04x01 - The Case of the Treacherous Toupée

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( crowd chattering
indistinctly )

(man on PA speaking
indistinctly )

MAN ( on PA ):
For Boston.

With service to Chicago
and Hartford and Springfield.

( coin clinks )

(rings)

Basset residence.

No, I'm sorry,

Mrs. Basset just
left the house.

What?

I'm Lucy,
I'm the house cleaner.

Well, where did Mrs. Basset go?

Do you expect her
back soon?

Well, search me.

She's on her way
downtown on business.

To the company.
You know.

Business? Her?

Uh, yes, sir.

It's some kind of meeting.

Could it be a share--?
Mm, "sharecroppers" meeting?

( chuckles )

Share--

( ominous theme playing )

Hello? Hello?

(buzzes )

Domestic Tool & Die.

The what?

Look here, I want the Basset
Tool & Die Company.

Our name has been changed
for quite some time, sir.

Whom are you calling,
please?

Dawson. Peter Dawson.

He's still general manager,
isn't he?

Mr. Dawson is president
of the company, sir,

but I'm afraid
his line is busy.

President.
Look here,

is there a shareholders' meeting
going on there this afternoon?

I really wouldn't know
that information,

but if you'll just give me
your name, sir--

Hello? Hello?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Hello, Sybil.
Don't you look nice.

Oh, thank you.
Oh. I hope I'm not late.

I, uh-- I brought
my husband's proxy.

You didn't tell me whether
I'd actually need

to have a copy
of it when we vote,

but anyway, I thought I'd
better stop by the bank.

Here.

Everyone knows
it's a blanket proxy,

that's all that's important.

Dora, will you can
tell the others

the meeting will start.

Mrs. Basset is here now.

Peter, I am doing
the right thing, aren't I?

Now, I thought
we agreed yesterday,

no cold feet,
remember?

Oh, I know.

If Richard could
hear me say that

just once more he'd throw
something at me.

"Mother,
can't you ever make up

that molasses mind of yours?"

I think your son's a little
too anxious about this.

Matter of fact,
that's why I sent him

to San Francisco
on company business.

To let you decide alone.

Oh, Peter, you've been
so thoughtful about everything.

And patient.

You know,
when I'm alone with you,

I know everything
is going to be all right.

Two years is quite
long enough for a woman

to keep shielding a husband
who has deserted her.

Come in,
gentleman, come in.

How do you do?
SYBIL: How do you do?

Thank you.

And how are you?

Well, this shouldn't
involve too much time,

I think, some time.

Good to see you.

And roughly, the plan
is to sell the assets

of the present corporation
to a new firm

which Mrs. Basset
and I are establishing

and in which you
will all participate,

but in which Hartley Basset
will have no interest.

Now, since Mrs. Basset
has decided to use

the proxy that her
husband gave her,

in our bread-and-butter days

RECEPTIONIST:
Wait, you can't go in there.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Basset!

Looks like I got here
just in time, doesn't it?

( dramatic theme swells )

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, at least
the house doesn't seem

to have changed
very much.

Cleaning woman
must have gone home.

Her name is Lucy.

Well, now,
that's interesting.

You, uh, still have
to hide the liquor

from that useless
son of yours?

Oh, oh.

W-Would you like
a drink, Hartley?

Yes.
Yes.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so awfully sorry.

I suppose if I'd been
away seven years,

you would not only have
had me declared dead,

but probably
buried me too.

But Hartley,
I-I didn't know what to do.

It's quite
a sensation,

walk in on your
own funeral.

Was just about like that,
you know.

To find my wife
and my employees getting ready

to dispose of my assets,
my company.

Where did you go?
Where were you?

Under the circumstances,

I don't think I'm the one
who needs to explain things.

Well, after you just--

Just disappeared,
I-I didn't know what to do.

Aside from personal feelings,

I had nothing
to fall back on.

The company
was almost bankrupt.

Or perhaps you don't remember
that sort of thing.

Go on.

If it hadn't been for--
For Peter Dawson,

I don't know what
would have happened.

He made people stay
on without any salary.

He borrowed money.

He worked day and night.

That's very touching.

I read in the papers there are

a lot of new
government contracts

that are using
our type of bearings.

Yes. Yes, suddenly last year

everything began to go
right for us again.

Sybil, are you in love
with Peter Dawson?

You have no right to ask
a question like that of me.

( laughs )

And I can imagine
my dear greedy stepson

has been egging
matters along too, eh?

