07x06 - The Case of the Reluctant Model

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

(ship horn blowing)

Mr. Durant?

- Hmm?
-I think...

I think I better wait for you
in the car.

Don't be silly, Maxine.

Mr. Olney said I could bring
anybody I wanted.

He didn't mean anybody
in a $ . cotton number

-from Gorman's Basement.
- Look,

there won't be a woman on board

who wouldn't give her eyeteeth
to swap places with you,

$ . cotton number and all.

Besides, how often
does a beginning art student

have a chance to meet
a $ , Gauguin face-to-face?

Yes, I would like to see that.

Well, then, come on.

Uh, Mr. Colin Durant and
his guest, Miss Maxine Lindsay.

Thank you, Mr. Durant.

You'll find Mr. Olney
in the main salon.

The first entrance aft.

Thank you.

Pardon me, I must check
your name and...

I'm sorry, Mrs. Olney.

That's quite all right, Joseph.

Is my name on there?

Well, no, I'm afraid
it isn't, but...

I didn't think it would be.

(low, indistinct conversations)

Golly, I've never seen
anything like this.

Except in a movie.

Which is Mr. Olney?

The fellow over there
with the yacht cap,

near the Gauguin.

Everybody,

may I have your attention
for a moment, please?

I'd like to propose
a triple toast:

To our gracious host,
Mr. Otto Olney;

to his newly-acquired
masterpiece,

Gauguin's celebrated
Tahitian Bathers,

to the acquisition of which

honesty compels me to admit

that the Leslie Rankin Gallery

was in some small way
responsible;

and finally,

to the brilliant inception
for Mr. Otto Olney

of what promises to be a long

and distinguished career
as an art collector.

MRS. OLNEY: You mean a long
and distinguished career

as a thief.

Grace!

That painting is mine, Otto,
and you know it,

and furthermore, it should be
hanging in my bedroom,

and not in this leaky,
weevil-ridden tub.

Grace, we've got guests here.

I didn't invite them.

Who was the first one
that found out

the painting was for sale
in the first place?

You did, but...

And who was the one that said

it was just the thing
for that big wall

-in my bedroom?
-I did, but...

So what is it doing here?

I changed my mind, that's what.

Well, just change it back again.

Not on your life.

Now you want something on your
bedroom wall, I'll buy you

the Mona Lisa or
Whistler's Mother or something,

but I like this,
and it's gonna stay right there

where I can look at it
anytime I want to,

and that is final.

It is, is it?

Yes.

Uh, steward?

Thank you.

Have fun, everybody.

Yeah, have fun, everybody.

(laughs)

Fighting in front of everyone...

I don't think that's funny.

But it is when you know
what they're fighting over.

Something worth closer
to $ than $ , .

What are you talking about?

Well, the Gauguin, of course.

It's a fake, Maxine, a copy.

I-I don't go
for that abstract stuff,

if that's what you call that.

How about this?

A still life by Brock.

Well...

if I wanted apples,
I'd buy them.

How about that little lady
out there?

That's by Rosenfeld,
and I'm afraid she's spoken for.

Anyway, are those colors right
for Grace's bedroom?

Oh, don't worry about Grace.

I got her fixed but good.

Ms. Rankin,
the Rosenfeld can be sold.

Mrs. Otray called
while you were out

and said she'd changed her mind.

Changed her mind? Why?

She was disturbed

about a-a rumor
she heard that the...

Go on.

Well, that the Gauguin
you sold Mr. Olney

was a forgery.

My Gauguin?!

Where did she hear this?

From some artist friends.

But you know
how artists are, Mr. Olney,

all crazy.

Oh, crazy, man.

Crazy.

The beginning
of a whole new school of art.

Smearism.

Oh, Mr. Gilbert,
is this better now?

Did you ever think
of taking up house painting?

Oh, Mr. Gilbert.

(chuckles)

(sighs)

Couple of minutes more, Maxine,
I'll blow taps.

Well, well, well.

The Leslie Rankin Gallery
of Art in person.

The mountain to Muhammad.

Well, enter, Duchess,
enter for a one-man show

that'll really bug you.

I'm not interested
in your trashy stuff, Gilbert.

Not in the slightest.

I suppose you came
to see one of my tamed cats.

Simply to have a word
with Miss Lindsay,

when it's convenient.

And you can skip
the beatnik dialogue.

I find it quite unamusing.

"Quite unamusing”?

Yes, quite unamusing.

"Quite unamusing,” she says.

Well, I won't argue with you.

It's only a word.

Okay, Picassos, hour's up.

See you next week.

Maxie, um,
royalty here to see you.

Hello, Miss Rankin.

Miss Lindsay, I'd like to have
a word with you... in private.

