MAN 1: And it's a winner. Winner, hold 9, pay the line.
MAN 2: Let's go, come on out. MAN 3: There, they're coming out.
Yeah, they're coming out for a point now.
Get your bets down.
There you are. Craps, you lose.
Sorry, Mr. Falkner.
Still your dice. Shoot again, Mr. Falkner.
I wanna bet a dollar he doesn't make it.
Just put it on the don't-pass line, lady.
Eight. Eight's a point.
Once eight.
Now, play the hard way at the come and field.
Two hundred on the hard eight, limit on four, five, six and ten.
Seven, you lose. Sorry, Mr. Falkner.
Hey, I won. How about my $2?
- There it is, lady, right in front of you. - Glad I brought you luck.
Wish it could be more, Joe, but that taps me out.
JOE: Next good shooter.
All right, they're coming out of the dice now.
Put your bets down.
Coming out.
GLENN: "Dearest Stephanie:
Well, the old man did it again.
And after all the promises I made,
there's really no excuse except that I felt lucky.
Yeah, I was, considering how much more I could've lost.
To make a long story short,
Stephanie,
I went for 10,000--"
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Hello, Castle. What brings you here?
I saw you lose pretty good tonight.
That's the way the dice roll.
I'm glad you're such a philosopher.
You owe me $8,000.
I got your promissory note.
Next time I make a strike, I'll pick it up.
Not good enough.
That note is payable on demand.
I'm demanding it right now.
You said you'd give me till the 15th of April.
It doesn't say so here.
You're not kidding me, Castle. I know what you're up to.
You never wanted me to make good on this.
You think I don't know the score?
The Marty Davis crowd wants this land to put up a new casino.
So?
So you told them you could deliver it.
And by the 12th of April.
As long as you know so much, you might as well know the whole story.
I put up 50 grand as a guarantee.
Too bad you're gonna lose your money.
Oh, you're wrong, Falkner.
I'm not gonna lose one penny.
But I'm not selling.
I'm keeping this property for my daughter, Stephanie.
You're a tough man to deal with, Falkner.
Wouldn't be surprised if Stephanie was a lot easier.
Now don't be foolish, Castle, that's no way to--
You'll notice it's payable on demand.
But there's no reason to be nervous.
That motel property of yours is worth $500 a front foot.
I can get you 6.
But we'll have to act within the next 24 hours.
I appreciate your help, Mr. Castle,
but I'd rather not sell.
Now wait a minute, your father owed me $8,000.
You're not gonna renege?
You'll get your money.
This could be the opportunity of a lifetime
but these people will only wait until the 12th. Today's the 10th.
I understand.
- I'll discuss it with a friend. - Who? Mike Garvin?
Well, whoever it is,
if he's any kind of a businessman, he'll tell you to accept my proposition.
I'm staying at the Lodestar Apartments.
Let me know what you decide.
- Yeah? - Hello, Castle.
Well, if it isn't Mr. Michael Garvin Jr.
Darned if it isn't.
Come on in.
Well, how's the used-car business?
- I didn't come here to talk cars. - No?
Well, what's on your mind?
A girl named Stephanie Falkner.
Why, Junior, I'm surprised at you.
You, a married man.
What are you talking about?
Well, aren't you?
You and a long-legged model from Vegas
got married a couple of days ago.
She used to go by the name of Margo Winters.
Since when is that your business?
Since Stephanie Falkner became yours.
Just because you were engaged to the girl
doesn't give you any licence to butt into my affairs.
Why don't you lay off her, Castle? She's had a bad break.
Her father's been murdered.
Look, Junior, why don't you butt out?
If your old man knew you were here, he might get good and sore.
What kind of a crack is that?
I heard tell he's kind of nuts about Stephanie himself.
- I guess it runs in the family, huh? - Why, you--
What's a matter? Can't you take it down there?
Look, why don't you be a good boy and go on home to your bride.
Hello, Evie.
What are you doing here?
Well, it's a long, long story.
