07x30 - The Case of the Ugly Duckling

[bunniefuu]

(theme song playing)

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Trilling!
What are you doing here?!

I'm all right, Talbot.

I can handle my own wheelchair,
thank you.

But you shouldn't be here
at night.

What do you mean,
I shouldn't be here?

Well, your operation, and...

And who's supposed
to run this company

if I'm not around
day and night?

I don't really need
this crazy thing,

but those doctors,
they tell you, "Don't walk."

They tell you, "Take it easy."”

They tell you...

But do they know the days,
the sleepless nights,

the responsibilities?

DOLL:
Hi. I'm Angie.

I love you.

Good morning. Good night.

♪♪

Are you running away
from some man on a prowl,

or just finishing up a workout
at the YWCA?

Don't be smart, Herman.
Just give me a beer.

Our little Alice is not in

her usual wonderland mood
this evening.

A beer, Herman.

(light piano music playing)

Oh, it's all right, Officer.
Nothing's been taken.

Just noticed
the window driving by.

Who hates Santa Claus?

(chuckles) Forget it.

It's probably just an accident.

A gust of strong wind, maybe.
No real damage.

OFFICER:
Or a gust of a strong girl.

Somebody thought they saw a...

You have children, Officer?

Miss Graham, why don't you help
select some gifts

for the officers to bring home
to their children?

Certainly, Mr. Trilling.

An Angie doll
for a little girl, perhaps?

Well, now just a minute.

Don't you care
that your window's been broken?

(chuckles)
Inside, gentlemen, inside.

I should be in bed, that's what.

Or back in the hospital.

Or like the doctor said,
in the desert, Palm Springs,

the Riviera, the Bahamas.

What's stopping you?

What's stopping me?

You didn't see what she did,
you didn't see the damage.

But it's her building,
Mr. Trilling.

Mason, since Alice's
father died,

she's taken off from three
different schools,

she moved out of the house,
she hangs up the phone if I try

to talk to her.

She won't even look at a man.

And you can't make her cry
"Uncle.”

Mason, the girl is my niece.
I only want to help her.

Forgive me for being blunt,
Mr. Trilling,

but that girl is also money
in your pocket.

Alice is the principal
stockholder in the corporation.

But unless she snaps around,
unless she can prove

to the executors that she's
living up to her father's will,

there may not be
any more corporation.

Unfortunately, Alice's father
didn't understand

his daughter as well
as he understood toys.

There is doubtful wisdom
behind the stipulation

in his will that says

"Unless my daughter can prove
herself responsible

"before her next birthday,
either by marrying

or by otherwise showing
that she's settled down...”

Well, why shouldn't
a girl get married?

Two men, two very nice young men

she's left standing
at the altar!

But can't you see the senseless
cruelty in that will?

Saying that marriage--
any marriage at all--

proves a girl's responsibility?

All right, all right, Morgan
was upset with the girl.

But unless the executors
are satisfied somehow,

that Alice is capable of
handling her own estate,

they'll dissolve
the corporation,

set up trust accounts for her.

You've obviously enjoyed running
the company

since your brother died,
haven't you, Mr. Trilling?

Yes. Yes, I have.

Well, I don't know what you
think I can do

to help keep you in office.

I did not write Morgan's will.

You can go to the executors,
to the bank,

you can ask the courts
for more time.

Oh, no, I can't.
At least, I won't...

unless you and the rest
of the family stop moaning

over your personal sorrows long
enough to consider the source

of real sorrow in Alice.

Harry...

I might be willing to help
in this if you'd begin

to help Alice by taking
that doll off the market.

The Angie doll.

That what off the market?!

Perry, that doll's our biggest
seller, all over the world!

My brother would turn over
in his grave!

Why, he created that doll
for Alice!

Yes.

He even gave the doll
Alice's nickname, "Angie."”

A beautiful, delicate,
glamorous doll.

Everything Morgan Trilling
expected his daughter to be...

demanded that she be.

(applause)

Okay, Rembrandt,
what's the funny joke?

What joke?

You watch me come in here,
you watch me go out.

The other night, now again.

What am I,
a freak or something?

Let me see that.

(chuckles)

Now you spoiled it!

Good, good! Herman!

How come you got such a hot fire
burning inside you, hmm?

It's a freeze, Rembrandt.

Usher's the name.

Anthony Usher.

Well, think of that.
Good-bye, Rembrandt.

Hey, wait a minute.
That's it!

Now listen, you...

Don't move!

Why me? Why pick me?

You're different, maybe.

From what?

Well, for one thing,
you're ugly.

What?!

Scared, of course...

I am not!

...of yourself.

Now listen, you stop it!

You're nothing
but a nutty creep!

And you're a shaggy dog.

