04x04 - The Case of the Singular Double

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( airplane propeller whirring )

( dinging )

Operator?

I want to place a collect call
to New York City, please.

Person-to-person
to Mr. Hugo Burnette.

Hello?
Yes, this is Lucy Stevens.

I'll hold on.

Mr. Burnette?

Yes, Lucy.
Five thirty-five.

Right on time.

I put the briefcase
on the front seat

and locked the car.

Wonderful.

You know, Lucy,
this $ , delivery

earns you a vacation.

I can't stand this anymore,
Mr. Burnette.

I just can't.

We went over this
before, Lucy.

You can't quit.

Please, Mr. Burnette,
please.

There is no way
you can quit.

Not now.

( sobs )

There's a way
you haven't thought of.

I can't go on
living like this.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( doorbell dings )

Come in, Miss Ralston.

Mr. Locke is expecting you.

Thank you, Mrs. Locke.

Ah, Marjorie.

You're a bit late,
but you have the briefcase.

Yes, sir.

Is this the briefcase
that was left in your car?

Yes, sir.
Is something wrong?

Were there any calls
at the office this afternoon?

Just routine, Mr. Locke.

Councilman Runyon
wanted to talk to you,

and there was a call
from the civic engineer.

LOCKE:
What about Hugo Burnette?

No, sir.

All right, Marjorie.

I'll see you tomorrow.
Yes, sir.

Who is Hugo Burnette,
Whitney?

Someone I know, Catherine.

Business?
Yes.

And private?

This is very important
and very delicate, Catherine.

I don't tell you all my business
because it would take hours

and you're a worrier.

There may come a time
when you might regret

not taking me into
your confidence, Whitney.

Not only on business matters,
but other things too.

What do you mean by that?

I mean that the cool
and efficient Miss Ralston

doesn't fool me
for a second.

She's in love with you.

That's to absurd
to even to discuss.

Will you excuse me,
Catherine?

Don't treat me like a child.
Then don't act like one.

( door shuts )

WOMAN:
Hello, sir.

I'm dialing Mr. Burnette
for you.

Ringing now, sir.
Hold on, please.

( ringing )

That must be Locke.

Hello.

Yes, yes,
Burnette speaking.

Yes, put him on.

Go ahead, sir.

Hello, Whitney.

Expecting your call.
Everything satisfactory?

Nothing is satisfactory,
Burnette.

There's nothing
in the briefcase but newspapers.

Newspapers?

What kind of trick
are you up to?

Whitney, if the grand
isn't in the briefcase,

somebody's double-crossing me
and I'll fix it.

You just carry out your end
of the bargain.

Not until you
carry out yours.

Something wrong, Burnette?

Temporarily.

What?

The ,
wasn't delivered.

Where is it?

I know where
it is and I'll get it back.

What if you don't?
What about our agreement?

It will be carried out.

Whitney Locke will see
to it that your land is rezoned.

You can go ahead and draft
your building plans accordingly.

I'll take care of that
double-crossing redhead.

( phone ringing )

( water running )

( phone ringing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( engine starts )

( engine revs )

( tires screeching )

( dramatic theme playing )

I got the letter day before
yesterday in San Francisco.

I called immediately.

Go on, Miss Morgan.
I didn't get any answer.

I tried several times.

I-I even called
the apartment house manager.

You called from San Francisco?
Yes.

What did the manager do?

He went into her room.

He said that all
her clothes and--

And suitcases were
still there,

but her bed hadn't been slept
in in a couple of days.

And her car wasn't
in at the garage.

What else did you attempt
to check on from San Francisco?

Well, I-I called
the Los Angeles police.

Mr. Mason, I'm afraid.
What can I think?

The way that letter sounds
and the check.

What did the police say?

Nothing. Just that
they'd look into it.

You came into town
this morning.

Did you go
to her apartment?

Yes.

Anything there that
led you to believe

that she might have had
su1c1de on her mind?

Just these letters,
papers and family pictures,

were in a bundle like this
in her bureau drawer.

Were there any
previous indications

that your cousin
was, uh, depressed,

in bad health,
or in trouble of some kind?

MORGAN:
I had the impression that

she was in some
dreadful situation,

but she wouldn't
give me the details.

She was very, very upset.

Almost...emotionally unbalanced.

When was this?
At Christmas time.

She came to visit me
in San Francisco.

