Show139
There is currently (22 January 2010) an original copy of the script of this show that was formerly owned by Hal Smith (The Moulage Man) for sale at Weaver’s Department Store. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 22 January 2010.
The summary says “outside Perry’s legal jurisdiction.” This makes no sense. Prosecutors and policeman have jurisdiction; it means the official power to make legal decisions and judgments, or the territory over which one may do so. A defense lawyer may go where he is hired (many wealthy defendants, for example, have hired high-priced lawyers from out-of-state), if he can practice there. Now I understand Perry may not be licensed to practice law in Nevada, but that is not “jurisdiction,” which only belongs to the State or other legal authority. Submitted by gracep, 12/13/2010.
The policeman who advises Perry about his "jurisdiction" doesn't use that word. He says, "You're out of your bailiwick." He may have been speaking metaphorically. :) Submitted by katest 10/13/2011
+ "You're not on your own bailiwick here, Mr. Mason. This is the State of Nevada." Lieutenant Sophia of the Las Vegas Police to Perry. Hear/read at about 21:12 of the 2010 Paramount DVD. Sophia's intent could be for Perry to stop giving advice to his client if he knows what's good for him. Submitted by (lowercase, with a comma and period) masonite, 03/18/19.
Lt. Sophia sounds similar to a character from Alfred Hitchcock. It's Hilarious. After he Perry advises about his jurisdiction issue, abruptly says "NOW GOODBYE." Perhaps there is a little Over-Acting? Submitted by Tennoklark 01/12/2024
If not licensed in Nevada, Perry could not represent anyone in court there, but he could certainly offer advice. There seems to be a higher than usual amount of sexism in this episode. Morley kissing Janice, Morley having divorced Carlotta for getting fat, and Carlotta determined to win him back by dieting. DOD 11/12/19
Perhaps someone with a DVD copy can answer this question. When Lt.Tragg is testifying, what is Perry doing at the defense table? Is he dialing a telephone? I just caught a glimpse. Thanks. Submitted by MikeM, 2/16/2013. \\ Perry is reading and taking notes. Certainly not dialing a phone. + Tragg, in his only time on the stand, is testifying that he had an experiment performed which duplicated the blackmail message with words cut out from the headlines of the L.A. CHRONICLE & L.A. BULLETIN from the day before the murder. While he speaks, the camera switches to the defence table for seven seconds: Perry picks up a wooden pencil from the writing pad at his right hand, twiddles it and puts it down, all the while looking at the pad and maintaining a thoughtful expression. The seven second shot is of no import but simply gives the viewer a break from looking at Burger and Tragg for so long. The soundtrack with Tragg speaking continues without break before, during and following the shot. Sorry for the anti-climactic answer. Added by Gary Woloski, 2/27/13.
Perry really brought his A-game to this case. He had several witnesses, Burger, and even the judge tied in knots!
Submitted by 65tosspowertrap 8-28-13
+Perry may have brought his A-game to this one but I'm not sure the scriptwriters did. The key clue is that it had to rain at exactly the right time, and the right place, for the defendant to become implicated; and at a time when only she had access to her car. That's not logical planning, that's winning the lottery. Submitted by pauloh1 20/11/14
+ I concur: and to add to the absurdity, not only does the above have to occur, but the murderer him/herself also does something right before the murder takes place, which logically wouldn't have been timed so neatly; (indeed the ultimate solution of the case is pulled out of thin air). In short, this episode offered much for those wanting to ogle, but frustration for those wanting to think. Submitted by Notcom, 010816.
Ditto the above. Our killer would have had the foresight to have the water turned on and bring along a garden hose. Simply not believable. Near the end, as the clerk goes through a file box looking for the name of the person who had the water turned on, the camera darts around the court. Seems to me Little Old Lady in a Hat shows up in two or three different seats! After her makeover, Janice looks remarkably like Kim Novak in 'Vertigo' in several shots. I think it's the eyebrows. DODay 10/16/17
Novel Notes: A very straightforward adaptation of the novel, the main difference the shortened length to fit it in 50 minutes;
the bill number mentioned in court in the novel was G78342831A (probably a real bill Gardner had in his possession at the time); in the episode Burger reads it as LA4961136B; given the propensity of the Mason writers to use numbers as in-jokes, it may have had some hidden meaning;
the newspapers mentioned in the novel are The Los Angeles Times and Examiner;
perhaps someone with a copy of this novel can comment here, but my copy [Ballantine Books, First Edition, July 1981] appears to be printed for a foreign audience (British? Canadian?): Single quotes are used throughout, dashes (when someone interrupts someone's speech, for example) are more than a quarter-inch long, abbreviations such as Mr and Mrs are printed without periods and, most telling, words such as curb, tire (automobile), mold, honor, favor, color, parlor and defense are spelled kerb, tyre, mould, honour, favour, colour, parlour and defence. [The book states that it is manufactured in the USA but also simultaneously published in Canada by Random House of Canada.];
there are the usual typos as well: In the third paragraph of Chapter 3 "Mason said" is written as "Mason aid" and in the first line of Chapter Fourteen "nine-thirty" appears as "nine-thiry." Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 4/14/15.
Excellent Episode: This I believe is my favorite episode: (1) Perry's courtroom theatrics which trip up Burger; (2) scenes of the early-days Las Vegas strip; (3) the suitcase, which somehow fits the money exactly; and (4) Elaine Devry as Janice Wainwright. Hubba hubba. It only lacks a roscoe or two. JohnK, 15 October 2015
+ Totally agree! Great acting, a great plot, and PM's maneuvering of the prosecution for the courtroom finale are terrific! An added bonus is the hilarious rejection of Drake for the younger, handsome man by the client in the final scene. I agree in hindsight the coincidence of the rainshower is farfetched, but the fast-paced, intriguing story obscures these little factors. Rick P 10/12/21
The Autopsy Surgeon seems unusually antagonistic and belligerent towards Perry from the outset; Perry remains cool throughout, however. Submitted by WJones 2/19/2016.
The moulage expert is none other than Otis Campbell, Mayberry’s town drunk. DOD 11/12/19
Does anyone know who plays Drake's operative (silent part) in the phone booth? Is it possibly DG#2 or someone else? Submitted WJones 7/8/16