Perry Mason (1957) s02e05 Episode Script
The Case of the Curious Bride
( noirish jazz theme playing ) ( mellow theme playing ) ( horn honks ) What is it, Carl? Come here.
What's the matter? Did you forget something? That's just in case I don't get back for lunch.
( giggles ) Silly.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( screams ) Artie! That's right.
The same Artie you were supposed to meet yesterday, remember? When you didn't show up, I decided to meet you.
You must be crazy coming here! If Carl saw you- Don't worry, Mrs.
Reynolds.
It's a nice layout you have here.
A garage with two cars, new clothes, a big diamond ring.
And a bridegroom with a millionaire father.
You expect me to believe you can't raise $2000? I've given you almost that already.
Sure, but it's gone.
I need 2000 more.
I'm not kidding, Rhoda! I need 2000 more, and I need it before tomorrow.
I can't get it! You'd better get it.
Have it at my apartment by 10:00 tonight.
I'll give you that much time.
Artie, Carl doesn't go to bed that early.
All right.
Make it 2:00.
He ought to be asleep by then.
You know how to make people go to sleep, Rhoda.
You're a nurse.
( chuckles ) But be careful, not too many pills.
We don't want to lose our golden pigeon.
I'm going to call the police.
Go ahead.
That's one way to end it.
But don't forget, Rhoda, that'll be the end of you and your marriage.
Remember, 2:00.
Sharp.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( mellow theme playing ) Pull.
( gunshot ) Pull.
( gunshot ) Certainly haven't lost your eye, Dad.
Forty-seven out of 50.
Well, it's not bad, considering how little I've been shooting lately.
( gunshot ) Don't tell me you're planning to take up skeet shooting.
No.
I'll leave the trophy-collecting to you.
Well, it must be the money that brings you out so early.
The answer is still no.
But, Daddy, it's only $2000.
Only 2000.
Do you know that when I was your age it took me almost six months to earn $2000.
Well, I know, but- All right, have it your own way, but let me have my way too.
Carl, I've been a father and a mother to you ever since you were 4 years old.
I know that, Dad.
Up until now.
Now when you sneak behind my back and marry a woman about whom you know absolutely nothing.
I know quite a lot about Rhoda, Dad.
In a way I took advantage of her, of her sympathy when she was nursing me back to health.
That's what I think our love really is: sympathy.
Now she thinks I'm dominated by you, and she's trying to cure me of that.
All she's trying to cure is her own bank account, in addition to amusing herself with one of the doctors of the hospital.
Dr.
Michael Harris? She's told you about him? Yes, they were friends.
Well, I've done a good deal of checking, and I assure you they are more than friends.
I trust her.
I love her.
You got her all wrong, Dad, she's a wonderful girl.
She's a cheap adventuress who sees you as a way to my money.
But she's not gonna get a penny of it.
Nor are you, Carl, as long as you remain married to her.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) WOMAN ( over speaker ): Dr.
Robert Jackson.
Dr.
Robert Jackson.
Sorry I had to run out in the middle of things.
Fine young man, ( chuckles ) I didn't mind waiting, Michael.
Thanks.
Now, Rhoda, I think that I should see this Arthur Kane of yours.
Oh, I don't want you to get involved.
Well, then, at least let me loan you the money.
Oh, I was hoping you would, Michael, but that won't do any good either.
He'll just keep wanting more.
Well, then, go to the police.
Oh, I don't dare! You know, you might be surprised at Carl's reaction.
Oh, I know, he's been spoiled and overprotected most of his life, but somewhere underneath, there must be a man lurking.
Lord knows his father's strong enough.
That's all the wedge he needs to break us up.
You should've married me.
No father or mother.
Oh, Michael.
Now, seriously, what am I going to do? I've thought of one possibility.
If anybody can help you, this man can.
WOMAN ( over speaker ): Dr.
Eugene Webster, stat.
Dr.
Anna Douglas, stat.
"Perry Mason, Suite 904, Brent Building.
" Thank you.
Mr.
Mason, this is Mrs.
Crocker.
How do you do, Mr.
Mason? Mrs.
Crocker.
Won't you sit down? Thank you.
I understand you have a question to ask me.
Well, actually, I'm here on behalf of a friend.
A friend? I see.
And so the question is a little involved.
Most legal questions are.
Suppose you begin by telling me something about your friend.
Well, about eight years ago, she was married, and it only lasted for a few months.
It seems her husband vanished with her savings.
It was only a few hundred dollars, but it meant a lot to her.
Where was this? Oh, this was in Seattle.
And then a short time later, she received a telegram from a small town in Kansas saying that her husband had been killed in an auto accident.
And wiring for funeral instructions.
So since her husband didn't have any relatives, she wired the money for him to be buried there, and then she just wiped the whole business out of her mind.
Then quite recently, your friend got married again.
How did you know that? A guess.
Well, uh, yes, to a man who- Who needed her.
And now her first husband has turned up.
Are you really just guessing? Well, not completely.
A fake telegram asking for burial money is one of the oldest dodges in the book.
Let me see if I can guess the question Is the new marriage valid or invalid? Why, yes, that's it exactly.
I'm afraid it's invalid.
Your friend is still legally married to her first husband.
Well, isn't there something about a person who's disappeared for seven years being legally dead? That doesn't apply in this case.
Well, what should my friend do? Divorce her first husband.
She seems to have ample grounds, then she can marry again.
What if the first husband could be persuaded not to come back into her life? Oh, she wouldn't do anything wrong.
She just wants advice.
I'd be glad to talk to your friend any time she cares to make an appointment.
You won't tell me? No, she'll have to come here in person.
That didn't take very long.
Well, it's the old story, advice for a friend.
When I tried to call her bluff, out she went.
So? Uh, so I'm not very proud of myself.
That girl is badly frightened.
I should have drawn her out, won her confidence.
I should have helped her.
Tsk.
I'll just, uh make out the charge for the amount of the retainer.
There's no retainer, no charge.
Oh, yes, there is.
She insisted on giving me $50, and I took it.
Well, I thought she needed help, and I thought you'd help her.
Della, we've got to find that girl.
Oh, she's out of the building by now.
Well, how are you going to find her? Obviously she gave a fictitious name.
Under the circumstances- And since she is a client.
Handkerchief Coin purse Hospital letterhead with my name on it.
Telegram.
"Mrs.
Carl Reynolds, "327 Hypathia Way, Los Angeles.
Don't forget our 2:00 date.
Signed, Artie.
" Is Paul still there? Oh, yeah.
Paul? PAUL: Yeah? Don't tell me you've drummed up some business for me, counselor.
You think you can find out who sent this? Artie? Sure, it's a cinch.
Have it for you in a jiffy.
( mellow theme playing ) I was looking for 1723.
Ah, Mr.
Kane.
Oh, you know him? In a way You see, his windows face mine.
I live in the building right next door.
Not a nice man.
Parties- Drunken parties.
But he does live there.
Yes, he's the only tenant.
Thank you.
( doorbell rings ) Don't you forget, Artie, by 10 tomorrow morning or I'll blow the whistle on you good.
Where can I reach you tonight? You know where I'm working, the Onyx.
Mrs.
Kane? I should sink so low.
What is it? If you're selling something, I don't want any.
I'm not a salesman, Mr.
Kane.
My name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.
An attorney? May I come in? Rhoda Reynolds send you? Let's just say I came here on her behalf.
You're wasting your time.
Well, it's mine to waste.
Was it seven or eight years ago you married her? So that's it.
Rhoda? Did you send a lawyer by the name of Mason to see me? Well, then, how come he-? Yeah, sure.
Here.
Mrs.
Reynolds? RHODA ( over phone ): What are you trying to do, Mr.
Mason? Trying to help.
I don't want your help.
I don't want a lawyer.
Please, just leave me alone.
( line clicks ) Looks like you've kind of lost a client.
I didn't say Mrs.
Reynolds was a client.
I said I came here on her behalf.
She talked about blackmail.
Well, I don't have to talk about it.
I didn't expect you to.
I've talked.
