All language subtitles for Mannix S03E23 Murder Revisited

So then, you're putting the
gutter into the classroom.

You're twisting
my words again.

I'm for taking sex education
out of the gutter,

and making it part of
the regular course study.

Along with such other
personal subjects

as, uh, reading, writing
and arithmetic.

And of course, the home
would be left out of this.

The parents will have
nothing to say,

isn't that right,
Mrs. Landon?

It's Miss Landon.

Oh, I'm sorry.

And I never proposed
that sex education

be taken away from
the family control.

Hmm, well, now I
read this interview--

there's no mention of your
concern for parental guidance.

Well, the newspaper
didn't quote me entirely.

Oh, in other words,
the press is censoring you.

Mr. Hackett, you're trying
to make it appear

as if there is
a conspiracy against me.

Well, now, you brought
up the charge, Mrs. Landon.

Will you please stop
calling me Missus.

Oh, forgive me, a natural error.

You see, anyone as interested
in the welfare of children

as you are, Miss Landon,

would ordinarily be
thought of

as a married woman or a mother.

Mr. Hackett,
you are beneath contempt.

Uh, sorry, lady,
your time is up.

Thank you very much.

All right, folks, now to
where the action really is,

"The Hot Seat."

There it is, still empty.

Third week in a row.

Seems our seat is
a little too hot

for invited guest
Harry Armitage.

But since he's
refused our invitation,

we did the next best thing.

All right, Frank, let's move in
for a nice close head shot

of Mr. Armitage.

You see before you a rare
photo of Harry C. Armitage.

Harry, by nature, is a shy man,

except when asking for a fee
for the special work he does.

By trade I guess you'd
call Harry a peddler.

The commodity he peddles
is influence.

Now what I wanted to ask

the reluctant Harry Armitage
tonight, among other things,

was how was it that a young man
of means

could get a hit-and-run charge
reduced to a misdemeanor

when actually his car hit,
ran and killed?

Now I've asked Mr. Armitage
to, uh, reply to that,

among other burning questions,

but so far, nary a word
from Mr. Armitage.

So now I'll try him direct

on the Hot Line.

Hello.

Ted Hackett calling.

I know.

You've been tuned in, huh?

Find it fascinating,
huh, Mr. Armitage?

About as fascinating
as a trash can.

Well, one man's trash is
another man's truth.

Harry, the invitation
still stands.

The Hot Seat is all warmed up,
and so are my questions.

How about it?

I wouldn't dignify any of
your questions with a reply.

Oh, you're a real authority
on dignity,

now aren't you, Armitage?
Of course.

You know exactly what it costs
to buy off a dignified judge,

or how to get a zoning change by
bribing a dignified councilman.

Right?

Armitage?

Sounded like a gunshot.

Armitage.

Armitage?

Armitage? Armitage?!

Hey, Sid, you better
call the police.

No, wait a minute, I'll do it,
I'll do it.

Uh, get me the police.

Look, this is Ted Hackett.
I want to report something.

I don't know exactly what,
but there was a gun involved,

and it could be murder
or robbery or anything.

His name is Harry Armitage.

No, I'm not there.

I just finished talking
with him on the phone.

Yes, yes, I'm sure.

Yes, there were gunshots.

Look, I'm not the only one.

There were
two million witnesses.

♪ ♪

Just a minute, Mr. Mannix.

What floor?

Penthouse.

I'm sorry, no one's allowed up
there without permission.

Who's in charge?
Lieutenant Malcolm.

Ask him.

Lieutenant Malcolm.

Lieutenant, this is Grady.

Mannix wants to come
up to see you.

The lieutenant wants
to know what it's about.

About my client,
Harry Armitage.

About his client,
Harry Armitage.

Right.

Okay.

I'd say you were
a little late getting here

for your client's sake.

Yeah, I heard the news

while I was driving down
from Santa Barbara.

No way to lose a client, Joe.

It's bad for business.

Well, I hadn't actually
started work for Armitage.

He'd sent an advance payment
over to the office.

I was supposed to meet
him here tonight.

What'd he want you for?

I don't know.

Well, in the light
of what happened,

it could have been
protection, huh?

It could have been.

