( upbeat theme playing )
( inaudible dialogue )
Twenty-seven fifty.
There it was,
simply shrieking at me.
Every single line the same,
every pleat, every button.
And there I stood
in your--
Your precious
Dunbar original,
that you wanted me to
palm off on my customers
for $.
( door opens )
Oh, Rick, I'm
glad you're here.
Mrs. Wainwright,
this is Rick Stassi,
my designer.
Your designer?
Your cartoonist.
Your fellow swindler, you mean.
Madam, you really should wear
a tighter girdle with that.
DUNBAR:
Rick, Mrs. Wainwright says
that she used to worked here,
back when my father
was alive.
She now has a small
and exclusive shop on Wilshire.
I have such a bad memory
about faces.
Rick. The fact is
someone
has stolen
our designs again.
Stolen?
You mean, swiped, pirated
and duplicated.
Atley must have had this
in production
just about as long as you.
How do they manage it?
Wally, when you have been in
the business as long as I have,
you'll be more philosophical
about pirating.
Well, I don't have to be
philosophical about it.
You're getting
my entire order back.
And from now on, don't
even bother to call on me,
because I've had it
with Dunbar Fashions.
( door opens, closes )
That's our third
cancellation this week.
Oh, well. Bathing suits
are what the name Dunbar
really stands for.
Have you looked at
these bikinis yet?
Rick, we're standing on
the edge of a cliff.
If any of our major designs
were to be stolen this year,
we're through.
I mean finished. Bankrupt.
Our new bathing suits?
Yes.
Our whole new spring line?
Mm-hm.
Wally, don't!
We're gonna do them over.
Every single one of them.
In secret,
you understand?
Under lock and key
if necessary.
And when they're done,
we're gonna have security
around this place
that'll make Fort Knox
look like a parade ground.
( mellow theme playing )
Ouch.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Lisa.
You must be so tired.
There.
I'll put the red print
in your suitcase
as soon as it's off
the machine.
You are going to Bud's for
photography tonight, aren't you?
Wally won't let
any of the other models
take suits out of
the building.
Of course not.
Just like a spy movie,
isn't it?
Oh, but
just think,
after tomorrow you can sleep
and sleep and sleep.
Oh, don't forget to show
those changes to Rick.
Lisa...Wally does understand
the strain you've been under
these past few days,
oh, with the redesigning
and everything.
( scoffs )
Wally, Wally, Wally.
You've turned into quite
an authority on the boss,
haven't you?
No. It's just that...
Well, he hasn't really
said anything yet.
Oh, darling, I didn't mean te--
( door opens )
More changes.
Scoot, dear.
( pats )
So local girl
makes good, eh?
From rags to riches.
From designer to boss
in six easy months.
Just what do you mean,
"from designer"?
Just what do you
think I mean?
You have circles
under your eyes, my dear.
I should have told
our new scoutmaster
a little more clearly...
what hours I prefer
in my department
for the girls to keep.
Particularly the ones
who write letters
or...do any posing.
I thought you said
you threw everything away.
Rick, there wasn't really
anything between us.
( chuckles )
What have you told Wally?
( laughing )
Stop it.
Please!
Oh, what do you
want from me?
Oh. I'll let you know.
Let me go.
Oh, I hate you.
I could k*ll you.
( laughing )
( door closes )
Kitty?
Hello, honey.
Hey, I like it.
Lisa, I like it.
Oh. Thanks, Wally.
You should, boss.
It's the last one.
You'll now really have some
spring design worth stealing.
You mean I can
now go see
about getting
some protection?
Now's where's
the security starts.
( sighs )
( mysterious theme playing )
In other words, you've just
finished the preparation stage,
is that it?
Specifically, there are
Rick's drawings,
some photographs and
the bathing suits themselves,
which are just
being completed.
Uh, pilot models,
you might say.
Seems as though you've been
very thorough so far.
The next three or four weeks
are the critical period.
I buy materials,
lay out patterns.
I show the suits
to a few selected buyers.
I already have a magazine
cover in work.
Hm-hm. That sounds
fairly public to me.
No, it's not.
The buyers we admit will
only be the most reputable.
Although I'd still like them
checked and rechecked.
Also, my own employees,
and I'd like an eye
kept on certain competitors,
like Simon Atley.
Della, see if Paul Drake
is in his office.
Have him drop by.
You know, Judge Learned Hand
once said,
"When it comes to fashions
and changing styles...
( door opens, closes )
...others may imitate
at their pleasure."
Mr. Mason, once
we're on the market,
I don't mind being copied.
It's too late to hurt us then.
In the meantime, we'll see
that you continue to have
the legal protection.
