All language subtitles for Columbo.S03E03.1973.Candidate.for.Crime.720p.BluRay

Linda Johnson is
a political liability.

Harry, I need her.

I can understand now
why Nelson finds you repugnant.

Oh, you're wonderful,
wonderful, all of you!

Thank you so very much. Thank you.

Any Italians in
your family Mafia?

Look at this watch.

It will be your job to locate
this lunatic, whoever he is.

Well, I mean
hired killers are crazy.

In county office, I gave them trouble on
a local level for four straight years.

As a United States Senator,

I'd be giving them twice as hard a time,
and on a national level to boot.

Of course, they're threatening my life,
I'm threatening theirs.

Mr. Hayward, sir.
Rick Stevens, UPI.

Sir, your request here today for
police protection against the...

Oh, let me make myself clear.

I am here merely to report
to the proper authorities...

the fact of my having
received those threats.

Now, I've accepted this, uh,
police protection reluctantly...

and only at the continued insistence
of concerned individuals.

Sir, isn't that rather
a cavalier attitude?

It seems to me that anyone, much less
a public official,

who's been receiving
threatening letters.

No, I will not be intimated by these
threats, I will continue to campaign.

Well, will you limit
your public appearances?

Not in the slightest.

/ believe that any candidate
for high public office,

who has pledged himself,
as have I,

to the eradication of organized crime
and all the filth that it engenders...

had better possess
whatever selfless dedication,

whatever sheer guts
may be required to stand alone,

with his only protection being
the courage of his convictions,

regardless of personal risk.
This is what I believe, sir.

Thomas Jefferson
couldn't have said it better.

So with the election less than
a week away,

Nelson Hayward,
candidate for the U.S. Senate,

in a race to fill the seat of
the late Harold Lench, will have...

round-the-clock police protection
following the reported threats,

against his life.

I think I just clinched
your boyfriend's election.

I can understand now
why Nelson finds you repugnant.

You know, you shouldn't
have turned that off.

I'm expecting a bulletin any minute.

Like what?

Like, what senatorial candidate
has been using his beach house, to...

entertain his own wife's secretary.

Nelson is not happily married.

Look, I didn't tell you to come here
to discuss his marriage.

I told you to come here
to discuss his affair with you.

That's none of your business.

Let go of him.

It's time you called. Listen, Gomez,
how about that endorsement?

Let go now, Linda, today.

I happen to be in love with him.

If you were, you wouldn't
risk ruining his chances.

Listen, Gomez, we want
that endorsement by noon tomorrow.

Now save that bleeding-hearts
minority speech...

for those 3,000 creeps you control.

Now if you like, uh, heading that
little sweetheart union of yours...

Hold on one second. Hey, use your head.

He's gonna be in here any minute,
surrounded by a covey of cops,

maybe newsmen.

Now if you won't get out of town,
at least get out of here.

Your job's with the candidate's wife,
not the candidate.

All right, Harry, I will leave for now,

but I won't stay away unless
Nelson tells me to.

You ought to know by now that
Nelson does whatever I tell him to do.

Well, I want to hear it from him!
Have him call me.

Uh, I'm leaving Sgt. Rojas down here
to keep an eye on your car.

Urn, I'll be standing by
if you need anything, sir.

Thank you, Sergeant.

How'd it go?

Made all three networks. It's the
greatest stunt I ever thought of.

You know, all that garbage about
your life...

being threatened really
pulls the old sympathy.

How was I?

You'd have been better off
without that reference to your guts.

Humility, Nelson, humility.
Servant of the people.

If I could do your talking for you
as well as your thinking,

I'd make you president,
not just senator.

Murray, can you talk?

Listen, I, uh, tried muscling Gomez into
that endorsement, but he wouldn't bend.

I'll tell you what I want you to do.

Dig up a couple of Chicano kids,
slip them a few bucks.

Let them figure you're working
for the opposition.

Get them to bust up
our East LA campaign office.

Bye-bye.

Here is your ecology speech
for tomorrow morning.

Gillis did a terrific job on it
and I just improved it.

Read it word for word
and no ad libs, please.

Whose lipstick is this?

Linda's. I asked her over.

Guess why?

To tell her to get out of my life.

You guessed.

Harry, stay out of my private life!

You don't have any private life.

I'm telling you...

No, I'm tellin' you.

I've put too much into getting you
where you are now...

to take a chance on blowing it.

Now whatever affects your
political life affects me,

and Linda Johnson is
a political liability.

Harry, I need her.

You don't need anybody but me.

You could get rid of anybody but me
because I know...

where the bodies are buried.
Nelson, I buried them for you.

Now, that's why I'm callin' this shot.
She's out.

Not just until after the election.

You're gonna be a happily
married senator.

Linda's out. Period.

You don't leave me
any choice, as usual.

Let me call her.

Linda, it's me.

Honey, I've got to see you.
No, not here. At your place.

Urn, give me about 30 minutes.
Bye.

For God's sake, Nels, are you gonna
take a police escort to her place?

You want headlines of
my wife's secretary...

taking an overdose of sleeping pills?

Now let me break it to her
gently, personally.

But what about that cop out there?

Oh, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant, uh, I wonder if I
can speak with you for a minute.

Yes, sir.

Uh, not many people know this,
but I smoke cigars.

Now this may sound trivial to you,
but unfortunately,

cigars are rather bad for
the political image, so to speak.

The old smoke-filled room cliche.

Anyway, uh, there are invariably
reporters in the lobby of this place.

So I was wondering if maybe you could,
uh, go down to the cigar counter,

and pick me up a box of Panatellas?

Oh, no problem.
Except, Mr. Hayward,

I... I really shouldn't
be leaving your room unguarded.

Oh, I think Mr. Stone and I can fight
them off together for a few minutes.

Yes, sir.

Is he the only one?

No, there's a couple
more down in the garage.

- Harry, give me your jacket.
- What?

Harry, this is very important to me.

Nels, this is crazy.

Please, you've had
everything your way.

Just let me have this much.
Give me your jacket.

Get in the car,
drive right out of here.

Drop the car off the beach house
and call yourself a cab.

Mr. Hayward, sir!

Mr. Hayward. Hayward, sir!
Wait a second.

Juanita!

Juanita!

Juanita?

Juanita?

Surprise! Happy birthday.

Oh, no, you didn't.

Happy birthday!

Oh I can't believe it.

Yes, and wearing my hat,
and my jacket,

zipping out of the garage in my car.

For all I know, they're still following
old Harry all over the streets.

Now there's a switch. Imagine a husband
going through all that...

just to be with his wife.

That's a switch.

Well, you run for office someday and
you'll see how much privacy you get.

No, darling, here, right this way.
Not on Vickie's birthday.

We are having no press, no police,
not even outside the house.

Thank you very much.

All right, there you are, my dear.

And as for you, my dear friends,
I can promise all of you,

that at the propitious moment, we shall
throw the entire pack of you...

right out of here,
with the utmost courtesy.

And because you're our dear friends,
and in honor of the occasion,

will you excuse me just a moment.

Oh, he's going to get your gift.

Police Department.

Just wanted to let you know
we keep our promises.

You're worried about Nelson Hayward?

You'll find what's left of him
in the garage of his beach house.

Ladies and gentlemen,
for after dinner, brandy, 1893.

I was saving this to toast my election
to the Senate.

But I'm afraid not even that could
bring me as much pleasure as...

I'm having this evening.

To Victoria, happy birthday, honey.

You're Italian, Lieutenant.

I'm Italian. Cavelli is Italian.

You're a cop. I'm a dentist.
Cavelli's a tenor.

None of us is Mafia.
You know any Italians that are Mafia?

Any Italians in your family Mafia?

Any Italians on
the police force Mafia?

