04x14 - The Case of the Resolute Reformer

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( band playing jazzy music )

I think you'd better
take me home, Peter.

You've had enough.

Just one more, Debbie, huh?

Kiss or drink?

Both.

( both laugh )

Mm.

( glass breaks )

Take me home, Peter, please.

( sighs )

I gotta have me
another drink.

Peter.
Huh?

What's wrong with my Scotch?

I'll fix us both a drink
when you take me home.

( engine starts )

PETER:
* One more drink *

* Oh, one more drink *

* One more drink *
Peter, take Elm Street.

It's shorter.

Sure.

( tires screech )

( Peter singing indistinctly )

* Drink to-- *
Look out, Peter!

Huh?
Look out!

( dramatic theme playing )

Get in.

Move over.

Move over, you drunken fool.

( tires screech )

( dramatic theme playing )

( jazzy theme playing )

( shoe thuds )

Debbie, this is Peter.

Last night, what happened?
Was there an accident?

He's not dead.

He's pretty badly hurt,
but you didn't k*ll him.

After I got you home,

I went right to a pay booth
to call for an ambulance.

He's at County Hospital.

The police have
no idea who hit him,

and neither does he.

Well,
that's hit-and-run.

I'll call the police
and tell them what happened.

How noble.

Forthright, honest.

Most seemly behavior
for the prodigal son

of San Marcos' distinguished
and incorruptible

chief county engineer.

Aren't they naming something
or other after your father?

Oh, yes, yes.

The, uh,
William Harper Caine Aqueduct.

Like father, like son.

They can call it
the Peter Caine Wing

of the county jail.

This'll k*ll my father.

I'm the biggest disappointment
of his life anyway.

What am I
gonna do?

Since I covered up
for you last night,

it's hit-and-run for me too,
dear boy,

if you tell all.

Are you saying
I shouldn't tell the police?

I have a conscience too,

I checked with my lawyer
this morning.

There is a way to help him

without getting
involved ourselves.

And I'll take care of it.

Youwill?

Oh, it's all right, Peter.

You know I have
nothing but money

since my parents died.

The least I can do,

since I'm the one
that hit him,

is to take care
of it myself.

Well, if you want to.

The man's name is Joe Witt.

He and his wife, Grace,

have a small place
they call a ranch

in Manzanita Canyon.

Now, the ranch
isn't worth much,

and they'd love
to be able to retire,

but they can't afford it.

Now, if you really
wanna help them,

without admitting
to a hit-and-run

and getting involved
with the law,

you could buy their place

for a little more
than it's worth.

That would take care of
the hospital and the injury.

I don't have much money.

Oh, the ranch isn't worth

more than three or four
thousand at the most.

Now, according to my lawyer,

, over the market price

would retire the Witts,
without regrets.

Nine thousand dollars.

That's just about
all I have left

from my mother's estate.

Well, it's up to you.

You really don't have to
do a thing for them.

You're clean right now.
Nobody knows.

No, I want to.

Nine thousand?

Nine thousand dollars.

For what?

I told you,
it was an investment.

An investment.

And investment in what?
A woman named Grace Witt?

It's an investment,
Father.

The only things
you've ever invested in

are booze, fast cars,
and faster women.

Now, just who is
this Grace Witt?

And why did you write
her a check for , ?

Well, I--
Oh.

Excuse me, sir.
Yes, Kent.

It's time for the
Board of Supervisors' meeting,

Mr. Caine.
All right.

I'll see you
here in my office

after lunch, Peter.

Yes, sir.

Still don't like my overruling
your recommendation?

Well, it's not up to me
to like or dislike it, sir.

But as you know, Mr. Caine,

the three additional
engineering reports that we made

don't confirm the taxpayer
committee's report.

No, and they
don't deny it, either.

You know, of course,

that Perry Mason's
representing

the taxpayer group?
Well, yes.

Kent, how long have
you been my assistant?

Twenty-one years.

Heh-heh.
Twenty-one years.

You know why
you've never advanced, Kent?

Because you've got
no imagination.

Don't you even
suspect something wrong

when Mason represents
a group of citizens

on a matter like this?

Hello, Caine.

Mr. Sistrom.

I'd like
to ask you something.

What are you going
to propose in there?

You can find out in there,
Mr. Sistrom.

Just a word of caution.

If you plan to go along

with Mason
and the Citizens' Committee.

That sounds like a threat.

Information has reached
Mr. Quigley and me

that you have your own ax
to grind in this matter.

Over the last years,

I have
heard that charge before.

We have proof this time,
Caine.

If you go in there

for a stop-work order,
we'll expose--

( suspenseful theme playing )

( gavel bangs )

Board of Supervisors,
San Marcos County,

now in session.

File number - .

