PERRY MASON AND THE TYPIST FROM CHICAGO

SCENE 1.

"Myra says she's a very nice girl. Comes from a very respectable family in Chicago." Grace Mason smiled hopefully at her husband. "In fact, she says she's quite enchanting and she's keeping her fingers crossed that Perry will marry her before the year's out."

Professor George Mason snorted in derision. "She would say that. She's his mother and all she wants is some grandchildren."
"All she wants is for him to be happy," countered his wife, "and Myra thinks this Della will make him happy."
"She's a SECRETARY, for Pete's sake! My nephew is a brilliant man. He doesn't need some jumped up typist for a wife. He needs someone on a par with him intellectually. Someone like Laura Cartwright."

Grace pursed her lips. "Well, I didn't like her when he brought her to stay last year. She was all sweetness and light to you because you are an eminent professor of Law, but she was incredibly patronising to people she thought beneath her. I couldn't see her making Perry happy, and Myra took an instant dislike to her. She was so relieved when they broke up."

"That's because she couldn't envisage Laura wanting children. That's all my sister-in-law cares about. Having grandchildren to spoil. Obviously she thinks a typist is more likely to produce lots of babies."
"George! You are such a snob! She's his confidential secretary, not a typist."

The discussion between George Mason and his wife had been sparked when their nephew Perry had accepted his uncle's invitation to address the graduating class of the prestigious law school of which George was dean. Perry had agreed and also accepted his uncle's suggestion to stay with him for a few days during his visit. And then he had mentioned that he would be accompanied by his confidential secretary, Della Street. This had produced apoplexy on the part of his uncle. It was not that he was a prude. The previous year he had welcomed Perry's then girlfriend Laura Cartwright with open arms and had even acceded to them sharing a room in his house. But Laura was a successful attorney, just the sort of new blood the Mason family needed. George had kept a fatherly eye on his nephew since his younger brother, Perry's father, had died when the boy was twelve and had watched proudly as Perry made a name for himself among the Los Angeles legal fraternity. An alliance with the legally prominent Cartwright family would be the icing on the cake as far as he was concerned. Then it had all gone wrong. Perry and Laura had gone their separate ways for reasons which were never explained to him, and now his nephew was carrying on with his secretary. What was he thinking of? He would have to have stern words with the boy when he saw him. Of one thing he was certain; the hussy was not going to be staying in his house if he could help it. He turned to his wife. "She can stay at the Bellevue Hotel. It's not far away and it's quite comfortable, so I'm told. She can come over during the day and do whatever it is she does for him in a secretarial capacity - type his speech or whatever."

"George Mason!" his normally mild-mannered wife placed her hands on her hips in disgust. "Perry is coming to this house as our guest and Miss Street is his guest, so she will be made welcome here for Perry's sake. What do you imagine he would think of us if we sent her to a hotel when we have three empty bedrooms?"

"Oh, all right," her husband growled, "but they are having separate rooms. There will be no hanky-panky in MY house."

Grace smiled. "It's MY house too, George, and we will be nice to this girl for Perry's sake. You never know, she might be our future niece."

"Over my dead body is Perry going to marry a typist," her husband retorted.

SCENE 2

"Are you sure it's a good idea me coming with you?" Della Street looked over to her boss as he drove his smart Cadillac out of Los Angeles. "Your mother gave the impression he is quite a difficult man."

Perry smiled at her. "It's true he can be rather intimidating, but you'll charm the socks off him once he meets you. Nobody can resist your charms, my darling. And I think it's time you met my wider family. I've met your aunt, now you can meet my uncle. And Aunt Grace is lovely, You'll like her. She's maybe a bit in the shadow of her brilliant husband, but deep down she loves him."

"Do they have any children?" asked Della.

"No. They had a little girl who died of Polio when she was four. They never had any more."
"That's so sad," commented the tender-hearted Della. "Is that why he took you under his wing after your father died?"

"I suppose so. I never really thought about it. At first I wanted to be a doctor like my Dad, but spending time with Uncle George gave me a taste for the Law, and once he knew that, he did all he could to encourage me. I think he saw me carrying on the tradition of Mason lawyers like himself and my grandfather."

"Well you've certainly done him proud," beamed Della. "The best criminal defence attorney in California according to that article in The LA Times."

"I don't think he'll be satisfied till I'm a Supreme Court judge," laughed Perry, "or following in his footsteps as head of the law faculty in some prestigious academic institution."

