right.
What did you do then?
I went in the side entrance
and saw Bill Manning.
Went to Barker's office,
found him dead,
called the police.
Thank you.
Cross-examine.
Why are
they lying?
They're all
lying about me.
Mr. Duncan...
your story corresponds
so beautifully
with that of
your employee's,
it suggests
rehearsal.
It could also
suggest truth.
Did you, uh, know
about those IOU's?
Yes, I did.
Did you know
that your partner
was trying to make some money
on the side, illegally.
And that his greed
threatened
your very lucrative
business?
Oh, Your Honor, I object.
That's incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
It's also improper
cross-examination...
since it deals with matters
not touched on in direct.
Mr. Mason?
I'm inquiring into
possible bias
of the witness,
Your Honor.
Objection
overruled.
But this is not
to be construed
as a license for
a fishing expedition, Mr. Mason.
Your Honor.
MASON:
Now, will you answer
the question, please?
Wasn't your partner's
blackmailing activity
a dangerous threat
to your business,
and didn't you object to it?
Yes.
But I didn't k*ll him.
Thank you.
That's all.
JUDGE:
Ah. You may stand down.
BURGER:
I call Walter Cobb, please.
Well, the reason I remember
this particular
' Ford convertible
was because it had just
run out of gas
when it got up to the pump.
And where's your gas station
located, Mr. Cobb?
On th Street
and Copley Avenue.
How far is that
from the Clover Club?
About two blocks.
Now, would you look around
this courtroom, please,
and see if you can identify
the driver of the
Ford convertible
who was in
your gas station
at approximately
quarter to
on the morning
of the m*rder?
That's her.
Let the record show
that the witness is pointing
to the defendant,
Sylvia Oxman.
Cross-examine.
Thank you.
M-Mr. Cobb...
are you the manager
of the gas station?
I-I'm the owner of
the gas station, Mr. Mason.
Is the defendant
a regular customer
of yours?
Oh, no, sir.
How many times had you seen her
previous to that day?
That was
the first time.
How many times have
you seen her since,
that is, at
your gas station?
Oh, I never saw
her again, uh, there.
Mr. Duncan
a regular customer?
COBB:
Oh, yes.
MASON: Good customer?
COBB: Yes, sir.
MASON:
Mr. Manning?
Yes, sir.
Would you say there's
a very friendly relationship
between you, Mr. Duncan
and Mr. Manning?
Well, you might
say that.
How many cars
do you service a day?
Quite a few.
Many as ?
Oh, yes.
A hundred?
Well, it all depends
on the day.
Yes, sir, I'd
say it averages
about a day.
A hundred cars a day.
That's cars
a week,
, cars a month.
And now you remember
one single ' convertible
and one driver you saw
once and only once.
W-Well, I do. I...
I remember her
because she just
ran out of gas
as she coasted
in.
I have no further
questions of the witness.
JUDGE:
Uh, you may stand down.
I call Dr. Ralph Caldwell
to the stand.
Now, Dr. Caldwell...
I ask where you were
on June nd
at approximately
: in the morning.
I was in a gas station
on Copley Avenue
and, uh, th Street.
I was having gas
put into the car.
Did you notice
anything coincidental
in that gas station?
Yes.
Yes, I did.
A car just like mine
was parked at
the next gas pump.
Well, go on, doctor.
Did you take note of the driver?
It was a young woman.
She seemed terribly upset.
I, uh,
had the thought of
getting out of my car and...
going over to hers.
But you didn't?
No.
No, she drove off
before I had
the opportunity to do so.
But you noticed her
for two reasons:
First, because she was driving
a car exactly like yours.
And second, because of
her apparent anxiety.
That's right.
Now, doctor, I ask you
to look around this courtroom
and tell us if you recognize
that young woman.
Yes, I recognize her.
That woman there.
BURGER:
The witness is pointing
to the defendant, Sylvia Oxman.
Will the defendant
rise, please?
Now, Dr. Caldwell,
please be very careful
with your identification.
Are you
absolutely certain
that that is
the young woman?