Ah, when people talk about
the Italians, do they think cops,

dentists, tenors? The Pope, not even?
The Pope is Italian, ain't he?

They think...

They think Mafiosa. Mafiosa, Mafiosa.

Rinse. Did I gag you?

A little bit.

Thanks, Doc.

- It's okay.
- All right.

- Here are the x-rays.
- Hmm.

The x-rays. What?

That's too bad.

What's too bad?
What do you mean, "too bad"?

You mean two bad, T-W-0,
or too bad, T-0-0.

What are you saying?

No. I don't know what you're saying,
"two" or "too"?

When you say too bad,
you mean too bad like...

too bad it's a rainy day or too bad
that there are two that are bad?

It's too bad, the wisdom tooth's
gotta come out and the molar...

we can save with a temporary.

We interrupt Operatic Interludes
for a special news bulletin.

We have just received an unconfirmed
report that Nelson Hayward,

candidate for United States Senator
from California,

has just been shot and killed.

I got to hear this.

It is understood that
Hayward eluded a police escort...

that had been assigned to him after
numerous recent threats on his life.

No arrests have been made yet,
but we '11 keep you advised...

as reports reach our newsroom.

Nelson Hayward?

They'll try to pin it on the Mafia.
Don't let them do it, Lieutenant.

I just saw this man a little while ago.

I got to call my wife,
I got to get out of here.

You can't leave without
a temporary in that molar.

All right, Doc, but make it fast.

Nelson Hayward.

I'll tell you something
else, Lieutenant.

You are an Italian cop. No matter
who you catch for that murder,

they're still gonna say it's the Mafia.
And that you're covering for them.

Open wide.

Take my advice, Lieutenant,
change your name.

And don't bite down on anything hard.

Female, 45 years,
5'11", 90 pounds.

2000, South Alameda.

6482, stand by,
information incomplete.

Give me a match?

Murder's always depressing,
but you get over it.

Candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Here you are, Lieutenant.

It doesn't make any difference
what party, black or white...

Knocks the wind out of you.

Something I can do for you, Lieutenant?

No, just...

See, the streetlight is broken.
I bet the kids did that.

I remember that's what we used to do.
Throw rocks and break the streetlight.

Besides the items I mentioned before,
there were his wallet,

pen, keys, pack of gum and a hanky.

Now these items were
in his pants pocket.

Good evening.

You're late, Lieutenant.

In Hayward's pockets, that's in his
camel hair coat pocket,

there was also a pack of gum,
same brand, and a handkerchief.

But that's understandable.

Because what were in the pants belong
to the guy, and what were in the coat...

were HaywarcTs. That's all we found.

All right. Lt. Columbo,
stay here. I want to talk to you.

Charlie, what's the Coroner say?

What was he talking about?

Who?

That detective who was just here.

I don't know. I wasn't listening.

Attributed to three gunshot wounds,

two of which slugs appear
still lodged in the upper abdomen...

Excuse me, I'll be right back.

With the third having passed through
the left cranial area.

Anybody hear the gunshots?

No. Our men are canvassing the
neighborhood, sir. There's...

no luck so far.

Listen,

w-w-what did you mean over there before
when you said about...

it was understandable about the stuff
being in Hayward's coat and pants?

I never mentioned Hayward's pants. The
wallet and key were in Stone's pants.

Who's Stone?

- You're kidding me.
- No.

Stone is the victim.

Not Hayward?

Oh, no, Lieutenant. That's what
we originally thought until...

It's not Hayward?

Oh, boy. What a relief.

Holy Christmas.

I just found out it wasn't Hayward.

I already called my wife
to break the news.

She loves Hayward. I didn't want her
to hear it on TV.

You better call her back.

Thank goodness she wasn't home.
Who's Stone?

Stone is the campaign manager.
A case of mistaken identity.

Have we got any fingerprints?

The boys are still dusting the garage,

but they haven't come up
with anything yet.

Anybody see anything unusual?

No, sir. No one.

Have we been able to establish
an exact time of the death?

That looks like 9:20 pm.

The broken watch on the wrist of the
deceased would fix the time.

The Coroner confirmed that?

No he hasn't confirmed,
but he feels that's about right.

He'll give us a full confirmation
before noon tomorrow.

No, no, tell him tomorrow morning is
not good enough.

Tell him I want it tonight. Now I
may want to make an official report...

to the press tomorrow.
So I want it...

What time do you have?

10:00.

That's what I got.

I want to get this for sure. Huh?

Excuse me, I'll be right back.

Before I forget...
Where is he going this time?

Can I see that?

Lieutenant, I want you to hear this.

There's no question, the killer was
waiting right outside the hotel garage.

When he saw Stone drive off
in Hayward's car here,

there was no security around,
so he took advantage of the situation.

He followed him here
and he killed him.

That must've been what happened, sir,
because I tried to follow the car.

Well, I lost it very soon afterwards,
at the three-way intersection.

I took Sunset, thinking he might be
goin' to his house, but I was wrong.

That had to be it, sir,

'cause that was
the first time that Hayward...

or somebody who appeared to be Hayward,
was out of our sight.

The first and only time, and...

what happens? He winds up dead.

Does anybody have any idea...

Who was the first guy on the scene?

Uh, Miller.

We haven't been able to locate him yet.

How much does the press know
about it so far?

Just that Stone's dead, that's all.

Excuse me, sir, I'll be right back.

- Miller?
- Yes.

You were the first guy on the scene?

Right.

Was the light on?

No.

Where is the light switch?

I don't know, I'm sorry.

I want all of you in my office
tomorrow morning.

Okay, Vernon, let's hear your version.

Lieutenant, I want you to hear this.

They couldn't be sure
what exit he used if he did leave.

After all, what if he went out through
the main lobby and not the garage?

I don't care if they've
all left and gone home.

Wake them up if necessary.

Tell him I'll be right back.

Hey, hey, hold it!

Hey! Hey!

Hold!

Just want to check something,
one minute.

This guy's watch...
I just want to check...

Shirt.

Suit.

Shoes.

Lieutenant!
Where the hell is he?

Coming, sir!

Okay.

You keep disappearing.
Where were you?

Would you send my car, please?

Lieutenant,

Look, if it was Hayward
that was killed,

naturally, I'd head up
this investigation.

But it wasn't, it was Stone.
So right now, I'm more concerned...

with Hayward's future,
that nothing happens to him.

So I'm going to concentrate
on his security.

It will be your job to locate
this lunatic, whoever he is.

Yes, sir.

Is that my car?

Lieutenant. Lt. Columbo.

We've finally located
Hayward, he's at home.

It took a long time
to locate him at home?

Yes, sir. Well, we called earlier, but
the maid kept insisting he wasn't there.

But I just called and got a hold of his
wife. He's there, all right.

There's some kind of a party.

Do they know about this?

Oh, no, sir, I figured that
you'd want to make the official visit.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess I'd better.

Uh, excuse me, sir.

Excuse me.

Sure.

Yes, can I help you?

Uh, Tin Lt. Columbo, ma'am. Police.
I'd like to speak to Mr. Hayward.

Oh, no need for concern.
He's perfectly safe. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am, I... I know.
Uh, but I'd like to speak to him.

This is important. I'd like to...

I know it's important, but
we're having a private party.

It's my birthday.

So why don't you just go round the back
and get yourself a piece of cake?

The maid'11 fix you a cup of coffee
and a piece of cake.

Thank you very much, ma'am.
I appreciate that. But...

Look, don't be so serious.

Go have a piece of cake.
Really, it's delicious.

This is... Uh, Ma'am, I'm sorry.

- Yes?
- It can't wait.

All right, if it can't wait.

What's your name?

Columbo.

