All language subtitles for Mannix S06E17 A Matter of Principle.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

Thank you very much.

Young man,

come back here this instant!

Portia?

I assure you,

he has not heard
the last of this.

Can I help you?

Mr. Joseph Mannix, please.

Uh, may I tell him
what it's about?

Young woman, I am not accustomed

to making explanations
to secretaries.

Please, announce us at once.

Excuse me.

Joe.

Is something wrong?

I wouldn't know.

The lady does not, and I quote,

"make explanations
to secretaries."

One of those, huh?

Two of those right
out of a time machine.

Well, uh, show 'em
in, Peggy. Show 'em in.

Won't you come in, please?

Mr. Mannix?

That's right.

I'm Portia Penhaven.

This is my sister Penelope.

Please, sit down.

Would you, uh, like some coffee?

Well, a cup of tea
would be welcome.

Peggy?

Tea.

The tannic acid
counteracts the caffeine.

Now, uh, what can I do for you?

At 10:30 this morning

a man backed his
automobile into our car,

thereby breaking
one of our headlights.

The one in the middle.

In the middle?

Instead of stopping to learn
the extent of the damage

as the law requires,

he fled the scene of the crime.

And?

That's it.

That's it.

Well, uh, what is it you
would like me to do?

I want that person
found, Mr. Mannix,

found and brought to justice.

Well, now the, uh, police

handle traffic accidents

with great efficiency,
Ms. Penhaven,

and the service is
included in your tax bill.

I have no intention

of going to the
police, Mr. Mannix,

considering the
unpleasant experience

I had with them.

And what experience was that?

I was given a citation,

forced on me by an
arrogant young officer.

He insisted that my
automobile was interfering

with the... what's it
called... Flow of traffic.

Hmm.

And, uh, when was this?

Uh, 11 years ago

this coming November.

- Ladies.
- Oh, thank you.

Cream?

Uh, no, thank you.

Sugar?

Yes.

Now, uh, there may be one point

that hadn't occurred
to you, Ms. Penhaven,

but my services would, uh,
come to considerably more

than the price of
a new headlight.

Oh, excuse me.

Ah, there we are.

Money is incidental, Mr. Mannix.

Our father taught
us to put principle

above all else.

We are doing exactly
as he would have done.

This man has broken the law,

and he is still at large.

Are you prepared
to be responsible

for any other crimes
that he might commit?

Uh, no, Ms. Penhaven, I am not.

Well, good.

Well, uh, where did
this accident occur?

At the Palomar shopping center

at Lexington and Holmesby.

Hmm.

And, uh, how would you
describe the driver of the car?

- Well...
- Well, he was quite

a young man, I believe,
certainly under 35,

medium height,
slender, dark hair.

I was not able to distinguish

his facial features.

- He had a raincoat.

- Well, everyone
carries a raincoat, Penny.

Yes.

Well, now, uh, this
car that hit you...

I'll need to know the
color, make, model, year.

Well, it was a sort
of medium color,

brown, I think.

That's all you can tell me?

I'm not that conversant

with motor vehicles, Mr. Mannix.

Uh, Ms. Penhaven,

uh, there are some
5 million automobiles

registered in Los Angeles.

Uh, I'm afraid that, uh,

I just can't find that car,

not without something
more to go on.

Well, there were a
lot of people close by...

Witnesses. Couldn't
you find them?

I'm sorry, Ms. Penhaven,

but these days breaking
somebody's headlight

hardly gets a second
glance, let alone a crowd.

There just simply isn't
enough for me to go on.

Would it help to know
the license number?

Yes. Yes, it would help a lot.

It was 949EJC.

Are you sure of that, Penny?

Quite sure, dear.

It said "California" at the top.

And then in one corner there
was a little yellow square,

and that had numbers on it, too,

but I couldn't make them out.

I'm afraid my eyes aren't
what they used to be.

Yes.

Good gracious, Penny,

how could you possibly
remember all that?

That memory course
we took four years ago.

Oh. I'd completely forgotten.

You will help us, Mr. Mannix?

Yes, I'll, uh, do what I can.

Our telephone number is listed.

We'll expect to
hear from you soon.

Come along, Penny.

Good day.