I'm certain.
Thank you, doctor.
That will be all.
Cross-examine.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
No questions.
( dramatic theme playing )
Sit down, Sylvia.
All right, Sylvia...
we're going to...
think together,
calmly and quietly.
I don't like to
think, Mr. Mason.
My brain is too critical
of the rest of me.
I get too ashamed.
There always comes
the time
when a person must look
inside himself.
I tried it.
All I saw
was emptiness.
You were very lonely.
Was I?
It was a good life.
Orderly, peaceful.
Busy life. From
getting up in the morning
to going to bed
at night.
And all
well-planned.
By your mother?
I hardly knew
my mother, Mr. Mason.
We don't talk about her
in grandmother's house.
No.
She ran away...
with a Neapolitan fisherman.
That was a cheap
and vulgar thing to do.
That what
your grandmother says?
No, no.
Grandmother's
too much of a lady
to soil herself
with dirt
from the family skeleton.
As long as I can
remember...
I was taught to
hate the things
my mother must have loved.
When did you learn
not to hate them?
I don't think I ever did.
It just grew with me
as I grew older.
I was trained to be part
of Grandmother's brain.
We're tied together
like Siamese twins.
And whenever I tried
to cut away...
I wandered without direction.
All the things that
I ever learned...
were the things
I must not do.
I must not love beauty.
Because I may run off
with a Neapolitan fisherman.
And if not beauty, then what?
The ugliness of drink.
Nightmare of gambling.
There's another world
in drink, Mr. Mason.
A desperate hope
in gambling.
No Neapolitan fishermen.
I wish we'd talked
like this before.
I don't think
I could have.
I know it sounds
a kind of paradox...
but being in here
has given me
a kind of freedom.
I don't think very clearly,
Mr. Mason.
Sitting in a cell alone...
I've had the time
to try to learn.
You're not
alone now, Sylvia.
Your life depends on
just how clearly
we can think together.
Now, how many times
did you see Dan Barker?
Three times.
The first time was when you went
to pay off those notes,
and you were told they were
gonna be sold
to the highest bidder?
Yes.
What did you do after that?
I was desperate.
I went to see Frank,
and I begged him
for a reconciliation.
But he refused.
Said he'd have the IOU's
by in the morning.
And then?
( inhales )
I almost went crazy.
I guess I did go crazy.
It was :
in the morning
when I remembered
I had the g*n
in my glove compartment.
I put it in
my coat pocket...
and I returned
to the Clover Room.
To k*ll Barker?
No. I only wanted to
frighten him
into giving me back
those IOU's for the , .
When he asked
for more money...
I waved the g*n at him.
He didn't frighten.
He simply...
took the g*n
away from me.
What did he
do with it?
Put it in
his desk drawer.
The third visit?
Oh.
I was
desperate.
I went home, and I got
all the jewels I owned,
and I put them
in my purse.
You spoke to
no one at home?
Not then.
I wanted to get back
to Barker's before : .
When I got there,
all the doors were open,
and I went into the office.
And he was lying
on the floor, dead.
Your g*n...
where was it?
It was on the floor
beside him.
You lost your head...
ran out of
the office...
tossed the g*n into
the nearest storm drain.
Yes.
Then you went home?
Yes. I didn't want...
Grandmother...to hear me.
I was too terrified
of what she might
say or do,
but...I guess Uncle Robert
heard me crying,
'cause he came
into the room.
He was terribly upset
when I told him about the g*n.
At that time,
he thought out your alibi?
Oh, no.
He rushed into
Grandmother's room.
When he came back,
he said Grandmother said
we were to go
immediately to Frank
and...offer him anything...
to try and make him say
we'd reconciled.
What did you do
with the IOU's?
I didn't take them.
( pants )
All I wanted to do
was to get out of the office
as quickly as possible
when I saw Barker's body.
That's the truth,
Mr. Mason.
Yes.
Yes, it is
the truth.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
All right, Sylvia.
I'll see you
in the morning.