What make of car
does she own?

I don't know.
Few years old.

Grey.
A coupe, I think.

Those papers should have
some information,

maybe her license number
or something.

Mr. Mason, what shall
I do with the check?

Well, I suggest
holding it for a while.

Perhaps Miss Stevens might have
an explanation for all of this.

You mean--
You mean if she's alive.

Well, let's hope she is.

I might add that

under the law this check would
be no good if she were dead.

You will let me know
just as soon

as you find out anything,
Mr. Mason?

Of course.

Della, see if Paul is in.

I'm going to put a private
investigator to work on this.

You're, uh, sure you've
told us everything

that might be helpful?

Yes, yes, I'm sure.
( Della speaking indistinctly )

Thank you.
( hangs up )

We'll keep in touch,
Miss Morgan.

It must be something of a shock

to receive a letter
from a cousin

who says she's
going to commit su1c1de.

Not much of a shock.

She waited hours before
coming to town to investigate.

There are many of us who
want to expect the worst.

Besides, she did call
the apartment manager

and she did call
the police.

( knocking on door )

Did you get Miss Morgan's
San Francisco address?

Yes.

Give it to Paul,
will you, Della?

Hi. Glad you called.

I was coming down
to see you anyway.

I've got a vacation
itinerary all--

Give me what?

We have a client who believes
her cousin committed su1c1de.

Della will give you
the details.

Work?

A job?

I want a complete check
made on this cousin,

Lucy Stevens,
you know the u--

Aye, what she's been doing,

what kind of woman she is,
who her friends have been,

her background.

I also want you to check
on our client's background.

Carol Morgan,
San Francisco.

But with special emphasis
on this Lucy Stevens.

Well, I'd better start
with the police morgue.

And the hospitals.

Paul, what was all this
about a vacation?

Did I say that?
You did.

I must have been dreaming.

Hm.

Well, some guy
was skin diving

and found this wreck
on the ocean bottom.

It's about, oh, feet deep.

Did he identify the car?

Yeah, it's a coupe,
license number CVX- .

That's the one, Paul.

Anybody in it?

Well, he couldn't say.

Or if he could,
it wasn't for publication.

Anyway, they're setting up
a crane and some winches,

and we'll know soon enough.

All right.
I'll meet you there.

Della.

DELLA ( on intercom ):
Right here.

Get Miss Morgan
on the phone.

Tell her I'll pick her up
at her hotel in minutes.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Miss Morgan, Mr. Drake.

How do you do, Miss Morgan?
How do you do?

In time?
Just about.

Hello, Perry.

It's interesting,
isn't it?

Much more interesting
than Homicide

should be here, lieutenant.

DIVER:
All right, now, take it up.

( crane grinding )

With the door open,
if Lucy was in there--

The tides would--

Keep everybody away.

Bring it out.

You said, "Lucy."

Do you know
Lucy Stevens?

She's my cousin.

That's her car, I think.

When you find her--
She will be found, won't she?

I mean,
even if the ocean tides--

Yeah, she'll be
found all right.

( gasps )

( ominous theme swells )

Well, can you identify her,
Mr. Burnette?

I'm not positive.

Anybody else identify her
as Lucy Stevens?

A cousin by the name
of Carol Morgan.

A cousin?
From San Francisco.

And then we have
the handbag,

the driving license,
her bankbook.

Personal things.

Well, it looks like her.

You know, since you told me
who it was, it--

It looks like her.

Well, thank you,
Mr. Burnette,

for volunteering to help.

I just happened to catch
the item in the New York paper.

Flew right out.

You don't happen to have
the address of this cousin,

do you, lieutenant?

Yes. She's staying
at the Alexander Hotel.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Lieutenant.

Oh, Perry, I thought
I left you in my office.

Did this Burnette
identify Lucy Stevens?

Oh, half and half.

Why did you follow me
here to the morgue?

Oh, I thought I'd take
a look at the man who made

such a long trip across
country to see the body.

Why?

Just curious.

Uh-huh.

Why is Paul following him?

Is Paul following him?

Well, you just
sicked him on him.

You may not believe this,
lieutenant,

but I have no
definite reason.

Well, you're right,
I don't believe you.

Since when do you do something
for no definite reason?

Sorry to trouble you,
lieutenant.

Oh, Perry.
I'm not holding your client.

I had her down here to identify
the body, that's all.

