04x05 - The Case of the Lavender Lipstick

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

( phone ringing )

Formula .

It's about time we had
a little luck.

( sighs )

Hm. You should be an artist,
Peter, instead of a chemist.

My talent lies with lips.
I wonder why?

Here.

Now the saline reagent.

( sighs )

Let me see it.

WOMAN ( sighs ):
It still has

a faint lavender feeling.

Faint, my eye.
That's the same loud color

I've been getting all week.

Lavender may go
with old lace,

but whoever heard
of a lavender lipstick?

Well, whoever heard
of an estrogenic lipstick?

Silas Vance.

Let him figure out
how to keep the estrogen

from turning everything
lavender.

He's the boss.

Trouble is I told him
I'd do it.

Here it is Thursday.

You know it's past : ?

You wanna go home?

Mm-mm.

Well, you helped me with the new
dusting powder last month.

You did that
all by yourself.

And you helped me with
the tear-proof eye shadow

when I first came
to work, didn't you?

Hm. Could be I have a
weakness for lady chemists.

Miss Lewis.

Hello,
Mr. Knudsen.

Mr. Pompey would
like to see you.

Now?

Yes, Miss.

Hiya, Mr. Nichols.

Knudsen.

I wonder what Max is up to
at this time of night?

I don't know.
I'll tell you later.

Mr. Pompey.

Come in, Karen.
Come in.

Shut the door,
will you, please?

Well, see how
you like this.

No thanks,
Mr. Pompey.

I thought we agreed
it was to be Max.

All right, Max.

But it's still
no thanks.

Oh, come on.
Come on.

You know, that innocent
little-girl pose

won't work any longer.

Not after what I found out
about you and Gabriel Rawson.

You've been a rather naughty
girl, haven't you?

The town's number-one playboy
and, just incidentally,

our leading competitor.

I've seen Mr. Rawson
exactly twice.

Really?

Who told you that?

A little bird who's been
watching you, darling,

ever since Rawson Cosmetics
came out first

with that dusting powder
you were working on.

Are you suggesting that
I gave him the formula?

And the estrogenic
cream formula.

You can't be serious.

No?

Some things I found
in your desk.

A carbon of the estrogenic
cream formula.

A carbon of the dusting
powder formula.

Gabriel Rawson's
address

and private phone number.

And a bankbook showing a deposit
a week ago of $ ,

and another yesterday
of $ , .

How much was he gonna pay you
for the new lipstick?

This is my
deposit book.

You can keep it,

provided you play ball
with me instead of Rawson.

You know I've always
liked you, Karen.

There must be
some mistake.

You want the police
to check it out?

No.

Okay.

Then relax.

We'll make out fine.

Let go of me.

Stop it.
Let go of me.

( coughing )

Are you all right?

You're fired.

If you're not out of the city
by tomorrow morning,

I'll have you
thrown in jail.

( ominous theme playing )

If you tell
Peter Nichols about this,

I'll have him fired him too.

Now, get out.
Get out!

( door opens )

( door closes )

( dramatic theme playing )

Where did you
come from?

My offices.

Did the nasty girl hurtum
Daddy's poor little head?

I turned it off,
Max.

You know, I always suspected
you of eavesdropping.

You don't run this department,
Myra, you got no right--

"I've always
liked you, Karen."

"We'll make out
fine, Karen."

Oh, I know how you love to chase
girls around this office,

but I didn't think
you'd go as far

as framing some poor thing just
to get a handhold on her.

I found those things
in her desk.

You were listening.

You heard her say she'd
been out with Rawson twice.

Karen Lewis could no more steal
from this company

or sell its formulas than--

Than she could fall
for a goat like you.

( laughs )

That's enough.

If anybody's stealing around
this place, it's you.

You know that, Max.

You're crazy.

Max, you don't
have to lie about it.

I'm not going to tell
Mr. Vance.

But Gabriel Rawson pays you
a salary, doesn't he?

No wonder so many secrets
are leaking out of here.

And just when Caresse Cosmetics
is beginning to do so well too.

Stop it, Myra!

Max Pompey, the one-man
fifth column,

the great Judas goat.

Yes, that's what you are:
a Judas.

Stop it, Myra!

I'm no spy, here.

I'm nothing,
don't you understand?

It's your fault
if I chase girls.

If you hadn't
closed the door on me...

I can't get you
out of my mind, Myra.

