Perry Mason (1957) s02e22 Episode Script
The Case of the Bedeviled Doctor
( noirish jazz theme playing ) ( tranquil theme playing ) Ah.
Mark! Am I glad you're home, Sis.
Oh, what are you doing here? Did you lose your job in San Diego? I quit.
They're lookin' for me.
They're looking for you? A couple of boys from Vegas.
You've been gambling again.
I'm no good, Edith.
I-- I don't know why you waste your time with me.
Oh, don't say that.
We'll-- We'll work out something.
I got $600 in the bank.
You know how much I owe these fellas? Four thousand bucks.
What am I gonna do, Edith? They'll kill me.
W-we'll tell the police.
That won't do any good.
You don't know these guys.
There must besomething.
Edith, I got one chance.
I met a woman a couple of days ago named Barbara Heywood.
Her husband is one of Dr.
Craig's patients.
Peter Heywood? You told me once Dr.
Craig makes tape recordings of each session so he can study 'em later.
Now, if this guy Heywood is playin' around with another woman, wouldn't he tell that to his analyst? I don't understand.
Mrs.
Heywood said she'd give me 5 grand for a recording of one of her husband's sessions.
Now, she figures it'll be worth a half a million in a divorce settlement.
I got it all figured out.
All you-- Do you realize what this could do to Dr.
Craig? Do you realize what those Vegas boys will do to me if I don't pay off? Well, when they fish my body out of the ocean, don't bother to identify it.
Mark.
( ominous theme playing ) Wait.
I knew you wouldn't let me down, Edith.
I knew it.
Oh ( ominous theme playing ) MAN: Sometimes, I-I-- I feel I could kill her.
Like the time I came home and found her drunk in front of the maid.
Then I remember what she used to be like.
She-- She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
You must have seen her, doctor.
Her professional name was Barbara Clinton.
Heh.
Of course, she never could act.
And when the public found that out, that finished her.
That's when she started to drink.
Itwasmy fault.
I was-- Oh, I was too busy designing airplanes.
I didn't devote enough time to her.
Tell me, did you ever try to discuss your work with her, Mr.
Heywood? Yeah, for a while, but she didn't seem to care.
Maybe I gave up too soon.
Maybe-- Oh, I don't know.
Maybe if I'd tried harder, she wouldn't be an alcoholic today.
Don't you think you're being unduly severe with yourself? Don't you feel that your wife's drinking is her own problem? But I'm to blame for looking elsewhere! Remember? I-I told you about this other woman.
Maybe-- Maybe if I hadn't started with Dana, none of this would have happened.
Now, this Dana that you keep referring to, has she made any demands on you? Absolutely none.
She wouldn't take a thing from me.
Of course, with your particular neurosis, you feel guiltier than ever.
What should I do, doctor? I can't give you the answer.
My job is to help you find it yourself.
( chuckles ) If I can hold out that long.
Oh, my time's up, eh? Mm-hm.
See you Wednesday.
I thought you'd like some tea before your next appointment.
I don't know what I'd do without you, Edith.
( sighs ) You'd better drink your tea.
Mrs.
Wallace will be here any minute.
Would you like me to take care of that for you? Yeah, sure.
( somber theme playing ) What's the matter? Is something wrong? ( buzzer sounds ) Oh, that must be Mrs.
Wallace.
I'll tell her you'll be with her in a minute.
The doctor will see you in a moment, Mrs.
Wallace.
( ominous theme playing ) ( glass shatters ) There were papers strewn all over the place, my safe had been forced.
Perry, what am I gonna do? I can't go to the police.
And if my patients find out I've been negligent-- Why do you persist in blaming yourself? Because it's my fault.
I should have been more careful with those tapes.
You locked them up in your safe.
As far as your legal responsibility is concerned-- I'm not worried about my legal responsibility, it's mypatient I'm thinking of.
You said there were five tapes stolen.
Four of them were blank.
Why did you keepthem in your safe? Oh, just a precaution.
Look, Perry, if I don't get that tape back-- Was your patient's name on that tape? Who is he? Peter Heywood.
President of Heywood Aircraft? Della, will you please see if Paul Drake is free? Perry, why bringhim into this? Do you keep any narcotics in your safe? Were they stolen? No.
Why would a thief pass up narcotics in favor of Heywood's tape? You don't know what was on it.
How'd the thief know? What ison the tape, Dave? Perry, you know that everything a patient tells his doctor is confidential.
So is anything a doctor tells his lawyer.
Look, unless I have all the facts, I can't help you.
Well, Heywood spoke of his wife and a woman named Dana.
He's in love with her.
Did he want a divorce? That's the problem.
His wife's an alcoholic, and Heywood feels responsible for her condition.
Perry, if that tape falls in the wrong hands-- I think it's safe to assume that it has.
( knock at door ) Paul Drake is here.
MASON: All right, send him in.
Paul, this is an old friend of mine, Dr.
David Craig.
Dave, this is Paul Drake.
How do you do, doctor? How are you? Paul, what can you tell us about that? Uh, let me see your magnifying glass a minute, please.
Well, somebody's made an impression of this recently.
Uh See those, uh, particles on the ridges? That's wax.
All right, thanks.
Pleasure.
Nice to have met you, doctor.
( door opens, closes ) All right, Dave, who had the opportunity to make that wax impression? I haven't the least idea.
How often does your nurse use that key? Perry, let's forget the whole thing.
I'll take it from here.
Dave.
Don't do anything foolish.
You know, Perry, for an analyst, I'd say he seems emotionally disturbed.
He is.
I'd say he was in love with his nurse.
( ominous theme playing ) ( knock at door ) Who is it? MAN: It's me, Mark.
Open up.
Did you get the tape? You mean, you didn't go to Dr.
Craig's office last night? No, I-- Look, you little chiseler, this whole thing was my idea.
I was the one who made the contact with Mrs.
Heywood.
I'm tellin' you, Ronny, my sister wouldn't go for it.
Hello, Sis.
Oh, uh, this is a friend of mine, Ronny Fowler.
Ronny, this is my sister.
I'm glad to know you.
I'll see you later, Mark.
Uh, afraid I'm going to be tied up, Ronny.
Well, try to clear some time.
It's important.
( door closes ) Where's the tape? Why? You gotta give it back to me.
You don't know what this has done to Dr.
Craig.
Did he call the police? No, he went to see his lawyer, Perry Mason.
What did Mason say? I don't know.
I didn't wait for him to come to the office.
I've-- I've just been driving around all morning.
Why, you jerk.
What's Craig gonna think when he comes back to the office and doesn't find you? I don't care.
You've got to give it back to me.
If you don't, so help me, I'll-- ( knocking at door ) Who is it? Dr.
Craig.
I expected to find you at the office.
I thought you might be interested in what Perry Mason had to say.
It seems that someone recently made a wax impression of my safe key.
Why did you do it, Edith? Why? MARK: Leave her alone! I'm her brother.
She did it to help me out of a jam.
Have you got that tape? Have you got that tape? Dave, don't! I could kill you.
Let him have it, Mark.
Please.
I wanna hear this one.
It's no use, my apologizing.
I realize I've done a terrible thing.
I have no right to ask for favors.
But I beg you, please don't have him arrested.
I'm to blame for everything.
He's just a boy.
Aren't you ready yet? Yeah.
Well, what are you waiting for? PETER ( on tape ): Sometimes I feel I could kill her.
Like the first timeI came home and found her drunk in front of the maid.
