02x28 - The Case of the Spanish Cross

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( melancholy theme playing )

My dear Runyan, I do wish
you would reconsider.

I can understand your reluctance
to part with the cross,

but still, $ ,
is a goodly sum.

You're wasting your time, Karr.
I've been offered .

By whom?

Now, what difference
does it make?

It might make all
the difference in the world.

I speak in terms
of cash, Mr. Runyan.

Coin of the realm.

Now, uh, if you were to double
your offer...

Yes, indeed, a psychiatrist
would be in order.

No, Mr. Runyan, $ , .
That's as high as I'll go.

You'll be back.
Don't count on it.

You know, we collectors
are a strange breed.

What may take
our fancy one day

may not hold any interest for us
the next.

Good day, Wormser.
Goodbye, Mr. Karr.

Mr. Runyan.
Goodbye.

( engine starts )

I've got him hooked,

but good.

And how did you like
the way I handled him, huh?

I tell you, Wormser,
he'll go $ , before I'm...

RUNYAN:
Did you put it back in the safe?

Well, it was right here
when we went out with Karr.

I know.
Now, obviously,

it didn't walk out by...

( small, sneaky theme playing )

Why, that dirty little thief.

You think Jimmy?

Get him in here.

RUNYAN:
You're a dirty thief.

Who do you think you're kidding?

It was right there
no more than minutes ago.

Now, let's cut out
the fooling around.

I mean business.

What did you do
with that cross?

You know what the police
will do to you if I call them.

You're on probation now.

I know it, Mr. Runyan.
You just gotta believe me.

I wouldn't believe you
on a stack of Bibles.

I wouldn't do that again
if I were you, Mr. Runyan.

Why, you insolent little pup.

( dramatic theme playing )

I didn't mean to do it.

I didn't mean to do it!

I didn't mean to hurt him,
Mrs. Runyan.

All I was-- All I was trying
to do was protect myself.

You liar.

So you came running
in here, huh?

Miriam, will you tell
Mr. Runyan

he's not welcome in this room?
Curtis--

You can tell my wife
if she doesn't speak to me

for another five years,
it's okay.

But this little thief
tried to k*ll me.

That's a lie.
Why, you...

Miriam, will you please
ask Mr. Runyan to leave?

Please, Curtis--
Now, what did you do

with that cross?

I'm gonna find it if I have to
tear this place apart.

And you know
what'll happen to you.

You're going back to jail
where you belong.

Would you like some tea,
Jimmy?

Miriam, fix the boy a cup.

Miriam, please.

The tea.

I'm getting out of here.

GRACE:
Why?

You heard what he said.
He's gonna call the cops.

Jimmy, tell me the truth.

Did you take the cross?

No, ma'am,
I swear I didn't.

Do you have any money?

I'll get by.

Will you...?

Will you call me?

Mrs. Runyan...

I've never known anyone
like you.

( door closes )

( slow tense theme playing )

He didn't leave a thing behind.

If I find that my wife
has given him the money to skip,

she won't hear
the end of it. Bel--

The case!
Wait.

The police will want
to check it for fingerprints.

Maybe the cross
is in it.

RUNYAN:
I'm gonna call the police.

And in State v. Wilson,

the Supreme Court held
that whenever a defendant

in a criminal action
was forcibly--

( rings )

Yes, Gertie?

A Mr. Felix Karr
to see you.

Felix Karr.

Uh, would you ask Mr. Karr
what he want--?

It's about
the Jimmy Morrow case.

Jimmy Morrow?

Have Gertie send him in.

DELLA:
Mr. Mason will see Mr. Karr,
Gertie.

According to this,
he's on probation.

Uh-huh.

Mr. Mason?
MASON: That's right.

How do you do, sir?

This is a rare privilege indeed.

And this, I take it,
is your secretary, Miss Street?

I make it a practice
of being informed

about the people
I'm going to do business with.

Won't you sit down?
Thank you.

Do you mind?
Not at all.

Uh, no, thank you.

The little man that makes these
for me in Havana

refuses to accept
the machine age.

What's on your mind?

Right to the point, eh, sir?

I admire a man like that.

You've read the story?