Myra--
Max.

Isn't one whack on the head
enough for one night?

Okay. Skip it.

I'm sorry, Max.

It's still my
favorite pin.

Oh, you haven't forgotten how,
have you?

I haven't forgotten
a lot of things.

We used to tell each other
the truth, remember?

( chuckles )

Same old Myra.

Why don't you bring your car
around to the side entrance?

Drive me home?

( door closes )

( dials )

Mr. Rawson, please.

( ominous theme playing )

Oh, Gabriel, I'm going to be
a little late tonight.

Max Pompey.

Yes, I-- I talked to him.

He found the evidence.

Yes, darling. Things are
moving along just fine.

Now, suppose you go over it
all again, Mr. Nichols,

from the beginning,
for Mr. Drake's benefit.

How long was it before you began
to worry about Miss Lewis?

I guess it was
around a half-hour.

And when you went to look for
her in Mr. Pompey's office,

you found what you thought
were signs of struggle?

Cosmetic samples strewn
all over the floor.

In the wastebasket I found
a bloodstained towel.

Was there much blood?

NICHOLS:
No. Just a smear.

That worried me
even more.

I called Karen's apartment
and Pompey's.

No answer at either place.

How come you haven't notified
the police, Mr. Nichols?

Well...

Unless Karen's in real trouble,
I don't think she'd want that.

That's why I came to you,
Mr. Mason. For advice first.

Why wouldn't Miss Lewis
want the police involved?

Well, I-- I don't know exactly.

But I've always had the feeling
that there was something

that she wanted to but
couldn't quite tell me

about her childhood in New York.

I'd asked her questions about it
but she ignores them.

Changes the subject.

Well not that that means
there's anything wrong--

( intercom buzzes )

Yes, Della.

DELLA:
Mr. Pompey's expected
any minute now.

All right, thank you.

Paul, you better get
right on this.

Try to trace where Miss Lewis
went last night.

Okay, great.

Now, you say that Max Pompey was
the superintendent of the plant.

Now, who is the, um, president
of Caresse Cosmetics?

A gentle old soul
by the name of Silas Vance.

Where the devil is everybody?

Where's Pete Nichols?

Doesn't he realize that lipstick
has to be ready today?

And where's
Karen Lewis?

You know,
a little louder

and they could hear you
in the San Francisco plant.

Not even Max Pompey
is here.

I want to talk to you
about that, Silas.

Well, talk.

Here, or in
your office?

Here, since it looks like
I'm gonna have to carry on

for young Nichols.

You don't suppose that Nichols
and Karen eloped, do you?

I hardly think so.

Pete probably
overslept.

He was working late
last night.

Karen was with him.

Not after Max Pompey
got through with her.

Max?

He fired her
last night.

On what grounds?

Selling our formulas
to Gabriel Rawson.

That's absurd.
Karen would never do that.

Max has some pretty
convincing evidence.

A report from one
of the security men

that the girl has seen
Rawson at least twice,

had copies of the formulas

and had Rawson's private
telephone number in her desk.

I don't believe it.

I don't really believe it
either, Silas.

But there's no other
explanation.

Unless somebody
wanted to frame her.

Max Pompey's trying
anything like that,

I'll k*ll him,
so help me.

I didn't know you felt so
violently about Karen Lewis.

There's a lot of things
you don't know, Myra.

SILAS:
Where have you been?

I'm sorry, sir.

Mr. Vance, this is
Mr. Perry Mason, an attorney.

What are you doing
with a lawyer, Pete?

You're not that late.

I'm making some inquiries about
Karen Lewis, Mr. Vance.

It seems she disappeared
last night,

left no forwarding address.

This happened shortly
after an interview

with one of your
company officials.

Who was the official?

Max Pompey.

Why do you come
to me about this?

We can't locate Mr. Pompey.

I thought possibly you might
know what they had discussed.

Max operates rather
independently at times,

Mr. Mason.

Why don't we have him call you
when he comes in?

All right.

But I'd still like to ask
Mr. Vance what he knows

concerning the events
of last night.

I see no reason
why I should answer.

Very well, Mr. Vance.

But if you don't know
what happened last night,

I suggest you begin
some inquiries yourself.

Especially in regard
to a bloodstained towel,

found in Mr. Pompey's office.

( ominous theme playing )

( steam hissing )

Mr. Rawson?

This is a strange
sort of place to meet.

