03x19 - The Case of the Bashful Burro

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( western theme playing )

Afternoon, Mrs. Norton.

Mr. Bascombe.

Your, uh, husband
anywhere around?

He's in the mine.

Like to talk with you and him.

We've nothing to talk about.

Here. Let me have that.

You're too young and pretty
to be doing work like this.

If you were mine, I'd have
people doing this for ya.

Haven't I heard that you already
have a wife, Mr. Bascombe?

Yeah, but, uh, arrangements
still could be made.

Put the bucket
down there, please.

You, uh, still don't understand
what I'm driving at.

I understand, only too well.

I thought I made it clear,
Bascombe, last week.

You're not exactly
a welcome visitor here.

I don't blame you
for being feisty, Norton.

I-I lost my temper,

I decided I'd better
ride over and apologize.

Okay, you've apologized.

And, uh, while I'm here,

I figured I'd make you another
offer for your land.

Not interested. I thought
I made that clear too.

This is my final offer.

Seventy-five hundred.

Ah, your final offer.
Good. Then I don't have

to keep telling you
I don't want to sell.

You're riding
a stubborn trail, Norton.

But I can be just as stubborn.

Is that another threat
to drive us out of here

if you can't buy us out?

Well, that was temper talking
the other day.

But I'll tell you this.
You'll be driven out,

because nobody can make
this mine pay.

You've said that before.

Well, I'm saying it again.

You've seen the old assays,
had assays made yourself.

T-t-t-there's not enough gold
here to justify digging for it.

A worthless mine
and a piece of land

that's no good
to anybody but me.

And I don't need the land,
just the water.

Then I must be a fool, because
I'm certainly not selling.

Jerry.

Can't you drive some sense
into his head, Mrs. Norton?

I guess I'm a fool too,
Mr. Bascombe.

You'll regret this.

Both of you.

Dinner's ready, Jerry.

Ah.

We have a real banquet tonight.

Tomato juice to start with.

And then chicken, biscuits,
peas, salad, and coffee.

Just like in the city.

Have I told you you're
wonderful, Mrs. Norton?

Not in the last hour or so.

To follow me to this crazy,
forsaken place

and make fun games
out of it day after day,

even when slimy creatures

like that Bascombe
keep comin' around.

( g*nsh*t )
Down.

( g*nshots )

( suspenseful theme playing )

MAN ( echoing ):
Get out.

Get out.

Get out. Get out.

( western theme playing )

Anybody to home?

Hi, there, Amos.

Tie up Sheba, come on in
and have a cup of coffee.

I'd like that, Mrs. Norton.

All right, Sheba.

Get you a lump of sugar.

( ominous theme playing )

You know, it's been so long
since you called on us, Amos,

I've forgotten how
you like your coffee.

A little cream,
if you don't mind.

Now I remember.

Cream for you and a lump
of sugar for Sheba.

You know, we've missed
you both around here.

Well, seems like Sheba and me,

we're just natural
born wanderers.

Also seems like you had
trouble here last night.

What makes you say
a thing like that?

Them holes in the coffeepot
and other things outside.

I heard the sh*ts too.

And that ain't all.

Eh, I thought that
was Sheba out there.

How ya been, Amos?

Just fine, Mr. Norton.

Hi. Amos was just gonna tell me
about his travels,

weren't you, Amos?

You heard some sh*ts,
and what else?

Well, last night I camped
about a half-mile

to the other side
of the ridge.

And just after the sh*ts,
a fellow rode by,

coming lickity-split
from your direction.

Did you see who it was?

Just as good as.

He was riding a big palomino.

Bascombe.

Now, you don't
know that, Gerald.

Neither does Amos.

Bascombe's prize horse.

Headin' towards
Bascombe's ranch.

Who else could it be,
Mrs. Norton?

Nobody else.

Gerald!

I've got to have it out
with him, Sally.

We'll never have a moment's
peace if I don't.

SALLY:
But this r*fle won't bring
peace to anybody.

I guess you're right.

But I'm still talkin' to him.

Well, all right,
but be careful.

I'll take the jeep.

See ya later, Amos.

Kind of wish you'd let
him take that r*fle.

Why?

Bascombe's an evil man.
I'd k*ll him myself,

if I thought I could
get away with it.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Yes?

I'm Gerald Norton,
Mrs. Bascombe.

We met several months ago,
when I first came here.

Oh, yes.
I remember your wife.

Come in.

Well, I was actually looking
for your husband.

Oh. Ken's in town.

You know where in town?

Yes. At the Golden Nugget,

buying drinks
for everybody in sight.