What did she say?

Same thing he did,

said it was Lucy Stevens.

Thanks.
That's perfectly all right.

I just don't want you to think
that I'm being uncooperative.

Oh, I don't. Lieutenant.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Mason,
why did you come here?

Just an idea about
places and people.

What's wrong?

Something
about the police?

There was another
identification this morning.

Oh?

Someone by the name
of Burnette.

Do you know him?
No.

He's from New York.
No.

Don't you think it's about time
you told me the truth?

What do you mean?
I have.

Why did you come to me
in the first place, Miss Morgan?

I told you.
The letter and the check--

After receiving
that kind of letter,

why did it take you two whole
days to come to Los Angeles?

I couldn't get away,
but I phone the police.

Did you check back with them?
I thought you would.

Did you check
with the hospitals

or missing persons?
No.

No?

You just sat back
and waited for an attorney

to figure out where
your cousin might be.

What were you waiting for?
The discovery of that car?

I-I was afraid
something had happened, I--

Afraid, Miss Morgan?

You know,
my investigator tells me

there is no
Miss Carol Morgan.

Not in San Francisco.

Now if you want me
to continue as your attorney,

you'd better start telling
me the truth. All of it.

Because if you're hiding
something from the police,

they're going
to find it out.

( sighs )

All right, Mr. Mason.

I'll tell you the truth.

Everything I know about it.

I'm Lucy Stevens.

Then who was the woman
in the car?

She doesn't know.

Does Lucy know how
the woman got in the car? No.

What about this Burnette
I followed from the morgue?

She worked for him.

It was because of Burnette
that Lucy

decided to make it appear
that she'd taken her own life.

There must have been
something awfully wrong

for her to have taken
such a desperate measure.

She hinted that during
her first visit here, Della.

She handled several large sums
of money for Burnette.

She didn't realize
until it was too late

that the whole business
was illegal.

You mean she had no idea
what was going on?

What other people
were involved?

No. Paul, we're gonna
have to work fast.

We know the dead woman
isn't Lucy Stevens.

When Lieutenant Tragg
finds that out,

he'll be after us
hammer and tongs.

Yeah, with questions like,
"Who is the dead woman,

and where is Lucy Stevens?"
That's right.

Where is Lucy Stevens, Perry?

I sent her
to some hotel.

I didn't want
to know which one.

Now, get after Burnette.

Find out what kind
of business he's involved in

that requires the transportation
of large sums of money.

Find out all you can
about him.

You said he has an apartment
here in town?

Yeah, Woodcrest Arms,
apartment C.

She wasn't in her room
in the Alexander.

I left word.
I'll keep checking.

Who is she?

The police say
a cousin of Lucy's.

If she was,
I never heard Lucy mention her.

You're positive the dead woman
isn't Lucy Stevens?

Of course I'm positive.

And you don't know
who the dead woman is?

No.

No idea?

No. But Lucy's trying
to pull a fast one.

What about Whitney Locke?

He'll honor his obligation.

( knocking on door )

I've been thinking about that,
Burnette.

Just what is his obligation

if he didn't
get his money?

Don't worry.

Mr. Burnette? My name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.

I beg your pardon
if I'm interrupting.

No, no.

Then I'll just leave everything
is in your capable hands.

Yes.
I'll-- I'll call you.

What can I do for you,
Mr. Mason?

I was curious about
the woman in the morgue.

You were curious?

BURNETTE:
Why?

Well, I saw you
at the morgue

when you identified her
as Lucy Stevens.

What about it?
It isn't Lucy.

Who is it, then?

I was hoping you'd
give me a clue.

I understood you were
Lucy's employer.

Well, maybe an errand or two.

What kind of errand?
Personal.

Involving large
sums of money?

Well, sometimes.
As a favor.
Illegal?

What're you talking about?

A businessman involved
in legal practices

doesn't transport
large amounts of cash

across the country
in a briefcase.

Just where do you get
your information, Mason?

From a woman who called
herself Carol Morgan.

The one who says
she's Lucy's cousin?

Well, this cousin
knows more than I know.

Or you know more than
you're admitting, Mr. Burnette.

What do you want?

Cooperation.

Why should I cooperate
with you?

I might be more
understanding,

more charitable
than the police.

About what?

Perhaps about the...

Everything Mr. John Ruskin
just suggested

he would leave
in your capable hands.

