All language subtitles for Columbo---S02E03---The Most Crucial Game

[ Man ] Hello, everybody, from Los Angeles.
"Thejam-packed Coliseum"
on a brilliant sunshiny day.

"Welcome to professional football",
"and, oh, what a game this is going to be",
ladies and gentlemen.

Both teams
have finished their warm-ups.

Both coaches have finalized
their game plans.

"And yours truly and an old buddy",
"that old linebacker Virgil Tower",
is here with all the action.

[ Announcer On Radio ] Yes, the final meeting
"of the season between the local Rockets"
and the powerful Pioneers.

[ Man ]
Good afternoon, Mr. Hanlon.

Jimmy, isn't it?
You should have called the office.
I won't be having any people this afternoon.

Oh, well, I thought
maybe Mr. Wagner might be
bringing by some people.

Well, you're new
in the organization, kid.

Eric Wagner owns the team,
but football's not his game.

Well, would you
like a drink, sir?
Well, let's see.

There's tomato juice
in the icebox.
Yes, sir.

Okay, why don't you
get yourself an empty seat,
or take your girl to the movies.

I won't need you at all
this afternoon.
Thanks, Mr. Hanlon.

There's plenty of ice
in there, sir.
Okay. You scoot, now.

Yes, sir.
[ Announcer ] Be able to stop last year's
"Pro Bowl sensation, Mike Dobbs."

Uh, lock that one
on the way out.
Yes, sir.

"Looks like somebody's planning"
to march right on into that Super Bowl.

Let's listen to some music.

[ Virgil ]
Say,you mentioned Dobbs.

There's quite a story
about that courageous young man.

"His right leg's been broken"
four times.

[ Phone Ringing ]

[ Ringing Continues ]

[ Loud Ringing ]

[ Clears Throat ]
Yeah?

Eric?

Eric, is that you?
Uh... I'm not sure.

Oh, what a night.

You're not still in bed?

Of all the--

[ Sighs, Clears Throat ]
At least you're alone, aren't you?

Hmm.

Yeah.
[ Chuckles ]

Yeah.

Oh, listen, Paul.
I gotta tell you--

That-- That chick
that you put me on to?

She brought
her little sister along.

Well, will you--
Get yourself out of there
and dunk yourself in some coffee.

Get out to the pool. You hear me?
Now, hold it, Hanlon.
I'll do whatever I want.

Kid, this is an emergency.
I stopped by the travel agency
and picked up our tickets.

We're on our way
to Montreal at 6:30.
We're what?

If we move fast enough,
I can still pin down
that hockey franchise for you.

I've been on the horn
to the Canadians--

What am I gonna do
with another sports franchise?

An"yw"ay, hockey's for penguins.

You'll make another two million
the first year, kid. I guarantee it.

Who needs it?

Look, let's put the money
into something constructive.

Now, look.
You just get yourself out of there
and haul it to the pool.

Get in and get a workout.
I don't want you daydreaming
when we get to Canada.

- I need your signature, kid.
- Hey, look. Hold it, Hanlon.

I'm gonna fire you
one of these days.

Next time you call me "kid,''
you've had it.

My son, this isn't for me.
I just work here.

It's for your dad, remember?

Biggest sports empire in the world.
That's all he ever dreamed of.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Paul.
I don't need to hear that again.

All right.
6:30. I'll be ready.

What's all that noise?
Oh, you're at the game.

Sure, kid.
I'm minding your store, as usual.

I'll talk to you later.

Yeah.

Bye.

[ Virgil ]
F"irst meeting between"
these two teams.

Twenty-nine to 28, Pioneers.

[ Rings ]

[ Sighs ]
Yeah?

[ Hanlon ]
I want Rizzo.

This is me.
This is Rizzo, Paul.

Look, the game's
just about ready to start.
I've got eyes!

Rizzo, I want you up here
at halftime.
[ On Speaker] Oh, yeah? Why?

I don't like your game plan.
That's why.

I may make some changes
in the second half.

"You" may make some changes.

Listen, Paul. Come on.
We settled all this last night.

Last night's last night!
Today we gotta win... this one!

All right.
But I'm not gonna start Ludden,
if that's what you're getting at.

"You" k"now what the doc said"--
"his bad" k"nees."
I don't care about his knees.

What do you think of that?
I'm going with the long game.

Use the long game if you have to,
as long as it works.

Listen, Paul, who the--

What do you mean,
calling me up like this
right before kickoff?

Rizzo, I'll call you
anytime I feel like it,
and get this straight!

You can't make up your mind
on third down, you call me
on the field phone.

I'll make your decisions.

[ Sarcastically ]
Oh, yes, sir, Mr. Hanlon, sir.
Mr. Paul Hanlon.

Yes, sir, ya--

Who--
[ Sighs ]

Here.
What's this for?

Shove it up the...
field telephone.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Marching Band ]

[ Radio.:Marching Band Continues ]
[ Clock Chiming ]

[ Announcer #1 ]
"There they were, their backs against the wall"
on their own 47-yard line.

[ Virgil ]
That's what happened.
"[ Cloc"k "Tolling ]"

[ Announcer #1 ]
"Than"k "you, Virgil, for a brilliant analysis",
but that was last time.

Today is another Sunday, fans.

Today, all holds are barred.

Today, we'll find out
who's really the best
in this division.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen",
"from the Coliseum in Los Angeles",

our national anthem.

[ Crowd ]
Oh, say can you see

By the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed

At the twilight's last gleaming

Whose broad stripes
and bright stars

Through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched

Were so gallantly streaming

"And the rockets'red glare"

The bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the night

That our "fl"ag was still there

O say, does that

Star-spangled banner

Yet wave

O'er the land of the free
[ Motor Humming ]

And the home

Of the brave

[ Crowd Cheering ]

[ Cheering ]

[ Virgil On Radio ]
Two weeks ago he made
that beautiful game-saving tackle...

during the last five seconds
"to put these Rockets"
right where they oughta be.

[ Announcer #1 ]
And here we go.
Jefferson approaches the ball.

[ Crowd Cheering ]

"But the Pioneers ride him",
and down he goes...

under a whole host of white shirts.

It'll be first and 1 0
"for the Rockets on their own"--
"let's make it the 28-yard line."

[ Virgil ]
You notice how fast old Billy Murphy
got down there, Tom?

[ Tom ]
I sure did. He's one of the best
on those special teams.

[ Virgil ]
Yeah, we'll be watching him a lot
"this afternoon, along with Sanduski"--

"1 4 tackles, 1 0 assists last wee"k
for the pair of'em.

[ Tom ]
All right. They're out of the huddle.
Sedovich is wide.

F"irst play of the game, fans."
"Thirty-eight-yard line. Rockets'ball."

[ Crowd Cheering ]

Down he goes
to the 33-yard line.

