Perry Mason (1957) s01e37 Episode Script

Good evening, Miss Shaw.
It's an early evening, no? Hi, honey.
Did you park my car out in front? Don't you "honey" me, you-- You liar.
You just pack your things and get out of here.
All right, Marian, if this is a gag, I give up.
I'll show you what kind of a gag it is.
You can use my suitcase and don't bother to bring it back.
Now, just a minute.
You have a room at the Bartlett's.
Why don't you stay there? I like to spend my weekends off, where I please.
- Well, you're not gonna stay here.
- I have as much right here as you do.
Diana, I'll give you exactly five seconds.
Miss Reynolds, what is the meaning of this? It was an accident, Mr.
Kessler.
Wasn't it, Marian? The mail just come, Miss Diana.
- Oh, thank you, Carlos.
- The gardener's here too.
He's got estimates on the fruit trees Mr.
Bartlett wanted.
Would you tell him to wait, please? I'll be right there.
Yes, ma'am.
Tony, I've told you not to do that.
It's your own fault, honey.
It's practically a reflex action.
Why don't you admit you like it? I wish Marian could see you now.
Why did you tell her those stories about me? A fella's gotta protect himself.
You told her stories about me.
Mine were true.
I don't wanna see her get hurt.
Oh, when are you gonna grow up? Don't you know some people are born to suffer? It's Marian's role in life.
She'd be unhappy any other way.
Did my stepfather write when he was going to get back from Chicago? What have you got there, a letter from the president? Excuse me, Miss Diana, but the gardener got to leave.
Thank you, Carlos.
I'll be right there.
[UNLOCKS DRAWER.]
[READING ON-SCREEN TEXT.]
HELEN: They live at 1417 Lincoln Road in Fernwood in the San Fernando Valley.
"The kid's name is Bobby.
He's 4 years old.
" You work and you plan for security and then someone writes an anonymous letter.
Well, if that thing's true and your darling new husband has got a grandson, where do I fit in? The question is, is it true? I know Matthew's son, Robert, married some girl five months before he died.
Her maiden name was Norma, uh-- Norma Carter.
Whoever wrote this letter is no friend of hers.
Well, he's no friend of ours either.
Look, Mother, if we destroyed it-- Ah, it's no good, Diana will tell him.
Suppose you leave Diana to me.
You're the only thing that matters to me, Tony.
I married Matthew Bartlett so you'd have security, and I'm not letting anybody destroy that.
- Hello there, young fella.
- Hello.
- What's your name? - Bobby Carter.
- Is your mother home? - She's in the back.
We got chickens.
Will you tell her there's someone here to see her? [DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES.]
- You wanted to see me? - Yes, I did.
You Mrs.
Carter? My name's Phillips.
I'm from the Beekman Land Enterprises Company.
We're interested in a new housing development here in the valley.
I see.
That's a fine-looking boy you've got there.
Can't make up my mind whether he favours you or your husband there.
Just what is it you want? Well, I was wondering whether you'd be interested in selling this property.
You see-- NORMA: There's a big "for sale" sign right out front.
You must have passed it on your way in.
And you were wondering if I'd be interested in selling? - Get out.
- Now, look here, Mrs.
Carter, I-- I said, get out.
What are you doing in here? That's an interesting question, Diana.
Perhaps you can explain this.
Leave that alone.
That's mine.
And these happen to be mine.
What else have you stolen? This is ridiculous.
I never saw those before.
- You have no right to be in here.
- I want you out of here in five minutes.
- Are you crazy? - You're not to take anything with you.
We'll send everything to your apartment after the police search this room.
I'm staying right here until Mr.
Bartlett gets back tonight.
And believe me, when he hears about that missing letter Keep your hands off me.
Let me go! [DIANA SCREAMS.]
I'm sorry, Paul, I couldn't possibly make it tonight.
I'm too tired.
I'll tell you what, though, if you wanna set it up for tomorrow night, it's a deal.