How do you know
John Ruskin?

He spreads his picture

in the real estate sections
of the newspapers.

Ruskin's Rustic Village.

You might be more dangerous
than the police.

I might.

I'll take my chances
with them.

They'll want to know
how your business activities

tie in with $ , ,

with a dead woman,
with Mr. John Ruskin,

and with Lucy Stevens.

You know,
someone is being paid off

or threatened.

Where did you get that
$ , figure?

Who is this Carol Morgan?

You misunderstand me,
Mr. Burnette.

I said I wanted
your cooperation.

Whoever you're representing,

you're just trying
to keep ahead of the police.

If that isn't Lucy
in the morgue, where is she?

I'm interested
in who is in the morgue.

I think you know
or suspect.

Mr. Burnette,
hasn't it occurred to you

that when everything is exposed,

you might find yourself
holding the sack?

All right,

you've made your point.

There are some things
I can tell you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Thank you.

No, I-I'm sorry
I cut you off.

Mr. Locke's on another line.

Would you hold on
a minute please?

You seem very busy.

My husband's secretary
hasn't shown up

and I'm filling in. I--

I haven't done
this for years.

Can I help you?

My name is Mason.
I'd like to see Mr. Locke.

Catherine, was there another
call for me on another--?

Oh.
This is Mr. Mason.

And there is another
call for you.

You're an attorney, Mason.

Yes.
It's from your broker--

I'll speak to him later.

Come in, Mason.

Thank you.

Pardon the confusion.

My secretary has taken
a few days off.

Unexpectedly.

I know how unsettling
that could be.

More than unsettling.

Won't you sit down?

Now, how can I help you, Mason?

I'm in the middle of a complex
situation, Mr. Locke.

Involving me?

I've just had a meeting
with a man

who said you were involved.

Hugo Burnette.

Burnette?
I don't know him.

Burnette intimated
that he is the liaison man

who passed on a certain $ , .

Sixty thousand dollars?

I haven't the slightest idea
what you're talking about.

Burnette also
intimated that

the money changed hands
so that a tract home builder

by the name of John Ruskin

could get a particular
acreage rezoned.

I don't know anything
about $ , ,

or John Ruskin,
or anyone named Burnette.

I don't know why
you should speak to me

about a thing
so completely unethical.

Dishonest.

Perhaps you are trying
to intimidate me in some way.

I don't know why,
I don't care.

I've heard about your
reputation for razzle-dazzle

and tightrope walking, Mason.

Don't try it on me.

As a man in the public eye,

I'm jealous of my reputation.

What's your secretary's name,
Mr. Locke?

Marjorie Ralston. Why?

Good day, Mr. Locke.

The way I see it, Della,

the $ , is the link
in the m*rder chain.

Now, get ahold
of Paul immediately.

I want a thorough check
on a Marjorie Ralston.

When Miss Stevens calls in--

DELLA ( on phone ):
Perry,

Lucy Stevens is here
in the office right now.

Tell her to go back
to her motel and stay there.

Tell her I'm going
to call Homicide,

I think this Marjorie Ralston

is the m*rder victim,
if she is,

Lt. Tragg is going
to find a connection

between the two of them.

Perry, Lieutenant Tragg
is in the office too,

and he said the dead woman
is Marjorie Ralston, and Perry,

he's been asking Miss Stevens

an awful lot of questions.

Yes, and I got a lot more
for her too. Downtown.

I'm booking her
for m*rder.

TRAGG ( on phone ):
And I've got some
questions for Mason too,

like obstructing justice
and withholding evidence.

( dramatic themeswells )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Now, Mr. Burnette,

will you tell the court
what happened

on the morning
of Tuesday, March the th?

I deal with large sums
of cash.

In New York,
on that morning,

I withdrew $ ,
in cash with my bank.

Go on, Mr. Burnette.

Lucy was there with me.

She counted the money,

put it into the briefcase
and locked it.

There were two jet planes
with reservations available

leaving for the West Coast.

Lucy took the : flight.

That was New York time.

She arrived here at close
to : , Pacific time.

That's when I got
a long distance call from her.

Close to : ?

Yes. : New York time.

What did Miss Stevens say?

That she had delivered the money

and that she wanted
to quit working for me.

She had delivered
the money to whom?

Well, the way she always did.

It wasn't to whom,
it was to a car.

