03x24 - The Case of the Ominous Outcast

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( peaceful theme playing )

Hey, wait a minute.

You're not locking up, are you?

I was just gonna
check in at the hotel

and come right back
for a haircut.

Little lunch, little fishing
in the crick, little nap

and, uh, back at --

Yeah, well, I'll be thrown
into the dog pound by then.

Is there another barber
in town?

Come in. I'll cut the grass.

Probably wouldn't
catch anything anyway.

Ha! Thanks.

The fishing's been pretty good
up Rainbow Ranch.

I've been spending
my vacation there.

This sure
is beautiful country.

Stranger here, eh?

Yeah, that's right. I've never
been here before in my life.

Never even been
in California.

( peaceful theme playing )

Ever try a beaver?

A beard?

( chuckling ):
I'm not the type.

Good chance to see
what you'd look like.

There.
That's what I mean.

Listen, my boss would
take one look at this and...

Hey, that doesn't look
so bad after all.

Bad?

It's downright striking.

Okay, I'll be fearless.
The haircut can wait.

Now, hold on.
I was just testing.

I didn't mean you to go walking
around in the thing.

Oh, relax.
Maybe I like it.

Here. Go get yourself
some lunch.

And thanks again.

( car horn honks )

( bell dings )

Yes?

Oh, uh, I'd like a room,
please.

I'll just be staying one night,
I guess.

( dramatic theme playing )

Uh, I'd like a bath,
of course.

The barber said there'd be--
Amy.

This here's Mr. Bob Lansing.

That's his name.
He's from Salt Lake City.

He's just traveling through,
that's all

He's a stranger.

I'm afraid we're all full up.

Uh, no, you're not.
Now, Amy.

I don't care what he is
or who he calls himself.

There's no room in my hotel.
Goodbye.

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

Well, hello, there.
Small world.

Remember me?
I was up at Rainbow Ranch.

Oh, yeah.
Flaherty's the name. J.J.

I travel in hardware,
mostly.

Everybody's crazy
in this town.

What's wrong?
No rooms.

She's lying.
I know she is.

Well, maybe you scared the poor
woman with your beard.

No wonder.
You need a guitar.

Okay. Who cares?

So long,
Mr. Flaherty.

Maybe I can make
Las Vegas by dark.

You said at supper last night
you had an errand to run

over here in Outcast.
I thought you'd stay over a day.

Yeah, that's right.
It's just a favor for a friend.

To look up some guy here.

I didn't think it was
too important though.

All I mean is, son,
if you wanna see this guy,

I know a better place
to stay than this.

It's a new motel.
It's got air conditioning.

Care to join up?

Why not?

( peaceful theme playing )

So, uh, she just up
and spit in your eye.

Is that it?
Well, it wasn't only her.

No, thanks. The barber gave me
kind of a strange look too.

Then this guy
in the hotel lobby,

he even gave me
a funny look.

Uh, it's the beard,
that's all.

Hey, what was the name of that
guy you wanted to look up?

There's a phone book here.

BOB:
Oh, I've got his address,
thanks.

Say, by the way,
Mr. Flaherty,

what happened to the fishing?

You got to the ranch yesterday.
Why'd you leave so quick?

What's the matter,
you think I'm prying?

Maybe you think
I've been following you?

Oh, of course not.

Look, all I'm gonna do
is see a guy named Bell.

A friend, a very old friend,
an old man in Salt Lake,

he asked me to thank Mr. Bell
for some things, that's all.

See, this old man
in Salt Lake,

he's, uh-- He's headmaster
of an orphanage.

It's the same orphanage
I grew up in.

Only now everybody around here's
looking cross-eyed at me.

See you later.

( snickers )

( mysterious theme playing )

It's Frederick W. Bell's office,
isn't it?

Yes.
Thank you.

Oh, just a minute. If you'll
wait until I announce you--

I don't wanna be announced.
But he's busy. Please.

Maybe I wanna surprise him.
Here, now,

what's going on?

Are you Mr. Bell?
Yes.

( laughs )

Then I guess you're not
my father, are you?

Or my uncle, or my brother.

Your what?

What on earth
are you talking about?

Well, I wish I knew.

Uh, I sort of expected you
to look like me, I guess.

Or I'd look like you.

I must look like
somebody around here.

It's all right, Betty.
You can go to lunch now.

BOB:
I'm sorry, sir.

Dr. Kennedy in Salt Lake

asked me to drop by, that's all.

But when everybody in town
seemed to recognize me,

I thought he might have had
something else in mind.