I don't have much time. Besides,
I prefer a little privacy.

Mr. Rawson, I, uh, had to fire
Karen Lewis last night.

Karen Lewis?

The girl who's been selling you
our cosmetic formulas.

I don't buy formulas
from other companies.

You ought to know that, Max.

Sure, Mr. Rawson. Sure.

Max, forget the girl.
Something else has come up.

My board of directors
is meeting next Tuesday.

Oh?

There's been a movement on
to undermine me.

Silas Vance has outsold me
in states this month.

My outfit's supposed
to be paying a dividend.

Now, as I see it,

there are only
one or two things

that can save
my neck next week.

One is for Silas Vance
to kick the bucket.

Two--

You wouldn't like
to arrange that, would you?

Well, and the other is for me
to into that meeting Tuesday

with Caresse Cosmetics
in the palm of my hand.

All of it.

Tuesday? But--
That's only, um, three days off.

And it's over days
since you came to me

with those debts of yours.

I paid them because you said

you could make Silas Vance
sell out to me,

lock, stock and barrel,

how you know something
about his past,

how you could twist his arm,
apply the pressure.

Now, look, it's only a matter
of time, that's all, Mr. Rawson.

You don't want me to do anything
that's real blackmail.

I can still put on
the pressure.

I don't want to know
how you do it

or why or where.

Only when.

By next Tuesday,
you understand?

( ominous theme playing )

( door closes )

Who?

Vance?

Mr. Silas Vance?

Hello, Mr. Vance.

Yes, but how did know
I was here?

Oh, never mind that, you just
get right down here to the lab.

Please, Mr. Vance,
I don't want to come back.

I don't even
want to see Peter,

not until I have a chance
to think things out.

You see,
something happened,

well, that I don't want
to talk about.

Well, I would.

Pompey told me all about it,

and it's just
so much poppycock.

You come on down here.
I'm in your office.

Between us we'll string
a real crook up by the heels.

( sighs )

Oh, if we only could,
Mr. Vance.

Well, I'll be down
as quickly as I can.

Hurry.

( door closes)

( suspenseful theme playing )

( man whimpering)

Mr. Knudsen.

Mr. Knudsen.

( moaning )

Mr. Vance.

Mr. Vance.

( sinister theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

Well, I told the officer
that got here first

everything I know,
lieutenant.

TRAGG:
So now tell me.

Well, I was making my :
round, like I always do.

That's the executive offices
and then here.

And I-- I came
through that door

and started across
to the glassed-in area.

Mr. Vance was
still there?

Yes, he was
in the lab office.

I-- I took three
or four steps and...

wham! The lights
went out.

What time was this?

Well, I don't know exactly.

I made my last
station check at : .

Stopped at : .

Well, you must have
used a jet plane

to get here this fast,
counselor.

I got the call just as I was
leaving the office.

Where is he?

Uh, just let me
finish here.

Sergeant.

Tag that.

And, uh, sweep up the glass
into an envelope.

Now, you were
slugged at :

and our records show
you called us at : .

Were you unconscious
the entire five minutes?

Well, I was out
longer than five minutes.

You called us
while you were unconscious?

I didn't call you at all.

I-- I was just coming to
when the officers got here.

That was after : .

TRAGG:
Well, then who did call?

I don't know.

All right, Knudsen.
That's all for now. Go ahead.

He's the most obliging k*ller
I've run across for a long time.

He knocked out watchman,

shot Mr. Vance
and called the police,

all within the space
of five minutes.

Then Silas Vance
was shot?

Yes, twice. But the prisoner
be undoubtedly able

to tell you more about that
than I can.

( dramatic theme playing )

It wasn't until I checked the
registration slate in her car

that I was sure
it was Karen Lewis,

and by that time she'd
gone into the building.

What time was that, Paul?
Uh, : on the nose.

Anyway, I waited around a few
minutes, then I began to wonder

if I shouldn't have gone
in the building after her.

So I walked down to a corner
to see what lights were on

and that's when
she ran out.

I called, but she jumped
in her car and took off.

I started to follow when
a squad car came blasting up

and shunted me
over the curb.

I just about had them convinced
I was an innocent bystander

when Tragg shows up.

You didn't tell him
anything about Karen Lewis?

No,I wanted to talk to you.

After all, if she's guilty
it's one thing.

But if she isn't, I sure
don't wanna be the one

to get her in a jam.