You've listened.
Now think.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( footsteps descending staircase ) ( engine starts ) ( vehicle approaches ) No, lady, I'm sorry.
It's closing time.
Oh.
It's 2:00.
Well, what am I gonna do? I've never changed a tire in my life! Wish I could say that.
Please.
All right, I guess a couple of more minutes won't kill me.
Let me have your keys, please.
Oh, they're in the car.
And would you hurry? ARTHUR: Do you realize in another five minutes I'd have called you at home? You're a fool, Rhoda.
Could I help the flat tire? It isn't the tire! It's calling in that half-baked lawyer! I only wanted to ask him a question.
Yeah, and you got the wrong answer.
Now, where's the money? I couldn't get it.
You what? Artie, would you just give me a day or two more- Listen, I told you tonight was the deadline! Why didn't I think about this before? This rock's worth about 10,000.
What are you doing? Oh, no.
This is Carl's mother's ring.
So you lose it.
Oh, no, I won't.
He'd never forgive me.
That's your worry.
( doorbell rings ) There's somebody at the door.
Let him stay there.
Now, come on! Gimme it! Artie, I'll hit you! I swear I will.
You haven't got the nerve.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( yelps ) ( crashing, glass breaking ) ( barking ) ( thuds ) ( Arthur grunts ) ( Rhoda shrieks ) Give me the police quickly.
Somebody's getting killed.
( suspenseful theme playing ) PAUL: Sure is, Della.
The same Artie who sent the telegram.
Did you see the picture of the ring on Page 2? Yeah, it was quite a rock.
Looked like it came from some maharajah's private collection.
Remember the woman that came in yesterday just as you were leaving, said her name was Mrs.
Crocker? Yeah.
It was hers.
Yipe, that'll take a little explaining.
I wonder what Perry will do about it.
MASON: Nothing.
I no longer represent the lady in question.
It seems I was fired yesterday under rather painful circumstances.
Do you think she did it? Uh, it looks bad.
A telegram from the victim reminding her of a 2:00 appointment, the murder, if it is a murder, committed at approximately 2:00, and her ring in the dead man's hand.
I'm afraid Lieutenant Tragg will find it a simple problem in addition.
As a matter of fact, I'll lay you 5-to-1 he's got her in custody right now.
( phone rings ) Yes, Gertie? Hold on.
Could I have a dollar of that bet? Sure.
Mrs.
Reynolds.
Hello? Where are you, Mrs.
Reynolds? Doctor's hospital, waiting room, third floor.
Now, listen carefully.
Stay right where you are.
Don't leave that room for any reason.
Yes, as soon as I can make it.
Uh, yesterday I was fired, today I'm hired.
All right, two things, Paul.
Get ahold of the police report on the crime.
I want copies of the photographs.
See if you can find the woman I bumped into coming out of Kane's apartment yesterday.
She's blond, Jersey City accent, a little on the tough side, but still pretty, and I believe she works at the Onyx.
Will do.
Bye.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Yes, it was around a quarter of 7, before I'd gotten up.
Actually, I was still asleep.
Yes, but you were awake enough to hear her say her sister was, uh, seriously ill in Chicago.
Yes, she said she'd call me as soon as her plane got there.
Yeah.
Um Let me, uh, read you something.
Traffic citation, failure to observe a boulevard stop.
Issued at, uh, 2:22 this morning to a Mrs.
Carl Reynolds.
Uh, that your wife's signature? ( door opens ) What's going on in here? Who is this man, Carl? Lieutenant Tragg, Homicide.
C.
Philip Reynolds.
May I ask what you're doing? We're trying to establish where young Mrs.
Reynolds was last night.
Mm-hm, and what's Carl told you? Practically nothing.
Well, he certainly told me enough over the telephone half an hour ago.
Dad, that was in confidence.
There is no such thing as confidence when murder's involved.
What did he tell you, Mr.
Reynolds? That his wife tried to drug him.
Drug him? Yes, by pouring sleeping powder in a cup of hot chocolate.
Fortunately, Carl saw her, and when her back was turned, he emptied the cup and pretended to fall asleep.
At 1:45, she crept out of the house and drove off in her car.
How did you know that? My son watched her leave from the bedroom window.
An hour later, she returned.
He pretended to be asleep again.
She got back in bed.
Is this so? Yes.
Might as well tell him the rest of it too.
When my son woke up this morning, his wife was gone.
No sick sister? I don't know where she went.
PHILIP: It's quite obvious where she went: to Kane's apartment.
I knew that the moment I saw the picture of the diamond ring in the paper.
Your wife ever mention Arthur Kane? No, this is the first I've heard of him.
Lieutenant, my son knows next to nothing about this woman he's married, or should I say, who's married him.
If you do learn something, I hope you'll pass it along.
He will.
You may be certain of that.
TRAGG: I'll keep in touch.
I know my way out.
( sighs ) ( door closes ) Dad, you shouldn't have done that.
And why not? What if Rhoda's innocent? Do you, for one single moment, believe that? I don't know.
I don't know what to believe.
WOMAN ( over PA ): Dr.
John Young.
Dr.
John Young.
Well, then he wrenched off my ring, and I hit him.
And then the lights went out.
I don't know why, but that gave me a chance to run.
On your way out, did you see the person who had been ringing the doorbell? No, I didn't see anybody.
I just jumped in my car.
Anything else happen? ( sighs ) No, I put the car in the garage, and then I tried to get the door closed.
The car door? No, the garage door.
The bumper of the convertible was in the way.
When the door wouldn't close, I just left it and went up to bed.
Then on the morning news you heard about Kane.
Yes, I didn't think I killed him, but when the announcer said he was dead, I was terrified.
I'm glad you've calmed down.
Now, I want you to go home and act as if nothing had happened.
When the police arrive, don't tell them a thing.
Just say you want to consult your attorney.
Don't talk, no matter how hard they press.
You can be sure- WOMAN ( over PA ): Dr.
Andrew Russell, stat.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, counselor, but I have a warrant for Mrs.
Reynolds' arrest.
And the charge? First-degree murder.
( dramatic theme playing ) I don't see the sense of this.
I told you about the door.
In fact, I've told you everything I told the police.
I'm sure of that, Mr.
Reynolds.
I'm merely trying to verify what your wife said.
Have either of these cars been moved since last night? No, the garage is just the way Rhoda left it.
But she did try to close the garage door? Yes, she banged it a couple of times, then came on upstairs.
You think that was around 2:40? Oh, I know it was.
I looked at the clock.
Then you pretended to be asleep when she came in.
That's the part I don't quite understand.
Most husbands, if their wives went out like that, would want to know where they'd been.
I- I was afraid she'd tell me she'd been with Dr.
Harris.
Dr.
Harris? PHILIP: Dr.
Michael Harris.
My son's wife has been having an affair with him for years.
I thought we'd agreed that your son would do his own talking, Mr.
Reynolds.
Now, listen to me, annul Carl's marriage.
If you can manage it without undo publicity, I'll give you $10,000.
It's quite a handsome figure, but I've already accepted a retainer from Mrs.
Reynolds.
I can imagine what a weighty sum that was.
Hm, perhaps it wasn't very large, but she also gave me something else.
What was that? Her trust, Mr.
Reynolds.
Nobody realizes the jam she's in more than I do.
You see, she not only told me all about her involvement with Kane, but also about the appointment at 2:00.
I warned her not to keep it.
How do you know she did keep it, Dr.
Harris? Well, the ring, and I saw her leave Kane's apartment.
You saw her? Then you must have been the one who rang that front doorbell.
Yes.
I couldn't sleep last night.
Around 2:00, I got dressed and drove over to the apartment.
Rhoda's car was parked in front.
I went in and rang Kane's doorbell, intending to face him with her.
I rang three or four times, and then I heard running feet down the hall.
I stepped back in the shadows, and Rhoda dashed out.
Did you speak to her? No.
What should I do, Mr.
Mason? As a lawyer, I can't advise you.
You might consult a doctor.
