02x29 - The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( door slides open )

( mysterious theme playing )

Just a moment, please.

Thank you.

All right, what happened to it?

WOMAN:
Oh, the flashlight?

Well, I dropped it over the side
when you grabbed my arm.

What are you doing?

Calling the police.

Oh, I'm Virginia Colfax.

I work next door

in the Ajax Mining
and Development Company.

You work at what?

I'm Mr. Garvin's secretary.

He asked me to come back tonight
for some dictation.

He said he might be late,
and I should wait.

And you waited?

It was very dull.

I went out on the terrace

to look at the stars.

There, um, aren't
any stars visible tonight.

I was on my way back in
when I saw the door opening.

But it wasn't Mr. Garvin.

Mrs. Garvin?

However did you know?

The important thing is:
how did she know?

She's the jealous type.

So discretion forced you
to leave by the terrace?

It was the only way
I could get to my car.

And naturally, you needed
a g*n for protection?

It was a flashlight.

All right, Miss Colfax.

We'll try to find
your flashlight.

Then I'll take you
to your car.

You're really very kind.

Let's look over there.

Oh, I...

What's wrong?

Stop it! Stop it!
Leave me alone!

Hey! Hey! Easy now!

Hurry, driver!
MASON: Stop that cab!

Why, Mr. Mason...

Evening, George.

DELLA: Good morning, Perry.
Morning.

You look tired.

Worked late last night.

What's all this?

"What prominent lawyer
got out of line

"with a beautiful blond in
front of his office last night?

"And why did the B.B. sprint
to the nearest taxi

"for a fast exit?

"Considering the clues,

even we could solve
this mystery."

May I remind that you may stand
on the th Amendment.

I may have lost a battle,
but I've just begun to fight.

Now, I want to--
( rings )

Yes, Gertie?

A Mr. Ed Garvin to see you.

Yes, Gertie?

I'd like to see Mr. Garvin
right away.

Mr. Garvin.

Thank you.

Mr. Mason.

Mr. Garvin.

This is rather, uh,
a delicate matter.

We're accustomed
to delicate matters.

It concerns my ex-wife.

About ' ", blond,

lovely figure, beautiful legs?

You're describing Lorrie.

Lorrie?
My present wife.

What did, uh,

you and the present
Mrs. Garvin do last night?

Why, we went for a drive
by the ocean.

What's this all about?

I was going to ask you
the same question.

Sit down, won't you?

Thank you.

Your secretary,
Virginia Colfax,

tried to use my terrace
as an exit last night.

She claimed
that she'd been trapped

in your office by your wife.

If this is
a personal matter,

then it's none
of my business.

But if it's something else,

I think you should know
about it.

I see.

Well, first, my secretary's name
is Katie Miller.

She's nearly ,

she's been with me
for ten years,

and I love her
like a brother.

Second,
if you're suggesting

any after-hours shenanigans,

I've been married
exactly days

to the most beautiful,

the most wonderful woman
in the world.

Then you would have no idea

what this Virginia Colfax
was doing in your office?

No, however,
she may be tied in

with what I came
to see you about.

And that is?

Yesterday,
one of our stockholders

came into the office
to see George Denby.

Who's Denby?

Secretary/treasurer
of our corporation.

The stockholder
was rather puzzled

at having received
a second proxy card

to the next, uh,
stockholders' meeting.

He had signed one
about a month ago

and wanted to know why
he had to sign another.

Why did he?

The point is he didn't.

I already had
his proxy.

Here's the second card
he received.

You will notice
that it authorizes E.C. Garvin

to vote his stock
at the meeting,

but the return address
on that card

is not our office address.

It's a post-office box
we never even heard of.

What are your initials,
Mr. Garvin?

E.C.

According to this, the holder
of Stock Certificate -

is also E.C. Garvin.

Is that you?

No, those stocks belong
to my ex-wife, Ethel Garvin.

Her middle initial is C?

For Carter, her maiden name.

The stockholders think
they're sending

those proxies to you
at that post-office box.

Obviously, your ex-wife
is acquiring proxies

by tricking
the stockholders.

Why?

To get control of the company,

to break me,
if she can.

Again, why?

Hatred, greed.

I think she cares more for money
than anything in life.

I gave her $ , ,

plus half my stock
in the company

and our beach house
at Coronado for the divorce.

Evidently, she wants more.