Yes.

I want you
to defend the boy.

Is he a friend of yours?

I believe I saw him once.

Yesterday,
when I visited Mr. Runyan.

I can't believe
he's guilty.

According to this,
the cross is gone,

but they found
the empty case in his room.

I'm sure there's
a logical explanation.

Or one that's obvious.

Mark my words, sir.
That boy is not a thief.

You can tell that
from seeing him just once?

I pride myself on being
a good judge of character.

Apparently, the authorities
don't agree with you.

He was convicted
of grand theft auto.

Childish prank.

Tell me, Mr. Karr:
why did you come to me?

I have the utmost respect
for your ability.

I feel certain you can manage
to get him acquitted.

Suppose he's guilty?

I refuse to consider that
for one second.

I trust this will be
sufficient for a retainer?

A retainer
is a little premature.

You won't take the case?

Not until I speak
to the boy.

That presents a problem,
since he's disappeared.

Well, I'm sure your Mr. Drake
can find him.

You seem to know
a great deal about us.

I told you,
I always keep informed

about the people
I'm going to do business with.

I haven't said
we are going to do business.

All I ask is that
you consider my proposal.

I'll pay you $ ,
if you represent the boy.

Will I hear from you
one way or the other?

You'll hear from me.

That's all I ask.
Miss Street.

Good day.

( door closes )

Well...

Della, get Paul in here.

I got the impression

that you wanted no part
of Mr. Karr.

No, but there's something here
that's rather curious.

Did Mr. Karr
impress you as being

a one-man
welfare organization?

Absolutely not.

Then why does he want me
to represent Jimmy Morrow?

Well, he said he believed
the boy was innocent.

Exactly.

I have a hunch that if Mr. Karr
really believed that,

he wouldn't raise a finger
to help him.

( upbeat noirish theme playing )

According to this,

I was just about to meet a tall,
handsome gentleman

who would make me
independently wealthy.

I'll tell him when I see him.

Did you find the boy?
No.

But I thought you might like
to speak to his father.

Where does he live?
Right over here.

( knocking persists )

( doorknob rattles )

( knocking resumes )

Mr. Morrow?

May we come in?

My name is Mason.
This is Mr. Drake.

How do you do?

You're...

You're here about my boy?

That's right.

Thank you.

Don't send him to jail.

I'm afraid
you don't understand.

Jimmy's a good boy.
He's just unlucky.

Unlucky?

To have me for a father.

Nice, huh?

I've been like this
for the past years.

Jimmy turned out
a lot better

than anybody
had a right to expect.

But this isn't the first time
he's been in trouble.

You mean the automobile
he was supposed to have stolen

from Mrs. Runyan?

He didn't do that.

That was one of the kids
around here.

Jimmy wouldn't squeal on him.

I know you don't believe me,
but it happens to be true.

I know the kid
who took the car.

His name is Barney Kellogg.

He even admitted it to me.

Who, um...?

Who arranged his probation?

Mm.

Mrs. Runyan.

She was wonderful.

She even worked it out
so Jimmy could work at her place

and-- And do odd jobs.

They wouldn't trust him to me.

Excuse me.

Why did this thing
have to happen?

Jimmy was happy
for the first time.

And Mr. Runyan
had to ruin everything.

That Runyan's no good,
Mr. Mason.

First time I saw him,

I knew he was gonna
make trouble for Jimmy.

Why do you
blame Runyan?

He never wanted Jimmy
in the house in the first place.

If you ask me,

he pinned it on the kid
just to get rid of him.

If you cops
send him to jail--

We're not the police.

Mm-mm.

I'm an attorney, Mr. Morrow.
I'm an attorney.

I've been asked to defend Jimmy
by a man named Felix Karr.

Does--? Does that mean
you're gonna help him?

Well, I'll have to speak
to Jimmy first.

Have you any idea
where I might find him?

Well, if you do hear from him,

have him get in touch
with my office.

( dramatic theme playing )

MASON:
So this is the famous
Cruz de Santa Maria.

I've gotta get
that color photo back.

I borrowed it from Libel.

He sold the cross to Runyan
eight years ago.

How much did Runyan pay?

