07x25 - The Case of the Illicit Illusion

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

Jesse, I'm frightened!

Please, please help me!

These "things"
that have happened...

your whole life, and everything
in it, going wrong...

just like that?

Not overnight, no.

For months.

One thing here, one thing there.

- Jess...
- Step by step, Rosanne.

Your lecture tour's
been canceled?

Jess, I'm not very good at...
at figures or planning things.

I guess people like me are...
are sometimes confused.

But this is different.

Despite everything Leslie,
my secretary,

has tried to do
to keep things straight...

places, dates, everything,
are hopelessly mixed up.

The booking agency
is threatening to sue me.

Could it be their own
inefficiency?

No, they have records
of my calls.

Changes, cancellations,

things I've done
I don't remember.

Your latest book?

Jess, sometimes I don't remember
a word I've written.

Or when I wrote it.

What does your husband say?

I don't know.

Isn't Hubert aware of
what's happening?

I filed suit for divorce.

We've been separated
for three months.

Well, you've been upset and
confused much longer than that.

You never should have married
him in the first place.

Well, don't blame
all of this on him.

It seems to be getting worse
since our separation.

It's more proof of how
completely he's affected you,

how wrong you were
for one another.

It's so easy to know
all the answers...

after the fact!

Rosanne, I'm... I'm not
a marriage counselor,

I'm not a psychiatrist,

just a general practitioner
who happens to be a good friend.

Exactly how should
I have said it?

"Dear Patient..

"Your marriage
is destroying you.

"I know I proposed to you once
and you married another man.

"Now this isn't jealousy,
not bitterness.

But stop deluding yourself.”

Isn't that symptomatic
of paranoia,

of severe mental illness?

Delusions?

For Pete's sake, don't talk
yourself into being sick!

The things I did,
the things I said...

I don't remember.

And the things I do remember...

Dear God! The things I do
remember never happened!

Now, listen.

And listen carefully!

A delusion is an unreasoning
belief in the impossible,

an unquestioning belief
in what isn't so.

You're also tired, close to
exhaustion... physically sick.

Realize that!

I don't believe you.

Rosanne, trust me.

All you need is to get
away from your work.

Get some rest, plenty of sleep,
good food...

"Rx" for disaster!

A high calorie vacation!

You won't listen to me.

Why did you come?

What in the name
of all that's holy

-did you expect me to tell you?
- The truth.

And what is the truth?

I'm on the verge of insanity!

(muffled crash)

Leslie?

Bert, is that you?

(gasps)

Jess, I saw it.

I believe what I saw.

- Please be still, Rosanne.
-I said I believed what I saw!

Now, is that some kind of
trick of the senses?

Is that a delusion?

Not a delusion, not an illusion.

That bump on your head
is very real.

I know, but maybe after I
"imagined" what I "saw,"

maybe I fell, maybe I fainted,

maybe I bumped my head
on the floor.

And then again, maybe I'm not
here and neither are you.

Maybe this is all a dream.

That's a lot of maybes.

Well, Miss Eden?
Anything missing?

I'm not sure, Dr. Young.

Mrs. Ambrose's material seems
a little out of order,

but I don't see
anything missing.

Of course, I'm not sure of
Mr. Ambrose's things.

Mr. Ambrose?

Bert didn't take
everything with him

when he moved out to the club.

I told Leslie not to
touch the drawers

where he kept his papers.

Everything is still in order...

but more than a little
disorganized.

As though things
had been put back in,

but in a hurry?

LESLIE: I wouldn't
swear to it, Dr. Young,

but it's possible.

Well, isn't it possible
Bert came back to the house,

to look for something
he needed in here?

Oh, of course, why not?

He messed up all the papers,

hit me over the head
when I walked in,

cleaned everything up and ran.

You're making even
less sense than I do.

I don't know, Jess,
I just don't know.

I'll have the drugstore
send something over

to reduce your tension...

and something to help
get you to sleep.

Miss Eden, see that she
gets to bed right away.

And stays there.

I'll be back in an hour or so.

Of course, Dr. Young.

After I make my rounds at
the hospital, I'll come back.

Now it's upstairs and to bed
for you, immediately.

Agreed?

Agreed.

I'll turn down your bed,
Mrs. Ambrose.

(door closes)

Come on, Kirk,
stop fumbling around.

It has to be in that folder.

It had just better be here,
Mr. Ambrose!

-(door closes)
- ROSANNE: Bert...

I'd like to talk to you.

Alone.

- If you'll excuse me...
- No, stay put.

Rosanne, you know Kirk Cameron,
our office manager.

Whatever you have to say to me,

I'd just as soon there
was a witness present.

Your desk in the den was
broken into this afternoon.

There were papers scattered
everywhere... your papers!

What?

Was it you, Bert?

Were you at the house
this afternoon?

Whatever you believe may have
happened in the den,

I was not responsible.

May have happened?

I know you're a good friend
of Perry Mason's.