How do I stop her,
Mr. Mason?

Or better still,
could you do it for me?

Quite simply.

We would notify
all the stockholders

to stay on their guard.

We would also ask those
who signed her proxies

to replace them with new ones
made out to you.

But there isn't time
for all that.

The next stockholders' meeting
takes place in three days.

Then we'll challenge her.

Claim her proxies
were obtained fraudulently

and have them declared invalid.

Look, Mr. Mason,
I just got married.

Lorrie and I haven't even
had time for a honeymoon.

I don't want
any more trouble with Ethel.

Frankly, I--
I'm afraid of her.

Do you know where she is,
Mr. Garvin?

She usually spends
this time of year

at the beach house
at Coronado.

She does have an apartment
here in town,

but I don't know
the address.

Well, if she's in the city,
we'll find her.

Please try, Mr. Mason.

I'd be willing
to spend almost anything

within reason
to get rid of her.

I'll be in touch with you

before the stockholders'
meeting.

Thank you.

Della, get ahold of Paul.

I'd like him to locate
the ex-Mrs. Garvin.

What about Virginia Colfax?

The two of them might be
in this thing together.

How?

I haven't
the slightest idea yet.

( sighs )

( dramatic theme playing )

MAN ( over phone ):
Yes, sir?

Oh, Frank,
come in right away, would you?

And bring George with you.
And hurry.

Right now.

FRANK:
Is something wrong, Ed?

Do either of you
know anything about this?

No, not me.
I am scared of those things.

Well, no.

I just found it out there.

Do you suppose Ethel
had something to do with it?

I wouldn't put it past her.

Although I can't imagine
why she'd leave a g*n

out on the terrace.

Maybe she's suggesting
you commit su1c1de.

Your jokes aren't
very funny right now, Livesey.

And neither is
your cockeyed domestic life.

You want it that way? Fine.

But it isn't exactly fair
to make us pay

for your romantic adventures.

I know,
and I don't want you to.

I've turned the whole thing
over to Perry Mason.

He's going to try
to figure it out.

And what if he can't?

I'd rather assume
that he can.

Remind me to notify
the police about this.

Well, then, why not do it now?

I have a luncheon appointment
with Lorrie...

and I'm late.

I'll be at Henri's.

( chuckles )

Isn't love wonderful?

I wouldn't know.

You're a lucky man. You'll save
yourself a lot of headaches.

I hope Garvin knows where
to buy his aspirin wholesale.

Garvin is essentially

a geologist
and a mining engineer.

He picks up mines, oil leases,
and various other properties

and nurses them through
the early development problems.

And he's completely honest.

Does he own the majority
of the stock?

No, but he holds enough proxies
to control it.

How much stock
is outstanding?

Uh, , shares.

How do the stockholders feel
about him?

They love him.

They're all making a good profit
on their investment

and let him run the show
any way he wants.

What's his official job?

Uh, general manager.

And a good salary plus a bonus
based on the profits.

George Denby,
the secretary/treasurer

runs the financial end.

Denby.

What have you got on Denby?

Forty-nine, married,
no children, a real worrier.

He's the type of guy
that will call

his phone answering service
every minutes.

Who else is
in the picture?

Uh, Frank Livesey,
in charge of sales.

What about Ethel Garvin?

All I have on her is an address.

( jazz theme playing )

( buzzes )

WOMAN:
Coming.

Yes?

My name is Perry Mason.

And what are you selling,
Mr. Mason,

other than charm
and good looks?

Money...
if the terms are right.

Whose money?

Mr. Garvin's money.

Come in.

First, how did you find me?

Detective.

How amusing.

Perry Mason...

Wasn't there something about you

in the columns
yesterday morning?

I sometimes act impulsively,
but not during working hours.

( chuckles )

My husband
also acts impulsively--

Before, during
and after working hours.

Do sit down.

Thank you.

Do you have an attorney,
Mrs. Garvin?

I don't need one.

Now, what am I expected to pay

for my husband's money?

Mm, a reasonable amount,
fair to both of you.

Oh.

But I have no intention
of being fair to Edward.

I intend to get
everything he owns.

No, thank you.

How, Mrs. Garvin?
With fraudulent proxies?

Oh. You know.

I suppose it's your idea
to stop me...

and to have my husband
in control

at the stockholders'
meeting.