That your drawings
and sketches
are private property.
( tense theme playing )
Oh, Simon,
there you are.
Your girl's gone home,
I guess.
I-- I didn't know
whether to knock
or just sort of crawl
through the keyhole
Madge, I'm in
rather a hurry.
Simon, did you know
that Dunbar Fashions
tore up their spring designs
just ten days ago?
For heaven's sake, why do you
come to me with this tidbit?
You're not interested?
No.
Now, if you'll
excuse me...
What about
the new designs?
The brand new
ones?
Every single one of them.
Every new style he's got.
And just what do you want
out of this?
Money.
Madge, I ought to
have you arrested.
I wouldn't pay you cent
for stolen fashions.
Even Dunbar's.
And furthermore...
I don't even
want to hear about them.
( mysterious theme playing )
( drawer closes )
Well...
all finished?
Mm-hm.
You did remember to lock your
sketch file, didn't you, Rick?
Always, dear. Always.
I don't even dare
to take a pencil out of
the building anymore.
Have you been able to spot some
of the hired security detail?
( chuckles ):
No.
We can't really blame
Wally for worrying.
After all, he has
everything at stake.
Mm-hm.
I suppose our scoutmaster
is down in one of
the gaudy hotels,
welcoming his precious
buyers and editors
with sarsaparilla.
Rick.
Rick...now that we're
finally through...
Well...what I mean is,
here we have finished
a whole beautiful,
new spring line again.
I thought that--
Well, maybe you and I
could have a drink together.
Like we used to.
Remember your diet,
dear.
( scoffs )
Rick, you-- You're not angry
with me, are you?
Just because I made
a few minor changes
in your design?
Oh, don't be ridiculous.
Every seamstress
has her little needle.
Rick. Rick,
couldn't we just--?
Lisa. Don't you understand
I have other plans?
Isn't that clear enough?
Good night.
Rick. Rick,
please, look at me.
Just once.
All right. Let's see.
It's :.
Bud ought to be
finished
with the pictures
he was taking by now.
Why don't you call
him up?
Why don't you go out with
your husband for a change, huh?
( dramatic theme playing )
( winces )
( door opens )
( door closes )
( door closes )
Hi, Charlie. What's with
the, uh, photo studio?
CHARLIE:
A little night work, I guess.
The girl arrived
about ten minutes ago,
and she was carrying a suitcase.
Which girl?
Kitty Wynne.
You want me to stay here
covering the place,
or the girl, if and when
she does leave?
No, don't worry about the girl.
She's all right.
Just worry about
the studio:
lab, equipment, pictures
and the photographer.
Okay.
Check with you later.
If anything happens,
I'll give you a call.
Okay.
Ah, that's it.
Lady Godiva
on a bicycle.
Startled, snooty blush.
Bartender's just asked you
how old you are.
( giggles )
Uh...take the jacket off.
That was pretty bad.
Baby, what's wrong
with you tonight?
You-- You're Cinderella.
Please, Bud, can't
we just take it?
It's the last one.
No more suits
in there?
No, just the three.
Those are
my own clothes.
You know, learning to relax
is like learning
to stay alive.
Too many noises?
Shut your ear.
Got a worry?
Float it away.
I mean, look at me.
Now, I know I'm not much,
but look how things
just fall off.
Sometimes, baby--
Sometimes you've just got
to ride this crazy world...
sidesaddle.
( phone ringing )
Bud, wait.
If that's Wally Dunbar,
tell him--
Well, tell him we've already
finished, and I've gone home.
I have my own car.
Oh-ho.
So that's it.
You and Wally are
having a little trouble.
Bud, please, I--
I just have other things to do
tonight, that's all.
Yeah?
( woman speaking indistinctly )
Oh. What?
( mouths ):
I'm not coming home.
Well...
where are you going?
Out with that Stassi character?
Lisa, aren't you coming home
at all tonight?
Oh, just skip it.
It's all right.
Sure, sure.
I'll see you.
( sighs )
( dramatic theme playing )
( punches )
( horn honks )
All right, all right.
Come on. I'm closing up.
Oh, it's you.
Good night, sir.
Good night, Mr. Stassi.
Stassi? Would that be, uh,
Rick Stassi
from over at Dunbar's?
Maybe. Why?
Heh. I'm sorry.
My name's, uh, Paul Drake.
Mr. Dunbar told me--
Oh, sure, sure.
How are you, sir?
Boss said you'd be down.
Well, what can I
show you?
Well, I'd...
kind of like to get
familiar with the building.
How, uh, things
are locked up.
And-- Oh, one other thing.
Yeah?
This employee list.
Oh.
I wonder if you could give me
some descriptions to match
these names and addresses.