You see, it's Frontier Week,

and Ken always takes
it very big.

I'd forgotten about
the celebration.

Thanks, Mrs. Bascombe.

Was your husband here
around last night?

Why do you ask?

Around that time somebody fired
some sh*ts at our campfire.

And you think it was Ken?

That's what I want to find out.

Well, I must say,
you're going about it

in a very sneaky way,
Mr. Norton,

talking to me behind Ken's back.

I don't like it,

and neither will Ken.

Sorry if I've offended you.

Just get out.

MAN:
Well, honey,

I hope you never treat
me that way.

You didn't let him see you,
did you, Roy?

I'm not that crazy.

Fact is, the only thing
I'm crazy about is you.

Oh, don't.
What's wrong?

That little mining man
upset you?

Oh, no, darling.

No, I was just afraid
that he'd see me, that's all.

Oh, Roy. Why can't we
just clear out?

On what?
My foreman's salary?

We can't go on this way.

Are you hintin' we should
break up, Mrs. Bascombe?

Oh, no.
Oh, no. No.

But what happens
when Ken finds out?

When he does,

I clear out, I guess.

( ominous theme playing )

( g*nshots )

Rodeo at :.

Everybody turn out.

Rodeo at :.

Buy a button, mister.

Quick. Or else
you'll go to jail.

It's, uh, for charity.

I don't mind buying a button,

but what's all this
about going to jail?

Well, you'll be arrested
if you don't have a beard,

or one of these buttons.

It's only a dollar.

That seems cheap enough
for immunity from arrest.

Well, golly, thank you.

I can't believe this,
more dollars.

This is a pretty car.
My.

I wish I had one.

( girls chattering
indistinctly )

Excuse me.

Where might I find Mr. Wright?

Well, he generally eats lunch
about this time

in the Golden Nugget there.

Thank you.
You're welcome.

( girls chattering excitedly )

( bells ringing )

Hey, hey.
All right.

Hey, uh, lookin'
for something, stranger?

Uh, someone.
A Mr. Crawford Wright.

Ah, you mean the Welshman.

He's the gent over there
with the scraggly beard,

eatin' by himself.
Thank you.

Say, hey. How about me standing
you a drink, partner?

Maybe later, partner.

Ah. Any old time.

Hello, Mr. Wright.
I'm Perry Mason.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Mason.

Sit down, won't you.
Let me buy you some lunch?

I've already eaten already,
thank you.
Oh.

I would have waited
for you in my office,

but you wrote
that you weren't quite sure

what time you'd arrive.

Well, sir. I haven't seen
hide nor hair of Amos Catledge.

Nor of his partner,
Sheba, either.
Sheba?

Ha-ha. That's a burro he's had
as long as I can remember.

Treats it like it was human.

Maybe I can also get
a deposition from Sheba.

Oh, is that what
you want Amos for?

I'm representing a client
in a border dispute

over in Kenyoken County.

The old records are lost
and apparently Amos Catledge

is the only person around
who was on hand

when the original survey
was made.

Oh, I see. And so they, uh--

They told you over there
he was headed this way, eh?

I decided since
I'd traveled that far,

I might as well
keep on traveling.

Well, Mr. Mason, I've been doing
assay work for old Amos Catledge

for years now and I know all
his favorite camping places.

So as soon as I finish lunch

we can go out and take
a look for him, eh?

Oh, excuse me.
Uh, Mr. Norton.

Mr. Norton.

I want you to meet
Mr. Perry Mason,

the Los Angeles lawyer.

Hello.
How do you do?

I thought perhaps
you might be able

to give Mr. Mason a hand here.

He's looking for your old
friend, Amos Catledge.

Oh, well, you certainly found
the right people.

He's camped not more than
feet from our house.

Well, that's good news.

Apparently he's
a will-o'-the-wisp.

Ha. Yes, I know.

Hey, Bascombe.

Well, what d'you know.

My friend with the pretty wife.

Oh, bartender,
give Mr. Norton a drink.

I don't want a drink, Bascombe.

I just want to ask
you one question.

That depends
on the question, eh?

sh**t, tenderfoot. sh**t.

Funny you should use
that word, Bascombe,

'cause that's what you did
last night, wasn't it?

sh**t up our campfire.

You accusin', or askin'?

Both.

Well, to the askin' I'm saying

I didn't sh**t up
anythin' last night.

And to the accusin'...

SALLY:
Oh, Jerry!

Are you all right?

I guess so.

Next time, Mrs. Norton, don't
send a boy to do a man's work.

I may seem a boy to you,
Bascombe,

but let me tell you this.

I'm man enough to k*ll you

if you cause trouble
at the mine again.