This is a m*rder, Paul.

There are limits
as to how far we can go

on protecting a client.

Well, then you think
I should tell

Lieutenant Tragg everything?

Let me make
a phone call first.

I believe you.

I know, but Peter,
I can't go to the police.

( phone ringing)

Hello.

Mr. Mason, I've been
trying to reach you.

Yes, yes, I've heard
about Mr. Vance.

Well, Karen told me.

Yes, she is right here.
Just a moment.

He wants to
speak to you.

Yes, Mr. Mason?

Miss Lewis, I know
you must be frightened.

But if you're innocent...

I am innocent, Mr. Mason.

...then don't worry.
Stay right where you are.

Yes, I'll--
I'll do what you say.

(accordion music
being played )

Hello, Myra.

Have you been
following me?

I've got to
talk to you.

What time did you leave
the plant tonight?

When we
finished talking.

A few minutes after . Why?

Because a few
minutes past ,

somebody shot
and k*lled Silas Vance.

You already knew?

Not about the time.

How could you know at all?
It's not even on the radio yet.

How did you know, Max?

The police.
They telephoned.

They want to see me
in the morning.

Well, so you're
here too.

Well, I guess you two
have met each other.

Waiter, another glass.

Does he know too, Myra?
Know what?

Max feels suspicious about my
knowing Silas Vance is dead.

She learned it from me.

I learned it from
a newspaper friend.

Nothing like champagne
for a festive occasion.

To the future.

You're wondering how the future
will affect our deal, eh, Max?

No, Gabriel.

He's wondering which one of us
k*lled Silas Vance.

Well, I hope
neither of you did.

At least
not on my account.

To the future.

Yes, I offered to stay.

Mr. Vance said he had
bigger fish to fry

than finishing
the new lipstick.

Only I guess
the fish fried him.

What time did you
leave the lab office?

Well, I finished work
around .

Then I went by
Karen's apartment

on the off chance that she
might have been there.

Only no one was there,
so I went on home.

There you are, sweet.
Here, relax.

If you're asking me for
an alibi, Mr. Mason,

I'm afraid
I'm fresh out.

Why would he
need an alibi?

He'd have no possible reason
to k*ll Mr. Vance.

Well, the same
holds true for you.

I'm afraid it doesn't, Peter.

I was with Lieutenant Tragg
a few minutes ago,

obtaining official permission
to visit the laboratory again.

Tragg's been rather busy.

He learned from Max Pompey
about the formulas

and the bank deposit book
he found in Karen's desk.

But that's a motive for k*lling
Pompey, not Mr. Vance.

I haven't finished.

Tragg also learned
from Myra Heston

that Silas Vance confiscated
this so-called evidence

and took it down
to the lab.

But when the police found
the body, the evidence was gone.

Then they could think
that Karen k*lled Mr. Vance

in order to suppress
or destroy the evidence.

That's right.

( phone rings)

I think that's our call.

Hello?

Yes, Paul.

Are you sure it's
the same Karen Lewis?

Hm. All right, Paul.

We'll meet you down at the lab
in about minutes.

Karen,

how long has Silas Vance

been personally
interested in you?

I don't know
what you mean.

Paul Drake just talked
to Mr. Vance's attorney.

Let me quote from
Mr. Vance's will:

"To Karen Lewis, whom I have
watched over for many years

"and who is at present
employed in my laboratory,

I bequeath all my
worldly possessions."

And included in those
possessions, Karen,

is Caresse Cosmetic
Products, Incorporated.

( ominous theme playing )

MASON:
All right, go over to him

just as you did last night.

I-- I think I said his name.
Mr. Knudsen.

That exactly
where you knelt?

You weren't cut by the broken
glass from the clock?

No.

That skirt.

Is that the same one
you wore last night?

Yes.

All right, Pete.
Here's your coat.

Now, let's see.
Exactly what did you do next?

Well, I-- I called
for Mr.Vance,

and then I-- I went across
to the lab office.

I didn't see him
at first.

Then I saw his arm.

Then his body.

He was down there,
half under the desk.

What did you do?

KAREN:
Then I--

I backed away.
To the telephone.

I dialed O and told the operator
to send the police.

And then...

Then I ran away.

Did you give the telephone
operator your name?

No.

How about
the night watchman?

Was he conscious
by that time?

He was still lying there
just as he'd been before.