You don't know how lucky you are.
David.
May I talk to you? There's nothing to say.
Just five minutes, that's all I ask.
Please? Can we talk in your car? WOMAN ( over phone ): Hello? Mrs.
Heywood? That's right.
This is Mark Douglas.
You remember, Ronny Fowler's friend.
I got some bad news for you.
Just a minute.
Martha, you can go clean the den now.
You didn't get the tape? Oh, I got the tape all right, but there were complications.
Those complications ran up the cost.
I want $10,000.
You said it would only be 5.
I told you, Mrs.
Heywood, there were complications.
But I can't afford that kind of money.
You want me to peddle it to your husband? You wouldn't.
Oh, hm, not unless you force me to.
Now-- Now, you must know someone who could advance you the dough.
After all, this thing is worth a fortune.
Your husband's a great recording artist.
Well, I'll see what I can do.
That's the spirit.
You know where you can reach me.
( engine starts ) ( mysterious theme playing ) And I don't like the design of the fire-control unit.
If the automatic device were to fail, the pilot would find it-- ( intercom buzzer sounds ) Yes? Sorry to bother you, Mr.
Heywood, but there's a gentleman here to see you.
His name is Mark Douglas.
I don't know any Mark Douglas.
He says he's a friend of Dr.
Craig's.
Very well.
Send him in, Miss Lewis.
How are you, Mr.
Heywood? Fine, thank you.
Did you say Dr.
Craig sent you here? Well, you might put it that way.
This is a tape recording of your last session on the couch.
Where'd you get that? I told you.
Dr.
Craig and I are buddies.
You can have it if you want to, Mr.
Heywood.
I got another copy.
You don't let me go, it'll cost you a lot more.
Suppose we say 20,000.
Get out.
( snickers ) I don't blame you for being upset.
Uh, suppose I give you a little ring tomorrow morning.
Get outta here! Or you can call me.
My sister's name is in the book.
Get outta here! Edith Douglas.
That boss of yours sure is excitable.
What's wrong? Better shut the door.
( sighs ) Darling, what is it? That Mark Douglas is a blackmailer.
He's got a recording of my last session with Dr.
Craig.
Better call Supply and have them send a tape recorder over here right away.
Darling, did you mention me by name? If my wife ever gets ahold of it, it'd be the end of everything.
CRAIG: Perry, you were right.
My nurse did have that key copied.
She-- She did it for her kid brother.
His name is Mark Douglas.
Did you get the tape back? That's what he led me to believe, but apparently I don't know as much about psychology as I thought I did.
Heywood just left ten minutes ago.
It seems that I'm the world's prized chump.
The boy had another copy? You called it.
He wants 20,000 from Mr.
Heywood, and Heywood thinks I'm in on the plot.
Listen, Dave-- I'm afraid I haven't time.
I-- I just called so that you could say, "I told you so.
" Hello, Dave? Dave? See if you can find a listing for Edith Douglas.
Mm-hm.
And let's get Paul in here.
Right.
( tense theme playing ) ( buzzes ) ( buzzes ) Well, we're late.
He's dead.
Perry, let's get outta here.
Um, wait a minute.
Give me your handkerchief.
( buzzer sounds ) ( buzzer sounds ) He's gone.
It says here that Mark Douglas was shot by a .
38.
Your doctor pal took out a license for a .
38 seven months ago.
Mm, that doesn't prove anything.
Granted, but he had a motive.
So did at least three others: Mr.
Peter Heywood, his girlfriend Dana, and Edith Douglas.
The boy's sister? Wouldn't be the first case of fratricide on the books.
If she were in love with David Craig and found-- ( rings ) Yes, Gertie? Oh? Send him right in.
Lieutenant Tragg.
Good day, sir.
Morning, counselor.
Della.
DELLA: Morning.
How are you, lieutenant? Busy as the proverbial bee.
I hope your boss doesn't keep you up as late as he does me.
Uh-- Hm.
Still warm.
Paul Drake just left.
Would you mind telling me what you fellas were up to last night, say, around, uh, 7:00? Why? We got an anonymous tip that a fella named, uh, Mark Douglas had been murdered.
Did you make that phone call? Suppose I did.
Then it would be safe to assume that you were in the apartment.
Why did you leave? I felt the police should be notified.
There was a phone less than five feet from the body.
Mm-mm.
There might be fingerprints on it.
That's pretty good.
Well, as a matter of fact, there were.
You didn't expect that, did you? Why didn't you give the police your name? As a citizen, if I discover a murder, I'm duty bound to report it, but as an attorney, I have no obligation to disclose my identity when by doing so-- You might betray a client.
Exactly.
Yes, too bad your client betrayed himself.
Whose fingerprints do you think we found on that phone? I have no idea.
Dr.
David Craig's.
Nice thing about it: He even admits it.
Where is he? Headquarters.
We picked him up about 2:00 this morning.
If you've been holding Dr.
Craig incommunicado-- No, no, no.
We asked him if he wanted a lawyer.
He said, "No.
" Isn't it a shame? You'd think a man like that would have something to live for.
( dramatic theme playing ) You still haven't given me an answer, Dave.
Why didn't you have the police call me? I didn't think it was necessary to call an attorney.
What kind of a death wish do you have? I can use your language too, you know.
Look do you wanna go to the gas chamber? Of course not.
Well, the police know you had a run-in with Mark Douglas earlier in the day.
I told them that.
Did you tell them why? Once they find that out, we're really in trouble.
They found the cab driver who took you to the Douglas apartment.
Perry, you've gotta believe me.
He was dead when I got there.
Where's your gun? I got rid of it.
Why? You know, I thought I knew myself very well, but I was wrong.
I never thought it was possible for me to ever kill a human being under any circumstances, yet I went over there to kill that boy.
And when I saw him lying dead there on the floor-- You thought his sister was responsible.
I didn't say that.
You didn't have to.
What'd you do with the gun? I threw it in the ocean, off the breakwater at Long Beach.
( sighs ) Don't you realize there's not one chance in a million of recovering that gun? What difference does it make? All the difference in the world.
If the police don't find the murder weapon, they have every right to believe yours did the trick.
I never wanna handle a gun as long as I live, and that's the truth! All right.
( sighs ) Let's start at the beginning.
You learned there was another tape when Heywood came to see you.
And he accused me of giving it to Douglas.
Then Heywood left.
Where was Miss Douglas? Home.
I called her from the office after Heywood left.
Then she knew what her brother had done? When you walked into the apartment, Miss Douglas had gone.
Why'd you use the phone? The police found your fingerprints on it.
Well, I-- I wanted to call my exchange.
At a time like that? Well, I had to see if Edith had left a message for me.
Was there a message? No.
Look, Perry, she didn'tkill him.
She couldn't have.
I know Edith.
Dave, you just got through saying you didn't even know yourself.
( melancholy theme playing ) ( sighs ) There's nothing more I can tell you.
Mark was no good.
He was no good, and it was my fault.
Who do you think killed him? I don't know.
You think it was Dr.
Craig? Well, how can you say that? He didn't even know my brother.
The police can prove he did.
They have everything but motive to make their case complete.
And once they learn your brother stole a recording from Dr.
Craig's office-- But Mark gave it back to him.
Not before he made at least two copies.
Now, Dr.
Craig phoned you right after his visit with Mr.
Heywood.
What did you do after that call? I-I went to look for Mark.
( sighing ): I must have tried a dozen different places, but no one had seen him.