Lt. Columbo.

Excuse us. This is
Lt. Columbo, the police.

- Well?
- Couldn't wait.

Lieutenant, trapped me in my lair, eh?

I'm sorry to disturb your party.

Oh, no, no, no, it's I
who should apologize to you.

After all, avoiding your compatriots
like that. I'm sorry,

but it's my wife's birthday, and I'd
planned this little surprise, you see.

I'll call the Commissioner's office
in the morning and apologize and...

get those other detectives
off the hook as well.

Why don't you fix yourself a drink?
Make yourself at home.

Take your coat off.

This, uh, this security problem
really gets to be an aggravation.

Well, they tell me...

- Excuse me, Mr. Hayward.
- Yes?

If I could have a moment with you
privately.

It's rather serious, I'm afraid.

Oh? It is?

Well, dear, I guess the
old clothing switch is a felony.

He'll probably gonna tell us
Harry and I are guilty of...

aggravated police avoidance. Eh?

No, sir, nothing like that.

Excuse me, darling.

I'm from Homicide.

Oh, you're a little premature.
They haven't got me yet.

Uh, yes, sir, I know.
And we're mighty grateful for that.

Uh, but there has been a homicide.

- There has been a homicide?
- Yes, sir.

Mr. Stone, your campaign manager,
he's dead.

Harry Stone is dead?

- Vickie.
- What? What?

Harry Stone is dead.

Harry.

H... How? How? Where?

At your beach house,
in the garage. Shot. Murdered.

Oh, no.

- Oh, it's impossible.
- Honey.

I don't believe it.

It's all right, sweetheart.
I can't believe it.

We just... just saw him,
just this afternoon.

Under the circumstances,
I'm sure you understand.

We'll just say good night.

Of course.

I want to thank you all for coming.
I really appreciate it.

So sweet of you to
bring the gifts.

He was wearing some of your clothes,
driving your car.

Probably somebody thought it was you,
and shot him.

I pull a sophomoric prank
and poor Harry is...

Did you know, sir, that he was
going out to your beach house?

Yes. I told him
to spend the night there.

All I can say, sir, is whoever did it,
we'll get 'em.

He wasn't just a
campaign manager, he was a...

a very close personal friend!

There was a threat on his life.

It was on the early news today.

I don't know whether
this is the time, but for...

the purpose of my report,
uh, I'd like to ask you...

Oh, leave me alone.
Please, leave me alone.

Good night.

Good night.

Goodbye, dear.

We'll be near if you need us.

- Call us, will you?
- I will.

I'll call you tomorrow, darling.

If there's anything we can do for you,
anything at all...

Excuse me, sir.
Do you have a pencil?

I... Just for the purposes
of my report, uh,

could you tell me what time
the party started?

It was... I don't know.

Nels told us to all be there
at 8:30 at the back,

so we could come in with him
when he came home. The surprise bit.

Yes, it was around 8:30.

At 8:30 he came, and we all came in.
That's all.

Good night, Lucy.
Good night, George.

Uh, Ma'am, uh...

You know, whoever, uh, made this threat
on your husband's life is gonna...

know that he didn't make
good on that threat. So...

we're gonna have a man
posted out here tonight, just...

just to do everything
possible, uh, to, uh...

Okay. Good.

Sir, uh, your pen.

Oh! Don't tell me a little thing...

like Harry's getting murdered is enough
to make you sleep at home tonight.

No, I forgot.

Police guard outside.
Can't step out tonight, can you?

Vickie, let's don't go at each other
again. Not tonight. Come on.

No. Let's not.

Out of respect for poor, dead Harry.

Besides, I wouldn't want to see you
dissemble before my very eyes again.

Your display of grief is overpowering.

In spite of everything,
the man had been with me a long time.

True.

Come on, let's go to bed.

Is that invitation social,
or just a professional courtesy?

I wish you wouldn't drink so much.

It's what I do best.

Besides, it's something that you don't
need a steady partner, after all.

Come on, Vickie, it's getting late.
Now we're going to bed.

Sometimes you frighten me.

What are you talking about?

- That act you put on.
- Act?

Mmm-hmm. When you heard
about Harry's being dead.

I was shocked!

That's what frightens me.

You were so convincing.
I know how you despised him.

Well, it's the political game I've been
playing for so many years, too, Vickie.

After a while you react the way people
expect you to, not as you really feel.

Maybe I was feeling
a little for myself.

I mean that bullet was meant for me.

I'm sorry, of course.

It's just that sometimes I feel like
you're playing that game with me.

I tell you. What if I filed
for divorce now?

Before the election.

That'd sober us both
pretty good, wouldn't it?

Wait a minute, Vickie, listen to me.
Listen to me.

I want you to believe I'm sorry for
the things that have come between us.

There is no other woman in my life,
but, yes, I do want to be Senator.

But never did I
ever want to lose you.

I never wanted that.
I wish you could believe me.

Oh, honey.

Oh, Nels. Oh, baby. Oh.

Hey. I know what.

I've got a three-day
whistle-stop tour coming up.

Why don't you come with me? We'll
campaign together, like old times.

- I can't.
- Yes.

I hate all those crowds.

No, you don't and they love you.

- I do.
- Come on.

Oh, listen, and then I'll have to
stay alone all the time...

I won't be leaving you alone much.

Come on, you work all the time...

No, no. Take... take that appointments
secretary Harry got you.

- What's her name?
- Linda?

Yes, bring her along.

Good to see you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much.
Terrific. Terrific.

You're wonderful, wonderful,
all of you! Thank you so very much.

Sergeant, I'd like you to be sure
my little lady gets home safely,

and all that luggage
out in the limousine.

We'll take care of it, sir.

Thank you. Uh, Linda,
Miss Johnson.

You got a copy of my itinerary?
You better pick one up, right away.

Goodbye, darling, I'll see you home.

Goodbye, sweetie. Thank you.

Goodbye, Thank you, Yes?

Sure, sure. Yes.
How are you? How are you?

Yes, how are you?
Glad to see you.

Thank you again so much,
so much, all of you really...

Just thank you, I can't tell you,
it's just terrific.

Oh, thank you.
All right there, all right.

Thank you so very much.
See you later.

We're gonna win it.

Hey, Lieutenant, glad to see you.

Mr. Hayward. Saw the latest poll
and you're doing terrific.

Thank you. Thank you very much.
You are voting in this one, aren't you?

Oh, I vote. Every election,
I vote.

In our house, you gotta vote.
Very sacred thing.

We sit around the kitchen table
and we discuss. And we vote.

Uh-huh. Then you've made up your mind
about the candidates in this election.

Don't worry about my wife, sir,
she's crazy about you.

And you?

Uh, I'm still a little bit on
the fence, if you know what I mean.

We're just going to have to put you
on the undecided list I guess.

Oh, did you want to see me
about anything special?

Uh, oh, no, sir, uh, nothing. I mean,
it can wait. Whenever you're...

Oh, fine, fine. Thank you very much.
Til see you in a bit.

Lieutenant, you've got something new
on the Stone death?

Uh, no. Nothing concrete, Sergeant.

You don't have a match, do you?

Don't be nervous. The door is locked.

I can't help it.

I've missed you.

It's not easy being
around your wife all the time.

I know, I know it's been
very difficult for you.

It has been for me, too.

They're going to wonder
what's going on in here.

I have a very busy itinerary.

I worry about you.

How's that?

Well, the murder.

Oh, I'm well protected.
I'm overprotected.

I still worry.

That's nice.

You know, Harry was right
about one thing.

I shouldn't see you
until Election Day is over.

And anyway, it's just a few days.

Uh-huh.

For Mr. Hayward.

I'll sign for it.

I'm supposed to deliver it
to him in person.