[ Virgil ]
"You" k"now it. He didn't even loo"k
"like he was looking for a receiver."

[ Tom ]
Loss of five yards. Second down, 1 5.

Jones over the ball.
"Dunkel barks 'em out."

Snapped to old number 1 1.
This one's going to be a pass.

Intercepted by number 33.
Oh, he's long gone.!

Down the right sideline.!
Twenty-five, 20, 1 5, 1 0, five.!
Touchdown.!

[ Busy Signal ]
[ Tom On Radio ]
Mason has him and sacks him.

They bury him.
Four Pioneers all over him this time.
So back--

Listen, I placed the order
for that juice 20 minutes ago.

I, uh-- I need reviving, man.

All right. All right. Hey!

Stick in a couple
of little half-pints, will you?

Travel-size, all right?

[ Tom ]
"Drops back. Rockets need"
to get on the scoreboard.

"It's in the air"-- "To the 35."
[ Crowd Cheering ]

And he's to the 38.

[ Tom ]
Sanders at quarterback now. Drops back.
Rockets need to get on the scoreboard.

It's in the air. And they wrestle for it,
and neither one gets it.

Ball bounces off
out into the end zone.

Might be interference.
And it is! On the two-yard line!

[ Rings ]

Hello.
Yeah, Eric. It's Paul again.

What's the matter?
You afraid I'd fall back asleep?

[ Tom Continues ]
No! Hey, kid, I'm sorry.
I was real hard on you.

No, LaVelle has it!
Just calling to see if you
want me to pick you up.

There's no sense in taking
two cars to the airport.

Well, you're our leader.

What are you doing now,
playing right tackle?

Uh, I got the radio on here in the box.
I guess it's a little loud.

Yeah. So how are
my gladiators doing?

They're getting murdered.

- Listen, is your head clear yet?
- Mmm. Clear as mud.

I'm out by the pool now.

- But are you "in it" yet?
- Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?
Now get off my back, Hanlon.

Pick me up at 5:30.
You got that?

[ Hangs Up ]

Hey, mister. Stop.!
I want an ice cream.!

Please stop.!

Mister, stop.!

Paul. How'd you get here?

What are you doing,
wearing that--

[ Tom ]
Pioneers'ball. Hands off to number 44.

"There's a big 63 coming up",
and they're both down
in the bottom of a pile.

[ Virgil ]
There's not too much time left
in this half.

There may be time
for a few more plays.

[ Tom ]
And here they come.
"Pioneers brea"k "out of the huddle."

Second and seven. Defense is deep.
"They're looking for the pass."

Here's the count.
Ball handed off to number 20.
Hold on.! There's a fumble.!

"Time for the Rockets"
"to make one more attempt to get"
on that scoreboard before halftime.

It'd be a great psychological boost.
"Sanders again at quarterbac"k.

"The ball is snapped. Play action fake",
straight up the middle.

Not enough.
"A great play, a great call",
"but itjust didn't wor"k.

This first half at the Coliseum
in Los Angeles is over.

"Well, as suspected today",
it's a great first half of football.

As usual, a spectacle down
on that playing field here at halftime.

"The bands, all the great colors",
these youngsters marching.
All right. Mr. Hanlon?

This large group at the Coliseum
"certainly enjoying themselves",
and they're positive about that first half.

Paul?
"[ Virgil ] Take a loo"k
at that little girl down there.

If we can get a camera on her.
"Uh, take a loo"k "at that."

Boy, she's a pretty one.
Huh?

[ Tom ]
Listen, Virg,you've got an eye
"for the ladies. We all" k"now that."

[ Announcers Continue ]

Coach.
Yeah?

There's nobody
answering your field phone.
I've been trying to reach you.

Yes, I know.

So they're trailing
by a few points.

I'm still not gonna take a chance,
put Ludden in there
with his bad knees.

Okay, Rizzo.
Let's skip the whole thing.

I had a couple of plays would have
worked better than yours.

Oh, yeah.
But I can't do everybody's job,
and I know it.

I'll stick to
what we agreed on last night.
You run your team.

Good.
I got bigger fish to fry.

[ Tom ]
Obviously these men are smelling
that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

They're hittin'
as if there's no tomorrow.

[ Tom ]
Rockets' ball. Break huddle.
New ball game, fans.

This half the Rockets
are moving again.

Here's the count.

Snapped to Ransky.
Takes the handoff.

Over here, Lieutenant.

Twists around.
Down at the 45-yard line.

In fact, I don't think he quite
made it for that first down.
Did he, Virg?

[ Virgil ]
Well, it was a pretty fast whistle.

[ Officer ]
They've been waiting for you
by the pool.

[ Tom ]
All right. Here's the play.
"Second down, Rockets."

Three yards to go.

"Rockets brea"k "huddle."
Handoff to Phelps.
Drives straight ahead.

"Wait a minute." F"umbles.!"
[ Cheering ]

Uh, I just wanted to hear
the end of that play.
I just got here, Sergeant.

[ Tom ]
"The Rockets just can't afford."

Sir, the deputy coroner's
all ready to leave.

"He needs your okay"
to remove the body.

[ Radio Off]

[ Grunts ]
Sunday afternoon.

This shouldn't
take you long, Lieutenant.
I hope not. What happened here an"yw"ay?

The decedent's name is Wagner.
Owns this place.

A delivery boy from the liquor store
found him "fl"oating in the pool
at 2:50 p.m.

Fished him out,
yelled to a neighbor for help.
They couldn't revive him.

Called the police
in a big panic.
Lieutenant.

I've got some guests
waiting for me at home.

Oh, sorry, Doc.
I got here as fast as I could.

- Where were you? On the golf course?
- No.

My wife went bowling, and I was
sort of testing out this new hammock,
listening to the game.

"Then I ran into this Sunday"--
Yeah.
Well, uh, you want to take a look?

- You said somebody was in a big panic?
- The neighbor.

What'd you say?
The neighbor?
The neighbor.

[ Tom On Radio ]
Another one of those crucial plays.
Third down, two yards to go.

Loss of blood.
He has severe concussion.
You see that?

They make it?
Yeah.

What time you think
this thing happened, Doc?
He's been dead about an hour now.

Let's, uh, put it around 2.:30.

"Okay. We go now?"
Listen, Doc, I'd kind of like to--

Ball's snapped.
He still drives for it. One, two.
They're untangling now.

Pretty good game.
[ Crowd Cheering ]

Uh, I'd kind of like
to know a little bit more
about what happened here.

Why?
It's a false alarm, Lieutenant.

- How do you know that?
- Well, look over there.

From the water
that splashed on the decking,
he must have been diving.

"He slipped on the board",
[ Radio.:Announcer Continues ]

and that contusion would have
k"nocked him unconscious."
A five-yard penalty.

All right, boys.
How do you know
it happened on the board?

I mean, there's water
up around the steps too.