You got anything?

Not yet.

What do you care?
It's not your problem now.

Well, I feel I owe
Armitage some work.

Lieutenant.

She was picked up
a block from here,

running down the alley.

Name's Muriel Price.

The maintenance man said
he saw her leave the building

by the service door,

right after the
Hackett telecast.

I had nothing to do
with Armitage's death.

Where'd you get
it, Frank?

Trash can in the alley,

about 20 yards from where
she was apprehended.

Fingerprints?

Yeah, all over it,
Lieutenant, fresh and clear.

Now I've got something.

All right, that's my gun,
but I didn't kill him.

Please, if you just
let me explain...

Miss Price, it's my
duty to advise you

of your rights.

You have the right to legal
counsel before you say anything.

However, anything you
do say now voluntarily

can be used against you.

All right, take her
downtown, Frank.

We'll book her
on suspicion.

I'll be along.

I didn't kill him, Lieutenant.
I really didn't kill him.

I'm sorry, Miss, uh, I'm not
with the police department.

My name is Mannix.

I'm a private investigator.

Let's go, Miss.

I... I-I didn't kill
him, Lieutenant.

I didn't...

I guess she had you
figured for a soft touch.

Maybe she figured right.

Hello.

This Mannix? Joe Mannix?

Yeah, this is Mannix.

Got a job for you.

Look, it's 2:00 in the morning.

I'm at the Opal Club.

It's over on Fifth.

Who is this?

Name's Charlie.

What's it about, Charlie?

It's got to do with
the Armitage killing.

Mannix?

I'm Charlie.

Okay, now, what about
the Armitage case?

She's got the answers.

Now, uh...
how did you get out?

Murder suspects are
usually held without bail.

I'm Valerie Price.

Muriel's my twin sister.

Sit down, Mr. Mannix.

You can go, Charlie.
I'll lock up.

There are still some things
I can do around here

to keep me busy.

I'm all right. Go on.

Okay.

But if you need something,
call me at home.

Sure.

I'll fix you a drink.

No, thanks, but you go ahead.

It was Muriel's idea.

She felt you were the man.

For what?

To prove she didn't
kill Harry Armitage.

She said you
could be trusted.

She doesn't
even know me.

Just in passing.

Apparently, that was
enough for her.

You've got to take this
case, Mr. Mannix--

for both of us.

It's hard for people
to understand

the way it is with twins.

Whatever happens
to Muriel happens to me.

Her sorrow is my sorrow.

Her pain is mine.

We were one simple
little cell,

divided, yet inseparable.

If she trusts you,
then I trust you.

And if she needs you,
then I need you.

Can you understand
that, Mr. Mannix?

Yeah, I think so.

There's something
you've got to understand.

Everything is
against your sister.

Except one thing.

What's that?

She didn't kill Harry Armitage.

How do you know?

She told me.

It was her gun.

Yes, but it had been
missing for over a week.

Why hadn't she reported it?

She didn't have a license.

You don't need a license
just to possess a gun.

Tell me, why did she buy
it in the first place?

I don't know. A lot of people
have guns, don't they?

Yeah, far too many.

But still, very few end up as
Exhibit A in a murder case.

Look, it's a stacked case.

She received a phone call
to go to Armitage's apartment.

She found him there, dead.

She recognized the gun.

She was afraid it
would lead to her.

She took it and ran.

There's only one thing.

Armitage didn't call her.

No.

She didn't recognize the voice.

Tell me, uh, if you
were an outsider...

...would you believe
that story?

Obviously you don't.

And I thought you might
be able to help us.

I thought you were
going to trust me.

Why don't you
tell me everything?

I did.

Except why she went
to Armitage's apartment

in the first place.

She was a public stenographer.

She often took dictation
from Armitage.

That late at night?

How'd she get into
the apartment?

The front door was locked.

She had a key.

A public stenographer that has
a key to a client's apartment?

Muriel wasn't just
a stenographer to Armitage.

Still, she wasn't as much
as she thought to him.

There was a whole parade
of women

who went in and out of his life.

And she was on her way out.

Yes.

And that could give
the police her motive.

Anything else?

No.

I'll see
what I can find out.