Fair enough? Good.
I've always known you could read my mind.
- Let's say we call it a night.
- Mm-hm.
You have a would-be client waiting to see you.
MASON: Mm-mm.
- Tell him I'll see him in the morning.
- It isn't "him," it's a her.
I'm not interested.
A very pretty her.
Blond.
Still not interested.
Has a black eye.
Uh-uh.
And she practically just stepped out of the bath.
I don't think she's had time to dress.
[DELLA SIGHS.]
Uh Perhaps you better bring her in, Della.
And then they threw me out.
I didn't have a chance to do anything.
I didn't even have money for carfare.
- Well, how did you get here? - A truck driver gave me a lift.
I left my car at the apartment this morning.
I couldn't get it started.
Do you suppose the houseman--? What was his name? Carlos.
Do you suppose--? Do you suppose Carlos might remember that letter? There's no reason he should.
It was typed on plain paper.
There were over a dozen pieces of mail this morning.
When you come right down to it, there's actually no proof there was such a letter.
I should've known you wouldn't believe me.
I didn't say that.
Della, will you get the camera, please? When was Mr.
Bartlett expected home? About 8:00 tonight.
Della, make it a real close shot.
I want that black eye to show.
You can stand right there.
That's fine.
We'll take Miss Reynolds to her apartment.
First thing in the morning, I wanna see Matthew Bartlett.
DELLA: Mm-hm.
Well, what do you intend to do about this, Mr.
Bartlett? Naturally, I expect you to hear your wife's side-- I don't have to.
I know Diana's telling the truth.
Thank you.
What kind of a fool do Helen and Tony take me for anyway? It doesn't come as a surprise to you that you have a grandson? I've known about Bobby for five months.
Up to that time, I never dreamed there might be a child.
I got my first hint on January 25th, when I received an anonymous phone call.
- Man or woman? - I couldn't tell.
My caller launched into a tirade about my daughter-in-law, Norma, being an unfit mother.
I pretended I wasn't interested and hung up.
Then the letter was a follow-up.
There was no need for it.
I'd already hired a private detective agency to investigate.
According to them, my daughter-in-law is doing a wonderful job raising the boy.
- Have you ever seen him? - Only once.
I drove by and watched him playing in the yard.
I was ashamed to go in.
You see, my son, Robert, walked out of here one day.
It was five years ago.
He said he never wanted to see me again.
I told him what I thought of his wife, it wasn't much.
Five months later, he was killed in a plane crash.
That's when I started running.
I didn't stop running till I got married.
Isn't it funny how you can be so smart in business and so stupid when you deal in emotions? I thought Tony would be a substitute for my son.
You can see I'm a great judge of character.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
That must be my wife and Tony.
I'm very anxious to meet them both.
Listen, Mason, how about representing me? - I want my grandchild.
- What about his mother? She couldn't live here, that'd never work out.
There are too many things she'd have to forget, and no woman could.
But I want that boy.
I don't care how much it costs.
Why not? For one thing, I have an old-fashioned idea that money can't buy everything.
For another, I already have a client, Diana Reynolds.
Suppose I write her a cheque now.
One thousand dollars.
Would $1,000 make Diana happy? TRAGG: I'm afraid nothing can.
- Are you Matthew Bartlett? - Who are you? This is Lieutenant Tragg of the police.
He's with Homicide.
Homicide? What do you mean, nothing can make Diana happy? She was murdered last night.
I understand, uh, you were her employer.
Hold this just a minute for me, will you? Yeah.
Did you ever see this before? - I'm sorry, just, uh - Well, it looks familiar.
It should.
It's registered in your name.
I remember now.
I gave that gun to Diana a month ago.
You see, she lives here during the week and on her days off, she stays in an apartment in Hollywood.
That still doesn't explain why you gave her this gun.
Driving home one night, she was frightened by hoodlums.
They almost forced her off the road.