Seventy-five thousand dollars.

The Cruz de Santa Maria.

"This iron cross,

"measuring approximately
and a half inches by ,

"was fashioned by Juan Piñero,

"a sailor aboard the Nina,

"the ship that accompanied
Columbus to the New World.

"The cross was made from three
nails from the Santa Maria,

"hence its name.

"On his return to Spain,
Columbus presented the cross

"to King Ferdinand, who had it
encrusted with diamonds,

"rubies, emeralds and pearls.

"And in turn,
presented it to Cortés

before his expedition
to Mexico."

That's a lot of history
for a little piece of iron.

And a lot of jewels.

But where is it now?

Did your contact know of anyone

who had expressed an interest
in the cross lately?

Only one.

Felix Karr?

Mm-hm.

Well, it's beginning
to add up.

( knocking )

I finally finished
these briefs.

Good. Runyan here?

No. Do you want
me to try his home?

I think perhaps you'd better
He's already a half-hour late.

( telephone rings )

( quiet dramatic theme playing )

Stop it.

Stop it!

( ringing continues )

( upbeat swinging
theme playing )

Where is, uh,
Jimmy, Mr. Morrow?

You must have some idea.

Believe me,
your son is making it

much worse for himself
by hiding.

I don't know, lieutenant.

I honestly don't know.
( knock at door )

( door opens )

Hello, Mr. Morrow.

Well, I had a hunch
you were about due.

You had an appointment
last night with Mr. Runyan.

I figured there
must be a connection,

especially when his secretary,
Mr. Wormser,

told me that you
wanted to talk to Runyan

about, uh, a stolen cross.

No comment?

No comment.

I don't think you appreciate

what you're
getting yourself into.

We've got a witness who
puts Jimmy right on the scene.

MASON:
That doesn't prove a thing.

This same witness saw him
holding the m*rder g*n.

How do you know
it was the m*rder g*n?

According to the morning papers,
there was no w*apon found.

Sure.

Your client
made away with it.

MASON:
You're taking a lot for granted.

What makes you sure
he's my client?

Well, I--
I naturally supposed--

That isn't safe.

Please, Mr. Mason,
you've gotta help him.

You don't understand.

He's got nobody in the world.

Just a father who's a drunk.

A no-good,
stinking drunk.

Please?

Please?

( weeps )

As I said, lieutenant,

you're taking
a lot for granted.

You do represent the boy?

According to my men,

Jimmy has not been
in touch with his father.

He must be somewhere
in his old neighborhood, Paul.

No doubt, but we haven't
been able to find him.

Wait a moment.

Jimmy's father said that the
real thief of Mrs. Runyan's car

was a boy named Barney Kellogg.

Yeah?

Perhaps Barney feels
a sense of obligation.

You think he knows
where Jimmy's hiding?

Well, it's a possibility.

Well, the odds are against it,
but I'll put a tail on him.

( intercom buzzes )
Good.

Yes, Della?

DELLA ( over intercom ):
Mr. Felix Karr is here

for his : appointment.

Bring him in, please.

I'll, uh, be in my office
for a while.

Good afternoon.

Come in, Mr. Karr.
Sit down, won't you?

Thank you.

Really, my dear,
is that necessary?

Thank you. I have a horror
of that kind of thing.

Makes me feel as though
I were talking for posterity.

Well, I assume
you've reached some decision

in regard to Jimmy Morrow?

I've decided
to represent him.

Splendid.

I believe I said $ .

No, you said $ , .

You must forgive me.

My memory isn't
what it should be.

Uh, may I have a pen?

I don't want your money.

You think there may be
conflicting interests, eh?

I'm sure of it.

You think Jimmy stole the cross,

and out of a sense of gratitude,
will turn it over to you

for getting him an attorney.

Well, I must admit,
the thought had occurred to me.

That cross is worth
a good deal of money, Mr. Mason.

Aren't you forgetting something?
It's stolen property.

Would $ , help
to override your concern?

Mm, that's a very
tempting offer.

Are you speaking
in promises, or cash?

Cash, sir. On delivery.

You realize, of course,

there's liable to be
many questions.

Questions never bother me.