Well-- I'd, uh--
I'd be glad to.
As soon as I lock up here,
I'll be right with you.
( mysterious theme playing )
( door opens )
Mm, I couldn't find everything
at the building
he said I should
find there.
Namely, those draft sketches
from the designer's file.
Mm, the watchman told me that
Stassi had just driven home,
I thought I'd run out
and check with him.
And...that's when you found
Kitty Wynne's car,
with those in the suitcase?
That's right.
They are
our new fashions.
Go on, Paul.
She was just leaving
his house as I arrived.
And I followed her back
to the Dunbar building.
She, uh, put the suitcase
inside when she left.
I picked it up.
Look, Kitty was out
for photography yesterday.
She always returns her things
to the plant.
Mr. Dunbar...how did
those sketches
get into the suitcase?
There's no harm done,
Mason.
We've got everything back,
haven't we?
I'm sorry if I act
upset.
But I certainly didn't
expect Drake
to go snooping around
after my own girlfriend.
Excuse me,
Mr. Mason,
but I thought you'd
want to see this right away.
It's from
the morning paper.
An advance ad of Simon Atley
bathing suits.
"Soon available
in all our outlets."
PAUL:
They're the same.
Every one of them.
Mm-hm. They even
admit it too.
"Budget styling
identical
with that of the most
expensive fashion houses."
( sighs )
MASON:
Mr. Dunbar...
before you call Kitty...
suppose we get
your designer over here.
What's his number?
State -.
Della.
Mm.
( phone rings )
MAN:
Hello?
Hello, Mr. Stassi?
Uh, who is this,
please?
Perry Mason calling.
Is Mr. Stassi there?
Oh, yes. He's here,
all right.
In body, if not
in spirit.
Who is this?
Why, this is Homicide, Della.
Lieutenant Tragg.
( dramatic theme playing )
( ominous theme playing )
( birds chirping )
Oh, Mr. Mason.
I'm Sergeant Macready,
remember?
Yes, sergeant,
I remember.
Uh, Lieutenant Tragg
wanted to
see Mr. Dunbar
right away.
Well, lieutenant's busy
inside the house.
Be just a minute.
Lisa.
What are you
doing here?
I didn't k*ll him, Wally.
Honestly, I didn't k*ll him.
Traffic detail picked her up
downtown about a.m.
Suspicion,
drunk driving.
She gave
the name Rick Stassi.
Said he'd vouch that
she'd only had a couple.
I just said it, that's all.
It's the first thing
that came to me.
Only when they got around
to checking Stassi,
the milkman had
already been here.
Found him dead.
I-- I really hadn't
been with Rick at all.
Where was Stassi
k*lled? Out here?
Just this side
of the car.
Shot.
Was he getting in or out
of the car when it happened?
Well, neither one, maybe.
He apparently kept a g*n
in the dash compartment.
That, and the fact
there had been a little scuffle
outside the car. We dug
a wild b*llet out of the post.
Well, good morning, Perry.
And, uh, you're
Mr. Dunbar, eh?
Did you ever see
this before, sir?
I don't think so.
You should.
It's registered to you.
No, no, no.
Hm?
Oh. Well, that must be
the one
that I gave to
Rick Stassi then.
Well, that was
weeks ago.
You see, I have several g*ns.
Target pistols mostly.
And, well, he asked me
for one.
I guess it was a . mm
like that.
Why'd he want it, Mr. Dunbar?
Well, we've been taking steps
to maintain complete security.
You see, I've been
concerned
about certain items in my plant
being stolen, and I--
Yes, I already know
quite a few things about that.
Well, Mrs. Ferrand, I don't
think we need you anymore
for a while.
Uh, Macready, have one of
the men drive her home.
Uh, this Rick Stassi
must have been, uh, quite
a ladies' man, I gather.
Mm-hm.
Has the, um,
time of death
been established,
lieutenant?
Well, the doctor says
it was before midnight.
I wonder if
you'd mind, uh,
driving back to town
in my car,
sort of fill me in, uh,
on a few things as we go?
Well, if Mr. Mason
thinks it's all right--
Oh, I'm sure the lieutenant
won't expect you
to answer any questions
except those
concerning your personal
experience of last night.
I'm sure you'll be
a great help, sir.
Well...goodbye, Perry.
( knocking on door )
Hi, Perry.
You locate Kitty Wynne?
No. No luck so far.
Perry...
how far are you really
going on this case?
Well, I'm...finding
a thing or two here.
Of course, technically,
I'm only concerned with...
whose property
was stolen from whom.
Well, that's what I figured.
The reason I asked was
there's a DA's man
in my office right now
with a court order for
my records on the Dunbar job.