Oh, what good would that do? I've got dozens of patients with troubles they couldn't talk about, and all I can tell them is to take a long vacation.
Now I'm in the same predicament myself.
As I said, you might consult a doctor.
Any luck, Paul? Plenty, Kane's record, carbon of the report from Homicide, and the only photograph I could get my hands on.
Oh, this'll do fine.
Notice here on the table.
PAUL: Mm, the alarm clock.
What's so special about that? The alarm.
I don't get it.
Never mind.
What about the blond? Her name is Edna Freeman, and the, uh, Onyx is a honky-tonk down on Main Street.
Better talk with her, Paul.
Find out what she knows about Kane.
All right, I'll call you.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( doorbell rings ) ( rings ) ( piano playing jazz ) ( Edna sighs ) Now, where was I? You got a cigarette? Oh, yeah.
You were just meeting Artie Kane, a dewy-eyed young girl from Jersey City.
I must have had more than dew in my eyes to let him get his hands on that money.
The 3000 your aunt left you? Three thousand, three hundred and eighty-six dollars.
Did you tell the police? You bet I did.
They've got it on record.
That's why, when I ran into him last week, I was able to put the screws on him.
At least I got half of it back.
Where were you last night? In bed.
Couldn't be that you went up there, and when he wouldn't give you the rest- Are you crazy? The Reynolds woman killed him.
That's where he was supposed to get the money from.
She was to bring it by at 2:00.
He told me all about her.
He did? Look, I represent a lawyer named Mason.
Would you be willing to come and talk- Uh-uh.
I've already been signed up.
Who by? The police.
Thanks.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( buzzes ) ( buzzer buzzes ) ( buzzes ) Sidney.
Mr.
Mason.
What are you doin' here? Come on in, Sidney.
I want to talk to you.
Sure.
Say, I hope I'm not in some kind of trouble again.
No.
No, I just wondered how you were making out.
Oh, I still got the same little electric repair shop.
I got my wife and a couple of kids to take care of.
Sidney, how would you and your family like to have an apartment, rent-free? An apartment? Aw, I owe you too much already, Mr.
Mason, defending me- No, no, you'd be doing me a favor.
I would? Where is this apartment? Right here.
This apartment? Sure.
You can move in anytime next week.
There's just one thing, though.
Oh, oh, a-anything.
Well, when you ring your front doorbell, a buzzer sounds.
You don't like buzzers.
I don't? No, so you get a doorbell from your stock- One that rings.
- you put it up in place of the buzzer.
Later, if somebody should ask you about it- I know, I know.
I just don't like buzzers.
That's right.
Perry, I'm pretty sure she was on the level that Kane did tell her Mrs.
Reynolds was coming at 2:00 with the money.
That means that Edna Freeman can supply the prosecution with a motive.
And Carl Reynolds' story about the sleeping powder- Premeditation.
DELLA: But you've always said a husband can't testify against a wife.
You forget that Kane was her husband.
What do you do now? There's one thing I can do.
File for a divorce on her behalf against Carl Reynolds.
But how can she divorce someone she hasn't even been married to? I think I'll let Mr.
Burger figure that out.
( suspenseful theme playing ) MASON: You still haven't explained why you didn't ask for a divorce.
I told you, Mr.
Mason, I don't want to divorce Carl.
Is that because you feel sorry for him? Yes, you're right.
I do feel sorry for him.
Sympathy is a noble thing, but you can't live your life honestly if you base it on that alone.
I quarreled with Dr.
Harris about that very thing.
He called it my broken-wing fixation.
Did you know that Dr.
Harris was the one who rang the doorbell when you were in Kane's apartment? Michael was there? Trying to help you.
Let me put this as straight as I can.
Now, your husband made statements linking you to the murder.
These must be branded as lies.
There are two ways of doing that.
One is for me to subpoena Carl in your divorce suit and try to break down his story.
The other is the divorce suit itself, in which you can charge him with having lied.
Next week you go on trial for your life, Rhoda.
Isn't it time you stop dodging reality? ( suspenseful theme playing ) BURGER: And additionally, we expect to prove that the decedent was found in his apartment at 2:25 a.
m.
with his skull fractured.
And that this fracture was caused by a blow from an iron poker found in the apartment.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, on the basis of all this evidence we intend to ask for a verdict of murder in the first-degree.
( crowd chattering ) Lieutenant, I ask you to examine this diamond ring- Introduced as people's exhibit E.
- and tell this court, please, how you happened to find it? Well, the, uh, decedent's right hand was clenched, as though holding something, and I bent down and looked.
The fingers were just separated enough for me to see it.
The diamond ring.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine, Mr.
Mason.
Lieutenant Tragg, you said you looked around the apartment while you were there? Yes, sir, I did.
Did you see an alarm clock in the room where the body was found? Yes, and it was going.
Did you notice for what time the alarm was set on that clock? TRAGG: Yes, it was set for 2:00, or maybe a minute or two before.
Now, I ask you to look at this photograph marked people's exhibit B.
Does it show the alarm clock? TRAGG: It does.
MASON: And what time is it by that clock? Three fifty-five.
Now, would you please read the time stamped on the photograph indicating when it was taken? Three fifty-five.
Then you were correct in saying that the alarm clock kept the right time? Looks that way.
With the court's permission, I should like to show this photograph to the jury and point out the clock.
Proceed.
May I ask to, uh, have the alarm clock produced now? We'll produce it when we're ready to produce it, Mr.
Mason.
Your Honor, please.
I should like to cross-examine this witness with the alarm clock in evidence.
Well, I don't think I should force the prosecution to put on its case out of order.
If you care to recall the witness after the clock has been produced, well, then, you may do so.
Very well, Your Honor.
I have no further questions at this time.
Thank you, Mr.
Lane.
No further questions.
Your witness.
Mr.
Lane, I'm curious as to how you know it was exactly four minutes to 2 when the defendant drove into your service station.
LANE: Well, I always start to close up at five minutes of 2, and I was just closing up.
And you say it took you nine minutes to change the tire? Yes, sir.
I looked at my watch when she drove out.
So during the interval between 1:56 and 2:05, Mrs.
Reynolds was in your service station? Yes, sir.
During that time was she ever out of your sight? No, she stood there and watched me change the tire.
MASON: Thank you, Mr.
Lane.
No further questions.
Now, Mrs.
Crandall, you were in your bedroom from midnight until about 2:20, is that correct? Yes, I was.
Referring now to Apartment 4 in the building next door, did you hear anything happen there during the interval I just mentioned? Yes, first I heard what woke me up, the ringing of a doorbell.
What else did you hear? I heard voices.
Did they seem to be quarreling voices? Objection.
Question is leading and suggestive.
I'll rephrase the question.
Could you tell if the voices were men's voices or women's voices? Permit me to call your attention to the fact that the vice of a leading question consists in asking it.
Once counsel has pointed the mind of a witness in a certain direction, it does no good to rephrase the question.
The damage has been done.
Now, kindly avoid leading questions in the future.
I'm very sorry, Your Honor.
Uh, could you hear what the voices were saying? Um No.
BURGER: Well, what else did you hear? Well, I- I heard a crashing of furniture and- And the sounds of blows.
And later, I heard groaning.
And what did you do about all this? I got up and phoned the police.
Do you know what time it was? Two fifteen.
Are you positive about the time? Yes, there's an electric clock by my telephone.
Thank you.
Cross-examine.
Mrs.
Crandall, have you ever before heard the doorbell ring in the apartment across the way? Well, this was an unusually quiet night, no wind.
That doesn't answer my question.
I asked about the doorbell.
Well, no, I don't think I ever heard the doorbell ring before.
Then how can you be sure it was the doorbell and not the telephone? Well, for one thing, the shade was drawn, but I could see figures moving about through an opening between the window and the shade.
How large would you say that opening was? Oh, about 8 inches or so.
MASON: I claim, Mrs.
Crandall, that you could not see figures through an opening only 8 inches wide.
Your Honor, I have a suggestion to make, if Mr.
Mason's agreeable.
Since this seems to be a question of how much Mrs.
