Let go of me,
will you?
Go on. We've put up
with you long enough.
All I want to do
is talk to Mr. Leonard.
Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Take it easy.
You all right, Mr. Pike?
No, I'm not
all right.
I came here especially
to talk to you, Mr. Leonard.
Well, will you
stop pestering him
and let him
finish the story?
Yeah, what happened
to the midget
when the ladder
broke?
( laughs )
Hold on, you city boys.
Mr. Pike here
runs a mighty fancy
g*n club.
You just
be nice to him,
he just might find you
a mallard or two, huh?
Oh. The ducks--
That reminds me.
Madison Square Garden--
I was promoting--
Mr. Leonard. I gotta
talk to you tonight.
Mr. Pike. You've got nothing
to say I'll listen to.
I'm a happy man.
You're not gonna spoil it.
Now, you go cause trouble
for somebody else, huh?
Dad blame it!
Why, you're noth--
( door closes )
( ominous theme playing )
( dog barking
in distance )
( g*nsh*t )
( car starts )
( dramatic theme playing )
Mr. Pike?
Is that you, Mr. Pike?
( dog barking )
Hey, wait a minute.
That's blood.
What happened?
He's lucky he didn't
smash the bone.
Is that a g*nsh*t wound?
What does Leonard usually use,
water pistols?
I saw the way
he shoved you off
back there in the bar.
I'm sorry I couldn't
be any help.
Y-you don't have to
apologize, Hal.
Job's a job, I guess.
Even if you work for
a big gasbag like Leonard.
Your son's working for him
again, isn't he?
I see him over at the house.
No.
He never did.
Leonard's just a hired manager.
Nothing but a blowhard
promoter.
And that's all he ever was.
All right. All right.
Anyway, his wife
owns the ranch.
She's the only reason
I stick around.
That Denver Leonard
wouldn't know one end
of a horse from another.
Or a cow or a mallard,
or anything else outdoors.
Well, thank you, Hal.
I guess I can make it home
to the g*n club, all right.
Mrs. Lopez can tend to
a scratch like this.
Tell me what
happened, Mr. Pike.
Well, I guess
he thought he was just
sh**ting in the air.
Figured I was trying
to block his way maybe.
"Stand back, old man,"
he says.
"Don't pester me.
I'm warning you
for the last time!"
Then wham.
Felt like a sledgehammer
hit my leg.
Hal. You're dad-blamed,
I was so surprised
if I didn't stand there
and just watch him drive off.
What are you
gonna do about it?
Suppose if I phoned
the sheriff's deputy,
he'd want to dig around
and find that b*llet...
and maybe sort of compare it
with Leonard's g*n?
For as*ault
with a deadly w*apon,
you can put a man in prison.
Did you know that?
Yeah.
I guess I could.
All right.
I'll help you do it.
Let's go.
( ominous theme playing )
( men chuckle )
Well, look
who's here.
Hello, Jeff.
Uh, Mr. Burger.
I, uh--
I wasn't expecting
any members out today.
Well, we only had a couple
hours of daylight,
but we got seven
canvasbacks, anyway.
Mrs. Lopez is fixing us
some supper
before we go back
to town.
Well, I'm sorry.
I had some shopping to do
over in Palmdale. I'll go tend
to your birds for you, sir.
Now, wait just a minute.
I want you to meet my friends.
Gentlemen, you wouldn't think
to look at this old cactus,
but he's the father
of one of the finest
ice skaters
in the world.
You remember young Fred Pike
on our last Olympic team?
That's his boy.
What happened to your leg?
Say, if you're Mr. Burger,
the district attorney,
I think you ought to--
PIKE: Now, wait a minute.
Hold on there, Hal.
It's nothing to pester
these gentlemen with.
Huh?
You better get on back home.
I can tend to things myself.
Later on, maybe? Huh?
And, uh, much obliged
for your help.
( door slams )
Well, I...better see
how the supper's coming.
Excuse me, gents.
Jeff.
If there's anything wrong,
I wish you'd tell me.
Oh, it--
I-it's nothing, Mr. Burger.
Just a...
Just a piece of barbed wire
caught my calf.
That's all.
I hope you realize
that if you need help
anytime, I--
Oh, yes, sir.
I know.
I know that.
It's not your son, is it?
What?
Well, I mean, since...
he's not able
to skate anymore,
uh, how is Fred?
Has he found something else
to interest him?
Oh, sure.
He'll get straightened around,
all right, Mr. Burger.
Oh, Fred will be fine.
I'm sure of it, Jeff.
If he's anything like his old
man, he's gonna turn out fine.
( music playing )
( song ends, applause )
( music playing )
Hey, Fred.
You in--?
Oh, we're dancing.