Oh, uh, there was
a dent in his car,

in the back, about the middle,

about the size
of a croquet ball.

It would be a croquet ball.

♪♪

Skip Seldon's the name, friend.

I'm here for one reason,
and one reason only...

To make you a happy
and contented man.

Now what kind of car
were you interested in?

Well, I'm looking for a
1972 Plymouth sedan,

license number, uh, 949EJC.

It's got a dent in the trunk
about the size of a baseball.

What are you, a cop?

Private. The name is Mannix.

Yeah?

Now what is it about
a Plymouth sedan?

Well, it was involved in
a minor traffic accident

about 10:30 this morning.
It's registered to your outfit.

So?

I'd like to take a look
at it if it's back on the lot.

Sure, why not?

You know, we
carry full insurance.

Nice, clean car.

Oh, yeah, that's
one of the services

that our customers appreciate.

Who had it out this morning?

Mr. Mannix, this is a busy
lot. I'd have to look that up.

If it's not too much trouble.

All right, let's have a look.

Yeah, here we are... 949EJC.

Wait a minute, there's
gotta be a mistake, Mannix.

This, uh, this baby hasn't
been off the lot in almost a week.

Here, look for yourself.

Last customer brought
that back six days ago.

Maybe you'd like to tell me

how it could have
banged into my client's car

four hours ago?

Sip of beer?

Don't try telling me I got
the license number wrong.

You know, I bet
it was a freebie.

You know what I mean?
A guy walks on the lot.

He sees the keys in the car,

and he borrows it
for a couple of hours.

Then he brings it back
and leaves it by the curb.

You know, you'd be amazed
at how many times that happens

on a lot this size.

Except this one is sitting
in the middle of the lot.

Well, that doesn't
make any difference.

These cars get jockeyed
around the lot all day long.

Well, sorry I couldn't
be more help.

Oh, you did fine, Skip,

just fine.

- Otis?
- Sir?

Take over here, will ya?
I'll be back in about an hour.

♪♪

Mr. Seldon would like

to see you, Mr. Valine.
He says it's urgent.

Send him in.

I told you there'd be
some feedback on this.

All right, Skip, let's have it.

Well, it's just like
you said, Mr. Valine.

A private detective named
Mannix already showed up at the lot,

looking for the, uh,
Plymouth sedan.

Did he say who for?

No, no, he just wanted
to see the car and, uh,

and the check-out list.

But I... just like you said, I
had Otis make out a new list,

leaving Elmo's name off, so...

It shouldn't have been
put on to begin with.

Well, Otis had to
put the name on.

I mean, the police
make us keep records.

Well, listen, there's
nothing to worry about.

I mean, uh, nobody's
ever gonna be able

to associate Elmo with that
car. I wiped the car clean myself.

- Lose the car right now.
- What do you mean, lose it?

Get it over to Pete's
and tell him I want it

put through the
crusher. Report it stolen.

Oh, come on, there's a
lot of miles left on that car.

I could...
- Do it.

Do it.

I'll get right on it.

Next job I send you out on,

take driving lessons.

I don't know what them old
dames are so uptight about.

I hardly touched their car.

Sure, except that it happened

one block from where
you plugged Corman.

That gets out,

some smart cop could be
putting the pieces together.

Maybe this private cop, Mannix,

has already put
the pieces together.

If those old ladies got
a good look at Elmo...

Did they?

It's, uh, it's possible.

Find 'em.

It shouldn't be too tough,
anybody driving a car like that.

Sure, Mr. Valine.

And after I find them?

Do something about it.

I want 'em out of my hair.

♪♪

Art, busy?

Four years ago last September,
the last time I wasn't busy,

I was this close to
double pneumonia.

What can I do for you, Joe?

Well, um...

Does the name Skip
Seldon mean anything to you?

He runs a used car and
a rental lot out on Ventura.

Oh, yeah, I remember Skip.

We busted him a
couple of years ago

for running a hot car farm.

Did one to three in
San Quentin, as I recall.

Anything else?

Word had it that he was
fronting for Anton Valine,

not that we could
prove anything. Why?

What are you working on, Joe?

Well, it's, uh, kind
of a hit-and-run case.

Kind of a hit-and-run?
Anybody hurt?