Crandall could see from her bedroom window through a half-drawn shade of the apartment opposite hers, I suggest the jury be taken there and allowed to see for themselves.
Well, Mr.
Mason? This is a little unexpected, but the defense has no objection to such a visit, Your Honor.
Directly opposite this window is Apartment Number 4, the decedent's apartment.
Well, how can the jury tell if you can see ( bell ringing ) Your Honor, this is manifestly unfair.
The ringing of the bell is equivalent to the taking of testimony.
The jury was brought here only to view the premises, not to hear a bell.
JUDGE: Mr.
Burger, there was no stipulation that the doorbell was to be rung while a jury was here.
Why, Your Honor, I had no idea the bell was gonna be rung.
I simply told the deputy to go and disconnect it.
JUDGE: But you warned the man not to ring it? Why, no, Your Honor, it never occurred to me he'd take it upon himself to ( bell ringing ) Stop ringing that bell! And I've had an electrician prepare a set of dry batteries, which can be connected to the bell.
In this way, I can test Mrs.
Crandall's recollection of the sound of the bell.
However, before I do this, I ask permission to have the witness step down so that the prosecution can introduce the bell in evidence.
Any objections? No objection.
Why, thank you.
Perhaps, at this time, the prosecution will also see fit to introduce the alarm clock in evidence.
We'll be happy to do anything to assist counsel that we can.
Will you step down, please, Mrs.
Crandall? How long have you lived in the apartment, Mr.
Otis? Since two days after the murder.
And do you recognize this bell? Sure, that's the bell your men took out.
And this bell was in the apartment when you moved in? No, sir.
No, sir? That bell's from my store.
( chuckles ) Oh, I see.
You- You replaced the original bell with one of your own.
I replaced it, but it wasn't no bell.
What was it? A buzzer.
You mean to say that there was a buzzer in that apartment when you moved in? All the apartments have buzzers.
The other three still have buzzers.
I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.
Lieutenant, get someone out there and find out what's in those apartments! Now, counselor, as long as you're in my court, you will pay attention to the proceedings at hand.
I'm sorry, Your Honor.
I have no further questions.
Cross-examine.
I'm afraid I'm at loss as to how to proceed.
I did intended to test that doorbell.
Now it appears there was a buzzer in the apartment.
You're excused, Mr.
Otis.
JUDGE: Step down.
Now, Mrs.
Crandall, I don't want to confuse you, but if there was a buzzer in the apartment at the time of the decedent's death, you could not have heard a doorbell, now, could you? Well, I thought it was the doorbell.
MASON: As I recall, you said it had a whirring sound? CRANDALL: Yes.
Mrs.
Crandall, I ask you to examine this clock.
It has been identified as the one taken from the decedent's apartment shortly after his death.
You will note that the alarm has been set at 2, and that both the clock and the alarm have run down.
Well, of course it's run down.
The police have better things to do than winding clocks.
Well, there need be no argument.
What is it you wish to do? Under the court's supervision, I wish to wind the alarm and then turn the hands so that the alarm will ring.
Very well, you may do so.
Mr.
Burger, if you'd care to watch.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I assure you, the prosecution is not interested in watching Mr.
Mason wind a clock.
( bell ringing ) ( bell ringing ) Yes, that's it.
That's what I heard, the alarm clock! JUDGE: Naturally, for the purpose of this discussion, I've dismissed the jury.
Now, gentlemen, if that was an alarm clock that Mrs.
Crandall heard, then it would be manifestly impossible for the defendant to have been in the room at the time.
The prosecution's own testimony shows that the defendant was at a nearby service station at the time.
If the court please, I don't wish to take any unfair advantage of the prosecutor.
I was satisfied that the witness believed that she had heard a doorbell, but I also thought that her honest opinion had been conditioned by previous testimony.
Therefore, I arranged a test wherein she would be forced to believe that she could not have heard a doorbell.
Well, exactly what do you mean, Mr.
Mason, when you say you arranged a test? MASON: Well, simply this, the buzzer which the present tenant replaced was not there on the night of the murder.
So that's it.
You deliberately deceived this court! You even deceived the witness! MASON: How could I, Mr.
Burger? I brought this to the attention of the court.
I haven't deceived the witness.
I merely tested her.
Very well, Mr.
Mason, then instead of bringing charges against you for unethical conduct, when this case is finished, I'll have you indicted for breaking into a house and stealing a doorbell! Toward which end, Your Honor, may I respectfully request that we recall the jury and get on with the case.
Well, we'll do that tomorrow, if there's no objection on the part of the defense.
Uh, none at all, Your Honor.
It will give me an opportunity to get a deposition from Carl Reynolds in connection with the divorce suit Mrs.
Reynolds has brought against him.
BURGER: Wait a minute, Your Honor, Carl Reynolds is a prosecution witness.
This is a deliberate attempt to intimidate him! MASON: Your Honor, the prosecution is perfectly welcome to sit in on the deposition at my office and to make any objection for the record if it appears that his witness is being intimidated in any way.
Well, that seems reasonable enough.
The court'll be adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10:00.
( crowd murmuring ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) MASON: You say that she was more than friendly with Dr.
Michael Harris? Yes.
How do you know that? My father told me, he had her checked on.
By detectives? I suppose.
Did he do any of this checking in person? I did on several occasions.
Please, Mr.
Reynolds, your son is making this deposition.
Your father hated Rhoda, didn't he? He didn't like our marriage.
In connection with his checking on her, did he mention Arthur Kane? Not until I told him about the telegram.
The one reminding Rhoda about the 2:00 date, signed "Artie"? Yes.
MASON: Did your father say what he'd found out about Arthur Kane? CARL: Only that Rhoda had been meeting him.
Did your father have any theory regarding the telegram? He said it was obviously an assignation, and the date was for that night.
Now, how about that night? You never left the house? No.
You're positive? Yes.
Then how do you account for the fact that the garage door wouldn't close when Rhoda returned? I don't understand.
Didn't you say you saw her unlock and open it when she left? Yes.
Yet, when she came back, the bumper on the convertible prevented the door from closing.
Wouldn't that suggest to you that the convertible had been used while your wife was absent? That when it was returned, it wasn't driven far enough into the garage? I never thought of that.
I think you did.
I think you know your father took the convertible and followed Rhoda to Kane's apartment, went up the back way.
When he saw her struggling with Kane over that ring, he realized he could get rid of her by killing Kane.
So he turned off the lights- No.
No, it wasn't that way at all.
It wasn't Dad.
I killed him.
I- I saw them fighting and turned out the lights so Rhoda wouldn't see me and went in to help.
She ran, and Kane grabbed me.
He had the poker, and I- I got it away from him, hit out, and he fell.
Then I lit a match to see what happened.
He was dead.
( dramatic theme playing ) Perry, about that motion for a directed verdict? Yes? I'll make it for you.
( mellow theme playing ) Won't you come in, Mrs.
Reynolds? Thank you.
Mr.
Mason.
Rhoda.
You'll be glad to hear that Mr.
Reynolds is standing by Carl.
And so am I.
Well, they don't seem to want that.
You mean Carl doesn't? Well, he realizes that pity is not a basis for marriage.
He'd like an annulment.
Well, of course I won't oppose it, but are you sure he doesn't need me? I'm sure.
I know someone that does need you, though, Rhoda.
A certain Dr.
Harris.
Oh, Michael? Yes.
When did he get in town? He called about ten minutes ago.
Oh.
Thank you, Mr.
Mason.
You get all the breaks, counselor.
Hm, speaking of breaks- I am afraid he's not going to get the same break from Mr.
Burger.
Oh, you mean about the buzzer.
Uh-huh.
Mr.
Burger is gonna subpoena Perry before the grand jury on a charge of illegal entry and larceny of the doorbell.
I know it's a technicality, Perry, but he's got you over a barrel.
Paul, I suggest you call Mr.
Burger and ask him if it's a crime for a landlord to enter his own property to make repairs.
Would you mind filing this for me, Della? What is it? Well, on the day after the murder, I invested in some real estate- A four-family flat.