Aqueduct Bond Issue,
project number .

First District,
San Marcos.

Petition
by Citizens' Committee.

Approve by
a four-fifths vote,

stop-work order,
and change of route

of William Harper
Caine Aqueduct.

Is the chief county engineer
present?

Present, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN:
The Quigley Construction
Company?

Roger Quigley,
Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN:
The Citizens' Committee?

Perry Mason,

counsel for the Citizens'
Committee, Mr. Chairman.

Your clients, Mr. Mason,
request a stop-work order

and a possible change
in the routing of the aqueduct?

That is correct, sir.

Under provisions
of Section ,

San Marcos
Water Control Act.

I'm sure the county engineer
will agree

that underground springs beneath
a section of the aqueduct

would result in
constant earth slippage,

and possible contamination
by seepage.

These certainly not
in conformity

with bond specification.

Where such
underground springs

do actually exist, yes.

The county engineer's office
is aware

of a preliminary survey,

indicating the strong likelihood

of the existence of such springs

in the Manzanita Canyon
section of the aqueduct.

I say that their survey
is irresponsible.

And their petition
is without fact or foundation.

The county engineer has got a
report from his own staff

that says so too.

Yes.

I do have such a report
made out by my staff.

There is no positive proof

that these springs
do actually exist.

But the possibility,
however remote,

is not ruled out--

MASON:
Mr. Chairman,

I respectfully request
that a -day stop-work order

be issued on the
William Harper Caine Aqueduct

for the purpose of

a complete survey of
the Manzanita Canyon section.

QUIGLEY:
Now, just a second.

if you vote a stop-work order,

it's going to cause
a tremendous hardship

on me and my company.

Over and beyond
what the county repays me

as supplemental compensation.

As I understand it,

the safety and feasibility
of the aqueduct itself

is at stake, Mr. Quigley.

There is something else
at stake.

Before Caine makes
his recommendation,

let's get his hand
out of the till.

( crowd murmuring )

QUIGLEY:
This whole proceeding is a stall

to let him change
the aqueduct routing,

because he owns property

on the only possible alternate
site inside thecanyon.

Section
Manzanita Canyon.

Purchased for $ ,

from a Joseph
and Grace Witt.

By check.
Nine thousand...

Photostatic copies
are available from the bank.

And the signature
on that check?

Peter Caine.

Know anybody
by that name?

A son, perhaps?

A full-scale
investigation

goes along with
a stop-work order, Mr. Caine.

My recommendation
is that Mr. Mason's request

for a -day stop-work period
be granted.

( crowd murmuring )

Is there a motion?

So move.

I second it.

In favor?

ALL:
Aye.

CHAIRMAN:
So ordered.

During this -day period,

the County Engineer's Office
will conduct

a full-scale investigation
of this problem.

This meeting of the Board
of Supervisors is adjourned.

He's not gonna
get away with this.

I'll go to court and get
an injunction if I have to.

The court has
no legal right to order

the Board of Supervisors
to stop taking

a voted-on action,
Quigley.

It might, however,
award damages.

I can't afford
to stop work now,

not even for hours.

We'll do the same with Caine

as my crews does
with any of the obstacles.

Sweep it out of the way.

( dramatic theme playing )

If there are
underground springs,

this is the only possible
alternate route

through the Canyon.

It goes through Section .

Here's a copy
of the county title registry.

Section Manzanita Canyon,

registered in the name of
Joseph Witt and Grace Witt.

Here's your check to Grace Witt.

Now will you tell me why you
paid that woman $ , ?

I can't.

Shall I wait for another
board hearing

and have Quigley tell me?

I don't even know
how Quigley found out.

You couldn't have done
a better job of destroying me

and everything I stand for

if you'd put a noose
around my neck

with your own hands.

What is it?

Oh, I just wanted

to go over some
routine things with you.

Uh, by the way,

a Miss Bradford has been
trying to reach you.

CAINE:
Miss Bradford?

Debra Bradford?

Yes, that's right.

She said she had
some information

on the Manzanita property deal.

Who is she, Peter?

Uh...

If she called
to talk to you...

I'd better talk first.

You'd better.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Peter has told me everything,
Miss Bradford.

All I want from you
is corroboration.

I'd say
whatever Peter told you

about the accident is true.

If the Witts' property
conflicts

with something
you're interested in,

you can blame it on Peter
if you want to,

but it's just
an unlucky coincidence.

Whatever he's done,

he'll have to face
the consequences.

Have you been his conscience
all of his life, Mr. Caine?

I like to think so.

That's what Peter said.

I beg your pardon?

He said you were a man
of inflexible virtue.

That you'd never done
a single thing wrong

in all of your life.

And that you expect
the same perfection in Peter.

Is there anything wrong

in expecting
the best from a son?