What was the procedure,
Mr. Burnette?

She'd been given
the location,

the description
and the license number

of a certain car.

She was to put
the briefcase inside it,

lock it and leave.

LAWYER:
And the long distance
telephone call

was to let you know
that she had done her job?

BURNETTE:
Yes, that's right.

Now, when she told you
that she was going to quit,

what did you say?

I told her she couldn't,

but she said she couldn't
go on like this

and that she'd figured out
a way to quit.

LAWYER:
And at this point,

you only had
her word for it

that she had actually delivered
the money as instructed.

BURNETTE:
Yes, that's right.

Does the license number TVC-
mean anything to you?

Yes. That's the car
Lucy delivered the money to.

Or I assumed she had.

Do you know that this
is the license number of the car

which belonged to the deceased,
Marjorie Ralston?

Yes.

You may cross-examine.

What is your business,
Mr. Burnette?

I am a contact man.

I peddle influence
to people who need influence.

What kind of influence
were you peddling

with that $ , ?

BURNETTE:
I don't really know.

I only know I had
a job to do.

Get the cash
to that car.

Do you recall a conversation
you had with me

in which you linked
the name of Whitney Locke

to that particular delivery?

BURNETTE:
Yes.

Mr. Burnette,

who was on the other
end of that $ , ?

Who authorized you
to deliver it to Whitney Locke?

John Ruskin.

Now, Mr. Burnette,
of your own knowledge,

do you know whether the money
did or did not reach Mr. Locke?

Or whether it did reach him

and was simply
not acknowledged?

Object, Your Honor.

Counsel is going
into pure speculation.

It seems to me you opened
the door, Mr. Cutter.

It doesn't matter,
Your Honor.

I withdraw the question.

I'm through
with this witness.

Well, it's fairly
popular knowledge

that my party is suggesting me
for public office.

I've already begun
to get contributions

for campaign expenses.

Like the $ ,
mentioned here?

Yes.

Now, would you
please explain

what transpired at your home
when your secretary,

the m*rder victim in this case,
arrived with the briefcase?

I unlocked it.

There was nothing but some
cut up newspapers in it.

Now, we have followed the money
from the bank in New York

to the briefcase,
fastened and locked,

and given to the safekeeping
of the defendant,

Lucille Stevens.

We have followed
it across the country

to the car of the deceased.

From there it was
brought to you,

still locked,
and with the money missing.

Is that right, Mr. Locke?

That is right.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Who saw you open
the briefcase, Mr. Locke?

My secretary,
Marjorie Ralston,

and my wife.

Your wife?
Yes.

They both saw you
open the briefcase

and remove the contents?

Well, they saw me
unlock it.

But they did not see
the contents?

No, that was my own
personal business

apart from my secretary
and wife.

My wife is a worrier.

I don't tell her
all my business.

And what was to worry about
in this instance, Mr. Locke?

The money was a legitimate
campaign contribution,

was it not?

Of course.

The only reason
for the discreet handling

was to avoid publicity.

Twisted interpretations

are so often
put on these things.

You mean, $ , sounds
more like campaign expenses

of a man running
for a national office

rather than those of a man

who just might run
for municipal government.

What gives you the right
to insinuate that I--?

That's enough, Mr. Locke.

No more questions.

The cause of death
was three heavy blows

with a metal rod
or instrument,

administered
to the back of the head.

I show you this tire iron
and ask if this could

have been the m*rder instrument.

Yes. As a matter of fact,

I marked
it as the probable w*apon

when the conformation
corresponded

to the marks
on the skull.

I would like
this tire iron

marked for identification,
please.

It is so.
All right.

Now, lieutenant, where was
the defendant's car discovered?

In feet
of ocean water,

off an embankment
in San Pedro harbor.

And the body
of the deceased?

Inside the car.

Did you identify
the deceased immediately?

TRAGG:
No, sir.

An attempt had been made
to confuse the identity.

Explain, please.

Well, papers and identification
had been left in the car

to create the impression that
the body was Lucille Stevens.

The next morning the defendant
came to the morgue

and positively
identified the body

as being that
of Lucille Stevens.

Herself, in other words.

And whose body was
it in actual fact, lieutenant?

Marjorie Ralston.

Secretary to Whitney Locke.

She was the woman who was
to pick up the $ , .