I also know he refuses to handle
domestic relations cases.

His name was on the divorce
papers served on me.

Oh, you must have spun
one of your better yarns

to get Mason involved.

But it's true, it did happen!

I won't contest the divorce.

It'll be yours by default.

Only one thing, Rosanne: when
you say "it's true,” mean it!

But it is true!

It happened like I said,
in the den!

That's nonsense... sheer,
fabricated nonsense, darling,

and you know it.

There's nothing anybody
would want in that desk.

- Nothing.
- ANDERSON: Mr. Ambrose?

I'm Lieutenant Anderson,
Los Angeles Police.

This is Lieutenant Barlow,

Police Department,
New York City.

I'm Hubert Ambrose.

What can I do for you,
Lieutenant?

I have a warrant here,

issued by the Governor of
the State of California,

ordering your arrest for
extradition to New York.

On what charge?

You're wanted in New York City

for the m*rder of
Mrs. Sophie Janel.

Rosanne?

What happened?

Leslie said on the phone
it was very important.

Bert's been arrested for m*rder.

They're going to extradite him
to New York City!

m*rder?

Yes, he's inside now...
they sent for a judge.

I told Bert you'd help him.

You shouldn't have.

I'm your attorney,

representing you
in litigation against Bert.

I can't represent you both.

Perry, I want to go ahead
with the divorce.

But until then he's
still my husband.

He needs help.

Now, I know Bert's faults,

but somehow I can't
think of him as a m*rder*r.

That will be for
a New York jury to decide.

There'd be no warrant for him

unless he'd already been
indicted in New York.

Is it possible they
made a mistake?

That-that he's not the man
they're looking for?

Well, if so, he can petition
on a writ of habeas corpus,

alleging illegal restraint.

It'll stop the extradition.

I don't know what Bert's done.

But I can't run away
when he needs help.

What am I to do, Perry?
Right now?

Start looking through the phone
book for another attorney

in the middle of the night?

No.

No, I'll ask the magistrate
to delay the arrest warrant

until Hubert can
retain an attorney

and file a petition for a writ.

Now, don't worry, Rosanne.

We'd better go on in.

JUDGE:
"...and that you did there,

"feloniously and with
malice aforethought,

bludgeon the aforesaid
Sophie Janel to death.”

Under the provision of
the California Penal Code,

Mr. Ambrose, you are
entitled to counsel,

if you wish, before we proceed.

My counsel has just arrived,
Your Honor.

Well, Mr. Mason.

Are you representing
the accused?

No, Your Honor, I'm here
on behalf of Mrs. Ambrose.

But may I request that

the accused be given a
reasonable stay of delivery

on the arrest warrant
so that he may retain counsel.

Do I understand that the accused

intends to test
the legality of the arrest?

Oh, that is for
Mr. Ambrose to say, Your Honor.

There's been a gross error
committed here someplace.

Their indictment states that

Mrs. Janel was m*rder*d
a month ago.

I admit she's a client,
and a good friend.

But I haven't been
in New York City

in the past four or
five months at least.

Lieutenant Barlow?

The New York City Police
Department sent me out here

to assist the California
Attorney General's office

in checking out this
extradition demand...

and to take custody on behalf of
the demanding state.

The demand speaks of
a "Mr. Harry Arden."”

The indictment alleges that
Harry Arden and Hubert Ambrose

are one and the same man.

BARLOW:
Mrs. Janel was found m*rder*d

in a New York City hotel room

registered to a Harry Arden.

Now, that registration, along
with round trip airline tickets

from Los Angeles
to New York and back,

were made in that same name--

the name of Harry Arden--

made by a Mr. Kirk Cameron.

They were paid for

by the firm of
Garrett and Ambrose.

That's Hubert Ambrose,
Your Honor,

the man who personally
represented Mrs. Janel.

In addition, a witness testified
to the New York Grand Jury,

and I am authorized to state
that that witness--

the dead woman's daughter,
Miss Vera Janel--

has identified Harry Arden
as Hubert Ambrose,

that both names refer
to one and the same man.

Mr. Mason, I take it that
the writ of habeas corpus

will allege that Harry Arden
and Hubert Ambrose

are not one and the same.

Your Honor, that must be
a decision between Mr. Ambrose

and whatever counsel he retains.

A one week stay of delivery

on the warrant of
arrest is directed.

Since the crime cited
is a capital offense,

there will be no bail.

Lieutenant Anderson,
the accused is remanded

to the custody of the of
the Los Angeles police.

And that's all.

Did you see Bert?

To be a man's partner
for so many years

and not really know him.

Did you see my husband,
Mr. Garrett?

Yes, I told him

our company lawyer
would be here in the morning.

I know how upsetting and
distasteful this must be to you

because of the company,

but thank you for helping him,
Mr. Garrett.

The man is absolutely no good.

I fail to understand,

considering
your pending divorce,

why you're at all concerned
with him?