The board, the steps,
the bottom of the pool.
What difference does it make?

"He was" k"nocked out",
and he was drowned. That's all.
I've seen it a dozen times.

[ Virgil ]
That's another big third
coming up though.

You're gonna do an autopsy,
aren't you?

[ Announcer ]
"The Rockets need that big play."
We have to, Lieutenant.

It's routine, remember?
Or maybe you've forgotten.

I think he may be right,
Lieutenant.

Detective there in the house
says the same thing.

Well, as long as I'm here,
I better see anybody who was in there.

There isn't anybody, Lieutenant,
except maybe the delivery boy
and the neighbor.

You mean a house like this,
there are no servants?
Couldn't find any.

Send the detective out.
Yes, sir.

[ Sniffs ]

Officer, is there a gardener?
[ Man ] Wagner had a party
last night, Lieutenant.

- I'm Sergeant Clemens, sir.
- What was that? A party?

Pretty good one too, I guess.

See, the neighbor said Wagner's wife
is out of town someplace,

so maybe Wagner let the servants go
"for a while, and, uh"--

You know what I mean?

- You've read about
Eric Wagner, haven't you?
- Eric--

You mean, the one whose father
used to own the football--
That's who this was?

Kid still owned it, I think.

Paul Hanlon.
You must have heard of him.

He's the general manager
or something.

Yeah. I was just listening
to the game.

Sir, I'd like to release
the delivery boy, you know,
and the neighbor.

No.

I mean, yes, as soon
as you get their statements.

But I want a full team out here.
I want prints and pictures--
the whole inside of the house.

Oh, and the diving board
and the pool coping all around.

Your name is Clemens?
I'll leave you in charge of that.

I'll be in touch.
Uh, yes, sir.

But where are you going, sir?
To the football game.

[ Tom ]
Wide left this time.
"The handoff to Ransky again."

"Blockers in front ofhim."
F"ive yards across the 40, the 35.!"

And he's down
at the 3 1-yard line.

[ Virgil ]
"With that hold on Pensky, of course",
they're still way short of the first down.

[ Tom ]
But here comes that talented toe
from Sweden.

Yes, here comes Swenson.
The fans love him.

F"ourth down."
"His club needs three points",
three points to tie.

It's all up to the Swede now.
"[ Knocking ]"

A 38-yard field goal.

"[ Knocking Continues ]"
[ Virgil ]
He missed the first try.

[ Tom ]
"Yeah, he missed it, but, by golly",
he hasn't missed many this year.

- It's a private box, mister.
- Well, I knocked.

You are Mr. Paul Hanlon, aren't you?
I've seen your pictures in the newspaper.

- I'm busy now.
-"[ Announcer ]"
It's good.! The score is tied.!

Tied it up.

Who are you?
What do you want?

Uh, Lieutenant Columbo, sir.
L.A.P.D.

Police?

I'm afraid I have
some bad news for you,
Mr. Hanlon.

And since we can't locate
Mrs. Wagner--

Well, Eric Wagner was found dead
a little while ago in his swimming pool.

[ Volume Down ]
Eric?

Sorry, sir.

Oh, no, no.

[ Groans ]
"I just talked to him."
You did?

Yeah. A couple of hours ago, I guess.
I called him from here before the game.

I called him again
a little time later.

We're supposed to "fl"y to Montreal
tonight, 6:30.

Wait a minute.
I don't get this.

Eric was by the pool.

He was alone,
as far as I could tell.

And he's a terrific swimmer.
This looked like a typical accident, sir.
There was this bump on his head.

An"yw"ay, we're trying to locate his wife,
and there were no servants in the house.

- There weren't?
- No, sir.

It's my understanding,
at least from the newspapers,
that you're like one of the family.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Okay, Lieutenant.
I'll-I'll come right over.

Shirley's in Acapulco.
She went down about a week ago.

"Some" k"ind of charity function."

Whew.

I'll contact her.

I'll talk to her myself.
Thank you.

And don't worry, sir.
I won't bother her with
any questions just yet.

- Or you either, for that matter.
- What questions?

Oh, well.

It looked like Mr. Wagner
had some kind of a party
out there last night.

I don't think that's
any concern of yours, Lieutenant,
any more than it is mine.

Now,you've done your duty.
That's enough, isn't it?
I did wonder about the pool service.

By any chance,you don't
"happen to" k"now whether they come"
to the Wagner house on Sundays.

I don't know of any pool service
that works on Sunday at all.

Why?
Oh, there was just this water
around the pool decking.

Well, that's normal
for there to be water
around a pool, isn't it?

Yes, sir. But not fresh water,
no chlorine in it.
"[ Cloc"k "Chiming ]"

[ Radio Off]

So his death was an accident.
There must be some simple explanation.

Well, that's why I said
it looked like an accident, sir.

Because if someone
had used a hose around there,
like to maybe hide something...

"or make it loo"k "like"
"Mr. Wagner was diving"--

Well, that's my problem, sir.

I sure don't want to
bother you with that now.

[ Door Closes ]

Coach Rizzo?

Coach Rizzo?

Excuse me.
I'm looking for Mr. Rizzo.

I'm, uh, Coach Rizzo. Yeah.

Who are you?

Uh--

Got a minute?
Yeah. Sure.
What can I do for you?

My name is
Lieutenant Columbo.

I've got some bad news
for you, sir.

Eric Wagner drowned this afternoon
in his pool by the house.

Eric-- Huh?

Yeah.
Oh.

Oh, no, the--

Oh, the poor boy.

Sorry to bring you
such bad news, sir.
Huh?

Like everybody that reads the sports page,
I was aware that you were very close
to Eric's father when the man was alive,

so I figured you'd want to know.

Yes, Lieutenant, what--
[ Chuckles ]

That poor boy.

Never did anything right,
of course, you know,

according to
his father's standards.

The old man always wanted him
to be a big-time quarterback.

Professional.
Touchdown. Rah, rah.

So what happens?

Poor kid winds up
as a would-be,

half-baked swinger type.

Maybe you could
fill me in there, sir.

I couldn't help noticing
his name pop up in some
of these scandal columns.

Was there anything to that?
Oh, come on, Lieutenant.

The kid sowed
a couple of wild oats,

like anybody.

Why are you asking me
all these questions?

Well, uh-- [ Clears Throat ]
I happen to be from Homicide.

Homicide? You just said
the boy drowned in the pool.
An accident.

Oh,just routine, sir.
We investigate everything.

Actually, I would have asked
Mr. Hanlon some of these questions,
but he's a very busy man and excitable.

Yeah. Yeah, busy. Excitable.

This was one of his days.
Dive for the bomb shelters.

What'd you say, sir?

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
That's a bad joke.

I suppose it's his privilege
sometimes to--

You mean Mr. Hanlon
was sort of upset today?

Yeah. Yeah, you could say
he was sort of upset.