Well, I'm going to paint
your picture, see?

Oh, no, you're not!

I wouldn't let you paint
a fence!

Let go of me!

Never sold a picture...

never got hung anywhere...
(chuckles)

I never even got paid for doing
a mural in a powder room.

What's the matter, no ambition?

Nope. Too much.

Money's for peasants.
Who needs it?

Well, just wait till the world
sees this masterpiece.

Whistler's Mother!

Cut it out, will you?

The Fall of the House of Usher.

I said, cut it out!

I'm sorry, just got thirsty.

I don't mean the moving.

I mean the way you keep
spitting at yourself.

You know the trouble with you?

Self-pity.

A girl in a hair shirt
should never...

Now listen, Rembrandt, I only
told you I'd come up here

if you promised to let me alone!

And that temper.

Not enough room on this canvas

for that chip on your shoulder,
however...

Now you cut it out!

Alice, sit down.

Why? Why should I sit there

and just let you analyze me?
You're just...!

I paint what I see, that's all.

DOLL:
Hello. Good-bye.

I made this thing work along
time ago, Mr. Trilling.

I found a way to give the doll
a voice, make it live.

So you did, Talbot.

Your brother never closed
his eyes to any new ideas.

My brother didn't have
my problems.

I'm sorry, but we just can't
risk any new products right now.

In an emergency situation
like ours...

Now just a minute.
Wait just a minute.

You said that the last time

when I designed the singing
space ship, remember?

You turned that down, and
Albert Charity's outfit put

almost the same thing
on the market.

Now they're making
a fortune out of it.

Of course!

They don't have executors
to deal with,

a bank breathing down
their necks.

A girl named Alice, you mean.

Oh, Harry,
if you'd only stop worrying

about what might happen.

I know what I'm doing!

Yes, and I'm taking care
of the Alice thing, too,

don't you worry!

Then why don't you take care of
today's business for a change?

Talbot, if you think you could
run this company

any better than I'm doing...!

If? If?! (laughs)

Are you kidding?

Temper, temper.

You don't talk back to Zeus.

Science is wonderful.

You did tell him, I must say.

That guy should still be selling
washing machines.

Why the bank ever put him
in charge...

Now, now, get those storm clouds
out of your eyes.

And don't tell me he's not
grandstanding that wheelchair

for every inch of mileage
he can get out of it!

Darling... darling,
I think you're a genius.

And I'll even let you take me
out to dinner tonight.

Natalie, you've already
helped me spend

one month's salary this week.

Besides, science isn't
all that's wonderful.

If you'll do it for me,
you'll do it for him.

I will?

Life in the toy factory.

Tomorrow morning,
bright and early,

you'll yawn into
Big Harry's office

and tell him
everything I said...

Oh, now, Talbot,

I wouldn't do a thing
like that to you.

Me?

USHER: Up! Up!
You know what I mean?

Get the vinegar out.

Persimmons.

Just hold the head
just like that,

lips like so...

But I can't say
"nutty creep” this way.

That's my problem.

Something wrong here.

Yeah, there sure is.

Now just hold the pose,
don't move.

Glasses.
That's what you need.

You know something?

This is for real.

Maybe this, I might sell.

Sure.
For a powder room portrait.

No, no, I mean it.

In the bus station.

Oh, Alice, shut up.

And you'll owe all your success

to your beautiful model.

To the Mona Lisa.

To the Duchess of Alba.

You are you, you idiot!

Now stop all the twitching
and just settle...

That's what I'm talking about!

I am what I am what I am.

Now, why you should paint me
looking like some...

some...

You are... what you are...

what you are.

No!

You dirty, rotten... you louse!

You pull another trick
like that and I'll...

I'll paint you!

(Usher laughs)

It's your uncle, Miss Trilling.

All right if I come in, dear?

ALICE: All right,
Miss Jefferson, thank you.

I, uh, hope you're
not busy, dear.

I told the landlady
it was rather important.

Alice,

I know I should have phoned,

but you and I don't have enough
talks, and I thought that...

Alice.

Now, look here, Alice,

I didn't come here to scold you,
I didn't come here to...

What's the matter?

Well, you... y-your hair.

Oh, here.

Makes it easier for me to wash,
that's all.

Alice...

Now, look, Uncle Harry,
I'm busy.

I don't want to talk
about psychiatrists,

I'm not going over
to your house for dinner,

- I'm not going
to Cousin Suzy's... -Now, now.

...and I am not going
to move out of this apartment.

Well, I don't know why not

when you've got a beautiful,
big house like your father's

just standing there empty.

Uncle Harry, I said I'm busy.

- Don't want to talk about...
- Oh, oh, all right, all right.

I'm sorry.