Not the one Arthur Kane ( sighing ): I might have known.
( noirish jazz theme playing )
What's the matter? Did you forget something? That's just in case I don't get back for lunch.
( giggles ) Silly.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( screams ) Artie! That's right.
The same Artie you were supposed to meet yesterday, remember? When you didn't show up, I decided to meet you.
You must be crazy coming here! If Carl saw you- Don't worry, Mrs.
Reynolds.
It's a nice layout you have here.
A garage with two cars, new clothes, a big diamond ring.
And a bridegroom with a millionaire father.
You expect me to believe you can't raise $2000? I've given you almost that already.
Sure, but it's gone.
I need 2000 more.
I'm not kidding, Rhoda! I need 2000 more, and I need it before tomorrow.
I can't get it! You'd better get it.
Have it at my apartment by 10:00 tonight.
I'll give you that much time.
Artie, Carl doesn't go to bed that early.
All right.
Make it 2:00.
He ought to be asleep by then.
You know how to make people go to sleep, Rhoda.
You're a nurse.
( chuckles ) But be careful, not too many pills.
We don't want to lose our golden pigeon.
I'm going to call the police.
Go ahead.
That's one way to end it.
But don't forget, Rhoda, that'll be the end of you and your marriage.
Remember, 2:00.
Sharp.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( mellow theme playing ) Pull.
( gunshot ) Pull.
( gunshot ) Certainly haven't lost your eye, Dad.
Forty-seven out of 50.
Well, it's not bad, considering how little I've been shooting lately.
( gunshot ) Don't tell me you're planning to take up skeet shooting.
No.
I'll leave the trophy-collecting to you.
Well, it must be the money that brings you out so early.
The answer is still no.
But, Daddy, it's only $2000.
Only 2000.
Do you know that when I was your age it took me almost six months to earn $2000.
Well, I know, but- All right, have it your own way, but let me have my way too.
Carl, I've been a father and a mother to you ever since you were 4 years old.
I know that, Dad.
Up until now.
Now when you sneak behind my back and marry a woman about whom you know absolutely nothing.
I know quite a lot about Rhoda, Dad.
In a way I took advantage of her, of her sympathy when she was nursing me back to health.
That's what I think our love really is: sympathy.
Now she thinks I'm dominated by you, and she's trying to cure me of that.
All she's trying to cure is her own bank account, in addition to amusing herself with one of the doctors of the hospital.
Dr.
Michael Harris? She's told you about him? Yes, they were friends.
Well, I've done a good deal of checking, and I assure you they are more than friends.
I trust her.
I love her.
You got her all wrong, Dad, she's a wonderful girl.
She's a cheap adventuress who sees you as a way to my money.
But she's not gonna get a penny of it.
Nor are you, Carl, as long as you remain married to her.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) WOMAN ( over speaker ): Dr.
Robert Jackson.
Dr.
Robert Jackson.
Sorry I had to run out in the middle of things.
Fine young man, ( chuckles ) I didn't mind waiting, Michael.
Thanks.
Now, Rhoda, I think that I should see this Arthur Kane of yours.
Oh, I don't want you to get involved.
Well, then, at least let me loan you the money.
Oh, I was hoping you would, Michael, but that won't do any good either.
He'll just keep wanting more.
Well, then, go to the police.
Oh, I don't dare! You know, you might be surprised at Carl's reaction.
Oh, I know, he's been spoiled and overprotected most of his life, but somewhere underneath, there must be a man lurking.
Lord knows his father's strong enough.
That's all the wedge he needs to break us up.
You should've married me.
No father or mother.
Oh, Michael.
Now, seriously, what am I going to do? I've thought of one possibility.
If anybody can help you, this man can.
WOMAN ( over speaker ): Dr.
Eugene Webster, stat.
Dr.
Anna Douglas, stat.
"Perry Mason, Suite 904, Brent Building.
" Thank you.
Mr.
Mason, this is Mrs.
Crocker.
How do you do, Mr.
Mason? Mrs.
Crocker.
Won't you sit down? Thank you.
I understand you have a question to ask me.
Well, actually, I'm here on behalf of a friend.
A friend? I see.
And so the question is a little involved.
Most legal questions are.
Suppose you begin by telling me something about your friend.
Well, about eight years ago, she was married, and it only lasted for a few months.
It seems her husband vanished with her savings.
It was only a few hundred dollars, but it meant a lot to her.
Where was this? Oh, this was in Seattle.
And then a short time later, she received a telegram from a small town in Kansas saying that her husband had been killed in an auto accident.
And wiring for funeral instructions.
So since her husband didn't have any relatives, she wired the money for him to be buried there, and then she just wiped the whole business out of her mind.
Then quite recently, your friend got married again.
How did you know that? A guess.
Well, uh, yes, to a man who- Who needed her.
And now her first husband has turned up.
Are you really just guessing? Well, not completely.
A fake telegram asking for burial money is one of the oldest dodges in the book.
Let me see if I can guess the question Is the new marriage valid or invalid? Why, yes, that's it exactly.
I'm afraid it's invalid.
Your friend is still legally married to her first husband.
Well, isn't there something about a person who's disappeared for seven years being legally dead? That doesn't apply in this case.
Well, what should my friend do? Divorce her first husband.
She seems to have ample grounds, then she can marry again.
What if the first husband could be persuaded not to come back into her life? Oh, she wouldn't do anything wrong.
She just wants advice.
I'd be glad to talk to your friend any time she cares to make an appointment.
You won't tell me? No, she'll have to come here in person.
That didn't take very long.
Well, it's the old story, advice for a friend.
When I tried to call her bluff, out she went.
So? Uh, so I'm not very proud of myself.
That girl is badly frightened.
I should have drawn her out, won her confidence.
I should have helped her.
Tsk.
I'll just, uh make out the charge for the amount of the retainer.
There's no retainer, no charge.
Oh, yes, there is.
She insisted on giving me $50, and I took it.
Well, I thought she needed help, and I thought you'd help her.
Della, we've got to find that girl.
Oh, she's out of the building by now.
Well, how are you going to find her? Obviously she gave a fictitious name.
Under the circumstances- And since she is a client.
Handkerchief Coin purse Hospital letterhead with my name on it.
Telegram.
"Mrs.
Carl Reynolds, "327 Hypathia Way, Los Angeles.
Don't forget our 2:00 date.
Signed, Artie.
" Is Paul still there? Oh, yeah.
Paul? PAUL: Yeah? Don't tell me you've drummed up some business for me, counselor.
You think you can find out who sent this? Artie? Sure, it's a cinch.
Have it for you in a jiffy.
( mellow theme playing ) I was looking for 1723.
Ah, Mr.
Kane.
Oh, you know him? In a way You see, his windows face mine.
I live in the building right next door.
Not a nice man.
Parties- Drunken parties.
But he does live there.
Yes, he's the only tenant.
Thank you.
( doorbell rings ) Don't you forget, Artie, by 10 tomorrow morning or I'll blow the whistle on you good.
Where can I reach you tonight? You know where I'm working, the Onyx.
Mrs.
Kane? I should sink so low.
What is it? If you're selling something, I don't want any.
I'm not a salesman, Mr.
Kane.
My name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.
An attorney? May I come in? Rhoda Reynolds send you? Let's just say I came here on her behalf.
You're wasting your time.
Well, it's mine to waste.
Was it seven or eight years ago you married her? So that's it.
Rhoda? Did you send a lawyer by the name of Mason to see me? Well, then, how come he-? Yeah, sure.
Here.
Mrs.
Reynolds? RHODA ( over phone ): What are you trying to do, Mr.
Mason? Trying to help.
I don't want your help.
I don't want a lawyer.
Please, just leave me alone.
( line clicks ) Looks like you've kind of lost a client.
I didn't say Mrs.
Reynolds was a client.
I said I came here on her behalf.
She talked about blackmail.
Well, I don't have to talk about it.
I didn't expect you to.
I've talked.
You've listened.
Now think.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( footsteps descending staircase ) ( engine starts ) ( vehicle approaches ) No, lady, I'm sorry.