He's in conference,
he may be a while.

I'll take that. Thank you.

Be right with you, Lieutenant.

All right, Helen.
What else have got?

Lunch at 12:00 with Judge Forsberg.

The Hadassah tea has been
pushed back to 3:00 and...

All right, all right,
I'm sorry I asked.

Come on, Lieutenant. Come on.

What's new on the murder?
I've been following the papers.

And I called your Commissioner's
office from Fresno.

But what's being done, Lieutenant?

Uh...

Sit down, sit down,
please, please.

So far, sir, we don't have a thing.

Well, that's heartening.

Officially, that is.

And unofficially?

Unofficially we don't
have anything either.

- Well, I don't understand...
- That is, the Department doesn't.

Now me, personally, and believe me, sir,
that is extremely unofficial.

I want you to understand that.

Would you get to the point,
Lieutenant?

Yes, sir. Urn...

Could I write on this, sir?

I don't mean on the picture.
I mean on the back?

Anything you want.

You got plenty of these?

I just hate to waste anything.
It's, uh, a family trait.

Anything you want.

But Lieutenant, please,
just get to the point.

You know, my brother is 38,
and he's...

still got his sneakers
from high school, you know.

Urn,

this is embarrassing.
The one time I have a pencil...

it turns out to be the wrong kind.

Uh, could I borrow that marking pen?

Certainly.

Uh, excuse me, Lieutenant,
don't misunderstand.

You're a very nice man.
I like you very much.

But I would hate to have to depend upon
you if I was in a hurry for something.

You know, that's what my wife says...

I'm sure she does.
Get to the point, Lieutenant.

Right.

Uh, I don't know how
important this all is, but, uh,

but you know,
it's better to get it out.

Uh, this is the, uh, street
in front of your garage.

Here's your garage.

Here's where the body
was found. Now, as I said,

I'm not sure what
it all adds up to, but, uh,

I think we ought to investigate...

Yes, Lieutenant, just...

Now, uh, according to
the prevailing theory...

and believe me, sir, all the boys
down in the Department,

they're convinced of this.

- Of the prevailing theory?
- Yes, sir.

That the killer was
waiting outside the hotel,

saw Mr. Stone drive out,

when there was no security men around,
took advantage of that opportunity,

to follow him out to your beach house.
And that's when he shot him.

Now, uh, here's the thing that's
been troubling me, sir, uh.

Did you ever throw rocks at the
streetlight when you were a kid?

Yes.

Well, that must have
been what happened.

See the kids, they broke
this streetlight here.

The kids broke the streetlight?

Yes. And, uh,

I just don't see how the murderer
had enough light...

to see Mr. Stone in the dark,
in order to shoot him.

Well, he could have used
his headlights. I mean, uh,

that is one answer that makes sense.

First thing I thought of, sir.

But you see this street, here,
is very narrow. Twenty-eight feet.

Now, uh,

I went down to Motor Vehicles,
I got some models down.

I hope I haven't forgotten them.

Oh, here we are.

Now you see, for me, when I can see
something, it's clearer in my mind.

This is Mr. Stone in your car, sir.

Comes up, pulls into the garage.

Killer follows, makes a left turn, to
throw his headlights into the garage.

The problem is, he's blocking traffic.

I mean, right in
the middle of the shooting,

a citizen comes down,
what's he gonna say?

"I'm in the middle
of the shooting, you know."

It's too chancy.

But I mean hired killers are crazy,
who knows what they would've done.

It only takes a couple of seconds
to shoot somebody.

I mean it's not like he was
blocking traffic for a long time. Huh.

Well, it's not ideal
for a quick getaway, sir.

But, uh, well, maybe.

But I still don't see how
he could've got any light in there.

You see, if he pulled up here...
Now, remember, you got that big car.

His beams would shine directly
into the trunk of your car.

So that the spot where Mr. Stone was
shot would still be in the dark.

Have you actually
tested this out, Lieutenant?

Oh, yes, sir,
we had actual cars up there.

And you're trying to tell me...

that there's no other angle
in which a second car...

could use his headlights to illuminate
the spot where Harry Stone was killed?

Yes, sir. Uh, yeah, there... there
was one other possibility.

You bet your life there was one.
Here. Excuse me.

If he pulled in like this...
Granted his right headlight...

would point directly into the trunk of
my car, not throw off any useful light.

But the left headlight would have
a clear path to illuminate the spot...

where Harry Stone was killed.
Now tell me that's not possible.

Yes, sir, it is possible.
I mean, i... it's conceivable.

But that's like catching
lightning in a bottle,

for this car to hit that exact spot.

But it is possible?

Yes, sir, it is possible.

Uh, it's possible.

But then the shots couldn't come
from the right hand half of the garage.

You see, sir,

according to Ballistics,
the killer was in this area here.

And the shots came in this direction.

Now, if the second car hit
the mark that you suggested,

the killer would have to lean out of
the driver's seat and shoot from here.

The shots would come in this direction.

See, and that's contrary to
the ballistics report.

Hmm—mmm. Hmm—mmm.

Very interesting.

Very interesting.

Hmm—mmm. I see.

You, uh, you don't think the murderer
followed Harry out there...

and that he was, uh...

A thought.

Suppose he didn't follow him.

Suppose he was already at
the beach house, just waiting.

Waiting for what, sir?

To shoot me, Lieutenant,
to take out a gun and to shoot me.

With all your security around?

You see, sir, if the murderer didn't
follow Mr. Stone out, then...

how would he know that the security men
wouldn't have been there?

It's a good thought,
I didn't think of that.

Well. Well, now, what, uh, what
do you make of all this, Lieutenant?

Nothing conclusive, sir.

But maybe the prevailing
theory is wrong.

Maybe this is not a case
of mistaken identity.

Maybe the murderer actually
wanted to kill Mr. Stone.

What're you talking about?
That is absurd.

Repeated threats are made on my life,
and a man wearing my jacket and my hat,

driving my car, pulls into my garage
and he's shot down dead.

And you say that's not a case
of mistaken identity.

I don't believe that.
I just don't believe it.

I thought you'd be relieved.

But I...

I mean, I mean,

I thought you'd be happy to know that
the murderer wasn't trying to shoot you.

Well, Lieutenant, it's... it's
not a case of relief. It's a...

it's a... it's a case of just trying
to intelligently appraise...

exactly what happened.

Absolutely. Absolutely, sir.

I have to admit if it was me,
I'd feel relieved.

I think I've taken up
enough of your time.

Oh. Sorry.

Let me put this back.

I like to leave things
the way I found them.

Your marking pen.

You know,

isn't it funny the way people react
under the stress of a situation?

I wasn't talking about you, sir. No,
I was talking about Miss Johnson now.

I beg your pardon?

Miss Johnson. The girl that came in
here to pick up an itinerary.

I happened to hear that mentioned
when I was sitting out there.

So she came in and now
she walked out without it.

See, here it is, sir.

It's right here on your
desk with her name on it.

Well, we were making a number of
additions to the itinerary____

I suppose she forgot it.

You're correct about
one thing, Lieutenant.

These campaigns are a lot of pressure.
Lot's of pressure.

Sure they are, sir.

Oh.

There's one thing I almost forgot.
Do you have another minute, sir?

Certainly.

It's just one other thing
that bothers me.

Would you mind closing the door,
Lieutenant?

Uh,

you know it's almost 35 miles
from the hotel to your beach house.

I believe so.

That's if you go direct.
If you drive around, it could be more.

Of course.

Here's what bothers me, sir.
I personally made that trip myself.

And, uh, I didn't race
the motor, you know. Normal speed,

and I went in the evening,
it was cool.

And I didn't go in traffic,
no startin' and stoppin'.

So, uh...