Oh, don't mind me, Duchess.

I only live here.

Now, Miss Lindsay,

what is it you're trying
to do to me?

Do to you?

Why, I don't understand.

Oh, yes, you do,
but what you don't understand

is that you could quite easily
end up in jail.

Jail?

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

The rumors that you've been
spreading all week

that the Gauguin that I sold
to Otto Olney is a forgery.

Now don't try to cover up.

I've traced the stories
back to you personally.

Miss Rankin, I never,

never said the Gauguin
was a forgery.

What did you say then?

Only that Colin Durant
said it was a forgery.

Colin Durant?

He examined the picture
very carefully,

and he said he'd stake
his reputation

on its not being
a genuine Gauguin.

His reputation?

It's my reputation
that's at stake.

Are you sure you're telling me
the truth, Miss Lindsay?

Oh, yes, Miss Rankin.

I certainly hope so.

Because whoever is responsible
for these rumors

is going to have to pay

with his or her skin.

What was that all about?

Excuse me, Mr. Gilbert.

I have to go talk
to somebody, quick.

Mr. Durant,

I'm afraid I've done something
really awful to you.

What's that, Maxine?

Miss Rankin just talked to me,

absolutely livid
about Mr. Olney's Gauguin,

and she accused me of telling
people that it was a forgery

and I...

Quite naturally told her
I was the one who said it.

She was going to have me
arrested or something,

and it just slipped out
before I thought.

So, now she's after my scalp.

I'm sorry, Mr. Durant.

Why?

"Why?"

Well, it certainly isn't a very
nice way of paying you back.

I mean, for finding me
modeling jobs

and for lending me paints
and brushes,

and trying to get me into
that art school in Cuernavaca.

You'll get there yet,
you'll see.

You're not mad at me?

No, quite the contrary.

I don't understand.

Miss Rankin said she was going
to take the skin off whoever...

The Gauguin really is
a forgery then?

I said it was, didn't I?

Yes.

So, okay.

You keep on telling the truth.

I'll take care
of the consequences.

And you feel certain
this model, um...

Maxine Lindsay.

...Maxine Lindsay,
would be willing

to make an affidavit under oath?

She certainly didn't show
the slightest hesitancy

in repeating to me
what Mr. Durant said.

Al right.

Della, get ahold of Paul Drake.

Have him bring this girl in.

(door opens)

Why must you have an affidavit?

- Isn't what I've told you
enough? -(door closes)

It's always wise,
if you're suing for slander

or for anything else,
Miss Rankin,

to pin down
your witnesses first.

You say "if," Mr. Mason.

What do you mean?

I mean it would be my advice
not to sue.

Not sue?

Do you realize if I let Durant
get away with this,

it'll ruin my business?

How does Mr. Olney feel?

He's furious.

Oh, I see.

I see,
you think Otto should sue.

No.

No, I think the Gauguin
should sue.

Gentlemen, these are
the two independent art experts

I called in here
to look at my Gauguin.

You probably recognize
their names.

This is Miss Ann Armbrooster,
who's the head

of the Fine Arts Department
at the university.

This is Dr. Emile Danton,

who's the curator
of the Pasadena Museum.

Miss Armbrooster, Dr. Danton,

-meet the press.
- Professor.

What is your opinion, sir?

Miss Armbrooster and I
completely agree,

every distinctive hallmark
of the artist is present.

The primitive juxtaposition
of colors,

the savage brushstrokes,

the very concept,
all pure Gauguin.

And, uh, these experts
will testify

on behalf of the painting
in your suit against Durant?

You bet.

And a dozen more,
if we need 'em.

Nobody gonna run down a little
ol' Gauguin of mine,

not without getting
his ears pinned back.

Isn't that right, Mason?

I most certainly hope not.

Could it be, Mr. Mason,

that you're also representing
Mr. Olney in his divorce suit?

Divorce?

I don't know where
you guys get this stuff.

My wife and I
are very much in love.

We don't even quarrel
about anything.

Don't we, darling?

OTTO:
Grace, what are you doing here?

Oh, I'm just
an interested bystander.

But as such,
I'm just delighted to hear

that this little ol' Gauguin
of mine is genuine.

Come on,
I'll buy you guys a drink.

Why don't you stop by
the gallery, Grace,

pick out something
for your bedroom wall.

No, happens I want this one.

I trust you've briefed Otto on
community property, Mr. Mason.

I'm just handling the Gauguin
suit, Mrs. Olney, nothing else.

Well, it doesn't make
any difference anyway.

I've got Otto fixed but good.

Mr. Olney.

Yeah.

How 'bout a picture of you
and Mrs. Olney holding hands

under the Gauguin?

Holding hands?!