Well,
it had entered my mind.

Now, shall we go on talking
about Mr. Garvin's money?

I'd rather talk
about his divorce.

What about his divorce?

Didn't he tell you?
Oh, how silly of him.

He is silly, you know.

Absolutely brilliant
at discovering things.

I could see that the first day
I went to work in his office.

That's when I decided
to marry him.

But no business sense,
none at all.

Lets Denby
and Livesey run it all

and however they please.

The divorce, Mrs. Garvin.

When Edward decided
to marry again,

he checked
the Nevada divorce records

and found out
I hadn't divorced him,

so he arranged
for a Mexican divorce,

one of those quickie things.

Poor Edward,

so impulsive.

He's not really legally married

to that girl, you know.

May I have the telephone number

of the L.A. County District
Attorney's office, please?

Bigamy is a felony,
isn't it?

Four, five, six,

seven, eight...
( phone rings )

nine, ten...

Yes? Who?
, ...

Ask him to come in.
, .

Fourteen proxies representing
a total of , shares.

That's a third less
than what we need.

I'm Livesey, Mr. Mason,
president of the corporation.

Mr. Denby, our secretary
and treasurer.

Mr. Denby.
Where can I find Mr. Garvin?

Well, he's gone out of town
for a few days.

He couldn't have picked
a worse time for a honeymoon.

MASON:
Well, what's your problem?

We've been calling the people

who signed Ethel Garvin's
proxies,

asking them to revoke.

We've only collected so far,

representing , shares.

It's really frightening.
Mr. Garvin should be told.

There isn't enough time
to contact all the stockholders.

Where is Mr. Garvin?

Well, he's staying
at the Breakers at La Jolla,

but he won't answer
the telephone.

All right, send him a wire.

Tell him to get over
the Mexican border immediately

and stay at a hotel called
the Vista del Mar.

I'll meet him there tonight.

Why, Mr. Mason?

I've just seen Ethel Garvin.

She telephoned
the district attorney's office

and charged Mr. Garvin
with bigamy.

By the way,

do either of you gentlemen
know a young lady

named Virginia Colfax?

Colfax?

Never heard of her.
No.

( lively theme playing )

Señor Mason.

( speaking in Spanish )

How are you, Filomena?

Muy bien. Gracias.
What about my room?

I gave you the same one you
had last time, Number .

That sounds wonderful.

Tell Alberto my luggage
is in the trunk,

just one bag.

Bueno.

Mr. and Mrs. Garvin here?

Sí. I give them Room .

That's in the other wing?

Sí.

Gracias, Filomena.

( speaking in Spanish )

( clock chiming )

Are you saying
my Mexican divorce is no good?

Well, that depends.

If you followed
the usual procedure

mapped out several years ago

by lawyers specializing
in so-called Mexican divorces,

it isn't worth the paper
it's printed on.

But I didn't.

I had a lawyer work out
a procedure with great care.

I actually went to Mexico,
established residence.

Give me that lawyer's name.

I'll check into it carefully

and give you an answer.
What happens meantime?

You and Mr. Garvin
were married in Mexico.

As long as you stay here,
you're legally man and wife

and nothing can interfere.

How long do we have
to stay here, Mr. Mason?

Until I can get certain
documentary evidence

in my hands.

The attorney may have done
all he could

to make
your Mexican divorce valid,

but I want to be sure
I can prove it

before I let you step

into a felony warrant
for bigamy.

Bigamy?

( sighs )

It sounds so sordid.

Obviously,
it wasn't intentional.

You'll need to do a lot
of telephoning tomorrow morning.

Be sure you make yourself
very clear

about the ex-Mrs. Garvin's
false proxies.

And make
those stockholders promise

they'll be
at that meeting in person.

Good night, Mrs. Garvin.

We'll work this out somehow.

I'm sorry, darling,
terribly sorry.

It's not your fault, Ed.

We'll straighten this thing out.
You'll see.

Then she'll find
something else.

And something else
after that.

She hates us, Ed,
both of us.

As long as she lives,
she'll try to destroy us.

No, she won't, Lorrie.
I promise you she won't.

But she'll try.
She'll dog us and--

Darling,
don't you know me by now?

I know Ethel too.
Why don't we give up, Ed?

Why don't we give her
what she wants?

No. You heard what Mason said.

I heard what Ethel said too.