I suggested she carry a gun to protect herself.
Just where do you fit into this picture? Why, Diana Reynolds was my client.
Then you certainly know what she looked like.
Maybe you'd both come along and identify her.
Who found her, lieutenant? Telephone repairman was out here this morning checking some lines.
- Any footprints? - Yes, a few.
We got them.
- This isn't Diana Reynolds.
- What did you say? This is not my client.
That car over there is registered to Diana Reynolds.
Her driver's licence is in the glove compartment.
And this girl meets the description.
Her name is Marian Shaw.
She shared an apartment with Diana.
Excuse me, lieutenant.
The woman who lives here just came home.
She's been out shopping all morning with her kid.
- Where is she? - Seeing the boy gets his nap.
I told her to go ahead.
The boy was frightened.
Her name is Norma Carter.
Carter? What's the matter, Mr.
Bartlett, you know her too? - She's my daughter-in-law.
- You better follow me.
It doesn't make any sense.
It doesn't make any sense at all.
How well did you know this Marian Shaw? She was a very good friend of mine.
I met her two years ago in San Diego and then I lost track of her.
Three months ago, I ran into her at a department store in Los Angeles.
Can you think of anyone who might have had a motive to kill her? Well, she did say she was having trouble with her roommate.
This Diana Reynolds.
What'd they fight about, a man? What's his name? - Tony Davis.
- Tony? Why, he's my stepson.
Well, thank you a lot, Mrs.
Carter, for your help.
We'll be in touch.
Goodbye.
Norma, could I see the boy? - No.
- Please, Norma, show me the kindness that-- Well, I never showed you.
He's asleep.
I just wanna look at him.
In there.
Don't wake him.
Then the building superintendent, a character named Otto Kessler, let me into Diana Reynolds' apartment.
Her bed had not been slept in.
- She has to be around somewhere.
- If she's around, I'll find her.
Well, I just want you to find her before the police find her.
PAUL: Anything else? Yes, I want you to check on a woman named Norma Carter.
She's Bartlett's daughter-in-law.
She told Tragg she was at a drive-in theatre with her little boy last night until 11:00.
MASON: Come in, Diana.
Miss Reynolds, this is Mr.
Drake.
- How do you do? - How do you do, Miss Reynolds? - What about the rest of this stuff? - Check that out.
Come here and sit down, Diana.
Where have you been? - Union Station.
- Doing what? Just sitting.
I was there since 11:00 last night.
I couldn't think of any other place to go.
Obviously, you must have known that Marian Shaw was murdered even before the police knew it.
And you must have seen her body at Norma Carter's place last night.
I didn't know that was Norma Carter's place.
I've never been there before.
We'd better take this from the beginning.
Now, after we dropped you at your apartment last night, what did you do? DIANA: I read a while.
And then about a quarter to 9, the telephone rang.
- Who was it? - I don't know.
He said he was a traffic officer out in the Valley and that my car was involved in an accident and they thought Marian had stolen it.
I told him he was wrong.
Are you positive your caller was a man? I don't know, I-- The voice was muffled.
Well, I-- I took a bus out there.
I got off and I looked around.
I didn't see anyone.
And I went to the house.
There wasn't anyone home.
I thought I heard a dog moaning, you know, like it was caught in a trap or something.
And I went to look and I saw my car.
[CRYING.]
And I saw Marian and I What did you do then? I just started running, I-- I ran all the way down to Boardwood Avenue.
Look here.
Why didn't you use your car? It was right there.
I-- I tried.
I couldn't get it started.
I-- It wouldn't start.
Della, what's the name of that motel on Santa Monica? Sea Breeze Motel.
That's the one.
I want you to take Diana out there.
She's to register under her own name.
I'll get my coat.
Diana, when you get to the motel, I don't want you to leave your room.
You're to stay right there, you understand? Gertie wanted to announce me, but I told her not to bother.
Lately it seems I've done nothing but introduce you.