Oh, no...

Get Mason.

Now, he's the genius
who thought up the idea

of having the picture sue.

Get him.

REPORTER:
Mr. Mason?

All right, genius.

Up front and center.

(Mason clears throat)

(Della giggles)

Right over here, Mr. Mason.

That'll be fine. That's right.

Now, smile, please. Smile.

(pops)

Well, champagne and lobster.

I'm glad you phoned me
to join you.

Uh, what's the occasion?

You'll find out when
you see the morning paper.

Don't tell me.

After all the trouble I had
getting Maxine Lindsay

to make that affidavit,
the Gauguin suit's been settled?

No, it's just been launched.

Good publicity never
hurt anyone, Perry.

But, uh, publicity wasn't why
you had Mr. Olney

instead of Miss Rankin sue on
behalf of the Gauguin, was it?

If Miss Rankin brought suit,

people would remember
not that she'd won,

but that she'd been suspected of

shady dealings
with a wealthy client.

With Olney suing,

no businesses or reputations
will be at stake, only the

authenticity of
the picture itself.

Now I know why
they call you a genius.

(chuckles):
Oh.

Mason?

Yes?

My name's Colin Durant.

- Oh, how do you do?
- Uh, sit still.

I just want to say one thing.

Mason, you're not
gonna get away with

what you're trying to do to me.

Just what is it you think I'm
trying to do to you, Mr. Durant?

Don't play innocent.

You know what I'm talking about.

The damage suit you persuaded
Otto Olney to bring against me.

I suppose you thought that was
a real bright little stunt.

I don't believe I like
your choice of words.

I don't like your
choice of methods.

Cooking up that affidavit
for Maxine Lindsay to sign,

Oh, don't try to squirm
out of it, my shyster friend,

because I know
that's what you did.

- Perry, let me take care of...
- Uh, sit down.

Just what are you trying
to accomplish, Mr. Durant?

I am just putting myself
on record.

I was on Olney's yacht
with Maxine Lindsay,

and I did look at the Gauguin,

but I made no comments
on its authenticity.

I did say before I'd certify it,

I'd want to run
some tests on it.

(laughs)

If you and your cheap,
little gold-digging friend

think you can parlay that
into a Christmas basket

of free publicity
and cash at my expense,

you've got a surprise coming.

That's all?

Yeah,

that's all.

Why didn't you let him have it,
Perry?

Paul, did you tell anyone
we were eating here?

- Della?

How could I?

We didn't phone
for the reservations

until we left the yacht.

How do you suppose
Durant found us?

He must have followed you.

Which means...

this was all an act.

Something deliberately staged.

Paul, do you have Maxine
Lindsay's telephone number?

Sure.

Here.

(phone line ringing)

What's wrong, Perry?
What's the matter?

MASON:
Genius, huh?

Della, I think
I've just been tagged

as the world's prize boob.

♪♪

(coin clinking)

(phone ringing)

Hello.

Hello?

Too late,
they've already hung up.

Paul, you better have someone
keep an eye

on Miss Lindsay's apartment,

though I doubt that she'll
ever show up there again.

What makes you so sure
the girl skipped, Perry?

Oh, Durant wouldn't have
put on that act

if he hadn't been sure that we
couldn't lay our hands on her.

The classic false suit
booby trap,

and I had to fall right in.

I can see the headlines now,

"Millionaire sued by art dealer
for half a million.”

With Durant charging

that his reputation
had been ruined and...

sticking like glue to that story
he told us tonight.

Olney squarely behind
the eight ball

and me responsible.

But you still have
Maxine Lindsay's affidavit.

No good in court without her,

since Durant's lawyers
would be denied

their legal right
to cross-examine.

Paul, you better get a man
on Durant's art gallery, too.

Also his apartment.

- Right away.
-(phone rings)

Hello?

Hello, is Mr. Mason there?

Maxine Lindsay,
but please hurry.

Mr. Mason,

I thought I'd better tell you

I'm leaving town.

I know that,

but I've been given a chance
to do something that...

Maxine, don't you realize
you're the key witness

in our case
against Colin Durant?

Without you we're lost.

I'm very sorry,

and that's why I called,

so as to not
let you down completely.

-(over P.A.): Your attention,
please. -Where am I going?

- This is the last call
for eastbound...

I can't tell you.

No, I simply haven't
got time to talk to you.

I have to run right now.

Good-bye, Mr. Mason.

Miss, your overnight bag.

Oh. Thank you.

Did you hear what was
in the background, Paul?

I'm on my way.

Hi.

Did a pretty brunette, about ,
buy a ticket from you,

uh, ten, minutes ago?
Around : ?

Family troubles, mister?

No. nothing like that.