While she's alive,
we don't have a minute's peace.

Ed, you've got to give her
control of the company.

It's the only way
to be rid of her.

Darling, don't you realize

that everything I own
is in Ajax?

When she gets control,
she'll strip me of every penny.

I don't care about the money!

Do you suppose she's
at the beach house at Coronado?

What?

Hello. Give me long distance,
please.

I want to speak
to Mrs. Ethel Gar--

Are you crazy?

Never mind, operator.

( sobbing )

( lock clicks )

Lorrie.

( knocks )

Come out, please.

( doorknob rattles )

Lorrie, I didn't mean
to hurt you.

( clock chiming )

I promise you, we'll work
this thing out somehow.

( doorknob rattling )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( phone rings )

Hello?

Yes, operator, I've been trying
to reach Mr. Mason

at the Vista del Mar in Mexico.

Thank you. Put me through.

Good morning, Señor Mason.

Call for you.

Thank you, Filomena.

Hello?

Hello?

Thank goodness
this is you, Perry.

I've been trying to reach you
since : this morning.

Did you know the hotel phones
were out of order

since last night?

No, I didn't. What's up?

Ethel Garvin's been m*rder*d.

She was shot through the head.

MASON:
She was m*rder*d
sometime last night

between midnight and : .

They found her body
at Coronado.

At the beach house?

Yes.

There was a g*n
on the floor near the body.

Could it have been su1c1de?

No.

How terrible.

You remained
in the room all night?

Yes, I woke about ,
and I was still awake at .

Why are you so sure
of the hour?

I hear the clock chime.

And you can swear
that Mr. Garvin was here

with you all that time?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

That's fine.
I just wanted to make sure

you had an absolute alibi.

I'd like you to go ahead
just as we planned.

I think I should go back,
Mr. Mason.

Ethel didn't have any relatives
as far as I know of.

I don't want you
to set foot over that border

until I'm able
to present certain facts

which will result
in a dismissal

of the bigamy charge.
But if Ethel's dead--

The warrant is still out.

And you're going back
to Los Angeles?

No, I'm going to see
the San Diego district attorney.

For your protection, I'll need
to know exactly what happened.

But, Mr. Mason,
we had nothing to do with it.

You must realize, the police
are going to investigate you

as routine procedure.

They'll check your every move

because of the relationship
and the motive.

So Mr. Garvin has
a perfect alibi

for the time during which
the m*rder was committed.

Will he come back to
the United States to so testify.

And be arrested for bigamy?

More likely for m*rder,
Mr. Mason.

As I said,
he has a perfect alibi.

Then why worry about it?

We can save the time we'll need
for extradition procedures

and get to a trial
as fast as we can.

Are you offering a deal,
Mr. Covington?

Just testing
your client's alibi.

I'm afraid it's indestructible.

Might be we'll explode it.

( phone rings )

Yes?

Who?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I can't talk right now.

What?

Are you sure?

I'll see you later.

Is something wrong?

Ed--

The San Diego police
just arrested him

for the m*rder
of Ethel Garvin.

( dramatic theme playing )

Postpone
the stockholders' meeting.

Can we?

We can, and we must.

Mr. Mason--

I told you to stay in Mexico.

Until it was safe to leave,

so when your secretary called

and said it was all right,
we left.

My secretary?

Yes,

and they were waiting
for us at the border.

You certainly blundered
this time.

You've heard
my secretary's voice.

Did it sound like her?

Lorrie answered
the telephone.

She said the woman
called herself Della Street.

She said you'd cleared it

for me to get
to the stockholders' meeting.

Mr. Garvin, my secretary
did not call you.

Well, who did?

That's what I'd like to know.

Sergeant Holt,
I show you this revolver

already placed in evidence
and marked state's Exhibit A.

Have you ever seen
this w*apon before?

Yes, sir.
It has my mark on it.

Where did you first see it?

It was found on the floor

of Mrs. Ethel Garvin's
beach house in Coronado,

about feet from her body.

And what did you do
with the w*apon?

I immediately had it checked
for fingerprints.

Were any found?

No, sir.
They'd been wiped clean.

I then sent it to Ballistics
to find out

whether or not
this was the m*rder w*apon.

COVINGTON:
And the results?

HOLT:
The b*llet taken by the coroner
from the victim's head

came from this w*apon.

What was your next step?