He called me up on the field
from the owner's box
up at the top of the stadium,

just before the game
was about to start.

Chewed me out
something awful.

So, halftime, I scooted up there,
was gonna give him
a piece of my mind.

I get up there,
and, well, you know,
he was all right.

Everything
seemed to be just fine.
Hmm.

Gee, I didn't think we did that good
during the first half. No offense.

Oh.

Uh, I wanted to ask you
a question about Mr. Hanlon.

I've read some of the publicity.
Now, he's very new here
with the Rockets, isn't he?

No, not that new, really.
He was a P.R. man first
when he came here.

You know, public relations.

Then about two years ago,
when Mr. Wagner died,

well, Eric didn't know anything
about running a ball club,

so he got Hanlon
to come in and take over,
run the business for him.

So Hanlon just stepped in?
No. No, he didn't "just" step in.

Don't go getting any bright ideas,
Lieutenant, will you?

Look, maybe I'm not
the biggest fan of Paul Hanlon,
but let me tell you this--

He's one of the sharpest,
shrewdest general managers
in this business.

Put this club on its feet.

He got another basketball franchise,
built a couple of stadiums.

He made the kid
a couple of million dollars,

and they were
the best of friends.

Really?
Yeah. Really.

And that goes for
just about everybody else
around here too.

What do you mean by that, sir?

What I mean is,
you're wasting your time.

Look, I grant you, I don't say Eric
was the greatest in many things,

but he was a--

he was an all right kid.

I don't know anybody
in the whole world...

who would want
to see him dead.

[ Woman ]
He's been so busy.

"No, he hasn't talked"
to anyone all day.

No, sir, the funeral arrangements
aren't being announcedjust yet.

Yes, Mr. Hanlon
"will make an announcement"
when it's appropriate.

Thank you, sir.

Pardon. Excuse me.
Oh,just a minute.
Just leave it right there.

That's fine.

[ Classical ]

Oh, do I have to sign?
[ Phone Rings ]

Wagner residence.
Hold a moment, please.
I was looking for the housekeeper.

Oh, I'm afraid she's been
with Mr. Hanlon.

She just got here herself
and she's quite upset,
so I don't think--

I'm Walter Cannell.
I was Eric Wagner's lawyer.

I was his father's attorney
and best friend
for about 40 years.

Oh, please, sir.
I am sorry.

You see, I'm new in the office,
and, well, I replaced Miss Babcock.

She was only there a couple of days,
so I really haven't gotten
everybody's names straight yet.

Oh, that's nothing to worry about.
That's all right.

Oh, that's fine.
Right over there.

But, uh, whose office--

Pardon?
The office that you were new in--
whose office was that?

Oh, Mr. Hanlon's.
Mr. Hanlon. Oh.

You can go now.
Thank you.

Oh, no. I just helped him
carry it in, ma'am.

- I'm from the police.
Lieutenant Columbo.
- Oh, uh--

Wagner residence.
Hold, please.

Well, Mr. Hanlon said
he just wouldn't be able
to see you for a while, sir.

No problem.
I don't mind waiting.

Lieutenant, uh,
what are you doing here?

Well, actually, sir,
we've had a little trouble
locating Mrs. Wagner.

We've checked all the hotels
in Acapulco.
That so?

Of course, Shirley is
a bit of a whirling dervish,
on every committee there is.

Very social.
Uh, sir?

Yes?

You don't mind if I ask you
a personal question, do you?
No.

What'd you pay for those shoes?

I think about, uh, $60.

I stepped into some water yesterday.
I ruined mine.

You don't know where I could
get a pair that looks like that
for around 1 6 or 1 7?

Sixteen or 1 7?

Sorry. I-I-I don't really,
Lieutenant.
Thank you.

Walter, I didn't know you were here.
You should have come on into the study.
I didn't want to disturb you.

I thought you might be
negotiating something.

Uh, this doesn't seem to be
the time or the place...

to air bad grievances
between you and me, Walter.

Why didn't you call me
this afternoon?

Why did I have to hear about this
on the news?

- I really wasn't sure
you were back from Washington.
- Wagner residence.

[ Stereo: Feedback ]
"What? Oh, it's you again",
"Miss Rokoczy."

Well, wait a minute.

Walter, you shouldn't
get yourself into an uproar.
You know that's bad for your ulcer.

Where's Shirley?
She's on her way.
I've spoken to her.

Uh, look, I know this must be
very unpleasant for you, so--

Sir, it's a Miss Rokoczy--
She's called four times.
I can't take any calls now.

She says it's quite urgent.
I told you no calls today.

I don't have time,
not till tomorrow.
Got it?

[ Secretary ]
"Miss Rokoczy, he says hejust"
"can't tal"k "to you till tomorrow."

[ Hanlon ]
You're gonna have to excuse me.
That's all there is to it.

There's nothing left to be done
that needs to be done.

"Shirley will be bac"k "tomorrow",
and that's it.

[ Secretary ]
Lieutenant, it's for you.

I left the number.
Excuse me.

Lieutenant Columbo.

Not a thing, huh?

Well, what about the autopsy?

I see.

Thank you very much.

Lieutenant, if you need me, I'll be back
in my apartment in about two hours.
[ Feedback Stops ]

I've got to finish
the funeral arrangements.
I did want to ask you, sir.

You don't mind if I bring
another lab crew in here
first thing in the morning?

- Kind of recheck everything.
- Whatever you want. So long, Walter.

Sure knows how
to take charge, doesn't he?
Lieutenant.

What is all this?
Autopsy, lab crews.

Well,just part of a routine
murder investigation, sir.
Excuse me.

Murder?

[ Woman On P.A. System ]
Will Mr. David North please report
"to the TransGlobal ticket counter."

Will Mr. David North please report
"to the TransGlobal ticket counter."

Miss Renee Winnell, please go
to the nearest red courtesy telephone.

Miss Renee Winnell, please go
to the nearest red courtesy telephone.

[ Whispering ]

Can't talk to you now.
Have to call you back.

Columbo!

What are you doing?
You following me?

Well, sir, it just seemed like a funny place
to make a funeral arrangement.

[ Woman On P.A.]
Mr. Charles Bentley.
Mr. Charles Bentley.

You know, you sorta caught me
by surprise back there.

I mean, making that telephone call
right after you told the girl back at the house
you didn't have time to talk to anybody.

That's why I was on the phone.
I was calling off a meeting
in Montreal for tomorrow.

I forgot about it earlier.
I don't know why.

Well, you have to be terribly upset
by everything that's happened.
I can understand that.

An"yw"ay, when you turned off
at the airport, naturally I was curious.
All right, Lieutenant.

I am meeting
Mrs. Wagner's plane...

in just a few minutes.

[ Columbo Sighs ]

You know, I kinda thought
that's what it might be.