Uh, no, no. No,
nothing like that.

How bad was it?

Well, um...

a headlight got cracked.

A headlight got cracked?

Yeah.

You wouldn't be holding
out on me, would you, Joe?

Art, you know me
better than that.

Yeah?

Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler

are here, Lieutenant...
witnesses in that Corman killing.

All right, bring
'em in, Charlie.

Nothing as earthshaking

as the maniac
headlight-smasher, Joe,

but somebody has to handle

the routine stuff like murder.

Oh, uh, Art,

did he say the Corman killing?

- That's right.
- Yeah, I heard about that.

It happened, uh,
right around the corner

from that, uh,
supermarket on Lexington.

- Yeah, that's the one.
- Yeah.

Mind if I listen in?

Why?

Just curious.

Suit yourself.

Lieutenant.

Yes, come right in.
This is Mr. Mannix.

- Mr. Mannix.
- How do you do?

- Sit down, won't you?
- Thank you.

I-I just don't know what more

me and Harry can
tell you, Lieutenant.

Well, we're just double-checking

some of the main
points, Mrs. Ziegler.

For example, are
you both certain

that you didn't
see anyone acting

in a strange or a
suspicious manner?

No, not a soul.

Everybody was just crowding
around that poor man.

No one running
away from the scene?

Not that me and
Harry saw, no, sir.

And I looked around, too.

If you were to ask me,

I'd say that somebody
was on the roof or something

with a rifle, with a
telephonic sight on it,

and he shot the fellow.

Yes.

Well, I think
that'll do for now.

I do want to thank
you for stopping by.

The least we could
do, Lieutenant.

All these awful things
going on these days.

There was one
thing funny, though.

What was that?

Well, everybody rushed
up to see what happened.

And there was this one
fellow that just walked away,

as if nothing was
going on at all.

Did you get a look at him?

Not his face, no, sir.
He had his back to me.

Uh, Mr. Ziegler, mind
if I ask you something?

No, I don't mind at all.

This man you saw, was
he carrying anything?

No, no, I can't say he was.

- Mrs. Ziegler?
- Carrying?

A raincoat, for instance?

You know, come to think
of it, he did have a raincoat.

He did, kinda slung
over one arm, like.

And that's funny, isn't it,

with the nice weather
we've been having and all?

Well, thank you.

- Thank you.
- Bye.

What was all that
about a raincoat?

I don't know yet, Art.

You mind if I take a look
at the file on this case?

No.

Now this says that
Corman was killed at 10:30

less then a block from
the shopping center

at Lexington and Holmesby.

So what?

My client's headlight
was broken around 10:30

in front of the
supermarket there.

Are we back at that headlight?

The driver of the car
was carrying a raincoat.

You think the man
that shot Arnold Corman

broke that headlight
getting away?

I'm sure beginning to think so.

That's not enough, Joe.

Let me add a couple
of things to that.

Hit-and-run car came off
of Skip Seldon's rental lot.

His records show that the car

hadn't been off
the lot for a week.

I saw only three names
on that record list.

When I talked to the guy
who rented the car last,

he said there were at least
eight to ten names listed.

Now that's a lot
of trouble to go to

to cover up
breaking a headlight.

All right, Joe. Let's
go talk to Seldon.

♪♪

It was right here.

Well, they move
'em around a lot.

Yeah, especially this one.

Skip Seldon is
the name, friends.

I'm here for one reason
and one reason only,

to make you as happy
and contented as...

Oh, you're back again, huh?

Lieutenant Malcolm
of the homicide division.

Homicide? Now wait a
minute, what's going on?

What makes you think
something is going on?

Well, no, I just meant if, uh,

if it's about that
Plymouth sedan

that, uh, Mr. Mannix
was checking on be...

That's what it's
all about, Skip.

I'd like to take
another look at it.

Well, it's gone.

What do you mean, gone?

I mean, somebody stole it.

They just drove
it right off the lot.

And this time they
didn't bring it back.

And of course you reported it.

Sure, I reported it. I
have to report it, don't I?

Otherwise my insurance
is no good, right?

Oh, I mean, it's
happened before.

You know, we have a
lot of traffic through here,

and, uh, somebody just
came on and drove it off.