Well, since it was apparently
the m*rder w*apon,

we sent out
an all-points bulletin

and checked the serial number.

COVINGTON:
The results?

HOLT:
The L.A.P.D. notified us
that the registered owner

was Miss Helen Bynum.

Thank you, sergeant.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

No questions.

JUDGE:
You may step down.

I call Miss Helen Bynum
to the stand.

CLERK:
Helen Bynum.

Miss Bynum?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear
to tell the truth,

the whole truth
and nothing but the truth?

I do.
State your name.

Helen Bynum.

CLERK:
Be seated.

Have you ever seen
that woman before?

Never.

That is Virginia Colfax.

COVINGTON:
Miss Bynum,

I show you this revolver.

Have you ever seen it before?

Yes, it's mine.

When did you last see it?

I left it on the terrace outside

of Mr. Garvin's office.

When was that?

It was the night of, uh,
June th.

And this revolver was never
in your possession after that?

No.

Thank you, Miss Bynum.
Your witness.

It's a pleasure
to see you again, Miss Colfax.

The name is Helen Bynum.

You introduced yourself
to me as Virginia Colfax

when we met.

That was the first name
that entered my mind.

Now, would you be good enough
to tell this court

why you carry a revolver?

Certainly.

I happen to be
a licensed private detective.

I see.

Then on the night we met,

you were working
as a private detective?

Yes.

Now, would you mind
telling the court

what you were doing
in Mr. Garvin's office?

I was checking the files.

Of course,
you were authorized to do that.

Tell us, Miss Colfax--

I beg your pardon.

Miss Bynum,
were you authorized

to go through those files?

No.

So you were
on the premises illegally?

Answer the question.

I had no right to be there.

Then you admit you broke
into the office?

I did not.

Someone had given you a key?

I had my own.
It's a skeleton key.

Now, while you were going
through those files illegally,

you were interrupted,
were you not?

Yes.

I show you this photograph
of the deceased.

Now, is this the woman
who interrupted your search?

It might have been.

How did she get
into the office?

She had her own key.

When I heard
the reception door open I--

You pulled out the g*n
and retreated onto the terrace.

Yes.

Now, tell us, Miss, uh, Bynum,

just exactly
who were you working for?

HELEN:
I'm sorry,
I can't answer that question.

MASON:
You refuse to answer?

HELEN:
Yes.

Would the court
please instruct this witness

to answer the question?

Is the witness conversant

with her constitutional rights?

Yes, Your Honor.

If necessary, I'm prepared
to go to jail for contempt

rather than divulge
a confidence given by a client.

I'm going to inquire
into this matter

at the termination
of this case.

I order you to appear
in this courtroom

at p.m.
one week from today,

then and there,
to show cause

why I should not
find you guilty

of contempt of this court
and impose sentence.

Have you any further questions
of this witness, Mr. Mason?

No, Your Honor.

All right, Mr. Covington,

call your next witness.

COVINGTON:
And where did you first see
this revolver, Mr. Livesey?

When Mr. Garvin showed it to me.

He'd found it on the terrace.

Was anyone present
with Mr. Garvin?

Mr. Denby came in with me.

What did Mr. Garvin do
with the g*n?

He put it in his desk drawer
and then locked it.

He didn't notify the police?

He said he was going
to do it later.

He was late for an appointment
at the time.

COVINGTON:
Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Uh, Mr. Denby,
how do you know the g*n

that the defendant locked
in his desk

is the same as this g*n

that has been offered here
in evidence?

It has the same number.

You wrote down the number?

Oh, no, no, I remembered it.

I have a photographic memory
for numbers.

If you'd care
to try me out--

No, no, no. No more questions.
Your witness.

No questions.

Now, which one?

This is the car I saw
the night of the m*rder.

You're absolutely certain,
Mr. Scanlon?

Oh, yeah. You see
that scraped rear fender?

He did that against
the wash rack of my gas station.

He was in such a hurry,
he didn't even look

where he was going.

Never even stopped
when I called him.

That's how come
I got his license number,

to send him a bill
of damages, $ .

About what time was this?

Oh, about : .
I was fixin' to close.

I had the tanks locked,

turned the station lights out,
and he walks in.

He'd run out of gas about
a quarter mile up the road.

Mm-hm. How'd he act?

Well, I've never seen a man
in such a hurry

and real nervous, like he'd seen
a ghost or something.