I don't know what
you' re talking about

And, of course, by now
you have investigated

the possibilities
of divorcing me.

No.
Ah, Dawson has proposed

a merger by marriage.

No, that's not true.
Ha-ha.

Sybil, don't pretend to be

any stupider
than you already are.

Peter hasn't
said a word.

He's only been trying
to protect your interests.

He's been stealing from me
and so have you.

Stealing!

What about that
$ , you took

when you went away?
If anybody's been stealing--

Six thousand dollars?
What are you talking about?

You know very well.

( sobs )

Oh, I hate you.

Why did you come back?

Why? Why?

You'll find out.

( sobbing )

Operator,

I want to put a call
to San Francisco, please.

( sobs )

( rings )

( man and woman
laughing and shouting)

Ah! Oh.

( both giggling )

Hello.

Oh, yes, operator,
go ahead.

It's L.A. calling.

I think it's the office,
must be Mr. Dawson.

Well, you just tell him
you're busy.

( sobbing ):
Hello, Richard?

Mother.

Hey, I'm glad you called.

I was going to wait
until this evening.

( sighs )

Now, Mother.
Wait a minute.

Now, just wait.
Now, let me talk.

Only first, um...

We're getting the money,
aren't we?

Money?
What money?

I mean, they had the meeting,

they're going to switch
all the stock?

I mean, we're going
to be able to sell out now,

aren't we?
To raise cash?

Richard, you-- You've got
to come home, right away.

Not a chance.

I just got married.

And I know you must think
it's awfully fast,

but when you meet Teddi.

When you see her...

Mother?

It's-- It's all right,
Richard, I-I'm here.

I was just thinking that

it never rains,
but it pours.

( sobs )

Mother, you really come out
with the odd ones sometimes.

What?

Who?

He's--?

Quit calling him my father.

That guy's not my father.

Oh, yes.
Yes, your stepfather, Richard,

I'm so sorry, but please,
please come back.

I'll be there.
Yes, only stop crying.

Stop it!

I'll be there.

( dramatic theme playing )

And I'll make it rain too.

I'll make it pour.

On him.

d*ck, there's nothing
that can really

spoil our wedding day,
is there?

( buzzing )
Yes?

RECEPTIONIST ( on intercom ):
Mr. Woodman is here
from the factory.

Send him in.
( door opens )

What was it you wanted, Pete?

Sit down, Ken.

If it's about
Hartley Basset--

I figured you'd have
heard about that by now.

I Just wanted
to prepare you

for what it'll probably do

to your program at the plant.

There are apt
to be some changes.

Uh, right you are,
Dawson.

Hello, Hartley.

I didn't know
you were in the office.

I've been talking
to your secretary.

Maybe you'd better
go see her.

She seemed rather upset.

What's the matter
with her?

I just fired her.

( door opens )

( door slams )

Don't rush off, Woodman.

Just testing
some new models.

I was right in the middle.
Oh.

Well, I don't want you
to worry about your own job.

I certainly wouldn't dream
of replacing you

as plant superintendent.

Thanks.

Besides, I still remember
those bridge sessions

Sybil and I used to have
with you and your wife.

We'll have to start
them up again,

now I'm back.

My wife is dead.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Ken.

What happened?

Last year.

She died by her own hand,
I'm afraid.

They wrote me a letter
about it, from Manila.

Manila?

That's apparently
where she went.

Where she ended up.

She left me some time
before that.

Disappeared.

It was about
the same time

that you disappeared,
Mr. Basset.

( door shuts )

( door opens )

What's the big idea?

She's been with us
for five years.

With me even longer.

You have no right.

Save the sympathy
for yourself, Dawson.

You're fired too.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, technically,

he may have the right
to discharge you as president.

On the other hand,

your old contract
as general manager

will be in force
for six months.

Mr. Mason, I know
what a mess it is.

I need clarification
and protection.

Not only for myself,
but for all the others too.

That's the only reason
I'm willing to stay around

for as much
as five minutes.

It seems to me you've
stayed around for too long.

Instead of starting
a concern of your own,

you've continued
to do all your work

for the benefit
of the Bassets.

Why?

Mrs. Basset, I suppose.

She had a first marriage
that wasn't very happy either,

a son by it who's never been
very much comfort to her.

Anyway, I knew we could
straighten things out

sooner or later with that
proxy vote she still held.

I never really thought
that Basset would come back,

but we would have made him
fair payment for his shares.

My intention was always
legal and honorable.

You believe that,
don't you, Mason?

You believe that
the only reason

I want to be protected now
is so that--

So that she'll
be protected too.