Mm-hm. What's
in them, Paul?
Well, so far,
mostly just notes
on what my men and I
did last night.
Times, places,
things like that.
How'd they find out your agency
was even mixed up in this?
Watchman at
the Dunbar building.
Perry...Mr. Dunbar
is on the phone.
He's found Kitty
down at police headquarters.
They've apparently had
her there for quite a few hours.
And, uh, now, he says
they're booking her
for the m*rder.
( dramatic theme playing )
Kitty. Why did you go
to Rick Stassi's house?
Kitty...
Mr. Dunbar wants me
to defend you.
I can't do that
unless you and I
have faith in each other.
It's just that they've
asked me so many questions,
that's all.
And I know I've given
all the wrong answers.
Mm, take it easy.
Just tell me
when you arrived there.
Eleven o'clock.
And then what?
Well, I knocked,
but no one answered.
So I went inside.
Rick wasn't there.
No one was.
You mean, no one was
in the hall or living room.
Or in the back either.
There's a studio, and--
And his room.
You...looked into
all those places?
Why?
A person usually stands
and calls out.
Well, I did
at first, but...
Well, you see,
Rick had been hinting around
the past few days.
I didn't know whether
he told Wally
things that weren't
true or what.
That's why
I went out there.
I just had to
see him.
Kitty...
( sighs)
...what was between you
and Rick Stassi?
I dated him a few times,
that's all.
It was last year, when I first
went to work for the company.
Before Wally was even there.
And...well,
I posed for Rick.
After all, he was
an artist.
And I was so young,
I didn't know.
But there wasn't anything
between us.
Honestly.
I suppose Rick kept the drawings
he made of you,
plus any notes
you might have written him.
Anything
like that.
Yes. How did you know?
Did you find those drawings
he'd saved?
Yes.
In a desk in his studio.
And my notes to him also.
Did you take that material
with you?
I was awfully scared.
I went to the living room and--
And grabbed my coat,
and ran out to my car
as fast as I could.
I hadn't even seen Rick,
so how could I k*ll him?
Please, Mr. Mason.
When you see Wally,
will you explain?
Let's go back to the desk and
those things you took out of it.
What did you do with them?
I took them home and burned
them up in the fireplace.
All right, Kitty...
let's come back
to something else.
You know that the...
Dunbar fashion designs
were being stolen,
don't you?
Yes.
And you know that the
work sketches of those designs
were found in a suitcase
you'd been carrying?
I just don't know, that's all.
How they got there, or--
Or how long they'd been there,
or-- Or anything.
All right, Kitty.
Please, Mr. Mason.
Is it going to be too hard
to have faith in me?
Hm-hm.
No.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
All right, boys.
We'll handle it that way.
Okay. Goodbye.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Hello, Mason.
Stuyvesant.
Ha. Simon, sweet,
you've done it again.
Look. Just look.
There it is.
( door closes )
Madge, I'm very busy.
Oh, I shouldn't wonder.
Getting the jump on Dunbar with
all those lovely styles of his.
I can just see
Rick Stassi's face.
He must be simply frying.
I'll bet he is too, Madge.
Only not the way
you think.
Darling, I know
that he's dead.
Please come in, Mr. Mason.
You are the sly one,
aren't you?
You had it all arranged
all the time, didn't you?
Hm.
The trouble with
fashions is the, uh,
people who wear them.
Hm.
Is she a friend,
or someone
you've been
doing business with?
No, no. No business.
No, sir.
But I can tell you this.
I happen to know that
Madge Wainwright
was fired by Wally Dunbar's
father once.
And for suspicion
of theft too.
Mr. Atley...
I'm interested as to why
you've just seen your lawyers.
I ask because I represent
Miss Kitty Wynne.
She's being held
on suspicion of m*rder.
Oh, I, uh, didn't know that.
I suppose the police must have
talked to you, though.
About some, uh...
fashion sketches
in a suitcase?
Mr. Mason, I know you are aware
that in the United States,
there is absolutely no copyright
or patent protection
for fashion design.
In the state
of California,
the penalty for
receiving stolen goods
can be as much as
one to ten years in prison.
What?
Of course, your lawyers
will tell you
that a conviction
depends upon proving
that the purchaser of said goods
knows they are stolen
at the time of purchase.
Just what are you suggesting?
But I must warn you, Mr. Atley,
that I've had private
detectives working
to maintain Dunbar Fashions
as private property,
so in the event
any of them were stolen--
Mr. Mason, I haven't touched
one single, solitary sketch,
bathing suit, photograph,
or anything else
belonging to Dunbar...
and neither has
any of my employees.