( laughs )

There's one banty rooster
gonna lose his head

if he ain't careful.

Aye. Bartender.

Drinks are on me.

The original owner of the mine
was Jerry's uncle,

but he stopped working
it years ago.

And he left the mine
to your husband?

After making Jerry promise
to keep working it

as long as the grubstake
money held out.

Uncle Ezra's
life savings: $.

Only that's practically
gone now.

If things are bad, why not
sell the mine to Bascombe?

Uncle Ezra was sure
the mine was valuable,

I have a funny feeling
he was right.

So I want to hang on
as long as possible.

Why is Bascombe so anxious
to get the property?

Water, Mr. Mason.

Bascombe's a cattleman,
first and last.

Two or three pumps
working there

would open up thousands of new
acres of new range to him.

He just found this out?

No. He's been after
the land for years,

but Uncle Ezra wouldn't sell.

I know what you're
driving at, Mr. Mason.

But even if Bascombe
was interested in gold,

these reports
would cool him down.

Assay reports go back
more than years.

Now, here's
Ezra Norton's here.

And here's your's here, Gerald,

including the one
you asked me to make

the day before yesterday.

They're all the same,
Mr. Mason.

Traces of gold, but nothing
in workable quantities.

Now, here is Gerald's
latest samples.

I'd say the prognosis
isn't too optimistic.

Mr. Mason,
what should we do?

MASON:
Well, you said you were
going to hang on.

But, I mean, if Mr. Bascombe
keeps harassing us?

Let him try.

I can sh**t a r*fle too.

Now, just a minute.
This isn't the old West,

even though Mr. Bascombe
seems to think it is.

The thing to do
is get hold of a lawyer.

Could you help us?

Well, this isn't exactly
my bailiwick.

I'll only be in town
a day at the most.

If you like, though, I'll try
to find a lawyer for you.

Thanks. But,
we'll make out all right.

( mellow theme playing )

Amos!

Amos!

( ominous theme playing )

There's no telling
when Amos will be back.

Sometimes he stays out
half the night,

especially when the moon's out.

Well, at least
I met Sheba.

Even though I couldn't
make friends with her.

Oh, she's just
a little bashful.

unless, of course, you happen to
have a lump of sugar with you.

Hm-hm. Unfortunately,
I didn't.

I think I better try to catch
Mr. Catledge in the morning.

We'll see that
he waits for you.

I'll drive Mr. Mason back.

Yeah, I better start dinner.

I, um, wonder,

would you two
do something for me?

Of course.

Well, I'm a stranger
in a strange town,

and I hate eating alone.

Would you join me
for dinner?

Jerry, could we?

Why not.

It'll only take me
five minutes to dress.

( ominous theme playing )

Amos back yet?

Mm. Not yet.

Thank you, Mr. Norton,
for a lovely evening.

Thank Mr. Mason.
He paid for it.

Oh, well, now, he's nice,

but, uh, I think
I like you best of all.

Ah, you better had,

because it's much
too late to change now.

Much too late.

MAN ( echoing ):
Get out.

Get out.

Bascombe.
Get out.

Put out the light.
Jerry, you'll be k*lled!

Do what I say.
( g*nshots )

He's where he was last night,
up on the ridge.

I can climb up on the other side
of the mine and surprise him.

Jerry, don't.
Please don't.

I've got to, Sally. I've got
to end this once and for all.

Look, I said I wouldn't regret
our coming here,

but maybe I was wrong.

I'll go back on what I said.

I just can't see
your getting k*lled

for a scrap of paper
or a handful of dirt.

It's not just the handful
of dirt, Sally.

Well, maybe he was right.
Maybe that mine's no good.

That doesn't matter.
I just can't let him

take it away from us like this.

( g*nshots )

MAN ( echoing ):
Get out.

Get out.

( g*nshots )

( suspenseful theme playing )

All right, Bascombe.
I've got you covered.

( dramatic theme playing )

( whispering ):
Bascombe?

And now on
the contested will, Della.

I need everything I can get
on young Quinlan.

Have somebody check
the birth records in Tucson

for ' and '.

SALLY:
Mr. Mason.
Mr. Mason.

( knocking on door )
Hold on a minute, Della.

Mr. Mason,
Jerry's been arrested.

Arrested? For what?

They did't say.

He found Mr. Bascombe's body
up on the ridge

where he'd been sh**ting
at us,

and when the Sheriff came--
Bascombe's dead?

Yes, somebody shot him.
Oh, but it wasn't Jerry.

You gotta believe that,
Mr. Mason.

But the Sheriff is holding him?

