Please Murder Me

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Films in Public Domain

Transcript

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00:03:20Ray Willis, District Attorney.

00:03:24Dear Ray,

00:03:27in exactly 55 minutes,

00:03:31I will be dead.

00:03:35Murdered.

00:03:38To explain, I find myself

00:03:41completely sober, reasonably sane,

00:03:43and not at all surprised.

00:03:46It started back in World War II,

00:03:48during the Iwo Jima campaign.

00:03:51I was a captain in the Marine Corps.

00:03:54As you know, every captain needs a top sergeant.

00:03:58Well, I really had the best.

00:04:01His name was Joe Leeds.

00:04:04Hitting the Iwo beachhead was...

00:04:07like running into a living hell.

00:04:09I guess I got a little careless.

00:04:12In saving my life, Joe was hit.

00:04:16He carried a bullet so close to his lung,

00:04:18surgery was impossible.

00:04:22During the time the medics patched us up,

00:04:24we became great friends.

00:04:27After the war, I watched him build a home.

00:04:31I watched him become successful.

00:04:35We were closer than...

00:04:37than most brothers.

00:04:39One afternoon, six months ago,

00:04:41I sent for Joe.

00:04:45I knew I was going to break his heart.

00:04:48And all I could think about was whether

00:04:51it wouldn't have been better for both of us

00:04:54if he had allowed me to die on that beach that day.

00:05:01You know, Craig, you're the only guy in town

00:05:03that could get me out at this time of day.

00:05:05But I was coming over to see you anyway.

00:05:07Oh?

00:05:08Yeah.

00:05:09There's a new housing development going up over at Piedmont.

00:05:11What do you think about buying a corner lot

00:05:13and sticking up a new market?

00:05:15Might be an idea.

00:05:18What's the matter with you, boy?

00:05:20You look like you had a problem that was too heavy to carry.

00:05:23It almost is, Joe.

00:05:25Well, after all we've been through,

00:05:27it can't be too serious.

00:05:28Maybe talking it out will help.

00:05:31It's going to mean throwing 15 years of friendship

00:05:33right out the window.

00:05:35Well, if it's a real friendship, it won't bend easy.

00:05:37OK.

00:05:41Are you happy being married to Myra?

00:05:43And Joe.

00:05:44Don't tell me it's none of my business.

00:05:47Well, I don't know.

00:05:49Happy is a word that means a lot of things.

00:05:51It's a state of being.

00:05:52I never ask myself.

00:05:55I've got a beautiful wife, a lovely home, good business.

00:05:58Guy can't expect anything.

00:06:00I guess being grateful is as good as being happy.

00:06:04Not really, Joe.

00:06:06Perhaps you haven't realized how little time

00:06:09you've been spending at home, how many evenings you've

00:06:12given to the business.

00:06:14Myra is a fine woman, Joe.

00:06:16When she married you, she was in love.

00:06:19But no one wants to be alone all the time.

00:06:22Now she'd like to do something about it.

00:06:25Oh, I see.

00:06:27She told you to talk to me.

00:06:29Did she ask you to represent her too?

00:06:32It was more my idea than hers.

00:06:34I don't follow you.

00:06:39I don't know how to say it without making it sound cheap.

00:06:48People meet with no thought of being anything but friends.

00:06:53Circumstances throw them together.

00:06:56Then they discover in each other many mutual interests.

00:06:59They begin to anticipate their next meeting.

00:07:02And then the next one.

00:07:04Until finally, one day, they both realize

00:07:11they're very much in love.

00:07:13OK, don't dress it up.

00:07:14Who's the guy?

00:07:16I'm in love with her, Joe.

00:07:19I want to marry her.

00:07:22That's the way it is.

00:07:26And it's the most difficult thing

00:07:27I've ever had to say to anyone.

00:07:31Are you sure, Craig?

00:07:33Are you sure you know what you're doing?

00:07:35I'm in love with her, Joe.

00:07:44What do you want me to do?

00:07:47I'd like Myra to go away, get a divorce.

00:07:52You know, Craig, I've always had a lot of respect

00:07:54and admiration for you.

00:07:57Living with me like this has taken a lot of guts.

00:08:01Like I said, a real friendship doesn't bend easy.

00:08:10This...

00:08:12This kind of knocked the wind out of me.

00:08:14I...

00:08:16Give me a couple of days to kick it around, will you?

00:08:21Yeah.

00:08:44Yes, Mr. Carlson?

00:08:46Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.

00:08:52I'm tired, darling.

00:08:54Did you have a rough day in court?

00:08:57I had the roughest day of my life, Myra.

00:09:00What was it, Craig?

00:09:03Hi.

00:09:07Perhaps you ought to go home.

00:09:09I'm not going to be very good company.

00:09:11Something's wrong.

00:09:12I've got a right to know.

00:09:16I saw Joe today.

00:09:18I told him about us.

00:09:21Oh.

00:09:24What did he say?

00:09:27That's what's so wrong, Myra.

00:09:30He didn't get angry.

00:09:33He just said give him a couple of days to think it over.

00:09:41I guess I helped him die a little today.

00:09:45I know I did.

00:09:48Darling, do you believe that when we first met,

00:09:52we tried to fall in love?

00:09:54Oh, I know.

00:09:55Certainly not.

00:09:56Haven't we respected my marriage?

00:09:58We tried to walk away.

00:10:00We did everything we could not to let it happen.

00:10:05That doesn't make today any easier.

00:10:07I never wanted to hurt Joe.

00:10:10I didn't think I could forget him.

00:10:13I didn't think I could possibly fall in love with anyone else.

00:10:16But I have.

00:10:19Craig, darling, I'm not ashamed of my feelings for you.

00:10:24I'm not afraid of the world knowing the truth.

00:10:27I don't believe what we have is wrong.

00:10:32Don't spoil it, Craig.

00:10:44I just dropped by to tell you Mr. Swell wedding dove.

00:10:47It was a real pretty bride.

00:10:50Funny thing, you were there the night she was born.

00:10:52I kind of hoped you'd be there tonight when I gave her away.

00:10:55I had a million things to do, Lou.

00:10:57I hope the kids will be happy.

00:11:00Oh, they're a cinch.

00:11:02You never saw two people better suited for each other.

00:11:05Tops even more.

00:11:07I'm sure they'll be happy.

00:11:09Joe, what's wrong?

00:11:11What makes you think there's something wrong?

00:11:13You can't fool me.

00:11:15Just the other day when I was in here with the people

00:11:17about the branch store, you hardly even listened to me.

00:11:20You looked like you were a thousand miles away.

00:11:22Ever since then, you've been moping around like,

00:11:25like something was bothering you bad.

00:11:29I don't know.

00:11:30I don't know.

00:11:31I don't know.

00:11:32I don't know.

00:11:33I don't know.

00:11:34I don't know.

00:11:35I don't know.

00:11:36Something was bothering you bad.

00:11:41You know, Lou, doing the right thing

00:11:44isn't the easiest thing in the world.

00:11:47You've got to look deep inside of you.

00:11:50Be real honest with yourself.

00:11:53Well, for the past few days, that's just what I've been doing.

00:11:57Looking down deep inside of me.

00:12:00Looking for the right answer, and I finally found it.

00:12:04Sounds like an important decision.

00:12:06It is.

00:12:09And a tough one, too.

00:12:10It'll probably change my whole life.

00:12:12Myra's, too.

00:12:14Something wrong between you and Myra?

00:12:16Well, I don't think anything could be worse.

00:12:20Joe, believe me, every married couple has their ups and downs.

00:12:24Even Mom and me have had some bad moments.

00:12:27But honest, if you just have patience,

00:12:29everything usually works out fine.

00:12:32Sometimes, Lou.