Della, put in a call
for Hartley Basset.

Buy off Dawson's contract?

The answer is a flat
and final "no."

He doesn't get
another penny.

Then I may advise
my client to sue.

Listen here,
Mr. Mason,

before I've finished
with Dawson,

he'll really
need your services.

There are two sides
to this story, you know.

Just what do you mean?

I mean your client
is a thief, of course.

I'd be careful of any
accusation, Mr. Basset,

unless you're prepared
to back it up in court.

Hold on a moment.

Colemar, how much longer
do you think it will take us

to go over these books?

Another four or five hours.

I tell you what,
Mr. Mason.

If you'd come here
later this evening,

I'll be glad to talk
this over with you.

Yes, four, five hours.

Say, : tonight.

( dramatic theme playing )

(woman screams )

( footsteps retreating )

d*ck:
Teddi?

Teddi. Say something.

What's the trouble?

I don't know.

Her forehead's bleeding.

I was just stepping out
of the elevator

I-I heard her scream.

Know who she is?

She's my wife.

Teddi. Teddi, please.
Oh, baby.

( Teddi groans )

Teddi, say something.

d*ck?
Oh, d*ck.

Honey,
what happened?

Someone knocked me down.

What are you
doing here anyway?

Mother told me
you came down.

I-I was looking for you.

I was afraid you'd try to see
your stepfather alone.

I didn't want you
to fight with him

Someone in here
knocked you down?

Well, the minute I walked
through the door,

the lights went out and--

And he hit me.

He came rushing past me.

"He?"

Yes.

Even in the dark
I could see him.

I'd know him anyplace.

It--

It was the man that
came out of there.

He's dead.
He's been shot.

( ominous theme playing )
( laughing )

It's Hartley Basset,
isn't it?

Eh, sure.

You see, Honey?

I told you there was
nothing to worry about.

Somebody beat me to it.

Looks like he put up
a little fight.

What is that?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Something he grabbed, I guess.

Looks like hair
from a wig.

A toupee.

He-- Yes, he--
He had it in his hand.

This little--
This little piece of hair.

Oh, yes, and--
And they didn't see a g*n,

but he'd been shot.
He'd been shot twice.

Hair?

Oh, Peter, please
come over right away

and tell me what to do.

Sybil, of course,
don't worry,

I'll take care
of everything,

but I just walked
in the door this minute.

I'm sorry,
even though I--

I think this is what
I've been dreading

all along.

You know, Peter,

I almost wish I'd been
the one to k*ll him.

Sybil, everything's
going to be all right.

I'll be there, of course.

( suspenseful theme playing )

I went for a walk,
Mr. Mason.

Quite a long walk.
All alone.

I didn't get back
to the apartment

until just after : .

That's when
Sybil telephoned.

So for the time
of the m*rder

you have no alibi.

Is that what you
wanted to tell me?

Well, mostly about
the toupee.

The fact that I wear one.

That one thing in itself
can't be too incriminating.

No, but Mr. Mason,

sometime yesterday
afternoon or last night

somebody stole
my extra one.

They only found a small part
of one in Basset's hand.

But that's enough.

That's all they need.

You see, there are ways
of identifying a toupee.

You're absolutely
correct, sir.

You must be Peter Dawson.

You see,
in the ordinary--

Good morning, Perry.

You see,
in the ordinary toupee,

there may be to ,
individual hairs,

but of course nobody's
hair is a solid color.

You take Mr. Dawson's case for
instance.

I believe there are
six different shades.

Isn't that right, sir?

Uh, look here, lieutenant.

I need hardly remind you
that there's a young lady

who claims to have seen
a man running out

of the m*rder room
last night,

and who claims, moreover,

that she's able
to recognize him.

Richard Hart's bride. Teddi.

I was just about
to suggest to Mr. Dawson

that he come along
with me and face her.

Yes, if she's
telling the truth,

she'll clear me.
Oh, by all means.

If you'll be good enough, Perry,
to tell us where she is.

What do you mean?

Well, you told
the first officers

to arrive last night that she'd
gone

to the Ladies' Lounge
to lie down.

That's right.

Her husband assisted
those officers

in searching the building
for some trace of the man

she claimed
to have seen.

So?

So when Homicide
arrived and went back

to question the girl,
she disappeared.

We've found no trace
of her since.

Even Richard, her husband,
can't seem to help us.

And now you've jumped
to a conclusion.

Naturally.

You wasted no time
in getting

that girl into hiding,
counselor,

so that your client
wouldn't have to face her.