Why don't I make myself comfortable while I tell it?
Sit down.
It's about time you and I had one of those little heart-to-heart talks.
You let me down something awful, Evie.
Here, I got you one of those nice cushy jobs.
First chance you get, what do you do? You double-cross me.
What are you talking about?
I had a visitor a while back.
Fellow by the name of Michael Garvin Jr., your boss' son.
- Mean anything to you? - No.
Well, I figured you must have put a bug in Junior's ear
about my playing the heavy with Stephanie Falkner.
Now, if I wanted any publicity,
I would have hired myself a press agent.
Well, he didn't find out anything from me.
Now look, sugarplum, just in case you've forgotten,
there's a sheriff in Kansas who's looking for a redhead
who answers your description.
It seems this redhead forged a couple of cheques.
I was in trouble. I needed money.
Who wasn't, at one time or another?
I'm trying to fix up my life. You know I'm trying.
And I'm all for you.
As soon as this deal is over.
[PHONE RINGING]
Answer it.
Michael Garvin Investments.
I'd like to speak to Mr. Garvin, please.
I'm sorry, Mr. Garvin's out of town.
But, Eva, this is Stephanie Falkner. I must speak to Mr. Garvin.
No, I have no idea when he'll be back.
Yes. Yes, I'll tell him you called.
Well, I gotta be running along.
Come on, honeybunch, keep your nose clean.
[PHONE RINGS]
- Yes? EVA: Miss Falkner?
- Yes. - I couldn't talk to you before
but I did hear from Mr. Garvin.
He's in Las Vegas.
He's flying back to Los Angeles late tonight.
He said he'd meet you tomorrow morning at 11
in Perry Mason's office. That's his attorney.
Perry Mason's office?
- Are you sure? - Absolutely.
He's already set up the meeting.
All right.
Thank you very much.
You're quite welcome.
You held out on me, Evie.
I don't like that.
Something tells me I'm gonna have to call that sheriff in Kansas.
That's when I decided to get in touch with Mr. Garvin.
I'm glad you did, Stephanie.
How much did Castle offer for the land?
Six hundred dollars a foot.
That's about half what it's worth, Perry.
MASON: Who is this George Castle, Mike?
I think he killed Stephanie's father.
- How do you know? - I just got back from Vegas.
I traced your father's movements the night he was killed.
He'd been gambling heavily, going from place to place.
And in every place, George Castle was somewhere in the background.
That doesn't prove a thing.
Maybe not.
But I intend to find out from him myself if I have to.
Do you have a licence for that?
Certainly. I'm a deputy. I have three revolvers.
Where do you keep them?
Various places.
My son, Junior, has one, there's one in my office safe
and I always carry one ready for action.
I think you're being childish, Mike.
As your attorney, I suggest you turn your information
and theories over to the authorities in Las Vegas.
- Stephanie? - I'm sorry.
I just haven't gotten over my father's death yet.
Gambling was like a disease to him, but he--
He never let me down.
What do you think, Della?
I think Mr. Garvin's in love with that girl.
I'm flattered, really flattered.
When Miss Falkner told me she'd take it up with a friend,
I didn't expect it would be Perry Mason.
My offer to her might have been a little low.
But you understand, a man likes to make the best deal he can.
I understand.
All right, let's get down to brass tacks.
What do you want for Miss Falkner's motel?
Two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
You're joking.
Don't misunderstand me.
I just want an expression of that amount from you
so I can present it to Miss Falkner.
I can't guarantee she'll accept it.
Now look, Mason, let's be reasonable.
That figures out to $1,500 a front foot.
What's the going rate?
A thousand.
Is that what you offer?
All right, I'll offer a thousand.
- Will you make it 1,200? - What?
No.
You won't go 1,200?
Okay, Mason,
on the condition you present it to your client,
I'll go 1,200, but that's it.
That's too bad, because 1,200 is not acceptable.
I wouldn't even discuss it with her.
I'll go my limit.
Thirteen hundred dollars.