00:12:34Sometimes.

00:12:36Look, do me a favor, will you?

00:12:38Mail this on your way home.

00:12:39Yeah, sure thing.

00:12:53Hello, Myra?

00:12:55Just wanted to make sure you were home.

00:12:57I'm going to be home early.

00:12:59I've been thinking about something

00:13:00I want to talk to you about.

00:13:02I'll be there in about 15 or 20 minutes.

00:13:06Just remember, Joe, everything usually works out.

00:13:09Quit living in a dream world, Lou.

00:14:30Sergeant.

00:14:31Sir?

00:14:32Body in there?

00:14:33That's right.

00:14:34Ready for a stakeover?

00:14:35Sure.

00:14:36Chalk him off, dust the place good,

00:14:37and McMillan's already photographed most of the room.

00:14:40What'd it look like, Lieutenant?

00:14:42According to the lady, we got a breeze.

00:14:44She said she shot her husband in self-defense.

00:14:46How come everybody always shoots everybody else in self-defense?

00:14:50Now, Mrs. Lees, I, uh, I think we got everything

00:14:53pretty well straightened out.

00:14:55Would you mind going over that first part for me

00:14:57just once more?

00:14:59Well, I...

00:15:00I was sitting in bed reading when Joe came in.

00:15:04He was wearing a suit.

00:15:06He was wearing a suit.

00:15:08He was wearing a suit.

00:15:10He was wearing a suit.

00:15:12He was wearing a suit.

00:15:14He was wearing a suit.

00:15:16He was wearing a suit.

00:15:18He was wet.

00:15:20He looked furious.

00:15:23I couldn't imagine what was wrong.

00:15:26He just walked over and pulled me out of bed

00:15:29as if he was drunk or crazy or something.

00:15:33Threw me against the dresser.

00:15:36Said he was going to kill me.

00:15:39He started for me again.

00:15:41Then I opened the drawer, took out the gun, and shot him.

00:15:47He just stood there and looked at me.

00:15:51Then he fell.

00:15:54It was terrible.

00:15:57It's going to be all right.

00:15:59You just rest there for a minute.

00:16:01All right, let's get off the phone.

00:16:03You know this place is off-limits until the lab's through with it.

00:16:05We dust it before we use it, Lieutenant.

00:16:07Frank and Ellen, I want those papers drawn up

00:16:09first thing in the morning.

00:16:11No, I'll be there before you.

00:16:13I'm going directly to the office and police headquarters.

00:16:15Sergeant, I want this section of the room covered from A to Z.

00:16:18Several shots of that nightstand and this dresser here.

00:16:21Get in close.

00:16:22You know the kind of stuff I want.

00:16:23Well, cover the place like they're planning

00:16:25on a big day in court.

00:16:26If the guys did, that makes it a big day in court.

00:16:30Any reason to doubt it was self-defense?

00:16:32Enough to hold her on suspicion of murder.

00:16:35Then it's up to you legal eagles to pick her apart.

00:16:38Oh, incidentally, if you want to talk to your client,

00:16:40have at it because I'm taking her downtown

00:16:42in about two minutes.

00:16:46I don't understand it.

00:16:48I don't understand it at all.

00:16:50What don't you understand?

00:16:52The police.

00:16:54All these questions.

00:16:56Those men in there taking pictures.

00:16:58Fingerprints.

00:17:00I'm afraid, Craig.

00:17:02Just routine, Myra.

00:17:04I'm afraid.

00:17:05I'm afraid.

00:17:06I'm afraid.

00:17:07I'm afraid.

00:17:08I'm afraid.

00:17:09I'm afraid.

00:17:10I'm afraid.

00:17:11I'm afraid.

00:17:12I'm afraid.

00:17:14Just routine, Myra.

00:17:19Nothing to be alarmed about.

00:17:21But Lieutenant Bradley's questions

00:17:23haven't been routine.

00:17:27They don't believe me, do they?

00:17:29Tell me the truth.

00:17:32Lieutenant Bradley plans to hold you on suspicion of murder.

00:17:39What am I going to do?

00:17:41How can I make them believe me?

00:17:43That'll be my job, darling.

00:17:47Why did he try to kill me?

00:17:49Why couldn't he understand?

00:17:54Myra.

00:17:58I loved Joe as much as anyone could.

00:18:02And I thought I knew him.

00:18:06But Joe's actions weren't caused by sudden anger.

00:18:10It took several days to think about what he was going to do.

00:18:15Had he been successful, it would have been premeditated murder.

00:18:22I'm afraid, Craig.

00:18:24Don't be.

00:18:27I know it's going to be difficult for you.

00:18:30Just remember, I love you.

00:18:40I still mean it.

00:18:42Moonlight was created just for you.

00:18:49Lieutenant.

00:18:50Craig, here's your lead.

00:18:52The district attorney wants Myra Leeds' life.

00:18:54He says he'll prove she killed Joe Leeds in cold blood.

00:18:57I think we'll get a new twist if we quote Carlson.

00:19:00He claims it was an attack of violence,

00:19:02carefully staged and executed.

00:19:04I tell you, no other woman could interest me anymore.

00:19:07Yeah, it's going to be a feud.

00:19:08This gal's good copy.

00:19:09If Willis was bugging anyone other than Carlson,

00:19:11I think this Leeds woman wouldn't have a prayer.

00:19:14Court's back in session.

00:19:15I'll call a rewrite in time for the three-star edition.

00:19:17Thanks.

00:19:24Oh, that was just the guy.

00:19:26Yeah, court's back in session again.

00:19:29No, I don't have to be in there.

00:19:31You can't take pictures in the courtroom.

00:19:33You were the first officer to report the scene of the murder.

00:19:36Yes, sir.

00:19:37My partner and I were cruising that area.

00:19:38When we got the call.

00:19:40Will you please tell the jury exactly what you found?

00:19:43Well, Mrs. Leeds and Mr. Carlson were there when we arrived.

00:19:46Mr. Carlson said Mrs. Leeds had called him.

00:19:48And as soon as he got there, he called the police.

00:19:51Were there signs of struggle?

00:19:53No, sir.

00:19:54Mrs. Leeds wasn't marked or bruised in any way?

00:19:57Not that I could tell.

00:19:59Did you see anything about her clothing or her person

00:20:01or anything at all that indicated that there had been a struggle?

00:20:04No, sir.

00:20:06That's all.

00:20:07Mr. Carlson?

00:20:09No questions.

00:20:11Sergeant Hill, you are connected with a crime lab.

00:20:14That's right.

00:20:15And did you know that it was raining the night of the murder?

00:20:17Yes, sir.

00:20:18Would you please tell the court how that affected your findings?

00:20:21May I have that picture, please?

00:20:30This dark spot was one of the first things we checked out.

00:20:33It's water.

00:20:34Probably came from Joe Leeds' clothing.

00:20:36From the way we can piece it together,

00:20:38he stood right there and didn't make a move

00:20:41until he fell from the shot.

00:20:44In other words, your deduction is that there could not

00:20:47have been a struggle.

00:20:49I object.

00:20:50This question calls for a conclusion of the witness.

00:20:54Sustained.

00:20:59Did you find any water spots anyplace else in the room?

00:21:02No, sir.

00:21:07Sergeant Hill, what makes you so certain

00:21:10Joe Leeds did not move closer to Mrs. Leeds

00:21:13than the area of the water stain?

00:21:16To wet a wool rug through that way

00:21:18would require quite a concentration of water.

00:21:20That means the victim would have to stand the spell.

00:21:23But Mrs. Leeds said that he came right in and over to her.

00:21:26Just answer the question, Sergeant.

00:21:28Did Joe Leeds make a move closer to Mrs. Leeds

00:21:31than the area of the water stain?