Would you get to the point,
Lieutenant?

Yeah, it's just that, uh...

Well, it took an hour and 50 minutes
for the engine to cool.

And, uh,

Mr. Stone died, according to
his watch, at 9:20.

I arrived at the scene of crime
at 10:00, 43 minutes later.

When I put my hand on the engine of
your car, it was cold.

All the heat was gone.
In only 43 minutes.

And your conclusion?

No conclusion, sir. I just thought
it was strange.

Thought I'd mention it.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Hayward, I forgot to mention,
we got so involved,

but I've asked to be assigned to your
security detail.

I just wanted you to know about it.

Oh, Lieutenant, I'd hate to take you
away from your other duties.

I'm sure I'm adequately protected.

Oh, no reflection on the guys
on the job, they're first class. Now...

it's just that, day before the election,

we consider it a crucial time
in terms of security.

I understand.

Lieutenant, it'll be a comfort
to know you're around.

Thank you very much. Sir, uh,

can I ask you a personal question?

Yeah.

Nothing to do with the case.
What did you pay for the jacket?

Well, I don't remember exactly...

Not that one, sir. The other one.

- The other one?
- Just a minute.

This one here. Just arrived.

Oh, uh, $200, I think.

No, just the jacket.

That's the price. $200.

No pants?

After all, it was tailor-made for me.

Actually, I had second thoughts
about this jacket. It's, uh...

It's identical to the one that Harry was
wearing when, uh, when you found him.

Yeah, I noticed that. Uh,
where do you get a jacket like that?

From my tailors. Chadwick's,
in Beverly Hills.

Why, Lieutenant, are you, uh,
considering a change of wardrobe?

Oh, no, no.

Oh, every once in a while
I think about getting a new coat.

There's no rush. There's still a lot of
wearing in this fellow.

- Looks very functional.
- Thank you.

Lieutenant, uh, really, if, uh,
if there's nothing else, uh...

Oh it's just... I got a special
affair coming up Saturday night...

and I'm in the market for a coat.

I see. Good bye.

Yes. Appreciate it very much.

You're leaving for
Monaco tomorrow, huh?

The family? Good. Bon voyage.

Mrs. Armstrong,
we'll see you back. Bye.

May we assist you, sir?

Uh, yeah, I'm looking for a jacket.

Do you have anything, uh,
particular in mind?

Uh, yeah, but, uh, I don't see
any jackets here.

Well, naturally,
our clothes are custom-made.

Yeah, I understand, but I thought
you'd have a model, at least...

something that you could look at.

Well, exactly what
did you have in mind?

A sport jacket.

Any particular material?

Uh, something soft.

Cashmere?

- It could be.
- Flannel?

Flannel? Is that soft?

Camel hair, that's nice.

- Soft. Is it soft?
- Soft, yes.

- Uh, any particular color?
- Brown.

But there are so many
shades of brown, sir,

there's, uh, midnight brown...

Light brown.

On the light side? Uh, cream.

Um...

Light. In that area.

Yes, uh, urn, tan. Would you say tan?

- Could be in that area.
- More on the tan side.

A light brown. Something
like between this and this.

Let me show you something.

This material we call Sands of Morocco.
Came in last week. Delightful.

No. No lines.

No. No lines. Oh, yes, you did say...

you did say light and beige.
This one, sir? Right here.

Uh, it's too rough.

All right. Let's try this one.
I'm sure...

this is a very good material.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's it.

Softness?

Yeah, that's it. Oh, that's beautiful.

Yes. Yes, it is.

Yeah.

Okay, now let me ask you something.

If I had a jacket
made up in this material,

now, would that be
something that would fit me?

Monsieur, we have the finest
tailors in all the world.

- No, I don't mean
- We've been in this business...

No, I don't mean
that it would fit me.

What I mean is that
whether it would fit...

Your personality?

My style. Right.

Yes. I guarantee
you'll be most satisfied.

Because I want to look...
I'm going to an affair, you see.

Oh, splendid, an affair, very nice.

Yeah, my wife's bowling league's
having this dinner dance.

It's an annual thing,
$17.50 a couple. I want to look good.

Your wife. Very well, sir.

You think this will be all right?

Oh, yes, quite sure. Mario.

All right, let me take one of them.

You'll have that ready by Saturday?

Well, sir, I, um, I'm afraid...

that is one of the things
we cannot do. No, you see,

our customers are required to
allow us at least, at least 10 days...

following first fitting.

Ten days?

Thank you. Excuse me, sir.

- Oh, it's 10 days?
- Yes.

Oh. Look, I... I was kind of
afraid of that, but, uh...

I'll tell you who sent me over here.
A friend of mine.

Mr. Nelson Hayward.
He gave me your name.

So I thought that maybe you could give
me a rush job, like you gave him,

because he told me he had one delivered
just like that today. I saw it.

Mr. Hayward? You did say
Mr. Nelson Hayward?

- Yeah.
- Mario, do you... Oh, yes. I...

I do recall. Yes. That...
that delivery was made today.

Oh, yes, I'm quite sure. Uh,

but as I recall,
the garment that was ordered...

to be first fitted for
Mr. Hayward was on the, uh,

on the 16th.

Oh. Oh, that long, huh?
May I see that?

Yes.

Well, 10 days.

Right. Well, that's a problem.

The affair is Saturday night. Uh...

Uh, perhaps, may I suggest,
uh, department stores?

Right.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

It is with a real pleasure...

that we dedicate to this community
recreation center.

The California Human Relations Society
can be proud of its achievement...

in helping maintain and create
new social and...

recreational facilities
such as this one.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.
That's very nice.

Hello.

Excuse me. Sorry.
Excuse me. Sorry.

Ma'am. Ma'am.

No, thank you very much.

Ma'am, we've never officially met.
I'm from the Police.

Lt. Columbo. I'm investigating
Mr. Stone's murder.

Oh, Mrs. Hayward will be through
in a few minutes.

Actually, I was wondering
if I might have a word with you.

Will you do this for me now?

I don't know anything about the case.
Excuse me.

Miss Johnson. Miss Johnson.

- That's your name?
- Yes.

You'd be surprised how helpful
people on the scene can be.

Let me see.

You're Mrs. Hayward's
appointments secretary.

That's right.

Could you tell me about
the arrangements you made...

for Mrs. Hayward's surprise party
the night of the murder?

I didn't make the arrangements.

- You didn't?
- Uh-huh.

Oh, that's funny.

Why is that?

Uh, you know, my wife
is very well-organized.

I mean she takes care
of our social life.

I work these strange hours, you see.

So I just assumed that somebody
as busy as Mr. Hayward...

would have somebody else
set up these things.

Well, then, maybe you should ask
Mr. Hayward's secretary. Excuse me.

I did ask her. Didn't know
anything about it.

Well, what do you want
me to do about it?

Is Mr. Hayward good about these things?
Birthday parties, sentimental occasions?

Well, I don't know Mr. Hayward
that well, but I understand...

that he is quite thoughtful
and considerate.

Could Mr. Hayward have made
these arrangements?

I really don't know, Lieutenant.

Could Mr. Stone have made
those arrangements?

Oh, what difference does it make?
I don't know, Lieutenant.

No difference. By itself.

But if I could find out
who made the arrangements,

then I wouldn't be so troubled
by this other thing.

What thing?

The fact that Mr. Stone
never knew anything about a party.

Mr. Stone didn't
know there was a party?

No, ma'am.

How do you know that, Lieutenant?

I checked his appointments calendar.

Oh, maybe it was just an oversight.

Mr. Stone was very efficient.

And my notes say that from
the start of the campaign till now,

he kept a detailed record
of Mr. Hayward's schedule.

Knew where to reach him.
Every hour. Night or day.