With some men,
the best is never good enough.

I'll tell you, Mr. Caine,

I was going to explain
about the Witts.

Joe in the hospital with
some unexpected complications,

but never mind.

What sort of
complications?

He needs more operations.
He needs cash.

I'll take care of it myself.

Since Peter's at fault,

and his
obligations are mine,

I'll attend to it.

How much?

Oh, a thousand dollars
will do it.

Just to protect yourself,
Mr. Caine,

maybe you'd like to make
the check out to me.

( camera shutter clicks )

DEBBIE:
What is this?

Who are you?
What are you doing in my house?

The honest,

the incorruptible
William Harper Caine.

Are you trying to buy
this lady's testimony

to, uh, clear your son

and to get yourself out of
the Manzanita Canyon deal?

You want her to make up
a little story.

Is that what
this check is for?

Now, the only thing
that'll stop me

from reporting this
to the district attorney

is for you to get that
stop-work order rescinded,

and that you resign
as county engineer.

( dramatic theme playing )

Not a very pretty story,
Mr. Caine.

Why would Quigley accuse you

of buying
Debra Bradford's testimony

with that
thousand-dollar check?

Well, I suppose
that she'd back up

Peter's story about
the accident with Joseph Witt.

That the check for $ ,
for his property

was a conscience purchase,

and the fact that he lived
in Manzanita Canyon

was just a coincidence.

Buy why would you
have to buy it?

It is true, isn't it?

It's what Peter told me.

Don't you believe him?

I don't know.

Do you have some particular
reason not to believe him?

Mr. Mason,

he's always been a problem.

Among his other faults,

he runs away from
responsibilities.

What about Miss Bradford?

Doesn't she tell
the same story?

Yes.

But that's what
Quigley says I'm buying

with the check
for $ , .

How can Quigley
hope to prove collusion

between Peter
and the injured man?

No, there must be
something more to it.

Something neither one of us
knows about.

Della.

DELLA ( on intercom ):
Yes, sir?

Della,
get Peter Caine on the phone.

Whatever happens, Mr. Mason,

I'm going to resign my position
as county engineer.

And I shall insist that Peter
report to the police.

Your resignation
will imply some connection

with this Joseph Witt,

other than
the hit-and-run accident.

Well, what else can I do?

Perhaps have a little faith
in your son.

Just now,
you asked your secretary

to try and get in touch
with Peter.

Do you want to bet she can't?

Do you
want to bet he's not

trying to run away
and hide somewhere?

Excuse me, Perry,

I can't reach Peter Caine.

Mr. Mason, I'm worried
about that aqueduct.

Quigley must not be allowed
to destroy it.

Now, once I'm out of office,
there'll be a lot of pressure

to rescind the stop-work order.

I only hope you can
keep on fighting.

Good day.

Paul just called
from San Marcos.

He's still investigating

the Quigley Construction
Company. And I quote:

"Tell Perry
Quigley and his company

"are both in hot water,
and deep.

"He's got over a million
and a half dollars

"outstanding in short-term
loans to start this job,

"with no hope
for extensions.

"With or without
supplemental damages,

"even a four-week delay

"could bankrupt him
and his outfit.

Will call again at : ."

Unquote.

That's in ten minutes.

One hour for work,

half hour
to get to San Marcos.

Tell Paul I'll meet him
at the Quigley home at : .

Right.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Paul.
Hi, Perry.

Been here long?

No, just a few minutes.

I haven't touched a thing,

It was open like that
when I got here.

( dramatic theme playing )

You better
call the police.

I...

...shot Roger Quigley.

You did? When?

Just now.

Put the g*n down,
Mr. Caine.

You shot him just now.
Just right now?

Well,
just a minute ago.

That's funny. Paul Drake's
been on the premises

for at least
three or four minutes.

He didn't hear a shot.

We'd better
call the police.

That your g*n?

Yes.

Did you have an argument?

An argument?

Yes, of course.

And then I shot him.

Was he facing you
when you shot him?

Facing me?

You didn't sh**t him
in the back, did you?

Uh, no, no. Of course not.

How many sh*ts did you fire,
Mr. Caine?

Well, uh, I don't know.

One. Perhaps two.

I-- I really don't remember.

You don't remember?

Oh,
Mr. Caine, it won't do.

The police will trip you up
in a matter of minutes.

They'll know that you're
covering up for someone.

Now what happened here?

I just told you
what happened.

Was Peter here?

Was it Peter
who k*lled Quigley?

Is that what
you've been doing along,

assuming your son's
responsibilities?

If I'm not saying
the right things,

I'd better
keep my mouth shut.

Does that mean
you won't tell the police

you k*lled Quigley?

You didn't k*ll him,
did you?

No.