Take it or leave it.
Let's see, I want 1,500, you offer 1,300.
Will you--? Will you split the difference?
All right, Mason, that's the top.
I can't go any higher.
You can walk right out of here and I won't stop you.
I'll give you 1,400.
Well, I'll present your offer to my client.
I'm going to recommend not selling, not at that price.
Fifteen hundred dollars is out of the question.
Perhaps it's just as well.
You know, I've got a hunch
that you stuck your neck out on this deal.
How much do you stand to lose if you can't deliver that property?
You're smart, Mason, real smart.
How well did you know Glenn Falkner?
Maybe you're not so smart.
[PHONE RINGS]
Wait a minute.
Hello?
No.
When?
All right. In ten minutes.
I'll be right here.
All right, Mason,
I'll pay her $1,500.
Where do we go from here?
I'm going to get a bad taste out of my mouth.
Be in my office in the morning.
Paul Drake, please.
This is Perry Mason.
Hello, Paul. I have a job for you.
George Castle. Go ahead, Perry.
I want a complete background.
He operates out of Las Vegas. You'll have to go up there.
- Operates? - All I know is--
Hold it, Paul.
I'm sorry, Paul. Now, where was I?
Oh, yes. Castle's business is a mystery.
His ethics, questionable, his source of income--
Well, you see what you can dig up.
He sounds perfectly charming.
About a week ago in Vegas,
a man by the name of Glenn Falkner was murdered.
- Yeah, I remember. - There might be a connection.
All right, I'll check.
How far can I go on expenses?
Oh, the limit.
When you turn in your vouchers, I'll buy everything.
Except casino chips.
Okay, Perry, I'll get right on it.
"Las Palmas, Las Tunas,
Las Vegas."
Give you a lift, Miss Falkner?
Well.
I thought I recognised you, Mason.
Well, lieutenant, what are you doing in this neighbourhood?
Oh, we work around the clock sometimes, you know that.
And it's inconsiderate of me,
holding up a public servant in the performance of his duties.
No, no, not at all.
You going somewhere?
Been somewhere. Just taking the young lady home.
If you have no objection?
MAN: Say, lieutenant,
Sergeant Gordon would like to see you upstairs.
Okay.
Well it's been nice meeting you, Miss--?
Well, it's still been nice.
So George Castle is dead.
How did you know that?
That gentleman with the deceptive smile was Lieutenant Tragg.
The only thing that keeps him working around the clock is a homicide.
You wanna tell me about it?
No.
No, I have to go home.
Please take me home.
Yes, ma'am, what can we do for you?
Is Mr. Garvin around?
He's very busy. If you're interested in a trade--?
Oh, no, thank you. I'm perfectly happy with Mr. Garvin.
- I'm Mrs. Garvin. - Oh.
Oh, he isn't in the office, Mrs. Garvin, he's out back.
Thank you.
So this is what you call hard work?
Margo. What are you doing here?
Well, is that any way to greet a wife?
Why, this-- This is the first time I've been here.
Mr. Garvin. Mr. Garvin, what will your employees think?
You must've been upset when you left this morning.
- Where did you get this? - On the dresser.
How many times do I have to tell you not to touch it?
Well, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, too, honey. I was afraid you might get hurt.
You don't know how easily these things go off.
Come on, I'll walk you back to your car.
Hello?
Mr. Perry, I want you to take on Stephanie Falkner as your client.
- As of right now? - Yes.
There's a possibility she killed George Castle in self-defence.
I want you to protect her.
There might be a conflict of interest.
That's all right.
Your first obligation is to Stephanie, regardless of where the chips fall.
All right, I'll do what I can.
Now, you've got to tell me the truth, Stephanie.
When I was at George Castle's apartment last night,
he received a telephone call.
- Was it you? - No.
Then it was just coincidence your getting there after I left?
Yes.
Were you carrying a gun?
Let me see it.
Have you ever used that gun?
Oh, no.
It's been fired.
One shot's been fired.
Where'd you get this?