00:21:33He said that he came right in and over to her.

00:21:35Just answer the question, Sergeant.

00:21:36The prosecuting attorney is well able to argue his case.

00:21:39Sorry.

00:21:42What about some of the other people in that room?

00:21:46They could have dripped water on that rug, could they not?

00:21:49Well, check that out.

00:21:50The rain had stopped by the time the first police

00:21:52unit had arrived.

00:21:53But it hadn't stopped when I arrived.

00:21:56Couldn't I have stood in one spot long enough

00:21:58to dampen that rug?

00:22:00I guess you could have.

00:22:03And then she stated that he knocked her

00:22:05against the dresser.

00:22:06It was then that she opened the drawer,

00:22:08took out the gun, and shot him.

00:22:10Mrs. Leeds said the gun was in the dresser drawer.

00:22:12Yes, sir.

00:22:13Did she point out where Mr. Leeds was

00:22:15at the time she shot him?

00:22:17She said that he was rushing toward her from where

00:22:19they had struggled beside the bed.

00:22:21Specifically, where by the bed?

00:22:23On the left side, where Mrs. Leeds was lying.

00:22:26Did your investigation bear to the conclusion?

00:22:28No, sir.

00:22:29Please explain why.

00:22:30Bottles on the dresser.

00:22:32You know, perfume and delight.

00:22:34And had he knocked her against the dresser,

00:22:36well, surely some of these bottles

00:22:38would have been overturned.

00:22:43Lieutenant Bradley, is this one of the photographs

00:22:47you ordered taken?

00:22:49Yes, sir, it is.

00:22:50Now, do you see anything, anything at all

00:22:52disturbed on or about that dresser?

00:22:55No, sir.

00:22:56Nothing.

00:23:01Go on, Lieutenant.

00:23:03Well, according to Mrs. Leeds, the spot

00:23:06where Mr. Leeds was standing at the time

00:23:08she shot him was about 10 feet from where he fell.

00:23:11Wasn't that possible?

00:23:12No, sir.

00:23:13According to the coroner's report,

00:23:15the victim was shot through the heart and died instantly.

00:23:18In other words, Joe Leeds would have had to walk 10 feet

00:23:21after he was dead.

00:23:22That's about it, sir.

00:23:24Your witness.

00:23:31Lieutenant Bradley, how many years have you

00:23:35been on the police force?

00:23:3722.

00:23:38And during that time, would you say

00:23:40you've witnessed a number of people

00:23:42suffering from hysteria?

00:23:44I say so, yes.

00:23:46And what would you say were the first signs of hysteria?

00:23:51Oh, uh, incoherency?

00:23:55Unable to make a decision?

00:23:57Sort of a lapse in common sense?

00:24:01And would you say it was likely for a woman who had just

00:24:04killed a man to be suffering from hysteria?

00:24:08Uh, yes.

00:24:10And would it not be within the realm of possibility

00:24:13for this woman to mistake her left from her right?

00:24:16Come to a snap judgment of distance and direction

00:24:19that would be entirely impossible?

00:24:22Judgment of distance and direction

00:24:24that would be entirely incorrect?

00:24:26What?

00:24:27Possibility.

00:24:28And wouldn't it be possible for a woman in such a state

00:24:30of hysteria to think she was thrown against a dresser

00:24:32when in reality she was thrown against a nearby wall?

00:24:35Well, she could be, but...

00:24:37That is all.

00:24:52Hello, darling.

00:25:06Hello, Craig.

00:25:08You know, you've had a pretty social day.

00:25:10Three visitors?

00:25:11One was from a newspaper.

00:25:13Lucas Arien came over to tell me not to worry,

00:25:15and Karl Holt, he's an artist, an old friend,

00:25:18wondered if there was anything he could do.

00:25:20Craig, is it going badly for me?

00:25:22There's nothing new to worry about,

00:25:23so don't try to find something.

00:25:25Will it ever be over?

00:25:28Darling, I know it's been a difficult two weeks for you,

00:25:31but tomorrow should see the end of the testimony.

00:25:34How does it look?

00:25:35Willis operates like a field marshal.

00:25:37He doesn't mind losing battles so long as he wins the war.

00:25:40He'll save his big ammunition for later.

00:25:42What can we do, Sam?

00:25:44Oh, I've had several talks with Lou.

00:25:46He's very anxious to help you.

00:25:48I'm sure his evidence will add a lot of weight.

00:25:50And I think I'm going to let you testify too.

00:25:53All right.

00:25:55Remember, once you're on the stand,

00:25:57Willis will try to cut you to ribbons.

00:25:59I'm not afraid of Willis or the judge or the jurors.

00:26:02All I'm afraid of is if things go wrong, I'd lose you.

00:26:06Not a chance.

00:26:10Oh, Craig.

00:26:12Beautiful.

00:26:16I says, Joe, is there something wrong between you and Myra?

00:26:19He said, I don't see how anything could be worse.

00:26:23Had you ever seen Joe Leeds before when he was quite angry?

00:26:28Yeah, a couple of times.

00:26:30Matter of fact, he was quite upset the first time I ever saw him.

00:26:33Somebody accused him of giving a dishonest comp,

00:26:36tried to get him in trouble with the police.

00:26:38Well, Joe hurt him pretty bad.

00:26:41Then Joe Leeds did have a bad temper when he was upset.

00:26:46Yeah, but that wasn't often.

00:26:50Mr. Kazarian, the night of Joe Leeds' death,

00:26:56did he seem normal to you or upset to you?

00:27:02Well, he was upset.

00:27:04He said he'd been doing a lot of thinking

00:27:06and had breached a big decision.

00:27:08Did he tell you what that decision was?

00:27:10No, except that what he had decided

00:27:13would change his whole life and Myra's, too.

00:27:17That will be all.

00:27:19Kazarian, we come to that phone conversation

00:27:21Joe Leeds had with his wife.

00:27:23Tell us exactly what you overheard.

00:27:25Well, that was a long time ago.

00:27:28Just tell us those things you can remember.

00:27:31Well, I remember him saying for her to stay home,

00:27:34he'd been doing a lot of thinking,

00:27:36wanted to talk it over with her.

00:27:38I guess that's about all that happened.

00:27:40In other words, it was Joe Leeds who definitely had

00:27:42something to talk out with his wife.

00:27:44That's the way it sounded.

00:27:47Now, Mr. Kazarian, the defense counsel

00:27:51has spoken much about Joe Leeds' temper.

00:27:55You say you were present when Joe Leeds beat up

00:27:57a man who falsely accused him.

00:27:59Now, would you say that Joe Leeds was quite angry then?

00:28:04Oh, the worst I've ever seen him.

00:28:06Oh, the worst I've ever seen him.

00:28:08But this fellow had it coming to him.

00:28:10He was always sniping at Joe.

00:28:13And if Joe Leeds was more angry on that occasion

00:28:15than you ever saw him, why didn't he kill the man?

00:28:18Did someone stop the fight?

00:28:20Oh, no.

00:28:21We were all glad to see him get it.

00:28:23Anyway, we knew all Joe had in mind was to rough him up.

00:28:27He sure did a good job.

00:28:29And if Joe Leeds was more angered

00:28:31than you had ever seen him, you claim he had no intention

00:28:33of killing him.

00:28:34Now, can you say on the oath that you've taken

00:28:36that he was angry enough to kill his wife?

00:28:41No, I guess not.

00:28:43Thank you, Mr. Kazarian.

00:28:51And do you recall any instance, Mrs. Leeds,

00:28:55where your husband displayed a violent temper?

00:28:59Yes.

00:29:00There was a time just before we were married.

00:29:03Joe had an argument with one of his employees.

00:29:06The two men fought.