But I guess he just
wanted me to stop by

and thank you for your gifts.

I don't know what
you're talking about, young man.

Now, if you'll please leave.

Oh, it's really
quite confidential, sir.

I mean,
if there's any reason for that.

But Dr. Kennedy said
there'd been several gifts

to the school from here
over a period of years.

I guess he traced them to you.

Anyway, he thought
you'd like to know

how much they were appreciated.

I told you, I don't know
what you're talking about.

Now, don't raise your voice,
dear.

Vivian. For heavens' sakes,
what are you doing here?

Looking for money.

BELL:
I thought you were going

into Los Angeles
with Tom Quincy.

Now, don't start gossip
about your own wife, dear.

Oh, Vivian, please.

Who's your handsome
young friend?

Vivian Bell.
Bob Lansing.

I'll be with you in a minute.
The young man's made a mistake.

Oh.

BELL:
You see, there are other
Fred Bells.

You've got the wrong person,
that's all.

And, oh, yes,
there's also a town

by the name of Outcast
in Nevada.

In Nevada?
No, there isn't, dear.

Will you please
just wait for me?

BELL:
Anyway, explain this

to your doctor friend.

And I'm sorry if I just
didn't seem to know

what you were talking about.

Why, Fred, I didn't know

you were having
your hair cut?

Uh, howdy, Mrs. Bell.

VIVIAN:
Hello, Jeff.

Uh, young feller. I guess
you're pretty busy now, sir.

Uh, excuse me.

All right, who is it
everybody thinks I am?

Who do I look like?

I--

I don't know
what you're talking about.

VIVIAN:
Oh, really, Fred.

It's bubbling all over town.

They're saying,
"He's come back.

"It's his ghost.
It's his son, maybe.

The spitting image of the town's
most awful criminal."

What do you suppose
it feels like

to be the son of a m*rder*r?

( dramatic theme playing )

"On May , ,
a man named Lin Aberdeen

"held up the First Pioneer Bank
in Outcast.

"Aberdeen was shot and wounded

"by a guard
as he made his getaway.

"That evening, the bank robber
was spotted in a produce truck,

"trying to leave town.

He was then shot and k*lled
by deputy sheriff."

BOB:
Are there any pictures there?

It was in all the papers
at the time.

May I see them?

This isn't
a complete report.

I had a man start checking
the minute you phoned in.

He located these
in a couple of hours.

Look. What do you think?

It's your face,
all right.

Even without the beard.

They're absolutely identical.

In that gunfight,

Aberdeen k*lled
a couple of deputy sheriffs.

Shot them down in cold blood,
right?

Uh, the report says that--

BOB:
So it's true, then?

I am the son of a m*rder*r.

Now, don't jump to conclusions.

Why not?

Mr. Mason, anybody who
didn't grow up an orphan

can never even imagine
what it's like.

Who was my father?
Who was my mother?

It's all you ever think about.

Well, it is true that there was
an infant son somewhere.

Apparently Aberdeen's wife was--

Yeah, a son.
Sure. Me.

I tell you, you get eyes
in the back of your head.

Every time somebody
gives you a funny look,

you say "Maybe that's
a relative of mine."

And the second I walked
into that dirty town,

everybody in the place
started to--

Now, Bob, take it easy.

Look, you don't understand.

My big mystery turns out
to be a k*ller, that's all.

Pa?

Oh, he was such a big hero

they shot him down
in the streets.

You know,
I think it was very wise of you

to come into Los Angeles
to see an attorney.

Well, I thought maybe you
could help me

check out all
the records and things.

MASON:
You'd be even wiser, Bob,

if you'd leave this whole thing

in the hands of Dr. Kennedy
and myself.

Sometimes the truth
is not found easily.

Why would that Mr. Bell

send presents to the orphanage?

Why would he?

I'm afraid that's his business.

And, uh, the law protects
his privacy.

Yeah, but, Mr. Mason, everybody
in that town acted strange.

Why?
What's wrong with those people?

Mm-hm. Money, I guess.

Money?

When Aberdeen robbed that bank,

he got away
with nearly $,.

Somehow,
before he was k*lled,

he got rid of that money.

It was never recovered.
Never found.

DELLA:
Can you imagine all the local
gossip there must've been?

It's no wonder that face
of yours created such a stir.

Huh.

So I'm a clue
in a treasure hunt too.

Okay, thanks very much,
Mr. Mason, for everything.

Miss Street.

I'll stir them up, all right.

I'll find the truth.

MASON:
Bob.