This is Lieutenant Tragg of the police.
I-- I didn't get your name.
- Diana Reynolds.
- Yeah, that's what I thought.
I had a hunch she'd try to get in touch with you.
I've got a warrant for her arrest.
Suspicion of murder.
I didn't kill her.
Then you have nothing to worry about.
You'll have to go with him, Diana.
It'll be all right.
All right, sergeant.
BOBBY: Here, chickie, chickie.
MASON: Well, hi there, young fella.
I'll bet your name is Bobby Carter, isn't that right? Well, come on, isn't that your name? My mommy don't want me to talk to strange men.
Well, then it's all right if I talk to you, isn't it? BOBBY: Mm-hm.
I remember when I was a little boy, we used to have some chickens.
Of course they weren't as nice as yours.
Every day, I remember, we used to go looking for eggs.
And one day, you know what I found? NORMA: What do you think you're doing? Well, hello there.
You run inside and play, honey.
MASON: Bye, Bobby.
- Bye.
That's a very fine boy you have there.
You must be very proud of him, Mrs.
Bartlett.
The name's Carter.
I'm sorry.
I thought your maiden name was Carter.
I still prefer to be known as Mrs.
Carter.
I told that to your client, Mr.
Matthew Bartlett.
I beg your pardon.
You know he came out here to see me.
I wasn't good enough for him when his son was alive.
Well, I want no part of him or the Bartlett name now.
I'm afraid you're labouring under a false impression.
I don't represent your father-in-law.
Well, just who do you represent? - Diana Reynolds.
- The girl who killed Marian? Did it ever occur to you that Diana might have been the intended victim? The two girls looked alike.
In the dark, someone easily could have made a mistake.
All I know is Marian's dead.
I tell you, Diana had nothing to do with it.
Then why did she hide from the police? Because she was frightened.
Haven't you ever felt that way? I never ran away from anything.
Well, you're more fortunate than most of us.
You don't have to do that.
I can do my own work.
I'm convinced you're an independent spirit.
You don't have to carry things to extremes.
Do you know anyone who would wanna hurt you? Well, didn't you ever wonder why Mr.
Bartlett suddenly appeared on the horizon? Well, I figured he just found out about Bobby.
Have you any idea how he found out? Well, first he received an anonymous phone call.
The caller said you weren't a fit mother.
- What? - That was followed a couple of days ago by an anonymous letter to the same effect.
Now, can you think of anyone who might be responsible? - Why, no.
- If you do, would you let me know? Why? What difference would it make to you? Because my client, Diana Reynolds, was lured out here last night by an anonymous phone call too.
I think the same party was responsible.
Mrs.
Bartlett claims she and Tony were out driving the night of the murder.
At 9:30 they were somewhere near the beach.
That's vague enough.
I wonder which one of them made the alibi.
Well, don't forget Mr.
Bartlett, he can stand one too.
His plane got in at 7:00.
- He has no motive.
- Hasn't he? Marian was a blond just like his daughter-in-law, Norma Carter.
In the dark, he could have made a mistake.
And if he is so convinced that his wife and stepson destroyed that anonymous letter, and then tried to frame Diana with the jewellery, why hasn't he said anything to them? He told me he wanted to take care of them, in his own way and in his own time.
Do you believe that? Where was Norma Carter at the time of the murder? Well, she could have been at that drive-in movie like she claims, but I wouldn't wanna stake my life on it.
When you come right down to it, none of them have an alibi.
Neither has Perry's plant.
- Anything else? - Yeah, but you're not gonna like it.
You remember Otto Kessler? Yes, he was the superintendent of Diana's apartment house.
Mm-hm.
He is also going to be a witness for Burger.
Did your client ever tell you she once tried to kill her roommate and that Kessler saw her with a gun in her hand? Funny, Diana didn't mention that.
All right, Paul, keep checking everything out.
- Where are you going? - Over to see my client.
I wonder what else she forgot to tell me.