It's closing time.
Oh.
It's 2:00.
Well, what am I gonna do? I've never changed a tire in my life! Wish I could say that.
Please.
All right, I guess a couple of more minutes won't kill me.
Let me have your keys, please.
Oh, they're in the car.
And would you hurry? ARTHUR: Do you realize in another five minutes I'd have called you at home? You're a fool, Rhoda.
Could I help the flat tire? It isn't the tire! It's calling in that half-baked lawyer! I only wanted to ask him a question.
Yeah, and you got the wrong answer.
Now, where's the money? I couldn't get it.
You what? Artie, would you just give me a day or two more- Listen, I told you tonight was the deadline! Why didn't I think about this before? This rock's worth about 10,000.
What are you doing? Oh, no.
This is Carl's mother's ring.
So you lose it.
Oh, no, I won't.
He'd never forgive me.
That's your worry.
( doorbell rings ) There's somebody at the door.
Let him stay there.
Now, come on! Gimme it! Artie, I'll hit you! I swear I will.
You haven't got the nerve.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( yelps ) ( crashing, glass breaking ) ( barking ) ( thuds ) ( Arthur grunts ) ( Rhoda shrieks ) Give me the police quickly.
Somebody's getting killed.
( suspenseful theme playing ) PAUL: Sure is, Della.
The same Artie who sent the telegram.
Did you see the picture of the ring on Page 2? Yeah, it was quite a rock.
Looked like it came from some maharajah's private collection.
Remember the woman that came in yesterday just as you were leaving, said her name was Mrs.
Crocker? Yeah.
It was hers.
Yipe, that'll take a little explaining.
I wonder what Perry will do about it.
MASON: Nothing.
I no longer represent the lady in question.
It seems I was fired yesterday under rather painful circumstances.
Do you think she did it? Uh, it looks bad.
A telegram from the victim reminding her of a 2:00 appointment, the murder, if it is a murder, committed at approximately 2:00, and her ring in the dead man's hand.
I'm afraid Lieutenant Tragg will find it a simple problem in addition.
As a matter of fact, I'll lay you 5-to-1 he's got her in custody right now.
( phone rings ) Yes, Gertie? Hold on.
Could I have a dollar of that bet? Sure.
Mrs.
Reynolds.
Hello? Where are you, Mrs.
Reynolds? Doctor's hospital, waiting room, third floor.
Now, listen carefully.
Stay right where you are.
Don't leave that room for any reason.
Yes, as soon as I can make it.
Uh, yesterday I was fired, today I'm hired.
All right, two things, Paul.
Get ahold of the police report on the crime.
I want copies of the photographs.
See if you can find the woman I bumped into coming out of Kane's apartment yesterday.
She's blond, Jersey City accent, a little on the tough side, but still pretty, and I believe she works at the Onyx.
Will do.
Bye.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Yes, it was around a quarter of 7, before I'd gotten up.
Actually, I was still asleep.
Yes, but you were awake enough to hear her say her sister was, uh, seriously ill in Chicago.
Yes, she said she'd call me as soon as her plane got there.
Yeah.
Um Let me, uh, read you something.
Traffic citation, failure to observe a boulevard stop.
Issued at, uh, 2:22 this morning to a Mrs.
Carl Reynolds.
Uh, that your wife's signature? ( door opens ) What's going on in here? Who is this man, Carl? Lieutenant Tragg, Homicide.
C.
Philip Reynolds.
May I ask what you're doing? We're trying to establish where young Mrs.
Reynolds was last night.
Mm-hm, and what's Carl told you? Practically nothing.
Well, he certainly told me enough over the telephone half an hour ago.
Dad, that was in confidence.
There is no such thing as confidence when murder's involved.
What did he tell you, Mr.
Reynolds? That his wife tried to drug him.
Drug him? Yes, by pouring sleeping powder in a cup of hot chocolate.
Fortunately, Carl saw her, and when her back was turned, he emptied the cup and pretended to fall asleep.
At 1:45, she crept out of the house and drove off in her car.
How did you know that? My son watched her leave from the bedroom window.
An hour later, she returned.
He pretended to be asleep again.
She got back in bed.
Is this so? Yes.
Might as well tell him the rest of it too.
When my son woke up this morning, his wife was gone.
No sick sister? I don't know where she went.
PHILIP: It's quite obvious where she went: to Kane's apartment.
I knew that the moment I saw the picture of the diamond ring in the paper.
Your wife ever mention Arthur Kane? No, this is the first I've heard of him.
Lieutenant, my son knows next to nothing about this woman he's married, or should I say, who's married him.
If you do learn something, I hope you'll pass it along.
He will.
You may be certain of that.
TRAGG: I'll keep in touch.
I know my way out.
( sighs ) ( door closes ) Dad, you shouldn't have done that.
And why not? What if Rhoda's innocent? Do you, for one single moment, believe that? I don't know.
I don't know what to believe.
WOMAN ( over PA ): Dr.
John Young.
Dr.
John Young.
Well, then he wrenched off my ring, and I hit him.
And then the lights went out.
I don't know why, but that gave me a chance to run.
On your way out, did you see the person who had been ringing the doorbell? No, I didn't see anybody.
I just jumped in my car.
Anything else happen? ( sighs ) No, I put the car in the garage, and then I tried to get the door closed.
The car door? No, the garage door.
The bumper of the convertible was in the way.
When the door wouldn't close, I just left it and went up to bed.
Then on the morning news you heard about Kane.
Yes, I didn't think I killed him, but when the announcer said he was dead, I was terrified.
I'm glad you've calmed down.
Now, I want you to go home and act as if nothing had happened.
When the police arrive, don't tell them a thing.
Just say you want to consult your attorney.
Don't talk, no matter how hard they press.
You can be sure- WOMAN ( over PA ): Dr.
Andrew Russell, stat.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, counselor, but I have a warrant for Mrs.
Reynolds' arrest.
And the charge? First-degree murder.
( dramatic theme playing ) I don't see the sense of this.
I told you about the door.
In fact, I've told you everything I told the police.
I'm sure of that, Mr.
Reynolds.
I'm merely trying to verify what your wife said.
Have either of these cars been moved since last night? No, the garage is just the way Rhoda left it.
But she did try to close the garage door? Yes, she banged it a couple of times, then came on upstairs.
You think that was around 2:40? Oh, I know it was.
I looked at the clock.
Then you pretended to be asleep when she came in.
That's the part I don't quite understand.
Most husbands, if their wives went out like that, would want to know where they'd been.
I- I was afraid she'd tell me she'd been with Dr.
Harris.
Dr.
Harris? PHILIP: Dr.
Michael Harris.
My son's wife has been having an affair with him for years.
I thought we'd agreed that your son would do his own talking, Mr.
Reynolds.
Now, listen to me, annul Carl's marriage.
If you can manage it without undo publicity, I'll give you $10,000.
It's quite a handsome figure, but I've already accepted a retainer from Mrs.
Reynolds.
I can imagine what a weighty sum that was.
Hm, perhaps it wasn't very large, but she also gave me something else.
What was that? Her trust, Mr.
Reynolds.
Nobody realizes the jam she's in more than I do.
You see, she not only told me all about her involvement with Kane, but also about the appointment at 2:00.
I warned her not to keep it.
How do you know she did keep it, Dr.
Harris? Well, the ring, and I saw her leave Kane's apartment.
You saw her? Then you must have been the one who rang that front doorbell.
Yes.
I couldn't sleep last night.
Around 2:00, I got dressed and drove over to the apartment.
Rhoda's car was parked in front.
I went in and rang Kane's doorbell, intending to face him with her.
I rang three or four times, and then I heard running feet down the hall.
I stepped back in the shadows, and Rhoda dashed out.
Did you speak to her? No.
What should I do, Mr.
Mason? As a lawyer, I can't advise you.
You might consult a doctor.
Oh, what good would that do? I've got dozens of patients with troubles they couldn't talk about, and all I can tell them is to take a long vacation.
Now I'm in the same predicament myself.