You ought to let
us handle it.

How can I?

I told you,
you don't know how I feel.

The boy's come back from Los
Angeles and he's pretty upset.

What's that have to do
with me?

Well, he's asking questions
all around, Mr. Quincy.

You know, a kid like that
gets a bee in his bonnet...

So the whole town's
gone batty again

looking for Aberdeen's money.

Well, that happens periodically,
every year or two, Mr., uh...

Flaherty. J.J.

So don't bother me with it.

They're a bunch of fools.

It doesn't take much
to stir them up.

Well, I don't
just mean the money.

At least not just yet,
I don't.

Thought you said you represented
some insurance company.

That's right, sir,
The robbery was a bonded loss.

Naturally I wanna find
the honeypot first.

( both chuckle )

Well, I'll tell you what,
Mr., uh...

Flaherty.

...you just stay on the case
another years or so,

and maybe
you'll get it solved.

But if you think
that boy showing up

is gonna lead you to anything,
you're-- You're mistaken.

Yes, sir, but, uh,
suppose I mention the name Bell?

Fred Bell.
He works for me.

That's what I hear.
Manages your trucking firm.

One of my firms.

Big position though.

He used to be just a clerk.

In , yeah.

In the bank though.

Matter of fact,
he was the clerk in the bank

on the day it was held up.

That's the way
I understood it.

Well, you're the detective,
Mr. Flaherty.

Go ahead.

I'm not just scratching fleas.

You aware this Fred Bell
has been sending gifts

to an orphanage
for more than years?

The same orphanage

this Bob grew up in?

Well, uh,

maybe it's charity.

Or maybe an interest
in somebody there.

I'm not gonna add two and two
and give you seven.

Fred's always been a pushover
for Girl Scout cookies,

Christmas turkeys.

The, uh, boy doesn't know
all this yet.

I had a friend do some checking
for me in Salt Lake City.

The gifts were all in cash.

They added up
to more than...

$,.

So you give it some thought, hm?

Oh, just any little help
you can come up with.

I'll be glad to cut you in
on the reward.

Of course you're pretty
well fixed here.

But rewards,
they accrue interest.

Indeed they do, Mr. Quincy.

Where is he?
Who, dear?

That fool husband
of yours.

I'm not going to tell you
until you change your jacket.

We're going dancing.

Where is he?

Well, he's probably
watching television.

You know how much
he likes westerns.

Did Flaherty upset you
that much?

You know Fred's been sending
money someplace for years?

I found out about it
this afternoon. Why?

What's he think he's doing,
anyway?

That fool.

( phone line rings )

Blasted, blasted fool.

( phone ringing )

( phone continues ringing )

( train horn blowing distantly )

Once a thief, always a thief.

( ominous theme playing )

( footsteps approaching )

( dramatic theme playing )

( footsteps
approaching quickly )

BOB:
Wait a minute!

Hey, wait a minute!

I wanna talk to you!

No. Please, not here.

Listen--
No!

MAN:
Mr. Bell.

Oh, Mr. Bell.

It's me, Jeff Douglas.

You got a few minutes?

I didn't hear
your television on.

You asleep in there?

( dramatic theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

Mason, eh?

Perry Mason,
the attorney?

Well, well, well.

Well.

If I wasn't such
a fair-minded person, Mr. Mason,

I wouldn't let you
have a room in my hotel.

Why, thank you.

And, uh, my secretary
may need some space

to transcribe
some notes.

But her typing
won't make much noise.

You're here to see that
young man in jail, aren't you?

I didn't know he'd asked
for any anybody yet.

MASON:
I am planning to see
Bob Lansing, yes.

Bob Aberdeen,
it ought to be.

You won't do him any good,
Mr. Mason. He's guilty.

You seem remarkably
well-informed.

Well, I ought to be.

Twenty years ago, that boy's
father k*lled my brother.

He was deputy sheriff and his
wife was gonna have a baby.

I saw my brother die
right out there on that street

where that crosswalk
is now.

I see.

Lin Aberdeen
cheated this town

out of a fair trial
and conviction.

But just you watch.

We'll give his son
the gas chamber, all right.

( ominous theme playing )

Della, take the bags upstairs.
I'll meet you at the courtroom.

I know I didn't do
what you told me.

About letting you handle things.

About not coming back
to Outcast, at least.

Well, I did come back.

Maybe I wanted to make trouble.

To stir things up.

Sure, I wanted to.

You wanted to k*ll him?

No.

To make people think
I knew where the money was,

that's one crazy idea I had.