Thank you for the flowers.

You do look very nice.

Well?

Well, Alice, I've been to
a lawyer-- oh, a very nice one.

You remember him, I'm sure--
Perry Mason?

Well?

Now, I know you don't want
to talk business, Alice,

but that thing
of your father's will

does involve
a lot of other people,

and with your birthday coming up
in only a few months,

you see, it involves your
financial future, too, dear.

Well, Mason will explain.

Oh, you'd be far better off

if somehow we can just keep
the business going.

- Uncle Harry... -Well, now,
I don't mean the easy way

with that marriage nonsense.

Alice, I've never blamed you
one second

for jilting those,
those money-chasing boyfriends,

but there are other ways--
more complicated ways perhaps--

but with your cooperation,

the executors and bank
just might recommend

to the court...

All right.

What?

You want me to go talk
to this lawyer

to help straighten out
the will thing.

Well, all right, I said.

Oh, well, thank you.

Thank you, Alice.

Oh, you realize
it's only your own happiness

I'm thinking of.

I don't want to make trouble
for anybody.

I'll do anything
that's necessary,

but, Uncle Harry,
I really am busy, so...

(chuckling):
Honey, what on earth is it

that's made you so, so busy

just now?

Please, Uncle Harry,
I just want to be left alone.

Doesn't anybody understand?

Well, of, of course, of course.

I do.

Oh, but I almost forgot.

Alice dear, there's something
that's upset me for years--

the Angie doll.

Now, I don't want to say
anything about your father,

but why that man couldn't love
things for what they were

instead of trying to make pretty
little patterns out of them,

toys, dolls...

Well, anyway, I'm in charge now,
and I just wanted you to know

I'm taking that Angie doll
off the market,

getting rid of it entirely.

Now, uh, don't say anything.

I just wanted you to know
I understand.

I've always understood.

Good-bye, Uncle Harry.

♪♪

(door unlocking)

(door opens)

Natalie,
what are you doing here?

Oh, Alice, you frightened me.

Well, Alice, darling,
how lovely you look.

That's a beautiful dress.

Do you know Anthony Usher?

What?

(chuckling): Oh, no, and don't
you get the wrong idea.

I'm just running an errand
for a friend and that's all.

Friend?

Yes, but it's not important.

Just tell him...

This Usher's an artist,
isn't he?

I mean...

Well, I'll come back
some other time.

Natalie, wait.

Oh, don't worry, darling,
I won't tell anyone.

I mean, I bet
he's very attractive.

You just have a good time,
darling.

- You were going to put
something there. -What?

Let me see it.

Alice, really, this is
none of our business.

Give it to me.

No, I will not.

My friend told me just to leave
this note here for...

Alice, please, all sorts
of people must know Mr. Usher.

Note?
It's a check.

Now, don't misunderstand, Alice,

please don't be hurt.

For a thousand dollars.

Oh, Alice, darling,
I'm so sorry.

Maybe it's for some old work
he's done,

an old painting perhaps.

Signed by...

my understanding
Uncle Harry Trilling.

You hired him, you just
hired him, that's what you did.

HARRY:
Alice.

Paint the shaggy dog,
kiss the ugly cat.

Anything I did was for your...

Get married,
get married, get married--

anybody, anything,
quick, quick, quick!

-I did it for your future.
-(screams)

- For your...
- For me?!

Oh, yes, and Angie.

Take the doll off the market--
even that.

All right, yes.

You liar!

You dirty liar!

You think I'm going to let
a mixed-up little nut like you

-wreck my company, wreck
my chance at...? -(screams)

(panting)

I'd come back to finish
typing a report, and I...

Mr. Trilling wanted it
first thing in the morning,

and, well,
I thought he was at home.

Then I saw
his office door was open and I,

l came in and I,

I saw him lying there
on the floor.

Well, I thought I should call
you first, Mr. Mason.

Miss Graham,
I told you on the phone

to call the police immediately.

But I was so frightened.

Of what,
the questions they'll ask you?

No, no, I didn't k*ll him.

Just who are you trying
to protect, then, Miss Graham?

It isn't that I'm trying
to protect anyone.

It's just that, well, that...

What's the matter?

Is that your pin?

NATALIE:
It's Alice's.

That's why I called you first,

Mr. Mason.

You see, I saw Alice

earlier this evening,
Mr. Mason, and...

Was she wearing the pin
when you saw her?

Yes.

Yes, she was.

(knocking)

Oh, excuse me,
my name is Albert Charity.

I came here to see Harry--
Mr. Trilling, I mean.

Do you mind if I ask why?

Well, of course I mind.

It's a matter of business.

I may be a little late...

As a matter of fact,
Mr. Charity, you're quite late.

What?