Yes. That's why I came to you.

Here. Sit down.

I'll be with you in a moment.

Della?

Yes, I'm still on, Perry.

Possible homicide?

But I thought you were chasing
down some old prospector.

Well, I'll get in touch
with Paul right away.

And I certainly hope
he knows where Placer City is,

because I don't.

Bye.

Oh, Mr. Mason,
I'm so grateful.

They've got Jerry in
the old jail down the street.

We'll see him
in a few moments, Sally.

I don't care if you are his
lawyer, mister.

Sheriff said he's
a material witness.

Ain't to see nobody.

Do you know where
the Sheriff is?

He don't keep me informed
of his whereabouts.

Now, clear out, mister,
before you get me in trouble.

Well, can't I send
the witness a message?

Nope.

It's very brief, just that

( loudly ):
he shouldn't talk to anyone
until he consults his attorney.

Can't you tell him that?

No, I can't.

Hey.

He must've heard you.

Please, mister.
Just get out.

All right.

( mellow theme playing )

Now give me a shot
in the direction

Norton snuck up on him from.

It'd be around
that rock over there.

And you better get me some more
sh*ts of this area.

Bob, check that spot again,
will ya, please?

Mind if we look around
a little bit, Sheriff?

Hoh, go right ahead,
Mr. Mason.

Maybe you and your detective
friend, Mr. Drake,

can straighten some things
out for me.

What kind of things?

I'll give you the layout,
as we found it.

Now, Bascombe's palomino
was standing there,

reins on the ground.

Bascombe was laying where those
chalk marks are,

two b*llet holes in his back.

It's your client's story,
or at least what we heard of it

before you shut him up
last night,

that Bascombe was firing sh*ts
at the shack down there.

His wife substantiates
that story, Sheriff,

Well, naturally, she would.
But something else don't.

If Bascombe fired sh*ts the way
Norton claims he did,

the expended shells would have
scattered all over the place.

And so far my men haven't found
a single, solitary one.

Now, it looks to me
like your client

is throwing up a smokescreen,

tryin' to make a gunfight
out of cold-blooded m*rder.

Let's go,
Wagner.

Doesn't sound too good,
that expended shell angle.

No, it doesn't.

Perry.

I'm no frontier scout,
but aren't these burro tracks?

I'd say they were.

What was a burro
doing here last night?

Because these tracks
show traces of blood.

Bascombe's blood.
They must have been made

sometime shortly
after he was k*lled.

( dramatic theme playing )

And there was no way of knowing

it was Bascombe firing down
at you, Sally?

No. But who else
could it be?

Well, there's no evidence
of sh**ting

where Bascombe was found.
No empty shells, no cartridges.

There's so much
I don't understand.

Why wouldn't they let us
see Jerry last night?

They can't think that he did it.
It couldn't have been his r*fle.

Why couldn't it have been
his r*fle, Mrs. Norton?

Because Mr. Bascombe was dead
when Jerry found him.

Sally,

I want to ask you
a personal question.

All right.

In town yesterday
I got the impression

that Bascombe's eye
kind of roved in your direction.

He even said something about
his friend with the pretty wife.

Yes.

Had he made advances to you?

Yes.

Did you tell your husband
about it?

No, I didn't have to.

Jerry sort of sensed it.
Mr. Bascombe was rather obvious.

Jerry told him he better keep
away from his land,

and anything on it.

I see.

Now, what about Amos Catledge?
Have you seen him today?

No, but he must be
around somewhere,

his burro's still here.

All right, Sally.

Paul, let's go into town.

I want you to try
and have a few words

with Mrs. Bascombe, if you can.

Sally, I do want to talk
to Amos Catledge.

Will you tell him that
if you see him?

Of course, Mr. Mason.

And thank you.

All I'm talkin'
is grubstake money.

Thousand dollars or so.

Why, that can't mean
nothin' to you,

now you've come
into the ranch and all.

Why should
I grubstake you?

I'm not interested
in prospecting.

Thought maybe you might
be interested

in me goin' away for a spell.

Why should I care
where you go?

If I was to disappear,
so to speak,

I wouldn't have to do no talking
to the sheriff.

Talking about what?

That old abandoned cabin

over by Cottonwood Creek,
for one thing.

You've been spying
on Roy and me?

That's right, ma'am.

Well, all right.

So we did meet there.

What good will it do you
to tell the sheriff that?

There's more, Mrs. Bascombe.

Seems I was close by where
Mr. Bascombe got k*lled,

and right after the sh**ting
I seen somebody ride away.

Same somebody you been meeting
at the cabin.

Roy?

Are you sure?