Well, I'm not going
to waste any time, either.

Perhaps Mr. Dawson
should come along with me

instead of you.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Drake, I've told you
all I know, believe me.

Are you sure you
don't know where--

Oh, hi, Perry.

Paul.

I see you've
already found him.

Mr. Mason, please,

I've got to get back
to Mother.

I just came down
to the office

for a few minutes

and I've told him
everything I know.

Now, please.
All right.

We don't want
to bother you.

I can check
with you later.

He says he doesn't even have
a snapshot of his wife.

That's very interesting.

He's only known
her a week,

so maybe it's true.

Mr. Drake?
Yes.

I was told you were
looking for me.

I'm Arthur Colemar,
the company controller.

Oh, yes,
Mr. Colemar.

It was for Mr. Mason.

How do you do,
Mr. Colemar.

Uh, thanks, Paul.

You'd better get going.

Don't let that get lost.

I won't.

I'd like to ask you a few
questions, Mr. Colemar.

Mm-hm.
You're Mr. Dawson's attorney.

Sure.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

I understand you, uh,

worked rather late
last night.

Mr. Basset wanted me handy

while he went
over the books.

What time was it when
you left here?

Nine forty-seven.

The police figure
I was the last one out.

Before it happened, that is.

How can you be so precise
about the time?

Well, you see, Mr. Mason,

I don't drive a car.

I was trying to catch a bus.

The : .

I ran all the way
to the boulevard,

but I missed it and had
to wait minutes.

When you left the office,
was Mr. Basset here alone?

Sitting right in there
waiting for you.

I, uh, called him here
late yesterday afternoon.

Were you here with
him at that time?

Correct.

Then you heard him refer

to Peter Dawson as a thief.

You heard him say that when
he was finished with Dawson,

Dawson would really
need a lawyer.

I could hardly
believe my ears.

What was he
talking about?

Why don't you ask
Mr. Dawson that?

What makes you think he knows?

Well, earlier
in the evening,

just as I was going out
for a bite to eat,

Mr. Dawson came barging in here

to demand an answer
to that very question.

What time was that?

About , I'd say.

Was he still here when
you came back from supper?

I don't know.
I didn't see him.

My accounting offices
are on the floor below

and I went directly
there on returning.

Worked alone a while,

adding up some figures
and so on.

Then I brought them up here
to show them to Mr. Basset

and to tell him
good night.

I didn't see anyone else
here at that time.

Tell me, Mr. Colemar,
are conscious of the fact

that Mr. Dawson
wears a toupee?

Well...yes and no.

We never spoke about it.

I don't know him that well.

But I did sort
of guess once,

when I saw another
of the men kidding with him

and trying to give
Mr. Dawson's hair a pull.

What man was that?

Mr. Ken Woodman,

our plant superintendent.

( dramatic theme playing )

( knocking on door )

Mr. Woodman, I'm--

Counsel for the Defense.

That's no reason for me
to let my lunch get cold.

I understood
you lived alone.

Those things are
as my wife left them

two years ago.

That's a long time
to sustain an illusion.

Your wife died in Manila,
didn't she?

May I sit down?

If it'll help you
come to the point.

Did you ever connect
your wife's disappearance

with that of Hartley Basset?

Is that all
you came to ask?

Except for where
you were last night

before : .

Two questions,
one answer:

I'm not on
the witness stand yet.

All right, we'll take
it from there then.

On the witness stand.

That girl, Teddi.

What about her?

You actually believe

that cock-and-bull
story of hers?

About the man running out
of Basset's office?

She had a fortune to gain

by the death
of Hartley Basset

at that time,
being married to his heir.

Another day or two

and Basset would
have chopped

his family off
without a penny.

You're saying
the girl k*lled him?

Well, if she didn't,
her husband did

and she was
an accomplice.

Otherwise,
why has she disappeared?

Mr. Woodman, you have just
asked the key question,

about the key witness.

Perry, still no lead on Teddi.

And now they've
found the g*n.

They're finding
all sorts of things.

What g*n was it?

Well, supposedly it was
purchased for the office,

but it was registered
to Peter Dawson.

And they found the box
of shells in his apartment.

Paul, you've just got
to locate Teddi.

She gets more
important every minute.

Grab a plane.
San Francisco?

San Francisco.

( dramatic theme playing )

All I know is she sang
and played piano.

Called herself
Teddi Lansing.

Where was she from?

Oh, they come and go.

This one wandered
in here one night,

ran through a number,
and I hired her on the spot.