Well, don't I have to
pay you or anything?

No.

Why should you do
this for nothing?

I was paid in advance.

By Harry Armitage.

He just left the club.

Don't worry.

I can handle her.

But you'd better
take care of Mannix.

Uh, be with you in
a minute, Mannix.

You ready with
that stuff?

Almost.

Oh, come on. Get the
lead out, will you?

Wait just a minute,
huh, Ted?

What for?

Well, it could stand a polish,
a little more color.

I'll give it plenty
of my own color

when it goes out
over the air.

It'll only take me
another minute or so.

Paul, if you want to write
the great American novel,

do it on your own time.

Right now, you're
working for Ted Hackett.

And it's not deathless
prose I'm selling.

Remember, that's-that's
TV land out there,

the simple people.

And I'm selling simple,
unvarnished truth.

Oh, if I
left you alone,

you'd rewrite my show
right into an early grave.

Oh, uh, coffee, huh?

Mannix?

Uh, no, thanks.

Uh, Paul?

And Danish.

Paul?

Make that
prune Danish.

Sorry to keep you
waiting, Mannix.

No, you're not.

And I thought this was
going to be like old times.

Old times? Oh, it is.

Nothing's changed.

You're still
up to your old tricks.

Such as?

Keeping me waiting, cooling my
heels, trying to get me uptight.

That's number one.

And number two?

Still pushing
your weight around.

You mean with Paul?

Mannix, some people like to
know just where they stand.

Gives them a sense of security,
which you don't understand.

I understand you, Hackett.

What's to
understand?

I'm a simple man, searching
for the simple truth.

Seven years ago, I left
St. Louis with nothing.

You've still got nothing.

Only money.

Try as hard as you will, Mannix,
you can't get me to dislike you.

And my offer still stands.

I could really use
an expert like you.

Somebody who could dig deep
enough to get the real lowdown.

I'm afraid I just couldn't
fill the rest of the bill.

What's that?

Running for coffee,
prune Danish.

Still got to have
a gimmick, huh?

Yeah, the Hot Seat.

Well, I guess
that's show business.

Truth business.

You always were hung up
on that, weren't you?

What's wrong with the truth?

The way you use it.

The way I use it
appeals to a lot of people.

So did public hangings.

Mannix...

you didn't come here
to talk about that.

I came here
for help, Hackett.

From me?

For a guy
who's looking for a favor,

I guess I got off
to a bad start, huh?

No mistake about that.

What kind of help?

Want a line
on Harry Armitage--

a list of people who might have
killed him or had him killed.

Police have already
discussed that with me.

Well, I thought you might have

held out a tidbit here
and there.

Now, why would I do
a thing like that?

Spring it on the air, boost
your ratings a point or two.

Why should I change my mind now?

Because it might help somebody
besides yourself, Hackett.

My client's been booked
for Armitage's murder.

Yeah, the, uh, Price girl.

What do you say, Hackett?

About killing Armitage?

Well, I don't
blame her.

That's what I say.

It's just not your
day all around.

Hmm.

You know,
in this business, Peggy,

you sometimes get a feeling.

Kind of a gut reaction.

Now, this is
one of those times.

This case is just too easy.

Why?

They caught Muriel Price
flat-footed,

at the scene of the crime,

with a gun in one hand
and a motive in the other.

I know.

That's what's bugging me.

Now, a girl shoots a man
with her own gun,

she's caught running away
from the scene.

Open-and-shut case.

Why does she spend the rest
of her time...

...denying it?

Every prison is
full of innocent people, Joe.

Just ask them.

Well, I saw this girl.

She's just not the type.

When murder and love are
involved, there isn't any type.

Peggy, do me a favor, huh?

Stop, uh, quoting
some half-baked philosopher.

Joe, I'm quoting you.

Hmm.

Okay.

They got the right girl.

All the pieces fit.

Then tell me: why have
two clowns been tailing me?

What two clowns?

Two clowns who were waiting
for me outside the TV studio.

I'll tell you why.

Because somebody else knows
this isn't a closed case.

So what do we do?

Hmm.

Well, maybe we, uh... maybe we
needle Ted Hackett a little.

Hackett?
Yeah.