When I got back, the police were there.
Did you know your brother intended to blackmail Heywood? No.
That's why I was so confused.
He told me he wanted to sell the tape to Mrs.
Heywood.
Apparently, he was working both sides of the street.
How'd he meet Mrs.
Heywood? Oh, I don't know.
Did they have mutual friends? There must have been someone.
The other day, when I came home, there was a man there.
He said he wanted to see Mark later, but my-- My brother said he couldn't make it.
You remember this man's name? Fowler.
Ronny Fowler.
All right.
Thank you for coming in.
You don't know how badly I want to help.
I understand.
If you need me for anything else-- I'll let you know.
( dramatic theme playing ) Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
May I see Mr.
Heywood, please? Uh, whom shall I say is calling? Perry Mason.
I'm sorry.
He isn't in.
PETER ( over intercom ): Miss Lewis.
Miss Lewis? Didn't you hear me? Mr.
Heywood? No, he isn't.
What's going on here? I represent Dr.
David Craig.
So? There are one or two questions I'd like to ask you.
I have nothing to say.
A boy named Mark Douglas was murdered last night.
He deserved it.
Why? Don't answer that.
I know how you operate.
You're not going to involve him in this case.
Mr.
Heywood involved himself.
That was Dr.
Craig's fault.
I'm not gonna let you destroy what it's taken Mr.
Heywood years to build up.
You have a very loyal secretary here.
Don't you think I know it? Yes, I think you do.
By any chance, would your first name be Dana? ( dramatic theme playing ) There's a car comin'.
How's it going? Well, Mrs.
Heywood hasn't budged from the house.
Whose car is that? That's Ronny Fowler.
He got here about ten minutes ago.
Sure it was Fowler? Positive.
Uh-oh.
( tires screech ) ( doorbell rings ) ( doorbell rings ) Mrs.
Heywood in? Who shall I say is calling? We'll announce ourselves.
What do you make of it? Fowler was carrying a small box when he went in there.
Could it have been a roll of tape? Possibility.
My guess is he's gonna peddle it to Mrs.
Heywood.
Take good care of that.
Well, looks like Tragg caught him with the goods.
Not bad, huh? From where I'm standing, it couldn't be worse.
( mysterious theme playing ) All right, Mr.
Fowler, I'm still waiting.
Are you gonna tell me where you got this money? I told you.
She loaned it to me.
Ask her yourself if you don't believe me.
He's telling the truth, Mr.
Burger.
I-I loaned him the money to go into business.
The recording business? That's right.
A fellow I know puts out high-fidelity tapes.
And that just happens to be one of your samples? Yeah.
You have no right to keep it.
It belongs to me! All right, you'll get it back as soon as Lieutenant Tragg is finished with it.
All set.
MAN ( on tape ): This is a high-fidelity recording.
Whether your taste runs to the classical or popular, Echo High-Fidelity Recordings can bring new delight.
This is Taylor Adams inviting you to a demonstration of high-fidelity sound.
Why, you dirty, little thief! And I was fool enough-- Here, here.
That's enough! He said it was a recording of my husband's.
I can't help it if she jumped to the wrong conclusions.
I just told her I had a tape recording for sale.
For $5,000? Look, Mr.
Burger, you've gotta give me a break.
Remember, I told you about Mason being in Mark Douglas' apartment that night.
All right, Mr.
Fowler, suppose you can tell me the rest of it.
Well, Mark had a tape of Mr.
Heywood telling all about himself and some dame.
Where did he get it? He stole it from Dr.
Craig's office.
His sister got him a copy of the key.
Well, I guess now we know Dr.
Craig's motive.
Leon, would you come in a minute, please? I want you to take down a statement.
( noirish jazz theme playing ) All right, doctor.
I removed this bullet from the victim's brain.
Death was virtually instantaneous.
Uh, it was caused by a contact wound.
Which means the muzzle of the weapon was pressed against the body at the time the shot was fired.
And what other effect would this have, doctor, beside the obvious one? Well, a contact gunshot makes very little noise.
Rather like the sound you get when you blow up a paper bag and then explode it.
Consequently, the sound of the gunshot might not even be heard.
Were you able to fix the time of death, doctor? Uh, judging by the temperature of the body and other tests, I would say that death occurred between 5:45 p.
m.
and 6:15 p.
m.
BURGER: I see.
And did you find anything else when you examined the body? Yes, there were bruises on the neck, indicating the deceased had been choked.
I would say this took place about five or six hours before he died.
All right, doctor.
Thank you very much.
Cross-examine, counselor.
No questions.
JUDGE: You may step down.
Call your next witness.
My next witness is Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.
And then in several places we found the defendant's fingerprints.
On the table, drawers, even on the phone.
I see.
Lieutenant, can you tell me what this is? Yes, sir.
I found this in Dr.
Craig's desk.
It's a gun permit.
If it please the court, I should like this gun permit marked for identification.
All right, Your Honor.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, lieutenant, how long ago was this permit issued to Dr.
Craig? Seven months ago.
And what kind of a gun does it cover? A .
38-caliber, Smith & Wesson revolver.
I ask you now, lieutenant, if you recall a conversation that you had with the defendant shortly after his arrest.
Yes, sir.
I asked the doctor to surrender his revolver.
And what did he say? He said he'd thrown it away on the night of the murder.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
Cross-examine, counselor.
Lieutenant, on this question of fingerprints, did the defendant ever deny being in that room? No, sir.
Did you find any other fingerprints there? Other than those belonging to the deceased or his sister? Yes, there were others.
By any chance, did you find the fingerprints of a young man named Ronny Fowler? Yes, sir, I did.
MASON: And how did you identify his prints? TRAGG: Through the FBI.
Oh? Does Mr.
Fowler have a criminal record? Your Honor, none of this was covered on direct examination.
Mr.
Mason has no right to pursue it.
If the court please, I maintain that once the question of fingerprints was introduced, I have the right to inquire as to all the fingerprints and how they were identified.
You've already made your point, counselor.
I ought to sustain Mr.
Burger's objection.
If you really want to go into Mr.
Fowler's criminal record, I suggest you wait until he's called as a witness.
Yes, Your Honor.
Now, lieutenant, let's turn our attention to the missing weapon.
Would you care to estimate how many .
38-caliber Smith & Wessons there are in this country? No, sir, I would not.
You'll agree it may be close to 100,000? I should, uh, say so.
And that bullet could have come from any one of those 100,000 guns? Well, as I testified, Mr.
Mason, we were unable to check it against the doctor's, as he had told me that he had thrown his gun away.
MASON: Did he tell you where he'd thrown it? TRAGG: Yes, sir.
Off the breakwater in Long Beach.
Did you make any attempt to recover it? Well, the way the doctor described his actions, he wasn't sure himself how far out he'd thrown it or in which direction.
The fact remains, lieutenant, you made no effort to recover the gun.
No, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
( crowd murmuring ) BURGER: How old was your brother when your parents died, Miss Douglas? Thirteen.
So it would be true to say that for the last eight years, you had been taking care of him? Well, if you mean by "taking care of him" that I taught him the difference between right and wrong, I didn't.
I-- I guess I don't know the difference myself.
Um, if it please the court, Miss Douglas is the sister of the deceased, but she is nevertheless a hostile witness.
I would appreciate it if the court would instruct her to be more responsive.
Miss Douglas, you will answer the district attorney directly and without any side excursions.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, Miss Douglas, on February 27th, didn't your brother come to you and tell you that he needed money desperately and ask you to help him? He-- He was lying.