There's something
funny, though.

What's funny?

She kept promising
to have her picture taken

so I could hang it out front.

She never got around
to doing it.

Yeah, I know.
She's real camera-shy.

How long was she here?

Just short of a month.

Some young guy
started hanging around,

a few days later
she was gone.

No notice, no nothing.

She quit so sudden,

as a matter of fact,
she forgot some of her stuff.

May I take a look?

Sure. I went
through it myself,

to see if I could find some
kind of address to ship it to,

but wasn't anything here.

What'd I tell you?

PAUL:
"Flo's Beauty Salon. Fresno."

Look, Miss--?

Hi. Just call me Flo.

Flo, you've
already had me

cooling my heels out here
for a half-hour.

Now, do you or don't you
remember a customer

answering to the description
of this "Teddi Lansing"?

Like I said:
I'll have to think about it.

( bell dings )

You see,
it was this way, sweetie.

I made a phone call.

What for?

Oh, you'll find out
any minute.

There, you see?

Mr. Drake,
meet Wilbur Fenwick.

Mr. Fenwick.

Drake, what about this girl
you're looking for?

Do you think
you know her?

What I think is she's my wife.

( dramatic theme playing )

d*ck:
Well, I just can't believe it.

d*ck.

Six months ago in Fresno,

Wilbur Fenwick met
and married this girl,

known to him as Nikki.

In his case too
it was a whirlwind courtship.

Where upon she
promptly proceeded

to take him for every dollar he
had.

and Fenwick
had quite a few.

You're taking
his word for it.

No, not entirely.

I double-checked,
and came up with certain facts

that just can't
be explained away.

Fact Number One:

She left in a hurry without
saying goodbye to anyone.

Fact Number Two:

There's no evidence
that she even bothered

to get a divorce from
Fenwick before marrying you.

Well, of course
she got a divorce.

Mr. Mason,
you've just got to find her.

I couldn't agree
with you more,

but let's keep it quiet
for the time being, shall we?

Oh, it's all right with me.

Well, at least
we now know

why Teddi took off
so fast the other night.

The surplus husband.
Sure.

As soon as she realized

she was involved
in a m*rder,

she figured the police would
start prying into her past.

She would have decorated
the newspapers

from coast to coast.

For everyone, including
Wilbur Fenwick, to see.

All of which adds up
to the fact

that she'll hardly reappear of
her own volition,

certainly not soon
enough to help Peter Dawson.

( door opens )

Listen.

I'd swear
I was being followed.

Of course you were.

And are and will
continue to be.

Who? Why?

The police think you'll find out
through me were she is.

They think that
sooner or later

you'll lead them
right to her.

And maybe you will at that.

Well?

What do you think?

They could be twins.

Look, mind telling me
what all this means?

Miss Grant, you'll receive
a full explanation,

along with
detailed instructions

before you leave town.

And where
am I going?

One of my favorite
vacation spots.

Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Oh, you'll need
some expense money.

Ah.

Look, Mr. Mason, I know
you're on the level,

but your reputation, well,

you do skirt the law at times.

You will be doing
nothing illegal.

( sighs )

Okay.

When do I leave?

If you call back
within the hour,

I'll have made all
the arrangements.

Yes, sir.

Now, would you mind
telling me

what all this means?

It means
the preliminary hearing

starts tomorrow morning.

Teddi was lying
on the floor,

unconscious.

I picked her up and carried
her over to the couch

and that's when
he showed up.

Who?
Mr. Perry Mason.

Really?

All right, Mr. Hart, go on.

Teddi opened her eyes

and explained about
the man who had hit her.

Your Honor,

due to reasons which
will become self-evident,

Mrs. Teddi Hart has not been
available for subpoena.

Under res gestae,

the rules against
hearsay evidence

therefore become inoperative,

and the state wishes
to invokes its right

to bring out what
Mrs. Teddi Hart said

by means of the testimony
of this witness.

Mr. Mason?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may proceed.

Mr. Hart,
what did your wife

say to you
and to Mr. Mason

about the man
who had hit her?

She said that
the lights went off,

and he rushed in from
the outer office.

And he hit her.

Well, that's all
she could remember.

Did you ask her if she would
recognize her assailant?

Yes.

She said that she'd
know him anywhere.

I see. Now would
you tell this court,

please, the circumstances
of your wife's disappearance?

Well, we called the police.

A squad car came first.

And we carried her
into the Ladies' Lounge

so that she
could lie down,

see, she was still woozy,
and a couple of other

officers and I checked
the rest of the building

as quickly as we could.