How about it?
Did you see her?

Who looks at brunettes?

Now, men, that's different.

Well, tell me this:

what bus would be leaving
about that time?

Bus? Are you kidding?

At : there are two.

There's the transcontinental
to Phoenix,

and then there's
another one to Frisco

by way of Sacramento.

At : there's one

to the Imperial Valley
by way of San Diego,

and another one to Las Vegas.

At : ...

Here, have a schedule,
on the house.

Thanks a lot.

Ask me, Mr. Mason,
I'd say Maxine Lindsay's

out permanently.

Permanently?

Yeah, six weeks back
in the rent

and tiptoeing out of here
tonight with her pet canary

and her suitcase.
What would you guess?

What's the matter,
she skip out on you, too?

I'm afraid so.

Now the problem is to
find out where she skipped to.

Well, I been aching to take
a look around this apartment

ever since she pulled
that shower gag on me.

What do you know,
the door's unlocked.

Shower gag?

Yeah, shower gag.

I came down here a little bit
before :

to see about the rent.

"Who's there?" she called,

after I knocked about five times
knowing she was in.

(water running)

And after I told her,
she hollered,

"Well, you'll have to come back

on account of
I'm taking a shower."

And not three minutes later

I hear her door close.

When I look out in the hall,

there she is fully clothed

skedaddling out the front door
with a suitcase and canary.

Sounds as if she's still
taking a shower.

(water running)

Miss Lindsay?

(gasps):
Perry!

Colin Durant.

(screams)

(approaching sirens)

Here come the coroner's men.

It means that we'll need, um,

elbow room in here.

Through with us, Lieutenant?

Unless you've decided
to tell me

why the late Mr. Durant
was taking a shower

with his clothes on.

Your guess
is as good as mine, Tragg.

And you're still positive
none of you

picked up the g*n
he was shot with?

That's right.

And, uh, no idea

how this envelope happened
to be here

with ten crisp
one thousand dollar bills?

Body's in there, Doc.

(phone rings)

Yeah.

Mason?

How do you know he's here?

Oh, oh, answering service, huh.

Well, wait a minute.
It's all right.

Uh, somebody named
Otto Olney.

This is Mason.

What?

You heard me, Mason.

Now the Durant suit is off,

and you are out of a job.

And I should've had
my head examined

before I let you jockey me
into a position

where I could lose my eyeteeth
to this guy.

Dead?

You don't say.

Well, maybe
that's good riddance.

But anyway, the firing of you
still goes, Mason.

Now is that clear?

Yes, that's clear.

What's clear?

Oh, just a client
who's has decided

not to be a client,
that's all.

Oh, I'm bleeding for you.

Perry, are you sure...

none of you have a theory

as to where
Maxine Lindsay might be?

Miss Street and I certainly
haven't, Lieutenant.

Nor I

DRAKE:
Miss Lindsay.

Why, it's Mr. Drake.

What are you doing here?

Well, the more important
question is

what are you doing here?

(sighs)
I'm trying to decide

whether to go on or turn back.

I should, I know.

But then, to give up something

that I've dreamed about
half my life

just to oblige Mr. Mason...

Not Mr. Mason, Miss Lindsay--

to oblige the police.

The police?

You mean you haven't heard
about Colin Durant?

Four hours ago, his body
was found in your apartment.

Oh, now, Mr. Drake,

you don't have to make up a
story like that to get me back.

I'm telling you the truth.

All you have to do
is check the radio.

I'll do that
when I get to where I'm going.

Good-bye, Mr. Drake.

Miss Lindsay.

That's far enough.

Lieutenant Anderson,
Los Angeles Homicide.

I have some questions I'd like
you to answer, Miss Lindsay.

Mr. Mason, you caught me.

You've just got to defend me.

You didn't k*ll him, Maxine?

No, I didn't.

All right then.

But there are one
or two things I must know.

First, were you in with Durant
on this Gauguin scheme?

No. He did tell me that
the Gauguin was a copy,

and I did tell people
what he said,

but that's all.

Why did you leave town
after making the affidavit?

For a month or so,

Mr. Durant had been trying
to arrange a scholarship for me

at the American Art School
in Cuernavaca.

That's near Mexico City.

And suddenly, it came through.

Contingent, I imagine,
upon your leaving immediately.

Yes.

He'd already made arrangements
for me to fly from Tijuana

before he told me.

And he said my going
wouldn't make any difference

because the suit was
about to be settled anyway,

out of court.

I see.

What time did you leave
your apartment that night?

A little before : .

Before : ?

: , you mean, don't you?

No, : .

I wanted to have plenty of time
to catch my bus,

which left at : .

Was Durant in your apartment
when you left?