I don't intend
to publicize my purchase.

I have a good number
of items in my collection

that would surprise you.

I can believe that.

Now, what do you know
about Runyan's m*rder?

Not a thing.
I detest v*olence in any form.

Well, what's the verdict?
Do we do business?

No.

Well, should you
change your mind,

you know where to reach me.

Good day, Miss Street.

Good day.

I won't say goodbye to you.

I have a definite feeling
we'll meet again.

Oddly enough, I feel
the same way, Mr. Karr.

Au revoir.

( door opens, closes )

Good afternoon.

You're Miss Baker,
I believe.

The maid informed me
I'd find you here.

Yes?
Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Felix Karr.

I considered Mr. Runyan
one of my dearest friends.

Then I guess you want to see
Mrs. Runyan.

No. No, I have no desire to
intrude on her moment of grief.

But perhaps you'd be good enough
to give her these,

with my sympathies.

I'm afraid I've been guilty
of carrying coals to Newcastle.

I'm sure she'll appreciate it
just the same.

You're very kind.

I'd better get these
into water.

Uh, Miss Baker,

I wonder if I could presume
on our short acquaintance.

Doubtless you've heard
of my interest in the cross.

Now, if by some chance
you should hear anything

about its whereabouts,

naturally, I would
be very grateful.

MASON:
I can't tell you

how much I appreciate
your seeing me.

Thank you.

I realize
the strain you're under.

It's much worse for Jimmy.

I wish...

( sighs )

I wish there were
some way I could help.

And you don't feel he's guilty
of murdering your husband?

Of course not.

Do you mind if I ask
where you were

last night around : ?

Apparently, you've heard
my husband and I

weren't on the best of terms.

Five years ago,

Curtis and I had one
of our more colorful quarrels.

It took place
on the second-floor landing.

I often thought of having an
engraved tablet installed there

to commemorate the event.

It wasn't intentional,
but I went down the stairs,

and wound up in this.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

It isn't too bad.

But I'm evading your question,
aren't I?

At : , I was out for a drive.

Alone?

You find that
difficult to believe?

On April rd of last year,

you were issued
a restrictive license

to operate a vehicle
with hand controls.

It's amazing how easy
they've made things for me.

More tea?

Please.

Thank you.

What can you tell me
about a man named Felix Karr?

I don't believe
I'm familiar with the name.

You might ask Mr. Wormser.

He's my--

Uh...

I should say, he was
my husband's secretary.

( door opens )

Oh.

I'm terribly sorry.

That's all right, dear.

My cousin, Miss Miriam Baker.
Mr. Perry Mason.

How do you do?

I've heard a great deal
about you.

You're going
to hear more.

Mr. Mason's
going to represent Jimmy.

Obviously,
the prospect delights you.

Miriam.

You must admit,
it is rather unusual, Mr. Mason.

But then, my cousin
was always very tolerant.

Of course,
some might think

she's carrying the principle
to an extreme

when she ignores
the m*rder of her husband

and champions his k*ller.

Don't you think
you've said enough?

Oh, I'm so sorry, dear.

I keep forgetting my place.

I wish I could say this had
been a pleasure, Mr. Mason,

but then,
I'm prejudiced.

Curtis Runyan
was one of my benefactors.

( huffs )

You'll have to forgive
my cousin.

She doesn't generally
act this way.

Obviously, she was upset
over your husband's death.

Thank you for your help,
and thank you for the tea.

It's been a great pleasure.

For me also.

( door closes )

KARR:
And while I'm
not very often surprised,

I must admit, you had me
completely fooled.

Thank you, Roger.

I think you'll find
this sherry delightful.

Very good.

There's only one thing
that troubles me, Wormser.

How can I be sure
you actually have the cross?

I told you, I can put
my hands on it in five minutes.

All you have to do
is put up the money.

Shall we say $ ?

Five hundred?
You offered Runyan , .

Mr. Runyan
owned the cross.

I shouldn't wanna have to
defend your title in court.

Well, if you think
you can bluff me,

you've got another...

thing...

Wha--? What--? What--?
What did you put in...?

Roger.

