The Case of the Nimble Novelist

Lately, I’ve been watching Perry Mason reruns (thanks, Amazon Prime!) at lunchtime and I’ve learned a lot from LA defense attorney Perry, his wonderful secretary Della (more executive secretary lore here), and private eye pal Paul Drake about the craft of compelling story-telling.

Here are the top five things I’ve gleaned from hanging around with vintage TV’s smartest attorney and his team.

1. Show n’ tell: When Perry calls the waitresses, barkeeps, taxi drivers, and other denizens of his “everyday” world by their first name, we understand he’s got the common touch. They know how he likes his coffee and eggs, what kind of sandwich he’ll order, and to stand by with a handy telephone for the latest crazed client consultation. When Paul Drake drapes himself over a chair, we see he’s informal and very at home with Perry. When Della addresses Perry as “Mr. Mason” sometimes, “Chief” at other times, and occasionally “Perry,” we gather clues about their complex connection. These un-flashy moments reveal much about the characters without spelling it out.   
2. Button it, buster: In 50’s TV shows, men just aren’t chatty. If they are, it’s a signal to the viewer that they’re nervous (or guilty). When I write men’s dialogue in my 1950-60’s stories, I need to remember that today’s “tell-all” male confessionals weren’t the norm in that era—men kept just about everything close to the vest. If a fellow breaks down, it’s a pivotal moment, so pacing male speeches involves limiting bean-spilling.
3. Eye contact: To tell Perry something without tipping off the snoopy DA, Della employs her shapely eyebrows and pretty eyes. Perry easily translates her every facial twitch and vice versa. Detailing body language in print is trickier than on film, but when done well, it’s chef-kiss terrific for adding layers to relationships.
4. Leave a tender moment alone: Della crouches beside Perry’s couch to coax him to take some cold medicine, and thrilled viewers get an inside peek at them outside office hours. Their warmth, intimacy, and tenderness have every Perry Mason fan hoping *this* is it! Alas, the longed-for kiss doesn’t happen, but boy, it sure keeps us on our toes. Writing a slow-burn romantic moment depends on creating these “candid” scenes that crackle with romantic tension.
5. Balance of power: Perry goes for the throat against a hostile witness, then compassionately bankrolls a poor client. Paul gripes about late hours, but always jumps in his low-slung roadster at Perry’s call to track down clues. Della implores Perry to skip an international lawyer’s conference to help a frantic woman whose fiancée has been charged with manslaughter—and he does. Each character refracts reactions from the others, keeping the audience informed and the plot clipping along. Perry, Della, and Paul are a beautifully balanced triangle of intelligence, emotion, and action, so consistently well-written that many 1950’s stereotypes are avoided.

Perry Mason won multiple awards for its brilliant writing, and for me, each episode is a sort of master class in 1950’s societal expectations, cultural norms, and great character development. Although I don’t write much suspense (except for this Cold War flash fiction story) I want my readers to fall in love with my characters the way I have with Mason and his cronies. Root for them, laugh with them, move past mere plot to heartfelt story. I…

Oh, excuse me! It’s almost noon and I’ve got to hustle downstairs to enjoy lunch (a triangle-cut club sandwich tooth-picked with an olive, some chips, and a Coke) while I watch “The Case of the Crimson Kiss.”

Della, hold my calls.