Lin Aberdeen's money?

Sure, my father's.

If people wanted
something to point at,

I'd give them something
to point about.

You were feeling pretty sorry
for yourself, weren't you?

Maybe.

What time last night
did you decide

that Mr. Bell
had found the money?

Oh, you figured that out too,
huh?

He must have, Mr. Mason.

Years ago he must have.

And made those payments
to your orphanage ever since?

Sure. Conscience money.

Maybe he really was mixed up
in that bank robbery

or k*lling those deputies
or something.

So last night you went
out to his house

to accuse him of those crimes?

No, I just wanted to ask him.
To find out.

And he resisted you?

Well, I didn't fight him.

They had to take three stitches
in your scalp, I understand.

I fell.

That was from the corner
of the table or something.

Mr. Bell's skull was fractured.

He was literally
beaten to death.

But I didn't do it!

Then who did, the barber?

I don't know.

I was unconscious for a while,
I guess.

I-- I must've been.

I, uh, talked with
Dr. Kennedy last night.

In Salt Lake City?
Mm-hm.

I asked him if he had
any particular reason

for asking you to contact
Mr. Bell. He didn't.

He simply wanted you
to see him

because you were vacationing
in the area.

Well, did you ask him
anything about my background?

Yes.

He said you'd been
left in a bus station.

That they could never
locate the Mexican woman

who'd been traveling
with you from California.

But when?
When was it?

Two weeks after
the robbery.

You were just a few
years old at that time.

About the same age
as the Aberdeen boy.

Well,
I guess I did enough

feeling sorry for myself
last night.

If you're worried about
handling my case--

Bob.

I've already opened
an office in my hotel room.

Now, let's go over

the whole story again

right from the beginning.

It's dreadful my not being able
to help you, Mr. Mason.

But I didn't even learn

I was a widow
until after midnight.

You'd been over here
at Mr. Quincy's house

earlier in the evening?

Yes.

We're on several
committees together,

Mr. Quincy and I.

So I understand.

What time did you leave here,
Mrs. Bell?

About :.

That awful man, Mr. Flaherty,
made Tom angry.

And Tom tried to get my husband
on the phone and couldn't,

and that made it worse.

So I went out by myself.

The police found me later

at the little lounge
down the highway.

Then when was the last time
you saw your husband?

At dinnertime. About :.

Did your husband
ever discuss, uh,

certain gifts he'd sent to,
uh, Salt Lake City?

My husband did not discuss
his finances with me, Mr. Mason.

But at dinner...

did he say anything
about expecting to see anyone?

Oh, you have the wrong idea,
Mr. Mason.

The last time I saw my husband

was when I was going
out for dinner.

He was just sitting there.
He didn't say anything.

I don't even remember
if he said good night.

You had a rather
unusual marriage, didn't you?

There are only unusual people,
Mr. Mason.

Tom and I wanted to get married

but my husband
did not believe in divorce.

All right, gorgeous,
I have it.

J.J. Flaherty.

Mm-hm. He's some sort
of an insurance investigator.

And, uh, Mr. Quincy,

find out what
his financial holdings are

throughout the state.

Oh, and Paul,

see if there's an underwriter's
report on the robbery.

May th, .

All right. I have that.

Now, when does Perry
want me up there?

The hearings
will start tomorrow,

so we don't have much time,
but--

Wait a minute.

Paul, there is something else.

Perry wants you to double-check
every newspaper on the robbery.

It might help us to know
if there was even a hint

that Aberdeen
might've had an acco--

Accomplice?

Is that what you were
gonnasay?

Well, Perry better check
the newspaper files there.

It's probably only
a weekly but--

Della?

Two heads of lettuce,
please. Yes.

And a box of strawberries,
nice and fresh.

If you please.

Five pounds of potatoes.

Am I going too fast for you?

Potatoes.

No organization.

I don't know where
Fred's mind was,

but his books are in a mess.

It'll take me six months
to get this cleared up.

How long was he manager
of your trucking business?

You mean,
why did I keep him here?

Set up like this?
Fancy house and all?

You figure that out,
Mr. Mason.

Nearly everyone else has.

I've, uh,
spoken with Mrs. Bell.

I gather you're to be
congratulated soon.

If we get married
that'll be our business.

know Fred Bell
as early as ?

We grew up together around here.

How about Lin Aberdeen?

Was he ever a friend of Bell's?

Search me.

Could've been.

Aberdeen came here a few months
before he robbed the bank.

Got fired from a janitor's job,

mowed a few lawns.

Oh?