All right now, Karen,

I want you to try
to visualize this room

exactly as it was last night.

Let's start with the desk.
What was on it?

There were some
cosmetic samples,

some of the new designs.

And one or two
lab reports.

How about your bank deposit book
and the formulas?

I don't remember
seeing them.

I can hardly remember seeing
anything except Mr. Vance.

Wait a minute.

I remember something.

When Tragg was
examining the body,

there was something
clutched in Vance's hand.

Something that, uh,
smeared it all purple.

Lavender.

It must be one of the lipsticks
we've beem working on.

Our lavender lipstick.

NICHOLS:
Why would he have it
in his hand?

Excuse me, Paul.
Sure.

See, his arm was
right here...

Karen.

Karen, may I see
your compact?

Of course.

Here, help me clear off
this desk, will you, please?

[MASON READING]

That's all it says.

I'd say that's
quite enough.

That's very clever
of you, Perry.

I never thought of
looking under a drawer.

"Shot by KA."

KA.

That's the start
of a name.

K-A...

Karen. Karen Lewis.

You Karen Lewis?

Yes.

I must ask you to come down
to headquarters with me.

You have a warrant
for her arrest, lieutenant?

For the moment she's merely
a material witness.

This way, please,
Miss Lewis.

It's all right,
Karen.

But, um,

with that drawer added
to our evidence, counselor,

I intend to ask
for a warrant

charging her with
first-degree m*rder.

( intense theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

I'm going into court
accused of m*rder.

And you still
haven't found out

everything you think
you ought to know about me,

have you?

Karen, I'd hate to have the
prosecution pull any surprises,

and I just have the feeling that
you've been hiding something.

Does it concern
Pete Nichols?

No.

It's something I

haven't been able
to tell anyone.

My father died in prison.

Now you certainly don't believe
the sins of the father

are visited upon the child?

My mother must have.

She never told me about him.

Go on.

He died when
I was a baby.

I didn't find out about him
until I was .

I found some newspaper clippings

among her things.

And that was when your
mother passed away?

What did the clippings say?

Kenneth Lewis,

president of a small
New York cosmetic firm,

sentenced
to prison.

What for, Karen?

He put out a cheap facial cream

which was actually poisonous.

Was there anyone
convicted with him?

The clippings didn't
mention anyone.

Why?

I was thinking of Mr. Vance.

In the same business,
watching over you for years.

Always knowing
exactly where you were.

Where to find you.

Do you think Mr. Vance
knew my father?

I certainly think
there's some connection.

Karen,

in a very few minutes
we'll be in court.

A lot of this will probably
have to be brought out.

I know that.

All right, let's go.

Perry, I can't leave now.
Court's about to convene

and you know I've been
subpoenaed to testify.

I know it, Paul, but I need
everything you can dig up

on this fellow, a New York
cosmetic manufacturer

named Kenneth Lewis.

He's in New York now?

Oh, no.

No, he's been dead
for some years.

COURT CLERK:
Please rise.

The Superior Court
of the State of California...

Twenty-three years?

COURT CLERK:
...Department ,

is now in session.

The Honorable John Davis,
judge, presiding.

And in a corner
of her desk,

hidden under some
facial tissues,

I found...

Well, what I really
hadn't wanted to find.

And, uh, what was this,
Mr. Pompey?

Carbons of two of
our secret formulas,

which she had
no business having,

and a bank deposit book
showing two recent deposits.

I don't remember the exact sums,
but they were substantial.

And following this discovery?

I sent Knudsen to the lab

where she was working
with Nichols

to ask her
to come to my office.

Then I showed her
what I'd found.

HELMING:
And what was her reaction?

Naturally, she denied
having taken the formulas.

Said it was all a mistake.

And how did Mr. Vance react
when you told him

what Mr. Pompey had found
in the defendant's desk?

He didn't believe it
at first.

Not until I showed him
the formula carbons

and the deposit book
in Max Pompey'soffice.

What did he say then?

Well, I think he--

He said he was going
to confront Karen,

Miss Lewis, with the things
as soon as he could find her.

And if she didn't give
a satisfactory explanation,

he was going to
have her arrested.

I see.

Did Mr. Vance take the carbons
and deposit book

from Mr. Pompey's office?

Yes. He took them with him when
he went to the laboratory.

( man coughing )

Oh, yes. We searched the
laboratory office thoroughly.