He's still my husband.

He's a man in jail
who may very well stay in jail

until the New York authorities
lead him to the electric chair.

Up until today,

you thought a great deal
of my husband, Mr. Garrett.

Yes, he's an effective salesman.

He's a man of considerable charm
in many way, but...

But now you think him capable
of k*lling a human being?

Well, we all make mistakes
in judgment.

No, I never considered him
to be a m*rder*r,

but I never considered him
to be a swindler, either.

Swindler?

When you called me,

the police were in my office,
going over the books.

Of course there's no
real proof yet,

but apparently Hubert
and Kirk Cameron

fleeced this Mrs. Janel
in New York out of a fortune.

Kirk Cameron?

I thought his only involvement
in this mess

was that he bought
those tickets,

made that hotel reservations
for Bert?

Well, evidently not.

I assume it's only
a matter of time

until they have
enough evidence to arrest him

for participating
in the swindle.

Could he have been involved
in more than just the swindle?

Kirk Cameron,

the tickets, the reservations,

maybe he did more
than just buy those tickets.

Mr. Garrett, maybe he used
those tickets himself.

Mrs. Ambrose,
where are you going?

To get Kirk Cameron
to tell the truth.

♪♪

♪♪

I called Dr. Young, Mr. Mason.

I've looked everywhere for her.

I simply can't find her.

Al right,

I'll go back to the house
and wait.

♪♪

ANDERSON:
Well?

His name is Kirk Cameron.

No questions on this one.

He committed su1c1de.

Mr. Garrett,
I'm rather incredulous.

As Ambrose's senior partner,

as a man with experience
in your own field,

how could you be unaware
that your-your partner

was systematically swindling
one of your major clients?

Mason, I...

Well, I suppose I did
rather encourage him

to go his own way
in company matters.

He has that rare quality
of inspiring confidence,

He's a personality boy,
but with genuine talent.

Rosanne is a perceptive female.

He fooled her.

I've always prided myself
on my ability to judge people.

He fooled me.

And Mrs. Sophie Janel,
in New York City?

Mrs. Janel may not be
the only client he's swindled.

The accountants are
going over the books now.

I'm afraid he stole
from the company

and many other clients,

including his own wife.

Rosanne?

I spoke to her long enough

to find out what
may have happened.

When you start getting
into her financial affairs

in preparation for this divorce,

I think you'll find out

that Hubert's probably took her

for very dollar she had
in the world.

Is there any possibility
that it wasn't Hubert,

but Kirk Cameron
who was involved?

Well, Cameron was involved
in the swindle.

I don't know about the m*rder.

Of course, we'd know
a lot more if the police

would release the contents
of that su1c1de note he wrote.

Did Cameron know
Mrs. Janel in New York?

Well, he never knew her
the way Hubert did.

More than a client

investment counselor
relationship?

The dead woman's daughter
is in town.

Why don't you ask her, Mason?

Hubert Ambrose is a dirty swine!

My mother was a good
ten years older than he,

but did that make
any difference?

No. He romanced her

as though she were some silly,
college coed

and filled her full
of stupid lies.

Lies, Mr. Mason.

And then he stole from her.

He stole from her
until she caught him,

and then he k*lled her.

Oh, that poor child.

Most difficult for her,
most difficult.

Are you a relative?

Winifred Wileen, Mr. Mason,

a friend of Miss Janel's

and international president
of ALTAMAW.

A social organization?

I beg your pardon, sir.

The Anti-colonial League
To Abolish Munitions and w*r.

Oh, yes, I remember.

You were involved
in a sit-down strike

in the street outside
Parliament,

and you were arrested.

Five times.

Wasn't there
a photograph of you?

It appeared in newspapers

printed in languages,

was on the telly networks
of seven countries.

Is Miss Janel associated
with this organization?

Vera Janel is the chairlady for
the American Chapter of ALTAMAW.

Excellent leadership.

Was arrested twice herself.

That's what our young people
need today,

more dedication.

Well, how frightfully perceptive
of you to notice it, Mr. Mason.

Vera is even more amazing

when you realize
she's rather well-to-do herself,

moreover the daughter
of a millionairess.

True social consciousness
with a background like that.

You did say her mother,

the late Sophie Janel,
was a millionairess?

Mm-hmm.

She left three million dollars
in her will.

Well, well.

Two million of it
went to charity,

oh, and some distant relatives.

And the third million,

naturally,
to her daughter, Vera.

Oh, no, not at all.

Didn't you know, Mr. Mason?

Sophie Janel left
that third million dollars

to Hubert Ambrose.

I, Kirk Cameron, by myself
swindled Mrs. Sophie Janel.

Hubert Ambrose had nothing
to do with it."

"I intercepted the letter
she wrote to him,

"stating that she had found out,

"would call in the authorities
unless he made it all good.

"I didn't have the money;
there was no way to raise it.

"It was only a matter of time

"before I would be found out
and sent to prison.