Michael--
- Mr. Garvin gave it to me. - When?
Yesterday, just after we left at your office.
He said Castle was dangerous. He wanted me to keep it for protection.
Why did you go to see Castle in the first place?
I had some childish notion that if I could talk to him,
I could find out if he was responsible for my father's murder.
And when you got Castle's room?
He was dead.
- And you didn't use this gun at all? - No.
Well, at the moment, I wouldn't want it to fall into the hands of the police.
All right?
Now, I don't want you to leave here.
I don't want you talk to anyone till I get back, you understand?
We'll send someone over to see the whole batch.
- How are you, counsellor? - Good.
I haven't seen you for quite a while. Did you hear about--?
About your marriage? I did. And congratulations.
Thanks. Well, what can I do for you?
I don't know about me
but I think you can help your dad and Stephanie Falkner.
I don't get you.
Where do you keep your gun?
A mighty nice gun, Junior.
Just like your dad's.
That's right.
He knew I always carry a lot of cash so he gave me that one.
After I got a licence. That way--
Hey, look out.
It's all right, there's no one out there.
That was stupid of me.
I guess I shouldn't be handling these things.
You always know quite a lot about them in court.
I'm sorry, Junior. Well, I owe you a new desk.
Okay, I'll bite.
If it were anybody else but Perry Mason putting on this act,
it might be convincing.
Put that gun in your pocket and come with me.
- Here we are. - Let's take mine.
I'm in a hurry, Mike.
All the more reason, this one's a real bomb.
- Gonna try to sell it to him, Bill. - Okay, Mike.
Good luck.
I told you, Mr. Mason, I don't like this.
I'm a married man.
It's all right, I'll act as chaperon.
Stephanie, it's Perry Mason.
Congratulations on your marriage, Junior.
Thanks, Stephanie. I knew you'd understand.
She can understand inside. Come on.
Give Stephanie the gun, Junior.
I don't know what Mason has in mind, Stephanie.
Give her the gun.
Now, there's no secret about this.
If anyone asks you where you got that gun,
tell them Michael Garvin gave it to you.
Oh.
MASON: Now, one bullet has been fired from the gun.
You have no idea as to who fired it, when or where it was fired.
If anyone wants to know,
it will be necessary for them to check with Michael Garvin. Is that clear?
Perfectly.
Wait a minute, you might get my old man involved in this thing.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello.
Yes. Oh.
That Lieutenant Tragg is downstairs.
Can we get out that way?
Better let him come up.
We'll find our way down through the service entrance. Come on, Junior.
Have him come up, please.
- Who is it? - Lieutenant Tragg.
Breathing fire?
If he's a dragon, he's a tired one.
Hello, lieutenant.
- I'm here. - Sit down.
I'm really sorry to interrupt your lunch.
Oh, I'm not as young as I once was.
Who is? Clock running down?
After this chore, I'm gonna start bedding down
to about 12 solid hours of shuteye.
Chore? You here on business?
No, it's more of a favour.
We just booked your client, Stephanie Falkner, for murder.
It's a pretty solid case now.
Now look, Tragg--
She was the girl in your car last night, in front of the Lodestar.
That doesn't mean a thing.
You didn't let me finish.
We also found the murder gun in her apartment.
- Where? - Lying right on the table
when we walked in.
That's impossible. Has it been checked out with ballistics?
It certainly has. There's no doubt the bullet that killed Castle
came from that gun.
Miss Falkner wants to see you.
And I told her I'd try to get a message to you.
I've kept my word.
MASON: It's all my fault.
I'm so clever, I put a noose right around Stephanie's neck.
I don't see why you feel that way.
I took her the gun, Della.
I literally forced it on her.
And now it turns out to be the gun that killed Castle.
You got it from Junior Garvin.
You think for two seconds, Burger's gonna believe that?
Try Junior again, will you?
I'll be through here in a couple of minutes, honey.
Just be patient.
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
Who's calling, please?
Just a moment.