Thank you.
That's what I was hoping
you would say.
Then...Kitty Wynne was
in no way responsible
for your getting any of
these bathing suit fashions?
Now, how can I answer
a question like that?
Mr. Atley...
these are Dunbar
work sketches
completed just yesterday.
I notice, in several cases,
the slightest differences
between them and
the sketches in your ads.
Now, apparently,
a woman named Lisa Ferrand
was often responsible
for the final Dunbar designs.
At least, she often added
touches to Rick Stassi's work.
Your designs don't seem
to have had the benefit
of those touches.
All right, what of it?
Well, it makes me wonder
if you didn't get these designs
from Rick Stassi himself.
He was
the only person who
wouldn't have
really needed
to...steal those designs,
since he had the designs
in his own head.
I paid $,
to Rick Stassi
for a complete set
of new designs,
which he came here
and drew for me.
I paid him in cash,
in $ bills.
And there was absolutely
no one else
in any other way
involved.
Thank you, Mr. Atley.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
How do you suppose
those sketches
got into Kitty's suitcase?
Well, I'd say that
Mr. Stassi put them there.
Tsk. Small wonder
he was m*rder*d.
Oh, but I'm so relieved
she's apparently
telling you the truth.
( knocking on door )
Come in, Paul.
( door opens,
closes )
Paul...
did the police get copies
of these records of yours?
Uh-huh. But you know
the old adage:
Give 'em a finger,
they want a whole hand.
Now it's me they have
a subpoena out for.
However, I did manage to
pick up a couple of things
down at headquarters.
Oh, what?
The boys who went out to
Kitty Wynne's apartment
found paper ashes
in the fireplace.
So now they'll probably
reconstruct evidence
of that blackmail material.
Also, they found
a crumpled-up $ bill
on the floor
of her closet,
and another one
in her car.
That, uh,
mean anything to you?
( dramatic theme playing )
Was there a b*llet recovered
from the body, doctor?
Yes. It had been
slowed down
by an angled collision
with the spine.
Now tell me,
doctor...
when you arrived at the scene
of the crime with the police,
was Mr. Stassi substantially
as we see him here:
that is, half in and half out
of the right side of the car
with his feet on the ground,
and his body fallen
against the left side
of the seat?
That's correct.
Rigor mortis
was quite complete.
I'd say death occurred
at least eight hours
prior to first examination.
That would make it before
: the night before.
Mm-hm.
Thank you, doctor.
That'll be all.
Cross-examine.
Uh, no questions.
BURGER:
Uh, then, Mr. Ellis,
your tests definitely proved
that these b*ll*ts were fired
from this g*n.
Is that correct?
That is correct, sir.
And that these...
are the matching cases.
Is that correct?
Yes, sir.
Those cartridge cases
uh, bear the so-called
breech-block signature
of this g*n.
We found them on
the cement floor of the carport
not far from the body.
And what else could you tell us
that you observed
about this m*rder w*apon
when you examined it?
Well, the g*n obviously
hadn't been used very much.
There was enough cleaning oil,
g*n oil, on it to show streaks
where it had been
wiped clean.
And also, there were
a couple of threads
caught in the breech
mechanism.
Really?
What kind of threads?
Linen.
I see.
Thank you, sir.
I think that'll be all.
Your witness.
MASON:
Uh, no questions.
I call...
Madge Wainwright.
It was about : when I talked
to Mr. Stassi on the telephone.
I should say he was
most alive at the time.
How did you happen to phone
the Dunbar office,
Mrs. Wainwright?
I was trying to locate
a friend of mine,
but he couldn't help me.
A-- A woman
answered. That, uh--
That Lisa Ferrand
person, I believe.
And then Rick himself.
But, uh, he said he and
the woman were all alone,
so, um, hm...
naturally, I hung up.
But you were able to recognize
the voice as that of Mr. Stassi?
Oh, yes, of course.
There was a day
when I knew Mr. Stassi.
Though, of course,
he forgot any girl
after she passed the age of,
uh, .
BURGER:
Yes. Now, you said that you...
once worked for
the Dunbar company.
Was the defendant
in their employ
at the time
that you were there?
Yes, it was, um, last year.
She burst on the place,
like a...
springtime off
the half shell.
Your Honor--
Uh, just yes or no,
if you don't mind,
Mrs. Wainwright.
Now, of your own knowledge,
what was the relationship
between the defendant
and Rick Stassi?
Well, I know that she posed
for him in the near-nude.
I also know that
she wrote him letters,
which he showed me,
that were certainly
not innocent.
Uh, what else do you have
to know about these things?
I mean, looks,
touches, the--
The whole electricity
of two people
having a...