And he kept lookin'
back up the road.

By "back up the road,"

do you mean toward Coronado?

That's right.

Mr. Scanlon, I ask you
to look around this courtroom

and tell me if the man you're
talking about is in this room.

That's him.

And I'd sure like to get
that bucks off him.

Thank you very much,
Mr. Scanlon. That's all.

Your witness.

Mr. Scanlon,

are you absolutely certain
of the direction

from which the defendant
approached your service station?

Well, he walked in once,
then he drove in.

Both times he came from
the direction of Coronado.

Would you happen
to know whether or not

he had passed your station
earlier in the evening

while on his way
to Los Angeles?

And at the time
he scratched his fender,

he was then on his way
back to Mexico?

Objection, Your Honor.

The question is argumentative,

not proper cross-examination,

and assumes facts
not in evidence.

JUDGE:
Objection sustained.

Trouble?

Big trouble.
Your client's been lying.

Covington knows it.

Mr. Mason?

Oh, I beg
the court's pardon.

We've just uncovered
some new evidence.

May I have a moment, Your Honor?

Yes, of course.

What the devil is he up to?

We'd better find out.

Your Honor, if, uh,
Mr. Mason wants time,

I have no objection

if we adjourn
until Monday morning.

Mr. Mason?

I didn't ask to adjourn,
Your Honor,

however if Mr. Covington feels
he needs an adjournment...

But Your Honor,
I thought Mr. Mason--

JUDGE:
All right, Mr. Covington, let's
not get involved in discussion.

Do you or do you not
want an adjournment?

Yes, Your Honor.

Very well.

Court stands adjourned
until : Monday morning.

What's wrong?

I'll let you know later.

Let's have it, Paul.

Garvin's alibi, it's no good.

Are you sure?

Mrs. Garvin said something

about hearing chimes,
didn't she?

Yes.
She didn't.

Didn't what?
Hear chimes.

I just found out that
Filomena's going to be called

as a prosecution witness
to testify that the chimes

are turned off every night
just after : ,

so as not to disturb the guests.

I'll show you, Señor Mason.

Always, I close chimes
after : .

Make too much noise
for sleeping.

When do you open them?

At in the morning.

Did you hear a car leave
at any time during the night?

Yes, dos.

Two?
Two.

First, Señor Garvin,
then your machine.

Mine? Who took it?

The young lady.

Mrs. Garvin?

Too dark to see face,

but same nice figure.

Tell me, Filomena,

were there
any other nice figures

at the hotel that night?

Sí, señor.

After you go to bed,
arrive another in taxi.

I think maybe a friend
of you,

but Filomena
never ask questions.

Never.

Thank you, Filomena.

I tell you, I didn't leave
the Vista del Mar

that whole night.

I've got to hand it to you.

I'm not very often fooled,
but you did it beautifully.

I don't know
what you mean.

When I first met you,

I thought you
really loved Ed Garvin.

I do!
He doesn't mean a thing to you.

I should have spotted
your motive immediately.

With Ethel dead and Garvin
on his way to the gas chamber,

you'd get everything he has.

Mr. Mason--
You knew all along

that g*n was probably
in his office desk.

Mr. Mason, I don't know
what brought this on,

but I do love my husband!

So you prove it by lying
and letting him go to his death?

Where did I lie?

You claimed you never left
the Vista del Mar that night.

I didn't!
Filomena will testify

she saw you take my car.

Your car was--

My car was still parked
when you left?

Then whose car did you take?

I went in Ed's.

I couldn't tell you
that before.

Ed had to have an alibi!

Where'd you go?

To Ethel Garvin's.

What prompted that?

I-- I telephoned her
that night

at the beach house
at Coronado.

All the telephones at the hotel
were out of order after : .

I called her earlier
than that!

Why didn't you tell me that
before you made the call?

I was right there at the hotel.

I didn't want to disturb you!

I thought you'd be asleep.

I couldn't sleep.
I hadn't slept in days.

I couldn't go on
that way anymore!

I told her Ed would
give her everything if--

She must have expected
the surrender.

She told me her attorney
had drawn up a paper.

All Ed had to do was drive up
to Coronado and sign it.

Did you ask her
what was in this document?

She said it was none
of my business.

Either Ed wanted
to be released or he didn't.

That was a fair estimate
of the situation.