00:29:08Joe beat him so brutally, the other man

00:29:10had to spend the next two months in the hospital.

00:29:13And were there times after your marriage

00:29:15when your husband showed a tendency toward violence?

00:29:19Several.

00:29:21Whenever anything annoyed him, edgy.

00:29:23If someone said something that displeased him,

00:29:26he flew into a temper.

00:29:28We argued often because of this.

00:29:31Then that night when he came home, wet, blind with fury,

00:29:37you had good reason to think he would kill you.

00:29:39You had good reason to think that Joe

00:29:41Leeds was a man of violence.

00:29:43That is what you believed, is it not, Mrs. Leeds?

00:29:46Yes.

00:29:49Do you think any other woman would have reacted as you did?

00:29:52I know they would.

00:29:54No one wants to kill, but no one wants to be killed either.

00:29:59You're a witness.

00:30:10Mrs. Leeds, how long had you and your husband been married?

00:30:14Two years.

00:30:15And when you married your husband,

00:30:17what was your financial condition?

00:30:19I don't understand.

00:30:20Well, I'm sorry.

00:30:21I mean, were you rich, moderately wealthy, had a good job?

00:30:26What?

00:30:27Well, I was looking for a job when I met Joe Leeds.

00:30:33And would you say your husband was a man of means?

00:30:35I mean, did he have some property, some insurance,

00:30:37perhaps?

00:30:39He had 10 supermarkets, some insurance.

00:30:42How much would you say your husband was

00:30:44worth at the time of his death, that is, including insurance?

00:30:48I don't know.

00:30:50Then let me tell you.

00:30:52Your husband, Mrs. Leeds, left an estate

00:30:54of more than 3 quarters of a million dollars.

00:30:57That's quite an inheritance for you.

00:31:00From unemployment to a neat $750,000 in two years.

00:31:05Wouldn't you say that was a very lucrative two years'

00:31:08work, Mrs. Leeds?

00:31:10Objection!

00:31:12The prosecution will refrain from any more questions

00:31:15of this nature.

00:31:16That last statement will be stricken from the record,

00:31:18and the jury is asked to disregard it.

00:31:20Mrs. Leeds, when you married your husband,

00:31:22were you in love with him?

00:31:23Of course.

00:31:24Were you in love with your husband

00:31:26at the time of his death?

00:31:28No.

00:31:29Then unless in two years you no longer loved him.

00:31:32Love is a very strong emotion, Mrs. Leeds.

00:31:34How could you turn it off so quickly?

00:31:38I-I just didn't love him anymore.

00:31:40And you waited until that fatal night to tell him about it.

00:31:43That's not true.

00:31:45Then when did you tell your husband you were

00:31:47no longer in love with him?

00:31:50I-I don't remember.

00:31:52Did you ask your husband for a divorce?

00:31:56Yes.

00:31:57And what was Mr. Leeds' answer?

00:31:59He just said he wanted to think about it.

00:32:01In other words, Mrs. Leeds, when you suddenly

00:32:03told your husband you wanted a divorce,

00:32:05instead of becoming angry, he answered

00:32:07he wanted to think about it.

00:32:08Now, is that correct?

00:32:09Yes.

00:32:10And yet you asked this court to believe

00:32:12that Mr. Leeds returned home on that fatal evening,

00:32:14and without so much as a single word, tried to kill you?

00:32:17Yes.

00:32:18Then tell us, Mrs. Leeds, how do you explain

00:32:20the fact that when you first, shall we say,

00:32:22shocked your husband by asking him for a divorce,

00:32:25he did nothing?

00:32:29I don't know.

00:32:30I-I don't know.

00:32:36That will be all, Mrs. Leeds.

00:32:47Myra Leeds would have us believe

00:32:49that when her husband reached their apartment,

00:32:51she immediately made an attempt to kill her,

00:32:53so that she had to kill in self-defense.

00:32:56But what concrete reasons have you been given

00:32:59that Mrs. Leeds felt she was forced to shoot her husband?

00:33:02Only that he became furious when she told him

00:33:05she no longer loved him, that she wanted a divorce.

00:33:08And why did Myra Leeds claim to want a divorce

00:33:10in the first place?

00:33:12Just that they were no longer in love.

00:33:14And yet, not one single witness has been brought

00:33:17before this court to indicate that any discord

00:33:19existed between the Leeds.

00:33:22Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

00:33:25there was no discord in the marriage of Joe Leeds.

00:33:28Only in that of his wife, Myra, an ambitious woman.

00:33:32Marriage had bettered her position.

00:33:34And with Joe Leeds' death, her position was still improved.

00:33:40The location of the body, the placement and trajectory

00:33:43of the bullet that killed Leeds,

00:33:45the lack of signs of a struggle,

00:33:47all of these facts, facts,

00:33:51pitted against Myra Leeds' story of self-defense.

00:33:57Could there be an honest doubt in your minds

00:33:59as to the guilt of this woman?

00:34:01If there is, let me dispel them for you.

00:34:04Myra Leeds has given no reason

00:34:06why she would have wanted to divorce Joe Leeds,

00:34:08except that she fell out of love.

00:34:11Now, is love such a fickle thing

00:34:13that one can fall in love one week and out the next?

00:34:17With no apparent reason,

00:34:19could Myra Leeds have awakened one morning

00:34:22and decided to ask her husband of two years for a divorce?

00:34:25No.

00:34:27Let me tell you what Myra Leeds did.

00:34:30She was jobless when she met Joe Leeds.

00:34:33She saw in him a stepping stone to an easy life.

00:34:36When she was ready to move on,

00:34:38she realized that Joe Leeds could only be

00:34:40of monetary value to her dead.

00:34:43So that when he came home to discuss

00:34:45whatever it was he wished to discuss,

00:34:47she shot him.

00:34:51Myra Leeds shot and killed her husband

00:34:53for a handful of gold.

00:34:56That is why the state charges Myra Leeds

00:34:59with murder in the first degree.

00:35:03Is counsel for the defense ready to address the jury?

00:35:06I am, Your Honor.

00:35:15This has been a long and grueling trial,

00:35:19not only for the defendants,

00:35:21but for the rest of us as well.

00:35:24You have heard arguments and counterarguments,

00:35:27fact and counterfact, theory and countertheory.

00:35:30And for the past hour and 15 minutes,

00:35:32you've heard the prosecution talk

00:35:34every piece of circumstantial evidence,

00:35:36innuendo and plain conjecture that he could muster.

00:35:40Conjecture that would bolster his claim

00:35:43that Myra Leeds is guilty of murdering her husband.

00:35:47With all of this conjecture,

00:35:49the end result has been this.

00:35:52The state claims Myra Leeds killed Joe Leeds

00:35:55because her story about the moments of violence

00:35:57she was faced with differed from that of the police.

00:36:00And because the state claims

00:36:02she could give no clear reason

00:36:04why she suddenly would want to divorce her husband.

00:36:07If Myra Leeds had a sound reason

00:36:10for suddenly desiring a divorce,

00:36:12a reason that would measurably add to her happiness,

00:36:16even the prosecution knows it would have no case.

00:36:20Well, Myra Leeds did have a reason

00:36:23for asking Joe Leeds for a divorce.

00:36:26Myra Leeds was in love with another man.

00:36:30All right.

00:36:41Now, remember, you of the jury

00:36:44are not here to determine the righteousness

00:36:46of Myra Leeds' emotions as a woman,

00:36:49only to determine if she shot her husband

00:36:52in an act of premeditation.

00:36:54It is not for you to decide

00:36:57whether or not Myra Leeds did the right thing

00:37:00in falling in love with another man.