Now, lieutenant,

since it appears
that Marjorie Ralston

didn't pick up $ , ,

but did pick up
the briefcase

from which the defendant had
previously removed the money--

We object, Your Honor,

on the ground that the question
is leading and suggestive

and assumes a fact
not in evidence.

We submit, Your Honor,
that the fact is in evidence.

There is certainly no doubt
that the defendant

lied about her identity

and the identity
of the deceased.

The evidence heretofore
introduced

clearly indicates
that the defendant

stole the $ ,
and k*lled the decedent.

Of course,
we won't argue the point,

since we have already
established our case,

we dismiss Lt. Tragg
from the stand

and move the court to bind
the defendant over

for jury trial.

If the court please,

the prosecution
cannot rest its case

until I have
cross-examined this witness.

When the prosecution

does rest its case,

I'll decide whether the defense
cares to put on any evidence

and only then can the question
be presented to the court

as to whether the defendant
is to be bound over.

That certainly summarizes
the law in this case, Mr. Mason,

and you have a right
to cross-examine the witness.

However, not at : .

I will call
a customary adjournment

until :
this afternoon.

( crowd murmuring )

I wanted Mr. Burnette
to think I'd k*lled myself.

I didn't know
any other way out.

He wouldn't let me go.

( sobs )

I was so ashamed
of myself.

I'd been so stupid.

Perry, I got some
confirmation for you.

One is that Burnette has always
maintained two apartments,

one here and one
in New York.

Go on.

Your client's plane arrived

at International Airport
at : .

Her call to Burnette
was placed at : ,

that is : New York time.

How did you find that?

Well, his answering service
not only records the calls,

but also the time
they were placed.

Now, another
long distance call

was placed for him
by Whitney Locke

at : New York time.

Six twenty-two here.

Uh-huh.

According to Lucy,

the Ralston woman
left the parking lot

at about : .

According to Whitney Locke,

Miss Ralston left
his home at : .

Then at : ,

Lucy left
her own apartment,

got in her car
and drove to the harbor.

Which just about eliminates
Mr. Burnette as a suspect,

his being in New York
at that time.

Mm.

Della, I want you to try
to reach Mr. Burnette.

He just left the courtroom.
He's probably at lunch.

Why so much money?

Try to reach him through
his New York exchange.

Paul has the number.

Thanks, Paul.

I got something
on this Whitney Locke.

I ran into a friend of mine,
he's a private detective,

who's been watching
Locke's house.

What?
Mm-hm.

Now, an investigator
isn't supposed to violate

this kind of a confidence,

but I've got a pretty
good idea of who hired him.

Who?
Ruskin.

No, but I would like
to leave a message

if you can't get
in touch with him.

Oh, excuse me,
what's the noise on the line?

Do we have
a bad connection?

There, is that any better?

And were you just trying
to reach Mr. Burnette

here in Los Angeles?

Yes, Miss Street.

What was the message?

Nothing, thank you,
I'll reach him here.

All right,
so I finally figured it out.

They held your call
and tried to reach Burnette

here in Los Angeles?

The call goes from here
to New York and back.

So Burnette could have been
right here in town

at the time
of the m*rder.

( suspenseful theme swells )

Lieutenant, did you examine
the decedent's apartment

for fingerprints?
Yes.

Did you find the defendant's
fingerprints there?

TRAGG:
No, no.

MASON:
Her employer'sprints?

That is,
those of Mr. Whitney Locke's?

No.

In what condition was
Miss Ralston's apartment?

Well, it looked like
she was planning a trip.

She had some travelling bags
packed and ready to go.

MASON:
Did you examine those bags,
lieutenant?

TRAGG:
Yes.

We didn't find any money.

And you did not find
any sum of money

in the defendant's
possession?

No, no.

All right, lieutenant.
Thank you, that will be all.

Your Honor, before passing
on the prosecution's motion

to bind the defendant over,

I would like to recall
two witnesses.

Counsel may put on his own
defense if he wishes,

and call a hundred witnesses.

JUDGE:
I take it you object
counsel's request, Mr. Cutter?

I was only thinking
of the taxpayers of the state.

I will withdraw
the objection

if counsel doesn't abuse
the patience of the court.

You may recall your witness,

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Hugo Burnette.

Hugo Burnette
to the stand.

You may step down,
lieutenant.

Now, you stated there
were two planes, two jets,

from New York
on the afternoon of the m*rder.