"The plane tickets, the hotel
reservation were for me.

I flew to New York.

"Using the code name
Mr. Ambrose used

"in his dealings
with Mrs. Janel,

I sent her a wire asking her
to meet me in the hotel room.

"She came.

"I pleaded with her,
but she wouldn't listen.

When she lifted the phone
to call the police I..."

That's all there is.

But the original of this was
typed

on his own personal machine.

It was found,

splattered with blood,
under his head on the table.

ANDERSON: The g*n
in his right hand was tested.

It fired the fatal shot.

His hand showed traces
of nitrate on them,

consistent
with his firing the g*n.

There were even splatters

of blood on the hand
holding the g*n.

Predictably,
on the basis of this note,

and the other evidence,

the coroner's report describes
the death as su1c1de.

RANCER:
Mr. Burger.

Yes, Mr. Rancer?

In view of that confession,
as Mr. Ambrose's attorney,

I insist the governor
be contacted at once.

Mike, I'm sure Mr. Burger
will do what should be done.

I have notified the governor,

and the warrant
has been withdrawn.

The demand for extradition
will not be honored.

And your client
is free to go, sir.

RANCER:
Fine.

If there's nothing else,
we'll leave.

There's nothing else.

Hubert.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Burger.

Perry, since you were
already involved, so to speak,

I asked you
and Mrs. Ambrose to be here

so you could hear
this material firsthand

before it's picked up
by the papers.

Thank you, Hamilton.

I appreciate that.

I'll take you home, Rosanne.

(door closes)

So far, so good.

Well, you know what to do, Andy.

All set up and waiting.

Good luck.

Thanks.

An interlocutory decree
is conclusive

and res judicata
with respect to all.

(knocks "Shave and a Haircut")

Hi, Perry, Della.

I thought you were taking off
for a day or two of fishing?

That's right
with a friend of mine

in the ballistics section
of the police department.

Did you plan to sh**t the fish?

Last time I heard, gag writers

were doing a lot better
than legal secretaries.

But do they get
to spend much time

with brave,
handsome private eyes?

Is that a complaint
or a promise?

Paul, I do have a brief
to finish.

Yeah, Perry, you were mixed up

in that Cameron su1c1de,
weren't you?

I was mixed up, yes.

Well, there's something funny
about the whole set-up.

My friend tipped me.

- Real funny.
- How funny?

The g*n he used to k*ll himself
was brand new.

Ballistics fired it
over a hundred times,

and it never leaked once.

You're sure of that?

My friend wouldn't give me
a bum steer, and that's not all.

The autopsy revealed traces

of chloral hydrate
in Cameron's body.

Perry...

Della, cancel my appointments
for the rest of the day.

I'll call to tell you
when I'm coming back.

Of course, the so-called
dermal nitrate test

is not only controversial,

but it may be meaningless
as evidence in court.

What is important, however,

is that somebody
was unaware of this,

and significantly,
that a paraffin test

usually reveals nitrate
on a hand

that held and fired a g*n

only when that g*n breech
is leaking.

Then... but that means...

The chances are Cameron
didn't fire that g*n

and that he didn't
commit su1c1de.

But the note,
the blood on his hand?

That same somebody
could have typed the note,

and splattered the blood
on his hand.

But to sit there,

just sit there, while somebody
put a g*n to his head...

No problem at all if again,
that same somebody saw

that he had a drink first.

A drink containing
knockout drops.

Chloral hydrate!

Of all of them, why that drug?

Well, it's, it's what they
call-- what you said --

knockout drops.

You're evading me.

Don't be ridiculous!

Why should I be evasive about...

To protect Rosanne Ambrose.

No!

Doctor Young, the police still
haven't confirmed that su1c1de.

Now this may not bother
some people,

but it definitely bothers me.

I'm Rosanne's attorney.
I'm also her friend.

She may be in serious trouble

I can't help her unless I know
all the facts.

The day Cameron committed
su1c1de,

you wrote two prescriptions
for Rosanne.

What was in them?

Among other things,
one had chloral hydrate

to put her to sleep quickly.

And the other?

She was highly nervous;
suffering from hypertension.

What was in that second
prescription?

It contained
a small amount of...

sodium nitrate.

WOMAN (over P.A.):
Flight .

- Bert?

What is it?

These two plane tickets
for a flight out of the state.

You won't have
to bother picking them up.

What are you talking about?

The fact that you're under
arrest, both of you.

The Governor withdrew
that extradition warrant.

It's been reissued.

What's that got to do
with my wife?

Nothing at all.

Mrs. Ambrose,

you're under arrest for the
m*rder of Kirk Cameron.

Now, Lieutenant Anderson,

you heard
the elevator operator testify

that he took the defendant,
Rosanne Ambrose,

up to the decedent's floor,

but that he did not take her
down again.

Did you in the course of your
investigation find out

how she got down again?

She used the stairs.

We found a jeweled lipstick,
with her initials on it

at the base of the balustrade.