Look, I'm a whirling bird.
I'm a cyclone.
I'm the fastest
skates alive.
( laughs )
( music stops )
What do you watch it
for, huh?
Here, I can hold that
better than you can.
You told me
to bring that film.
I told you to bring it
to show it to the Culvers,
not to mope over it.
Look, kid. You just impress
this guy enough tonight,
and we're back
in business.
Who cares about skates
when you can slosh
around in money, huh?
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, that's what you said when
you talked me into turning pro.
"Star in your own ice show,"
you said.
"Dig your own gold mine."
Is it my fault you like to
drive cars too fast?
I lost my shirt too, you know.
Your wife's shirt.
And let's don't mix
things up, Leonard.
That show was busted flat
before my accident.
Look, kid, what's
eating your father?
He buttonholed me again
tonight on the way home.
Like that, uh-- Who's that
old pest in the poem?
The Ancient Mariner.
He stabs you
with his eyes,
he grabs your coattails--
He just saw a lot of
the publicity, that's all.
About us doing
another ice show,
if we got a star.
And look, Leonard,
if this-- This Culver dame
can't skate any better
than I think she can...
then I don't want
any part of it,
no matter how filthy rich
her husband is.
I suppose you told daddy
that you'd paid
some of your bills
by signing my name
to a check, huh?
That wasn't the way it was,
and you know it.
Besides, you owed me
a lot of back money.
I can still let the bank
holler forgery.
Unless, of course,
you want to
talk to the guys
you made that
check out to.
So you make up your mind.
Yes or no.
We need each other
tonight.
Denver, darling.
Just a minute.
I just wanted to ask
a question, that's all.
Well...
what's the question?
How do I look?
( laughing )
( chuckles )
Well, you didn't even say
anything about the house.
I don't know what
the Culvers will think
about the way we live.
Now, Joanie, honey.
I-I've just seen the Culvers
a couple of times,
but they're plain,
ordinary people.
Well, I'm putting
them out
in the cottage
beyond yours,
if that's all right.
Mm-hm.
Oh, and I thought
they might like champagne.
Well, now. That ought to
make the Culvers
think they're right
in Shangri-la, huh?
Domain of
the mighty wind.
The P.T. Barnum of the West.
Oh, but they do have to
be impressed, don't they?
I mean, if you're planning
some sort of business,
well, oh, this time
it just has to succeed.
Oh, darling.
Something ought to
succeed, don't you think?
Well, kiddo?
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
Don't mind me, Mrs. Leonard.
I'm just a...winter
sports bum who--
Who's your husband's partner.
You won't
regret it, sir.
No, sir. You'll
never regret it.
That young man certainly
has some good ideas.
Well, this should start
the ball rolling anyway.
"Tropical Ice" we thought we'd
call our revue, huh?
Mm-hm.
I'm gonna make
a quick trip down to Cuba
to investigate
the possibilities.
Oh. You're gonna be mighty
proud of your wife, Mr. Culver.
Wait 'til you see her
spinning around
in those lights,
huh?
Vita never had much
of a chance with the Follies.
Well, Fred tells me
that you may have
real talent, Mrs. Culver.
I showed him those motion
pictures of her on skates.
We have more
of Lake Placid
on the machine now,
if you're ready.
Oh, yes. I do wanna see
the rest of those
before I go to bed.
Fifty thousand dollars.
( snickers )
The suckers there are
in this world, huh?
( laughs )
( dramatic theme playing )
Dad-blame it.
( car approaching )
Fred!
Fred, wait a minute!
Son!
What is--?
( laughs )
Well. If it's not the old
Ancient Mariner.
Hello, pop.
Where's that old
albatross of yours, huh?
Fred...I wanna
talk to you, son.
A man over
in Palmdale today
asked me if you
were going to Cuba.
He said Leonard had
bought a couple of tickets--
( laughs ):
Cuba?
( slurring ):
Oh. No, no, Dad.
I'm supposed to stay here
and hold the sack, see?
But no, sir.
That's not for me.
I'm not gonna
hold the sack anymore.
You hear me?
Now, listen, son--
Let me go.
Son, listen.
Let me go!
( ominous theme playing )
( phone ringing )
Hello?
Who's calling, please?
Jefferson Pike--
Oh, hello, Jeff.
Well, of course
I meant what I said.
What kind of help
do you need?
Well, sir, it's about my son.
He's got to have
some advice. um...
I thought that maybe someone
not quite so close
to official things
as you are...
Yes, I understand.
I'll be happy to call
anybody you want.
But Jeff...
do you need
a criminal lawyer?
Oh, yes I do,
Mr. Burger. Please.
There's no trouble yet.