Did you see your son k*ll him?

No.

Look here,
Mr. Mason.

Perhaps I have no right
to ask you to represent me,

but if you would--

As your attorney,

I'd have no compulsion
to protect your son.

I understand.

He didn't k*ll Quigley.

He didn't.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Della.

DELLA ( on intercom ):
Good morning.

I'll be right in.

I've seen the papers.

Paul said you must've been
at Quigley home

practically on top of
the sh**ting.

Della, William Caine
didn't k*ll Quigley.

He's covering for his son.

And the boy
didn't go home all night.

Paul put on
half a dozen men--

And I've just
pulled them off.

Perry, Peter's here.

He's been waiting
to see you all night.

I must say,
he's certainly frightened.

Well, show him in.

Mr. Caine?

Mr. Mason, Mr. Caine.

MASON: Sit down, won't you?
Thank you.

Mr. Mason,
they've arrested my father.

I know.

He didn't k*ll Quigley.

He didn't?

The only reason he went there

was because I left
a note saying I was going.

Did you go?

Yes.

MASON:
What time?

Oh, I got there about : .

What was your reason
for going there?

To talk to Quigley.

To try to persuade him
not to involve my father.

That everything
that had happened was my fault.

You mean the hit-and-run?

Yes.

What about
the Manzanita Canyon deal?

I told my father
the truth about that.

There was no connection.

I didn't know
anything about it.

What happened with Quigley?

I talked to him.

He said flatly he couldn't
afford the stop-work order.

If I wanted to keep everything
out of the public eye,

I'd have to convince
my father to rescind it.

Then you left?
Yes.

And when I got home,

the note I'd left
for him was gone.

He'd seen it.

He went to Quigley's home
to intercept me.

And when he found Quigley dead,
he thought--

I'd k*lled him.

So he got into trouble
because of me.

Again.

All right, Peter.

Thank you for coming to us.

Now, if I go to the police,

they'll let Dad go, huh?

I don't know.

They could think you're
trying to protect him,

just as we think
he's trying to protect you.

Paul--
I know, check out the accident.

Peter, where can I reach
this Joseph Witt?

I understand he's
at the County Hospital.

Fine. How about
Grace Witt?

At the Manzanita Canyon place,
I suppose.

She has till the end
of the month to get out.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Oh, ha-ha-ha.

Well, hello.

Good day, ma'am.

You've, uh, heard of
the County Tax Assessor,

checking for
personal property taxes?

Uh, Grace Witt.
Manzanita Canyon Road.

May I come in?

Come in, please.

Getting ready to move, ma'am?

( Grace chuckles )

Another week or so.

Not this afternoon.

Um...

Living room suite,
three pieces.

Dining room? Oh.

This go on the inventory?

Only if you have it
in case lots, ma'am.

( laughs )

No.

( laughing )

No, I'm strictly
a one-at-a-time woman.

One bottle.

( bottle bangs table )

One drink.

( slurps loudly )

One of everything.

I'll, uh, have to see
the rest of the rooms, ma'am.

Anything you like.

( sighs )

Closet?

Mm-hm.

That is it.

( chuckles )

But not for long.

Oh, no, sir.

When I leave here,

I'm really gonna
take care of myself.

New clothes, everything.

In, uh, my kind of work,

you can't be too careful.

I wouldn't want somebody

wandering in and getting
the wrong idea.

A neighbor could drop in.

A husband.

( giggles )

You're cute.

( sighs )

Don't worry about husbands.

There is none.

Had one, but he died.

( laughs )

Three years ago.

Nobody's gonna bother us,

if we don't
wanna be bothered,

which I am.

Hey!

( frantic theme playing )

( engine roars )

( chuckles )

What scared him off like that?

I ask you
how Roger Quigley

found out about
the hit-and-run accident.

Frankly, Mr. Mason,
I don't know.

Well, only you and Peter Caine
knew about it.

And Grace Witt,
the man's wife.

Oh, yes.

But it does seem
an odd coincidence

that she would know him.

And I wonder
how Quigley and Sistrom

just happened to be
on hand the other day

when those photographs
were taken in here?

I've wondered about it myself.

And just happened
to have a camera.

Very puzzling.

And just happened
to know that

William Caine would be
writing a check.

Mr. Mason, you can put
whatever interpretation you want

on what happened.
But as far as I'm concerned, I--

( phone ringing )

Excuse me.

Hello.

Oh, yes.
It's for you.

A Mr. Paul Drake.

Thank you.

Yes, Paul.

Oh, I see.

All right,
thank you, Paul.

Now that's peculiar.

There's no record

of any Joseph Witt
at the County Hospital.

Oh?

Well, perhaps
I misunderstood Mrs. Witt.

Maybe he's at one of
the other hospitals.