A-a relationship?
No!
That's not true!
( crowd murmuring )
No!
I think that's all,
Mrs. Wainwright. Thank you.
Your witness.
Mrs. Wainwright...
were there other girls
at Dunbar
that you would call
attractive?
Yes, all of them were...
one way or another.
And to how many of them
did Mr. Stassi...
give special attention?
All of them.
Mm, for a while, at least.
You're very attractive yourself,
Mrs. Wainwright.
Thank you.
Did he give you
special attention?
For...how long?
Thank you.
That'll be all.
I could hear them talking
in Rick's office,
but I wasn't sure of
what they were saying.
And then I heard Kitty
shout, "Let me go!"
And I heard her say,
"I hate you. I could k*ll you."
And this was the afternoon
of the day he was m*rder*d?
Yes.
Thank you, Miss Lacoste.
Your witness.
MASON:
Uh, no questions.
You may step down.
I'm sorry, Kitty.
Well, let's see now,
it was about :
when the wife called.
Uh, Lisa, that is.
She had driven downtown
after leaving
the office, she said.
BURGER:
And at what time did Kitty Wynne
leave your studio?
Well, we quit right after that.
So as quick as she could
slip into her clothes.
I guess :, or .
Kitty was pretty upset
and anxious, like I said.
I see. Thank you, Mr. Ferrand.
I think that'll be all.
To you, counselor.
Mr. Ferrand, when did
you develop the pictures
you'd taken of
the defendant?
Well, to tell you the truth,
I decided to replace
a broken bottle first.
Then you also went out
about : or :
that evening?
I was tired.
I had wanted a drink,
that's all.
I was back to fix the pictures
by...midnight.
Does that answer
your question?
Would any of the places
you went to during that time
remember your presence?
Who remembers the furniture?
Hm.
What about your wife?
She was downtown.
Perhaps you had a drink
with her.
No.
Then you didn't see your wife
all that night?
She had nothing to do with this.
What kind of accusations
you trying to make?
Are you always
so quick-tempered, Mr. Ferrand?
Thank you,
that'll be all.
You may stand down.
And then we-- We talked about
going out together...
but Rick was in a hurry.
That was the last time
I saw him.
Thank you.
Counselor.
Mrs. Ferrand...
now, just exactly what is
your job at Dunbar's?
I'm a seamstress
in the design department.
Aren't you the one who often
adds the final touches
to Dunbar designs?
The things that some people say
make those designs
so distinctive?
Sometimes, I-- I guess I helped.
What is your salary,
Mrs. Ferrand?
I'm paid $ a week.
Have any idea how much, uh...
Rick Stassi received
for his services?
Now, I think ab--
About $, a year.
Oh, but if you mean, uh...
did that bother me, the--
The difference between us...
I never gave it a thought,
as long as--
MASON:
As long as what?
It's not true that
I did anything special.
Rick was the designer.
Rick did everything.
Rick deserved everything.
Even being m*rder*d,
Mrs. Ferrand?
Mr. Stassi drove out
of the parking lot
at :
on the button, sir.
Well, how can you be
so sure of the time?
Well, that's when
I come to work.
Uh, I just punched my clock.
You see, I'm watchman
for that building,
and my first job is, uh,
locking the fence gate
and, uh, cranking up
the windows.
But, of course,
when he hit the horn,
and I saw that
flashy car of his, I--
I let Mr. Stassi out.
I think that'll be all, sir.
Thank you. Your witness.
Did, uh, Mr. Stassi
say good night to you?
No, I guess he didn't.
But I said it to him.
Are you sure
it was Mr. Stassi
who drove out
at
Well, of course it was.
I saw him.
I saw his car,
and I, uh, saw my clock.
Now, you said
part of your job
was...cranking up
windows.
What do you mean?
Well, car windows.
On nights it looks like
there's gonna be rain, you see?
Hm.
Well, on the, uh,
night in question,
there were intermittent showers
beginning late in the evening,
and, uh, clearing
shortly after dawn.
And did this circumstance
contribute in any way
to your findings
at the scene of the crime?
Well, there are no sidewalks
or paved shoulders in that area.
So we noticed that any cars
parked in the Stassi place
left, uh, muddy tire tracks.
Well, go on, lieutenant.
What exactly did you find?
Well, Mr. Stassi's own car left
tracks coming into the drive,
of course.
And then there were
marks of tires
similar to those of a car
belonging to Mr. Paul Drake.
A third set of tracks was
parked in front of the house
with the same
tire design...
as the defendant's car.
And that's all?
Just those three cars?
That's all.
I see. Now, lieutenant...
I show you this handkerchief,
and I ask
if you recognize it.