Uh, I just couldn't figure out how
she could've gotten here so soon.
I mean, all the way from Acapulco.

You see, we checked
the airline "fl"ights--

I chartered
a special "fl"ight for her.

Boy, you really know how
to get things done, sir.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant.
I couldn't tell you about it
back at the house, not with all those--

The last thing in the world
that Shirley needs now...

is any of that
bleeding-heart sympathy
from Walter Cannell.

I can appreciate that, sir.

And I don't want any of those
newspaper people after her either,
not till she's had a good night's sleep.

I understand, sir.

You could be a big help to me, sir,
if you'll just fill me in
with certain details.

You think you could do that?
Well, if you can be brief,
Lieutenant.

I'll certainly try, sir.

I want to be delicate about this,
but, uh, I have wondered...

about the kind of marriage
that the Wagners had.

I mean, in light of the kind of party
that Eric threw there last night.

Mr. Columbo, that boy
was like a kid brother to me.

But I couldn't
straighten him out.

He was a baby.
He just never grew up.

Shirley...
understood about that...

for the better part of a year,
I guess.

She was way out of his class.
They both knew it.

They knew it.
Both of them.

But unfortunately, she could never
bring herself to break off with him.

Sounds like quite a woman.
She is.

You don't happen to know--
Well, I guess she would inherit
everything he owned, wouldn't she?

"What the hell is this about",
exactly?

Why follow me?

It's just that things are happening
so fast, sir, and I thought maybe
you'd wanna be brought up to date.

Like that autopsy report.
I just got it on the phone.

Incidentally,
you never asked me about that.
I thought you would.

I guess it slipped your mind.
No, it didn't slip my mind.

There was nothing to ask about
because there was nothing new.

Was there?
No, sir. There wasn't.

Lieutenant, you're gonna find
this was an accidental death.

And if, God forbid,
it's anything else,

then it was one of
those crazy hippie girls
he was mixed up with.

You see, that's another thing
I wanted to tell you about, sir.

We located every girl
that was at that party.
There are no leads there at all.

Nothing.

So it looks to me like, uh,
we're just gonna have to
look to someone else.

What does that mean?

Well, we turned up a neighbor's kid
who reported seeing a Ding-A-Ling
ice cream truck in the area...

around 2:30.

That's just about
when Mr. Wagner would have died.

I don't-- So... what?

So, I have to thank my wife,
for one.

'Cause she's mad at everybody.
She's even mad at the ice cream man.

"Why does the ice cream truck
have to come just before lunch,
and just before dinner,

ruin the child's appetite?''

I have to listen to that.
I hear that three times a week.

"You" k"now",
that's 1 2 times a month.

"Well, anyway, listen",
I called the Ding-A-Ling
ice cream company.

Turns out they don't have
a route before lunch.

They don't have one
before dinner.

They don't have one at 2:30.

They don't even work
in that area.

So that's what I call a loose end,
and it's somethin' I gotta tie up.

Well, I wish you luck.

And the other thing, sir--
I hope you're not offended by this.

I have to find somebody
who will substantiate your story...

that you were in your box
at the football game.

No, Lieutenant, I'm not offended.
That's your job.

Everybody is a suspect.
Isn't that true?

Thank you very much.
I'm very happy to hear you say that.

Uh, gee, I thought Mr. Rizzo
could do it for us. You know?

But it turns out that he says
he didn't speak to you even once
on the field phone...

during that whole
awful first half.

And then you weren't even angry--

Columbo, I told you,
I called Eric from the box
just before the game.

I called him again from the box
about the end of the first quarter.

Unfortunately,
the telephone company's records
can't prove that.

That's not my problem, is it?

No, sir. That's "my" problem.

It's also my problem to find
somebody who might even have
a motive to kill Mr. Wagner.

- [ Whispers ] Paul.
- Yes?

[ Sobbing ]
Paul! No!

It's all right.
Oh, Paul!

[ Hanlon ]
It's all right.

[ Continues Sobbing ]

Okay. Okay.

I'm sorry.

I've just been holding it in.

Lieutenant,
she's going to be at home.

You won't bother her,
will you?

You lookin' for somethin'?
Hold it right there.
Just raise your hands up.

Wait a minute, Officer.
This isn't what it looks like.

It's all right.
He won't have a gun.
Just get his wallet.

Thank you, sir.
Don't thank me.

Thank that radio
over there.
Huh?

Well, what do you know?
License and everything.

Course I got a license.
My name is Ralph Dobbs.
What do you mean, radio?

Well, let me show you.
Don't feel bad.
Could happen to anybody.

You see, some of these bugs
have frequency leakage.

You don't put 'em in right,
if affects the other
electrical systems.

That's what happened to you.
Hey, take it easy, will ya.
Those things are expensive.

Sorry.
Won't happen again.

An"yw"ay,
you put it in wrong,
that's all.

When they used the telephone,
it affected the radio.
I noticed the static.

Don't feel bad--
I didn't know anything
about this myself...

till I had trouble with my TV
when my wife used the hair dryer.

So the electrician,
he explained this to me.
Do you find this boring?

Then tell me who told you
to take out those bugs.

Aw, come on, will ya.
Business is bad enough without--

Answer the lieutenant. That's what
we caught you in the act of doing.
It's all right, Sergeant.

I got a pretty good idea
who might have wanted
Eric Wagner spied on.

And I also remember
who I told about coming in here
with a lab crew.

Paul Hanlon. Right?

Come on, Lieutenant.
You know my client's name
is privileged information.

I have a perfect right
"to" k"eep his identity a secret."

I've got a perfect right
to arrest you for breaking and entering,

not to mention illegal wiretapping.

So, for the sake of that license of yours,
Mr. Dobbs, who hired you?

You know,
you're puttin' me on the spot.

I can't give you his name
without his permission.

Well, I'm not worried, since I can call you
an accessory to a murder.

I know you're gonna help me out.
You're gonna get me that information.

[ Man ]
My ball. My ball.

[ Players Chattering ]

Throw it! Up, up!

All right.

Open up.

Six seasons?
Where'd you spend
most of the tour?

[ Man ]
Midwest and the east.

And during the summer
we went to Europe.

[ Hanlon ]
Europe?

[ Man ]
I spent a number of years in--

Where'd you get those shoes?
Miller's on Wilshire.

[ Man ]
Mr. Hanlon.!
"[ Hanlon ] What's caused"--

[ Man ]
Mr. Hanlon.!
[ Hanlon ] What?

[ Man ] Telephone.
[ Hanlon ] Oh, all right.
Cut it from here, guys.

[ Hanlon ]
Yes? Yeah.

They did what?

Who let 'em in?

No, I want that watchman fired!

You get in touch with my attorneys
and get 'em to meet me over here.
"I wanna see 'em at, uh"--

Uh, no, cancel that.
I'll have to call you back.

What is this?