Soon after that the other
squad cars arrived.

Excuse me a moment.

Do you know where Mr. Mason
was during this period?

Well, the last time
I saw him,

he was on the phone,

trying to get Mr. Dawson.

And how long
was it after that

that you returned to that
part of the building

and found that your wife
was missing?

About five minutes,

but you're wrong if you think
Mr. Mason sent Teddi away.

Wait just a moment.

The witness
will refrain

from volunteering information
or conclusions.

All of the answer
of the witness

after the words
"five minutes"

will be stricken
from the record.

Proceed.

I have
no further questions.

Thank you, Mr. Hart.

Your witness.

MASON:
No questions.

BURGER:
And where were this

torn piece of toupee found,
lieutenant?

I saw it clutched

in the left hand
of the decedent.

Was there any other
indication that Mr. Basset

had struggled or grappled,
perhaps, with the m*rder*r?

TRAGG:
Well, a lamp had been
knocked over.

The wastebasket
had been spilled

halfway across the floor.

The carpet
had been twisted

and kicked up
in a couple of places

near the decedent's feet.

I see.

I show you now this .
caliber a*t*matic p*stol,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, it has
my mark on it.

And was this w*apon
checked ballistically?

Yes, sir.

This g*n fired

the two b*ll*ts
which were removed

from the decedent's body.

It's been checked out
as the m*rder w*apon.

Thank you, lieutenant.

If it please the court,
I should like this a*t*matic

and this piece of torn toupee

enter in evidence
as People's Exhibit D and E.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Oh, and lieutenant,
where was this g*n found?

In a culvert.

Four blocks from
the scene of the crime.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I think that'll
be all for now.

Your witness.

Lieutenant, I take it you
made a search for this g*n

in the defendant's apartment?

Certainly.

Yet you found it not
in his apartment,

but in a culvert where anyone
might have thrown it?

TRAGG:
Was found in a culvert, yes.

Lieutenant, isn't it true

that the police rate culverts
among their favorite

hunting grounds
for missing weapons?

Oh, that's only
because criminals

seem to find
culverts so handy.

This particular culvert
is in a public park.

About a third
of the walking distance

from Mr. Dawson's office
to his apartment, I'd say.

Thank you for adding
that information

and in view of it,
don't you therefore think

it possible that
the m*rder w*apon

was deliberately discarded
in that culvert,

so discovery
of it would be certain?

So that Mr. Dawson
would be implicated?

Objection, Your Honor.

Those questions
are argumentative.

Sustained.

Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all, then.

I'd say.

BURGER:
I call Mr. Stanley Roderick.

BAILIFF:
Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly promise to swear

the testimony you're
about to give will be

the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?

RODERICK:
This headblock
was made by us

to conform exactly
to the shape

of Mr. Dawson's head,

in order to create
his particular hairpiece.

I see.

Now, Mr. Roderick,
is there another way

to positively identify
a hairpiece

other than the method
you described to us?

That is, other than
matching the hair shades?

Oh, yes, indeed.

Under a microscope,
each person's hairline

is as different and distinctive
as a fingerprint.

It's like a shoreline,

with infinite and varied
juttings and inlets.

I'm sure it is.
Mr. Roderick, would you please

tell us what these marks
on the headblock are for?

Well, this is the outline
of the tuft of hair

that was found in the, uh,
dead man's hand.

And would you please
demonstrate for us

how the tuft of hair fits
between this markings?

Oh, yes.
It fits...right in here.

And it's your conclusion,
then, Mr. Roderick,

that this tuft of hair
could only have come

from Peter Dawson's toupee?

RODERICK:
Oh, absolutely.

BURGER:
Thank you, very much.

If it please the court,

I should like this headblock
entered in evidence

as People's Exhibit F.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Your witness.

Mr. Roderick.

You think it plausible
that someone grabbing

at a man's head
could tear out

a small segment
of his toupee

without ripping or removing
the entire thing?

Oh, entirely plausible,

if it were properly attached
with spirit gum.

If you'd like a test,
Mr. Mason, grab away.

( crowd chuckles )

Mr. Colemar, I show you this
item marked People's Exhibit G,

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. Yes. This is a Photostat
of a page from a company ledger.

For the month in which, uh,

Hartley Basset
disappeared.

Do you know who requested
that this Photostat be made?

Ah, Mr. Basset.

On the day
he returned.

Did he by any chance
told you why?

No, he didn't say why.