I do. That has
my identifying mark on it.
Where did you find it?
Lying on the ground,
in, uh, front of
the Stassi home.
What's the material of
this handkerchief, lieutenant?
It's linen.
It's Irish linen.
I see. Now, I notice there's
some dark stains on it.
Did you analyze those?
Yes. Those stains
are from g*n oil.
The same oil that was
on the m*rder w*apon.
And up in this corner
of this handkerchief--
Yes, the initials, uh, "K.W."
BURGER:
K.W. Kitty Wynne.
If it please the court,
I should like this handkerchief
and this attached
chemist's report
entered in evidence
for the people.
Mr. Mason?
No objections.
Cross-examine.
( sighs )
Is it yours?
Can you tell?
Well? Mr. Mason?
I have no questions
of this witness.
Court adjourned until a.m.
I don't know, Mr. Mason.
I just don't know.
I guess I had a handkerchief
in my purse.
Mine are like that.
Did you keep
the purse with you?
What?
At Rick's house,
when you went
into the studio.
Yes, I guess
I must have.
I put the drawings
and things in it.
Well, what about
your coat?
Remember you said
you picked your coat up
when you ran out
to the car?
Yes, that's right.
What kind of a coat
was it, Kitty?
What does it
look like?
It's just a jacket.
An old car coat.
It's beige, and it has
slash pockets.
All right.
Della...call Paul.
Tell him to meet me at
the Dunbar building right away.
Then try and find
that beige jacket.
I'll see you
back at the office.
( mysterious theme playing )
Time to get up.
Oh.
( grunts )
I'm sorry I'm
so late, Della.
That Kitty's coat?
Mm-hm. The landlady
helped me find it.
Let me see the pockets.
Remember your trench coat?
Now, here.
You put your hand
in the outside,
goes into the pocket.
Or you could put it
right through the slip
to the inside
of the coat.
Now, suppose someone was
there when Kitty arrived.
Kitty started to
look around...
finally went
into the study.
Mm-hm. Leaving her coat
in the living room.
Mm-hm.
You know, most girls
carry handkerchiefs
in their pocket, Perry.
I know I do.
Now, suppose
whoever was there...
wiped the g*n off with
her handkerchief.
And then to incriminate Kitty
put the handkerchief
and a couple of those $ bills
into her coat pocket,
or what felt like
the coat pocket.
Then Kitty came running
through the house...
grabbed her coat
in the living room, ran out.
The handkerchief must have
fallen out of the lining
even before she reached
the car.
One of the bills fell unnoticed
to the floorboard,
and one of the bills
apparently stayed
caught in her coat
until she reached home.
( door opens )
And that's the way it
could've been.
( door closes )
Hi.
Well, we were lucky.
Here's the rest of
the information you wanted.
And now, if no one minds,
I did have a date.
At this hour?
No. No one minds.
Della will still have
to put this together.
( sighs )
Coffee, anyone?
Now, to recapitulate,
you saw Miss Wynne come
running out of that house
at exactly what time, Mr. Drake?
I arrived at exactly :.
And it took you how long to get
there from the Dunbar building?
About minutes.
Go on.
Well, as I said,
I arrived at :.
By the time I'd looked into
her car and she'd come out,
driven off, and I followed her,
must have been :.
Now, Mr. Drake...
did you at any time
see so much as one indication
of any other person
or any other car
anyplace on that road,
either approaching
or leaving that house?
No, sir, I did not.
Thank you, Mr. Drake.
Thank you for the accuracy
of your observations,
and those of your operatives.
And thank you for not making me
treat you as a hostile witness.
To you, counselor.
Mr. Drake...
let's return to the Dunbar
building for a moment.
To the, uh, parking lot
between buildings.
Now, you stated
you arrived just as
Mr. Stassi's car
drove off.
I stated I heard the watchman
say, "Good night, Mr. Stassi."
But you did see his car
drive out through the gates?
Yes, I did.
Tell me, had it begun
to rain at that time?
Mm, there was a little drizzle.
But was it
enough to...
cloud the windows
of a car?
Well, I didn't actually
look at Mr. Stassi,
if that's what you mean.
The headlights were
too bright anyway.
May it please the court, I would
like to recall a witness.
Which witness, Mr. Mason?
What for?
Your Honor, I object.
Counselor?
Uh, Mr. Miller,
the watchman.
It seems to me
he's more qualified
to answer my next
question.
What is the question?
One I should have
asked before.
Was Mr. Stassi alone
in the car?
I can't answer
that, sir. I don't know.
If it please the court,
I'm gonna withdraw my objection
to the night watchman
being recalled.
I think that question
should be answered.