Not one word about the party.

But they weren't close socially.

Why is that?

Uh, different kind of men.

In what way?

Mr. Stone was rather crude,
rather aggressive.

You knew Mr. Stone very well?

No, not really.

I was just wondering who hired you.

Um, actually Mr. Hayward hired me.

I was doing some, uh, volunteer work
during the primary.

I can understand that.
He's a very attractive man.

Yes, I like him, Lieutenant.
I like him for what he represents.

He's a man of great
courage and integrity.

Well, I'm sure that's what attracted
you to him as a candidate.

May I say this?
I think you're a wonderful girl.

And I think that Mr. Hayward is...

is very lucky to have someone like you
supporting him.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Sorry.

Excuse me, Officer.
Could you help me out?

Pull right up there, please.

I was wondering, do you know...

Just pull it up there, huh.
Thank you.

You know where, uh, Ridgeway Drive is?

I'm afraid I don't
know this neighborhood.

May I see your driver's
license, please?

I'm on the force, LAPD.
Lt. Columbo.

Uh, you have any
identification, Lieutenant?

Always in the wrong pocket.

This isn't a Department car, is it?

No, this is mine.

Well, Til have to inspect
your car, Lieutenant.

Oh, that's all right.

May I see your license, please?

Yeah.

You still live at the
same address, Lieutenant?

Yeah. Look, I just had
it in for a checkup,

only, uh, you know, a tune-up,
two months ago.

Well, it'll only take
a couple of moments, Lieutenant.

Would you try, uh, your lights
and your turn signal, please,

and open the hood for me?

This is Lt. Columbo, LAPD.

Hi, Lieutenant.

I'm looking for Ridgeway Drive.

Ridgewood, uh, three blocks, turn left
and go about a mile and a half.

It's on your right hand side.
You can't miss it.

Thanks.

Lieutenant, would you kindly
turn on your windshield wipers?

They were working perfect yesterday.
I must've lost one in a car wash.

Sign right here, please, Lieutenant.

Everything all right?

Your right turn signal is out.

Your high beam doesn't work
and your smog device is leaking.

One of those windshield
wipers is out, too.

You'll have two weeks
to correct these things.

Thank you very much.

You ever, uh, considered
getting another car?

I got another car.
My wife drives it.

But that's nothing special.
Just transportation.

Thanks for the directions.

You're welcome.

Car is ready.

Okay. Listen, uh,

thank you very much for the loan
of the truck.

That helped me out.
Saved me a little time and...

here's a little something for you.

No problem. Your bill's over here.

That'll be, uh, $65.25.

That much, huh?

Not the parts so much
as the time it took.

It's not easy to work
on a car in that condition.

You take a check?

You haven't got a credit card?

Uh, I'm from the police.

Lt. Columbo.

What are you undercover or something?

No, I'm underpaid.

What about the check,
would you take one?

Yeah. Sure, I'll take a check.

Okay.

I was sure I brought my checkbook,
maybe I left it at home.

You have a countercheck?

Yeah. Over here.

Here.

You investigating that murder
last week at the beach?

Yeah.

My luck. One night we have
a little excitement and I miss it.

- What do you mean?
- Wednesday night we ran out of gas.

Closed at 8:00.

Closed?

Yes. Yeah, I know.

You better bring us
blue suits down there.

And a fresh shirt and tie.

Yeah, I'll be all right.
Black shoes and black socks.

Mr. Hayward.

- Yes?
- May I see you?

Excuse me a minute, gentlemen.

That policeman who was at
campaign headquarters this morning?

He showed up at the
dedication this afternoon.

- What did he want?
- He makes me nervous.

What did he want?

He wanted to know why Harry Stone didn't
know about your wife's surprise party.

What does it mean?

Nothing. Nothing. Just trying to make
a name for himself, darling.

Don't get nervous.

The important thing
is that you don't get upset.

Don't let him get to you.

Okay.

Gentlemen?

Oh, Mr. Hayward?

What is it you want,
Lieutenant?

Oh, nothing, sir. I'm just
looking for the head security guy.

They told me he was up here.

I think I'm working that 8:00 shift.
I can't wait to get started.

Uh, I last saw him
in the kitchen.

Oh. Oh, thank you very much.

Oh, sir,

listen, a couple of things came up
that I want to discuss with you,

but I don't want to
burden you now, because...

I can see you got
a lot on your mind.

Quite to the contrary.
There's no time like the present.

What can I do for you?

Why don't you gentlemen go on
and wait in the patio.

Oh, listen, I don't want to
inconvenience you.

Not at all.

No, you got this TV
thing on you mind.

No, no, no,
let's understand something.

You see, you think I'm reluctant
to talk to you.

But you're wrong.

I will talk to you
as often as you want,

for as long as you want
about anything you want.

Okay.

Oh, fine.

Well, uh, Til tell you, one of
the things that's bothering me...

What are we sit down, Uh?

Sit down here.
Make yourself comfortable.

Thank you very much.

Uh,

one of the things
that's bothering me...

Would you like a drink?
I'll fix you a drink.

No. Thank you very much.
No. Uh,

you see, uh...

You make me feel so important, I forgot
what I was going to say. Uh...

Oh. Well, listen, let me start with
how much I like your jacket.

I really love it.
Do you mind?

Soft as butter.

Camel's hair.

Would you believe it?

The first thing I did this morning
when I left your campaign headquarters,

I run right over to your tailor's.

I'm sure he was delighted.
He loves a challenge.

What do you mean, sir?

Nothing, nothing, it's a small joke.

Oh, you mean about fitting me?
I'm not hard to fit.

No, just the legs.

Now, something goes funny
in here with the legs, but, uh...

Uh, jackets, I pick them right off
the rack, they fit like a glove.

I didn't go to the guy
for a good fit.

No, sir. Well, I went for the material.

And you know what? And, uh...

This is the thing that bothers me.
It's that...

It takes this guy 10
days to make a jacket.

And you need one by...

Saturday.

Too bad.

But that's not what bothers me.

No, my problem is...

Lieutenant, I'm going to
make myself a drink.

You sure I can't fix you one?

No.

You were saying your problem is...

Yes, I was saying that my problem is...

the jacket that you're wearing
was delivered today,

which would mean that you
had to order it 10 days ago.

But the one that you gave to
Mr. Stone was only ruined...

four days ago when he got shot.
And, uh,

I just don't understand how you would
know six days in advance...

that you would need a new jacket.

Oh, excuse me, Mr. Hayward,

uh, the director would like to check
some camera angles.

Lieutenant, did you happen
to examine the jacket? The old one?

Me, personally? No, sir.

Because, if you had taken
the trouble to examine it,

you'd have found that
the cuffs had begun to fray...

and there was a little cigarette burn
in the left sleeve.

That's why, 10 days ago,
I ordered a new jacket.

Uh, what was it you wanted?

The director would
like to see you, please.

Have I satisfied
you about the jacket?

Yes, sir.

All right if we walk and talk?
Do you mind?

No.

Well,

uh,

this other thing
really troubles me, sir.

Just a minute.
I don't want to forget that.

Yes, this other thing
is a genuine puzzle.

I don't see any answer to this.

Well, maybe I can help you.

Let's hope so, sir.

For your sake or mine?

You're in good humor, sir.

I like to win.

Oh,

well. As I was saying, uh,

I don't see any answer here, sir. Uh,

I went out to your beach house
this afternoon.

I pulled out of your garage,

and I roared down the street
at 70 miles an hour and...

after three minutes I stopped
and there was nothing there.

No bar, no restaurant,
no gas station,

not even a private house.
Nothing.

Just a field, highway, and birds.

What were you looking for?

A phone, sir.

A phone?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Stone's broken watch
fixed the time of death at 9:20.