And found the carbons
and the deposit book?

Oh, no.
No, sir.

Someone had
taken them then?

Objection, Your Honor.

The question calls
for an unwarranted conclusion

on the part of the witness.

Defense will concede that
the decedent may have had

the objects in question
earlier that day,

but it has not been shown

that the decedent had those
object that night.

I'll be happy to withdraw
the question, Mr. Mason,

since it seems
to disturb you so much.

Now, Lieutenant Tragg, was there
anything unusual at all

about the desk
in the laboratory office?

Yes, sir.

But I, uh,
didn't discover it.

Who did?

Perry Mason.

I now show you this drawer,
lieutenant.

Can you identify it?

Yes, sir.
It's a drawer of the desk

under which the body was found.

Mr. Mason called
my attention to it.

Uh, now will you describe
to the court

the relation of the drawer
to the desk

and to Mr. Vance's body?

Yes, the drawer was pulled out
a few inches from the desk,

and the decedent's right hand

was under the pulled-out
portion.

And Mr. Mason called
your attention to that?

No, no, no.

He, uh, called my attention to
what was written on the bottom.

The writing's a little shaky,
but still legible.

Uh, "Shot by KA."

And what did you do
in regard to this writing?

TRAGG:
Well,I checked the two letters

against the names
of all the decedent's employees.

Did you find any whose name
began with K-A?

Yes. One.

The defendant.

Karen Lewis.

HELMING:
Mr. Nichols, do you
or do you not recognize

this piece of lipstick taken
from the deceased's hand?

Yes, it's one of the lavender
lipsticks I was working on.

Who was helping you
on that research?

Karen.

Karen Lewis.

So it is possible
that the deceased

could have obtained this piece
of lipstick from Miss Lewis?

We had several pieces, I could
have left it on the lab table.

He could have
picked it up.

I don't want your guess,
Mr. Nichols.

Now, you also worked on
a certain estrogenic cream,

the formula for which
was stolen

and given to a competitive
company, is that correct?

( sighs )

Yes.

And who was your assistant
on that project, Mr. Nichols?

NICHOLS:
Karen Lewis.

And before that,
who was working

on the dusting powder
which was also taken?

Karen Lewis.

No, sir. I-- I don't know
who hit me.

Everything just
went black.

Did you see
the defendant at any time

before or after
you were struck that night?

Oh, no, sir.

When, approximately, were you
knocked unconscious?

Elevent twenty-two.

I know because my clock
broke when I fell.

Glass and blood
were all mixed up.

Is, uh, this clock,
tagged Exhibit C,

the one to which
you are referring?

Yes, sir.

And the hands are
exactly as you found them

when you regained
consciousness?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Mr. Knudsen, how long have you
worked for Caresse Cosmetics?

Well, almost years now.

A great deal longer
than the defendant.

Oh, my, yes.

Mr. Knudsen, in the course of
your work as a night watchman,

have you ever
done any cleaning?

Oh, I don't mean janitor work,

uh, I mean, perhaps, uh, well,
straightening up the offices?

Oh, no. No, I just check
to see things are locked up

where they should be,
that's all.

Well, Mr. Knudsen,

have you ever found
Miss Lewis' desk

or her place of work
to be remiss in any way?

Well, now, she's a good
little housekeeper.

She keeps her table
and her cabinet locked proper,

if that's what you mean.

MASON:
Then doesn't it strike you
as peculiar, Mr. Knudsen,

that on one certain night she'd
suddenly be careless?

She'd suddenly leave
her desk open

with such incriminating things
as a bankbook

and cosmetic formulas
inside that desk?

Your Honor, I object.

He's leading the witness
and calling for conclusions.

I'll withdraw
the question, Your Honor.

That'll be all.

I now call Paul Drake
to the stand.

JUDGE:
The witness is excused.
You may step down, Mr. Knudsen.

Gentlemen,
since it's almost : ,

I would prefer
to recess for lunch.

Court adjourned until : .

Have a nice lunch,
Mr. Helming.

( dramatic theme playing )

More coffee?

No, thank you.
( knocking on door )

Hi, beautiful.

From your actions
I take it you realize

you are a fugitive
from justice.

Yeah, well, uh,
don't make jokes.

But I figure
you will get me off

in return for
what I've dug up for you.

Dug up something
about Kenneth Lewis?

Uh-huh. Silas Vance was
once known as Frank Jefferson.