Fred's done nothing
really wrong, only...
well, uh, we can't
waste any time.
All right, I won't ask you
any more questions.
Whom do you have in mind?
Me?
Well, Hamilton,
you're not calling me--
Oh, yes, of course.
Yes. I could get out there
first thing in the morning.
Here, wait a minute.
Oh, I'm awake, all right.
Just startled at the idea
of you staying up so late
drumming up business for me.
( dramatic theme playing )
Are you Mr. Mason?
Yes.
My dad left
this note for you.
Says to wait here
for him, but I--
I guess it's probably
too late now.
What do you mean?
Well, they, uh--
They woke me when they called.
Dad's over
at the Leonards' now.
Mr. Mason...
they said somebody--
Somebody k*lled
Denver Leonard.
( dramatic theme playing )
Fred? Fred, your father's
here already.
I think they're
looking for you too.
Yeah, I know. Uh,
Mrs. Leonard.
This is Mr. Mason.
Perry Mason. He's a lawyer.
How do you do?
How do you do?
Oh, I'm so glad
you've got someone.
I-I don't know
what's gonna happen.
FRED:
Mrs. Leonard, I, uh--
I'm awful sorry
about what happened.
( sighs )
Thank you, Fred.
Uh, Mrs. Leonard...
would you mind telling us
how it happened?
Well...
I don't really know.
He liked to stay out in that
cottage of his, you know.
The police say
he's been dead
since or :.
He'd...been beaten
over the head.
But they don't even know what
kind of a w*apon it was yet.
Well, what about
the Culvers?
Weren't they
in that other cottage?
Oh, they went
back to town.
He had that early
appointment,
don't you remember?
No, I, uh--
I'm afraid I don't
remember anything
about last night...
Mrs. Leonard.
TRAGG:
Well, it does
look like
your footprint,
Mr. Pike.
Even though the boy over here
hadn't seen you park your car.
All right,
I was here.
Sure I was
here.
In the neighborhood
of : to : he said.
He was on
his own way to bed
after helping out
in the kitchen.
I wanted to see
Leonard,
and I wanted
to see him alone.
Why? Why, Mr. Pike?
So I could k*ll him,
that's why. What do you think?
Roger, bring your
notebook down here.
I didn't figure on being
seen, that's all.
Well...
those are my fingerprints
you're getting
off the door too,
aren't you?
So why keep everybody
hanging around?
Mr. Pike.
You know your
constitutional rights.
And of course, you have been
warned that anything you say--
I'll just attend
to that, Mr. Mason.
Hello, son.
Uh, sergeant,
take him in,
have him finish
his statement.
You'd better
go along too, Mr. Pike.
Perry, you're, uh,
interfering with an officer...
in line of duty.
Hm.
Lieutenant, I didn't know
that this was your territory.
Well, I happen to be here
by specific, uh, request.
And I think
I have enough authority
to send you on your way.
Well, now.
Hello, lieutenant.
Hi, Perry. Glad
to see you got here.
You're glad that...
you got here?
Well, I, uh-- Oh, I've
got to get in here.
Excuse me.
( playful theme playing )
Well, Perry,
you didn't exactly
stop my friend,
Mr. Pike,
but you slowed him down
a little anyway.
At least he's now
taken the position
he won't do any more
confessing
until they stop
the "dad-blame questions."
Hm.
You know, it just
doesn't seem likely
that he'd commit
a m*rder at :,
and then make that call
to you afterwards at :.
Don't you think he's just
trying to protect his son?
Well, he's a funny
man, Pike.
He...was here
last night,
there's no question
about that.
And he does have
a temper.
There's no question
about that either.
You, uh--
Do you believe he--?
He k*lled Leonard?
Perry, Jefferson Pike
saved my life once.
We were out on Marshes Lake,
up in Canada.
Our rubber boat
got flipped over in the wind,
and...one of the oars
caught my ankle.
Pike could have left me
in the duck blind
and gone for help.
But it was
way below freezing.
So instead he carried me
three miles...
all the way to shore.
And in the course of wading
through that icy water,
he lost two toes.
That was years ago.
I got him his job
here at the club.
Now you may
try him for m*rder.
No, I...
I'll have to disqualify
myself. Uh...
remove myself from
any prosecution. It--
But it would still
be my responsibility.
And I suppose I have no right
to be talking to you
this way.
Let alone suggesting that--
Perry, if Jefferson Pike
is arraigned for this crime...
and...if you can find
any merit in the case...
I'll defend him, Hamilton.
Even if he did save your life.
( classical music playing )
( people chattering )
The police have asked me
just about everything
they can think of,
Mr. Mason.
They ask what
that, uh...
whirling thing was that
you were doing out there?