Yes'm.
Positive.

This could be called
blackmail, you know.

Oh. No, ma'am.

Just the opposite.

I'm trying to help ya.

And Roy Dowson too.

( knock on door )

Get out of sight, Amos,
till I see who it is.

There.

Yes?
Mrs. Bascombe?

Mrs. Bascombe. I'm Paul Drake,
and I'm doing some investigating

for Gerald Norton's
attorney, Perry Mason.

Well, I-I'm afraid
I can't ask you in,

I'm not quite up
to receiving visitors yet.

I know what a shock
it must have been,

but if I could ask you
a question or two

it'd be a great help.

I know nothing
about Ken's death,

or about Mr. Norton, either.

Did you know where
your husband was last night?

Yes.

We had supper together
and then he went for a ride.

( weeping ):
His last ride.

PAUL:
Did anyone go with him?

MRS. BASCOMBE:
No, he was all alone.

Now, if you'll please
excuse me.

Mrs. Bascombe, just
one more thing, please.

About : the previous evening,
someone fired some sh*ts

into the Norton's--
It wasn't Ken,

even though Mr. Norton
accused him of it.

Are you sure?

Of course I'm sure.

Ken was with me
all evening, from : on.

Now I really must go.
I'm sorry.

( ominous theme playing )

Maybe I ought
to tell that fellow

what I know, Mrs. Bascombe.

Come here.

How far can I count
on you going for $?

How far?

A goodly piece, ma'am.

Plumb out of sight, in fact.

( upbeat piano music playing )

Come on, honey.
Drink up.

I got money to burn.

Someone wants to see you
in back, Roy.

Says it's important.

Thanks.

Have that drink finished
when I get back.

Hi, Roy.
Mike, hi.

Are you insane, coming
where everybody can see you?

You said you'd be back
for supper--

I don't have to account
for my comings and goings.

Not yet.
I know, Roy.
Something's happened.

Trouble.

What trouble?

Your remember Amos Catledge,
that crazy old prospector?

He's been watching us,
Roy, at the cabin,

and I had to give him $

so that he wouldn't
tell Sheriff Keller.

Well, why not let him tell?
All we got to do is deny it.

Yes, but there's something
else, you see.

He saw you ride back
from Norton's last night,

just after Ken was shot.

He's lyin'.

I never went out.

But, I saw you, Roy.

I saw you follow Ken. And I saw
you come back.

I didn't k*ll him, Hazel.
Didn't you?

Then how do you account
for those expended r*fle shells

I found in your jacket
last night.

I think you'd better
come home with me now, Roy,

and from here on in
I'll want a full account

of your comings and goings.

It's only your word
against mine.

Have you forgotten
Amos Catledge, Roy?

My word, and his.

Coming?

Before I go, Mr. Mason,

would you mind telling
me one thing?

You've managed to get
Gerald Norton released

from jail, you've practically
convinced the DA

that he and his wife
are telling the truth,

so why go on working?

Back histories of half
the people in town,

old records, alibis,
times, relationships,

a person would think you were
writing a mystery book.

It would make a good one.

Disappearing shells,
bloody burro tracks,

a shadowy third person
on the scene,

and I have a feeling
there's more to come.

In which case,
I want to be ready.

I can see you're going
to be working late,

so I'll say goodnight.

Good night, Miss Street.
Good night, Mr. Wright.

Well, Gerald, congratulations
on getting out.

Thank you.
Good night, boy.

Any luck with Catledge?
PAUL: Not a bit.

GERALD:
We covered every place he ever
camped within miles. Nothing.

SALLY:
Except for Sheba.

Sheba?

Well, she's still at

And personally, I think
it's rather strange

that he'd go off and leave her,
after so many years.

I quite agree.

I'm sorry to interrupt,

but Mr. Wright said I'd find
you here, Gerald.

I'm gonna have to ask you
to come back to jail with me.

But why?
But you just let him out.

I know, I know.

But there's a real charge
against him now, Mrs. Norton.

First-degree m*rder.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Perry--
What about Amos Catledge?

Sorry, still nothing.
But, your hunch

about Mrs. Bascombe
and her foreman was right.

They were together
the night after the k*lling.

Here's the name of the waiter
who saw them.

All right,
Paul, keep after Catledge.

The State is going to try

to wind up the preliminary
hearing in one day,

I want you to get some things.

All right. sh**t.

A box of shredded wheat...
Shredded wheat?

The large box,
and plaster of Paris, a rope,

a miner's pick, a sharp carving
knife, a hunter's lamp,

a pound of lump sugar.