What's the matter, Mr. Mason,

you worried about
where all my money came from?

Well, I'll tell you.

I was poor, ambitious,
and during World w*r II

I was lucky enough
to miss the draft.

Now, if you'll let me
get back to my books.

Anything there in Bell's records

to suggest a money shortage?

Or maybe a surplus?

What if Bell did have all
that loot all these years?

Wouldn't help
the boy's case any.

On the contrary, Mr. Quincy.

One way or another that loot,
as you call it,

is a motive for m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing )

For almost every person
in this town.

Thank you, Miss Gordon.
You're welcome.

It's been some time
since I worked

for the insurance company,
yes.

My investigator
said five years.

I'm on my own now,
you might say.

What they used to call
a bounty hunter, is that right?

Well, I'll sure split.

Uh, give you anything
that'll help your boy.

But I'm afraid,
as far as digging up

an old accomplice goes...

There were plenty
of witnesses to the fact

that Aberdeen was alone
when he held up the bank.

I've dug that far myself.

And check, uh,
if anybody gave him a hand

between then and the evening
at the time he was k*lled.

It would be pretty hard
to turn up any evidence

of any man it could be.

You mean, there might
have been a woman?

Well, now, I haven't scratched
there yet, but, uh--

Hey, where are you going?

When did this happen?
Early this morning.

Little weekly newspaper
they got here.

FLAHERTY:
Fire burned out
every file they had.

MASON:
"Keep out.

Property of Tom Quincy."

Sure, Quincy owns everything
in this town.

( dramatic theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

DOUGLAS:
Th-there he was.

Uh, him, the defendant,

trying to get out
the back way and couldn't.

Mr. Bell,
he was down on the floor.

I, uh, think I asked you
what time it was, Mr. Douglas.

I don't want our friend
from Los Angeles

to be objecting
to all this talk.

It was about :
I walked in there, sir.

Thank you.
Your witness.

Did you at any time see
the defendant strike Mr. Bell?

Well, uh, no.
I just got there. You see--

Did you, uh,
hear any sounds of struggle

as you approached the house?

No. Of course,
I wasn't listening.

And I walk pretty fast.

Why were you in such a hurry
to see Mr. Bell?

DOUGLAS:
I'd heard the defendant

asking about him
in a couple of bars earlier.

I guess I was curious,
that's all.

In a couple of bars?

You mean, you were following
the defendant

from place to place?

Your Honor.

Well,
I'm not the only one.

Half the town
was out that night.

( spectators laugh )

( gavel rapping )

I'll withdraw the question,
if you think it's irrelevant.

( clears throat )

MASON:
Thank you, that's all.

Mr. Bell died of a massive
intracerebral hemorrhage.

This was caused by several blows
with a blunt instrument.

Such as the heavy bookend
I've just showed you?

Yes.

And did the samples of blood
found on the bookend

match that of the victim?

DOCTOR:
They did.

May it please the court,
I would like to introduce

this m*rder w*apon
as People's Exhibit A.

Any luck, Paul?

No, but I have these notices
planted all over town.

JUDGE:
Uh, counselor?

( Della reading )

I have no objection
to the exhibit.

So mark it.

Thank you, doctor.

There'll be no further
questions now.

Uh, doctor,

could the blows
that k*lled Mr. Bell

have been struck
by a woman?

DOCTOR:
I suppose so.

That's a pretty heavy bookend.

MASON:
Thank you.

Now, when you were first called
to the scene of the crime,

did you also have reason
to examine the defendant?

Objection, Your Honor.

There's a regular time
for the defense

to present its own testimony.

Well, now,
it seems to me you suggested

there was a fight,
Mr. Prosecutor.

Well, now, in a fight
it isn't always possible

to separate the blows.

Now, I think I'd call that
laying a foundation.

Overruled. Proceed.

Well, doctor?

I examined the boy, yes.

He had one contusion
with slight lacerations.

Exactly where was that?

The parietal region.

Now, that's right on top
of the head, isn't it?

Yes.

Uh, doctor, do you think
it possible

for someone to stumble
or fall in such a manner

so as to injure
the very top of the head?

You mean, uh,
bump it on something?

Well, I suppose
in certain circumstances.

I'll ask a much
easier question, then.

Isn't it much more possible

that the defendant
was struck by that blow

after he was down and already
stunned or unconscious?

Objection, Your Honor.

Of all the argumentative--

I'll sustain that one,
all right.

No further questions.

PROSECUTOR:
At what time did he leave
the motel room?

Well, Bob came back from
Los Angeles just after supper.