Heh. That's
a camel spin.
I really can
do it much better.
Oh, it looked
pretty good to me.
Coffee?
Please.
Please.
Three coffees, please.
Mr. Leonard was going to
star you in a new ice show,
wasn't he?
Oh, well. That
wasn't anything
very definite
yet.
Hm, I don't know, $,
seems pretty definite to me.
When was the last time
you saw Denver Leonard?
You mean last night?
About :.
Who else was there?
Oh, everyone.
Except Asa. He's my husband.
He went back to
the guest cottage earlier.
Hates to miss his sleep.
So that left you and Fred Pike
and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard
still at the house?
Mm-hm.
And then the champagne
was gone,
and Fred left.
So we all
said good night.
You went
all the way out
to the, uh, guest
cottage alone?
Mr. Leonard
showed me the way.
I see.
After escorting you,
I suppose he went
to his little place there.
That, um...
cottage/study,
whatever he called it.
Mr. Mason. Don't ask me
to explain
other people's
living arrangements.
( chuckles )
But then
you were the last person
to see Denver Leonard alive,
weren't you?
I don't know. Was I?
What happened after
he left you at
I went straight inside.
And I went right to bed
without even putting up
my hair.
And until : this morning,
I neither saw or heard
anything more important
than Asa's snoring.
( sighs )
Well...
Look, Mr. Mason,
believe me,
I think that this m*rder
is a terrible thing, but...
I feel
very sorry
for all
the people involved.
But it doesn't
effect us.
We'd barely
met those people.
In other words, you'd say...
there was nothing personal
between you and Mr. Leonard?
Absolutely nothing.
But how can I
help you?
Didn't my wife explain
that I was asleep?
Mr. Culver...
I gather you've made most
of your money in real estate.
Why should that possibly
concern you?
Well, I wanted your opinion
on the Leonard place.
It seems, uh, rather elaborate.
It was dark when we arrived.
I had no chance to look
around, I'm afraid.
My investigator tells me
the property
belongs to Mrs. Leonard.
Although the title
isn't exactly clear.
Apparently...
Mrs. Leonard owes
more than she owns.
Is that so?
The problem stems from
her husband's various schemes,
including their first ice show,
which went bankrupt
through mishandling,
or perhaps, uh, dishonesty.
Mr. Mason. Why do you
tell me all this?
Mr. Culver.
You're a businessman.
Now, why would you
give a...check to Mr. Leonard?
A check for $,,
completely unsecured
in any way?
I'd hate to be asked
that question in court...
I'll admit.
You see...
my wife is considerably
younger than I am.
And when I persuaded her
to marry me, several years ago,
she had hopes of a career.
She still has those hopes.
And you thought you'd help her
by financing a show
produced by a man
with a reputation?
Mr. Mason, my wife can't skate
for sour apples.
Oh, I'm sure you
know that by now.
So I wouldn't have cared
if Denver Leonard
had just pocketed
that money...
if it helped get all this
out of her system.
I love Vita.
Very much.
I wouldn't want her
to be hurt.
( dramatic theme playing )
Well, for
some time now,
Denver Leonard's had a hold
on my son, Mr. Mason.
Oh, Fred's
a good boy.
Only, after
his accident,
he sort of went to pieces
for a while.
Now, he don't know
I know this, but...
well, there's even
a bad check he wrote once.
M-Mr. Pike...
Fred is gonna have to
tell these things
if you don't.
Well...I sure haven't done
everything right
in my time.
Oh, I even had a cockeyed,
wild notion
on how to
stop Leonard.
How to pry him
loose from Fred.
Uh--
Well, never mind that.
And then later...Fred came back
so drunk, he couldn't
hardly talk. I--
I just saw red, that's all.
And, um...
you went over
to the Leonards at
Well, there
wasn't much to it.
Door to the cottage
was open.
So I just walked
right in.
Place was
an awful mess.
A mess?
Well, it looked like
there had been a fight.
Oh, I fumbled
around a bit...
'cause the lights
weren't on, but--
But there was plenty
of moonlight.
Then I--
I saw Leonard lying
there on the floor.
Dead?
No. No, I could
hear him breathing.
You, um...
You thought Fred had
had the fight with him?
What happened next?
Well, I-- I finally
figured I'd better stop
doing things wrong...
for a change.
So I-- I just
turned around,
and I walked right out
of there, fast as I could.
But I wouldn't have
gone back home
and called Mr. Burger
if I thought that man was dead.
Now, dad-blame it,
that's the truth,
and that's all there is.
And I ain't gonna
budge from that.
Perry, may I see you
a moment, please?
I'll be right back,
Mr. Pike.
I was told
to inform you
when this case seemed to be
about ready for an indictment.