I swear that's the truth.
Mr.
Kessler made a mistake.
It was Marian who had the gun.
It went off in the fight, that's all there was to it.
I hope we can convince the court of that.
Now, is there anything else you should tell me? I can't think of a thing.
Anything at all, no matter how unimportant it seems.
How did Marian and Tony Davis meet? Well, that started when Marian went out to be interviewed by Mr.
Bartlett for a job.
- Did you recommend her? - No, it was the other way around.
Marian didn't want the job, she recommended me.
But while she was out there, she met Tony and he asked her for a date.
Now, let me get this straight.
You mean the job was first offered to Marian? I told him I didn't have any secretarial experience.
Then why'd he hire you? Did he ask you if you knew Bobby Carter? That's funny, because he did.
As a matter of fact, he was always asking questions about Bobby.
Such as? "What does he look like?" How often he came over to the apartment.
How often did Bobby come to your apartment? At least a dozen times.
Then you knew Norma Carter? No.
Marian would drive out and pick him up.
Mrs.
Carter would let him spend the day with her.
How long had this been going on? DIANA: Ever since Marian bumped into Mrs.
Carter.
About three months ago.
Does that mean anything? It explains how you got the job.
Bartlett was pumping you.
He wanted to find out just as much as he could about his grandchild.
Now do you see his motivation? Oh.
Well, I don't blame him.
I mean, Bobby's a doll.
Marian used to say that he was the only man she ever wrote about in her diary.
Marian kept a diary? Yes.
She made quite a mystery of it.
I ran across it one day.
I never told her.
She kept it hidden in the typewriter case under the machine.
All right.
Now, listen, Diana, preliminary hearing starts day after tomorrow.
- I know.
- I want you to wear something simple.
Do you have a tailored suit? The matron picked one out for me.
It's dark blue.
No, that won't do.
Suppose you authorise my secretary to pick out something for you.
From your apartment.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Hi, beautiful.
Where's Perry? - He had to leave.
- Oh, I thought he wanted to see me.
How would you like to take me to dinner? It would be a pleasure.
Of course, we'll have to make a detour on the way.
What kind of a detour? I have to pick up a dress for Diana Reynolds.
- At her apartment? - Mm-hm.
Well, the cops have taken the place over.
I know.
Of course, it may take me a little while to find something suitable.
And just what do I do in the meantime? Oh, I thought you'd find something to keep yourself busy.
Incidentally, Marian Shaw kept a diary.
After you.
I'll fill you in on the way.
Say, how long does it take to pick out a dress, anyway? It isn't easy, officer.
And you know how important it is for a defendant to make a good impression.
Yeah, but she's been in there How about this one? - Uh, too jazzy.
- I might have known it.
Oh, I don't see why this is such a problem.
Look, Miss Street, we haven't got all night, you know.
Dr.
Rose, as medical examiner for the coroner's office, did you perform an autopsy on the decedent, - Marian Shaw? - I did, sir.
Would you please tell this court your findings? Well, there were multiple and perforating wounds of the body, which might have been caused by bullets.
One entered the region of the right clavicle and came out the spine.
The other went through the heart and right lung.
Did you make an attempt to determine the time of death? I have.
In my opinion, death occurred at approximately 9:30 p.
m.
Thank you, doctor.
Cross-examine.
[MASON CLEARS THROAT.]
Now, doctor, you've testified that the time of death was 9:30 p.
m.
- Is that correct? - That's right, sir.
How did you arrive at that conclusion? By the development of rigour mortis, postmortem lividity and body temperature.
Was there anything else? Well, when the victim fell, she broke her watch.
It was stopped at 25 minutes after 9.
Well, that is hardly a scientific test, is it, doctor? Now, if you hadn't seen that watch, would you have attempted to pinpoint the time of death to virtually the exact minute? Well, uh, no.
Now, Dr.
Rose, could your estimate of the time of death be off, say, well, as much as an hour? - Yes.