As I said, you might consult a doctor.
Any luck, Paul? Plenty, Kane's record, carbon of the report from Homicide, and the only photograph I could get my hands on.
Oh, this'll do fine.
Notice here on the table.
PAUL: Mm, the alarm clock.
What's so special about that? The alarm.
I don't get it.
Never mind.
What about the blond? Her name is Edna Freeman, and the, uh, Onyx is a honky-tonk down on Main Street.
Better talk with her, Paul.
Find out what she knows about Kane.
All right, I'll call you.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( doorbell rings ) ( rings ) ( piano playing jazz ) ( Edna sighs ) Now, where was I? You got a cigarette? Oh, yeah.
You were just meeting Artie Kane, a dewy-eyed young girl from Jersey City.
I must have had more than dew in my eyes to let him get his hands on that money.
The 3000 your aunt left you? Three thousand, three hundred and eighty-six dollars.
Did you tell the police? You bet I did.
They've got it on record.
That's why, when I ran into him last week, I was able to put the screws on him.
At least I got half of it back.
Where were you last night? In bed.
Couldn't be that you went up there, and when he wouldn't give you the rest- Are you crazy? The Reynolds woman killed him.
That's where he was supposed to get the money from.
She was to bring it by at 2:00.
He told me all about her.
He did? Look, I represent a lawyer named Mason.
Would you be willing to come and talk- Uh-uh.
I've already been signed up.
Who by? The police.
Thanks.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( buzzes ) ( buzzer buzzes ) ( buzzes ) Sidney.
Mr.
Mason.
What are you doin' here? Come on in, Sidney.
I want to talk to you.
Sure.
Say, I hope I'm not in some kind of trouble again.
No.
No, I just wondered how you were making out.
Oh, I still got the same little electric repair shop.
I got my wife and a couple of kids to take care of.
Sidney, how would you and your family like to have an apartment, rent-free? An apartment? Aw, I owe you too much already, Mr.
Mason, defending me- No, no, you'd be doing me a favor.
I would? Where is this apartment? Right here.
This apartment? Sure.
You can move in anytime next week.
There's just one thing, though.
Oh, oh, a-anything.
Well, when you ring your front doorbell, a buzzer sounds.
You don't like buzzers.
I don't? No, so you get a doorbell from your stock- One that rings.
- you put it up in place of the buzzer.
Later, if somebody should ask you about it- I know, I know.
I just don't like buzzers.
That's right.
Perry, I'm pretty sure she was on the level that Kane did tell her Mrs.
Reynolds was coming at 2:00 with the money.
That means that Edna Freeman can supply the prosecution with a motive.
And Carl Reynolds' story about the sleeping powder- Premeditation.
DELLA: But you've always said a husband can't testify against a wife.
You forget that Kane was her husband.
What do you do now? There's one thing I can do.
File for a divorce on her behalf against Carl Reynolds.
But how can she divorce someone she hasn't even been married to? I think I'll let Mr.
Burger figure that out.
( suspenseful theme playing ) MASON: You still haven't explained why you didn't ask for a divorce.
I told you, Mr.
Mason, I don't want to divorce Carl.
Is that because you feel sorry for him? Yes, you're right.
I do feel sorry for him.
Sympathy is a noble thing, but you can't live your life honestly if you base it on that alone.
I quarreled with Dr.
Harris about that very thing.
He called it my broken-wing fixation.
Did you know that Dr.
Harris was the one who rang the doorbell when you were in Kane's apartment? Michael was there? Trying to help you.
Let me put this as straight as I can.
Now, your husband made statements linking you to the murder.
These must be branded as lies.
There are two ways of doing that.
One is for me to subpoena Carl in your divorce suit and try to break down his story.
The other is the divorce suit itself, in which you can charge him with having lied.
Next week you go on trial for your life, Rhoda.
Isn't it time you stop dodging reality? ( suspenseful theme playing ) BURGER: And additionally, we expect to prove that the decedent was found in his apartment at 2:25 a.
m.
with his skull fractured.
And that this fracture was caused by a blow from an iron poker found in the apartment.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, on the basis of all this evidence we intend to ask for a verdict of murder in the first-degree.
( crowd chattering ) Lieutenant, I ask you to examine this diamond ring- Introduced as people's exhibit E.
- and tell this court, please, how you happened to find it? Well, the, uh, decedent's right hand was clenched, as though holding something, and I bent down and looked.
The fingers were just separated enough for me to see it.
The diamond ring.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine, Mr.
Mason.
Lieutenant Tragg, you said you looked around the apartment while you were there? Yes, sir, I did.
Did you see an alarm clock in the room where the body was found? Yes, and it was going.
Did you notice for what time the alarm was set on that clock? TRAGG: Yes, it was set for 2:00, or maybe a minute or two before.
Now, I ask you to look at this photograph marked people's exhibit B.
Does it show the alarm clock? TRAGG: It does.
MASON: And what time is it by that clock? Three fifty-five.
Now, would you please read the time stamped on the photograph indicating when it was taken? Three fifty-five.
Then you were correct in saying that the alarm clock kept the right time? Looks that way.
With the court's permission, I should like to show this photograph to the jury and point out the clock.
Proceed.
May I ask to, uh, have the alarm clock produced now? We'll produce it when we're ready to produce it, Mr.
Mason.
Your Honor, please.
I should like to cross-examine this witness with the alarm clock in evidence.
Well, I don't think I should force the prosecution to put on its case out of order.
If you care to recall the witness after the clock has been produced, well, then, you may do so.
Very well, Your Honor.
I have no further questions at this time.
Thank you, Mr.
Lane.
No further questions.
Your witness.
Mr.
Lane, I'm curious as to how you know it was exactly four minutes to 2 when the defendant drove into your service station.
LANE: Well, I always start to close up at five minutes of 2, and I was just closing up.
And you say it took you nine minutes to change the tire? Yes, sir.
I looked at my watch when she drove out.
So during the interval between 1:56 and 2:05, Mrs.
Reynolds was in your service station? Yes, sir.
During that time was she ever out of your sight? No, she stood there and watched me change the tire.
MASON: Thank you, Mr.
Lane.
No further questions.
Now, Mrs.
Crandall, you were in your bedroom from midnight until about 2:20, is that correct? Yes, I was.
Referring now to Apartment 4 in the building next door, did you hear anything happen there during the interval I just mentioned? Yes, first I heard what woke me up, the ringing of a doorbell.
What else did you hear? I heard voices.
Did they seem to be quarreling voices? Objection.
Question is leading and suggestive.
I'll rephrase the question.
Could you tell if the voices were men's voices or women's voices? Permit me to call your attention to the fact that the vice of a leading question consists in asking it.
Once counsel has pointed the mind of a witness in a certain direction, it does no good to rephrase the question.
The damage has been done.
Now, kindly avoid leading questions in the future.
I'm very sorry, Your Honor.
Uh, could you hear what the voices were saying? Um No.
BURGER: Well, what else did you hear? Well, I- I heard a crashing of furniture and- And the sounds of blows.
And later, I heard groaning.
And what did you do about all this? I got up and phoned the police.
Do you know what time it was? Two fifteen.
Are you positive about the time? Yes, there's an electric clock by my telephone.
Thank you.
Cross-examine.
Mrs.
Crandall, have you ever before heard the doorbell ring in the apartment across the way? Well, this was an unusually quiet night, no wind.
That doesn't answer my question.
I asked about the doorbell.
Well, no, I don't think I ever heard the doorbell ring before.
Then how can you be sure it was the doorbell and not the telephone? Well, for one thing, the shade was drawn, but I could see figures moving about through an opening between the window and the shade.
How large would you say that opening was? Oh, about 8 inches or so.
MASON: I claim, Mrs.
Crandall, that you could not see figures through an opening only 8 inches wide.
Your Honor, I have a suggestion to make, if Mr.
Mason's agreeable.
Since this seems to be a question of how much Mrs.
Crandall could see from her bedroom window through a half-drawn shade of the apartment opposite hers, I suggest the jury be taken there and allowed to see for themselves.