The killer's phone call came into
the police at exactly 9:23.

Where did the killer call from?

That's what I can't answer.

Closest public phone is seven minutes
away in a gasoline station.

Beats me, sir. And I've considered
every possibility.

You're sure?

As far as I know, yes.

Tell me something, Lieutenant.

Did you know, did you know that
Harry Stone always set his watch...

five minutes fast so that
he'd never be late for an appointment?

Did you know that?

No, sir, I didn't.

Everybody else knew that.

Instead of the time of death being 9:20,
that would fix it at 9:15.

Now, you say it takes him 7 minutes to
get to the gas station.

Isn't that what you said?
9:15 and seven gives you 9:22.

Plenty of time to get out change,
light a cigarette...

and make a telephone call.
Does that answer your question?

No, sir. Station ran out of gas.
Closed early. 8:00.

Mr. Hayward, could we have you
now for a voice test, please?

I think we've held them up
long enough. We'll talk later.

What about the house phone?

The murderer could've telephoned
from the beach house.

My keys to my house
were right with the car keys.

The call to the police
came in downtown.

From your beach house,
that's a toll call.

I checked the telephone company.
No record of a call.

Want to step this way, Mr. Hayward?
We'll give you some marks over here.

Here's your ending mark.

Okay. Do you want to, uh, have me
just walking up to the camera,

or do you want to
discover me here right away?

I presume that the paid telephone
in the gas station was inside.

Inside, sir?

We'll have you walk right into
the camera, it'll make you...

appear more relaxed.

- Yeah, sure.
- Fine, fine.

Make up.

Let me see the tie.
Okay, that's fine. Thank you.

Afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Do you have a minute?

Yes.

How long did you know Mr. Stone?

Oh, a long time. Why?

Did he always wear those clothes?

What clothes?

About there. Good. That's
out of picture, isn't it, boys?

These are his shoes. Heavy.
Look at the soles on them.

Okay, that's fine. Thank you.

Oh, that was Harry.
He wasn't very stylish.

No. No Italian loafers for him.

Yeah, if he wore it, it was durable.
If it was nothing else, it was durable.

You know, that's what struck me.
It's the same thing with his suit.

I checked with the salesman and he says
that's how they sell these things.

I mean, that's their main feature.
They never wear out.

Well, that's Harry.

Tape is rolling.

All right, everybody, quiet please.
This will be a take.

"Hayward Campaign, Scene 3A.
Take one."

Very quiet.

Mr. Hayward, action.

Good afternoon.
I'm Nelson Hayward.

One of the major concerns in our
nation and in this state is crime.

Many of us have been its victims.

Why do you ask?

No, it just bothered
me because his watch...

doesn't match with his clothes.

Come again?

Here's his watch.

See, it's a skinny little thing.
It's easy to break.

Don't mix with the shoes.
Oil and water. You follow my meaning?

You know, you're right,
because...

Shh.

We better get out of here
before we both get in trouble.

Okay. We'll go over there.

If I'm elected to
the United States Senate,

I would propose new, tough
crime legislation.

Crime on the streets
today is a brutal reality.

And it's not gonna stop until the
criminal no longer...

feels that the courts...

Neither do I,
but it's interesting.

Do you know that I actually went
to a jewelry store...

and I actually brought these shoes
and this suit with me?

Now I said to the salesman,
"Look, these are very durable items.

Now suppose
the owner of these items...

wanted the same quality in his watch
that he had in his shoes.

What kind of
a watch would he buy?"

You know, the guy had an answer.

Well, what did he say?

I got it right here.

Look at this watch.
You won't believe this.

I intend to look after the rights
of these victims.

You can't break it.
I don't care what you do.

He's still ticking.

You're right.

I don't know what all this means,
Lieutenant, but I agree with you.

I think Harry would
buy that kind of a watch.

Not that other funny little thing.

- You do?
- Yeah.

Mrs. Hayward,
I'm gonna ask you a question now.

I'm afraid it's gonna be unsettling,
but I'm gonna ask it anyhow.

Go ahead.

For the criminal to run loose.

I want the decent, law-abiding
citizen of this country...

to be able to walk
the streets without fear.

This is Nelson Hayward. I would
appreciate your support. Thank you.

Okay, cut. Hold it. Thank you.
We'll do it again, boys.

That was very good,
Mr. Hayward. But, uh,

you kinda lost concentration
in the middle there.

All right, all right.
Let's do it again. Right away, quick.

Nelson.

Nels, Nels, we just got a break.

One of the newsboys leaked
Davis' rebuttal questions to us.

They're dynamite.

We can have you
briefed in an hour.

In a minute, in a minute.
I'll be, uh... Just one minute.

- Yes, dear.
- Honey.

That detective, he wanted to know...

if at the night of the party, if you
left the room between 9:15 and 9:30.

Why did he want to know that?

I don't know what he's up to,
darling. Just ignore him.

Honey, he's...
he's a homicide detective.

I know. Don't let him
upset you. Don't, don't.

Okay. But he wanted to know
if... if you got along with Harry.

All right. Pay no attention
to him, darling.

- You're getting upset.
- Look, wait a minute.

He said it wasn't a political murder.
That whoever killed Harry...

Listen, darling, I'm at the peak
of a political career.

I'm under enormous pressure.

Someone is trying to kill me.
Now, that is a fact, isn't it?

I don't know what the police are up to.

Harry was killed driving my car,
in my clothes, and in my garage.

Do I have to get gunned down in the
streets before anybody believes it?

It's... it's... it's
difficult enough, darling.

Don't make it any tougher
than it is. Huh? Okay?

It's gonna be all right, baby.
Til make it all right.

I'll make it all right.

This is Larry Burrell at the
headquarters of Nelson Hayward,

candidate for the special election
for United States Senator.

The polls opened at 7:00 this morning
here in Los Angeles.

And Registrar of Voters,
Roger Neufeld, is predicting...

a 72% voter turnout.

Which is exceptionally high
for an off-year election.

There is a real air of excitement
here at Hayward headquarters...

as the last statewide poll
showed him leading by a margin of 8%.

However, the "Get out the vote"
campaign continues in high gear...

with the, uh,
professional staff here...

coordinating with volunteer groups
throughout the county.

We'll be bringing you Election Day
highlights on the noon news,

and of course starting at 5:00 p.m.,

we'll stay with the voting results
until the final tabulations are made.

This is Larry Burrell
at Hayward headquarters.

Send in Miss Johnson, please.

Good morning, darling.

That's for luck.

And I could use some.

Is something wrong?

Election Day.

Well, what is it?

Nothing I want you to
worry over, darling.

Come on, now. There is something wrong.
Now tell me. What is it? Please.

Come and take a look at this.

- Oh, no.
- Easy, darling.

Oh, Nelson, before Harry was killed,
there was a possibility that...

these were just idle threats,
but not now.

Where did you find it?

On my desk this morning.

Well, haven't you told
the police yet?

Oh, no. Linda, I'm scared.

Well, I should think so.

Darling, no, no,
don't you understand?

The police aren't going to help.

Lt. Columbo thinks that
all the threats were fake...

just for sympathy and publicity.

What?

They're never gonna believe
that I didn't just...

plant this thing here myself.

I tell you, if just somebody else
would have found it.

The police will never believe me.

- All right, I found it.
- No, no, darling.

I found it just now.

No, it's best you stay out of it.

Nelson, I'm not going to stand here
and watch you murdered like Harry.

Ask Sgt. Vernon to
come in here, please.

Mr. Hayward, one question, please.

Sorry, guys, no more speeches.
Now it's up to the people.

It's not political, it's this latest
threat on your life.

Any comment on that?