There's no Joseph Witt
at any hospital in San Marcos.

Oh.

And none of the ambulance
services in the county

picked up an accident victim
by the name of Joseph Witt.

Well, I can't understand it.
I thought that--

Before you get yourself
involved in another lie,

Miss Bradford,

there is a Grace Witt,
but there's no Joseph Witt.

There hasn't been a Joseph Witt
in the last three years.

Then who did Peter
hit with his car?

I'd say nobody.

I'd say a dummy,
most likely.

I'd say the whole thing
was a frame-up.

You, a dummy,
and accomplice.

And a drunk at the wheel.

Well.

Eavesdropping seems to be
a habit with you, Sistrom.

Mr. Sistrom and I
are old friends.

Along with Roger Quigley,
the deceased.

All right, Mason.

Deb and I may have
been involved

in some business dealings
with Quigley.

I worked for him,
remember?

Caine was stubborn
and completely wrong.

Now, maybe we did get
a little rough with him.

A little rough,
and very dirty.

Okay, Mason.

Rough and dirty.

But what it means is that
since there was no accident,

there's no alibi for buying
the Manzanita Canyon place.

And that $ , check Caine
made out to Debbie here,

That was just a bribe
to support a story

that's fake
from beginning to end.

Now, any way
you look at it,

whether he knew
Quigley was framing him,

or Quigley was threatening
to expose him,

it kind of gave him
a motive to k*ll, didn't it?

( dramatic theme playing )

AUERBACK:
Death was caused
by a . caliber b*llet,

passing through the
left ventricle of the heart.

And the, uh, time of the death,
Dr. Auerback?

Somewhere between the hours
of and half-past : ,

the night of Tuesday,
August nd.

KAUFMAN:
This is the . caliber revolver

I found at the scene
of the m*rder.

Ballistics has shown it to be
the m*rder w*apon.

What else did you determine
about this g*n, lieutenant?

KAUFMAN:
It was purchased by and
registered under the name

of William Harper Caine,
the defendant.

PARNESS:
As I understand it,
then, Mr. Kent,

after this Citizens'
Committee petitioned

the Board of Supervisors,
uh, you had a report prepared?

Yes.

My own
engineering studies showed

that there were
no underground springs

in the
Manzanita Canyon section.

I recommended to Mr. Caine
that the work not be stopped

and the route
be left as it was.

PARNESS:
And, uh, what action
did Mr. Caine take

in regard
to your recommendations?

He considered them
very carefully.

But he decided
to overrule them

in favor of supporting
the petitioners' position.

PARNESS:
Thank you.

You may cross-examine.

MASON:
There are a few more facts

I'd like you
to corroborate for me,

if you will, Mr. Kent?

Well, certainly.

Now, do you know,
of your own knowledge,

if the defendant,
William Caine,

kept a g*n in his study
at his home?

I believe he did. Yes.

Once before going with him
on a field inspection trip,

he took the g*n
from his desk.

Now, on the report
you submitted to Mr. Caine

on the possible existence
of underground springs

in Manzanita Canyon.

Did you order the survey

and select the investigating
personnel yourself?

Yes.

Your report stated there
were no underground springs.

Yes.

That's strange, Mr. Kent.

After the board hearing,

I had several very fine
engineering firms

do some studies
in that section.

And all of the firms reported

that beyond any possible
question of doubt,

there are underground springs
in that area.

Well, then, I guess
some mistakes were made.

MASON:
Yes.

No further questions.

When the hearing ended,
Quigley was furious.

He threatened Caine.

Said he'd sweep him
out of the way if he had to.

PARNESS:
Did he?

Thank you, Mr. Sistrom.

Cross-examine.

Suppose, Mr. Sistrom,

we go a little bit deeper
into this question

of my client's
alleged motives.

Now, you stated that Quigley

threatened to sweep
Mr. Caine out of his way.

What did you mean by that?

Well, Quigley
was threatening to expose

Caine's financial involvement

in the possible change of route.

But that had
already been done.

In public, and before
the Board of Supervisors.

So the threat
was meaningless, wasn't it?

No further questions.

PARNESS:
Then this, uh,
check for $ ,

does not represent
a legitimate valuation

of your
Manzanita Canyon Ranch?

( laughs )

Three thousand
would've been too much.

Then, uh,
why the extra $ , ?

All I know is I got a phone call

from this lady
named Miss Bradford,

telling me she knew
I was trying to sell my place.

She had somebody was willing
to pay $ , for it.

You think I should've said no?

And, uh, how was
the deal concluded?

Well, Miss Bradford
brought this Peter Caine out.

He gave me the check, I signed
over the deed over to him.

Weren't you curious about,
uh,

why you were getting
such a lucrative deal?

Well, it wasn't all one-sided.