The same guy who
doctored the ledger.

What ledger?

This ledger.

All right.

There we are. Look at it.

You don't see any names
rubbed out on that, do you?

I talked to this man, McNeil.

He says that when he
rented the Plymouth,

there was something like
eight names on this page.

He says.

Let's hear what you say.

Otis?

Yes, Mr. Seldon.

Come here.

You done any
monkeying around at all

on the names on
this dispatch ledger?

Why, no, Mr. Seldon.
Y-you know I wouldn't...

Wait, wait,

there was some
coffee spilled on here

a couple of days... here.

See? It's, uh, it ran all
the way down the side.

I had to recopy a
couple of these pages.

Every name?

Well, no, just the
ones from last month.

I-I saw no reason to
recopy all the names.

Get me back to my office, Joe.

They're lying, Art,
from beginning to end.

Don't you think I know that?

How are you gonna prove it?

Seldon's got the answers...

Maybe not all of 'em, but
enough to get you started.

What do you want
me to do, drag him in,

shine bright lights in his
eyes, holler in his ear?

Cars do get stolen.
Coffee does get spilled.

No, you get on that
bookkeeper of his.

A little pressure and he'll
fold like a cafeteria napkin.

Come on, Joe, these
days nobody folds

with permission from his lawyer.

Without something solid
to go on, we're stymied.

♪♪

You appear to be a person

of some breeding, Mr. Wilson,

hardly the sort
who one would find

representing a common criminal.

I'm afraid you're
being much too severe

on my client, Ms. Penhaven.

Charles Porter is an honest,
respectable businessman.

Then why, may I ask,
hasn't he come here himself?

At the time of the accident,

he was rushing to catch a plane

on a business matter
that simply couldn't wait.

Yes, I see.

And how was
Mr. Porter able to learn

whose car he had damaged?

He managed to get a
look at your license number.

The moment he reached
Chicago he called me,

asked me to locate the
owner and pay for any damage.

As a matter of fact,
Mr. Porter has authorized me

to pay you $100.

Oh, it wouldn't cost
anywhere near that.

I'll handle this, Penny.

I only meant that...

Are you attempting
to bribe me, sir?

Ms. Penhaven, I would never.

I have engaged a
private investigator

to find your Mr. Porter.

He will be arrested

and charged with
hit-and-run driving

and tried in a court of law.

Why?

No one was injured.
The damage is negligible.

And he's offering a
generous settlement.

The reason this country

is suffering from moral
decay, Mr. Wilson,

is because too many people

think nothing of
disobeying the law.

I for one utterly refuse

to condone such conduct.

Let me point out to you

that the fact that my
client's car struck yours

in... in no way means

that he was
driving it at the time.

I saw his face clearly,

Mr. Wilson.

And I could recognize him
with no difficulty whatever

in a police lineup,

as I believe it's called.

He was carrying a raincoat.

Are you sure you
won't reconsider?

I'll ring for Gertrude,

and she will show
you out, Mr. Wilson.

Don't bother, and
thanks for the tea.

I hope you won't end up
regretting your decision.

Good afternoon, ladies.

You think she was
telling it straight

about being able to
recognize Elmo on sight?

She made a believer out of me.

This is one tough old lady.

No kiddin'.

Hi, Peggy.

Hi. You had several calls.

Anything urgent?

Portia Penhaven would
like for you to call upon her

at "your earliest convenience."

Is that all she said?

She didn't say anything.

It seems the sisters never
make a call personally.

They don't even
answer the phone.

That, Mr. Mannix, sir, is
part of the maid's duties.

Well, it's a whole
different world, Peggy...

Two nice old ladies holding
the fort against changing times.

And as a matter of fact, I, uh,

intended to take a
run out there anyway.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

And what, Mr. Mannix,
is that supposed to be?

It's a bomb, Ms. Penhaven.

I assume you brought
it here for some reason.

Well, someone was
wiring it under your car.

I ran them off.

Oh.

You may go to
your room, Gertrude.

Yes, ma'am.

An attempt to murder
my sister and me...

Is that what you're implying?

Well, no, it's not
that kind of a bomb.

Would you would
get is one hell of a...