- Two hours? Possibly.
Thank you, doctor.
That's all.
Well, I was sweeping the carpet on the third floor when I heard this shot, so I immediately opened the door.
And what did you see when you went into the girls' apartment? Well, Miss Shaw was crying and Miss Reynolds was holding a gun.
Mr.
Kessler, is this the gun Miss Reynolds was holding? I object, Your Honour.
Mr.
Kessler is hardly an expert on guns.
Sustained.
Very well.
Here's something you can testify to.
Mr.
Kessler, is this the bullet that you dug out of the wall of the girls' apartment the following day? Yes, sir.
Thank you, Mr.
Kessler.
Cross-examine.
Mr.
Kessler, you testified you saw the defendant with the gun in her hand.
Yes, sir.
Did you actually see her fire the shot? No, sir.
You pried the bullet out of the wall the following day.
Yes, sir.
Sure.
When did you turn the bullet over to the police? Maybe a week later.
And why did you keep the bullet so long? Did you intend to incriminate the defendant? It never once entered my mind.
Then what was your reason? I really can't tell you.
I just kept it.
That's all.
Thank you, Mr.
Kessler.
- That's all.
- You may stand down.
Call your next witness.
BURGER: I call Anthony Davis to the stand, please.
You were in love with the deceased, weren't you, Mr.
Davis? Yes, sir.
And Marian was in love with me.
We were engaged to be married.
That's not true.
BURGER: And did you ever tell the defendant of your intention of marrying Miss Shaw? Yes, sir.
One night when we were alone.
What was the reaction of the defendant? Diana got very mad.
She said one way or another, she'd get even with Marian.
I see.
Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
Now, you testified that the defendant used to throw herself at you.
Is that correct, Mr.
Davis? Yes, sir.
How did you defend yourself against these unprovoked attacks? I just made sure that we were never alone together.
But by your own admission, you were alone with the defendant when you told her you planned to marry Miss Marian Shaw.
Well, yes.
- And that was on the 20th of May? - Yes.
Is that the time you gave her the black eye? TONY: I never-- I never hit her.
I never hit a woman in my life.
MASON: Except in self-defence.
Or do you mean that even then you'd turn the other cheek? Well, when a woman starts to scratch my eyes out, I'm not gonna just stand still.
That's quite understandable.
Now, uh, why did the defendant try to scratch you? Well, we wanted her to leave the house.
You see, Diana had stolen some things of my mother's.
Oh.
And when Miss Reynolds wouldn't leave peaceably, you then decided to put her out.
There wasn't much else I could do.
Of course.
Now, Mr.
Davis, weren't you afraid to tackle a big girl like Miss Reynolds? After all, you only outweighed her about 50 pounds.
- Why didn't you go to the police? - I wanted her out of the house.
Naturally, when she struggled, you had to defend yourself.
- That's right.
- And just how did you do that? I don't remember exactly.
You're positive you did not give her a black eye? Well, I would've remembered if I had.
You don't remember exactly what did happen, but you do remember exactly what didn't happen, is that it? Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Davis.
That's all.
All right, Mr.
Davis, you may step down.
Why didn't you ask about the letter? I was afraid to.
He'd deny there ever was one.
When I call him a liar, I wanna be able to prove it.
Since it's nearing the hour of adjournment, has counsel any objection if we recess? BURGER: No, Your Honour.
MASON: No, Your Honour.
Very well.
Court stands adjourned till 10:00 tomorrow morning.
I know I've done you a terrible injustice, Norma, and I can't expect you to forgive me.
But I appeal to you as a mother.
Huh.
Well, that's a new approach.
You never thought of me as a mother before.
I admit I've handled this badly.
I insulted and humiliated you.
I realise you can never forget that, but think of Bobby.
Think what I could do for him.
Why, he'd have everything.
Except his mother.
You could visit him whenever you like.
I know how much you love him and I realise the sacrifice you'd be making.