Uh, the same lump sugar
bartenders use

in old-fashioneds?
The same.

Also a Geiger counter,

and a silver plated horseshoe.

Perry, are you feeling
all right?

Tiptop. Now, I want these things
by the noon recess, Paul.

I'll meet you
at the Assay Office.

I mean no aspersion on your
medical knowledge, doctor,

but could you put this in a way

that plain folks like me
could understand?

Yes, of course.

The decedent was shot twice
in the back.

One slug shattered his spine.

The other pierced his heart.

And this caused his death?
Yes, sir.

Instantly, I'd say.
Thank you, doctor.

And now if the court please,

I'll turn the witness over

to our distinguished visitor
from Los Angeles.

Thank you for so describing me,
Mr. Williams.

Our local District Attorney
is rarely so generous.

No questions, Your Honor.

And then Mr. Bascombe hauled off
and knocked the defendant down.

What happened next?

Mr. Mason helped him up and then
Bascombe said to Mrs. Norton,

"Next time don't send
a boy to do a man's work."

And what did the defendant say?

Oh. Well, sir. He said something
I'm sure he didn't mean.

I didn't ask you
what he meant, Mr. Wright.

I asked you what he said.

Well, sir, he said he might
seem a boy to Bascombe,

but he was man enough to k*ll
him if he ever came near

the mine and caused
any trouble again.

Then, there is a battery-powered
bullhorn at the ranch?

Yes. K-Ken used it to direct
the men at roundup time.

And it would produce a strange,
eerie sound, would it not,

if somebody whispered into it:
"Get out, get out, get out?"

I suppose so, but Ken would
never do a thing like that.

( weeping ):
He was too kind.

He was too good
and kind.

Why, did you have
to sh**t him?

Why, did you have
to sh**t him?

( judge bangs gavel )

( crowd murmuring )

Mm-hm. Yes, sir. Took care
of all the g*ns at the ranch.

Hobby of mine. g*ns.

And you were shown
Mr. Bascombe's r*fle

almost immediately after
his body was found.

That's right.
Sheriff showed it to me.

Just like it was after
I'd cleaned it two days before.

That r*fle hadn't
been fired either.

And as chief of the ballistics
section of the state crime lab,

you ran tests on both
the defendant's r*fle,

already introduced
as People's Exhibit D,

and on slugs taken
from the deceased's body?

Yes, sir.

What were your findings?

Bath slugs were fired
from that r*fle.

The defendant's.

Naturally, first thing I did
when I got to the scene

was to look at the body.

Well, you explained
that to us, Sheriff.

I mean in relation
to the defendant.

Well, I asked him
if he'd shot Bascombe.

Said he hadn't,
hadn't even fired his r*fle.

So I asked to see it.
Now, go on.

The muzzle and ejector section

both smelled strongly
of fresh burned powder.

JUDGE:
Care to cross examine,
counselor?

Your Honor, my cross-examination
may be lengthy.

Since it is almost noon...

Oh, thank you, Mr. Mason.

I hadn't realized
it was this late.

You may begin after lunch.

Court will recess
until :.

The Assay Office.

As soon as we can get there.

Half the people in town think
I'm crazy, but I got 'em.

Every single item
on your list.
Good.

How'd it go in court today?

Not good. If we don't dig up
something by :,

we're in trouble.

Would any of you care
to join me for lunch?

It wouldn't be quite proper
for me to join you, Mr. Wright,

but Della would be delighted.

Uh...

It'll be a pleasure,
Mr. Wright.

The pleasure's all mine.

Open this, will ya, Paul.
Mm-hm.

My grandfather
had one of these.

When the center drawer
was unlocked and pulled out,

it released the other drawers.

May I have the carving knife?
Yeah, sure.

Uh, I don't get it.

Whenever my grandfather
mislaid his keys,

he used to open
the desk like this.

Isn't this, uh, breaking
and entering?

Hardly entering, Paul,
since we were invited here.

I'm sure, had we asked,

Mr. Wright would have opened
the desk for us.

But he's a state's
witness, Paul.

I don't want the prosecution
to know what we're doing.

Well, just what are we doing?

This is the latest sample of ore
from Gerald Norton's mine.

I'd like you to check it
with the Geiger counter.

( sporadic clicking )

You're sure you have
it turned on properly?

Absolutely.

All right, Paul.
Put it and the ore away,

I'll go through these.

What are they?

Assay reports from the mine.

They go back as far as years.

What do you hope to find?

Something Mr. Wright

and everyone else
has overlooked.

A motive for m*rder.

( suspenseful theme playing )

You say your husband's
been working

the left-hand side
most recently?