It was about :.

And we gabbed for a few minutes
and then he went out.

It was about, uh,
of , I'd say.

Ah. You, uh,
didn't accompany him?

I hadn't eaten.

You see,
I'd been nosing around

the newspaper office
pretty late.

I guess I had
the same curiosity

about old papers
as Mr. Mason seems to.

Uh, to tell you the truth,

I didn't find anything
worth paying money for.

I'm sure you could find a better
time to talk to Mr. Mason.

Just answer the questions.
Yes, sir.

So the last time
you saw the defendant

was at minutes to ,
Mr. Flaherty?

I didn't see him at all

except that afternoon
in my husband's office.

That was the only time.

And did your husband later
discuss that visit with you?

Or in any way mention
the defendant's name?

He did on my way out
that evening.

My husband
was sitting on the porch

and I asked him

if there was anything
I could do.

Do about what?

What was the reason
for your concern?

Well, he seemed worried
and upset.

Defeated,
you might say.

I see.

And, uh, what was your
husband's answer, Mrs. Bell?

He said there was nothing
anybody could do.

Please tell us
his exact words, if possible.

The last words spoken to you
by the deceased.

He said,

"Do you know who that boy is?"

And I said, "No."

And he said,

"It's Bob Aberdeen."

Aberdeen?

Are you sure your husband
didn't say "Lansing"?

Was he so positive who he was?

He said "Aberdeen."

That's all.

Cross-examine.

Uh, Mrs. Bell,

how old are you?

PROSECUTOR:
Objection.

Aside from its lack
of diplomacy,

the question is completely
irrelevant and immaterial.

JUDGE:
Sustained.

I'll avoid the direct question,
Your Honor.

However, since the prosecution
has introduced

the name Aberdeen,
could you tell us,

Mrs. Bell,
what the name meant to you?

Had you ever met Lin Aberdeen,
for instance?

It's possible. He--

He was in town a few months
before his death.

Yes, .

But in what way
might you have met?

Would he have patted you
on the head

or perhaps asked you for a date?

It wouldn't have been either,
Mr. Mason.

In , I hadn't even
graduated from high school,

Yes, of course.

You left Mountain Union High,
without graduating,

in .

PROSECUTOR:
Objection.

JUDGE:
Strike that last question.

Your Honor,
perhaps I should drop

this entire line of inquiry.

JUDGE:
That would be well-advised,
counselor.

Now, concerning
your husband's, uh,

last words
about the defendant.

He only said,
"Do you know who that boy is?"

And then he said--
"That blasted boy!"

What?

That's what he said.

"That blasted ugly delinquent."

"That dirty troublemaker."

Yes. He's come here
to k*ll me."

That's what he really said.

"He's just like his father.

"He's a lying, stealing,

murdering, thieving..."

( all murmuring )

( gavel rapping )

Your husband really said
all those things?

Before I reprimand the witness,
Mr. Mason,

if you wish to make objection,

I'll strike these last words.

But why should we just strike
the last words, Your Honor?

Because, obviously, this witness
became hysterical with anger.

She was making a statement
with the sole purpose

of getting back at you

and wasn't trying
to tell the truth.

Exactly.

But how do we know that just
the last words were perjured?

Why not the entire
testimony?

Well, would you like
to make a motion

to strike her entire testimony
on that ground?

No, Your Honor.

I prefer to let
her testimony stand

just as it is.

You may step down.

( spectators murmuring )

( gavel rapping )

I told the defendant I wouldn't
serve him any more drinks.

Why not?
He kept trying to pick fights

with anybody who wouldn't say
his old man was a great guy.

So I told him to get out.

Before he left were there
any particular questions

that he asked you?

Yes, uh,

he asked where
the local graveyard was

and I-- I told him.

And then he asked how he could
find Mr. Bell's house.

And dumb me,
I told him that too.

Mr. Bell told me
he was in trouble.

There was people in Salt Lake
who talked too much, he said.

Uh, just a moment,
Mrs. Douglas.

Let's set things in order.

Just where did you see Mr. Bell?

He was sitting
on his own front porch

all alone
on the night of the m*rder.

And, uh, how did you happen
to see him there on the porch?

Well, I was out looking
for my husband, Jeff Douglas.

I wanted him to come home.

Didn't want any of that Aberdeen
nonsense around my family.

Only, Mr. Bell,
he hadn't seen Jeff.

Ah. Now, Mrs. Douglas,

since you spoke to the deceased

just moments before his death,

tell us exactly what happened.