I caught your attention
to this item,

it's a debit of $ , .

Yes, that's the amount
that turned up missing

after Mr. Basset's,
um, departure.

And what explanation
was given for it?

Well, we assumed that

Mr. Basset had

skipped off with it.

"Assumed"? What kind
of an investigation

was held at the time?
None.

Why was that?

Well, Mr. Dawson
asked the matter

be hushed up
as much as possible.

Really?
Thank you, Mr. Colemar.

Your witness.

Mr. Colemar.

How could a substantial sum like
$ , turn up missing?

Well, our affairs were

a little precarious
in those days.

We were concerned
that an attachment

would be made
on our bank account,

so our employees
were paid in cash.

To that end, currency was
accumulated in the vault.

Who had access to the vault?

Besides Peter Dawson,
there was myself,

and Mrs. Basset, of course.

and Ken Woodman,
who was then doubling

as our purchasing agent.

Thank you,
that will be all.

( dramatic theme playing )

You've barely got time
to catch your plane.

After I left, I heard Dawson
starting to get angry

and then Basset
yelled at him,

"You're fired too."

Mr. Woodman,
later that same day,

did you overhear another
angry conversation

between Mr. Dawson
and Mr. Basset?

Yes, I did.

BURGER:
And what did Mr. Dawson
say on that occasion?

He said,

"Hartley, some day
I'm going to k*ll you."

( crowd murmuring )

( gavel banging )

JUDGE:
Cross-examine?

Ah, Mr. Woodman,

when you were
in Mr. Basset's office,

was the subject of your wife
brought up?

Yes. Yes, he--
He mentioned something

about our-- Starting our
bridge sessions again.

He and his wife,
me and my wife.

I explained that...
Agnes was dead.

And you also explained

that her death
had occurred in Manila?

And that she died
by her own hand?

Yes.

Did you explain that
the last time you saw your wife

was during December,
two years ago?

I-I don't exactly remember
everything I told him.

You felt that he already
knew these things?

Mr. Woodman,
isn't it true

that after you were notified
of the death of your wife,

you took a leave of absence?

Sure. I went fishing

at Sawtooth Lake region
in Idaho.

I have here the Photostat
of an airline's passenger list

for the day your leave of
absence began.

It shows a Kenneth L. Woodman
booked for Manila.

All right,
so I flew to Manila.

To go fishing?

What were you
fishing for?

Proof of why your
wife left you?

Wasn't Basset the reason?

I got proof that
Basset was the one.

I swore I'd find him
and k*ll him.

Well, I couldn't find him.

A man changes after a while.

k*lling isn't always
the answer to everything.

I have no further questions.

I call Mrs. Sybil Basset
to the stand.

JUDGE:
Uh, just a moment.

As we have arrived
the hour of noon adjournment,

the court feels it would
be better to declare

the usual recess at this time

until : this afternoon.
( gavel bangs )

Mr. Mason, please.

Richard, where did he go?

Mrs. Basset,

it might not be proper
for me to tell you.

But why not?

Because a very great deal
might depend on what happens

where he is.

( suspenseful theme swells )

( knocking on door )

Come in.

Darling.
d*ck.

You're sure you
weren't followed?

Are you Richard Hart?

What's the big idea?

This is Sergeant Brice,
from the Los Angeles police.

He's up here to get
Mrs. Teddi Hart

to return to Los Angeles
with him immediately.

Well, my name
is Lorna Grant.

And I suppose
he isn't Richard Hart?

What if I am?

You've got it all wrong.

This isn't my wife Teddi.

BRICE:
These initials happen
to be "T" as in Teddi,

"H" as in Hart.

Sorry,
but the little game is up.

Let's go.

Mrs. Basset,
at : p.m.

on the day of the return
and the death

of Hartley Basset,

did you receive a note
from your husband

by special messenger?

Come now, Mrs. Basset.

If it's necessary
to refresh your memory,

here is the receipt that
you yourself signed

at the time of delivery
of that note.

Yes. Yes, I did received
a note from him.

Can you produce
that note in court?

No.

Why not?

I-I threw it away.

If it please the court,
I should like at this time

permission to enter this
Photostat in evidence.

Mr. Mason?

You represent this
to be what, Mr. Burger?

Our investigators found
impressions on a memo pad

on Hartley Basset's desk

of a message that had
apparently been written

on the top sheet of that
pad with a ballpoint pen.

The impressions were developed
to the point of legibility

in the police lab
and the Photostat

was made of the results.

No objection.

Mrs. Basset.