We found her fingerprints on
the balustrade railing.

And we found evidence that when
she dropped her purse

and lost her lipstick,
she also spilled some powder.

We could see where an effort had
been made to sweep up the

loose powder, but there was
still enough left in

the depressions to match

the powder in the compact
she was carrying.

You say the powder did match?

Not only matched, the compact
itself was scratched and dented.

And we found matching traces
of enamel

from the compact on the stairs.

And this was
the same purse in which,

according to your testimony,

you found
the two bottles of medicine

prescribed by Dr. Young?

That's right.

Were you able to establish

the presence of her fingerprints
anyplace else?

On various pieces of furniture
in Kirk Cameron's apartment

and on the g*n
he was k*lled with.

Fingerprints on the g*n?

You mean, here on the handle
where I'm holding it?

Uh, no, sir, we hardly ever lift
prints off the handle.

There's no surface there
to hold a print.

These prints-- her prints--
were found on the barrel

where the smooth surface will
take prints,

approximately where my fingers
are holding it now.

I see.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, the nitrate on
the decedent's hand,

the chloral hydrate in his body,
the powder, the fingerprints,

was all this evidence known
by the authorities before

Hubert Ambrose was released
from arrest

on the extradition demand?

Yes, it was.

Then at that time you knew

Kirk Cameron's death was
not su1c1de.

Yes, I knew.

And the District Attorney knew
it also?

Your Honor, I'll object to that
question on the grounds

that it calls for a conclusion
and opinion of the witness.

If the Court please,
the District Attorney,

on direct examination, has
elicited from the witness

testimony relative to the
defendant's alleged flight

from arrest,
trial and conviction.

Well, then counsel should have
objected when the questions

were asked, Your Honor.

Your Honor, I submit this is
admissible for purposes

of impeaching the witness.

BURGER:
Impeaching?!

The defense may conceivably
charge that the alleged flight

and the inferences drawn from it
were actually planned

by the authorities, and that
the defendant was by entrapment,

lured into fleeing.

Entrapment?!
Now, listen, Mr. Mason...

That will be all, Mr. Burger.

Objection of the prosecution is
overruled.

The witness will answer
the question.

So far as I knew, the District
Attorney was aware

that Kirk Cameron's death was
not su1c1de.

Was Hubert Ambrose released

as part of a deliberate
conspiracy

to create evidence of criminal
guilt and possible collusion

between the defendant
and her husband?

No! We didn't know
they'd try to escape!

We didn't even suggest it!
We only hoped it would happen.

Hoped?

We had reason to believe that
Kirk Cameron had been m*rder*d.

We had reason to believe

that Rosanne Ambrose had been
there and had held a g*n.

We thought we could make an
assumption as to her motive,

but we couldn't prove it.

Lieutenant, what did you assume
her motive was?

To keep Hubert Ambrose from
being convicted

for the m*rder of Sophie Janel.

Her husband had swindled her!

She did it to get
her money back.

Nobody convicted of m*rder can
inherit

from the person he m*rder*d.

Hubert Ambrose couldn't collect
the million dollars

Sophie Janel had left him
in her will

if he was convicted
of her m*rder!

You assume then that Rosanne
Ambrose k*lled Kirk Cameron

in an attempt to protect her
husband's inheritance?

Well, that's
what we thought, yes.

When he was released, when the
two of them were picked up

at the airport, we couldn't
prove they were trying to leave

the state to avoid prosecution,

but it was enough for us
to confirm for ourselves,

our assumption as to motive.

Your Honor, without questioning
the veracity of the witness,

it is obvious he cannot speak
for the knowledge or motivation

of the District Attorney.

May it please the Court...

Wait a minute, Mr. Mason.

Maybe we can cut off
this excursion

before I have to testify.

I was going to request
that very thing, Mr. Burger.

Will counsel be satisfied
with a stipulation

as to my knowledge
and my intent?

You state for the record
that you were aware

of Hubert Ambrose's embezzlement
of his wife's separate funds,

and that you were attempting
to prove the subsequent

alleged criminal acts of Rosanne
Ambrose were

a direct consequence of her
husband's embezzlement?

So stipulated.

In that case, Mr. Burger,

I have no further questions
for the witness.

Over a period of some months,

I prepared approximately
$ , -worth of checks

for Mrs. Ambrose's signature,
checks made out to her husband.

Do you mean made out
to his firm,

the investment firm
of Garrett and Ambrose?

Or made out to Hubert Ambrose
personally?

To Mr. Ambrose personally.

Well, did Mrs. Ambrose
ever make any comments to you

about any of these checks?

About the time
of the last check,

just after she had filed
for divorce,

Mrs. Ambrose became
terribly upset.

And she said that her husband,
Mr. Ambrose,

had not only robbed her of
the best years of her life,

but that he had now
defrauded her

of every cent
she had in the world.