One heck of a lot of noise
and a car full of smoke.

It was put there as a
warning, Ms. Penhaven.

Oh, Portia.

Which proves what I've
been saying all along.

That man belongs in jail.

He was telling you
to call off the hunt.

Now this time it was a
warning, but next time it could be

a lot worse, if
there is a next time.

Portia...

Please, Penny. Please.

We will not be
intimidated, Mr. Mannix.

That man must be punished,

which is exactly what
I told the young man

who was here earlier today.

Oh, which is why I sent for you.

What young man?

An attorney. Now
his name escapes me.

Oh, Dennis Wilson.

He... he claimed to
represent a client...

Charles Porter.

Who drove the car.

And he made some silly
excuse and offered us $100

to drop the whole matter.

You turned him down?

Naturally.

Are you sure this wasn't the man

who broke your headlight?

Oh, quite sure.

In fact, I told him that
I could pick his friend

out of a police lineup.

And I told him I
saw the raincoat.

Well, uh...

you might as well know
that till this thing is settled

you're gonna need
protection... Police protection.

I'll try to get
someone assigned.

You'll do nothing of
the sort, Mr. Mannix.

You know my
opinion of the police.

Ms. Penhaven,

ladies,

we're dealing with
dangerous men.

It's getting late.

Good night, Mr. Mannix,

and take that disgraceful
object with you.

Good night.

♪♪

You mean they
actually told that guy

they could recognize the
driver that ran into their car?

They did.

Problem now is how
to keep them alive.

Tell them to leave town
until the case is concluded.

You couldn't get Portia
Penhaven to run away

if you used a flamethrower.

Look, Art, if something
isn't done and now,

those two little old ladies
aren't gonna get any older.

I've done what you wanted, Joe.

Two men are on the
clock in an unmarked car

parked half a block
down the street.

The ladies will never
know they're there.

Yeah, well, I just
hope it's enough.

In the meantime, I'll
see if I can find out

who put that thing together.

Mr. Mannix's office.

Who's calling, please?

Uh, just a moment.

Joe?

Buckingham Palace
is on the phone,

The Queen's lady in waiting.

Hello?

Mr. Mannix? Ms.
Penhaven calling.

Portia Penhaven, Mr. Mannix.

Are you and your
sister all right?

Definitely not.

Why? What's wrong?

Two men in an automobile

have been loitering
at the end of our street.

When I demanded an explanation,

they grunted at me,

which leads me to believe
that they are police officers.

I'll look into it right
away, Ms. Penhaven.

I regard that reply

as evasive, Mr. Mannix.

Get rid of them at once.

I'll get right on it.
Thank you for calling.

And there they sit,

targets for a bunch
of cold-blooded killers.

How do you get that
through their stubborn heads?

If they won't help
themselves, what can you do?

Maybe set up a different target.

Who is it?

Valine.

Mannix.

All right, what are
you trying to pull?

Who else you gonna
open up that fast for?

All right, you seem to
be in. What do you want?

Oh, a little friendly word.

About what?

I've been putting
in a little overtime

on the Corman killing.

I know who did it, and I
know why it was done,

and thanks to a
couple of little old ladies,

I know who ordered it done.

Do me a favor, don't tell
me about it. Go to the cops.

Hey, Skip, you're a
businessman. I'm a businessman.

We're both out for a fast buck.

Now you've got
your cut. I want mine.

That's why you're gonna
make a little phone call for me.

I'd make it myself,
but I got a feeling

that I wouldn't get
through to the right guy.

Just what man are
you talking about?

I'm talking about
the boss, the big shot,

the guy who had Arnold
Corman put to sleep.

Valine.

You have got to be crazy
if you think for a minute...

I'm way past the thinking
stage, Skip. I know.

Now you're gonna get on the horn

and tell Valine my
price is $50,000.

If I don't get it by tonight,

the cops are gonna drop
in on him come sunup.

You're bluffing!

Maybe,

but that's a decision
you can't afford to make,

especially if I'm not bluffing

and Valine finds
out the hard way.

One hour, Skip.

I'll wait in my office.

♪♪

Mannix.

They tell me you're
bettin' it all on a long shot.

A habit I picked
up at the track.

I happen to be in a
sensitive business, Mannix.