He was going to pay up
my back rent

and also arrange
for my things to be sent on

and for my canary
to be taken care of.

Then you didn't take it
with you?

Why, no.

How could I take a canary
to Mexico?

Yes, the Durant lawsuit
being called off

and $ , in the envelope
would seem to be related, Paul,

but Mr. Olney denies making
any settlement.

So, the problem is,
who did leave that money there?

Well, uh, surely you don't think

a raggle-taggle, beatnik artist

like Goring Gilbert
could have?

No, but I am curious
as to his connection

with the Gauguin.

What connection?

Maxine told me
she reported early one time

for a modeling job.

He was working
on a half-finished Gauguin copy.

Olney's Tahitian Bathers?

Which he hurriedly thrust
out of sight.

Walk in, walk in.

Latch is always off.

Well, well, Maxie's mouthpiece.

I saw your picture in the paper.

Well, what about this, uh,

Gauguin copy
she told you she saw?

Well, I'd like to know
for whom it was made.

For me, dad, for me.
Who else?

All this publicity, I thought
I could peddle it somewhere.

You want to buy it?

I'd like to see it.

Come in.

You better wait there
till I get the lights.

You could break your neck
in here.

Hey, what's the big idea?

I suppose an explanation
is in order.

An explanation and a replacement
for the bottle of red wine

you splashed
on my Gauguin, Duchess.

RANKIN: I'll buy you a case of
wine, and don't call me Duchess.

I heard Gilbert had made a copy

of Mr. Olney's picture,

and I just wanted to look at it.

In the dark, Miss Rankin?

Do you customarily
examine paintings in the dark?

I heard the shower running
in the bathroom,

went in,
pulled the curtain aside.

There was the body.

When you say "the body,"
Miss Street,

you are, of course,
referring to the body

of the deceased, Colin Durant?

Yes, Mr. Burger.

And what time was it
when you made this discovery?

About : ,
according to Mr. Mason's watch.

Now, you've already told us,
Miss Street,

that you and Mr. Mason went
to the apartment

to see the defendant,
Maxine Lindsay.

But why did you want to see her?

Was it to talk to her
about her connection

with the damage suit filed
against Mr. Durant?

Uh, one moment, please.

Your Honor, may I ask
a question of voir dire?

Certainly, Mr. Mason.

I'm just going to clarify
one point, Mr. Burger.

At that time, what was
your occupation, Miss Street?

I was your secretary.

And what is my occupation?

Attorney-at-law.

Now, if the court pleases,
I wish to object to the question

on the ground that it calls
for a privileged communication,

a confidential communication

between an attorney
and his secretary.

Your Honor, that objection
is only valid

if Mr. Mason was already
at that time

representing the defendant,
Miss Lindsay,

which I very much doubt.

Would you like to put me
on the stand, Mr. Burger,

and have me explain
that it makes no difference

whether I was representing
Miss Lindsay

as long as I was there

in my official capacity
as an attorney?

All right, Mr. Mason,
never mind.

I'll withdraw the question.

Thank you.

But if this isn't
also confidential, Miss Street,

could you tell us what you did
after you discovered the body?

I called the police department.

Homicide.

Well, the first thing
Lieutenant Tragg and I did

was to turn off the shower,

and then I looked around
for the g*n.

Uh, we made a search
outside of the building, too.

I didn't find the g*n,
nor did any of my men later on.

But you did find something,
didn't you, Lieutenant?

- Something rather unusual?
- Yes, on a table.

An envelope with ten $ ,
bills in it.

Yes, that's the envelope.

It has my mark here
on the corner.

If it please the court,
the State asks

that this envelope
and its contents

be accepted in evidence
at this time

and marked for the people,
exhibit one.

Now, with regard
to these $ , bills,

Lieutenant,

did you discover
how they happened

to be left on the table
in the defendant's apartment?

Quite obviously, she overlooked
them in her haste to leave

-after she...
- Objection.

The witness is offering
a conclusion.

He has no way of knowing

what the defendant did
or did not overlook.

I ask that the response
be stricken.

So ordered.

And hereafter, Lieutenant,

you will confine yourself
to facts.

Uh, would you like
the court reporter

to repeat the question,
Mr. Burger?

No, thank you, Your Honor.

I withdraw the question.

As a matter of fact,
I'd like Lieutenant Anderson

to step down at this time
while I examine

two or three other witnesses.

After labeling the two b*ll*ts

which the doctor took
from the body,

I turned them over to the police
ballistics department.

Now, did the police doctor, to
whom you refer, make any report

concerning the possible time
of Durant's death?

Yes, same as the autopsy surgeon

testified here in court.

Durant must have died sometime

between : and :
that night.

A minute or two after : .