( light dramatic theme playing )

At five minutes after ,
Karr had a visitor.

Unfortunately, at that time,

my man didn't get
a good look at him.

When he came out
two hours later,

he was staggering
all over the place.

Karr's chauffeur drove him home,
and my man followed them.

All right, Paul,
let's have it: who is he?

Runyan's secretary,
Everett Wormser.

Well, that's very interesting.

And Wormser was staggering
when he came out?

Yeah, he must have had
a few too many.

I wonder what
he was celebrating?

All right, Paul, I want you to--
( intercom buzzes )

Yes, Della?

DELLA:
There's a call for Paul
on Line .

Harry Kline.

Thanks.

Yeah, Harry,
what is it?

You sure?

No, stay where you are.
What's the address?

Okay, we'll be there
in minutes.

Well, you were right
about Barney Kellogg.

We just located
Jimmy Morrow.

( upbeat dramatic
theme playing )

( kids shouting )

Hi, Harry. Where's Jimmy?

What about
the police?

Not a sign.
Want me to go in with you?

No, he's
my client, Paul.

High time I had a talk
with him alone.

Okay.
This way, Mr. Mason.

( car horn honks )

See those doors to the basement?
Mm-hm.

He's been in there
for the last two days.

Any other exit?

No.

All right. Thank you, Harry.
I'll take it from here.

Okay.

( dogs barking )

Jimmy?

Jimmy, my name is Perry Mason.

I talked with your father, Jim.

I want to help you.

I know you're down here,
Jimmy.

I know there's
no other way out.

( sighs )

Whenever you're ready, son.

I can wait
just as long as you can.

JIMMY:
You brought the cops with you.

No, I haven't.

JIMMY:
I don't believe you.

You tell the cops they
ain't gonna take me alive.

I've got a g*n.

Jimmy.

Now, Jimmy, I want you
to listen to me.

More than that,
I want you to listen like a man.

A man knows when another man
is lying to him, Jimmy.

I can't explain how

because maybe I don't know,

but this I do know:

honest men
don't deceive each other.

Now, you believe that,
don't you?

JIMMY:
I'm not lying.

MASON:
I know that.

Honest men
talk face to face.

They don't hide from each other
in dark holes.

I'd like you to come out now
and talk with me.

Jimmy?

Are you alone?

Yes, I'm alone.

( scoffs )

I suppose that means
the cops are behind that fence.

No.

But they are looking for you.
You know that.

You'll call them.

No, I won't call them.

I'll take you to them.

Now, Jim, now, think.

I told you I don't lie,
and I don't.

Now, if you trust me,

if you believe
that I wanna help you,

the first thing I'll do

is to turn you over
to the authorities.

You can run away
if you want to.

You can sink back
into this hole if you want to.

I won't stop you.

But if you do trust me,

I will turn you in.

I didn't k*ll Mr. Runyan.

If you've done nothing wrong,
then I can help you.

You mean I've got
to trust you.

No, I mean we've got
to trust each other.

No man is alone, Jimmy.

There comes a time
when each of us must say,

"I can't do it alone."

Each of us, sooner or later,

we...

We hold out our hands
and say--

Say to someone,
"Help me."

When that time comes,

all we have left
is our trust.

I'm going now, Jimmy.

( dramatic theme playing )

( hoarsely ):
And in the performance
of your duty, Sergeant Kenton,

would you tell
this court, please,

what happened
on the afternoon of May st?

One moment, sergeant.

Mr. Burger,
in view of your laryngitis,

I'm willing to grant
an adjournment if you so desire.

If the court please,

I appreciate
Your Honor's consideration,

and I apologize
for the sound of my voice.

However,
the condition is temporary,

and if you can tolerate me,
I can tolerate it.

Very well.

Now, sergeant, will you describe
the events of May st?

Well, at approximately
: p.m.,

I received a phone call
from Mr. Curtis Runyan.

He said that
a valuable jeweled cross

had been stolen from his home.

He asked us to investigate.

And what did you discover
when you got there?

I found the case
which held the cross.

Was the cross in it?
No, sir, it was empty.

Is this the case
you found, sergeant?

KENTON:
Yes, sir, it is.

Where did you find it?