Earlier on the afternoon

preceding the m*rder
of Kirk Cameron,

Dr. Young authorized two
prescriptions for Mrs. Ambrose.

Can you tell us when

that medication was delivered
to her?

Oh, I brought them with me
to the courthouse

the night of the extradition
hearing.

As a matter of fact, I believe

while we were waiting
for Mr. Mason,

Mrs. Ambrose then and there
took a pill

from one of the bottles.

There are less than the
prescribed number of pills

in both bottles.

However, it would be impossible
for me to say

whether she took either one
or both,

of for that matter,
any medication that night.

Took or otherwise used?

I deal in observable facts,
symptoms,

not in nebulous assumptions
dredged up

to support some
hairbrained theory.

And when you told the defendant,
Rosanne Ambrose,

that she was not suffering from
a severe mental illness,

-that was a fact
and not a theory? -Yes.

- There was no mental illness?
- No.

She was absolutely at all times
in control of her faculties?

Absolutely!

Including at all times
her ability

to distinguish
between right and wrong?

That's right, Doctor,
the M'Naghten Rule:

to be used as a defense against
prosecution for m*rder,

insanity does not need to be
either permanent or complete,

it must only involve at the time
of the crime the inability

to distinguish
between right and wrong.

Well, Doctor?

In your opinion,
as her physician,

her physician of longstanding,
based on fact, not on theory,

based on uninvolved
objective observation,

was Rosanne Ambrose able
to distinguish

between right and wrong?

I can't answer that.

Let me remind you,
the doctor-patient privilege

pertains only to civil matters.

This is a criminal action!

I can't answer that.

Dr. Young, there's
no question here

of privilege of
self-incrimination.

Now if you don't want to be
cited for contempt,

you must answer.

I can't give you an "objective,"
an "uninvolved" observation.

You see, I love Rosanne Ambrose.

Cameron was frightened,
obviously covering up,

not telling me the truth.

He became abusive, ugly.

I started yelling at him.

I called him a m*rder*r.

Cameron, from out of nowhere,
suddenly had a g*n in his hand.

He pointed it at me and ordered
me out of his apartment.

I grabbed the g*n by the barrel.
I tried to turn it aside.

We were fighting over the g*n

when he, he jerked it out
of my hand,

and it struck me on
the forehead.

Why haven't you told me
this before?

Because I think that's what
happened, but I'm not sure.

Maybe I did k*ll him.

When you left, why did you use
the stairs?

Why not the elevator?

I was very dizzy, sick from
where the g*n had struck me.

I think I did ring
for the elevator.

Suddenly, I found myself
on the stairs.

I dropped my purse,

and I reached for it...

Mrs. Ambrose, if you were
feeling so badly,

why did you bother
to clean up the powder?

Did I?

It was brushed up.

Another one of my illusions.

Such as running away
with your husband?

That isn't true.

You were leaving the state.

That isn't so.

I wasn't leaving the state,
I wasn't going anywhere.

I was at the airport
because Bert sent for me.

Sent me a message that it was
terribly urgent

that I meet him there at once.

Perry, I'm sure he'll explain
all this when he testifies.

Mrs. Ambrose, your husband is in
County Jail

waiting to be extradited
to New York.

And even if he weren't,
he couldn't testify.

He couldn't?

A husband can testify neither
for his wife nor against her...

unless they both waive their
right against forced testimony.

There must be some way to get
the truth from Bert.

Perhaps there is.

Yes, yes, we conducted
a very careful audit

of all of Garrett
and Ambrose's accounts.

With what results,
Mr. Garrett?

Mrs. Ambrose's account shows no
record of the $ ,

supposedly given to her
husband-- my partner--

for investment through our firm.

Additionally,
what assets she did have

were liquidated and withdrawn.

Withdrawn by whom, Mr. Garrett?

By her husband, Hubert Ambrose.

Now what can you tell us

about the account
of the late Mrs. Sophie Janel

of New York City?

With the help of Kirk Cameron,

Hubert Ambrose embezzled
$ , from Mrs. Janel.

Mr. Mason?

I'm sure you're aware,
Mr. Garrett,

that all members of a
partnership are jointly

and severally liable in damages
for fraud and misrepresentation

of any one partner?

No investor in a company bearing
my name shall lose so much

as a single dollar through
the misapplication of funds.

Then you personally involve
yourself with a company,

you don't merely give
your name to it?

In the investment world,
the name of Fillmore Garrett is

synonymous with fiduciary
responsibility.

We can assume, then,
that you were not unaware

of the activities
of Hubert Ambrose

and Kirk Cameron
in your company?

No, you may not assume.

I had no idea what
they were doing, believe me.

You must have been aware
that something was wrong?

No, I wasn't specifically aware
of any particular thing, no.

Just generally uneasy, worried?

Yes, that's right.

That was before Mrs. Janel died?

Naturally.

Because you had started

checking your books
with your accountants?

Well, not then, no.

Oh?