Yes.

One at :
New York time,

upon which Miss Stevens
traveled,
Yes.

the other,
an earlier plane,

at, um, : , I believe.

I believe so.

Which plane did you take,
Mr. Burnette?

Isn't it true that you took
the : plane.

That you were here
in your apartment

by half past
that afternoon.

Well, Mr. Burnette?

Well, yes.

Then at the morgue
when you told Lieutenant Tragg

that you had flown out
from New York after the m*rder,

just to identify the body,
you were lying, were you not?

Yes.

What did you do
after you received

the telephone call
from Miss Stevens?

Nothing.

I waited for confirmation
of delivery of the money

to Whitney Locke.

You were alone
at that time?

John Ruskin
was in my apartment.

He was interested
in the delivery also.

MASON:
And then, uh, you received
another telephone call?

BURNETTE:
From Locke.

Yes, telling me that the money
was not in the briefcase.

MASON:
What did you do?

I called
Lucy's apartment.

What time was that?

About or minutes
after .

I suppose Mr. Ruskin

can corroborate that statement.

BURNETTE:
Well, as a matter of fact,
he had already gone.

He left just after
Locke's first call.

First call?

He called again later.

What time was that?

About : .

He told me to come over
to his home.

I arrived there
at approximately : .

Now, there's about minutes
unaccounted for.

Mr. Burnette, you cannot
prove where you were

during that time, can you?

Any more than Mr. Ruskin
or Mr. Locke

can prove where they were?

I--

I guess not.

Mr. Burnette,

how far is your apartment
from Lucy Stevens' apartment?

Five or minutes
by car.

Thank you.

Redirect,
Mr. Cutter?

Nothing on redirect,
Your Honor.

( whispers inaudibly )

You requested the recall
of two witnesses.

Do you still want them,
Mr. Mason?

Oh, yes, Your Honor.

I would like to recall
Mr. Whitney Locke.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

Whitney Locke
to the stand.

You are already under oath,
Mr. Locke.

Mr. Locke, do you know
John Ruskin personally?

Have I ever met him?
No.

Can you explain why
he would be so interested

in your plans
for a political career?

Well, perhaps I've held
certain opinions

on zoning and building
which Ruskin has admired.

Then you considered his
campaign contribution routine,

Mr. Locke?
Yes, sir, I do.

All $ , ?
Uh-- Well, the--

It was a large
contribution, wasn't it?

Yes.

But perhaps not too large

coming from someone who had
such great admiration for you.

Tell us, Mr. Locke,

did Mr. Ruskin
admire your opinions

in April last year

when a rezoning request he made

bore the recommendation
of "no" by your office?

I'm not sure that I--
Or again in September last year,

when your office advised
against another

rezoning request
made by Mr. Ruskin?

There were a couple
of Mr. Ruskin's requests

that my office
thought were not

in the best interest
of the city.

Or in your own either.

He hadn't made
a contribution yet, had he?

I beg your pardon?

Mr. Locke,

did you know in advance about
the $ , contribution?

I wasn't certain of it.

Then why did you have
your secretary park her car

in a certain place and wait
there for the briefcase

to be placed
in that car?

Well, I admit that I knew

a campaign contribution
was to be made to me,

only I didn't know
how much.

You insist then that the $ ,
campaign contribution

was legitimate
and not a bribe?

Certainly.

Then why all the elaborate
precautions to insure secrecy?

Why all the surreptitious?
All the furtiveness?

Or do you customarily receive
your campaign contributions

in that manner, Mr. Locke?

Objection, Your honor.

The questions are both
leading and argumentative.

Sustained.

But the court finds them
very interesting.

I withdraw the questions,
your honor.

Now, Mr. Locke,
I have a report

which establishes
the fact that your home

was being watched
on the evening of the m*rder,

March th.

LOCKE:
My home watched?

Why would anyone
spy on me?

Perhaps your wife
had reason, Mr. Locke.

LOCKE:
That's nonsense.

MASON:
Very well, we'll leave that
set aside for the moment.

Now, I ask you, Mr. Locke,

where you were between
: and :

on that evening March th?
Home.

MASON:
You didn't leave the house?

LOCKE:
No.

When you discovered that
the $ , was gone,

didn't you realize your
secretary must have taken it?

Didn't you figure that
she had access to your key

and must have had
a duplicate made?