That doesn't answer my question.
A simple "yes" or "no" will suffice.
Did your brother come to you and tell you that he needed money desperately? Yes.
And did he ask you to help him by making a wax impression of the key to Dr.
Craig's office safe? Yes.
Then on February 28th, didn't your brother enter Dr.
Craig's office and steal five recording tapes from the doctor's safe? Your Honor, I object.
The question calls for a conclusion not based on the facts.
There's been no evidence introduced to indicate that Dr.
Craig's safe had been burglarized.
Objection sustained.
Huh.
Well, then I'll put it thisway: The next morning, isn't it true that your brother had in his possession five recording tapes? Yes.
Didn't Dr.
Craig subsequently come to your apartment at noon and demand their return? Yes.
Would you tell us what happened at that time? Mark gave them to him.
Yes, but isn't it true that before Mark could be induced to part with these recordings, the defendant choked him? Well, he didn't mean it.
He was excited.
Do you think he was calm when he later found out that your brother tricked him and duplicated one of these tapes? Your Honor.
Mr.
Burger, you know the impropriety of that question.
I'm terribly sorry, Your Honor.
Take the witness.
No questions.
JUDGE: You may step down.
Call your next witness.
BURGER: I call Peter Heywood.
And then, it must have been around 3:00, my secretary announced that a Mark Douglas would like to see me.
Will you tell us, please, what happened when Mark Douglas came into your office? He showed me a recording of what he claimed was my last session with Dr.
Craig.
He said if I didn't give him $20,000, he'd sell it elsewhere.
What did you do? After I threw him out, I went to see Dr.
Craig.
He said I was mistaken.
I said it was no mistake.
I'd listened to the tape, and it was a McCoy.
And how did Dr.
Craig respond to that? He exploded.
He said he'd get every copy back if he had to kill Mark Douglas.
Thank you, Mr.
Heywood.
Cross-examine.
Don't ask him what's on that tape.
Please, Perry.
I mean it.
Mr.
Heywood, you testified that Dr.
Craig told you he'd get every copy of that recording back even if he had to kill Mark Douglas to get them.
That's right.
Did you take that threat literally? Yes.
Haven't you ever said in anger, "I could kill so-and-so"? Yes.
But I didn't mean it.
Then you'll agree the phrase is meaningless? You didn't see Dr.
Craig's face when he used it.
I didn't see yours either.
You also testified that you believe Dr.
Craig and the deceased were partners in this attempt to blackmail you.
That's right.
Then when Dr.
Craig told you he'd get every copy of the recording back from Mark Douglas, you didn't think he meant it? No, I didn't.
What measures were you prepared to take to defend yourself? I don't understand.
Well, since you felt this recording could be damaging to you, and you had no faith in Dr.
Craig, I'm curious as to what you intended doing about it.
Nothing.
Nothing? As Dr.
Craig once told me, indecision was my big problem.
I never could force myself to act when it really counted.
( chuckles ) That's pretty devastating self-analysis.
But it's accurate.
And so when you left Dr.
Craig's office that day at 5, what did you do? I went directly home.
He's lying! Bailiff, bring that woman here.
He's lying, Your Honor.
He was out all night.
He was out with some little tramp! You will be quiet, madam.
If the court please, this is Mrs.
Heywood.
That's no explanation for her conduct.
I hereby sentence you to five days in jail for contempt of court.
You can't.
Your Honor, Mrs.
Heywood is a witness for the state.
When did you intend to call her? First thing tomorrow morning.
Very well, she can serve her sentence after she testifies.
Court stands adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow morning.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Not very big, is it? And you could plant one like this in a thousand different places and you might never discover it.
What you getting at? We have to find out how many copies Mark Douglas made and how many copies are still around.
We know he was killed because of that tape.
Well, that lets Mrs.
Heywood out.
After all, she only needed one copy.
If she had killed Douglas, she'd hardly have to try and buy another copy from Ronny Fowler.
If Ronny had hadthe tape, he wouldn't have had to sell Mrs.
Heywood a phony.
According to that logic, if there were no copies left, Mr.
Heywood would be the prime suspect.
Mm-hm.
Either he or his girlfriend, Dana Lewis.
Where does Edith Douglas fit in? Personally, I don't think she does.
You know what I think? I think she's the key to the entire problem.
( classical music playing ) ( phone ringing ) Martha! Martha! Hello? EDITH ( over phone ): May I speak to Mr.
Heywood, please? How dare you call here, you cheap, little-- Oh, you don't understand, Mrs.
Heywood.
This is Edith Douglas.
Who? Edith Douglas.
I used to work for Dr.
Craig.
Well, what do you want with my husband? I was going through my brother's things, and I found something, and-- Well, I'd like to talk to Mr.
Heywood.
Well, he isn't here.
Can you tell me where I can reach him? It's very important.
I've already tried his office.
Why don't you try what's-her-name's apartment? Who? You know, his girlfriend.
I-I'm sorry I bothered you.
Hello? Miss Douglas? ( buzzer sounds ) Hello.
What are you doing here? You phoned my home several hours ago.
You wanted to find out where my husband was.
Have you been able to reach him? Well, I'm-- I'm delighted to hear it.
That means the tape is still here.
( exhales ) What are you talking about? Now, really, Miss Douglas.
You must take me for an awful fool.
You said you found something in your brother's belongings, and that could only mean one thing.
You don't understand.
No, youdon't understand.
Obviously, your brother's death has taught you nothing.
Where's the tape? I-I destroyed it.
Don't lie to me, Miss Douglas.
I'm telling you the truth.
I-I destroyed it after Dr.
Craig called me that night and told me what my brother had done.
I-I've searched the apartment, and I found it.
I searched the place myself, and it wasn't here.
Oh, it was here.
It was hidden behind that mirror.
Then why did you call me tonight about my husband? TRAGG: That was Mr.
Mason's idea.
Stay just as you are.
You said you searched this place yourself.
When did you make that search, the night you killed Mark Douglas? TRAGG: When Ballistics gets this, it'll do enough talking for everybody concerned.
Shall we? Thank you, Miss Douglas.
What are you gonna do now? ( laughs ) Leave town.
I'd talk to Dr.
Craig first.
Edith, don't you think he understands? You had to make a choice.
Either betray the man you loved or see your brother be killed by mobsters.
But Mark was lying.
That doesn't alter the case.
You actually believed he was in danger.
Now, I'm sure Dr.
Craig realizes what you must have gone through.
He'll likely be released in an hour, so if you hurry ( tranquil theme playing ) Well, shall we go? I don't get it.
It's very simple.
"Mrs.
Heywood confesses murder.
" No, I don't mean that.
I mean, what put you onto Mrs.
Heywood in the first place? Mm.
It was when you and Paul decided to exonerate her.
It seemed logical.
She wouldn't kill Mark Douglas unless she got the tape from him.
On the other hand, if she hadgotten the tape from him, she wouldn't have had to kill him.
Suppose she killed him first and then couldn't find the tape because his sister had destroyed it.
Wouldn't that explain everything? True.
Confession's in order.
I was afraid Dana Lewis was guilty all along.
You-- From the way you described her, I-- I didn't think she'd be troubled by indecision as Mr.
Heywood was.
Hm.
You're right.
And then when you told me how she tried to protect Mr.
Heywood, I liked her.
Mm.
( sighing ): I don't know a secretary who would go to bat like that for her boss.