SCENE 3.

"They're here!" Grace Mason spied the black Cadillac as it turned into their driveway. Her husband headed for the front door and descended the steps to greet his nephew. "Nice to see you, lad," he said as he shook Perry's hand.

"Uncle George, this is Della."

George Mason nodded at the young woman standing beside his nephew. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Street," he grunted. "I'm sure you will be a help to my nephew while you're here, but there was really no need to accompany him. He could have borrowed one of the typists from my office if he needed clerical assistance."

"Now, George!" Grace Mason descended the stairs and gave Perry a hug, then smiled at the beautiful young woman at his side. "You are very welcome to our home, Miss Street. Let me show you to your rooms."

Perry winked at Della as he picked up their luggage and followed his aunt into the house and up the stairs to the upper storeys.

"Perry, you're in here in your usual bedroom," she stated, "And Miss Street is on the floor above." Perry locked eyes with Della and raised his eyebrows, a gesture not lost on his aunt. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "but your uncle insisted."

"That's all right, Aunt Grace," he laughed. "I promise to be a good boy and not ravish my secretary in your house. We can use the car."
"Perry!" exclaimed his aunt, blushing furiously.

SCENE 4.

"She's very pretty." Grace Mason stopped brushing her hair in front of her dressing table mirror and turned to look at her husband.

"Well, yes, I grant you that," he muttered as he pulled on his pyjamas. "Not quite what I was expecting."
"What were you expecting? A dumb platinum blonde bimbo simpering over Perry's every word? I would say she was a highly intelligent young woman and Perry swears she runs his entire law practice for him. She does everything but defend his clients in court. He says his practice has taken off since she took over running his office. And it's obvious she adores him. You can tell by the way they look at each other."

Her husband snorted. "She's still just a secretary. Let him have a fling with her if he wants. A man needs to sow his wild oats somewhere. But MARRY her?"

"I think she would make him an ideal wife. She's beautiful, charming, gracious and intelligent. Just because she doesn't have some fancy college degree to her name doesn't make her an unsuitable wife. I don't have a degree. You married me because you wanted into my father's law firm. I know that."
"Grace! That's not true!" George Mason came over and took his wife's slender hand in his. "I married you because I loved you. Your father being a top lawyer in his field was purely coincidental. I've never regretted it for an instant. You do believe that, don't you?"

"Well why can't you accept that Perry is in love with his Della?"
"Because…..because….deep down she's just a typist from Chicago who knows she's on to a good thing."

His wife sighed in exasperation.

SCENE 5.

The evening meal had been somewhat awkward. Della had offered to lend Grace a hand in the kitchen, but the offer was declined with comments about her being a guest in the house and not expected to help. This had left Della, Perry and George Mason making small talk in the living room.

"It's a beautiful house, Professor Mason," remarked Della in an attempt to break the ice.

"Thank you, Miss Street,"

"Please, why don't you call me Della," said Della with her warmest smile.

"I don't think either myself or my wife know you well enough to be on first name terms with you, Miss Street," came the reply.

Perry tried to soothe the situation by changing the subject, but he was beginning to feel rather annoyed at his uncle's cavalier attitude to his lovely guest. When they were seated at table, it seemed to him that his uncle was deliberately steering the conversation to topics about which Della would have no knowledge or interest. He seemed determined to exclude her and make her feel awkward. Perry could not help but admire the way his lovely secretary was valiantly smiling and making a vain attempt to carry on a conversation with his aunt who he knew would leave dinner table topics to her husband.

At the end of the evening, when the elder Masons had gone to bed, Perry quietly crept up the stairs to Della's room.

"I'm sorry my uncle is being so difficult," he whispered, holding her tight. "I'm going to have a word with him tomorrow."
"No, please Perry," she said kissing him. "It isn't worth a family row. He obviously thinks a mere secretary is not worthy of his illustrious nephew. He's only thinking of your welfare, not getting entangled with a gold-digging hussy like me," she giggled.

"Well, I'm not having him being rude to you. Now, how about a little cuddle,mmm..?"

She slapped at the hands that were wandering towards her breasts. "Perry Mason! Behave yourself! You promised your aunt there would be no hanky-panky in her house. I think you should go now."
"Spoilsport," he muttered, and giving her a passionate kiss, he headed back to his own room.

SCENE 6.

