A Nero Wolfe Mystery (TV Series)

The Next Witness (2002)

Robert Bockstael: Jimmy Donovan

Quotes 

• D.A. Mandelbaum : Did Leonard Ashe say anything else to you?

  [pause as Wolfe is contemplating his answer] 

  D.A. Mandelbaum : Mr. Wolfe?

  Nero Wolfe : I would like to be sure I understand the question. Do you mean, what he said that day, or on a later occasion?

  D.A. Mandelbaum : That day, of course. But... what other occasion?

  Nero Wolfe : Are you asking me?

  D.A. Mandelbaum : In your deposition, you swore you hadn't met Leonard Ashe before or after July 13th.

  Nero Wolfe : That was true then. We met again.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : When?

  Nero Wolfe : In this building at half past eight this morning.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : You met and spoke with the defendant in this building at half past eight this morning, today?

  Nero Wolfe : His wife arranged to see him, and she allowed me to accompany her.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : Was Mr. Donovan, the defense counsel, present?

  Nero Wolfe : No,sir.

  Jimmy Donovan : Your Honor, I would like to state for the record that I knew nothing of this.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : Don't you know that it's a misdemeanor for a witness for the state to speak with a defendant charged with a felony?

  Nero Wolfe : We didn't discuss my testimony.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : What did you discuss?

  Nero Wolfe : Matters which I thought would be of interest to him.

  D.A. Mandelbaum : What exactly did you say, Mr. Wolfe?

  Archie Goodwin : *narrating* The fat son of a gun had put it over. Having asking him directly, Mandelbaum couldn't possibly keep Wolfe's theories from the jury unless Jimmy Donovan was a sap.

  Judge Corbett : Do you wish to withdraw the question, Mr. Mandelbaum?

  D.A. Mandelbaum : Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I'm absolutely fascinated, you didn't discuss your testimony, what did you discuss?