I don't either.
Shall we? ( noirish jazz theme playing )
Mark! Am I glad you're home, Sis.
Oh, what are you doing here? Did you lose your job in San Diego? I quit.
They're lookin' for me.
They're looking for you? A couple of boys from Vegas.
You've been gambling again.
I'm no good, Edith.
I-- I don't know why you waste your time with me.
Oh, don't say that.
We'll-- We'll work out something.
I got $600 in the bank.
You know how much I owe these fellas? Four thousand bucks.
What am I gonna do, Edith? They'll kill me.
W-we'll tell the police.
That won't do any good.
You don't know these guys.
There must besomething.
Edith, I got one chance.
I met a woman a couple of days ago named Barbara Heywood.
Her husband is one of Dr.
Craig's patients.
Peter Heywood? You told me once Dr.
Craig makes tape recordings of each session so he can study 'em later.
Now, if this guy Heywood is playin' around with another woman, wouldn't he tell that to his analyst? I don't understand.
Mrs.
Heywood said she'd give me 5 grand for a recording of one of her husband's sessions.
Now, she figures it'll be worth a half a million in a divorce settlement.
I got it all figured out.
All you-- Do you realize what this could do to Dr.
Craig? Do you realize what those Vegas boys will do to me if I don't pay off? Well, when they fish my body out of the ocean, don't bother to identify it.
Mark.
( ominous theme playing ) Wait.
I knew you wouldn't let me down, Edith.
I knew it.
Oh ( ominous theme playing ) MAN: Sometimes, I-I-- I feel I could kill her.
Like the time I came home and found her drunk in front of the maid.
Then I remember what she used to be like.
She-- She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
You must have seen her, doctor.
Her professional name was Barbara Clinton.
Heh.
Of course, she never could act.
And when the public found that out, that finished her.
That's when she started to drink.
Itwasmy fault.
I was-- Oh, I was too busy designing airplanes.
I didn't devote enough time to her.
Tell me, did you ever try to discuss your work with her, Mr.
Heywood? Yeah, for a while, but she didn't seem to care.
Maybe I gave up too soon.
Maybe-- Oh, I don't know.
Maybe if I'd tried harder, she wouldn't be an alcoholic today.
Don't you think you're being unduly severe with yourself? Don't you feel that your wife's drinking is her own problem? But I'm to blame for looking elsewhere! Remember? I-I told you about this other woman.
Maybe-- Maybe if I hadn't started with Dana, none of this would have happened.
Now, this Dana that you keep referring to, has she made any demands on you? Absolutely none.
She wouldn't take a thing from me.
Of course, with your particular neurosis, you feel guiltier than ever.
What should I do, doctor? I can't give you the answer.
My job is to help you find it yourself.
( chuckles ) If I can hold out that long.
Oh, my time's up, eh? Mm-hm.
See you Wednesday.
I thought you'd like some tea before your next appointment.
I don't know what I'd do without you, Edith.
( sighs ) You'd better drink your tea.
Mrs.
Wallace will be here any minute.
Would you like me to take care of that for you? Yeah, sure.
( somber theme playing ) What's the matter? Is something wrong? ( buzzer sounds ) Oh, that must be Mrs.
Wallace.
I'll tell her you'll be with her in a minute.
The doctor will see you in a moment, Mrs.
Wallace.
( ominous theme playing ) ( glass shatters ) There were papers strewn all over the place, my safe had been forced.
Perry, what am I gonna do? I can't go to the police.
And if my patients find out I've been negligent-- Why do you persist in blaming yourself? Because it's my fault.
I should have been more careful with those tapes.
You locked them up in your safe.
As far as your legal responsibility is concerned-- I'm not worried about my legal responsibility, it's mypatient I'm thinking of.
You said there were five tapes stolen.
Four of them were blank.
Why did you keepthem in your safe? Oh, just a precaution.
Look, Perry, if I don't get that tape back-- Was your patient's name on that tape? Who is he? Peter Heywood.
President of Heywood Aircraft? Della, will you please see if Paul Drake is free? Perry, why bringhim into this? Do you keep any narcotics in your safe? Were they stolen? No.
Why would a thief pass up narcotics in favor of Heywood's tape? You don't know what was on it.
How'd the thief know? What ison the tape, Dave? Perry, you know that everything a patient tells his doctor is confidential.
So is anything a doctor tells his lawyer.
Look, unless I have all the facts, I can't help you.
Well, Heywood spoke of his wife and a woman named Dana.
He's in love with her.
Did he want a divorce? That's the problem.
His wife's an alcoholic, and Heywood feels responsible for her condition.
Perry, if that tape falls in the wrong hands-- I think it's safe to assume that it has.
( knock at door ) Paul Drake is here.
MASON: All right, send him in.
Paul, this is an old friend of mine, Dr.
David Craig.
Dave, this is Paul Drake.
How do you do, doctor? How are you? Paul, what can you tell us about that? Uh, let me see your magnifying glass a minute, please.
Well, somebody's made an impression of this recently.
Uh See those, uh, particles on the ridges? That's wax.
All right, thanks.
Pleasure.
Nice to have met you, doctor.
( door opens, closes ) All right, Dave, who had the opportunity to make that wax impression? I haven't the least idea.
How often does your nurse use that key? Perry, let's forget the whole thing.
I'll take it from here.
Dave.
Don't do anything foolish.
You know, Perry, for an analyst, I'd say he seems emotionally disturbed.
He is.
I'd say he was in love with his nurse.
( ominous theme playing ) ( knock at door ) Who is it? MAN: It's me, Mark.
Open up.
Did you get the tape? You mean, you didn't go to Dr.
Craig's office last night? No, I-- Look, you little chiseler, this whole thing was my idea.
I was the one who made the contact with Mrs.
Heywood.
I'm tellin' you, Ronny, my sister wouldn't go for it.
Hello, Sis.
Oh, uh, this is a friend of mine, Ronny Fowler.
Ronny, this is my sister.
I'm glad to know you.
I'll see you later, Mark.
Uh, afraid I'm going to be tied up, Ronny.
Well, try to clear some time.
It's important.
( door closes ) Where's the tape? Why? You gotta give it back to me.
You don't know what this has done to Dr.
Craig.
Did he call the police? No, he went to see his lawyer, Perry Mason.
What did Mason say? I don't know.
I didn't wait for him to come to the office.
I've-- I've just been driving around all morning.
Why, you jerk.
What's Craig gonna think when he comes back to the office and doesn't find you? I don't care.
You've got to give it back to me.
If you don't, so help me, I'll-- ( knocking at door ) Who is it? Dr.
Craig.
I expected to find you at the office.
I thought you might be interested in what Perry Mason had to say.
It seems that someone recently made a wax impression of my safe key.
Why did you do it, Edith? Why? MARK: Leave her alone! I'm her brother.
She did it to help me out of a jam.
Have you got that tape? Have you got that tape? Dave, don't! I could kill you.
Let him have it, Mark.
Please.
I wanna hear this one.
It's no use, my apologizing.
I realize I've done a terrible thing.
I have no right to ask for favors.
But I beg you, please don't have him arrested.
I'm to blame for everything.
He's just a boy.
Aren't you ready yet? Yeah.
Well, what are you waiting for? PETER ( on tape ): Sometimes I feel I could kill her.
Like the first timeI came home and found her drunk in front of the maid.
You don't know how lucky you are.
David.
May I talk to you? There's nothing to say.