He was alone, I tell you.
Of course he was alone.
But Mr. Miller,
you must admit
that the windows
might have been fogged.
You hardly even looked in
the direction of the headlights.
"Good night,
Mr. Stassi," says I.
It was like that every night.
You get an impression.
You know what I mean?
Of what? Could you tell
what clothes he was wearing?
Well, maybe
not that, no--
An impression of a hat?
Did he always wear a hat?
Well, as a matter
of fact, he did.
Of course, I couldn't swear
that he had one on.
Well, then how could you swear
there wasn't somebody
sitting beside him,
hunched down
in the seat perhaps?
Because it's the kind
of thing you see.
The car drives away...
one person in back
of the wheel.
Anybody else and they'd have
to be flat on the floor,
let me tell you.
Very well.
Now, um, you mentioned
rolling up car windows.
Yes, sir.
Did you by any chance
roll up the windows
on a green sedan
parked either in the lot
or on the street
outside?
MILLER:
Nope.
Did you notice
a convertible...
with a torn top?
I don't think so.
No, I'm sure not.
Did you roll up the windows
on a Thunderbird? Pink?
Nope.
Well, perhaps...
They've got those
little electric buttons.
Nothing you could do
without the keys.
You mean, there was
such a car?
On a side street
between the buildings, mm-hm.
How long was it left there?
Oh, somebody came and got it
before morning, I guess.
That's all I noticed.
With the court's
indulgence,
I should like to recall
another witness:
Mrs. Wainwright.
Your Honor, I must
protest this parade
of recalled
prosecution witnesses.
Surely the defense
can put on its own case.
Uh, I do have
a pink Thunderbird,
i-if that's all
you want to know.
I think, Mr. Burger...
I think, Your Honor,
that I'll withdraw
my objection.
JUDGE:
Step down, Mr. Miller.
Will you take the stand,
please, Mrs. Wainwright?
I remind you you're
still under oath.
Oh, is the car you just heard
described yours,
Mrs. Wainwright?
Yes, of course.
You've already found
that out, haven't you?
Can you tell this court how
your car happened to be there?
Yes, I parked it there.
Yesterday, Mrs. Wainwright,
you testified that at : p.m.
on the night of the m*rder,
you telephoned
the Dunbar building,
trying to locate someone there.
Who?
Uh, Mr. Simon Atley.
MASON:
Why did you think Mr. Stassi
would know where he was?
Well, he-- He was with him
earlier in the evening.
And Simon paid him $,.
But if Mr. Stassi told you
that Mr. Atley wasn't there,
why did you then drive your car
to the Dunbar building?
Oh, that was just an excuse.
It was a--
A part of a plan that, hm,
just didn't work out,
that's all.
Plan?
Yes.
I drove my car,
and parked it, and...
then I walked home.
Straight home.
Uh, Simon didn't want to use
his car. He--
He was afraid it might
be recognized.
You mean,
Mr. Atley was there?
Oh, not with me.
He was going to wait
in the parking lot for Rick.
Please, Your Honor!
Order!
( crowd murmurs )
You see, Rick wanted more money.
Oh, everyone knows
what Rick was like.
And, uh...he was threatening
to expose Simon.
And Simon was going to
meet him that night and--
And straighten things
out, that's all.
And then he was trapped...
inside the parking lot.
And the gates were
going to close,
and...
And he was trapped.
And-- A-and he-- He hadn't got
what he came for, and--
And he didn't know
what to do, and--
Get her off there!
Bailiff.
Simon, it-- It doesn't fit
if I don't tell the truth.
It doesn't fit.
She's lying. I never had
any dealings with her.
( crowd murmuring )
Mrs. Wainwright...
wasn't all this
not what Mr. Atley did,
but what you did?
What do you mean?
You went to see Stassi...
you waited for him
in the parking lot.
And before the watchman
came on duty,
something terrible
happened.
Something which
made you panicky
when the gates started to close.
"Trapped," you said.
"Inside," you said.
The gates were going to close.
And then, didn't you drive
Stassi's car off that lot?
Well, he was in
no condition to drive.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
I'd already k*lled him.
( sobbing )
( mellow music playing)
Well, her confession claimed
there was no premeditation.
They just sat in Rick's car,
uh, arguing and fighting.
The g*n was
right there.
Arguing?
She had once been
an accomplice of Rick's.
When Rick went out
and made his own deal,
she wanted to
cut in.
Yeah, that's why she drove
him home. To get the money.
She also fired a shot
into the post
to make it look like the m*rder
took place there.
Yipe.
Excuse me.
You know...
sometimes
this business is fun.
( both chuckle )
( noirish jazz theme playing )