That's when she skedaddled.

I know because the TV
had just changed programs.

And you're absolutely positive,
Mrs. Newton,

that the woman you saw
skedaddling at that time

was Maxine Lindsay?

Yes, like I told
the other gentleman,

I recognized her coat
and suitcase.

Besides, she was carrying
her canary.

Did you see her face?

Well, not too clear.

She-she held
the birdcage up like this,

but I knew it was her,
all right,

and you nor nobody else
is gonna talk me out of it.

(chuckles)
I have no intention

of trying to talk you
out of a thing, Mrs. Newton.

That's all, thank you.

JUDGE:
Uh, the witness is excused.

I now call Oscar Pickering.

BAILIFF:
Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,

-and nothing but the truth?
-I do.

- State your name, please.
- Oscar Pickering.

Be seated, please.

Will you tell us
your occupation, please,

Mr. Pickering?

I work
at the downtown bus depot.

Night superintendant,
they call me.

Were you on duty at the depot
the night of the th?

On my regular :
to : shift.

Would you look
around this courtroom, please,

and tell us if anybody
is present here today

who was at the bus depot
on the evening of th?

Yeah, lady over there was,
Miss Lindsay.

Saw her just before : .

What was Miss Lindsay doing,
Mr. Pickering?

Well, what she didn't do

made me notice her.

Didn't pick up her overnight bag
when she left the phone booth

she'd been making a call in.

Now, Mr. Pickering, what is
located just to the right

of the phone booth
she was using.

A bank of parcel check lockers.

cents for hours.

I'm in charge of them.

Would you tell us

your duties are
in connection with them?

At : each night I see
which ones are being used.

Then next night,
hours later,

if any are still being used,
I open them,

put whatever's in them
in the storage room.

Why do you do that?

Why because, like it says
right there on them,

the cents is good
for only hours.

Mr. Pickering,
I ask you to examine

this . -caliber
a*t*matic p*stol.

Can you identify that for us?

Yeah, that's the same p*stol
I took out of locker

after its hours had run out.

Locker being
one of the lockers

closest to the phone booths?

Yep.

What did you do with the p*stol?

Why, I put it
in the storage room,

and later,
I called the police about it.

By later, you mean the th?

Yeah.

Why the delay in reporting it?

Only delayed one day.

And besides, it didn't mean
anything to me until I saw

Miss Lindsay's picture
in the paper.

That made me put
two and two together.

Never mind about two and two,
Mr. Pickering.

To whom did you give the p*stol?

Some detective
from police headquarters.

Now, what did your ballistics
tests reveal, Lieutenant?

That the b*ll*ts taken
from the body of the deceased

were fired from the p*stol
turned over to the police

by Mr. Pickering.

In other words, that p*stol
is the m*rder w*apon?

Yes.

Were you able to determine

anything else interesting
about it?

The p*stol was registered
last month

as the property
of Maxine Lindsay.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Mr. Mason.

Uh, no cross-examination.

That's our case, Your Honor.

- The people rest.
- Well,

despite certain gaps
in the evidence,

one being that the defendant

was not actually seen
placing the g*n

in the locker, the court seems
to have no alternative

but to bind over the defendant
without bail.

Unless, of course, you intend
to present a defense, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor, I do.

Even though it's now
quite obvious

the defendant is not guilty.

I would like to call
Goring Gilbert.

I'm inclined to agree
with Mr. Burger.

This line of examination
concerning the Gauguin copy

allegedly made by the witness,

it does seem to be extraneous,
Mr. Mason.

I intend to connect it up,
Your Honor.

Very well, you may proceed.

Now, um,

you told me you made this copy
for yourself,

didn't you, Mr. Gilbert?

Yes, only I-I didn't put
the wine spots on it.

But that wasn't true,
that you made

the copy
for yourself, was it?

No.

For whom did you make it?

Colin Durant.

Colin Durant?

He was to pay you $ ,
for it?

$ , ? More like $ .

Do you know the penalty for
lying under oath, Mr. Gilbert?

Yes.

I ask you again:
for whom did you make this copy?

Colin Durant.

Your Honor, I would like
to request a short recess.

JUDGE: I'll do better
than that, Mr. Mason.

Since it is already
quite late in the day,

I'll adjourn
until tomorrow at : .

You may step down, Mr. Gilbert.

Perry, here's a copy
of the record for all four days.

You were absolutely right.

Good. Now I'd like you and Della

to help me prove I'm right
about something else.

- How do we go about that?
- Well, first of all,

we need a canary.

BURGER:
Perry.

Sorry to interrupt.

I'm interested
in that remark you made

about Miss Lindsay
being obviously not guilty.

How would you like to go for
a bus ride tonight, Hamilton?