Good Lord.

Is he dead?

Natalie, what's happened?

Who are these men?

W-What's going on?

Perry, I'd better get going.

Right, Paul.

Now, look here, I-I...

Operator, may I have
the police department, please?

USHER:
Are you lost or just foraging?

I'm looking for a girl.

Are you Usher?

The city's full of girls.

Why look here?

Her name's Alice.

You've been painting
her picture, haven't you?

Look, mister,
I paint lots of girls.

I don't know one face from
another, one body from another,

and as far as names
are concerned,

it goes right out of my head,
so if you don't mind...

I'm in a hurry.

This girl is in trouble
and now I can't find her.

Look, I can't help you.

I'm not mixed up with any girls.

The only Alice I know
is some kook I barely met.

Then, who did all this,
your mother?

Come on, let's tell it
to a lawyer friend of mine, huh?

Well, sure, take it easy.

Glad to go anywhere you want.

Only thing is, I haven't seen
Alice since before the...

Paul, you all right?

Yeah, I guess
I'm just getting old.

As I drove up, I heard a sports
car roaring out of the alley.

Brother, when I get my hands
on that artist, I'm going to...

The two of you do all this?

No, and I think
the mess surprised him

as much as it did me.

What about Alice's apartment?

Well, I tried that first.

Landlady said she was hysterical

and went running out
with a suitcase.

Then, forget the artist, Paul.

The police can find him.

Alice is the one
I'm concerned with.

I see what you mean.

If she destroyed
this much of herself,

how much more
is she liable to do?

She'd been crying.
Her-her face was a mess.

I tried to...
tried to get her to stop,

-(phone line ringing)
-to make her come inside.

Well, that's why I wanted
to see Mr. Mason first,

since he is Alice's lawyer.

(door closes)

Oh, here he is now.

Mr. Mason,
I'm Talbot Sparr.

Alice Trilling came by my house
just a little while ago.

What happened?

I was just going to bed.

I heard this racket on
the porch, beating on my door.

I hadn't heard yet
about her uncle's m*rder.

Al Charity phoned to tell me
just after she left.

Well, it was Alice at the door.

She said, "I need money quick.

It's too late to cash a check.”

Naturally, I wanted
to ask her inside to try

to find out what was the matter,
but she started to cry.

Did you give her money?

Just the bills
I had in my pocket.

- Then what?
- SPARR: Well,

she took them, said thank you,
and practically ran.

I wanted to chase after her
to make her come inside,

but by then,
the phone was ringing.

Perry, there's a police report.

They just spotted Alice's car
on the coast highway.

She was doing miles an hour.

Paul?

I'll check from my office.

Mr. Mason, she...

(door closes)

She looked so...
so plain scared.

So miserable.

Tell me something, Mr. Sparr.

Who is this Albert Charity?

Al? Oh, he's enemy territory,
the competition.

Charity's one of the big sh*ts
with Kiddeyland Corporation.

Do you know why
Charity asked Trilling

to come to his office
at such a late hour tonight?

You mean, he was over there?

So that's how
he knew about the m*rder.

No. No, it's, uh,
usually just my department

that Charity comes
snooping around.

What do you mean?

Well, I handle development.

You know, designs, new ideas.

Well, it must be known
in the industry

that the Trilling Company
may be broken up.

SPARR:
That's right.

Kiddeyland would like to buy
some of our brains, that's all.

But what they'd want
with Harry himself, I...

(phone ringing)

Yes, Paul?

Oh, Sergeant Brice.

What?

The car went straight off the
cliff, right into the ocean.

I'm getting a diver
down there now.

Highway Patrol
spotted the license.

Chased her several miles,
but then they blew a tire.

Later, this guy phoned in
he saw the car jump the road.

What did you find?

Fish. Trouble is, the car doors
were ripped open, and...

You didn't spot her body?

ANDERSON: I don't think
you're going to, Sergeant.

Little Alice was just picked up
at the Los Angeles Airport--

alive, dry, and now booked
on suspicion of m*rder.

He grabbed me, and I hit him.

When he fell, I just ran.

(sniffles)

I only know I wanted
to get as far away from him,

from people, from everybody,
everything, as I possibly could.

So you ran to the airport?

(sniffles)
I was going to fly to Brazil.

But when you left your uncle,

you didn't know whether
he was dead, or unconscious.

I hit him, and he fell,
and I ran. That's all I know!

Oh, I wish I were dead.

Alice, stop it!

You're in trouble.

Your fingerprints
are not only on that doll,

but on several other things
in the office.

Things which also could have
been used as a w*apon.

How could my uncle do
such a thing to me?

For one moment...

one moment in my life,
I thought I'd met someone who...

was really interested in me,

just me as I really am.