It's Perry Mason's office again.
No, Mr. Garvin isn't here right now.
No, I don't know where I could reach him.
Yes, yes, I'll tell him.
What do you want me to tell Mr. Mason's office the next time he calls?
I just don't wanna talk to him, that's all.
Well, you're going to have to eventually.
What if you're subpoenaed for the trial?
MAN: Lieutenant, it's been established that at 8:27,
a phone call from the manager of the Lodestar Apartments
brought a prowl car to the scene.
Now, at what time did you personally get there?
About 8:30, give or take a couple of minutes.
And did you see a young woman in the vicinity?
- Yes. - Can you identify her?
Yes, the defendant, Stephanie Falkner.
I show you now this gun--
It is marked "People's Exhibit A."
--and ask if you've ever seen this before.
TRAGG: Yes.
BURGER: This gun has been identified as the murder weapon
through ballistic tests.
Where did you see it first?
TRAGG: I found it in the defendant's apartment
on the morning of April 12th.
BURGER: Did the defendant make any comment
with reference to the gun?
TRAGG: Well, she said that a Mr. Michael Garvin had given it to her.
BURGER: Did she say anything else about it?
TRAGG: Well, there was a discharged shell in the gun,
but Miss Falkner claimed to know nothing about it.
BURGER: Thank you, lieutenant. Your witness.
Lieutenant Tragg,
did the defendant say that she had received the gun
from Michael Garvin Sr. or Michael Garvin Jr.?
Well, just that she had received it from Michael Garvin.
Did she say when she had received it?
No, sir.
Then as far as you personally know, this weapon could have been
turned over to the defendant after the murder?
Could have been.
Thank you, lieutenant. That's all.
You may step down, lieutenant.
If it'd please the court,
we intend to connect up this time element right now.
I call Eva Elliott to the stand, please.
Miss Elliott, you're employed as a private secretary
- by Mr. Michael Garvin Sr.? - I am.
Were you so employed on the 11th day of April of this year,
- the night that George was murdered? - I was.
- Did you work late that night? - Yes, sir.
What time did Mr. Garvin get to the office that day?
It was about 5:30 in the afternoon.
He had spent a few days in Las Vegas.
You worked until what time?
About 8:00.
And what did Mr. Garvin do?
I object, Your Honour.
The question, the whole line of questioning,
is immaterial, irrelevant and incompetent.
I'm connecting the murder weapon and the time element, Your Honour.
On the strength of counsel's assurance, I will permit the evidence
subject to a subsequent motion to strike it if it is not connected.
You may answer the question, Miss Elliott.
What happened at Mr. Garvin's office about 8:00?
Well, I was stacking my work for the next morning.
And what was Mr. Garvin doing?
Well, he took off his jacket and shoulder holster,
he was going to shave and change clothes.
I see, Mr. Garvin generally carried a gun?
Yes, sir.
Was there a gun in his holster at that time?
It might have been in his jacket pocket.
- It was definitely not in the holster? - No, sir.
And he habitually carried his gun in the holster?
Yes, sir.
He must have either left it someplace or given it to someone?
- I object, Your Honour. - I'm finished with the witness.
You may cross-examine.
No questions at this time.
Then I call Mr. Michael Garvin Sr.
You may leave the stand, please.
Mr. Garvin, on the 11th day of April this year,
did you give or lend to the defendant, Stephanie Falkner, a weapon?
GARVIN: I did. - I ask you now,
if this gun, which I place in your hand
and which is marked "Exhibit A," is the weapon?
I don't know.
You can't identify your own gun?
I have three guns so much alike that the only way I can tell them apart
is by the serial numbers.
I see.
Well, that brings us then to the question of the identities
of these guns of yours.
In order to avoid confusion,
let's try this:
Let's call the gun that you gave your son, Michael Garvin Jr.,
the "Junior gun,"
let's call the one that you keep in your safe or vault, the "vault gun,"
and let's refer to the one that you habitually carry on your person
as the "holster gun."