Rather than risk a-a
police investigation

over a ridiculous
story you dreamed up,

I'm willing to make
a token payment.

That's fine,

as long as the token
isn't under $50,000.

Out of the question.

$10,000.

Nice of you to call.

Wait.

All right. $50,000.

Where and when?

There's a service station

on the corner of
Addison and Palmer

with an outdoor phone booth.
You'll get a call in 20 minutes.

On my way.

And don't have one
of your soldiers waiting.

You'll be alone.

♪♪

Freeze!

♪♪

He had identification
in the name of Simmons

with a Salt Lake City
address, both probably phony.

How much of this
was your doing, Joe?

Somebody had to
make a move, Art.

Your hands were tied.
You said so yourself.

It's just that it didn't work
out the way I had hoped.

I wanted him alive
so I could talk to him.

Well, next time you
decide to set yourself up

as a clay pigeon,

let your friendly police
department in on it, right?

I was set up tonight, Skip!

I don't know what you're
talking about. All I did

was what you asked me to do.
- Shut up and listen to me!

You tell Valine his
soldier boy is dead,

and my price has
gone up to $75,000.

I'll wait for his call,
and you better tell him

it comes quick and
no more funny moves,

or he ends up behind bars
for accessory to murder.

And, Skip, you go
with him. Tell him!

Yeah, okay.

- I'll be in my office.
- Okay.

Okay.

Six Queen Seven, still
code five at Cypress road.

Any more static
from the old girls?

Looks like they're
convinced we've pulled out.

It's just as well. One of
them's got a tongue on her

you could shave
a pineapple with.

I'll check back at 11:00.

Roger and out.

Get out.

♪♪

Mannix.

Portia Penhaven here.

I've just had a most
disturbing telephone call.

I should like to
discuss it with you.

I'm listening.

In person, Mr. Mannix.

Immediately, please.

I'm expecting a call, Ms.
Penhaven, any minute now.

This simply cannot wait.

I shall expect you at once.

Yes?

Ms. Penhaven, are you all right?

These dramatics are not
at all necessary, Mr. Mannix.

Of course I'm all right.

I assumed you were
on your way already.

You did fine, lady, just fine.

♪♪

Remember, lady, the
maid answers the door.

One yip outta her,

and your sister gets it.

You'll be sent to
prison, both of you.

Mr. Mannix will see to it.

Sure he will, lady.

I, uh, hear he's a real tiger.

Freeze!

Drop 'em.

Both of you, hands
on the wall. Move!

All right, Ms.
Penhaven, call the police.

Dial operator.

On the floor, Mannix.

Drop it.

We figured you might be
putting two and two together.

Drop it, lady.

You don't want to bother
the phone company.

I said drop it.

Ruffian!

Don't shoot, lady. Don't shoot!

Portia!

Mr. Mannix, take this, please.

Oh, please.

It turns out that one
of the mobs back east

wanted to take over
Valine's operation,

and they hired Arnold
Corman to dig out

whatever he could
on the organization

before making their move.

Valine found out about
it and had Corman hit

as a warning to
the out-of-state boys

to stay in their own
part of the country.

What I'm still
waiting to find out

is how did you know that
they were in the house?

Something you told me.

I did?

About the Penhaven maid
handling all calls in and out.

Last night Portia
called me personally.

When I called back, she
answered, not the maid.

Oh, come in, ladies, come in.

I'd like you to meet
Lieutenant Malcolm.

- Hello.
- Oh, how do you do?

What branch of the service
are you in, Lieutenant?

I'm a police officer.

Mr. Mannix,

now that you've
completed your assignment,

I should like to
take care of your bill.

Oh, no, no, no, no.
No charge, ladies.

You see, if you hadn't insisted

on my finding the
hit-and-run driver,

there might still be a
killer running around loose.

Nonsense.

Father always said

a laborer is worthy of his hire.

Exactly.

- Good day.
- Bye-bye.

Good day.

- Good-bye.
- Bye.

- Good-bye.
- Good-bye.

- Good-bye.
- Penny, come along.

Good day.

Thank you.

"Thank you for your
efforts on our behalf.

Sincerely, Portia and
Penelope Penhaven."

Hmm.