I got a feeling he knows
something and isn't telling.

Why?

Maybe because he's got
two million

faithful viewers that, uh,
he'd rather tell first.

Yeah.

Maybe that's why
he's so successful.

I have to admit it.

I hate him, but I watch him.

Yeah. Doesn't everybody?

Hey, Peggy, uh,
you still got that friend

on the switchboard
at KDF TV?

Yeah, we had dinner together
last night.

What do you want?

I want a list of all the numbers
Ted Hackett called

from his hotline
during the last month.

Then get me a rundown on
the names and addresses, huh?

What do you expect to find?

Someone who might have fed him

a piece of information
about Harry Armitage.

Something, anything.

I'll get on it right away.

Joe, there's
someone here.

Yeah, who?

Wouldn't leave
his name.

What does he want?

Wouldn't say.

Come in.

Hold the
calls, Peggy.

We weren't introduced,
Mr. Mannix.

My full name is Paul Russell.

Hackett doesn't know
I'm here.

I thought we might
do each other some good.

Hackett doesn't like you.

That should put me
on a long list.

Right at the top now.

Because you're the last person
he'd want to know this.

Know what?

Hackett held out on you.

About my client?

No. About her sister.

Those two have more in common
than just looks.

Harry Armitage.

Valerie was first with Armitage,
and then came Muriel.

Okay?

You said, "do
us both good."

That's right.

Hackett's all set to spring
this tidbit on his show Friday.

Big scoop.

Won't be much of a scoop
by Friday, will it?

What's in it for you?

I'm just putting
a little rat poison

on the prune Danish.

Why didn't you tell me?

Might have made things
worse for Muriel.

Well, that has a familiar ring.

It happens to be true!

Look, the newspapers
would have taken it

and blown it up, way
out of proportion.

Twins are
special people.

They make
special stories.

Particularly
where there's a murder.

What else didn't you tell me?

Nothing.

That has a familiar ring, too.

Mr. Mannix,
no matter what you think,

Muriel didn't kill
Harry Armitage!

She just isn't tough enough.

Are you?

Yes!

But I didn't kill him.

What motive would I have?

Same as your sister.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

I made my arrangement with
Harry Armitage at the start.

I'm not the type to let my
future just take care of itself.

I made sure
Armitage took care of it.

And Mr. Mannix,
you're standing

right in the middle of it,
this place.

It's mine.

That makes me cold
and calculating, huh?

Practical.

Why be nice about it?
You don't approve, right?

You don't need my approval.

Somehow, I could use it
right now.

Mr. Mannix's office.

It's me, Peggy.

How'd you make out?

Went in like a lion,
came out like a lamb.

And those two clowns are still
on my tail.

Anything I can do?

Get me a quick check
on a license number-- 247OJF.

Where will you be?
I'll call you back.

I'll call you back, Peggy.
I'll be on the move.

Better move faster
than that, Mannix.

Okay, Pete.

Well, Mannix, you in more
of a mood to talk now?

I told you I got nothing
to talk to you about.

Come on. What about all the
stuff Armitage spilled to you?

He spilled nothing to me.

You're a hit-and-run candidate,
Mannix, unless...

Armitage was already dead
when I came into the case.

You're in this case.
So, what's what?

What've you dug up?

Nothing.

Get her on the road, Pete.

Now, take it easy.

I'm not gonna hurt you.
Just do as I say

and don't scream,
you understand?

Look, I'm sorry,
but I'm in trouble.

Who'd ever guess?

Losers, that's all
I ever get.

Who'd you kill?

Oh, it's nothing
like that.

Then why are you running?

A couple of characters
would like to see me dead.

Well, what if they come here?

Don't worry.
I'll keep you out of it.

You gonna give me
a written guarantee?

Well?

I don't see them.

Good-bye.

It's been very nice knowing you.

Look, I'm afraid I'm going

to have to stick around
just a little longer.

Oh, typical. Losers.

I don't only pick 'em.
They find me from nowhere.

You don't happen to be
in sports, do you?

No.

Oh, well, that's a change.

I don't know. Somebody always
gets the winners.