Uh, excuse me,
sir. I--
My name's Hal Kirkwood.
I'm the foreman
out at
the Leonard ranch.
I wonder if you'd tell
Mr. Pike that I'm sorry,
but I had to show 'em
where to find that b*llet.
b*llet?
Well, Mr. Leonard shot Pike
in the leg, Perry.
Our doctor noticed
that, of course.
Oh, but I guess
that Pike's
told you all about
that by now.
Well, they kept
asking me about it.
I sure didn't want 'em
to think that b*llet
had anything to do with things
at the time of the m*rder.
Then Pike would really be
in hot water.
Uh, they'll need, uh,
your signature
on that statement,
Mr. Kirkwood, if you please.
We, uh...
have the m*rder
w*apon, Perry.
Oh.
Twelve-gauge shotgun.
Shotgun?
Leonard's.
It was used as a club.
The victim's blood and hair
were on the butt end.
And on the barrel,
where he gripped it...
the fingerprints
of your client:
Mr. Pike.
( ominous theme playing )
Now, dad-blame it,
let's have the whole truth.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
CLERK:
Be seated, folks.
If the court please...
I'm Darrel Teshman,
the special prosecutor
appointed by
the Attorney General
for this hearing.
Since Mr. Burger has asked,
for personal reasons,
that he and his office
be, uh, disqualified...
I'm appearing here
to prosecute this case.
JUDGE:
All right, Mr. Teshman,
you may proceed.
TESHMAN:
Thank you, Your Honor.
There were three fractures
in the skull.
One in the frontal bone,
and the other two on top,
back of the coronal suture.
And were these injuries
matched in any way
by the blunt instrument
which the police showed you?
That is, the shotgun
with its scarred stock,
its unusual
toe plate.
Uh, they matched exactly.
There is no doubt that was
the w*apon which caused death.
Thank you, doctor.
Cross-examine.
Uh, doctor, regarding the blow
on the top of the head...
isn't that rather
an unusual place
to be struck by such
an unwieldy w*apon?
Not if the victim
had already fallen.
Then it's possible
all of those blows
were inflicted after
the victim had fallen?
SURGEON:
Quite possible.
MASON:
Could the deathblows have
been inflicted by a woman?
SURGEON:
A normally strong
and an athletic woman, yes.
Yes, of course.
MASON:
Thank you, doctor.
That'll be all.
There were no other
fingerprints on the barrel.
Only the deceased's,
Mr. Leonard's,
and the defendant's.
And just exactly where was
this m*rder g*n found?
About a mile
from the Leonard house.
It was thrown off the road,
under a pile of junk.
Is this road
the one a person would take
when driving back
from Mr. Leonard's place
to Mr. Pike's g*n club?
Yes, it is.
Cross-examine.
Lieutenant, uh, this road
you just mentioned...
is it also a road
a person would take
to, uh, reach the highway
into town?
Yes, sir.
Now, lieutenant...
did you find any evidence
whatsoever
to indicate
that this g*n,
which belonged
to Mr. Leonard,
was actually in
Mr. Leonard's room
prior to the time
of his death?
Yes. There were
some used patches,
a rod and, uh, cleaning oil
on a little table there.
MASON:
I see.
Now, if we're to adopt
the line o
that...Mr. Leonard
might have been
cleaning this g*n
that night...
and he might have
left it there...
propped up, uh,
next to the material
that you've just described
as being on the table,
and that, uh...
then a person might have
entered that room
in the dark, we'll say--
So I suppose there are
a number of ways
a man's fingerprints
could arrive on a g*n,
aren't there,
lieutenant?
Your Honor. I object.
Objection sustained.
I have no further
questions.
And after you said good night
to your husband, Mrs. Leonard?
I went out
to the kitchen.
That was a little
after :.
What did you do then?
I washed dishes.
We had a boy
helping us,
but he wasn't
experienced.
You're referring now
to, uh, Pedro Guitterez?
Yes. He dried the dishes.
Then I let him go.
It was exactly :.
After that,
I went to bed.
Your room is in
the main house there?
Yes.
Now...Mrs. Leonard...
you have testified
that there was bad feeling
between your husband
and the defendant,
Jefferson Pike.
And that it was
in some way related
to your husband's
partnership with Pike's son.
And that this bad feeling
had increased rather bitterly
during the past
year or so.
Please.
I just don't know
any more than that.
That's all,
Mrs. Leonard.
Thank you.
Concerning your guests
that evening, Mrs. Leonard.
You'd say that Mr. Culver
left the party at ?
About then.
Uh, what about Fred Pike?
You stated that he'd
been drinking rather heavily.
JOAN:
Yes.
Fred left a little
after :.