Then you started
checking the books

after you returned
from New York?

Yes, right after that.

And when were you there?

Well, I was in New Y...

Were you in New York when
Mrs. Sophie Janel was m*rder*d?

Well, yes, but I had nothing
to do with that, believe me.

But you were there
because of the embezzlement?

Yes, because of the letter.

Letter?

From Mrs. Janel?

No, it was a letter
from her daughter.

She, uh, she wrote complaining
about her mother's money.

Uh, Vera Janel.

I ask you,
of your own knowledge,

is that an accurate copy

of your mother's
last will and testament?

It is.

Aside from bequests
amounting to two million dollars

to certain charities, would you
read to this court, please,

the name of the individual
designated by your mother

as the sole heir

to the remaining one million
dollars of her estate?

Hubert Ambrose.

I most assuredly was with
Miss Janel and her mother

when the wire arrived
from Los Angeles.

And did you personally
see it and read it?

But of course.

She showed it to us.

And to the best
of your recollection,

what did the wire say?

Oh, my dear young man,
I couldn't possibly remember.

Not the exact words,
Miss Wileen.

What was the general sense
of the wire?

Oh.

Well, now, let me see.

Oh, yes.

Meet me such and such a room,
such and such a hotel,

such and such a time,
can explain.

And what was Mrs. Janel's
reaction to this wire?

Rather unimpressed, I'd say.

Mrs. Janel stated that
not only could she no longer

believe Hubert, but that
she planned to cut him off

without so much as a shilling.

(chuckles)

Rather bully perceptive
of the old girl, I thought.

She stated that she, quote,

"could never believe
Hubert again,” unquote?

Was the wire signed "Hubert"?

Uh, no, no.

It was signed "Harry,"”
uh, with an H as in Hubert.

And "Arden,” with an A
as in Ambrose.

Your witness.

Miss Wileen,
how do you support yourself?

Sir, I am a gentlewoman
of independent means.

Dedicated to
socially urgent causes?

And why not?

To such a task we can dedicate
our lives and our fortunes.

Very good, Miss Wileen.

I see you memorized Woodrow
Wilson's words to Congress

asking for a declaration of w*r.

(quietly):
What?

SOSOD.

The initials
S, O, S, O and D.

What do they signify?

Society of Supporters
of Disestablishmentarianism.

A society of whose president
you were for five years

at an annual salary
of , pounds.

- Correct?
- Yes.

Remarkable, considering
the society never had

a yearly income
in excess of , pounds.

Now, AMMAFEP.

A-M-M-A-F-E-P.

Would you
translate that, please?

Anti Mau Mau
Alliance For Everlasting Peace.

Chairlady, board of directors,

annual salary , pounds.

BOFIL, SOSANIT, GROUSIK.

We come now to ALTAMAW.

As you explained to me,

the Anti-Colonial League
to Abolish Munitions And w*r.

As international president,
what is your salary?

(clears throat)

, pounds.

Very ambitious
for an organization

with less than , pounds
in the bank.

From what source
does your salary come?

Public donations.

Public?

Such as Vera Janel,

from the income she had
independently of her mother,

Mrs. Sophie Janel?

She's been most generous.

But hardly to the degree
that you anticipated her mother

would be generous?

She didn't understand.

That you were leeching a living
from her naive daughter?

I think she did understand.

In fact, didn't you learn
from Mrs. Janel that it was

for this reason she cut her
daughter off without a shilling

in her will?

That's not fair.

You-you don't know
what you're talking about.

I'm talking about the trip

you and Vera Janel made
here to Los Angeles,

hoping to find a way
to break that will.

There was nothing
wrong with that.

No, but there was something
wrong when you nearly k*lled

Rosanne Ambrose by hitting her
on the head with a poker.

It wasn't a poker, it was...!

All right, Miss Wileen,
what did you use to hit her?

A vase.

What were you looking for
in Hubert Ambrose's home?

WINIFRED:
That letter Sophie Janel said

she wrote to him,
in her own handwriting,

telling him he was a liar
and a swindler,

that she was going to cut him
out of her will.

Are you sure, Miss Wileen?

Sure it wasn't a letter stating
that she'd had you investigated,

was going to file
a complaint against you

with the immigration
authorities?

Oh, no. It's a lie, a lie.

A wicked lie!

(sobbing)

Your Honor,
I realize the prosecution

has not yet concluded its case,

and that until it does,
I may not call witnesses

as part of the defense, but...

Do I understand
you want to call a witness

out of order at this time?

If you would so indulge me,
Your Honor.

That's very irregular.

However, this is only
a preliminary hearing.

Have you any objections,
Mr. Burger?

Who do you want to call,
Mr. Mason?

Hubert Ambrose.

You know Hubert Ambrose
is in jail awaiting extradition.

And you know
a husband is not competent

to testify against his wife.

The privilege cannot be asserted
in a criminal prosecution

for a crime against a third
party while husband and wife

are connected with
the commission of a crime

by one spouse against the other.