- Is that clear? - Yes, sir.
Now, on the 11th day of April,
you gave the holster gun to Miss Falkner.
You then returned to your office. What did you do there?
Well, since I hadn't been home for several days,
I showered and changed clothes.
At that time, you were minus a gun from your holster, is that correct?
Why, yes, sir.
And did you replaced it with the gun from your vault?
Just a minute.
Do you have any objection to this line of questioning, Mr. Mason?
I have, Your Honour,
but we also are anxious to make some sense out of these guns.
We reserve our rights.
Proceed, Mr. Burger.
Mr. Garvin, did you place the vault gun in your holster?
Yes, sir.
And did you then go to the apartment of Stephanie Falkner, the defendant,
- to take her to dinner? - Yes.
BURGER: Did you take her to dinner? GARVIN: No.
- Why not? - Miss Falkner was upset.
Why was she upset?
She told me she had gone to the Lodestar to see George Castle.
Taking with her the holster gun you had given her?
I must object here, Your Honour.
The question not only calls for a conclusion of the witness
as to the identity of those guns, it is also leading and suggestive.
I'll withdraw the question.
Now then, Mr. Garvin,
because Stephanie Falkner was upset after seeing George Castle,
you did not go to dinner, is that correct?
MASON: Objection.
Leading, argumentative and calls for a conclusion.
Very well, Mr. Mason, I'm finished with this witness.
Cross-examine.
Mr. Garvin, why did you give the defendant
what the district attorney refers to as the "holster gun"?
Answer the question, please.
Because--
Because she had once been engaged to my son, Michael Jr.,
I had looked forward to having her as a member of the family
and when it turned out that my son married someone else in such a hurry,
I suddenly realised...
I realised that I wanted her to have every protection.
Paul, did you ever find out
where George Castle got all his money?
No, that I'm not too clear on.
I did find out last night, however,
that he owns 40 percent interest in Julie's
under a fictitious name, of course.
"Julie's"? What's that?
We you can sure tell you're a bachelor.
It's a swank women's shop in Vegas.
The kind of place where they have long-legged models.
If you're a smart shopper,
you might be able to pick up a little cotton frock for about $200.
Well, I suppose it's still a cheap way for a man to get rid of his wife
so she can't see how much he's losing at the casino.
You know the place, Mr. Garvin?
Your secretary, Eva Elliott, used to model there.
I had no idea.
Your daughter-in-law was employed there too.
- Margo? - It's funny you didn't know that.
Now, just a minute, young man. What's that supposed to mean?
Now, relax, Mike. You must admit it is peculiar.
You wanted me to protect Stephanie, even if there was a conflict of interest.
- Do those instructions still go? - They do.
Even if it affects you or your family?
All right, Mike. I'll put you back on the stand
to start clearing up a little matter of those guns.
Something I'm not too clear on myself right now.
If it'd please the court, Michael Garvin Sr.
was on the stand when the court took its recess.
I have one further question I should like to ask of him.
BURGER: If the court please,
Mr. Mason announced this morning
that he'd completed his cross-examination
of Michael Garvin Sr.
And since my next witness is Mr. Garvin Jr.,
since he's here in court and ready to be sworn,
I insist that I be allowed to put him on the stand at this time.
After that, if Mr. Mason wishes to recall Mr. Garvin Sr.,
I shall have no objection.
That is agreeable to me, Your Honour.
Proceed with your case, Mr. Burger.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Call Michael Garvin Jr.
MAN: Michael Garvin Jr. to the stand.
Mr. Garvin, I ask you now to remember
the morning of April 12th of this year.
Did Perry Mason visit you at your place of business?
He did.
He asked to see my gun. I took it out of my desk.
He clumsily fired a shot into the desk.
What happened then?
He gave me back a different gun.
I object, Your Honour.
Improper groundwork for that question.
It calls for a conclusion the witness could not possibly know as fact.
The gun turned out to be the murder weapon. You switched guns on me.
The witness will come to order.