00:37:02It is for you to decide

00:37:04if, in telling her husband about the man she loved,

00:37:07she aroused in him an anger so intense

00:37:10he decided to kill her.

00:37:12So now you ask,

00:37:15who is this man?

00:37:17Bring him forward to confirm this story.

00:37:21Well, I knew Joe Leeds better than anyone.

00:37:24And I know the man his wife is in love with.

00:37:29I am that man.

00:37:40Any further demonstration of this character

00:37:42in this courtroom will be cleared.

00:37:47Proceed.

00:37:49My falling in love with Myra Leeds

00:37:52was accidental.

00:37:54But my wanting to marry her

00:37:57was with strong intent.

00:38:00As was Joe Leeds' intent

00:38:02when he decided if he could no longer have his wife,

00:38:05no other man would either.

00:38:07Ladies and gentlemen,

00:38:09there isn't a single one of you

00:38:11who wouldn't have struggled as Myra Leeds did.

00:38:14Her life was at stake.

00:38:16She acted in self-defense.

00:38:18Now, that is the story.

00:38:21And that is the truth.

00:38:24To bring out the truth,

00:38:26your verdict must be...

00:38:28not guilty.

00:38:30She beat it. Not guilty.

00:38:33You know, what gallery chair did you put in Amy?

00:38:35Just made a touchdown.

00:38:37Awesome. Cool as winter.

00:38:39Didn't move a muscle when the jury foreman sang out.

00:38:42There's no doubt about it.

00:38:44I think she's a good woman.

00:38:46There's no doubt about it.

00:38:48That guy's the biggest incentive murderers have

00:38:50since the Chinese invented gunpowder.

00:39:07I wish you happiness.

00:39:13Pick this up on the way back from court today.

00:39:15What is it?

00:39:17Capri.

00:39:19As ancient and enchanting as the Mediterranean,

00:39:22which surrounds us.

00:39:24May not be the world's greatest prose,

00:39:26but it sounded good to me.

00:39:28It must be love.

00:39:30I thought we could be married next week,

00:39:32take the boat to Rome, then ride to Capri.

00:39:35Oh, darling, it'll be a wonderful honeymoon.

00:39:37It sounds wonderful.

00:39:39But do you know next week is almost here?

00:39:41Give me a little bit more time.

00:39:43The sooner we get away, the better it'll be for you.

00:39:46From now on, you're not going to have any reason

00:39:48to think of anything other than me.

00:39:57Hi, Lou.

00:39:58We were about giving you up.

00:39:59I'm sorry I'm late, but Mom wasn't feeling well.

00:40:02Last minute, she decided to stay home.

00:40:04Oh, that's too bad.

00:40:05Well, let me hang up your coat.

00:40:07No, thanks.

00:40:08And Myra, off the bat, everything turned out OK.

00:40:14Hey.

00:40:15This is supposed to be a happy occasion.

00:40:17Could I talk to you alone for a minute, Greg?

00:40:19Something wrong?

00:40:22It's about Joe.

00:40:25Sure, let's go into the den.

00:40:28Hiya, Will.

00:40:29Hiya, Lou.

00:40:30Hello, Henry.

00:40:31Good to see you, Lou.

00:40:42What is it, Lou?

00:40:43It's about Joe and the last night he was alive.

00:40:45The night my daughter was married,

00:40:47and I dropped by to tell him about the wedding.

00:40:49Well, just before I left, he asked

00:40:51me to mail a letter for him.

00:40:53I put it in my pocket.

00:40:54Well, I forgot all about it until I put my tux on again

00:40:58tonight.

00:40:59It's addressed to you.

00:41:11Dear Greg, well, like I promised,

00:41:14I've been doing a lot of thinking.

00:41:16I've been trying to figure out the best way for all of us.

00:41:20You see, when I first met Myra, I figured

00:41:23she was out of my league.

00:41:25She was interested in things that I didn't understand,

00:41:27like art and music.

00:41:30But then, like a boat, one night she told me she loved me,

00:41:33and I felt nine feet tall.

00:41:36Right then, I said a million thanks.

00:41:39In a way, it was like the answer to a prayer.

00:41:42We got married right away, and for a couple of months,

00:41:45living was paradise.

00:41:47I didn't love her.

00:41:49I worshipped her.

00:41:51Then it began to change.

00:41:53One day, we had an argument.

00:41:56Myra told me she'd never loved me.

00:41:59It goes without saying, Greg, that I walked in circles

00:42:01for days.

00:42:03Finally, I asked her if she wanted a divorce,

00:42:06and she said yes and asked for half my business.

00:42:10I got mad because I realized that was the only reason

00:42:13she'd ever married me.

00:42:15I told her that no man was going to live off

00:42:17what it had taken me most to accumulate.

00:42:20And that's the way it's been going along

00:42:22for the past few months.

00:42:24Myra's in love, Fred, but not with you.

00:42:29She's in love with some kind of an artist.

00:42:37I can't figure out what she's doing with you,

00:42:39but I know she must have some kind of a plan.

00:42:42I'm going to see her tonight, and I'm

00:42:44going to try to keep her.

00:42:46She's no good, Greg, but I do love her.

00:42:49If she decides not to stay with me,

00:42:51I want you to know the truth.

00:42:54She is a woman.

00:42:56Myra is a disease.

00:42:58In a way, she's already destroyed my life.

00:43:01I can't keep her.

00:43:03Myra is a disease.

00:43:05In a way, she's already destroyed me.

00:43:09I just hope she doesn't end up destroying you.

00:43:34Did I cause trouble by forgetting about the letter?

00:43:41I don't know, Luke.

00:43:47I don't know.

00:43:51Give me a couple of those, Keeper Robert.

00:43:53I don't know.

00:43:54I don't know.

00:43:55I don't know.

00:43:56I don't know.

00:43:57I don't know.

00:43:58I don't know.

00:43:59I don't know.

00:44:00I don't know.

00:44:01I don't know.

00:44:02Give me a couple of those, Keeper Robert.

00:44:04I never wanted to hurt you.

00:44:07I didn't think I would possibly fall in love

00:44:09with anyone else.

00:44:10But I have.

00:44:12Why did he try to kill me?

00:44:15Why couldn't he understand?

00:44:17I'm not afraid of women or the judge or the jurist.

00:44:20All I'm afraid of is if things go wrong, I'd lose you.

00:44:25Myra Leeds shot and killed her husband

00:44:27for a handful of gold.

00:44:30The state charges Myra Leeds with murder in the first degree.

00:44:35Carlson, he's an artist, an old friend.

00:44:37I wondered if there was anything he could do.

00:44:53Mr. Holt?

00:44:54Yes.

00:44:55My name's...

00:44:56I know.

00:44:57Frank Carlson.

00:44:58Won't you come in?

00:45:03I have to forgive the appearance of the place.

00:45:06My canvases have a way of dominating the whole room.

00:45:10Not bad canvases, either.

00:45:12Oh, yeah, even I like that one.

00:45:15Won't you sit down, Mr. Carlson?

00:45:17I'm a great friend.

00:45:19Because of Myra's acquittal?

00:45:21It was that way before that.

00:45:23You see, this is a pretty strange neighborhood.

00:45:26You know what they call it?

00:45:27Cloud Nine.

00:45:28I guess that's because a lot of men

00:45:30are just getting started living around here.

00:45:32Have a lot of dreams, a lot of idols, you know?

00:45:35Now, you take the fellow who lives just two doors down.

00:45:38He just got out of law school.

00:45:39He thinks he can walk right down out of the sun.

00:45:42Take some of the cases that you've turned down.

00:45:44According to Charlie, if you didn't care who you got acquitted,

00:45:47you could be living like a Maharaja.

00:45:49No, he must be just out of law school.

00:45:51Oh, he's got a lot of other legal idols, too.