(Alice cries)

And then...

MASON:
Well, Paul?

Any luck with the artist?

DRAKE:
No, but...

No, please don't find him.

I don't think I could ever
look at him again.

I'm sorry.

The reason
he was so hard to locate is

that Burger's already got him...
for a prosecution witness.

Usher turned himself in?

A heel like that?

No, he was picked up running.

He had one foot
over the Mexican border.

So it was you, Mr. Usher?

You who were the one

who ran the defendant's car
into the ocean?

That's right.

You see, I was, uh,
driving down the coast highway

when this Highway Patrol car
comes whipping around a U-turn,

comes tearing after me.

No reason.
I... I wasn't even speeding.

Well, I poured on the gas,
and I shook him.

He must have blown a tire
or something. I don't know.

I switched on the radio.

But that's the first time

I heard about anything
like m*rder.

And then you decided to get rid
of the car? Is that right?

Why sure.

Radio said the police
were looking for Alice Trilling.

(laughing): Well, I realized
how nutty I'd been

to take the car
in the first place.

My fingerprints
were all over it.

So I decided
the best thing for me to do

would be to dump the car
in the ocean and run.

Now let's review
how you happened

to be in that car
in the first place.

USHER: Well, like I said,
I'd been down in this bar

all evening, and, uh,

well, there was this waitress
I'd kind of, uh, you know.

Yes, I understand.

But at : , you say
you returned to your studio?

Yeah, that's when I banged
into Drake.

That place was a mess!

I took one look at it,
and I was sure

this crazy girl
had done it, so...

Why did you run
from Paul Drake, Mr. Usher?

I was being paid
a thousand dollars

to make passes
at Alice Trilling.

Uh, to paint her picture
first, of course.

When I saw that mess in there,

and after that private eye was
asking me all those questions,

there was only one answer.

She was onto me.
She'd found out.

You mean, found out
that Mr. Trilling had hired you.

USHER:
Well, sure, and what a beautiful

set-up it was!

I sure had the kid turned on
pretty good, too.

Well, I suppose this doesn't
sound too nice, but, uh...

Well, we're not here to judge
your scruples, Mr. Usher.

Go on about the car.

Well, after I tore out of
my place, I-I was pretty sick.

I mean, there I was halfway home
with an heiress.

Suddenly realized I hadn't even
collected my thousand bucks yet.

So you went looking
for Mr. Trilling?

Well, he owed it to me!
He did.

Of course, I suppose
if I hadn't been drinking,

I wouldn't have done it.

I-I went to his house.

He wasn't there,
so I started back

towards the Trilling Building.

I was walking
down this side street,

and I saw Alice's car there.

Ah, sure, I was crazy, but

too many years of eating salami.

Too many years of thinking maybe
I was... I was Rembrandt.

Only this time I said...

you're gonna get at least a
joyride out of this-this fiasco.

BURGER: Did you intend
to steal that car?

I don't know.
I took it, that's all.

I sure deserve something
out of this after

wasting all my time on a...
on a nutty dame like...

Well, next thing I knew,

the Highway Patrol
was there, and...

I'm sorry, kid.

I think you've cleared this up
for us sufficiently, Mr. Usher.

Cross-examine.

One moment, Your Honor.

When did you leave your car
in that side street, Alice?

I left his studio...

drove to my uncle's house,
then to his office.

The only place to park
was a side street.

When I ran out of the building
after... what I did,

I-I just kept running.

I have no questions
to ask this witness

at the present time, Your Honor.

Alice looked at the check.

Then she ran out of there,

ran out of Mr. Usher's place,
practically in hysterics.

Well, I tried to stop her,
I tried to catch her.

Oh, it just made me sick
to see how far

Mr. Harry Trilling had gone
to fix that will thing.

Miss Graham, would you clarify
for the court

what you mean
by "the will thing"?

Harry Trilling
was scared to death

that the toy company would be
broken up for some reason.

It wouldn't of course, if

Alice proved herself responsible

to the executors
of her father's will

by getting married
before her next birthday.

Well, Harry Trilling was always
throwing men at her.

Every type and size
he could think of.

MASON:
Why was Mr. Trilling so anxious

to prevent any change
in the company?

NATALIE:
Because it was the first big job

he'd ever had in his life,
that's why. (scoffs)

Harry Trilling had never run
anything bigger

than a washing machine store

until his brother died,

and there he was
on top of the throne.

Oh, he loved being
a big business tycoon.

It's your personal belief then

that Harry Trilling would have
done almost anything

to keep himself in power?

It certainly is.

Uh, one moment here.

Mr. Burger,
have you any objection

to this type of questioning?

Your Honor,
the State does not contend

that Harry Trilling
was a nice man,

only that he was m*rder*d.