Didn't you go
to her apartment

and finding her packed

and ready to disappear,

accuse her of stealing
the money?

Then didn't she say
that Lucy Stevens

must have stolen the money,

that she followed Lucy home,
knew where she lived?

How could she follow Lucy home?

How long does it take to get
from the airport to your home,

Mr. Locke?
About minutes.

Your secretary drove away
from the parking lot

at approximately : .

She didn't arrive
at your house until : .

That's minutes.

Just about
the length of time needed

to follow the defendant home
and then report to you.

Now, in trying
to convince you

that Lucy Stevens
had stolen the money,

didn't she then drive with you
to the defendant's house

and institute a fake search
of the defendant's car?

It was at the defendant's car
where the m*rder took place,

with the m*rder w*apon
taken from that car.

You can't hang this on me.
I didn't k*ll her.

Your Honor, I protest
all the fishing lines

thrown from Mr. Mason's
expeditionary boat.

It is clear that counsel,
in lieu of a proper defense,

is trying to make
everybody suspect.

It doesn't change
the facts of the case.

If the house
was under observation,

why doesn't Mr. Mason
bring in the party

who was doing the observing

to testify whether
or not Mr. Whitney Locke

left the house
between : and : ?

Unfortunately, Your Honor,
the man who did the observing

left his post
for about minutes

to make a phone call.

Well, if the Counsel
is through with Mr. Locke,

I will call a witness
who can testify

accurately on this point.

I'm finished with Mr. Locke.

Very well, I call
Catherine Locke to the stand.

No, Whitney didn't leave
the house during that time.

You are positive of that,
Mrs. Locke?

There seemed to be
something wrong,

so I went into the study,
it was about : .

And what transpired there?

He made a phone call.

Go on, Mrs. Locke.

To a man by the name
of Burnette.

He told him he'd better
come to our house.

And your husband
remained at home?

Yes.

When Mr. Burnette arrived,
I left them in the study.

CUTTER:
And what time was that?

CATHERINE:
About of .

Fifteen minutes between
the time of the phone call

and Mr. Burnette's arrival.

Yes, that's right.

Your cross-examine.

Mrs. Locke, did you hire
a private detective

to spy on your husband?

No.

Of course not.

Your Honor,

assuming Mrs. Locke's
testimony to be true,

there's someone else I'd like
to see on the witness stand.

Who is that, counselor?

The one person who has no alibi
for those minutes

during which the crime
must have been committed.

Your Honor, there are
a great many questions

I would like to ask to the one
person other than my client--

RUSKIN:
You don't have
to ask them, Mason.

Did I know Marjorie Ralston?
Yes.

Did I tell her about
the $ , ? Yes.

And did she double-cross me
by stealing the money? Yes.

And did I follow the sequence
of events you set forth? Yes.

And if you want to know why
I hired a private detective,

it was to nail Whitney Locke
with the cash.

I wasn't aiming
to buy his favors,

I just wanted to catch him
taking the bribe

he'd forced me to make.

I just don't like
that kind of pressure.

Marjorie, unfortunately,
not only took the money,

but she tried to keep it by
threatening me with exposure.

Hm.

All that theorizing
with Locke.

You were after me all the time,
weren't you, Mason?

I must have been,
Mr. Ruskin.

I was after the m*rder*r.

( dramatic theme swells )

PAUL:
So the money showed up.

Ruskin found it when
he caught Marjorie Ralston

packing to duck out on him.

Perry, you said that she
was k*lled at Lucy's car.

And she was.

I imagine Miss Ralston
suggested shifting the burden

of the theft onto Lucy.

Ruskin started to go along
with the plan--

Until he got to the car
and k*lled her.

Throwing not only the theft,
but the m*rder onto Lucy.

That business with the answering
service in New York

dialing back here
to reach Burnette--

I should have thought
of that answering service bit.

Oh, you did your part
when you came up

with the detective
doing surveillance.

That was only luck.

I happened to run
into a friend--

Paul, don't give away
your trade secrets.

Sure, Paul.

Why, Perry has Assistant
District Attorney Cutter

believing he did all
of Perry's work

when he got Mrs. Locke
to eliminate everybody

from suspicion
except John Ruskin.

That's right.

He does believe
he did it all.

Did he, Perry?

( dramatic theme swells )

( noirish jazz theme playing )