Well, when I asked him
about Jeff,

he just mumbled about Salt Lake

and something about
people handing out

figures they shouldn't.
Uh, use only Mr. Bell's

exact words, please.

Well, all that stuff
didn't make sense,

so I didn't pay attention.

Only then I asked him
if he wasn't sick

and he said,

"Amy, I'm so sick
I'm gonna be dead."

Well, that scared me,
so I asked him why

and he said,
"Bob Aberdeen's here.

And now he'll get me."

So I said, "Don't you want me
to call somebody or something?"

And he said, "No. Go away.

It won't do no good.
He'll get me."

So then I went away

and that was
all there was to it.

Your witness.

Your Honor, my cross-examination
of this witness

may be fairly extensive.

Even setting aside
hearsay elements.

Well, it's after :,
if you'd care to recess.

Mr. Prosecutor?

I have no objection.

This court is recessed until
: tomorrow morning.

( upbeat theme playing )

( knock at door )

Well, here are some more.

I found an old lady who has
her shelves lined with them.

Uh, any luck?

Not so far.

You know,
it would help if you were sure

what we were looking for.

Something worth burning
down a newspaper for.

There's an awful lot here
about Hitler.

And the closing
of the local CCC camp.

Well.

How about
the Duke of Windsor?

Wait a minute. Here's something
about a bankruptcy.

Some little
trucking company.

What's the date?

April , .

That's before
the robbery.

Well, look here.
Look here.

"Unsuccessful attempt
to get going,

"our sympathies to young

Tom Quincy."

All right,
everything around this date.

Now let's really
get to work.

( dramatic theme playing )

Uh, a moment,
Your Honor.

The defense does not wish
to cross-examine this witness.

Oh?

Well, last night you suggested
a rather lengthy

cross-examination
of this witness.

Uh, defense now feels it might
be best to allow the prosecution

to finish its case
as quickly as possible.

I therefore have no questions
of Mrs. Douglas.

Very well.
Uh, you may be seated.

I call Mr. Tom Quincy
to the stand.

The last time I saw Fred Bell

was in the office
that afternoon.

However, at that time
he made no mention at all

about the boy being here.

Uh, so it wasn't until
Mr. Flaherty called on you

later in the evening that you
had any idea what was going on?

That is correct.

Was that also
the first you heard

of certain gifts which Mr. Bell

may have made
to a certain orphanage?

QUINCY:
It was.

Now, Mr. Quincy,
since that time,

have you discovered
any further information

concerning such gifts?

I have.

Would you please tell the court
in your own words?

Bell made deposits
and withdrawals

in a separate fund
that he had control of.

Would you clarify, please?

Well, apparently Bell
used this fund

to build up
large stores of cash.

And then he'd balance it

by sending those gifts
to Salt Lake City.

Uh, one moment.

Mr. Mason,
you may have objection here

if financial records
are gonna be discussed

without being produced.

May it please the court,

our only present purpose
is to confirm a source of anger

between the defendant
and the deceased.

To confirm a motive
for m*rder.

Uh, defense is quite willing
to concede

that money stolen
from a local bank in

may quite well
have become

a part of the m*rder
by way of motivation,

or perhaps by setting
in motion causes

which culminated in m*rder.

Thank you.

That's all
for this witness then.

Now, these deposits
you say Mr. Bell made

to a certain account.

Uh, is it your belief,
Mr. Quincy,

that they came
from that stolen money?

Well, I'd never be able to prove
such a thing, of course.

Could you tell if the, uh,
money came from blackmail?

I don't understand the question.

Very well, I'll ask a quite
different question, then.

Mr. Quincy, did you set fire

to your own newspaper office
the other day?

Your Honor, I object.

Sustained.

I'd like to answer
that question, Your Honor.

I absolutely did not.

I've only owned that newspaper
for a few years

and I don't know of anything
in it that was worth burning.

Never mind, Mr. Quincy.

Strike both question and answer.

Mr. Quincy, I read in the paper
that in April of ,

you were filing
bankruptcy proceedings,

but there was only one notice.

A careful reading
of the newspapers

for the next two years

showed that the bankruptcy
must have been stopped.

That somehow you must have
stayed on in business.

Well, it wasn't much
of a business in those years.

I had a couple of used trucks,

I managed to get
a few hauling jobs

and keep my head above water
That's about what happened.

But then in late l,
or early ',

you went to San Francisco.

By the time
you returned to town,

you'd become quite successful
in several new lines.

There was a w*r on, remember?

I told you I was lucky enough
to miss the draft.