It's difficult to object
to any testimony

which substantiates
the defendant's reasons

for hating her uncle
and for wanting to k*ll him.

All right, all right.

But let's stick to facts,
Mr. Mason, not opinions.

Miss Graham, after Alice ran

from Anthony Usher's studio
that night,

did you report what had happened
to Mr. Trilling?

No, Mr. Mason,
I did not.

It was Alice
I was concerned with, not him.

What did you do, then,
after she left?

Well, I... I still had some work
to clean up at the office,

and... well, I've already told
how I walked in,

found Mr. Trilling's body
and called you.

But that was at least
half an hour later, wasn't it?

Well, I-l stopped first
at a place down the street,

Mr. Mason, for a drink.

I didn't like myself
very much right then.

For so stupidly
letting Alice discover the truth

about her artist.

Yes, I talked with Mr. Trilling
earlier that evening.

He phoned me during dinner.

It was around : , I believe.

It could be checked
with the restaurant.

So you were at least
one of the last people

to speak to Harry Trilling

prior to the arrival
of the defendant at his office.

Can you tell us anything
about his attitude?

What he spoke to you about?

Well, he sounded like
he was on top of the world.

Said he wanted to see me
first thing in the morning

and look over all my plans
for new toys.

I was surprised.

We'd tangled quite a bit

recently over his lack
of interest in the new stuff.

Well, did he explain
his change of attitude?

Yes. He said
it finally looked like...

well, like Alice was going
to be cooperative.

He said maybe we could keep
the company together, after all.

"Full speed ahead," he said,
and "Down with the competition!"

Then he hung up.

That's all I can tell you.

BURGER:
Thank you, Mr. Sparr.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Sparr,

how many years have you been
with the Trilling Company?

Ten years. Department head
for the last four.

You testified earlier
that the defendant came to you

for money later that night.

Why to you?

Well, we know each other
quite well.

Or at least we used to.

MASON:
Did you ever ask the defendant

to marry you, Mr. Sparr?

Yes.

MASON: Would you tell the court
what her answer was?

SPARR:
Well, she... Alice said I was

just proposing
to her pocketbook.

She could never quite believe

I was in love with her...
not the company.

I only know that Harry said
he had to see me that night,

no matter how many guests
I had in my house.

You say this was about :
when he phoned you?

A few minutes later, I believe.

And it was
about quarter to :

when you arrived at his office?

Mr. Mason probably has a record.
I don't.

But you do say
that you left a party

in answer to a summons
from Harry Trilling.

Now would you explain
to this court, please,

why Mr. Trilling's wishes
were so important to you?

Of course. Trilling Toys
is our leading competitor.

We've been trying to buy
into them for a long time.

What do you mean,
"Buy into them?"

After the death
of Harry's brother,

we tried luring away some of the
better talent of their outfit.

And then more recently,
Harry came up with a stock idea.

Really? What kind
of a stock idea, Mr. Charity?

Well, you see, sooner or later,

Trilling Toys was going
to be dissolved.

There was no question of it.

Harry had his own stocks,

and he also claimed that
he had influence with the bank

and with the executors
of that will,

so last week,
he made me an offer.

He'd let us start quietly
buying into the outfit,

and then
when the dissolution came,

he'd help us to jump fast
and take over everything.

BURGER:
I suppose he expected some kind

of a reward for giving
your company the inside track?

Of course.

He wanted me to guarantee him
a vice presidency

and so many shares
in Kiddeyland Corporation.

And did you agree to this?

Well, scarcely.

Kiddeyland doesn't have to stoop
to that sort of finagling.

And we certainly didn't want
a greedy dud

like Harry Trilling
on our board.

I-I just went along with it

to stay near to their situation,
that's all.

Now Mr. Sparr testified

that Harry Trilling seemed
quite optimistic that night.

Did he explain to you

this reversal
of his company's future?

Mr. Burger, the deceased only
spoke a few words to me.

He just said,
"Come over here quickly please."”

That's about all.

Didn't you ask the purpose
of the meeting?

I didn't have a chance.

Why not, sir?

Because someone came into
his office.

BURGER:
Oh, Mr. Trilling told you that?

CHARITY:
No, but I heard a door slam,

and then I heard Harry mutter
something under his breath--

it sounded like swearing--

and then a woman yelling at him.

BURGER: Did you recognize
that woman's voice?

Well, I do now.

Or rather I did when I heard it
at police headquarters.

It was her voice.

The defendant's.

And what did you hear
the defendant say?

Well, nothing very much because
Harry hung up the phone.

The only words I heard clearly

were when he said,
"Hello there, honey,”

and she screamed,
"Don't you 'honey' me.