Well, Mr.
Mason? This is a little unexpected, but the defense has no objection to such a visit, Your Honor.
Directly opposite this window is Apartment Number 4, the decedent's apartment.
Well, how can the jury tell if you can see ( bell ringing ) Your Honor, this is manifestly unfair.
The ringing of the bell is equivalent to the taking of testimony.
The jury was brought here only to view the premises, not to hear a bell.
JUDGE: Mr.
Burger, there was no stipulation that the doorbell was to be rung while a jury was here.
Why, Your Honor, I had no idea the bell was gonna be rung.
I simply told the deputy to go and disconnect it.
JUDGE: But you warned the man not to ring it? Why, no, Your Honor, it never occurred to me he'd take it upon himself to ( bell ringing ) Stop ringing that bell! And I've had an electrician prepare a set of dry batteries, which can be connected to the bell.
In this way, I can test Mrs.
Crandall's recollection of the sound of the bell.
However, before I do this, I ask permission to have the witness step down so that the prosecution can introduce the bell in evidence.
Any objections? No objection.
Why, thank you.
Perhaps, at this time, the prosecution will also see fit to introduce the alarm clock in evidence.
We'll be happy to do anything to assist counsel that we can.
Will you step down, please, Mrs.
Crandall? How long have you lived in the apartment, Mr.
Otis? Since two days after the murder.
And do you recognize this bell? Sure, that's the bell your men took out.
And this bell was in the apartment when you moved in? No, sir.
No, sir? That bell's from my store.
( chuckles ) Oh, I see.
You- You replaced the original bell with one of your own.
I replaced it, but it wasn't no bell.
What was it? A buzzer.
You mean to say that there was a buzzer in that apartment when you moved in? All the apartments have buzzers.
The other three still have buzzers.
I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.
Lieutenant, get someone out there and find out what's in those apartments! Now, counselor, as long as you're in my court, you will pay attention to the proceedings at hand.
I'm sorry, Your Honor.
I have no further questions.
Cross-examine.
I'm afraid I'm at loss as to how to proceed.
I did intended to test that doorbell.
Now it appears there was a buzzer in the apartment.
You're excused, Mr.
Otis.
JUDGE: Step down.
Now, Mrs.
Crandall, I don't want to confuse you, but if there was a buzzer in the apartment at the time of the decedent's death, you could not have heard a doorbell, now, could you? Well, I thought it was the doorbell.
MASON: As I recall, you said it had a whirring sound? CRANDALL: Yes.
Mrs.
Crandall, I ask you to examine this clock.
It has been identified as the one taken from the decedent's apartment shortly after his death.
You will note that the alarm has been set at 2, and that both the clock and the alarm have run down.
Well, of course it's run down.
The police have better things to do than winding clocks.
Well, there need be no argument.
What is it you wish to do? Under the court's supervision, I wish to wind the alarm and then turn the hands so that the alarm will ring.
Very well, you may do so.
Mr.
Burger, if you'd care to watch.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I assure you, the prosecution is not interested in watching Mr.
Mason wind a clock.
( bell ringing ) ( bell ringing ) Yes, that's it.
That's what I heard, the alarm clock! JUDGE: Naturally, for the purpose of this discussion, I've dismissed the jury.
Now, gentlemen, if that was an alarm clock that Mrs.
Crandall heard, then it would be manifestly impossible for the defendant to have been in the room at the time.
The prosecution's own testimony shows that the defendant was at a nearby service station at the time.
If the court please, I don't wish to take any unfair advantage of the prosecutor.
I was satisfied that the witness believed that she had heard a doorbell, but I also thought that her honest opinion had been conditioned by previous testimony.
Therefore, I arranged a test wherein she would be forced to believe that she could not have heard a doorbell.
Well, exactly what do you mean, Mr.
Mason, when you say you arranged a test? MASON: Well, simply this, the buzzer which the present tenant replaced was not there on the night of the murder.
So that's it.
You deliberately deceived this court! You even deceived the witness! MASON: How could I, Mr.
Burger? I brought this to the attention of the court.
I haven't deceived the witness.
I merely tested her.
Very well, Mr.
Mason, then instead of bringing charges against you for unethical conduct, when this case is finished, I'll have you indicted for breaking into a house and stealing a doorbell! Toward which end, Your Honor, may I respectfully request that we recall the jury and get on with the case.
Well, we'll do that tomorrow, if there's no objection on the part of the defense.
Uh, none at all, Your Honor.
It will give me an opportunity to get a deposition from Carl Reynolds in connection with the divorce suit Mrs.
Reynolds has brought against him.
BURGER: Wait a minute, Your Honor, Carl Reynolds is a prosecution witness.
This is a deliberate attempt to intimidate him! MASON: Your Honor, the prosecution is perfectly welcome to sit in on the deposition at my office and to make any objection for the record if it appears that his witness is being intimidated in any way.
Well, that seems reasonable enough.
The court'll be adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10:00.
( crowd murmuring ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) MASON: You say that she was more than friendly with Dr.
Michael Harris? Yes.
How do you know that? My father told me, he had her checked on.
By detectives? I suppose.
Did he do any of this checking in person? I did on several occasions.
Please, Mr.
Reynolds, your son is making this deposition.
Your father hated Rhoda, didn't he? He didn't like our marriage.
In connection with his checking on her, did he mention Arthur Kane? Not until I told him about the telegram.
The one reminding Rhoda about the 2:00 date, signed "Artie"? Yes.
MASON: Did your father say what he'd found out about Arthur Kane? CARL: Only that Rhoda had been meeting him.
Did your father have any theory regarding the telegram? He said it was obviously an assignation, and the date was for that night.
Now, how about that night? You never left the house? No.
You're positive? Yes.
Then how do you account for the fact that the garage door wouldn't close when Rhoda returned? I don't understand.
Didn't you say you saw her unlock and open it when she left? Yes.
Yet, when she came back, the bumper on the convertible prevented the door from closing.
Wouldn't that suggest to you that the convertible had been used while your wife was absent? That when it was returned, it wasn't driven far enough into the garage? I never thought of that.
I think you did.
I think you know your father took the convertible and followed Rhoda to Kane's apartment, went up the back way.
When he saw her struggling with Kane over that ring, he realized he could get rid of her by killing Kane.
So he turned off the lights- No.
No, it wasn't that way at all.
It wasn't Dad.
I killed him.
I- I saw them fighting and turned out the lights so Rhoda wouldn't see me and went in to help.
She ran, and Kane grabbed me.
He had the poker, and I- I got it away from him, hit out, and he fell.
Then I lit a match to see what happened.
He was dead.
( dramatic theme playing ) Perry, about that motion for a directed verdict? Yes? I'll make it for you.
( mellow theme playing ) Won't you come in, Mrs.
Reynolds? Thank you.
Mr.
Mason.
Rhoda.
You'll be glad to hear that Mr.
Reynolds is standing by Carl.
And so am I.
Well, they don't seem to want that.
You mean Carl doesn't? Well, he realizes that pity is not a basis for marriage.
He'd like an annulment.
Well, of course I won't oppose it, but are you sure he doesn't need me? I'm sure.
I know someone that does need you, though, Rhoda.
A certain Dr.
Harris.
Oh, Michael? Yes.
When did he get in town? He called about ten minutes ago.
Oh.
Thank you, Mr.
Mason.
You get all the breaks, counselor.
Hm, speaking of breaks- I am afraid he's not going to get the same break from Mr.
Burger.
Oh, you mean about the buzzer.
Uh-huh.
Mr.
Burger is gonna subpoena Perry before the grand jury on a charge of illegal entry and larceny of the doorbell.
I know it's a technicality, Perry, but he's got you over a barrel.
Paul, I suggest you call Mr.
Burger and ask him if it's a crime for a landlord to enter his own property to make repairs.
Would you mind filing this for me, Della? What is it? Well, on the day after the murder, I invested in some real estate- A four-family flat.
Not the one Arthur Kane ( sighing ): I might have known.
( noirish jazz theme playing )