The witness will answer the questions asked
and will refrain from extraordinary pronouncements.
The defence objection is sustained.
Very well, Your Honour, I'll rephrase the question.
On that morning, Mr. Mason handed you
what we have called here the "Junior gun."
- Is that correct? - That's right.
I show you a Smith & Wesson revolver
marked "Exhibit B," and ask if that is your gun.
It is.
How do you know?
About five months ago, I scratched my initials on the bottom of the handle.
Here, if you look closely, you can see them.
Are you sure that this is the gun that you handed Mr. Mason
- in your office that morning? - Yes.
Now, he fired this gun, thereby causing a certain amount of confusion?
Yes, sir.
- And after he handed you back a gun? - Yes.
What did you do with that particular gun?
I took it to the apartment of Stephanie Falkner.
And what did you do with it there?
Nothing.
I just stood there while Mr. Mason recited some double talk
about Stephanie being in danger,
and that I was bringing her a gun that she could use for defence.
I see.
By doing all this, Mr. Mason apparently meant to explain
the presence of a discharged shell in the cylinder of your gun
and at the same time, make it appear that the murder weapon, Exhibit A,
had been in your possession
during the time that the murder was committed.
- Is that right? - Objected to as argumentative.
The objection is well-taken.
Mr. Burger, you are bordering on misconduct.
Please ask questions
which are within the scope of the issues and are proper.
Very well, Your Honour.
Cross-examine.
Now, Michael Garvin Jr.,
you stated that the gun which we're calling the "Junior gun"
was not out of your possession up to the time you gave it to me.
That's right.
Which means, you took it home with you that evening?
Yes, I always do.
What did you do with it at bedtime?
Yeah, when I undressed I put it on the dresser.
And what did you do when you got up in the morning?
I dressed and had breakfast, I shaved, I brushed my teeth.
I see. Then what?
Then I went to the office.
You took the gun with you?
- Well, no. - Oh?
Then what did you do with the gun?
I left it on the dresser.
My wife brought it down to the office later.
Now, isn't it possible your wife may have used that gun
before she brought it down to the office later?
That's a lie. I resent that. You switched guns--
Sit down, young man. Sit down before I find you in contempt.
BURGER: I object, Your Honour.
That question is argumentative. It's improper cross-examination.
And it contains a dastardly insinuation.
Objection's overruled.
The witness may resent it if he likes
but Mr. Mason is representing a defendant in a murder case.
Now, Mr. Burger, if the court might make a suggestion,
it would seem a bullet was fired from the weapon
Mr. Mason had in his hand. Is that right?
Yes, Your Honour.
Well, I presume it could be determined
whether the bullet came from the murder weapon or the Junior gun.
And since it certainly didn't fade into thin air...
Or did it?
Your Honour, an attempt was made to find that bullet.
It apparently ricocheted off the desktop and out the window.
In any event, we haven't been able to find it.
I see.
You may continue, Mr. Mason.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Now, Michael...
I have no further questions of this witness.
You may step down.
Then I call Mrs. Michael Garvin to the stand, please.
- State your name. - Margo Garvin.
Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear
the evidence you're about to give is the truth and nothing but the truth?
- I do. - Be seated.
Now, Mrs. Garvin, I show you a weapon marked "People's Exhibit A"
and ask if you have ever seen this gun before.
I can't say. I saw one which looked very much like it
but I'm not an expert.
- Where did you see that gun? - My husband left it on the dresser.
When was this?
On the night of April 11th.
The following morning, did you see the gun again?
- I did. - What did you do with it, Mrs. Garvin?
I took it to my husband's office.
Thank you. Your witness.
Mrs. Garvin,
did you know the decedent, George Castle?
Yes, I knew him in Las Vegas.
He was one of the owners of a dress shop where I modelled.
Did you have any personal relationship with him?
No.
Mrs. Garvin, you were at home
- during the evening of April 11th? - Yes.
And you did not leave your home at all during that evening?
No.
Thank you.
No further questions.