"I'm going to k*ll you,
Uncle Harry.

I'm going to k*ll you.”

But I did k*ll him.

I must have.

Just a minute, Alice.

He could have been struck by
somebody else after you left.

You ran so fast,

you didn't know whether
he was unconscious...

Oh, stop trying to save me.

I'm not worth it.

Look, they said they might make
it manslaughter, didn't they?

Well, why not?

Maybe I could teach
art appreciation in prison.

Alice, you eat your lunch.

Well, Paul?

It took a lot of men
but we got some results.

Uh-huh.

Two nights last week,
dinner the week before.

What about the employee check?

Right there.

I also went to the bank
and-- oh,

there's something else there
on employment, too.

Good work, Paul.

Mr. Mason, I don't know
what you think you're doing,

but you're wasting your time.

Alice, the trouble with you is

that you never finished
the fairy tale.

What do you mean?

Don't you know what happened
to the ugly duckling?

How many times
do I have to say it?!

I'm sorry Alice saw the check.

I'm sorry I didn't deliver it
some other time

when she wasn't there but...

Your Honor.

May it please the court,

I asked to have this witness
returned to the stand

because it's my contention she
hasn't told the whole truth.

My question was simple but
she hasn't really answered it.

I think I'll allow this,
Mr. Burger.

Miss Graham, did you go to
Usher's studio intentionally

at a time when you knew
the defendant would be there?

But I just said...

Mr. Trilling gave me
the envelope to deliver

only that afternoon.

Did he give you the envelope
to deliver,

or did he ask you to mail it?

What?

There was an address on it,
wasn't there?

Why would Trilling have written
a full address,

unless he actually wanted you
to mail the letter

with the check in it?

How could I tell what was going
on in Mr. Trilling's mind?

Answer his first question,
Miss Graham-- yes or no?

Well, I...

I might have realized that Alice
could be there, but...

You let her catch you?

You wanted her to know

that Mr. Usher had been hired
by her uncle?

Oh, Alice dear,

I'm so sorry.

MASON:
Why did you do it, Miss Graham?

Was it because your employer
didn't always trust you,

and, as a matter of fact,
had been consulting

an employment office
about finding a new secretary?

Yes.

Yes, it was spite, that's all.

But not to hurt Alice,
only to hurt him.

Or was it because you wanted
to help someone else?

- What?
- Someone else

who also wanted the
Trilling Company broken up?

NATALIE:
But I just said...

Perhaps someone with whom
you went dancing

twice during the last week.

Someone with whom you had dinner
the week before.

Really, my social life isn't...

Exactly, Your Honor.

This is certainly not material
or relevant.

I disagree with you,
Mr. Burger.

Answer the questions,
Miss Graham.

Well...

Well, there were other people

who didn't want the
Trilling Company to keep going,

of course, but...

I'm only referring to the person
you've been dating

so frequently,

so surreptitiously.

I really don't...

I mean Mr. Albert Charity,
of course.

NATALIE:
Yes.

Yes, I've been trying
to help Mr. Charity.

He wanted to get the company.

He said he had to get
the company.

Well, he wanted me to keep
Mr. Trilling off base,

keep him in trouble.

Your Honor, I would like
to ask for the recall

of another witness at this time.

Of course. Mr. Charity,
would you please...

The witness I have in mind,
Your Honor, is Anthony Usher.

I didn't park in any alley.

I wasn't in any alley!

Would you like me to take
the stand myself, Mr. Usher?

Would you like me to state
that I heard a sports car

speeding out of the alley
behind your studio

-just after you left Mr. Drake?
- What?

Would you like to hear me say
that I recognized Alice's car,

recognized you driving it

at a time and place when,
according to your testimony,

you hadn't stolen the car yet?

Now, look here, I told my story,
the whole story.

I didn't leave anything out.

Look, Your Honor, I've been
over this thing times,

to the police, to the DA...

But isn't every word
of your story a lie, Mr. Usher?

- Please, Mr. Mason.
- Don't you realize

that if you continue
to commit perjury,

Alice Trilling may go to prison?

No.

No, no, I just...

MASON: There's far less danger
in the truth, Mr. Usher,

so tell us.

Did you take her car
when you said you did?

No.

MASON: All right. Suppose
we start at the beginning.

Did Harry Trilling
actually hire you

to give your attention
to his niece?

No. He just wanted
her picture painted, that's all.

He said she was a stubborn girl,

who wouldn't have
her picture painted.

The whole family wanted it.

He offered me $ , .

$ , , Mr. Mason.

It looked like the whole world
to me.

My first big commission.

What happened then?

It was the most...

beautiful painting I...

-I ever...
- What happened, Mr. Usher?

I, uh...