A bus ride?

Thank you for coming by,
gentlemen.

Well, Perry,
this better be good,

or you might not be so thankful.

Here I am, Perry.

What's that?

It's a canary, Mr. Burger.

Well, ask a stupid question...

What happens next, Perry?

If I could prove
that Maxine Lindsay

couldn't possibly
have k*lled Colin Durant,

would you go along
with the plan I have?

Well, I'd like to see
a little proof first.

Do you have a couple
of dimes, Hamilton?

- There you are, sir.
- Thank you.

Now, it's around : .

With your dimes,
we open the locker...

-(coins clinking)
-and...

place an object in it...

-lock it...
-(coins clinking)

remove the key and depart.

Now what happens?

Well, Pickering makes
his midnight check,

sees the key is gone, and notes
down that the locker is in use.

And midnight the next night?

Well, he checks
the master counter here,

sees the same number on it
and the key still gone.

This means somebody's
hours is up, so he...

opens the locker
with his master key

and takes out whatever's inside.

Now, allegedly, Maxine Lindsay

checked her p*stol here
at about :

on the th,
the night of the m*rder.

Yet it wasn't reported
to the police until the th.

Pickering kept it until
he saw her picture in the paper.

Let me quote from the hearing.

Question by Mr. Burger:

"Why the delay in reporting it?"

Answer from Pickering:
"I only delayed one day.”

Now, that day was the th,

which means
he removed the p*stol

midnight of the th, as
this copy of the record shows.

And this in turn means

the p*stol was
checked here on the th.

Now, on the th,

Maxine Lindsay
was already in custody.

Well, Lieutenant Anderson?

Some detective from headquarters

is gonna be walking
a beat tomorrow.

Thank you.

Perry, you said you wanted
to see the Olneys tonight.

Look at this.

"The happily reunited
Otto Olneys

shown boarding their yacht
for a world tour.”

Hold it there! Police!

Look, I am getting tired
of this.

Now, for the fifth time,
what are we waiting for?

You'll find out
in a moment or two.

Well, that's what
you've been telling me

for moments or two!

Now, either pinch us

and get slapped with the biggest
false-arrest suit in history,

or we're taking off!

Perry, maybe it would be better

to settle this
in court tomorrow.

Sorry, but I had a bit
of trouble locating this one.

Man! What a nice
little seagoing pad.

I'll take it.

Oh, is there any other reason

for having me drop in,
big daddy?

I wanted you take
a look at this picture.

- Do you recognize it?
- Why, sure, man. Who wouldn't?

That's Gauguin's
Tahitian Bathers.

I mean, is it one of your
copies, Mr. Gilbert?

Are you kidding? You've
got the only copy I made.

Are you sure?

RANKIN:
No right at all!

Caught her trying to sneak off
the yacht, Lieutenant.

(Rankin sighs)

What's she doing here?

Miss Rankin just happens to be
Mrs. Olney's and my guest!

And a most providential one.

Because I'm sure she can answer
my question about the Gauguin.

Question? What question?

MASON: Is this the Gauguin
you sold Mr. Olney,

or is it a copy?

Wh-Why, it's, uh...

Okay, so, okay, so it is a copy!

Now, what is wrong with that?

It's a copy?!

Why, you conniving,
double-crossing...

- Now, Grace...
- Don't "Grace" me!

Just tell me where
the real painting is, or I'll...

And you have a woman
doing your dirty work for you.

Thanks for the very last time.

This time I'm hanging on to it.

Now, just a gosh-darned
minute, Grace!

Now, just a gosh-darned
minute, everybody!

Perry, two Gauguins here,
another one in court--

what in the name of...

Let's see if we can
figure it out, Hamilton.

Now, Mr. Olney,
who made the copy for you?

GILBERT:
I did.

And a nice job of work it is,
too, if I do say so myself.

You commissioned Gilbert
to do the work,

but from whom did you
actually get the painting?

It was Colin Durant, wasn't it?

Yes, yes, yes.

Durant called me
the day of the m*rder.

He said the, uh, price

of Gilbert's copy
had gone up to $ ,

from $ .

Plus a couple
of other fringe benefits.

One was that he wouldn't tell
Grace about the copy.

The other was that he'd forget
that he had me over the barrel

on that lawsuit you talked me
into filing against him.

With the additional proviso
that you'd call off the suit

and fire me?

Yeah, Mason, I, uh...

I'm sorry, I told you
I hadn't made a settlement,

-but ...
- Go on.

Well, he...

well, Durant said
that I should meet him

at his, uh, model friend's
apartment that night at : .

So I went there with the money.

In an envelope?

No, no envelope;
just in bills.