Well, that has no bearing here.

There's been no proof
of any such thing.

You stipulated earlier
in the hearing, Mr. Burger,

that you were aware of Hubert
Ambrose's alleged embezzlement

of his wife's separate funds,

and that her alleged criminal
act against Kirk Cameron

was a direct consequence of,
and thereby connected with,

her husband's embezzlement.

I don't care what kind of a
technicality you've dredged up

to make him a competent witness,
he still can't be forced

to testify unless both he
and the defendant are willing

to waive their privilege.

Mrs. Ambrose is willing
to so waive.

And less than an hour ago,
in county jail,

Hubert Ambrose,
with advice of counsel,

agreed to testify
on behalf of his wife.

JUDGE: Mr. Burger,
you will have Hubert Ambrose

brought into court
and sworn in as a witness.

Judge has instructed you
on your constitutional right

not to answer a question
if you feel

the answer
might incriminate you.

I shall try not to abuse
your consenting

to appear at this hearing
on behalf of your wife.

I don't imagine I can be
any more incriminated

than I am right now, Mr. Mason.

Looks like I've been
driving up the wrong street

for a long time.

Mr. Ambrose,
you don't believe then

that there are goals in life
so desirable

they are worth any price?

(scoffs)

Take a good look at me.

There's your answer.

When you married Rosanne
Ambrose, did you love her?

Yes.

Do you still love her?

No, that was over long ago,
for both of us.

Do you hate her?

No, I never could.

Then why did you participate
in a carefully-designed plan

to make her think
she was going insane

and perhaps literally
to drive her insane?

That's a lie, a rotten lie.

What's a lie, Mr. Ambrose?

That there has been such a plan
or that you've been part of it?

I... I just thought...

That she was, really was,
mentally ill?

These canceled checks
represent the $ ,

given you by your wife.

That your signature
on the endorsement?

Is it the signature
of Kirk Cameron?

Of course, you knew
about this money.

But you did know
about the illusions?

Illusions?

MASON: A chain of
carefully manufactured incidents

to trick an imaginative
and susceptible woman

into distrusting her own senses,

to confuse this already unhappy
and highly nervous woman,

so that she wouldn't realize
her life savings

were being stolen from her.

I had nothing, absolutely
nothing to do with that.

If you had known
of the illusions,

could you have intervened?

Was Kirk Cameron k*lled,

and his death made to look
like su1c1de,

to prevent your conviction for
the m*rder of Mrs. Sophie Janel?

I know nothing about it.

MASON: But you do know
that's the only way

your million-dollar inheritance
from the m*rder*d woman

could be protected?

I was in jail
when Kirk Cameron was k*lled.

In jail!

But your accomplice wasn't.

Lieutenant Anderson
needed help... information.

In giving that help,
your accomplice knew

the phony su1c1de
had been discovered,

knew that
you would be rearrested

for Mrs. Janel's m*rder,

knew somebody else would be
sought for Cameron's m*rder.

It had to be somebody who knew

of the million-dollar
inheritance,

who planned
to share it with you.

To the accomplice, it was
no longer a question of money,

it was life or death.

You had to be written off.

Did you send a message to your
wife to meet at the airport,

knowing the police
were watching you both?

No, no, my wife sent a message
to me to meet her there.

MASON:
But the simple truth is

it was not your wife
who bought the tickets

and sent the message to you.

It had to be your accomplice,

deliberately tossing you back
into the hands of the police.

Your accomplice who bought the
tickets and by sending messages

both to you and your wife,

arranged the meeting
at the airport.

What?

The same accomplice
who stole from your wife

without fear of you,

knowing that you were
stealing from Mrs. Janel.

I didn't know it was that much.

I swear, I didn't.

The one person
who could have done it,

who could have staged
the illusions,

who could have k*lled
Kirk Cameron:

your accomplice, Leslie Eden.

AMBROSE:
Why did you do it, Leslie?

Why?

I told you
I didn't want her hurt.

I warned you
I didn't want anybody hurt.

And Kirk-- why did you have
to go and k*ll Kirk Cameron?

No!

Perry, see, the powder--

did I actually sweep it up
off the stairs?

Rosanne, I thought I'd
convinced you of your sanity.

No, you didn't.

Leslie found you
on the stairs unconscious

on her way up to Cameron's.

Remember she couldn't use
the elevator?

You were still there,
still unconscious, when she left

after k*lling Cameron.

She couldn't resist
adding just one more illusion.

DELLA:
She missed your lipstick

when she put everything
back in your purse.

Including the two bottles
of medicine

she did not give you earlier
in the courthouse.

I didn't think I'd taken
any of that medicine,

but, then, there were a lot
of things I wasn't sure about.

Not anymore, I hope.

Just one, Jess.

Can I tell right from wrong?

(chuckles)

A year from now,
I'll answer that.

After you answer a question
I ask you.

(theme song playing)