Yeah. The reports
on this side were so bad

that he gave up working it
about three, four months ago.

Nevertheless, we'll try
this side, if you don't mind.

Oh, I don't mind. Want me
to show you where he left off?

Please.

You know exactly where your
husband stopped working

when he moved
to the other shaft?

Yes, it's, uh,
that dark vein, right there.

Here, may I have the light?

What in the world is a bale
of hay doing here?

Can't you guess?

Uh-huh. I can guess.

May I have the pick?

All right. Carving knife,
lantern and pick,

but where are you going
to use the lump of sugar?

I'll tell ya in two minutes.

( knocking on rock )

And when the prosecution
introduced that photograph

of the m*rder scene
into evidence,

you indicated on it the position
of the body, did you not?

By means of the chalk marks.

But there were other marks
at the m*rder scene

that you failed to indicate?

Well, if you mean
the burro tracks, yes.

Your Honor, counsel's line
of questioning appears

to be completely irrelevant.

What is the passage of
a wild burro across the scene

to do with the matter at issue?

I believe Mr. Mason has
a point in mind.

Yes, Your Honor, I have.
Objection.

Overruled.

You may proceed, counsel.

Now, sheriff, in connection
with those burro tracks,

I believe you were present
during an experiment

about minutes ago?

Yes, I watched it.

Your Honor, these are plaster
of Paris impressions

of a burro's tracks.
Now, sheriff,

would you please tell this court

where these impressions
were made?

Well, one was made
from one of the hoofprints

at the m*rder scene.

And the other was made
from a fresh print

left by Amos Catledge's
burro, Sheba.

Can you tell them apart?

No, sir.
They're identical.

Your Honor, I am perfectly
willing to stipulate

that Amos Catledge's burro
was at the scene.

But I still maintain
that all this is irrelevant

since Amos Catledge
has disappeared

and therefore cannot
be called as a witness.

That's true,
Mr. Williams. He can't.

But the court
has given me permission

to call the next best thing.

His burro, Sheba.

Are you going to let him make
a sideshow

of this court, Your Honor?

Mr. Williams, this court's sole
objective is to arrive

at the truth, and if it takes
a sideshow to do so,

then well and good.

Call the burro, Sheba.

BAILIFF:
Burro, Sheba,
will come forward, please.

( crowd murmuring )

( crowd laughing )

Get away from me.

Get away from me.

G-- Get away from me, drat you.

Amos Catledge.

Your Honor, the burro, Sheba,
having testified,

I would now like to call
Mr. Amos Catledge to the stand.

Mr. Amos Catledge to the stand.

But after she give me
the $ to clear out,

like I told you, I couldn't
bring myself to leave,

on account of Sheba.

So I shaved and hair-cut myself,

figurin' that'd amount
to the same thing.

Nobody'd know me.

And the hay that was
in the mine shaft,

that was for Sheba?

Yes, sir.
Fed her at night.

I see.

Now, Mr. Catledge, you've
explained almost everything,

I believe,
except for one thing.

Why did Mrs. Bascombe
pay you to go away?

Like I told you before,
you better ask her.

The defendant, his wife
and I had dinner in town,

leaving their shack open
and unattended.

Did you take his r*fle
and k*ll Bascombe with it?

No, sir.

I wouldn't do nothing
like that.

I like Mr. Norton.

Yes, you liked him so well,
you sold him out for $.

Well, that was another
reason why I hung around.

I couldn't leave
without being sure

that Mr. Norton would get off.

So just in case, I stayed.

All right, Mr. Catledge,
you can help him now,

by telling us why
Mrs. Bascombe paid you.

That's just it.

She paid me,
so I'm obligated not to tell.

You'll have to ask her.

And you gave
Amos Catledge $

without even checking
with Roy Dowson

as to the truth of his story?

Oh, I knew Amos
was telling the truth.

Because, you see, I'd found
the expended r*fle shells

that the sheriff was searching
for, in Roy's jacket.

MASON:
And later on, after paying Amos,

you met Roy Dowson
at the Golden Nugget?

Yes. I wanted to tell him
what had happened.

What was his reaction?

He said Amos was lying.

And then I told him that
I had seen him too,

riding out after Ken that night.

Was that true?

No.

MASON:
Why did you lie, Mrs. Bascombe?

Because I love Roy.

You love him?

Yes, I do, Mr. Mason.
I love him.

And I thought that
if I could let him think

that I knew what he had done,
he would never dare to leave me.

Never.

All right.

I did sh**t
at the Nortons' campfire

and holler at them
through the bullhorn.

But that was the night before
Bascombe was k*lled.