Just five minutes, that's all I ask.
Please? Can we talk in your car? WOMAN ( over phone ): Hello? Mrs.
Heywood? That's right.
This is Mark Douglas.
You remember, Ronny Fowler's friend.
I got some bad news for you.
Just a minute.
Martha, you can go clean the den now.
You didn't get the tape? Oh, I got the tape all right, but there were complications.
Those complications ran up the cost.
I want $10,000.
You said it would only be 5.
I told you, Mrs.
Heywood, there were complications.
But I can't afford that kind of money.
You want me to peddle it to your husband? You wouldn't.
Oh, hm, not unless you force me to.
Now-- Now, you must know someone who could advance you the dough.
After all, this thing is worth a fortune.
Your husband's a great recording artist.
Well, I'll see what I can do.
That's the spirit.
You know where you can reach me.
( engine starts ) ( mysterious theme playing ) And I don't like the design of the fire-control unit.
If the automatic device were to fail, the pilot would find it-- ( intercom buzzer sounds ) Yes? Sorry to bother you, Mr.
Heywood, but there's a gentleman here to see you.
His name is Mark Douglas.
I don't know any Mark Douglas.
He says he's a friend of Dr.
Craig's.
Very well.
Send him in, Miss Lewis.
How are you, Mr.
Heywood? Fine, thank you.
Did you say Dr.
Craig sent you here? Well, you might put it that way.
This is a tape recording of your last session on the couch.
Where'd you get that? I told you.
Dr.
Craig and I are buddies.
You can have it if you want to, Mr.
Heywood.
I got another copy.
You don't let me go, it'll cost you a lot more.
Suppose we say 20,000.
Get out.
( snickers ) I don't blame you for being upset.
Uh, suppose I give you a little ring tomorrow morning.
Get outta here! Or you can call me.
My sister's name is in the book.
Get outta here! Edith Douglas.
That boss of yours sure is excitable.
What's wrong? Better shut the door.
( sighs ) Darling, what is it? That Mark Douglas is a blackmailer.
He's got a recording of my last session with Dr.
Craig.
Better call Supply and have them send a tape recorder over here right away.
Darling, did you mention me by name? If my wife ever gets ahold of it, it'd be the end of everything.
CRAIG: Perry, you were right.
My nurse did have that key copied.
She-- She did it for her kid brother.
His name is Mark Douglas.
Did you get the tape back? That's what he led me to believe, but apparently I don't know as much about psychology as I thought I did.
Heywood just left ten minutes ago.
It seems that I'm the world's prized chump.
The boy had another copy? You called it.
He wants 20,000 from Mr.
Heywood, and Heywood thinks I'm in on the plot.
Listen, Dave-- I'm afraid I haven't time.
I-- I just called so that you could say, "I told you so.
" Hello, Dave? Dave? See if you can find a listing for Edith Douglas.
Mm-hm.
And let's get Paul in here.
Right.
( tense theme playing ) ( buzzes ) ( buzzes ) Well, we're late.
He's dead.
Perry, let's get outta here.
Um, wait a minute.
Give me your handkerchief.
( buzzer sounds ) ( buzzer sounds ) He's gone.
It says here that Mark Douglas was shot by a .
38.
Your doctor pal took out a license for a .
38 seven months ago.
Mm, that doesn't prove anything.
Granted, but he had a motive.
So did at least three others: Mr.
Peter Heywood, his girlfriend Dana, and Edith Douglas.
The boy's sister? Wouldn't be the first case of fratricide on the books.
If she were in love with David Craig and found-- ( rings ) Yes, Gertie? Oh? Send him right in.
Lieutenant Tragg.
Good day, sir.
Morning, counselor.
Della.
DELLA: Morning.
How are you, lieutenant? Busy as the proverbial bee.
I hope your boss doesn't keep you up as late as he does me.
Uh-- Hm.
Still warm.
Paul Drake just left.
Would you mind telling me what you fellas were up to last night, say, around, uh, 7:00? Why? We got an anonymous tip that a fella named, uh, Mark Douglas had been murdered.
Did you make that phone call? Suppose I did.
Then it would be safe to assume that you were in the apartment.
Why did you leave? I felt the police should be notified.
There was a phone less than five feet from the body.
Mm-mm.
There might be fingerprints on it.
That's pretty good.
Well, as a matter of fact, there were.
You didn't expect that, did you? Why didn't you give the police your name? As a citizen, if I discover a murder, I'm duty bound to report it, but as an attorney, I have no obligation to disclose my identity when by doing so-- You might betray a client.
Exactly.
Yes, too bad your client betrayed himself.
Whose fingerprints do you think we found on that phone? I have no idea.
Dr.
David Craig's.
Nice thing about it: He even admits it.
Where is he? Headquarters.
We picked him up about 2:00 this morning.
If you've been holding Dr.
Craig incommunicado-- No, no, no.
We asked him if he wanted a lawyer.
He said, "No.
" Isn't it a shame? You'd think a man like that would have something to live for.
( dramatic theme playing ) You still haven't given me an answer, Dave.
Why didn't you have the police call me? I didn't think it was necessary to call an attorney.
What kind of a death wish do you have? I can use your language too, you know.
Look do you wanna go to the gas chamber? Of course not.
Well, the police know you had a run-in with Mark Douglas earlier in the day.
I told them that.
Did you tell them why? Once they find that out, we're really in trouble.
They found the cab driver who took you to the Douglas apartment.
Perry, you've gotta believe me.
He was dead when I got there.
Where's your gun? I got rid of it.
Why? You know, I thought I knew myself very well, but I was wrong.
I never thought it was possible for me to ever kill a human being under any circumstances, yet I went over there to kill that boy.
And when I saw him lying dead there on the floor-- You thought his sister was responsible.
I didn't say that.
You didn't have to.
What'd you do with the gun? I threw it in the ocean, off the breakwater at Long Beach.
( sighs ) Don't you realize there's not one chance in a million of recovering that gun? What difference does it make? All the difference in the world.
If the police don't find the murder weapon, they have every right to believe yours did the trick.
I never wanna handle a gun as long as I live, and that's the truth! All right.
( sighs ) Let's start at the beginning.
You learned there was another tape when Heywood came to see you.
And he accused me of giving it to Douglas.
Then Heywood left.
Where was Miss Douglas? Home.
I called her from the office after Heywood left.
Then she knew what her brother had done? When you walked into the apartment, Miss Douglas had gone.
Why'd you use the phone? The police found your fingerprints on it.
Well, I-- I wanted to call my exchange.
At a time like that? Well, I had to see if Edith had left a message for me.
Was there a message? No.
Look, Perry, she didn'tkill him.
She couldn't have.
I know Edith.
Dave, you just got through saying you didn't even know yourself.
( melancholy theme playing ) ( sighs ) There's nothing more I can tell you.
Mark was no good.
He was no good, and it was my fault.
Who do you think killed him? I don't know.
You think it was Dr.
Craig? Well, how can you say that? He didn't even know my brother.
The police can prove he did.
They have everything but motive to make their case complete.
And once they learn your brother stole a recording from Dr.
Craig's office-- But Mark gave it back to him.
Not before he made at least two copies.
Now, Dr.
Craig phoned you right after his visit with Mr.
Heywood.
What did you do after that call? I-I went to look for Mark.
( sighing ): I must have tried a dozen different places, but no one had seen him.
When I got back, the police were there.
Did you know your brother intended to blackmail Heywood? No.
That's why I was so confused.