Did Ed agree to that?

We left five minutes later.

And when you got there?

He told me she was dead.

I didn't go into the house
with him.

He came out
a few minutes later.

He was completely shaken.

After we'd had a cigarette,

we started back
to the Vista del Mar.

Then we ran out of gas

a mile or two down the road.

But the gas station attendant

said Ed was driving alone.

I was on the floor
under a blanket.

Ed was afraid we'd
be questioned for the m*rder.

He didn't want me involved.

Mr. Mason,
you've got to believe me.

I do.
Oh...

I had to shake the truth
out of you.

Now, when you got back
to the hotel,

was my car still there?

Yes.

If you didn't take it,
who did?

Filomena said someone who--

Operator, I'd like
to talk person-to-person

to Los Angeles
to Mr. Paul Drake.

People v. Garvin.

Are you ready to proceed,
gentlemen,

and is it stipulated
that the defendant is in court

and the jurors are all present?

So stipulated.

So stipulated,
Your Honor.

If the court please,
may I be permitted

to recall Miss Helen Bynum

for additional
cross-examination?

Mr. Covington?

Your Honor, we certainly
don't wish it to be said

that where a man's life
is at stake,

the district attorneys
of this county

would forestall any efforts
to determine the truth.

MASON:
Thank you, Mr. Covington.

Is Miss Helen Bynum present?

You will take the stand,
please.

But I already refused
to testify.

Take the stand, please.

Now, Miss Bynum,
I asked you before

who your client was
in this case.

And I told you
I wouldn't betray a confidence.

That's very commendable of you.

However, my next question
doesn't pose that problem.

Were you
at the Vista del Mar hotel

on the night of the m*rder?

No.
Remember,
you're still under oath.

I told you,
I wasn't there.

You didn't go
to the Vista del Mar hotel

to see if the defendant
and his wife were there

and then take my car
and drive to San Diego

to report your findings
to your client?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

All right, then,

where were you
on the night of the m*rder?

I don't remember.

Perhaps your memory
will serve you better

in another area.

Does the name Della Street
mean anything to you?

No.

You never used that name?

I most certainly did not.

Now, would you tell us the
telephone number of your office?

Braddock, - - - - .

I have here a copy
of your telephone bill

for the month of June.

Now, would you kindly explain
this item

on June th,
the day after the m*rder?

A $ . charge for
a long-distance telephone call

from your office
to the Vista del Mar hotel

in Mexico.

If you weren't calling
the defendant,

who were you calling?

Miss Bynum,
I don't believe you appreciate

the gravity of this situation,

and I have no desire
to entrap you,

but that telephone call was made

in order to frame
the defendant.

And in making the call,
you left yourself open

to the charge
of accessory to a m*rder.

Do you know the punishment
for that?

Now, just a minute.

I'm not gonna take that rap.

I didn't know
what he had in mind.

He told me to use
the name

Della Street.

Who is this "he"
you refer to, your client?

Yes.

All right.
Now tell us his name.

Frank Livesey.

She's a liar!

( crowd murmuring )

Come forward, sir.

Do you mean to tell us

that you did not employ
this woman?

I employed her,
Your Honor.

But I never told her
to make any phone call

to Ed Garvin,

and I never told her to use

the name Della Street.

MASON:
If Your Honor please,

in view of the developments,

may I have the opportunity
of cross-examining Mr. Livesey?

You certainly may.

All right, miss, you may
step down and resume your seat.

Take the stand,
Mr. Livesey.

Now, just for the record,
Mr. Livesey,

did you or did you not employ

the previous witness,
Miss Helen Bynum?

Yes, I did.

MASON:
And under your instructions,

did she go
to Mr. Garvin's office

on the night of June th?

FRANK:
Yes, I was supposed
to meet her there.

But the deceased
got there before you

and Miss Bynum was forced
to make her exit

through my office?

That's what she told me.

Now, on the day of June th,

did you not instruct
Miss Bynum

to use the name
of Della Street

and call Edward Garvin
at the Vista del Mar hotel?

I told you before
that I didn't.

You're under oath now,
Mr. Livesey.

My answer is still the same.

I never told her to do that.

May I ask how much you earn

as president
of the Ajax Corporation?

FRANK:
Twenty-thousand dollars a year.

MASON: And bonuses?
And bonuses.

