Perry Mason

Three guys, three stiffs.

According to the cops, that's it.

Except we know there's a fourth.

Get a little help at the crime scene?

I got no idea what you're talking about.

Heard about Perry Mason sniffing around those shootings.

Don't talk to him.

If any of this comes back to me I will deny every word.

Ennis cut the line to be first at Angel's Flight.

Then, he's at Gannon's almost before the call went out.

You think he's sitting nearby to control the crime scenes?

It's quite the co-inky-dink.

Charlie Dodson will rise again!

If you truly believe God told you to do this,

tell him, "Don't let me down."

You think I want God in my head?

No one wants this case, Emily.

You need new representation.

But he's not a lawyer.

There's a bar examination which will certify him

with plenty of time.

I will prove your innocence.

So help me God.

The defendant, Emily Dodson,

was the only person who had the means,

motive, and opportunity

to orchestrate this despicable plan.

Now, Emily Dodson knew

that her husband was the son of a very wealthy man,

and therefore, someone with means to obtain

that ransom money. That knowledge,

gentlemen and ladies, was her means

to commit this crime.

Emily Dodson also had a lustful desire

to run off with her lover, George Gannon.

And that desire was her motive.

As for opportunity?

She was Charlie's mother!

The person charged with protecting him,

an innocent, defenseless babe.

Now, Emily Dodson had all the opportunity in the world

to put this plan into action.

Means,

motive,

and opportunity, and a child's life...

cut short.

Now, the defense over there will try and confuse you

with all sorts of wild theories

and preposterous propositions.

Because his client is guilty, and he knows it, all too well.

But a trial is society's way

of finding the truth,

its way of seeking justice.

Now, at the end of this trial, I will ask each one of you,

good people, to open your hearts and find that truth,

seek that justice.

I will ask you to stare down this woman

who chose lust and money over her child's life.

Find Emily Dodson guilty...

because she is guilty.

I thank you kindly for your time and attention.

Mr. Mason, we will hear you now.

Good morning.

My name is Perry Mason.

I represent... Emily Dodson.

Unlike Mr. Barnes here, who spoke for a nearly two hours,

I will be briefer... uh, brief.

Emily Dodson did not kill her baby.

Does anyone here really believe she did? 'Cause I sure don't.

Objection! As to counsel's personal belief.

Sustained.

Sorry. Um, you may have heard, I'm new to this.

- Objection. - Sustained.

See what I mean?

What really happened in December of last year?

A good question.

And although the defense...

- is under no obligation... - I'm sorry.

Is under no obligation to prove anything,

it is natural to... To want to know...

...the whys, the whos,

the whats and the wheres.

Would you like a minute, Mr. Mason?

Uh, yeah, actually, just one...

The prosecution...

Thank you.

The pro...

The prosecution's case is completely

and entirely circumstantial.

I rehearse it here, I'm fine. I get up in court,

my body won't do what my head tells it to.

You know, same thing happens to me

when I gotta whiz in public. I mostly use stalls.

Perry Mason, Attorney-At-Law.

Uh-huh. And is this in Oregon or Utah, ma'am?

Yes, I'm not sure if this information qualifies

as pertinent, ma'am. The word means relevant.

Did George Gannon's place have a garage?

What? No.

Well, in his opening, Barnes says he has a garage.

Well, DAs don't walk crime scenes.

I'm thinking you can hit Barnes with a little buckshot.

I mean, he got this wrong, he got that wrong,

the cops barely investigated the case.

And as you can see from this, there's no garage.

All right. I'll take some pictures

of a hedge where a garage never was.

No, that's your investigator's job.

You're Emily's lawyer now. He'll do it.

Yes, ma'am. Anything else?

Yeah. Something that connects Sarecki and Nowak to Ennis.

Actually, anything would be nice.

You think I ain't been looking for Sarecki and Nowak?

I run all their arrest records. Nothing.

Was Ennis ever up in Milwaukee with these fucks?

No. He's in Baltimore, he's in Denver,

then the war, then L.A.

- What about George? - Nothing there, either.

It's like everybody in this thing is a complete fucking stranger.

There's gotta be something you missed.

Well, feel free to enlighten me.

I've only been grinding on this thing

for a month and a half while you've been screwing around

- with your career change. - Like I had a choice.

- Oh, come on. - "Come on," what?

- You know what I mean. - No, no, no. Enlighten me.

- You know exactly what I'm saying... - No, no. I have no idea.

- Hey. Hey. Hey! - What does that mean...

This isn't helping.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Where are you going?

Hm. To take pictures of a garage that never was.

Catch you later, Gloves.

Toodle-oo, Pete.

First day, and I already lost a juror

'cause my throat locked up.

No. It wasn't that.

Seven was looking at Emily the whole time.

All nerves and tics.

She looked guilty.

It's a hell of a start.

"Someday, George, my love,

our dreams will come true,

and we will be together forever.

Until then, I am and will always be...

yours. Emily."

Eleven love letters from Emily to George Gannon

in the span of four months.

That last one dated December 18th,

less than two weeks before the kidnapping.

I'm sorry, Matthew. I know this is difficult,

but at the time of the kidnapping,

did the defendant tell you

that she had anything to do with George Gannon?

- No. - And when you were arrested,

put in jail for kidnapping,

did the defendant here tell you

- she even knew George Gannon? - No.

And when it became clear that George Gannon

was at the root of these heinous crimes,

did the defendant, your wife,

tell you that she'd had an intimate affair with him?

No. She knew I was innocent, and she let them put me in jail.

- You were screwing that guy for months... - Oh!

- Objection! - Sustained. Compose yourself, Mr. Dodson.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Mason, your witness.

Um...

Mr. Dodson, isn't... Isn't it true

you're the secret love child of Herman Baggerly?

- Objection. - No, no, now, wait.

I ca... I can ask that.

This has to do with this whole motive... argument thing.

Fair point, albeit poorly phrased.

Overruled.

So, secret love child? Yes or no.

- Yes. - And is Herman Baggerly

a... a wealthy guy?

- I guess. - You guess?

He's up there with Vanderbilt and Ford.

Um, when did you first learn that millionaire Herman Baggerly

was your father?

- About five years ago. - So you packed Emily up

and took her away from her friends and family

and moved her halfway across the country. Did...

Did she know that millionaire Herman Baggerly

was your father before this?

- No. - Oh.

It's a long drive from Missouri.

- You tell her on the way? - I can't tell you!

No, I did not.

Why can't you tell me? I don't understand!

Well, that's life-changing news.

Why did you keep it from your wife?

She didn't need to know about it.

Like you said, she's my wife.

Oh, so you lied to her?

I didn't tell her. That's all.

Isn't it true on the night Charlie was kidnapped,

you were at a dice game?