My office tells me
somebody came in there this morning
before dawn with a search warrant.

We didn't touch anything.
Honestly. I promise.
Mr. Hanlon!

What?
You want some more shots
with the both of you?

Uh, no. No, not now.
Finish the interview with Mark,
and then wrap it up.

I didn't expect
to find you here.

I had some trouble locating you
because I didn't know
you were at a basketball game,

you know,
the day after Mr. Wagner's death.

It's not a game.
It's just some pros that live around here,
like to work out together, that's all.

Oh, these are
professionals?
Yes, these are professionals.

[ Hanlon ]
"That's LeRoy Ellis, Pat Riley",

"Happy Hairston,Jim McMillan",
and that's Keith Ericson...

and Flynn Robinson.

In two weeks they're all
gonna be working for me.

Mark was the first one to sign.
I had to come here to get his signature
because he's gonna be gone this afternoon!

What are you up to?
That's what I came down here
to explain, sir.

I came down here to get you because
I made a real wrong guess last night.

I think you made a few.

No, I'm talking about the phones
in Mr. Wagner's house.

What about 'em?

Mr. Hanlon,
those phones were bugged.

Bugged?
Yes, sir.

And I'll admit
that for a while I thought you
had something to do with it.

So we checked your office,
and you know what?

Your phones are bugged too.

By the same equipment
and by the same man.

My phones?

Yes, sir. Bugged.

So honestly,
that's the only reason
we went in there.

[ Gasping Sigh ]

The other thing, sir,
is I came down here to get you...

because I thought
you would like to meet the man
who hired the detective.

Yes, I'd like to meet him.

Apparently, they've got tapes
of all your conversations
for the past two weeks.

Isn't that something?

[ Exhales ]
Go ahead.

- My ball, my ball.
- Take it up! Not bad!

Well, Walter, you actually
hired a private detective, huh?

I'm sorry, Hanlon.
That's all I can say.
You're sorry?

I think maybe you will be
when I report you
to the bar association...

for spying
on your own client.

Lieutenant,
your man there is my witness.

I'm voluntarily disclosing
everything that I paid Dobbs to do.

And when I personally sue you
for invasion of privacy--

Gentlemen, please,
I know it's kind of irregular,
but Mrs. Wagner is waiting inside.

I told you to stay away
from Mrs. Wagner!
I'm the one who was insistent.

I haven't the slightest idea
what Dobbs has on those tapes,
but I want everyone to hear everything.

Columbo!
Are you in charge
of this mess or not?

Sir, I'm only trying
to solve a murder.

This gentleman was Mr. Wagner's lawyer
and it did seem all right with me.
Why don't we proceed.

Uh, Mr. Hanlon.
One moment before we go in?

What is it?
Bad news.

What?

You remember
I definitely told you about
the Ding-A-Ling ice cream truck?

The Ding-A-Ling ice cre--
Yes, you did.

Uh... I checked the main office,

and, uh--
I've got it right here.

They told me
when I originally called
what areas they serviced,

and, uh--

I've got all these papers here--
Oh, here we are.

And, uh, it turns out
that they're in, uh...

Westwood, Holl"yw"ood,
Downtown L.A.

Shows you how stupid I am.

It never occurred to me that Downtown L.A.
included the concession at the stadium.

I don't understand.

Well, I'm sorry to say this, sir,

but this makes it even more important
that we find some way...

to substantiate your story
that you were at the stadium
at the time of the crime.

[ Laughs ]

Well, Lieutenant,
you may be right.

Let's go inside, shall we?

[ Tape.: Game Announcer, Indistinct ]
[ Tape.:Hanlon ]
Oh,you're not still in bed.

[ Hanlon Continues ]
"Of all the"--

"At least you're alone",
aren't you?

[ Wagner ]
Yeah. Yeah.

[ Wagner Continues ]
"Oh, listen, Paul, I gotta tell you"--
[ Laughs ]

"That"-- "That chic"k "that you put me on to",
"she brought her little sister"--
Stop it!

Stop it right there.

Shirley, that's the very
sort of thing that I suspected.

Paul Hanlon
was egging Eric on.

He was just trying
"to make trouble"
between the two of you.

Walter, we have been listening to this
for nearly three hours,

and that's the very first time there's been
the slightest suggestion of anything.

But he said, "That little chick
that you put me on to, Paul.''
Didn't you hear him?

Shirley, that's why
I came back from Washington.

That's the whole reason
that I hired Dobbs here.

I wanted evidence to prove
to you and Eric how Hanlon
had been using him, using you both.

Wait a minute.
Just hold it a second.

I think I've got it.

It took me a minute to connect
with the word "chick.''

Eric said that
you wanted a new maid.

Do you recall
anything about that?

Well, he was
trying to find you one...

as a surprise
"before you got bac"k.

I "put him on to'"
the best employment agency
that I could find, and that's all.

If he found some girl
through that, I--

Yes. Of course.

Will you please
get this over with.

Certainly, ma'am.
"[ Tape Machine Clicks On ]"

[ Tape: Wagner]
Well, you're our leader.
What are you doing now, playing right tackle?

[ Tape: Game Announcer, Indistinct ]
[ Hanlon ] I got the radio on here in the box.
I guess it's a little loud.

[ Wagner ]
So how are my gladiators doing?
[ Hanlon ] They're getting murdered.

[ Hanlon ]
Listen, is your head clear yet?
[ Wagner ] Clear as mud.

[ Tape.: Water Sloshing ]
[ Wagner ]
I'm out by the pool now.

[ Hanlon ]
"Well, are you" in it "yet?"

[ Wagner ]
Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?
"Now get off my bac"k, "Hanlon."

"Pic"k "me up at 5.:30."
You got that?
[ Tape.:Phone Receiver Slams Down ]

[ Tape.: Game Announcer ]
"Bac"k "they go."

"[ Tape Machine Clicks Off]"

That's all there is of that, sir.
There's still a big pile of tapes
from Mr. Hanlon's office phone.

Uh, Sergeant,
do you happen to have the time
that I made that call?

"Uh"--

The log on my pickup...
has it at, uh, 2:29.

"[ Dobbs ] If you wanna chec"k
"with the radio station, they" k"eep a record"
of those football broadcasts.

And Eric died at 2:30, you said.

Approximately.

Well, Walter,
maybe I oughta thank you.

At least you've managed
to prove where I was.

And I guess that's another loose end,
as you call it, tied up.

You see, Shirley,

the lieutenant thinks,
I imagine with Walter's help,
that I might have killed Eric.

I really don't know
what to say to you, Walter,

that would tell you
"how contemptible I thin"k "you are."

Shirley, you've got to believe me.
I had these tapes made for your sake.

Look, don't worry, Walter.

I already knew how jealous you were
of Mr. Hanlon's in"fl"uence.

Now just get out.

All of you, please leave!