Now, isn't it true that
if Ethel Garvin had lived

and gained control
of the Ajax Corporation,

you would have lost
that position?

I could have found
a better one.

Isn't that wishful thinking?
Your Honor, if the court please,

I'm sure that Mr. Mason
will agree

that I've been
most cooperative.

But I can't sit back

and see the valuable time
of this court wasted

on a fishing expedition
that can lead nowhere.

If the court will permit me

to recall a witness,

I can prove
that Mr. Mason's efforts

are merely time-consuming.

No objection.

You may step down temporarily.

I call Mr. George Denby.

Mr. Denby, I ask you
to examine these letters

and tell me if you've
ever seen them before.

Yes, sir.

When did you see
the first of them?

About a week after the death
of Mrs. Ethel Garvin.

The next two arrived
several days after that.

I'll ask you to explain
the contents of these letters.

Each is the offer of a job
to Mr. Frank Livesey,

all at an increase in salary.

Are they bona fide offers?

Oh, yes, sir.
How do you know this?

Mr. Livesey asked me
to investigate these offers

and negotiate
the salaries for him.

Mr. Livesey
has no concept of money,

only how to spend it.

Then you would say
on the basis of these letters

that Mr. Livesey would have no
problem in finding employment?

Certainly not.

He is well-known
as a superb salesman

and customer's man.

Then by the same token,
he would have no motive

in wanting
to k*ll Mrs. Ethel Garvin

to protect his job?

Objection, Your Honor.

The question calls
for a conclusion

on the part of the witness.

JUDGE:
Objection sustained.

No more questions.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Denby, on the basis
of your testimony,

I would say that you and
Mr. Livesey were good friends.

Only in business.

We did not
see each other socially.

MASON:
Of course, you discussed
the problems

of the Ajax Corporation
with each other?

Of necessity.

You also discussed the m*rder

of Mrs. Ethel Garvin,
did you not?

Naturally.

Did Mr. Livesey tell you

about employing a detective
to watch Mrs. Garvin?

Yes.

Did he tell you that
before or after the m*rder?

After the m*rder.

Will Miss Helen Bynum
please rise?

Have you ever seen
this woman before?

Yes, when she testified.

That was the first time
you saw her?

Yes.

MASON:
You are absolutely positive

you've had no other contact

with her at any time?

Positive.

Mr. Denby,
do you subscribe

to a telephone
answering service?

Yes, I do.

How do you account
for the fact

that during the past month,

your answering service
has records to show

that Miss Bynum
left messages for you

on a number of occasions?

Who told you that?

Do you deny it's true?

Well, maybe she called me.

She called you through
your answering service

for one reason only.

She didn't want Mr. Livesey

to know she was
also working for you.

But you were well aware

that she was working for him,
were you not?

She kept you informed
on everything, didn't she?

You were the one
who sent her

to the Vista del Mar hotel
in Mexico

to keep tab
on the defendant.

When he left that night,
she tried to call you,

but the hotel lines
were out of order.

That's why she took my car
and drove to Tijuana

to phone.

Where did she reach you,
Mr. Denby?

In San Diego.

Only minutes away

from Ethel Garvin's beach house
in Coronado.

You, of course,
knew Ethel Garvin

was a shrewd businesswoman.

What does that prove?

In taking over control
of the Ajax Corporation,

she first would have asked
for an audit of the books.

Isn't that why
you k*lled her, Mr. Denby,

to prevent that audit?

How much money
have you embezzled?

You're making
a terrible mistake.

Am I, Mr. Denby?

When Mr. Livesey admitted

that he employed Helen Bynum
to spy for him,

I could think
of no logical reason

why he would deny
that he'd asked her

to use Della's name
in calling Mr. Garvin.

It certainly
was no more incriminating.

So you had to find
another explanation.

And I realized
there must have been

another client
in the picture.

But I never told you

that Denby's
phone answering service

had records
of her calls to him.

They didn't.

Well, you knew that,
and I knew that.

Fortunately,
Mr. Denby did not know that.

Well, I'll say one thing.

You felt all along
that Virginia Colfax--

Alias, Helen Bynum.

--was the answer
to the whole case.

Oh, but I had
an ulterior purpose

in trying to find her.
Oh?

I was intrigued
when Mr. Garvin said

there was another
Della Street.

I thought you were
the only one in the world.

( laughs )

( noirish jazz theme playing )