If Your Honour please,
Mr. Mason, earlier expressed a desire to recall Mr. Michael Garvin Sr.
for further cross-examination.
The state has no objection if he wishes to do so at this time.
Your Honour, before I do that, I would like to confer with my client.
How much time will you need, counsellor?
Just a few minutes.
You may step down, Mrs. Garvin.
The court will recess until 2:30.
That was a nice piece of work.
You've certainly led me down the garden path.
What are you talking about? I've told you the truth.
Have you?
How do you feel about Mike Garvin?
Oh, I think he's a very nice boy.
I'm referring to Mike Garvin Sr.
What do you mean, how do I feel?
Well, I think he's-- He's a wonderful man.
- Like your father? - He's much younger than my father.
Not so much younger.
Really, Mr. Mason, this is ridiculous. I don't see any point to it.
Believe me, there is a point.
And it might be the answer to those guns.
MASON: Mr. Garvin, you've been a client of mine for a long time.
GARVIN: That's right.
MASON: In point of fact, you recommended me to the defendant.
GARVIN: I did.
MASON: You did that knowing full well that if your interests
conflicted with those of the defendant, I would be forced to sacrifice you.
Yes.
Perhaps that moment has come, Mr. Garvin.
GARVIN: Very well.
First, then
let us clarify the confusion of the three guns in this case.
All right.
Now, you gave the defendant your holster gun
on the afternoon of April 11th.
Yes, I did.
Later that night, you opened your safe, or vault,
then put your vault gun in the holster, is that correct?
Yes.
You were gonna take the defendant out to dinner.
What time did you arrive at her apartment?
About 9:00.
Now, during the course of that evening,
did you, without her knowledge, substitute the vault gun
for the holster gun that you had given her earlier?
Yes, I did.
Why did you do that, Mr. Garvin?
- I'd rather not answer. - But you have to answer.
Why did you substitute the vault gun for the holster gun?
Because I thought she killed Mr. Castle with it.
In self-defence, of course.
MASON: So you switched guns?
- Yes. - And thus entrapped the defendant.
- I did not. - Yes, you did.
Because, Mr. Garvin,
the gun you took out of your safe was the murder weapon.
- Well, that's not true. - But it is true.
So now the question arises:
How did the murder gun get into your safe in the first place?
- Did you kill George Castle? - Wh--? No.
Who else has the combination to your safe?
My secretary.
- Eva Elliott? - Yes.
How far is your office from the Lodestar?
Oh, just two blocks.
And how long did it take you to shave, shower
and change your clothes that evening?
- About 30 minutes. - "About 30 minutes."
So someone could have gone to your safe, removed the gun,
killed George Castle and returned the gun to your safe?
Yes.
And was your secretary, Eva Elliot, present in your office during that time?
Well, yes, she was.
Thank you, Mr. Garvin. No further questions.
You may step down, sir.
If it'd please the court,
I'd like to recall Eva Elliott to the stand.
I feel that under the circumstances--
Never mind the speeches.
I thought my luck would hold out just this once, but--
But it never has.
I didn't mean to frame you, Stephanie. You've got to believe that.
I was just trying to make something of myself.
I was trying, but George Castle wouldn't let me.
He just wouldn't let me.
All right, you guys.
Take it easy.
I still don't understand what happened to the gun that I brought Stephanie.
She hid it. The gun the police found
was the one your father substituted the night before.
After your father left, she examined it, saw it had been fired.
- She thought Pop had killed Castle. - That's it.
Which reminds me...
Oh, which reminds me. Where are your father and Stephanie?
- Downtown. - City hall?
Hall of Records.
They're taking out a marriage licence.
He left this for you.
The amount is blank.
He said for you to fill it in,
for services rendered and gratefully accepted.
Now, if you'll just add another thousand to that.
Oh, what for?
Down payment on that car you drove yesterday.
Come on, Miss Street, I'll give you a demonstration.
Hold it, Junior. We'll demonstrate it.
Want me to fill it in?