Uh, that afternoon
I-I called up Trilling.

I told him I was going to keep
the painting for myself.

I thought he'd be mad,
but he just laughed.

He said he'd already mailed me
my check

and that I'd earned it.

He said I was doing fine,
and that, uh,

I was to come over the next day,

he'd even give me a better deal.

So that evening,
you talked to some employees

of the Trilling Company.

You learned all about Alice

and all about the famous will,
isn't that right?

It was then I understood
what a heel her uncle was.

Understood what he was trying
to pull.

I was so mad,
I wanted to knock his block off.

I tore over to
the Trilling Building, and, uh,

I-I got over there
and he was lying there,

and-and I picked up an ashtray
and smashed him.

Isn't one charge of perjury
enough for you, Mr. Usher?

I asked for the truth.

How else can a man
buy his soul back?

It doesn't seem to me that you
sold it in the first place.

Now you tore over to the
Trilling Building, you say.

I'm sorry, Alice.

When I got there,
I saw Alice come running out.

She was wild and angry.

I yelled at her,
but she didn't hear me.

By the time I got across
the traffic, she disappeared,

probably into one
of those other alleys.

I went back inside the building.

Her uncle was lying there, dead.

-(gallery murmuring)
-I didn't touch anything.

I just ran.

To find her, to help her.

It was then that I spotted
her car parked out there.

It was then I-I realized
what I had to do

to try to get the cops
off her trail.

I thought if I could
take the car out

and ditch it in the ocean,

they might
think that she was drowned.

It would at least give
her a chance to... to get away.

Alice, ...

Thank you, Mr. Usher.

Mr. Usher,
were you in this courtroom

when the janitor of the
Trilling Building testified

that he locked all the doors
of that building at : ?

Yes.

And that there are no extra keys
for the back doors,

only for the front,
the main entrance?

I guess so.

But the front door was open.

Of course.
And could you tell us this:

Between the time you saw

Alice Trilling
run out of that building

and the time you went in,

could anyone else have gone
in and out before you?

No.

No, I never left
the front of the building.

Alice just plain disappeared
so quickly.

Thank you, sir.
There will be no more questions.

MASON:
But I have one more, Your Honor.

Can you swear that someone
wasn't inside the building

all that time?

Inside the building ever since
he received a phone call

in a restaurant at : ?

Someone who could have left
the building later,

and by any door, because
he knew the place so well?

Someone like Mr. Talbot Sparr?

- (whirring)
- SPARR: All right, yes.

Maybe I was in trouble, but...

but it had nothing to do
with that thing.

You've complained about
the size of your salary,

yet the bank tells
my investigator

that you don't even spend it.

Where do you obtain your money,
Mr. Sparr?

Such as the several
hundred dollars

you just happened to have
in your pocket that night,

enough cash to help Alice
buy a plane ticket to Brazil.

-(toy whirring)
- It has nothing to do with...

MASON: Do I have to put Albert
Charity back on the stand?

Now I ask you again--

how many of the designs
turned down by Harry Trilling

did you sell to Mr. Charity?

I don't know, several maybe.

(whirring)

Just turn it off!

And that's why Charity
was forced

to take over your company,

because if anyone else
bought Trilling Toys,

there would have been a mix-up
of patent ownerships,

of lawsuits?

-(whirring continues)
- But it wasn't just that.

I hated Harry,
don't you understand?

I could have k*lled him
a thousand times!

(whirring)

(whirring stops)

Sure...

sure, I was selling stuff

that really belonged
to the Trilling Company.

Oh, and I knew Harry
would find out

once he and Al Charity
started huddling together.

But it wasn't just that.

He was nothing but
a washing machine salesman.

I should have had that job.

I should have been running
the whole thing!

I should have been...!
I...! i...!

(sobbing)

But why can't I give the company
away, Mr. Mason?

He just said you should do
a lot of thinking about it,

that's all.

And I suppose you also
want to give away your house

and your stocks and your bonds?

Well, I've always wanted
to contribute

to a lot of good causes and...

And end up a charity case
yourself?

Look, all she needs
is a good psychiatrist.

She's just wasting your time.

You keep out of this.

- No, I won't.
- You will, too.

Please,

he's so stupid, he won't even
look at me anymore.

But if I didn't have my money,

if I were poor like he is...

Listen, I may be even
going to jail.

Now, that's all we came
down here for.

I agreed to let Mr. Mason
defend me

on that perjury charge,
but beyond that...

Beyond that,
you'll have time in jail

to do some thinking
for yourself, won't you?

- Huh?
- ALICE: It won't do any good.

He'll never change.

Oh, I don't know, Alice.

Here, study this for a while.

What do you mean?

MASON:
It's a picture of a swan.

(theme song playing)