Mrs. Leonard...
why did you allow him
to drive home alone
in that condition?
As a matter of fact,
I did say something to Denver.
But he and Mrs. Culver
just laughed at me.
They said Fred would
be all right, and--
No further questions.
After Mr. Leonard
left you at your door,
did you notice what direction
he took, Mrs. Culver?
Yes, he went right
to his room
in the cottage
across the way.
He told me so.
Oh, but you
stated that, uh...
after you went inside,
you didn't hear anything
from the direction
of that cottage.
VITA:
Well, I was asleep
within a few minutes.
Well, now, Mrs. Cul
when Mr. Leonard left you,
do you recall what he said?
Well, yes, of course.
He said good night,
and he said he was going
hunting in the morning.
Thank you.
Your witness,
counselor.
No questions.
You clearly saw
Mr. Pike leave his car
and walk toward
the cottage?
Yes. Very fast,
like he is mad.
What then?
GUITTEREZ:
Well, I'm all
through my work.
I go home.
I walk down the road.
As you walked
down the road,
did you see anyone else?
Across the field,
past the stables,
I see a flashlight
over there.
The foreman, I think.
Mr. Kirkwood,
walking by the barn.
Did anyone pass you?
Any automobiles?
No. No. Mr. Pike
live the other way.
Oh, now, what do you
mean by that?
Five, six minutes
after I leave,
I hear Mr. Pike's truck
drive away.
Hear?
Didn't you see it?
Didn't you look back?
If you could see a flashlight
at that distance...
surely you could
see headlights.
No, sir.
No lights.
Mr. Pike drive without lights.
Drive away very quick.
Then this, uh, Pike came
busting up to Mr. Leonard,
where we were
standing at the bar.
That was about, uh,
in the evening.
Did Mr. Pike say anything
to you personally?
Heh, he sure did.
He said, "Get out of my way,
dad-blame you."
Well, I hadn't done anything
to him, but he was sore.
And, uh, then when Mr. Leonard
started brushing him off,
why...well, he was
still persistent.
Did Mr. Pike say anything else
to you personally?
HUNTER:
"Let me at that Leonard,"
he said.
"Let me at him, or--
Or he'll be sorry."
Well...then I helped him
up off the sand
over to his truck.
See, the leg wasn't really
hurt very much, so...
we went back to the
g*n club, like I told you.
Oh, did Mr. Pike
state clearly
his intentions to you
at this time?
Oh, sure.
Soon as his temper
blew down a little bit.
That's when he talked about
using that b*llet
to put Denver Leonard
in prison.
Your witness, counselor.
Mr. Kirkwood,
whose idea was it
that Mr. Leonard
could be put in prison
for as*ault, uh,
with a deadly w*apon?
Heh. I don't know.
Maybe Pike said it first,
or maybe it was me.
And, uh, what happened
to the idea?
Well, I guess
he got cold feet when he saw
the district attorney
was out there himself. He--
Now, um, concerning the b*llet,
Mr. Kirkwood.
The next day you were the one
who showed the police
where to look for it,
is that correct?
KIRKWOOD:
Yes, sir.
MASON:
How long did it take to locate?
Well, they--
They thought they were
gonna have to use...
you know, screens
and things,
but it was right there,
exactly where Mr. Pike
told me it happened.
So...oh, it took a couple
minutes to find it, I guess.
And suppose I told you
that Mr. Pike himself
hadn't been
so successful.
Huh?
Suppose I told you that
Mr. Pike had spent over an hour
on his hands and knees
looking for that b*llet
in exactly that same spot.
Well...
sand like that,
maybe it's a matter of luck.
Suppose I were
to ask you, Mr. Kirkwood...
did you drop that b*llet there
for the police to find?
Did what?
No.
What are you talking about?
How would I have any b*llet?
Perhaps by having found it
the night before.
Now, I'll ask you
the question once more--
Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute!
Will the court please
instruct this witness--?
All right!
Maybe I did.
Yes, sir.
But I didn't do
anything wrong--
Why did you do it,
Mr. Kirkwood--?
Well, I had to put the thing
back where it belonged.
MASON:
Well, you understood
my question better than that.
Why did you take the b*llet
in the first place?
Now, look, I did not
do anything with it.
I was just going to,
that's all.
I kept that b*llet in my--
Why, Mr. Kirkwood?
Because if Pike was not gonna
see Denver Leonard
slapped in jail, I was.
I wouldn't get chicken-hearted.
Not with a chance like that.
I would bust that man
into kingdom come.
Do you have any idea
what it's like
to work for a man
like that?
To see the way
he treats his own wife?
To see him...cheat and steal?
To ruin a perfectly good ranch?
If you could s--
I'm sorry, sir.