In the defendant's room.

It was hidden between
the inner spring

and the mattress of his bed.

BURGER:
Thank you. Take the witness.

I didn't take that cross.

I never even saw it.

Sergeant, you say you found
this in the defendant's room.

Is that perfectly accurate?

I don't know
what you mean, sir.

Well, did you personally
make the discovery?

Well, no. Mr. Runyan
and his secretary, Mr. Wormser,

found it
before they called us.

Then they showed it to you

rather than
the other way around?

Yes, sir.

Did you examine this
for fingerprints?

We did.

What did you find?

It had been wiped clean.

Then the defendant's
fingerprints were not on it?

No, sir. I said
it had been wiped clean.

MASON:
Thank you, sergeant.

That'll be all.

JUDGE:
You may stand down.

Lieutenant, I ask you if you've
ever seen this g*n before?

Yes, sir, it has
my identifying mark on it.

Where did you first see it?

Well, it was on the evening
of, um, May th, about : .

It was shortly after
the defendant

surrendered to the police.

Now, lest there be any
misunderstanding about this,

did you personally
find the g*n?

Yes, sir, I did.

BURGER:
Where did you find it?

TRAGG:
Well, it was in
a basement, um...

Basement at Grant Street.

It was, uh, wrapped
in a black leather jacket.

Is this the jacket?

Yes, sir.

If it please the court,

I should like this marked
for identification.

Thank you.

Now, lieutenant,
would you read for us, please,

the name inked
into this label?

It's "Jimmy Morrow."

Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.

Lieutenant,
I'd be the last one

to take credit
away from the police,

but you testified that you
personally discovered

the m*rder w*apon?

TRAGG:
That's right.

Would you please
tell the court

what led you
to Grant Street?

Well, you told us
that that's where

the defendant
had been hiding.

MASON:
I volunteered that information,
did I not?

There was no attempt
to mislead you?

No, sir.

Now, knowing how thorough
you are, lieutenant,

you must have checked
the registration on that g*n.

TRAGG:
Yes, sir.

I was wondering why
the state didn't see fit

to bring that out.

Can you tell us
where the g*n was purchased?

Well, I--
May I refresh my memory?

MASON:
By all means.

The g*n was, uh,

sold by the Kane and Kinsey
Hardware Company

on January th
of this year.

And who made the purchase?

TRAGG:
Miss Miriam Baker.

Thank you, lieutenant.

My cousin, Miss Baker,

purchased the g*n
at my request.

And subsequently,
she gave the g*n to you?

Yes, she did.
On the same day.

And on that same day,
you showed it to the defendant?

Your Honor, I must object.

Counsel is leading the witness.

Your Honor,
this is a hostile witness.

We've seen no evidence
of that hostility, Mr. Burger.

If it please the court,

Mrs. Runyan, when I asked you
to testify for the state,

what was your reply?

Well, I--
I said I preferred not to.

BURGER:
And didn't you also tell me

that you had spoken
to Perry Mason

and volunteered
to defray the expenses

incurred in the defense
of Jimmy Morrow?

Yes.

You may ask your leading
questions, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mrs. Runyan, I ask you again:

did you show
the defendant that g*n?

Well, I-- I may have.

I-- I don't recall.

BURGER:
Where did you habitually
keep it?

GRACE:
In my car.

BURGER:
And was the defendant
aware of this?

I saw no reason to keep it
a secret from anyone.

Mrs. Runyan, you're not
answering my question.

Do you know,
of your own knowledge,

if the defendant knew
where you kept that g*n?

Yes.

Thank you.
Your witness.

No questions.

JUDGE:
Witness is excused.

WORMSER:
When I walked into the study,

I saw Mr. Runyan
lying there,

and Jimmy running
across the room.

Uh, he had a g*n in his hand.

I see. Now, Mr. Wormser,

didn't you hear
a heated conversation

between the deceased
and the defendant

less than hours
before the m*rder?

I object, Your Honor.

Mr. Burger
is leading the witness,

and by no stretch
of the imagination

can Mr. Wormser
be called hostile.

Objection sustained.

You know better, Mr. Burger.