( exhales )
"When a true thought
enters the mind,
"it gives the light which
makes us see a crowd of objects
never perceived before."
( knocking )
Yes?!
Mr. Mason would like
to see you, ma'am.
Mr.--
Well, ask him to
come in here.
Yes,
ma'am.
Would you like me
to leave?
Do you expect me
to receive a gentleman
alone in
my bedroom?
( chuckles ):
I'm sorry.
Come in,
Mr. Mason.
I apologize for
intruding at this hour.
Well, I'm sure
you had ample reason.
Uh, Robert, get
Mr. Mason a chair.
Now, please don't bother,
Mr. Benson. I prefer standing.
What did you come
to tell me?
I'm afraid I won't be able
to convince the court
that Sylvia is innocent.
But she wasn't there.
She has a perfect alibi.
Mrs. Benson, that alibi
is worth nothing.
But it's the truth.
Robert will swear to it.
Will you?
I will.
You'd give false
testimony, Mrs. Benson?
Do you think I would let
my own flesh and blood die
for a crime
she didn't commit,
without fighting to save her
with every w*apon I could find.
Even perjury?
Although it means giving up
your great-grandson?
Why do you say that?
Well, surely you knew
that would happen
when you told
Robert to...
work out a reconciliation
between Sylvia and Frank.
I told Robert what?
It did seem
strange that...
you would construct
such an alibi.
Then it was
your idea.
Yes.
You told Sylvia
it came from Mrs. Benson.
She wouldn't have
done it otherwise.
You also neglected
to tell Sylvia
that I would make the :
appointment with Barker.
Well, it was
too late.
Uh, if I'd been able
to find her--
No, you still wouldn't
have told her.
You didn't want her to know.
You wanted Frank
to have those IOU's
because you wanted Frank
to have his son.
Well, you're mad.
Robert knows that child
belongs with me.
No, Mother.
The boy belongs
with his father.
Robert!
You know, don't you?
Yes, I know.
How?
When I found the so-called
reconciliation
came after Barker's death.
I knew Frank Oxman
would help with that alibi...
only in exchange
for Peter's custody.
You...
deceived Sylvia
because that was what
you wanted.
It also gave you
an alibi.
You--?
You, Robert?
You k*lled this man?
Why should k*lling
shock you so much?
You k*lled us all...
over and over again.
Each time we...
showed
a spark of life.
You tried to
resurrect your youth
through us...
to live again.
Only we
failed you,
be...cause we never
could be you.
We failed ourselves,
because we didn't understand
until it was too late.
That's why I knew
Frank must have his son.
Before it was
too late.
( scoffs )
Only I bungled it.
I...
didn't know the g*n
in Barker's desk
belonged to Sylvia.
You would have let her die...
for what you did?
My strength came
only once, Mother.
Then I was your son again.
( melancholy theme playing )
Robert.
Robert.
Please be
kind enough to
call the police,
Mr. Mason.
( phone dialing )
Lieutenant Tragg, please.
( jazzy theme playing )
( knocking on door )
Come in.
( door opens,
closes )
PAUL:
Hi, beautiful.
Hi, Paul.
Eh, what are
you doing,
opening a gambling
joint?
No, it's a good business.
Pick a number.
All right.
For how much?
Oh, very big.
A dime.
Seven.
Mm-hm.
I'll take three.
Come on, seven.
Come on.
Thirty-six numbers
on that wheel,
and she picks
the right one.
Where did
that come from?
Oh, it just arrived.
Mr. Charles Duncan.
Here's the letter
that came with it.
Duncan?
Mm-hm.
"Dear Mr. Mason,
"first time in my life
I ever told the truth,
"and you did not
believe me.
"But you're a good man,
so I'm sending you this wheel.
"Take my advice:
you always be the bank.
Let the pigeons
play the odds."
That wheel
is fixed.
( chuckles )
Another game,
pigeon?
( sighs )
( lighthearted theme playing )
( all chuckling )
( noirish jazz theme playing )
02x26 - The Case of the Dangerous Dowager
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.