I hope you'll accept this in the spirit in which it's offered.
One hundred thousand dollars.
I guess you mean it.
You can have Bobby because you can do a lot for him.
But I wouldn't take one cent from you.
Please, let me do something, Norma.
Maybe I haven't handled things right, but let me make it up to you, if only for Bobby's sake.
Won't you let me do this for him? Perry, I just heard from my contact again.
He double-checked.
- Burger's got the diary.
- Positive? Uh-huh.
And I hear it won't do your client much good.
What else? I don't know if this means anything or not, but Bobby Carter is going to live with Matthew Bartlett.
- His mother is going to give him up? - That's right.
Well, one thing's sure, whoever wrote that anonymous letter should be very happy now.
It's just what-- Now, lieutenant, I show you this plaster cast and ask if you recognise it.
Yes, sir.
It's a plaster cast of footprints we discovered near the body.
- And do you recognise these shoes? - Yes.
The defendant was wearing them when we arrested her in Mr.
Mason's office.
Would you explain, please, the relation between these shoes and the cast? TRAGG: Well, we tried them in the plaster cast and they fit perfectly, as you can see.
So they do.
Now, lieutenant, do you recognise this item? Yes, sir.
It's a diary we found in Miss Shaw's apartment.
- I see.
- It was concealed in a typewriter case.
If it please the court, I would like these three items entered in evidence and the diary marked for identification.
All right, Your Honour.
However, I will stipulate that the diary may be received in evidence only for the purpose of showing that Marian Shaw kept a diary, and that this is it.
And for the purposes of stipulating on the question of handwriting.
[BURGER CLEARS THROAT.]
Now, lieutenant, will you please read the name on the inside cover? "Miss Marian Shaw.
" No, hold it a minute.
I want you to read the entry dated May 7th of this year.
If the court please, this is pure hearsay.
The district attorney knows full well the question is improper.
If the court please, I think this should be permitted.
This will allow us to hear in the dead girl's own words what she feels about the defendant.
Furthermore, Mr.
Mason stipulated it.
Your Honour, I made a stipulation, but I did not waive my right to object whenever I feel that the evidence is inadmissible.
I'm going to allow Mr.
Burger a little latitude here.
Thank you, Your Honour.
The witness may read from the entry of-- - What was the date again? - May 7th.
Oh, yes.
Go ahead, lieutenant.
"I had another fight with Diana today.
Tony told me that she persists in throwing herself at him.
It's obvious I can't trust her.
I've got to watch her every minute of the day.
" Thank you, lieutenant.
That's all.
You may cross-examine.
If the court please, before I cross-examine, I think I should be allowed the opportunity of examining this entire diary.
I'll object to that, Your Honour.
I examined this witness on only one entry from this diary.
And Mr.
Mason may cross-examine him only on that same entry.
Your Honour, I intend to direct the attention of the witness to certain other passages in the diary.
It well may be that this quotation was out of context.
BURGER: If it please the court, defence counsel is obviously stalling for time.
This diary covers several years and it would needlessly delay this hearing if Mr.
Mason tries to read the whole diary, let alone introducing other entries to prove that I may be quoting out of context.
Nevertheless, Your Honour, I maintain I am within my rights.
Since there's another important matter coming up, I'm going to recess now.
That'll give Mr.
Mason an opportunity to look at the diary without removing it from the custody of the clerk.
But I'll expect you to continue without delay at 2:00 this afternoon.
- Thank you, Your Honour.
- Oh, lieutenant, you may step down.
Court stands adjourned till 2:00.
Thank you, Mr.
Burger.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
NORMA: Won't you come in? - Thank you.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I have to leave very shortly.
I have to get these things over to Bobby.
He's staying with his grandfather.
This won't take very long.
Were you in court this morning when Marian's diary was introduced? Yes.
I heard Lieutenant Tragg read the entry of May 7th.
I ran across a couple of entries much more interesting.