I gave him the money, he gave me
the copy of the painting,

and I left, and he closed
the door after me-- still alive.

Very much alive.

Was the woman with him
at that time?

- OTTO: What woman? -The woman
who left the apartment

at : with
Maxine Lindsay's canary.

Ask Della to come in, Paul.

Della?

It bothered me for some time.

If Maxine didn't take the
canary, why would anyone else?

And this afternoon
I suddenly realized

it was to get past the landlady.

Clever, don't you think,
Miss Rankin?

I despise birds.

But you don't,
do you, Mrs. Olney?

I guess I shouldn't have
taken the little guy home

for you to find, should I?

- Grace! -Well, that doesn't
mean I k*lled Mr. Durant.

He was dead when I arrived
at the apartment at : .

- Honestly. -Why don't you
tell us about it, please.

Well, the door was ajar,
and so I went in,

and I heard a noise
that sounded like

a window being closed
in the bathroom.

So I looked in,
and there was Mr. Durant,

in the bathtub, dead.

And then something happened
that really scared me.

The apartment manager
knocking on the door?

Yes. She kept on knocking
and knocking.

So finally I turned on the water
and called to her and told her

that I was taking a shower,
so she went away.

Then I put on
Miss Lindsay's coat, picked up

the empty suitcase,
and took the birdcage

to hide my face,
like you said, and I left.

I know I should've told you
all this earlier,

but I didn't...

I didn't know that maybe
Miss Lindsay didn't k*ll him.

Aren't you still holding
something back, Mrs. Olney?

You mean the envelope
with the money in it?

Well, I remembered it

when I got outside,
that I'd left it on the table,

but I was afraid
to go back in and get it.

Wait a minute.

What money?!

The $ ,
I was paying Mr. Durant.

The what?!

Well, like you,

stupid, to keep him from telling
about the copy of the Gauguin

that Gilbert made for me.

You made a copy for her, too?!

Did you know
anything about this?

Well... Grace did ask me
to go to the studio

and... try to get it for her.

Mmm, women!

Of all the treacherous,
dishonest...

And you've got nerve enough
to stand here and call me names!

A double-crosser, huh?

Well, you are one,
you big lying ape!

BURGER:
Now, wait a second!

What I want to know is, which
one of you k*lled Colin Durant?

OTTO:
Which one of us?!

Are you suggesting
that my husband

-would commit a crime?
- Well, he's already admitted...

Now, listen, Burger, you make
any cracks about Gracie,

you better start ducking,
because I personally will pull

Civic Center right down
around your ears!

Hamilton, I think one question
can clear this up.

Mrs. Olney,
was your Gauguin copy

in the apartment
with Durant that night?

No, it wasn't.

Yet he had to have it
with him at one time

in order to have closed
his deal with you.

How did it get back
to your studio, Mr. Gilbert?

Get back?

And how did something else
get back to your studio?

Namely, the $ ,

Mr. Olney gave Durant.

You're-you're bluffing!

You didn't find that money!
You couldn't have!

That's far enough, dad.

So far, my men have dug $ ,
out of your wallpaper.

They'll find the rest.

You k*lled him,
didn't you, Gilbert?

(exhales)

Maxie must have...

told him about the copy
she saw me making.

Well, anyhow, he...
he came to see me,

and said maybe he
could jack up the ante,

maybe to $ apiece.

I took the copies to Maxie's
apartment, like he told me.

But when I left, I...

I thought: what was his angle?

I went around back,
and the bathroom window

was open, and I crawled in.

Ten grand he was
to get from Olney,

and ten more to come
from Mrs. Olney.

The jackpot!

...He must have heard me.

He came in
with Maxie's g*n, and...

I grabbed for it,
and it went off!

And he-he fell back
into the shower.

(sighs)

Do you suppose they...

they have art classes
in San Quentin?

Alas, the impossible
has finally happened.

A Perry Mason dinner
without an interruption.

Uh, you are paying, of course?

- Of course.
-(Della chuckles)

Well, you can pay
just a little bit further.

There's a question
I've just been dying to ask.

What did Mrs. Olney say
when she found out the canary

wasn't the one she took
from Maxine's apartment?

She laughed.

Mr. Mason,
I've got a question, too.

Why did Gilbert put my g*n
into the bus depot locker?

He thought of that
the next day, Maxine,

after he read
you'd been arrested.

What was Durant really up to,
defamation suit or blackmail?

Defamation at first,
then he saw a chance

of picking up a quick $ ,

without the risk
of going into court.

Well, I guess that
just about covers everything.

Except for this.

What's that?

A bill from Hamilton Burger.

"Due the District
Attorney's Office

"for rental of
bus depot parcel locker:

cents.”

(theme song playing)