Me, I always wind up
with the losers:

a football player
with a trick knee...

a boxer who gets his brains
punched out

in his second
professional fight...

and a jockey who gets caught
doping horses.

Not exactly
the hit parade.

Mister, I'm telling you,

with my luck, if I had a mantis,
it wouldn't pray.

Where're you going?

I'd like to use your phone,
if you don't mind.

Oh, no, I don't mind,

but it's been cut off.

Now it's your luck.

I guess it can be
catching, huh?

Are they out there?

Shh!

Yeah, they're out there.

They gotta figure out
that I'm in this building,

and come around searching.

Hey, I could get rid
of 'em.

How?

Uh, well, my phone's out
of order, see?

And I-I gotta make
this very important phone call.

Have you got a dime?

Yeah, I think so.

Here you are.
Good.

Wait a minute. Here.

Now what's that for?

Your trouble.

Well, I, I could use it.

Then take it.

Can you spare it?

Sure.
Okay.

Okay, wait a minute.

Good evening.

Hey...
Pardon me.

Did you see anybody
come in here?

Uh, some guy went
running up the stairs.

Wait a minute.

Mister, I got
to make a phone call.

You got any idea
where he went?

Uh, well, the roof,
uh, maybe. I...

Excuse me.

I beg your pardon.

Excuse me, please.

What are you doing out
in the hall?

What? Look, mister,
you see this dime?

Ten lousy cents.

Th-That's the last
one I got.

Uh, my own phone's
been cut off, see?

And there's this chance I got
to pick up a, an easy 20 bucks.

So, so I got to use the phone.

But-But if I don't make
that call fast,

a certain party will be gone,
and, uh...

and I'll stay as flat as this,
okay?

Okay, lady, except
you dropped something.

Oh, good heavens.
Easy $20.

Hey, wait a minute. Now listen,
there's nobody up there.

Gotta be this one
with the lights on.
I tell you, they're all gone.

Nobody's there.
All right, open it.

Hey, Dave?

Anybody come out
on this fire escape?
No.

Keep your eyes open.

See? Nobody's here.

He ran away before you came.

There's nobody there.

See?
There's nobody here.

Hey, Pete.

He went out that way.

It's a big jump.

So if he broke a leg,
how far can he get?

Yeah, he probably
broke a leg.

How far can he get, huh?

Hey, give me that!
That's mine!

Hey, Dave, go around back!
He can't be far.

Oh...

He took my 20.
Can you get my 20?

Eh, you big bozo!

Hey, come on out,
they're gone.

Oh, that was...

Thanks.
What?

I'll see that you get
your money.

Oh, no, that comes second.

What counts is you're okay.

Thanks to you.

Well, that's what I mean.
A change of luck!

Thank you for coming
so quickly, Mr. Mannix.

What's it about?

I guess
I'd better explain.

This was more or less my idea,
Mr. Mannix.

What was?

Getting a lawyer
for Muriel-- the best.

He's agreed to take the case.

Well, that's not all you're
trying to tell me.

No, I'd like to thank you
for everything.

Meaning you'd like me
off the case.

The lawyer feels
that he can get Muriel off

on the grounds
of insufficient evidence.

He feels that her
case could be hurt

if you kept digging into it.

Well, now, Valerie, you've done
all the talking.

We've heard
how your lawyer feels

and how you feel.

What about you, Muriel?
It's your life.

How do you feel about it?

I'm sorry, Mr. Mannix, but it's
the way I feel, too.

Looked straight at me with those
big, brown eyes,

and backed up
her sister's story 100%.

She doesn't want me
on the case, either.

Maybe it was
the lawyer's idea.

Ah, no way.

But why, Joe?

Maybe, uh, maybe
to keep me from digging.

Maybe to let Muriel
be the patsy.

I don't know, Peggy,

but I do know
that those two look alike,

but I'll bet it's
the first time in a long while

that they've thought alike.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Oh, hi. Did you get it?

Great.

What?

Are you sure?

Thanks.

Yeah, yeah, I think
it'll help a lot.

Who was that?

Gloria Oberhansly in DMV.

She checked out that license
number you phoned in.

Who does the car belong to?

An old friend out of the past.

The car was registered

to Alliance-Pacific
Investment Company.