The following day Perry put the finishing touches to his speech, then his uncle suggested a round of golf. Perry was not a particularly avid golfer, but he wanted the chance to speak to his uncle on his own, and he suspected that his uncle had the same idea. Leaving the two women in the house, they headed out to the local golf club. At first their conversation was confined to small talk, and it was Perry who eventually brought up the subject they both had on their minds.

"Uncle George," he said, "Why are you so hostile to Della?"
His uncle bristled. "I'm not hostile to her. I've been perfectly civil to her."
"No, you've been rude and dismissive of her and I'm not having it. She's the most gracious and charming girl I've ever met and I won't have her made uncomfortable by my family."

George Mason snorted. "Will you get a grip on yourself, boy? Granted she's beautiful and I've no doubt she serves your needs in bed. Have a fling with her if you must, but for God's sake don't introduce her to your family as if you intended to marry her."

There was silence for a moment before Perry spoke. "Why shouldn't I marry her? She's perfectly respectable and I love her more than I've ever loved anyone in my life."

"She's a SECRETARY!" bellowed his uncle. "Prestigious lawyers don't marry their secretaries, at least not in THIS family. She sees you as a good catch - you've got money, social standing, fame. Everything a social climber could want. She's using you. Can't you see that?"

Perry struggled to control the disgust he felt at his uncle's statement. "Uncle George," he said, " I've always respected you, but you've gone too far. I'll have you know that I've asked Della twice to be my wife and she turned me down."
"Probably just a ploy to make you keener," sighed the older man. "I hope you're not relying on her not to get pregnant. Many a man has been trapped into marriage that way."

Perry sighed. "I'm not some clueless teenager. I'm a grown man and perfectly capable of taking care of things in that department. In fact nothing would please me more than having a family with her, but it's something we both have to agree on."

"There's obviously no reasoning with you on this," huffed his uncle."But you'll get over this INFATUATION soon enough and find someone acceptable to the family."
Perry could hardly contain his ire. "You mean acceptable to YOU and your snobbish friends! I'll have you know that my mother adores her. If you can't accept her, that's your loss. I would be sorry to cut ties with you. You've been a great support to me over the years since my Dad died. But Della comes first. She takes precedence over everyone and everything. Now I think I'll go back to the house. I've lost my appetite for this game."

At that, he turned on his heel and strode off towards the clubhouse. His uncle could only follow behind in astonishment at his outburst.

SCENE 7.

Left to themselves in the house, Della used all her warmth and charm to make Perry's aunt feel more comfortable in her company. She suspected that although she adored her brilliant spouse, she was more than a little in awe of him. Della sensed that she was also extremely shy and did her best to put her at her ease. Slowly Grace relaxed and began to feel comfortable with this young woman with whom her nephew was so obviously in love. Della knew instinctively that the best way to bring a shy person out was to let them talk about what mattered to them, and she gently encouraged Grace to tell her about her life as a gifted music student; about how she had met George Mason at a reception given by her lawyer father; how they had fallen in love, married, and then about the tragic loss of their only child. Grace was astonished at how easy it was to pour out her heart to this young woman who exuded warmth and sympathy. When she spoke about her daughter, tears sprang to her eyes and Della gently took her hands and held them till the sad memory slipped away. Yes, she would make Perry an excellent wife, Grace decided, and she made up her mind that she would do all in her power to talk her husband round.

As they sipped coffee in the kitchen, Della began to ask Grace more about her life in music. "I wanted to be a concert pianist," the older woman informed her. "Music was my life. I was very shy with people but I seemed to be able to lose myself when I was playing. I had just finished my course at the conservatoire when I met George and fell in love. I hoped to be able to continue my career, but he made it clear that my place was at home running his house. I wanted to teach piano if I couldn't perform, but he put his foot down. No wife of his was going to work. I think it was a matter of pride to him that I didn't need to earn money. Music became a hobby, and a great consolation when little Helen died."

"So you never contemplated playing professionally after you were married?"
"Oh, no. Only in church, but that doesn't really count."

Della hesitated for a moment, wondering how much she could confide in this relative stranger. Then she spoke. "Perry has asked me to marry him, but I've always said no because I couldn't bear the thought of being stuck in some fancy house being a housewife. I love my job. I don't want to give it up."

"But things are different nowadays," said Grace. "Surely Perry wouldn't force you to stop working with him if you were married?"
Della sighed. "He says he wouldn't, but I'm so scared that he might expect it after we were married. Especially if there were children."
"Don't you want children?" asked Grace.