Well, of course I'm concerned,

it's obviously from the same source
as all the others.

Happily, I'm... I'm well guarded.

You have any special plans
for the day?

Well, just to hang around
the suite for a few hours.

And later, Mrs. Hayward
and I are going out and vote.

I'm not that confident.

So if I win by two votes,
you'll know whose those were.

Where's Columbo?

He's in the press room.

Lieutenant?

Yeah.

Lieutenant?

Yeah.

Mr. Hayward is back
in his suite, sir.

Oh, Sergeant! Sergeant!

Yes, sir?

Listen, uh, you let me know
if Mr. Hayward is ever alone.

Oh, no, we won't leave him alone, sir.

No, I mean, if he goes to the bathroom,
you know, to take a shower or something.

All right, right, sir.

And from the Los Angeles
County Registrar we have word that...

42% of the registered voters
have already turned out.

Which is unusually heavy voting for
this early hour in a special election.

It looks like we may be headed
for some kind of a record.

San Diego County also reports
a heavy turnout, and 36%...

of registered voters
having already voted.

Bad weather in San Francisco
and some northern counties...

have kept the totals
low there so far...

with only 25% reporting in
San Francisco and Alameda counties.

The Orange County vote looks to be
exceptionally high...

with over 50% of registered voters
having cast their ballots so far.

What's in the case, please, ma'am?

Uh, Mr. HaywarcTs asked me
to bring it from his office.

- Is it locked?
- I don't know.

Would you try it, please?

I'll have to take a look into it.
Mr. Hayward's orders, ma'am.

Everything and everybody coming into
this suite has to be searched.

Miss Dodds.

I'm sorry.

Perfectly all right. I'm glad
they're taking so much precaution.

According, uh, to
the most recent polls,

the youth vote is not expected to play
a significant role in this election.

Both candidates register strongly
with young people,

but a general apathy
toward this election...

seems to have surfaced
on most college campuses.

We 're now getting some further word
from the Registrar of Voters...

in San Francisco.

The turnout has increased dramatically
and the percentage total so far...

Mr. Hayward, a lady brought this
from your office. She's being searched.

Miss Johnson?

No exceptions,
Mr. Hayward. You agreed.

Okay, okay.

You... you guys mind if I go in there
and make a few private phone calls?

Certainly not.

Lead that is expected in San Diego
and Orange County and Orange County.

Davis and Hayward were
considered by most pollsters...

to be running very close
in Los Angeles.

And those votes may turn out to be
a determining factor in this election.

Well, there's no way anybody can
get out there from the next suite,

but I wish you'd
stayed inside, sir.

Surely.

People in over two dozen key
precincts around Los Angeles County.

And, uh, I'm just learning
from those precincts...

that East Los Angeles
is turning out for Davis with, uh,

48% of the vote projected so far.

West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills
reporting 42% of the votes accounted...

All secure, sir.

y\est Valley has so far
reported a turnout of 51%.

Hello.

Yeah. Lieutenant.

Sgt. Vernon.

Oh.

Yeah.

The candidate's in his bedroom alone.
He had some personal calls to make.

Right.

Davis and Hayward were
considered by most pollsters...

Miss Johnson,

would you please take this
to the office and lock it in the safe?

Oh, yes.

I'm sorry about that search before.

I'm not.

You will, uh, join us later?

Yes.

Thursday, I'd be happy...

Vickie?

Hello, Linda.

Hello.

Oh, Mrs. Hayward, will you be, uh,
needing me anymore this afternoon?

No, but I'm sure
that Nelson will.

Thank you.

West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills...

are reporting 42% of the votes
accounted for.

I assume we'll be, uh,
voting together.

Oh, yes, yes, of course,
darling. Right now.

Columbo.

We're just leaving with the candidate
and his wife, to vote.

Good luck, sir!

Good luck.

Thank you very much.
Nice to see you.

How wonderful to see you.

Statewide results,
and let me remind you...

that these are early scattered returns.
We 're not even projecting a winner...

in most of these precincts.

Fresno now with 28 precincts
recording 5,434.

I'm sorry about the search.

I wouldn't have minded so much
had it been you instead of her.

Victoria.

Hello, Lucy.

What a wonderful, wonderful day.

Lucy.

How are you?

Davis, 1,138, Hayward, 2,014.

Visalia, 9 precincts reporting,
Davis, 411, Hayward, 505.

Humboldt, with, uh,
4 precincts reporting,

Hayward, 211, Davis, 202,

Sacramento, 31 precincts
reporting, Davis, 4,200,

Hayward, 3,460...

Out there! Out there!

I'm all right.

This is Mrs. Hayward,
leave her be. I'm fine!

Please tell everybody
I'll be all right!

Get some men in that next room.

Quiet down out there!
Everything's under control!

I sat down here and I started to
make a phone call...

and moved my head
a little closer to the dial...

He fired from out there.
All I could see was a figure.

Get two men in that suite next door.

After that, get this hotel
surrounded. Nobody leaves.

Whoever it was, Mr. Hayward,
has to have been a human fly.

I don't know how he managed
that, uh, ledge out there.

You don't believe anybody else
was in this room?

Oh, please, sir,
I didn't mean to imply...

That's exactly what you're implying!

I'm getting sick and tired
of police innuendo!

I mean if I fired the shot, wouldn't
there still be a gun here in the room?

Or on me or found
in the streets below?

Why don't you search for it?
Just search for a gun!

Go on. I insist! You start
right now with me! Here, here.

All my friends here, my wife,
and everybody here in this suite!

Make room.
Let the Lieutenant in.

It's me, Sergeant.

Get him in here.

Somebody just took
a shot at Mr. Hayward.

Yeah, I heard. Now I told Rojas to
forget about surrounding the building...

because the guy that fired that shot
is still in this room.

- What?
- What's he talking about?

It's all right,
It's all right, everybody!

He means me!

- You?
- Isn't that right?

Yes, sir.

Just as I figured.
It's exactly what I thought you'd say.

I fired the shot, is that it?

Lt. Columbo,
was there a gun in this room?

I wouldn't say so, sir. No.

I mean would you concede
there's no gun in the room?

- Yes, sir.
- Let me show you something.

Is this a bullet hole in the glass?

Yes, sir.

Would you say
it was fired at an angle?

Calculated to hit a victim in the head
here seated at the phone in this chair?

Yes, sir.

And would you say that, having
failed to hit the intended victim,

the trajectory indicates
that this hole in the wall...

was caused by the spent bullet?

Yes, sir.

And would you further concede
that if this bullet...

proves to be from the same gun
that killed Harry Stone,

then the same hand fired both shots?

Then all that remains for you is
to dig the bullet out of the wall...

and take it to Ballistics
for a comparison!

No, sir.

I've already dug
the bullet out of the wall...

and Ballistics has already verified
that it came from the same gun.

Here's the bullet.

Here is the ballistics report.

No bullets in the wall.
Bullet's right here.

It's in my handkerchief.

There she is.

You see, sir, this afternoon
when you told Sgt. Vernon...

that you were going to come in here
to make some private phone calls,

I was over there in the press room.

Now this room is 615,
and the press room is 616.

When you call from here,
it lights up over there...

because you installed that
special three-way rotary system.

So I kept watching the phone
for 615 to light up.

Yeah, it's lit up now.
Can you see that?

I kept waiting for
that button to light up.

It never lit up.

I didn't know what the hell
you were doing here.

I knew you weren't makin' a call.

And I confess, I got curious.

And when you and your wife,
when you went to vote,

I took advantage of that opportunity
to come in here and look around.

I found that bullet hole in the glass
door and that took me to the wall.

I dug this bullet out of that wall...

three hours before
you said that somebody...

fired it at you three minutes ago.

You're under arrest, sir.