Carl Dorso!

None other.

Well, now the fog's beginning
to lift a little.

Do you think Dorso's involved
in that Armitage case?

Enough to want me dead.

That's involved.

Look, Peggy, you stick
next to that phone.

I think we're back
in business.

Yes, sir,
may I help you?

Sir?

You keep your muscle
off me, Dorso!

I'm sorry, sir.
He rushed right past me.

Don't do that, sonny.

No, Ellis, don't.

What brings you here, Mannix?

Last night, two thugs used a car
that just happened

to be registered

to the Alliance-Pacific
Investment Company.

When I think of
Alliance-Pacific,

I can't help but think
of Carl Dorso.

Ellis, what
was the plate number of that car

we reported as stolen?

247OJF, sir.

Would it happen to be that
particular car, Mannix?

You see?

Nothing up our sleeve.

Except the vice money

that comes out as
legitimate investments.

You run a nice
laundry, Dorso.

Dirty money
to instant clean.

Rumors.

You know, you didn't have
to send your hoods out
to work me over.

I'd be only too glad to tell
you everything I know.

About what?

You've been itching
to find out

what I've dug up
on the Armitage case.

What is there to dig up?

The police have their suspect.

You know what
I think, Dorso?

I think she's just a patsy
for a contract

you put out on Armitage.

Contract?

Mannix, that sort of thing
went out with running boards.

Ted Hackett found out
about the fixes

Armitage put in for you
and the Syndicate.

Now you couldn't afford
to knock off Hackett.

That would stir up
too much trouble.

Armitage was a fixer.

Now who would miss a fixer?

So Armitage drew
the short straw.

That's a fairy tale, Mannix.

Is it?

You ought to tell
him about it.

Went out with
running boards.

We're not open yet.

Tell your boss
I want to talk to her.

She isn't here.

I'll wait.

She's taking the day off.

Get lost.

Stop it!

It's all right,
Charlie.

I guess I'd better speak
to Mr. Mannix, after all.

Dorso really got
to you, didn't he?

He scared you, told you
exactly what to do,

and sister
Muriel backed you up.

All I have is this place.

I could be finished with one
snap of Carl Dorso's fingers.

What did you
expect me to do?

Think about your sister
for a little bit.

I did.

They've hired
the best lawyer in town.

They promised to get her off.

And that ends it?

Yes. For Muriel.

What about you?

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, yesterday you told me

that your sister wasn't tough
enough to kill Armitage.

Oh. And I said I was,
is that it?

Right.

So now
you suspect me?

Why shouldn't I?

You're reaching, Mr. Mannix.

After all, I was the one who
called you in on this case.

Well, that makes
a perfect cover.

Sister worried sick, so she
calls in private investigator.

I have no motive.

I have everything I want.

Look, I wasn't near Armitage's
apartment that night.

As a matter of fact, I tried
reaching him by phone

for over a half hour up
till the minute he was killed.

The line was busy.

Only you can't prove that,
because you were all alone

in the apartment
while you were making the calls.

No.

I was right here.

All night.

And I've got a bar
full of witnesses.

I never left.

You, uh, say the line was busy?

Yes.

Where is he?

In the studio.

Did he say what
this was all about?

No.

Where are you going?

With you.

Look, I can
handle this alone.

Oh, okay, then
I'll wait out here.

Go home.

Hackett?

Paul tells me he had
to get you out of bed.

I'm sorry, I...
couldn't get in
touch with you.

He wouldn't give me
your private number.

What do you want, Mannix?

I could still
use your help.

The Armitage case?

Right.

The Armitage case.

And that's what
you dragged me down for

in the middle of the night?

Look, I'm an early riser.

I value my sleep.

Take it easy, Hackett.

I'll make it worth your while.
We'll work a deal.

Why, you sound like a man

with his back
up against the wall.

Well, I'll play it straight
with you, Hackett-- I am.

Everybody wants me off the case.

Valerie Price fired me.

Carl Dorso tried
to put the arm on me.

Wait a minute, what's Dorso
got to do with it?

Aw, now, come on, Hackett.

I said I was going
to play it straight.

Let's put the cards
on the table.

You know about Armitage's
connection with Dorso.