I mean, I knew who
the kid's old man was.

So the county wants to build
something on my property

and the kid wants
to cash in on it,

courtesy of his old man.
That's copacetic with me.

Thank you.

You may cross-examine.

Mrs. Witt, you were saying

that Peter Caine's
purchase of your farm

had nothing to do with
an automobile accident,

but was purely
a matter of land speculation.

Well, sure I was saying it.

Listen,
I even asked the kid.

"Sonny," I said, "Does your old
man know anything about this?"

"Sure," he says.

"I'm buying
the place for him

to retire to
when he quits working."

( Grace laughs )

Retire? To that dump?

( laughs )

You don't believe me?

Ask the kid.

MASON:
Three years ago,

your husband,
Joseph Witt, died.

Yet you failed to notify
the Title Registry Office.

This is a photostatic copy
of the deed to your property,

transferred to Peter Caine,

not three years ago,
but less than three months ago.

Now, would you please read

the two signatures
at the bottom of it?

"Grace Witt."

MASON:
Go on.

"Joseph Witt."

I guess I just signed it. Heh.

No, Mrs. Witt,
you didn't sign it.

You forged it.

Isn't it true that you've
been in on this frame-up

from the very beginning?

Whom did you deal with then?

Roger Quigley?

What did Quigley promise you

in addition to
the inflated value of your land?

Well, Mrs. Witt, you've admitted
to greed and to dishonesty.

What else would
you care to admit?

That's all.

PARNESS:
I call Peter Caine.

Did Mrs. Grace Witt
quote you correctly?

Did you tell her you were buying
the place for your father?

Yes or no?

Yes, I told her that,

but it wasn't true.
Wasn't it?

Well, did you tell her,
"I ran your husband down

and I want to buy your home
to ease my conscience"?

No.
No.

Because Mrs. Witt
doesn't have a husband.

Because
there was no accident.

There was no hit-and-run,
was there?

There was!
It was a frame-up.

I was--

Well, I'd had too much to drink,
and Debbie and I--

Miss Bradford--

Miss Bradford
will testify shortly.

I call your attention to the
night of the m*rder,

Tuesday, August nd.

Did you visit the deceased,
Roger Quigley?

I ask if you visited
the deceased that night.

I don't remember.

JUDGE:
Now, Mr. Caine,

it is obvious
you are dissembling.

Answer the question.

Yes.

At approximately : .

Yes.

And you talked with him?

Yes.

And left approximately
minutes later?

Yes.

Roger Quigley was alive then?

Yes.

I show you this revolver

and ask if you have
seen it previously.

Your Honor?

The witness will answer,
or I will find him in contempt.

Answer him, Peter.

Yes, I've seen it.

PARNESS:
At your home?

PETER:
Yes.

PARNESS:
Just before you left a note

telling the defendant

you were going to
call on Roger Quigley?

No, not just before.

I don't remember
when I saw the g*n last.

Perhaps it was
several days before.

But you did leave a note
for your father?

Yes.

And when you returned home,

the note was gone.

So was your father.

Yes.

PARNESS:
That's all.

Cross-examine.

No questions.

I call Mr. Paul Drake
to the stand.

I was supposed
to meet Mr. Mason

at the Quigley home at : .

What time did you arrive?

Just a minute
or two before that.

Peter Caine
said he left at : .

He said Roger Quigley
was alive then.

At half-past you and,
uh, the defense attorney,

Perry Mason,
went into the house.

Uh, the door was open.

What did you find, Mr. Drake?

We found Roger Quigley, dead.

And what else did you find?

I, uh, should say,

who else did you find
in the m*rder room?

William Caine.

PARNESS:
The defendant?

DRAKE:
Yes.

PARNESS:
Will you point him out?

( sighs )

Let the record show the witness
is pointing to the defendant,

William Harper Caine.

Thank you. That's all.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

No questions.

( dramatic theme playing )

Dessert, anyone?

Uh, no, thanks.

Oh, I'm sorry.
You haven't finished.

Oh, that's okay.

DELLA:
Not eating isn't going
to help your father, Peter.

If it was just
my not helping,

I wouldn't
feel so bad.

When Grace Witt
recognized my name,

and asked me about my father,

I told her the first thing
that popped into my mind.

That story about my father
asking me buy him the place

to retire to.

How well do you know
Debra Bradford?

Just a date.

I've taken her out
several times.

She drives
a sports car.

Yeah. She's a buff.

What is a buff?

An enthusiast.

She goes to the races
and takes part in the rallies.

Aren't there usually two people
to a car during a rally, Peter?

Sometimes when the rally
course is being laid out,

there's just the driver.

Uh, I know about this,

but I hope this other stuff
from the corporation commission

is what you wanted.