Let's observe the rules
of evidence.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Mr. Wormser, where were you
at p.m. on May st?

In Mr. Runyan's study.

And who else was present
at that time?

Mr. Runyan
and the defendant.

Would you tell us, please,
what you saw and what you heard?

Well, Mr. Runyan told Jimmy

he was going to send him to jail
for stealing the cross.

BURGER:
And what was Jimmy's reaction?

WORMSER:
He att*cked Mr. Runyan.

Thank you, sir.
Cross-examine.

Mr. Wormser, you testified
that you were present

when the defendant had this
altercation with the deceased.

That's right.

But didn't Mr. Runyan
strike the defendant first?

Not that I recall.

Need I remind you
you're under oath?

Well, if Mr. Runyan hit Jimmy,

I most certainly
didn't see him do it.

How do you feel
about the defendant?

I liked him.

You liked him?
Yes.

But isn't it true that you

constantly referred to him
as the "jailbird"?

That was just a joke.

That was just your idea
of good, clean fun?

WORMSER:
Everyone knew
I meant nothing by it.

I was very fond of Jimmy.

Thank you. That's all.

You may step down.

BURGER:
Uh, just a moment, Mr. Wormser.

I have one or two questions
on redirect.

You've just heard
counsel insinuate

that you might be biased
against the defendant.

Did you ever
lend the defendant money?

Yes, sir,
on several occasions.

For what purpose?

Once or twice to buy books,

and another time,
I gave him $

when he was worried
about his father.

BURGER:
And did the defendant

ever repay these loans?

WORMSER:
Not yet.

How else did you show your
friendship for the defendant?

I encouraged him
to ask questions.

About what?

Well, he was interested
in Mr. Runyan's collection,

particularly
the Cross of Santa Maria.

I showed it to him
several times.

He seemed fascinated by it.

What gave you that idea?

Well, he was forever
asking questions about it.

What sort of questions?

WORMSER:
He wanted to know
how much it was worth

and what kind of people
would buy it.

Things like that.

That's all, Mr. Wormser.

Gentleman,
since it's almost : ,

I think this might be
a good time to recess.

Court stands adjourned
till : tomorrow morning.

( ominous theme playing )

I didn't mean anything
by asking Mr. Wormser

how much the cross
was worth.

I-- I was just curious.

Why did you tell me
you hadn't seen it?

I was afraid you'd think
I was a-a-a crook, or--

Why should I think that?

( sighs )

You know where
they found the empty case.

In your room.

Now, what about the cross, Jim?

I didn't take the cross,
Mr. Mason.

After I left Mrs. Runyan,
I went to my room to pack.

I found the empty case
under a pile of T-shirts.

I hid it under the mattress.

I-- I couldn't think
of anything else to do.

Had Mrs. Runyan
offered to help you?

That's why I went back.

Somebody called my father

and said she wanted
to see me at : .

Now, did you go
into the study?

But he was already dead
when I got there.

That's why I took the g*n,
Mr. Mason.

I thought Mrs. Runyan had--

( tragic theme playing )

Just like Barney Kellogg, hm?

You know, Jim,
sometimes it's wise

to let people bear
their own responsibilities.

I'll see you in the morning.

( rings )

Mr. Karr's residence.
Who's calling?

One moment, please.

It's Mr. Mason.

Yes, Mr. Mason,
what can I do for you?

I just heard of a little item
that might interest you.

A jeweled cross.

KARR:
I am interested.

You, uh, mentioned $ , .

Naturally, you want more.

MASON:
You are a student
of human nature.

Well, sir,
I can't say I'm surprised.

Suppose we put it this way:

if you can deliver the cross,
I'll pay you $ , .

That sounds fair enough.

Then I'll hear from you?

You can depend on it.

Well?

He just offered me , .

That's , more
than he offered Mr. Runyan.

I don't get it.

Obviously, Mr. Karr did.

All right, Mr. Burger,
you may call your next witness.

Yes, Your Honor--
Your Honor?

Yes, Mr. Mason?

I haven't finished
my examination

of the previous witness.

Yes, you have too,
Mr. Mason.