I ask you now if this is not,
in fact, a true copy

of the note sent to you
by special messenger

from your husband?

Yes.

Would you please read
it to the court.

"My-- My Dear, Devoted Wife,

"Suggest you change your plans
for Peter Dawson.

"I didn't take that $ , ,
he did,

"and maybe more too.

"I'll be home when I'm through
checking the books.

Light a lamp in the window.
Hartley."

And now one final question.

Between the time
you received this note

and when your husband died,

some two hours later,

did you or did you not
inform Peter Dawson

of the contents
of this note?

( whispers ):
Yes.

BURGER:
Louder, please.

Yes.

That's all. Thank you.

Take the witness.

No questions.

( door opens )

( whispers indistinctly )

( crowd murmurs )

Mr. Burger.

I beg the court's indulgence,
Your Honor.

To what end?

Your Honor, unrefuted
testimony has established

the fact that Mrs. Teddi Hart

said she could
identify the man

who ran from the m*rder scene.

I've just learned
that this key witness,

Mrs. Teddi Hart,
has been located.

( crowd murmuring )

Bailiff.

Enforce quiet
or clear the courtroom.

Furthermore, Your Honor,

she has been located
under circumstances

which strongly suggest
the possibility

of grave misconduct
on the part of Defense counsel.

JUDGE:
Eh, Mr. Burger,

do you have a specific
request to make

at the court
at this time?

I have indeed, Your Honor.

The plane bringing
Mrs. Teddi Hart from Carmel

is due to land here
in half an hour.

I ask a recess
until this witness

can be brought
to court to testify.

Request granted.

Uh, court to reconvene at : .

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Burger.

I want to see both
of you in my chambers.

I must say, I can't help
but admire him for it.

Who?
Mason.

Sticking his neck out
like that for a client.

Yes.

How about
a cup of coffee?

No, thanks.

Now, Hamilton,

what is the basis for your
allegations of misconduct?

Well, Judge, I suspected
right from the beginning

that Mr. Mason was responsible

for the disappearance
of Teddi Hart.

Now I'm convinced of it.

We had d*ck Hart under
surveillance all along.

This morning,
after he testified,

he slipped out
of the courtroom

and met Paul Drake,

who drove him to the airport.

Followed by one of your men?

Exactly.

And the trail of the lonely
bridegroom ended at Carmel.

In the motel room of a girl
registered as Lorna Grant,

but fitted exactly
the description of Teddi Hart

and who,
by curious coincidence,

had the initials "T.H."
on her luggage.

Well, Perry?

In the interest
of my client,

I had to take
a desperate chance.

If I lose, I'll assume
sole responsibility.

I'm afraid you've
lost already, Perry.

No, the girl being
returned from Carmel

is actually Lorna Grant,
not Teddi Hart.

You set that up
deliberately?

But why?

What possible excuse could
you have for such a thing?

There was no other
course open to me.

The m*rder*r had
to believe that Teddi Hart

would shortly be brought
into the courtroom

to point an accusing
finger at him.

But the m*rder*r happens
to be Peter Dawson.

I think I've made a pretty
airtight case against him,

even without Teddi Hart.

JUDGE:
Well, supposing someone else

were guilty,
and supposing that this someone

now believes that
the girl being flown

from Carmel
actually is Teddi Hart.

Exactly.

And it isn't likely
that this someone

will lose any time
in getting away from here.

As far away as possible.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme swells )

Will someone please fill me
in on Colemar's confession?

Della can give you
a first-hand account.

Well, when Basset
skipped out,

it was really Arthur Colemar
who took that $ , .

He thought Basset
wouldn't show up again,

so who'd be the wiser?

Yes, but when Basset
did come back,

it was Dawson he blamed,
not Colemar.

Until that night.

Then he went over some ledgers,

and found other discrepancies.

Basset finally realized
it was Colemar

who had been doing
the embezzling.

He accused him and Colemar
begged for a little time.

But then he used that time

in planning to frame
Dawson into a m*rder.

That's right,

with the bit of toupee
and all the rest of it.

There was only one problem,
though,

he almost didn't get away.

In walked Teddi.

In walked who?

Well, lieutenant.

We weren't speaking
of the devil,

but come right in.

All right, Perry,
all right.

I just thought you'd
like to know

something about
Teddi Hart, that's all.

Sending her picture
out over the wires

finally paid off.

You mean,
they found her?

In Vermont.

And guess what
she was doing?

ALL:
Getting married again.

( dramatic theme swells )

( noirish jazz theme playing )