That was in , the year
that Jefferson disappeared.

Why'd he change
his name?

Because he was a full business
partner to a criminal,

to Kenneth Lewis.

And there's more.
Other names,

full details on the trial and
conviction of Kenneth Lewis.

Everything.

How'd you, uh, find
all this out so soon?

Well,

I called the detective outfit
I use in New York

and they were just putting this
information together.

It seems that three months ago
they were hired

to do a complete check on
Silas Vance and Kenneth Lewis.

Must have been hired
by Gabriel Rawson.

Well, they were,
but how'd you know?

Oh, things are beginning
to go together, Paul.

What we have to do now
is get hold of Rawson.

We can't.
Can't?

I called and he's
on his way to the airport.

It seems he suddenly has

some very important business
in New York.

Della.
DELLA: Yes, Perry?

Get the airport on the phone
for me, will you, please?

( steam hissing )

Max?

Uh-uh.

You made me miss
my plane for nothing,

so help me, I'll have your
scalp. Now, what's this matter?

I think you'll find out at :
this afternoon, Mr. Rawson.

That's when this subpoena calls
for you to appear in court.

And you'd, uh, better hurry.
You've just got a few minutes.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Mr. Vance kept me with him
all those years because, uh--

Because I knew
the business.

Let me show you this report on
the trial of one Kenneth Lewis

in for his
cosmetic firm's violation

of the Pure Food
and Drug Act.

I note here that one of the main
witnesses against him

was an investigator for the New
York State Department of Health

named Max Pompey.

Did Mr. Vance keep you
with him all those years

because you, uh,
knew the business

or because you were
blackmailing him?

Blackmail's
pretty strong, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Pompey, isn't it true
that Mr. Vance's name

was originally Frank Jefferson?

POMPEY:
Yes.

And isn't it also true
that Frank Jefferson

was a business partner
of Kenneth Lewis?

POMPEY:
Well, I can explain all that.

MASON:
I wish you would.

Well, their firm
got into trouble

over a cheap facial cream
that turned out to be poisonous.

Now, Jefferson developed
the formula on Lewis' orders,

so they were both responsible.

But when I put the finger
on them,

they made a sort of deal
with each other

and with me.

Just one of the partners
was to shoulder the blame,

was that the deal?

They tossed a coin
and Jefferson,

that is, Vance, won.

They stuck to it
as agreed.

And as agreed, you had a job
for life with Mr. Vance.

It's just a job, that's all,
nothing-- Nothing fancy.

You see, half of everything
Jefferson had

was to go to Lewis
after he came out.

Only then Lewis died in prison.

Jefferson blamed himself.

He could hardly talk to anybody.

That's when he changed
his name to Silas Vance.

So you were going to use
all this information

to force Mr. Vance to sell
his company to Gabriel Rawson.

POMPEY:
Yes.

Why did you want to ally
yourself with Mr. Rawson

when you had a lifetime
job with Mr. Vance?

I had to.

I-- I got mixed up
with a-- A woman,

and ended up
with a pile of bills.

Rawson paid them off for me.

Mr. Pompey, this woman
you just referred to,

who was she?

Myra Heston.

( intense theme playing )

Yes, I've know Mr. Rawson
for many years.

Was it his idea
that you become

more closely acquainted
with Mr. Pompey?

That perhaps you were
to help increase his expenses?

I suppose you might
put it that way.

Was it Mr. Rawson's idea

that you borrow
Karen Lewis' bankbook

and make two deposits in her
name, one for $ ,

and one for $ , ?

I didn't deposit
anything to her account.

The signatures endorsing Mr.
Rawson's checks were forgeries.

But expert handwriting analysis
will prove that--

All right, I made
the deposits.

Is there any law against
giving people money?

That depends.

Now, Miss Heston, did you put
that bankbook

and those cosmetic formulas
in Miss Lewis' desk?

Yes.

MASON:
Was that also Mr. Rawson's idea?

MYRA:
Yes, it was his idea.

MASON:
Where did you get the formulas?

MYRA:
Mr. Rawson gave them to me.

MASON:
Mr. Rawson gave them to you.
Where'd he get them?

MYRA:
I don't know.

Mr. Rawson, did you give
those formulas to Miss Heston?

Yes.

Did you also
give her the money

to deposit to
Miss Lewis' account?

Yes.

You know, you're quite
an operator, Mr. Rawson.