Mrs. Wagner, um,
there's still a lot of investigating
we have to do.

Just go away.

Hello.
Yeah, Eric.
It's Paul again.

[ Wagner] What's the matter?
You afraid I'd fall back asleep?

Lieutenant--
[ Tape.: Game Announcer ]
"Sanders bac"k.

Blitz is on. Won't get away this time.
"Scrambling. Scrambling"--
You wanted to see me?

[ Game Announcer Continues ]
Just a minute.

[ Wagner]
Pick me up at 5:30.
Got that?

Been listening to that thing--
that's the last phone call--

a hundred times-- nothin'.

Well, in the last three days
I've called your office
at least a hundred times.

Listen, about my license--
I can't operate without it.

Didn't I give you that back?
No.

Gee, I'm sorry.
Must have forgotten.

Doesn't it strike you funny?

A man's watching a football game,
makes a telephone call just when they call
pass interference against his own team.

On the two-yard line.

Yeah, I suppose so.
Maybe it can prove he wasn't really there.

In the meantime,
I gotta have my equipment.

You see, that's my problem.

I can't prove where Hanlon was.
That's why I'm listening to this.

Trying to hear a sound--
something that doesn't belong there.

Maybe he made the phone call
from someplace else.

You ever think of that?
Someplace where there was
a radio broadcasting.

"Background noises"--
"boat whistles, dogs barking",
"things like that."

-Just can't see--
- Will you go find yourself another suspect--

Can't get a--
Aw, come on, Lieutenant! Cut it out!
I gotta have my equipment back.

Listen, by the way,
how did you manage to plant
those phone bugs in the first place?

I didn't.
Well, who did?

Come on, Lieutenant.
That would be betraying a trust.
You'd ruin me.

I don't wanna get
anybody else in trouble.

All I can tell ya, it wasn't by
breaking and entering. Okay?

It wasn't?
No.

Then how was it?
That's all I can tell you.

I understand.
Listen, about the equipment,
I'm sorry to hold you up on that.

It's just I been
preoccupied by this case.
What's it worth?

Six hundred bucks.
[ Whistles ]
A lot of money.

All right.
I put a girl into Hanlon's office.

She ran an errand to Wagner's house.
It's as simple as that.

A girl?
Yeah.

Part-time operator.
I use her all the time.
She likes it for a change.

She have a name?

Eve Babcock.

That's all she did.
She's not there anymore.
Why?

How do I know why?
Hanlon fired her after three days.

Oh. His secretary.

Babcock? A secretary?

Well, that's not her usual line of work.

Lieutenant, my equipment.

[ Soft Jazz ]

[ Doorbell Rings ]

Coming!

Hi, darling.

Miss Babcock?
[ Chuckles ]

Don't be so Cincinnati.

My name is Eve.

And don't be embarrassed.
I've been expecting you.
You have?

Sure. Our mutual friend called
and told me all about you.

He did?
Mm-hmm.

Well, I didn't expect that.

I bet you're starving.
Are you starving?
We'll go to dinner at Chasen's.

Apartment 2B?
Yes.

Eve Babcock.

Now, will you relax, please?
We'll go to the Luau for drinks.
That'll be fun.

"Then" to Chasen's for dinner.
No, there's a mistake, ma'am.
I hadn't planned on dinner.

Oh. You hadn't.

All right. No dinner.
[ Chuckles ]

It's all right.

It just would've been nice to know.
You know?

[ Sighs ]
I mean, I planned the whole evening.

I had no idea
you were pressed for time.
Harry should have told me.

- Who is Harry?
- Harry Stevenson.

[ Doorbell Rings ]
No, I got your name from, uh--

Uh, from a Mr. Dobbs.

Ralph?

Oh! [ Giggles ]
Wouldn't you know.

Well, this is really silly.

"Loo"k, "honey,you should've called"
before you came up. I'm busy.

Now, um, what about tomorrow?

No, no. No, not tomorrow.
Thursday. I'm free Thursday.

Will that do it?
[ Doorbell Rings ]

Thursday.

Hello, darling.
Miss Babcock?

"Eve.! And you're Cincinnati",
aren't you?

"The brokers'convention",
right?
Uh, my name's Smith.

[ Chuckles ]
Okay, Smitty.

Uh, Smitty,
this is my cousin.

He was just leaving.
Weren't you, honey?
Yeah.

How are you?
Fine.

I know a lot of people
in Cincinnati.

Incidentally, my name is Lieutenant Columbo.
I'm from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Uh, Miss Babcock,
about those stocks, I'll call you.

Nice to have met you,
Lieutenant.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Slams Shut ]

Don't ask me any questions.
I'm calling my attorney.

Wait a minute.
No, wait--

Instead of doing that,
do yourself a favor--
[ Rotary Dialing ]

Take this appointment book
and put it someplace where I can't see it.

Don't call your attorney,
'cause I'm not here to hurt you.

Now put that away.

I'm investigating the death
of Eric Wagner,

and I just wanted to ask you
a couple of questions.

Why would you want to ask me--
I already know you planted
the phone bugs for Mr. Dobbs.

I'm not worried about that.

This is what bothers me--

Why were you fired from that job
after only three days?

Because,
if you don't mind my noticing,

you'd be an ornament
in any office.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Perhaps my typing
was not good enough.

Who knows?
Oh. Oh.

I thought maybe
you got offered a better job.

I really think you should go.

Or maybe somebody offered you
more money than Dobbs could.

I mean, Mr. Hanlon,
he doesn't miss much.

And he sure wouldn't miss you.

And I thought that maybe he noticed
you planting those phone bugs...

and he bought you off.

Hey, wait.
Look,just stop this.

Eric Wagner's death was an accident.
Right? Was it not?

[ Slightly Accented ]
That's what all the newspapers have said.

You have absolutely no right
to come in here
and start upsetting me,

asking me questions,
insinuating things--

Miss Babcock, you're perfectly right.
I was getting way ahead of myself.

But I know you wanna
get something to eat,
so I'm gonna run along.

Good night.

Good night.

You know,

it just struck me--

You know
when you got upset there?

Well, the tiniest little accent
came out,

and, you know, I got a nephew
who married a girl,
she's got the same kind of accent.

She's also very pretty.

But she's Hungarian.

Do you have another name
besides Babcock?
Something more Hungarian?

Like Rokoczy?
Miss Rokoczy?

Well,just a thought.

Enjoy your meal.

[ Marching Band ]
[ Crowd Chattering, Shouting ]

[ Continues ]
[ Crowd Continues
Chattering, Shouting ]

[ Loud Slam On Door ]

Well, good afternoon, sir.
And where would you like to go today?

Home.
What?

To soak my feet.
They're killin' me.
New pair of shoes.

[ Clears Throat ]
Just exactly what is it
you wish, sir?

Mr. Paul Hanlon--
Did he make a reservation
for Sunday for Montreal?