"I don't know," replied Della."I honestly don't know. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to be a mother, then other times I can't picture myself at all. Maybe deep down I'm terrified I wouldn't do it right."
"My dear, you would be a wonderful mother," said Grace taking the younger woman's hand. "Tell me this, Della. Do you love Perry?"

"More than I thought it possible to love anyone on this earth," replied Della. "I would do anything for him."
"Except marry him?"

"I'm so scared he'll wake up one morning and find he's tired of me. That he has landed himself with a wife he doesn't love any more."

"My dear child," Grace looked earnestly into Della's face. "I've known Perry all his life. I have never, and I mean NEVER, seen him as much in love with anyone as he is with you. You are perfect together. Marry him, have his babies and be happy ever after."

Della laughed. "I'll think about it," she said.

"Come on," said Grace. "Let's get in the car and go and surprise our two men at the golf club. They can treat us to lunch."

SCENE 8.

Perry slowed his pace as he approached the parking lot of the golf club. They had come in his car and he could hardly abandon his uncle in such a public place. He unlocked the car, threw his clubs on the back seat and slid behind the wheel, waiting for the older man to join him. Nothing was said as he drove out of the golf club gates and took the winding road into the hills where the elder Masons lived. As the road climbed higher, there was a sheer drop to one side protected only by a wooden fence. Perry had often thought this particular stretch was dangerous and indeed there had been many accidents, some fatal. About five miles up the road on a particularly dangerous bend, Perry spied flashing lights and a police car drawn across the road. "What's the trouble, officer?" he enquired of the young policeman who waved him down.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the road is closed. You'll have to turn around and take the detour half a mile back. There's been a serious accident. A car went off the road and over the edge."
"Was anybody hurt?" asked Perry, but stopped as the police tow truck winched a crumpled burnt out vehicle up the embankment. A senior officer, recognising George Mason as a prominent local citizen, came over to them.

"Good morning, Professor, he said quietly. "I'm sorry to say, sir, that we have reason think that it was your car involved in the accident. Could you confirm the registration number, please."
As if in a daze, George Mason repeated the number. "I'm extremely sorry, sir," said the officer, "I can confirm that it is your vehicle. It went through the barrier and over the edge then caught fire."

"Oh my God!" said George.

George Mason sat in paralysed shock. It was Perry who spoke as a cold fear clutched at his heart. "Who was in the car," he asked almost in a whisper as if afraid to hear the answer.

"Two ladies. An older lady was driving and there was a younger woman with her."

Perry felt as if his world was dissolving around him. "And were they?…are they…..?" He could not complete the question.

"They were both alive when the ambulance arrived but one of them was in a really bad way. They've been taken to the Sycamore Hospital down in the valley."

SCENE 9.

To his dying day, Perry would never know how he managed to turn his car on the narrow mountain road and get to the hospital in the valley below. In retrospect, he assumed he had gone into automatic pilot mode. He remembered nothing of the twenty minute drive until he found himself parking his car in the hospital parking lot. All he could think of was Della. His precious Della. Dear God, if anything happened to her his life would be over. He knew he loved her, but now the realisation hit him that she was part of him, body and soul. He could not function, could not exist, without her. As he raced through the doors of the emergency department, his uncle followed close on his heels. They had not exchanged a word during the drive to the hospital and suddenly Perry felt guilty that he had given no thought to his aunt.

They were met at reception by an emergency nurse who led them through to a waiting area. There to their surprise sat a middle-aged couple who were the Masons' next door neighbours.

"George," said the man, standing up when he saw his friend. "I'm so sorry. Jean and I were driving down the road behind Grace and we saw what happened. Another car took the bend too wide and forced Grace's car off the road, through the barrier and down the embankment. We got out but there was nothing we could do. The car was too far down the slope for me to reach it. I sent Jean off in my car to phone for help. The young lady in the passenger seat of your car managed to scramble out, but then I think she realised that the car was about to blow, so she went back and dragged Grace out just before the car exploded. It was the bravest thing I ever saw. She risked her life to get Grace out. We came along to the hospital to see if we could be of any help till they got in touch with you."

Just then the doors of the waiting room swung open to admit a white-coated doctor.