Honeycombing your competitor's
company with spies.

But why would you want
to discredit Karen Lewis?

Wasn't it that you had
discovered Mr. Vance's past?

That he regarded Karen as his
responsibility, his heir?

You reasoned that in order
to gain possession

of Caress Cosmetics,

you had to discredit Karen Lewis
in Mr. Vances eyes.

Is that not correct?

Yes.

But you didn't stop at that.

You k*lled Silas Vance

and you took that bankbook
and the formulas

in an effort
to incriminate Miss Lewis.

But I didn't k*ll Vance.

What about those formulas?

I didn't take them.

If you didn't take them,
who did?

I don't know.

Your Honor.

I would like to recall
Lieutenant Tragg to the stand.

Mr. Helming?

The State has been looking
forward

to putting Paul Drake
on the stand, Your Honor,

but since I agreed in chambers
to cooperate with Mr. Mason,

I have no objections provided
that the lieutenant's recall

will enable us to get
at the truth in this matter.

The witness may step down.

Lieutenant Tragg?

Now, lieutenant,

you testified that
you were present

while laboratory tests were
made on this wool skirt

worn by the defendant
on the night of the m*rder?

Yes, I did.

You further testified
that on the skirt were found

blood smears of the same
blood grouping

as that of the night watchman.

Yes.

What else did you find
on the skirt?

Nothing.

As an expert, didn't that
strike you as rather odd?

Yes, sir.

Would you tell
the court why?

Well, I expected to find,
uh, bits of glass,

since there were pieces, uh,
from the watchman's clock

all over the bloodstained floor.

Which would indicate that the
m*rder*r set and broke the clock

after Miss Lewis knelt beside
the night watchman.

In fact, after Miss Lewis
had fled

from the laboratory.

Yes, it could indicate that.

But if it does, Mr. Mason,
who is the guilty party?

I think we can show that,
Your Honor.

Now, lieutenant,

you of course have
seen the writing

on the bottom
of this desk drawer.

With the, uh,
court's permission,

I would like to copy
that writing.

Shot...

by...

Now, what is the next letter,
lieutenant?

A capital K.

K...

Now suppose Silas Vance
had started to write...

And then as his
strength failed,

he did this.

Now couldn't
that second letter

have been one of, uh,
two letters, lieutenant?

Couldn't that second letter
have been an N

instead of an A?

"Shot by K-N."

Shot by Knudsen.

Charles Knudsen,
the night watchman.

I didn't want to give
things to Mr. Rawson.

But I needed the money
so bad for my family.

And then
I couldn't stop.

Because he said
he'd tell.

And I couldn't
have that.

And then Mr. Vance found out

I was stealing
his formulas.

He said he was going
to send me to jail

and I couldn't
have that either.

I just-- I couldn't.

I didn't want
to k*ll him.

Mr. Vance started
to phone the police.

And I--
I just grabbed him.

And he started yelling.

And I couldn't have that.

I couldn't have any of it.

I just couldn't.

( dramatic theme playing )

( jazzy theme playing )

We'll wait here
for Paul, Karen.

I have all your things.
Your money's in your purse,

and, um...

here's your clock.

Clock?

Mm-hm.

Seems to me a clock has been
pretty important in your life.

I don't understand
about the clock.

Why didn't Mr. Knudsen break it
before I got there?

MASON:
Hi, Paul.

Hi.

He didn't break
the clock then

because he didn't know exactly
when you would be get there.

And he wanted to be sure
he had the time right.

That is so you couldn't
possibly have an alibi.

Because that night when he
overheard Vance call you

and ask you to
hurry over to help

put the finger
on the guilty party,

well, then he knew
he'd had it.

By the way Paul, what did he
do with the bankbook

and the formulas?
He burned them.

He just told Tragg
about them.

And he threw the g*n in
a canyon back of Malibu.

The police
are there now.

You've explained everything

except how you got Mr. Rawson
to meet Paul at that steam room.

You mean instead of
taking the plane to New York.

I just called him
at the airport.

It was so noisy there
he could hardly hear.

You should have heard him
trying to sound like Max Pompey.

( both chuckle )

Told Rawson I had to see him
at once and he said,

"Same place
as last time"

and I said,
"Last time?"

And he said, "The Allerton
steam room, you dummy."

Words he'll regret
the rest of his life.

( noirish jazz theme playing )