And those empty cartridges
that Hazel--

Mrs. Bascombe found in my jacket
were the ones I shot that night.

You, uh, did this
at Bascombe's request?

Well, he said if I could drive

the Nortons away,
he'd pay me bucks.

And you maintain that you did
not repeat your performance

on the night Bascombe died?

No, sir.

I never got as far
as the Nortons'.

Oh.

I did start out after Bascombe.

Why?

Curiosity. Seein' what
he was up to.

I followed him pretty near
to the ridge

where somebody
was waiting for him.

Man or woman?

ROY:
I wasn't close enough to see.

Anyhow, I figured
if somebody was with him,

I better clear out.

As I was leaving
I heard two sh*ts.

I was almost back to the ranch

before the other sh**t'
started.

All right, Mr. Dowson.

Did Bascombe tell you why
he was suddenly so anxious

to drive the Nortons away?

He said he wanted
to get a hold of the mine.

MASON:
Are you sure he said mine
and not property?

I'm positive.

Did Bascombe tell you why
he wanted the

No, sir.

Possibly Mr. Wright
of the Assay Office can help us.

Your Honor, may I recall him
to the stand?

Will you come forward,
Mr. Wright?

You're still under oath, sir.

Mr. Dowson, would you step down.

Thank you, Mr. Wright.

Yes, sir.

These, um, assay reports
on the Norton mine

are from your office,
are they not?

Yes, sir. Those are the ones
that you asked me to bring.

And, Mr. Wright, is there
anything in those reports

that would have caused Bascombe,

or anyone else, for that matter,
to covet the mine?

No. Nothing, sir.

You can see for yourself.

Perhaps the clue
is in this sack

of recent ore samples
from the mine?

WRIGHT:
Well, I don't see how
it could be, Mr. Mason.

I tested these samples myself

and they're just like
all the others.

Faint traces of gold,
but that's all.

Why was Mr. Bascombe so anxious
to get hold of the mine?

Well, I really
don't know, Mr. Mason.

Wasn't it because you told
him it was valuable,

and went into partnership
with him to get hold of it?

No, sir.
I did no such thing.

No?

Weren't you the person
Roy Dowson just described,

the person Bascombe met
on the ridge?

I was not.

I submit that you were,
Mr. Wright.

I submit that you had
an appointment to meet Bascombe

on the ridge that night,

that you took
Gerald Norton's r*fle

from his shack down below,

k*lled Bascombe when he arrived,

put the r*fle back,

and then when
the Nortons came home,

fired down on them
with your own r*fle.

You must think I'm out
of my mind, Mr. Mason.

No, Mr. Wright, I think
you're extremely clever.

You knew Gerald Norton
would fight back,

because you'd heard him
promise to do just that

earlier in the day
at the Golden Nugget.

You knew Gerald Norton would be
accused of murdering Bascombe.

But why would I do all this?

To rid yourself of Bascombe
and Norton in one fell stroke.

To be in a position
to get the mine for yourself.

Why, this is ridiculous.

Those assay reports,
this ore,

everything proves that
this mine is worthless.

Mr. Wright, when ore samples
are brought into you

do you test them
for radioactivity?

Radio--

Well, naturally.

With a Geiger counter
such as this?

( sporadic clicking )

Comparable, yes.

When you tested those samples
from the Norton mine,

what did you find?

Just the usual background
radiation

your counter is clicking
off now.

You're sure of that?

Well, of course I'm sure.

Try for yourself.

( clicking rapidly )

( crowd murmuring )

( clicking rapidly )

This some kind of a trick?

I put those rocks
there myself.

No, Mr. Wright,

I removed the rocks
you substituted

for Gerald Norton's samples.

That ore came directly
from the Norton mine.

I know because I put it
in the sack.

And it was for that ore,
rich in uranium,

that you k*lled Bascombe,
wasn't it?

Not gold, uranium.

Yes!

( dramatic theme playing )

Because he was trying
to freeze me out,

wanted to keep it all
for himself.

( jazzy piano music playing )

This one?
Mm-hm.

I'll get it out
special delivery.

Paul?
Huh?

Are you still worried
about the list Perry gave you?

Yeah, as a matter
of fact, I am.

I got most of it.

Plaster of Paris
for the burro's hoofprints,

rope to lead it with,
lump sugar to catch it with,

shredded wheat to keep it happy,

though I never heard of giving
a burro shredded wheat before.

Well, I thought it would
be easier to carry around

than a bale of hay.

All right, what
in the world did you want

with a silver-plated horseshoe?

Oh, you mean this?

This was just to bring us luck.

( noirish jazz theme playing )