You were going to blow
the lid on it, right?

Yes, sir, Mannix, like I said,

I could sure use
a good man like you.

Well, I'm afraid
I'm just not much

for running after
prune Danish.

Now your boy Paul,
he's the type.

Yeah, well, I'm
thinking of firing him.

Oh?

For feeding you that
inside information

about Valerie Price's
connection with Armitage.

That's funny.

What?

I was beginning to think
that you sent him over

with that little piece of news.

Now why would I do
a thing like that?

Your style.

Well, why would I want
to make your life miserable?

Okay, so I was wrong.

Anyway, it checked out.

Sure, sure, that's
what I deal in,

nothing but the truth.

So, uh... what are you going
to do for me, Mannix?

I'm going to give you
the straight scoop

on the Armitage case.

And, uh, what do I do for you?

For the time being,
just watch the monitor.

Something Valerie Price said
has been bugging me.

So I had master control
pipe the tape of your
last show in here.

I watched it
a couple of times.

Here, let's watch it
together, huh?

Yeah, this is Mannix.

Uh, could we run
that tape again?

Yeah, from the same spot.

Uh, what was it Valerie
Price said that bugged you?

Well, she claims
she called Armitage

the night he was killed.

So?

Let's watch it.

So now, I'll have to do
the next best thing,

and call him direct
on the Hot Line.

Hello.

Ted Hackett calling.

I know.

You've been
tuned in, huh?

Find it fascinating,
huh, Mr. Armitage?

About as fascinating
as a trash can.

Okay, now let's roll it back
to just before the phone call,

and we'll run it through the
same way we did the last time.

Let me know
when you're ready.

What's the point?

What Valerie Price said.

You mean, what Armitage told
her over the phone?

No, no, she didn't
get through to Armitage.

Uh, his line was busy
up till the time he was shot.

Well, everybody knows
he was talking to me

when that happened.

That's what's bugging me.

Ready, Mr. Mannix.
Okay, go ahead.

Just watch and listen,

we're going to run
it in slow motion.

So I'll now try him direct
on the Hot Line.

That's enough.

Thanks for hanging around.
Good night.

What bugged me was, if Valerie
Price couldn't get through

to Armitage
for over a half hour,

right up to the time he was
killed, how could you?

Well, I then had
the tape slowed down

so I could count
the dial clicks.

That wasn't Armitage's
phone number you dialed.

Two million witnesses
heard his voice.

What they heard was
a recording of his voice.

How do you account
for the gunshots?

They were laid in,

just like the bits and pieces
of phone conversations

with Armitage which were
previously recorded.

The rest is obvious.

Tell me, tell me anyway.

Well, you dialed
your own private number,

the one you guard
so jealously, right?

Go on.

And you rigged an answering
device on your phone.

Harry Armitage was
already dead.

You had a talk with
a corpse, Hackett,

in view of two
million witnesses.

Yes, sir...

Mannix, I really
admire you.

You are a tiger.

Why did you kill
him, Hackett?

You want it straight?

Straight.

Armitage warned me to lay off.

He said if I didn't,
he'd nail me.

I didn't think
he'd go that far back.

I never figured
anyone would find out,

and I thought I'd covered
all my tracks.

What'd he have on you?

I was connected with a murder
seven years ago in St. Louis.

Armitage dug up that connection.

And you were the one who called
Muriel Price that night,

told her to get over to
Armitage's place in a hurry.

You made her the patsy.

I had everything working for me.

I had a handful
of solid suspects.

If not Muriel,
Muriel's sister, Valerie.

If not Valerie, Dorso.

You see, Mannix, how part
of the truth can work for you?

Yeah, but then I've got
the whole naked truth

right in front of me.

But there are only
two of us who know that.

I'd forget that if
I were you, Hackett.

You've lost this ball game.

Instant replay.

Why did you
kill him, Hackett?

You want it straight?

Straight.

Armitage warned me
to lay off.

Said if I didn't
he'd nail me.

I didn't think
he'd go that far back.

I never figured...

Okay, boys,
you can cut it.

Lieutenant Malcolm is on his way
down to ask you about the truth.

And as they say, Hackett,

the camera never lies.