He told me he wanted to sell the tape to Mrs.
Heywood.
Apparently, he was working both sides of the street.
How'd he meet Mrs.
Heywood? Oh, I don't know.
Did they have mutual friends? There must have been someone.
The other day, when I came home, there was a man there.
He said he wanted to see Mark later, but my-- My brother said he couldn't make it.
You remember this man's name? Fowler.
Ronny Fowler.
All right.
Thank you for coming in.
You don't know how badly I want to help.
I understand.
If you need me for anything else-- I'll let you know.
( dramatic theme playing ) Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
May I see Mr.
Heywood, please? Uh, whom shall I say is calling? Perry Mason.
I'm sorry.
He isn't in.
PETER ( over intercom ): Miss Lewis.
Miss Lewis? Didn't you hear me? Mr.
Heywood? No, he isn't.
What's going on here? I represent Dr.
David Craig.
So? There are one or two questions I'd like to ask you.
I have nothing to say.
A boy named Mark Douglas was murdered last night.
He deserved it.
Why? Don't answer that.
I know how you operate.
You're not going to involve him in this case.
Mr.
Heywood involved himself.
That was Dr.
Craig's fault.
I'm not gonna let you destroy what it's taken Mr.
Heywood years to build up.
You have a very loyal secretary here.
Don't you think I know it? Yes, I think you do.
By any chance, would your first name be Dana? ( dramatic theme playing ) There's a car comin'.
How's it going? Well, Mrs.
Heywood hasn't budged from the house.
Whose car is that? That's Ronny Fowler.
He got here about ten minutes ago.
Sure it was Fowler? Positive.
Uh-oh.
( tires screech ) ( doorbell rings ) ( doorbell rings ) Mrs.
Heywood in? Who shall I say is calling? We'll announce ourselves.
What do you make of it? Fowler was carrying a small box when he went in there.
Could it have been a roll of tape? Possibility.
My guess is he's gonna peddle it to Mrs.
Heywood.
Take good care of that.
Well, looks like Tragg caught him with the goods.
Not bad, huh? From where I'm standing, it couldn't be worse.
( mysterious theme playing ) All right, Mr.
Fowler, I'm still waiting.
Are you gonna tell me where you got this money? I told you.
She loaned it to me.
Ask her yourself if you don't believe me.
He's telling the truth, Mr.
Burger.
I-I loaned him the money to go into business.
The recording business? That's right.
A fellow I know puts out high-fidelity tapes.
And that just happens to be one of your samples? Yeah.
You have no right to keep it.
It belongs to me! All right, you'll get it back as soon as Lieutenant Tragg is finished with it.
All set.
MAN ( on tape ): This is a high-fidelity recording.
Whether your taste runs to the classical or popular, Echo High-Fidelity Recordings can bring new delight.
This is Taylor Adams inviting you to a demonstration of high-fidelity sound.
Why, you dirty, little thief! And I was fool enough-- Here, here.
That's enough! He said it was a recording of my husband's.
I can't help it if she jumped to the wrong conclusions.
I just told her I had a tape recording for sale.
For $5,000? Look, Mr.
Burger, you've gotta give me a break.
Remember, I told you about Mason being in Mark Douglas' apartment that night.
All right, Mr.
Fowler, suppose you can tell me the rest of it.
Well, Mark had a tape of Mr.
Heywood telling all about himself and some dame.
Where did he get it? He stole it from Dr.
Craig's office.
His sister got him a copy of the key.
Well, I guess now we know Dr.
Craig's motive.
Leon, would you come in a minute, please? I want you to take down a statement.
( noirish jazz theme playing ) All right, doctor.
I removed this bullet from the victim's brain.
Death was virtually instantaneous.
Uh, it was caused by a contact wound.
Which means the muzzle of the weapon was pressed against the body at the time the shot was fired.
And what other effect would this have, doctor, beside the obvious one? Well, a contact gunshot makes very little noise.
Rather like the sound you get when you blow up a paper bag and then explode it.
Consequently, the sound of the gunshot might not even be heard.
Were you able to fix the time of death, doctor? Uh, judging by the temperature of the body and other tests, I would say that death occurred between 5:45 p.
m.
and 6:15 p.
m.
BURGER: I see.
And did you find anything else when you examined the body? Yes, there were bruises on the neck, indicating the deceased had been choked.
I would say this took place about five or six hours before he died.
All right, doctor.
Thank you very much.
Cross-examine, counselor.
No questions.
JUDGE: You may step down.
Call your next witness.
My next witness is Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.
And then in several places we found the defendant's fingerprints.
On the table, drawers, even on the phone.
I see.
Lieutenant, can you tell me what this is? Yes, sir.
I found this in Dr.
Craig's desk.
It's a gun permit.
If it please the court, I should like this gun permit marked for identification.
All right, Your Honor.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, lieutenant, how long ago was this permit issued to Dr.
Craig? Seven months ago.
And what kind of a gun does it cover? A .
38-caliber, Smith & Wesson revolver.
I ask you now, lieutenant, if you recall a conversation that you had with the defendant shortly after his arrest.
Yes, sir.
I asked the doctor to surrender his revolver.
And what did he say? He said he'd thrown it away on the night of the murder.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
Cross-examine, counselor.
Lieutenant, on this question of fingerprints, did the defendant ever deny being in that room? No, sir.
Did you find any other fingerprints there? Other than those belonging to the deceased or his sister? Yes, there were others.
By any chance, did you find the fingerprints of a young man named Ronny Fowler? Yes, sir, I did.
MASON: And how did you identify his prints? TRAGG: Through the FBI.
Oh? Does Mr.
Fowler have a criminal record? Your Honor, none of this was covered on direct examination.
Mr.
Mason has no right to pursue it.
If the court please, I maintain that once the question of fingerprints was introduced, I have the right to inquire as to all the fingerprints and how they were identified.
You've already made your point, counselor.
I ought to sustain Mr.
Burger's objection.
If you really want to go into Mr.
Fowler's criminal record, I suggest you wait until he's called as a witness.
Yes, Your Honor.
Now, lieutenant, let's turn our attention to the missing weapon.
Would you care to estimate how many .
38-caliber Smith & Wessons there are in this country? No, sir, I would not.
You'll agree it may be close to 100,000? I should, uh, say so.
And that bullet could have come from any one of those 100,000 guns? Well, as I testified, Mr.
Mason, we were unable to check it against the doctor's, as he had told me that he had thrown his gun away.
MASON: Did he tell you where he'd thrown it? TRAGG: Yes, sir.
Off the breakwater in Long Beach.
Did you make any attempt to recover it? Well, the way the doctor described his actions, he wasn't sure himself how far out he'd thrown it or in which direction.
The fact remains, lieutenant, you made no effort to recover the gun.
No, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
( crowd murmuring ) BURGER: How old was your brother when your parents died, Miss Douglas? Thirteen.
So it would be true to say that for the last eight years, you had been taking care of him? Well, if you mean by "taking care of him" that I taught him the difference between right and wrong, I didn't.
I-- I guess I don't know the difference myself.
Um, if it please the court, Miss Douglas is the sister of the deceased, but she is nevertheless a hostile witness.
I would appreciate it if the court would instruct her to be more responsive.
Miss Douglas, you will answer the district attorney directly and without any side excursions.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, Miss Douglas, on February 27th, didn't your brother come to you and tell you that he needed money desperately and ask you to help him? He-- He was lying.
That doesn't answer my question.