I'm afraid, Mr. Mason,
that quite a few people

made money during those years.

But only if they
had cash to invest.

Now, my question is this,
Mr. Quincy:

concerning Mr. Bell's records,

isn't it possible
that since the m*rder,

you might have
altered those records

so as to have concealed
some involvement of your own?

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained.

You'll just have to confine
yourself to subjects

that are relevant, counselor.

Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Quincy,

Mrs. Bell stated that
on the night of the m*rder,

she left your house
at about :.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

What did you then do?

I went to bed.

Before or after
Mr. Douglas' visit?

Before or after what?

Your Honor,
I would like the court reporter

to read back certain
portions of testimony

given by Mr. Jeff Douglas.

Wait, Your Honor.

Yes, I was in bed.

And I heard somebody outside,

but I don't know who it was.

You know,
I think it might be easier

to recall the other witness,
counselor.

Y-yes, sir, I said I looked
for Mr. Bell several places.

You stated that you looked
for him downtown,

then at Mr. Quincy's house on
the way back, is that correct?

Uh, yes, sir.

I started to knock,
but I guess Mr. Quincy

was in bed already,
like he said.

MASON:
Did you happen to notice whether
or not his car was in the drive?

JEFF:
Well, uh, no.

No, I-- I'm not sure it was.

Can't you be more
positive than that?

Yes, sir.

I guess the reason
I didn't really knock

was because the car
wasn't there.

( spectators murmur )

( gavel rapping )

Your Honor,
in view of the fact

that there may be conflicting
testimony here,

with the court's permission,

I would now like
to cross-examine Mrs. Douglas.

JUDGE:
Very well.

MASON:
Now, please repeat all you can
remember of Mr. Bell's words.

There was people there
who talked too much, he said.

Yes, and, um, giving out figures
they shouldn't.

Uh, figures about money,
is that what you mean?

Exactly.

Because if I recall
the statement

of one other witnesses--

Your Honor,
how long a parade of witnesses?

Hold on, Mr. Prosecutor.

Your Honor,
I'm now refering

to the statement
made by Mr. Flaherty

concerning what he told
Mr. Quincy at :.

That is, the private information
about the figures and amounts

of Mr. Bell's donations

to that orphanage.

Proceed.

Your Honor, no one else
had that information.

Yet one half-hour later,
news of it had reached Mr. Bell.

I would like to know
who told him.

I think Mr. Quincy
might return to the stand now.

Uh-- Uh, just a moment.

I was there.

I was there, all right, I--

I was mad enough
to wring his neck,

but I-- I--
I didn't k*ll him. I...

I didn't k*ll him, I...

You see, I-- I couldn't have,

because he was dead
when I got there.

Mr. Quincy,
I hardly need remind you

that you perjured yourself
many times.

I know, Your Honor, I--
But I had to lie.

You see, if I-- If I'd have told
you I'd been there,

why, I'd have to tell you
the whole truth.

The whole truth about me
and the--

The whole truth about Aberdeen.

Sure, I got the money,
all right.

Aberdeen gave it to me.

He was hurt,
he knew he was gonna die

and so he gave me the money
in return

for taking care of his boy.

You go ahead and you
blame me all you want.

But I didn't k*ll anyone.

May it please the court,

there is really only
one other person

who could have m*rder*d
Fred Bell,

who could have first
talked with him

and then returned
to k*ll him.

Flaherty, J.J.

I almost got away with it.

( spectators murmur )

Flaherty spotted you walking
toward Bell's house,

followed you back there
to see what would happen.

What happened gave him
the golden opportunity.

Yeah, only why did he have
to k*ll the guy?

Well, to keep him quiet.

Flaherty had been working
on the case

for a number of years,
hoping, I suppose,

just for the reward.

When he stumbled into the fact
that Quincy had turned $,

into $ million,
he got bigger ideas.

Poor Mr. Bell
knew the whole story.

And with you on the scene,

Bell would have come out
with the whole story.

But with Bell dead,

Flaherty could take over--

The blackmailing of Mr. Quincy
in professional style.

What about the fire?
Did he start that too?

Of course.

He found that same
newspaper item we found,

and he didn't want
anything in the world

to interfere with his plan.

Thanks.

( dramatic theme playing )

You know, after all
is said and done,

my father was still what he was.

He did try to take
care of you, Bob.

Yeah, I guess so.

Doesn't seem to matter much.

Doesn't matter at all, Bob,

because you are what you are.

( noirish jazz theme swells )

( noirish jazz theme playing )