00:45:54But for me, you're my favorite.

00:45:56Ever since you took Myra's case.

00:45:59You've known Myra a long time.

00:46:02Since we were freshmen in college.

00:46:04Myra was a music major, and I was knee-deep in art.

00:46:08You ever hear Myra play?

00:46:10Yes.

00:46:11Plays like an angel.

00:46:12Of course, in my book, Myra is an angel.

00:46:15Well, I guess she's told you how I feel about her.

00:46:18No, she hasn't.

00:46:20Nothing earth-shattering for anybody except us.

00:46:23I have to be very much in love with her.

00:46:26We're going to be married.

00:46:31When was that decided?

00:46:33Two years after we left college.

00:46:38Strange engagement.

00:46:40The marriage in between.

00:46:43Well, that was Myra's one big mistake.

00:46:45We both knew that shortly after she married that fellow.

00:46:48You don't mind if I work while we talk, do you?

00:46:50I want to make the most of the sunlight.

00:46:52Go right ahead.

00:46:56You say Myra knew she made a mistake

00:47:00when she married Joe Lee?

00:47:03People chase different rainbows, Mr. Carlson.

00:47:06For Myra, it was money.

00:47:08I didn't have any.

00:47:10My prospects were terrible.

00:47:12Terrible.

00:47:15Well, we had a scrap on that subject

00:47:17when she met this Lee fellow.

00:47:18You know the rest of the story.

00:47:20I know not the point about her knowing she made a mistake.

00:47:24That was when we met at that exhibit that afternoon.

00:47:29The powder was still dry.

00:47:33At this juncture, I'd like to make a point of honor,

00:47:35Mr. Carlson.

00:47:36I refused to see Myra again after that afternoon.

00:47:39So she was free.

00:47:40She felt the same way about it.

00:47:42Quite an impasse, wasn't it?

00:47:44We didn't think so.

00:47:46I was going to ask Leeds for a divorce.

00:47:49I guess you went sort of crazy.

00:47:51That awful night was the capper.

00:47:55You know, Holt, you've been a lot working against you.

00:47:59In spite of that, I still may get to like you.

00:48:03Well, I want you to, but what have I got working against me?

00:48:05Myra's trial.

00:48:07Why didn't you offer to help?

00:48:09I did.

00:48:11That day I visited Myra.

00:48:13She didn't want me to come to see her again, though.

00:48:15Or even say I knew her.

00:48:17Funny, I couldn't quite figure that out.

00:48:20I guess it was because she was afraid our being in love

00:48:23would sway the jury against her since she was a married woman.

00:48:27Funny, it was that very approach that freed her.

00:48:31That's what makes a lawyer a lawyer.

00:48:32You're just plain smart.

00:48:34Not always.

00:48:35Well, now, I watched that trial every single day,

00:48:37and you never drew a miss.

00:48:41By the way, I would like a crack at improving your impression

00:48:44of me.

00:48:45You got any ideas?

00:48:46First country's right.

00:48:47I do like you.

00:48:49Well, let's be really classical about this friendship, then,

00:48:51and toast it and sherry.

00:48:53Fling the glass in the fireplace.

00:48:54I'm sorry, but I've got to go.

00:48:56Oh, too bad.

00:48:58But as far as the toast is concerned, it's just as well.

00:49:00I haven't got any fireplace.

00:49:01I will see you again, though.

00:49:03Yes, you will.

00:49:04You know, that last day of the trial,

00:49:07when you said you were the man in Myra's life,

00:49:09I didn't think so kindly of you then.

00:49:11Glad Myra straightened me out on it.

00:49:13Oh?

00:49:14What did she say?

00:49:15Well, that it was a piece of work on strategy.

00:49:17Boy, it sure was a beaut.

00:49:18That was the best piece of dramatics I've ever seen.

00:49:20Miss Myra and I really owe you an awful lot,

00:49:22drawing out on a limb like that.

00:49:24Well, goodbye, Mr. Holt.

00:49:26Goodbye, Mr. Carlson.

00:49:46Darling?

00:49:47I was expecting you.

00:49:49Be ready in three minutes.

00:49:50In the meantime, how about making one of you

00:49:52a very special Manhattan?

00:49:54I'm not quite sure I know how to make a Manhattan.

00:49:58Great.

00:49:59You startled me.

00:50:02I was expecting a friend.

00:50:04Who knows how to make a special Manhattan?

00:50:07That's right.

00:50:10If you like, I can...

00:50:11No, thanks.

00:50:12I just wanted to talk to you, Myra,

00:50:16about our engagement.

00:50:18Let's not make it tonight, Craig.

00:50:20Why not tonight?

00:50:21Why not this very minute?

00:50:23Two people in love can't wait, Myra.

00:50:25That's the way with people in love, isn't it?

00:50:27I explained, Craig.

00:50:28Someone...

00:50:29Well, isn't it?

00:50:31Oh, say it, Myra.

00:50:33Say you love me.

00:50:34Say you're hopelessly in love with me.

00:50:36Say it.

00:50:37Say you love me.

00:50:38Say you're hopelessly, irretrievably in love with me.

00:50:41Let go of me.

00:50:42I want to hear you say it, Myra.

00:50:44I'm all you have.

00:50:46Or have you suddenly remembered there was someone else?

00:50:49I said let go of me.

00:50:50Someone like Carl Holtz.

00:50:53All right.

00:50:55You know.

00:51:08I met him today.

00:51:10He seems very much in love.

00:51:12Two men in love with you.

00:51:16Awkward arrangement, Myra.

00:51:18Craig.

00:51:20What happened to us?

00:51:23It was a mistake.

00:51:25I don't think so.

00:51:27In fact, I don't think you ever made a mistake

00:51:29before in your life.

00:51:30I don't want to seem, Craig.

00:51:32Neither do I.

00:51:33Just the truth.

00:51:34The truth is I am in love with Carl Holtz.

00:51:36And I'm going to marry him.

00:51:37And you were in love with Carl Holtz.

00:51:39And you were going to marry him the day I met you.

00:51:41I don't want to talk about it.

00:51:43Then let's have someone talk about it for us.

00:51:47I received this letter yesterday.

00:51:49It's from Joe.

00:51:51What kind of a trick is this?

00:51:54Sit down, Myra.

00:51:57Sit down.

00:52:06Dear Craig.

00:52:08Like I promised, I've been doing a lot of thinking.

00:52:11I've been trying to figure out the best way for all of us.

00:52:15You see, when I first met Myra, I figured

00:52:17she was out of my league.

00:52:19She was interested in things I didn't understand,

00:52:21like art and music.

00:52:23Myra's in love, Craig, but not with you.

00:52:26She's in love with some kind of an artist.

00:52:28I can't figure out what she's doing to you,

00:52:30but I know she must have some kind of a plan.

00:52:33I'm going to see her tonight, and I'm

00:52:35going to try and keep her.

00:52:37She's no good, Craig, but I do love her.

00:52:40And if she decides not to stay with me,

00:52:42I wanted you to know the truth.

00:52:44She isn't a woman.

00:52:45Myra's a disease.

00:52:47The way she's already destroyed me,

00:52:49I just hope she doesn't end up destroying you, Joe.

00:52:53I don't believe Joe wrote that letter.

00:52:56You should be able to recognize his writing.

00:53:05What does it prove?

00:53:07Only that Joe is a miserable, jealous man?

00:53:10No, Myra, it proves something much different.

00:53:12Joe offered you a divorce, but without any money.

00:53:15You didn't want it that way, and you knew

00:53:17there was only one way to get it.

00:53:19You'll have to do more than say it.

00:53:20You'll have to prove it.

00:53:22I'm free now.

00:53:24I can do what I want with my life.

00:53:26You had it planned very carefully, didn't you, Myra?

00:53:30To get Joe's money, you had to kill him.

00:53:32To guarantee your freedom, you made me fall in love with you.

00:53:36I wonder if Karl Holt would want to murder us for a wife.

00:53:40I was tried and acquitted.

00:53:41Your brilliant defense freed me.

00:53:44No one can hurt me anymore, not even you.

00:53:48This time you're wrong, Myra, very wrong.

00:53:51What do you mean, this time?

00:53:54You're going to commit another murder.

00:53:56Joe, you're ridiculous.

00:53:58Yes, you are.

00:54:00You're going to murder me.

00:54:03You're insane.

00:54:09No one wants to die, not even you.

00:54:15My whole life has meant just three things.

00:54:19My love for Joe, my work, and my love for you.

00:54:26You've destroyed them all.

00:54:28How much is there left of me to die?

00:54:44So there it was, Ray.

00:54:46An ugly little package.

00:54:49Myra had killed Joe Leeds, and I was an accessory.

00:54:54Joe Leeds was dead.

00:54:57And Myra hadn't paid, just as I'm going to pay.

00:55:06There's not much time left, so I'd better bring you up to date.

00:55:11I had made plans to give up my practice.

00:55:14I was spending every available moment keeping Myra constantly

00:55:17aware that sooner or later I proved to Karl Holt

00:55:20he was a murderer.

00:55:25Then I learned that Myra and Karl were planning

00:55:28to leave for Europe.

00:55:36Ray, good to see you again.

00:55:39Come on in.

00:55:41Hey, we were just about to have a drink.

00:55:43Join us?

00:55:44Oh, no thanks.

00:55:46Well, what a pleasant surprise.

00:55:48Are you sure you're surprised, Ray?

00:55:51What do you mean by that?

00:55:52Oh, just a private little joke.

00:55:54Myra's certain attorneys know what people are going

00:55:56to do before they do it.

00:55:57In some cases, I'd say she was right.

00:56:00Enough talk about lawyers.

00:56:01I've got news for you.

00:56:02Oh?

00:56:04Will you tell him, Myra?

00:56:06No, I don't think he'd be interested in that.

00:56:08Of course I'd be interested.

00:56:10We're going to get married?

00:56:11No.

00:56:12Surprise again, Ray?

00:56:14We're sailing for Paris on Friday.

00:56:16We're going to be married as soon as we get there,

00:56:18and it was all Myra's idea.

00:56:19She wants to live there.

00:56:20In a way, I'm sorry.

00:56:22Sorry?

00:56:23For what?

00:56:24Well, this wasn't exactly a social visit.

00:56:26I came up with the mission of painting.

00:56:28Painting?

00:56:29Oh, myself.

00:56:30I know this is going to sound a little vain,

00:56:32but I've always wanted a portrait.

00:56:34You know, something very flattering.

00:56:36Oh, it's a shame you didn't mention it before.

00:56:39We sail on Friday.

00:56:41Well, how long does it take to do a portrait?

00:56:43Well, it varies.

00:56:44I usually like two, three weeks.

00:56:47Well, couldn't you put your trip off for that long?

00:56:49No.

00:56:51I like your work, Carl.

00:56:53I'd be willing to pay as much as $2,500.

00:56:58Hey, I'm not Whistler, you know.

00:57:00What about it?

00:57:01$2,500 for those two weeks.

00:57:03We don't need money.

00:57:04We have plenty.

00:57:05Now, hold on, honey.

00:57:06You mean you have money?

00:57:08Well, you're my husband.

00:57:10What I have belongs to you.

00:57:14Well, I am afraid where money is concerned,

00:57:17I'm going to be a little old-fashioned.

00:57:19I'll do it.

00:57:20When can you make the sitting?

00:57:22What about tomorrow?

00:57:23That's fine.

00:57:24Between 3 and 5, that's my life plan.

00:57:26Good.

00:57:27I'll be here.

00:57:28Two weeks.

00:57:29Give us a chance to get very well acquainted.

00:57:31I'm looking forward to it.

00:57:32Oh, my.

00:57:34You know, Myra, it seems as if you're one weakness

00:57:37in picking men with moral strength.

00:57:39I'll see you tomorrow.

00:57:41Good luck, Greg.

00:57:43Good luck, Greg.

00:57:52I expected you, but not quite as soon.

00:57:57Leave us alone, Craig.

00:57:58Don't push me too far.

00:58:00Is that all you came here for?

00:58:03I came to offer you $100,000.

00:58:06Will you take it?

00:58:08Let him go to Paris?

00:58:10No.

00:58:11$125,000.

00:58:12Not for all the money in the world.

00:58:14I need those two weeks.

00:58:16I need the time to finish what I've started.

00:58:19I promise you, Myra, you're not going to have

00:58:21Carl Hold or Joe Lee's money.

00:58:24I never realized how much I could hate a man.

00:58:28That's not enough, Jill.

00:58:30Not yet.

00:58:31What kind of a man are you?

00:58:33One who believes in the honesty and integrity of our court.

00:58:36But that's something you would never be able to understand.

00:58:39I understand what you're trying to do to me.

00:58:41Do you really?

00:58:42Do you understand what you did to me

00:58:44when I learned you killed Joe?

00:58:46Do you understand in winning you an acquittal,

00:58:48I became as guilty as you?

00:58:50I want you to understand, Myra.

00:58:52I want you to fully understand that we'll have

00:58:54to pay for what we've done.

00:58:56I'm not going to pay for anything.

00:59:02You'll pay, Myra.

00:59:05We'll both pay.

00:59:08That's it.

00:59:10For better or for worse, let's finish it.

00:59:22It was excellent.

00:59:24It's been a very patient subject.

00:59:28Oh, don't forget tonight.

00:59:31I'll be on room about 7.

00:59:34Craig?

00:59:38How many times have you seen Myra here?

00:59:41Nervous and jumpy, she seems.

00:59:45The trial was very taxing for her,

00:59:47and I guess she's anxious to get to Europe.

00:59:50It's a natural reaction.

00:59:53I don't think you should have any worries about her.

00:59:56I guess not.

00:59:58Maybe her party will be just a prescription

01:00:00that will snap her out of it.

01:00:02By the way, what are we celebrating?

01:00:05We'll find out in exactly three hours.

01:00:07OK, man of mystery.

01:00:09I will not press you for an answer.

01:00:11I'll stay on 10 o'clock.

01:00:13I'll see you at 10.

01:00:14All right.

01:00:30You wish to order now, sir?

01:00:32No, we have another party coming along.

01:00:35Why didn't you tell me Craig was coming?

01:00:38What's the matter, Myra?

01:00:40There's so much to do.

01:00:42You think you're the only one who's busy?

01:00:44Move over.

01:00:45I haven't even packed yet.

01:01:06I'll tell you what, Carl.

01:01:07Let's leave.

01:01:08Leave?

01:01:09We could give a message to the captain,

01:01:10have him tell Craig that something had come up.

01:01:12We can't do that.

01:01:13You know that Craig has been counting on us.

01:01:15He's looking forward to it.

01:01:16What's so important about it?

01:01:18We'll talk about that after dinner, Myra.

01:01:22Hello, Charles.

01:01:23Good evening, Mr. Carlson.

01:01:24Hi, Craig.

01:01:30For dessert, may I suggest cherry jubilee?

01:01:32It's excellent.

01:01:34Oh, thank you.

01:01:35How about you, Myra?

01:01:38I guess that'll be all, Charles.

01:01:41Well, Craig, that was a delicious dinner.

01:01:43French food couldn't be any better.

01:01:45Myra, did you enjoy your dinner?