Kingdom come.
I have no more
questions.
JUDGE:
You may step down.
Gentlemen, I have
a regular calendar
which begins at :,
but I should be
through by .
Therefore, we will
continue this hearing
until : Monday morning.
Court's adjourned.
( door closes )
I'll talk to you
shortly.
Perry...they're
still saving
a lot of their physical
evidence, aren't they?
They've already shown
more than enough
for a hearing, Della. Take
a look at Burger. He knows.
Now, listen, we've got
a lot to do, and in a hurry.
Mm-hm.
You take care of things here,
I'll go get the car.
Mm-hm.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
( door closes )
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
Miss, wait, please.
Oh, I won't hurt
anything, Pedro.
But this is the place
where he was k*lled.
I know, but Mr. Mason
talked to the police.
Go on, Della!
Make some noise now!
Uh, jump up and down,
will you, please?
Jump up and down.
( banging )
What are you doing?
We didn't wanna disturb you,
Mrs. Leonard.
Excuse me.
That's enough, Della!
I--
I just wondered if you'd
like a cup of tea.
Let's get Della.
Perry, could you
come in a minute, please?
Uh, Mrs. Leonard,
would you mind if I ask you,
is this the jacket
your husband
was wearing that night?
Yes, I guess it is.
Only earlier,
in the house.
He wasn't wearing
it when--
When they found him.
I'll hang it up.
( dramatic theme playing )
( door opens )
My alarm went off
at : a.m.
We were gone
by .
Did anyone get up
to see you off?
CULVER:
No. No, I'd particularly asked
Mrs. Leonard not to.
TESHMAN:
Cross-examine.
Now, Mr. Culver...
you stated that
you weren't quite certain
of the time
you fell asleep that night.
Is anyone ever quite
certain of such a thing?
Yet you were able to recall
your wife's testimony,
saying that, uh,
when she came in at :--
Or, uh, was it
Your Honor...
may I ask
the court's indulgence,
and request that
the court reporter
uh, read back the one or two
questions regarding time?
Very well.
Mr. Culver had just told
of his leaving the house.
COURT REPORTER:
"Question:
"Did you then go to the guest
cottage to retire?
"Answer: I did.
"Question: At what time
did you retire?
"Answer: I didn't
look at my watch,
but it was
when I left the house."
And the one
after that, please.
"Question: You have heard
Mrs. Culver testify
"that she came in
at : and went to bed.
"Did you see or hear her?
"Answer: No, I did not.
"Question: So you
were asleep by
Answer: She said
I was asleep then, yes."
Uh, thank you,
that's enough.
Uh, Mr. Culver...
you never quite
answered those questions.
So now I ask, did you
leave the house at :,
and then go directly
to the cottage,
and then directly
to bed and to sleep?
Well, in my wife's
testimony--
Just answer the question
yes or no, please.
But I'm not sure
I understand--
Mr. Culver...
are you trying to
avoid perjuring yourself?
Is that it?
Your Honor, I object.
The counselor is
browbeating the witness.
JUDGE:
Overruled. Answer
the questions, Mr. Culver.
I'll ask a simpler one,
Mr. Culver.
Now, do you usually sleep
with the window shut?
What? No,
of course not.
Then before you
went to bed that night,
you opened the windows,
is that right?
Yes. I suppose so.
Now, isn't it true that
if you had opened the window,
sounds from across the way
would've been quite clear?
The alleged fight,
the m*rder,
people coming
and going?
Yet your wife insisted
she heard absolutely nothing.
Vita was asleep.
You saw her asleep?
Well, no, I didn't
quite mean that.
Oh, I'm sure you didn't.
Now, we'd like the truth,
Mr. Culver.
Were you in bed,
or as a matter of fact,
even in that cottage at all,
when she came in at
I don't remember.
You don't remember?
I mean...I don't
have to answer that.
On grounds of
self-incrimination?
No!
I didn't k*ll him.
I don't know anything about it.
Mr. Culver...
do you recall
confirming to me that...
your wife's only interest
in being at the Leonards'
was in ice skating?
Yes.
Did your wife plan to go
to Cuba in the near future?
CULVER:
No.
It was only Leonard
who spoke of going.
Were you aware of the fact
that during the two weeks
prior to the m*rder...
your wife had been taking
certain inoculations
given usually only
to travelers.
Uh, that is, sh*ts for
typhoid and yellow fever?
No. That's not true.
It can't be.
I'm prepared to introduce
more exact testimony,
Mr. Culver.
Now, tell me something else.
To your knowledge,
has your wife used a lipstick
uh, the shade of which
is called "Latin Flame"?
Your Honor, I object.