Why do you ask?

I'm from the police.
My name is Lieutenant Columbo.

Does Mr. Hanlon usually use this office
to make all his travel arrangements?
Yes, he does.

Well, would you check on it?
The Sunday reservation?

I'll have to consult my files.

[ Radio: Man ]
Speaking of ankles-- You were
speaking of ankles, weren't you?

How 'bout those
drum majorettes?
Is that the game at the Coliseum?

Yeah.
[ Radio:
Crowd Cheering ]

[ Announcer] The Badgers
have the football-- second down, seven,
on their own 2 4-yard line.

How long's it been on?

Just started.

I had tickets for the game.
Didn't even use 'em. Couldn't enjoy it.

[ Radio.:Announcer Continues ]

Till I find the answer,
I can't think of anything else.

Boy, the number of times
I've heard these guys' voices,
over and over and over.

Still can't find it.

Yeah, well, sometimes
things are difficult to find.

You know what it's like?
Like you have hold of half of somethin',
and you can't get ahold of the other half.

Yeah, right.

[ Announcer]
Cinnelli breaks the huddle.
He's going to be wide right.

[ Announcer ] Here's the count and the snap.
"Takes the handoff,fades bac"k "to pass."
[ Cuckooing ]

He goes to Cinnelli, open in the flat.
He's complete to the 34-yard line.!

[ Crowd Cheering, Shouting ]

[ Announcer ]
"Sanders at quarterbac"k.
"He takes the snap, hands off."

It's that same play again.
"Kelly over, right tackle."
"It works again.!"

"Good for five solid"--
"No", six "yards to the 4 1-yard line.!"
[ Crowd Cheering ]

[ Color Commentator ]
Well, it's sure different
"than last wee"k, "Brother Tom."

"These Rockets"
are movin'today.!

[ Announcers Continue ]
Uh, Mr. Hanlon?

Columbo. What is it?
Sure goin' great guns today,
aren't we?

[ Announcer ]
The crowd, they love it.!

I'll tell the coach.
Kind words from a loyal fan
are very rare.

This Ding-A-Ling
ice cream concession?

That's the best in town.
Don't ever change that.

[ Announcer Continues ]

[ Clears Throat ]
All right, Columbo.
Now, what do you want?

Uh, I've got something to show you, sir.
Won't take long.

Oh, those shoes feel better.
Oy.

- "They were giving me"
a lot of trouble earlier.
- [ Turns Radio Volume Down ]

Columbo, I'm trying to watch this game!
What is it?

You know, you did the same thing
the first time I came in here.

Last Sunday. I guess that's
what started me wondering.

- I did what?
- You turned the radio down,
but not quite off.

When I told you
that Eric Wagner was dead.

It's all right.
I do the same thing.

When I'm listening to the game
and my wife interrupts,
I can't help myself.

I wanna hear that game,
and I don't care
how important the interruption.

Your wife has my sympathy.

However...

when I told you about
the fresh water on the decking,

when I told you that Eric Wagner
might have been murdered,
you know what you did?

You turned the radio
completely off.

"Well, I thought I struc"k "a chord"
or something.
No, Columbo, you struck out.

Now, will you please go find
somebody else to pester?

I won't take long, sir.

Actually, I just came here
to talk about Miss Rokoczy.

[ Sighs ]
Who?

You know,
Miss Babcock.

That was the lady
that kept trying to call you
at the house.

Then later on
you phoned her
from the airport.

What are you talking about?
You did try to call her,
didn't you?

I mean, you wanted to tell her
to be quiet about something.

I don't even know anybody named
Rog-- Rek-- Whatever it is.

Well, I spoke to her
last night.

You see, when I saw
the type of woman that she was,

it suddenly occurred to me...

why you were in such a hurry
to rush out of that house
and get to an outside phone.

And the only reason
that could have been
was because...

"you already" k"new"
that the phones in that house
were bugged.

- You did know, didn't you?
- Wait a minute. Wait, wait.

You don't seriously expect me
to tell you anything now?

I don't expect you
to admit anything, sir.

"Admit.''

But you see, when I saw
the type oflady that she was...

and that she liked to have her bread
buttered on both sides,
well, she practically admitted it.

[ Laughs ]
I don't believe you.
You're really somethin'.

And I'm sure Miss Rokoczy's
gonna do a lot more talking
when she knows that this is really a murder.

- "And it really is, sir. This is a murder case."
There is no question about it.
- [ Radio Off]

Oh. Look. He did it again.

I guess you just can't help yourself.

Columbo, I'm gonna throw you
out of here on your ear!

I wouldn't do that, sir.

I mean, you'll miss the best part.
You see, I'm not finished.

The point is this.

Uh--

[ Clears Throat ]
Yeah.

You see, the point is this--

If you knew that house was bugged,

"then you also" k"new that"
you could use those phones
to set up your perfect alibi.

Mmm.

What you want to call an alibi
is the truth.

Jesus, why can't you get that?

I knew I had to break that alibi.

They're on the 1 0, sir.

Yeah, I knew until I'd broken that alibi
none of these other things
would mean much. But now--

Look.
They scored a touchdown.

"But now'' what?

You don't mind listening to
last week's game again, do you, sir?
Why?

Well,just by coincidence,

happens to be exactly
the same time that you made
that second phone call to Eric.

[ Tape.:Announcer ]
Number 45.
Here we go.

[ Announcer ]
"Pioneers bac"k "in their huddle."

Exactly 2:29.Just a minute or two
before he was murdered.

[ Tape.:
Announcer Continues ]

You know, I listened to
this thing over and over again,

figuring maybe I'd hear something
that shouldn't be there,

some sound that shouldn't be there--
an ambulance or a fire truck, like if you
were in a phone booth, something.

But you didn't
because it isn't there.

I made the call from this booth,
from that phone.

[ Tape.:Announcer ]
"Hey", k"id, I'm sorry."
I was a little hard on you.

Then it suddenly occurred to me.

Whap!

I had it backwards.

[ Tape.: Wagner ]
"What are you doing now",
"playing right tackle?"

Maybe it was a sound
that should be there and wasn't.

[ Wagner ]
So how are my gladiators doing?

[ Sighs ]
Like what?

Something right in front of us.

[ Tape.:Hanlon ]
Is your head clear yet?
What kind of sound?

Oh-- Shh.
[ Tape: Water Sloshing ]

[ Tape.: Wagner ]
I'm out by the pool.
"[ Tape.:Hanlon ] But are you" in it "yet?"

"[ Cloc"k "Chiming ]"
[ Tape.: Wagner ]
Will 20 more laps satisfy you?

I told you I'd be ready, didn't I?
"Now, get off my bac"k, "Hanlon."

"Pic"k "me up at 5.:30."
You got that?

"[ Tape Machine Clicks Off",
Rewinding ]

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