Your Honor, if you'll
consult the record,

you'll see that
Mr. Mason announced

he had no further questions
of Mr. Wormser.

You then submitted the witness
to a redirect.

I had no opportunity
for a recross.

Your Honor recessed
immediately thereafter.

Counsel is right,
Mr. Burger.

You may have
your recross.

Mr. Wormser.

Yes, sir?
You'll retake the stand.

Remember,
you're still under oath.

Your Honor,
may I have a moment?

Very well, Mr. Mason.

( inaudible )

Mr. Wormser, how long were you
employed by the deceased?

Almost five years.

Naturally,
Mr. Runyan trusted you?

Of course.

You say "of course" as though
you were worthy of that trust?

I was.
Then how do you explain this:

How do you explain it,
Mr. Wormser?

No, don't look to Mr. Karr.

He has a very simple
explanation. I want yours.

Where were you on the night
of May rd at : ?

I, uh-- I don't remember.

Then let me
refresh your memory.

You went to Mr. Karr's home.
You left at : .

Now, I'd like
this court to know

exactly what happened
that night between and .

How much did Mr. Karr
pay you for the cross?

If he told you he paid me,
he lied.

He drugged me and took it
out of my pocket.

But you were conscious when
you obtained possession of it?

Are you suggesting
I stole it?

Didn't you?
No!

Miriam Baker.
She had it all along.

MASON:
That doesn't explain
how you got it.

WORMSER:
Miriam Baker.

She gave it to me.

MASON:
Why?

Was that the price
for your silence?

You blackmailed her,
Mr. Wormser.

You knew she'd stolen the cross.

You told her
you'd protect her.

How could I do that?
That was easy.

We heard the sergeant testify

there were no fingerprints
found on the case.

Well, what happened
to my client's fingerprints?

They should have been on it.

He found the case
in his room.

Then he hid it
under the mattress.

Obviously, someone wiped
that case clean.

Well, it wasn't me!

Who else had
the opportunity?

You and Mr. Runyan
discovered the case.

Mr. Runyan was the one
who phoned the police.

That left you alone in the room.

Well, I didn't k*ll him!
She did!

( spectators murmuring )

( gavel bangs )

JUDGE:
We'll have order here,

or this court will be cleared!

Your Honor, he's lying!
He stole the cross!

( gavel bangs )

He couldn't have,
Miss Baker.

He was with Mr. Runyan
when it disappeared.

You were the only one

who had the opportunity
to remove it.

Now, why did you give it
to Mr. Wormser?

Because...

Because--
Because...

he knew that you had k*lled
Curtis Runyan.

You k*lled Runyan
when he discovered

that you were the one
who had stolen the cross.

Miriam, why?

Why?

You ask me why?

For the last five years,

I've waited on you
hand and foot.

I was just a sl*ve to be
ordered about and pushed around.

That's not true.
Don't try to deny it.

Look at my hands.

They're ugly. Ugly.

And they grew ugly
working for you.

My mother...

My mother was a Marlow.

She had servants
waiting on her

when your family
was grubbing in the dirt.

I thought if...

If I could
sell the cross...

I-- I don't know
what I thought.

( sniffles )

Then Mr. Mason had
a reproduction of the cross

made from a photograph.

And at the psychological moment,
he showed it to Mr. Wormser.

So he only showed him
the front of the cross?

That's right.

That was all Wormser
needed to see,

but you'll notice I didn't
let him get his hands on it.

But you did leave the impression

that Mr. Karr
had told you everything.

That's the story.

I wish I knew
the right words to--

Words aren't
necessary, Jim.

You know how I feel.

What are you going
to do now, Jimmy?

Well,
Mrs. Runyan wants me

to come back
and work for her, but, uh--

MASON:
And you've decided against that?

You know what I've decided.

Mm-hm.

You're going back
to live with your father.

Mm-hm.

Oh, I'm not fooling myself
about him.

He'll never change,
but he needs me.

Good luck, Jim.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.
Goodbye, Miss Street.

Goodbye, Jimmy.

Now, Jim,

don't you be a stranger.

Oh, I won't.

( jazzy upbeat theme playing )

Quite a boy.

Quite a man.

( noirish jazz theme playing )