I hope it's
what I wanted, Paul.

( dramatic theme playing )

Now, uh, then what happened,
Miss Bradford?

The thousand dollars
was a bribe.

Mr. Caine wanted me to say
that there'd been an accident,

and that's why Peter had made
out the check for $ , .

PARNESS:
And there wasn't a word of truth

to the whole accident story?

DEBBIE:
No.

PARNESS:
Go on, Miss Bradford.

Well, at the moment

Mr. Caine handed me
the thousand-dollar check,

Mr. Quigley and his associate,
Mr. Sistrom,

entered from the back of the
house and took a picture.

And then?

Then Roger Quigley
told Mr. Caine

that he would report
to the district attorney

Caine's attempt
to suborn perjury

unless Caine withdrew the
stop-work order on the aqueduct,

and also resigned
as county engineer.

Threatened him,
would you say?

Yes, sir.

Miss Bradford,
thank you very much.

Cross-examine.

Miss Bradford,

I'd like you to help me
clarify a few points.

It seems to me

that if what you described
in your testimony was bribery,

you must have wanted
to go along with it.

What?

Well, you were accepting
that check, were you not?

The picture taken by Mr. Sistrom
showed the check in your hand.

How well do you know
Charles Sistrom?

DEBBIE:
Casually.

MASON:
Really?

Let's see.

From the State Corporation
Commission Office.

"Notice of sale
of $ ,

"of Quigley Construction
Company stock.

"Purchased by
Debra E. Bradford,

"but registered jointly,

"in the names
of Deborah E. Bradford

"and Charles Sistrom.

Notice
of stock assignment."

You, Debra E. Bradford,

personally loaned
the Quigley Company

an additional $ ,
on a note

secured by Quigley's
own company stock,

assigned to you,
and Charles Sistrom.

Would you, uh,

call a quarter
of a million dollars "casual"?

Charles Sistrom and I
are engaged to be married.

I just didn't want
the publicity about it now.

MASON:
I see.

How much of the Quigley
Construction Company

were the two of you to own?

Charles was to become
an equal partner.

Was to become?

On completion of the aqueduct.

Were you also aware
that to start the aqueduct job,

and on the strength
of the county contract,

Quigley had borrowed an
additional million and a quarter

in short-term,
non-renewable loans?

We didn't learn
about that until

after the Citizens'
Committee petitioned

to stop construction.

A lengthy delay
would have put the company

out of business,
is that right?

Yes.
So your only hope, then,

to save everything was
to prevent that delay,

is that right?
Yes, yes.

The only way you could
prevent the stop-work order

was to maneuver William Caine
into a compromising position.

Isn't it true,
Miss Bradford,

that you were as responsible

as Quigley
and your friend Sistrom

for framing Peter Caine
in that accident?

Yes!
All right, I was.

And when that didn't stop
William Caine,

the three of you
became desperate.

And with that
thousand-dollar check,

you framed him just
as you framed his son.

Yes.

MASON:
Now, once you were assured

that the work would go on,

that the company was safe,

did it ever occur to you

that Quigley
was no longer needed?

No longer needed?

Yes.

Sistrom could handle
the aqueduct construction.

And between
the stock you owned

and the Quigley stock
as security for your loan,

you and Sistrom could actually
take over the company.

If Quigley were dead.

Where were you on the night
of the m*rder, Miss Bradford?

I wasn't even in town.

I was driving in an all-night
sports car rally.

What about Sistrom?
Where was he?

No.
He didn't k*ll him.

How would you know
whether he k*lled him or not?

You just testified you were
driving in a sports car rally.

Yes, I was.

MASON:
An all-night
sports car rally.

Is, um, that some kind of
a small car race?

No, it's not a race.

It's a test of driving skill.

Each driver,
one car at a time,

covers a
pre-determined course.

He hits a series
of checkpoints

at exactly the times
called for,

not sooner, not later.

Now, on that particular night,

except for the officials at the
checkpoints, were you alone?

In a car, driving
a carefully laid-out course,

under precise
timing conditions. Yes.

Would you remember

just when and where
you started that night?

And, uh, oh,
let's say the, uh,

first three checkpoints?

We-- We started at--

At Southside Park at : .

I arrived
at the second checkpoint, uh,

the sports arena, at,
um, : .

The country club
checkpoint at-- At : .

The third checkpoint--

Mm, the third--

Oh, yes, the--
The airport at : .

Excellent, Miss Bradford.

Almost percent accuracy.

Almost?

Mm-hm.

You arrived at the country club

not at : , but at : .

You arrived at the airport
not at : , but at : .

You must have checked
my official timing record.

Yes, I must.

Now, the official route from
the country club to the airport

was through the freeway
interchange downtown.

Not a great distance
mileage-wise,

but time-consuming.