"Professor Mason? I'm Dr Sutcliffe. I've been looking after your wife and her young friend since they were admitted."
George Mason looked at the medic and with trembling voice asked: "How are they, doctor? Are they badly hurt?"

"Your wife has received multiple injuries - broken ribs from the impact of the steering wheel, a broken arm and a serious head injury, but it could have been much worse. If the young lady had not got her out of the vehicle before it caught fire, she would not have survived. As it is, with time and plenty of rest, she should make a full recovery."

Thank God," said George, "but what about Della, Miss Street?"

Perry felt the room begin to swim around him. It was the question that he wanted desperately to ask, yet dreaded asking.

The doctor smiled. "She is a very lucky young lady. She has a lot of bruising and some superficial burns from the explosion, but no broken bones. I believe she saved your wife's life at great risk to her own."

Perry's relief at finding that Della was not seriously hurt was overwhelming. He sank on to a plastic chair. "Can I see her?"

"Yes, of course. I'll take you to her. Mrs Mason is still recovering from surgery, but Miss Street can have visitors."

Perry followed the doctor through to a room where Della was lying on a hospital bed. As soon as she saw him, she jumped from the bed and ran into his arms. "Oh my darling," he murmured. "Thank God you're all right!" Perry enveloped her in a tight embrace then drew back as she winced in pain.

"Oh darling, I'm sorry," he said as he released his hold on her, realising she was covered in vicious bruises.

"I'm ok," she managed a smile. "How's your aunt. They haven't told me much."

It was George Mason who spoke from the doorway. "She's going to be ok, thanks to you. I don't know how to thank you. She could have died if it hadn't been for you. I could have lost her…"

The enormity of what might have happened finally registered in his brain and he sank into a chair and began to sob. Gently Della came over and wrapped him in a warm embrace. "Shush..shush, it's ok," she whispered as he sobbed in her arms.

When he had cried himself out, he turned to the lovely young woman who was tenderly comforting him ."Della… I want to apologise to you. I've treated you badly for no reason other than snobbish pride. I now know what a wonderful human being you are. I would be proud to think that my daughter would have been as fine a person as you had she lived."

Tears were now streaming down both their faces and Perry had to swallow hard to keep his composure as he beamed with pride at his Della. A nurse entered the room and spoke to Dr Sutcliffe.

"I'm happy to say that your wife is out of the recovery room now and you can see her for a few minutes, If you would like to follow me."

George stood and went to follow the doctor, then turned and came back to gently embrace Della. "God bless you, my dear," he murmured. "Perry is a very lucky man."

When they were alone, Della lay back on the hospital bed and Perry lay down beside her, gently cradling her in his arms,

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," he murmured, "but don't you ever put yourself in such danger again. I couldn't bear to lose you. Della, I'm begging you. Please marry me. Whatever reservations you have about marriage, we can work them out. I want you with me day and night for the rest of my life. Please, darling, marry me."

She was silent for what seemed to him an eternity and his heart sank. Then she spoke. "Perry, I wasn't sure about marriage until today. But the accident has made me realise how much I love you. As we careered down that embankment my only thought was 'Perry, my love. I'm so sorry. I'm going to die and I love you so much.'

I knew if I survived, I wanted to be yours forever. Yes, Perry, I'll marry you."

Two days later Perry, Della and George Mason were gathered in his wife's hospital room. Grace was sitting up in bed, her arm in a sling and still suffering the effects of her broken ribs, but she was smiling. Perry and Della had told her their news. They had informed Perry's uncle the previous evening that they were getting married and to their delight he had shaken Perry warmly by the hand and kissed Della. "You're a very lucky man," he told his nephew. "You have a treasure there."

Now, as they gathered round Grace's bedside, George produced a box which he handed to his wife. "Della," said Grace. "George and I want you to have this." She handed the box to Della who opened it to find a white leather-bound Bible.

"It belonged to our daughter," explained George. "It was given to her at her christening."

"But I can't accept this," she said with tears in her eyes. "It must be so precious to you."

"That's why we want you to have it," said George. "Perry has been like a son to us and now you are going to be his wife. Grace owes you her life and we want to show you how grateful we are and how happy that you will be joining our family. Please accept it with our love."

Della leaned forward to embrace both of them. "I'll treasure it always," she said, "and who knows, one day I might have a daughter of my own to pass it on to."

She gave Perry a radiant smile as he took her hand and pressed it to his lips, their hearts bursting with joy as they contemplated their future together.

"