A simple "yes" or "no" will suffice.
Did your brother come to you and tell you that he needed money desperately? Yes.
And did he ask you to help him by making a wax impression of the key to Dr.
Craig's office safe? Yes.
Then on February 28th, didn't your brother enter Dr.
Craig's office and steal five recording tapes from the doctor's safe? Your Honor, I object.
The question calls for a conclusion not based on the facts.
There's been no evidence introduced to indicate that Dr.
Craig's safe had been burglarized.
Objection sustained.
Huh.
Well, then I'll put it thisway: The next morning, isn't it true that your brother had in his possession five recording tapes? Yes.
Didn't Dr.
Craig subsequently come to your apartment at noon and demand their return? Yes.
Would you tell us what happened at that time? Mark gave them to him.
Yes, but isn't it true that before Mark could be induced to part with these recordings, the defendant choked him? Well, he didn't mean it.
He was excited.
Do you think he was calm when he later found out that your brother tricked him and duplicated one of these tapes? Your Honor.
Mr.
Burger, you know the impropriety of that question.
I'm terribly sorry, Your Honor.
Take the witness.
No questions.
JUDGE: You may step down.
Call your next witness.
BURGER: I call Peter Heywood.
And then, it must have been around 3:00, my secretary announced that a Mark Douglas would like to see me.
Will you tell us, please, what happened when Mark Douglas came into your office? He showed me a recording of what he claimed was my last session with Dr.
Craig.
He said if I didn't give him $20,000, he'd sell it elsewhere.
What did you do? After I threw him out, I went to see Dr.
Craig.
He said I was mistaken.
I said it was no mistake.
I'd listened to the tape, and it was a McCoy.
And how did Dr.
Craig respond to that? He exploded.
He said he'd get every copy back if he had to kill Mark Douglas.
Thank you, Mr.
Heywood.
Cross-examine.
Don't ask him what's on that tape.
Please, Perry.
I mean it.
Mr.
Heywood, you testified that Dr.
Craig told you he'd get every copy of that recording back even if he had to kill Mark Douglas to get them.
That's right.
Did you take that threat literally? Yes.
Haven't you ever said in anger, "I could kill so-and-so"? Yes.
But I didn't mean it.
Then you'll agree the phrase is meaningless? You didn't see Dr.
Craig's face when he used it.
I didn't see yours either.
You also testified that you believe Dr.
Craig and the deceased were partners in this attempt to blackmail you.
That's right.
Then when Dr.
Craig told you he'd get every copy of the recording back from Mark Douglas, you didn't think he meant it? No, I didn't.
What measures were you prepared to take to defend yourself? I don't understand.
Well, since you felt this recording could be damaging to you, and you had no faith in Dr.
Craig, I'm curious as to what you intended doing about it.
Nothing.
Nothing? As Dr.
Craig once told me, indecision was my big problem.
I never could force myself to act when it really counted.
( chuckles ) That's pretty devastating self-analysis.
But it's accurate.
And so when you left Dr.
Craig's office that day at 5, what did you do? I went directly home.
He's lying! Bailiff, bring that woman here.
He's lying, Your Honor.
He was out all night.
He was out with some little tramp! You will be quiet, madam.
If the court please, this is Mrs.
Heywood.
That's no explanation for her conduct.
I hereby sentence you to five days in jail for contempt of court.
You can't.
Your Honor, Mrs.
Heywood is a witness for the state.
When did you intend to call her? First thing tomorrow morning.
Very well, she can serve her sentence after she testifies.
Court stands adjourned until 10:00 tomorrow morning.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Not very big, is it? And you could plant one like this in a thousand different places and you might never discover it.
What you getting at? We have to find out how many copies Mark Douglas made and how many copies are still around.
We know he was killed because of that tape.
Well, that lets Mrs.
Heywood out.
After all, she only needed one copy.
If she had killed Douglas, she'd hardly have to try and buy another copy from Ronny Fowler.
If Ronny had hadthe tape, he wouldn't have had to sell Mrs.
Heywood a phony.
According to that logic, if there were no copies left, Mr.
Heywood would be the prime suspect.
Mm-hm.
Either he or his girlfriend, Dana Lewis.
Where does Edith Douglas fit in? Personally, I don't think she does.
You know what I think? I think she's the key to the entire problem.
( classical music playing ) ( phone ringing ) Martha! Martha! Hello? EDITH ( over phone ): May I speak to Mr.
Heywood, please? How dare you call here, you cheap, little-- Oh, you don't understand, Mrs.
Heywood.
This is Edith Douglas.
Who? Edith Douglas.
I used to work for Dr.
Craig.
Well, what do you want with my husband? I was going through my brother's things, and I found something, and-- Well, I'd like to talk to Mr.
Heywood.
Well, he isn't here.
Can you tell me where I can reach him? It's very important.
I've already tried his office.
Why don't you try what's-her-name's apartment? Who? You know, his girlfriend.
I-I'm sorry I bothered you.
Hello? Miss Douglas? ( buzzer sounds ) Hello.
What are you doing here? You phoned my home several hours ago.
You wanted to find out where my husband was.
Have you been able to reach him? Well, I'm-- I'm delighted to hear it.
That means the tape is still here.
( exhales ) What are you talking about? Now, really, Miss Douglas.
You must take me for an awful fool.
You said you found something in your brother's belongings, and that could only mean one thing.
You don't understand.
No, youdon't understand.
Obviously, your brother's death has taught you nothing.
Where's the tape? I-I destroyed it.
Don't lie to me, Miss Douglas.
I'm telling you the truth.
I-I destroyed it after Dr.
Craig called me that night and told me what my brother had done.
I-I've searched the apartment, and I found it.
I searched the place myself, and it wasn't here.
Oh, it was here.
It was hidden behind that mirror.
Then why did you call me tonight about my husband? TRAGG: That was Mr.
Mason's idea.
Stay just as you are.
You said you searched this place yourself.
When did you make that search, the night you killed Mark Douglas? TRAGG: When Ballistics gets this, it'll do enough talking for everybody concerned.
Shall we? Thank you, Miss Douglas.
What are you gonna do now? ( laughs ) Leave town.
I'd talk to Dr.
Craig first.
Edith, don't you think he understands? You had to make a choice.
Either betray the man you loved or see your brother be killed by mobsters.
But Mark was lying.
That doesn't alter the case.
You actually believed he was in danger.
Now, I'm sure Dr.
Craig realizes what you must have gone through.
He'll likely be released in an hour, so if you hurry ( tranquil theme playing ) Well, shall we go? I don't get it.
It's very simple.
"Mrs.
Heywood confesses murder.
" No, I don't mean that.
I mean, what put you onto Mrs.
Heywood in the first place? Mm.
It was when you and Paul decided to exonerate her.
It seemed logical.
She wouldn't kill Mark Douglas unless she got the tape from him.
On the other hand, if she hadgotten the tape from him, she wouldn't have had to kill him.
Suppose she killed him first and then couldn't find the tape because his sister had destroyed it.
Wouldn't that explain everything? True.
Confession's in order.
I was afraid Dana Lewis was guilty all along.
You-- From the way you described her, I-- I didn't think she'd be troubled by indecision as Mr.
Heywood was.
Hm.
You're right.
And then when you told me how she tried to protect Mr.
Heywood, I liked her.
Mm.
( sighing ): I don't know a secretary who would go to bat like that for her boss.
I don't either.
Shall we? ( noirish jazz theme playing )