This entire
line of questioning
is incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
( quietly ):
Oh, sit down and be quiet.
Objection overruled.
Good.
JUDGE:
Proceed, counselor.
Mr. Culver...concerning
that lipstick--
But I don't know.
I haven't
the slightest idea.
Would it surprise you to learn
that lipstick of such a shade
was found on Mr. Leonard's
pocket handkerchief?
The handkerchief
he was carrying that night?
Now, Mr. Culver...
obviously, either you
or your wife is lying.
Stop it!
Stop, I'll tell you!
I'll tell you
everything.
He wasn't there.
He wasn't even in the room.
I can't stand it anymore.
He's the one who's lying.
( crying ):
He knew about us.
He knew about Leonard and I.
He must have.
He wasn't even in the room,
I tell you.
Vita, please. Be quiet.
Uh, Your Honor...
in the interest
of justice,
I would like to recall
Mrs. Culver
to the witness stand.
Oh, I doubt if prosecution
have any objection, hm?
( sighs )
Not under the circumstances,
Your Honor.
No, w-wait. Please, I--
I'll have more to explain.
I-I went out
for a walk.
I-- I couldn't sleep.
I wanted to have a look
at the place anyway, so...
I found a flashlight
in a mackinaw,
and I went out
for quite a while.
Down the road...
back up past
the horse pastures...
down by the barn.
I saw a truck
leaving.
That must have been
Mr. Pike.
When I came back...
my wife seemed to be asleep.
The next day,
she didn't say anything.
So I thought
I'd just have to keep quiet.
Please, that--
That's all I know.
You'll take the stand again,
Mrs. Culver.
And I wanna remind you that
you're still under oath.
You step down, sir.
Uh--
Now, what was it you wanted
to tell us, Mrs. Culver?
( gasps )
I'm not sure now.
It's just that
I've been so frightened.
Was it that when
you went into the cottage,
your husband
wasn't there?
It was after :.
Mr. Leonard and I...
stood outside for a while.
And then you became afraid
of what your husband
might have seen?
I didn't know where he was.
But I really
didn't hear anything...
except a truck that came
and went around :.
And then finally
Asa came in, and...
I pretended
to be asleep.
Did you think that...
your husband
might have been
with Mr. Leonard?
The next morning, when you
heard about the m*rder,
did you think your husband
might've been the one
who fought with
Mr. Leonard?
Did you think
he was the one
who stood in
the shadow watching,
while Mr. Pike
arrived?
Because the...
m*rder*r must have seen
Mr. Pike leave
his fingerprints on
this g*n, don't you think?
Mrs. Culver,
after Mr. Pike left,
was it then
that your husband...
picked up
this w*apon,
and using it
as a brutal club--?
VITA ( crying ):
Oh, I don't know!
You don't have to
blab all that, lady!
Mr. Mason knows
who saw Pike
leave his fingerprints
on that g*n.
He's been aiming at me
all along.
I k*lled Leonard.
( slow, dramatic theme playing )
I k*lled the big gasbag.
( pleasant theme playing )
You know, Perry,
I wonder how--
I wonder how involved
that Culver woman
was with Leonard.
Thanks, Jeff.
She was gonna go
traveling with him.
For a while anyway.
Heh. Yeah, with
her husband's money.
Oh, hold on
there.
Maybe she just
wanted to make certain
that Leonard really would
put her in that ice show.
Oh, I feel
sorry for her.
Bird like him mixes
people up, you know.
Well, take even
Hal Kirkwood now.
He got so boiling mad
at Leonard,
and so unhappy about
the way he treated the Mrs.
and ruined her ranch...
well, that's why
he k*lled him, you know.
Well, that's
not entirely
what he admitted
later on, Mr. Pike.
There was also a question
of money involved.
Blackmail money.
You see,
if he'd just wanted
to get even
with Leonard,
he would have left
that b*llet in the sand,
where it was,
for the police to find.
Incidentally, Perry, I'm
glad you caught that point.
Now, Kirkwood thought
that Leonard
really had shot you,
remember?
Oh, yeah.
So, what he did was,
dig up that b*llet and then
try to sell it to Leonard.
Leonard wouldn't have known
what Hal was talking about.
He-- He must have thought
he was off in the head.
( car approaches, honking )
Hey, Dad.
I'm ready to go.
Well, at least
some things work out.
Fred's on his way
up to Tahoe.
A pretty good job
up there, I hear.
Anyway, he's squaring up
that check business
on his own, Mr. Burger.
I just want you to know that.
Hurry up, Dad.
I gotta go!
All right.
Good riddance, dad-blame it.
( chuckles )
( pleasant theme playing )
You know, I think
I won this case.
( chuckles )
( noirish jazz theme playing )