Now, you could have gone, oh,
let us say by Butler Avenue

in half the time, couldn't you?

No, that wasn't
the official course.

No, it wasn't.

But Butler Avenue

is where Roger Quigley lived.

And the time of death was
between : and : .

Now, if you left
the country club at : ,

you could have been
at Quigley's by : .

Ten minutes to get in,
k*ll Quigley,

leave by : ,
before the defendant arrived,

down Butler Avenue,

across Clarkson Drive,
to the airport by : .

No!

Mr. Drake timed it out,
in a car exactly like yours,

with no trouble at all.

No, no!

Now, the m*rder g*n.

Mr. Caine kept
the g*n in his study.

You were a guest in
the Caine home, were you not?

I never saw the g*n.

Butler Avenue, Clarkson Drive,
to the airport.

: , : , : , : ,

timetable for m*rder.

The Lawrence Kent
home is on Clarkson Drive.

Clarkson Drive.

Do you remember passing his home
that night, Miss Bradford?

I didn't k*ll Roger Quigley!

I swear I didn't!

Your Honor,

I'm sure the court is aware
to what extent

this witness
has perjured herself.

With the court's permission,

I should like
to interrupt her testimony

to recall Lawrence Kent.

Mr. Parness?

No objections, Your Honor.

The witness will step down.

Lawrence Kent
will take the stand.

Mr. Kent, on the evening of the
m*rder, were you at home?

I was.

Now, your home
has a patio

which fronts
on Clarkson Drive?

Yes, it does.

As a matter of fact,
I was having dinner alone,

out on the patio
that evening.

Are you familiar

with the sports car
Miss Bradford drives?

( chuckles )

It's a rather
distinctive vehicle.

I've seen and admired it
many times.

Now, on the evening
of the m*rder,

during the interval
of to : ,

did you see that car go by
your home on Clarkson Drive?

KENT:
Y-Yes.

All right, Mr. Kent.

Now, did you see
Miss Bradford driving that car?

Clarkson Drive is brightly lit.

I--

I saw Miss Bradford driving.

It's not true.
He's lying!

( gavel tapping )

Bailiff, keep that woman
under surveillance.

But you did testify
that you saw

Miss Bradford
drive past your home

on the evening of the m*rder?

KENT:
Yes, I did.

MASON:
Mr. Kent,

there are four witnesses
who will swear

that Miss Bradford drove
the official route

on that evening and did not
go near your house at all.

I--

I saw
the sports car go by.

It may not have been hers.

But you testified
you recognized Miss Bradford.

Now, what happened between
you and Mr. Quigley, Mr. Kent?

What happened?

What do you mean?

Well, he paid you

to help him get
the aqueduct contract.

And when
it looked as though

the job
would be prolonged,

he'd be bankrupt,

he paid you once again,

this time to submit
a false report

on the underground springs.

Then what happened?

Nothing.
Nothing happened.

When the defendant,
William Caine,

ordered an investigation,

you realized that
Roger Quigley

was the one person
who could betray you.

What happened then,
Mr. Kent?

He had
nothing more to lose.

If the company went,

he didn't care
what happened to me.

You were in Quigley's house

when Peter Caine arrived.

You hid in another room.

When Peter left at : ,
you came out of hiding

and you shot and you k*lled
Roger Quigley, did you not?

Yes! Yes, I k*lled him
with Mr. Caine's g*n.

I wanted him to get blamed.

( crowd murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

KENT:
Twenty-one years
I worked for him.

Twenty-one years.

And he told me
when he retired,

that he was recommending
someone else for his job.

My judgment wasn't sound,
he said.

After years.

MASON:
Mr. Caine was right, wasn't he?

If your judgment had been sound,

you wouldn't
have accepted bribes.

You wouldn't have gotten
mixed up with Quigley.

Or committed a m*rder.

That's all, Your Honor.

( dramatic theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )

Coffee, Mr. Caine?

This check for $ , ,
Peter, is for you.

From Grace Witt?

Represents what
you overpaid her.

A matter of
delayed conscience.

Oh, Della.
Mm-hm?

That brief on McGeevy
v. McDonald?

Oh, um, yes.

And Perry, there are
three points

that you haven't
covered.

And you'll, uh, need
my report on Mrs. McGeevy.

Excuse us.

( door closes )

I don't want it.

That's the only money
you've got in this world.

My mother's money, not mine.

I think it's time

I did something
about earning my own.

What, for instance?

I don't know.

What you
really should do--

( scoffs )

What you really should do

is to figure it out
for yourself.

( door opens )

Sorry to be rude...

You aren't, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Oh, no.
Thank your father.

He was the one who was sure
his hopes for the--

The aqueduct
would go the right way.

( upbeat theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )