Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun

You're late for your meeting.

What is my schedule?

You're due at the hospital in an hour.

And Thomas Shea is cooling his heels in your office.

Oh, good.

Let him.

I don't think the most powerful attorney in this city likes to be kept waiting.

Mr. Shea tends to forget he works for us.

Sister Margaret, you are becoming dangerously indispensable.

I'm going to requisition you from the archbishop.

Where is this priest?

The young nun is getting him.

I still don't understand why you couldn't handle this by yourself.

Well, Father O'Neill is asking some questions I couldn't answer.

What kind of questions?

About our real estate dealings for the church.

You handled most of the transactions yourself.

Just who is this priest?

They brought him in for an independent audit.

I hear he's already cleaned house in two dioceses.

New accountants?

New lawyers?

Our firm has represented the church for over two decades.

And I expect we'll be here long after he's gone.

Father O'Neill.

I've heard so much about you.

Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Shea.

Father.

I'm sorry to seem so elusive.

I've been tied up on other matters.

I see.

Well, considering all the money we're paying, I'd have thought the church's affairs would come first.

Please.

Good morning, Father.

Well, how's it going with Father O'Neill?

Are you keeping up with him?

Well, right now I have to get over to the archives at the convent, and then I have

to come back here to get some clarifications on the Archdiocese's books

before we leave for the hospital, and that's just this morning.

You should be taking your final vows pretty soon.

In two months.

The church needs people like you.

You keep us on our toes.

Thank you, Father.

Well, it's time to go.

Someone has got to answer the Archbishop's phone.

Give my regards to the Archbishop and remind him he owes me a dinner.

I would like to review those partnership agreements on Monday.

And so you will.

Goodbye, Father.

Thank you.

Well, Monsignor, is the Archbishop in?

He's off for the day with an old friend.

Can I do anything for you?

No.

No, I don't think so.

Father O'Neill, if you wish to discuss diocese business affairs, you talk to me.

I talk to the Archbishop.

The Archbishop asked me to report directly to him.

Unfortunately, he is not available, and I am his financial director.

I'm sorry.

I'd rather wait till he gets back.

Father, the hospital.

Thank you.

Excuse us.

Well, we're early for a change.

Maybe I'll make a few calls.

Oh, no, no.

I'm taking you to the cafeteria.

You'll forget to eat lunch again.

Have you become responsible for my care and feeding as well?

Somebody has to be.

You obviously can't do it for yourself.

Sister, sister, anyone ever tell you you are impertinent?

Lots of people.

Father, will you?

Come on.

Yes.

I understand you requisitioned some files from my office.

Without my permission.

Dr. Lattimore, I don't think this is a good time.

This is the time or the place to discuss it.

It's as good a time as any.

Fine.

Doctor, how you treat your patients, that's your business.

But how you run this hospital, that's mine.

Look, Father O'Neill, you want something from me.

Just ask me.

I did.

Several times.

Excuse us.

Sister?

What was that about?

Ah, he's incorrigible.

He's supposed to be a great doctor.

And the worst chief of medicine any hospital ever had.

He's autocratic, insulting.

Because of him, all the best doctors are leaving.

Well, he certainly wasn't very charming to you.

Well, at least with me, he has an excuse.

He knows I'm going to recommend he be removed.

How was that?

Marginal.

You have those budgets the hospital administrator sent over?

Yes, I have them right here.

Mm-hmm.

Oh.

Oh, let me see that.

It's just a paper cut.

I think it'll be okay.

Does it hurt?

Yeah, a little bit.

Yeah.

Father O'Neill.

I tried to reach you at your office.

We left early.

Is there a problem?

Well, I couldn't get the accounts receivable you requested.

Mrs. Carter?

Right.

You're the administrator of this hospital.

Can't you get me a simple piece of information?

I'm sorry, but the computer went down.

I'll have it in the next day or two.

Well, no point in meeting until then.

Good day.

Get a blood pressure and a pulse.

What happened?

I, uh, we were taking a walk.

I, uh, I sort of collapsed.

The nurse will get your vital signs.

I'll be right back.

You can't stay here.

I want to stay with my friends.

You're Grace.

You're what?

Oh, John, haven't you met the archbishop?

Oh, great.

I'll get the doctor.

I'll.

get the doctor.

I don't believe it.

Father O'Neill actually gave you time off.

Father O'Neill is very dedicated.

I don't know where you find the strength.

They're teaching her Patience.

I call it endurance.

It's like a marathon with Father O'Neill.

She's young.

And aging fast.

The man's a workaholic.

I rather like it.

Maybe you just like him.

What's that supposed to mean?

Oh, come on, Margaret.

You can tell us.

Tell us?

Tell you what?

Tell us about you and Father O'Neill.

I think you ought to mind your own business.

I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

No problem.

Mr. Eastman, I've been going over the archdiocese books.

How long has your firm been our accountants?

Oh.

Nine years.

What's the occasion?

None that I know of.

Well, it's the best kind of gift, a surprise.

Very handsome.

Would you excuse me?

Oh, Father Chris?

Have you seen Sister Margaret?

Not this morning, Father.

Look what she gave me.

I must tell you, there has been some talk.

Perhaps you two have been working too closely together.

I've got to put a stop to this right now.

Tom, don't be too hard on her.

Good morning, Father.

Could you please explain this to me?

I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about.

Why did you give me this gift?

I didn't give you a gift.

There's a card.

Oh, my love, Mark, I didn't write this.

This isn't even my handwriting.

Well, who wrote it then?

Who else knows I always borrow your pen?

Are you saying that I'm lying, Father?

Please.

Well, do you have any idea who might have put this in my office?

I don't know.

I'm afraid people are getting the wrong idea about us.

Maybe, maybe it would be simpler if we stopped working together.

We haven't done anything wrong.

Margaret, what if someone is trying to discredit me?

In my work with the church, I can't afford even the slightest hint of impropriety.

Father, we shouldn't let this change anything.

It's not fair.