For example, the entry dated July-- July 27th, four years ago.
Since we weren't allowed to remove the diary from the courtroom, Miss Street took down the entries in shorthand.
Care to hear them? "July 27th.
Today I made the decision.
I know Norma will do everything she can for him.
Once I get on my feet again, I wanna forget all about St.
Catherine's.
" Really, Mr.
Mason, if your purpose is to confuse me, you've succeeded.
Now, Della, would you read the entry dated July 27th of the following year? "July 27th.
Last year at this time, I was in a hospital in Mexico City.
Norma remembered the day.
She sent me a sweet note.
She says everything's fine.
Maybe I did the right thing.
" That's all very interesting.
But I've already explained those entries to Mr.
Burger.
In all fairness to Mr.
Burger, he doesn't know about the anonymous letter sent to Mr.
Bartlett, so he didn't realise that the "him" referred to in the diary was a baby.
- I don't think I follow you.
MASON: Yes, you do.
Bobby isn't your child, he's Marian's.
He was born at St.
Catherine's Hospital in Mexico City.
Are you trying to say I wasn't married to Robert Bartlett? I'll be happy to show you my marriage certificate.
I wasn't trying to say that at all.
Of course, you were married to young Bartlett, but Bobby isn't your child or your husband's.
He is Marian's.
And since she wasn't married, she agreed to let you take him and raise him as your own.
- Well, why would I agree to that? - Because you had a long-range plan.
You were literally going to sell Bobby to Mr.
Bartlett after you had convinced him that Bobby was his grandson.
Well, that's very funny.
Next you'll be accusing me of killing Marian.
I am.
You didn't even know Marian was in Los Angeles until you ran into her about three months ago.
By that time your plan was well under way.
You finally had to kill her because you knew she would interfere.
I don't wanna seem rude but I really have to leave.
Here, allow me.
Thank you.
There's just one thing you're forgetting in all this, Mr.
Mason.
I wish you'd show me what.
That anonymous phone call to my father-in-law - that started the whole thing.
- Oh, you were responsible for that.
Now, why would I call myself an unfit mother? That was just good psychology.
First of all, you alerted him to the fact that he had a grandson, then thinking you were an unfit mother, he'd pay any amount to get Bobby away from you.
And I suppose I wrote that anonymous letter too? Yes.
It's easy enough to check.
All we have to do is compare the typing on the letter with your typewriter.
Can you spare a cigarette, Mr.
Mason? [SIREN WAILING.]
[TYRES SQUEALING.]
Can we talk to her? How do you feel, Mrs.
Carter? How much time have I got left? That's what I figured.
Do you have anything you wanna tell us? Yes.
Mr.
Mason was right.
I killed Marian.
I called her and asked her to come out there that night.
Why did you do it? - I didn't want anybody to find out.
- Find out what? I killed her, that's all.
Well, there's our dying declaration.
We'd better pick up Tony Davis.
I'm gonna charge him with perjury.
She did try to make up for things, didn't she? That's it.
That's it.
Ha-ha-ha.
Hello, Mason.
- Miss Street.
DELLA: Hello.
Look at him, he'll be an expert in no time.
I tell you, blood'll tell every time.
The spitting image of his father.
I'd know my grandson any place.
Mr.
Bartlett, there's something you should know.
Something I ought to know? Well, I think you'll need someone to help take care of Bobby.
After all, he's just a child.
You're right.
I'd spoil him pretty bad.
We do need a woman around here.
- Think Diana would be interested? - Well, she's very fond of him.
It's a deal if she'll have us.
Come on, Bobby, let's go call her.
- Oh, you coming? - Right behind you.
So you're going to go on letting Mr.
Bartlett believe that Bobby is his grandson? Well, let's put it this way, Della.
Mr.
Bartlett has a new lease on life, Bobby has a home and all the love he'll ever need.
Can you give me one good reason we should destroy all that? I can't even give you a bad one.