01:01:48You told us you'd tell us what this was all about

01:01:50after dinner, Craig.

01:01:51Myra.

01:01:52Oh, it's all right.

01:01:53She's just anxious.

01:01:54What do you mean, anxious?

01:01:55A trip to Paris, and she's about to become a bride.

01:01:59Craig, I want to know why you brought us here.

01:02:02All right.

01:02:11Here you are, Carl.

01:02:25Craig, our deal was for $2,500.

01:02:28I thought I'd double it.

01:02:29That's my surprise.

01:02:31But why?

01:02:33By helping me achieve an important ambition.

01:02:39Well, I certainly hope through the years

01:02:44the painting continues to please you, Craig.

01:02:47I'm certain it will.

01:02:49You see, to me, the portrait reflected

01:02:55not only a friendship, but a great understanding

01:03:00you felt for the subject.

01:03:02I hope you're never disappointed.

01:03:05Well, I must run.

01:03:07I have a lot of work to do at the house.

01:03:09You call that one important case you mentioned?

01:03:11That's the one.

01:03:13Thank you for coming, Myra.

01:03:16We will see you again before we leave.

01:03:18Yes, you will.

01:03:20By the way, Carl, there's something

01:03:22I've been wanting to ask you.

01:03:25Suppose the portrait of me had turned out badly.

01:03:29Suppose you'd realized you'd made a mistake

01:03:33in the manner in which you'd handled it.

01:03:35What would you have done?

01:03:39Destroyed it, of course.

01:03:40Despite your fee?

01:03:42Despite anything.

01:03:44Strange.

01:03:47I've always felt that the same parallel existed in law.

01:03:54Well, I've got to be going.

01:03:55Good night.

01:03:59Good night, Craig.

01:04:14I can't tell you how good it's been having

01:04:16dinner here with you, Craig.

01:04:18Wish we could do it more often.

01:04:21Ray, there's something I want to ask you.

01:04:24Shoot.

01:04:25About the Myra Leeds trial.

01:04:28Why talk over yesterday's headlines?

01:04:31You asked the jury to find Myra guilty

01:04:34of first degree murder.

01:04:38At the end of the trial, the jury found her not guilty.

01:04:43How did you find her?

01:04:46It's important to me, Ray.

01:04:48I want to know.

01:04:52All right, Craig.

01:04:56You were very convincing.

01:04:58I can understand you're swaying that jury,

01:05:00but you didn't sway me.

01:05:02At the time, I still thought she was guilty.

01:05:05I was sure you did.

01:05:07You know, I thought about it for a long time.

01:05:10Now I know that the jury brought in the correct verdict.

01:05:14I've known you too many years, Craig.

01:05:16You never would have said what you did

01:05:18just for the dramatic effect.

01:05:20Another attorney might, but not you.

01:05:24I admit it.

01:05:25On the Myra Leeds case, I was way off base.

01:05:32Thank you, Ray.

01:05:35Now there's something I'd like you to do for me.

01:05:42Hello, Mrs. Leeds.

01:05:43Mr. Carlson's expecting you.

01:05:45Thank you, Jenny.

01:05:51Mrs. Leeds?

01:05:52Mr. Willis?

01:05:54Myra?

01:05:55Glad you could make it.

01:05:57Now, it's getting late.

01:05:58I'd better leave.

01:05:59It's been a wonderful evening.

01:06:01Thanks for the talk, Ray.

01:06:02You've been very helpful.

01:06:04Mrs. Leeds?

01:06:18Why did you send for me?

01:06:20Why were you talking to the district attorney?

01:06:22We were talking about a case.

01:06:24Your case, Myra.

01:06:26This grotesque joke of yours has gone far enough.

01:06:29You still think this is a joke?

01:06:31You've got to stop it, Craig.

01:06:33Every time you talk to Carl, I...

01:06:35The other evening at dinner, I was terrified.

01:06:37What you're doing is inhuman.

01:06:39I can't stand much more of it.

01:06:41You're a murderess, Myra.

01:06:43Anything that happens to you won't be enough.

01:06:46Craig, the jury freed me.

01:06:48They found me innocent.

01:06:50All I want is to go away with Carl.

01:06:53Please understand, for the first time in my life,

01:06:55I want to live decently.

01:06:57You don't know the meaning of the word.

01:07:01At first, I thought Carl Holt was like you.

01:07:05But it wasn't long before I changed my mind.

01:07:08You fooled him, Myra.

01:07:10Just like you fooled me.

01:07:13He's too fine to be hurt by someone like you.

01:07:16I'm not going to let it happen.

01:07:17No matter what you tell him, he won't believe you.

01:07:20There's no way of proving that I killed Joe.

01:07:22You're just trying to frighten me with more threats.

01:07:26Understand me, Myra.

01:07:29I never once meant to threaten you.

01:07:31I made you a promise.

01:07:38What I've compiled in this folder is no longer theory.

01:07:41It's proof.

01:07:44The only way you can prevent me from turning it over to Carl

01:07:47is to kill me.

01:07:49I'm not going to kill you.

01:07:51I'm not going to kill you.

01:07:53It must be maddening to know that in just a little while,

01:07:56you're going to lose everything you planned and killed for.

01:08:00You see, Myra, you can't win anymore.

01:08:05It was not long before my telephone began to ring.

01:08:09I knew it would be Myra.

01:08:11She was desperate.

01:08:12She wanted to see me right away.

01:08:14But I still had a few things to do,

01:08:16so I told her I'd see her later at my office.

01:08:19I made the appointment for 12.30 sharp.

01:08:23It was now only a matter of waiting.

01:08:25Time took care of the wait.

01:08:27So now the pattern's complete.

01:08:30And it's the same pattern Joe Leeds lived.

01:08:33But this time, Myra won't be acquitted.

01:08:36That's where you're concerned, Ray.

01:08:39Because this time, you're not going to have to guess

01:08:42whether or not Myra is guilty.

01:08:44You'll know.

01:08:46You're going to be a witness.

01:08:48You'll know.

01:08:50You're going to be a witness.

01:09:18Come on.

01:09:39Thank you for being so prompt.

01:09:41You've promised me an answer.

01:09:44Here it is.

01:09:46Now, no attorney could get you off, not even me.

01:09:49I told you, I can't be tried for the same crime twice.

01:09:53And I told you, I'm trying you before Carl Holt.

01:09:56We'll let him determine whether or not you're guilty.

01:09:59Or would you prefer this?

01:10:04I'm not going to kill anyone.

01:10:06Very well.

01:10:08That affords three of us a visit, Carl, you, and us.

01:10:12I'm going to call and ask him to come right over.

01:10:15After seeing this, if he still wants to marry a murderess, that's his business.

01:10:22Craig, don't call him.

01:10:28Craig.

01:10:31Don't make me do it.

01:10:35Oh, Craig.

01:10:45Hello? Hello?

01:11:15What's the matter?

01:11:42What's the meaning of this?

01:11:45It's terrible.

01:11:47Craig has committed suicide.

01:11:49What's the meaning of this?

01:12:16What are you doing here?

01:12:18Strange. He told me to be here at 12.40.

01:12:27I'd never expect Craig to do a thing like this.

01:12:45This is Ray Willis.

01:12:48The man shot himself. Will you send someone over right away, please?

01:12:52Chambers Building, room 2407.

01:12:54No.

01:12:56He's dead.

01:12:57He's dead.

01:13:16The tape recorder is still running.

01:13:19It must have been dictating when it happened.

01:13:28And it could be Craig's way of giving us an explanation.

01:13:44To Ray Willis, District Attorney.

01:13:48Dear Ray.

01:13:51In exactly 55 minutes,

01:13:54I will be dead.

01:13:56Murder?

01:13:57First of all, let me go there.

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